Mount Desert Island Marathon
Mount Desert Island Marathon race day weather
Cool temps, wind challenges ahead
Runners will face a steady temperature trend from 52°F at the start to 53°F at the finish, with a max wind of 16 mph from the W. With humidity at 76%, pacing adjustments are recommended, especially during the headwind sections from miles 8-12 and 19-20. The rolling course will present additional challenges, particularly in the early miles where crosswinds will be present.
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Mount Desert Island Marathon route and elevation
The Mount Desert Island Marathon course has about 1,697 ft (517 m) of climbing and 1,703 ft (519 m) of descent, and finishes near the elevation it starts. It is hillier than 82% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 24, with 120 ft (37 m) of climbing and a 1.7% average grade.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 0.5 to 1.5: climbs about 145 ft (44 m).
- Miles 2.6 to 3.4: climbs about 155 ft (47 m).
- Miles 22.5 to 23.5: climbs about 95 ft (30 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:32 here (2 minutes slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:02 here (2 minutes slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:33 here (3 minutes slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38 ft | 21 ft | 8:03 | 9:13 | 10:22 |
| 2 | 107 ft | 55 ft | 8:22 | 9:33 | 10:44 |
| 3 | 104 ft | 19 ft | 8:38 | 9:52 | 11:07 |
| 4 | 56 ft | 145 ft | 7:36 | 8:41 | 9:46 |
| 5 | 56 ft | 44 ft | 8:01 | 9:10 | 10:19 |
| 6 | 70 ft | 105 ft | 7:48 | 8:54 | 10:01 |
| 7 | 102 ft | 72 ft | 8:10 | 9:21 | 10:30 |
| 8 | 70 ft | 111 ft | 7:46 | 8:52 | 9:59 |
| 9 | 78 ft | 103 ft | 7:50 | 8:57 | 10:04 |
| 10 | 109 ft | 108 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 11 | 61 ft | 59 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:13 |
| 12 | 93 ft | 76 ft | 8:04 | 9:14 | 10:23 |
| 13 | 26 ft | 76 ft | 7:44 | 8:50 | 9:57 |
| 14 | 47 ft | 44 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:13 |
| 15 | 63 ft | 28 ft | 8:13 | 9:23 | 10:34 |
| 16 | 39 ft | 76 ft | 7:47 | 8:54 | 10:00 |
| 17 | 78 ft | 71 ft | 7:59 | 9:07 | 10:16 |
| 18 | 80 ft | 27 ft | 8:21 | 9:33 | 10:44 |
| 19 | 77 ft | 109 ft | 7:49 | 8:55 | 10:02 |
| 20 | 76 ft | 87 ft | 7:52 | 9:01 | 10:08 |
| 21 | 56 ft | 67 ft | 7:53 | 9:00 | 10:08 |
| 22 | 84 ft | 2 ft | 8:38 | 9:51 | 11:05 |
| 23 | 34 ft | 36 ft | 7:54 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 24 | 120 ft | 29 ft | 8:42 | 9:56 | 11:11 |
| 25 | 22 ft | 89 ft | 7:41 | 8:47 | 9:52 |
| 26 | 22 ft | 114 ft | 7:35 | 8:40 | 9:45 |
| Last 0.2 | 1 ft | 0 ft | 1:45 | 2:00 | 2:15 |
Explore the Mount Desert Island Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
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About the Mount Desert Island Marathon
The Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay is North America’s premier destination road race. The award-winning course features miles of pristine terrain passing tranquil lakes, soaring mountains, sleepy Maine villages, and stunning seaside vistas —including Somes Sound, the only fjord on the Eastern Seaboard— all set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Acadia National Park in peak fall foliage season. The Marathon and Team Relay start in the world-famous Bar Harbor, while the Half-Marathon starts in picturesque village of Northeast Harbor. All three races finish on the quietside of MDI in the hardworking lobster fishing community of Southwest Harbor. Source
