The Maine-iacs continue to dominate the Cabot Trail Relay Race, held annually Memorial Day weekend in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, after posting their third straight win.

This year, the crew of 17 Maine runners combined for a time of 17 hours, 43 minutes, 5 seconds – an average of 1:02:33 per leg.

The 17-leg race is 185 miles, and the different legs consist of distances between 12 kilometers (just over 7 miles) and 20K (12.4 miles).

Bar Harbor native Judson Cake ran the fourth and longest leg of the race, a difficult portion of the race in which the first 9K has some steady rolling hills but features a 2.1K climb up a steep grade known as “Cape Smokey.”

“It’s got its tough points, it’s kind of like climbing a mountain,” said Cake, participating in the event for the fifth year.

“The first 600 meters are unbelievably steep, [but] it’s not that bad at the top,” Cake added. “It was tough, especially the week after a marathon, but it was fun. I enjoyed myself.”

Cake, who trains with ZAP Fitness in North Carolina, enjoyed teaming up with friends from the Maine running community for not only fast times on the roads, but good times off them.

“It’s just really cool, it’s one big party from Friday night until Monday morning,” said Cake, who completed his leg in 1:11:37. “I get to see a lot of the Maine guys I don’t get to see a lot of the year.”

Cake won the Sugarloaf Marathon the weekend before Cabot Trail and was happy with his leg time, even though he didn’t get to do much training during the week leading up to the relay event.

“I ran better than I thought I would for the week after a marathon,” he said. “I didn’t run much during the week.”

“I just did a 10-minute warm-up then went out. It was good, the atmosphere [of the race] was good,” Cake said, adding that his time averaged out to 5:40 per mile.

Evan Graves of Presque Isle, another Bar Harbor native, posted a fast 1:05:06 for his 19.81K leg, which Cake says “took 1 minute, 4 seconds off the [leg] record.”

Cake says he is taking a little bit of time off and gearing up for the Chicago Marathon in October.

“I’ll probably do some races in the fall, maybe the Beach to Beacon [10K]. I don’t know now,” he said.

The Maine-iacs’ other team members (who range from Dover-Foxcroft to Machias), with the distances of their respective legs and times, were: Andy Goupee (17K, 1:03:01), Erik McCarthy (17.92K, 1:01:51), Peter Lodge (13.46K, 54:50), Matt Hougan (17.5K, 1:06:06), Jefferson Ashby (17.5K, 1:04:23), Brian Hubbel (13.1K, 56:05), Tim Wakeland (12.36K, 49:19), Adam Goode (17.84K, 1:09:22), Chris Almy (14.7K, 1:11:36), Karl Johnson (14K, 57:36), Steve McCarthy (15.78K, 59:10), Ryan King (15.88K, 1:07:02), captain Newell Lewey (15.42K, 59:18), Rick Chalmers (16.35K, 1:01:23), and Jeremy Lisee (17.70K, 1:05:20).

The Maine-iacs weren’t the only Maine crew in the field. The Maine Road Hags finished 13th overall with a time of 21:40:58. The Road Hags is an all-female team which consists of many local (Greater Bangor to Bar Harbor) runners, such as Marilyn Hintz, Pattie Craig, Katrina Bisheimer, Rosalea Kimball, Kate Goupee, and Nichi Farnham.

The Maine Running Fossils finished a strong 41st in 25:19:41. The Fossils are a Masters team and include local (Greater Bangor to Perry) runners Tom Kirby, Robin Emery, Rene Collins, Ed Rice, Judd Esty-Kendall, Austin Townsend Jr., and Dick Storch who all ran solid legs.

Cobscook races Sunday

One of Maine’s most picturesque road races, the Cobscook Bay 10K, will take place this weekend.

The race, which also includes a 5K, will start at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Triangle Store on Route 1 in Pembroke.

The 10K is the third race in the Sub 5 Race Series, and post-race activities include an all-you-can-eat barbecue.

Those seeking more information may contact Jonathan Aretakis at 726-5858.