REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR NEW DMSE SPORTS VIRTUAL CHALLENGE
RUNNING USA
The East Coast Run is inspired by Dave McGillivray’s 1980 run from Winter Haven, FL, to Boston, MA
Boston — Registration is open for the East Coast Run, a virtual team event powered by DMSE Sports that strives to bring together fellow active persons while they’re apart, and to help raise some much-needed funds for YMCA branches along the East Coast. The ECR is modeled after Dave McGillivray’s 1980 run from Winter Haven, FL—the one-time home of the Boston Red Sox spring training facility, to Boston. Over the course of 43 days, McGillivray ran 1,520 miles and raised money for the Jimmy Fund, a Boston-based charity that supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The event runs between now and ceremonially ends on May 13, although participants will have until June 30 to reach the virtual finish line at the end of 1,520-miles. Participants may register at dmsesports.com/east-coast-run between now and May 13, 11:59 p.m.
“We’re getting so close to seeing in-person events again,” said Dave McGillivray, president of DMSE Sports and the inspiration for the ECR. “But until it’s safe for us to gather together, many of us could still use some motivation to get out the door and move our legs. It’s been a year since our country and industry shut down—it’s still important to exercise and keep our minds and bodies fit.”
The ECR welcomes those who walk, run, row, swim, cycle, and push themselves in a wheelchair to team up—or, for the more ambitious, go solo—to complete the challenge. DMSE Sports has again partnered with ReSport—a platform for advanced mapping, results, and race tracking—to provide ECR participants with real-time updates on their progress along the virtual East Coast course. As team members input their miles into the event’s tracking platform, they’ll instantly see their team’s—and their own—progress along the course line.
Each participant will have the opportunity to donate to or fundraise for any of the participating YMCAs already partnered with the event.
“The YMCA is a really special organization,” said DMSE Sports CEO Matt West. “They do so much good for their communities, and they’ve been as hard hit during this double pandemic as anyone has. We know of many branches who have had to close their doors, and it’s important to us to try to help the ones that remain open to continue providing crucial programs to youth and their families.”
Fundraising is 100% voluntary and not a requirement to register. All money fundraised (less processing fees) will be directed toward the participant’s chosen YMCA branch.
“We know people are anxious to get back to in-person races and to be elbow-to-elbow at the start line,” said West. “So why register for the ECR? Because many road races will not be able to come back until the fall, if not 2022, and we need a reason to get off the couch. As we’ve seen this past year, no one can guess the future nor can they tell us when the pandemic will end. But we need to continue being active for our physical and mental health, and the East Coast Run—where our teammates depend upon our efforts to reach a common goal—could be just what we need to stay or get fit.”
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 ASICS 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.