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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • 5K
  • 5 km
  • South Portland
  • Open entry

NRCM Polar Bear Dip & Dash 5K (South Portland) 5K

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2027 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Official event website & entry ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of Source last verified

Decision summary

NRCM Polar Bear Dip & Dash 5K (South Portland) 5K at a glance

Evidence depth
31 verified facts

Source facts available

Route details

Known course facts at a glance

Methodology →

NRCM Polar Bear Dip & Dash 5K (South Portland) 5K has known course details for its 5k race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.

Official distance
5 km
Terrain
Road, Trail, Mixed, Beach
Scenery
Coastal, City, Waterfront, Historic, Parkland

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Where does the NRCM Polar Bear Dip & Dash 5K (South Portland) route go?

The NRCM Polar Bear Dip & Dash 5K (South Portland) route starts at Southern Maine Community College, 95 Campus Center Drive, South Portland, ME 04106 and finishes at Southern Maine Community College campus, South Portland, ME (polar dip at adjacent Willard Beach). Underfoot, expect mixed: streets, sidewalks, and trails; can be wet and slippery depending on weather. It passes Southern Maine Community College campus, Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse), Casco Bay and Willard Beach. The course goes through the SMCC campus, over to Bug Light and back, weaving through streets, sidewalks, and trails along Casco Bay.

Race character

Scenery

  • Coastal
  • City
  • Waterfront
  • Historic
  • Parkland

Atmosphere

  • Charity
  • Community
  • Festival

Terrain

  • Road
  • Trail
  • Mixed
  • Beach

Entry, logistics and records

Records and field

Field size
Hundreds of participants in recent years.

Entry requirements

Entry status
Open entry: The held registration model is open entry and this edition is not marked sold out.
Qualification status
Open registration, no qualifying time; not USATF Certified and reported to be slightly shorter than a traditional 5K.

Access and course status

Start
Southern Maine Community College, 95 Campus Center Drive, South Portland, ME 04106
Finish
Southern Maine Community College campus, South Portland, ME (polar dip at adjacent Willard Beach)

Course facts

Course type
Out And Back
Surface
Mixed: streets, sidewalks, and trails; can be wet and slippery depending on weather.
Landmarks
Southern Maine Community College campus, Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse), Casco Bay, Willard Beach
Notable features
  • Combination 5K run/walk plus an optional polar bear dip into the ocean
  • participants can do the Dash, the Dip, or both ('Dash and Dip'). A fundraiser for NRCM's climate and clean-energy work
  • The polar dip takes place at Willard Beach on Casco Bay (Atlantic Ocean) following the 5K
  • The course goes through the SMCC campus, over to Bug Light and back, weaving through streets, sidewalks, and trails along Casco Bay

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (1)

Read the full methodology →