KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Alan Stroshine, race director of the Clarence DeMar Marathon, was the featured guest Tuesday morning on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell on WKBK Radio, where he offered listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to stage one of Keene’s biggest annual events.

The 47th annual marathon and 11th annual half marathon are set for Sunday, Sept. 28, drawing more than 600 runners from across New England. For Stroshine, the event is more than a road race—it’s a community-wide effort and the largest fundraiser for the Keene Rotary Club, which supports youth wellness programs and scholarships.

“This is our signature fundraiser,” Stroshine told Mitchell. “This is where we raise the money to do all the things our club does throughout the year, primarily centered around youth wellness, our youth wellness programs as well as scholarships.”

Stroshine explained that race organizers recently reduced the official time limit from seven and a half hours to seven, noting that the adjustment was made with volunteers and public safety staff in mind. “We ask volunteers, police officers, fire emergency personnel—that’s a long day,” he said. “So we’ve shaved it.”

The longtime director also underscored the technical side of race preparation, including the recertification of both the full and half marathon courses by U.S. Track and Field, a process required every decade to ensure qualifying times for the Boston Marathon remain valid.

Stroshine described marathon running as the “ultimate accountability event,” one that requires months of training and commitment. “What I see people crossing the finish line, I don’t care if they cross it in two hours and 15 minutes or they cross it in six and a half hours,” he said. “They didn’t just roll out of bed and try.”

Registration for this year’s races is pacing with past years, Stroshine noted, with kids’ race participation also rebounding toward pre-pandemic levels.

While the runners take center stage, Stroshine emphasized that the event depends on a large volunteer force, particularly course marshals stationed along the route to guide runners and keep them safe. “If somebody wants to spend a couple hours on a Sunday watching these people accomplish this particular personal goal and helping us out, go onto the website, clarencedemar.com, go to the volunteer section and sign up,” he urged.

He also credited the support of local sponsors, including New England Chevy dealers and Savings Bank of Walpole, as essential to keeping the event running smoothly.

The race weekend will kick off with the traditional pasta dinner, where Patty Dillon, a pioneer in women’s long-distance running, will serve as keynote speaker.

For Stroshine, the marathon is both a sporting event and a celebration of community. “It’s about dedication from the runners, yes, but also from the hundreds of volunteers and supporters who make it happen,” he said.

Listen to the full interview: