Sunday, October 28, 2012

Franklin Park, Boston

Start and Finish at The Playstead

We strongly suggest that participants carpool and  share rides to Franklin Park, as parking is very limited on race day.

SCHEDULE

• 10:00 a.m. Girls’ & Boys’ 10-and-under 1.1-mile race
• 10:15 a.m. Girls’ & Boys’ 11-12 1.1-mile race
• 10:30 a.m. Girls’ & Boys’ 13-14 1.1-mile race
• 10:50 a.m. Franklin Park 5K
• 11:30 a.m. Women’s Championship 5k
• Noon Men’s Championship 8k

The 23rd Annual Mayor’s Cup Cross Country Races will give local runners, especially road racers, perhaps their single cross country racing opportunity of the year. The Franklin Park 5k, added to the schedule in 2002, offers the same race course and cross country experience as the Women’s Championship 5k and the Men’s Championship 8k. Proceeds from the event are directed towards the improvement, preservation and maintenance of the Franklin Park cross country courses.

The partnership between the Boston Athletic Association and adidas has helped develop the event into a premier competition for the City of Boston. Since 1997 when the B.A.A. and adidas became involved in the presentation of the meet, the Mayor’s Cup has stood out on the national calendar among open cross country events. Regarded as one of the most competitive cross country races in the eastern United States, many top level clubs use the Mayor’s Cup on an annual basis to prepare for the USA Fall National Cross Country Championship.

Colleges also have found the Mayor’s Cup offers an ideal preparatory race prior to beginning the championship portion of their season. Spectators enjoy a multiple loop course, and participants are able to experience course landmarks such as the Wilderness and Bear Cage Hill. Courses similar to the one used for the Mayor's Cup and held at the same Franklin Park location were used for the 1991 and 1995 USA Cross Country Championships, as well as the 2000 USA Fall Cross Country Championship and the 1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championship.

Besides lending its support to the Mayor’s Cup, an important event for its running club, the B.A.A. also organizes the B.A.A. Half Marathon and the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon. Learn more about the organization, running club and its events at www.baa.org. USA Track & Field - New England directs the Mayor’s Cup for the Boston Center for Youth and Families.

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and Boston Park Rangers also play vital roles in staging the morning of races and preparing the site.