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Clarence Demar Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Clarence Demar Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 142 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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E. T. from Vienna, VA
(10/2/2018)
"I felt special!" (about: 2018)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I agree with all the positive comments from other posters. The packet pickup is very easy (morning option) and it was easy to put my shower things in a locker in the Keene State Univ. gym. LOVED the convenient shower. Loved the obviously well-trained water stop volunteers in their bright yellow jackets. There was a volunteer at the top of the worst hill (around mile 13-14), and he jogged with me for 100 yards at the top encouragingly. I am a back of the packer, and the course directors were all still there when I arrived at the later turns. There were water cups at all the water stations, and even bananas and soup still at the end for my slow self. The course was interesting, and the waiting area at the beginning was comfortable. Ample porta potties. Everything about the race was great, and the weather cooperated this year--gorgeous. The highlight for me was running over the dam and through the cemetery. I didn't notice it until I read another review, but my bib number was 19 and this was my 19th state! I guess they did ask when I registered :) | |
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D. R. from West Chester, OH
(10/2/2018)
"The race to do in New Hampshire!" (about: 2018)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just completed this race (2018) and strongly recommend making this you new Hampshire marathon. Here are the reasons not in order of importance: 1) Pasta feed - I usually do not go to these (this was my 72nd full marathon) but it was well worth it - it was held at the Marriott Courtyard where I was staying - very inspirational and good food as well. 2) Great organization from packet pickup, transportation to the start, finish line - all very well done. 3) Course support was top notch and volunteers were very enthusiastic in supporting the runners. 4) The first half of the course was awesome - I gave the '4' rating, however, because during the second half, runners were on side of the road a lot of the time with fast traffic buzzing by from behind. This bothered me a great deal, but it did not seem to bother others. 5) Race director was at finish line and gave me a high 5 - a memory I will cherish! 6) Race director very caring about participants...really makes a difference - volunteers too! Just awesome! 7) Town of Keene was lovely with very friendly people - at the recommendation of a runner named Peggy that I met at the pasta feed, my sister and I went to Luca's for dinner the evening after the marathon - awesome! 8) 2018 weather was perfect for a marathon! 9) Race medal and shirt were both awesome! | |
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G. C. from Waterford, CT
(10/24/2017)
"Well-organized race. Worth it!" (about: 2017)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Course was very fast in the first half, mostly downhill. Second half (it was starting to get hot, too) was more 'meandering', but fun. Pretty interesting going through a cemetery. PR'd, but missed my goal due to the heat. Definitely recommended. | |
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T. K. from Cincinnati, OH
(9/29/2017)
"A Great Autumn New England Small Town Experience" (about: 2017)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Top 10 Reasons to run the Clarence DeMar 10 - Race organization - 2017 running occurred in record heat requiring last minute reorganization with EMS, police, water stations, volunteers but all was seamless to runners 9 - Ice and ice water at water stations 8 - Rallying of countless Keene homeowners who sprayed us with cold water from their garden hoses 7 - The Keene State College cheerleaders at mile 26.1 - maybe not as loud as the Wellesley girls in Boston but still very effective! 6 - The race volunteer at mile 18.5 who poured an entire bottle of ice water on my head 5 - The view of the New Hampshire hills from atop Surry Dam 4 - The first 5 miles: gorgeous with the morning sun filtering through the trees which were just turning along a creekside. One of my most beautiful running experiences 3 - The next five miles: almost as beautiful 2 - The history of Clarence DeMar whom this race honors 1 - The finishers medal which is embossed on its backside with a quote from DeMar, "Not only in running but in much of life is a sense of balance and proportion necessary" | |
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E. D. from New York, NY
(9/27/2017)
"Best kept secret in marathoning" (about: 2017)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Clarence DeMar is just about everything you want in a fall marathon. Most of the course is scenic, wooded New Hampshire, including a spectacular stretch on across a dam and spooky run through a cemetery. Unlike most small marathons, there are no loops - 26.2 unique miles. It's all most downhill and generally a fast course (if you can do downhills) except for a killer mile 23. With a field of only ~400 runners and the course is NOT crowded. Unlike every 'world major' marathon (CHI, NYC, etc.) no one is going to elbow you in the chest or push you from behind. You can run your own race. Organization: top-notch. Course is well-marked, even with funny motivational signs ('Pain is temporary but online race results last forever'). Aid stations every 1.5 miles, also unusual for such a small race. Prerace they held a pasta dinner with a presentation from Dave McGillivray, head of the Boston Marathon, who shared his inspirational story and history with running. Loved that. The biggest downside is that being held in late September the weather can get you. In 2017 the forecast was for 91F. They moved the start up an hour and luckily it wasn't so bad. About 60F at start and low 80s by finish (unless you are really slow) but it was warm and muggy. But it was unseasonably hot across the U.S. that weekend - it happens. The only other drawback I can think of is that the roads are not closed off, you share them with cars. Cops man intersections (good) and these rural drivers are generally respectful (also good) but for long sections you will be curb hugging to avoid cars. Not a lot of crowds but having run big city marathons many times I think this is a better overall experience. When you register you provide a fact about yourself that they announce on the loudspeaker as you approach the finish line. They call this a 'runner's race' and it really is almost everything you'd want in a marathon. If you get sick of big city marathons treating you like a piece of meat, you can't go wrong with Clarence DeMar. Great race. | |
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N. K. from Ann Arbor, MI
(9/26/2017)
"Beautiful course, great volunteers & organization" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I loved this marathon. Rolling hills, a lot of downhills, and spectacular scenery. But the best thing about the race is the support of the incredible volunteers, race director, and the entire town. Keene is a charming small town, and they are very proud of their race honoring Clarence DeMar. 2017 was HOT, but by the time the weather became an issue, most every resident in town was on the curb with their hoses, sprinklers, extra water, and ice. The race director is great, with a lot of communication about the weather throughout the week. He was driving the course himself, checking on the last runners to make sure everyone was doing OK in the heat. As he had told us all to slow down, they kept the finish line open until every single runner came through, even though it was well past their cut off time. I am extremely impressed by this marathon, it's director, volunteers, and the town. HIGHLY recommend! | |
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M. S. from mansfield, TX
(9/25/2017)
"Scenic and hot in 2017" (about: 2017)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Great point to point course thru scenic new Hampshire. Fan support was great with many offering a water spray or a cold drink, great on a unseasonable hot Sept in NH. No expo but the bib pickup was convenient and organized. Great food & drink at the finish and a great medal. Small field at about 250, my fav size, overall a great marathon, one to do again! | |
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S. V. from New York
(9/29/2016)
"Awesome scenic views!" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a very small race, about 500 runners. There is little crowd support. There were volunteers and water stations at every 1 1/2 miles. It felt like a down hill course with rolling hills. Beautiful views of streams, mountains, live cattle, farm land, and newly paved roads. Beautiful medal and cool tshirt. Very well organized. Special Thanks to Sheryl at registration. Some of the race was done with moving traffic which at times you needed to run single file. Overall... I would run this race again :) | |
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J. L. from Boston, MA
(9/26/2016)
"2nd oldest marathon in USA - character & history" (about: 2016)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This race is in honor of Clarence Demar; see the race website for more info. I learned that it is also the 2nd oldest marathon in the US only after Boston. It is neat and full of history, and you can tell that the locals take pride in the annual race. Overall, the race is well organized, and it is a small New England type race. It is a point-to-point race. I had perfect weather (between 40-50 degrees and sunny) on the day I ran. The only reasons I do not give the organization 5 stars is because we could have used coffee at the start and the water cups were a bit too small. Regardless, there was water and Gatorade at every 2 miles. It was very nice to have the option of showering right after the race, and the minestrone soup at the finish was delicious. Even though it is a small race and a small-budget production, you can tell that the organizers spend the money on the things that matter most to the runners. The race shirt and medal are superb. There were just a few hundred runners in 2016 and just a few spectators along the way, but I give the spectators 5 stars because the few that were out there were very kind and energized. The course has a lot of turns and some hills but not an awful lot. We shared the road with traffic for most of the race, but traffic was not bad so it was not a huge deal. There were police at all the major traffic intersections. The race offers bag check, water, gatorade, GU gel in your welcome bag, free photos, chip timing, good food at the finish, race shirt, medical tents, buses to the start, early start, great medal, easy parking, and race-day bib pick up. It also offers indoor shelter the morning of the race. I am happy to see races like this exist and have been organized year after year. The race is organized by a local nonprofit group. | |
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E. Y. from MA
(9/25/2016)
"Beautiful New England Fall Marathon" (about: 2016)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Clarence Demar Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Ran this the first time in 2016 and what a great surprise. From the start in Gilsum (a quintessential small New England town) , the course is very scenic along a river, across the Surry Dam with beautiful views, through a neighborhood, cemetery and along a bike path. Very good communication before the race, easy check-in by very friendly volunteers, good water/Gatorade stations and results at the finish (on iPads). All around a wonderful experience and a must on your marathon calendar!! |
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