The 2020 Maine Coast Marathon and Half Marathon has been canceled.
Three days after GiddyUp Events Race Director Erik Boucher announced a postponement, an email was sent Thursday, March 26, announcing that efforts to reschedule did not produce a suitable date.
The start of the 2015 Maine Coast Marathon. The marathon begins at Kennebunk High School and winds its way through Kennebunk Beach and Kennebunkport before finishing at the University of New England. GiddyUp Events courtesy photo
“Due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, the CDC’s recommendation of no events of 50-plus people for the next two months, the state government’s rolling mandate around no public gatherings, the closure of all non-essential businesses, and having exhausted all our options to find a suitable postponement date, we must cancel the Maine Coast Half and Full Marathon, originally scheduled for May 9,” said Boucher in a written statement.
The Maine Coast Marathon begins at Kennebunk High School before passing along Mother’s, Middle and Gooch’s beaches and on to Kennebunkport and Cape Porpoise before finishing at the University of New England in Biddeford. The race has been held every year since 2013 when it was revived.
The race was originally held from 1980 to 1987, but was reportedly shut down when the Secret Service wasn’t keen on having so many runners stream past Walker’s Point after George H.W. Bush launched his presidential campaign.
The event includes a half marathon, held concurrently at the University of New England, and annually draws a combined 3,000-plus participants – along with thousands of spectators and families – to the area.
“Many dates (from June through December) were floated by our key stakeholders including our venue host at the University of New England, as well as the three municipalities along the course, but every new option was impossible to accommodate for at least one stakeholder,” Boucher wrote. “This decision was not taken lightly, but our priority lies with the safety of our running community, from all of our participants to those who put on the events.
“We understand how disappointing this is, but we still want to provide a great experience for you. In this difficult time, it’s more important than ever to lace up your running shoes and get outside and run or walk. That’s why we’re turning the Maine Coast Half and Full Marathon virtual.”
For more information on the virtual event, visit www.mainecoast262.com or email info@mainecoast262.com.
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