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Hartford Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Hartford Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 306 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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M. S. from Mansfield, TX
(10/10/2009)
"Perfect day for running in 2009!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great course, running in Connecticut in October, with fall in the air and the leaves changing color reminded me of a Norman Rockwell photo! Fans were great throughout most of the course, aid stations were frequent and well stocked, and we got a great medal and great post-race party - except that they ran out of beer. The expo packet pick-up was efficiently run. One complaint: the "D-ring" chip time strip was glued to my bib number, so when I removed it, the race number came off too. I had a large blank strip in the middle of my number. Do this race! It's a good one for Connecticut, and for the time of year! | |
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D. H. from Florida
(8/9/2009)
"Enjoyed this race" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a great race, which I really enjoyed. Crossing over the river and running through the "county" was nice. I really enjoyed running by the houses that date to the 18th century. The junk food table around mile 18 was nice. I liked the Coke, and of course, the finish was nice - FOOD, FOOD, FOOD and more FOOD!! Everything you needed was there. The food was close to baggage pickup and it was nice to take the shoes and socks off and just sit on the grass soaking up the sun. Start/finish was within walking distance of many hotels, as well as the race expo. I plan on running again in 2010. The hills did not present to much of a challenge for me, being from Florida. | |
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D. S. from Brentwood, CA
(4/29/2009)
"Wonderful, Fall, New England Race" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just finished running Boston for my first time last week and thought I should comment on Hartford while I am at it. After all, if it were not for Hartford, I would not have made it to Boston in the first place. It is a mostly flat, fast course that spends about half of its route in scenic New England countryside. Yes, I slowed down a bit during the last 10K in the "hills" but not significantly. I had trained with hill repeats and doing some long, rolling runs. I slow down in the last 10K at every other marathon that I have run - even at St. George, which loses a couple of thousand feet in the last 10K. As this was my first marathon coming back after a reconstruction on my left leg, I desperately wanted to qualify for Boston (since I am not getting any younger). I had trained for a 3:30 finish but I decided to conservatively run with the 3:35 pace group. I read one other comment from another runner in this group and I have to agree that this pace leader was superb. I don't remember his name or bib number, but I believe that he is a CT local. He was consistent, energetic, enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable about the course - and he kept up the words of encouragement the whole time I stuck with the group. I felt rested enough that about the turnaround point (~11 miles) that I ran ahead, almost catching up with the 3:30 pace group by mile 20, and finishing at 3:32, just over 3 minutes ahead of my qualifying time. Because I had been in CT for grad school a decade and a half earlier, this was a good excuse to travel back to New England in the fall. We flew in from California on Wednesday, hiked in a nearby beautiful state park (Sleeping Giant) on Thursday, and then attended the expo and generally spent our time on Friday in and around Hartford. All combined, it made a nice New England vacation. Other things worth noting: We were able to stay at a 4-star hotel within walking distance of the start/finish and for a reasonable price. The expo was fast, convenient and really cool. I got to go on a 3.5-mile fun run with Bill Rodgers during the expo the day before which was really cool. The organization, volunteer support, post-race activities, spectator support, and en route entertainment were all awesome. Yes, the walkers and general congestion at the start was annoying but perhaps it forced me to rein it in at the start (which I am not usually good at) and save my energy for when I needed it most. And finally, I agree with another posted comment that Saturday marathons rule - I was able to take it easy on Sunday and enjoy the New England scenery (we rode the Essex steam train along the Connecticut River, pricey but awesome) and then fly home on Monday and return to work on Tuesday. Kudos to all who make this great event happen. | |
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Lee Ann Yarbor from San Diego, CA
(4/3/2009)
"Beautiful, fast course." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Being from San Diego, I don't get to see the colors of the "seasons" like I witnessed in Connecticut. Fall was a little late in 2008 (so I was told) and I was in the heart of the fall foliage. WOW... now I see why you people live here despite the horrendous winters. The few weeks of beauty are worth it. Absolutely stunning! Weather was perfect. For me, this was the "perfect-size" marathon: Not too crowded, but not too small. Spectators were great and not too numerous. Plus, it was primarily flat and very fast. I qualified for Boston without even trying. The only complaint I have (and it's not really a complaint - just something to take into consideration) has to do with the last 5 miles of "up and down" off- and on-ramps. I like to call all of those little hills "spirit-breakers." I'm sure there was no way to avoid that, but it would have been better to experience those "spirit breakers" in the beginning of the race, instead of the end. Overall, a great race - the perfect time of year, and it's near the top of my list as a favorite! | |
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B. G. from Long Island, NY
(2/21/2009)
"Great New England fall marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Beautiful course with challenging but not unreasonably tough hills in the last 6 miles. Need more port-o-johns at the start (what marathon doesn't?). Great post-race party, and I love the endless water fountain at the finish. Nice town to hang out in post-marathon. | |
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M. S. from Hamdent, CT
(1/31/2009)
"A must for all Connecticut marathon runners!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Sure, it doesn't have the same ring as "New York" or "Boston," but you're not running a marathon to impress other people with a name, right? Hartford was my first marathon and it was the hardest, yet most amazing experience of my entire life! The course is flat for the first 16 miles, and therefore pretty fast. You head out into East Hartford and loop back on some scenic roads. You get to enjoy watching the elite runners on their return from mile 11, which is pretty empowering. There are some tough hills during the last four miles, but they're certainly beatable. Crowds are good for that first 16 miles, but sparse as you run under the bridge, etc. This aspect of the race may have improved since ING took over the race, however. | |
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D. S. from Burlington, Vermont
(11/21/2008)
"A great, low-stress marathon" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Hartford Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I've run the race 3 times, and it always lives up to its promise. Registration and the start are easy, and there is plenty of support along the way. Parts of the second half of the course are desolate with almost no spectators. My vote would be to swap the two loops so that the desolate part of the course comes first when you have other runners around you. One complaint is that there was no special line for massages for marathon runners, so you had to wait in a long line along with the walkers and half-marathoners. It's well organized and fun, and I'll be back! | |
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G. K. from New york City
(11/13/2008)
"Nice Run" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the Hartford Marathon in order to get in shape for the NYC Marathon. Overall, this was a very well organized events with beautiful fall foliage. There were not many spectators for this event, but the ones that came out more than made up to it. We were treated to line dancers, cover bands and more. Race organizers had volunteers on bikes to offer aid, snacks, etc. What I would change: Start line was unusual, as it required runners to wrap around a corner. This led to much congestion early on. | |
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J. M. from Ellington, CT
(11/2/2008)
"A great experience for my first marathon!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a natural selection for a 47-year-old first-timer from the Hartford area, but I wouldn't have chosen any other race to run. The organization and scenery were great, and the weather was perfect. The 4 hours and 28 minutes I spent on the course were a thrill that I will never forget. | |
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M. V. from New Jersey
(10/24/2008)
"ING Hartford Marathon - a must!" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Hartford Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The ING Hartford Marathon was the perfect fall marathon for me and a world-class event top to bottom. Pre-, during- and post-race organization were superb and the volunteers around this event were clearly the best I've ever seen. The course is fast and very scenic, with the right amount of challenge. I PR'd by 11 minutes in this, my second marathon, and ran with a very good pace group. The weather was perfect in '08: 49 degrees and clear/dry at the start, warming up through the 50's during the race. Hartford is known for a few key things: it's one of the greenest races in the world, which is very cool, and the post-race party and food have to be among the best in the country - all organic, fresh and local foods and brew. Add ING and what they bring to a marathon and this race has become a New England classic. I can highly recommend the ING Hartford Marathon to anyone looking for their next or first marathon. This race has all the ingredients: not too big, but not too small; great course; great organization; great crowd; a lot of family activities; really nice medal; best post-race party/food around. Go for it in Hartford in October '09 (marathon, 1/2 marathon, 5K & kids' races). |
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