The best runner Maine has ever produced will run the first leg at 8 a.m. today. A large group will likely run the last, probably during the early morning hours on Monday.

And in between, other fitness enthusiasts will pitch in to carry a baton 532 miles from Kittery to Madawaska and commemorate the life of Andy Palmer, who died on Feb. 4 at the age of 48.

The goal is simple, according to Ed Rice, who helped organize the relay along with Peter Millard and leaders from all the other running clubs in the state.

“We’re gonna connect more than 100 runners, from one end of the state to the other,” Rice said. “And we’re gonna take Andy home, to Madawaska.”

Joan Benoit Samuelson, who won the 1984 Olympic Marathon and was a friend of Palmer, will run the ceremonial first leg, while the final segment from Acadia School to Madawaska High School will be covered by as many as 200 people.

Palmer, a Madawaska native, was one of the state’s best ever, and established himself as a world-class runner in the 1980s. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 1984 and 1988, and was a force from 10 kilometers to the marathon.

But that’s only one piece of Palmer’s legacy, according to those who knew him. Palmer was also an accomplished coach who helped guide some of the state’s top high school distance runners, including Central Aroostook’s Michelle Hallett and Presque Isle’s Paul Plissey.

And he was a friend.

He had been so charismatic, and had touched people throughout the state,” Rice said. “He’d been one of those guys who had come in contact with almost everybody [in the running community].”

Soon after Palmer died, Rice began envisioning a fitting tribute to the man. The Andy Palmer Memorial Relay will also serve as a fund-raiser for ZAP Fitness, the nonprofit training facility that Palmer and his wife, Zika, founded in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Rice said the cooperation of the entire running community has made the run a reality. From one end of the state to the other, 11 captains have taken responsibility for their own geographic areas and cobbled together a route and schedule.

Rice has helped oversee the entire process from Orono, and admitted the experience has been time-consuming.

“I snap on the computer, and [it says] ‘You have 35 new messages.’ I have more friends than I could have imagined,” Rice joked.

On the serious side, however, Rice said the logistics of the relay have proved testy.

“Everyone wants to run at a certain time, and run a certain distance,” he said. “As you can imagine, it’s been an effort in compromise.”

In order to help the relay move northward as speedily as possible, organizers have encouraged slower runners to accept shorter legs, and given longer legs to faster runners. Also, cyclists will carry the baton for portions of the relay.

Rice said Palmer would probably understand and accept that decision.

“Andy was about fitness,” Rice said. “And this will help us [keep to the time schedule].”

Participants will be asked to make a minimum donation of $10 to ZAP Fitness, and Rice said that although all the legs are filled, more runners are welcome.

“At this point, we’re not creating new legs, but you’d get to run with someone of like ability,” Rice said.

Among the organizations that stepped forward to help: The University of Maine at Presque Isle, which donated the use of a van for the entire trip, and Cadillac Mountain Sports in Bar Harbor, which donated $100 toward gas for the van.

Rice credited Millard for being “the nerve center” of the relay, and Brian Hubbell for helping design a workable route.

The route will follow a basic south-to-north path, with a side loop through Mount Desert Island, where Palmer ran a running camp for years.

Donations are still being accepted for the Andy Palmer Memorial Run. For more information, call Ed Rice at 866-7238.

Finishing kick: Eastern Maine road-runners have a couple of racing options this weekend. ON Saturday, they can head to Guilford for the 5K Race for the Hungry, which will begin at 10 a.m. at Vitality Fitness; And on Sunday, one of the area’s oldest races, the Hampden 81/2-miler, will be held at 8:30 a.m. Registration is at the Weatherbee-McGraw School, and begins at 7:30.

John Holyoke can be reached at 990-8214, 1-800-310-8600 or by e-mail at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net