The prestigious recognition means the Ramble is the top 10K race in New England – a draw that has race organizer Martin Hanely prepping for up to 3,000 runners for Sunday’s event.
“You compete for the rights to host the championships,” he said. “We got the event this year because they feel that the town is solidly behind the event.
“The all come together and support […] to make it truly an event that the town can be proud of.”
The Ramble usually only receives the USATF sanction if the race falls two weeks after the Boston Marathon, Hanley said, which gives athletes plenty of time to rest.
With most of the race day festivities happening at the Endicott Estate, Hanley predicted upward of 10,000 people will flood Dedham to celebrate the Ramble.
Early forecasts are predicting a balmy 62 degrees with some cloud cover.
Each year, the Ramble brings attention to a literary figure suffering from oppression. This year, Hanley is shining a light on Iranian journalist Jafar Panahi, who directed the film “Dayareh” that earned him the prestigious “Golden Lion” prize at the Venice Film Festival in 2000.
In March 2010, Panahi was arrested and later sentenced to 6 years in prison and given a 20-year ban on his artistic works for producing “propaganda against the state.”
“Literary freedom is not a reality in many countries. If you were to put pen to paper and the words on the paper are objectionable to the regime in power, they’ll put you in jail,” Hanley said.
The James Joyce Ramble has passed around a petition to ask for the release of a literary figure each year since 1989 in concert with Amnesty International.
“It’s designed to raise awareness about human rights issues around the world,” he said. “It gets people thinking and recognizing what is happening around the world.”
The mail-in registration deadline for the race is Monday, April 25. Participants who would like to reserve a race T-shirt must have a registration form postmarked by April 25.
Registration will continue online and on race day.
“It would help us out – and make it a lot more orderly and enjoyable for everyone,” Hanley said.
Hanley is expecting another great crowd and a busy race day complete with the Take-A-Walkfundraiser and the famed North Star Children’s Ramble.
“That’s what happens when you establish a reputation for putting on a first-rate event, is that you have that benchmark that you have to meet every year,” Hanley said.