Click here to view a slideshow of the most scenic Marathon course in North America!
(November 5, 2009) Mount Desert Island Marathon organizers have
enjoyed a strong presence at the New York City Marathon for many years. This year they were once
again included in many of the VIP festivities surrounding the world famous event, including the
international breakfast run, assorted news conferences, exclusive finish line seating, transportation
and several delicious meals, which were celebrated at Tavern on The Green. This year our event
coordinator, Mary Ropp, competed in and completed her first marathon in 5:10:31. Gary Allen, our
race director, finished his 74th career marathon (57th below 3 hours) in 2:54:56 which was good for
19th overall in the men's 50-54 age division. Congratulations to our runners and many thanks to the
New York Road Runners for the hospitality they extended to every member of the MDI Marathon
organizing team.
(October 23, 2009) Attention participants, supporters and friends of
the MDI Marathon: Take your accomplishments
'Beyond the Finish Line'
and make a contribution to one or more of the wonderful local charitable organizations we are working
hard to help support. Our online fundraising campaign was newly launched in June of this year.
It doesn't expire and was never meant to until we reach or exceed all of our fundraising goals,
however long it takes. (Just like training for and finishing a marathon, we're in for the long-haul!)
Stay tuned, because we will be naming the winners of our 'free entry for life' contest to the top
fundraisers very soon!
All donated funds go directly to the designated charities of your choice.
(October 19, 2009) The 8th edition of the Mount Desert Island Marathon was another smash success!
Competitors from all across the US, Canada, and abroad came to test themselves over our magnificent,
undulating terrain. Our stunning course and professional event management team have earned many
distinctions over the years including our marathon being named 'Most Scenic in North America' by
ESPN. For the latest incarnation participants were once again greeted with peaking fall
foliage that helped paint our course in strikingly vivid yellows, oranges, and reds. Our award
winning route passes through Acadia National Park and along seaside cliffs, down tranquil village
main streets, through dense forests and past pristine lakes. In the end, David Herr from Canaan,
Vermont, became a deserving six-time champion and Amanda Labelle from Dedham, Maine, earned her first
win at the MDI Marathon.
We also launched our ongoing
Beyond the Finish Line: Charitable Fundraising Program this year.
$1086.00 was raised toward our ultimate goal of $100,000.00, to support of many local charitable
organizations. Winners of our 'free entry for life contest' who were the top contributors or
fundraisers for each charity are as follows:
Our event also helped raise a combined total of over $11,000.00 in support of just two
of the many other local charitable organizations we work with: Mt. Desert Nursery School and the MDI
High School Music Boosters.
Registration is now open for our 2010 edition to be held on Sunday, October 17th. Our starting
field is limited. We encourage potential participants to avoid disappointment and to
sign-up now.
Full results are here.
(October 15, 2009)
All MDI Marathoners are encouraged to shop, eat, drink and relax in downtown
Southwest Harbor after they cross the finish line. Many businesses, all within
walking distance of the finish line feature fine gifts, delicious food and refreshing
beverages. All participants their families, friends and spectators are cordially
invited to visit Cafe Drydock, The Moody Mermaid, The Quietside Cafe, Sips, Red Sky,
Sawyer's Market & Specialties and many others. Please patronize downtown Southwest
Harbor and the rest of the 'Quietside' and thank them for hosting our event. Have a
great and safe race!
Louie Luchini
(October 5, 2009) The Mount Desert Island Marathon is pleased to
announce Louie Luchini as their special guest speaker
for the much anticipated 2009 edition. Mr. Luchini will appear at the marathon pre-race pasta dinner,
which is a benefit for the MDI High School music program. The dinner will be held at MDIHS on
Saturday evening Oct 17 starting at 5:30 pm, advance dinner
reservations are highly recommended.
Mr. Luchini was an eight time All-American
while at Stanford University and holds the school record for 5,000 meters in 13:25. He was member of the prestigious Nike Farm team and more recently he is a
member of the Oregon Track Club Elite Program.
Among his many running achievements, he has both competed with and beat his former teammate, Ryan Hall, who won
the US Olympic trials marathon in 2008 and finished 3rd overall at the 2009 Boston Marathon.
Mr. Luchini has competed in international level track and field at home and in Europe, including
the 2004 US Olympic track team trials. Mr Luchini had the honor of being invited to be an official pace
setter at the 2008 Prefontaine Classic
in Oregon where Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele attempted a world record for 10,000 meters.
Mr. Luchini is originally from Maine and is currently training for his marathon debut, possibly at
the California International Marathon. He recently won the Maine Half Marathon held on October 4,
in 1:06 and is slowly rounding back to top form after recovering from an achilles injury.
Mr. Luchini's talk is expected to be both informative and inspiring, while the seasoned marathon
audience might even be able to offer Mr. Luchini some training tips and advice.
You can learn more about Louie Luchini here and here.
(September 17, 2009)
The Mount Desert Island Marathon is pleased to announce that 180 All-Natural Energy Drink is
the new title sponsor of the event, which is known for it's natural beauty. With the increasing
consumer demand for all-natural products and the energy drink segment continually on the rise,
180 All-Natural Energy leads the category and breaks through the clutter as the first nationally
distributed all-natural energy drink. (full press release)
(July 23, 2009) The Mount Desert Island Marathon is excited to announce a
new team relay division. The MDI Marathon Team Relay will feature teams consisting of 2 or 3
competitors each. The new relay is being designed using natural topographical features and handoff
zones unique to the award winning course. This new relay division is being added to the event due to
the popular demand of runners who wished to participate in the MDI Marathon, but at lesser distances.
The 2-person relay handoff zone will be located at the 13.1 (half marathon) mark in Northeast Harbor.
For the 3-person relay, the first handoff zone will be located at approximately 8.5 miles near Seal
Harbor Beach. The second handoff zone will be located near the end of Butler Road and route 198, at
approximately mile 18.6. The final leg will carry teams to the finish line located in downtown Southwest Harbor.
(July 13, 2009)
The MDI Marathon is pleased to offer an incredible incentive to all participants or aspiring
participants: The opportunity to win FREE ENTRY into our event for life! This value of this exciting
offer is potentially in the thousands of dollars; imagine no entry fees ever again to Run MDI!
Simply choose a charity from on our official 'Beyond the Finish Line'
charitable giving page and
'Become a Fundraiser' for that charity. If you raise more funds for the charity of your choice than
anyone else does for that same charity, then you are our guest at the MDI Marathon forever. On your
marks... Get Set... Go! Good Luck and may the best fundraiser's win!
(July 10, 2009)
The Mount Desert Island Marathon will once again host a special relay division for recognized
Public Safety Departments. The MDI Marathon - Public Safety Relay will feature teams consisting of
five department members. Four members will run 6 miles each before handing off to the next, the fifth
member will run 2.2 miles to the finish line.
This friendly competition is loosely patterned after the popular tradition of NYPD and NYFD
members who annually run in the New York City Marathon with bragging rights going to the winning
departments.
The MDI Marathon is issuing this challenge and special invitation to all public safety personnel.
Entry fees are waived for participating Public Safety Relay squads. In lieu of entry fees, The MDI
Marathon encourages individual departments to launch fundraising campaigns around their team's
participation in support of the Beyond the Finish Line: Charitable Giving Program.(aditional information)
The Mount Desert Island Marathon is pleased to announce their new charitable giving campaign,
'Beyond the Finish Line',
to directly benefit many local organizations. The goal of this campaign is to
raise $100,000. Community members and race participants are encouraged to make donations or run in support of one of these organizations.
The official beneficiaries of this innovative program are the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center,
Camp Beech Cliff, Friends of Acadia, Harbor House Community Center, Island Connections,
MDI Hospital, Mount Desert Nursing Association, SPCA of Hancock County, and Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary.
(April 20, 2009)
Congratulations to our race founder and director Gary Allen who competed in the 2009 Boston
Marathon. Mr. Allen celebrated the 30th anniversary of his first Boston Marathon by running
10 minutes faster than he did back in 1979! He placed 31st overall in the men's 50-54 age
division finishing in 2:57:42. This was Gary's
54th career sub 3 hour marathon,
recorded over the past 4 consecutive decades. Be sure and follow our new MDI Marathon
presence on Facebook
to enjoy video training tips and much more. UPDATE: Gary competed in back to back marathons at the Sugarloaf, here in Maine and at the Vermont City Marathon on May 16 and May 24. His times were 2:55:21 and 2:55:33 respectively which placed him 10th and 51st overall in the respective events.
(March 27, 2009)
The Mount Desert Nursery School is pleased to, once again, be
working with the Mount Desert Island Marathon on the 2009 Mile Marker Banners. Each year,
artists from around the area create wonderful mile marker banners (26 in total). As a result of
our experience last year as recipients of this fundraiser, we realized how much the runners
appreciate a keepsake from their Marathon experience on MDI. The banners created last year
were major works of art and several created bidding wars. One almost prompted a separate
commission of work. The banners will be displayed in local libraries for several weeks prior to
the marathon, and also on the Mount Desert Island Marathon website. During the marathon
weekend, the banners will be displayed at the expo and pasta dinner. Silent Auction bidding
will begin at an Opening near the end of September (date and location to be determined).
Bidding will remain open until 1:00 p.m. on the day of the marathon Sunday, October 18, 2009.
All proceeds from the Banner Auction will go directly to the Mount Desert Nursery School... (full press release)
MDI Marathon Footage
Officials of the Mount Desert Island Marathon are pleased to release professionally recorded race footage filmed during the 2006 event,
and the 2005 MARTHA television footage. This excellent film clip showcases the beauty
of the award winning route during the actual 2006 race, and was made available by the generosity of the
former presenting sponsor, Red Lobster.
