This is a half marathon on the Maine Coast that is located at and raises money for a camp. I think I am in the minority here but I was … MORE
This is a half marathon on the Maine Coast that is located at and raises money for a camp. I think I am in the minority here but I was not really a big fan of this race. It was a nice course and everyone involved was really nice but the production was super cheap and it was an expensive race at $90. I know it raises money for charity but this was the cheapest production of any race I have seen including a race called “the cheap marathon” and personally I’d rather pay the correct price for a race and pay additional money for charity. The race is located a little over an hour north of Portland and about 3 hours from where I live so I needed a hotel. You can rent a cabin on the campground for $20 but they are barebones with no electricity so I opted for the Hampton Inn about 20 minutes away. There is a pre-race dinner but I had to run an errand in NH after the 10 miler and was arriving too late and I also wasn’t sure if there were vegetarian options as it was a fish chowder dinner so I skipped it. Pre-race communication was pretty minimal. I arrived at the camp race morning. There is really no packet. The bib is a reusable cloth bib that just has the numbers written in sharpie. The worst part was some people kept their bibs from last year since there is no other swag and they didn’t have my number so they had to make one on the spot holding up the line. You’d think they’d at least check the bibs before to make sure they were all made to speed up the check in process. There were 4 porta potties and some bathrooms at camp. It was enough for the small race field. The start line was just chalk which we lined up behind. No pacers or signs where to line up. It is manually timed so you will lose some seconds if not up front. The course was relatively scenic. The first 6 to 7 miles mostly along wooded streets then you run a short out and back to the lighthouse in Forrest Gump which is the best part and then run back to camp. The course is described as “gently rolling hills” but it is quite hilly with close to 1000 feet of elevation gain. The roads were all open to traffic with no cones or anything. Most of it was fine but one road had a very narrow shoulder to run on. There were mile markers made from buoys. There were aid stations about every 2 miles with just water. There were no other course markings just volunteers at intersections. The volunteers were helpful and I never got lost but it’d be nice to have a few cones or direction signs or even chalk on the ground instead of just relying on volunteers and at one point I did pull out google maps to be 100% sure I was going the right direction. A runner could easily get lost if if a volunteer need a bathroom breaks or something. Speaking of bathroom breaks there were very limited porta potties on course and the RD actually suggested we use the woods which I ended up doing. The finish was surprise a homemade finish line and they collect the bibs so they are reused. My finish time was slow due to the hills and I have a hard time motivating myself in smaller races but there was no issues being in the back. The medal is also homemade. It is a nice homemade medal but for a $90 race I’d like some other swag if the medal is homemade. There is a nice brunch at the end but it’s not a $90 brunch. Overall this race was just too bare bones and cut too many corners to save money for me. I don’t necessarily mind bare bone races as I do think it is great to have affordable races that people of all means can participate in but this as I said had an expensive price tag of $90. Even if it goes to charity you cannot overcharge a race that much. The race had to just cost the price of a town permit and supplies for the homemade stuff. If they charged $30 to $40 I would have though this was cute and charming but not for $90. Again I do know this goes to charity but I regularly give money to charity and would rather pay the correct price for the race and give additional money to charity. I know a lot of people love this race and if you like quirky, small races maybe you would but I would not pay $90 for this race again. If you are looking for a half marathon in Maine personally I thought the Maine Half Marathon in Portland in October was much, much, much better. I also looked and right now registration is $70 so it’s cheaper than this race and you got nice swag, closed roads, actual bibs, lots of on-course entertainment and great production.
Please login to reply to this review.
Overpriced
This is a half marathon on the Maine Coast that is located at and raises money for a camp. I think I am in the minority here but I was … MORE
This is a half marathon on the Maine Coast that is located at and raises money for a camp. I think I am in the minority here but I was not really a big fan of this race. It was a nice course and everyone involved was really nice but the production was super cheap and it was an expensive race at $90. I know it raises money for charity but this was the cheapest production of any race I have seen including a race called “the cheap marathon” and personally I’d rather pay the correct price for a race and pay additional money for charity. The race is located a little over an hour north of Portland and about 3 hours from where I live so I needed a hotel. You can rent a cabin on the campground for $20 but they are barebones with no electricity so I opted for the Hampton Inn about 20 minutes away. There is a pre-race dinner but I had to run an errand in NH after the 10 miler and was arriving too late and I also wasn’t sure if there were vegetarian options as it was a fish chowder dinner so I skipped it. Pre-race communication was pretty minimal. I arrived at the camp race morning. There is really no packet. The bib is a reusable cloth bib that just has the numbers written in sharpie. The worst part was some people kept their bibs from last year since there is no other swag and they didn’t have my number so they had to make one on the spot holding up the line. You’d think they’d at least check the bibs before to make sure they were all made to speed up the check in process. There were 4 porta potties and some bathrooms at camp. It was enough for the small race field. The start line was just chalk which we lined up behind. No pacers or signs where to line up. It is manually timed so you will lose some seconds if not up front. The course was relatively scenic. The first 6 to 7 miles mostly along wooded streets then you run a short out and back to the lighthouse in Forrest Gump which is the best part and then run back to camp. The course is described as “gently rolling hills” but it is quite hilly with close to 1000 feet of elevation gain. The roads were all open to traffic with no cones or anything. Most of it was fine but one road had a very narrow shoulder to run on. There were mile markers made from buoys. There were aid stations about every 2 miles with just water. There were no other course markings just volunteers at intersections. The volunteers were helpful and I never got lost but it’d be nice to have a few cones or direction signs or even chalk on the ground instead of just relying on volunteers and at one point I did pull out google maps to be 100% sure I was going the right direction. A runner could easily get lost if if a volunteer need a bathroom breaks or something. Speaking of bathroom breaks there were very limited porta potties on course and the RD actually suggested we use the woods which I ended up doing. The finish was surprise a homemade finish line and they collect the bibs so they are reused. My finish time was slow due to the hills and I have a hard time motivating myself in smaller races but there was no issues being in the back. The medal is also homemade. It is a nice homemade medal but for a $90 race I’d like some other swag if the medal is homemade. There is a nice brunch at the end but it’s not a $90 brunch. Overall this race was just too bare bones and cut too many corners to save money for me. I don’t necessarily mind bare bone races as I do think it is great to have affordable races that people of all means can participate in but this as I said had an expensive price tag of $90. Even if it goes to charity you cannot overcharge a race that much. The race had to just cost the price of a town permit and supplies for the homemade stuff. If they charged $30 to $40 I would have though this was cute and charming but not for $90. Again I do know this goes to charity but I regularly give money to charity and would rather pay the correct price for the race and give additional money to charity. I know a lot of people love this race and if you like quirky, small races maybe you would but I would not pay $90 for this race again. If you are looking for a half marathon in Maine personally I thought the Maine Half Marathon in Portland in October was much, much, much better. I also looked and right now registration is $70 so it’s cheaper than this race and you got nice swag, closed roads, actual bibs, lots of on-course entertainment and great production.
Small race with a LOT of heart!
This course has excellent views of Tenant's Harbor and Port Clyde and includes the Marshall Point lighthouse (from Forrest Gump!) Very well organized, great communication. This is set at a … MORE
This course has excellent views of Tenant’s Harbor and Port Clyde and includes the Marshall Point lighthouse (from Forrest Gump!) Very well organized, great communication. This is set at a kid’s summer camp, and proceeds from the race go toward sending kids to the camp. You can stay on-site the night before for a small fee (no kids there this weekend!). The race is capped at 250 people – a real local, grassroots sort of production!
Foodies? Pre-race seafood chowder dinner with veggies (grown there) and pasta salads for just $15. There is also a post- race brunch – a fully loaded breakfast buffet for everyone, no additional fee!
Swag? No t-shirts or anything but the medals are Gglazed pottery and age-group winners get hand made mugs!
You could easily make a weekend trip camping right there or stay at one of the local B&B’s right on the ocean. This would be a great way to see a beautiful part of Maine and is about 20 mins from 2 other lighthouses in Rockland and Owl’s Head.
Small friendly fun race!
Loved the low key friendly race atmosphere. 220 people, No fanfare. You get a beautiful medal made by the camp goers and your fee goes to support the camp. Race … MORE
Loved the low key friendly race atmosphere. 220 people, No fanfare. You get a beautiful medal made by the camp goers and your fee goes to support the camp. Race scenery was ok. A few glimpses of the water, mostly a wooded paved road with the half way point at a lovely lighthouse.
They did a great job managing the parking. Bathrooms at the start were a decent quantity, some real, some porta potties. 2 official bathroom stops along the route. Plenty of woods for unofficial. Water stops were about every 2 miles. (Just water nothing else). Volunteeres were great at every intersection to direct you the right way with lobster bouys as mile markers.
Brunch after was great. Full cooked breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, waffles and blueberry muffins.).
I stayed at the East Wind Inn… lovely place to stay 2 miles away and a delicious restaurant.
Awesome community race
Blueberry Cove Halfmarathon was a lovely race. About 200 ppl in Tenant Harbour, ME who raced to collect money in order to bring children from less fortunate families out to … MORE
Blueberry Cove Halfmarathon was a lovely race. About 200 ppl in Tenant Harbour, ME who raced to collect money in order to bring children from less fortunate families out to a camp farm. A lot of heart and uniqueness from the race bib numbers (re used cut outs from bed linen) to the finish line with swimmers from cages of lobster farms and not to forget the exceptional pre race dinner with chowder and blueberry pie (one had to pay extra) as well as the post race brunch (was included)…
Medals for everyone, mugs for the overall winner and age group winners. No other swag but with the awesome brunch, I still gave 5 stars in the swag category.
The course on paved roads is not certified (i think it was 0.1 miles short). It leads in a circle from the camp along the peninsula (you pass by the lighthouse that Forrest Gump ran to) back to camp. It is hilly, so not your best shot for a pb.