October Marathon of the Month: Cape Cod Marathon

Cape Cod marathon

First, a little geography lesson for those of us who have no clue where or what Cape Cod really is...you northerners can scroll down to the next paragraph...according to Wikipedia, Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the cape, is a barrier island in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts. It's approximately 1-2 hours by car from Boston. From here the popular Martha's Vineyard and Natucket Islands can be reached via ferry. The cape is composed of 15 towns, and those towns separate out into smaller villages. The town of Falmouth resides within the "upper cape" area, and this is where the marathon is held.

The Falmouth Track Club has organized this marathon since 1978! It's always held on the last Sunday of October. Last year they added a half marathon, which runs on Saturday, giving runners the chance to participate in the "Clam Chowdah Challenge", which is running both the half and the full marathon races! There's also a 5-person relay in conjunction with the full marathon.

The marathon course is one of the most scenic courses in existence. It loops from the Village Green in Falmouth center, with long stretches of shoreline, farmland, colorful cranberry bogs, the villages of Falmouth with peaking fall foliage, and an incredible view of the Nobska lighthouse.  With the spirit of Halloween in the air, one may witness more costumes worn than usual as well.

Terrain-wise, as with most scenic marathons, this comes with a price: HILLS. Yes, the course is challenging, with most of the memorable hills in the second half. Most marathonguide.com comments with regards to the hills claim they are mostly rolling and "manageable", but none of these people appeared to be from Texas, so take heed.

The weather can be an issue, with the possibility of nor'easter storms rolling in, but the course is designed to minimize the effects of strong winds (or at least utilize as tail wind).  Last year they had storms roll in and out right before the marathon started, and near perfect weather the year before. Luckily, indoor facilities are used at the start line, as well as the finish, where reportedly the best clam chowder in the world is served.

There's a nice, small town feel to this marathon, as the marathon count is usually about 1,100 people, and last year's half was around 1,300 people, making race day logistics simple and somewhat stress-free. There's not a lot of hoopla on the course--I like that, but some people complained that it got lonely in parts. Also, some people complained that parts of the course are open to traffic, which is often the case, but maybe there was a lot of it--not sure. I think my only reservation about doing this marathon is that I'd hate to come for the marathon and have inclement weather make seeing the neighboring islands less enjoyable, or even impossible. The area certainly bills itself as a summer destination, but rates are a lot cheaper in the Fall!

This marathon has been on my list for years--someday I hope to finally do it!

Nobska lighthouse