NOTE: For various reasons, we needed to re-schedule this year's event to July 11-12!
Brought to you by one of the knuckleheads behind the Fon Solo/Cider Cross weekend in October, this weekend of fun follows the same format with running and bike races on Saturday and a super fun gravel grind on Sunday!
Unlike last year, all events will be located on the Nelson Farm in Albion. This will make logistics easier for all!
On Saturday, we have the cyclocross/mtb races as well as the Last Man Standing style trail run:
Cyclocross/mtb:
One 40-minute race with separate CX and MTB categories if numbers allow
About a 1-mile course that sweeps through the woods and fields around the farm.
Bring any bike — gravel, mountain, cyclocross — whatever rolls!
Prizes TBD
Last-Person-Standing Style Trail Run:
Race format is an easier version of the Backyard Ultra
~1 mile loops on the same course
Time limit decreases by 1 minute per lap
(e.g., Lap 1 = 20 min, Lap 2 = 19 min, etc.)
Rest and refill between laps
Run till you can't make the cutoff!
You can expect 7–8 laps if you're at a 12-min/mile pace
It is highly recommended that fast runners bring lights for the last few laps!
Last year, the fastest runners made it down to the 6-minute mark!
Prizes: the payout between the winners purses and mid-race primes will be approximately 50% of registration fees.
For families thinking of coming to spectate on Saturday, there is an adjacent park that offers several miles of fun hiking/biking trails and there is access to a large pond for adventuring.
For our grand finale, we have put together a killer ride crossing through China, Palermo, Freedom and Albion Maine! This year will see a few route modifications that impact the beginning and end of the course. This will mean a bit less trail riding and a higher percentage of non-pavement on the route. The routes this year will be close to 70% non-pavement with several sections being closed to all the rest of the year, so this will be your only opportunity to ride the full route! The final routes are still tbd but it is looking like we'll have two route options, 28 miles and 48 miles. As a bonus, the route offers distant views of Mt. Washington in a few spots if the weather cooperates. An aid station will be located at approximately 16 miles for both routes.
There is camping available Saturday night at the event venue The camping is in an elevated field with views of the Presidential Range and Mount Washington if the weather allows. Camping is located steps away from the registration table and ride start.
The event will be rain or shine. If weather conditions force us to cancel, registrants will be able to defer to 2027 if requested before July 4, 2026. Otherwise, registration fees will be donated to the Schmid Preserve in Edgecomb.
Brought to you in part by our friends at Six Rivers NEMBA.
The Moxie Day 5K, now in its 27th year (minus covid 2020), has attracted some amazing runners around New England including Olympic Champion Joan Benoit Samuelson. A nice run to start a summer day in Maine! Moxie Performance T-shirts for all who preregister by July 7th. Race day registration starts at 6:00 am. at Lisbon High School.
The 10TH Annual Womens Clinic is brought to you by The Central Maine NEMBA Dirt Divas; a women's group dedicated to helping more women get involved in the sport of mountain biking. The goal of this clinic is to give women riders valuable skills for their riding and build a better community of female riders in the region.
Your registration fee is refundable when you arrive. Donations are appreciated and all funds go directly into local bike trails.
The groups will be separated based on self-determined riding level. This is not a determination of fitness, but more of your comfort on a bike and technical riding ability in mixed terrain.
Beginner: This is for riders that have perhaps recently purchased their first mountain bike, are getting back to the sport after a long hiatus, or want to work on some basic riding skills. The instructors will be using a mix of "trail in a track"(nordic trail) and some of the singletrack on the lower(flatter) portions of the mountain. Bike fit, body position, braking, shifting, using your momentum, and riding over small obstacles will be some of the key points that are covered.
Intermediate: This is for those riders that have a couple seasons of riding under their belt and have started to venture out to the various trails in the region with more regularity. You probably find yourself able to ride most trails in the region but there are features and areas that still give you trouble and you'd love some extra skills for navigating trickier sections, climb uphill corners, traverse technical rock features, ride bridges, or just feel more comfortable when the terrain gets challenging.
Advanced: You consider yourself a solid rider and you easily navigate most all of the trails you regularly ride. You enjoy big power moves, technical descents, and anything that you might not make. Your skill level is probably dictated seasonally by your fitness and as you get stronger you find yourself getting faster and more comfortable. This clinic will be more of a rolling ride/clinic where regular stops will be made to "session" challenging features, technical climbs, drops, berms/cornering, and practice descending skills.
Maine Endurance Sports Alliance (MESA) a 501(c)3 nonprofit is proud to continue the great running history established by The Great Augusta Marathon & Half with the introduction of the AUGUSTA MARATHON – Full/Half/10K/5K – Running Festival on Sunday July 12, 2026 starting at 7 am at Elk Lodge, 397 Civic Center Dr, Augusta Maine allowing more participants of all abilities to cross the finish line. This event is USATF sanctioned, and Boston certified (Marathon ME25002JK). The full marathon will run from 397 Civic Center Dr out Route 11/27 to Belgrade Lakes Maine and back to the beginging. (course maps can be found on our website) or The Great Augusta Marathon & Half 2025 · Ride with GPS.
We have already secured Pine Tree Racing Services to be the official timer for the race. There is NO TIME LIMIT - we want you to reach your goal to complete the race.
For participants who have "BOTTLES", we will accept "BOTTLES" at the operations tent at the starting line until 6:00 am. These will be on a special table at each water station for the participants to pick up.
We will have a vendor area at the finish line for participants and their guests. There is plenty of nearby parking, affordable lodging and dining to make this a destination for the whole family.
More information can be found on our website www.mesa-maine.org or on our Facebook page Maine Endurance Sports Alliance. Packet pickup will be July 11, 2026, from 3-6 pm at THE MAINE EXPERIENCE close to the starting line.
In 2026, we are once again offering a special medal "Run the Highlands" for participants who complete both the Bangor Marathon and the Lincoln Marathon. Participants can run a combination of a full and half, 2 full or 2 half races to qualify.
NEW IN 2026, we are offering a special medal "Vacationland Triple Crown" for participants who complete 3 of our 4 races in 2026. Participants can run a combination of a full and half, 3 full or 3 half races to qualify.
parkrun is such a simple concept: turn up every Saturday and volunteer, walk, jog or run 5k.