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May 16, 2024

Mount Desert Island marathon Runner Comments

Back to Mount Desert Island marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.8

Organization 4.8

Spectators 4.1

Number of comments: 155 [displaying comments 91 to 101]

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S. T. from Providence, RI (10/21/2008) "Gorgeous course and some of the friendliest people" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I walked this marathon because of a knee injury, so I started early and finished late. There was still plenty of food at the finish and the massage therapists were still available to late finishers. The course was beautiful (although hilly, and would have been a tough run), and the spectators were so friendly and supportive. There were not that many spectators, but they were all so nice and helpful. The runners were also very friendly. I really wish I could have stayed that night and celebrated, but I had to drive back to RI. It would be nice to have more food on the course. My only complaint is that they wouldn't allow me to defer my race entry or transfer it to someone else. I would have waited until next year so I could run injury-free, but instead I walked on my injury (which is a bad idea, but I didn't want to just lose the money I had paid for registration).
J. W. from Baltimore, MD USA (10/20/2008) "Fantastic course; Down East hospitality" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course is every bit as hilly - and as stunningly beautiful - as advertised. The hospitality of the local community was wonderful as well. My one disappointment was being forced to the far left of the road (not just the left lane) to accommodate road traffic in some places. Nevertheless, I would come back in a second just to soak in the gorgeous scenery.
R. K. from Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (10/20/2008) "Beautiful but tough course" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I completed the 2008 MDI yesterday. As a fairly fast race-walker, I fell in between the early and regular start times. Starting with the runners worked out. The finish was still manned at 5:51:03 when I came in. The water stops were self-service by then, and there were still a lot of people on the course. I loved the race; it was very tough but worth the extra hill training. But it is very discouraging to reach a water stop that is abandoned or see volunteers leaving posts before the end of regular course support (6 hours). If you don't want fully to support the slowpokes, then shorten the time for course support and send them on to other races.
S. P. from New Hampshire (7/29/2008) "Awesome experience" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran this race in '07 as my first marathon. The hills are as advertised, but doable if you train right. The scenery was breathtaking; I wish I had brought a camera with me. The crowds are small, but rather than see this as a drawback, I saw it as what made the race nice for your personal support team; it was extremely easy for spectators to get around, and my family got to see me at several spots along the course as well as having a front-row seat at the finish. My only regret is not spending more time in beautiful Bar Harbor, as we had to leave the day after the race.
B. B. from Cranbury, New Jersey (7/15/2008) "Beauty and the Beast" (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 MDI is certainly one of the most beautiful areas of the country, and the course does an excellent job of covering that beauty. The mile-by-mile commentary of the course is extremely helpful in preparing you for the challenges you face. I have to agree with the comment that the last one-third of the course is not nearly as pretty as the first two-thirds. I would also recommend having a timing mat at the beginning - I think this race is big enough to support it. There isn't that much fan support, but Mother Nature does an excellent stand-in job. I highly recommend this race.
Amber Woolfenden from Marblehead MA (3/15/2008) "Beautiful & Fun!" (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my second marathon and my first was Chicago. I loved the fact that this race was small and Gary made everyone feel welcome. The race was very hilly, but really ,with the scenic views it wasn't that bad. My time was 20 minutes better at MDI! I will run this again!
J. L. from Austin,Texas (3/3/2008) "Amazing organization, fun race, beautiful Maine" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The Mount Desert Island Marathon is a beautiful, hilly, point-to-point road marathon run through Acadia National Park in Maine. It's right at the end of tourist season, but the leaves are all changing colors. Fantastic weather in 2007 - perfect for running. I really enjoyed starting in Bar Harbor. I was able to walk over to the start line from my B&B. You have to take a bus back to the start from the finish, but it's not too bad. To get some easy pre-race running in, try running on the gravel carriage roads in Acadia National Park (a few miles from Bar Harbor). The finish-line festivities are nice - free massages in the school gym, and I believe there were showers. I stayed around the finish line to watch a pair of marathoners marry each other at the church next to the finish line. There are a lot of hills on the course, but that's just part of the location. You run along the ocean for part but not all of the course, because they don't use the National Park Service Roads. There is some bad camber on some of the roads, and there isn't that much room to get away from it - running on the soft shoulder isn't really feasible. This was my first marathon, but after running two others, the people running in the marathon here were some of the friendliest I have ever met during a race. Actually I recognize some of the other commenters here as people I met during the race, if that gives you some idea. The race organization is fantastic. The mile-by-mile course description on the website was perfect for someone who had never been to Maine before. Volunteers at water stops were positive and up-beat, especially at mile 24 or so. The expo was small, but it's a small marathon. The race director was very entertaining, and I hope he gets to run the marathon he puts on for everybody else one day!
D. P. from Lafayette, NJ (1/24/2008) "Believe the hype! Beautiful scenery..." (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Absolutely stunning scenery with the lobster boats in the harbors, and leaves changing colors. Bring a camera to this one. The numerous hills were challenging, but this is definitively offset by the well-run event and scenery!
M. M. from Frisco, TX (12/10/2007) "Brutal beauty" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Mount Desert Island marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 While this course is beautiful, I had to ask myself what I was thinking when I signed up for it again. This course is just plain brutal! The only way I can see someone not having major issues with the hills is if they live and run in an area with steep hills. I recently ran a 4:25 marathon, yet MDI took me 4:59 - and I was in better shape for MDI. I have one complaint for the organization of the race - please get more port-o-potties. I was bursting by mile 8 and then had to wait in line behind 4 walkers. I also think this course would be much better if it were reversed. The finish is just dismal and hard compared the start. Plus the traffic and pavement are nasty near the finish. I'm sure it's impossible to reverse it but it would be much nicer if you could. I love the area and the race, but boy it his a hard course.
Jean (Mama Jean) Evansmore from MD (10/26/2007) "Take your camera..enjoy and record" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Drove from Portland to race w/camera ready. MDI had breath taking scenery, friendly, helpful volunteers, variety food @ pasta dinner,vibrant and funny director who was EVERYWHERE, friendly runners, Joan Benoit Samuelson's wisdom and warmth, good weather, a few hills, a bit of discomfort, food, mylar & age award at finish line, exuberant untrained finisher, 50 states finisher from AK and a wedding! What more could you want at a marathon!! Enjoy the experience! I did. PS ..As an added bonus, I found a lobster bake place open & with a bus parked in front. Though reservations only, went in anyway and got served. Had sweetest clams ever with my lobster bake. Ironically, this was a church bus from Ocala, FL, location of my first running marathon last year. I am blessed!

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