Popular mile run gaining steam
By KEVIN GRAY
Staff Sports Writer
Literally, it's been all downhill for organizers of the Millennium Mile, which quickly has become one of the most popular road races in southern New Hampshire.
As many as 700 participants are expected for the sixth annual event held tomorrow in Londonderry. The Millennium Mile course drops almost 100 elevational feet, starting from the crest in Mammoth Road and finishing near Mack's Apples. Only a sprint down a mile of the Mt. Washington Auto Road would be faster.
Lead organizer John Mortimer, former Londonderry High and University of Michigan long-distance standout, continues to build on a formula for success. The downhill dash has grown rapidly each year since the inaugural Millennium Mile was held on the last day of 1999, drawing 121 participants.
"The one-mile distance and downhill nature makes it fun more than anything else," Mortimer said. "It's not a distance often run, and being downhill, you can run faster than you've run in years."
With Londonderry's own Mortimer, a seven-time All-America selection at Michigan, in charge of the guest list, the race has always drawn a field of elite runners. This year, the race has added another celebrated runner: Deena Kastor, Olympic bronze medalist and U.S. record-holder in the marathon.
Kastor will sign autographs from 12:30-1 p.m. before lacing up her sneakers and running with husband Andrew. Start time is set for 2 p.m.
Young runners looking for a few tips will have a chance to consult with plenty of seasoned veterans. Other notables in the field, in addition to Mortimer, will include:
* Becki Wells — Two-time national champion at the University of Florida. Set a Southeastern Conference record with track and field 16 titles. Shannon Grady, another former All-America runner from the University of Florida, will also attend.
* Amy (Lyman) Nadeau — Two-time Millennium Mile champ and former All-American at Boston College. Husband Eric, a bronze medalist at the 1997 Indoor World Championships, will also compete. Both coach at Amherst College.
* Kara Hass — Westford, Mass., resident is a former Millennium Mile runner-up and familiar face around the New England road running circuit.
* James Thie, a record holder in the United Kingdom who took fifth at the 2004 Indoor World Championships.
* Andy and Matt Downin — Brothers from Hampstead and Pinkerton Academy of Derry combined for 11 NCAA All-America certificates. Two-time Millennium Mile winner Andy, a graduate of Georgetown University, won the 1,500-meter national championship in college. Matt, of the University of Wisconsin, finished seventh at the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meters . . . Won the 2000 schoolboy national cross country championship, finishing ahead of runner-up Mortimer.
Mortimer and friends conceived of the idea during Thanksgiving weekend of 1999. The elite group of runners decided they should form their own local race, and the first Millennium Mile was held on the last day of the year.
Several factors made the race a huge success. Officially, no one from New Hampshire had ever completed a mile run in fewer than four minutes. Scott Anderson of Washington, D.C., ran the inaugural race in 3 minutes, 51 seconds to claim the victory.
Six men broke the 4-minute mark that year, and a field of 121 participants celebrated the inaugural race with some hot cider and refreshments at Mack's. Last year, the event drew more than 500 runners and walkers — halfway toward reaching the goal of 1,000 participants.
The Millennium Mile has since become the opening leg of The Union Leader Open Roads Challenge, a three-race series also including the Bedford Rotary Memorial Road Races (participants may run the 12K or 5K) and The Union Leader Classic 8K race held Sept. 10.
In 2002, race founders established the Millennium College Scholarship to benefit a New Hampshire of Massachusetts high school senior planning to become a collegiate student-athlete. The scholarship this year was renamed the Millennium Mile & June E. Mortimer Memorial College Scholarship Fund, honoring John Mortimer's mother, who lost a battle with cancer in April.
A year ago, a record field reached 624 participants, including 127 children ages 12 and under. The Granite State Flash and Nashua Police Athletic League youth programs are expected to send another 100-plus entries. Kids may participate for just $2.
Earlier this week, Mortimer had counted more than 300 pre-registration forms. If the weather cooperates, walk-ups and more registrations ($8 apiece) could push the 2004 tally above 700 people.
"We thought in '99 this would be a one-year deal," Mortimer said. "It was going to be a one-time race until the next year when people asked us to do it again. Every year since then it's grown, and we've gotten more community support and more sponsorship."
Anderson and Andy Downin share the men's course record of 3:51, while Katie McGregor of Minneapolis owns the women's record of 4:27. |
