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On Sunday, April 28th, the James Joyce Ramble will host the USATF Masters 10km National Championship for the 10th time. This has become an annual rite of spring for some of the fastest Masters runners in the nation. From California to Oregon to Georgia and New Jersey, runners have their thoughts on Dedham, Massachusetts. They will gather at the Endicott Estate on Saturday to pick up their pre-race packets and will be back Sunday morning to toe the line for an 11 am start.
Last year Nat Larson 60 and Jan Holmquist 78 took down American Records in their age divisions. Larson bettered the men’s 60-64 record that has stood since 1999 by three seconds in 34:24. Holmquist took down the women’s record by 10 seconds in 50:01.
Athletes look forward to the competition and camaraderie that characterize a national championship. Not only is this a national championship, it is an important part of the USATF Masters National Grand Prix series. Earlier stops this year have been in San Francisco CA, Richmond VA, Atlanta GA, Sacramento CA and Syracuse NY. Following the 10 Km stop in Dedham, there will be championships later this year in Indianapolis IN, Highlands NJ (on the Jersey shore), and Boca Raton FL.
The historic Ramble course leads the runners through the heart of Dedham’s town center and around its periphery, up hill, and down dale. Although it is not an easy course, athletes have figured out how to run fast times. Several Age Division American records have been set on the course. Records are made to be broken but three of the best still stand. In 2015, Christine Kennedy, 60, made the trip from Southern California across the country, setting a record for Women 60-64 of 39:24 averaging 6:21/mile. In the same event, a famous runner from Greater Boston, Jan Holmquist, set the bar for Women 70-74 at 45:19, averaging 7:18 per mile. Three years later, Gene Dykes came up from Philadelphia to set the Men’s 70-74 record at 39:02, averaging 6:18 per mile.
Kirk Larson, a team captain for the Atlanta Track Club, echoed the thoughts of many Masters athletes when he remarked, “I love that race! Our Club brings dozens of athletes every year to enjoy racing in a quintessential small New England town. The course is not easy, but you are never bored! What other race would have actors reciting James Joyce to you as you race by!” Perry Jenkins, Chair of the USATF Masters LDR Sports Committee added, “USATF is delighted to be returning to Dedham. Martin Hanley does a great job organizing the race. It draws one of our largest fields of Masters athletes. They love the setting and the competition between the strongest Masters runners in New England and their competitors from across the country.”
The Ramble will also be the host for the Dedham Savings “Take A Walk” which has raised thousands of dollars for Dana Farber basic research programs over three decades.
It also features a children’s event on the lawn of the Estate called the North Star Children’s Ramble sponsored by Fablevision.
You can sign up online for all of the events at Ramble.org.