South Shore Half Marathon Races Through Wompatuck State Park

The 11th annual South Shore Half Marathon and 5k, one of Massachusetts’ most popular half marathons and 5k events, took place last Sunday in the scenic Wompatuck State Park. The sun was bright in the sky in the morning when the event took place, despite some of the first cold weather of the fall.

The event had a large turnout, but encountered a few bumps along the way. It was announced that the races were moved from Hanover Crossing to Wompatuck State Park in May, but the change proved to be a problem on the day of the event. 

Due to Wompatuck’s size, navigating to the event was made slightly harder. The larger issue, however, was handling the traffic to the event. With limited parking, a long line of cars formed on Wompatuck’s main road, forcing many to run/walk a long distance to the start line. Despite this challenge, the race officials adapted to traffic by delaying the start of both the half-marathon and the 5K. They also allowed for any late arrivals to start past the new official start time. Thanks to the quick thinking of the organizers, hundreds of runners were able to enjoy the scenic run through the changing fall foliage of the dense Wompatuck forest. 

The event organizers also had to adapt to another obstacle: due to the location change, they could not serve alcohol during the post-race celebrations because of Wompatuck State Park’s permit restrictions. Instead, along with the race T-shirt, socks, and medals, the participants received a beer voucher for Mayflower Brewing in Plymouth, which was attached to their bibs. 

The celebration filled the park with music, and people gathered to watch the award ceremony. Complimentary snacks were also available for participants. 

The large turnout brought a lively spirit as the crowd of runners, spectators, and organizers came together to enjoy the stunning fall foliage of the park. Despite some hurdles, this Sunday was a beautiful autumn morning to remember, thanks to the organizers’ adaptations and the patience of participants.