Bay of Fundy Marathon

The Bay of Fundy International Marathon presents a challenging coastal route that stands out for its unique international crossing between the United States and Canada. This USATF and Athletics Canada certified course is a Boston Marathon Qualifier that tests participants with an undulating, rolling elevation profile. Runners face a continuous series of relentless, rollers witha total elevation gain of approximately 1,600 feet.

The course combines point-to-point and out-and-back elements on a mixed terrain of paved public roads and dirt road paths. The journey begins in Maine at the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the most easterly point in the United States, where shuttle buses drop off participants. Runners travel north and cross the international border via the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Bridge over the Lubec Narrows. The route then transitions into a loop across Campobello Island in New Brunswick, guiding athletes past the Roosevelt Campobello International Park and over to Head Harbour Light before retracing its steps back across the bridge to finish on Water Street in downtown Lubec.

Notable sections include the international bridge crossing and a significant 4.8-mile segment of unpaved dirt road cutting through the forested, sheltered terrain of the international park. Runners should be prepared for high exposure to coastal weather elements, including sweeping waterfront views, open maritime winds, and varying morning temperatures. Because the event maintains a strict cap of 350 participants, traditional metropolitan crowd support is absent, trading heavy spectators for natural solitude, passing views of up to four lighthouses, and highly supportive, close-knit volunteer teams at aid stations positioned every two miles.

A successful pacing strategy requires disciplined effort management during the early miles, as overextending on the constant, rolling coastal hills will heavily drain energy reserves before the return trip across the bridge. The course is not built for PRs, but is a highly organized boutique race with exceptional natural scenery.