Sugarloaf Marathon
Race snapshot
Race Day
45–64°F · Feels cool
Total elevation gain
Moderate rolling hills · Net elevation change −572 ft
Participants
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Moderate spectator support
The Lowdown
The Sugarloaf Marathon is a net-downhill, USATF-certified Boston Marathon qualifier held each May in Maine's Carrabassett Valley, at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain. The course starts in the town of Eustis and finishes in Kingfield, following scenic Route 27 alongside the Bigelow Mountain range and the Carrabassett River. After a flatter opening five miles and a rolling middle section, the final 16 miles drop steadily downhill, making Sugarloaf one of the fastest marathon courses in the Northeast and a popular BQ target for New England runners. A companion 15K starts alongside the marathon. Capped at roughly 1,500 combined entrants across both races, the event has run annually since the mid-1980s, with the 2026 edition marking its 42nd running. Registration for the next edition opens in 2027.
Explore the course
2026 · Marathon
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