Cape Cod Marathon facts for kids
The Cape Cod Marathon is a famous long-distance running race held every year in late October. It takes place in Falmouth, a town located on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Runners come from all over to participate in this exciting event.
History of the Race
The Cape Cod Marathon started in 1978. For its first few years, from 1978 to 1983, the race was held at Otis Air Force Base and Camp Edwards in a nearby town called Bourne, Massachusetts.
Since 1984, the marathon has been organized by the Falmouth Track Club and has been held in Falmouth. This race is special because its course is officially approved as a qualifying event for the famous Boston Marathon. This means if you run fast enough here, you could get a spot in the Boston Marathon! The race is also approved by USA Track and Field (USATF) New England, which is a big sports organization.
Runner's World Magazine, a well-known magazine for runners, has even called the Cape Cod Marathon one of the top ten most beautiful marathons in North America.
The Marathon Course
The Cape Cod Marathon course was updated in 2019 to be faster and flatter. It also offers amazing views of the ocean. The race starts and finishes in the same spot, right next to the Falmouth Village Green. This area is about 20 feet above sea level.
Most of the course, about 23 miles, is very flat. There are only small changes in elevation. For example, there's a short hill at 3.4 miles that goes up to about 30 feet. You'll run over this same hill again at 14.2 miles.
The highest point on the course is at 19.4 miles, where you'll be about 50 feet high. From there to mile 22, the course has some gentle hills. This part of the race follows the famous Falmouth Road Race course in reverse. You'll even pass the beautiful Nobska Lighthouse along the way!
After mile 22, the course becomes flat again. Runners enjoy a smooth stretch back to the finish line at the Falmouth Village Green. Then, the race is complete!
You can see a map of the course here: Course Map
Course Records
The fastest time ever recorded for the men's race was by Randy Thomas from Medway, Massachusetts. He finished in 2 hours, 17 minutes, and 35 seconds in 1986. Randy Thomas was known for setting many world and American records in distance running.
For the women's race, the record is held by Cathy Schiro, now known as Cathy Schiro-O'Brien, from Dover, New Hampshire. She completed the marathon in 2 hours, 37 minutes, and 6 seconds in 1987. Cathy Schiro-O'Brien was a marathon runner who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Race Sponsors
The Cape Cod Marathon gets help from many sponsors. Most of these are local businesses from Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the surrounding areas. For several years, Dunkin' Donuts, a well-known company from Canton, Massachusetts, has been a main sponsor of the race.
Past Cancellations
Sometimes, races have to be canceled for safety reasons. In 2020, the Cape Cod Marathon was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the race was canceled again due to the strong winds and heavy rain from a nor'easter storm.
