[ Post a Response | Crow Athletics Message Board ]
Posted by MDI 26.2 committee on September 5, 2006, 11:29 am, in reply to "roadkills 09-05-06 news and pic of the day" Mile 3 to Mile 4: You will continue climbing for approx. another 500 yds. The grade is not steep but it will definitely wake you up in case you didn't get to that second cup of coffee this morning. Passing the 5K is a nice milestone and a good place to check your pace. In the early parts of a marathon you can still do math, and if you can't imagine doubling this figure and continuing at this pace until 10K or further, you should slow down now. Trust us you won't be having any fun at mile 22 (as if any of us are!) Anyway the course starts to fall away as you pass the Otter Cliffs Road on your left. We can't with any surety say there are any Otters to be seen within a 'country mile' of here, but we can say that if you drive to the end of this road you will see one of the best seaside cliffs with vast ocean views found anywhere. If you don't like heights or crashing waves we don't recommend going here. The south ridge of Cadillac Mountain will come into view looking to your right. This valley is covered primarily in deciduous trees (the kind which turn color), lucky you! Enjoy the view and keep running! Mile 4 is located a the base of a hill where the route passes over Cannon Brook as it makes it's way to the sea. Only 22.2 Miles to go! A short history lesson of our island... Deep shell heaps indicate American Indian encampments dating back 6,000 years in Acadia National Park, but prehistoric records are scanty. The first written descriptions of Maine coast Indians, recorded 100 years after European trade contacts began, describe American Indians who lived off the land by hunting, fishing, collecting shellfish, and gathering plants and berries. The Wabanaki Indians knew Mount Desert Island as Pemetic, "the sloping land." They built bark-covered conical shelters, and traveled in exquisitely designed birch bark canoes. Historical notes record that the Wabanaki wintered in interior forests and spent their summers near the coast. Archeological evidence suggests the opposite pattern; in order to avoid harsh inland winters and to take advantage of salmon runs upstream, American Indians wintered on the coast and summered inland. The first meeting between the people of Pemetic and the Europeans is a matter of conjecture. But it was a Frenchman, Samuel de Champlain, who made the first important contribution to the historical record of Mount Desert Island. He led the expedition that landed on Mount Desert on September 5, 1604 and wrote in his journal, "The mountain summits are all bare and rocky..... I name it Isles des Monts Desert." Champlain's visit to Acadia 16 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock destined this land to become known as New France before it became New England. Must try this: If you like ice cream (show us a marathoner that doesn't!) go to Ben and Bill's located at the corner of Main and Cottage St. or Mt Desert Ice Cream located on Firefly Lane, both are located conveniently in downtown Bar Harbor. Both feature homemade ice cream in truely unique flavors -- as we all know, one of the many benefits of marathoning is eating ice cream! If you are brave you can even try the lobster or the chocolate wasabi flavors!
Message modified by board administrator September 19, 2006, 10:17 am
Appearing periodically until race day, we're launching a new feature which will include a mile by mile preview of the Mount Desert Island Marathon route and strategies that will help participants successfully navigate the course.
We'll also provide ideas for things to see and do over marathon week and of course, insider tips on great places to eat, drink and have fun while visiting Mt. Desert Island.
Islander's tip of the day:
Read our other marathon course previews and tips:
http://www.members.boardhost.com/crowathletics/msg/1156962115.top
Message Thread:
« Back to thread