Recap
Results have been posted for Sunday 10 November. Any questions/issues please let us know at boldcoastrunners@gmail.com
Photo Albums
Photos by David Kennedy /BCR volunteer
Public Google Photos album - please give credit to those who uploaded. Thank you Andrew Steinharter, Patrick Caron, David Kennedy, and Carsten Mackeldey for your contributions
A fantastic day for everyone. Thank you trail runners, friends, volunteers and spectators! The Bash didn't disappoint! The weather was spectacular and the trails were in fine shape for a lot of fun. In the Fun Run, Bold Coaster Tim Fisher nabbed his first win in 1:55:47, nearly matching his time from 2023 just shy of 10sec. Meanwhile in 4th place overall Kate Ryan ran a blistering 2:16:40, grabbing her first win ever and notching a top 3 time on the 3 year old course!
Our 50k Ultra runners put on quite the show as well. David Loome (6:54:17) just edged out Jacob Oard (6:55:44) certainly our closest race ever until the women came along and up'ed the anti. Gillian Kramer (7:29:03) continued her hot blistering pace from last year and lowered her course record by 4 minutes while being chased down by Rachel Redfearn (7:30:07) who was along under the course record and right on the heels of Gillian.
Our Top 3 overall winners got a 3-pack of Raye's Mustard, crafted right in Eastport, ME!
A huge congratulations to all the finishers!
Registration, Event Cap, and Wait Lists
Registration is set to open at 7:00am on Thursday 1 August 2024. We expect the 16k (10.5 miler), in particular, to fill quickly.
There is no day of registration, bib pick-up only..
Entry is $45.
Entrants are capped in each race due to the fragility of the ecosystems and to avoid congestion and disruption of other visitors. Once we reach capacity, wait-lists will automatically open and as spots become available people on the wait-list will be notified by email based on their sign-up order. If you would like to add your name to the wait-list simply use the green "Register" button on this page.
If you have registered but are unable to participate please let us know ASAP at boldcoastrunners@gmail.com so we can fill your spot.
**Bold Coast Runners is unable to issue refunds or offer deferrals.
About
One of 10 Maine Races to Run Before you Die!
"One of the most beautiful race courses in the Northeast"
A seriously challenging single track trail race along the stunning cliffs of the Bold Coast together with an inland section through mud and rocks and along slippery bog bridging.
2022 DNF rate for the 50k was 37% and 2023 DNF rate was 32%
The Course does not have huge amounts of elevation change but can be extremely slippery, particular with rain and ice as there may be on race day. The roots are slippery, the rocks are slippery, the mud is slippery, the bog bridging is extremely slippery, and some of it is also wobbly, broken, unstable and in many places has 6” long nails projecting from it. Other sections behave like a teeter-totter and if you (or someone else) steps on one end, the other end, may flip up in someone’s face. Please be careful on them – and along the unfenced cliff tops!
The course is a figure 8 with a short middle section run twice on each lap. Each lap is about 16.7 kms (10.4 miles). Please pay attention to which loop you are on. You must return to the Start/Finish/Aid Area at the end of each lap. 50K runners must ensure their bib number is noted by the Start/Finish marshal on setting out on their second and third laps.
All course turns and junctions will be well marked with blue surveyor’s flags.
A course map is here:
and a Strava segment here: Strava Segment
Mandatory Kit equipment will be checked at the start of each lap.
The only aid station is in the Start/Finish area, there are no aid stations on the course, you must be self-supporting for all requirements - expect each lap to take between 2 and 4 hours.
Drop bags, including chairs and small pop-up tents can be left in the Start/Finish area.
Learn more about Cutler Bold Coast Trail
And get a taste from a short (10 minute) video by one of our 2021 runners Ian Golden from the Trails Collective :
Time Limits / Cut-offs
Every runner will have 6.5 hours to complete the first two laps. Your individual cut-off time will depend on your individual start time. If you started at 6:00am your cut off will be at 12:30 pm. If you started at 6:10am your cut off will be 12:40pm. etc.
Course time limit: 10.5hrs
Course closes at 4:30pm.
Mandatory Equipment – for ALL runners
Yes, you will be checked before you go out on the course and at the start of every lap - this is a serious course at a time of year when conditions can also get serious very quickly.
- windproof or waterproof jacket (depending on conditions)
- warm mid layer
- warm head covering
- warm gloves
- foil blanket
- whistle
- at least 200 calories instant energy (eg. gels)
- headlamp when starting the third lap – (you may also want it on the first lap as the forest can be dark, but it is not required.)
Cell phones are optional as coverage is spotty. An emergency phone number will be provided on race day.
You must be carrying your phone for GPS tracking to work for the entirety of the event.
We may announce a waiver of some of these requirements if the weather is particularly good on race day, but we take safety seriously.
Race Swag
In addition to finisher Medallions all participants will receive a Bold Coast Runners memento (not a cotton t-shirt or other stuff that just collects dust in our attic/basement). Each year we'll try to do something new and useful to the everyday trail runner. ;)
Awards
The male and female winners at each distance will receive awards. Based upon participant data, other categories may be added at the discretion of the race directors.
Live Race Day Tracking
Live Race Day Tracking is available through our timing app, Webscorer, for Free, Bold Coast Runners will pay the service fee..
Download the App on the app store, sign in and register for the Bash live Tracking here. On race day, 15mins before race start, open the app and select the event in the app. Share this link with family and friends for live race day tracking. We expect about 10% battery drain throughout the day. Live tracking will update every 5 mins on the map.
Unfortunately you must have cell service for this to work. Our apologies to our Canadian friends who may not have cell service.
Course Records
50K:
7:33:17 Gillian Kramer (2023)
6:00:55 Erik Brooks (2023)
16k Fun Run (10.5 mile):
2:06:11 Alice Hotopp (2023)
1:28:10 Patrick Caron (2022)
21 mile: (race not offered in 2022 and after)
4:32:04 Molly Siegel (2021)
3:44:32 Erik Brooks (2021)
Note: the 2019 race used a slightly different course. Records for this course were:
20 mile:
3:38:59 Jenn Britz (2019)
2:54:45 Patrick Caron (2019)
10 mile:
2:33:56 Gillian Welch (2019)
1:58:36 Andrew Deigham (2019)
Accommodation
Local motels are within 30-45min drive from the Cutler Coast parking lot. We recommend looking for accommodations/Airbnb’s in Lubec, Cutler, Whiting, or Machias. Solo runners looking for simple accommodations for 1 or 2 nights should check with the Cobscook Institute, runners highly recommend their accommodations.
For the hardy, the Bash has been given special permission by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands to use the nearby Cocoa Mountain parking area 600 metres north of the Bold Coast Trailhead. This is limited to 12 vehicles/campers/RVS and no open fires are permitted. There will be a portable toilet on site. There is no fee but please ensure the area is left cleaner than you find it. If you reserve a space and then change your mind you must let us know immediately at: boldcoastrunners@gmail.com so that we can offer it to other participants.
History of the Bash
Full update soon
2023:
2023 Results
Thank you everyone for a successful 2023 event!. Meanwhile congratulations to all the 2023 finishers in the fun run and ultra. An accomplishment you should be so proud of.
With amazing conditions on Sunday we saw performances never seen before at the Bash! In the Fun run 10.5mi event, Women's winner in 2022, Alice Hotopp returned to the Bash from Bangor, Maine to lower her course record setting the mark at 2:06:11, a super impressive rip around the Bold Coast Trail! In the men's division 3 time winner Patrick Caron took the course quite literally and took a nasty spill somewhere around halfway, returning a bit banged up and bloody. He just missed his course record time by about 3 mins, running 1:32:29 on Sunday.
In the Ultra Gillian Kramer of Gorham, Maine ran away with the Women's title and setting a course record in a time of 7:33:17. Besting the previous course record by about 23 minutes! In the men's Ultra the course record from 2021 was in danger from the first lap. Erik Brooks of Lincolnville, Maine ran away with some impressive lap times running 6:00:55, setting the course record by over 33 Minutes.
We saw runners from all over Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, Canada, Nova Scotia, Canada, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Rhode Island. The fun run saw a 100% finisher rate. The Bold Coast Trail showed how BOLD it was leaving the 50k ultra with a 64% finisher rate. Higher than last year!
Finally we'd like to Thank every single one of our participants from near and far who made the trek to Cutler to join us for a spectacular day. The club volunteers, stepped up once again, and showed our Trail Running Community how spectacular the Bold Coast truly is! Thank you also to Bar Harbor Foods of Cutler for the in-kind donation and Bold Coast Coffee of East Machias for their wonderful roasted Coffee for our top finishers.
2022
2022 Results
The third edition featured a new portion of trail built by the State and Maine Conservation Corps which allowed us to expand to a true 50k distance for the ultra! The introduction of the figure 8 loop meant no more switching directions. Weather being a constant variable on the Bold Coast, made it for a unique and tough experience in the pouring rain and 40's (4c).
2021
2021 Results
The Second edition of the Bash featured a similar format to 2019 with the addition of 3 lap (30mi distance) course.
2020
Cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic
2019
2019 Results
The Inaugural year featured 2 distances and a slightly different format to the course. A 10 mile, and 20 mile, runners switched directions every lap, experiencing the Cutler Bold Coast from a different perspective.
Bold Coast Runners
Who we are The event is organized by the local Bold Coast Runners - a welcoming, encouraging and supportive group of crazy people who run the roads and trails of way Downeast Maine, the Canadian Borderlands, and beyond. We welcome everyone, from beginners to old-timers and from tortoises to hares. We run distances ranging from 1 mile to 100 miles and on anything from smooth tar to rugged single track. If it's hot: we run, if it rains: we run, if it's snowy: we run in snowshoes, if icy: in spikes. We just run, mostly for fun, but some of us are also competitive!
COVID_19
We will be complying with all guidance regarding COVID-19 as issued by the Federal and State governments, the RRCA, ATRA, and ACORD, at the time of the event. In case of change in the official COVID-19 guidance we may make adjustments at short notice but these will be communicated to you in advance.
Event's current local time: 5:30 PM ET
