NATIONAL AND LOCAL CELEBRITIES PARTICIPATE IN DMSE SPORTS' VIRTUAL RUN ACROSS AMERICA
RUNNING USA
Runners include a NASA astronaut, a Hollywood actor, multiple Boston Marathon champions, and several Olympians
Boston — DMSE Sports today announced the formation of two celebrity teams who are participating in the Medford2Medford Run Across America. Two teams of national and local celebrities have been virtually following in Dave McGillivray’s footsteps along the course he ran during his 1978 cross-America run from Medford, OR, to Medford, MA.
Registration for Medford2Medford is still open at medford2medford.com and will remain open through the ceremonial end of the event on August 29.
The list of celebrities for the summer-long virtual event includes American NASA astronaut Sunita Williams; actor Sean Astin (of Rudy and Lord of the Rings); 2014 Boston Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi; Pete Kostelnick, the record-holder for cross-America running; Lisa Bentley, 11-Time Ironman Champion; and Mark Allen and Dave Scott, both 6-Time Champions of the Ironman Triathlon World Championships.
A few years ago, Dave McGillivray brought back the “Celebrity Mile” from running events in the Greater Boston area after a 32-year absence, and this year’s virtual edition is a twist on that theme. A complete list of the celebrities who are participating is included at the bottom of the release.
Participating celebrities also include Max Lane, former New England Patriots offensive lineman; Karen Smyers, Ironman Triathlon world champion; and Michael Wardian and Becca Pizzi, World Marathon Challenge champions.
The celebrity field will also feature its share of running industry legends, such as Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympics Bronze Medal for the women’s marathon; Joan Benoit Samuelson, Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time Boston Marathon champion; Leo Manzano, 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist for the 1,500 meters; and four-time Boston Marathon champion Bill Rogers, who’ll be joined by his peers Greg Meyer (1983), Amby Burfoot (1968), and Jack Fultz (1976).
“Although we’re unable to enjoy the ‘Celebrity Mile’ in person because of the pandemic, it’s been fun to bring together athletes from across the country, whether they’re marathon champions or TV personalities,” said Dave McGillivray, president of DMSE Sports and the inspiration for the M2M. “I’m thrilled to see the interest and enthusiasm displayed by so many of our celebrity participants and it has been inspiring to follow them as they accumulate their miles and add to the overall team totals. I am so grateful they’ve joined us on this virtual adventure. Maybe someday we will rent a motorhome and run the real thing together!”
Medford2Medford is a virtual team running event that strives to bring fellow runners together while they’re apart and to help raise some much-needed funds for charities. The M2M is modeled after Dave McGillivray’s 1978 run from Medford, OR, to Medford, MA. Over the course of 80 days, McGillivray ran 3,452 miles and raised more than $100,000 for the Jimmy Fund, a Boston-based charity that supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The event welcomes walkers, runners, and cyclists to team up to complete one of three distances.
About DMSE Sports
Founded by Dave McGillivray in 1981, DMSE Sports is a leader in sports event management, specializing in creating and producing mass participatory athletic events throughout the U.S. and abroad. DMSE works with the B.A.A. operations team in overseeing all the logistics and technical operations of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon and manages the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in Maine, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod, the lululemon San Diego 10K, and the Bellin Run in Green Bay, Wisconsin, among others. For additional information about DMSE Sports, visit www.dmsesports.com or find DMSE on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
CELEBRITY TEAM ENTRANTS
Meb Keflezighi, 2014 Boston Marathon Champion; 4-Time Olympian
Sean Astin, Actor
Sunita Williams, American Astronaut
Joan Benoit Samuelson, Olympic Gold Medalist; 2-Time Boston Marathon Champion
Pete Kostelnick, Cross America Run Recorder Holder
Lisa Bentley, 11-Time Ironman Champion
Dave Scott, 6-Time Champion Ironman Triathlon World Championship
Mark Allen, 6-Time Champion Ironman Triathlon World Championship
Bill Rodgers, 4-Time Winner of the Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon
Lisa Hughes, WBZ Ch. 4 Award-Winning News Anchor
Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympics Bronze Medal Women’s Marathon
Michael Wardian, World Marathon Challenge Champion; Ultra-Marathoner
Tom Caron, Sportscaster New England Sports Network
Jack Fultz, 1976 Boston Marathon Winner
Rod Dixon, 1983 NYC Marathon Champion; 1972 Olympic Bronze
Greg Meyer, 1983 Boston Marathon Champion
Jamie Staton, Sports Anchor / Director at Channel 9, Manchester NH
Dave McGillivray, Boston Marathon Race Director
Leo Manzano, 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist 1,500 meters
Tom O’Keefe, Voice behind Boston Tweet
Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon Winner; Runner’s World Writer
Kathryn Switzer, 1967 First Official Female Entrant in Boston Marathon
Mary Wittenberg, Former Race Director NYC Marathon and President of NYRR
Alice Cook, Olympic Figure Skater
Ruben Sança, 2012 Olympian (Cape Verde) - 5,000 meters
Karen Smyers, Ironman Triathlon World Champion
Steve Cooper, Ch. 7 News Reporter
Becca Pizzi, World Marathon Challenge Champion
John Young, Elite Little Person Paratriathlete/Marathoner
Dick Hoyt, Father of Father-and-Son-Team Hoyt
Max Lane, Former New England Patriots Offensive Lineman
Bobby Carpenter, Former NHL All-Star Hockey Player
Bart Yasso, Former Chief Running Officer - Runner’s World Magazine
David Samson, Host - Nothing Personal; MLB Analyst - CBS Sports HQ; Former President - Miami Marlins (2002-2017)
Dan Clark, Massachusetts State Trooper; The Singing Trooper
Scott Brown, U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand; Former US Senator