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☰
Long Island Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Long Island Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.0 
Organization 3.5 
Spectators 2.6
Number of comments: 145 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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F. K. from New York, NY
(5/3/2011)
"Great organization, flat half course" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I returned to the LI Festival of Races to run the Half. In 2009, I ran the full and PR'd, but decided to avoid the long slog on the Wantagh Parkway. The Half course is waaaayyyy better than the second half of the full where it is all lonely stretches of highway for almost 12 miles. As in 2009, the organizers were great, the medal was very nice (at least for the half runners) and we got a tech shirt, a tech hat and tech socks in a very nice heavy duty nylon bag. Well worth the registration price! It was a hot day as the sun came out and I over dressed for the weather. There were a few spectators along the Half course that were great. The volunteers manning the aid stations were awesome as always. There were only three bands which was ok by me. I was hoping for more Gatorade along the course but I simply doubled up when I reach the right aide stations. I will probably go back again to do the Half. | |
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K. M. from New Jersey
(5/3/2011)
"Great Job." (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is the first time doing this race. Overall, I liked it a lot. After reading other comments about the route I would have to disagree. I thought running the highway was the better part of the course. The field opened up after mile 10. The half marathon runners started to head back to the park at this point. However, there were still enough of runners in the full marathon to set your pace to. Also, of all the races I've done, at whatever distance, the LI marathon had the greatest water station. There was one every mile with more than enough water, gu, etc.. But the people at the water stations were the best part. For lack of a better term they were very motivated. Thanks again to all the people who put this event on. | |
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m. a. from long island, ny
(5/2/2011)
"It is what it is" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 If your coming to run this marathon and expect a lot of fan fare and spectators, this is not the race for you. If you are coming for beautiful scenery, this is also not the race for you. If you have trained through the winter and did not run Boston, live in the general area, and want to run a marathon the 1st week in May, this race IS FOR YOU. I have run the half marathon numerous times, but never the full until 5/1/11. The expo is not terrific, but what else do you want besides to pick up your bib number anyway. Easy access to start on race day. At the 10 mile mark, the half marathoners get off the Wantagh parkway and the full marathoners start their way down south on the parkway until the turn around at mile 16. The water stops at each mile stops are all manned by H.S. kids who shout encouragement throughout the day. Yes, there is not much shade on the parkway and the weather can definitely be an issue. There are spectators on the parkway, just not huge crowds like one is accustomed to at big city marathons. The finish area is very nice (band, beer and very easy for family to find you). Baggage claim is very close and your car should be as well. Yes, you may be running alone at times on the parkway, listening to the birds chirping away, but it is what it is. It is a flat course. Having lived on Long Island all my life and run the half a few times, I am very happy that I ran the full. All in all Nassau County puts on a good show on Marathon Weekend and if you live in the area, you owe it to yourself to run one of the races they offer (5k, 10k 13.1, 26.2). I did not break 3 hours like planned which was disappointing, but it was a good run with some good people I met on the way. | |
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M. B. from New York, United States
(12/2/2010)
"Boring, LAME AND I DONT KNOW IF I'LL DO IT AGAIN!" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the LIM in 2010, and from my own experiences, I have to tell you that this was the most boring and dull marathon EVER. IT was SIMPLY A LONG, HOT, SCORCHING HIGHWAY from mile 10 and up (where half and full marathoners separate). Although I got a medal in my age group (18) and the medal every participate receives, it did NOT make up for the lousy experience while running it. PROS: GREAT SUPPORTING STAFF FLUID STATIONS AT EVERY MILE FREE MEDAL AND SOUVENIRS ($65) FOOD AT THE END OF THE RACE GREAT, EASY-TO-READ DIRECTIONS CONS: STUPID, LOUSY CHOICE OF RACE COURSE NOT TOO MANY SPECTATORS DURING RACE NO PLEASANT SCENERY WHATSOEVER FEW MARATHON PARTICIPANTS EXTREMELY HOT CONDITIONS WITH NO SHADE I knew over 20 people who came to the race festival and I came with 7 people, so trust me: this WAS A BORING RACE. My race time was just over 3:00. I was very disappointed about that. AND although I was VERY appreciative of all of the hard work the staff put in into the organization of this event, I probably will not be returning unless they drastically change the race course in the near future. :( *SIGH* | |
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J. A. from New Jersey, USA
(5/21/2010)
"Pretty good marathon for the tristate area" (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My second full marathon. Course was flat (yay). For about half of the course you're on a highway! The good thing was that there was plenty of room. Bad thing: it gets a bit boring. I'm a novice marathoner, but I enjoyed myself. The water/hydration stations were GREAT! Every mile on the full marathon course (after you split from the half marathon) they had water and Gatorade. The people there were almost fighting amongst themselves to hand me a drink. They also cheered us all along. It was very hot (77, I think) and all of the water came in handy. | |
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S. P. from New York
(1/17/2010)
"Organization should be improved." (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This is a small marathon with a mixed of good and bad and I think there is room for improvement. The GOOD: It is one of the few marathons close to NYC and the course is flatter than the NYC Marathon (but there are faster marathons if you look for a PR). The marathon bag contained a few items that I found useful, such as a thermal bag and a metal water bottle. I like the marathon shirt and use it often on my training runs. The BAD: You need a car if you want to run this marathon. The start and the expo are far away from any public transportation option. Like many people in NYC, I do not have a car. As there is no race-day packet pick-up, from NYC you need to rent a car and waste half a day to go in the middle of nowhere twice. On Saturday to pick up your number and on Sunday to run the race. Allowing pick-up on race day and organizing some shuttle from the train station to the start/end of the race would greatly improve race experience. From mile 10, where the half-marathon people leave the course, you run on your own. I did not mind this too much, but the course is really ugly and lonely. The website indicated that gel would be available at several points along the course, but I could not find any until mile 22. I did not bring any as I relied on what the organizers had advertised and experienced the thrill of racing a marathon without any carbo support. On race day it was pouring rain, but at the arrival there was little or no cover provided. You can imagine the pleasure of finishing a marathon with your glycogen on red, soaked under the pouring rain, with no place to find shelter and change before walking 3 miles to the nearest train station. | |
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Run Lolita Run from US, LONG ISLAND NATIVE
(1/6/2010)
"best overall experience, but could be more scenic" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I read some of the comments and have some agreements and some disagreements. I think the course could have been more scenic. But I will have to say: it made me love running again. I've run all my life, competitively and for leisure for at least 13 years, and running this marathon was the best thing I could have done. It's got so much energy in the beginning, which is nice, especially when it's your first marathon. In the middle of it, there was no cheering, I but can't say that it affected my opinion really; it actually made the experience all the more amazing. I mean, when you are running a 400 meters, it's crowds of cheering, but on the 9th mile or so of running, when you are fighting your mind to keep "wanting to finish," you don't want to hear cheering; you want peace... you want rhythm. When all the cheering stopped and it was just other runners, running at your pace - the ones who decided NOT to stop - it gets you going. You feed off of that rhythm and the respect you build for each other, it's quite beautiful, really. I mean, when the rain hits your face, and you look up and it's just trees straight ahead, you could hear each other "DYING" (breathing heavily) and hearing every stride, every sneaker hitting the wet pavement... it just feels like war. It's what being a runner is all about. Running is an individual sport; that is what makes it so challenging... that's why runners - REAL runners - RUN. | |
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N. E. from New York New York
(12/31/2009)
"Long Island at its most boring" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Long Island Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I lived on Long Island for 23 years, and this race almost makes me embarrassed to say so - simply a drib-drab, boring course with no visual stimulation along the highway. I know it is a local race, but surely the directors could get something more creative going (the Gold Coast, Jones Beach, etc., etc.). The course is mostly flat, which is a plus, but there has been enough headwind due to the lack of trees along the highway. Not killer. Don't expect cheering, except at the very end. Overall the organization is good for a race this size, although of course the 5K/half marathon thing is a challenge when pacing oneself. | |
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G. K. from Plainview, NY
(11/19/2009)
"Pancake Flat Course w/ Small Marathon Field" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Long Island Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is a well-organized course, but it attracts only a small field (possibly because it's on the same day as the Five Borough Bike Tour, the NJ Marathon and the Providence Marathon). Expect little fan support and a boring 13-mile stretch on the Wantagh Parkway. This course is also pancake flat (I recall only one minor hill exiting the parkway). I thoroughly enjoyed the Long Island Marathon. The mile markers were visible and accurately placed, and all had clocks (most marathons of this size neglect to put up clocks). The first ~10 miles also were shared with the halfers. The roads were never narrow, so there was no crowding issue. I enjoyed the fan support in Woodbury - thanks for coming out in the rain!! After the split, the course gets tough only because it appears to be an endless stretch of highway. There were a few spots with fans, but mostly I was alone (I did make a friend who helped me pull through mile 17). I don't know if anyone else noticed it, but the highway was made up of concrete in spots that was especially hard on my knees. Coming off the parkway was a huge thrill. The end of this race blew by me simply because I was elated to be back on local streets. The race re-enters Eisenhower Park at mile 25. Fast runners beware: The slow halfers will be in your way, and this is also where the course gets narrow and windy. My only gripes: No race-day packet pickup (would it kill organizers to set up a table for those of us not from Long Island?). Also, can the race be moved to Saturday so that it won't conflict with other events? | |
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J. P. from East End of LI
(9/26/2009)
"Flat and Fast" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Long Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I ran the half in '08 and the full in '09, and both were PRs. On the positive side, the course is fairly flat - I remember the biggest hills as bridges just crossing over streets below. The give-aways were good and the vendors sell anything you would need within reason. I have to comment on the long stretch on the parkway that everyone seems to dislike. It didn't bother me at all - it was flat with enough other runners to pace you. Sure, Ocean Parkway and Bethpage Parkway are prettier, but after all, you need to run 10 through 22 somewhere. On the downside, the parking is far away from the start and finish; and the finish is more of an issue. Having to pick up the race packet the night before is a pain when you live more than an hour away. Finally, it was drizzling at the start so I had on two Dri-Fit shirts and tossed one on the tank (Korean War Memorial) in Eisenhower Park only to have it stolen. |
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