Weekly Back Cove Series Rules
The Back Cove Weekly 5k Series registration requires the same donation no matter what point of the series that registration takes place. Registration costs a flat rate of $50 and only needs to be paid once whether you run 1 race or all 14.
A portion of each registration fee is donated to Portland Trails and A Running Passion!
Registration is online only. Prior to your first race, you can pick up your bib in the Portland Store for the week from May 20th at 10am through Wednesday, May 27th at 4pm during store hours. If you aren't able to pick up your bib at the store before the series starts, you can pick your number up at the Back Cove before the start of each race from 5:15pm until the race starts at 6pm or during our regular business hours.
Please keep your bib for the entire series as you will only receive 1 bib!
T-Shirts can be added to your registration at a $10 charge. New for this year is a season finisher hoodie option. Run all 14 races and receive a free WBCS season finisher hoodie for your fall adventures!
See the check the map for details.
Due to city requirements, we may only have 250 participants in each Wednesday Back Cove 5k. Registered runners will be required to check-in on line each week. Check-in begins on Saturday morning at 8:00 am and continues until Wednesday at 2:00 pm or until capacity reaches 250, whichever comes first. Check in will be closed at that time. See below for directions on the check-in process.
Please note, if you do not plan on running, please do not check in! If you run in the weekly Back Cove without checking in, you risk having the event cancelled. Please respect this request and don’t run if you are not checked in!
The entire series is treated as one event. Once you register, and pick up your race number, keep your WBCS number and visibly wear it. Your race number is how we identify you.
Please keep your WBCS race # for the entire Summer series!
June 3rd is Global Running Day at Marathon Sports! As in previous years, we will use the Weekly Back Cove Series as our race portion, the course distance is 5K and will begin at 6pm. We will also offer a casual group run, about 3-5 miles in distance, leaving directly from our Portland location at 6pm. No registration is required for the group fun run but you must be registered and checked in to participate in the Back Cove race.
After both the Weekly Back Cove Series and our group fun run, everyone will meet back at Marathon Sports- Portland for refreshments and socializing. We hope to see you on June 3rd!
2026's Themed Races:
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June 10th - Nowhere To Wear This (Its been sitting in your closet waiting for this race cause where else would you wear it?)
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June 24th - Rainbow Run (How many colors can you represent in one race outfit?)
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July 8th - What's Your Favorite Movie (Dress like a character from your go to movie!)
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July 22nd - Hawaiian Shirts Only (Well not ONLY but strongly encouraged!)
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August 5th - Twinning Day (Find your run bestie and coordinate your race day drip!)
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August 19th - Fancy Day (We are almost to the end of summer, lets celebrate in some upscale style!)
Awards
Grand Prix Series – open male/female top 6 times with lowest cumulative time receives 2 pairs of running shoes courtesy of Marathon Sports!
Age Group Awards - Age group winners based on top 6 times with lowest cumulative time receive a $50 Marathon Sports certificate. Age is determined on the date of the last race of the season, and the categories are:
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19 and under
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20-29
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30-39
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40-49
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50-59
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60-69
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70 and over
Maine Track Club Running Community Spirit Award – will be awarded to a participating individual or individuals who represent the “Community Spirit” of the Back Cove Series for commitment, improvement, determination and dedication to the event!
Results will be posted here at the website.
For more information call Marathon Sports Portland at 207-773-6601 or go to backcove.runtowin.com.
Check-In Process
The maximum number of runners each week is 250. So far, 250 runners have checked in for the next race.
To Check-In, click on the link to your individual race results which should have been emailed to you when you registered. You can also check the complete runners list and click on your name there in to reach that page.
Once there, you will see a list of all of this year's races. Each week, the next race will have a button next to it that will look like one of the following:
This button means that the check-in process for the next race has not yet started. Check back on Saturday morning at 8:00 to check-in.
This button means that check-in has opened for this week and there are spots available. Click this button in order to check-in. If check-in is successful, the button will change to:
This button means that you have checked in for the week and can come to the next race.
This button means that you missed the check-in period, either because our race capacity for the week has been reached or because it is after 2:00 in the afternoon on the day of the race.
Please remember that the city is limiting our number of participants each week and if you don't check-in but race anyway we may have to cancel the series. Please only come to the race if you have successfully checked-in. Thank you!