Evan Graves wins Maine Marathon
PORTLAND — Evan Graves of Caribou has won the 20th annual Maine Marathon held this past Sunday in Portland.
Evan Graves cruised the 26.2-mile marathon course, which stretches north from Portland’s Back Cove to Route 88 through Falmouth and Cumberland to Yarmouth before looping back upon itself, in a time of 2:36:53. Graves held off Lucas Churchill, of Bolton, Mass., by 33 seconds.
“Winning is always exciting,” Graves said. “It was a tough day out there but everyone had to deal with the conditions. It was rainy and the wind was a little worse than I expected.”
Despite the conditions Graves met one of his goals of running under 2:40.
Graves has run in 10 marathons but this is the first as a new father. He said being a Dad has certainly put his life in perspective, bumping back training, but fitness is still important as a lifestyle.
Graves becomes the first runner, male or female, to win both the half marathon and the full Maine Marathon. He won the 2008 half marathon in 1:09:03.
Next up for Graves is the Octoberfest 10K, with proceeds to the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross, this Saturday in Presque Isle starting at the Crow’s Nest.
“I will still be recovering but it’s fun to do races for a great cause,” he said.
He plans on running a spring marathon and after that is a little up in the air.
Being an elite runner does have some perks, Graves won a $500 cash prize for winning the Maine Marathon.
