Cape Cod Marathon - Race Reviews

Great race with excellent views of the ocean! This race route is incredibly picturesque and a good portion is along the water. There are some rolling hill portions, but they are overshadowed by the breathtaking views. You are also given the option of the Chowdah Challenge, which consists of running the Half Marathon on Saturday and running the full Marathon on Sunday. And yes, there is clam chowder as well as several other hearty soups at the end!

Small town race feels, well- organized. Unfortunately, no pacers. The course has a mix of interesting views: starts downtown, has bits along the ocean, a bike path, rural roads past a lighthouse, back along the ocean along parts of the famous Falmouth Road Race course, and more ocean, residential, before your loop back along the ocean to the finish.

Overall well organized marathon. Good pre-race communication. Small expo but friendly people. Easy in and out. Race day was organized. Nice temp in low 50's but windy. Course is beautiful with tree canopied streets, bike bath, ocean views, and friendly neighborhoods. Great small marathon!

A memorable day for me as I became a 50 stater at the 2019 race. Beautiful course, chilly; wind and rain played a factor late. Mile 23 3/4 to 25 1/4 were brutal w wind 30+ mph winds straight off the ocean, rain, and upper 40s temp. Plentiful aid stations, friendly volunteers. Lovely course. Met many friendly runners. I wore all Cleveland Browns gear, as the browns-pats game was later, and got much good natured ribbing. Got hugs and congratulations from strangers when I mentioned becoming a 50 stater. Loved race morning packet pickup. Simple, easy parking; beautiful medal, nice long sleeve shirt. Good donuts and hot soup post race. All in all, a very enjoyable way to become s 50 state marathoner!

The people of Cape Cod particularly of Falmouth, their marathon course and the temperate racing day made this event as good as it could be. On Saturday, the ocean covered part of the coastline road because of the nor'easter blowing through. On Sunday, the road was clear. We faced a hilly second half course in a blustery headwind though the forest would protect us. There were no unexpected issues. There were expected issues of course. We could not run tangent lines properly or run the inside lines of road curves because of the moving autos on hand. This is one reason why the course is being changed for next year. A bicycle club of fifteen riders in formation passed us from the opposite direction north of Woods Hill. That was all. We were supported at hydration locations with fun local responses to our diverse racing dispositions. We raced through Cape Cod on a normal Sunday morning. Adequate training prevented any undue reaction to the mid course hills. When we reached the golf course past mile twenty, the beauty of the domain really emerged. Running down the short hill then up the hill on Church Street past Woods Hole lead to a sight which was priceless. Here was the coastline which the race will embrace next year and where we reached Nobska Point. The headwind and hill there had little effect. The sight of all this water and open course to run was exhilarating. Struggling with overall pace maintenance in such a place was unnecessary. The Falmouth Track Club has been the steward of this domain in a genuine way. Changing the course is simply part of the natural evolution of this marathon. Run this marathon, meet the Falmouth people and experience the beauty of Cape Cod.

I absolutely loved this marathon. It was not as challenging as I expected based on the previous comments. This is the last year of the current course. It's being retired for several reasons some I agree with others I do not. In terms of challenging courses.. not every marathon needs to be 'flat and fast' occasionally it's nice to run a course for the challenge and scenery. One major con of the course was the roads were open to traffic and I ended up running a third of a mile longer due to the need to stay on a certain side of a road vs. taking tight turns. Some of the cars were also going very fast posing a risk to many of the runners. The new course is supposed to fix that issue and is being touted as a flater and still beautiful course. What i loved about this race is it is small meaning.. you don't have to get up 3 hours before the race to beat the crowds to start line and you can literally park feet away from the start.. nice if it is a chilly morning. The weather this time of year can be tricky. We were extremely lucky.. low 50s for the majority of the race.. the day before was a Nor'Easter with very high winds, pouring rain and flooding. Falmouth is a great town to visit and if you have never been to the Cape or New England I highly recommend this race as a fall destination race.

Both my husband and I ran this race in 2017. We had great running weather. Falmouth was a WONDERFUL destination to visit (great B&B's). I have run 23 races and this is my favorite by far: beautiful race, beautiful town, and a wonderful experience.

This was my third consecutive year running the CCM. This race is a good one! I am not a fan of large crowds, so the fact that the marathon is capped at 1200 is a good thing. However, the race feels bigger than this due to the fact that there are many relay teams as well. Good on the organizers for finally getting the message on the tech shirt instead of the cotton one. Smallish, but good expo. Crowd support is sparse and this year, due to the growing number of relay teams, my wife had a near impossible task of driving to places along the route to see me and cheer me along. In 2013, no problems seeing me 3 times AND the finish, 2014: 2x. This year?? Once, and that was from her car as she was stuck in massive traffic caused all the relay runners getting to their appointed spots, and their support. Crowd support along the route is sparse...mostly non-existent. Lots of inland running with nice scenery to get you through. Changing leaves, Cranberry bogs. Quaint. The scenery is the best...mile 2-5 or so along the Atlantic. Be prepared for the non-stop rolling hills from about mile 18 on. Great finish down Main Street in Falmouth. I'll be back for year number 4 in 2016!

Great race! Don't go in expecting to PR because of the pervasive hills in this race. However, there are some spectacular ocean views between miles 2-4 and 21-25, as well as pretty foliage, to help occupy your mind over the 26.2 miles. I would note that, while many have commented regarding how flat the first half is, I thought that were actually a decent number of (not steep) hills to endure. While not a ton of spectators along the course, those that came out were very energetic. Good and efficient support from the water stop volunteers too. It also helped to have near perfect conditions for the race - mid-50s and cloudy. Finally, Falmouth has a great downtown area to enjoy some yummy pre-race carbo load and post-race celebratory meals!

So I ran the 2013 Cape Cod Marathon as my first marathon ever. Pros/Cons: Pros: BEAUTIFUL course, at a time of the year when the weather should be ideal. Not a gigantic marathon so you have the small race perks of free massages. Very cool medal. Cons: The course is not easy. It gets even harder and hillier at the end. There is also a relay that goes on at the same time which can get pretty frustrating (just imagine people that are clearly more out of shape than you running past you, because they are only running a few miles and you are running 26. I know this sounds shallow but it gets very irritating). The shirts are just ok, they are cotton. Overall, this race will always be special to me because it was my first. I have ran 2 marathons since then, so looking back, I'm not sure this is the best race for a first timer. There are a lot of other Fall marathons out there, so it's not hard to find one on an easier course. It's also not the best course if you want a PR. But it's still an awesome experience, so if you are just going for the fun of it, check this one out!

Great Race: - Beautiful scenery (ran through cranberry bog while they were harvesting, ran past beautiful beach front homes, lighthouse, beach-front running, etc.) - New England charm - Well organized - Enthusiastic volunteers - Enthusiastic spectators (although course winds through small towns so don't expect a lot of spectators - sparsely populated summer community) - Nice medal - Easy logistics (parked two minutes from race start and porta-potty lines max 2 minutes) - Well marked course Course can be broken into following stages: 0-10 = easy, relatively flat 10-12 = long gradual uphill climb that is not insignificant, but still lot of energy in legs to not a problem 12-15 = mostly downhill, can accelerate so have to hold yourself back 15-22 = very difficult part of course - lot of hills and despite other reviews they are not 'gentle' or 'rolling', some of these are very challenging and you will need to force yourself to relax and get breathing back in check on the downhill side if you want to maintain pace. This is the make-or-break section of this course. There are two killer hills - one by the golf course and one pre-Woods Hole. 22-26 = average. This sections starts out with some rolling hills and then ends relatively flat as the course goes along the ocean and then turns left up into town. If you have gas left in the tank you can really make up some time here. I had my fastest mile of the course (7:01') on mile 22. Be aware that this is not a PR course for most. There are a lot of twists and turns that add to the distance when you compare official mileage to your GPS watch. My normal tracking error between official and GPS is about 0.1 to 0.3, even on city courses. My tracking error on this course was 0.54 - my watch had a total distance of 26.74. Most of this tracking error is on the second half as I was quite close when crossing 13 mile marker. I suspect that there is an error in the official measurement of the second half and have communicated to race organizer, but I can't prove it. Regardless, be prepared because if you are looking for a time/pace, you need to take this tracking error into consideration. Temps were nice - mid 50't to low 60's, sun shining, but very windy. Had 20mph winds that seem to constantly change direction during the race in order to always be in my face! Contrary to other commenters, I found this added significantly to the challenge. Very happy and can fully recommend this race to anyone from beginner to experienced. Just plan your race strategy accordingly and you will not be disappointed.

Wow. What a great experience! Run this race. When you do (not if), make at least a weekend trip of it because the area is great - beautiful waterfront and countryside scenery, great towns for walking, lots of interesting little shops and restaurants. Falmouth itself is a perfect Smalltown USA place, and the people we met couldn't have been friendlier. The local running club has been organizing this race for almost 40 years, and it shows both in the race and the level of pride the community takes in it. The hills were tough. I held back in the first half and handled the rolling hills from 13-18 pretty easily. There was one nearly continuous uphill from 19-20 that did me in, though, so I guess I should've held back more. Overall the course is gorgeous. There are two separate roughly two mile stretches along the water, near the beginning and near the end, and both are spectacular. When I passed the Nobska lighthouse I almost wanted to stop running to take it in. We ran on a causeway through a cranberry bog at one point, and spent a good deal of time admiring the blaze-colored New England woods. Just beautiful. True, crowds were thin for long stretches, but everyone was really enthusiastic. The cheering at the relay exchanges and the finish almost make you forget it's a small race, people were so into it. There were lots of people I saw four or five times along the course, and by the end they were cheering for me too as soon as they could see me. I didn't need an aid station, thankfully, but I would echo the comments on those - there wasn't a good sense of where they would be. Water stations are well-run but less frequent than at bigger races, so you should bring some of your own to tide you over in the later stages.

While looking for an October marathon, I used reviews on this site to choose Cape Cod - so I'm returning the favor and writing a review. First, and if you have a problem with this definitely do not do this course, is it is not like a rocknroll or major marathon. There WILL be stretches you will run by yourself with absolutely no crowd support, but the parts with spectators they were awesome. Second, this is a tough course. I ran a 3:30, but only because I severely restricted my pace the first half of the race. The second half is harder than the first, but the rolling hills are not mountains. I only say harder because the first half is relatively easy. . The second half is rolling hills from about Mile 13-23, but the only truly terrible hill is the very last one by the Nobska Lighthouse. Have your goal in mind, and run that pace. My PR for a half marathon was 1:27. This happened two weeks before at the BAA Half. I say this to illustrate how pacing can benefit you in this race. I could have gone out and done 7min/mile pace for the first half, and gone through the half at Cape in 1:30, but I knew I could not possibly do a 3 hour marathon due to lack of training for that distance. I set my goal at a 3:30 marathon. I went through the half in capecod at 1:43, but that took some serious self restriction because I knew I could go faster. I had to keep telling myself to slow down. My pace splits for the first 13 miles were pretty consistent, ~ 7:50/mile. This left me ready to tackle the rolling hills, and I thought I did a relatively good job of it  until the nobska lighthouse hill. The last one. Its psychologically draining as it is a long road to the lighthouse and you can see the full hill in front of you, but once you get past it youre all done with the rolling hills. The rolling hills are not tough if you pace yourself and have trained. Other reviews on here make them out to be mountains after mountains. They are just hills and always have a downhill part. They are not high grade climbs either. Train for hills, pace yourself and you will be fine. I definitely plan on doing this again next year, so hope to see you there! The only problem I had with this race, and I hope they improve it for next year, is the aid stations. I dont know exactly how many they were, but they seemed way too far apart at some points. Im not saying have one every mile, but be consistent so people will know )one aid station every 2 miles etc). It felt like some were 2 miles apart, and some were 3-4 miles apart. This could be due to the relay logistics as well, but it hurts marathoners.

Falmouth us beautiful during the fall and some if the nicest scenery I have run through. They are not kidding about hills train for them. Volunteers were wonderful and there were more people out than I expected. Do need more water stops traffic a local drivers were scary a couple of times. It was not clear about packet pickup marathon only Saturday strange. Although I liked picking my own shirt getting $15 off seemed kind of odd because no shirt comes with 75 entry fee. Volunteers all had very nice jackets that we must have paid for. Expo small. After race food was pretty nice but seemed like a long walk and then down two flights of stairs. All that aside the beauty of the course and the support of the volunteers and most locals except for cranky pants driver who yelled at us I am glad I went.

This was my 3rd marathon. My family and I enjoyed 2 days in Cape Cod prior to the race - great spot this time of year. Race day weather really was perfect. I was worried more about the wind than the hills, especially since the day before the race, we were down by the beach and the wind was howling and creating sandstorms. The wind settled down on race day. I knew about the hills and since I train in a hilly town, I was not worried. Around mile 19, I was hating those hills! And they kept coming. The guy in front of me lost his breakfast after reaching the top of one. I started to pick up the pace once it flattened out with about 2 miles to go and my calf started cramping - never happened to me before. Probably due to the hills. Great experience and challenging course. Glad I did it.

This was my first marathon. I read the reviews from previous years and decided the CCM would be my maiden marathon voyage. Everything was just right! The course was beautiful, the organization was first rate. Spectators were a bit sparse, but enthusiastic. Some nice touches: The guide given at the expo had described a number of good places with directions for family and friends to cheer on their runner. My wife found three spots to see me and easily drove to them. The finisher's medal is great, very handsome. I thought the hills in the second half were quite challenging and miles 22 to the end were a real test for me, as i hit the wall hard and shuffled to the finish. All in all it was a great experience, great course, well run. I'll be back!

Had a wonderful time in Cape Cod. Truly beautiful and they did a great job. Flat in the begining and then a few rollong hills. Weather was absolutely PERFECT. Highly recommended for any one who likes a smaller race in a beautiful setting.

Logistics - Pretty good as start/finish/packet pick up are all within walking distance of each other. I took a bus from NYC that arrives in Falmouth with a mile from the expo/hotels. Course - Average in many parts but spectacular in others, especially the last 4+ miles with the light house and running by the ocean. Much of this race is run on narrow roads that are open to traffic so in many parts, you have to be very aware of your surroundings and run on the extreme shoulder. Difficulty - The first 12 miles or so are pretty average and then miles 12 to about 24 or so have lots of rolling hills so be sure to save something for the second half. Water stops - This year they served Gatorade instead of the dreaded Cytomax. There are 10 water stops along the course. I personally find I need more than this for a marathon so I carried a bottle with me. Organization - Pretty well organized from packet pickup to the race itself. Spectators - Not a lot of them but more than I was expecting and they were all supportive and enthusiastic. Since there is a companion 5 leg relay, the relay stations serve as good cheering sections also. Summary - Overall, a very nice race in a really cool town. Some of the nicest scenery I've seen on a marathon course. They do well to show a large portion of their city on the course. Easy logistics and cost is right. Hassle free as it took me 2 minutes to get my bib and got to the start 5 minutes before the cannon fired. I would definitely recommend CCM. Some areas of improvement - Add 2-3 more hydration stops. 10 water stops simply isn't enough. Also, many of these water stops were pretty much alongside mile markers. Better to have them a hundred or so yards after the markers which allows runners to hit the lap buttons on their watches and then concentrate on getting their water. I'm glad I ran CCM and want to thank the city and organizers for a great time! P.S. - Eat some great seafood at Quarterdeck Restaurant near the finish and stay at the Town & Beach Hotel on Main Street - It's much cheaper than the host hotels listed on the website.

This was my first marathon and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The course was hillymost notably from miles 15 to 22but not as bad as I had expected from the reviews. (Be sure to watch the course videos on Vimeo.) The views are fantastic (light house, cranberry bogs, seaside views) and the spectators could not have been more encouraging. There was some traffic en route, but once again this wasn't nearly as bad as the reviews might lead you to believe. Great job by the organizers. Registration was smooth and I had water, food, and a foil blanket within seconds of crossing the finish line. I definitely plan to run this marathon again in the future!

Great town and a great race. Beautiful course had a few hills but if you check the website or talk to volunteers at the expo you would have all the needed information. Take time to eat a meal at the Quarterdeck Restaurant. Great food and a lot of runners hang out there to share stories. You might even get a chance to speak with Tommy Leonard who started the famous Falmouth Road Race. Tommy spent 20 minutes eating lunch with us and made my family feel like royalty because of his hospitality. That made our weekend in the Cape. I did run a PR which also helped the experience. The traffic was not that bad if you are a seasoned runner and understand the proper etiquette of running. Would love to do this race again.

This is a very easy marathon to run, becuase of the convenience of staying nearby and finishing in the same spot. Very organized, with very good eating establishments to choose from, also nearby. I did not experience any problem with traffic.

This was my third, but most enjoyable, albiet, slowest marathon. CCM has excellent organization, and a superb group of volunteers. This race allows one to soak up all that is Cape Cod, the ocean, the country roads, the weathered gray cedar shingle homes, harbors,etc. Others comment on the road traffic, but there are signs throughout the roads that inform drivers for probably a week ahead that there will be the marathon that Sunday. These roads are too narrow to close down. The traffic issue is overstated. The scenery, as mentioned, is great. The hills during the latter half of the race will take their toll without proper training..yeah, guess who did not train properly? Run this race to experience all that Cape Cod has to offer...you will not be disappointed in the slightest. The small town feel adds even more, and the sparse spectators were truly enthusiastic. I used GU by the way, and passed on the Cytomax. If possible, I am in for next year.

This was my first time running the Cape Cod Marathon. It did not disappoint. I grew up in the area so it was a welcome trip home. I stayed with family about 30min outside of Falmouth and the drive in on race morning was a piece of cake. I would suggest showing up earlier to get a good parking spot. The race itself was excellent. The rolling hills gave some variety to the race and really make you work for that PR. With Hurricane Sandy rolling in, the head winds were pretty rough along the water, but not the worst I've ever experienced. Some have complained about aid stations and race policies being lacking. However, I found that the information the race organizers provided on the website was extremely accurate and when I did my training to prepare for these conditions I knew exactly what to expect and had a great race. Cytomax isn't so bad once you get used to it. They did have Cytodrops (cytomax version of GU) at 1 or 2 of the aid stations. I would recommend this race to anyone looking for a scenic marathon and if you train correctly it is a good place for a PR.

I ran this race as my Massachusetts marathon. For the most part I was pleased with my choice. This is smaller race (about 1000 runners) run through very pretty Cape Cod. It has been put on for 35 years by the Falmouth Running club. My experience with races run by running clubs is that they are well run and they tend to capture the local flavor. The volunteers were all enthusiastic and well trained. The expo is held at a high school. It is small but has enough booths where a runner can purchase any last minute supplies. There is a half marathon that is held on Saturday and if folks want to run both they have a 'Clam Chowdah Challenge'. Race day begins by the same high school. Runners can keep warm in the Gym and use the schools restrooms. There isn't enough parking at the school and if you get there a little late (that was me) you have to make due on the side streets. That wasn't a big deal but it did provide some pre-race anxiety. The race actually begins a block or so from the school at the Falmouth village Square. It is a very lovely and quintessentially New England. The race is quite scenic. There are stretches along the water, much wooded areas and we go through few more small Cape Cod towns (like Woods Hole). The early miles (about 8 or so) are flat but then there is a steady stream of rolling hills. Most are fairly modest but they do take a toll if you are not used to hills. The toughest one we hit is at mile 22 by the Nobska Lighthouse. There are not many fans but there are a few pockets of enthusiastic spectators. There is a team relay component of the race and the relay points tended to be rocking. There were a few musical groups along the way which was fun. Beyond the parking I do have a few complaints. There are only 10 water stops. Even on a cool late October day I don't feel that is enough. The website is very clear about this so I carried extra liquids but if runners didn't notice that it could be an issue. The sports drink they use is Cytomax which is not the most pleasant tasting drink in the world. Lastly I echo the complaint I'm sure you've already seen on other comments. The roads are not closed and too many times cars are fighting their way through the runners. Even the early miles before the runners spread out the roads are open. One just hopes this never becomes a serious issue. I am not sure but I don't think any gels were handed out (I carry my own so I may have just missed it). Post race is held in the school gym. They give long sleeve cotton shirt and a very nice, modestly sized medal.

Hurricane Sandy was on the way, but the weather held for us, with a beautiful fall running day: overcast and in the 50's. Falmouth is a great place for a race, and the quality and challenge of the CCM course doesn't disappoint. Some flat spots, but lots of easy rollers. There aren't huge hills here, but you've got a few around the halfway point and again through Sippewisset. most of the course is wooded, which cuts the wind and direct sun, though the first few and last few miles along Vineyard Sound had a good headwind. I thought there could have been more aid stations, but if you run with a bottle and/or belt, you'll be fine. Biggest issue: the course is open to traffic and many of these scenic roads are narrow. CCM would be so much better with road closures! Note also, no gels offered on the course. Post race goodies were in a warm school with showers- a huge plus. Thumbs up overall.

I had the pleasure to run the 2012 Cape Cod Marathon. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but the good of the race definitely more than offsets the bad. The good: great scenery with views of the cape, the Woods Hole lighthouse, and a pleasant countryside. The crowd, while sparse, were just terrific. Good volunteers. Nice finisher's medal and (cotton) t-shirt. This was my first time in the Falmouth area, and really enjoyed my stay. Nice people, and a great community! The bad: Two things - the traffic and the planning. The traffic was far more problematic. Few roads were closed off entirely to the traffic, and cars were surprisingly aggressive weaving in and out of runners. I would say this is a relatively unsafe marathon. Volunteers, who were great overall, were not briefed what to do when traffic became a problem in some areas. This race would be orders of magnitude better if they would re-route traffic in a more efficient matter. Moreover, the planning was poor overall. The website did not state many logistical information and race policies (some were posted a night or two before), which would have been useful to know going in. I also did not like the energy drink (cytomax?) given along the route. An additional one or two water stops would have also been welcome. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed the race... the hills near the end were definitely a challenge - especially into a still wind. Make sure to do plenty of hill training!

This was my first marathon. The scenery was outstanding (loved the sections along the water, and the lighthouse at mile 22 was really a huge lift). The hills were less scary than advertised. The organization was incredible  friendly volunteers at every well marked turn and water station. If you're a slow runner (5-6 hours) it gets a little lonely during the last 10 miles or so. There were very few musicians out on the course (the race bulletin made it sound like there would be many more) and Elvis had even packed up and left by the time we got to mile 24! I was glad I did it with friends instead of alone  it could have gotten discouraging and lonely otherwise. Small but fun expo. Great post-race food and massages. I wish I could have paid a little extra $ and gotten a tech T-shirt instead of a cotton one.

This was a scenic and well-organized race. The community was welcoming, the runners were friendly, and the volunteers were enthusiastic and helpful. However, I would not run this race again unless the course were closed to vehicular traffic. Most marathons, including those in large cities, shut their roads down to accommodate races. It's difficult to understand why the same could not be done in a small town like Falmouth. There was quite a bit of traffic on the road, and at times, it was downright dangerous. When you're at mile 21, the last thing you want to deal with is an irate driver spraying you with water as they speed through puddles, talking on their cell phone and flipping you off. Please close the race course to vehicular traffic!

This was my first marathon, which I ran with my mom and sister. We picked it because it wasn't too big or too small, and was scenic. The weather forecast was for 25-35 mph sustained winds with strong gusts. The course supposedly was 'designed to minimize the effects of strong winds'. I have to agree - it was excellently designed and, although it was breezy, the most exposed portions had the wind at our backs. Organization was excellent, with people out at every corner making sure runners didn't get lost. We didn't have too many spectators, but given the nasty weather, I suspect it was more sparse than usual. Water stops were a bit infrequent (every ~2.5 miles) if you are a slower runner or if it had been a warmer day, and we were disappointed that by the time we made it to mile 23 Elvis had left the course. Beautiful place to run - the rolling hills didn't seem bad to me, and we enjoyed the harbors, cranberry bogs, and the lighthouse. My only 'watch out' is that if you are a slower runner (5+ hour finish) and you're running alone, it could get a bit lonely from mile 18-25. All in all, this was a great first marathon experience. The only change I would make would be to add an extra $10 onto the (cheap!) registration and give us better tech-type shirts instead of long-sleeve t-shirts.

I had scheduling problems this Fall, so this was my third choice, but it sure was fun! The precipitation cleared out just in time, but not the wind. Between the cold, the wind and the second half hills, this was a tough race for me. I don't thrive on crowd support, which is a good thing - I assume the weather kept the spectators away - can't blame them. I officially hate Cytomax - yech. But the organization was great, the logistics are easy and some of the course is beautiful (much of it is really pretty ordinary New England scenery, pretty enough, but nothing special, but the ocean views are awesome). I would do this one again. One problem - the traffic on the roads that are open, especially down in Woods Hole, was bad, and dangerous at times. Race organizers need to do something about that. Also, where the road flooded over was tricky - I was glad I was not in the middle of a PR at that point!

This was a first marathon for me and my daughters. We chose it because it was reputed to be scenic, and it was! Charming village, cranberry bogs, beautiful fall woods, lighthouse on the coast, it had it all. Although the forecast had been terrible, actual race conditions weren't bad, cool, overcast, and breezy. Wonderful small venue, we arrived less than 10 minutes before the start and had plenty of time. Great volunteers and race support. Can't say enough good things about the planning and organization. Really appreciated the Halloween candy at the 19 mile water stop! Thought the hills were overrated, more rolling than 'memorable.' Plenty of chowder at the end. A fabulous first marathon experience!

Ran the 'CHOWDAH CHALLENGE'. The courses were so beautiful!!! They ran from the coast thru winding roads covered in fall colored trees. Everyone I met was WICKED friendly and kind. There were few spectators, but the ones that braved the elements were TOP NOTCH. The hills were over dramatized as they were NOT torturous, but gentle rolling hills. The Lawrence school (aka race headquarters) was open to stay warm in while waiting for race start- awesome considering the inclimate weather. The only real downside was no cytomax out for the half. Overall one of the MOST SCENIC races I have done.

This is one of the most beautiful courses that I have run, with old New England scenes and gorgeous views of the ocean everywhere.The hills are challenging, but it's worth it. In the past I have been impressed by the enthusiasm of the volunteers, often in windy and chilly conditions.but this year they(the Race Director, Doris and especiallly Janet) outdid themselves when my flights were cancelled and I arrived at the start (without a bibb) 5 minutes before the race started. THANK YOU!

Did this one to check off MA in my quest for all 50 states. This year the weather threw everyone for a loop. Saturday saw the entire northeast hit with a Noreaster storm. The rain was coming down hard all day from Saturday afternoon into the night, the winds were horrendous. Marathon morning, the rain had stopped, but the winds were still whipping around (gusts up to 50 mph). The show must go on! Pros: -get to wait in the school gym before the race. especially great this year when it was so cold and windy outside -race day packet pickup is an option -easy logistics. arrived an hour before start, parked right in the school lot. Loop course. -great post-race food. I finished in over 5 hours, and they still had chowder and pasta for me -low cost. i only paid like $65 -nice medal -Dunkin Donuts had bagels, coffee and donuts for free at the gym before the race Cons: -course support was blah. I have run other small, low frills races that still managed to at least bust open a pretzel bag or chop some bananas in half. This race had water adn disgusting cytomax. thank God it was not a hot day, the cytomax was disgusting. -having a van with the label 'Tired Runner Van' roaming the course is not encouraging. OF COURSE I am tired, I am running up hill into a 50 mph wind gust, don't tempt me! -photographers. I saw a few at the end, but at one point you run by the lighthouse, why weren't they there, it would be a great backdrop? -cotton long sleeve shirts. please, I have enough of these from my local 5Ks. plus, they ran on the small side -the course. it is very scenic in parts, and just blah in others...I can handle blah in an urban marathon, but this just felt like I was out for a training run at home. very few spectators. the roads are open to traffic and the local drivers were NOT very careful, I saw a few runners almost get clipped. The hills are not big, but they just keep coming one after another. This defines rolling.

Really enjoyed a few days in Falmouth leading up to the run, it was great feeling the atmosphere build and watching the weather forecasts change. It's my first run in the US and it was lovely being part of such a community event. We flew straight out of Boston and were home in Sheffield by lunchtime on Monday.......and a nice cup of tea.

I had one open weekend to run a marathon this fall and I chose Cape Cod! So glad I did! Ran a 3:42 with a PR of almost 20 minutes! Loved the Falmouth community and the course is amazing - ocean views, fall colors, rolling hills, unique, small towns. This marathon is small enough for easy parking, hotels close by, a quick start,  and a very a personal feel! The volunteers were the BEST!! Enjoyed the expo and the post-race meal and massage. The weather was perfect in the mid 50's and the wind not too bad. The hilly, wooded course did shelter you from the wind. (The day before the wind was over 40 mph!) This is a very challenging course, rolling hills throughout with larger ones in the second half! Again save yourself! Only 2 suggestions:  water stations should be closer together (and fill up the cups!), and there should be some type of food/refreshments at the finish area. Very nice post-race meal but we had to walk to the school for something to eat!! Run Cape Cod - you will love it!

Course could not have been more beautiful. This was my 45th marathon, and despite a terrible finish time (blisters from running a marathon day before), this still ranks as a favorite. Race directors bent over backwards to accommodate We called from another state the day before and asked if we could still get in so we could get our MA race. We even were driven to the start line! The weather could not have been better. ONLY complaint: no aid stations. I was having serious feet issues - specifically blisters.... I would have given anything for bandaids. NO AID STATIONS AT ALL????? When I inquired with the race officials, no one knew where any were!! The post-race meal was fabulous!!! Nice place to sit/visit with other Maniacs/50-staters. All in all, a great weekend!