Race Information
Name: Mount Desert Island Marathon Date: October 16, 2022 Distance: 26.2 miles Location: Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor, Maine Website: www.runmdi.org Finish Time: 3:53:24 Weather: Foggy, 50°F at start, sunny, 60°F at finish, light winds
Training
As a 39-year-old runner eyeing marathons in all 50 states, Maine was my second. I trained for 18 weeks, peaking at 55 miles per week with long runs up to 20 miles. I focused on injury prevention, learning from past overtraining. Summer heat challenged my hydration, but a hydration backpack and a driveway water jug helped. A mild tendon injury from a hot 16-mile run in New York taught me to stop earlier. Late hill training on Belknap Mountains prepared me minimally for MDI’s hills.
Pre-Race
I drove 5 hours from New Hampshire to Bar Harbor, camping in my truck at a middle school lot to save costs. Packet pickup at the YMCA was smooth, with friendly volunteers and a small expo. I received a pink MDI backpack with a bib, map, and a long-sleeve shirt. I scouted Bar Harbor’s Village Green and Shore Path, soaking in the coastal charm, but skipped Acadia National Park due to time constraints. I checked out Southwest Harbor’s finish line, debating parking there but opting for Bar Harbor’s pre-race convenience. Breakfast was a salad, oatmeal, and beets; I skipped coffee to avoid bathroom issues.
Race
Miles 1-7: Coastal Cruise
The race started at 8:00 AM on Bar Harbor’s Main Street with a cannon blast. A downhill start eased me into an 8:40-9:00 pace, free of first-marathon jitters. The course followed Highway 3, flanked by Acadia’s cliffs and foggy ocean views. Fall foliage—reds, yellows, oranges—shone through the mist. By mile 7, on Cooksey Drive’s coastal cliffs, I marveled at oceanfront homes, though one driver’s angry outburst (“Get out of my neighborhood!”) briefly soured the mood. My caffeine-free strategy paid off, with no bathroom urges.
Miles 8-13: Northeast Harbor Surge
The course hugged the coast, passing rocky shores and a seaweed-strewn beach. A hill at mile 10 toward Northeast Harbor tested my legs, unprepared from flat summer training. Crowds in Northeast Harbor at mile 12 cheered loudly, lifting spirits; a father’s pride for his son runner stirred envy but warmed me. My pace slowed to 9:10-9:20 as Somes Sound’s blue waters appeared. At 2:00:30 for the half, I felt strong but sensed the hills’ toll.
Miles 14-20: Somes Sound Struggle
Running north along Somes Sound for 6 miles, I soaked in Acadia’s vibrant foliage and mountain views. My quads and hamstrings tightened, and at mile 20, hunger hit. I ate dense bread from my running belt, but it wasn’t enough, and dehydration set in. Stopping at a water station, I drank Gatorade and water, realizing my nutrition planning—based on flat training—underestimated the hilly course’s demands. My pace dropped to 9:45, but the scenery kept me going.
Miles 21-26.2: Hill Climb and Downhill Glory
Miles 21-24 were brutal, with a 50-foot-per-mile climb. My flat-trained legs burned, and lightheadedness crept in. At a water station, I grabbed two energy gels, their glucose reviving me. Many runners walked, but I maintained a slow run. At mile 24, the course peaked, and the downhill to Southwest Harbor began. Hearing the finish line crowd, I sprinted the final 100 yards, crossing at 3:53:24—a sub-4 PR despite the hills.
Post-Race
Southwest Harbor’s after-party offered pizza and ice cream, but I skipped them for health reasons, regretting not packing food in my bag drop. The lobster-claw medal was unique but showed molding flaws. Exhausted, I waited 2 hours for buses back to Bar Harbor due to traffic delays, a major organizational flaw. Sitting on the pavement, hungry and tired, I chatted with fellow runners from New Hampshire. Back at my truck, I ate, then drove 5 hours home, proud of my race but dreading school deadlines.
Reflections
MDI’s scenery—ocean, mountains, fall colors—was unmatched, making its hills a trivial side note. The small-town charm of Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor, despite some local resistance, added character. Volunteers were stellar, but the 2-hour bus delay was substantial drawback. My caffeine-free strategy worked, but minimal hill training hurt my performance. As my second of 50 states, MDI was a stunning, challenging step in my journey. I’ll return with family to explore Acadia.
What’s Next?
I’m eyeing a spring 2023 marathon, likely Maryland’s B&A Trail, to continue my 50-state quest. I’ll prioritize hill training, better nutrition, and backup food to avoid MDI’s mistakes.
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