Market Square Day 10K road race veers off course as Portsmouth festival returns

PORTSMOUTH — Market Square Day made its return after a year away Saturday, bringing the festival back to the city's downtown. The day got off to a confusing start for some runners in the event's popular 10K road race.

Usually held in June, Market Square Day and the race were canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Crowds came out in smaller numbers for the somewhat scaled-back 2021 festival Saturday, which offered many of the same favorites that have brought people out since 1978.

It was a smaller field than usual, too, for the 10k race, which had a problem that led many runners to veer off the race route Saturday morning. Organizers on Sunday were still trying to determine what happened.

Barbara Massar, executive director of Pro Portsmouth, said she believes someone who was not affiliated with the race directed people off the course, which begins on Congress Street in front of North Church and ends next to Strawbery Banke Museum.

"This is unprecedented," Massar said Sunday morning, citing the 10K race's more than four decades of history.  "We've heard lots of versions of what happened. We will figure out what happened and how to respond and how to respond to the people who were misdirected."

It appears the runners who started the race in the lead pack were among those directed off the course, resulting in winning times for both men and women that were several minutes slower than the typical winning times.

The prize money for men and women is $300 for first place, $125 for second place and $75 for third place. 

Bill Teschek, the race timer with Granite State Race Services, said 404 runners registered for the race and 289 recorded start times the day of the race. The race's field in the past has been more than 1,000 runners, sometimes much more.

AJ Pratt, 23, of Bedford, took top place for the men's division, finishing with a time of 39 minutes and 48 seconds.

AJ's mom, Ashley, also ran the race. She said she has competed eight to nine times, finishing on Saturday at 56:21.

"AJ, his girlfriend, Annika Hamilton, and I are training for the Franconia half marathon," Ashley said. 

In the women's division, Jess Tiernan, 29, of Portsmouth won, coming in at 42:43. 

"I haven't entered this before," said Tiernan. "But I live on Islington Street and this is part of my usual running route."

Not everyone runs to win. Portsmouth resident Fred Lewis, 79, said he has run every single Market Square Day race. He finished at 1:16:34. 

There was no awards ceremony following the race. Massar said COVID-19 precautions were in place. 

"We are handing out water and a snack at the end of the race," she said after the race. "Then they are just leaving. We will send checks to the winners. We need to keep everyone safe this year."

The festival

The Market Square Day festival itself looked similar to last years, just a little smaller.

"We are clearly thrilled to be back again for 2021, after last year," said Antje Bourdages, a board member for Pro Portsmouth. "The event has a different vibe, since we usually hold it in June. It's a little more chill, but we are observing all COVID precautions. We have restricted the number of vendors and our priority is everyone's safety. We are looking forward to 2022."

Barbara Massar, executive director of Pro Portsmouth, said they had 93 vendors Saturday, instead of the usual 150-160. It was cut back to allow social distancing between booths and for restaurant seating.

Previous Market Square Day coverage:Everything you need to know in 2021