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New York City Marathon Runner Comments

Back to New York City Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.7 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.3 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.9 
 
 
Number of comments: 604 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 13 14 15 16 17 .. 61 > ]

 

k. j. from seattle, washington (11/6/2009)
"Starting to be Overrated" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 4


A high entry fee, and average or below organization.

 

W. S. from Washington, D.C. (11/5/2009)
"Bad start, good finish" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 5


Great course and fan support, unrivaled by any other race. But the start was a mess. I was locked out of my wave 1 corral by 9:00 a.m., and I missed wave 2 too. Also, the water stops at every mile clogged up the course. If they can improve the corral system, it would be a perfect race even with that hill on 5th Ave.

 

A. T. from Keller, TX (11/5/2009)
"Like No Other, But..." (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 5


First, it's a GREAT event, and I'd love to do it again. The weather was good for a marathon, with the rain ending at the right time.

Fans, tops; excitement, great; running through New York, excellent; transportation, very good.

It's not shoulder-to-shoulder, but you do have to fade, speed up, and shift around traffic, at least for my pace in the middle of the pack. Harder to get a PB, but not too bad.

The food and entertainment at the end was minimal, so I thought that meant the party at the Hammerstein was going to make up for it; it didn't, so I didn't stick around.

I'm sure for a race of this size, it's very difficult to do it all.

 

D. P. from Atlanta, GA (11/5/2009)
"An Awesome Experience" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 5


This was my first NYC Marathon, and it was unbelievable. The course, the crowds, the sights... all were just awesome. The only tough part is that you will be transported to the starting line three or four hours before the race starts. If you run marathons, you need to do this one at least once in your life if it's at all possible.

 

Jeff Newcorn from Chicago (11/5/2009)
"Where else can I hear" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


First the GREAT: the crowds. Most were vocal and animated. I had gloves on, which started to get wet from sweat. But I high-fived everyone anyway. Can't believe I'm the only one with sweaty high-fives.

Don't know if this is possible, but would have loved to run by Yankee Stadium and leave out some of the less interesting parts of the course. I have run nicer courses like Mount Desert (Maine) and Big Sur. Chicago has somewhat nicer scenery for a large urban race.

Only Boston compares with the unfathomable organization skills and execution to get this many people to the start of a point-to-point course and keep them safe and hydrated. Volunteers were the best and most numerous I have ever seen.

Can't believe people found this course grueling. It's about as flat as you'll find anywhere.

This is clearly a "top 10" destination marathon. Thank you, New York City!

 

M. T. from Montreal, Canada (11/5/2009)
"Hard course but crowd gets you through" (about: 2009)

1 previous marathon | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I will remember this race for the rest of my life. I am glad I made this my first marathon. The course is hard - not very flat and a lot of slow inclines. The crowds are AMAZING: they really help you along they way. The organization is top-notch: communication is constant and efficient and there are LOADS of volunteers along the course. The course is never boring and I rediscovered New York. Your running "career" has to include this marathon to be complete.

 

A. B. from Philadelphia, PA (11/4/2009)
"Can't beat NYC" (about: 2009)

3 previous marathons | 2 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


What can you even say about this marathon? This year was my second NYC in a row, and third marathon overall. As soon as I crossed the finish line on Sunday, I couldn't wait to do it again. This race is unlike any other in the world - not that I have a ton of marathon experience, but how can you beat NYC?! The crowds are unbelievable and the course is fantastic. All the non-runners and runners alike in NYC love the marathon. I know people who have been spectating for 20 years and get excited to watch the race every year. Everyone in the city has fun on marathon day. Don't go into this marathon expecting to PR or have a congestion-free course. The New York Marathon is what it is because of the crowds and number of runners. PR'ing isn't impossible though; I managed to shed 15 minutes from my prior best time this year!! Don't miss this race. I can't wait for next year!!!!

 

K. M. from Alabama (11/4/2009)
"great race, finish very disappointing" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 5


This was my first NYC Marathon. I loved the course and the spectators. However, running out of food at the finish in a race like this, especially when it was pre-bagged and handed out to prevent taking more than one, is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

 

R. C. from Alma, AR (11/3/2009)
"First Time to Run in New York City." (about: 2009)

3 previous marathons | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my first NYC Marathon, and my third overall. The organization is to be commended; getting 40,000 plus people from start to finish is a monumental task. The fans were great. It felt like we were crossing the finish line at times along the way with the loud crowd support. The fans that provided brownies and doughnut holes in Brooklyn, God bless you. You really picked up our spirits. My only complaint is the finishing corral. Everyone is tired and weary, and want to get with family and friends, and off their feet, only to be herded like cattle for 30 to 40 minutes. Great experience overall. I ran with my daughter and we both had PR's. Thanks to all of the volunteers.

 

Gary Hall from Estes Park, Colorado (11/3/2009)
"Amazing course and fans; org. needs some work" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 5


This was my fifth marathon (first in four years), and it was a stunningly amazing experience. The crowds were wonderful everywhere; even where sparse, they interacted more than I've ever experienced in a race. I had dozens of comments on 5th Avenue and in Central Park about my shirt (which said "UCLA"), and everybody loved it that their comments got me going again. The kids in the early part of Brooklyn lined up for a hundred high-fives; and there was the fun rapper in the Bronx riffing about "The Wall," the lady in Harlem saying, "This is how we do it in Harlem," and on and on. I have a thousand memories of the crowds. The course is tougher than I expected - I train at 7,500 feet and it still got to me, but I loved it. The only downer? Waiting for 3.5 hours at the start, trying to decide whether to keep walking and tire your feet or to sit and get stiff, and then the really random cramming of all those people into the so-called corrals. They need to take some wave lessons from Boulder. But bottom line, this was a unique experience. No other place can compare. Loved it.

 

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