TD Beach to Beacon 10K
The Lowdown
The TD Beach to Beacon 10K is an annual road race held on the first Saturday in August in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Founded in 1998 by Olympic marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, the race starts near Crescent Beach State Park on Route 77 and finishes 6.2 miles later at the Portland Head Light inside Fort Williams Park, taking in tree-lined streets, ocean vistas, and views of Casco Bay along the way. TD Bank has served as title sponsor since the inaugural running, and the race routinely draws around 6,500 finishers plus more than 800 volunteers, with a $90,000+ prize purse split across open, American, masters, Maine, and wheelchair/handcycle divisions. Race weekend also includes a Kids Fun Run, a High School Mile, and the Beacon Walk, Run & Roll, held the day before the main race. Each year TD Bank donates $30,000 to a different Maine charity as the race beneficiary; the 2026 edition supported Dirigo Reads, a children's literacy nonprofit. The course is largely flat through its first three miles before a steep downhill drops runners to near sea level around mile four, followed by a demanding climb toward the finish at Fort Williams Park, widely considered the toughest stretch of the route. Registration for the 2027 edition has not yet been detailed; in recent years it has opened in mid-March for the year's beneficiary and expanded to the general public in mid-April, with the field capped at roughly 6,000 general entrants plus 600 reserved for Cape Elizabeth residents.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Large field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Crescent Beach State Park
Portland Head Light
Fort Williams Park
Casco Bay
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Cape Elizabeth, ME, United States
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- American-only prize category requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- Maine prize category requires current Maine residency
- Cape Elizabeth resident entry allotment requires proof of town residency
Required Documents
- Photo ID for bib pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration at beach2beacon.org
- Cape Elizabeth resident allotment (limited to 600 entries)
- Beneficiary and legacy-runner early access codes
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entries are generally non-refundable and non-transferable per event policy; review the official FAQ before registering
Race weekend includes a Kids Fun Run, a High School Mile, and the Beacon Walk, Run & Roll
TD Bank donates $30,000 annually to a rotating Maine charity beneficiary
Prize purse exceeds $90,000 across open, American-only, masters, Maine, and wheelchair/handcycle divisions
Staggered starts: wheelchair division 7:55 a.m., elite women 8:00 a.m., general field 8:12 a.m.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

