Will to Run Challenge
- Date
- September 18–25, 2026
- Location
- 177 Alewive Road, Kennebunk, ME
- Distance
- 5K
- Price
- $35
From the Organizer
Please join A Running Passion for our seventh annual Will to Run Challenge! This year will feature an in-person 5k event in addition to the virtual race! Join us in person, or participate in your own virtual 5k, 10k, or both within the event week!
Prices and swag packs are as follows:
-5K in-person event: $35: **t-shirt guaranteed to registrations received by August 14th
-5K virtual: $30: t-shirt/ event bib
-10K virtual: $40: t-shirt/bag/sticker/ event bib
-15k virtual Combined Challenge (must submit separate 5k and 10k times): $50-t-shirt/bag/sticker/event bib/ A Running Passion socks)
-Kid's virtual Challenge: FREE- stickers, event bib, coloring pages, event check list
Friday, September 18th -
Will to Run 5k - Eastern Trail (Town of Kennebunk) *Final details TBD
The course will be an out and back route that will take runners through unique forests along the former Eastern Railroad bed. The trail is extremely flat, the surface is hard packed stone dust and will be a fast course! The trail crosses the Maine Turnpike in Kennebunk on a uniquely designed bridge that was opened in 2011. This is the only pedestrian bridge that crosses the Maine Turnpike.
Friday, September 18th -
Will to Run Virtual Challenge begins
Virtual welcome on social media
Packet pick-up
Round Turn Distillery
5-6:30pm
Sunday, September 20th -
Packet Pick-up
Waterhouse Field (Cross Country Shoe Jamboree)
10am-12pm
Banded Brewing
13-W, 32 Main St.
Biddeford, ME 04005
Tuesday, September 22nd -
5:30-6:00pm- Local packet pick-up
6:00pm- A Running Passion Pub Run 5K, 10K loop available
$1 from each beer purchased from the group goes to A Running Passion
Birthday cookies in honor of Will to be provided at 7:30pm
Friday, September 25th -
Final day to send in completion times and photos. Times must be submitted by 11:59pm.
Saturday, September 26th -
Virtual closing ceremony to air on our social media outlets.
***If you live in Biddeford, Dayton, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, or Wells, your packet will be available for packet pick-up at one of the Biddeford locations. We do not mail local packets out. We will have pick-up available in Portland for those interested at Marathon Sports.
***Packets for our friends joining us from further away should receive their packets the week of the event. Please sign-up early to guarantee your packet and swag arrive on time!
Times can be submitted to cfrentzen@gmail.com anytime from
9/18/2026-9/25/2026
All proceeds from this event will go to A Running Passion's scholarship and community outreach initiatives.
https://arunningpassion.org/
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
69°
Typical Low
48°
Chance of Rain
34%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Kennebunkport, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Kennebunk, ME
City Elevation
44 ft
Nearest Airport
PWM
Portland International Jetport · 21 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Will to Run Challenge, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
93
Days to train
- Race
- Will to Run Challenge
- Date
- September 18–25, 2026
- Location
- 177 Alewive Road, Kennebunk, ME
Coming Up
More Running races near Kennebunk, ME
Founders Park 5k
5K · From $50 · 393 Mile Road
6 miles away
32nd Annual GRBA 5K Road Race
5K · From $45 · GRBA Community House
4 miles away
KBIA Annual A Day at the Beach 5K / 1K Road Race , Sunday, July 12th 2026
1K · 5K · From $25 · 262 Beach Avenue
4 miles away
Blue Lobster 4-Miler
Other · From $34 · 177 Alewive Rd
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Will to Run Challenge?
- Will to Run Challenge is a running race held in Kennebunk, Maine on September 18, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Will to Run Challenge?
- Friday, September 18, 2026 in Kennebunk, Maine at 177 Alewive Road. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Will to Run Challenge?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Will to Run Challenge
Sep 18, 2026