Big Lake Half-Marathon Sat. May 11th

[upthesaukee]

While driving home from the Alton dump...er landfill...er transfer station, I saw a little sign on a telephone pole saying road race on May 11th.

Not having heard anything about the half-marathon usually held in early May in Alton Bay, I checked the Town of Alton and Alton Parks and Rec calendars on the town website. Nothing.

So I googled Big Lake Half-marathon, and much to my surprise, I found that it is indeed this weekend, Saturday May 11th. The start is at 830 AM, and the race starts on the Letter S road, near its intersection with Rte 140. It will proceed westbound on the Letter S road to rte 11, then westbound on Rte 11 toward Laconia. It will stay on Rte 11 to the Western end of Rte 11D, then left on Woodlands Rd which loops back around to Rte 11D, then eastbound on Rte 11D to Rte 11, then eastbound on Rte 11 to the Bay parking lot with the finish line in the vicinity of the bandstand.

This race attracts anywhere from just over a thousand runners up to over 3000 runners to our town. What bothers me is that the Town of Alton and the Alton Parks and Rec Dept are not promoting this race, which has to be a boon to our small town, and especially to our businesses in the bay. That many people in the Bay has to go a long way to being a jumpstart to the summer for our businesses.

Big thing is to be aware that rte 11 from the Letter S road to the Bay will be closed for about 15-20 minutes. Heading westbound on Rte 11 will be closed westbound until the runners get out to where rte 11 widens near the Western end of Rand Hill Rd. Not knowing what the traffic contro plans are, they may also choose to have eastbound rte 11 traffic detour on Rand Hill Rd to the end of the bay and have westbound traffic drive on the wrong side of the road to Rand Hill Rd. If not, then you can take Rand Hill Rd from the end of the bay by JP China to skirt this part of Rte 11.

Bottom line, it will be busy in the Bay Saturday morning, and please watch out for our guests, the runners, and keep them save. Slowing down and keeping a wide berth of them will not really delay you and will keep them safe.

Thanks for listening.

[BroadHopper]

I remember well, running the Mother's Day flood. I've never been so cold and wet! A hot shower never felt so good!

The event is advertised heavily in Runner's World. That is why there are so many runners.

[IslandSib]

So proud, my daughter finished the race,not her best time, but the scenery had her attention. Great accomplishment!