Nov 14, 2024
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☰
Maine Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Maine Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 132 [displaying comments 121 to 131]
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L. J. from Chicago, IL
(10/8/2003)
"Great half-marathon/vacation" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I enjoyed every bit of this half-marathon course, (which ran right along with the marathoners). Very pretty scenery, decent weather, a few rolling hills to kick you into gear. It also turned out to be a nice vacation spot. Old Port is a really nice part of town to hang out at, with awesome restaurants, pubs, etc. There's also a lot more of Maine to see if you have a few extra days. Back to the half-marathon, changes in scenery along the course kept my interest (running past the water, through the neighborhoods with folks outside showing their support, military personnel shouting their support). It's not a huge marathon, so I liked that about it as well. The runner goodie bag contents and shirt were also a lot better than some I've gotten in the past. I'd recommend this one. | |
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D. S. from North Carolina
(10/6/2003)
"Great Race & Course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Beautiful course along the Maine coastline with only rolling hills between 16-18 miles. Didn't run a fast marathon, but course is very fair. Organization was topnotch. Would highly recommend this marathon. | |
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B. C. from Worcester, MA
(10/6/2003)
"It is "What a Marathon Should Be"!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 That's the slogan when you first visit the race website. How true! If you want fast action, easy crowd, beautiful scenery and a PR... this is your race. Bravo to the race volunteers for making the race special... you were soooooo enthusiastic. Also, I never ran with such friendly runners before... you all pumped me up for 26.2 miles! | |
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D. H. from Northern California
(1/3/2003)
"Marvelous Event!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great destination race. The race organizers responded quickly and with personalized comments when asked questions via email. Lovely course, seeing nice parts of Portland and outlying towns. The course was more 'rolling' than I expected, but no nasty surprizes. This is the perfect size marathon, I think. Not too crowded at the start, the aid stations, or the finish, yet enough people to be able to run with others and to have sufficient fan support. The size also allows your own fan club to actually see you as you go by! The medals are nice also - I can see doing this race again when I hit a new age group. | |
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A Runner from Chapel Hill. NC
(10/17/2002)
"Picture perfect day, wonderful city, nice event" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first trip to Maine and it is a spectacular place. The day of the race could not have been any more perfect--clear skies, temperature in the low 50s, little to no wind. Just perfect. The course is scenic; it starts in Portland and then runs through the wealthier outlying suburbs along the coast. Because of the suburban setting for much of the course fan support is slim, but I went to enjoy a crisp early fall day, foliage (there was not much--leaves are changing late this year) and enjoy the scenery (only a few mild hills). The support stations were well manned and had ample fluids (Gatorade and water). Overall, it was a low-key marathon--not much publicity in the community about the event. However, it went off very smoothly and I really enjoyed myself. Portland is a very nice city. In exploring downtown I had a cup of the most outstanding seafood chowder at the Public Market. My mouth is still watering. I made a little vacation out of the trip and got out of Portland and went up to Acadia National Park?absolutely awesome! Acadia in itself made the trip. I recommend this race to anyone seeking a smaller marathon (600+ finishers) and a chance to enjoy a wonderful New England city | |
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A Runner from London, England
(10/9/2002)
"Good course, not so many fans" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran Portland as my first marathon this past Sunday. It was a very nice out-and-back course, with only about 600 people finishing the full 26.2. There weren't many spectators, but almost every one was very supportive. Considering I did all of my training on the sidewalks of suburban London, running this marathon was truly a breath of fresh air (in more ways than one)! It was a nice course which wound its way up the coast to Yarmouth and back, and even though there was some traffic (especially on the way back into town), safety was never an issue. I would definitely consider running this marathon again. | |
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A Runner from Eastport, Maine
(7/16/2002)
"One of New England's best Fall Marathons" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran this race in 1994 & 2001. The new course last year is an improvement over the old course. It is a very well organized/managed event. The start & finish are along Portland's scenic Back Cove. The course has a few challenging hills along Route 88 in Falmouth, but the last 6 miles of the course are mostly flat. The course is very scenic w/ ocean views and charming tree-lined Route 88. I would say that it is not a fast course. I would call it a fair course - good mixture of flat, uphills and downhills. Having run several other New England Fall marathons, I would have to say that this one rates as one of the best. The Maine Half Marathon starts at the same time as the Marathon. Approx. 1,500 runners at the starting line (600 Marathon/900 Half). | |
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A Runner from Charlotte, N.C.
(10/9/2001)
"A very good small marathon" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the 2001 edition (my 10th marathon overall) and was impressed with all aspects of this relatively small marathon. The course was scenic, starting and finishing along what this former Boston resident couldn't help but think of as Portland's 'back bay' and continuing mostly along pretty country or near-country roads with nice foliage views. It's rolling, with a few hills here and there but nothing too severe, and given the ideal weather was probably a great place to go for a PR (not that I'm still in that business). There were plenty of water/Gatorade stops, packet pickup was easy, they used a chip system I'd never seen, which straps to your ankle instead of lacing through your shoe (much easier on and off) and the T-shirt is great (heavy, long-sleeved, w/ a mock turtle neck, so it's a little different from all the others I've picked up along the way). I was most pleasantly surprised by the number of spectators and their enthusiasm. Even when compared to bigger races I've run (Cincinnati, Richmond, Hartford), I think the crowds were larger in Maine. Great job to the folks in Portland! | |
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A Runner from Scarborough, Maine
(9/6/2001)
"New race course is an improvement" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have been training on the new race course for the last month. It is more scenic w/ an out and back section along scenic Route 88 in Falmouth Foreside & then back into Back Cove in Portland. There is also a nice little detour along Shoreline Drive which looks out at beautiful Casco Bay. It still has some challenging hills but it does not have the long steep hills during the last 6 miles that the old course had. Overall less hills, last 5 miles are fairly flat w/ only a few slight hills, more scenic ( ocean views ) & an overall improvement over the old course. | |
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A Runner from Denver, Colorado
(1/7/2001)
"great first marathon" (about: 1999)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and it could not have gone better. I came home to Maine from Colorado to run this and it did not disappoint. The organization and support was excellent. Not a huge number of runners which was great for me because I did not feel overwhelmed. Great scenery on the way out,but boring on the way back with some hills to keep your attention. Thanks for a great time, I had fun. |
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