Dan Guttenplan
Two lines of equal distance will form in front of the registration table at tonight’s Yankee Homecoming Road Race.
One will host the area’s elite runners, decked out in the newest running gear as they prepare to tackle the 10-mile course.
The other will include the casual runners — ex-athletes, mothers, fathers, children, etc. — all of whom could benefit from extra stretching time before they embark on the 5K.
Those who choose the 10-mile loop will be thanking themselves for the added workout for the majority of the race. “Amateurs,” they’ll say of the 5K runners, as they climb what they hope will be the final hill at Hoyts Lane — approximately three miles from the finish.
And they’ll be proud of their decision to take the “road less traveled.”
That is, until they get to Hale Street.
Nicknamed “Hell Street” by many 10-mile racers, Hale Street is often described as the least appealing portion of the race. It covers roughly the final two miles — most of which involves a consistent but slight uphill climb.
The final portion, which borders swamps in parts, receives the least shade of any two-mile stretch on the course. It also draws the fewest spectators by a long shot.
“There’s nobody out there. It’s you and the sun,” said Dale Granger, 51, a veteran of the 10-mile race. “People are cheering the whole race until you get there. Then you’ll see a lot of people walking. But there’s no way back other than to finish.”
Although finishing is not an option for everyone.
“I’ve seen people tank out on that road,” Granger said. “Last year, I literally saw three or four people fall down. They’ll start with the sway from one side of the road to the other. Then they’re crashing into the ground before you know it.”
The 48th annual race has only included the Hale Street portion for the last 10-12 years, according to Chris Kealey, President of Winner’s Circle Running Club. Until that time, the final two miles ran from the Rte. 113 stretch starting at Port Plaza Shopping Center through the finish line at Newburyport High. The route was changed when the congestion at the shopping district became too much for the runners.
“Now it’s lost its luster,” Kealey said. “It’s a crummy finish. It used to be great with a ton of people lining the final stretch. If we could ever get it back to the old course, that’d be ideal.”
After two consecutive years of battling Hale Street in temperatures in the mid 90s, runners figure to experience relief tonight (6:35 p.m.). Forecasts call for mild clouds and temperatures in the mid 70s.
For that reason, last year’s top local finisher, Ryan Spinney plans to make his move once Hale Street passes into his sight-line.
“If you’re planning to make a move to win it, that’s the spot to do it,” Spinney said. “It’s time to get going. There’s nobody there to help you. You need to make sure you’re mentally ready to roll because if you’re not, it’s a tough stretch.”
For Spinney, a tough stretch might mean the difference between finishing in 71st place like he did in 2005 and 34th like last year. For others, it could mean the difference between finishing on one’s own two feet and finishing under medical assistance.
“I remember seeing one girl who was weaving back and forth for a good stretch of Hale Street,” Granger said. “She probably shouldn’t have been running the 10-mile course; it would’ve been wise for her to run the 5K. Anyway, she was running with a friend and collapsed and her friend had to catch her. That’s what spectators would see — if there were any on Hale Street.”
Race Day
What: Yankee Homecoming 10-mile and 5K road races
Where: Start and finish at Newburyport High
When: Tomorrow, 6:25 p.m. start for 5K; 6:35 p.m. for 10-mile
How many people: 1,436 ran the 10-mile last year; 1,498 ran the 5K
Prizes: $4,300 total, $500 each for male and female winners
How to enroll: Visit Newburyport High tomorrow (8 a.m. to 6:25 p.m.)
Cost: $25 on race day
