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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 21 to 28]
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Steve McLaughlin from Marlborough, CT
(6/7/2003)
"Awesome Day in the Woods!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great race, great organization, and great food. Whoever that was that made me the ham and cheese sandwich after the race, thanks! I picked a good race for my first trail marathon. I have to admit that I hid my red sticker that said, 'High Fall Risk'. No, I didn't fall, but I did grab a poision ivy vine to save myself once. The best part is that I always get to say that I ran Nipmuck the year it REALLY rained. I won't trade the experience for anything. | |
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Bart-Matthew Guthrie from Kensington, Connecticut
(6/6/2003)
"The Best $20 Marathon in the USA!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The challenge of the Nipmuck Trail Marathon was everything they said in the flyer, and then some. The part of the course that's supposed to be a trail is hardly a trail at all; most times, if you're looking down - which you had better learn to do very well - you don?t know where the course goes. Fortunately, the course is well marked with a myriad of 'blue dots' - I'm still seeing them 3 days later! While the course director claims that the course rises 2300 feet, what he didn?t say (with a chuckle) is how many times it rises and drops that distance! It's a very tough race for even the toughest of road racers. As a sub-3-hour road marathoner, I was happy with my time of 4:35! Novice Nipmuck Trail racers get the dubious distinction of having to wear a neon orange sticker on their shirts that says, ?High Risk of Falling?. It rained hard the entire 27 miles (they don't actually have an exact measure of the course, but it's somewhere between 26.2 and 27). What were supposed to be streams became raging rapids. There were a lot of steep ascents and descents over rocks so slippery, that it was hard to hike, let alone run. Be prepared to use your hands for balance going up or down so much in a race! Nonetheless, I was able to get through the 27 miles intact - slightly bruised, scraped, and sore, but in one piece. This was the first post-marathon day where my upper body is as just sore and stiff as my lower body. However, the soreness is not as severe as some of my previous road marathons. I?ve learned a valuable lesson: There are a bunch of very fit individuals out there who do this type of thing every weekend for sport. One guy told me that serious trail runners dream of these conditions! I must confess however, I enjoyed participating and I am glad that I was able to have the experience of running (or should I say stumbling??), as the course covered some very beautiful, albeit rugged terrain. For the most part, I ran in solitude, and thus was able to enjoy the scenery alone, with just my thoughts to keep company. I would recommend this race for any distance road runner who needs to return to the 'roots' (and there are plenty those on this course!) of running for enjoyment. | |
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Josh Merlis from Albany, NY
(6/2/2003)
"Monsoon Marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 What a race! Aside from the first 100 meters and a 1-mile stretch that is repeated twice, the entire race is on trails wide enough for barely two people. The torrential downpours only made it more exciting as several stretches of the course became extensions of the adjacent creeks... paths upon which you had no idea of the rock or root cover below. Runners were tripping and slipping all over the place - only making it more fun and adventurous. The second half of the race features some steep climbs, especially at the last turn-around at mile 19.4. If you have any aspirations of proving your mettle over 26.2, give this a go! | |
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M. C. from Upstate NY
(6/2/2003)
"Tough, but worth it" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Nipmuck is an excellent marathon. If you read the website, the elevation total might lead you to believe that this is on the easy end of long trail races, but you'd be misled. The trail is full of small to medium rocks, roots, and due to the inch or two rain this year, creeks. There are very few stretches of flat, easy terrain to open your stride and run comfortably. I really enjoyed this run; the course is nice (no big vistas, lots of remote, secluded woods), the course was easy to follow, and the aid was distributed nicely (aid was mostly water, some stops had sports drink, a couple had snacks). The post-race food was very good, and the price cannot be beat. There are enough runners that many people will be able to find someone to run with if that's what you want, but few enough that you can get by yourself if that's what you want. I expect that I'll be back. | |
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C. C. from Albany, New York
(6/1/2003)
"The Best Trail Race " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just ran this one today (June 1, 2003), and I will tell you: this race was totally awesome. It was pouring rain the whole day, and the weather made the trail more gruesome than you can imagine. This was definitely a hardcore trail marathon. I fell three or four times. At one point, I caught my foot on a small log and tore a hole in my brand new sneakers. It was worth it to experience a race like this. The trails were very well marked, compared to many trail races, and the spectators and runners were very friendly, although sparse. If you like hardcore trail races, and are looking for a trail marathon, this one is definitely worth it. In my book, this race has taken over the #1 spot. | |
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A Runner from Middlebury, CT
(8/17/2001)
"great course, well organized, will be back" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 A good challenging course but isn't that what trail running is about. Well run aid stations, nice people all around, enjoyed the food at the end. All that and no poison ivy the next week. Recommend running - i'll be back. | |
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theresa walton from Iowa City, Iowa
(6/26/2001)
"Great run through the woods!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The footing on the trail is tricky with lots of roots and rocks to trip you up, but the area is beautiful and the competition friendly and supportive! The hard work that the race director put in really has to be experienced to be appreciated. Great day, great course, great organization and support. | |
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John Hankins from Mansfield, Connecticut
(10/29/2000)
"A unique and gnarly trail marathon." (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This ain't your normal road marathon! But of the 10 or so different marathons I've done it is my absolute favorite, and I have returned every year since 1984. The course is completely on the Nipmuck Trail through a virtually unbroken expanse of forest-land in northeast Connecticut. There's lots of opportunities for sprained ankles and other maladies along the way but as trail races go this one is not too nasty. Race director Dave Raczkowski puts his soul into the race - his unique touches are evident along the course. The port-o-let at last year's start was decorated as a castle complete with moat, a stuffed Canada goose hanging from the ceiling, and flaming torches at the entrance. Water stops feature 'power-muck' instead of those high-fallutin' sports drinks. If you're ready for something different and don't mind a few bumps and bruises along the way, this one's for you! |
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