Craig McCarthy's Staging Area

Small race with a large race organization and enthusiasm. Both the half & full marathon had less than 300 runners each. For the half, it was enough to see other runners, but never feel crowded.

The organization is unparalleled. They are running three race at the same time, two of them across an international border and it still feels relaxed. The communication is clear, friendly and never felt overbearing.

Swag is solid. Race bag, Nice, long-sleeve t-shirt, magnet, speed cup, bag for passport, really nice finisher medals. Overall winners and age group medals get awards from local artists.

Pro’s – 1. The people – volunteers were incredibly friendly and helpful. People line the course everywhere with signs, cheering throughout. Border patrol were friendly & professional.
2. The scenery – the race will give you amazing views pretty much everywhere – especially the half-marathon.
3. Post-race refreshments – varied, extensive and local.
4. Enthusiasm. The entire community of Lubec/Campobello are genuinely excited to have you there.

Cons – 1. Registration – an inevitable one. There is a bit of logistics in getting registered with the border patrol. You have to register in the US. Go across the border to get your number in Campobello Island. Then return to the US and register with the border patrol. In the morning, you have to surrender you passport to border patrol and get it after the race. It’s actually very easy and everyone is incredibly friendly, but it’s different from other races and can be a little intimidating at first.
2. The course is not for the faint of heart. The half marathon has a MONSTER hill just after mile 12. Everyone I could see in front of me walked it, as did I. There are other hills (the bridge to and from Canada, one from the park), but those are manageable. The half-marathon course runs on a gravel road 4-5 miles, but it is packed fairly hard and shouldn’t be a concern.
3. Lubec isn’t the easiest place to get to, but the area is stunningly beautiful and well-worth the effort. I arrived the night before the race and left after the race. I wish I’d spent more time there.