Great Traditions Are Built One Brick at a Time

By Dave Camire

"An idea is only as good as its implementation." This philosophy has always held true in my experience—except when it comes to the Mill Cities Relay (MCR). While the MCR was a great idea, the people who brought it to life—and the improvements they introduced—far outweighed the original concept. Now, years later, the relay has become an event steeped in history.

My goal is to capture this history through the stories of those who ran it and those who built it into the institution it is today. The history of Mill Cities is, at its core, the history of the people who shaped it.

The Embryo

The 1982 Plymouth-to-Provincetown relay was a classic showdown between three New England powerhouses: Central Mass Striders (CMS), Greater Lowell Road Runners (GLRR), and the Boston Athletic Association (BAA).

Somewhere in the later miles of the 88-mile race, CMS made a wrong turn due to a missing course marshal, straying miles off course. Realizing their mistake, their lead runner was given a ride back to the point of departure. Despite the detour, CMS still went on to win. GLRR's Will Mason later gave them the fitting nickname: Mass Riders.

Organizing P-to-P was an enormous undertaking, resting solely on the legendary Fred Brown and his North Medford Club. I found it odd that just one club was responsible for managing such a large and prestigious event. Why weren’t other clubs involved in the organization?

On the ride home from Provincetown, stuck in traffic on Boston’s infamous elevated Central Artery, I had a moment of inspiration. I turned to my teammate, Dennis Conners, and shared my idea: What if we organized a relay in the Merrimack Valley, with multiple clubs working together? It would make the event much easier to manage.

The next morning, I woke up in a haze—thanks to one too many celebratory beverages. Most of the previous day was a blur, but Dennis’ response to my idea stuck with me. He had simply said, “Do it!” And that was the moment the Mill Cities Relay was born!

(To be continued...)