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Jun 2, 2024

Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.2

Organization 4.4

Spectators 3.5

Number of comments: 195 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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R. B. from Delaware (5/16/2016) "Great small town race!" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 4th year running this race. I know it has received some poor reviews but it TRULY IS a great point-to-point marathon and the course will prep you for Boston.... if this is your goal. Yes the course is listed as net downhill with rolling hills. Although the elevation change is not great with these rolling hills, most people do not like them because they occur around miles 18, 20 and 22. Then there is another small hill at mile 24. Think of it as prep for the famous 'Newton Hills' which are also not huge, but occur in the higher miles when you have fatigued legs! Again it is a great race worth checking out as it has awesome volunteers, fire and law enforcement support, etc. Over 3/4s of the course is closed to traffic which is another great feat. They also have great pacers available which will help you reach your goals as long as you have put in the training! Pace teams are unusual for a small town marathon. Water and Gatorade every 2 miles as well as mile markers every mile. Organized post race with quick bag retrieval, great shuttles, food and chocolate milk. With the great weather I was able to achieve a great PR and another BQ!
S. C. from New York (4/25/2016) "Great small marathon." (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Great small marathon. It's still a marathon though. I think many fool themselves into thinking they will glide down the hill into a BQ. I ran with a great pace group which I had to fall out of at mile 22. I still managed to hold it together and run a respectable time & enjoy the beautiful course. As for previous comments about the roads. You're in the mountains of Pa. in the early spring. Roads are still damages from winter plowing. They are still better than NY roads. My only one complaint was the road kill at mile 8.
J. B. from Rochester, NY (10/24/2015) "Everything was fine until the end" (about: 2015) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I had read many reviews about this course before I ran it so I was well aware that there was no gels or food and the net downhill didn't necessarily mean easy. All that down really tears up your quads. This is to say, there were no real surprises as far as the course goes. It's pretty light on spectators for most of the race, but this didn't bother me. I've done a lot of training runs with no cheering. I found the support on the race adequate. Fluids and a place to deposit them every 2 miles. My biggest issue was the finish. I couldn't believe there was no gatorade (or equivalent) at the finish. It is always the first thing I'm looking for after a long event to keep from cramping. I actually ended up collapsing due to what amounted to a full-body cramp about 30 minutes after finishing. I can't help but think that could have been avoided had there been electrolyte drink available. The bus ride back to the start was pretty awful. I'm not sure how they could improve it, its the nature of a race that doesn't finish at the start. It might look like I'm complaining. I had an overall good experience. It couldn't have been too bad, I did get a PR. However, I think this was my last Run For The Red.
E. M. from Langhorne, PA (6/23/2015) "Hill, Traffic and Cheese Sandwiches" (about: 2015) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 My husband and I selected this race because it gave us a goal race for the spring, it is only a couple hours from home and it had some great reviews. I read how this race has a net downhill and is therefore fast. More specifically it is described as a fast net downhill race with rolling hills with some steeper inclines in the final miles. People wrote of PR-ing and even BQ-ing at this race. We were excited for it and trained through this past miserable winter and early spring. We did a decent amount of training on terrain that we thought would be similar, you know, 'rolling hills'. Such a lovely description right? Blah!! Here's the truth: This race is really hilly! Don't be naïve and fooled as we were! Yes, it is a net downhill but each time we went downhill we had to go up first! By mile 14 I was already quite tired and I had a terrible stabbing pain in the side of my knee that I've never in my life had before. I seriously thought about quitting but soldiered on to a PR (in the wrong direction) I will admit it is possible that being a relatively inexperienced marathoner, I might not understand race course lingo as well as others may. Let me spell it out for the others out there like me, rolling hills does not mean small and idyllic, you know, like it sounds and it certainly doesnt mean easy! Personally, I would describe this race a very challenging and by that I kind of mean grueling! It certainly didn't help that the weather was very hot and humid which of course only made this day that much more 'challenging' for me. My biggest complaint of all though, was that fact that while this race claimed to be along closed roads. Well, it wasn't! Many of the rural roads were indeed closed and the scenery was lovely until&Rt 447, a highway, open for business as usual! I couldn't believe it when I got to it. We were forced to run along the gravely sloped narrow shoulder as cars literally zoomed by! This went on for approximately two or so miles. I was honestly shocked and pretty angry. Frankly, I would never have signed up for and paid for a race that forced me to run in traffic! No explanation nor apology was ever offered by the race coordinators btw. A part of me still feels like I would be within my rights to ask for a refund, thats how ridiculous I think it was! The food at the end was just fine nothing too exciting. I managed to choke down a dry cheese sandwich (a plain burger roll with a slice of cheese inside). Half a muffin (they were cut in half) with some chocolate milk. Meh Since this is a point to point race, we did have to take a school bus back to the start after. This wasn't too big of a deal but we did sit and wait a little longer than comfortable (no air). Not exactly ideal after completing a hard, hot and humid marathon. Something to consider. My husband and I both agreed that we will most likely not return to this race any time soon. I will be very curious to read the reviews after next year. This year was the 10th anniversary of this race ; after ten years I would expect it to run like a well oiled machine but it just didn't feel that way. The highway being open was the biggest example. So here's my two cents, if you are looking for a small, rural, scenic, hilly, challenging race this will fit the bill. If you area mortal like myself and are looking to PR or BQ, mmmm...,I don't know...I suppose anything's possible and honestly, if you do you have my sincere admiration! Good luck!!
m. m. from traverse city,michigan (5/31/2015) "Good response to extreme heat and humidity" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 While previous comments adequately cover the course,organization and spectators, I want to mention the response this year to the high heat and humidity...(starting with the course specific forecast from their local meteorologist daily on the facebook page) the consistent water stops were the best I have seen. And the medical tent and volunteers at the finish could not have done any better than they performed handling many of us who needed help.( a special shout out to the volunteer marshaling us onto the track at the 26 mile mark who handed me a bottle of water....)
T. V. from Castle Pines, CO (5/20/2015) "AVOID...major changes needed!" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I signed up for this race to achieve my BQ since I was only 1 minute off on my last race, I missed it by over 35 minutes!!! Many reasons why: * Roads were in ridiculous shape. The big potholes were marked but we spent miles of the course dodging and wasting energy. We also had to run over a quarter of a mile on a closed road that had just recently been ripped up! There was re-barb and misc. construction materials ALL OVER. * Water stations were mismanaged. Yes, you can not control volunteers but there was NEVER any consistency as to which fluid (water or Gatorade) was in which cup and which was being served first. The volunteers rarely told you what they had in their hands and it was a constant guessing game when you arrived. Most volunteers just stood there with there hands out saying nothing. The exception was the station at 24.6...they rocked. * ZERO gels or any food support. I did not personally need this but it was 86 degrees that day and runners were depleted...unacceptable. Praise to the people that brought us ice and orange slices out from their homes! * Two-way car traffic! There is a large number of non-runners in this community that do not wish this race to be there. They drove dangerously close to us runners, sped up right next to you, honked (even at those clearly off the side of the road) and had no problem yelling at us from their car windows with four letter words. I was disgusted! * Police officers, while most were nice, did not want to be there. They had no problem communicating to us runners that this was their day off and they did not appreciate us. Not sure what this was about but I can only guess that law enforcement and race directors don't have a great relationship. * Which brings me to my next point. The heat was stupid! It could have easily been avoided by starting at 6am. The reason for the late start posted to FB by the race is that law enforcement refuse to help with an earlier start. In the end, a man dropped from a heart attack, many racers were carried off course by ambulances (of which I witnessed no less than six personally), and the medical center had a television spot the next morning declaring that racers filled up their ERs. * The finish line, while staffed with medical center professionals, was inadequate. They ran out of ice and were constantly scrambling to deal with those in bad shape. Did they get it done? Yes, but not what you would expect out of a race running for 10 years. There was extremely minimal replenishment at the end...it was like they ran out of money. My family took me to nearby grocery store for electrolyte and nourishment. I am a seasoned runner and can honestly say...please avoid this one. It would be good if you have no time goals and were out to run it with a group of friends...and come prepared!
A. W. from Philadelphia (5/20/2015) "Well organized, fast and scenic" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a very pleasant small/mid size crowd. Enjoyed the conversations I had during the run. I ran with the 3:15 pace group until midway. The rolling hills towards the end are tough coming after the steep downhills from miles 5 through 15. Much of the course is on curvy country roads closed off to traffic. This is the only event I have ever run with no lines at the potties. Very well organized. The start was at the Mt Pocono High School and it was nice to hang out in a very nice facility and use real bathrooms. The downhill course is fast and very hard on calves & quads. This year the temp rose to 89 in the afternoon following heavy rains the night before (very hot and humid conditions), so times were noticeably slower. If you are looking for a fast downhill course, then I highly recommend this race.
R. P. from Williamsport, PA (5/18/2015) "Great Marathon. Better Practice Hill Running" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Ran the 2015 marathon in exceptionally hot conditions. Although hardly any spectators on course, this was a well organized event, and one I would recommend. First 13 miles is ALL down hill. Second half has much more up hills so be prepared. Fast course if weather conditions right.
S. L. from Pennsylvania (5/18/2015) "A nice small race" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Packet pick up was simple, located at a local high school. Only a few vendors at there, with the essentials, so don't go expecting to go home with lots of goodies. Shirt is long sleeved, typical polyester material, only logo on the back is the Red Cross, which is the beneficiary of the race. You park at the start, which is located at a different local high school. Ample parking, school is open for bathroom use. You could literally park and walk to the starting line in less than 2 minutes. This is a small race, so the start is a simple 'GO' and you're off. There is chip timing (shoe attachment). They have several pace groups, but it's so small that they all seemed bunched together. After the start, they spread out and seemed to hold their own group. Some of the roads are completely closed, so there was a lot of room to spread out. I liked this because you never felt like you were boxed in and running the tangents was easy. There were some roads that weren't closed to traffic though and you had to be aware. The local fire department and police department provided traffic control and were plentiful. Intersections were closed when appropriate. Although when the runners started spreading out, they would let traffic through. At one spot, a tractor trailer was trying to make a turn and got hung up and the runners had to veer around it while the driver got it moving. There were some very scenic areas, quiet, tree lined, which provided some shade, but other places were relatively major roadways. The course overall was nice. A net down hill, but DO NOT BE FOOLED. This is not an 'easy, flat' course. There are rolling hills and a couple after mile 20 that are long and gradual that you wouldn't think twice about in a half marathon, but sneak up on you at the end of 20+ miles. The on course support was fine. Water and Gatorade about every 2 miles. Some stops had ice, and on a blazing hot day, this was welcomed. No gels, but some residents offered oranges, strawberries, and melon. A few citizens had set up spritzing/hose stations to help with the heat. The spectators were few and far between, but they were very enthusiastic and welcoming. One lady thanked me for supporting the Red Cross and many others thanked me for running the race. You finish on a high school track, after you weave your way around the parking lot and perimeter of the school. There was an announcer calling out finisher names which was a nice touch. The finisher medal is simple, but nice, sporting the race logo. There was food at the finish such as fruit, water, simple sandwiches, muffins and chocolate milk. There was enough for everyone, from what I could tell. Buses were waiting to take you back to the start, since this course is point to point. The weather was hotter than usual for this time of year. The medical support was outstanding, especially at the finish where runners were literally dropping left and right. They were quickly attended to by the medical team. Many people were transported to the hospital and the ambulances were waiting, which was good. It was reported that someone on the course had collapsed and CPR was administered by the first responders and the person is going to be okay (per the race organizers). If you are looking for a small, simple, uncrowded, local race and you don't need constant cheering from fans, then this is a great race. If you like crowds, lots of goodies, a large expo, no traffic on the course, a big fancy finisher medal, then look elsewhere.
Gregory Cohen from Croton on Hudson, New York (7/27/2014) "Fantastic Marathon" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a great marathon I can't recommend it enough. It's true that the crowds can be thin, but the folks that are out are awesome. The course is outstanding, a net downhill, but as others have mentioned, those rolling hills in the second half are no picnic. The organization of the race is outstanding, great expo. great pace teams, really really outstanding. I went to qualify for Boston, and I am thrilled to say I did. It was a great day, made better by a well organized event. Go run it, you won't regret it!

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