RUN MDI:
Race Weekend Info
Race Details
START TIME & LOCATION:
Marathon—8:00AM
Bar Harbor (200 Main Street)Team Relay—8:00AM
Bar Harbor (200 Main Street)Half—8:30AM
Northeast Harbor (5 Manchester Road)All races finish in front of Pemetic School
Southwest Harbor (327 Main Street)
COURSE TIME LIMIT:
Marathon—There is an 6.5-hour (6:30) time limit beginning at 8:00AM.
Half—There is an 4-hour (4:00) time limit beginning 8:30AM.
The finish line will close at 2:30PM.
There is NO early start.
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Race Check-In & Bib Pick-Up
All participants must pick up their own bib number in person with Photo ID. No exceptions. Bib number assignments will be posted the entrants list in early October and sent out via email about a week before the race. Make sure you know your bib number when you check-in. Please plan your travels accordingly and allow yourself ample time to drive, arrive, park, get your bib, and browse the Pre-Race Expo. Bib numbers and race materials will not be mailed.
WHERE—
MDI YMCA Gymnasium
21 Park Street in Bar Harbor
WHEN—
Friday, 3:00PM—7:00PM
Saturday, 10:00AM—5:00PMPARKING—
There is paid parking available throughout downtown Bar Harbor. (The ParkMobile app is very handy! We recommend downloading it ahead of time.) Please do NOT park in the YMCA’s lot. They will still be open for regular business and this parking must remain available for their members. Thank you for your cooperation!CAN’T MAKE IT TO CHECK-IN?
In the case of runners that absolutely cannot make it to check-in: Unclaimed bib numbers will be taken to the Village Green Gazebo in downtown Bar Harbor on race morning and will be available beginning at 6:00AM until 7:00AM. (Bib numbers numbers must be picked up in person. Photo ID required. Make sure you know your bib number ahead of time.)The Village Green is located at the corner or Main Street and Mt. Desert Street — site of the Half-Marathon bus loading, and a stone’s throw from the Marathon starting line at 200 Main Street.
Important! Race shirts/bags will not be brought to the Village Green. Only bib numbers will be available. (We simply do not have the manpower to transport race swag to multiple locations. We have to clear the expo space as quickly as possible. ALL items are put into temporary storage and ALL hands are on deck to hold the race on Sunday.) Pursuant to the waiver agreed to at the time of registration, you will forfeit your race bag and shirt by waiting until race morning to pick up your bib number.
Please contact the race directly with questions. We are simply renting the gymnasium from the YMCA; their staff will not be able to answer event-specific questions.
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Bib Numbers & Race Timing
Bib Numbers
Bib numbers must be worn on the front, unless stated otherwise.
Race numbers are color-coded so that participants, spectators, and race officials can identify the various groups:
BLUE = Experienced Marathoner (You have completed at least one marathon.)
GREEN = Greenhorn (This is your first marathon – you picked a good one!)
RED = Half-Marathon (Each half-marathon participant will be issued two bibs: The bib with the participant name and number is to be worn on the front, while the “HALF” bib must be worn on back.)
YELLOW = Team Relay (Each relay participant will be issued two bibs: The bib with the team name and number is to be worn on the front, while the “RELAY” bib must be worn on back.)
PURPLE BAND = Charity Fundraiser (Cheer extra loudly for these generous participants! They are taking their race Beyond the Finish Line!)
Participants first names or team names* will also be printed on their race numbers. (*Your bib number will be printed on September 1st using the data you supplied at the time of registration.)
Please keep your personal information submitted at the time of registration up to date. If you change from a Greenhorn to an Experienced Marathoner, be sure to let us know. You can update your personal information by following the directions found on our FAQ page.
Race Timing
The race is being timed by ARE Event Productions using B-Tag timing. Do not fold or crumple your bib number in any way, or you will risk damaging the device and not be scored. Live tracking and results will be available online: results.runmdi.org
There will be time splits as follows:
Marathon & Relay: 1st half, 2nd half, 20M, last 10K, finish (gun and net)
Half: 6.9M, last 10K, finish (gun and net)
The AREEP Results Kiosk will also be on site at the end of the finish chute for immediate results and age group awards pick-up. (Awards will not be mailed.)
In addition, your bib number will feature a personalized results QR code.
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Pre-Race Pasta Dinner
Enthusiastically hosted by the MDI High School Music Boosters as an important fundraiser to support their Summer Music Scholarship Program! “Town will be packed on Saturday night. Don't get stuck looking for parking, waiting for a table, or not finding good carbs and protein. Pre-register for this specifically designed 'Night Before the Marathon' fundraising dinner now.”
WHERE—
MDI High School
1081 Eagle Lake Road / Route 233, Bar Harbor, Maine
WHEN—
Saturday, 5:30PM-7:00PM
MORE INFO—
Seating is limited!
Click HERE for the full menu, or to purchase tickets.
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Parking
Bar Harbor
There is ample paid parking available in downtown Bar Harbor. Paid parking time limits and residential permit parking rules are in effect during over race weekend.
In addition to paid parking, there is also free parking available at Conners-Emerson School (11 Eagle Lake Road).
Please note that on Sunday’s parking rules are not enforced until 12:00PM. This means that you will need to pre-pay for parking; if you select two hours, you will be able to park until 2:00PM. See complete parking guidelines and maps online HERE.
Finally, residential permit parking will be lifted on Race Day only on the following streets:
Glen Mary Road
Shannon Road
Park Street
lower Ledgelawn Ave, south of Park Street only. (This means you may park on Ledgelawn Ave between Park Street and Cromwell Harbor Road.)
Do not park on Main Street between Mount Desert Street and Cromwell Harbor Road. This is Marathon & Relay race course.
Northeast Harbor
On race morning, we strongly recommend that Half-Marathon participants park in Bar Harbor and use the race provided bus transportation to the start in Northeast Harbor. (See parking information above and detailed Race Day bus service information below.)
If you are being dropped off for the Half-Marathon, please be advised that downtown Northeast Harbor, including Main Street, will be very busy. Please do not park on Main Street as this is the Marathon & Relay route. Instead, please park at the Northeast Harbor Marina or in the Sea Street Municipal Parking Lot. Shuttle bus transportation from the Finish Line in Southwest Harbor is non-stop back to Bar Harbor. If you are leaving a car in Northeast Harbor you must have your own plan to get back to it.
Do not park on Main Street! This is the Marathon & Relay race course.
Southwest Harbor
Spectators are encouraged to carpool as much as possible. Be aware that some lots have both public and permitted spaces. (Please park thoughtfully and responsibly.) All options below can be accessed to / from the race day detour.
Suggested public parking is as follows:
Upper Town Dock lot — 108 Clark Point Road
Lower Town Dock lot — 176 Clark Point Road
Clark Point Road — approx. 2 to 29 (between Main Street and Maple Lane)
Post Office lot — 21 Clark Point Road
Main Street — approx. 350 to 375 (south of the Finish Line)
Paid lot off Main Street — south of the finish line (neighboring 3 Rod Road)
Great Harbor Marina lot — 11 Apple Lane
Manset Town Dock lot — 55 Shore Road
Privately owned lots may also offer paid parking.
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Race Day Bus Service
To Half-Marathon start (Bar Harbor to Northeast Harbor)
On race morning, we strongly recommend that Half-Marathon participants park in Bar Harbor and use the race provided bus transportation to the start in Northeast Harbor. You will need to be a registered participant wearing a RED Half-Marathon bib number to board these buses.
Buses will leave from the Village Green in Bar Harbor beginning at 6:15AM, and will run continuously as filled until 7:15AM. It’s approximately 12-miles from Bar Harbor to Northeast Harbor.
It is very important that you do not try and wait for the “last bus” or you could miss the start of the race. (This is because we cannot possibly transport all the runners at one time.)
Buses will unload at The Neighborhood House, where you may check your bag and stay warm and dry until the race starts. The starting line is an easy walk from here. (Approximately ¼-mile.)
Bus transportation to the Half-Marathon start in Northeast Harbor is one-way.
Finish Line Shuttle Buses (Southwest Harbor to Bar Harbor)
There is free shuttle bus transportation from the Finish Line in Southwest Harbor, back to the Village Green in Bar Harbor.
Shuttles will begin running from Southwest Harbor back to Bar Harbor at approximately 12:00PM. It’s approximately 14-miles from Southwest Harbor to Bar Harbor.
Buses will load in the Bar Harbor Bank parking lot (located on the west side of the finish line), and run continuously once filled until approximately 3:00PM.
Shuttle buses from the Finish Line in Southwest Harbor are non-stop and will bring passengers back to the Bar Harbor Village Green.
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Spectators
Complete spectator information with printable driving directions and parking information can be found of the Spectator Information page of our website, or in the Race Handbook.
Family and Friends Reunion Area: Make a plan now to reunite with your runner on the section of Main Street, (south of the finish line) that is closed to traffic on race day.
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Awards
Medallions— All finishers will receive the holy grail of medallions: Our world-famous CRUSHER CLAW!
Podium— The top 3 overall Men and Women in the Marathon and Half-Marathon will be recognized on the podium shortly after they finish.
Marathon Podium Prize Purse, funded by Crow Athletics
Marathon Top 3 Overall:
1st Overall Male & Female: $1000
2nd Overall Male & Female: $500
3rd Overall Male & Female: $250
Marathon Time Bonuses:
Sub-2:30 Men's Champion: +$100
Course Record Men’s Champion : +$250
Sub-2:20 Men's Champion: +$500
Sub-2:53 Women's Champion: +$100
Course Record Women’s Champion: +$250
Sub-2:48 Women's Champion: +$500
Half-Marathon Podium Prize Purse, funded by Crow Athletics
Half-Marathon Top 3 Overall:
1st Overall Male & Female: $500
2nd Overall Male & Female: $250
3rd Overall Male & Female: $100
Half-Marathon Time Bonus:
Men’s Champion Course Record +$100 (currently 1:06:40, Jonathan Phillips – 2022)
Sub-1:06 Men's Champion + $250
Women’s Champion Course Record +$100 (currently 1:18:34, Michelle Lilienthal – 2016)
Sub-1:18 Women’s Champion + $250
Age Group— Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+
MDI Area— The top 3 Men and Women Mount Desert Island area residents in the Marathon and Half-Marathon will be awarded.
Team Relay Awards: The top 3 Relay Teams will be awarded.
There is no formal awards ceremony. Age-Group and MDI Area winners may claim their awards as divisions are filled. It is the competitor’s responsibility to check posted results and claim their award at the AREEP results kiosk at the end of the finish chute before they leave. Awards will not be mailed.
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Marathon After Party!
Race Day • Noon-10PM
The Annex at Side Street Café
51 Rodick Street, Bar Harbor
Join your fellow runners at The Annex at Side Street Cafe for the Official 2023 MDI Marathon After Party! $6 margaritas and draft beer for all runners wearing their medal! Side Street Cafe and The Annex have been hosting the Official Marathon After Party for TEN YEARS. (Can you believe it?) New this year will be an all day live music festival featuring some of MDI’s best local talent.
This event is open to the public. We hope to see YOU there!
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Northeast Harbor Fall Festival
Race Day • 2PM-6PM
The Nor'Easter Pound & Market
10 Huntington Road, Northeast Harbor
On October 15th The Nor’Easter Pound & Market will turn their parking lot into THE place in Northeast Harbor to celebrate another amazing season and the 2023 MDI Marathon!
All proceeds will be donated to Veterans, Mt. Desert Nursery School, and local first responders. (Vets and first responders eat for free!)
This family friendly outdoor celebration will feature live music performed by Mike Harkins and The Bullseye Band, Pig Roast and BBQ, cornhole tournament, face painting, dunk tank, touch-a-truck, candy apples, door prizes, 50/50 raffle, Darling’s Ice Cream Truck, and more!
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Leave More Than Footprints
The Mount Desert Island Marathon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Our Beyond the Finish Line program helps support the local communities of Mount Desert Island, where we run, as well as state, regional, and national organizations.
Many of these groups provide goods, services, and volunteers to help you reach your goals.
Click HERE to take your race Beyond the Finish Line!
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Crow Athletics Races
May 6, 2023: Bridge the Gap Race
10th running!
Crosses the Penobscot-Narrows Bridge, the tallest public observatory bridge in the world, and finishes in the heart of downtown Bucksport.
July 21 & 22, 2023: Down East Sunrise Trail Relay
9th running!
Maine's original all-night team relay starts in Ellsworth, follows the scenic Down East Sunrise Trail 102.7-miles thru remote wilderness, and finishes in historic Eastport!
October 15, 2023: MDI Marathon, Half & Relay
20th running!
This is the premier event of Crow Athletics and showcases what running in Maine is all about. If you're not running, we hope you'll volunteer.
December 2, 2023: Millinocket Marathon & Half
8th running!
Maine's legendary free community road race! Don't Run Millinocket for what you get; Run Millinocket for what you give!
Join Crow Athletics
Celebrating our 32nd year in 2023!
Member benefits include race discounts and more!
To learn more about our club, click here.
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CANCELLATION POLICY
The Mount Desert Island Marathon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Entry fees, including optional add-ons, and/or charity donations, are non-refundable. No exceptions. (A limited number of deferrals may be available, see FAQ page for more information.) This no-refund policy is clearly posted and must be agreed to by all entrants at the time of registration. This policy applies to all entrants and is in effect whether the entrant’s plans change, the entrant becomes injured, or if the entrant has an unexpected family emergency / business emergency / medical emergency / or if the entrant is unable to participate for any other reason not already listed above. Once the entrant has paid the entry fee they will not receive a refund if they cannot participate, or if the event is canceled because of weather, natural disaster, public health crisis, unforeseen circumstances, or for any other reason not already listed above. (Income generated from registration is almost entirely expended prior to race day.) Bib numbers, race materials, and/or other incentive items will not be mailed. The race committee reserves the right to accept or reject any entries.