Marathon Details - NJ Ultra Festival Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > NJ > Augusta > NJ Ultra Festival Marathon

NJ Ultra Festival Marathon

NJ Ultra Festival Marathon & Half Marathon, 50K, 50M, 100K, 100M

Augusta, NJ USA

March 27, 2021

https://sites.google.com/site/njtrailseries/njultrafestival

News

Marathon Results

By Year:

2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

The course is run on an old rail trail that run behind the venue, the NJ State Fairgrounds. 2 miles of the trail circle the property then it heads out to the rail trail for a 10 mile loop. The first loop will be shortened to accommodate the full Marathon distance.

Contact Information

Name:	Jennifer McNulty
Address:	POB 127 5 St. Johns Ave Mount Tabor NJ 07878
Phone Number:	973-627-2575
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (3)

Course 3.7

Organization 4.3

Spectators 1.0

Write a review

Number of comments: 3

M. B. from Ellicott City, Maryland (3/29/2021) "Very hard race, but worth it!" (about: 2021) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 NJ Ultra Festival Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Race took place at the Princeton-Blairstown Center in Blairstown, NJ. There are no hotels or even AirBnBs nearby that I could find. I stayed 30 min away in Stroudsburg, PA. It was possible to stay in one of the cabins at the event site, and I would probably select that option if I did the race again. I usually run road races, not trail, so keep that in mind while reading this. If you want a challenge, this is your race. This was the hardest course I have ever run, and the steady rain for the Sunday runners made it even worse (or better, if you like mud). If you love challenging trail races you will love this course. Very steep climbs, lots of rocks, roots, mud, river crossings on fallen trees, etc...a true trail race indeed. My road PR is 3:33 and this one took me 7:40, if that tells you anything :) ...But this one really isn't about your time. Rick and Jennifer are very nice and the race is well organized. I gave a '1' for spectators because there were none. The course is a '5' if you love hard trail runs. Aid station was very well stocked. Lots of food choices, and beer too. This was a fun way to check NJ off the list.
Bradford Hammer from Old Tappan, NJ (3/24/2014) "Dont wear your best shoes" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 NJ Ultra Festival Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is a trail marathon (or beyond) with the emphasis squarely on TRAIL. The majority of the route is an out-and back on what I can best describe as a wild and bumpy 20-foot clearing in a wheat field next to marshlands. The result: water, mud, snow-pack, ice. Looking to balance on branches tossed across water hazards? Check. Into leaping from ice barge to ice barge? Check. Bramble grabbing to stay upright in muck and ooze? Check. Sloshing through the snow? Check. Rock sections and bridges with wooden planks? Check. And the occasional clearing is not bereft of pitfalls. The ground isn't level, and the ruts (probably from four-wheelers) can be hazardous. Plus, there are runners coming the other way, so there's not a ton of room. It's one of those 'one wrong step' scenarios that can spell the end of a morning attempt with each footfall. That written, people on the course (and the volunteers at the two aid stations and the super-nice RD) are really great. Everyone seemed to enjoy all the folly and I even saw some very experienced trail runners really attacking the terrain. I guess if you're going to get your shoes wet and muddy it doesn't matter if It's in the first hour or the fourth. Temps in 2014 went from 30 degrees at 8am to nearly 60 by midday so the water just kept rising. The two main volunteer stations-one at the start/finish and the other at the far end of the trail-are full of goodness that seem to be staples of trail runs: cookies, granola bars, Swedish fish, M&Ms, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, oranges, bananas, fig bars, pop tarts, chips, goldfish, water, cola, and Heed. Maybe it was the homemade banana bread or just taking a moment to talk to people on the course but I always left these stations with a huge spring in my step. Logistically, each loop terminates at the race start so it's super-easy to use a car for staging; one goes right through the parking lot into the clock-timing area. It gives the Race Director a chance to say hello and wish you another bonny ten miles. And the provided swag is really nice: a technical tee and a fleece jacket and a substantial medal. If you've never been to Summit County NJ get ready for Mississippi. It's really rural up there with the only sign of NYC metro being that the hotels aren't cheap. There's an Econo Lodge in nearby Andover; if that fills up (as it did in 2014) the Holiday Motel just south of it on Route 206 is acceptable for a no-frills night. I'm really happy I did this run. It's fun to talk about the experience with runners and non-runners alike, and the opportunity to spend time on the course with ultra-folks (doing up to 100 miles) was a real treat. I know there's no hills or mountains on this route, but for a few moments I actually felt like Kilian Jornet.
J. H. from NJ (3/25/2013) "Fun, Flurries and Mud" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 NJ Ultra Festival Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 If you like a race where the RD stands on a picnic bench, describes the course, offers you a beer at the finish and yells 'Go!' to start the race - this is for you. Runners also walk away with alot of stuff - tech T, medal and windbreaker - all for peanuts in NJ terms.