At 7 a.m. sharp Sunday, 361 runners traversed the intersection of Main and Dutton Streets in Bangor, marking the start of the inaugural Great Bangor Marathon — the first race of its kind in the city since the 2006 Paul Bunyan Marathon.
Under cloudy skies and with a slight breeze at their backs, the marathoners ran past the iconic Paul Bunyan statue down Main Street, to downtown and ultimately to Outer Broadway.
With 170 feet of maximum elevation change (one-third that of the Boston Marathon) and certified by USA Track & Field, the marathon has drawn participants aged 16 to 83 from 33 different states and four countries, interested in setting personal records or qualifying for prestigious road races like Boston.
Prize money is also at stake for the 101 participants taking on the full marathon, which turns around in the town of Kenduskeag, with $1,000 reserved for the winners of the men’s and women’s divisions. Second and third place will take home $500 and $250, respectively. There is also a half marathon race.
Organizers Laura and David McIntyre of Lifestyle Sports Global spent the last 11 months putting the Great Bangor Marathon together, and believe the event could become an annual tradition of sport, spectacle and hospitality.
“Everyone goes to MDI or the coast, but Bangor has some great history,” Laura McIntyre said. “We want to revive road racing up here, and give Bangor an opportunity to shine. We’re dug in for the long haul — central Maine needs something like this.
