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North Central Trail Marathon Runner Comments
Back to North Central Trail Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 128 [displaying comments 81 to 91]
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M. P. from Fort Benning, GA
(11/30/2004)
"Awesome Trail Marathon" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Course: Out and back with a hilly first 1.5 miles, with a slight upgrade (I personally did not notice this) going out to 13.1 miles. I definitely did notice the downgrade going back and it helped a lot. The PACKED gravel was great and easy on the knees. The course was scenic and much of it was along a pretty river. The spectators cheered and were congregated where roads intersected the NCR trail; same with the water stops. Other runners: I did not find crowdedness to be a factor. Weather: Awesome. Sometimes a bit a headwind, but only for brief periods. Medal: Very bling-bling, and shiny. Shirts: Mad props for giving out the fleece instead of the LS shirt. I love mine. Food: Krispy Kreme was good, but the soup was soooo delicious after the run. Organization: Great. Awards started a little late, but other than that I have nothing but compliments. Great race and would love to do again. | |
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Lee Myers from Cochranton,PA.
(11/29/2004)
"Great small marathon on crushed gravel trail" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I just completed this post-Thanksgiving marathon. After dropping out of Steamtown Marathon in Oct. due to stomach cramps, it was great to have the opportunity to redeem myself this late in the season. Weather was perfect - upper 40's to start mid 50's at the finish! Packet pickup was easy and organization was great. Plenty of bathrooms and a warm gym to wait in before start of race. Course runs 2 miles to the NCR Trail, 11 miles on the trail, turns around and comes back. The last 2 miles have 3 serious hills which are definitely a challenge; unfortunately it is the only way to finish back at the elementary school start. They used to finish on the trail, which made for a much easier course, but it was tougher to control and harder for spectators to see the finish. Better just prepare for slower splits last 2 miles. The rest of the course on crushed gravel trail is flat. I know they say a slight ascent on the way out and slight decline on the way back, but it is so minimal you will not even notice. True, there is not a lot of variety to see - just a beautiful trail with just the right amount of friendly runners to help you along. There were 375 marathoners and 100 two-person relay teams. The trail is open to the public during the race and is more than adequate to support everyone comfortably. Water and Gatorade every 3-3.5 miles with a few port-a-pots along the way. These could have been better marked as to what miles they were available. I saw a few of the guys make like bears and go in the woods! There are spectators at the beginning a few spots throughout the trail and at the end. At the turn around you get a boost from all the relay runners who cheer you on! It's not like a large marathon with huge crowds but it is easy for friends and family to see you up close at many different spots. My family was at the start, mile 9-19 and the finish. To me this was better and meant more to me than any amount of large crowds could! This was a very simple and easy marathon to like; efficient and well run. PS. The fleece vest was much nicer than the usual boring t-shirt. If you are coming from out of town, don`t miss Valley View Farms on York Road in Hunt Valley - the world`s greatest Christmas shop (and try Michael`s Restaurant, York Road in Timonium across from the fair grounds for some of the best crab cakes in Baltimore). I drove 6 hours back to my hometown to run this race and couldn`t be more proud to call Baltimore and this race home. I have run the Baltimore Marathon and personally, The NCR Trail Marathon proves the old saying that bigger is not always better! | |
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P. F. from Washington, DC
(11/29/2004)
"Course change miserable!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the full and my wife ran the 1/2 relay and here's our take.... THE GOOD STUFF-- 1) The trail is beautiful--reminded us of our runs at home--and the weather was perfect, even for the second half as the sun went behind the clouds and kept things relatively cool (50s). 2) Everyone in the gym before/after the race and on the course was friendly and helpful. The small race size made for simple baggage drop too. 3) The relay buses stayed at the exchange point which was appreciated as it was a bit chilly when you weren't running. 4) The premium this year was a real class act--embroidered fleece vests! BAD STUFF: 1) The final miles (hills) of the race were horrible! One of the strongest appeals to this late race (the post-Thanksgiving date is a challenge in itself) was the flat finish on the trails--and those hills at the end were just so demoralizing. Especially since we know they were added in when there was no need!? If this course change becomes a permanent one, we won't be back. 2) Too few volunteers! My 4 daughters who had come as our support crew arrived at the 5 mile mark to find no course marshals posted and watched in horror as a pickup nearly hit the second place runner. Actually, the runner banged on the back of the truck as it sped past just inches in front of him... DANGEROUS! Looking at the final times, it was quite possibly a situation that could have affected the outcome of the race as well. For a time, two of my daughters stepped in as course marshals to try to protect the other runners before someone from the water stop came over to help. It's tough to get volunteers to be sure but whatever can be done to increase the number would be so appreciated. Finally--if these two last things can be corrected, the good things about this race have enough weight with us that we'd be glad to bring a group back with us next year! | |
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T. H. from Springfield, Virginia
(11/29/2004)
"Wonderful course, hardy spectators!" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 First time running this marathon and will do it again most definitely. Kudos to all of the race organizers and volunteers for a great time. Your efforts are appreciated. A most excellent and scenic marathon course, despite the nasty new hill at mile 26 on this new leg of the course finish. Overall the course is very good, flat and well maintained. I was able to post a good PR. After running in four large marathons of 19,000 plus runners, I really enjoyed the small running field and hometown feel. Though sparse the spectators were awesome to stay outdoors in the very windy and cold weather. Great crowds at Little Falls General Store, Monkton Village, and who can forget the wacky quacks at the 'Hospital Zone' water stop? Nice touch by the ladies in the White Hall location calling out the runners' names from their list of registered runners. If you are looking for a well run race, a good course to PR on, or to qualify for Boston, then give this race a try. | |
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D. G. from Great Mills, MD
(11/29/2004)
"Plenty of time to think" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was by far the smallest race I have run yet (Richmond, San Diego & Chicago were my others). While I loved the excitement of the crowd support during my previous races, the serenity of this race appealed to me as well. Since the race is relatively small, packet pick-up, registration and race day parking were a breeze. Everyone who organized the event, worked at the aid stations, and came out to support the runners were great. While there weren't a lot of 'fans', the ones who came out were enthusiastic and encouraging - the gummy bears and Milano cookie I got late in the race were much appreciated too:) I enjoyed taking in the gorgeous surroundings at the points in the course I ran solo, and at other times I got to talk to some great people. I actually got to finish right behind a man running his 124th marathon - very inspiring! The end of the course was a bit of a hill, but after running the relativley flat course I actually welcomed the change. And the fleece vest we got is great... I'd definitley recommend this race and I'd do it again!! | |
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David Shaw from Near Pittsburgh, PA
(11/29/2004)
"Great Race - Lonely Finish" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is a great place for your first marathon. The course is a beautiful run through park areas on a well-maintained rail trail. The volunteers are the greatest. All water stations and road crossings were thoroughly staffed. As others have noted, the start is very nice in a small race like this, while the last 10 miles can get very lonely. I thought I'd have a bit more company making it in for my Boston qualifying time - instead, I got to run into the headwind alone. But, I DID qualify! Just a few comments on overall organization. pros - 1. Easy to pick up race packet, chip, etc on the morning of the race. This is especially nice for out-of-town folks like me. 2. Excellent post-race feed. Thoughtful touches like nice warm soup are great for a fall marathon. cons - 1. There were no signs at the road at the parking lot where the buses picked up runners for transport to the start. 2. With the remote parking it was very difficult for family members to view the race start and finish. My wife wanted to take the young boys out to do some sightseeing during the 3 hours between start and finish, but the shuttle buses did not run to the parking lot during the race. It turns out that veterans of this race just ignored the 'rules' and parked near the start at the elementary school. 3. The mile markers were not accurate. The first mile as measured short, while the last 0.2 miles was long by about a factor of 2. Happily, one of the veterans told me about this as we ran past the first mile marker. I then kept a minute in reserve for the finish so I could still make my Boston qualifying time. All in all, it was a great race, and I'd love to do it again. Highly recommended if you like to avoid the crowds and are good at setting your own pace. | |
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C. J. from Arlington, Va
(11/27/2004)
"a race with heart" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did this race to see if my time at Steamtown 6 weeks ago was due to the downhill nature of the course (fast) and found out that it was the same result (3:37 to 3:40). The strong headwinds on the way back may have slowed me on the decline back or the pebbles which suddenly felt hard. The people were the real beauty of this 'runner's' marathon. Lots of ultra runners getting training runs and LOTS of regulars who do it almost every year. (If you have a favorite trail in wooded areas, this is going to be the same as you're used to.) The conditions were beautiful even in late fall (still leaves around) and the migrating birds were pretty wild. I really liked the way once you got to halfway, all the volunteers were so glad for you and it made you feel like you really accomplished it. As with Steamtown, I lost 8-10 minutes on the return trip due to going out too fast on the hill down to the trail (will I ever learn?). Afterwards, the awards (lots and for everyone!) were warmly given out in the elementary school cafeteria and therefore, everyone was well monitored/taken care of. Thanks! | |
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David Terrill, Sr. from Tarentum, Pa.
(10/17/2004)
"Serene course, plenty of time to think..." (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 NCTM was my first trail marathon. My toes suffered as I chose to run in my flats and not my trainers. Cost me 3 toenails. The gravel was courser than I expected, and I learned a valuable lesson for future trail runs. A strong cold front blew through the day before, with driving rains. Saturday morning dawned clear, bright, cold, and breezy. Typical NE conditions this time of year. The trail was in remarkably good condition considering the rainfall of the day before. Drainage was exceptional on the trail, with only a hint of puddling. No ice on the trail, although a lot was seen in the beds of pick-ups at the school. And I don't mean in coolers. It got cold the night before. And stayed that way. Ya gotta love it!! The trail course has some scenic parts, such as Gunpowder Falls, with the 'Caution: Poisonous Snakes' warning signs, and the areas cut through the bedrock on both sides. Really pretty. The field was spread thin, and I had several miles with nobody around, no pressure, plenty of time to think and concentrate. This serenity was occasionally broken by the sharp report of a gunshot, as this day was also the opening day of deer season in this area. That noise will put some pep in your step!!! I'll always remember the DJ's plea at the school, asking runners who use the energy gel packs to carry the empties with them till they find a waste can. He said something like, 'Leave the trail as you found it. Don't leave your litter on our trail. Back in my day, we didn't have those energy packs. We just RAN.' I loved it. I still saw spent packs enroute. Disappointing. I ran this to get credit for the state of MD in the quest for 50, and now that I've had time to think about it, I'm glad I did. This was an enjoyable break from the typical big-city race most of us run. Awards were issued as you finished, which was cool, as it shortened the time from finish to HOT shower. (Did I mention earlier that it was cold that morning?) I recommend this race for the trail enthusiast or anyone like myself looking to conquer 50 states without having to do too many 'Concrete Jungle' runs. After all, we only have so many of those in our bodies to begin with, and it's great to put one of them on hold. | |
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M. W. from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
(9/27/2004)
"A fun run" (about: 2003)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 It got really cold. I was not expecting any coolness running in the south and I was on antibiotics for 10 days afterwards. If I would have dressed right, there would have been no complaints. This was a lot of fun, this is a fast and beautiful course, but bring pants. | |
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Anne Findlay from San Francisco, CA
(6/9/2004)
"A scenic course with slight, long up/downhills" (about: 2000)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race starts on the road in Baltimore County and makes its way to the North Central Trail, where it becomes and out-and-back course. The trail is flat, slightly uphill and slightly downhill. The spectactors are great, and some were even dressed up when I ran it. There is a half-marathon with the race, so it prompts you to run a little faster than you might otherwise. Generally, it is a small field but there are enough (or were when I ran it) to make it a fun event. |
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