UPCOMING EVENTS

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April 6, 2025

THE TRAIL RUNNING FILM FESTIVAL

Join us on Sunday, April 6 for The Trail Running Film Festival 2025, a celebration on film of this wild, wonderful trail running community! The Portland, Maine screening of the 2025 Trail Running Film Festival is hosted and sponsored by the Runaways Run Club at Empire Live.

The mission of the Trail Running Film Fest is to celebrate running as a universal practice, to explore our collective and individual potential, and to pursue our wildest dreams. The Trail Running Film Festival creators accomplish this by documenting the culture of trail running, supporting filmmakers and creatives, and hosting events that bring our community together. TRFF is committed to promoting inclusivity, adventure, wilderness, art, and diversity across the trail and ultra community.

Tickets are now available at UltraSignUp through the provided link!

Ticket sales will benefit the TRFF Filmmaker Fund and local nonprofit Northeast Runners Alliance (NeRA).

Stay tuned for ongoing updates including event details, selected films, participating national and local sponsors, raffle prizes, and more!

Back Cove Backyard Ultra

July 12, 2025

Portland’s only backyard ultra on the iconic Back Cove Trail is back for year 4! Test yourself over and over (and over) again, or until the last biped remains standing. Every hour on the hour you’ll head out to complete the 4.16 mile loop, in a test of physical and mental fortitude. Think you have what it takes? Let’s find out!
 
The start/finish area is centrally located at Back Cove Park across from a Hannaford Supermarket and other amenities. There will be porta potties and an aid station at the start/finish area with water, packaged snacks, electrolyte/salt packets, basic first aid supplies and ice available during the heat of the day. You should plan to bring everything else you think you’ll need in addition to these basics. There are water fountains at intervals on the Back Cove trail, and public toilets in Payson Park (approximately halfway through the loop). There will be an unmanned aid station in Payson Park with water and minimal supplies.
 
Swag and other award information TBA.

Firebird Trail Races

August 23, 2025

Firebird Trail Race is a challenging and wicked fun trail race with distance options of 13M, Marathon, & 50K (be warned, it’s brutal), that runs on donations, positive vibes, and a crushingly technical course in Falmouth, Maine.
 
Unlike other races, to compete here you must donate to a non-profit of your choice in addition to paying the low cost registration fee. Instead of some mega race conglomerate taking the profits, we ask that you pay it forward and contribute to a non-profit that aligns with your values. Donations must be made between 8.25.2024 and 8.22.2025, and we must have proof of the donation (receipt, confirmation letter, copy of your check) by 8.22.25 in order to confirm entry. Donations must be at least $20.

Participants have donated in excess of $30,000, which is nothing short of astounding!

The 10 mile loop in Lowell Preserve and thru North Falmouth Community Forest is technical and challenging, with lots of rocks and roots on mostly single-track trails. All events start and finish in Lowell Preserve at the Windham Fire Station.
 
– 13M course: one loop in Lowell Preserve and North Falmouth Community Forest plus 5k loop in East Windham Conservation Area trails
– Marathon course: two loops of the 13M course
– 50K course: three loops in Lowell Preserve and North Falmouth Community Forest plus 5k loop in Lowell (this one gives you a little extra for your registration fee)