Two day community celebration Sept. 25 and 26 includes events for children, para-athletes, high school runners, adults and walkers
MEDFORD, MA – September 22, 2026 – Local leaders, endurance athletes, media personalities and education officials will take part in the 2026 Run Medford Mayor’s Celebrity/VIP Mile on Saturday, Sept. 26, helping open the second day of a family-friendly weekend of running and community activities.
The one mile race begins at 7:45 a.m. and follows a course through downtown Medford. This year’s participants include:
• Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn
• Becca Pizzi, two-time World Marathon Challenge champion
• A.J. Burnett, WCVB Channel 5 meteorologist
• John Young, Guinness World Record holding endurance athlete
• Josh Brogadir, WCVB Channel 5 sports reporter
• Paul Veneto, founder of Paulie’s Push
• Steve Cooper, WHDH 7News reporter
• Troy Hoyt, race director for Team Hoyt
• David O’Leary, WCRB morning host
• Dan Koh, candidate for Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District
• Andrew O’Brien, Nick Tucci, Amelia Whalen, Jennifer Skane and Anthony Petrelis, representing Medford Public Schools
• Brendan Aylward, founder and executive director of AdaptX
“Run Medford is a celebration of the people who make this city special, and the Celebrity Mile captures that spirit perfectly,” said Dave McGillivray, Medford native, founder and race director of Run Medford. “We are grateful to the local leaders, athletes, educators and media personalities who are joining us this year and helping draw attention to our Medford schools. With events for children, competitive runners, walkers, para-athletes and families, the weekend gives everyone a way to participate and be part of the community.”
Run Medford begins Friday, Sept. 25, at the Dave McGillivray Track at Hormel Stadium. Registration opens at 3 p.m., followed by Kids’ Fun Runs at 5:15 p.m. Children will run age-based distances ranging from one to four laps around the track.
“I am thrilled to host this year’s Celebrity/VIP Mile in partnership with the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation,” said Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. “This is my fifth time running the Celebrity/VIP Mile and it is always one of the highlights of race weekend. It is great to run alongside such an incredible group of participants, including accomplished athletes, local leaders, and members of our schools and community. This is an exciting way to kick off the second day of the race, and I am looking forward to joining these local celebrities for such a good cause!”
Saturday’s events begin at 7:45 a.m. with the Mayor’s Celebrity/VIP Mile and Para Mile, followed by the High School Mile at 8 a.m. Jerry’s Run for All Ages 5K, the 10K. and the walk begin at 8:15 a.m. The 5K and 10K start and finish at Medford City Hall and take participants through the heart of the city. A post race celebration and beer garden will begin at 8:35 a.m.
The 2026 event will benefit local schools in the City of Medford. A portion of each Kids’ Fun Run registration will support the city’s eight school PTOs, and additional donations made through the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation will also support Medford schools.
Registration and additional information are available at www.RunMedford.com.
About Run Medford
Founded in 2022 by Medford native and lifelong runner Dave McGillivray and the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation, Run Medford is a family-friendly celebration of community, running and the City of Medford. The event offers races and activities for participants of different ages and abilities while raising funds for local schools and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.RunMedford.com.
ABOUT THE DAVE MCGILLIVRAY FINISH STRONG FOUNDATION
The Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation seeks to inspire and empower youth across New England and beyond to increase physical activity, expand literacy, and build community and self-esteem through running, reading, and performing acts of kindness. Its vision is rooted in a belief that discovering a passion for physical activity, reading, and acts of kindness at a young age gives individuals self-confidence and self-respect, empowering them to move forward — one step at a time. For over eighteen years, the foundation has remained committed to preparing individuals for future success and building vibrant communities. For more information, visit www.davemcgillivrayfoundation.org.