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A Runner from New Zealand
(4/1/2001)
"There is no other way to see New York!!!!!" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I supported an athlete with the Achilles Track Club at this marathon. This was truly an amazing experience from the people rocking on the sidewalks, the food, music and thousands of people running around us for hours. The fininsh line was exceptional. Thank you New York. | |
A Runner from EUgene Oregon
(2/24/2001)
"Simply the best." (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Out of 35 marathons completed (including 3 in Boston); this is by far my all time favorite. I have to rate everything related to the race 5 stars. It's the opportunity of a lifetime. I highly encourage ANY marathoner to run this marathon. | |
A Runner from Orlando, Florida
(1/8/2001)
"Three cheers for NYC!!!!" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The day I found out that I 'won' the lottery and was entered to run the New York City Marathon I knew I was in for a very special experience -- the NYRRC, race organizers, volunteers, spectators, & fellow runners ALL exceeded my expectations! To run this marathon is truly the opportunity of a life time. The communication from the race organizers is wonderful, very comprehensive. The web site will also answer any questions you may have prior to race day. As for descibing the course -- forget the racing termanology -- it is FUN! After coming off the Verrazano Bridge at mile 2 and seeing a banner that said 'Yo...Welcome to Brooklyn' it set the pace and mood for the rest of the day. I soaked in every mile, thanked every spectator that cheered me on and had the opportunity to talk to runners from all around the world who came to run and enjoy this fabulous race. I will keep running marathons (in fact I just finished Disney yesterday) and hope I find as more as enjoyable as New York. And, I will enter again this year and keep my fingers crossed until the draw the winners in June. Three Cheers for New York! | |
A Runner from NY, NY
(11/14/2000)
"The Best!" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran my first marathon this year in NYC. Yes, there were frustrations..the line at the Expo can be long and you do have to get to the start early but the frustrations were so minimal compared to the entire experience. That's exactly why 35,000 people put up with it every year! I ran a surprisingly good time..I'm convinced it was the awesome turnout of crowds and bands screaming from the moment you cross the bridge to the finish line. There's always an overwhelming turnout of supporters. I didn't check my stuff with UPS because I heard the process could be long..and I regret not doing so because they have gotten a lot more efficient at this process and it was easy for everyone to get their stuff back. Also, they serve gatorade at almost every stop which makes a huge difference over water! If you're in doubt..go for it! But do skip the pasta party unless you're looking for a running buddy..the food was cold and bad! | |
A Runner from San Diego
(11/10/2000)
"A Great Marathon in a Great City" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran NYCM for the first time in 2000. It was my 10th marathon. General impressions: Organization - I was very impressed with the race organization. It is no small task to bus 30,000 runners to an island and then provide them a fun and interesting experience running through one of the world's most exciting cities. United Parcel Service collected our drop bags and I found this to be very organized, I got my sweats in no time after the race. Course - The course has some challenging aspects to it, but isn't too terribly difficult, in my opinion. I had prepared for a lot worse. I thought the 59th St Bridge (Queensboro) was the worst, and the few small rolling hills in Central Park didn't impress me, but it wasn't bad. Crowds - This is is one of the best parts of NYCM. The crowds, especially along 1st Avenue were incredible, although I think Chicago has some great crowds too. Volunteers - I think this race has some of the best volunteers ever. They were helpful, cheerful, congratulatory, and just generally wonderful. I can't thank them enough. Race Logistics - This is a big race and had some of the poorest race etiquette I've ever witnessed. People would just stop in their tracks in the middle of the course and start walking or take pictures. It is really fun running with people from all over the world, but it is nearly impossible to move if you're in the middle of the pack. I found it very frustrating to have to dodge around people for 26 miles. Do it for fun and not for time. Be Careful - New York is an exciting city and it's easy to spend the days before the marathon walking around seeing the sights. I made that mistake and come race day, my quads were already shot! | |
A Runner from New York City
(11/10/2000)
"The most incredible experience of my life" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon but a dream I have always had. I was nervous and nursing a knee injury for a while but was determined to run NYC. The crowd was absolutely unbelievable and so, so, so supportive and motivating that I got through 26.2 miles feeling no pain at all! New Yorkers really are the best! Thanks to all of you that came out to cheer us on. Looking forward to next year! | |
A Runner from Boston
(11/8/2000)
"It's the classiest & the best!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This year was my 13th consecutive NYC Marathon. It may have some mishaps once in while i.e. too long lines and wait for carboloading dinner this year, but it's still the best marathon in the world. The city comes alive and treats you like celeberties. Long lines are a part of big marathons, besides it gives you a chance to meet and talk to marathoners from all parts of the world. NY is the BEST! | |
A Runner from Chicago
(10/31/2000)
"Great One-Time Experience" (about: 1999)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I was a little disappointed with NYC. The crowds were great, but I was not prepared for the temperature variances running over the five bouroughs. It seems like the temperature dropped 20 degrees every time you went over a bridge. The streets varied between brick, concrete and asphalt, and painful on the feet. The start was horrible. I had to get up and catch a bus in NYC at 6:00am and drive to the start of the race at 11:30am. You felt like cattle from the start to the finish line. The experience was memorable, but I wouldn't do it again. | |
A Runner from Philadelphia
(10/16/2000)
"No other U.S. Marathon Comes Close" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Excepting that Patriot's Day race up north, there is nothing like New York. This year will be my fourth. 30,000 runners, over 1 million people on the street, screaming, yelling, stomping their feet....all for you. I ran the monsoon race of '97 commented on below and was blown away by the number of people that would stand in a cold pouring rain just to WATCH the runners!! True, more people come out on a sunny day, but, for example, the last four miles of the race had spectators at least 10 deep on both sides of the road. And all this when it was raining so hard the water was ankle deep on the road. Yes, the race is crowded and there are lines at packet pick-up and to get your gear at the end. But if people were less selfish, the lines would run more smoothly. In '97, I got my gear quickly from the UPS people, but I saw cranky, nasty people essentially storming some of the UPS trucks because they wanted their stuff NOW, and be damned with eveyone else. Now THAT was the real shame of the '97 race. | |
A Runner from London,England
(9/25/2000)
"A Great Race.... Shame about the Organisation!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I ran the race in 97 (the last 6 miles in monsoon conditions!). The course goes thru the 5 boroughs of NYC and finishes in Central Park. I felt a little bit let down that the race didn't actually live up to the pre-match hype regarding the crowd support and atmosphere. The organisation for the collection of bags after the race had finished was an absolute shambles! We stood in the pouring rain for over an hour whilst the bag-handler tried to find our bags. In the end the runners had to drag every bag from the vehicle and sorted thru them to find their own bags. I hope the race organisers have changed their procedures since then. Apart from this it's a good race which I would like to do in better conditions.Simon.Cox@liber |
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