Caveat: The races in the 8th Annual New England Runner Pub Series are open to everyone, and all are encouraged to participate.

In fairness, however, the apparel for running all six Pub Series Events, the $1500 in cash plus the merchandise awarded at Series end, the party at Doyles (post Series), the scoring (updated on the website) and all other NER swag is open only to current subscribers to New England Runner magazine.

That said, here's the boffo line-up for 2005. Check the website for updates and the mag for updates and coverage.

March 6 - 9th Annual Irish Road Rover 5K - Portland, Maine

*NEW for 2005 - There will be a reception (very informal) for Publicans from 6-9 on the 2nd floor of the Brian Boru Public House on Congress St., just 2 blocks from the Holiday Inn (207-775-2311) where NER has blocked off 20 rooms at $99. Mention New England Runner & the Race for the discount. On Feb. 2 unclaimed rooms open up. The start/finish of the race is at the Brian Boru Pub.

The following is a course description and topical links provided by Race Director Dan McKeown:

"This is one of the most scenic and historic, yet toughest 5K road races that I have ever run.
The course starts on the corner of Fore & Pleasant Streets in Portland's "Old Port District", it proceeds down Fore Street and up Munjoy Hill at the one mile mark.
At the top of Munjoy Hill, it takes a right to go around Fort Allen Park. It goes up the hill on the other side of the park and continues down the Eastern Promenade overlooking Casco Bay. (Flat-landers beware: the combination of the large quarter-mile Munjoy Hill followed only a minute or two after by the smaller Fort Allen hill makes this a very challenging section of the race).

The route turns around at "Turner Street" on the Promenade and returns the way it came. It bypasses the Fort Allen section and goes right down Munjoy hill at the two mile mark. It takes a right turn on India Street and a quick left turn onto Middle Street. It has a nice straight-away finish for almost the whole last mile of the race on Middle Street and the finish line is visible from about a quarter-mile to go. The finish is one block West of the start back in the Old Port.

After the race there is a gathering for food, beverages and awards in the upper floor of the Brian Boru Public House. Some have named it the St. Patrick's Day Rehearsal Gathering. The race has featured bagpipers in the past and people dressed in several festive costumes from Shamrocks to Guinness Pints.

The race benefits Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. In 2003 alone we were able to contribute over $5,000.

The official Road Race Site including the race map:

Here are some views from the Fort Allen Park and Eastern Promenade sections (which you'll have to type in yourself as the link is too long for web parameters) http://coastlinememories.com/casco.bay.portland.ar ea.points.interest.eastern .promenade.park.html

Brian Boru's Site

Old Port Description

Habitat's website

To e-mail Race Director Dan McKeown

April 10 - 9th Annual Doyle's Emerald Necklace 5M, Jamaica Plain, MA

Run out of the world famous Doyle's Cafe, located at 3484 Washington St., JP 02130 (617) 524-2345, Doyle's is the creme-dela-creme of Publican purvey and the Cornerstone of the New England Runner Pub Series. The certified course is run almost entirely in Franklin Park. Rolling and tres scenic with bagpipers at the mile.
A party ensues afterward, inside and out, with the Sons of Finnian outside and a DJ inside. Plus interactive Simon Says, food, and free pouring copious libation. Hizzoner will show, as will the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums.

New for 2005 - Budweiser on tap. We never thought we'd see it in our lifetime but Irish Tom Hurley says his boycott of the establishment is over. The fun-loving and politically connected Burke Brothers rule the roost here. The historical confines of Doyle's feature the aptly named Fitzgerald Room, site of NER's annual Pub Series award party in December.
There's an application in the Jan/Feb issue of NER and another will be posted to the Calendar section of this website.

May 7 - 5th Annual Cape Cod Irish Village 5M - Yarmouth, MA, 11 am

*NEW in 2005. Race Director Kevin Enright is gung-ho about the whole Pub Series enterprise (& that counts a lot). There'll be a spaghetti dinner the night before and the whole enchilada may be wrapped into an Oyster Festival. The Irish Village is a hotel housing an Irish Pub that features discounted rooms for runners on race weekend. Pre-entry to the race is only $10. and post-entry is $15.

This event comes highly recommended by true-blue NER Publican Jim McLaughlin of Thirsty Irish Runner's Club infamy. Cash Prizes to the overall male and female winners. There are various kids activities, plenty of food along with live Irish entertainment. The course is a flat scenic loop, well marked with plenty of H2O stops.

Irish Village website

Race website

To e-mail Race Director Kevin Enright

July 30 - Napper Tandy's Mustang Flyer 4M

Same as it Always Was Sort Of

As many Publicans already know, Finbar's in Norwood - a stop on the 2004 Pub Series - closed its doors months after its inclusion in the 2005 Series.

RD Jim Forrest then made the long walk a block down the street to Napper Tandy's Pub and...Voila - what was the Finbar's Flyer is now the Napper Tandy's Mustang Flyer.

The 4-Mile course is the same as in 2004. The date is Saturday, July 30 at 6:30 pm. The start is by the Norwood Municipal Parking Lot located between Vernon and Day Streets. The Post Race Party is at Napper Tandy's Pub, 46 Day Street, with a DJ, Refreshments, Merchandise and Raffle.

The cash prizes for the first three men and women go $125 - $50 -$25 with $75 to the first place men's and women's 4 person teams.

For additional info contact Jim Forrest at 781-769-0863 or Mr. Mustang

September 11 - 15th Annual Halfway to St. Patrick's Day 5K - Manchester, NH

A two-time Pub Series entrant and well worth the hour drive (from Boston). The rest of Manchester is shut down on Sunday but rest assured the Wild Rover Pub will be hopping. Race Director Dan Boisvert is a gracious host and we always enjoy the festivities, which include a great raffle, live band, outdoor barbeque and dueling beer sponsors; Plus Kevin Burns will arrive on his Harley.

Burnsie is part of Pub Series lore, so committed to earning a jacket that years ago he walked the final Pub Series Race - the Rafferty's Pub 5-Miler (now defunct as of 2005) in a driving rain storm on a crippled knee. Burnsie earned the jacket and effectively ended his running career...But the one race the former All-Hurley Award Winner shows up for is Halfway to St. Patty's. Nuff said.

The new date moves Halfway to St. Patty's away from both the Reach the Beach and Lake Winnepesaukee Relays. Years ago, we had Publicans running Halfway either before or after their leg at Lake Winny. Irish Tom Hurley is thrilled he gets a primo parking space set aside on race day, although there's an empty parking garage right across from the Pub.

The website for the Wild Rover Pub

To contact Race Director Dan Boisvert

Oct. 16 - 4th Annual Paddy's Shillelagh Shuffle 3M, Newton, MA - 11:30 am

The Grand Finale of the Pub Series. Shillelagh's to the winners, music (bagpiper and a DJ), vendors, food and drink for all (And What Food!), raffles and the O'Hara Brothers hospitality (Karl and John) have made this an emerging Classic. RD Mark Kelly always adds a new wrinkle -- in 2004 it was a giant balloon arch at the start AND a newly certified course that's an outright Burner, AND a new website: Paddy's Road Race
Check out the Results, Photo Gallery and Press Room.

The event drew 420 runners in its 1st year, 741 for the 2nd running and 1,054 for the third. You'd better believe there's somethong going on here.

To e-mail Race Director Mark Kelly

2005 NER Pub Series Annual Awards Ceremony in the world famous Fitzgerald Room at Doyle's (in Dec.) to be announced.