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Apr 29, 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 11 to 21]

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A. S. from Oakville, Canada (10/22/2015) "Running on the shoulder :-/" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Delightful, scenic course. Hilly, but we knew that in advance. The trouble is the last 3rd of the course, you're forced onto a heavily cambered shoulder (or broken pavement) to avoid oncoming heavy traffic. This certainly took away from the experience - you'd think they could improve this fairly easily. Water stops were OK, porta-potties sparse and crowds friendly. The lineup for 'free' bbq and beer at the end was just too much to bear, so I gave it a pass. This is the classic small race, far from perfect but still worthwhile. Medal in the shape of a lobster claw, which was kinda cool. Accommodations in town are plentiful and staff in hotels and restaurants are exceptional. It's the end of the season, so lots of discounts on kitsch if that's your thing.
Anthony Masciello from Winston-Salem, NC (11/9/2014) "Beautiful" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Definitely lives up to 'the most scenic marathon.' Figuratively breathtaking in an unsurpassed beauty and literally breathtaking in its challenge.
D. S. from Valley Forge PA (11/5/2014) "Awesome and Scenic" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Mount Desert Island marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 MID is a great race is so many ways. Top notch organization - check. Scenic course - check!. Locale with activities, restaurants, places to stay - check! The RD is a runner of countless marathons so the organization knows how to put on a race. One that covers all of the little things. Even the expo - for a small race - has got things handled. Come for the race, come early or stay late for Acadia National Park and you will not be disappointed.
C. L. from Florida (10/21/2014) "Breathtaking course; great place to visit" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Talk about your destination race this one has it all. The course is beautiful. There are hills but the scenery is extraordinary. And the hills are manageable. Just take the time to relax and enjoy the scenery. Great water views. Great fall foliage. Even some small mountains. Also, the race support is outstanding. We were able to book a room at the Ivy Manor Inn. What a find. It is the closest lodging to the start line being directly in front of the start and the return shuttle bus brings you within steps of the Inn. I could listen to the instructions for the race start and stay nice and warm. I literally walked out of the Inn and started the race minutes later. The Inn keepers, John and Christine, are a friendly and accommodating couple. Breakfast is gourmet quality. Plus they serve mostly organic food and will provide vegetarian meals upon request. If you are able to book a room there you will thank your lucky stars. Our room even had a toasty fireplace. The race comes toward the end of the season at Bar Harbor. The good news is that there are many great close out sales. It is hard to resist a bargain. Also, being near the end of the season, there many great restaurants to choose from. This is such a nice place to visit that you should allow a couple of days to visit Acadia National Forest and to take the sea walk path in town. It's just a great visit, a great Inn, and a great race. It is one of my favorites.
d. m. from NC (10/29/2013) "Beautiful unique small town race" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a small marathon with 716 finishers for 2013. New for 2013, was a half marathon and since I didn't run it I can't comment on it but I can only think it is a good thing for those who aren't up for the full distance (316 ran this event). Packet pickup was well organized and there was a small expo associated with it. Not much at the expo but it should be noted that you will get a jacket in your race packet and if you want a T-shirt you will have to pay extra to get one. I felt the jacket was nice but I don't think I will use it and I wanted a T-shirt. The available ones were a good quality tech shirt but the design was not as inspiring at the course. The finisher's medal is of moderate size in the outline of Mt. Desert Island with the letters MDI and 26.2 over the island. I wish they had painted the letters to make them stand out as they tend to get lost in the overall design of the medal. There are plenty of hotels and bed and breakfasts close to the start which makes things very convenient. I am sure anyone of them would have been fine but I stayed at the Bar Harbor Grand and thought it had a very spacious room and was very quiet. Breakfast starts at 6:30 AM which allowed time to grab a bagel before the 8:00AM race start. It didnt really have any hot food (no scrambled eggs, bacon, etc) so if you want that you will have to look elsewhere (just cold cereals, yogurt, fruit, breads, waffles, hard-boiled egg, hot oatmeal). The town has lots of shops to poke around in. Cruise ships will drop some tourists off here so you will have to weave your way around them. The whole town shuts down (I guess they all go to Florida) after the race so there are lots of sales on T-shirts and souvenirs. The course lives up to its reputation. It is gorgeous. Fall leaves, rolling hills, ocean views. I can't really complain about the course. It is a 1 way course so you run 26.2 out of Bar Harbor and will either have to have a friend pick you up or take a bus back. I had transportation so I can't comment on the bus. With your own car, it is only 15 minutes back to Bar Harbor. The water stops are every 2 miles and the fans who are out there are energetic. The first 3 miles rolls up hill, and then falls into a rolling up and down motion until mile 20 where it starts going up until about mile 25 where you come back down toward the finish. If I have to quibble, the last 5 miles are run where the road is falling apart with alligatoring and cracking of the pavement and even some road construction during the final miles. All I can say is suck it up buttercup. I didn't see a lot of post- race food but then all I wanted to do was lay down. I had some money in my shoe and went into the local grocery store and got a Dr. Pepper and rested. Other things to do include beer and wine tasting (north of Bar Harbor) and eating a lobster roll (at a Lobster Pound). Not sure what I was thinking a lobster roll should be but think buttery hot lobster on a piece of Texas toast. You should try one. Mine was about $17. I don't think I would get another one but hey, you are in Maine, live a little. Really it needs some cayenne pepper or something to kick up the flavor. Of course you are right next to Acadia National Park so visit Cadillac Mountain or bike some of the carriage roads. If you want to eat at Jordon Pond make sure you make a reservation because there is no way you are walking in there without one. Even if you don't go there to eat, you should stop and take pictures of the lake as it is lovely. The pluses are small race, minimal traffic, good medal, and beautiful scenery, other things to do, shopping in the town, and moose and lobster souvenirs. Enjoy and happy running!
J. M. from Harrisburg, PA (10/25/2013) "Well organized, challenging course, great spectato" (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Pasta dinner / speaker was excellent. The course was truly challenging in all aspects. I appreciate the adversities of uneven road surface, hills and traffic. All of this helps occupy the mind to stay attentive to foot placement etc. The spectators and volunteers were great encouragers. I loved the banjo player, the accordian player, the rythym drum section with church bell ringing. After I finished I was sore and said I would not run it again. I am already to plan to do it again. The satisfaction of meeting the challenge is worth it.
M. M. from San Antonio, Texas (10/24/2013) "Dodging traffic on broken side of road" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I, too, came for the scenery, which was gorgeous for about the first 16 miles or so. The weather was perfectsunny and cold, and we stayed at the Acadia Hotel, so all we had to do was roll out of bed and take a couple steps to the start. Unfortunately, having to run on broken asphalt and gravel while dodging whizzing cars, trucks, tour buses and eighteen wheelers on the side of the road for the last third of the race was just too much. What's the good of gorgeous scenery if you're too busy trying not to get killed to notice? Also, I counted maybe only 5 porta-potties tops, and two of them were at mile 25. The race material tells you that there are 'lovely woods' to do your business in, but with so many homes and private property/no trespassing signs, not to mention steep drop offs, I found myself having to run with an uncomfortably full bladder for miles before I felt safe to duck off somewhere. And you have to bring your own GU, too. We got one at around mile 16, I think. Just Gatorade and water otherwise, though the volunteers were nice. Finally, if you hate people calling out your name while you run because it's on your bib, then you'll either have to remember to put tape over it or run another Maine marathon. Oh, and all I got for post marathon food was an apple with peanut butter and half a bagel. I really wanted to like this marathon, but I didn't. Very disappointing.
T. m. from Long Island, NY (10/22/2013) "An experience you won't forget!" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This marathon is my favorite so far. the scenery is as great as advertised. One breathtaking view after another. It is also so well organized and stress free. just what you need before a hilly run but not too difficult if you train and prepare mentally. It is truly a stunning course and I travel a lot so I am fortunate to see many great countries and views, but Mount Desert Island is among the very best in the world.
B. G. from Charlotte, NC (10/22/2013) "Beautiful marathon, great people, pancake flat ;-)" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This course really is a beautiful as people say it is. And yes, while Big Sur is still the grand daddy of scenic courses, this is right behind it. Having also done Big Sur, this course was much harder for me. The hills are non-stop with the biggest/longest between 19-25 with very very very few flat spots. Weather was perfect (55* pretty much all morning). Fans on the course, while not many, were definitely loud when they were out. Organization was top notch expect for one issue. We had to wait 45 minutes for a shuttle to take us back to Bar Harbor. No fun sitting on pavement after running a marathon. Other than that, perfect. Great merchandise (for a small race), the town was VERY welcoming, and Bar Harbor is just a great place to visit in general. Kudo's to Gary Allen for putting on a great small town marathon!
K. S. from CT, USA (10/22/2013) "Nice race, but overrated." (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Overall, this was a well organized race in a scenic area. The positives include: a very hilly/ challenging course, approximately 10k of unparalleled scenic beauty, decent race organization and volunteers. Unfortunately, I think the negatives outweigh the positives (I have run 30 marathons for comparison). Although there were some scenic sections, this race is run largely (over half the race) on main roadways which are open to traffic. You are being buzzed by cars the whole way and feeling the steep cant of the road side in your legs. The finishing mile is a joke... construction zone with cars everywhere and runners dodging in and out. Getting back to Bar Harbour from the race finish (via the bus) takes hours due to traffic and poor organization at the finish. Overall, I strongly disagree with the 'most scenic race in america' moniker. This was a long way to travel for a very average race, in my book.

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