Sports

Rockfest 'Cancelled': Organizers Confirm Race Leaving Hampton

Race officials say they "will work hard" to find a new course for the 2015 Smuttynose Rockfest full marathon.

Loco Sports' Smuttynose Rockfest half marathon will still be held next year, although the full marathon version of the race will not due to safety and traffic concerns voiced by Hampton selectmen and a group of residents.

Loco Sports Chief Executive Officer Mike St. Laurent confirmed the news, which was suggested at Monday's Hampton Board of Selectmen meeting, in an e-mail Thursday morning to past participants of New Hampshire's largest marathon.

The e-mail was titled "Rockfest Marathon - Cancelled!" and outlined to runners why 2014 will not feature a 26.2-mile Hampton race that serves as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

"Issues concerning long delays to area residents on the roads of Hampton have prompted us to limit the event to the Half Marathon distance only," reads St. Laurent's e-mail. "At LOCO Central we will work hard on finding a new course for a 2015 Smuttynose Marathon."

St. Laurent said "Nothing can replace the Rockfest Marathon" in his e-mail, although he did tease details about a new Loco-sponsored marathon taking place in Portsmouth on Oct. 26, 2014.

Details are preliminary and available here

St. Laurent also went into more details about how times have changed in the running world and how increased runner participation can make some municipalities wary.

"Road races have grown exponentially in number, distance and participation," he said. "This growth has not come without a cost to the communities that host them. Town officials are looking much more closely at the impact of races on residents as well as safety. Some towns are limiting road races to those that promise to donate proceeds to in-town charities or civic groups. Others are limiting the size of races to overcome the 'inconvenience' factor." 

St. Laurent suggested there are several ways runners can help reduce potential negative impacts on communities hosting races, as well as help increase overall support for those races, including:

  • Say "Thank You" - to the police, race marshals, volunteers and even spectators. A Thank You goes a long way to those people that are out there for hours! 
  • Write to your Town Officials thanking them. Town officials get complaints about races all the time. That may be all that they hear. Delight them with a well thought out thank you about the race and how you think it builds a better community or supports a local cause. 
  • Support the local host community. One of the best arguments for larger road races is the economic impact of big races. Support the local hotels, restaurants and gas stations. 
Hampton selectmen were supportive Monday of Loco Sports' efforts to rework the half marathon's route in order to reduce safety and traffic congestion issues. 

More details about the board's concerns about the full marathon can be found here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here