Emma Howe of Cambridge, Mass., pumps her fist as she approaches the finish line at the 2023 Maine Marathon. Howe won the woman’s division of the marathon. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The 33rd edition of the Gorham Savings Bank Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay will feature several changes and a record-setting number of registrations.

The Sunday races start and finish next to Portland’s Pedro Field, 55 Baxter Blvd. Entries have far exceeded last year’s record-setting 4,114 registrations, with more than 4,800 registered as of Friday afternoon.

The races begin at 7:45 a.m.

“I expect another 300 registrations by Saturday. I expect we’ll be at 5,000 by the weekend,” said Bob Dunfey, the volunteer race director.

Brandon Talisesky crosses the finish line to win the 2023 Maine Marathon. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

This year, there are changes to the course, a new site for the expo and bib pickup on Saturday, and the addition of prize money for runners who identify as nonbinary.

The Maine Marathon has allowed runners to register as nonbinary since the 2020 virtual race, a decision made before the onset of the pandemic.

In August, it was announced that nonbinary runners can earn the same cash prizes – $1,000 for a marathon win, $500 for the half marathon, with cash down to fifth place – as the male and female top finishers.

“We are aware of only two other races in the country that offer equal cash awards for nonbinary runners,” Dunfey said in August. “The Maine Marathon has long been ahead of the curve by allowing nonbinary registration, and we are thrilled to take the next step by adding cash awards this year. We hope this decision inspires other races to follow suit.”

To qualify for cash prizes, runners must meet a time standard. Nonbinary and female runners must run under 1 hour, 25 minutes for the half marathon and 3:15 for the marathon. The time standards for male runners are 1:15 for the half and 2:45 for the marathon.

In 2023, four runners entered in the nonbinary category in the marathon, with one finishing under 3:25. As of Friday afternoon, 18 entrants have identified as nonbinary, including eight in the marathon.

Veronica Graziano, the 2023 Maine Half Marathon women’s champion, is entered in this year’s race. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The tweaks to the course are in Portland and Falmouth early in the race and will probably affect traffic more than the actual competition. Dunfey said the race no longer has Maine State Police approval to close the exit and entrance ramps at Exits 8 and 9 along I-295.

“No ramps will be closed this year, but now (motorists) will be sent back onto the highway,” Dunfey said. “It’s best not to use Exit 8 or 9. It’s also best to avoid to avoid Washington Avenue the whole day.”

The 26.2-mile USATF certified marathon course, which is a Boston Marathon qualifier, takes the runners through Falmouth and into Cumberland and then Yarmouth before turning back. The half marathon course turnaround is in Falmouth. The marathon relay, for teams of two to four runners, is divided into four legs ranging from 5.5 to 8.8 miles.

The new site for the expo, which includes numerous vendors, is Stevens Square Community Center. The expo is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, though bib pickup continues until 7 p.m. Runners are encouraged to pick up their race packet on Saturday.

Dunfey is also emphasizing that there is no free parking on race day at the nearby University of Southern Maine parking lots and garages. USM parking rates are $4.15 per hour or $16 for the day. The Maine Marathon website has extensive information about parking options.

Jesse Orach of Auburn crosses the finish line to win the 2023 Maine Half Marathon. Orach is entered in the marathon this year. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

In 2023, Brandon Talisesky of New York City won the men’s marathon in 2:34.53, well off the record time of 2:19.19, set by Boston’s Ryan Eiler in 2022. Emma Howe of Cambridge, Massachusetts, won last year’s women’s race in 2:48.56. The women’s marathon record is 2:39.38, set by Abby Hamilton of Yarmouth in 2021. Neither Taliesky nor Howe are entered this year, but Eiler is entered in the half marathon.

The 2023 half marathon races were won by Jesse Orach of Auburn (1:08.41) and Veronica Graziano of Falmouth (1:18:43). The half marathon records were set in 2019 by New York City residents Kemal Birhanu (1:05.59) and Hirut Guangal (1:15.32). Graziano is returning to defend her title, while Orach is entered in the marathon.

The Maine Marathon has raised over $7 million for charitable causes since 1997. Gorham Savings Bank, the sponsoring partner, returns about 59% of gross profits to community groups. Each year the volunteer organizers select the beneficiaries. This year’s designated charitable groups are: Percival Baxter Foundation for Maine’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children; Maine Paws for Veterans; Maine Senior Games; Riding to the Top, a therapeutic horseback riding center; Saltwater Classroom; and Strong Girls United.