Maine Marathon

The course is nice (if hilly) but nothing special. It initially runs along the water but then heads inland with most of the course along roads in the local suburbs. Be forewarned, there are nearly no porta potties along the course! The shirt is awful. It is covered (front and back) by paste on prints. It is nearly useless for running in. (They could, of course, easily fix this by just printing everything with ink.) The post race amenities are nothing better than you might see at your local half marathon. Basically, there is nothing special about this race. Unless you have a Maine marathon on your list, I am sure you can find a race that is at least as good elsewhere.

Portland in early October is a great travel destination. The weather is still mild and the leaves start changing. The city is still vibrant at this time of year with plenty of activities. The course is not as difficult as advertised. There are a few steep rollers but nothing impossible if you pace yourself. Organization was top notch especially with the added precautions with Covid. Spectators were sparse along the course. There were some scenic views but overall nothing spectacular.

This was my 8th marathon and after a terrible experience in the 2018 Rock and Roll Las Vegas Marathon, I needed to fall in love with the distance again. Portland, Maine, you delivered. The course was beautiful, lots of hydration stations, plenty of port-a-pots, amazing volunteers, well-marked and well-organized. It was a beautiful fall day, perfect temperatures, and the wind held off until my last 3 miles. The expo is great with plenty of vendors and a nice amount of giveaways. The shirt is nice enough, though I wish the decal was not so stiff. Love the bright orangey color. Spectators were great and supportive, fun bands, and adorable, apple-cheeked children in sweaters and caps cheering on the runners made this an absolutely charming experience. And I finished 2 minutes under my goal!