Sugarloaf Marathon set May 21 Large field expected for 24th annual race

One of Maine’s fastest and most scenic road races is just around the corner.

On Sunday, May 21, as many as 700 runners from all over the New England region and Canada will gather in Carrabassett Valley for the 24th annual Sugarloaf/USA Marathon and 15K, presented by UnitedKingfield Bank.

The marathon starts at Cathedral Pines Campground in Eustis, approximately 11 miles north of the resort, while the 15K begins at Ayotte’s Country Store in Carrabassett Valley.

Both races are run completely on scenic Route 27, finishing at Jordan Lumber Company in downtown Kingfield.

Even though this year’s edition of the race is a week later than it was in 2005, race director Sue Foster said the pace of registration is booming so far.

“The pace of the pre-registration is a little ahead of last year which is kind of promising because the race is a week later this year than last year,” she explained. “We may be on track to have a pretty good turnout this year.”

The course record in the 15K (9.3 miles) race may fall this year. Defending champion Ethan Hemphill of Freeport, who is running as well as anyone in the state right now, will challenge the record of 47 minutes, 36 seconds.

Hemphill’s 2004 winning time was 47:42.

With the course being a fast one, most marathoners try to qualify for next spring’s Boston Marathon. Sugarloaf is a Boston qualifier.

“There does seem to be a lot of focus on that on this particular course,” Foster said. “The timing is good [for marathoners] because its four weeks exactly after the [Boston Marathon].”

And, of course, a road race wouldn’t be a road race without a prerace pasta party. An all-you-can-eat pasta dinner will be served at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center on Saturday, May 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“People seem to like that, they say the food’s pretty good,” Foster said.

The purse for this year, Foster said, is “close to potentially $4,000 in cash to the overall winners.” Runners will also receive a special bonus if they achieve a certain time.

If a male marathoner breaks 2 hours, 30 minutes and a woman 2:50, they will receive $300. If a 15K runner goes under 47 (men) or 53 minutes (women), the bonus is $200.

The scenic course is one thing that keeps people coming back.

“It’s a pretty scenic run,” Foster said. “What it lacks in bigger crowds and amenities it certainly makes up for in scenery.”

Runners still have plenty of time to register for both races. Registration for the marathon is $40 before May 13 and $50 between then and May 20. Cost for the 15K is $18 before May 20 and $25 on race day. Forms are available at www.sugarloafmarathon.com.

All entrants will receive a T-shirt, an item Foster said never goes out of stock.

“We generally don’t run out of T-shirts. I don’t think we have in the past,” she said. “We’ve usually had some left over.”