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