Race Director's Welcome
On May 18th 2009, Thunder Bay hosted the 76th running of the Firefighters 10 Mile Road Race. It was great success. The Firefighters 10 Mile Road Race is rich in history. Dating back to 1910, it is one of the oldest running races of its kind in North America and it continues to be Thunder Bay’s premier running event.
The success of the event can be attributed to four key ingredients - great runners, enthusiastic spectators, wonderful sponsors and fantastic volunteers. The Firefighters Ten Mile Road Race is very fortunate to enjoy all four.
The Race draws runners from throughout the region. Every year highly competitive runners, novice athletes and veterans alike come from all over Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota (and sometimes from even further a field) to challenge themselves and each other. Although it is a very competitive event, the real heart and soul of the Firefighters Ten Mile Road Race are the hundreds of community runners who train specifically for this special race. The event has been steadily growing in recent years and drew record numbers in 2009. Over 700 individual runners competed the distance in addition to more than 200 young runners who participated on relay teams.
A growing number of spectators also came out in 2009 to support the runners. There are many locations along the route that are ideal for spectators to gather and cheer. Anybody who's participated in an event like this can testify to the powerful impact of a cheering crowd. 2009 crowds seemed bigger and louder than ever, and contributed significantly to the excitement of the day.
The Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association has been the Race’s title sponsor since 2004. For 2010, Half Way Motors Nissan has joined the Firefighters Association as one of the event’s key sponsors. Race organizers are now exploring a number of opportunities made possible because of this additional support to enhance what is already a great event.
Though great runners, spectators and sponsors are key to a successful race, nobody would have the opportunity to step up to a starting line at all without the efforts of volunteers. The Firefighters 10 Mile Road Race relies on the help of more than 175 volunteers to ensure the event’s success. Though we are truly grateful to each and every one of them, none deserve our thanks more than John Garland.
John Garland has been the Race Director of the 10 Mile Road Race for close to twenty years. In fact, his involvement as a key member of the organizing committee for the Race spans close to three decades. John Garland has been an active proponent in the transition of the event from a comparatively small and highly competitive race, to an inclusive community event. Under his leadership the race has grown and improved in many ways including the addition of student relay teams, a pre-race pasta dinner, the use of electronic chip timing, route improvements, safety and security enhancements, and many many more. The running community, in fact the community at large, owes a great debt of thanks to John Garland.
John is stepping down as Race Director. For the first time in a very long time, John plans to join the runners on the 2010 starting line, instead of standing beside them when the starter’s pistol fires. He last competed in the 10 Mile Road Race in 1992. He won his age group that year and he may very well win it again. We all certainly look forward to cheering him on.
Plan to be part of the Firefighters 10 Mile Road Race for 2010. Whether as a runner, spectator, sponsor or volunteer; it will be an experience you won’t forget!
Mark J. Smith
2010 Race Director
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