Great Bay 55K lives on! A Tribute to Bob Kennedy
Running around Great Bay once a year in early October has been an adopted tradition of mine, passed down by the late Bob Kennedy. He first created the Great Bay 55k back in 2020 to accompany our more well-known Great Bay 5K. For the 55k (34 mi), we both ran around the perimeter of Great Bay starting from the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This run quickly became a tradition for us over the next 4 years until Bob’s passing last summer. This and last October, I’ve continued the tradition, running through the beauty of 7 different coastal towns and over 7 different tidal rivers. Although, I’m not able to run with Bob anymore, memories of him effortlessly jog the forefront of my thoughts and I’m accompanied by an amazing cast of other runners, friends and colleagues.
Starting at 6am, 38F in the darkness of October can be a challenge, but much less so with friendly faces. Allison, the executive director for our non-profit friends group, the Great Bay Stewards, was nice enough to kick us off and capture a photo of Lynn and I, who ran through the darkness and into the sunrise over the beautiful salt marsh on the Squamscott River (cover photo), which is also the home of our community wildlife garden. Our wildlife garden showcases how residents can re-shape their backyards into wildlife havens. My co-worker Lynn ran the first 6 mi with me. She specializes in bringing the latest science to local communities and decision-makers. After we parted ways, I ran through the heart of my hometown of Newmarket until greeted by my friend Josh, who fueled me with real fruit (plums) and faux fruit (gummy bears). I was then quickly joined on my run in Durham by my good colleague, Tom, who leads Great Bay’s water quality monitoring program.
Tom and I ran another 6 mi to his car, where he stashed liquids and eclairs! After renourishing, I ran solo to the Bellamy River, where my colleague Joanne joined me. She works for The Nature Conservancy, protecting beautiful areas across the state, including coastal lands and salt marshes around Great Bay. We ran together to Newington, where my co-worker Kelle was waiting for us. She leads our education program and Discover Center, which showcases a series of new fun exhibits- come check them out! Kelle greeted us with food that would give pause, even to the hungriest of ultra-runners. Having never met a snack I didn’t like, I quickly devoured 2 hashbrowns, 1 egg-sausage-cheese sandwich and a strawberry smoothie. Nap time, no time! Joanne and I slowly sauntered on along the northern shores of Little Bay towards Portsmouth, where I then ran some solo miles and then was greeted by my friend Tory, who leads communications for one of the largest wind companies in the world. Bolstered by a gust of energy, we ran along the eastern shore to finish, where we were greeted by co-workers and the Bay!
To read more about the history, inspiration and raw emotional writings of the Great Bay 55K, please see this heartfelt 2024 article.
This article was written by Chris Peter, the Research Coordinator for Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Chris is a coastal scientist, specializing in salt marshes, seagrass meadows, crab communities and most endurance sports. He has plans to expand on this 34 mi run, with an upcoming 50 and 100 mi run later this year, and re-running the Great Bay 55K next year.
Bob at the finish line in a past years run
Course map, tracing the 55k (34mi) route around Great and Little Bay
My co-worker Lynn and I, starting off our run at work, in the cold and dark at Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Sunrise over a wildflower field on the western shores of Great Bay
Lynn and I ruining this vista with a selfie!
Running along a salt marsh leading to the western shores of Great Bay
Pit stop for gummy bears and plums from my friend Josh
Our lead water quality scientist and I, taking in the views on the Oyster River
My colleague Joanne and I running across the Bellamy River. She works at the Nature Conservancy to protect coastal lands and salt marshes throughout NH
Brunch in Newington- somehow managed to run…slowly after eating 2 hashbrowns, 1 breakfast sandwich and a smoothie. Thanks Kelle!
The finish line at the southern shores of Great Bay back at work at the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
More finish line photos with my coworkers Lynn and Kelle and my friend Tory
Obligatory water-bay shot!
