ASICS FALMOUTH ROAD RACE: Runners excited about return to in-person event

The elite women runner take off for the start of the Falmouth Road Race in August 2019. Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times File

After the event was held virtually for the first time last year due to COVID-19, the 49th annual Falmouth Road Race will return the competition to in-person Aug.15 with 8,000 runners. Douglas MacDonald of Falmouth will be running his 30th consecutive race and says he is looking forward to it.

“It’s just a really fun, positive race and it's by far the best road race I've ever been in,” MacDonald said. “Now that I’ve run it so many times, I can’t break the streak. I have to keep going till I die I guess.”

Gov. Charlie Baker announced April 27 that starting May 10, road races and other large, outdoor organized amateur or professional group athletic events would be permitted to take place after submitting safety plans to a local board of health or the DPH. 

Falmouth Road Race Inc. submitted its application for the in-person race in March to the Town of Falmouth. The town waited on guidelines from the state before making a decision. 

On May 25, it was officially announced that the Falmouth race would be back in-person. ASICS Falmouth Road Race President Scott Ghelfi says he is excited about the return of the in-person race.

“Christmas is here in August,” Ghelfi said. “I think it's going to be a symbol that we are getting through this pandemic.”

Baker later announced that all coronavirus restrictions would be lifted in Massachusetts effective May 29, which means no masks are required for the race.

Kristin Lavigne of Amherst, New Hampshire, has been running for eight years and even got a tattoo of the race course on her foot last year to keep her motivated for this year’s race. She does not see a problem with masks not being required.

“Personally, I am vaccinated, but I think an outdoor event is safer than an indoor event,” Lavigne said. “I think being outside brings a level of at ease to people where it's not super cautious and everyone isn’t worried.”

Participants who selected the “If given the chance, I would like to run in Falmouth” option during their registration, are guaranteed a place in the in-person race. Those who selected the At-Home Edition and want to switch to in-person have until June 8 to convert. 

Brian Baker of New York will be running in his 43rd consecutive race and says one word describes how he feels: “Awesome.”

“Just the idea that we are getting back to that sense of normalcy and the actual in-person race, I am excited beyond belief,” Baker said. 

There are some differences for this year’s race from prior years. Instead of 12,800 participants, there will only be 8,000. The expo usually held at Falmouth High School will be scaled back this year. 

The biggest change will be the finish line. Once the runners cross the finish line, they will be handed their water and a bag of goodies. Then, they will be ushered away from the race area.

Usually runners hang out at Falmouth Heights field after the race, but that field will be blocked off this year. Fans will still be able to stand alongside the 7-mile course to cheer on runners as they pass by. 

Patricia Cosgrove of Falmouth will be participating in her fourth Falmouth race. Cosgrove has hosted an athlete at her home for the past eight in-person races. Some runners have elected to stay with hosts, who provide transportation and housing for them. Cosgrove said she will host this year if needed but is excited about running again. 

“I think it’s fabulous the race is in-person this year,” Cosgrove said. “I think this race is orchestrated and facilitated to perfection.”

Although the race has returned to in-person this year, the At-Home-Edition will still be available, where participants run 7 miles on their own between Aug. 7-14. Ghelfi says the virtual race will be an annual event moving forward.

“I think it allows runners that want to be a part of our event that can’t get to Falmouth in August or can’t get in the race, because we turn away about 6,000 people every year, to participate,” Ghelfi said. 

The Falmouth Race will also still feature the SBLI Kids At-Home Challenge virtually.