The TD Beach to Beacon 10K is a road running event that takes place along the coastline of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It begins at Crescent Beach State Park and ends at the Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park. One of the most competitive 10K road races in the United States, it was founded in 1998 by U.S. women's marathon runner Joan Benoit Samuelson, who in 1984, won the first ever women's Olympic marathon. The race is managed by DMSE, Inc. whose president, Dave McGillivray, directs the Boston Marathon and more than 30 other races each year. The current President of the race is healthcare executive, Laurie Mitchell.
History Starting out as mainly a local race, world-class international athletes now participate in the annual event, including Catherine Ndereba, Meb Keflezighi, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Hellen Obiri, and Edna Kiplagat. Top American runners to compete in recent years include Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Ryan Hall, Joe Klecker, Ben True, Sara Hall, Deena Kastor, Fiona O'Keeffe, Elise Cranny and Keira D'Amato. In 1998, the first year the event was held, over 3000 runners participated in the race. The 2009 race event registration filled in just 1 hour 45 minutes.Maine road race fills up in less than 2 hours USA Today, March 16, 2009
A then-record 5,668 runners participated in the event in 2010, which saw Lineth Chepkurui break the women's course record by almost half a minute.Course record for Chepkurui in Cape Elizabeth 10K. IAAF (2010-08-08). Retrieved on 2010-08-08. This mark was again improved in 2017 by Mary Keitany, as she clocked a time of 30:41, which remains the women's record as of 2025. Conner Mantz ran 27:26 in the 2025 event to break the previous record of 27:27 set by Gilbert Okari in 2003. Mantz is one of only two Americans to ever win the race, the other being Maine native Ben True (2016).
The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants automatically receiving full refunds and the option to register early for the 2021 edition. Ultimately the 2021 event was also cancelled and a virtual competition was held instead. The race returned in 2022 with a COVID vaccination requirement. This requirement was subsequently dropped in 2023, as participation returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Prize Money Awarding over $90,000 in prize money, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K is one of the most lucrative road races in the U.S. shorter than the marathon distance. Overall male and female winners earn $10,000, while the top American finisher wins $5,000. Top Master (40+) and Senior (50+) runners also win prize money. Additionally, the race features a Maine resident division. The male and female winners receive $1,000 and are regarded as the Maine road racing champions for the year.https://www.beach2beacon.org/event-info/post-race/past-champions/ Retrieved August 9, 2023https://www.beach2beacon.org/event-info/prize-money/ Retrieved August 9, 2023
Beneficiary Each year, a Maine non-profit organization serving youths is awarded the designation of race beneficiary. Title sponsor TD Bank donates $30,000 to the beneficiary, while additional fundraising opportunities are available during runner registration or through other event sponsors. Publicity generated from the non-profit's association with the Beach to Beacon 10K often results in total fundraising surpassing $100,000.
Overall winners
Key:
EditionYearMen's winnerTime (m:s)Women's winnerTime (m:s)1st199828:1832:152nd199927:4832:053rd200028:0732:194th200128:3031:345th200228:1131:566th200327:27.531:52.57th200427:35.031:35.18th200527:38.731:35.09th200627:47.531:25.710th200727:51.732:20.311th200827:52.431:55.612th200928:04.532:05.813th201027:40.430:59.414th201127:4832:0915th201228:0031:5216th201328:0431:2417th201427:37.031:26.718th201528:28.231:55.519th201628:16.330:4420th201727:5530:4121st201827:3731:21 22nd 2019 27:34 31:05 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic202124th202228:3932:0725th202327:5631:3726th202428:1232:1727th202527:2631:2528th202627:4031:50
Maine winners
EditionYearMen's winnerTime (m:s)Women's winnerTime (m:s)1st1998Bob Winnhttps://www.beach2beacon.org/event-info/post-race/past-champions/ Retrieved August 7, 202330:52Julia Kirtland34:562nd1999Bob Winn31:11Julia Kirtland35:073rd2000Todd Coffin31:36Julia Kirtland35:354th2001Andy Spaulding31:29Christine Snow-Reaser36:135th2002Andy Spaulding31:26Christine Snow-Reaser36:306th2003Eric Giddings31:18Maggie Hanson35:477th2004Ethan Hemphill31:35Susannah Beck35:228th2005Eric Giddings30:34Emily Levan35:529th2006Donny Drake31:16Emily Levan35:4010th2007Ayalew Taye30:47Emily Levan35:0111th2008Ben True31:02Kristin Barry34:3712th2009Ben True29:10Sheri Piers34:1713th2010Pat Tarpy29:28Kristin Barry34:3514th2011Louis Luchini30:36Sheri Piers35:1115th2012Ethan Shaw30:37Sheri Piers34:2216th2013Riley Masters30:19Erica Jesseman34:1717th2014Will Geoghegan29:53 Michelle Lilienthal33:3918th2015Ben Decker32:49Erica Jesseman34:5319th2016Jesse Orach31:31 Michelle Lilienthal34:5320th2017Jesse Orach*31:31Emily Durgin34:4321st2018Ryan Smith30:50 Michelle Lilienthal36:1622nd2019Dan Curts29:26Sofie Matson36:0124th2022Sam Mills31:08Aly Ursiny36:1725th2023Matt Rand30:41Ruth White34:5626th2024Luke Marsanskis29:12Veronica Graziano35:5127th2025Luke Marsanskis29:27Ruth White34:5128th2026Alec Troxell29:15Ruth White34:05
Bold denotes course record in the Maine division. Orach collapsed with 100 meters to go, but was helped to the finish line by fellow Mainer Rob Gomez.
Notes
References
External links Beach to Beacon 10 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2012-08-16). Retrieved on 2012-08-22. Beach to Beacon official website Cool Running.com