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Vermont City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Vermont City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 4.7
Number of comments: 303 [displaying comments 191 to 201]
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G. B. from Broadalbin, NY
(5/29/2007)
"Excellent Marathon" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 All of the marathoners I know seem to have this marathon as their PR and absolutely love the course. So I had to give it a try. And yes, it is now my PR marathon course by about 5 minutes. The race was well organized and the crowd support was incredible for being what I consider a medium-sized marathon. They had plenty of refreshments and medical supplies along the course. I appreciated the staff holding the cardboard tablets loaded with vaseline. The course runs both inside the city and through the residential areas, but the real beauty is along the lake on the bike paths. I would consider this course to be pretty flat. Everyone talks about the Battery St. hill at mile 15, but it really wasn't bad, and like I said, there was great crowd support. This is also a great marathon for spectators because you pass through the center of town 4 times, giving them plenty of time to cheer you on. I would definitely run this marathon again. Note: it does fill up a couple of months before, so sign up early if you are going to do it. | |
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R. M. from Utica,NY - Home of the Boilermaker 15k
(5/28/2007)
"Great community & volunteer support." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Excellent marathon for first-timers and those returning to the distance after a lay off. Fan support and race organization helped me finish my 28th marathon (but first in 10 years). It was my 19-year-old daughter's first marathon, which proved to be a positive experience for her. The rain at the end of the race did not spoil the spirit of the great volunteers. | |
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C. N. from Brooklyn, NY
(5/27/2007)
"Spectacular experience" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just finished a few hours ago and I can't stop talking to my wife about how nice it was. I have run the ING New York City marathon but this one is 10 times better. The organization is really outstanding for a small(er) race like this. Plenty of stations, all of them featuring Gatorade endurance, 2 gel stations, local people with bananas and cheers.... The course is really beautiful, combining downtown restaurants, local streets with enthusiastic people, scenic views of Lake Champlain, and bike paths. I am really happy that I came here and I will make a priority in future years to return.... | |
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Marco Esquandolas from New York, NY
(4/30/2007)
"Easily my favorite" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Vermont City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is the only race I've run more than once. You could not ask for a better city to host a marathon than Burlington. The course is scenic and not too difficult and the fan support is great (especially since it's a relatively small race). It's also a great marathon for spectators, so bring the whole family. Set the gearshift for the high gear of the Vermont City Marathon! | |
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D. Y. from ALBANY, NY
(12/19/2006)
"Kick Ass! Great Race!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I loved it. The city did a great job and the crowd was super. Hill at the 15-mile point kicked my butt, but it was expected. Burlington is the perfect race with the amount of community support and the activities surrounding the race. I plan on running this race every year. I went downtown after the race and I was slamming down Guinness. I felt like a rock star. This marathon is a must for all first-timers! Hooah!!!! See you in May 2007. Rock on! | |
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M. S. from Richmond, Vermont
(12/10/2006)
"A good first and nice the second time" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Vermont City Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I didn't want to post comments before I ran another marathon. So I have run a different marathon this year, a big-city one, too. And sorry, but it does not compare to the VCM. The atmosphere in Burlington is great. I think that is how it may feel to the REALLY FAST runners at the Olympics and such. I went through the other comments and a few things come up often. The Start: Yes, it is crowded, and I need at least a mile to get going, but the same thing happened at the other marathon. If runners would keep in there speed groups things would be smoother. The Course: Yes, it loops and comes back four times; this is great for spectators, as you get to see/cheer the runners more often. The neighborhoods are the life of the course; cut 'em out and you would lose a lot of character (and who would give me my cherished race banana?). Be prepared for Battery Hill, but it's not as bad as some say. Just take it easy. And from one who does his long runs on the course, the last five miles on the bike path. Yes, they are a bit boring, but you get a nice view over Lake Champlain and it is downhill or at least flat. Start at Hannah's Point way above Lake Champlain and end at Waterfront Park close to lake level. The Finish: Be prepared for that 0.2-mile back loop, and you will run through spectators three rows deep. If it's too quiet, ask for a cheer and you will need earplugs. :-) Waterfront Park is small, but both times the medics made sure I was OK. They gave me my first congratulations and a bottle of water, and handed me over to the chip team, medal team, and... oops, you are already waddling towards the food tent. Here it gets a bit tricky; you have to cross the park lengthwise without getting knocked over by a three year-old or a dog. Well, take your time. A minute or two will not kill you now. :-) So if you want big-marathon feel in a relaxed Vermont style, do the VCM and you get more cheers per mile then in some big city races. See you in 2007. | |
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J. L. from NYC
(7/20/2006)
"Scenic, yes, but way too hot this year!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Weather: It was a bad weather year - great day... if you weren't running. It was the first hot day in the year for most of us.... Course: Unfortunately, I was also not totally prepared for some of the hills. Very scenic at parts though... Also, the double-back at the end with the finish line in sight is just mean.... Organization: OK. But it could have been a bit better. I think there were supposed to be two stations but one ran out of gel. I would not have mind more water stations in light of the weather too.... True, the organizers can't control the weather, but adding water stations would have been nice.... | |
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neil trust from New York
(7/5/2006)
"RAN OUT OF MEDALS" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Vermont City Marathon raves about being a "great first time" marathon. When you train for 5 months, struggle because of the heat on race day and constantly keep thinking of the reward when you cross that finish line that keeps you going... and have it taken away with... "sorry we ran out of medals and we'll mail yours," you experience major disappointment. Seems the list was pretty long too, and five weeks later, yep... no medal. Caution to first-timers. | |
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P. D. from Overland Park, KS
(6/17/2006)
"Loved it!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was approx. marathon number 9 in twenty years, and state number 6. Course was good...would've given 5 stars only if entirely flat. The two major hills were expected because I'd already read postings on this site. I don't mind all the 'side trips' and I was expecting the switchback at the end. I didn't notice the 'uphill' at the end...perhaps my legs were too numb. Gave organization 5 stars. All the info I'd been given beforehand was accurate, intersections were well manned, pre- and post-race necessities were efficient, there were enough port-a-potties, web site was great---that's all I need. Spectators got 5 stars--loved them. Especially loved the pipers ('bagpipers' for those of you with ignorance of things Scot). I'm busy doing a marathon in each state, but sure wish I could do this one again! Maybe my family would finally see a moose! BTW, the heat didn't bother me; I train in Kansas City. | |
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T. H. from Burlington, Vermont
(6/15/2006)
"The glass is half full." (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I don't really have any basis for comparison on many points, as this was my first marathon. So it is hard for me to make a judgement on such issues as crowding, organization, number and location of aid stations, etc. Personally, I found nothing to take issue with. Finishing around 3:20 I did not feel crowded at any point except for the very first miles. I did not find the bike path sections any more congested than other parts of the course, in contrast to some other runners' experiences. As far as the course goes, I also was initially put off by some of the route. I am from Burlington and know the city like the palm of my hand, so I had to scratch my head at the choice of certain neighborhoods through which the marathon was routed. On reflection though, there are only so many ways (not many) that a marathon can be crammed into a city Burlington's size. When I tried to visualize a better course I realized that, in fairness to the race directors, any attempts to get around such things as the boring out and back on the highway, the blander nieghborhoods, the hillier parts, or the bike paths would have just led to... other highways, bigger hills, even blander neigborhoods, other bike paths, or insurmountable traffic control problems. So the course is probably the best Burlington can offer, on balance. I would say that the marathon offers a good, representative cross section of the city, and is thus very diverse. We ran through historic districts, low-income areas, suburbs, highways, and bike paths with stunning lake views. For the last few miles, when you need it most, you are rewarded with flat or slightly downhill running along the shady bike path. It was a bit hotter than would have been ideal, but not oppressively so. I would second all the positive comments regarding the many supportive spectators. Especially during the last bit these folks really kept my spirits up. Supposedly everyone ends their first marathon with an obligatory 'never again!', but I didn't feel that way at any point-- more like 'how long before I'm ready for my next one?' That has to be a good sign. |
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