The Mayor’s Cup Cross Country races occur within historic Franklin Park, part of Frederick Law Olmsted's renowned Emerald Necklace park system and located five miles southwest of downtown Boston. Both the start and finish lines, along with race registration and awards presentations, are at The Playstead: a large field conveniently located within the park and bordered by White Stadium, Franklin Park Zoo and Franklin Park’s William Devine Golf Course. The Franklin Park course is entirely cross country, comprised almost exclusively of grass and dirt. In the true spirit of cross country running, the course is challenging with equal parts run on flats and hills. Although each of the Mayor’s Cup races traverse fields, wide trails and grass pathways, the footing is excellent. Many participants in the Championship races prefer to wear spikes, but racing flats and/or trainers are also acceptable, especially in the girls and boys races and Franklin Park 5k.

• Girls and boys will run one lap around White Stadium, including Bear Cage Hill.
• The Franklin Park 5k and the Women's Championship 5k will run three loops.
• Men in the Championship 8k will run four loops.