This race is for true marathon connoisseurs! It is exactly as advertised: Organization is flawless, the course is well planned, and the scenery is as breathtaking as are some of the hills. The pasta dinner at the local high school is highly recommended. I had a PR and qualified for Boston because the weather was perfect this year. There are plenty of hotels to choose from, even in the last minute. I stayed at the Bar Harbor Motel, which was basic and practical, and not too far from city center and starting line.

This by far is one of the best marathons I have done! Maybe because I PR'd either way, I loved it! They say it is the Big Sur of the East Coast. It is comparable. Not an easy course.

This was my first marathon, which seems unfair to all subsequent marathons since it has set my standards so high. Everything was beautiful! I couldn't believe how quickly the time passed (and I am a very slow runner). I was so busy looking around that I forgot about the whole running 26 miles thing.

The course was very hilly... but I actually liked it since it broke the course up nicely. The port-a-potties were spread out pretty far, but the water stops every two miles were great and they had nice volunteers working them.

The fans were few, but they were fantastic!!! People were blasting the Grateful Dead from their houses (which I found incredibly motivating!) and there were even some people playing music right on the course! We ended up seeing friends of people running at a similar pace and they became our fans too!

I know that this is only my first marathon, but my husband is very active in races/triathlons, and having witnessed a lot of organizational issues with his events, I think I can fairly say that this is a well organized event.

I HIGHLY recommend this race!!!

Bar Harbor in the fall is beautiful and the crowds are much smaller. The MDI Marathon is the end of the tourist season, but the best time to visit. We stayed at the Bar Harbor Motel for $79, which was a bargain.
The expo was small, but I was able to find an Amphipod pocket attachment for my fuel belt, which I had been searching for ages to find. Race packet pick up was easy. The goody bag included a nice windbreaker and a bottle of beer (sweet!).

The morning of the race was quite chilly. I debated whether to wear shorts or tights. I opted for shorts and was glad I did. We went down to the start line for the walkers' start, 1 hour before the runners. I cheered my wife and friend and then waited for my start. They played the national anthem and a gentleman next to me had the most beautiful singing voice. He asked me if I wanted to sing "O Canada!" (I was wearing a maple leaf bandana). I declined.

I don't remember a whole lot about the race, but I do remember thinking to myself that I should take it all in and enjoy the scenery. The leaves were at their peak.

The stretch along Somes Sound was a bit tough, as we were running headlong into a pretty stiff breeze. Miles 20 to 25 were uphill, but there were a few level spots. The crowds were small but enthusiastic. I got a lot of "GO Canada," which was encouraging. Aid stations were well manned. Port-a-potties were few and far between on the course. There was lots of grub and drinks at the finish line. Showers were available at the school. There was only 2 showers and the locker room was very small, but the wait wasn't too bad. There was transportation back to Bar Harbor as well.

I had trained for a race pace of 10 minutes per mile (4:20 finish time) and finished at 4:19:21. This was my first marathon so my goal was just to finish. We had taken a drive along the race route the prior day, so I knew what I was in for. I didn't do any hill training.

In hindsight, we probably should have done our shopping/sightseeing before the race. I was so sore, and I wasn't expecting that. I couldn't maneuver stairs for nearly a week. The hills definitely trashed my quads. I probably won't run it again (for a few years anyway) - not because I didn't enjoy myself, but just because there are other marathons I want to run. I will be back, though, to improve on my time.

Imagine putting a group of experienced marathoners (of any and all abilities) in a room and asking them exactly what they'd like to have in an "ideal" race. The MDI Marathon feels as if the race directors did exactly that, and then delivered 100 percent. This is an amazing race on all dimensions, a "must do" for any runner. It's a celebration of what running and marathoning is all about. Pure joy. I loved my experience in 2009, and certainly plan to be back in 2010.

Here is a marathon that reminds us of why we love to run. It starts with amazing organization, and a website that has so much information that it would take you several hours to read it all. I loved the mile-by-mile description of the course and the "Locals' Recommendations." My wife followed the detailed directions for spectators, and as a result we have great pictures of the race from nearly every scenic point. The volunteers were friendly and helpful, and the course was amazingly well supported for a marathon of this size.

The scenery was incredible. Peak fall foliage and panoramic views of the North Atlantic abound. Bar Harbor is welcoming as well as scenic, and I don't think there was an unkind word uttered during my entire stay. Acadia National Park is part and parcel of this marathon and is stunning.

I can't say enough about the race director whose attention to detail, tireless hard work, and passion for running are seen at every turn from sign up to the after marathon party. The rain jacket included in the pick up packet is top-notch - and is now a full-time part of my running gear and not just another t-shirt for a quiet drawer. If there is one thing I would change, it would be the finishers' medals, which never change from year to year (other than the date). I think a unique design each year for medal snobs like me would make me even more likely to come back.

Bottom line: Run the MDI Marathon. You won't be disappointed.

Kudos to race director Gary Allen and his top-notch volunteers and staff for making this is a gem of a marathon, one that I keep coming back to.

Possibly due to the hilly course, there is a high percentage of walkers in this race. Suggestion: walkers should be mindful of runners coming through behind them. They tend to walk two to three across, forcing runners to run around them, often into on-coming traffic.

The natural beauty of the course was fantastic. The last six miles are tough - tougher than a normal marathon. There was only one monster hill. I liked the fact that they served all-natural drinks. The race avoided the high fructose drinks and served GOJI and ACIA drinks! They were great! This race did everything right - from the drinks to recycling to the fall colors to the perfect weather. Nothing beats running by the ocean - hearing the waves and losing yourself in the peak of autumn. Before you know it, the race is over.

Wow. I had glimpsed the views I was to see on the course through MDI Marathon website's photos and video... but experiencing them firsthand was breathtaking. This was the sixth marathon I've run, and the only one where I continuously heard other runners exclaim about the beauty around us. The hills were challenging as promised, but I ended up coming within a couple minutes of my PR. I think the cooler temperature helped. This was the first time I needed a med tent at the end, and the volunteers were SO kind and caring. A local doctor even gave me the down vest he was wearing to wear to help me warm up! The kindness of the volunteers and the amazing views are what I'll remember most. I'd highly recommend this one!

This race is everything the RD promised - a beautiful course through and around Acadia National Park in peak foliage season, a "tough but fair" race, great organization, and a real feeling of accomplishment when you cross the finish line in Southwest Harbor. Great aid stations, nice finish line amenities, and spectators who make up in enthusiasm what they lack in number. I kept seeing the same spectators (and dogs) over and over - that's cool!

If you need a fast time, thousands of spectators cheering you on, or marching bands, then this isn't the race for you. But if you want an incredible, memorable marathon experience, then run MDI.

This was my 31st marathon/ultra, and it is my favorite.