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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 401 to 411]
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J. S. from Washington, DC
(5/1/2003)
"A great small marathon!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon, and I expected a different experience than last fall's MCM. I was quite impressed with the organization and course support - the fact that there were Cliff Shots left at Mile 20/24 after 4 hours was great! A good number of fluid stations (critical given the heat!), and even though the crowds were sparse, I always felt that I could have received attention from medical staff or other support folks if I had needed it. I was disappointed by having ocean views for only 4 of the 26.2 miles, but I guess with dune replenishment, most beach-front roads don't have ocean views anymore. It was a bit too warm for ideal conditions. I wound up setting a slower pace for myself than I would have otherwise, and although I did achieve a PR, it was not the margin I had been hoping for. Between that and the reported cold deluge the year before, anyone contemplating this race should be prepared for changeable weather. The pasta dinner was good and the transportation was better than I expected. The expo was small, but not out of proportion to the size of the race. Personally, I wish they would provide Gatorade instead of Ultima, but then again, I'm used to providing my own in a camelpack. The T-shirt made out of a Coolmax-like fiber is something I wish other races would give out - a T-shirt you can actually run in! The crowds were sparse, but it's a smaller race in a semi-rural location. If you want miles of screaming fans, look to the cattle drives of NY or Chicago. It wasn't my best day on the course, but I did accomplish what I set out to do. A well-run, scenic little race, which I hope to run again. My thanks to the organizers! | |
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M. T. from New Jersey
(5/1/2003)
"my first marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thanks a million for letting my 'First Marathon' be such an enjoyable, fun and wonderful event. You guys should be really proud of yourselves. The waterstops were great. The bathroom stops really placed at a good point and the weather helped a lot. Thanks again for being so great. | |
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J. R. from USA
(5/1/2003)
"first timer who will be back" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just wanted to take a minute and say thanks for a well run and fun race. I can say this now, as some time has passed and the memory of the pain starts to fade! This was my first marathon, and I certainly plan on running more in the future. I would certainly run this one again. The course was well marked and the volunteers along the way were very helpful. The scenery was nice, there was always something to look at on the course. | |
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A. G. from Silver Spring, MD
(4/30/2003)
"coming back" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I participated in the New Jersey Marathon as a walker this Sunday. You all did a really great job! I am 56 years old, just quite smoking in September and decided in November to enter your event to inspire me to stay on a healthy exercise routine. I was able to meet me personal goal of staying in until I reached 20 miles (or had walked seven hours -- which ever came first) and the whole thing was so fun and inspiring that I have decided to keep on track by entering next year and training to be able to finish in under seven hours in 2004 ? I am also hoping to get my daughters to join me for both the weekend and the marathon. Your volunteers and race officials were wonderfully helpful and I truly appreciate the friendly enthusiasm they brought to their jobs. Thanks again from walker number 3007. | |
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M. S. from USA
(4/30/2003)
"My first marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My name is Michael(Bib# 237) I ran in the 2003 New Jersey Marathon. It was my first marathon and I wanted to make sure you knew how much I truly enjoyed myself. The entire process from registration to finishing was absolutely fanatastic. I was so impressed at how smooth everything was. You and all of your staff should be highly commended. The most important thing to me was the fact that I always felt a part of the race and felt that if I needed help it was there. All of your staff and volunteers were polite and truly cared for the participants. Thank you very much for making my first marathon an unforgettable one. Please put me on your mailing/e-mail list for next year so I can register early. I will most certainly be back. | |
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S. S. from USA
(4/30/2003)
"The 'Mom and Pop' of marathons" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I just want to praise you one more time about what a personable and pleasurable marathon this was. You truly are the 'Mom and Pop' of races. I felt so cared for from the moment I first met someone at the Jersey Shore Marathon booth at another race right up until I got into my car to go home Sunday afternoon. I could go on and on about things I saw that really made me stop and take notice. Here are just a few that come to mind. The bus tour and the two locals who not only pointed out every detail of the race course but also all the great spots to eat and hang out at the shore, the bottle of water to keep us hydrated, the GREAT speaker at the expo (I loved his personal story about how he crashed and burned at Boston last week but got up and 'finished the course'), the vegetarian 'carb' dinner, (I've never stayed for a dinner, but that tofu and brown rice won me over), the friendly assistance every time I had a question or needed something, the provision for feminine hygiene in the bathrooms prior to the race, (who would have even thought or cared about that, but you guys did), using Ultima (I know people don't like the taste, but it is so really much better for you), the 'buffet' on the course, the free MASSAGES at the end--heavenly, the bag service people being so attentive when I was so wiped out, and the delicious FREE dinner/entertainment after the race. It was first class all the way! You guys in New Jersey have really got it right and it was a pleasure to be around such excellence. As the race director, I hope you are feeling very proud. You, and all who made this happen, deserve an A++. Congratulations! | |
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A. V. from Stafford, Virginia
(4/30/2003)
"Enjoyable, low-key marathon. " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My second marathon. Course was flat (as advertised), and fairly scenic. Great support along the way, great organization, and very friendly and supportive people (volunteers and other runners, as well). I liked the signs telling me a water stop was just ahead, and the digital clocks every mile. Two nice things about the finish: lots of space and soft grass to rest on, and a free massage. I'm glad I came. Now I have something nice to say about New Jersey. | |
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Eliot Collins from Raritan, New Jersey
(4/29/2003)
"Recommend Race - Well Organized" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was the 4th time that I have run this race and it was my 49th marathon overall. Once again I enjoyed the race very much. The volunteers (and the other runners) were all terrific. Nice T-shirt and medal (with a pin), plenty of aid stations and port-a-johns, adequate food at the finish (even for the last finishers). This year the weather was perfect, which made everything even more enjoyable. Keep in mind, however, that when the weather is bad on the New Jersey Shore, in April (as it was in 2002), then this race can turn out to be extremely challenging (see the comments I posted here on 05/01/2002). I look forward to running the New Jersey Marathon again in 2004. | |
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Adrianne Gross from U.S.A.
(4/28/2003)
"My first! A great experience!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was impressed with the organization and how every little detail was considered. This new experience will be the begining of many more to come. The volunteers were outstanding! The pacers wre the reason I finished! Thanks guys! | |
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Larry Finkel from Sterling, VA
(4/28/2003)
"A great marathon experience" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A terrific experience!. Well organized. There is no flatter course - easy to set at PR. Ocean breezes, view of NY skyline (on a clear day), course winds through nice beach towns, 21 fluid stations, bagels, fruit, and candy at just the right points on the course. At the start (Sandy Hook/Gateway National Park), we waited on the beach at gazed across the ocean to the NY skyline - a better, more relaxed start you can't ask for. I loved the finish at the High School track - the soft track felt great on my tired feet. Not a ton of fans, but the medium size race of 2000 runners is perfect. Never crowded, but always someone to run beside. Only complaint is the course is so flat and so straight it can get uninteresting. But with all the positives, I would do again in a heartbeat and plan to next year. I recommend for 1st timers and veterans alike. |
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