Black Bear Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K set June 4, registration open

The University of Maine Alumni Association will present the third annual Black Bear Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K on Sunday, June 4.

Registration is open for all three races, which last year attracted about 600 runners from around the country, as well as Canada. The Black Bear Marathon was the only Maine race included in Holiday Lettings from TripAdvisor’s “50 U.S. road races to attempt in your lifetime.”

The races will begin at 7:30 a.m. on the track at UMaine’s Harold Alfond Stadium. There is a six-hour limit for the marathon course. A 6:30 a.m. start is available to those who prefer an extra hour to complete the marathon.

The 26.2-mile course is a double loop of the 13.1-mile course that begins on the UMaine campus and travels through Orono and Old Town and back to the university’s paved bike paths. Both the marathon and half marathon courses are officially certified by USA Track & Field (USATF).

Registration is online. Fees are $90 for the marathon, $70 for the half and $40 for the 10K. The first 500 runners to register will receive a race shirt. Medals will be given to all runners who cross the finish line, and monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in the full and half marathon races.

A race expo and packet pickup will be held 2–6 p.m. Saturday, June 3 in the New Balance Field House on campus. Registration is open until the close of the expo. Packets also will be available for pick up beginning at 6 a.m. on race day.

The Black Bear Race series is run by the Student Wellness Resource Center with support from Campus Recreation and several sponsors. Proceeds will benefit the center’s substance abuse prevention services and recovery program.

More information is available on the race website or by contacting Lauri Sidelko at sidelko@maine.edu, 581.1423.