Hundreds Take To Bar Harbor Roads in Weekend Races

MDI Marathon, Half, and Relay Draw in People From Around the World

Oct 16, 2023

BAR HARBOR—BAR HARBOR—On Saturday night as they stood in the MDI YMCA parking lot, runners held packets of course materials in their hands, packs slung over their shoulders, bouncing on their toes in anticipation of the race.

“I’ll see you at the finish line,” they called out to each other.

“See you there!”

“I hope.”

“Definitely.”

The mountains of Acadia National Park loomed behind them, just beyond the fields. The starting line would be just down the street, and on Sunday many of those runners streamed into and out of the Annex and the Side Street Café. The restaurant has been hosting the post-marathon party (this year a 10-hour music festival) for ten years. It also manned a refueling stop at mile six. Other miles were manned by places like the Bar Harbor (MDI) Rotary and the Ellsworth High School cross-country team.

“It was amazing,” said a couple from Massachusetts as they stood outside the Annex on Rodick Street Sunday afternoon. Lobster claw medallions hung from their necks and some had a slight hitch in their giddy-ups as they exited the restaurant, smiling, listening to the tunes from the Annex’s all-day music festival and post-marathon party.

“Hopefully,” the man said, “by Wednesday, I’ll be able to walk again.”

“But it was so worth it,” the woman with him said.

“So, worth it.”

For many runners, the annual MDI Marathon begins years in advance, training miles logged, rooms booked, playlists picked out, shoes broken in, destroyed, broken in again. For Crow Athletics and all the people who plan and volunteer? It’s the same thing. T-shirts are ordered, websites updated, tables and garbage and mile markers set out, the starting line and finish lines drawn across the road.

A runner often runs alone.

But when it comes to a marathon—especially the MDI marathon—a community runs with them, cheers them on, sings to them, finds them Band-Aids and honks their horns, be those horns on trucks, busses, cars, or boats.

Presby at mile 6, run by Side Street Cafe and the Annex

David Presby came in second for his age group at the MDI Marathon on Sunday. From the Rochester, New York area, he’s come up to the island, camping at Mount Desert Campground since he was six months old. When the marathon first started, over twenty years ago, he thought, “Oh, I have to run that.”

And he did. He’s run 10 fulls and participated in the relays.

This year, he said, the weather was perfect. His time reflected it. He came in second for his division and one minute faster than his time in the Wine Glass Marathon in Corning, New York two weeks ago.

The morning of the marathon, the Bar Harbor Congregational Church holds a runners’ blessing. Pastor Rob Benson believes that started about seven years ago and it’s very informal.

“We’ve offered snacks, coffee, warmth, and a restroom because especially on cold days that’s really appreciated. Today was perfect though!” Benson said. “It’s a joy to be part of the tremendous excitement and inspiration that the marathon brings to town every year. I know that for many running, a marathon can be a deeply personal experience and we especially want to honor that.”

The marathon began in 2002. It runs 26.2 miles on hilly terrain from Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor. It’s been called “soul-searching” by runners; “one of the 11 races to run before you die” by Men’s Health Magazine; and “one of the best marathons anywhere” by Dick Beardsley.

According to its website,

“The Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay is North America’s premier destination road race. The award-winning course features miles of pristine terrain passing tranquil lakes, soaring mountains, sleepy Maine villages, and stunning seaside vistas —including Somes Sound, the only fjord on the Eastern Seaboard— all set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Acadia National Park in peak fall foliage season. The Marathon and Team Relay start in the world-famous Bar Harbor, while the Half-Marathon starts in picturesque village of Northeast Harbor. All three races finish on the quiet side of MDI in the hardworking lobster fishing community of Southwest Harbor.
“Held annually the weekend following Indigenous Peoples’ Day, this fall classic has earned national and international accolades. Once you #RunMDI, you’ll see why!”

The official results are here. Ben Fishbein, 27, of Burlington, Vermont finished first with a time of 2:36. Robert Ashby of Brunswick, 55, came in second with a time of 2:40. Sarah Mulcahy, 38, of Fort Kent came in eighth overall, first for women with a time of 2:50. Maya Bradbury, 23, of Freeport came in second for women with a time of 3:18. Fishbein averaged a net pace of 5:59.

There were 650 marathon finishers with posted results. They came from all across the country and world with runners from Guatemala, Brazil, Switzerland and England. The half-marathon had similar numbers. The team relay also occurred on the same day.

The marathon is run by Crow Athletics, which is a local running club that began around 2001 and is also responsible for organizing multiple other races. Gary Allen, a founder of the club, was arrested last week on a charge of an alleged violation of a protection order. In the last published list of its board of directors, Allen is included as are Darron Collins, Melissa Ossanna, David Goodrich, Mary Ropp, and Edward Swain.

The sixth annual Running for Rides Mary Parker Memorial 5K Race that featured runners and walkers of the furry and not so furry kind hit the streets on Saturday, October 14, heading out from the MDI YMCA and raising money for Island Connections.

The 2024 MDI Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 20th.