Medford Native Named Falmouth Road Race Director

New Balance Falmouth Road Race Appoints Dave McGillivray as Race Director

Next summer marks 40th running of iconic road race on Cape Cod

The New Balance Falmouth Road Race today announced that renowned race organizer Dave McGillivray has been named as the race director for the August classic. McGillivray will immediately begin working with volunteers, staff, team captains and the Board of Directors to plan for the 40th running of the race to be held Sunday, August 12, 2012.

“After a national search, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to have Dave McGillivray direct the New Balance Falmouth Road Race for the 40th running in 2012, and help grow and build the race into the future,” said Christine Frazier, board president. “Dave McGillivray has been named Road Race Management’s Race Director of the Year, directs the B.A.A. Boston Marathon as well as hundreds of other events, has run Falmouth many times and lives right here in Massachusetts. The board feels that Dave’s vast expertise, personal love of running and passion for raising funds for local charities is exactly the right combination and a perfect fit for the New Balance Falmouth Road Race and the Falmouth community.”

“Dave has also pledged to keep the essence of the race unchanged, become part of the community and take into consideration all of our key personnel’s valuable opinions when making any plans for the race,” continued Frazier. “The board supports Dave’s plans as we lay the foundation for the next 40 years of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race.”

Dave McGillivray has directed more than 900 events around the world, including the B.A.A Boston Marathon and the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. He has logged more than 140,000 miles as a runner, including birthday runs in which he runs the number of miles of his age each August. In 1999, during torrential downpours, McGillivray ran the Falmouth Road Race course six times to celebrate his 45th birthday. He is the president and founder of DMSE Sports and the DMSE Children’s Foundation. Through those organizations and his own personal fundraising events, he has raised millions of dollars for charities throughout New England.

“I am grateful and honored to be chosen as the Race Director of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race and my team and I pledge to maintain the unique character that is Falmouth,” said McGillivray. “As a caretaker of this iconic, world-class event – it was here before me and will be here long after I am gone – my methodology is that of a team approach – surrounding myself with good, knowledgeable people, so I am more the “conductor” than a director – and the dedicated team is the orchestra.”

He continued, “I want to do what is best for the race, best for the runners and best for the Falmouth community while being respectful of those who created this historic race. The Falmouth community is truly the heart and soul of this event. I’ve always said that community support is the most important ingredient to success in this business. The road race board has given me their vote of confidence, now it is up to me to work hard to earn the trust, confidence and respect of the entire Falmouth community. Although my home address doesn’t have a Falmouth zip code, I pledge to conduct myself as if it did.”

The New Balance Falmouth Road Race was founded by the legendary Tommy Leonard and superbly organized for the first 38 years by co-directors Lucia and John Carroll and Kathleen and Richard Sherman. This year, the race announced organizational changes and appointed long-time office manager Matt Auger as acting director.

“The Board of Directors would like to thank Matt Auger and his staff for their hard work and passionate efforts in directing the 39th running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race, “ said Frazier. “We are grateful for their hard work and dedication to the race and the community.”

The 40th running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race is Sunday, August 12, 2012. Further information about the race can be found at www.falmouthroadrace.com and www.facebook.com/falmouthroadrace.

About Falmouth Road Race

The New Balance Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite runners and recreational runners to enjoy the scenic 7-mile seaside course. The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is dedicated to promoting health and fitness for all in its community. Proceeds from the race each year support youth athletic programs in the town of Falmouth and other nonprofit community groups. For more information, visit www.falmouthroadrace.com.

– Information from race organizers