Dear Editor:

For the first time in 34 years, the Boothbay Region YMCA’s Annual Rocky Coast Road Race took place on June 28 instead of the first Saturday in May. The later change in date most definitely helped in the 100 percent plus increased race participation.

Thank you to the 177 runners who ran in the 5k and 10k races in addition to 60-plus walkers and participants in the Kids’ Fun Run. None of this could have been possible without the help of 50-plus volunteers and Y staff who handed out race packets, registered runners, guided people on the course, handed out water and post-race snacks, assisted the race timing professional, set up the course and took it down and manned the inflatable bounce house.

Thank you to our race sponsors: Adept Screen Printing, Lincoln Health, US Cellular, The Boothbay Playhouse, Boothbay Family Dentistry, Road ID, Mountain Khakis and Gimbel & Sons, Country Store, The Smiling Cow and The Loft, who helped offset expenses so that a portion of the net proceeds can be given to the Friends of Windjammer Days Fund to help sustain a festival that is a vital part of our community, and the remainder will go directly toward YMCA Youth Development and Healthy Living programs.

Thank you to Hannaford for donating healthy snacks, Poland Spring for donating water, Boothbay Region Greenhouses for the balloon display, Compass Rose for an inflatable bounce house, Jonne Trees at Channel 7 for videotaping, Maine Running Photos for race photos, local police and ambulance service for partnering with the Y in keeping everyone safe and traffic flowing during this busy summer day, Boothbay Region High School for use of the facilities for the Kids’ 1m Fun Run, post-race snacks and the overall awards ceremony and a huge thank you to professional race timer Randy Easter.

Don’t forget the next two races coming up: The Lobster Roll 5k on Saturday, July 26 to benefit the community track fund, and the first time, the 2014 Harbor Fest 5k and Half Marathon sponsored by Marketing Cents 4 U, Boothbay Craft Brewery and the YMCA to benefit the Boothbay Community Trails Partnership.

Andrew Morley and Meagan Hamblett
Race Co-Chairmen