Maritime Race Weekend is Atlantic Canada’s premier running event of the fall season, and as anyone who’s spent time there will tell you, Maritime hospitality is unforgettable. This year’s race weekend is September 13 and 14, 2019, and whether you’re a new runner or a veteran, you will love racing here. Not only does the weekend offer distances to suit every member of your group, you can also hang out at the beach, explore historic sites, enjoy free beer after the race, and sample the best fish & chips you’ve ever eaten, all in Fisherman’s Cove and Halifax. (And best of all, there will be pirates–lots of pirates.) Take a look at our interactive map to give you a flavour of all the good things waiting for you at Maritime Race Weekend:

Race distances

With two different 5K races, a 10K, and a half-marathon, Maritime Race Weekend has something for everyone. The first 5K is Friday evening, and the remaining races all start at the same time on Saturday morning, so no need to stress about who goes where at what time. Here’s the schedule:

Sunset 5K–Friday evening, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy the gorgeous coastline route along Shore Road from Fisherman’s Cove in Eastern Passage.

Sunrise 5K–Saturday morning, September 14 at 8:00 a.m. OK, it’s a little past sunrise, but you get the idea.

“The energy at the Sunset 5K is something you have to experience to understand,” says race director Michelle Kempton.  “The excitement ripples through the crowd. It’s definitely a party, and in complete contrast to the next morning, which is tranquil. Then all you hear are the ocean waves crashing on the coastline.”

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Coastal 10K–Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. It takes the 5K route just a little further.

Scenic half-marathon– Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. (All three Saturday races start at 8:00 a.m.)

Tartan twosome–Race the Sunset 5K on Friday evening, plus either the Sunrise 5K, or the 10K, or the half-marathon on Saturday morning. Good times all round! Register here for your race distance(s) of choice.

“All three routes are scenic along the rugged Nova Scotia coastline,” says Kempton. “Fisherman’s Cove offers a unique East Coast experience. I love sharing my beautiful community with the world. “

New this year is the Rogers Kitchen Party, a two-hour concert by the band Merimac, to entertain you when the running is done. “The concert is included in the race registration,” says Kempton. “A free ice cold Keith’s and music–that’s an East Coast way to celebrate with friends.”

RELATED: Maritime Race Weekend adds two-hour concert to race registration

 

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Things to see and do (besides race) during Maritime Race Weekend

If you’re considering traveling to the race, it’s worth taking a little extra time to enjoy the region’s offerings–and don’t forget, there are no races on Sunday, September 15, giving you plenty of time to rest your legs, recreate, and take in the area’s many sights and attractions. Enjoy a display of Maritime military expertise and enjoy panoramic views of downtown Halifax at the Citadel, or take a tour of the original 1820 stone brewery at Alexander Keith’s. Make sure to leave time to stroll along one of the area’s many beaches, and include a stop for the freshest, tastiest fish & chips you’ll ever eat, at Fisherman’s Cove.

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As if you needed any other reason to get yourself signed up, keep in mind that if you’re training for a full marathon in the fall at Quebec City, Toronto, or New York City, any of Maritime Race Weekend’s races (or a Tartan Twosome) make the perfect tune-up race to test your fitness. They’re four weeks out from SSQ Quebec City, five weeks out from Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and seven weeks out from NYC.

All things considered, it’s the definition of a perfect September race getaway.