Get ready to race into Portland’s stunning waterfront at the Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K, returning this June! Whether you’re running the scenic half marathon or the 5K, you’ll experience all the beauty and charm of Portland, ME. Along the course, you’ll pass iconic landmarks like Casco Bay, …
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Get ready to race into Portland’s stunning waterfront at the Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K, returning this June! Whether you’re running the scenic half marathon or the 5K, you’ll experience all the beauty and charm of Portland, ME. Along the course, you’ll pass iconic landmarks like Casco Bay, Back Cove, and the historic Old Port neighborhood—making this race a true Maine experience.
Once you cross the finish line, the celebration is just getting started! Head straight to the After Party, a block party-style “shell-ebration” with everything you need to relax and unwind after your race. Enjoy complimentary snacks, craft beer, and hard seltzer (21+), courtesy of Shipyard Brewing, plus live music on the main stage in the beer garden. It’s the perfect way to hang out with friends and family and celebrate your achievement!
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!
The Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon features a single-loop course with jaw-dropping views of the Casco Bay followed by a rockin’ block party in the heart of Portland’s historic Old Port district!
The Shipyard Old Port 5K features a 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.
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Hilly, crowded but beautiful!
First the good: This race takes you on a beautiful course along the bay and through Portland. Really nice scenery and the city of Portland is beautiful. The water stations … MORE
First the good:
This race takes you on a beautiful course along the bay and through Portland. Really nice scenery and the city of Portland is beautiful. The water stations and course support were good and I really liked the finishing medal!
The bad:
This is not the race’s fault but since it rained the night before and some during the race, there were parts of the course that were complete mud.
A WAVE START is badly needed. Over 3,000 people starting at the same time in very narrow corrals. Then a few miles in you basically come to a full stop as everyone if trying to make their way through narrow parts of the course. Linking back up with the 5K course is fine, but they should have been told to move to a certain section of the path. 5K walkers standing 3-4 wide and having to run around them was not fun.
The finish line was decent and the beer and ice cream you get looked good but the lines were LONG.
Lastly, I have never gotten a more… different shirt from the race than this one. Online it looks like a really cool zip up hoodie, but the material is very fluffy and odd feeling. I saw Half participants trying to exchange for the 5K shirt.
Overall:
The area and the course make this a really cool race to be a part of. There is a lot of uphill and downhill throughout the course with 2 big hills around mill 10 and a big downhill around mile 12. Some logistics need to be tightened up but this race is a good one!
Beautiful but Crowded
Beautiful and mostly flat course that winds around the cove and through downtown Portland—scenic and enjoyable overall. That said, my biggest gripe is the first 4 miles: you're packed in … MORE
Beautiful and mostly flat course that winds around the cove and through downtown Portland—scenic and enjoyable overall. That said, my biggest gripe is the first 4 miles: you’re packed in elbow to elbow with virtually no room to pass. If it happens to rain on race day, be prepared to splash through muddy puddles every few feet around the cove.
Another issue comes around mile 6, when the 5K runners merge with the half marathoners, creating a bottleneck that pushes many of us onto the grass or into the street. I ended up wasting a lot of energy weaving around people, which was frustrating.
As for the hills at mile 10—it’s really not that bad. It’s just over half a mile long, and there’s a brief flat stretch between the two climbs where you can catch your breath.
Despite the crowding, the post-race vibes were great. Wish I didn’t have a chest cold so I could’ve pushed harder. That said, I probably won’t run it again due to the unavoidable congestion.
This half marathon is a gem!
Don’t miss this fun, well organized race in the heart of Portland Maine. This was my second time running this half, and I loved it even more this year. I … MORE
Don’t miss this fun, well organized race in the heart of Portland Maine.
This was my second time running this half, and I loved it even more this year. I ran a good race and finished strong— and had a great time.
Bib pickup was smooth— the location was much more accessible than last year. Great swag— the high quality, full zip hoodie is my new favorite.
Start line was well organized, with great music and energy.
The route was nice, in spite of lots of fog and a little leftover rain — having run it last year I know there are some beautiful views. There were a couple of bottlenecks early on, presumably due to narrow-ish paths and navigation around big puddles, but nothing big.
The course was very well marked, and was moderately challenging with some good hills toward the end.
Aid stations were plentiful and well stocked. The volunteers were absolutely amazing and encouraging. Great crowd support too!
Finish line amenities were excellent. Plenty of fresh fruit, granola bars, water … and Carolina Rice, which is a first for me but I think it was great.
Love the medal, too!
I wasn’t able to stay for any post race festivities so I can’t comment on that.
Overall, this half marathon is now one of my very favorites. Don’t miss it!
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.
Tour of Portland Maine
Well-run race in Portland, Maine. Packet pick-up is easy, and included a nice long sleeve and bag (I think). Race day has pacers for the half split every ten minutes … MORE
Well-run race in Portland, Maine. Packet pick-up is easy, and included a nice long sleeve and bag (I think). Race day has pacers for the half split every ten minutes by expected finish time. It is a busy race with good support, and provided a great tour through Portland around the bay and back through the city. Weather was good and can be expected to at least stay cool for this time of year given Maine’s northerly location. Aid stations were sufficient, and there was enough room on the course (expect for a few pinch points around the bay) for everyone to move at their preferred pace. Last three miles are tough, as the biggest hill on the course is around the 10 mile mark. Worthwhile for the downhill after and the beautiful views of the water. Photos are good and free (somewhat tough to get a solo photo given number of participants) and the after party with beer, ice cream (!!), pizza and other treats was great.
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.