BAA Has New Summer Race – 10K will be held on Sunday, June 26, 2011

BOSTON – The B.A.A. invites runners to compete in its newest event – the B.A.A. 10K – which complements its B.A.A. 5K (established in 2009 and held in the Spring) and its B.A.A. Half Marathon (established in 2001 and held in the Fall). The race will be held Sunday, June 26, 2011.

Participants in the first-year road race will receive event t-shirts from adidas, finisher medals, and a pleasurable race day atmosphere at the Boston Common. The roads along the course will close at 7:45 a.m., and begin to reopen on a rolling basis as the last runners pass through. The closures will last no more than two hours.

The 6.2-mile course is a scenic tour though Boston's Back Bay. Notable neighborhoods and attractions include the legendary Bull and Finch Pub, after which the television series "Cheers" was developed, the campus of Boston University, and trendy Kenmore Square.

The race begins on Charles Street, winds down picturesque Commonwealth Avenue and Bay State Road as far west as Babcock Street near Boston University, before heading back on Commonwealth Avenue, around the Public Garden and finishing on Charles Street.

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. This year marks the 26th consecutive year of John Hancock Financial's historic sponsorship of the Boston Marathon.

Visit www.baa.org for more details

Here are some fast facts about the new race:

Date: Sunday, June 26, 2011, 8:00 a.m. ET

Location: Starts and finishes on Charles Street near Boston Public Garden in Boston's Back Bay.

Field size: 5,000 entrants

Registration starts: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. ET

Entry fee: $55.00 USD

Prize money: A total prize purse of $30,000 will be distributed to the top finishers overall and in the masters and wheelchair divisions.