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New York City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to New York City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 604 [displaying comments 341 to 351]
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Joseph Kolinsky from Bronx, New York
(11/9/2006)
"Another Year, Another Great Race" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 2 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 New Yorkers turn this marathon into a 26.2-mile block party. They make every runner feel special. I run at the back of the pack, and the support from the crowd was awesome! Some quick points: 1) The weather was perfect. Yes, a bit cold in Staten Island - but it teaches everyone to bring an old blanket. 2) The runners - amazing. Over 100 countries represented. I spoke to people from at least 10 of them. What a way to spend 3 hours! 3) The pre-race food - OK. Not great. But they have to feed 37,000 people! So I won't complain, and say thanks for the bagel. 4) The course - it's NYC. Forgetaboutit. No race (not even Chicago) can match our melting pot. 5) The volunteers - all I can say is that you are all the greatest. Thanks! 6) The organization - it's not easy shutting down NYC on a Sunday for 37,000 runners, thousands of volunteers, etc. In my rather biased, NYC-resident opinion, NYRR runs a close second to Disney with regard to handling crowds. Way to go, Mary W! 7) The city - I was born and raised here. This one Sunday every year shows you the city's true heart and soul. About 2.5 million people came out to root us all on - and all I can say is thanks. This city is special, and its people make it so. | |
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K. D. from Carbondale, IL
(11/8/2006)
"Great race - every runner should do it!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 First of all, this was a great race. Definitely one that every marathoner should do once. I took the bus from the NY Public Library and it was so organized! I got there around 5:15 and there were people counting the number of people for each bus as you walked up so they told you exactly what bus to get on. There were no awful long lines or people pushing to get on a bus. Once we arrived at the pre-race area on Staten Island we were in for a long, COLD wait. I mean freezing. I was dressed in a bunch of layers but I was still shivering for four hours. They had a great buffet of coffee, bagels, tea, etc. for everyone and tents to relax in. But the tents didn't have walls, so it was still cold. We were putting our feet in our gear check bags to cut the wind and keep them warm - it worked! I saw others who had brought the blanket off of their hotel bed - what a great idea! Also I saw people with those ski hand warmers which would have been wonderful. Also bring some hand wipes in case, like me, you just pee behind a tree or a UPS truck - the lines for the port-a-potties were out of control. They had a ton of johns, but the lines were easily 30-45 min., which is miserable when you are well hydrated and have to go often. The gear check was very organized too - so definitely pack things to check so you'll have warm clothes after the race. The race itself was amazing - it was the most PERFECT weather I'd ever run a marathon in. You are supposed to line up in the corrals based on your bib number, but people didn't really pay attention to that. So there were walkers and slower people at the front. The start was amazing, going over the bridge and seeing the whole skyline off to the left. I loved hearing "New York, New York" over the speakers at the start too. I recommend putting your name on your shirt - the crowds will cheer for you the entire way. The hills aren't bad at all - I expected much worse. I wouldn't even consider it really hilly. The end was amazing in Central Park. The race is very crowded obviously, but as long as you prepare yourself for that going in, it's fine. Just expect to be elbowed and be careful not to trip on anybody. I wasn't a fan of the shirt we got - it was an ugly smog gray. The medal was really neat though. You get the itty bitty food bag at your gear check truck and it is wimpy, but you have the whole city to experience afterwards and grab some yummy food. It was an incredible experience overall - the city sure loves its runners! | |
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Todd Neville from St. Augustine, FL
(11/8/2006)
"I loved it but it was below expectaions." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 NYC should compare to the other big marathons (like Chicago and Boston) and it does not even come close. It was disorganized and frustrating from the registration process until the finish. I can't even list all the problems and annoyances that my friends and I had with this marathon. With all these complaints, I can say I had a great time. This is due to the friends I went with, the fact that I ran this marathon harder than any other I have run, and the fact that the international experience was quite cool. I recommend that Mary W. call Cary P. for a few pointers. I'll be going to Chicago next year, as will our running club. I recommend others to do the same. Chicago is the gold standard! | |
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G. J. from Chicago
(11/8/2006)
"I liked New York, but would give Chicago the edge" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I thought New York's marathon was well organized, with great crowd support. The only drawback was the three-and-a-half-hour wait outside in the cold before the marathon started. | |
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Carolyn Geraghty from Wayne, New Jersey, USA
(11/8/2006)
"A MUST-DO MARATHON!!!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just did the NYC Marathon for the 3rd time and I will just say it is the most amazing marathon to run. If you are a seasoned marathoner, yes, there are some annoyances that you will have to put up with (first-timers mostly with no clue about running etiquette). Also, do not expect to do a PR at this race, as you will be weaving in and out of people for the full 26 miles, or at least most of it. But the spectators alone (especially from mile 18 on) are just so UNbelieveable, they make the entire race completely worthwhile. When you do this marathon, make sure you ENJOY yourself; when you're on the Verrazzano Bridge, get up on the median and look at all the runners - it is an unbelieveable, awe-inspiring site. Get into the crowds on the sidelines, high-five everyone (especially the kids, THEY LOVE IT)!! PUT YOUR NAME ON YOUR SHIRT - you'll be so happy you did. You almost feel like a celebrity because so many people will be calling out your name. All and all, and I probably don't even have to say it, it is truly one of the best marathons - if not THE best marathon - out there. Make sure you put this one on your list of marathons to run if you haven't already, and if you have run this one before, DO IT AGAIN! | |
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F. D. from Long Island, NY
(11/8/2006)
"You haven't lived 'til you run NYC!!!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 How do you run 26.2 miles with a smile on your face the whole time? Run New York City!! Amazing how they can perfectly organize an event in NYC w/ over 37,000 people! The spectators make it; they rock and make you feel like a celebrity!! I can't believe I just ran my first marathon and had a blast!! Volunteers went above and beyond! Thank you, New York! THANK YOU!! | |
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P. H. from Gaylord, MI
(11/8/2006)
"Start Spreading the News" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 WOW!!!! If you are a marathon person you must do this marathon. From the starting views from the Varrazano Narrows Bridge to the thousands and thousands and thousands of people in Central Park, it is special. Not the easiest place to run fast, but how do you beat running in the greatest city in the world? | |
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M. S. from Chicago, IL
(11/7/2006)
"THE CROWD" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The expo is OK; a nicer poster would have helped. Don't bother paying for the bus, as no one ever checked, so save the money. The bus loading was well organized, but the convoy stops numerous times for no apparent reason. Fort Wadsworth was well run until you line up for the start. There were three colored corrals and there was little idea where you wanted to be as far as pace to line up for the start. It was utter chaos. If you end up in the green corral and run the lower Verrazano Bridge, stay away from the sides, since the upper brige was a giant urinal and I'm sure the lower bridge gets hit... yick. The UPS trucks take your warm clothes bag based on the letter of your last name, so if you don't want to walk miles at the end, simply place your bag in the lower numbered truck. The crowd, cheering and bands along the course are the best ever. First Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Central Park are not to be believed! Watch out for the section of the Queensboro Bridge where it is pitch black; it is a good place to get tripped The food at the finish consists of a single apple and the world's worst bagel (how they found such a bad bagel in NYC is amazing) - no beer tent to be had. NY has the crowd, but Chicago has the better marathon... sorry. It is worth doing once but not one I'd repeat. | |
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s. l. from glen allen, va
(11/7/2006)
"An Incredible Event" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Having the good fortune of just completing my 18th NYCM in a row, it has never ceased to amaze me how good of a job they do - both the city of New York, and especially the NYRRC, who have organized this event for 37 years. Everything stated on previous comments is absolutely true. If you ever want to get an incredible adrenaline rush like you've never experienced before, run this race. You'll understand this comment once you come off the 59th Street Bridge to the roar of thousands of New Yorkers welcoming you into NYC. I encourage anyone who loves marathon-ing to experience this event one time and you'll never look back. I will continue to do this race until my body says, "No more!" | |
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Steven Schnurman from New Jersey
(11/7/2006)
"OMG... THE GREATEST MARATHON IN THE WORLD!!!!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is simply the one of the greatest - if not THE greatest - marathon experiences in the world. If you run, you have to try to get into this one. At its core, it's just a race, but the 2.5 million-strong crowd support, and the sights of NYC and the elite runners from around the world.... I'm beyond words. Just do it, okay? |
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