6th Annual MDI Marathon

On Sunday Oct 14th more than 850 runners will test their metal against a grueling 26.2 mile route along what must be one of the most spectacular stretches of fall foliage, dramatic coastline and beautiful mountain scenery. The route takes the runners along mountain valleys, through the coast at Seal Harbor, along the shores of Northeast Harbor, along Sargeant Drive, Somes Sound, past Echo Lake and ends in Southwest Harbor. It runs in and out of Acadia National park and if the weather holds (it always seems to rain on the day of the marathon) the peaking foliage will be spectacular!

The race is sponsored nationally by Red Lobster although you don't see too much mention of the sponsor in the write ups about race. Locals aren't all that savvy when it comes to marketing and giving the sponsors value for their sponsorship dollar it would seems.

Red Lobster is an interesting sponsor since the local economy is so dependent on lobstering (and selling shore dinners) and there isn't any Red Lobster restaurants in Maine (who needs chain seafood when you can buy locally direct from the fisherman). For Red Lobster the fit is perfect. They can promote seafood as healthy and tie themselves in with the image of Maine and Maine Lobstering. After all they most certainly buy a lot of lobsters from Maine fishermen even if all that shrimp is frozen.