The Maine Coast Marathon is coming to Wells, Maine for a full weekend of scenic coastal running! Take on either the Half Marathon or 5K on Saturday, then get ready for the grand return of the marathon on Sunday! Complete with scenic coastlines, white-sand beaches, and pristine marshes, the course …
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The Maine Coast Marathon is coming to Wells, Maine for a full weekend of scenic coastal running! Take on either the Half Marathon or 5K on Saturday, then get ready for the grand return of the marathon on Sunday!
Complete with scenic coastlines, white-sand beaches, and pristine marshes, the course is the perfect way to experience some of Maine’s most breathtaking natural beauty. All runners will receive commemorative medals, other amazing swag, and a rockin’ after party featuring free beer, delicious food, and live music!
The new Maine Coast Marathon is a gorgeous point-to-point course that features some of the most breathtaking coastal views in Kennebunk, Wells, and Ogunquit including pristine marshes, miles of sandy beaches, glimmering dunes, and the occasional rocky ledge outcropping. The entire course sits just above sea level with no significant hills.
Participants may take a shuttle bus or get dropped off at the race start at Kennebunk High School. At Mile 1 you’ll run through the town of Kennebunk and past elegant 19th century sea captains’ homes. From Mile 6 to 7.25 you’ll run along the coastline past Gooch’s Beach, Middle Beach, and Mother’s Beach. After crossing into the town of Wells at Mile 10, the course passes through the pastoral Wells Reserve at Laudholm, down its 0.6 mile Barrier Beach Trail to the coastline again, and through the Drake’s Island community. Once in the town of Ogunquit at Mile 20, you’ll cross over a boardwalk footbridge to a sandy pathway along the edge of dunes, and then begin a continuous 3.5 mile journey up along the coastline. Throughout the last 6 miles you’ll witness amazing views of marshes that are all part of the Wells Reserve and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, and stretches of the Atlantic Ocean. The race finishes in the Wells Harbor Community Park.
The Maine Coast Half Marathon course passes through the towns of Wells and Ogunquit, and features scenic views typical of southern Maine’s coastline: pristine marshes, miles of sandy beaches, glimmering dunes, and the occasional rocky ledge outcropping. The entire course sits just above sea level with no significant hills. The race starts at the northern tip of a peninsula with spectacular views of Wells Harbor on three sides. You’ll warm up in the first 4.5 miles heading straight down the shoreline with views of the Atlantic on your left and marshes on your right. Before heading inland you’ll run along the edge of dunes on a sandy pathway and then onto a wooden boardwalk and over a footbridge. As you head back north you’ll repeat the pattern crossing over the estuary six times with amazing views of marshes that are all part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The race finishes in the Wells Harbor Community Park.
The Maine Coast 5K course features the best scenic views that southern Maine’s coastline has to offer: sandy beaches, rocky ledge outcroppings, and pristine marshes. The entire course sits just above sea level with no significant hills. The race starts at Lafayette’s Oceanfront Resort overlooking a broad stretch of Wells Beach and the Atlantic ocean. In the first and last mile runners are treated to amazing views of marshes that are part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The race finishes in the Wells Harbor Community Park.
Not only do you get an awesome day of scenic running, but you also get treated to a rockin’ after-party at the gorgeous Wells Harbor Community Park! We’ll have fruit, food, and water waiting for you at the Finish! As if that wasn’t awesome enough, we’ll also have live music from band Curse Of Kona, cornhole and other games, plus 2 complimentary cans of beer (21+ with ID). The best part? It’s all included with your registration!
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What a view🌊
I’m going to break this one down: Packet pickup was easy and they were really accommodating with swag changes Parking at the school was easy but we did get there … MORE
I’m going to break this one down:
Packet pickup was easy and they were really accommodating with swag changes
Parking at the school was easy but we did get there early. The race it self takes you down the coast for 5 miles before zigzagging you back through a beautiful beach town. Now for the down side: The race started 40 min late due to parking and shuttle bus planning. The course is about a 1/4 mile long and when getting to the finish area the lines to get post race food were very long. With the late start and the weather I would have liked to see more aid stations on course, There were 5.
Note the race directors have sent out an email saying that they are making plans to improve these issues for next year.
Great scenery
Leading up to the race, the website was a little sketchy and it was hard to reach anyone via email due to the wrong info posted. Once I finally got … MORE
Leading up to the race, the website was a little sketchy and it was hard to reach anyone via email due to the wrong info posted. Once I finally got through to the correct email, they were very helpful and told me everything I needed to know. In the future they should hopefully update the website so there is less confusion.
On race day, everything was right on time, directions, or easy to understand, and even though I ran slow, there was course support throughout the entire marathon. It was unseasonably warm, but the aid stations had plenty of water, and luckily there were lots of beautiful scenery.
The windbreaker was pretty awesome and the metal will look good with my other states
Room for improvement
Ran the May 6, 2023 half marathon. The race sweatshirts are sleek, but the sizes run small, and race organizers refused to allow runners to change sizes. Runners are shuttled … MORE
Ran the May 6, 2023 half marathon. The race sweatshirts are sleek, but the sizes run small, and race organizers refused to allow runners to change sizes. Runners are shuttled from the junior high school to the start. Race was set to start at 0700. We were told about every 5-10 minutes that it would be a “few more minutes,” we are “waiting for the last few buses.” The race started at 0740. There are a few small hills along the course. Most of the race is run through neighborhoods and along a busy road. A portion of the race runs along the coastline. Some of the aid stations have people handing out gatorade underneath the “water” banner and people handing out water underneath the “sports drink” banners. At the end of the race, we waited over an hour for the gear check vehicle to bring the gear because it was “stuck in traffic.” We were given an extra beer ticket to use while we waited. No one announced when the gear finally arrived and there was no banner designating the gear pick up area at the busy and crowded finish area. Shuttles took people the 1.1 mile drive back to the junior high school from the finish line. We opted to walk, as the shuttle line was about a quarter mile long, and the buses were loading and departing very slowly. Several days later, the official race times have not been posted for runners.
Nice Course
The course was nice, flat and fast, and the volunteers were great. The logistics were a bit off. They bussed you from a school to the start line, except there … MORE
The course was nice, flat and fast, and the volunteers were great. The logistics were a bit off. They bussed you from a school to the start line, except there wasn’t any parking at the school. Then there weren’t enough busses for the amount of people. The race started 40 minutes late. The finish line was chaos. They handed you a medal and you had to stand inline for a cup of water you poured yourself. They had plenty of room to setup a water station were you kept walking and grabbed a couple of cups. The only other issue was the gear check. The vehicle transporting the gear from the start wasn’t there at the end of the race, and you had to wait around for it. The rest of the after race festival was great, live music with an open field with bench’s and cold beers.
The race itself was great, and with a few little corrections the whole experience could be as well.
Gorgeous shoreline course!
What an amazingly beautiful half! Such a scenic route along the coastline. Easy packet pickup, good course support, and just absolutely stunning views along most of the route. I highly … MORE
What an amazingly beautiful half! Such a scenic route along the coastline. Easy packet pickup, good course support, and just absolutely stunning views along most of the route. I highly recommend this race!
Big race in a beautiful setting
Arriving at the race, traffic was a nightmare so give yourself plenty of time! The logistics of parking around the UNE campus were a mess. The race ended up starting … MORE
Arriving at the race, traffic was a nightmare so give yourself plenty of time! The logistics of parking around the UNE campus were a mess. The race ended up starting late but was well supported along the course with plenty of water, snacks, and cheers. The route is gorgeous and most of it is right on the water. If you are looking for a scenic race in Maine, this one fits the bill!
Beautiful, fun, but room for improvement
We drove over 1600 miles (one way) to run on the Maine Coast and it was a great experience! The scenery was beautiful, not as much ocean views as I … MORE
We drove over 1600 miles (one way) to run on the Maine Coast and it was a great experience! The scenery was beautiful, not as much ocean views as I expected! The course was challenging but not a killer. The communication was good and the volunteers were friendly. Were there hiccups? Yes. But as this was my 6th marathon I’ve at least had a little experience to guide my impressions.
The shuttle buses were right where they were supposed to be and seemed ready to take runners even AFTER the published last depart of 6:30. Not sure HOW but two half marathon runners accidentally ended up on a bus to the full start- might need more volunteers checking the runners getting on the bus?? Anyway when we got over to the school there was a big backup of traffic so our driver let us out to walk over. Thank goodness because the lines at the portable toilets were HORRENDOUS!!! We waited and I stressed, and some runner or volunteer (not sure which) started suggesting/reminding that there are portapotties available at mile one, which to me is NOT a solution. I managed to finally get in one and of COURSE it had an issue. One roll was empty 👎🏻 but the other was full 👍🏻 the full one was a disaster 👎🏻 because someone before loading it had taken the loose end and wrapped it 3+ times through the center cardboard so I had to hold back the sliding plastic door, claw at the “tied” paper trying to tear through the layers to find a loose end. When I got one and pulled against the plastic case to tear it, the whole plastic casing popped open and fell towards me. It had been zip tied closed?? I couldn’t get it back up. All this happening while I KNOW the race is going to start without me.Eventually I got out and I was ALONE. I ran to the start. I did NOT miss it. I heard the anthem. I heard the conch shell. So it worked out. But it was a stressor that didn’t need to exist.
Like many other people I went out faster than I intended, but I corrected that by stopping and taking pictures! This race was just “to finish” for me. To check the Maine box in a list of 50 states. I wish there was more running by the ocean, but I appreciated the villages also. The crowds were not overwhelming but they were friendly and supportive. I enjoyed the trombone player around mile 16. I hope someone tells him! The RaceJoy app was a great touch, it was for the most part pretty accurate (it announced to me every mile where I was, my mile split, my average pace, and my projected finish time!! And getting cheers from my family and friends back home through the app was brilliant!!
I walked a bit around mile 20-21.5 with a younger guy who was struggling, but when I realized he wasn’t going to regroup I knew I wasn’t ready to walk the last 5 miles!! I struggled with some calf cramping and a revisit of a weird quad cramp that I’ve gotten in other races. I carried gels and I carried water (NO gels were offered on the course-they had other food instead). I ate the peanut butter pretzels offered. I would have had watermelon chunks but it was long gone when I got there?? By mile 25 I was running low on steam. I drank the Gatorade but was swaying a bit and medical started to approach me. I appreciate that they were watching closely, but I was not ready to give up. I appreciate even more that she honored my hand- holding her off as I restarted and pushed through the last mile and some.
At the finish it was hard to tell where to go! It looked like two chutes which made sense to me (half/full) but no one told me where to go until i asked. When I entered the chute and got across the line I was given a water bottle (as promised) but the water was NOT cold as they promised. I was given a medal that was not specific to my accomplishment (half and full medals were the same). I then had to find my way to food (not terribly difficult but I mentioned I was flagging by that point) luckily a friend found me at the finish and pushed pretzels into my hands. I think the finish area could use some work. Gatorade bananas pretzels should be immediate. Other stuff like beer and ice cream can be Festival food stuffs. But immediate needs should be addressed immediately.
I got my cookies. I ate pretzels. I had a half bagel with peanut butter. But I did NOT get my beers. They ran out. I read somewhere that it was a big mixup and more came out later after I left. I did get ice cream and they were EXTREMELY kind to tell Runners their ticket would be honored at their SHOPS as they had run out of all but one flavor. I ate my Cuban coffee and LOVED IT! I took pictures. I relaxed. I enjoyed the sun whenever the wind was not freezing my sweat! My brother hasn’t run Maine yet (he had Lincoln, NE the weekend before and Fargo, ND next weekend). I will recommend this one to him and maybe come back when he does. But otherwise this one will not be a repeat for me because of location. But I think it is a good value and a decent experience for other runners.
Beautiful scenery, average production
Overall Rating: Really good, with room to improve. Course Difficulty: constant rolling hills and all paved surfaces. Fairly challenging. Course Scenery: Off the charts. Outstanding! Race Production: You’ll have to … MORE
Overall Rating: Really good, with room to improve.
Course Difficulty: constant rolling hills and all paved surfaces. Fairly challenging.
Course Scenery: Off the charts. Outstanding!
Race Production: You’ll have to decide: no shirt with race purchase, packet pickup was a breeze, lots of pre race info, tracking app that didn’t work for many people on the course, first announcement at the start line was that there would be no aid stations for the first 8 miles, aid stations didn’t really have any type of fuel, aid station volunteers were really good. Some really major issues, but also some gold stars.
Race Swag: Nice medal, but again, no shirt with entry.
My Performance: It was ok. About what I expected for the second day of a double.
A really beautiful course with lots of support. There is room for improvement, but if I needed a check mark by Maine, I would definitely consider this one.
Can't Wait for 20191
I love this course and this race. I was on pace for a PR and at mile 8 my mind took over, and before I knew it I was way … MORE
I love this course and this race. I was on pace for a PR and at mile 8 my mind took over, and before I knew it I was way off! Sooo, I’ll be back at it next year because now I’m pissed! Lol! If you haven’t done this race I think you’ll really enjoy it. Great people, awesome scenery and a fairly easy course to run, even when your head takes over!
Wet, Windy, and Half a Mile Long
I don't want to knock the entire race because a volunteer mistakenly sent us down a dead end, adding half a mile. But, that's what I most remember about the … MORE
I don’t want to knock the entire race because a volunteer mistakenly sent us down a dead end, adding half a mile. But, that’s what I most remember about the race – that and how wet and windy it was. I added another state and collected another BQ, but I am left wondering how many minutes I lost doing that out and back that shouldn’t have been.
Beautiful run along the Maine Coast
This was a point to point course from Wells to Biddeford, Maine, providing a thorough tour of the working class village of Wells to the upper-class resort community of Kennebunkport … MORE
This was a point to point course from Wells to Biddeford, Maine, providing a thorough tour of the working class village of Wells to the upper-class resort community of Kennebunkport Maine. There were a few priceless views of the coastline , as well as good examples of summer vacation mansions near Kennebunkport. If you are thinking of running a marathon in Maine, this one should be given serious consideration.
Beautiful course along the coast.
Probably 9 or 10 miles of this course is right along the coastline. Beautiful scenery in all directions. Plenty of volunteer support. Finishes on the track at the University of … MORE
Probably 9 or 10 miles of this course is right along the coastline. Beautiful scenery in all directions. Plenty of volunteer support. Finishes on the track at the University of New England. Free Shipyard beer and pizza post race. This is a great race with a great atmosphere. Course is flat, but there are enough rolling nubs to get your leg’s attention.