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☰
New Jersey Marathon Runner Comments
Back to New Jersey Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 464 [displaying comments 231 to 241]
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R. D. from Oakdale, CT
(5/1/2007)
"Awesome race experience! Flat & Friendly!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My fifth full marathon and so far my favorite. Course was flat except one very small hill. Lots of turns; port-o-potties at start and at aid stations; great volunteers and spectators; and plenty of fluids/food on the course. Course was a mix of residential, beachside, urban, park-like areas, etc. Two loops are not my favorite, but interesting enough course not to be bored with the same scenery over and over. Well marked and timed. Parking and packet pick up were ok. The pacers were a nice touch as well. Knowing that I had a certain pacer always behind me kept me motivated to keep the pace and not slow down. Great medal, lapel pin and finisher's hat, but I didn't like the tech shirt. The color and graphics just didn't appeal to me, so I gave it to my wife. Not a big deal, though. Well worth running the event despite the shirt. Overall great event. Good job and many thanks to the race director and all of the volunteers. I'll definitely be back next year. | |
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C. J. from Tooele, UT
(5/1/2007)
"Flat, Fast, but a bit Crowded" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Would be hard to get a much flatter or faster course, although there were a LOT of turns as it wound like a maze through Long Branch. More racers this year than ever before made for a crowded start in a narrow chute and some narrow streets in the first few miles. Overall, though, I give it high marks, but I only did the half and a single loop. Race director responded quickly to inquiries, fluid stations and volunteers were excellent, course was well marked (excepting one misplaced mile marker) and there was decent crowd support in several places along the route. The last part of the race was particularly nice along the beach and boardwalk. Great post-race food (despite some long lines) and nice medals, shirts and caps. | |
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J. L. from Brooklyn, NY
(4/30/2007)
"Great organized race." (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Even though I was concerned it was a 2-loop course, it turned out to be a great race. The weather was perfect. The volunteers were wonderful. It was nice to get a shirt in my size (small). The aid stations were stocked with plenty of Gatorade and water. I also appreciated the gels and the sugar station. The medal with the pin was top-notch and the hat just topped it off. Great race overall! I will definitely do this again. Also, I thought it was a fantastic idea for a local charity, Bosco's Buddies, to work in conjuction with the NJM directors to have a race number pickup service for a nominal donation. It was a great way to donate to charity and to make life a bit easier if you can't make it to the expo to pick up your race number. | |
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E. G. from Annapolis, MD
(4/30/2007)
"Not Bad...but not memorable" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This was the fourth marathon in my quest for all fifty states and my experience in Long Branch was good. Though the course is described as flat...it seemed that I was always running up hill. Below is a summary of my thoughts: Positive: Volunteer Support: There seemed to be a Water/Gatorade stop at every corner. The volunteers took initiative and did an above average job...my thanks to you all! Course Support: There were mile markers and clocks at EVERY mile. There were local bands set up at the right spots. Bottom line: you never felt alone on the course...between runners, volunteers and fan support, there was always people around. Premiums: Long sleeve shirt, Magnet, Pin, Medal, Finisher Cap...all nice. Negatives: Two-Loop Course: This was my first two-loop experience...don't like it (personal). Post-Race Food: You have to walk back to the host hotel to get refreshments/food. After running 26 miles, this is a long way especially if you parked in the opposite direction. The only thing they have for runners in the finish area is water. Not taking advantage of coast: If running the marathon, only about 6 miles are run along the ocean...the rest is through neighborhoods/business areas. Bathrooms: There was adequate bathrooms on the course, but pre-race...they were sparse. Overall: This is a decent marathon. I would probably not run it again...based only on my long-term goal and proximity, but I would recommend it to someone needing a Spring marathon in the area. | |
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K. V. from Cary, NC
(4/30/2007)
"Would do again." (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Nice race. Friendly all around from the runners to the volunteers to the police force. The two-loop course didn't bother me; I kind of liked knowing where I was on the second loop and it is basically flat as advertised. They started 20 minutes late, which bothers me a bit. Weather was great this year - 50's, 60's, overcast and not windy, which I worry about on ocean courses. Overall, nicely done. I have to put a good word in for the Red Roof Inn in Tinton Falls, which allowed late checkout for everyone on Sunday so runners could get back and take a shower. Very nice. | |
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D. G. from NYC
(4/30/2007)
"The pacer was great" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I was planning to run the marathon, with my son running the half, until I broke my foot. He is under 19 and so we then had to rely on a pacer. Jose Caneda paced the 3:50 group and he did a great job, according to my son. He kept the group together, they talked some, laughed and he kept it interesting. He kept the group on task with encouraging words and helpful advice throughout. Jose made the race delightful and my son was able to exceed his goal because of Jose. Kudos to Jose and to the organizers. We will definitely be back next year. | |
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J. K. from New Jersey
(4/30/2007)
"This is one of the BEST marathons; it's a must-do!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is one of the best races; course goes along the ocean around through beautiful Long Branch, NJ. Plenty of water, and lots of food - fruit, chilli, Windmill hotdogs - all at the finish line. Very well organized. It is a great weekend to spend with the family at the Jersey Shore. Great shirt and medal! The volunteers make this race one of the top marathons. Thanks, NJRRC. | |
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Lawrence Corley from Aberdeen New Jersey
(4/30/2007)
"exceptional" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run over 25 marathons and because of previous scheduling could only run the 1/2. The marathon was a double loop so I feel my comments are valid. From the beginning, registration, chip and goody bag pick-up were all done very well. The shirt was of high quality polyester with a great design. The fluid stations were as advertised; but better in that they each had Gatorade and water and the tables were long and the volunteers enthusiastic and plentiful. Many parts of Long Branch are pretty and lots of new construction added energy to the race. On each loop, you run at least two miles along the ocean and finish with it on your right. The finish chute was well handled and each runner was handed a bottle of water,a medal and a nicely designed cap. The awards were handled professionally. If you thought you won an award you went to an awards tent and picked it up. No making people hang around for hours. Then as you walked back to the hotel, which is large and beautiful, there was food service,,bagels,apples,bananas,fruit cocktail, trail mix, vegetarian chili and cornbread. In jest, I said to one of the servers we should have had cafeteria trays to carry all the goodies. Great job by all | |
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D. J. from Brooklyn, NY
(4/30/2007)
"Very well done and fast but not thrilling" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This event was great for my purposes, I PR'ed by 6 minutes in my 8th marathon and came reasonably close to an elusive (for me) BQ; but I would not make it my top recommendation except for people who care most about running fast in spring, or running close to a nearby home (as in NJ, NYC, Philly and mid-Atlantic areas). The event is superbly organized and volunteer- supported, and it has a quite flat course, so you can really run a great time here. (That assumes you don't get a tough headwind on the day.) The volunteers were uniformly kind and helpful, and really deserve praise. The on-course support was very good (though some of the Gatorade was not diluted enough), and the expo/packet pickup was efficient and stress-free. The spiffy medal and tech hat for finishers are really nice touches but I found the food (tired fruit salad, dry cornbread and veggie chili that no one could tell me ingredients for an allergen check) pretty lame. There are several downsides that made it not a top-tier emotional experience. The course, while not ugly, is not exciting. Not too much is on the water as they often have buildings between the street and the beach; it's mainly varied residential areas and a little bit of town commercial stuff. It's a two-loop course and they have almost twice as many half marathoners as full, so you feel forlorn after 13.1 - the big finish line and 2/3 of your running companions are suddenly gone and you're feeling lonely and confronting the harder part. There are a few pretty spots but often it's fairly nondescript. For me this was fine because it is quite flat and permits good running at as strong a pace as you can muster, but it's just not a thrill. Spectators are mixed - at times there are just a few not-too-interested people out in their yards quietly watching you go by, at other spots there are more people who are more vocal. They put your first name on your bib and some folks took the cue and cheered for me by name, which was a big boost as I struggled to the finish. | |
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J. J. from Audubon, NJ
(4/30/2007)
"Fun, well-run marathon" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my fifth marathon, and first NJ. Plenty of support on the course: water, food, and great spectators calling out your name, which was printed on the bib. The icy, cold ocean provided an instant ice bath for sore legs. |
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