Ready for a breathtaking run? The Great Bay Half Marathon & 5K is back with the perfect mix of spectacular views and uphill climbs (you know, enough to take your breath away). Half Marathoners will traverse through beautiful winding roads, the Great Bay estuary, and the historic district of downtown …
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Ready for a breathtaking run? The Great Bay Half Marathon & 5K is back with the perfect mix of spectacular views and uphill climbs (you know, enough to take your breath away). Half Marathoners will traverse through beautiful winding roads, the Great Bay estuary, and the historic district of downtown Newmarket, NH! But, don’t let the captivating views fool you, this race is one for the books – and you’ll soon learn that it is one hill of a run. Don’t worry though, we will reward you with stylish swag, complimentary beer (21+), and plenty of delicious and healthy snacks!
The Great Bay Half boasts a challenging but gorgeous course along the Great Bay estuary, featuring a 3.5 mile section on a well-maintained winding dirt road, sightings of bald eagles and great blue herons, and a dramatic finish in the heart of historic Newmarket. Just picture yourself on the final downhill stretch of closed downtown streets running past the centuries-old fieldstone mill buildings and throngs of cheering spectators!
We also provide some on-course entertainment for your running pleasure! Weather permitting, there will be live music at four locations along the course to keep you motivated. Also keep on the lookout for the belly dancers from Lotus Rising Belly Dance at Mile 10!
The Beyond The Rainbow 5K aims to bring awareness (and donations) to Exeter Hospital’s The Beyond The Rainbow Fund – helping local NH cancer patients since 2002.
The 5K starts at the same time and place as the half marathon! You’ll run (or walk) the same course as the half marathon up to Mile 2.5, at which point you’ll veer right when the marathoners stay straight. The course then goes up a short steep hill (sorry!) but finishes with a downhill stretch through the heart of downtown with thousands of cheering spectators!
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Great Hills and Views
This is a Half Marathon, 5K or 10K produced by Loco Races that takes place in Newmarket, NH which is by the Seacoast. It is also about a 45 minute … MORE
This is a Half Marathon, 5K or 10K produced by Loco Races that takes place in Newmarket, NH which is by the Seacoast. It is also about a 45 minute drive so is another local race for me. There was excellent pre-race communication. As I said in my last review there were storms in NH during the week. Weather was good on Sunday so they had lots of communication about the storm and an option to drop down to a shorter race as some of the trail was a bit wet. There was also clear information about parking and time limits. I loved how detailed they described the time limits. As I also said in my last review I had an health issue during the week and had to walk. The time limit was 3:30 and I was 98% sure I could power walk it in 3:30 but given I knew it was a difficult course I wanted to make sure I would get a finishing time if I were a bit over the time limit and they reassured in the details that they would keep the finish line open for everyone you just may be unsupported if over 3:30. Parking for the race was easy but it was about 3/4 mile away so prepare for that. One thing I did not like about the race is it starts really late at 11am. I really did not like this start time at all as it basically sucked up the entire morning and afternoon. I wish it either started at 9am or I’d honestly prefer even later like 1 or 2pm. I really couldn’t do anything today except the race. Packet pick-up was kind of a mess this year. This was related to so many people changing distances and appeared to be a one off and not the usual. Since I didn’t change distance packet pick-up was smooth. Packet included bib and a nice, jacket with the race logo. I didn’t feel like going back to my car so I tied the jacket around my waist. The start didn’t have corrals but had signs of where to line up by pace. All the distances started together. I stayed near the back since I knew I’d be slow. One annoying thing was due to all the bib switching the race started 15 minutes late which was annoying since it already had such a late start time. The first few miles that shared with the shorter races went though downtown Newmarket and through neighborhoods. There were a lot of speed walkers and back of packers doing the shorter distances so this part was fun. Everything was very well marked. However as soon as the half split I realized there were really no walkers doing the half marathon. I was DFL the entire rest of the race. And while don’t worry I did get a finish time, I did not enjoy the experience as DFL. I want to be clear I have been DFL before and it doesn’t necessarily bother me and I get it DFL is better than on the couch but this is specific to how this race cleaned up after the last runner. A clean up truck basically tailed me the entire race and it would speed up before every aid station so as soon as I got to the aid station everything was packed up except 2 cups of water left out for me. The course was basically broken down right next me. It was really annoying and did not feel like I got the same race experience as others as I love interacting with volunteers but they were packing away and mostly ignoring me (I do not believe this was the volunteers fault as this seemed to be the race instructions). Also while I was not fast I was always well under the pace I needed to finish in 3:30. I do not think the course or aid stations should be put away unless someone is behind the time limit pace which I never was. The First State Race I did in Delaware had a similar system with a sweeper and clean-up crew behind the last runner. However they stayed about 2 minutes behind and were almost never in view of the runner. I was last for part of that race and only noticed the clean up crew during an out and back portion. The clean up crew should be invisible to racers under the time limit. Anyways besides that the race was pretty good. It was very tough with constant and some steep hills but there was absolutely gorgeous scenery. It is mostly road but there is a few miles on a non-technical trail. There were 5 aid stations. It’s hard to say how they were as they were all closed when I got there except for some water they left out for me. Course was well marked. The course was completely closed off on busy roads and had a coned off section in less busy roads and only the quietest roads were not coned off or closed. There was never any danger of being hit by a car like yesterday. I was happy with my finishing time even if I was last and I ended up over 7 minutes under the time limit. The finish line was great. The announcer and volunteers were very supportive and nice even though I was last. The medal is average with the race logo. There was pizza and fruit at the end and I was happy there was cheese pizza. They actually ordered too much pizza and let me take home an entire pizza pie as a consolation prize for being last. Overall I thought this was a difficult but very beautiful race. I did find it very frustrating being the last runner on the course with how they cleaned it up despite being under the time limit. They had a survey asking for feedback and I hope they listen as I would have really enjoyed this race if it wasn’t being packed up around me. It was not the greatest race experience but better than yesterday. I would still do this race again but I may just do the shorter races given the late start time, difficult course and subpar experience in the back. This isn’t a bad half marathon for NH but I do think Millennium Running produces better and more back of the pack friendly races.
Beautiful and Very Hilly
This race is quaint and easy to participate in. We parked about 200 yards from the starting area and walked right up a few minutes before go time. Bib pick … MORE
This race is quaint and easy to participate in. We parked about 200 yards from the starting area and walked right up a few minutes before go time. Bib pick up was very easy.
Beautiful scenery through out the course, and thank goodness because it helped distract from numerous very steep hills. The uphills were no joke, but there’s plenty of down hills to keep your pace up. That said, the steep down hills are the real killer here, my legs were pretty beat up after this race.
The race T’s were not attractive at all, i don’t expect I’ll ever wear it. (however following the race, volunteers gave out leftover swag from previous years).
Fun after party, plenty of good drinks and Dominos.
Gorgeous scenery, but very hill
I love this race. I ran it for the first time in 2019 (hence the review) and plan to run it again in the future once races are back post-COVID. … MORE
I love this race. I ran it for the first time in 2019 (hence the review) and plan to run it again in the future once races are back post-COVID. The scenery is incredible, the aid stations were well-placed, and the race was well-attended without feeling overly-crowded. Race packet pickup also went very smoothly the morning of the race.
There are a few caveats that I would flag for people who haven’t run this race before. First, it is HILLY. The race course covers a series of up-and-down hills from miles 4 through 10, followed by a gradual incline/decline in miles 10-12. My watch said I gained around 550 feet of elevation on the course, and the earlier hills were around 100 ft. of elevation each. Most of my training was on flat ground and I struggled on some of the larger hills. Pace yourself accordingly.
Second, the race started fairly late in the day – I think around 11 a.m. Although it was around 45 and cloudy when we started, by the end it was 65 and sunny, so be prepared for it to warm up a lot during the race. A lot of runners were wearing warmer gear and I imagine the last few miles would’ve been tough.
Otherwise, it was a great race that I’ll definitely be revisiting in the future!
Great Race, Great Hills, Great Bay
This is a challenging half-marathon. Great Bay is known for it's hills. There are several steep and long hills on this course and they can eat you alive. Fortunately there … MORE
This is a challenging half-marathon.
Great Bay is known for it’s hills. There are several steep and long hills on this course and they can eat you alive.
Fortunately there are only a few of these hills and if you run smartly you will survive and enjoy the great scenery of the Great Bay Estuary.
The race is run partly in Newmarket, NH on pavement, then on dirt roads as you run out into the Great Bay Estuary.
I find it awesome to be running a race on a dirt road in the woods and to be able to smell the forest and salty air.
The after race party takes place at several bars and the American Legion Hall. Smuttynose Brewing provides the post race beverages and there is plenty of pizza and snacks after the race also.
The Over The Rainbow 5K starts with the half, so don’t try to keep up with the lead pack in the beginning, they are only running 3.1 miles!