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Maine Community Bank Maine Marathon
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Maine Community Bank Maine Marathon 2026

Pedro Field, Back Cove, Portland, Maine, ME

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Registration open

Weather

MonthAvg high / lowBand
October40–58°FCool
Moderate cold risk~3.8 in typical precipCool and crisp; peak fall foliage. Morning race temps typically in the low-to-mid 40s°F at start.

Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.

Route & course

Marathon

Out-and-back · Road · starts 7:45 AM
Elev gain
858 ft
Elev loss
858 ft
High point
166 ft
Low point
9 ft
  • Turnaround at the midpoint; the second half retraces the first
  • Aid stations seen twice
Start · 9 ftSpectator pointSpectator pointFinish · 9 ft

Early walker start at 6:30 a.m. for those expecting 5h30m+. Rolling hills concentrated miles 5–17; mostly flat or downhill final 9 miles. USATF certified #ME24001DT; Boston Marathon qualifier. Aid stations every ~2 miles with water and Nuun. Beast Pacing pacers available.

Course map

Half Marathon

Out-and-back · Road · starts 7:45 AM
Elev gain
—
Elev loss
—
High point
—
Low point
—
  • Turnaround at the midpoint; the second half retraces the first
  • Aid stations seen twice
Start · 9 ftFinish · 9 ft

Same course as marathon, turning around near Mackworth Point/Falmouth (~mile 6.5). USATF certified; field size 2,300+. Beast Pacing pacers available.

Marathon Relay

Out-and-back · Road · starts 7:45 AM
Elev gain
858 ft
Elev loss
858 ft
High point
166 ft
Low point
9 ft
  • Turnaround at the midpoint; the second half retraces the first
  • Aid stations seen twice
Start · 9 ftFinish · 9 ft

Teams of 2–4. Four legs: Leg 1 = 6.1 mi, Leg 2 = 8.8 mi, Leg 3 = 5.8 mi, Leg 4 = 5.5 mi. Shuttle buses from Back Cove parking lot from 7:15 a.m. to relay exchange zones.

Travel

Base town
Portland, ME
Nearest airport
PWM · 15 min
Rental car
Maybe
Rideshare
Good
Lodging
Good
Facilities
Good
Trip length
2 nights
Travel complexity
3.5/10

Portland, ME has a small regional airport with limited direct flights from non-Northeast cities; Uber/Lyft coverage exists but is not as reliable as major metros. The race venue is walkable/bikeable from many downtown hotels.

Book lodging early — October foliage season fills Portland hotels fast. USM eliminated free parking in 2023; use Marginal Way lots or street parking near Deering Oaks. A rental car is helpful for exploring the coast but not strictly required race weekend.

Best for / avoid if

Best for

  • Boston qualifiers
  • fall foliage seekers
  • budget-conscious runners
  • relay teams
  • New England locals
  • Scenery seekers
  • First-timers seeking support

Avoid if

  • seeking a flat PR course (miles 5–17 are hilly)
  • need big-city race-weekend amenities
  • prefer point-to-point courses
  • Flat course seekers
  • Urban-only racers

First-timer mistakes

Underestimating the rolling hills in miles 5–17 on the return leg — the out-and-back means you climb everything twice. Also, parking is tight; plan to arrive by 6:30 a.m. and avoid Exit 6B off Rt 295.

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