Staff Writer

While the 13th annual TD Bank Beach to Beacon road race through Cape Elizabeth is a 6.2-mile run as opposed to a 26-mile marathon, there are at least 26 reasons to savor the race established by Cape Elizabeth native Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1998.

This year, 7,000 participants will line up on Spurwink Road to run or roll on the course that winds along Old Ocean House Road and Shore Road before ending in Fort Williams Park. The race begins at 8 a.m. and award ceremonies to honor the winners begin at 10 a.m. at the park.

Race publicist Jason Wolfe said the field is highlighted by the return past champions and Maine runners competing for the unofficial title as best Maine runner. The 2010 race theme is “green” as organizers seek to increase recycling and reduce the carbon footprint through carpooling and additional shuttle buses for runners.

Here’s a look at the race, A to Z:

Awards ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. on Aug. 7 at the top of the flagpole hill in Fort Williams Park.

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Aug. 7, road closures will be in effect for the race area. Visit www.beach2beacon.org for more details.

ChronoTrack Systems timers will be attached to the back of each runner’s bib to time their run.

David MacGillivray, executive race director, has been called “the key to the success of the race” by race founder Joan Benoit Samuelson.

Elite runners number 27 this year, and include Emily Chebet, Edna Kipligat of Kenya, Ethiopian Wude Ayalew Yimer and American Rebecca Donaghue. As defined by race coordinator Larry Bathlow, elite men runners finish a 10k race in fewer than 28 minutes. Elite international women runners have times under 32 minutes for 10k races.

Five-time winner Catherine Ndereba returns to the race after a five-year absence.

Green is the theme as organizers try to leave the smallest footprint possible for the race. “It is with a sense of moral obligation that the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K is taking steps to green its operations and appearance,” Samuelson said  in a press release.

Host families, 24 in all, will open their homes to 33 runners, according to race coordinator Kathy Tarpo.

International runners last year came from 16 countries. Runners from the United States hailed from 43 states.

Junior Achievement of Maine, the educational program that teaches K-12 students financial literacy and promotes entrepreneurial efforts, will receive a $30,000 contribution from race sponsor TD Bank. Ten-year-old Parker Wyatt; Deanna Peterson, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin; and Danielle Burke, a Junior Achievement volunteer in the Bangor area, are runners who are or were part of the Junior Achievement of Maine program, said race publicist Jason Wolfe.

Kenyans Ed Muge and Irene Limika head the field of runners as defending 2009 race champions.

Let’s Go, a program that promotes healthy eating and lifestyle choices for families and children in the Portland area, will host a story walk during the Aug. 6 kids fun run at Fort Williams Park. Pages from a children’s book will be posted throughout the course for young readers and runners to follow.

Masters class runners (age 50 and above) runners are led by Cape Elizabeth resident Tom Ryan.

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe, a program to collect worn-out athletic shoes for future use in sports surfaces, will collect shoes at a pre-race expo 4 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 5 and 2:30 to 8 p.m. on Aug 6 at the Cape Elizabeth High School gym.

Online registration for the race eliminated the need to use paper, one of the steps to make the race more environmentally friendly.

Purses for race winners include $10,000 for first-place men and women finishers and bonuses for setting course records.

Quintessential Cape Elizabeth landmarks on the race route include Inn by the Sea and Smuggler’s Cove.

Recycling goal for Beach to Beacon is 60 percent of waste generated during the race, including water bottles, cardboard, paper, glass and metal.

Satellite parking and shuttle buses for runners to the starting line on Spurwink Road will be available at Cape Elizabeth and South Portland high schools and Hannaford Bros. headquarters on Pleasant Hill Road in Scarborough.

Total number of race participants: 7,000.

Uphill climb for the race course is from 50 to 100 feet above sea level.

Volunteers, more than 800 of them, will help at water stations, with parking, security, course set-up and breakdown and directing traffic.

Water, water everywhere – race organizers hope to recycle 10,000 bottles this year. 

X does not mark the spot where runners start; a fresh start line will be painted Sunday.

Young runner Parker Wyatt, 10, has raised more than $500 for Junior Achievement in race pledges.

Zero spots remain open for the race. Registration was filled in less than two hours.

Race facts courtesy of Jason Wolfe and www.beach2beacon.org.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219