WILLOW CREEK — The starting horn sounded at 7 a.m. Saturday as 200 runners crossed the line for the inaugural Mattawamkeag River Trail Half-Marathon, an event organizers hope will become an annual anchor on the town’s tourism calendar.
The 13.1-mile course followed the river trail from the northern trailhead at Thorne’s Bend to the finish line on Main Street, where a crowd of roughly 400 spectators lined the route. The race sold out its registration cap of 200 within three weeks of opening.
“We knew there was demand for trail running in this part of the state, but we didn’t know it was this strong,” said race director Julia Chen of Northwoods Outfitters, who organized the event in partnership with the town. “The energy out there this morning was electric.”
The overall winner, Sarah Goode of Portland, finished in 1 hour 24 minutes 37 seconds. “The river views in the middle section are breathtaking,” Goode said. “I’ve run trail half-marathons in six states. This course holds its own.”
Race-day economic impact is estimated at $35,000, based on registration fees, lodging, and food sales tracked by the town office. Dean Moreau of The Dry Dock reported his breakfast service sold out by 9:30 a.m.
Plans are already underway for the 2025 race, with organizers considering expanding the cap to 300 runners.