Running Toward a Greener Future: Sea Bags and the TD Beach to Beacon 10K
Running Toward a Greener Future: Sea Bags and the TD Beach to Beacon 10K
Photo Credit: Laura DeMerchant
The Sea Bags running team participates each year, bringing together employees of all experience levels—from seasoned racers to first-time participants.
July 31, 2026
For nearly three decades, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K has welcomed runners from Maine and around the world to one of the state's most iconic coastal courses. That tradition dates to 1998, when Cape Elizabeth native Joan Benoit Samuelson—fourteen years after winning the inaugural women's Olympic marathon—partnered with TD Bank to create a world-class competition in her home state and a lasting source of support for Maine communities. Today, the event draws more than 6,500 runners, over 800 volunteers, and thousands of spectators each year, pairing elite competition with a longstanding commitment to charitable giving.
That combination of Maine identity and public purpose aligns closely with Sea Bags, the race's official Sustainability Sponsor. The company's role reflects the principles behind its own work: local craftsmanship, thoughtful use of recycled sailcloth, and creating products designed to last. "Sea Bags is a brand founded on sustainability, so when you get to partner with like-minded community events that really promote sustainability, it's a win-win for us," said Laura Hnatow, Vice President of Marketing at Sea Bags. That partnership is most visible along the course, where Sea Bags transforms recycled sailcloth into one of the race's most recognizable features.
Keeping the Race Green
Keeping the Race Green
Since 2019, Sea Bags has crafted the race's seven course mile markers from recycled sailcloth. The markers guide runners from the starting line at Crescent Beach to the finish at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. After race day, they make one final stop at the post-race lobster bake, where elite athletes and Joan Benoit Samuelson sign each marker before it returns to the Sea Bags workshop in Portland.
There, skilled makers transform each signed marker into a one-of-a-kind tote. The finished bags are then auctioned to benefit the race's annual charitable partner, giving these memorable course markers a second life while raising funds for Maine communities.
In 2026, auction proceeds will benefit Dirigo Reads, a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides participating first graders across Maine with a new book each month throughout the school year. Every winning bid helps support the organization's literacy mission while continuing the race's tradition of giving back.
Colin Wright's winning selfie in front of the 6.2 mile marker.
A Race for Every Kind of Runner
A Race for Every Kind of Runner
The field extends well beyond its elite competitors. Runners chasing personal records share the course with those completing their very first 10K, and although their goals may differ, they all experience the same encouragement as they make their way toward Portland Head Light. Along the course, live music, garden hose showers, enthusiastic spectators, and even the famous Beach to Bacon sampling station at mile five help make the race one of Maine's most memorable summer traditions.
The Sea Bags running team participates each year, bringing together employees of all experience levels—from seasoned racers to first-time participants. For the team, the event is less about finishing times than taking on the challenge together, supporting one another, and participating in a tradition woven into Maine's summer identity.
The recycled sailcloth mile markers and the employee running team represent two sides of Sea Bags' involvement in the event: one showcases Maine craftsmanship and creative reuse, while the other reflects the company's commitment to participating in the communities it serves. Together, they carry Sea Bags' values onto the course and help extend the race's impact beyond the finish line.
Inspired by Maine
Inspired by Maine
Keep an eye out for Sea Bags' recycled sailcloth mile markers along the course, then stop by our truck in the Race Pavilion to snap a photo with the 6.2-mile marker. While you're there, be sure to enter our Sea Bags giveaway for a chance to win.
If you share your race-day photos, tag @seabagsmaine and use #SeaBagSighting. Inspired by the same coastline that defines the race, our Maine Collection celebrates the places, traditions, and craftsmanship that make the state unique.
