Beach to Beacon STRIVE-ing to give back

Every year, the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K road race strives to give something back to the community.

This year is no different, as the world-class race, which will be held in Cape Elizabeth next Saturday, Aug. 4, has chosen STRIVE as this year’s race beneficiary.

STRIVE, based in South Portland, is a non-profit organization which serves teens and young adults (ages 15 to 24) with intellectual and emotional disabilities.

“We have about 50 volunteers or so that are going to be helping us out,” said STRIVE program manager Pete Brown. “We’re really excited to be connected to the Beach to Beacon, it’s going to be really big for us.”

Several members of Brown’s staff will be participating in the race, and a number of kids will be holding the finish line tape for the overall winners, Maine winners and wheelchair winners.

“We’re also doing the concession stand for spectators, things like that,” Brown said.

The opportunity to work up-close with world-class runners as well as race founder and Olympic Marathon champ Joan Benoit Samuelson will be beneficial.

“It will be a good educational opportunity for both our members as well as the community at large,” Brown said. “Starting with Joan, it’s top-notch. Everybody affiliated with it has been truly professional.”

According to Brown, STRIVE serves “about 450” young people on a daily basis.

“It really varies from day to day,” he said.

In addition, TD Banknorth will provide STRIVE with a donation of $30,000 through the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation.

The check will be presented to STRIVE representatives at the post-race awards ceremony at Fort Williams Park.

Beach to Beacon info tips

If you are running next weekend’s Beach to Beacon 10K, here’s some helpful information on parking, packet pick-up and road closings.

. Runners may pick up their timing chips, bib numbers and T-shirts at Cape Elizabeth High School on Thursday, Aug. 2 from 4-8 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 3 from 2:30-8 p.m.

. The following Cape Elizabeth roads will be closed to traffic on race day: Route 77 from Sprague Hall to Kettle Cove Road, 6-10 a.m.; from Kettle Cove Road to Old Ocean House Road, 7:30-10 a.m.; and at Hillway, 7:30-10 a.m.

. All of Old Ocean House road will be shut down from 7:30-10 a.m. and all of Fowler Road, with the exception of shuttle buses heading to Fort Williams to pick up runners, from 7:15-10 a.m. as well as all of Shore Road between Key Bank and Fort Williams Park from 7:30-11 a.m.

. Parking for runners will be provided at Sprague Fields, located at Fowler and Ram Island Farm roads, near the starting line. Parking is also available at Cape Elizabeth High and Middle Schools on a first-come, first-serve basis. Runners will be shuttled to the starting line between 6:30-7:30 a.m. Carpooling is strongly suggested.

. No parking will be available for runners at the finish line at Fort Williams.

Running of the Ponies

The Beach to Beacon isn’t the only road race on tap for the first Saturday of August.

The 11th annual Pony Pride Alumni 5K will run at 8 a.m. at the Piscataquis Community YMCA in Dover-Foxcroft on Aug. 4.

The race is held in conjunction with Foxcroft Academy’s annual Alumni Weekend, and a parade will be held following the race.

Runners can register on race day from 7-7:45 a.m. The fee is $12, and the first 75 to sign up receive T-shirts.

The flat and fast course runs through the town of Dover-Foxcroft. Any questions, or to obtain a registration form, contact George Rolleston at 564-3443.