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New Jersey Marathon Runner Comments

Back to New Jersey Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.3 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.5 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.9 
 
 
Number of comments: 464 [displaying comments 341 to 351]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 33 34 35 36 37 .. 47 > ]

 

E. L. from Pottersville, NJ (4/21/2005)
"A fast course if the weather is good." (about: 2005)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This race was much better than I had expected. The course couldn't be flatter, and my only complaint was a mile and a half of concrete around mile 10 or so. There aren't many spectators except around the finish. Race organization, markers, water stops are all first-rate. The course doubles back on itself from about 18-26, so everyone gets to see all the other runners. The post-race food is an excellent sit down pasta meal in a hotel. I don't understand why this race doesn't draw about 5,000 runners.

 

S. M. from Fair Haven, New jersey (4/21/2005)
"A fair, flat, fast course." (about: 2005)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


A mid-size, very friendly, very well organized race. Large staging area and a very relaxed walk to the start. Got over the line quickly, but they do use chip timing. The fluid stops were plentiful, water and Gatorade at all. Gu, bananas, oranges and other goodies were offered at two stops. The fluid station volunteers were very organized and very friendly, as were all of the volunteers. The post-race party offered a pasta buffet with three kinds of pasta, salad and cookies. All in all a great race.

 

L. C. from Bangor, Maine (4/21/2005)
"Highly Recommend" (about: 2005)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I just wanted to say that I ran your NJ Marathon course yesterday and found everything was handled excellently. This was my 8th marathon and the NJ Marathon is one that I would highly recommend. Thanks for a great race. Although I did not meet my Boston goal of 3:35:59, I finished the race with a respectable 3:44:40.

Also I think the course tour you gave on Saturday was first-class... well done. It was nice to see the course and also all the beautiful sites along the way. Thanks again. Keep up the good work.

 

G. B. from New Jersey (4/20/2005)
"Fast & Flat. " (about: 2005)

2 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


New Jersey Marathon is only the second I have run. The first being New York. I was a little nervous with the lack of crowd support to get me through the race. Everything turned out perfect. Good weather (a little warm towards the end) a fast, flat course and the race director did an amazing job with all the logistics. The expo was small, but very easy to pick up packet, sign up for pace teams, etc. The start was well organized with plenty of bathrooms (not just port-a-johns). The race itself was great. Couldn't ask for a flatter course and fluid stations were well placed and frequent. Enough people running so you don't feel alone but not too many that you have to weave through groups. The course did get narrow at times but never got crowded. The crowd was thin, but the town does seem to get into the marathon. I PR'd by 25 minutes (again, only my 2nd marathon though). I would recommend this race and will run it again.

 

jonathan fass from Athens, Georgia (4/20/2005)
"Excellent fast course. Good support." (about: 2005)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I qualified for Boston after 23 tries due to this race. It was very fast with good support. There were even digital clocks at most miles. Aid stations were instructed how to distribute fluids very well. No hills; only slight declines and inclines to take pressure off the muscles. Small size, so people don't get in your way. A mile or two that were run on concrete but not enough to ruin one's joints. First ever chip placed on back of the bib--can keep it too, so don't have to worry about falling down while chip is removed from one's shoe. Nice view at times of lighthouse and even Manhatten skyline briefly. Beautiful homes in Deal near the end of the race to distract you somewhat from the pain. Very helpful race directors and immediate results of race posted inside host hotel at finish.

 

J. D. from Connecticut, USA (4/20/2005)
"Jersey shore in the spring!" (about: 2005)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This was my 7th marathon. Since I couldn't run Boston this year, I figured I would try Jersey.

The Good: Great communication with race director, Art Castellano. Easy parking/number pick-up/baggage claim. Enthusiastic and helpful volunteers, plenty of water stations, also had energy gels and orange slices and candies, etc. Nice post-race pasta party with plenty of carbs. Decent merchandise. Pacers were also helpful and easy to spot. Amenities, for the most part, were superb and first-rate.

The Course: Course is flat, it is scenic through Sandy Hook, and going up over the bridge in Sea Bright was nice. You also get some nice views of the ocean. You also run the last 11 miles in an 'out-and-back,' along Ocean Blvd., through the nice residential areas of Elberon and Deal. The finish on the boardwalk at the hotel was nice, and you get your name and hometown announced. Decent hardware.

The Bad: Long walk to the starting buses, give yourself extra time. Course is real tough in some parts of Route 36 in Monmouth Park, lots of cars, unscenic, congestion. Spectators, though enthusiastic, are sparse. Very little shade on a sunny and warmer than normal day. Felt very hot in parts. Over an hour wait for a massage after the race, ending up having to skip it.

Summary: Decent small spring marathon, showing off what New Jersey is all about. 

 

M. R. from Oak Park, IL (4/20/2005)
"well organized; great weather; specators?" (about: 2005)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


The weather was sunny and mid-60's with no detectable wind. Almost too sunny! I thought the expo was well organized with helpful volunteers. I didn't like running past the finish line with 10 miles to go; it seemed like it took forever to get to the turn-around -- psychologically a killer. Volunteers, Army and police on the course were very encouraging. Nice medal!

Specator support was minimal, but enthusiastic when present.

Post-race eats could have been better -- looked like the left-overs from the pasta dinner the night before -- no protein. Chip times not available; only clock time.

 

Thomas O'Donnell from Rosemont, PA (4/20/2005)
"A beautiful run and great volunteers" (about: 2005)

1 previous marathon | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


Congratulations to the race director, race committee and all of the volunteers for the 9th NJM. What a weekend! I know the weather could not have cooperated any more, but the real support came from the volunteers. I enjoyed the route so much more than last year when I ran the 10-miler. Putting the band near mm 22 could only have been the choice of an experienced runner. I got such a boost from the music that I smiled from ear-to-ear even though by body was really beginning to feel the macadam.

The fans were great, by the way. They were spread quite thin though.

My sister brought my 85-year-old mother from Philadelphia and the handicap access was just as accommodating as the race director said it would be when I spoke to him on the phone a couple of days before the race. Both of them enjoyed the event. I broke 4 hours for the first time, so am delighted and hopeful that I can qualify for Boston some day - maybe at NJM 10. I made a point of thanking Marie, our 4 hour pace-setter. I felt like I was being helped along by a celebrity. I just knew that I had to try to keep her behind me and so I would reach my goal.

So, thanks for all of your dedication and hard work. I hope you are elated with the outcome ? you should be.

 

J. R. from NJ (4/20/2005)
"Late Bloomer" (about: 2005)

3 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I wish to commend Race Director, Art Castellano, and all the many volunteers who made this year's marathon a first-class event. My work colleague Ed, a seasoned marathoner but first-time NJ Marathon participant, had nothing but rave reviews.

As a late bloomer, I have to thank all the NJRRC Sunday Run regulars for their encouragement and support. This is my third marathon, but not my last!

 

M. G. from Philadelphia (4/19/2005)
"Boring" (about: 2005)

1 previous marathon | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 1


This was my first full marathon and it was boring. The only good thing about it was the weather was beautiful. If you are thinking about running this as your first marathon, don't. There are no spectators only at the finished line. The first ten miles I felt like I was running in the woods, then mile 16 and the finish line were together, and when your at mile 16 you don't want to see people finishing when you still have 10 miles to go.

The last ten miles had no spectators except for the police who were blocking the streets off. Even the people driving by us weren't even cheering us on. There was only one band through out the whole race and that was at mile 18. Those last 6.2 miles is really when I needed the support from anyone who was there, and there were very few. This race only had about 2000 people running I am assuming because it was so close to Boston. If you looking for a marathon to run for your first time, pick one that is in a big city. The expo was small but well organized.

The course for the most part was flat, but there were some hills.
For me the course was terrible, and boring.

 

More Comments: [ < 1 .. 33 34 35 36 37 .. 47 > ]


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