With the Paul Bunyan Marathon and 15K just a little more then a month away, race director Phil LeBreton has roughly 300 registration forms.

“The first year back we want to keep it as under control as possible and focus on the runners,” LeBreton said.

The Bunyan Marathon will be run for the first time since 1984 on Sunday, July 16, at 6 a.m., starting on Main Street in Bangor and finishing up at Cameron Stadium.

LeBreton said registration got a “big push at the beginning of this month.”

“I’m sure the 15K will gain popularity as the day gets closer,” he added. “All the mile markers are out, and I haven’t had any nervous breakdowns yet.”

One runner who stands out in the preregistered field is 61-year-old Jose Nebriba of Chicago, also known as the “Marathon Man.”

LeBreton said Nebriba has “run 128 marathons in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.”

Presently, 59 runners from Maine are signed up, including Mount Desert Island Marathon race director Gary Allen and Cassie Hintz, who will run in the 15K.

“A majority of the runners are coming from the southern states,” said LeBreton, who added, “a dozen runners from California, a lot from Virginia and 10 from Texas” are signed up.

LeBreton’s phone has been ringing constantly from runners with questions, something he doesn’t mind.

“It doesn’t matter if [runners] call at 5 a.m. or 10 o’clock at night. Its all about the runners and making this thing happen,” he said. I’m real proud of bringing back a piece of running history to Bangor.”

LeBreton, who was married to his wife, Tennille, on May 26, credited her and his many friends in the running community for their support.

“Without the support of my family and friends there’s no way I could pull this off,” he said.

The LeBretons were married in Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, something that hasn’t happened in 174 years, he said.

“We called the caretaker of the cemetery, and he gave us permission to get married there. It was incredible,” he said.

From now until July 1, registration is $50 for the marathon and $15 for the 15K, while after June 1 fees will be $65 and $25, respectively.

For information visit www.paulbunyanmarathon.com.

Maine-iacs rule Cabot Trail again

For the second year in a row, the Maine-iacs, a team of Maine runners captained by Newell Lewey of Orono, headed to the Cabot Trail Relay and Nova Scotia and came back to the Pine Tree State winners.

The Cabot Trail Relay is a 185-mile, 17-stage relay race run through the heart of Nova Scotia.

The Maine-iacs team consists of Lewey, Adam Goode, Andy Goupee, Evan Graves, Rick Chalmers, Judson Cake, John Evans, Peter Dauphinee, Jefferson Ashby, Brian Hubbell, Karl Johnson, Kevin Dow, Matt Hougan, Chris Almy, Jeremy Lisee and Erik McCarthy.

The team’s total time was 18 hours, 2 minutes, 31 seconds, an average of 1:03.41 per leg.

The Maine Road Hags, a women’s team, finished second in the female division and ninth overall.

The legs vary from 12 kilometers to 20 kilometers.

Rain pounds Pembroke

This past weekend’s rainy and windy conditions may have postponed two of three high school state championship track and field meets, but the weather failed to deter the spirits of the many runners who made their way to the Washington County community of Pembroke on Sunday for the 15th annual Cobscook Bay 10K.

More than 100 runners participated in the 10K, 5K and one-mile fun run events, and course conditions were certainly not ideal. The start was directly into the strong wind, and it didn’t get any easier. A strong cross-breeze pelted runners throughout the race, and the rain got worse throughout the day.

Lisee sloshed through the slop to win for second straight year in 36:41 while the women’s division went to Stephanie Allard in 43:24.