WHAT'S NEW FOR 2010

CASH PRIZES

Now there's added incentive for elite athletes to strive for a top three finish in the Ten Mile Road Race.  In 2010, cash prizes will be awarded to the first [$1000], second [$500] and third place [$250] male and female finishers courtesy of Half-Way Motors NISSAN.   Spectators will be thrilled by the last-dash heroics of leading cash contenders as they test each other's speed and stamina down the closing mile.


John Trevisanutto, President of Half-Way Motors NISSAN
announces cash prizes for top finishers in 2010



DESIGN OF CENTENNIAL FINISHERS MEDAL REVEALED

The first 1200 runners to register for the race will receive a centennial finishers medal in shades of gold as they cross the finish line.  The finishers medal commemorates the 100 years since the inaugural running of the Ten Mile Road Race back in 1910.  Record entry levels are expected this year, so enter early to ensure you get a handsome medal to mark your completion of our centennial race.

 

  
  
TWO-WAVE START FOR 2010
 
This year the race will start in two waves: the first wave for individual runners at 9am; and the second wave at 9:10am for relay runners.  Relay runners earned a separate start time owing to the increasing popularity of their events.  If you are the first runner of a relay team, please collect around the relay table at the rear of the starting area.  Once the starting area has cleared of individual runners, the relay contestants may enter the starting area in preparation for their start.
 
  
 
FIREFIGHTERS ANNOUNCE ED FOEKENS TROPHY

In memory of this year's unexpected passing of Junior Firefighter Ed Foekens, the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association will sponsor a new trophy for the first junior firefighter to cross the finish line at the Ten Mile Road Race.  The Ed Foekens Memorial Trophy will be contested annually as a symbol of the professional dedication of firefighters in training.


Eric Nordlund, President of the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters
Association introduces the Ed Foekens Memorial Trophy



A CENTURY OF TRADITION

Yes, it will be one hundred years [to the day!] since the inaugural running of the Ten Mile Road Race here at the head of the Great Lakes.  It's unlikely that many of the runners who covered the distance back in 1910 could ever have imagined that they had spawned a tradition that would endure and prosper for 100 years.  And, it's not very likely that we'll be around to experience a bi-centennial race, so this is a year you don't want to miss.  Take up the Ten Mile Challenge in 2010 in celebration of our 100th birthday.


J.E. Edwards breaks through the crowd to finish three minutes clear of his nearest competition in 1910.
[photo courtesy of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall Of Fame & Museum]

 
 
CENTENNIAL EXHIBIT AT NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The Hall is currently featuring an exhibit that celebrates the Ten Mile Road Race, including the original trophies awarded to 1st and 3rd place finishers in the inaugural 1910 race.
   

The Sports Hall Of Fame is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5PM, and
is located at 219 May Street South in Thunder Bay.
 
  
The Ten Mile Road Race Story Board at the entrance to the Northwest Ontario Sports Hall Of Fame.     
 
 
 
MEDIA CONFERENCE ON APRIL 28TH

A Media Conference was held 6PM April 28th at Half-Way Motors NISSAN on Memorial Avenue to profile the continuing tradition of the Ten Mile Road Race, and to highlight race enhancements that will make the event even more exciting for 2010.  If you are affiliated with the media and would like to follow up on the media conference, please contact Mark Smith [at 625-2544 or msmith@thunderbay.ca].  If you are a race participant, sponsor, volunteer or supporter, and you took the time to join us for the media conference, we'd like to thank you for demonstrating your support for the Ten Mile Road Race and the running community in Thunder Bay.
For a copy of the media release associated with the conference, click here.


Runners gathered to participate in the April 28th Media Launch of the 2010 Firefighters
Ten Mile Road Race



TIME TO MEASURE UP

A sampling of Ten Mile Road Race tech-shirts is now available upstairs at Fresh Air Experience.  Drop in to ensure that your centennial tech-shirt is just the size you want.  The centennial artwork for the 2010 tech-shirt will be revealed at the May 18th media conference.



CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS
  
We're looking for photos that capture the excitement, the exertion, the jubilation, the determination, the teamwork and the spirit of the 2010 Ten Mile Road Race.  If you're on-site with a camera and happen to capture a special moment, we'd sure appreciate if you'd share it with us.  You can forward those great pics to webmaster@10mileroadrace.org.  We'll be posting as many as we can on this website so that everyone can appreciate the race as it was.



TEN MILE TRAINING PROGRAM BOOMS

Fresh Air Experience continues to attract record numbers for its Ten Mile Road Race Training Program.  As of mid-April, 190 aspiring ten-milers were registered to the program that includes race entry and a 17-week training program.  Runners receive counselling on warm-up, cool-down, stretching, strengthening, hydration, pacing, cross-training, hill-training, speed-training and realistic expectations.  Every Saturday, up to seventeen pacers lead groups at a variety of workout speeds.  The sheer number of participants ensures that everyone benefits from camaradarie and support.


Fresh Air Experience Ten Mile Training Group members wind up their preparatory stretch and flexibility routines and head out on their first test run along the full length of the race course.
  
  
   
FRESH AIR EXPERIENCE PACE BUNNIES LEAD RUNNERS TO THEIR TARGET TIMES
   
If you're looking for company and support as you tackle the 10 miler this year, you might want to consider tagging along with the Fresh Air Experience pace bunnies.  The bunnies will be distinguishable by the length of their ears and a sign on their back for the pace they'll be running.  Plans currently include pace bunnies for 7 minute miles, 8:30 miles, 9 minute miles, 9:30 miles, 10 minute miles, in addition to 10-and-1 pacers [who cycle through 10 minutes running followed by 1 minute walking] for 10 minute miles, 10:30 miles, 11 minute miles, and even a special bunny 'to finish'.

     
Fresh Air Experience Pace Bunnies For The Ten Mile Road Race 2009.      
 
   
  
RELAYS HAVE MORE CATEGORIES, NEW START TIME

Participation in relays has grown steadily since their inception with relay runners now constituting a quarter of all runners.  In response to their growing numbers, relay runners will now have their own start, in a second wave at 9:10am, after the start area has cleared of all individual runners who start at 9am.  This year's race will feature more relay categories than ever before, including:
..... student and youth relay teams with five members aged 17 or under
..... family fun relay teams with five members including at least one adult and one member under 16 years of age, and
..... 60+ relay teams with three members.

 

FIREFIGHTERS FULL-GEAR RELAY

The Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters will stage a dramatic demonstration of 'fitness in the force' with a team relay conducted while packing full gear for emergency response.  Physical fitness is a key element in the protection that firefighters accord the community, and ten members of the force will successively scramble for a mile in full turn-out gear as a testament to their readiness for the challenge. 


Suited-up firefighters compete in the 2009 Ten Mile Road Race.    [photo by Jim Cameron]



MORE CHANCES TO PICK UP RACE KITS

Venues and times for runners to pick up their race kits have been expanded this year.  Kits will be available at the newly opened showroom of Half-Way Motors NISSAN [930 Memorial Avenue] from 4-7pm on May 20th and 21st, and from 1-4pm on May 22nd.  As in past years, kace kits will also be distributed starting at 4pm during the pasta dinner at the Columbus Centre, 301 South May Street.



EVENT HOTEL DESIGNATED FOR 2010

The Ten Mile Road Race is pleased to announce its partnership with the Victoria Inn as Event Hotel for 2010.  The Victoria Inn is conveniently located at 555 West Arthur Street in a straight line with the start/finish area for the race.  If you're travelling from out of town to participate in the race, you qualify for a preferred room rate that is significantly below their otherwise best available rate.  Book by phone [807-577-8481] using code confirmation 241123.


The Victoria Inn is located at 555 West Arthur Street, just east of Highway 61. 
 

 
VIDEO & GOOGLE MAP OF THE RACE ROUTE

A video of the Ten Mile Race route has been posted on YouTube.  To access the video, click here.
To access an interactive Google Map of the race route, click here.
  
 
 
TEN YEAR HONOUR ROLL
 
Have you got the 'stuff' to run the Ten Mile Road Race ten years back-to-back?  Race records show that, amazingly, 25 runners have done exactly that over the past decade!  And here is the honour roll with those resilient performers:

Carol Bannon
Bill Bragg
James Coady
Joe Grzelewski
John Guthrie
Sandie Guthrie
Ralph Hibbert
Jack Kushnier
Roger Lambert
Susan McDonald
Roy Nisula
Arnie Nurmi
Betty Oldale
Maureen Page
Marty Patterson
Frank Pollari
Chris Pyne
Bob Shine
Dan Slomke
Leigh Smith
Dan Tipple
Vi Turner
Claude Wyspianski
Gary Young
John Young
 
If you belong on this list, but we've missed you, please send us an e-mail at contact@10mileroadrace.org.  
    
    
 
RELIEF ON THE RACE COURSE

How do you spell 'relief' on race day?  If you spell it 'toilets', you'll be elated to hear that porta-potties will be located on the race course this year, in addition to their traditional location at the start/finish line.  Portable toilets will be located at each relay station [miles 2, 4, 6 and 8].  So if you're a runner who experiences an occasional uncontrollable urge to head for the sidelines, there'll be a place for you to 'go'.   Or, if you're one of our spirited spectators who withstands the early morning chill to rally the runners for up to two hours after that morning java, this should help keep your mind on the race.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK & WIKIPEDIA

Become a part of the Ten Mile Road Race E-Community and contribute to the chatter. 
Or you can check out our credentials on the internet refernce site, Wikipedia.
You can also contact us directly by e-mail @ 10mileroadrace@gmail.com.  We appreciate your feedback and suggestions.