THE START: 8:00 AM Sharp! Sunday, December 8, 2024, for all teams except female veterans (60+), coed veterans, female super veterans (70+), elders (80+), and the Sunshine Open (3-person team with 11 minute/mile or greater average – any age, any gender, NON-SCORING), who will participate in our Sunshine Start.
START LOCATION – new this year! – at the Nashua Senior Center, 70 Temple Street, Nashua, NH.
SUNSHINE START: Female veterans (60+), coed veterans (60+), super veterans (70+), elders (80+), and the Sunshine Open teams will run the final 3 legs of the relay (3-person team). These teams will start at 8:45 AM sharp from the second exchange point at Greater Lowell Regional Technical High School on Rte. 113 in Tyngsboro.
THE CATEGORIES: Each relay team consists of 5 runners. The female veterans (60+), coed veterans (60+), super veterans (70+), elders (80+), and Sunshine Open teams consist of 3 runners. There are 22 categories.
| Category | Runners | Details |
|---|---|---|
| male open (18+) | 5 | |
| female open (18+) | 5 | |
| co-ed open (18+) | 5 | at least 2 females |
| male sub-masters (30+) | 5 | |
| female sub-masters (30+) | 5 | |
| co-ed sub-masters (30+) | 5 | at least 2 females |
| female masters (40+) | 5 | |
| male masters (40+) | 5 | |
| coed masters (40+) | 5 | at least 2 females |
| male seniors (50+) | 5 | |
| female seniors (50+) | 5 | |
| coed seniors (50+) | 5 | at least 2 females |
| female veterans (60+) | 3 | |
| male veterans (60+) | 5 | |
| coed veterans (60+) | 3 | at least 1 female |
| female super veterans (70+) | 3 | |
| male super veterans (70+) | 3 | |
| coed super veterans (70+) | 3 | at least 1 female |
| sunshine open (any age, any gender) | 3 | |
| female elders (80+) | 3 | |
| male elders (80+) | 3 | |
| coed elders (80+) | 3 | at least 1 female |
SUNSET START (Running leg 5, then read this): All runners doing the final leg will start at (or before) 11:15 am. if your fourth leg runner does not reach the last exchange point by 11:15 am, your final leg runner should be in place and will be started at that time. The time beyond 11:15 am that your fourth leg runner finishes will be added to the team’s time.
AGE REQUIREMENTS: All participants must be of 18 years or older.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? This is an invitational event that is open to all members of the following clubs: Gate City Striders, Greater Lowell Road Runners, Merrimack Valley Striders, Andover Striders, Greater Manchester Running Club, Winners’ Circle Running Club, Gil’s Athletic Club, Whirlaway Racing Team, North Shore Striders, Greater Derry Track Club, Squannacook River Runners, North Medford Club, Somerville Road Runners, Sandown Rouge Runners, Melrose Running Club, Shamrock Running Club, Mystic Runners, Wicked Running Club, TriFury, Sole Sisters and Borderline Running Club.
DUES FOR INVITED CLUBS: To remain one of the INVITED clubs, the annual DUES of $50 must be received in the hands of the MCR treasurer by the October Event Committee Meeting. Please tell you running club Treasurer to put this on their calendar because every year we hear too many “Oh we didn’t know”.
TEAM ENTRY-FEE: $175 for 5-person teams and $105 for 3-person teams. Individual clubs are responsible for managing the entry fees for all of the club’s teams. Contact your club’s Mill Cities Relay coordinator for details on how this is being handled within your club. Each club should submit a single check in payment for all of the club’s teams. As of the Bib number and Team packed PICK UP meeting on Monday, December 2, 2024, a check for the total amount due must be in the hands of the MCR President or Treasurer during that meeting. Checks must NOT be MAILED. Checks should be made payable to “Mill Cities Relay”. You will be sent an email within 24 hours of Friday, November 29, 2024, at 5 PM telling you the amount your club owes. If you do not get this email, immediately contact the MCR President or Treasurer.
HOW TO REGISTER: Assemble your team and fill-out the on-line application form found using the REGISTRATION MENU TAB at the top of this page. On-line Team Creation ENDS on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 5 PM – no team creations are be accepted after this date. You may MODIFY the data in an existing team using the same REGISTRATION MENU TAB until Friday, December 6, 2024, at 6 PM. THERE IS NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION. Contact your club’s Mill Cities Relay coordinator for details on how this is being handled within your club. Competitive numbers, slap bands and race giveaways for all teams will be made available to your club’s MCR coordinator.
MANAGING TEAM ROSTERS: It is important to have accurate team rosters on race day. Teams with incorrect race day rosters can miss exchanges, since team members often look at the on-line rosters to verify which leg, they are running. Teams with incorrect race day rosters can also be disqualified, impacting both the team and the club scoring. Team captains can manage their own team rosters on-line up to Friday, December 6, 2024, 6 PM. After that date, any roster changes must be submitted in writing directly to the race timers prior to the race start on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
PARKING ALERT: Parking isn’t allowed on Rt. 113 along the area at exchange 2 near the Lowell Technical School). Parking is fine along Rt. 113 at exchange 3 near the boathouse.
FOUL WEATHER: In the event of snow, the race may be delayed or postponed. Please check this website race weekend for the race’s status.
THE SIXTH LEG CELEBRATION: This competition is a celebration of running, camaraderie, and friendship. It is also a year-end party to the running year. We will follow the race with our awards ceremony that will be held at the finish at Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant. Soup, Cote’s famous beans, pasta, bread and salad will be provided. Following the awards’ presentation, the party continues with music and fun.
COOPERATION: This is an event for runners organized by runners. Each participant is needed to do some organizational function. Each participant is expected to follow the rules.