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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 111 to 121]
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B. B. from Baton Rouge, LA
(5/13/2009)
"Could have been a good race" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This race could have been a really good race. I have only run 9 marathons, and hope to run the 50 states. I can only hope that the marathons will not be like this one. Pros: * The fans and aid stations were very nice. Even though the fans were few, they were very nice. Loved the free high-fives. * I don't really like loop courses but this one helped for my family to see me in multiple spots. * The finisher medal was very nice. * And the best part of all was the awesome scenery. Cons: * The expo sucked a lot. There was nothing and there was very good potential for it. * There were too many half-marathoners and the ending was awkward, being on that boardwalk right next to a restaurant with people who did not care about anything. * The race route was poorly managed by the police. Three other runners and I almost got hit by frustrated drivers a few times. Also, due to the poor police work, the race was delayed by 30 minutes - there was a crash on the route! What the hell?! I would have missed the 30 minutes of rain near the end of the run that froze me to death. (I know that the weather is uncontrollable.) * The finisher tent was well stocked with hot food, but it was so damn crowded that I never stood a chance to get any because of the rain, and even if it weren't raining, it was so small and there was no flow. I starved. * It was also freezing, with no finishing blankets. Overall, this marathon was very poorly organized, but the flat course provides fast times possibly, and the people were nice. It just needs some more organization. | |
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C. H. from Philadelphia
(5/12/2009)
"Average at best" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I have to agree with the comments from "Quebec." This race was hugely disappointing. It was, by far, the worst organized race I've ever been a part of. The traffic/shuttle bus service on the day of the race was inexcusable. Add to that the fact that there weren't any toilets at the parking lot (which took a full hour to get to from the highway's exit, 3 miles away). There weren't ANY volunteers in the parking lot (there were cops who were ill-prepared for the number of cars coming in). The expo was small and cramped, and for a marathon/half-marathon with over 9,000 entrants, you have to be better prepared. If this race were new, this would all be almost acceptable, but it's been going on for 13 years! That's surprising. This race has a lot to fix. Yes, the course is fast and flat, and the few volunteers on the course were great. But aside from that, I would not recommend this race. If you do decide to register, get a hotel room so you can avoid the miserable morning hassles on race day with the shuttles and parking. It rained on race day and that was the least of this race's problems.... | |
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A. B. from Boston area, MA
(5/12/2009)
"Overall, a very good marathon" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I would have given this race an "A" if it had not been for one major problem: no visible fluids at the finish, and no food (they ran out). I finished the race in just under 5 hours, but the course was open for 7, and there were a lot of people behind me who were also going to be disappointed. Through correspondence with the race director, it turns out the fluid volunteers abandoned their post without notifying anyone. It is unclear what happened with the food. My best guess is that, since this race is dominated by half-marathoners, that is where the food went! On to the good stuff... * excellent mile markers (can see from far away) * GREAT spectators most of the way, despite the pouring rain * you get a nice shirt, hat, medal, and pin * clocks at each mile * excellent traffic control * start and finish along the ocean * nice and flat (if you like that) * volunteers were very friendly and encouraging * the website is very thorough, as were pre-race emails This marathon is dominated by half-marathoners and since it's a double loop, the first loop is very crowded. It was a little bothersome to hear people shout, "You're almost there!" at mile 11 when I had 15 miles to go! You literally cross over the finish line and then do the second loop. I thought I would hate that but it was fine. I have made some suggestions to the race director about food/fluid at the finish for the marathoners, as the lack of these things really tarnished my finish of what was otherwise a really great and well-organized race. I recommend this marathon if you keep in mind that it is dominated by half-marathoners. It's got a lot of good features. The section along the ocean is great and "Pier Village" (where the expo is) is a great place to shop and eat. This marathon is definitely worth consideration. Spectator tip: I had a friend stationed in a section of the course near miles 8, 11, 21, and 24. He was able to drive and park relatively close by, and it was a great area for spectators. | |
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N. S. from New Jersey
(5/11/2009)
"Fun time in New Jersey" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I had a great time running in the rain! I recommend this race and would definitely run it again. Pros - Flat, fast course. - Great course support (even in the rain). - Hydration tables on both sides of the course. Loved the oranges around mile 8. - Race director and pacing organizer are great! They respond to all emails personally and very fast. - Ability to wait indoors in the hotel before the race start and use the hotel restrooms. Cons - The starting area and the first mile are very congested, but it starts to thin out after the first couple of miles. - The 30-minute delayed start (while waiting in the rain due to the late buses arriving) - I wouldn't mind the race start being delayed 30 minutes if they notified us, because we could have waited in the hotel. My muscles get cold and stiff standing 30-45 minutes in the rain for the start. - Bag check-in is done on the honor system . While there is someone at the ballroom door making sure the bag you remove from the ballroom has your number, it does not prevent someone from going into your bag inside the ballroom, as they are left unguarded. - Race results were posted 36 hours after the race. Runners who finished the marathon with a borderline BQ time must have been sweating bullets. | |
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J. H. from Washington DC
(5/10/2009)
"Nice course but disappointed with the organization" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 For the good parts: The aid stations were well placed and well staffed with excellent volunteers. The course was pretty fast overall. For the bad parts: I concur with all the complaints about the transportation. The buses were late, and some even got lost. The long wait for the buses were unacceptable. During the expo and on race day, I saw virtually no race marshals helping people find their way around. When the buses dropped us off, if I hadn't been there the day before, I wouldn't have had a clue how to navigate the 3/4-mile trek to the start line! The expo was shockingly small, and no one checked IDs to pick up your bibs. The weather sucked, but that was not the organizers' fault. The lack of support planning, though, was visible from beginning to end, and will make me think long and hard before I consider running this race again. | |
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d. l. from Montreal Quebec Canada
(5/8/2009)
"bad Marathon" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Problems: - Too many half-marathoners - Parking shuttles don't work - Terrible expo First time marathoners think it is the best, but if it is their first, how do they know? I have run 200 marathons and don't post comments, but this was a terrible marathon and I think others should know. | |
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Y. S. from Queens, NY
(5/8/2009)
"Shuttle Bus System Failed, But Still a Great Race" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 It was my 3rd NJ Marathon. It has been my favorite and I have been recommending this race to everyone. Fast PR course, with excellent organization. However, with the field size becoming bigger every year, they introduced the "Central Parking System" with a shuttle bus to/from the start/finish. We were told to be there early to avoid the traffic jam. Many people got there as early as 5 a.m., assuming that shuttle bus service started from 5 a.m., as told. When I got there at 5:30, there was already a LONG line of people waiting for the bus in the rain. The line got longer and longer.... Then finally the buses arrived at 6 a.m. It was like musical chairs. People ignored the line and rushed to get on the bus. There was no order at the parking lot. Then we were dropped off more than a mile away from the start area. We all had to walk in the rain. It was already 6:30. After the race, we had to take a shuttle bus back to the parking lot. Again, LONG line! I hope the organizers look into this problem and come up with a solution next year. Except for this problem and the late start (almost half an hour late), it was well organized with pleasant spectators along the course. The NJ Marathon is still one of my favorites! | |
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A. D. from New York, USA
(5/7/2009)
"Bus Fiasco" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 You can't blame the organizers for the rain (it didn't stop) or the delayed start (excruciating), but the bus fiasco, both before the race and after, was down to poor organization. Runners shouldn't be standing around in the cold and rain for half an hour-plus waiting for buses when they are already tired, cold and wet. Also, there was no traffic control on the the route to/from the parking. This led to unnecessary delays. I felt the City of Long Branch could have made that part of it go more smoothly. How hard could it have been to station a few police officers at strategic points to wave the marathon traffic through? On the plus side, the spectators were great, as were the fluid stations and volunteers. It is a nice, flat course. The massage room was excellent - usually I don't bother as the line is too long. | |
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a. f. from USA
(5/7/2009)
"fast course" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I PRed and BQed at this event this year. It's a well marked, 2-loop course, with plenty of aid stations and volunteers at the start. The only drawbacks were that the shuttle to the start was a total mess, and my pacer was a no-show. | |
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T. A. from USA
(5/7/2009)
"A+++" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my first marathon (I've run the LBHM twice), and I just wanted to express my appreciation to the organizers, the volunteers, and the crowd - from the ones in the streets all wet like us to the ones who waved, cheered and played music from their houses. Thank you all very much. |
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