CAPE ELIZABETH — Strapped into the back of a pickup truck and speaking into a walkie-talkie, Carissa Galloway chimed into the broadcast. 

The well-known sports announcer, who has called more than 600 marathons and triathlons in her career, was providing updates on the TD Beach to Beacon 10K. 

“Races are a big deal,” said Galloway. “It’s a thing we look forward to, a thing we put on our calendar, so to be able to celebrate people and be a part of that, how can you not be here and be inspired? It’s an addiction. It’s that runner’s high, and I guess we can get that announcer’s high, too, by being part of it.”

Announcing races has taken Galloway, 41, across North America. This weekend, it took her to southern Maine for one of the state’s biggest events of the year. 

Race announcer Carissa Galloway smiles from media truck Saturday at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)<?xml version="1.0"?> Purchase this image

How she ended up calling out the names of racers as they finished and were welcomed by a view of Portland Head Light is in many ways a result of her tendency to say yes. 

Whether it’s her work in the sports world, as a dietician and podcaster, or even working for Disney, she loves to dive head-first into a project, agreeing to take part in seemingly everything that comes her way. 

Beach to Beacon officials asked Galloway if she’d like to be a part of race day this year.

“I think what’s interesting about me as a race announcer and just a person is … say ‘yes,’” said Galloway, who lives in Florida. “What’s the question? The answer is yes. You figure it out.”

That’s exactly what Galloway did Saturday when there was no headset available to use while watching the field of elite women runners make their way through the 6.2-mile course. She figured it out. 

Instead of a headset, she used a walkie-talkie, proving no equipment setbacks were going to prevent her recognizable voice and positive personality from reverberating through the speakers. 

“I feel like I look at everything with a lot of gratitude,” Galloway said. “I started when I was 19, so I think it’s just something that I’ve developed and that comes with anybody in a job, experience and age, and you really get to know and trust who you are as a person.”

Between the lobster rolls and truck rides, Galloway said the pride that Mainers have in one another stands out. 

“Even at the press conference (Friday), talking about the high school athletes, talking about the excitement of the Maine athletes competing in Beach to Beacon, that excites me,” Galloway said. “When you’re proud of something, you’re like, ‘oh wow, this is really special.’ And I think this race has retained that local, special feel while also catering to a worldwide endurance community.”

Running looms large in the fabric of Galloway’s family. Her father-in-law, Jeff Galloway, who passed away in February, was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team and was a pioneer of the run-walk-run method used by some long-distance runners.

“That was his goal, to have people of all ages, of all shapes, of all abilities be able to get the benefits of endurance exercise,” Galloway said. “So that’s kind of what we do with the podcast, is just, let’s tell people about that. Let’s share stories and hopefully it inspires others.”

Galloway looked ahead to the Beach to Beacon’s future, hoping non-participants would feel inspired by Saturday’s race.

“What I hope is that the people out there spectating see, ‘oh, I want to try this next year,'” Galloway said. “Or, ‘I want my kids to be a part of this next year.’ And I think that’s what, at its core, the running community is great at, just bringing people in because anybody can do it at any speed, at any pace, and the benefits mentally and physically and community-wise and emotionally are there.”