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☰
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 81 to 91]
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J. W. from Berkshire County, Massachusetts
(11/17/2008)
"The other fall classic" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Mount Desert Island marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I'm drawn to this race like a moth to a flame, and come to think of it, by mile 25 of this tough but beautiful point-to-point, I feel like a torched moth! Kidding. Yes, it's hilly; yes, the last 10K are diabolically uphill, but you get payback by mile 25, which sweeps waaay downhill into quaint Southwest Harbor. I have run MDI in the wind and raw rain, heat, and scintillating, blue sky cold. This race provides the loveliest coastal New England scenery, the race director (the funny and talented Gary Allen) is a committed marathoner, the volunteers are great, the spectators are sparse sometimes but fun, and did I mention this is a point-to-point (I did, but let me say it again - it's the best course layout). Aah... I love this race. And you will too. In a nuttyshell: Patience, hills, be a bit conservative at least to mile 15, hills, smile, laugh, give it all you've got in the last 8K, and oh, yeah, hills. Mount Desert Island is remote, rugged, beautiful, and its people are super. MDI forever! See you in 2009.... | |
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D. W. from Houston, TX
(11/5/2008)
"Beautiful but tough course, worth the effort" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The fall colors were unbelievable and the views were just picture perfect throughout the course. There are a lot of long hills, but I took them easy and my finishing time was not much slower than an easier course. I live in the flat-lands and try to avoid hilly races, so this was the most hills I've done other than at Big Sur. But both of those are incredibly scenic and make the hills worth while. The race is described as "challenging," but it is more the number of hills rather than it being over mountains. The last hill from 21 to 25 (with a few breaks in it) was tough, but then you have a nice downhill, pretty views, and flat finish into town. The porta-cans could have been a little more frequent. I needed one about halfway, and I wished I had stopped at 12 because the next one wasn't until 18. Very well run race in a beautiful setting. I wish I had planned to stay for a few more days in the area. | |
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B. T. from Maine
(11/3/2008)
"What a Great Race!" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This has been my favorite marathon to date. When I arrived the day before, I drove the course and was immediately struck by the many hills. At that time I gave up the idea of running for a PR and planned to just enjoy the scenery and be satisfied with finishing. On race day, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself well into the race and still on track for a PR. As it was, I finished with a personal best by better than 11 minutes. So, as others have mentioned here, a PR on this course is definitely not out of the question, especially if training on hills has been part of the plan. I have to say, though, that the last 5 miles are a real challenge and I had "used it all" by the time I arrived at the finish. The whole experience was great and I would recommend MDI to anyone. The fans roll from place to place along the course and I especially loved their enthusiasm and friendliness. What a great race! | |
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Allison Henley from Oklahoma City, OK
(10/31/2008)
"A must-run marathon!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had a blast running this race! They weren't kidding about those hills, but the course is so beautiful and the other runners so friendly that you won't dwell on the them. Just take it easy and enjoy the ride. The organization was excellent, with plenty of Gatorade and water every few miles. Since it's a small race, the water stops are not crowded. Bring you own energy gels. Expo was nice with helpful staff. Great finisher's medal, technical shirt, and jacket. I stayed at the host hotel (The Acadia Inn) in an ocean-side room, which was reasonably priced and located close to the starting line as well as Acadia National Park. The participants, volunteers and spectators were all so nice and encouraging. The whole atmosphere of this marathon is amazing. I had a ball running with a Frenchman named Pepe, an Irishman named Mark and a barefoot runner named Preston. I highly recommend this race! | |
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M. E. from Bronx, NY
(10/29/2008)
"Awesome Scenery; Don't Be Afraid of the Hills" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Awesome scenery, and great organization. Don't be afraid of the hills; people were talking about how much slower their times would be and their worries about not setting any personal records. But I did shave over 11 minutes off of my personal best, finishing in 3:34.28. Don't be afraid.... My quads were sore for 2 days, but I am ready for NYC on Sunday. | |
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p. l. from Norwich, VT
(10/28/2008)
"The most scenic roller coaster in the East" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Boy, I still feel my quads! Some advice: don't take your watch with you, and fill up your memory! Just have fun. This race is cool because most runners go here for the scenery. There are no record-breakers here, except for the zygomatic muscles (the ones that make you smile). Peace. | |
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S. M. from New Jersey
(10/26/2008)
"Outstanding" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This course is as advertised... tough but well worth the effort. Gary Allen designed this event to address every detail. From the pasta dinner to the strong volunteer support as well as the fine welcome at the finish, all was great. The natural scenery of MDI made a stunning backdrop to a first rate event. MDI should be on every runner's calendar as a must-do marathon. | |
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Matt Skar from Baltimore, MD
(10/24/2008)
"Perfect Race" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race is beautiful and the time of year is just right. The race runs on the last weekend of the "season" for Bar Harbor, and therefore you can still get lobsters and enjoy some of the other local treats. The real beauty of the timing of the race is the changing season. The leaves were vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows for 26.2 miles. The weather was fantastic, ranging from mid 30s at start to low 50s at the finish. A little more cloud cover and there would have been nothing left to be desired in terms of weather. The course is gorgeous and a bit challenging. Nothing to be terrified of, though, in terms of hills; they're out there and you just have to get up them. A nice downhill finish in the last mile. This was a really enjoyable race and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to run in Maine, or anywhere for that matter. | |
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Rob Klein from Aurora, Colorado
(10/23/2008)
"Awesome Beauty and Cold" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mount Desert Island marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The MDI Marathon staff makes no apology for the hills on this course, and there were many. But the colors of the turning leaves mixed in with the evergreens were stunning. A package deal! This marathon was recommended by another 50-Stater/Marathon Maniac who had run it, and I was not disappointed. There were several of us who ran The Breakers Marathon in Newport, RI on Saturday, then came to MDI to run Sunday morning - a six-hour drive. This meant special arrangements to get our bib and timing chip Sunday morning. The MDI Marathon staff graciously accommodated us, as most of us arrived late Saturday evening. The weather was cold. Overnight it was 32 degrees F, and it was a cold start. Temperatures rose with the rising Sun, but the first couple of hours were cold. It was probably in the 50's by noontime. Coffee was available to runners/walkers near the starting line. The walkers started at 7:00 a.m. (official marathon started at 8:00). Yet MDI officials let slower runners (like me) start at 7:00 with the walkers. This was a good deal for the runners. The course started in Bar Harbor heading south. Approaching the south end of the Island, the course went through Acadia N.P. and looped to the west, following the shoreline part of the time. After reaching Northeast Harbor, the route turned north and went up the east side of Somes Sound - where the stiff wind was a killer. Reaching the north end of the Sound, the course joined the highway headed to Southwest Harbor - where the finish line was. The course was a series of hills - up and down, one after the other. But taken in stride with the autumn colors, the ocean/sound views, and the rural homes, it was awe-inspiring. Even with the hills, my time was consistent with flatter marathons I had run. I tried the Jeff Galloway method of alternating between run and walk from the start, and it paid off big-time. The course was very well marked, with arrows painted on the road. I don't think any solo runner could have possibly got lost. There were aid stations every two miles with water and Gatorade. The station volunteers were very pleasant as they passed out drinks and encouraged the runners along. Gel was available at one station early in the second half of the race. Fans were sparse, but there were a few groups, mainly at the quaint towns along the course. Post-race food items were bananas, apples, smoothie fruit drinks, ice cream, bagels, and oatmeal bars. By the time I finished, it was warm enough that I was not craving hot food, which was good, because there wasn't any. Buses transported runners back to Bar Harbor. And Bar Harbor Brewing Company gave free mugs to the runners, although they were plastic mugs. This was the most scenic marathon I have run (#34 for me) and I would not trade the experience for a flatter marathon instead. There is no time limit for this race, so don't let the hills scare you off. It sounded much worse than I actually found it to be. I highly recommend this race. | |
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D. S. from Pennsylvania
(10/22/2008)
"Awesome and Scenic Marathon" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 MDI is a small marathon (fewer than 1,000 runners) that is run like a big-city one. Excellent and friendly staff, plus a beautiful and scenic course through Mount Desert Island. The course is scenic beyond belief, running through five villages, with ocean and harbor views, plus Somes Sound (the only fjord in US). But, to be honest, it is hilly and a challenging course. Not one for a PR, but one for a tough challenge and a beautiful run. A must-do marathon. |
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