The Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K is returning to Portland, ME this June for another day of beautiful late-spring running! Enjoy spectacular views of lighthouses and Civil War-era forts as you run along the waterfront of Casco Bay, culminating with a finish through the heart of Portland’s historic …
MORE
The Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K is returning to Portland, ME this June for another day of beautiful late-spring running! Enjoy spectacular views of lighthouses and Civil War-era forts as you run along the waterfront of Casco Bay, culminating with a finish through the heart of Portland’s historic Old Port district. All runners are rewarded with stylish race swag, two free beers from Shipyard Brewing Company (21+), and a commemorative finisher’s medal!
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
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.
Really Well-Run Race
There are two things that make this course a bit more challenging than others: (1) miles 3-6 are on the packed gravel on Back Cove, which might slow you down … MORE
There are two things that make this course a bit more challenging than others: (1) miles 3-6 are on the packed gravel on Back Cove, which might slow you down by a few seconds and (2) mile 11 is a tough 150-foot climb to the highest point in the race.
Hats off to the race coordinator, though. This was a fairly small race (~1500 in the half marathon), but volunteers were at every single turn making sure that runners knew where to go. Even though I was largely alone for the later portions of the race, I never felt like I was unsure of where to go.
The finish line had a great after-party, and the vest was a nice bit of swag that came with the race entry. The only (very small) complaint was that the packet pickup the day before the race was not anywhere near the start line. (However, I could have picked up my packet before the race, so again, that’s a small complaint.)
Overall, a well-run race in a beautiful city.
Beautiful Course but Beware
A couple things about this course that I wish I had known going into this race and I suspect other runners would appreciate knowing before they sign up. First, I … MORE
A couple things about this course that I wish I had known going into this race and I suspect other runners would appreciate knowing before they sign up.
First, I was surprised how much of the course is on dirt trail. I don’t remember the exact distance on that but it felt like every bit of 4-6 miles. It’s not technical but you do need to watch out for your footing in some areas.
Secondly, there are a LOT of very sharp switchbacks and steep downhill. Some of the switchbacks were almost 90 degree turns coming off of a monster downhill. I had a great race season and was healthy going into this race. After this run I’m nursing a number of injuries that I can only tie to how the course was built. Trying to downshift and adjust on a dime like that multiple times is a problem.
So, if you’re truly racing I would stay away from this race. If you’re looking for a good time and don’t mind having to adjust your pace and stride multiple times over, and you like dirt trail, have at it.
Cobblestones slow you down
This is an amazing race, super well put on. I was contacted to pace 2:20 finish a few days before race day due to a last minute change, which I … MORE
This is an amazing race, super well put on.
I was contacted to pace 2:20 finish a few days before race day due to a last minute change, which I gladly accepted. I had never run the course before but checked out the reviews on RaceRaves to see what the course was like so I knew how I should be going out.
Arrived, picked up my race gear, and made my way to the start line all within 10 minutes because everything is so close together. The first couple of miles starts out pretty packed because you have thousands of people running this race, but it spreads out around mile 2.5 when you are done with all of the turns in Portland. You are crossing along the edge of the city then make your way around it so you get a nice ocean view for most of the race…though this could be detrimental if it were windy out.
The last .25 of the course is on cobblestone, so you have to slow way down and watch your footing so you don’t twist your ankle.
I’ve done a few other races with the same announcer and he gets better each and every time.
Overall great race!
This race was such a great run! I personally felt great the entire time on this mostly flat race. Only a few small hills to be concerned with and the … MORE
This race was such a great run! I personally felt great the entire time on this mostly flat race. Only a few small hills to be concerned with and the very last 0.2-ish miles are cobblestone which will test your ankle strength. Great race production overall.
Nice course, expo not so hot
This was my 50th state (66th half) so I have a lot to compare it too. The expo left a lot to be desired, we got there right before 2 … MORE
This was my 50th state (66th half) so I have a lot to compare it too. The expo left a lot to be desired, we got there right before 2 when it opened and thank goodness since they only had 4 or 5 people working the table and they were assigning numbers as you came up which added a lot of time. You needed to show an ID to get a beer bracelet which was also confusing making people stand in line that weren’t even old enough to drink. By 4P the line was down the stairs, out the door and curving up the block. There was no expo to speak of with only one retailer and some freebies for locals. The tank instead of a shirt was nice and high quality. The start line was easy to get to but was self seeding which of course is a nightmare since people aren’t honest and put themselves where they really shouldn’t be. The first mile was crushingly slow due to massive crowd and inability to spread out. There were a few hard hills but very, very short, no climbs. Overall, was generally flat. On the back bay you are running on crushed gravel which was nice but it had been raining for 2 days so there was a lot of jumping of puddles. At the end, there was a brutal uphill that dumped you onto a cobblestone street for the last 0.2 miles which sucked because you cannot sprint on cobblestone without breaking your neck. The medal was nice, you get 2 beers, a pizza slice and an ice cream. Water stations were plentiful and they had wet towels after mile 9 I think at about every mile which were appreciated. We got lucky on the weather, there was a wind that kept the humidity at bay and it was slightly overcast which was also nice.
Worth doing
Nice tank top. Nothing else for swag. Nothing at the expo except for one small store with two bookshelves of shoes, two cloths racks, some socks, and fuel. There are … MORE
Nice tank top. Nothing else for swag. Nothing at the expo except for one small store with two bookshelves of shoes, two cloths racks, some socks, and fuel. There are a couple of 3.5% grade hills.the down hills make up for it though. At one point the 5k meets up with the half. Not thrilled about a sudden big crowd to navigate through. The medal is ok. Never sure why the 5k and half shirts and medals are the same. There is a price difference, I think the shirts and/or metals should be race specific. The worst thing is some rough cobblestone you have to run on near the finish line.
Great 5k!
After 4 years of running the half, I really enjoyed this 5k. It started uphill for about the first mile, but the downhills for the following miles were worth it! … MORE
After 4 years of running the half, I really enjoyed this 5k. It started uphill for about the first mile, but the downhills for the following miles were worth it!
Some unique things about this race:
-It began 15 minutes after the half, so we lined up perpendicular to the half runners and got to watch them begin.
-The 5k merged with the half around mile 2, and then turned off into a side street for the finish.
The post race party was, as always, fantastic! This year it seemed a little less well-run. There were tremendously long lines for post race snacks, pizza and beer. The band was amazing and had so many runners dancing!
The shirts have been hit or miss over the years, but this year’s tank top was great. Definitely continue to recommend this race!
Repeat race - always worth it!
This was my first half marathon ever, and I keep coming back. I love racing in Portland, ME, and this race stands out to me for the stellar communication, promotion, … MORE
This was my first half marathon ever, and I keep coming back. I love racing in Portland, ME, and this race stands out to me for the stellar communication, promotion, small expo, and atmosphere. I certainly have never run my fastest half marathon, as the hills near the beginning and then in the middle and end can be challenging.
The atmosphere is wonderful – the DJ/emcee is lively and upbeat, and it is hard not to get excited before the race even starts. One nice touch is that they usually offer cold towels around mile 11 – very needed on a hot day!
The coolest part about this race is that you run along the water for so long. A running tour of Portland ME is incredible. From viewing the ocean to exploring neighborhoods… all the way to running alongside the highway for a little bit, you barely get bored.
The after race party makes it an all-around festive event. I love staying for the beer, music, and general atmosphere.
This year, they changed the course from beginning on the pier to beginning/ending in the heart of the city. I found this a little disappointing, because starting on the pier was pretty cool. The finish felt impractical, because the final stretch was across very bumpy cobblestones that prevented me from finishing as strong as I would have liked.
Aside from the slight course change, I would highly recommend this well-organized and planned out race!
Kudos all around...
Portland, Maine is a nice place to visit. It has a great personality to it. The event was very fun. They changed the course this year to put hill portion … MORE
Portland, Maine is a nice place to visit. It has a great personality to it. The event was very fun. They changed the course this year to put hill portion immediately at the beginning which wasn’t too bad. Plus, we had a light sprinkle of rain during the first portion that helped keep the body from heating up too much at the beginning. There is one more hill between Mile 11 & 12, I believe, but it was bearable. The course, overall, was beautiful. About 100-200 feet of cobblestone just before the finish was a little treacherous, but added a nice quaint feeling.
The event was well organized. We arrived late the evening before and did the packet pick up the morning of. It was a quick in & out. The finish line DJ/announcer was very cool; added a good personality to the finish. The after party was awesome – two free beers, free slice of pizza, free ice cream. Great post-race atmosphere.
The medal was very cool. Looks much better in person, than in the pictures.
I recommend getting a room at the Hyatt Place, because you literally walk out the door and you’re at the start line & only a small block or two from the finish line. The hotel also provided some fruit, snacks, & water as you head out. There are probably some other good hotels within the area as well, but this was super convenient.
If you fly into Portland, you don’t need to rent a car. Uber/cab is less than $20 and everything you need is within a half mile radius.
state #18, Personal Record ;-)
Great scenery, plenty of water stops and the weather was great. It sprinkled a couple times, but, actually was felt good. I felt great the whole time, well except for … MORE
Great scenery, plenty of water stops and the weather was great. It sprinkled a couple times, but, actually was felt good. I felt great the whole time, well except for the never ending incline between 11-12 miles. The cobblestone towards the end was interesting, but just need to pay close attention to your footing. I wasn’t a fan of the race tank, but, the medal is very nice. Two beers pizza and ice-cream were the highlights of the many snacks and refreshments at the finish. I would recommend this half marathon.
Last thing, stay at the Hyatt place Portland old port, start and finish are literally out the front door.
Wicked Fun!
Great course; especially running on a dirt path around a lake for a few miles. There's a pretty steep incline between 11 - 12 that threw me (and my time) … MORE
Great course; especially running on a dirt path around a lake for a few miles. There’s a pretty steep incline between 11 – 12 that threw me (and my time) and the last .10 has some old cobblestones to navigate, but other than that a wonderful course! My biggest complaint would be the wait to get some food after the race. The line was long and moved so slowly. Great scenery and wonderful weather!