Event Date:
2025-10-05
Event Location:
Hampton Beach New Hampshire
Synopsis
The Smuttynose Half Marathon is a beautiful coastal race that starts and finishes in the heart of Hampton Beach. It’s known for its scenic ocean views, friendly crowd, and post-race beach party atmosphere featuring live music, food, and beer.
Overall Venue Rating: 4 – Great
Course Rating: 4 – Great
The course winds through the coastal community of Hampton and North Hampton, with much of it hugging the ocean. The highlight section runs alongside the coastal wall, where waves were crashing against the rocks which was stunning. The few hills appear around the nicer residential neighborhood sections, offering a bit of shade late in the race, which was welcome once the heat built up. Crowd support was excellent throughout, with big energy in the final kilometre leading to the finish line and the beachside post-race party.
Aid stations Rating: 3 – Good
There were four to five aid stations along the course, each well stocked with water and Gatorade, and one station also offering energy gels. Volunteers were organized and encouraging. The only drawback was one station located on a tight corner at the bottom of a small hill, which made it a bit tricky to grab fluids without breaking stride but overall, the support was excellent and well spaced throughout the race.
How was the weather?
The 2025 edition was held under perfect conditions of sunny skies starting around 14°C and peaking at 23°C.
My Race Experience:
We drove from Ottawa to Hampton Beach and stayed at the Blue Jay Inn, a small but conveniently located motel within walking distance of the start/finish line. It wasn’t fancy, but it did the trick and fittingly, the Blue Jays started their playoff run that same weekend.
Hampton Beach itself is a classic beach town with wide sandy shoreline, the sound of waves crashing, coffee shops, restaurants, and plenty of tourist shops along Ocean Blvd. On Saturday, we woke up early to watch the sunrise over the beach, which was a beautiful and calm way to start the day before race prep.
Dinner Friday night was at The GOAT, not quite a pre-race meal but a fun local spot. The actual pre-race meal came Saturday night: Cristy’s Beach Pizza, a local recommendation that hit the spot.
On the drive down, we made a stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury, Vermont — a fun and delicious break in the road trip that added some character to the weekend.
I started and stayed with the 2-hour pace bunny for most of the race, feeling strong early on. Around km 19, I hit a bit of a wall but managed to push through and break the 2-hour barrier, finishing with an official time of 1:59:24 exactly the goal I’d hope to beat.
After crossing the line, runners were treated to lobster rolls or veggie wraps, and each bib came with two beer tickets redeemable either at the beach concert or at local establishments. The post-race celebration was well organized, with live bands playing right on the beach. Make sure to bring ID if you plan to enter the beer garden.
Would you do this event again? Why?
I probably wouldn’t run it again only because I’m focused on chasing races in different states. If I weren’t on that goal, this would be an easy one to come back to.
Would you recommend this event? Why?
The Smuttynose Half is an easy race to recommend being scenic, flat enough for a PR, and full of New England charm. The ocean views, supportive crowd, and beachside celebration make it a unique and memorable event.
Closing thoughts. Any hints for others planning to do this race? Where to stay? Things to bring? What to wear?
I’d recommend booking your room early. Even though it’s technically the off-season, many hotels and inns start closing up before race weekend, so lodging near the start line can be limited. Staying close makes the whole experience easier because everything is within walking distance, including the beach, restaurants, and post-race festivities.
Run K2J 