Set sail for the Maine event of the summer at the Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K Run, returning this June! Explore all the beauty Portland, ME has to offer as you race down the half marathon or 5K course. No matter what distance you choose, you’ll pass scenic landmarks like Casco Bay, Back Cove and historic Old Port neighborhoods.
After crossing the finish line, coast on into the after-party, a block party style shell-ebration featuring a beer garden with complimentary craft beer (21+) courtesy of Shipyard Brewing, music, delicious food and much more!
The Shipyard Old Port Half features a USATF-certified single-loop course with jaw-dropping views of Casco Bay followed by a rockin’ block party in the heart of Portland’s historic Old Port district!
From the Start to Mile 3, you’ll run along beautiful tree-lined streets filled with 19th-century mansions while gradually climbing 120 feet to the course’s highest point. From there you’ll be treated to scenic views of the Fore River before a refreshing downhill that brings you to sea level, where you’ll begin an 8-mile journey along Portland’s waterfront.
From Mile 5.5 to Mile 11, you’ll run right next to the shore along the paved Eastern Promenade Trail and the packed cinder Back Cove Trail. Along the way you’ll pass by the historic Grand Trunk Railroad trestle bridge, stuck in the open position since a fire in 1984, and the city’s urban art project showcasing modern graffiti art .
Near Mile 11 you’ll climb 100 feet to the shaded Eastern Promenade where you’ll have sweeping views of Casco Bay, including islands, lighthouses, civil war-era forts, ferries, and sailboats. In the last downhill mile you’ll pass the Shipyard brewery before heading back into the cobblestone streets of the Old Port district.
The NEW Shipyard Old Port 5K features a USATF-certified single-loop course that is completely closed to traffic. From the Start in the heart of the historic Old Port district you’ll run along beautiful tree-lined streets filled with 19th-century homes and buildings while gradually climbing 75 feet in the first mile to the course’s highest point. From there you’ll drop down to sea level, where you’ll enjoy running along Portland’s waterfront and back into the Old Port.
Not only do you get an awesome day of scenic running, but you also get treated to a rockin’ after-party in Portland’s trendy Old Port district! There will be two beer gardens with music and delicious Shipyard craft beer. The Dana Street Beer Garden on Dana Street will have a DJ pumping top-40, while the Sodexo Beer Garden on Patton Court will feature legendary 70’s party band Motor Booty Affair!
LESS
The Finish Line was great
The Shipyard Half Marathon is a good race. It has a very good finish line and lots of treats there. There are however some areas that should be talked about … MORE
The Shipyard Half Marathon is a good race. It has a very good finish line and lots of treats there. There are however some areas that should be talked about with this race.
First of all the pre race communication was very good. I was very clear on the where and when of the race. The expo was also sufficient for a race of its size. I always appreciate when the Expo is in vicinity to where the race will be starting as it gives an opportunity to see the landscape.
Race morning I felt like the organization was pretty good. The PA system could have use a little work as it was slightly hard to hear some of the announcements and I was definitely in the race area while I stretched. It was simple enough to get into my corral which is always important.
I will admit that I had problems as we launched on this race and none of them are the fault of the race. I am putting the emotions of that part aside. The course was a scenic tour of Portland. I thought it was a nice mixture of all that it had to offer. However, at mile 6 the runners are on the somewhat path moving away from the harbor. At this point the 5k combines with the half marathon. If a runner is unlucky enough to be in this spot after the 5k combines, they are likely out of luck for moving. I was literally brought to a stop and then forced to walk a little because there was literally nowhere for me to go. At this point the race was basically a wash for me in terms of my time being competitive. The other thing about this course is that around mile 9.5 runners begin the hill climb. This is certainly not an easy part of the course. Right after the hill climb, comes the hill descent at mile 11/12. The effect of this is that a runner’s legs can turn to jelly. This is not the fault of the race but it is certainly something all runners should be aware of.
The finish of this race was very good. Easy to find all the goodies and a lot of them. The shirt and the medal for the race are very nice. I am always happy with a long sleeve shirt as I have so many short sleeve ones at this point.
I think that this is a fine race to run if one is looking for a Maine race. Portland is a great city (though not as great as my Portland) . Just be aware of the possible pitfalls in the race.
Checked Off Maine From My NE LIST
It was hotter and hillier than I thought it would be in early June in Maine. Very narrow at parts where you had to run single file. Smaller race with … MORE
It was hotter and hillier than I thought it would be in early June in Maine. Very narrow at parts where you had to run single file. Smaller race with a a small, well-run bib pick up and expo. Nice pullover swag and medal. If you haven’t been to Portland, a warning, parking is very challenging. Bring your patience and your wallet.
Hilly and humid
Pre race communication was great 👍 Packet pick up and expo was on the small side at a civic center, but was super easy. Be prepared to pay for parking, … MORE
Pre race communication was great 👍
Packet pick up and expo was on the small side at a civic center, but was super easy.
Be prepared to pay for parking, we parked at our hotel $40 per day, and walked everywhere.
Cool race start, when race director blew into a conch shell 🐚
Several pacers for the half marathon
It was 57 degrees at the start but very humid. Being from the south and running in humidity, I did not expect it to hit me the way it did.
Course was scenic with views of the Back Cove, Casco Bay, and Portland Harbor.
Course was paved roads, paved running trail, and packed dirt running trail.
Hills are early and often, big hill during the 1st mile, with smaller rolling hills until about mile 9 where another big hill that never seems to end. Felt like you were climbing at least 2 miles. My phone tracked 496 feet elevation gain.
Aid stations were plentiful and well staffed
Course support was great
Around mile 7 we were joined with the 5K runners and this caused some congestion for about a mile until 5K runners split off.
I recommend eating at Flatbread Company, Wood fire pizza was delicious.
Swag was a very nice finisher medal and super cool dri-fit long sleeve 1/4 zip.
Post race party was 🔥! Pizza, ice cream, beer, Nutrigrain bars, bananas, Gatorade, cornhole, and a live band.
I definitely recommend this race, just be prepared for the hills!
Scenic but hilly
Front half around the water was very scenic. Much hillier than I expected, especially the BIG one at mile 10. Swag was a little light in choices but long sleeve … MORE
Front half around the water was very scenic. Much hillier than I expected, especially the BIG one at mile 10. Swag was a little light in choices but long sleeve shirt was nice and medal was nice…would rather medal not include 5k though. Overall good race. Town of Portland is nice with great food
Nice scenery and good organization
Nice scenic course, easy check in - good swag and after party - The course a couple of times narrows enough that the pack slows to a walk (not that … MORE
Nice scenic course, easy check in – good swag and after party – The course a couple of times narrows enough that the pack slows to a walk (not that I was doing much more than that anyway lol) – and be careful if you are $ conscience – parking was $8-10 per hour near the start – i don’t know about further away.
Two big hills to climb!
Very well organized. They need more port a potties at start line. However, they had them spread throughout the course, which a lot of races don’t do. The after party … MORE
Very well organized. They need more port a potties at start line. However, they had them spread throughout the course, which a lot of races don’t do.
The after party was good – ice cream, pizza, beer, music. It was crowded & long lines for the beer.
It was very humid- I don’t know if that’s typical for Portland at this time of year, but I wasn’t expecting it.
Spectacular scenery and crowd support
Bib pickup was easy with optional merchandise to purchase. Good swag, long sleeve 1/4 zip. Medal was decent. Could have doubled the amount of porta-potties at start...very long lines, but … MORE
Bib pickup was easy with optional merchandise to purchase. Good swag, long sleeve 1/4 zip. Medal was decent. Could have doubled the amount of porta-potties at start…very long lines, but what race doesn’t? Communication and production were fantastic. Plenty of water stations. Large portions of the race had great crowd support If you’re looking for a flat course, keep looking. There’s one big hill in the first mile and a monster between miles 10 and 11. Reading past reviews, I added a lot of hills in my training, but nothing prepared me for that, especially being near the end of the race. Despite that, the scenery around Casco Bay was spectacular. If you’re looking for a half in Maine, I would definitely recommend this one. Portland is a great destination, lots of good food, breweries, and shopping. Be aware that you have to pay for parking pretty much everywhere you go.
Congested start, great views
The start was extremely congested and not just the first mile, but a solid 5-6 miles. You could move up periodically, but then you were blocked in again for another … MORE
The start was extremely congested and not just the first mile, but a solid 5-6 miles. You could move up periodically, but then you were blocked in again for another stretch of time. At one point, we were completely STOPPED multiple miles into the run. D/t the congestion, I missed and/or skipped the first three water stops, and I kind of shot my ideal time. The volunteers were ill equipped for the size of the group, and at several points were pouring Gatorade from a gallon pitcher. There were some hilly spots in the run, but I took them for a fun challenge, but I did see several runners actively getting medical help near the end. Great views. Not a race with a ton of crowd support. Post race was great fun with beer, pizza, ice cream, bean bags. It was a metal band so not completely my thing, but I did enjoy the rock throw-backs they did. Medal was another plus.
A Course That Lulls You Into Complacency
The Ventures/Shipyard series of races in New England has a reputation for party races, but the final 5k of this course will absolutely eat even the most serious runners alive … MORE
The Ventures/Shipyard series of races in New England has a reputation for party races, but the final 5k of this course will absolutely eat even the most serious runners alive (and the suffering will be magnified by June heat and humidity, and boy there’s not a lot of shade). You will question your decision-making as you are climbing the Western Promenade. Even the flat stretches of the race are on hard-pack gravel, which forces you to put in a bit of extra effort.
Beautiful views. Decent race production. Swag is ugly but decent quality; race emcee is the most annoying man alive. Having the 5k and half-marathon routes intersect around mile 7 causes some chaos (a 5k-er swiped the cup of Gatorade I was reaching for).
Challenging course, fantastic & fun half
If you’re looking for a great race experience in Maine, this is a sure winner. Registration and race communication was great. Bib pickup was hassle-free. The start line had plenty … MORE
If you’re looking for a great race experience in Maine, this is a sure winner. Registration and race communication was great. Bib pickup was hassle-free.
The start line had plenty of port-a-potties and water.This was a challenging and hilly course; thankfully it had some great coastal views, crowd support, and was well marked. Aid stations were plentiful and the volunteers were amazing and encouraging.
The finish line festivities were super fun, with food, drink and music. The medal and shirt are great too. Definitely recommend.
Well-Done Race, Fairly Hilly
Really well-run race, cool course through town and by the ocean, but the hills really sneak up on you. Great after-party and I really appreciated the race-morning bib pickup. Really … MORE
Really well-run race, cool course through town and by the ocean, but the hills really sneak up on you. Great after-party and I really appreciated the race-morning bib pickup. Really well-run event.
Great first 5K and plan on returning.
Being from out of state I had the race packet shipped. Good quality long-sleeve shirt. Race day was well organized, we had good weather and great views once you get … MORE
Being from out of state I had the race packet shipped. Good quality long-sleeve shirt. Race day was well organized, we had good weather and great views once you get out of town and along the coast. I really enjoyed doing this 5K. It started uphill for about the first mile, but the downhills for the remaining distance were worth it!
Beautiful, mostly flat course
This was a fun race that went by a lot of waterways and had great scenery. The course was well-marked and there were enough aid stations. The finish line area … MORE
This was a fun race that went by a lot of waterways and had great scenery. The course was well-marked and there were enough aid stations. The finish line area had pizza, ice cream, and beer for runners. The medal is cute but I would appreciate having the year on it. A good amount of supporters along the course. A few unexpected and challenging hills but overall a fast course.
Beautiful Course, Last 3 miles are rough
The course was super beautiful, you wind around a cove in the first half on a packed dirt/gravel trail. It's mostly along the water except the last 3 miles which … MORE
The course was super beautiful, you wind around a cove in the first half on a packed dirt/gravel trail. It’s mostly along the water except the last 3 miles which are very hilly and lots of turns.
Beautiful and challenging course
The course had beautiful scenery, but a very tough hill around mile 10. There was only a packet pickup without an expo, so it’s important to make sure you bring … MORE
The course had beautiful scenery, but a very tough hill around mile 10. There was only a packet pickup without an expo, so it’s important to make sure you bring everything you need if traveling from out of town.
I am split on the quality of race swag. The medal was great, but the shirt is 100% cotton so it went directly into my donate pile. I was disappointed with the post race party. They ran out of beer/seltzer, so if you are toward the back/took a few minutes to stretch after you finish there may be nothing left. Overall it was an okay race, but not one that I would repeat.
Beautiful race, first 6 was great
First 6 miles around the basin was beautiful. Then around the harbor. Last 3 miles uphill and downhill was a fun challenge. Very well done race, just some bottleneck at … MORE
First 6 miles around the basin was beautiful. Then around the harbor. Last 3 miles uphill and downhill was a fun challenge. Very well done race, just some bottleneck at the beginning, can be improved.
Great urban course
This race was on my to-do list. Not quite rising to bucket list level, but I def wanted to do this one, and I was up in NE for some … MORE
This race was on my to-do list. Not quite rising to bucket list level, but I def wanted to do this one, and I was up in NE for some other races and planned to be in Portland for this race. It did not disappoint. The course is pretty, it’s rolling but not too hard, and the scenery is just very nice. The one part of the course that I did not like was around the lake, which seems to have had a new sidewalk under construction, or something like that. There was a lot of clogging on this part of the course, which was probably in mile 2 or so, if memory serves. So the pack was not yet spread out. If they’d reconfigure the course so this was in mile 8 or 10, then it wouldn’t have been an issue, but anyone trying to have consistent splits, or do a PR on this course, would need to start in the front of the pack or would need to start well after everyone else starts. But hopefully this construction will be finished by 2023’s race.
The packet pickup, port-a-potties, post-race food, finish line, etc., everything was just superbly done. I’ve done probably 80+ races and this in easily in the top 10. Highly recommend, especially if you can stay downtown and explore a bit, and then walk to the start line in the morning. Hotels are expensive in this part of town, but it’s worth a weekend away, and bring the spouse! 🙂
Challenging course sneaks up on you
Starts in downtown Portland, and then after a mile or so there's a steep uphill (very helpful if you start out too fast, like I usually do) leading to some … MORE
Starts in downtown Portland, and then after a mile or so there’s a steep uphill (very helpful if you start out too fast, like I usually do) leading to some great views over the city. Lovely loop out around casco bay, passing a water treatment plant about 6 miles in, which is not so lovely for a stretch, and then back to the city. Beware, though, the last 5K is straight uphill again in the Old Town of Portland, so you better leave some gas in the tank if you’re trying for a PR. Great party afterwards, OK medal.
Great Maine run
Great well organized race and packet pick was easy. This race does not have an expo just a packet pick up the day before. The packet pick up did have … MORE
Great well organized race and packet pick was easy. This race does not have an expo just a packet pick up the day before. The packet pick up did have a few other items for sale (two shirts, a sweater, and glassware) relating to the race.
Race is in the downtown area so parking garage charge an hourly rate but there is free street parking around the area.
Course does a nice job taking you around the Portland area with lots of ocean views. After running a lot of big races, this race had a small town feel. this race has a big race production with a small town charm.
Mostly flat course with two hills at mile one and mile 10. Mile 10 hill definitely hits you, especially being next to a cemetery.
Beer garden by Shipyard brewing company with two complementary beers and plenty of water with snacks.
Maine Run - Checked off the List
We planned a vacation to Acadia National Park so of course I had to find a run in Maine. Shipyard Old Port fit the schedule and was a good choice. … MORE
We planned a vacation to Acadia National Park so of course I had to find a run in Maine. Shipyard Old Port fit the schedule and was a good choice. Packet pickup was quick and easy, but we were there right as it opened. No expo just pickup your bib and race shirt. You do have to pay to park. Not sure if free parking was available but right next to the center it was $2.00.
Race day, once again you have to pay to park and it was a bit more than I expected. Pre race there were plenty of restrooms available. There were two distances, half and 5k. Half starts first. Think there were 1700ish finishers in the half this year. Course had water & Gatorade every two miles. Course was mostly flat but there is a nice hill in the first mile and then a few more around miles 9 – 12. I wouldn’t call the course challenging but those later hills can zap you a bit. The scenery was mostly good. You ran in or next to parks, by the shipyard on roads or park trails. Miles 2 – 6 are on a crushed gravel/dirt trail around a cove. Nice but you will probably pickup a few pebbles that will ride along in your shoe until you cross the finish line. After you leave the cove you get the pleasure of running by a wastewater treatment plant for about a quarter mile. At mile 7 the 5k joins the route for about a mile it seemed. So you will be weaving around people walking (unless you are fast and might miss them) and dodging people moving in front of you. Finish line was well staffed. Medal was the same for 5k amid half finishers but the ribbon said half or 5k. Post race, if of age you get two beers. There was water available and pre-packaged snacks. I didn’t see any other drink options for us non alcohol drinkers but water. I didn’t spend much time post race. Just to recover and get a couple snacks. Overall a good event. Not my best effort but right in my range. I think too much hiking at Acadia had my legs tired. Improvements? Maybe where the 5k and half course join for that mile or however long, put up a divider so the half runners have a clear path. Same for the finish line as I heard some of the faster half runners we’re doing the same weaving around 5k walkers as they went in the finish line chute. But that is minor and it is great to be out running with everyone.