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Sugarloaf Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Sugarloaf Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.2
Number of comments: 81 [displaying comments 61 to 71]
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D. S. from Standish, Maine
(7/18/2003)
 "I Made My Boston Qualifying Time!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a good race for qualifying for Boston! This marathon was my 5th, and my 4th serious attempt at qualifying for Boston. It's a great course comprised of mixed terrain and a beautiful remote setting. Ok, you do have to climb up one pretty good size hill which crests around mile 10, but that pretty much ends the 'tough' stuff. It's literally downhill from there, with about a 1000 ft. of vertical drop to the finish! The 'race crew' and fans give it charm as well as the feeling of a professionally run event. I really appreciate the few individuals that consistently would flash ahead of everyone in their cars and bikes every 4-5 miles, cheer everyone on while blasting some tunes from a car stereo, and move ahead after awhile to do it again! Well done! | |
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b. r. from springfield mass
(6/8/2003)
 "Well, this was quite a weekend" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I had caught a bad cold prior to Boston and was disappointed with my run, so the family took the trek up to Eustis for the Sugarloaf Marathon. Boy, it's a long way up. Got lost, missed pre-registration, missed dinner, but saw 13 moose during our aimless wandering!!!!!! (I always thought they were a myth). I guess there were about 300 runners for the 7 AM start. Met an 82-year old running his 150th marathon. He had done one the week before. Met several other friendly people. From the course profile, I really thought my second ten miles could match or beat my first ten. I was right on pace and felt strong at ten, but once we crested the hill, we were right in the hot sun (reached 70 very quickly), and I faded. Fans were mostly 'personal' fans, leapfrogging you in their cars. I found a hose which I sprayed myself with at mile 18, without which or I might not have finished. By mile 20, I was walking through the water stops, during which my 12-year old son joined me. The last half of the race was downhill. Didn't seem like it at the time, because of the heat, but driving the course later, I think it is a very favorable course, with very nice refreshments at the end | |
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Paul Young from Andover, Massachusetts
(5/30/2003)
"Great Small Town Marathon - Scenic Course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Just ran this race two weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well organized, great pasta dinner, and friendly atmosphere. I was glad to have finished in under 3 hours as it got quite warm in the latter part of the race. The only other race I can compare it to is the Adirondack Marathon in Schroon Lake, NY. However the course at Sugarloaf is much faster. -Paul Young - CMS open racing team | |
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L. R. from Fairfield, Ct
(5/22/2003)
 "nice small marathon but needs more water!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 My running partner and I chose this marathon based on the positive comments on this website. Everything they said was true--downhill and flat finsh, great pasta dinner, friendly people, small town atmosphere. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and the temps got up into the upper 70's with the sun blazing overhead and virtually no shade on the course. I know there's nothing anyone can do about Mother Nature, but my advice to the race directors is to think about adding a few more water stops on the back half of the course in the event of warm weather (which appears to be quite common in Maine in the late Spring). I encountered many runners from mile 14 on who were walking and suffering from lack of fluids. I will give the volunteers credit, as they were very helpful and encouraging on a hot day. I would love to go back and give this course another chance, but only on an overcast day. | |
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K. C. from San Francisco
(5/20/2003)
"Fast course - weather pending" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I just ran the 2003, and while I have nothing but kudos for the organizers who did a great job with such a small race (mile markers, water stations, finsh area, etc.), I do have a few words of warning for others considering this race: 1. this year was extremely hot and sunny compared to normal with temps up in the high 70s low 80s. the course is almost 100% exposed to sun, so on a day like this, this is a tough course as there's virtually no breeze in this area, so it can feel like running in an oven as the course runs between hills/mountains. 2. miles 24-finish are more uphill than anything, so if you're planning on a kick at the end, need to factor that in. in fact, overall, the course is feels more rolling and less downhill than the topo map would lead you to believe. 3. the traffic can be slightly annoying as cars and trucks sometimes drive by too closely or kick up lots of dust as they swing by the shoulders. Overall, a good event, with very friendly runners and volunteers and organizers, but be warned, this course may not always run as fast as one would like to plan on. | |
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s. c. from lawrence, ks
(5/20/2003)
"Widest marathon temperature swing I've ever seen" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Amazing weather in Maine: 35 at the start and what felt like 75 here and there along the way as the race progressed. I hadn't read in anyone's prior comments to be prepared for that large a temp. swing. If the sun is shining for this race, you can't escape it. Once you get past the first heavily tree-lined mile, you are out in the open. Very fast course if the late race heat and the early big up and big down don't suck the energy out of you. I passed a lot of crashed runners late. One thing that's great about this course are the individual fans who are in their cars supporting their friends, wives, husbands, whatever. I must have seen the same three or four fans 10 times and another three or four about five times. Friendly group of runners too. Spoke briefly with a guy while checking in. Spoke with a woman at packet pick-up. Spoke with many runners during the race. Spoke with several more afterwards. Probably the friendliest, chattiest marathon I've ever done. Great race, worthy of a repeat effort even if traveling from a distance. | |
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Sandy -law.com) from Halifax, NS Canada
(6/3/2002)
"What a great course!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my third marathon and I improved over my second marathon by 29 minutes. This has inspired me to attempt to qualify for Boston in the fall. I only need to 'shave' 9 more minutes! This was a very well done race for a race of this size. The water stop volunteers were most enthusiastic, which is great because these are pretty much the only spectators you see along the course (except for a few hardy souls in Eustis just after the start at 7:00 a.m.!). My hats off, particularly, to the massage crew. They were just tremendous and I know were key in my quick recovery. I was one of only two Nova Scotians entered in the race and I must say that I enjoyed myself immensely and was fortunate to meet several runners from around the US during the race. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking for a PB. Hopefully this year I can qualify for Boston, but I do hope I see another Sugarloaf Marathon in my future! | |
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A Runner from Springfield, Massachusetts
(5/27/2002)
"Fast and scenic course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my fourth marathon and my best PR. I shaved 22 minutes off my previous PR. The course was scenic with snow covered mountains,trees,and rivers. Saw a moose too. The downhills were great and the uphills were manageable. The spectators were few but were there for the runners. The llamas around mile 22 were a welcome sight. Would suggest extra time to shop in Kittery and Freeport. Great marathon to do. | |
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A Runner from Suburb of Minneapolis, MN USA
(5/24/2002)
"Well-run, low-key, scenic event" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 (Ran in '02). While lacking the glitter and rah-rah of popular marathons, this marathon provides a great experience by doing race basics well and providing a fast downhill course in a forested, hilly setting along a rocky river. The entry fees are reasonable and I was grateful and impressed how staff graciously allowed a packet pick-up a half-hour after official closing. There is sufficient nearby lodging, although it could be slightly inconvenient for a lone marathon traveler. 2002 started slightly late. 2002 weather was near-perfect. Although runners are restricted to the right side of the road and course is open to traffic, car encounters weren't bad. Aid stations every 2 miles are frequent enough for the majority of runners. 6.5-hr cutoff (5.5 + optional early start) is discouraging for walkers/very slow paces... good or bad depending on your point of view. Finish area professionally timed and post-race food/drink spread was better than what is expected of a race this size (261 finishers). Massages were available, and finish line parking was no further than 1/4 mile away. From finishers' residences and times, Sugarloaf seems to be a good regional BQ/PR choice for those 'in the know.' The course is not flat, but downhills outnumber and outweigh the uphills... hill familiarity/training would bring better results. | |
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A Runner from Boston, MA
(5/23/2002)
"This marathon rocks!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon and Sugarloaf provided the perfect environment to have a fantastic run! The pasta dinner the night before is delicious with a great local feel. The organization and planning couldn't have been better. The spectators were few and far between but the stunning mountainous scenery more than makes up for it. This course has some hills at the beginning and a little climb at the end but its nothing impossible. The pottery awards make this race unique and adds to the friendly atmosphere. I hope to make this marathon an annual event! |
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