Per race website: “We regret to announce that there will be no Bay of Fundy International Marathon in 2024 as we have been unable to find a new Race Director following the retirement of the previous Director.”
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A unique race for the discerning runner: run across the Canada-USA border without stopping; no crowds or traffic lights; no more than 350 runners in each event; beautiful scenery and the world’s biggest tides; bald eagles, seals, sometimes whales seen from the course; medals and awards handcrafted by local artists; a challenging fully certified, chip timed, Boston qualifying, not-for-profit event organized jointly by the friendly welcoming communities of Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada and Lubec, Maine, USA on the shores of the magnificent Bay of Fundy.
We are two hours from the nearest major towns and commercial airports, and runners nearly outnumber residents on race weekend. If you want big crowds, bright lights, fancy hotels, bands on every corner, and cheap bling, this event is not for you. If you want to run from lighthouse to lighthouse through scenic fishing villages and spruce forests with bald eagles overhead and seals and sometimes whales seen from the course, then we might be what you are looking for—a small, friendly, two-country event with awards and medals handcrafted by local artists.
Runners in the marathon, half-marathon and ultra-marathon must have passports or other travel documents, but are pre-cleared by the border agencies during the registration process and can run through the borders without stopping using just their chipped bibs during the event.
Other weekend activities include a Saturday morning running tour of Lubec (slow 5K), a pre-race traditional outdoor lobster bake (pasta options also available) at Herring Cove Provincial Park, a race morning 1-mile Fun Run for kids, a street fair, a post race dance party on the waterfront featuring local bands, and a special programme of activity including “Tea with Eleanor” and the behind the scenes “Fun Tour” for recovering runners at the Roosevelt-Campobello International Park on the Monday morning. Runners have so far raised over $25,000 for local food banks, schools and other beneficiaries. The 2020 recipient of runner contributions will be the Campobello Island Community Food Bank (locally known as “The Clothes Line”).
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Sign up for the lobster supper!
As the name suggests, the novelty aspect here is starting in one country and ending in another. It requires a bit more planning that just rolling up to the start … MORE
As the name suggests, the novelty aspect here is starting in one country and ending in another. It requires a bit more planning that just rolling up to the start line on the morning of the race. You need to present your race bid to both the American and Canadian border agents the day before so that on race day you can just run across the border without stopping! How fun is that? I got a laugh from the Canadians for yelling “Nothing to declare!” as I ran past them. The lobster supper the night before was a real treat. Some people will possibly complain about the hills, but they’re probably just folks who train on treadmills. It was a sea-level to sea-level run, so it’s hard to complain about a few rollers. Plan ahead for accommodation or you might be camping in the forest.
Xing an International Border!!
I ran this one as a back to back with Portland, ME because I wanted to get New Brunswick. It is definitely off the beaten path and if you choose … MORE
I ran this one as a back to back with Portland, ME because I wanted to get New Brunswick. It is definitely off the beaten path and if you choose to do this one, PLAN AHEAD for housing! Look at VRBOs all over (we stayed in Whiting) or look on Campobello Island. Don’t wait, there is nothing in this area at all. You MUST do packet pickup by a deadline on Saturday night since you have to cross over to Canada to get your bib, then check in with US Border Patrol on the way back in for a sticker. Without this, you aren’t allowed to cross the next day. We had the lobster dinner (on the Canada side) for $22 you get a whole lobster, spaghetti, potato salad, cole slaw and dessert. Super good food CHEAP, and there isn’t really a lot of choices around anyway! Expo is very, very small but the volunteers are locals and so friendly. Next AM, buses leave 5:30A-7A (Eastern Time, be aware, Canada is on Atlantic time and your phone can randomly switch towers so figure out how to turn that off before you go), from Lubec. At the border, the Canadian Border patrol takes your customs declaration and you go to the start. It’s beautiful—and chilly. The race starts old fashioned (no starting mat, time is gun time for start, chip for finish). You run out to the point and then turn back and run the coast. Apparently some years they have seen whales and eagles. The people along the course are super friendly (Santa is at mile 3ish—not kidding), and everyone waves and if they can see your bib name, they call you by it. The course is HILLY. And I mean HILLY. Be prepared. I was running a back to back so had no extra to give but it was worth it, the scenery was nice to look at. You flip mile 12 before the visitor center where you got your bib and then brace for the final hill climb to the bridge and then up and over. You go through Canadian customs where they will give you high fives, then power over the bridge (wind whips through there) and then through US Customs where they too give high fives. Round the corner and turn on the burners for the finish under the lobster traps. Results are posted on paper and there are custom, hand made medals and hand made prizes by the same artist for AG. Age groups are 10 years, not 5. Excellent food—Dunkin Donuts, chocolate milk, Greek yogurt with Maine Blueberries, ice cream, bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter…the volunteers were awesome. Really great people. Totally worth it, would do it again.
Run US and Canada
Come for the run, stay for the scenery. Do you like Lighthouses? Lubec, ME has the eastern most lighthouse in the states. We rented an air bnb house so that … MORE
Come for the run, stay for the scenery. Do you like Lighthouses? Lubec, ME has the eastern most lighthouse in the states. We rented an air bnb house so that our adult children could come and stay with us. House was walking distance to the ocean. Lubec is a small Northeastern town. Not a lot to do besides relaxing in your house, reading, doing puzzles. The race was surprisingly hard. 1000 feet of elevation gain and we got a very warm day. But the course on Campobello Island, Canada was beautiful. Your passport info is attached to your running chip so no problem crossing the border in and out of US/Canada. We fell in love with Maine. You will too.
Awesome Scenery, Awesome People
The towns are small towns but the people are extremely friendly and supportive. One bar owner told me this race is their biggest tourist event of the year. Finding a … MORE
The towns are small towns but the people are extremely friendly and supportive. One bar owner told me this race is their biggest tourist event of the year. Finding a room may be a problem if you don’t book one early. The pasta and lobster prerace meal was great and we had a great time talking to all the different runners from all the different states. The Bay of Fundy itself is awesome and there are a couple of really neat lighthouses nearby. You are within a few hours drive of Acadia National Park, Hopewell Rocks, Saint John, NB and more. Was a great choice for a vacation race. I was extremely glad I chose this for my Maine race even though almost the entire half is in Canada (the finish is in Lubec, ME right after you cross the border). You will need a passport or passport card for the race though. Border guards from both countries were nice and helpful.
Get ready for hills
This is a really good small race in Maine. The town is inviting and there are a couple days worth of stuff to do. If you do this race get … MORE
This is a really good small race in Maine. The town is inviting and there are a couple days worth of stuff to do. If you do this race get a hotel or house ASAP. The expo is very small. Be sure you don’t need to pick up and nutrition or anything else there because you likely won’t find it. You pick up your swag in Lubec and then the bib in Canada so you can get cleared by the border agents on both side. You could walk from the US to Canadian sites but a drive is much nicer. Take time to visit the Roosevelt Campobello Park when you are in Canada.
The race was easy to get from the school to marathon start and didn’t have any trouble finding a port-o-potty before. Walk down to the lighthouse and relax and warm up. Then get ready for hills. Lots and lots of them. Never really super long or super steep but every step was up or downhill it seemed.
The medal was unique as they are all hand made. Be sure you don’t hang it next to Little Rock though 😉
The swag was ok for what I normally keep from a race after throwing away all the paper ads. A poster (in a tube which was nice for traveling) a long sleeve tech shirt and a medal.
I would recommend this race if you don’t need a big crowd to get you going. And you can train for hills…
Beautiful, Hilly, and Canadian
- first quarter of the race is in maine, from the west quoddy head lighthouse, then most of the race is in campobello island, canada, and finishing back in lubec … MORE
– first quarter of the race is in maine, from the west quoddy head lighthouse, then most of the race is in campobello island, canada, and finishing back in lubec
– first quarter is flat, but campobello island is hilly
– beautiful scenery in maine and canada
– course almost has no shade at all
– didn’t need to have passport on me during the race (unlike detroit marathon), but you do need your passport to register with Canada before the race
– year that i did it (2016), the medal was starfish shaped. looked pretty cool, but it was flagged through security at the airport
– lubec was such a beautiful little town. made the drive across maine definitely worth it
The scenery is AMAZING!
This race is amazing. Just the scenery. Takes your breath away! I was suppose to do the marathon, but a stress fracture made me switch to the half... and I … MORE
This race is amazing. Just the scenery. Takes your breath away! I was suppose to do the marathon, but a stress fracture made me switch to the half… and I walked. Having done half the course, I was relieved I switched! This it the rocky New England coast. Beautiful, but steep and hilly. The people that work the race are so, so nice! It is like a family. Running over that bridge, back into Maine, seeing the light houses, the lupines in bloom, the fishing boats, tides, gulls, even whales in the distance. It should be a required race!
A great small town destination marathon
Lubec is a long drive to Eastern Maine. Register early for this race and immediately book a hotel or motel room. There just aren't that many lodging options Down East. … MORE
Lubec is a long drive to Eastern Maine. Register early for this race and immediately book a hotel or motel room. There just aren’t that many lodging options Down East.
Bring your passport because you will need it to register with Customs before the race.
The pre-race dinner is worth it. This is a small race so you will get to see most of the runners several times and dinner is a great way to get to know a few people.