Running is an expression of freedom and poetry, both which seek to reflect the deepest values of life. The James Joyce Ramble embraces these values as an exciting athletic event, as a generous expression of charity and a profound plea for human rights and dignity, and as a celebration of literature, art, music and theatre.

Ours is an event of a type not offered by any other group in the world, fully integrating the elements of art, literature and athletics. It benefits from an increasingly high level of awareness and popular support from people throughout the New England region. The venue of this 10 Kilometer road race is in the historic town of Dedham, twenty minutes from downtown Boston and serving as the government seat of Norfolk County. The participants are college educated professionals that are drawn from all over New England by the event's reputation and special nature. Among its attractions is the scenery and ambiance of the race course where each mile is named for a literary work by Irish author James Joyce, with scores of actors along the way interpreting these works with staged readings accompanied by traditional music of the British Isles.