Note: If you'd like to support marine mammal conservation, but prefer a virtual experience the 5K Every Day Virtual Challenge is a great option! Scroll down for details.

Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) invites you and your friendly four-legged running companions to the 8th Annual Ocean Commotion 5K Race! This scenic 5K benefits Marine Mammals of Maine and our work educating about and providing response, assistance, and care to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in southern and midcoast Maine.

Unlike many race courses, ours is appropriate for participants of all fitness levels and takes runners, joggers, walkers, and their canine companions along trails by the ocean, offering stunning coastal scenery and freedom from traffic noise. The timed heats are professionally chip timed, and prizes will be awarded to the top three male, female, and canine finishers.

You can further support MMoME's work by purchasing official tech gear to commemorate the event, purchasing raffle tickets, making a donation, or starting a fundraiser to recruit your friends' and family's support of marine mammal and sea turtle conservation efforts.

Other Race-Day Activities

* A kids 1-mile fun run with prizes for every participant (no registration or registration fee required!)
* Youth and family activities to engage children in marine conservation: Simulation of the process of rescue and rehab process of a stranded seal, ocean-themed coloring books, whale bone puzzles, and more
* Race-day raffle before, during, and just after the race benefitting marine mammal and sea turtle response, rehab, and outreach—including jewelry, artwork, gift certificates, etc.
* Info booths about Marine Mammals of Maine, the work we do, some of our favorite responses and rescues, and ways to get involved

Race Day Schedule **

Registration: 8:15 am – 9:15 am
5K Walkers Start: 9:00 am sharp
5K Runners Start: 9:20 am sharp
Kids 1-Mile Fun Run Start: 9:30 am
Raffle Tickets Available: 8:15 am – 10:30 am
5K and Raffle Prizes Announced: 10:30 am
Youth Activities: 8:15 am – end of event (~11:00 am)
MMoME Informational Booth: 8:15 am – end of event (~11:00 am)

** Please note that we're keeping a close eye on COVID transmission trends and may adjust the race day format on short notice to accommodate state and local guidelines. Let's all be safe!

5K Every Day Challenge

MMoME supporters live across the country and even across the ocean, and we invite our friends near and far in this annual fundraiser. Wherever you may be, and whether you feel safer in a virtual or in-person race environment, your participation in this event is so important to MMoME's ability to help animals in need!

Join us in this challenge to run, walk, ride, paddle, or swim 5K (3.1 miles) every day for the week leading up to the in-person event. Share your photos of your activities on social media with #OceanCommotion #MMoME to show your support of marine mammal and sea turtle conservation efforts. You can even recruit your friends and family to join you in the challenge, to make a donation to your efforts, or both!

Why is this important?

MMoME is one of only two marine mammal rehab centers in the northeast and the only marine mammal triage center on the East Coast. We typically triage or rehabilitate between 40 and 75 seals every year and also respond to encounters with whales, sea turtles, and other marine mammals.

This year we're also dealing with an unusual mortality event impacting that is linked to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, which is impacting Maine's seals.

Our annual Ocean Commotion 5K is one of our biggest annual fundraisers and supports all of our work to respond, rehabilitate, research and educate about marine mammals. 

How do you log your distance for the virtual challenge?

Just visit the Ocean Commotion RunSignUp page, click on the results button, then "Submit Virtual Results"!