24 June 2024
Several runners reported getting lost due to a lack of course marshals and directional signs during the first Great Bangor Marathon & Half on Sunday.
Both the second- and third-place finishers in the women’s full marathon division separately veered a mile off course. A few participants reported being unable to finish altogether.
“We did not see signs at the intersection of Kenduskeag and Broadway, and there wasn’t a volunteer there,” 28-year-old Castine resident Gabriel Stultz said of himself and his running partner. “We were off-course by over a mile, and ended up getting driven to the finish line. It was an unfortunate day — people train years for a Boston-certified race like this.”
For elite racers, the errors at the Bangor race jeopardized their chances of winning the $1,000 first-place prize and meeting the Boston Marathon qualifying standards. For even casual runners, it led to confusion and racers getting lost.
Organized by Lifestyle Sports Global founders Laura and David McIntyre of Hermon, Sunday’s race was first announced during the winter. It ultimately drew in 361 participants, including 104 marathon runners, from 33 states and four countries.
The number of volunteers available — roughly 75 — was insufficient, Laura McIntyre admitted on Monday, and she apologized for putting the participants in jeopardy of getting lost.
“I take 100 percent responsibility,” McIntyre said. “We only had five to six months to brand ourselves and get sponsors on board. We had a tight budget and knew we were taking a chance. We decided to give it a shot, and we learned a lot.”
The winds and rain contributed to the confusion, she added.
The course — designed to start and end at Dutton Street in Bangor — is Boston-certified by USA Track & Field for the next 10 years, and has just 170 feet of maximum elevation change, about one-third that of Boston. McIntyre maintains that no times will be voided, as long as the runner completed the necessary mileage and had it recorded by GPS tracking sites like Strava.
Participants and volunteers also reported a lack of police presence at certain intersections, and no Gatorade at certain water stations along the course.
“The signage will be our focus for next year, and we will work with law enforcement to improve the race,” McIntyre said. “Getting the ambulances and police we had cost thousands of dollars.”
Most participants reported having a good experience, despite the rain and lack of direction.
“My experience overall was positive,” half marathoner Sierra Semmel of Dedham said. “The communication leading up to the race was great, and the number of water stations was sufficient. I was completely lost on the way back in downtown Bangor, but people helped me.”
“For a first annual marathon, they did a great job,” Maine Running Hall of Famer and third-place marathon finisher Robert Ashby added. “The course was fairly fast, there was police control and plenty of water stops. Going through downtown and along the waterfront was a nice touch.”