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NipMuck Trail Marathon Runner Comments
Back to NipMuck Trail Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 28 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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E. C. from Boston, MA
(6/6/2007)
"I'll never run a road marathon again!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race was fantastic! The race organizer was fun and the atmosphere was just great. The course kept you thinking the whole time so you weren't focused on your mud-caked shoes or aching legs. It rained, which made footing difficult, but really added to the whole thing! It was my first all-trails marathon and I'd recommend it to anyone! | |
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R. S. from USA
(6/5/2007)
"Very, Very Difficult" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was my second trail marathon and 41st marathon overall. I thought the course was brutal. I carefully watched the placement of almost every step I took and still twisted an ankle and knee. I saw someone being carried out of the woods and on his way to the hospital. The website is not exaggerating the difficulties of this course. It may not be so bad if you're an experienced trail runner, but if you're not, think hard about doing this one. With that said, the course was beautiful... thick woods with little streams. It rained most of the time and at first it was quite nice, until it started pouring. The trail got more slippery and the inclines were difficult to get up. There were places that were very muddy (hence the name NipMuck, I guess). This is one marathon that I did not enjoy, but I can't say I wasn't warned! | |
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Rob Leder from Stamford, CT
(6/4/2006)
"an ultramarathon in all but name" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran Nipmuck for the first time this year, and will almost certainly run it again next year. However, instead of simply giving a glowing review, I want to emphasize how difficult and dangerous this race is compared to any road marathon. As I indicated in the summary, this race is really more like an ultra. Not only in the technical sense that the course is slightly longer than a standard marathon (by something like 1/4 or 1/2 mile, but I'm not exactly sure), but more importantly because running it requires substantially more time & effort than a road marathon. I ran a 3:37 in Long Island last month, and then a 5:06 at Nipmuck. That's a factor of about 1.4, and unless you know you're a good trail runner, count on about the same. I also ran a very hilly road 50k (Sybil Ludington) this spring, and I finished that 23 minutes faster than Nipmuck. So I'd say if you're not prepared to run about 60k on flat roads, you're probably not adequately prepared for Nipmuck. As in most ultras, there are many hills, and some are so steep that all but the frontrunners are better off power-hiking them. Hills are not all you will have to contend with. Except for about two paved miles, this entire race is over rugged, technical, single-track trail. If you've never run a trail race, first buy some trail running shoes, and start with something a lot shorter and less treacherous than Nipmuck (there is an active trail racing community in MA and north central CT). This marathon is an obstacle course of rocks and roots, and it's likely that you will take at least one painful head-first spill. I took two, and the first of these completely knocked the wind out of me and left me standing in a pained daze for about 30 seconds. I'm nearly certain I fractured some ribs in that fall, and for the last 21 miles of the race I felt a dull pain in my chest and side with every left footfall. A week later, my ribs are still a bit tender to the touch, and hurt a little whenever I cough, run hard, or roll over at night. If you are only willing to run races where the risk of sustaining an injury like this (or worse) is negligible, don't do Nipmuck. You will cross streams, sometimes on wooden planks, sometimes by hopskotching across stepping stones, and sometimes by simply splashing right through. You will also be climbing over some downed trees, scrambling over the occasional large rock formation in the trail, running across muddly gullies (it's possible to lose a shoe here), awkwardly climbing up and down some large wooden steps that must have been built for Sasquatch, running a few sharp off-camber turns where you may need to grab a branch for support, and also contending with runners coming the opposite way in some parts of the race. It is for this last reason that I gave the course 4-stars rather than 5: I'm not a big fan of running against traffic on narrow trails. Finally, unless you are following people you will need to constantly keep an eye out for the blue dots that mark the trail. This can grow mentally tiresome. If you do this race, plan to carry at least one water bottle, and preferably fill it with an elecrolyte replacement drink like gatorade. The aid stations are far apart at times, and most of them only have water. You also may want to apply some bug repellant beforehand. You aren't going to encounter many spectators, but the volunteers and the runners who finished ahead of you form a surprisingly enthusiastic cheering squad at the finish line, and for this reason alone I rated 'spectators' 4 stars. The race director is a whimsical guy who puts up funny signs, decorates the exterior of a porta-potties, and stages a little one-man show (with taped character voices and sound effects) for his pre-race briefing. All of which adds to the charm and uniqueness of the event, in my opinion. The post-race refreshments are good, and rather than a finisher's medal, you get a small log labeled "Nipmuck Trail Marathon" and marked with a blue trail blaze - another nice unique touch. | |
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K. F. from Willington, CT
(6/4/2006)
"So much fun!" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 2 NipMuck Trail Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What an awesome race! The course is challenging and fun! The rest stops were awesome too! Everyone was so eager to help the runners out. I will be back for more next year! | |
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mike bouscaren from Boston
(6/4/2006)
"You Want Tough?" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 NipMuck Trail Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Single track trail with rocks and roots make Nipmuck a challenging adventure. Add 50% to your road marathon time. Dave Raz does a great job as RD. Excellent introduction to the glorious world of trail ultra's. | |
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J. C. from New England
(6/3/2006)
"Trail? You call that a trail?" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 To refer to the Nipmuck race as a 'trail marathon' somehow seems to minimize the run. A trail would suggest something a human could travel one. If this is a trail, it is more of a billy goat path, than anything fit for man. That said, if you try Nipmuck, you will be changed as a runner. The solitude of a long run in the company of the most rugged athletes around. | |
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Nick Clark from New York
(5/31/2006)
"Great intro to trail running" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Despite warnings to the contrary in the Letter to Runners on the race website this race is, for the most part, very runable. The first out and back especially is mainly flat and not too technical. The single track does make it hard to pass, but once you slot into your position in the pack you can really enjoy running in stride (all things being relative of course). I highly recommend this race for the camaraderie and overall great organization. Aid stations are well placed, well stocked and staffed by volunteers eager to please. This all comes in addition to top nosh at the end and beautiful wooded surroundings during the run. In the second half of the race there are certainly more hills, rocks and roots. When combined with fatigued legs this could lead to a bit of pain towards the end. A word of advice, therefore, would be to go out easy and save yourself for the second, longer and tougher half. In summary, this race would work very well for a road marathoner looking to try out trail racing, and is also highly recommended for more experienced trail runners as a truly unique and well organized race. Being as I enjoy running both road and trail races, I really could not have asked for more -- except for slightly cooler temps, but even here the tree cover made 80 degree heat bearable. | |
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E. S. from Connecticut, USA
(5/30/2006)
"Very addictive!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For a road, nee former, road warrior this is just a blast. It really appeals to the rugged spirit. | |
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Andy Katz from Winchester, MA
(7/2/2004)
"Crazy for trails? You'll love Nipmuck!!!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 With a passionate combination of organization, wacky humor and love of the sport, Dave Raczkowski has crafted one of New England's great races. The course is both technical (rocks, roots, shoe-eating muck, mostly single track with plenty of ascents and dips) and beautiful. Volunteers and spectators are supportive and enthusiastic, if sparse as expected. Fellow competitors are friendly and interesting folks. Classic tree-trunk-section finishers' awards (complete with blue trail blaze) are a nice change from medals (how many medals can one wear?), and apple pie age group awards are delicious. If you like trails, like marathons, and have a sense of humor, you will love this race!!! | |
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E. M. from Cortland, N.Y.
(6/7/2004)
"Finally a trail people can run on!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 NipMuck Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a great course! The whole trail is passable, with the elevation changes not too steep up or down. This trail has a bounty of rocks and roots to keep you high stepping. I feel like I ran a four-hour tire drill at football practice. Oh yes, I did earn the orange (high risk of falling) sticker four times over. |
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