The Sugarloaf Marathon is consistently one of the fastest courses and produces a high percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers.
Located in the mountains of Western Maine, the Sugarloaf Marathon follows scenic route 27 as it winds through the Bigelow Mountain range and follows the Carrabassett River. The course starts in the town of Eustis, travels through Carrabassett Valley and finishes in the town of Kingfield.
The first 5 miles of the point to point course are flat, miles 5-10 are rolling hills with a steady two-mile climb at mile 8. The last 16 miles are downhill. The course starts in Eustis, travels through Carrabassett Valley, and ends in Kingfield.
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Sugarloaf Marathon
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How does the Sugarloaf Marathon Rank?
The Sugarloaf Marathon was the 116th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 102nd largest in 2022.
Last year 31.4% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 22.2% of runners qualified for Boston in 2022.
This gives the Sugarloaf Marathon the 14th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 37th highest percentage in 2022.
Its Course Score of 100.10 ranks it as the 37th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 1st fastest course in Maine.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are within the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Sugarloaf Marathon a PR Score of 100.10. This PR Score ranks it as the 31st fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 1st fastest in Maine.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Sugarloaf Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 1548 feet (471m) Min Elevation: 584 feet (178m)
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.......
DD's review of 2023 Sugarloaf Marathon.
4 /
5 Stars
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.
PFC's review of 2023 Sugarloaf Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
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.
John's review of 2022 Sugarloaf Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
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.
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.
4.3 Stars from 12 Reviews
