The TD Beach to Beacon 10K is a 10-kilometer (6.2 mi) road running event that takes place along the coastline of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It begins at Crescent Beach State Park and ends at the Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park.

The finish line of the race with Portland Headlight in the background.

Starting out as mainly a local event, athletes from all over the U.S. and various parts of the world now participate in the annual event, including some world-class distance runners, including Olympic Marathon Silver medalists Catherine Ndereba and Meb Keflezighi, as well as Chicago Marathon winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot. It was founded by U.S. women's marathon runner Joan Benoit Samuelson, who in 1984, won the first ever women's Olympic marathon. 1998 was the first year that the event was held and over 3000 runners participated in the race. The 2009 race event registration filled in just 1 hour 45 minutes.[1]

The race is managed by DMSE, Inc. whose president, Dave McGillivray, directs the Boston Marathon and more than 30 other races each year.

A then-record 5,668 runners participated in the event in 2010, which saw Lineth Chepkurui improve the women's course record by almost half a minute.[2] This number was again improved in 2011, as 5,876 runners were at the starting line.[3] Three-time winner Gilbert Okari is the men's record holder with his time of 27:27.5 from 2003.

The race also features a Maine resident division. The male and female winners receive $1,000 in prize money and are regarded as the Maine road racing champions for the year.[4][5]

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants automatically receiving full refunds and the option to register early for the 2021 edition. Ultimately the 2021 event was also cancelled and a virtual competition was held instead. The race returned in 2022 with a COVID vaccination requirement. This requirement was subsequently dropped in 2023, as participation returned to pre-pandemic levels. [6][a][9]

Overall winners

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Catherine Ndereba has won the women's race on five occasions.

Key:   Course record

Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1st 1998   Johannes Mabitle (RSA) 28:18   Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 32:15
2nd 1999   Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) 27:48   Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 32:05
3rd 2000   Joseph Kimani (KEN) 28:07   Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 32:19
4th 2001   Evans Rutto (KEN) 28:30   Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 31:34
5th 2002   James Koskei (KEN) 28:11   Adriana Fernández (MEX) 31:56
6th 2003   Gilbert Okari (KEN) 27:27.5   Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 31:52.5
7th 2004   Gilbert Okari (KEN) 27:35.0   Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 31:35.1
8th 2005   Gilbert Okari (KEN) 27:38.7   Lornah Kiplagat (NED) 31:35.0
9th 2006   Thomas Nyariki (KEN) 27:47.5   Alevtina Ivanova (RUS) 31:25.7
10th 2007   Duncan Kibet (KEN) 27:51.7   Luminița Talpoș (ROM) 32:20.3
11th 2008   Edward Muge Kiprotich (KEN) 27:52.4   Edith Masai (KEN) 31:55.6
12th 2009   Edward Muge Kiprotich (KEN) 28:04.5   Irene Limika (KEN) 32:05.8
13th 2010   Gebregziabher Gebremariam (ETH) 27:40.4   Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 30:59.4
14th 2011   Micah Kogo (KEN) 27:48   Aheza Kiros (ETH) 32:09
15th 2012   Stanley Biwott (KEN) 28:00   Margaret Wangari Muriuki (KEN) 31:52
16th 2013   Micah Kogo (KEN) 28:04   Joyce Chepkirui (KEN) 31:24
17th 2014   Bedan Karoki (KEN) 27:37.0[10]   Gemma Steel (UK) 31:26.7[10]
18th 2015   Stephen Kosgei Kibet (KEN) 28:28.2[11]   Wude Ayalew (ETH) 31:55.5[11]
19th 2016   Ben True (USA) 28:16.3[12]   Mary Keitany (KEN) 30:44[12]
20th 2017   Stephen Kosgei Kibet (KEN) 27:55[13]   Mary Keitany (KEN) 30:41[13]
21st 2018   Jake Robertson (NZL) 27:37[14]   Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei (KEN) 31:21[14]
22nd 2019   Alex Korio (KEN)[15] 27:34[16]   Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN)[17] 31:05[16]
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[9]
2021
24th 2022   Mathew Kimeli (KEN) 28:39[18]   Fantaye Belayneh (ETH) 32:07[18]
25th 2023   Addisu Yihune (ETH) 27:56[19]   Hellen Obiri (KEN) 31:37[19]
26th 2024   Tadese Worku (ETH) 28:12[19]   Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 32:17[19]

Maine winners

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Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1st 1998 Bob Winn[20] 30:52 Julia Kirtland 34:56
2nd 1999 Bob Winn 31:11 Julia Kirtland 35:07
3rd 2000 Todd Coffin 31:36 Julia Kirtland 35:35
4th 2001 Andy Spaulding 31:29 Christine Snow-Reaser 36:13
5th 2002 Andy Spaulding 31:26 Christine Snow-Reaser 36:30
6th 2003 Eric Giddings 31:18 Maggie Hanson 35:47
7th 2004 Ethan Hemphill 31:35 Susannah Beck 35:22
8th 2005 Eric Giddings 30:34 Emily Levan 35:52
9th 2006 Donny Drake 31:16 Emily Levan 35:40
10th 2007 Ayalew Taye 30:47 Emily Levan 35:01
11th 2008 Ben True 31:02 Kristin Barry 34:37
12th 2009 Ben True 29:10 Sheri Piers 34:17
13th 2010 Pat Tarpy 29:28 Kristin Barry 34:35
14th 2011 Louie Luchini 30:36 Sheri Piers 35:11
15th 2012 Ethan Shaw 30:37 Sheri Piers 34:22
16th 2013 Riley Masters 30:19 Erica Jesseman 34:17
17th 2014 Will Geoghegan 29:53 Michelle Lillenthal 33:39
18th 2015 Ben Decker 32:49 Erica Jesseman 34:53
19th 2016 Jesse Orach 31:31 Michelle Lillenthal 34:53
20th 2017 Jesse Orach* 31:31 Emily Durgin 34:43
21st 2018 Ryan Smith 30:50 Michelle Lillenthal 36:16
22nd 2019 Dan Curts 29:26 Sofie Matson 36:01
24th 2022 Sam Mills 31:08 Aly Ursiny 36:17
25th 2023 Matt Rand 30:41 Ruth White 34:56
26th 2024 Luke Marsanskis 29:12 Veronica Graziano 35:51
  • Bold denotes course record in the Maine division.
  • Orach collapsed with 100 meters to go, but was helped to the finish line by fellow Mainer Rob Gomez. [21]

Notes

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  1. ^ The 2020 edition of the race sold out in 17 minutes.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ Maine road race fills up in less than 2 hours USA Today, March 16, 2009
  2. ^ Course record for Chepkurui in Cape Elizabeth 10K. IAAF (2010-08-08). Retrieved on 2010-08-08.
  3. ^ Kogo and Kiros cruise to 10Km wins in Cape Elizabeth. IAAF (2011-08-07). Retrieved on 2011-08-10.
  4. ^ https://www.beach2beacon.org/event-info/post-race/past-champions/ Retrieved August 9, 2023
  5. ^ https://www.beach2beacon.org/event-info/prize-money/ Retrieved August 9, 2023
  6. ^ "Vaccination Policy".
  7. ^ "Online Registration for the 2020 TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race Announced". 14 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Here's How Quickly the 2020 Beach to Beacon Sold Out". 12 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Race Update Announcement - TD Beach to Beacon 10k Road Race". Archived from the original on 2020-05-02.
  10. ^ a b "Cool Running - 17th TD Beach to Beacon 10k Race Results". Coolrunning.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Cool Running - TD Beach to Beacon 10k Race Results". Coolrunning.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Cool Running - TD Beach to Beacon 10K Race Results". Coolrunning.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Cool Running - TD Beach to Beacon 10K (20th annual) Race Results". Coolrunning.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Cool Running - TD Beach to Beacon 10k Race Results". Coolrunning.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Alex KORIO | Profile | World Athletics".
  16. ^ a b "Race Results | Granite State Race Services".
  17. ^ "Joyciline JEPKOSGEI | Profile | World Athletics".
  18. ^ a b "TD Beach to Beacon 10k". World Athletics. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d "TD Beach to Beacon 10k". World Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  20. ^ https://www.beach2beacon.org/event-info/post-race/past-champions/ Retrieved August 7, 2023
  21. ^ https://www.wmtw.com/article/incredible-moment-mainer-helps-mainer-win-at-beach-to-beacon-10k/11642748 Retrieved August 8, 2023
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