Fall in New England is a great time to run a marathon.
Usually the heat and humidity of summer are gone and the snow is yet to fly. For many runners, Fall is their favorite time to run a marathon. I compiled this list from a web site called Race Raves. This site has race reviews and you can add your own review.
When available I’ve also added links to course videos from Viewtherace.com. These videos are 20 minutes or so long and narrated to give you a few more tips on what to expect.
Some race links have been disabled.
New England Fall Marathons
Saturday, September 26th, 2015 – 6 Hour Ultra, Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Relay
Freestyle Farm, 188 Mack Hill Road, Amherst, New Hampshire
The Joe English Twilight Challenge is an evening/night trail run hosted by Freestyle Farm in Amherst, NH. The event consists of a marathon, a half-marathon and a 6-hour ultra-marathon. The marathon and half-marathon may be run individually or by relay teams. The relay teams (half or full marathon) consist of 2 or 5 runners completing either 5 or 10 laps on a 2.62-mile loop beginning at 7:00 p.m. The 6-hour ultra-marathon begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Ultra participants run the 2.62-mile loop continuously for 6 hours.
Most of the race will be run at night on the groomed equestrian trails at Freestyle Farm.
The event is expected to draw 350 runners ranging from casual athletes to experienced ultra-runners. The event is set within a unique venue with high quality trails around a 50-acre pond. The course will be marked with fluorescent light sticks, ground flags and signal fires.
This is race reminds me of The Ultra Around the Lake in Wakefield. You gotta love a race that uses signal fires to keep you on course.
Registration is $35 and $45 day of. That’s a great price for a half marathon, or run a 6-hour ultra and see how many miles you can do.
Sunday, September 27th, 2015 – 8AM start time
Keene, NH
This is a race almost as legendary as the man. In Melrose we run by the monument to Clarence Demar on our winter running route and on many Sunday Longs runs as well. Many runners in my club make it a point to touch the monument as they run by. Many of my friends have run this race, some of them have run it a few times.
This race encompasses an entire weekend if you want it to. You can drive up to Keene Friday night and pick up your bib at Ted’s Shoe & Sport on Main Street. Drive the course or go for a short run on Saturday. Saturday night there is a pasta dinner at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church.
On Sunday buses will take runners to the starting line. Marathon buses leave at 6:15, Half-Marathon buses start leaving at 6:30AM.
If you have never heard of Clarence Demar here is a brief bio.
Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 – 9AM
Bristol, NH
This event features a Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K, 5K Health Walk and Kid’s Marathon. Truly something for everyone. You may want to drive up Friday and enjoy the pasta dinner at 7:30pm at the Union Lodge, and get a good night’s sleep. Lodging options are listed on the race web site.
Viewtherace.com NH Marathon course video
Sunday, October 4th, 2015 – 8AM
Ashford, CT
The NipMuck Trail Marathon is a classic old-school trail race taking place along a northern section of the Nipmuck Trail. The race aims to preserve many of the qualities from the early days of the New England trail racing scene.
Now in it’s 32nd year this out and back double loop race is not for first timers. The race site warns of rough terrain and that in some areas an injured runner may wait an hour or more for medical assistance.
Only 150 runners may register. Additional details and warnings are on the registration site. Registration is $45.
Sunday, October 4th, 2015 – 7:45AM
Portland, Maine
Registration is $90 for the Marathon, $65 for The Half and $160 for the Marathon Relay, until September 27th. The combined races are capped at 3,500 runners. Registration closes when that number is met or September 27th, which ever comes first. So don’t wait!
Pasta dinner is at 4:30 at the USM cafeteria which is next to Sullivan Gym where the Expo and packet pickup are located.
I ran the race a few years ago and there was plenty of parking on campus. Crowd support was pretty good and the race was well organized.
Viewtherace.com Maine Marathon course video
Saturday, October 10th, 2015 – 8AM
Hartford, CT
I ran this marathon in 2012 and had a great and very eventful experience. The race is very well-organized with lots of community and spectator support. They have some very cool features as well.
Hartford offers a “Pre Perks Package” that will make you feel like an elite runner. For $65 you get:
a VIP heated , indoor space with access to real toilets
Race packet and shirt mailed to you
Race Day VIP Parking
Personal baggage check
Option to personalize your bib
They limit this to 400 runners, click the link for details.
Friday night is the pasta dinner at 6PM at The Hartford Club. All three races start at 8AM. The kids fun run, HMF FitKids Run starts at 9:30AM.
Registration is $105 for the Marathon, $75 for the Half and $35 for the 5K. Prices increase on September 30th and there is no race day registration. They charge $15 to mail your packet and strongly encourage you to visit the Expo Friday to pick up your packet and visit all the cool vendor booths. There is no race day packet pickup.
Check the registration page for relay team and youth prices.
The HMF FitKids Run is $10.
Check out this info graphic on the HMF sustainability efforts. Some really cool stuff here that more races should be doing.
Ocean State Rhode Races
Sunday, October 11th, 2015 – 7:30AM
Narragansett, RI
The Marathon starts at 7:30AM, Half at 8AM and the 5K at 8:15AM. These races feature FREE PHOTOS and a secured bag check at the start.
Registration is still open and is $100 for the Marathon, $75 for the Half and $35 for the 5K. The Half-Marathon is part of the Triple Crown series of Rhode Island Half-Marathons.
Sunday, October 11th, 2015 – 7:30AM
Newport, RI
Shuttle service to the start begins at 5AM. FREE PHOTOS and bag check will be available. Race Day registration begins at 5:15AM! The first $15 of each registration goes to support five local charities.
Registration is $97 for the Marathon and $77 for the Half-Marathon. thru October 8th. Add $10 for October 9, 10 and 11.
Sunday, October 11th, 2015 – 8:30AM
South Hero, VT
This race has reached it’s maximum registration of 750 and is closed.
The race begins and ends near the house where Clarence Demar once lived. Infinite Pasta-bilities Dinner is Saturday night at Folsom School, 4 – 7PM.
Good luck to everyone who managed to register!
Sunday, October 18th, 2015 – 8AM
Lowell, MA
This is a great marathon that I have run twice. Registration is still open for both races but getting is down to the last few hundred spots as of this writing. Registration is $95 for the Marathon and $75 for the Half-Marathon.
If you are looking to qualify for Boston, this is a good choice. The race is mostly flat with the bridges over the Merrimack having the most elevation gain. Part of the course is a double loop, so it can be challenging to see the “Mile 22” sign when you are at Mile 12 and starting to feel it.
Viewtherace.com Baystate Marathon course video
Sunday, October 18th, 2015 – 8AM – Marathon and Marathon Relay,
Half begins at 8:30 in Northeast Harbor
Bar Harbor, ME
Unfortunately the Half and Relay are sold out and the Marathon stopped taking registration on September 18th.
This popular race begins in Bar harbor, hits the half-way mark near Northeast Harbor and ends in Southwest Harbor. MDI has some of the most beautiful scenery and you will get to take it all in at the perfect pace.
Good luck to everyone who managed to register. This is one I want to run someday.
Sunday, October 25th, 2015 – 8:30AM
Falmouth, MA
Registration is $85 through October 25th or until all 1,200 bibs are spoken for.
Saturday October 24th – 7:30AM
Begins at Town Hall Square in Falmouth. Registration is $75 through October 25th or until all 1,200 bibs are spoken for.
Sunday, October 25th, 8:30AM
This five leg relay costs $160 per team with up to 200 teams allowed to participate. No race day registrations are allowed.
Why not make a weekend on The Cape out of it and run both the Half Marathon on Saturday and the Marathon on Sunday?
For $175, 200 lucky runners will get to face the ultimate challenge and go for the Clam Chowdah Challenge mug. There is no race day registration for this event either.
Registration for the Clam Chowder Challenge is still open as of September 20th.
Sunday, October 25th, 2015 – 8AM
Newmarket, NH
46% of LOCO Marathon runners qualified for Boston last year! Amazing! Many of you may be familiar with the Great Bay Half Marathon and those killer hills. These races take a different rout with very few hills, none of any significance – according to LOCO Mike.
The Marathon is a double loop of the Half-Marathon. It’s all country roads and 3 miles of rail trail.
This is a runner’s race. The finish time cut-off for 59 years and under is 4:30. For 60 and older it is 5 hours even. Most marathons have a 6 hour cut-off time. If you are running to see the foliage, you may want to pick another race. If marathon runners cannot make the half-way mark by 2:15 or 2:30 for 60+ years, you will be pulled from the course!
Oh, and marathon runners MUST bring photo. So no faking 60+ to get the extra 30 minutes to finish the race!
Cut-off time for the Half-Marathon is 2:30.
Registration is $85 for the marathon and $100 on race day. The Half is $70 through October 21st. Limits of 1,000 runners total.
Black Goose Marathon & Seekonk Half
Sunday, November 1st, 2015 – 8AM
Seekonk, MA
Both races start out together and split off at mile 5. A few miles later the races re-join each other. There is a 6-hour time limit for the marathon.
This is the inaugural year for these races. I hate to be negative but the Active.com registration page has typos. The event web site says registration prices increase on 9/1, but as of 9/20 they still had the old price of $50 for the marathon and $35 for the Half. Active.com has the higher prices.
Ocean State Multi-Sport manages many races, so I’m sure the races will be fine. There is also a 5K as part of the event, but I could not find any details beyond the price, $17.00.
Anthem Manchester City Marathon, Half & Relay
Sunday, November 1st, 2015 – 8:50
Manchester, NH
Another popular race with Boston area runners. I’ve never run it but several friends have and they had good things to say. The web site describes the race as hilly, challenging and scenic. The race is a Boston Qualifier, but they don’t make it sound easy. Well, easy for a marathon.
On-Line Registration is $90 for the Marathon, $80 for the Half, $160 for the Marathon Relay and $80 for the Half Relay. There is NO race day registration and NO race day packet pickup.
They request that runners pick up their own packets and bring photo ID.
Course time limit is 6 hours. They have an early start at 7:40AM if you feel you cannot finish within the 6 hour time limit.
The Expo is more than just an Expo. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will be offering screenings and tips on health and wellness.
Viewtherace.com Manchester City Marathon course video
Sunday, December 12th, 2015 – 8:30AM
Roxbury, CT
Held in the Hurlburt Recreation Area, this race is scenic, hilly and possibly chilly. The race web site does show two runners running in the snow.
Registration is $15, and that can’t be beat. They have water stations and course marshals. Here is the report from the race director, Scott Benjamin on the 2014 race. This is reportedly the only December marathon in New England.
Have you picked a fall marathon yet? I’m not in marathon shape, but that LOCO Marathon sounds interesting to me!
Run well my friends!
Andy
© 2015 andrew nagelin
Melrose is a very active town. There is a YMCA, Melrose Boot Camp and a large and active running club, the Melrose Running Club. Whenever I drive through town I see runners everywhere. 
The Melrose Run for Women is back and in person for 2022!
This race begins at the Y and travels through charming downtown Melrose and through beautiful Pine Banks. Bring your costumes and family!
The Assault on Mt. Hood returns as an in person cross country race for 2022. 
Runner’s World wrote a good article about Boston Marathon weather in 2013. This was a year after the blistering hot 2012 marathon that baked so many runner’s beans. Weather was a top concern one year after that roaster.
