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New Hampshire > Great Bay Half Marathon
Newmarket, NH
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Date
Saturday, April 5, 2009
Event
Details
More than 1,300 runners and walkers took part in the second annual
running of
the Great Bay Half Marathon in April of 2009, starting what race
organizers plan as an annual rite of spring in this town just off the
coast of New Hampshire. The race takes participants on a scenic tour of
the Great Bay Estuary and National Wildlife Refuge, a 1,000-acre park
filled with marshes, beaver ponds and pine and oak forests that are
home to abundant waterfowl, river otters, foxes, turtles, and many
other species of wildlife.
The 13.1-mile race course starts in the small mill town of Newmarket,
following paved roads for the first two and a half miles, with some
gentle rolling hills thrown in along the way. Between miles 2 and 3,
the course changes to a gravel road with more rolling hills for the
next two and a half miles, and treats runners and walkers to views of
the area’s historic stone walls, hay fields and forest lands.
Once you reach mile 5, the most scenic portion of the race begins as
the course enters the Great Bay Estuary, and the terrain changes back
to paved surfaces for this coastline road.
While on the Bay’s scenic road, participants are cautioned to
stay on the left-hand side throughout the remainder of the race, as it
will remain open to automobile traffic. The next 3 to 4 miles offer
some steep hills followed by long, gradual downhills, and are
considered the most challenging part of the course. After mile 9, the
course enters the Moody Point area and becomes flatter and easier, and
includes ample breathtaking views of the Great Bay.
The last few miles of the race take participants out of the more
natural landscape and back into the neighborhoods of Newmarket, with
Cape Cod-style architecture and still-wonderful views of the scenic
areas nearby.
Race
Weather & Climate
In Newmarket, a small town just inland from New Hampshire’s
Great Bay, springtime weather conditions can still be quite cold, as
average April temperatures range between 34°F and 58°F.
Wet weather is also a possibility, as precipitation for the month
averages nearly 4.1 inches.
Fees
N/A
Registration
Registration for the spring 2009 running of the Great Bay Half
Marathon is now closed, as the event has completed. Please check back
later for updated information on how to sign up for the 2010 running of
the race.
Website
www.locorunning.com
Course Map
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Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in the Great Bay Half Marathon? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Great Bay Half
Marathon
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