Baystate Marathon
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The race runs along the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
and crosses different bridges spanning this river. This fast course is often used by many runners to garner a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
. During the day of the race, there is also a half marathon, The Lowell Sun Half Marathon, in Lowell. Both the Baystate Marathon and the associated half marathon finish inside of Edward A. LeLacheur Park
Edward A. LeLacheur Park
Edward A. LeLacheur Park is a baseball park located on the banks of the Merrimack River in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is home to the New York-Penn League Lowell Spinners, the Class A Short Season Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox...
, home of the Lowell Spinners
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
baseball team. The runners actually finish near home plate and spectators can watch the finish from the ballpark stands.