Volunteers help Falmouth Road Race run smoothly

FALMOUTH ― Just after 9 a.m., the lost-and-found booth at the close of the iconic Falmouth Road Race was nearly empty.

But within hours, as nearly 10,000 runners navigated their way through the seven-mile seaside course, the booth would become a repository for lots of items dropped along the route: cell phones, keys, driver's licenses, eyeglasses.

(Full race results are available at https://track.rtrt.me/)

Manning the booth were Annette Messina and her husband, Joe Messina. After more than a decade of volunteering at the race, Annette Messina said they have learned how to best help runners. Once something is turned into them, it's placed into a small white envelope and labeled with the person's name if known.

"They're so excited," said Annette Messina, once someone retrieves their missing items. "You lose your license, forget it. It's a scary thing. If you have what they lost, it's a good feeling for them and for us."

Volunteers recognized for more than a decade of help

The Waltham couple once owned a summer house in Falmouth, where their daughter now lives. Joe Messina ran the race himself for 15 years, before joining his wife in lending a hand.

On Sunday, they were were among the throngs of volunteers fueling the machine of the annual ASICS Falmouth Road Race, which came back for its 51st running. The couple was rewarded with the Carroll Service Award, which is named in honor of former co-directors John and Lucia Carroll.

"It feels good," said Joe Messina on Sunday. "Especially for the ones that aren't in the best shape, it's really challenging. It's nice to participate and support them."

Annette Messina estimated she's volunteered for about 13 or 14 years. Throughout the weekend, they helped distribute numbers to runners at the high school. On race day, they were up around 6:30 a.m. helping to prepare.

Highlights of the race

Runners pounded the course: one runner donned a costume inspired by the character Ken from the Barbie movie, while another was dressed as a lobster.

The route runs from Woods Hole by the Great Harbor, then heads southeast toward Nobska Lighthouse. From there, it’s a northeastern journey along the ocean, passing Oyster and Salt ponds. The final two miles take runners around Falmouth Harbor. The finish line is at Falmouth Heights Ball Park.

On Sunday, runners Hellen Obiri and Emily Sisson made their Falmouth Road Race debuts.

Obiri won the Boston Marathon in April, the Boston Athletic Association 10K, was runner-up in the Mastercard New York Mini 10K, and won the Beach to Beacon 10K in Maine. Sisson holds the American record for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and she also set the American record in the half-marathon (since broken by Keira D’Amato) and won the USA Track and Field 15km title for the third consecutive year.

Proceeds from the race support youth athletic programs in Falmouth and other non-profit community groups, according to the race website.

Avid Falmouth Road Race fan competes for his 45th time

Among the runners was Brian Baker, 61, an avid runner who completed the race for his 45th consecutive time on Sunday. In 1978, his high school friend showed him a photo of the Falmouth race on the cover of Runner's World magazine.

Done on a lark, Baker signed up for the race, completing the course the following year. He fell in love with the race and has done it every year since.

Since then, the race has shaped his life. He's vacationed in Falmouth and had his honeymoon here too. Twelve years ago, Baker, who is predominantly a New York State resident, bought his vacation home in town.

"And it was all because of that first spark," said Baker.

He even has a room in his New York house dubbed the "Falmouth room" where he keeps every single race t-shirt and number bib, every race magazine, every mug from every year he's run, and every medal that's been given out.

The room is also stocked with other memorabilia from the race, including key chains, bags and posters.

"My first year was the race's sixth year. It was established by that point but watching how it's grown since then is just mind-boggling."

'We just enjoy it'

Annette Messina said the people is what brings them, as volunteers, back each year.

"We just enjoy it...they are just so much fun to be around," said Annette Messina. "Just good people and the people we meet, the people coming in to get their numbers. It's a happy place."

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Annette and Joe Messina honored as volunteers at Falmouth Road Race