“The 10-mile distance is becoming increasingly popular with runners looking for a new and different road race experience,” says Matt Gray, President of Gray Matter Marketing. “The series will bring runners from across the country to three of our favorite destinations.”
“A 10-miler is a great transitional distance between the more common 5K/10K and the half marathon,” says Drew Appleton, Vice President and Creative Director for Gray Matter Marketing. “It’s double-digit mileage and quite a challenge, but it comes with a manageable training schedule, and you’re finished in enough time to enjoy the rest of your day.”
Those who complete the entire series will be awarded an additional finishers medal and shirt at the culmination of the three events in Stowe, Vermont. There will also be prizes for the top three male and female runners with the speediest cumulative times from all three events.
The BankNewport 10 Miler is the oldest of the three events. In its sixth edition this year, the race will return to Newport on June 3rd, 2018. The BankNewport 10 Miler starts and finishes at the historic Fort Adams, following a looping course around Ocean Drive and Bellevue Avenue, past many Newport’s most stunning seaside views and landmarks. When runners return to the Fort, they’ll be greeted with a post-race party that will include beer from local brewery Ragged Island. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Fort Adams Trust and the Boys and Girls Club of Newport County.
The Vermont 10 Miler was the next event, launched in 2017 and returning to Stowe, Vermont in 2018. The inaugural event last year sold out, with more than 1,000 runners taking on the challenging course. The event, which benefits the Stowe Land Trust, will be held on November 5th, 2018. Runners begin the course on an ascent, before an equally challenging descent and finally a flat portion along the Stowe Recreation Path. The course offers unrivaled running views of some of Stowe’s most beautiful fall vistas. An after-party at the Mayo Farm event fields will follow the race.
Finally, the newest event of the series is the Portland 10 Miler, which will be run on April 22nd, 2018. The Inaugural Portland 10 Miler follows a looped course through Portland, Maine, hugging the water along Back Cove and Casco Bay. At the finish at Payson Park, runners will enjoy athlete food and beer provided by Rising Tide Brewing — the first beer is included! — plus local food trucks selling on site. A portion of the proceeds from the Portland 10 Miler will be donated to Spurwink Services, in support of their mission to provide behavioral health and education services for children, adults, and families.
Registration and more information about each race, and about the series, can be found on each race’s website: