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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 481 to 491]
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m. s. from Springfield, Ma.
(11/21/2003)
"THE GREATEST" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 NYC is the GREATEST. This was my tenth marathon and it is just the best. I was lucky enough to get in two years in a row. Expect crowds at the expo, and pasta meal on marathon evening. The shirt and medal were better than last year's. I met runners from Denmark, Norway, Florida, Georga, New Jersey, and of course New York. Everyone congratulates you the next day so wear your medal. I hope that I'm lucky enough to get in next year. | |
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L. O. from Maryland
(11/18/2003)
"What an incredible race and a dream come true!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 NYC was my first marathon and definetley won't be the last. The spectators were incredible and the organization was amazing for over 34,000 people. The most difficult thing for me was being able to pass people since it was so crowded for the first 7 miles. Don't let anybody tell you that this marathon is not a good one for time. As long as you train well enough, you can do it! I achieved my goal of under 4 hours after a 2.5 year battle with cancer. Anything is possible. Congratulations to all who ran and good luck next year! :) Maybe I will see you there. | |
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D. J. from Dubai, UAE
(11/18/2003)
"A truly wonderful experience " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Fantastic support along the course and even when waiting for the bus to the start, truly makes you feel special. Organization was excellent given the numbers running. My complaints are the same as all the other comments posted here... the very long walk after the finish with no where to take a rest. Also found the lack of support over the last 400 yards dissapointing after the fantastic support over the previous 26 miles. Maybe NYRR need to re-think the whole finish experience? These are minor complaints - all in all it was a great experience. Thank You New York. | |
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Ron Appel from Long Island, New York
(11/17/2003)
"An amazing experience" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There is nothing like the NYC Marathon. | |
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Nathan Bass from Milan, TN
(11/13/2003)
"The Spectators Were Incredible!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon and the experience overall was great. I plan to do it again as soon as I can get in. The only negatives to me were the long lines at the pasta party and the lack of organization as far as seeding at the start. Many slower runners were in front of me at the start and this caused the first several miles to be a battle to move up and the constant surging to pass took its toll on me. I can't say enough about the city, the energy of the people and the crowds. I had a bad race, performance-wise, but even in my worst struggles the crowd would bring me up over and over. The course is great, very challenging with the bridges. I cannot imagine a greater finish than Central Park and with the altered state that running that far gives you anyway, I had a really magical feel winding through the park with the beautiful falling leaves and the energy of the crowd. I loved it and can't wait to do it again, but I will be a little more prepared next time. | |
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m. f. from Boston, MA
(11/12/2003)
"Great race, but please... no celebs next year" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my 2nd NYC marathon. As with last year's race, I was dazzled by the amazing, one-of-a-kind crowd support. The water stations were a bit better than last year. The whole P Diddy thing was a pretentious affront to legitimate marathon runners. I was very insulted by hearing his entourage vehicle beeping at runners to get out of his majesty's way. I must admit that upon passing him at mile 23, the sight of that ridiculous rolling movie set motivated me to speed up and leave him in the dust. Assuming that the marathon committee will not make this kind of mistake again, I highly recommend this race. NYC rocks! | |
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Ken Higgins from Atlanta, Ga
(11/11/2003)
"Unbelievable experience" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am one of the disabled athletes who competed for the third time! It is an experience unlike any other! The crowds are unbelievable, the sights, the sounds,the smells, can't begin to describe it. I thought the organization was excellent except for getting us started, which happens every year. As for all the complaints about lines etc... -- there are 35,000 people there all crowded into one small area -- what do you expect? The volunteers were exceptional. It is truly an amazing experience. If you only run one marathon (or wheel one in my case), this is the one to do -- you will never forget it. I have done many races around the country, but this is the one I look forward to the most. Only one complaint, and not the races fault -- how come many of the papers around the country can print out all the finishers: times, ages, hometowns, but can't print the results of the relatively few wheelchair categories? | |
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P. D. from New York
(11/9/2003)
"Unbelievable crowd support" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my fifth marathon. Most of the comments by everyone else have been pretty much dead on, so I will touch on a few points that may be slightly different. Pros: 1) You feel like a participant in a spectator sport, the crowds and cheering are that good. I do not know if there is another race in the world that has that. Cons: 1) The course is not that scenic (ie. the races I have done, Marine Corps, Rome and Dublin all were more scenic). I gave the course 5 stars only for the crowd support alongside it. 2) The long wait at Staten Island before the race is like a bad rock concert. It can be unsettling especially if you haven't done this race before. 3) New York can have erratic weather. The race temperature was in the 70's and a week later it struggles to reach 45. But overall an awesome experience no matter what your time is. And the one pro point I made outweighs the 3 cons easily. | |
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Eliot Collins from Raritan NJ
(11/8/2003)
"Different Than Running In Any Other City" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Second time running NYC Marathon, 46th marathon overall. Suffered from diarrhea in the restroom on the CJRRC (Central Jersey Road Runners Club) bus to the start. Remained on the bus until a few minutes before the race began. Started the race in good spirits, but very cold. Thought that my legs were beginning to shake on the Verrazano Bridge, but it was the whole bridge shaking from all the runners. Diarrhea returned around mile 8 in Brooklyn. Spent 10 minutes in the restroom at the Lyceum Theater cleaning myself up. Remained cold for the entire race and ended up race-walking the whole way. High point was the last few miles in Manhattan. Dark by the time I got there and the lights of the city were all on. Quite impressive, and different from any other city that I have run in. Well lit finish line was dramatic as well. Although my time was over six hours, I enjoyed the race more the previous year, when I did not really have any problems and ran the whole way. I guess it was more satisfying to have completed the race under difficult conditions. By going slow, I was able to see the sights and appreciate the diverse neighborhoods of the city more than I did when I was going as fast as I could. | |
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P. V. from Brooklyn, NY
(11/8/2003)
"The premier event of the NYRRC does it again!!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My wife and I ran again this year and live a few blocks from about mile 8, in Fort Greene Brooklyn. That's where the men and women converge on Lafayette Avenue. As usual, my friends and family made this part of the course a special place to run through. Thanks to all the other spectators along the course as well. You are the reason why so many return year after year. Most of the comments I read were on the mark. NYC is the best marathon I have run, and although many come close, the number of spectators and volunteers in the NYRR make this the reason why this is one to put on your list of big city marathons. This was my fifth NYCM, and my 10th marathon overall. There is so much to say that is positive, but please read the other reviews since I cant say it all here. I have many other cities to run, but I have one recommendation for those considering this one: The lottery opens for the ING New York City Marathon early next year. If you are planning a marathon, go to www.ingnycmarathon.org and sign up. The pasta party is great if you can tolerate the lines, and the fireworks are spectacular. I think the chip removal should have been near the finish like the other NYRR races, or at least a sign on where to drop off the chip if you did not want to keep it. The long march at the finish is one I dread, but it's necessary as far as bag pick-up and for helping recovery by walking after the race. I think UPS bag pick-up was a clever idea, and as always, the delivery was on time :). There is nothing else I would change. Thanks ING, NYC, and especially NYRRC. This is the best marathon in the world. 'Nuff said. |
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