Falmouth Road Race!

Anyone who has not yet run the Falmouth Road Race should definitely check it out. Registration opened yesterday for the lottery. This scenic 7 mile (yes, I know it’s an odd distance) starts in Woods Hole and finishes in Falmouth Heights. This year is the 40th running of the race, and it will be held on Sunday, August 12.

You reach the first mile as you round the bend at Nobska Light. The view is really breathtaking. While a deejay is spinning tunes, you can look out over Vineyard Sound as you and thousands of other runners head towards the beach.

Miles two and three are a bit hilly as you follow along Woods Hole Road. The nice thing about this stretch is that it is in partial shade—key if we happen to be suffering from the heat and humidity of an August morning! After the hilly portion, you come out and pass mile marker 4 along Surf Drive beach, right down the street from where I grew up.

The vista along Surf Drive is also really stunning, and there is a TON of crowd support (the crowd support for this race is HUGE). There are aid stations along this stretch and people are often out misting runners with garden hoses. You will hang right and follow Clinton Avenue as you pass mile marker 5.

The next part of the race follows along scenic Falmouth Harbor. There will be more music at the band shell. As the course nears the beach again, you pass the 10k marker. The last mile of the race is a little challenging. There is a pretty significant hill at mile 7, which you will hit just as your quads are screaming for mercy. Don’t worry, the rest of the way is downhill, and you will cross the finish line right in front of Falmouth Heights beach.

I love this race because the course is truly one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The crowd support is also UNREAL. I thrive on spectators, and if you are the same way, you will love this race even more. Race volunteers are also first-class.

Because the race has grown so much in popularity over its 40 year history, organizers have had to institute a lottery registration. While Falmouth residents (verified by tax records) are provided with guaranteed entry, the rest of us have to enter the lottery. Registration for non-residents opened yesterday at 7:00 a.m. and will run through May 23rd at 11:59 p.m. The registration fee this year is $45, and it is only charged if you are accepted into the race. Lottery results will be posted on the web site on May 28th.

I am very excited to be running the Falmouth Road Race again this year for the Melanoma Foundation of New England (MFNE). Since I am passionate about my hometown and raising awareness of melanoma, this is a perfect combination. I ran for team Running for Cover last year, and I am SO happy to be doing so again this year. If you do not make it into the lottery, but would like to run—please let me know. MFNE has some openings on our team. In exchange for free and guaranteed entry into the race, you will need to raise $1,000 for the foundation.

Have your run the Falmouth Road Race before? If so, are you planning to run this year?