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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 411 to 421]
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F. A. from San Francisco, CA
(1/27/2005)
"You can't miss this one..." (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I set out to PR -- bad idea. About 10 minutes into the race, I settled back and simply enjoyed the day. It's an incredible experience - yes, there are bridges, yes, it's a long time to wait at the start, yes, if you're not sub-seeded, it can take a long time to even get to the start line (it took me 12 mins). However, you know all the minuses in advance, so just be prepared! I'm running this one again in '05 if they let me. I posted a DNF last year in Chicago, but ran enough to be able to compare: while I think Chicago is well organized, has great support, and a great course, there was something so different and special about NYC - I think the folks who have experienced both can vouch for this. Everyone I met was wonderful, and while the pre-race pasta feed left a little to be desired, I loved my dinner companions (hey, if you're reading this, drop me a line, maybe I'll run the Great Wall with you) and all the people I met in the 3-hour wait for the start. | |
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T. F. from New Jersey
(1/20/2005)
"Note guaranteed entry time change for 2005" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For those of you who may have been 'border line' as far as having a previous marathon time/age based guaranteed entry for 2005 New York Marathon, note that they have allowed an extra five minutes compared to previous years. Based on my male 50+ age, I didn't make the previous 3:15 in 2004, but do make the new 3:20. Hope this helps others too! | |
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A. M. from Providence, RI
(1/19/2005)
"Never so Lucky!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third NYC Marathon (I should have such luck on the PowerBall!) and while it was likely my slowest time ever it was still a great experience! Last year I had my fastest marathon ever so things even out. One of the best things in my mind was - wait for it! - the availability of tp in the porta potties all the way up to the end!!! FINALLY someone's starting to come around to the need!!! I don't know if I'll enter the lottery again this year, I feel like I should try another fall run, but I know that when the time rolls around I'm going to be itching... | |
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M. W. from New York City (West Village)
(1/18/2005)
"Thumbs up from a New Yorker!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Having only one previous marathon to which I could compare this course, this was a tough one, but the proper training took care of that! What crowds! What scenery! Train well and take your time - the NY Marathon is a fabulous experience. TIP: The least expensive and most scenic way to the start is via public transportation. Take the 1/9 train to South Ferry, take the FREE Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty, and busses take you to the start. We took the 8am ferry and still had time to kill. | |
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D. S. from Chicago
(12/27/2004)
"Beats Chicago by a Mile" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I too am a Chicagoan, having run Chicago 3 times ('01, '02 and '03). Organizationally, New York puts us to shame. I love Chicago and will probably run it again, but N.Y. knows how to do a marathon. The expo is better organized. The race starts on time and the course has way better crowd control than Chicago has ever had. The post-marathon exit is far more organized than Chicago. Of course, N.Y. has two major drawbacks -- BRIDGES and a late start. Why in God's name do we have to be at the staging area by 7:00, but not start until 10:00, when the sun is slowly cooking us all as we start on the Verazanno bridge? The bridges were tough and will easily add 20 minutes to anyone's time. But if you are like me and ran it just to take in the sights, then N.Y. is a GREAT race. Better than Chicago (and I live in Chicago). | |
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E. B. from Chicago
(12/10/2004)
"I took candy from strangers!" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon in 4 weeks (Chicago on 10/10/04), so I ran this for the experience to soak in the City. The people of New York did not disappoint me! They made this Chicago boy feel right at home. It's true what they say, if you want to feel like a rock star put your name on the front of your shirt. Crowd support could not have been better. At mile 12, I was having so much fun I wished I had farther to go. By the time I got to the finish line I could speak the language! The only negative I caught was the expo running out of the jacket I had coveted, but that's what happens if you wait until the last day. I loved this race, I love this town. I will be back! Thank you NYC!! | |
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m. b. from Indianapolis, IN
(12/6/2004)
"Top rate" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have the ultimate compliment for NYC... I am wanting to try other marathons (I've become hooked on the sport) but I keep coming back here year after year (been lucky with the lottery). This is the best out there. Others are great (Boston, Chicago); this is special. The combination of the fan support and running through the 5 boroughs is hard to top. Yes, it is difficult. (Ugg, I curse the Queensboro Bridge every year). But running through the supportive crowds of Brooklyn, 1st Ave in Manhattan, and Central Park is about as good as its gonna get for 99% of us who participate. I really don't think you can go wrong with this one. It may be too big for some's tastes, but you gotta try it at least once. | |
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m. r. from Los Angeles
(11/28/2004)
"Long awaited and waiting too long" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 New York City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 It seems like a lifelong dream to run the NY Marathon... I felt it was everything I could have asked for in a dream. The course layout, the fan support, the water stations and the fuel, weather, time of year and seasonal change, the foliage and scenery... all fantastic. The one thing that got me was the early time to get to the race start and the 3+ hours of waiting! This really is too long for anyone. With 36K+ people it made it difficult to keep peaked for that long. Aside from that... I would do it again in an NY minute! | |
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G. R. from Annapolis, MD
(11/23/2004)
"Most Important: Have FUN" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I luckily got into this one two years in a row. My best word of advice: Run this race to have fun, not to PR. The entire course is rolling hills, the last two years have been warm, and there are too many great people along the way to interact with to be miserable and in pain. Slow down, relax and enjoy this one. Every turn is special. If you run one, make it this one. | |
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D. T. from Frostburg, Maryland
(11/22/2004)
"Best of times, worst of times" (General Comments)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ New York City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran New York City for the sixth time this year, and have run 32 marathons altogether. I could concur with every great comment about this race but I have one aspect that may make me unique: I ran my marathon PR here. And I also ran my slowest marathon ever here! Both were grand experiences; New York is New York, and I have always felt times are largely a by-product of the training. At both the fastest and slowest, I listened on that long walk along Central Park West to my fellow sojourners either 1) ecstatic about just being here or 2) grumbling generally about how they should have been ten minutes faster! |
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