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New York City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to New York City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 604 [displaying comments 511 to 521]
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D. S. from Michigan, USA
(11/3/2003)
"Good race with a whole lot of people" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Pros: Great variety in the course route. Bus ride to Staten Island was very well organized and the volunteers helpful. Good crowd and volunteers were very courteous. It was interesting having the bridge from Staten Island bounce as we were running across it. Cons: A four hour wait at the start line is excessive. As in most races, their attempts to seed the people failed miserably. It was a massing of runners at the start line with people crowding to the front leading to a lot of people that had to be passed, and with 30,000+ runners, this was not an easy task. I could be wrong but I think that it is part of a scam to collet an additional $35 from runners because they never took my chip off at the finish line. I kept walking and looking at other people's shoes to see if they still had theirs on, which they did. I assumed they were going to be removed before we reached the family reunion area. Not the case. | |
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Ken O'Brien from Somers, NY
(11/3/2003)
"The spectators are amazing!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just ran my second NYC marathon yesterday. New York has the loudest, most diverse, and simply the best crowd. They cheer and scream non stop and running up First Avenue the crowd is 10 deep for miles. There are bands of all sorts along the course. The volunteers are amazing. Well organized for the size -about 35,000 thousand yesterday. The ONLY negative is the lines for the portable bathrooms at the start are ridiculous. I LOVE NY. | |
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Laine Doss from Jersey City, NJ
(11/3/2003)
"You Just Get Chills At The Start - Awesome" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I'm a native New Yorker but had never run the NYC marathon. I have heard stories ranging from fantastic to lukewarm, but I have to say that my experience was completely positive. Yes - there are long waits for everything - if you wait until the last minute. Pick up your race number during the week and don't wait until Saturday. Skip the pasta party and eat at a restaurant - NY has fantastic Italian restaurants. Get to the bus early. The wait in Staten Island is not bad and I only waited a mere minute to get to the start from the time the gun went off. Running the Verrazano Bridge is overwhelming, as is the crowd in Brooklyn. Passing through the neighborhoods of NYC, with it's diverse residents is amazing and each block represents a different and diverse cheering section. There are bands playing, children trying to high five you and thousands of people cheering you by name! The bridges will try to chew you up - don't let them because at the end of every bridge you'll find thousands of people waiting for you and wishing you well. At the end, when you're dead at Central Park South, strangers will become your friends as these New Yorkers sincerely want you to finish strong. Pain? Fugettabout it - this is New York, baby! | |
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J. G. from Long Island, New York
(11/3/2003)
"Absolutely fantastic... warm, but plenty of water!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second NYC marathon and it was wonderful. I ran with my brother from Georgia and our family was there to support us at Mile 24! It was definitely one of the top ten experiences of my life! The course, the volunteers, the organization were all terrific. The fans are just the best and really help you along when you're struggling at Mile 20! The music was the best in the Bronx! It is worth the trip and the pain! | |
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R. K. from California
(11/3/2003)
"Ooooo that smell!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I enjoyed myself on this rather difficult course on a hot day. But my main comment is...this is the stinkiest marathon I've run in! I'm not talking about the city, I'm talking about the people! Because it is a very crowded race, it accentuated the fact that many people have terrible body odor, obviously don't shower before the race, and eat too much damn garlic! Running behind someone and getting whiffs of stink happened throughout the race. I know I'm speaking about a very small number of people, but like smokers, their air travels! | |
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Robert Cremin from Seattle, Washington
(11/2/2003)
"Looking into your soul" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A wonderful event celebrating the best NYC has to offer. It's the people. The runners, the spectators, the wanna-bes. If you want to look and see inside your soul, this event clearly will offer you the opportunity. You'll never believe what the human person and body is capable of doing, and this is the golden opportunity to see: The NYC Marathon. | |
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P. S. from Brookly, NY
(11/2/2003)
"Simply the Best" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run Chicago, Paris, Twin Cities and Grandma's. All these marathons are special in their own way. Chicago for speed, Paris of the city, Twin Cities for the scenery and Grandma's because it is flat and straight. But if you want to run through a truly great city of the world - run NY. I read about runners complaining about lines, give me a break. Where else can you high-five Mexican, Columbian and Puerto Rican kids along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, and run through Old Europe in Williamsburgh, or be insulted by Italians in Bay Ridge. This is New York!! Then there is the slow quiet slog across the Queensboro Bridge to the cacaphony of the cheers up and down 1st Avenue in Manhattan through Spanish Harlem, the Bronx and then Harlem. Wow, what a place. The marathon truly reflects NY, it is international, difficult, sometimes a bit chaotic - but that is NY. If you have the courage to be changed - run the NYC Marathon at least once in your lifetime, and experience the greatest city in the world. | |
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Ondrea Simpson from Atlanta
(11/2/2003)
"Motivating Event!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Marathon for 1990: I ran the NYC Marathon in 1990 and ran a Boston qualifing time of 3:39:30. Everything was in sync! My moment of truth, the expo - the best ever. The race was extremely well organized. The wait at Ft. Wadworth was a time to meet and talk to other runners, do warm-ups and even attend Sunday service. Other runners - helpful, but most of all the New Yorkers, this experience changed my attitude about New Yorkers. I never had so much encouragement in a race in my life. Every borough brought about a new experience - they cheered, they rubbed my calves, gave me oranges, even played a little dancing music. | |
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R. H. from Vancouver, Canada
(10/16/2003)
"A wonderful event don't miss it. Fabulous organiza" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I first ran the NYM in 2001, a very emotional year and I was glad that I had not cancelled after 9/11 like so many people. I enjoyed it so much that I went back again last year (2002). Regretfully I am nursing an achilles injury so will have to miss it this year. Memories: The highly organized bus shuttle from Manhattan; Waiting at Fort Wadsworth for the start; The voice of Sinatra singing 'New York, New York' at various points on route; The support of the crowds, especially on First Avenue. I would go back just to run that part again; The last mile in Central Park. | |
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W. C. from NEW YORK
(10/15/2003)
"2-Day Hassle" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Do NYC 1x to say you did it. Then run Chicago and ask yourself why is NYC such a hassle? Chicago has more runners, same crowd support, and no 300-person lines for coffee, porta-potties, bagels, etc. Expo volunteers were brutal, and finish line was hurry up and leave. I guess this is all part of the NY experience. |
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