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Sugarloaf Marathon Reviews
Sugarloaf Marathon
4.3 Stars from
12 Runners
BQ for Focused Runners
By PFC about 2023
Review
Great hometown race. Feels more like a local 5k than a marathon, in a good way. Great volunteers and logistically its fine, point to point so you have to take a bus from the finish all the way to the start and then stand around for 45 minutes. That may have been the only negative- they collected drop bags with 30+ minutes remaining. I hadn't changed out of my warm gear yet and quickly threw everything on and then was kind of like standing there for another 15 minutes in the cold. No big production at the start just "go".
Race Tips
Course is hilly all the way through 10. The big hill is big and long and you have already kind of started climbing it by mile 5. The downhill on the back half is deceiving because you basically lose a majority of the elevation in a very steep half mile then you are back on what seems like rolling for the rest of the race, though with a slight downhill lean. There are still hills on the backside, but def a neg split situation. If you are looking for a BQ this is a good one. Just for reference I went out pacing 6:40/mile and hit the first half slightly faster than that even with the hills at 6:30. Backside I averaged 6:20's after linking up with two guys who were pushing. I hung on with them until the last 5k and then strung out between them.
Logistics suck as its in the middle of nowhere maine. You either stay at the sugarloaf hotel for $400+ a night, rent a house, or stay 1hr+ away in like farmington. I slept in my truck in the parking lot of sugarloaf, which wasnt an awful choice. Not a ton of restaurants other than at the mountain. But if you can swing it, this is a good race.
5 /
5 Stars
Hilly, beautiful race!
By DD about 2023
Review
The best part of this race was the volunteers. They were awesome on every level! From packet pickup to water stops to finish line. They were friendly and helpful. One volunteer even gave my friend a ride back up the mountain to our hotel after she finished!!
What I didn't like though, is the medals. A wood chip with a Sugarloaf stamp--and same thing for the 15k. Nothing special or different in the shirts or medals between the 15k and the marathon.
The course was absolutely beautiful! I saw a waterfall, a river ran close to us for much of the race, the trees were beautiful, there were quaint little towns with cute little houses. It really helped pass the miles.
Race Tips
I thought the first part would be difficult and then after mile 10 you just coast to the finish. Not so!!! It's hilly all the way, up and down. Just more down after mile 10. Prepare for hills!!! The shuttle situation must have gotten straightened out because we didn't have any issues. We also enjoyed staying warm on the bus before the start!
I would have liked to stay at the Sugarloaf, that would make logistics easier. But if you rent a car it's fine to park and catch the shuttle at the Sugarloaf.
4 /
5 Stars
Good, race, good course, not perfect
By BQ about 2023
Review
First time running this marathon (have run Boston multiple times, Napa etc). Overall- positive review of the race and the course. Well organized, plenty of water stops, nice volunteers, it's Maine. In 2023 there was a great tailwind and cool conditions. Road conditions were fine, traffic was a non-issue (I am use to city running), the only thing I didn't love was the road is not flat in a lot of places- I don't mean hills I mean it's Maine, so the road is pitched for rain/snow so when you are on the shoulder (which is clean asphalt) it is angled off the road so you are not always running flat. Would recommend the race, would consider doing it again, thought it was a pretty fast course. LOVE the finishers medals which are burned wood on a leather string- so much cooler than generic metal junk. Well done on the details.
Race Tips
I did not find the hills that bad at all- you will look at the profile and get scared, but if you have experience and do some hill training you will be fine. Yes, they are good hills, but they are not killers. For reference off an overall pre-race target pace goal of 7:15/mile I was: Mile 8 +9s , Mile 9 + 40s, Mile 10 +27s (then make it up on the backside). This should be a classic negative split race (obviously if you look at the map) and your quads hold. Only about 500 people run the race- but it's a runners race. Overall was impressed by the speed of runners, though it's small so in the second half you are quite possibly running alone, perhaps near people, but not not nec in a pack.
There were two dudes putting their skies in their car at number picked because there was still snow on Sugarloaf.........yeah.......
4 /
5 Stars
After that one mountain, it's all downhill.
By John about 2022
Review
It's a well run small marathon. Spectators can leapfrog you from cheer zone to cheer zone on the course easily. If you don't die on the way up the mountain the downhill last 16 miles will push you to the finish.
5 /
5 Stars
Net downhill = fast
By RH about 2019
Review
Course is fast. Not OTQ eligible but good for anyone wanting to qualify for Boston.
Mile markers are not set correctly (Frim my experience). Best to go off of watch splits as you’ll notice the total gps distance will be close to the actual 26.2.
Race Tips
Try to avoid hammering the early downhill miles. The trauma and impact catches up to you if you're not careful.
This is a great small town marathon, beautiful scenery and fast course if you've trained well for the downhill and run smart. Race start was just a gun going off, no announcements including not letting us know about the late start. Volunteers were amazing, especially the ones in the food tent after.
Race Tips
I ran negative splits here, more conservative on the first half and faster second half. One big uphill around mile 8, the rest was smaller or not noticeable. Several big downhills but it doesn't feel downhill after mile 20 or so, so be ready for that.
The shuttle from Sugarloaf was a disaster, the race started late because they weren't getting people there on time. 100's of runners waiting for a shuttle while 2 tiny buses drove back and forth to the start 12 miles away. Got a ride from a family member instead of waiting but still got there late and was rushed.
4 /
5 Stars
Great venue, small and doable
By CAA about 2017
Review
Very positive experience. Not commercial. Real support from hometown folks. Water stations plentiful and local police were terrific, too.
Race Tips
Be sure to take into account elevation if you are used to running closer to sea level like this NC runner.
Great little marathon about 700 runners point to point course with a net down hill . Race is well organized with great volunteer support Scenery is beautiful with a rushing river by your side in the lower half of the course
Race Tips
Course is a bit deceiving it is advertised as a fast course which it is but average runners in particular should be careful about their strategy. Course starts out relatively level slight down hill first 5 miles, miles 6 to 10 have some long and occasionally steep hills up, followed by a very steep down hill then level to slight down hill. The last 5 miles have some ups and downs that can be troublesome.
Register for this race early it always fills up and the housing at Sugarloaf resort fills before the race closes. There are buses directly to the race start from the resort. There are other Hotels in the area but they fill up fast also. The spaghetti dinner at Sugarloaf the night before is perfectly adequate.
5 /
5 Stars
By RMR about 2017
Review
Loved the small size and that the water stops were more frequent in the second half of the race.
Race Tips
Be conservative in the first 10 miles, then capitalize on the downhills. :) Weather was beautiful, getting to the start line was easy from the lodge, and gear check was super simple.
Definitely recommend staying at the Sugarloaf Inn--book early! We stayed in the condos, which were nice and spacious, but we had to drive up to the lodge to catch the shuttle on race day. We also didn't have internet (and we learned the hard way that they don't guarantee it, so you have to specifically request wifi if you want it!).
5 /
5 Stars
By L O from Canada about 2016
Review
Good A to B road race in the lush green forest with countless cottages to break the scenery. Still a small race so organization was running smoothly.
There is a 15 km race as well starting a little later, offering the opportunity to families to have several people running and finishing at the same time/ place.
Race Tips
Good idea to drive the course before the race to get a feel for those 5 climbs before half-way points. Then when it start to look overwhelming, the down hill will surprise you by keeping you on a very fast pace. 2016 was a very wet day but keep in mind that the mountain effect and tall trees would provide cool temperatures even in full sun.
Pre-race dinner was perfect at the Italian restaurant seen at about half way point on the race. This place is busy in winter with ski and summer is golf courses activities. The race being in May, between these two periods means the whole town was out cheering and supporting runners. The restaurant had a "runners" set menu with several good options for under 25$
4 /
5 Stars
By TEE about 2016
Review
Great race to BQ! First few miles flat and then uphill until mile 8 or so. Mostly downhill run to finish. Don't blow quads on first steep downhill.
Race Tips
Even effort pacing. You will need to dig deep (but achievable) in last 5-6 miles after course flattens with mixed uphills to not give up time.
Hilly, beautiful race!