New Hampshire Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10K

Saturday, October 5, 2024 • Bristol, NH • Course Map

Timed to coincide with the peak viewing season for fall foliage here in this gorgeous, rural town in northern New England, Bristol’s New Hampshire Marathon sees more than 500 runners cross the finish line in the full marathon, half marathon and 10K combined each year, and is set to welcome as many or more for its 31st annual running.

The race takes runners along the roads that lead out from and back into Bristol around the shoreline of Newfound Lake, the 4,106-acre lake that has helped make this small town a popular spot for summertime outdoors recreation, for swimming, boating and fishing on the lake to hiking and camping in the hills and mountains that surround its 22 miles of shoreline — the town’s population typically doubles in the summer, city officials say, from its usual 3,300 residents to more than 6,500 in the peak vacation months.

That helps explain why the lake serves as the route for the race, both for its natural beauty and the ease with which it helps divide up the marathon route for the race.

Runners in the half marathon will actually start their race at the half-way point of the full marathon — they’ll be transported by shuttle bus from the marathon start back in Bristol to the half-way point for their starting line — and then follow the second half of the full marathon route back into town for the race finish line.

Along the way — which runners will follow largely along Groton Road, West Shore Road and Lake Street to the finish line near Kelley Park along North Main street — the course offers up much of the scenery you’d expect to see in a small, rural New Hampshire town.

Plenty of reds, oranges and yellows are out on the trees that populate the hills and mountains surrounding Newfound Lake, and runners stay close to the lake for much of the race.

(For a detailed report on one runner’s experience in the full marathon at the 2010 race, check out this YouTube video review.)

Race Weather & Climate

Located near the southern end of Newfound Lake in central New Hampshire, just over 50 miles northwest of Manchester, Bristol typically sees mild to sometimes cold weather in October, which has brought record temperatures here as low as 12°F (in 1972) and as high as 85°F (in 1986).

On the day of the race (Oct. 5), the average low is 37°F and the average high is 64°F.

Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the New Hampshire Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

9:00 AM

Fees

$55 – $65 for the half marathon
$70 – $80 for the full marathon
$30 – $40 for the 10K

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of Bristol’s New Hampshire Marathon, Half Marathon, or 10K, register online at RaceRoster.com here.

Official Race Website

www.nhmarathon.com

Comments

Ever run in the New Hampshire Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments box below.

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1 comment… add one

sharon showalter October 3, 2017, 6:37 pm

I completed the full marathon on Sept. 30. Yes – it was rainy, chilly, and hilly – all OK as one never knows what to expect. However, the course is simply dangerous and unpleasant. The traffic on 90% or more of the race course was fast, lacking in courtesy in allowing room for runners, loud, and very risky. A truck with those large outward rear view mirrors carrying a big boat came within inches of my head with his mirrors. I could have instantly been killed. Also, there was an incident where a courteous oncoming driver gave me room, but a vehicle approaching her blew his horn loudly and long as a rude and mean gesture; he did not slow to allow for her giving me room. Additionally, making the course dangerous with the traffic, the shoulder of the road where we ran was narrow with a steep drop off in most areas; thus, it was difficult to look at oncoming traffic and look down at the shoulder to prevent injury or worse. This made the race terribly unpleasant. There was no joy about the pretty lake as one could not look at it because of the danger issues. This race should never be in that region! I am surprised and relieved that apparently no one has been injured or complained in past years. It was a major disappointment. I drove from VA for the race. Lastly, residents along the race puttering about in their yards, etc. did not do any cheering or offer encouragement as we went by, making the area seem unfriendly. The only nice thing I can say about the race were the kind folks at the water stations; they were great. (I did not even get my medal as they had “run out” of full marathon medals; but I was told this would be mailed to me which I believe.) Thank you for listening.

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