2015 is your year. Maybe you resolved to get fit or stay healthy. One easy way to make sure you stay on-track is to sign up for something to train for. Concrete goals with deadlines help a lot, because if you’re not getting in your workouts or miles, inevitably you’ll flip the calendar one day and think, “uh oh, that race is coming up … better lace up my Asics …”
Here are 20 races to help light that fire. Some are through mud, others up mountains, some up inflatable mountains … and some are just long, hard runs throughout our beautiful state:
Shutterstock photo.
Cupid Dash Snowshoe 2K
Sunday, Feb. 1 | Norway | $20 | runsignup.com
Running is hard. Running in snowshoes is harder. But this race is only a bit farther than a mile, costumes are encouraged and it benefits United Way of Oxford County. Maybe you’ll walk part of it (why not), maybe you’ll sprint for gold, either way it’s a pretty good (fun) first fitness race of the year. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to this one, it’s not the last snowshoe race on this list …
Frostbite 2.5K
Sunday, Feb. 8 | Portland | $15 for the race, $17 for the race and a sweet hat | facebook.com
If you’re new to running or fitness, it’s good to ease into your new year’s resolution. And if you’re a regular runner, you know how rare these winter races are — why not have a fun, short ego boost? This road race is a mile and a half from Lincoln Park to Longfellow Square and back. The race celebrates Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 208th birthday. So, you know, feel free to wear a beard and recite a poem as you sprint by his house.
Portland Press Herald file photo by Derek Davis.
Winter Cowboy 5K (sneakers or snowshoes)
Mt. Abram in Greenwood | Saturday, March 14 | $25-30 | baxteroutdoors.com
Baxter Brewing is hosting a race during Mt. Abram’s Wild West Festival, which is a day of music, skiing, tubing and mechanical bull riding. You can choose to wear sneakers for the snow run on a groomed trail or, if that sounds just too easy for you (or if you love snowshoeing), you can snowshoe-sprint the 5K. There will be awards for each category. The race is on groomed trails and ends at the lodge, where live country bands will be playing all day. If you upgrade to the $59 deluxe registration fee you can race and get a lift ticket, burger, beer and reduced-rate ski rentals ($18).
The flattest race in the country (maybe): 1 mile, 5K or half marathon
Brunswick | Saturday, April 4 | $15 for 1 mile, $25 for 5K and $45 for the half | racetherunways.com
Race the Runways takes place on a working airport, so the course is the flattest you’ll find. Flat = fast. The half marathon’s course used to have more out-and-backs, but they’ve reduced those for a more exciting race. The downside? Because it’s on runways, this location can get windy — like 50 mph gusts windy. My friend Pattie wrote a couple race reports on this one, if you want to hear from someone who’s run it.
Portland Press Herald file photo by Gordon Chibroski.
Falmouth 4-miler (also pretty flat)
Falmouth | Saturday, April 11 | $15 or $17 to get a shirt too | baystateevents.com
You’re over the 5K. You’ve crushed it. You have enough 5K medals. This is next. It’s flat, it’s in Falmouth and your race fee includes breakfast. Mmmm breakfast. This one benefits the Falmouth High School boosters club.
Half a half, a half, or a full marathon by the sea
Kennebunk and Biddeford | May 9 and 10 | $60 for the half, $70 if you split the half with a buddy, $80 for the full marathon | mainecoast262.com
I like all the options of this race, the Maine Coast Marathon. If you feel brave and ready, you can sign up for a 39.3-mile race (which is the half marathon Saturday and the full on Sunday) or you can pick the half or full marathon races, OR you and your best running friend can split the half marathon with one of you running 7.25 miles and the other person takes the last 5.85 miles. … and all of this is along the coast in prime pre-tourist season when the weather is usually pristine for working out: Not hot or cold.
Press Herald file photo by Gabe Souza.
Trail run with dogs, bare feet and BBQ
New Gloucester | May 23 and 24 | $25+ | pinelandtrails.com
Three ways to 5K: Regular, shoeless or with a dog. Plus, Pineland Farms will host 10K, 25K, 50K and 50 mile(!) races over the weekend, all on trails. There will be a barbecue and a bunch of family events too.
Obstacle “emergency” mountain challenge
Camden | Saturday, May 23 | $50 | emergencychallenge.org
“It’s only 5K” might be a phrase to help you through this … because it’s up a mountain, but also you’ll be expected to do firefighter moves along the way. Obstacles might include jumping over fire, Tarzan-swinging over a river, carrying something heavy up the mountain and solving puzzles. The Run For Your Life race is trying to raise awareness about how many local emergency services, like fire stations, rely on a shrinking pool of volunteers.
Press Herald file photo by Gregory Rec.
Dynamic Dirt Challenge obstacle race
New Gloucester | Sunday, May 31 | $60-65 | dynamicdirtchallenge.com
Last year’s race had 24 obstacles including a log leap, tire hurdles and other Crossfit-sounding quests. The website says it will be 4+ miles, but doesn’t get more specific. Bonus: There’s a beer tent with one free pint for each runner, free snacks and a live band. You can run the trails alone or do it with a team.
Acadia half marathon
Bar Harbor| Sunday, June 7 | $80 | mdiymca.org
Prettiest half marathon ever? Maybe. Maybe. This challenging course goes through Acadia National Park, passing some of the best spots including Sand Beach, Thunder Hold and Otter Cliffs. Acadia is hilly, which will make the run difficult, but you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views.
Portland Press Herald file photo by Tim Greenway.
Twilight 5K
South Portland | Thursday, June 11 | Racers must raise at least $100 to fight cancer | twilight5k.com
Spoiler alert: Despite the name, there will be no sparkly vampires. As an infrequent runner myself, I’d say one of the worst parts about running a race is waking up. This race starts after 5 p.m. — perfect. You can go to work, truck on over and then run. This one raises money for Maine Cancer Foundation and gives runners peaks of Casco Bay along the way.
Rainbow Readers Run
Ellsworth| Sunday, June 14 | $30 | rainbowreadersrace.wordpress.com
Ellsworth’s library is hosting a color 5K run (volunteers will throw colored corn starch at you along the route) to raise money for its renovation fun. The national color runs that come to Maine are often $50+ for a 3-miler, so it’s nice to have a local one that’s more affordable.
Portland Press Herald file photo by Derek Davis.
Blue mile
Auburn | Sunday, June 14 | $12-25 depending on when you register | bluemilemaine.com
Just one mile. You will get a breakdown of your time for every quarter mile.
Sebago Lake Triathlon
Casco | Sunday, June 14 | $90+ | runsignup.com/Race/ME/Casco/sebagolaketriathlon?
Maine doesn’t have a ton of triathlons, but it has even fewer open-water (out of the pool) ones. This one has racers swim in the lake, a bike up some hills to some beautiful views of the lake and Mt. Washington and a run. There’s a sprint triathlon for people not ready for the whole shebang. You could also bring some friends and make it into a relay.
The Color Run
South Portland | Sunday, June 28 | $35-55 | thecolorrun.com/south-portland/
This year is the “Shine Tour” whatever that means. I hope it means they’ll throw colorful glitter bombs at the runners, but its website is lacking in details as of the time of this post.
Press Herald file photo by Gregory Rec.
Bradbury Mountain Scuffle
Pownal | Sunday, July 12 – tentatively | trailmonsterrunning.com/bradburydirt
This will be a 6-mile trail run on Bradbury Mountain. No obstacles, no [intentional] mud, just rolling hills and mountain biking trails.
Tough Mountain Challenge
Newry | Saturday, July 25 | $89 | toughmountain.com
Last year’s obstacles included a mud pit, a balance beam over water, barbed wire you must crawl under, climbing walls and more. The race accepts up to 3,500 competitors, all divided in different heats to take on Sunday River’s mountains. There will be fireworks, beer, live music and parties.
Press Herald file photo by Gregory Rec.
The Great Adventure Challenge not-triathlon
Bridgton | Saturday, Aug. 15 | $60 | maineadventureracing.com
Swap the traditional triathlon swim, bike run events for kayak (2.5 miles), mountain bike (16+ miles), fast hike (2 miles) and you’ve got the Pleasant Mountain Great Adventure Challenge. There will be live music and food at the end.
Glow Run
Old Orchard Beach | Friday, Aug. 28 | $30 | rev3glow.com/#events
The 5K race will take place in the dark, with fog machines, laser machines and with tons of people who are decked out in sparkly clothes and glow sticks, glow necklaces, glow bracelets …
mainetoday.com photo by Amy Paradysz.
Inflatable 5K
Portland | Saturday, Sept. 12 | insaneinflatable5k.com/maine
You run, run, climb an inflatable castle, run, run, jump through a bouncy house, run, slide down a huge inflatable slide. Sounds like your childhood dream of being an adult. There will be one of these in Bangor in August too, but no details yet.
This will be updated throughout the year with more fall races and more novelty races when there is more information available. If you have a nominee, email me at hsteeves@mainetoday.com.