calendar icon Sep 19, 2024

New Jersey Marathon Runner Comments

Back to New Jersey Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.3 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.5 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.9 
 
 
Number of comments: 464 [displaying comments 371 to 381]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 36 37 38 39 40 .. 47 > ]

 

T. O. from New Jersey (4/28/2004)
"Well-organized small marathon" (about: 2004)

11-50 previous marathons | 3 New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This is a very well-run, well-organized small marathon, with lots of nice, personalized touches. As long as there isn't a headwind, the course is very fast. The scenery along the way is very nice too - views of oceanfront homes, the beach, boardwalk, etc.

The spectators are a little sparse, but there are plenty of aid stations along the way. And since it's a small marathon, ambitious spectators can follow their favorite runner on a bicycle.

A few examples of the personalized touches... the finish line announcer announces the name of every finisher coming through the chute... after finishing, I was standing at the end of the chute with that post-marathon 'deer in the headlights' look. A race volunteer helped me over to a place to sit down, asked if I was OK, and got me a bottle of water. A volunteer from the baggage check went and got my bag for me (without my even asking).

 

Janakiraman Gopinath from NJ/USA (4/28/2004)
"Good marathon " (about: 2004)

1 previous marathon | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This is my second marathon, which I really enjoyed more than my first (which was a trail marathon with only 180+ participants). Most of the time in NJ Marathon I was running with a crowd and never got bored. The spectators are very friendly and there are lots of fluid stations on the way.

 

a. S. from new jersey (4/28/2004)
"NIce race, the shore in April is ?" (General Comments)

11-50 previous marathons | 6+ New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 1


I've run this 7 times because it's easy to get to and from. No spectators to speak of. The last 9 miles are out-and-back on an empty street.

 

J. G. from New Jersey (4/28/2004)
"Excellent for a first-time marathoner" (about: 2004)

1 previous marathon | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


The volunteers are enthusiastic and helpful, and plentiful throughout the course. Plenty of aid/fluid stations and flawless execution on everything from baggage handling to start and finish procedures.

If you are looking to run your first marathon this is a great choice. Relatively small field size (limited to 2500) is also a big plus for a first-timer or if you like smaller races.

 

E. P. from NJ (4/28/2004)
"Perfect 1st Marathon" (about: 2004)

First Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Perfect weather, flat course, plenty of water stations, plenty of volunteers, couldn't have asked for anything more for my first marathon. Having a pacer to run with saved the day. Thanks Nick!

 

Anthony Albergate from Ridgewood, NJ (4/27/2004)
"A great course!" (about: 2004)

2 previous marathons | 2 New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I like the way the course was rerouted from last year to end by the ocean. The organization was great. At one point during the marathon, I stopped to comfort a runner in obvious pain. I was able to flag down a cyclist-volunteer almost immediately and he helped her out. The course is well equipped with fluid stations and food.

 

M. S. from Allentown,PA (4/27/2004)
"Flat, fast and friendly." (about: 2004)

3 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


Really flat course, which made my legs feel like lead by the end, but tricked me into a faster pace than I've been used to for the first 3/4 of the race. Spectators were sparse, but the ones that were there did well to give lots of encouragement.

 

P. M. from Upstate NY (4/27/2004)
"Nice Race, Finish Area Needs Organization" (about: 2004)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Flat course with plenty of water stations; lots of volunteers. With the change in the finish location, it would be helpful to better organize this area for next year's race. Too many non-participants taking water and food designated for runners.

 

S. H. from Hillsborough, New Jersey (4/27/2004)
"Course - Awesome. Volunteers - The Nicest. " (about: 2004)

6-10 previous marathons | 4-5 New Jersey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 4


This was my 4th NJ Marathon. I love the course and the volunteers are truly outstanding. What concerned me this year was the new host hotel. My partner and were looking forward to a relaxing and enjoyable pasta party. What we saw was a very confused staff and some hungry marathoners wondering why there was a mixup. My partner and I did a quick 'sprint' down about a half a mile to a delicious dinner of protein and carbs. We came back and found that the runners had been banished to small area.

The other hotel complaint - there didn't seem to be enough room to handle the large crowd at the expo and the $25.00 surcharge for a late check out was a rather unwelcome surprise. So perhaps the organizers will consider not breaking what already was fixed and make the host hotel the Holiday Inn in Tinton Falls!

 

J. B. from Fairport, New York (4/26/2004)
"Decent marathon but needs improvements" (about: 2004)

2 previous marathons | 1 New Jersey Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 2


I was looking forward to a run with ocean views over much of the course. Unfortunately, almost the entire course had either trees, houses, hotels or a breakwall between the runners and the ocean. Some of the course was through a construction area, running on large gravel and stones, which was tough for runners and must have been very difficult for wheelchair participants. Other parts were on concrete sidewalks (the worst possible running surface) which were too narrow.

Fans were few and far between. They did have a great selection of pacing teams, and frequent water stops. They also had clocks at every single mile marker, and even the first half mile, which was unusual for a race this size. Food and drink at the finish was a bit sparse and hard to find, especially the bagels which were hidden in the hotel with no signs or directions of any kind.

 

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