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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 391 to 401]
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P. D. from New York
(11/10/2005)
"Great Experience" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third NYC Marathon, so having run it twice before (1997, 2003) I have an idea of what to expect. I will list some positives and negatives, but overall it was a wonderful experience. The comments posted so far for the most part I tend to agree with. Positives: 1) Running down 1st Avenue (Mile 16 to 18) and Central Park (24 to finish), seeing thousands of spectators cheering you on, is a thrill that is unmatched in any other marathon (or even road race) that I have done. 2) It is the BIG deal race, it gets the publicity, the hype and everyone knows about the race; it's the one you can tell the non-running neighbor about. 3) The cancellation policy is also a positive, for if you can't run it, you can run next year (of course you have to pay, but you are in). 4) Living in the surburbs and having a world-class event in your backyard makes some of the logistics (number pick-up, hotels, etc.) easier (as opposed to coming in to the race from out of town). 5) The international flavor of the race that has runners from all over the globe. Negatives (not whining!): 1) The race should start a week later. Temperatures for the last 3 years were mild, 70 degrees with some humidity, which makes it hard to run well in that kind of weather when you are usually training in cooler weather. 2) Waiting 3 hours at Fort Wadsworth before you start can be tough, especially if you are alone, but usually you will meet people. Overall an amazing experience, even with one of my slowest times, and it is race I could do again and again. | |
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D. S. from Michigan
(11/10/2005)
"Words cannot describe the experience!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I spent months training for this, my first marathon. I listened to all the advice and read all the comments. Yet, still, it completely wiped out all my preconceptions... whether you are an elite or a sloth, the energy, excitement and motivation will be unforgettable and you will feel like a hero (especially if you are wearing a name or a flag). 1) I arrived at the expo Friday afternoon - no line. 2) I arrived early at the bus pickup - no lines either. Yes, you wait longer on Staten, but come prepared, stake out a comfortable spot and meet some fellow runners. 3) Zig-zagging (and dodging) around the constant stream of runners will be a factor in whatever time you are seeking. 4) Don't rely much on pace groups. I crossed the finish with four different pace groupers. 5) Those water stops later in the race (whether you stop at them or not) are quite treacherous with the thousands of cups, gel packs, and even orange & banana peels. I saw some attempts at raking debris out of the way, but watch your step! 6) Expect a torturous post-race slog up Central Park into the inevitable mayhem of bag pickup/family reunion. I wish there was a bypass for us 'orphan' runners! All in all, I don't think anyone can ever regret the experience of running the NY Marathon. I'll be back! | |
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J. D. from Chicago, IL
(11/10/2005)
"NY Marathon vs. Chicago - which is better???" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 In NY, you have to board a bus that takes you to the start line in Staten Island - you must board a bus between 5am and 7am - the race starts at 10am - this means you will wait probably 2 hours perhaps longer... as we and everyone else did. As you run across the bridge from Staten Island, it is unbelievably crowded, more crowded for a longer distance and period of time than any marathon I have participated in; this of course slows you down and I almost got knocked over at least a half a dozen times. The problem is the bridge is way too narrow for all those people - and the bridge is almost 2 miles long... That's a long ways to be bumping into people... In NY, after you finish, in Central Park (which is extremely narrow in width) you have to walk at least 200 yards or so before they give you a medal and then you have to walk another 200 yards or so before they take the chip - and then you have to walk another 300 yards or so before you see any food or water. What they did is hand you one (ONE!) bottle of water and a little white baggy with a cheap apple and orange inside (the kind you get in 10-lb. bags at the grocery store), and one granola bar thing - that's it! There were no tables of food, no Gatorade, no beer, nothing else - extremely poor quality food and beverage and hardly anything at all to eat or drink.... I couldn't believe it. Also, in NY, they didn't hand out water or Gatorade until between the 3rd and 4th mile - I thought that was pretty lame given how warm it was that day. Now let's compare this to Chicago. In Chicago, I drove to the race and parked within a short walking distance of the marathon less than an hour before the start of the race. Although crowded at the start, the width was so big that very quickly the running 'channels' opened up and no one was bumping anyone. In Chicago, after you finish you can see the medal, chip drop-off point, as well as tables and tables of all you can grab and eat food and drink (including large red delicious apples, large bananas, oranges, candy bars, protein bars, bottled water, and bottled Gatorade like drinks - and several beer trucks as well! I took about 10 pounds worth of the stuff and gorged myself on the way home. Also, in Chicago, they handed out water and/or Gatorade at every mile, 1 through 26. There were a lot of people cheering in both NY and Chicago, I would say about the same amount of people for both. | |
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J. L. from Dayton, OH
(11/9/2005)
"Spectacular event " (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 NYC was my first marathon a number of years ago. I was in awe that November day in 1989, and now 16 years and 30+ marathons later I have returned to NYC. Once again I am in awe of the city and the marathon. This marathon is much more than a race. It is a spectacular event, an adventure, an epic experience. I have run other marathons with better courses, with better refreshments, with better medals. But, the NYC marathon is one of those life experiences you will not forget. The NYC Marathon is a great race! Thank you to the marathon staff, the people of NYC, and my fellow runners. It was an awesome experience! I hope to run this marathon again. | |
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M. D. from Boston, MA
(11/9/2005)
"Great race to make you a marathon addict!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I'd rank it as one of the best experiences of my life! I was amazed at how efficiently the whole process was run - from getting my number and chip at the expo (whole process took 7 minutes), to the bus ride to the staging area, to the staging area itself (food and lots of bathrooms), to the course and actual finish! The fans are so amazing and completely motivating. I trained on all hills, so as this course is relatively flat, I did not find it overwhelmingly difficult. I would suggest a few more porta-potties on the course earlier in the race. I didn't see one until mile 15 or so and was lucky enough to be allowed into a pizza restaurant in Brooklyn to use their facilities around mile 9. I saw other runners running into gas stations, etc. for the same purpose. It was a very crowded field and this definitely hampered my time.... But who cares?! It was such a blast!! I'll be back next year! | |
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Eliot Collins from Raritan, NJ
(11/9/2005)
"Great Experience - Unlike Any Other Marathon" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is an amazing race, and I appreciate it more each year. I have run other big city marathons (Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc.), but they cannot compare to NYC. Every runner should experience it at least once. In some places along the course it is as exciting (and as loud) as a rock concert. I got to run with thousands of people from all over the world, and I was beaten by Paul Tergat. | |
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D. M. from Dallas, Tx
(11/9/2005)
"AWESOME MARATHON!!!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was only my 2nd marathon, but it was by far better than the one I ran previously. I had a great experience. The fans and supporters were the best. Thank you New York! I would definitely run this again. One of the highlights was coming off the Queensboro Bridge with all the fans cheering, was something else, reminded me of playing football and coming out of the tunnel to a mob of cheering fans. If you run a marathon, this is the one to run. | |
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C. W. from Atlanta, GA
(11/9/2005)
"tougher than last time" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The road conditions seemed worse than in 2003 and at the water/Gatorade stations, it was congested. There was a large international contingent, which arrived early, and resulted in some expo clothing being sold out. Hotels were also booked very early. Weather was 65-70, with a little breeze. Shade on the right side of the course helped. | |
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P. A. from Fairfield, Iowa USA
(11/8/2005)
"Understand what you are getting into!!!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My advice for anyone running New York is to just understand what you are getting yourself into. If you do this and feel it is right for you, then you will have a great experience. New York was my 10th marathon and it was a fabulous experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. But this is not your small hometown marathon. Rather, it is a major sporting event on the scale of a Superbowl and as such has some major event realities attached to it. On the good side, the start will give you goose bumps, the course has some breathtaking views, the crowds for the most part are awesome and the music and sheer visual stimulation is very cool. For a marathon with 37,000 runners, it is well conceived, well run and efficient. The expo, the race itself, the medals, the shirts and all the nice little touches don't go unnoticed. Here are some of the realities: 1) Be patient and be prepared to wait. On marathon Sunday you will wait 30-45 minutes to board the bus, take as long as 90 minutes to arrive at Staten Island and then have over 2 hours to hang out at the park before the start. On most marathon Sundays when you get up by 5am, you are almost done running by 10am. In New York, you haven't even started. 2) Be prepared for long lines at the expo, the pasta feed and elsewhere. It is just a fact of life at an event with 37,000 participants. 3) Don't count on running a PR. Yes, its possible, but not likely. It is 26.2 miles of wall-to-wall people (unless you are elite) and difficult to pass and pick up the pace beyond what the group around you is running. 4) Prepare for hills. The bridges are long, hard hills, as are the rollers in Central Park. Do not train as if it is a flat course. 5) The finish area is a challenge unto itself. You have to walk a long, slow, painful mile or more to get food and meet your friends/family. To be quite frank, the reunion area is a big mess. We stayed 8 blocks south of the park and it took 90 minutes to get to our hotel from the time we crossed the finish line. So if you can deal with these realities then it is a great experience that you won't want to miss. Whether I run 10, 20 or 50 marathons, I can absolutely say my resume would not be complete without New York on it. Good luck in the lottery and have a blast! | |
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N. T. from New York City, New York
(11/8/2005)
"Baggage Pick-up is the Toughest" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 After the NJ Marathon, I drove 2 hours back to Queens, NY & fixed a flat tire on the highway. After Corning, I drove 5 hours back. After NYC, I just wanted to lie down on the subway. The course is tough, the weather is hot, but the most difficult part is the baggage pick-up. Runners had been assigned orange, green, & blue start. This is important because after the race, orange UPS trucks are the closest to the exit & blue are the farthest. Within each color, runners have further been organized by the first letter of the last name from A to Z. With my last name starting with a T and having been assigned blue start for years(?), I've had to walk from the first UPS truck to almost the last one (the #71 truck this year). Prior years, the trucks were lined up head to tail, so I had to walk a long distance, but could pick up the baggage quickly because there was more space between each truck to display. This year the trucks were lined up side by side, which cut off the walking distance, but left no space to display. Plus some of the drivers & volunteers seemed inexperienced; we were jammed up at the door & held up a bib number for the baggage. I appreciate the official help at the subway gate. After 26.2 long miles, every bit of help counts. Will keep running this marathon because the crowd is great, but there should be improvement on baggage pick-up. |
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