Wednesday, December 5, 2018

2019 Grand Prix - stats, facts, and my thoughts

Everything you need to know about the GP is here:


March 17          New Bedford Half Marathon (New Bedford MA)
March 30          Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15km (Upton MA)
May 18             Run Westfield 5km (Westfield MA)
August 10        Bridge of Flowers 8km (Shelburne Falls MA)
August 24        New Hampshire 10 Mile (Auburn NH)
September 22  Lone Gull 10km (Gloucester MA)
October 27      Cape Cod Marathon (Falmouth MA)

New Bedford Half Marathon: Love it or hate it New Bedford is back for another year.  This year will mark the 22nd time that New Bedford has hosted the championship. Thumbs-up for the excellent website with all the information you need in an easy to find format.  The course is fair to fast and completely closed to traffic.  Thumbs-down for the awful post-race food, never enough porta-johns, and the high security getting in to number pickup.




New Bedford, MA
Sunday, Mar 17, 2019
11:00 a.m.
Entry Fee -Pre $60 (by 12/31) $70 (by 1/31).  Entry Fee -Post $75
Total Prize Money $4,400 indiv/$6,000 teams
Open (Team) Men/Women $2,600
Masters (Team) M/W  $1,500
Seniors (Team) M/W  $700
Veterans (Team) M/F $600
70+ (Team) M/F        $600
Discount ($5/pp or 10%) up to 1 week prior $10 discount for team sign up


400’ of climb, mostly in the first 3.5 but a nasty hill at the end, always windy from 9-11.

Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15K: This will be the second time the 15k has been in the Grand Prix. The website does not have 2019 information posted yet.  Thumbs-up for organization, parking, course, and post-race food.  Thumbs-down prize money is low for teams and nearly non-existent for individuals. 


Upton, MA
Saturday, March 30
10:00 am
Entry Fee -Pre $35 Entry Fee -Post $40
Total Prize Money $4,300 ($600 ind $3,700 team)
Open (Team) Men/Women $1,200
Masters (Team) M/W  $1,200
Seniors (Team) M/W  $900
Veterans (Team) M/F $200
70+ (Team) M/F        $200
Discount ($5/pp or 10%) up to 1 week prior yes via online code



Rolling course with 420’ of climb.  Nothing “killer” but they really add up by the end (actually the climb from 4-5 and 7.5 to 8.5 both seemed tough).


Run Westfield Flat Fast 5k: This is the first time the race has been part of the Grand Prix.  Thumbs-up, hard to say since information is tough to find they list 2017 results so the race has been held at least twice before.  Thumbs-down, the website has very little information and an unreadable course map.  Racewire does the results so it is nearly impossible to pull up any past results.  Drop course so not valid for any records.
May 18, 2019
Westfield MA
Time 1:00 pm
Entry Fee - Pre  $30 (by Feb 28) $35 (by April 30) Entry Fee - Post $45
Total Prize Money - $8,950 ($3,650 indv $5,300 team)
Open (Team) M/F $1,500
Masters (Team) M/F $950
Seniors (Team) M/F $950
Veterans (Team) M/F $950
70+ (Team) M/F $950
Discount ($5/pp or 10%) up to 1 week prior yes via code
Drops 90’, with most of that in the final mile

Bridge of Flowers 8km: Bridge of Flowers has been a part of the Grand Prix a few times but not as an 8km (it was a 10k previously).  Thumbs-up established race with a history of doing a very good job.  Thumbs down for the entry fee does not include a t-shirt.  The website doesn’t say how much more for the shirt.  I like the option of not getting a shirt but not stating that on the bid gives the false appearance of a lower entry fee.  Not a great location (in the town) for gathering with teammates. 


Shelburne Falls, MA
Saturday, Aug 10, 2019
9:00 am
Entry Fee – Pre $30   Entry Fee – Post $40
Total Prize Money - projected $10,000+($5,000+ ind, $5,000 team)
Individual M/F $5,000 (+$1,200 in gift cards)
Open (Team) M/F      $3,000
Masters (Team) M/F   $600
Seniors (Team) M/F   $600
Veterans (Team) M/F $600
70+ (Team) M/F        $200
Discount ($5/pp or 10%) up to 1 week prior yes via coupon code



The total climb is 497’ but it climbs 400’ in 6/10ths of a mile!


CRAFT Sportswear NH 10 Miler: Has been in the Grand Prix twice before.  Thumbs up for great race management, quick accurate results, incredible post-race, best location for a warm-up/warm-down (rail trail).  Thumbs down for parking (if you show up less than an hour before the race).


Auburn, NH
Saturday, Aug 24, 2019
8:00 am
Entry Fee -Pre $40 by (4/1) / $50 (by 8/19) Entry Fee -Post $60
Total Prize Money $5,700 ($2,400 ind $3,300 team)
Open (Team) Men/Women $2,100
Masters (Team) M/W  $300
Seniors (Team) M/W  $300
Veterans (Team) M/F $300
70+ (Team) M/F        $300
Discount ($5/pp or 10%) up to 1 week prior $5 via code or team entry sheet
Notes  GP Race 2016,2018, bib #'s 1-500 , giveaway item, team tent area, closed to traffic, all prize money USATF-NE only


560’ of climb and descent



Lone Gull 10k: This will be the 8th time LG has hosted the Grand Prix championship.  It will be the second year of the new course.  Thumbs up for a low entry fee, fast (ish) course, great post-race spread, plenty of parking.  Thumbs down for never enough porta-johns, website with very little information (nothing for 2019 currently on the website).


September 22, 2019
Gloucester, MA
9:00  a.m.
Entry Fee -Pre $30 (by 9/22) Entry Fee -Post $35
Total Prize Money $7,400+ ($2,000 ind/ $5,400 team)
Open (Team) Men/Women $1,800
Masters (Team) M/W  $1,200
Seniors (Team) M/W  $1,200
Veterans (Team) M/F $600
70+ (Team) M/F        $600
Discount ($5/pp or 10%) up to 1 week prior $5 discount via team sheet


197’ of climb and descent, nothing more than 30’ but that 30’ at 5 miles is pretty tough.  The flat fast finish is much nicer than the old course.

Cape Cod Marathon: This will be the 23rd time Cape Cod has hosted the championship.  The last time was in 2012.  Thumbs up for lower entry fee.  Thumbs down for new course (no idea if they will shake-out any issues prior to hosting the championships), and small team prize money purse.  No 2019 information currently on the website.
Falmouth, MA
Sunday, Oct 27, 2019
8:30 am
Entry fee  pre $80 (by 6/30) Entry Fee -Post          $90
Total Prize Money      $14,700
Individual       $10,800
Open (Team) Men/Women    $2,000
Masters (Team) M/W  $900
Seniors (Team) M/W  $500
Veterans (Team) M/F $300
70+ (Team) M/F        $200
Discount ($5/pp or 10%) up to 1 week prior yes, code upon verification



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