Brooklyn Marathon - Race Reviews

I was excited to run this marathon as I am a brooklyn resident and was prideful to take place in such a race in my borough. The marketing for this race was marathon everything. NYC runs made it known that this marathon was a massive deal. In reality? This was a half marathon and then marathoners did a down and back on ocean avenue to get to 26.2. A majority of the racers in this event were half marathoners (although their shirts and medals all said marathon, make sense, right?). The first half of the course was honestly great. If you were a marathoner, you were only running with marathoners. The second loop of prospect park was horrid. I had to finish the race along side a massive slog of walking half marathoners and people just biking in the route I guess? I felt the marathoners were an after thought. The majority half marathoners were used as funding to financially support this inaugural 'marathon' as a clout and cash grab for NYC runs.

If you love the Prospect Park Hill of Death so much that you want to run it at Mile 15 and AGAIN at Mile 25 (while the half marathoners get to skip it altogether), I have found the race for you. "A cruel course" is how my friends described the elevation map. If you like not one but TWO out-and-back runs (that may be uphill both ways), I have found the race for you. If you enjoy being subjected to surprise metal detector THEATER at the start of your marathon, I have found the race for you. If you don't really need to know your times or pace, except at a few random mile markers, I have found the race for you. If, after running 26.2 miles, you have no desire to eat a bite of food or to see your family, I have found the race for you. If you want some of the most difficult miles of the race (17-22) to also be the most tedious out-and-back with the fewest spectators and least interesting landscape, I have the race for you (seriously, it's as if this was really a Half Marathon course, with the Full Marathon added on as an afterthought). And on a less snarky note: If you would appreciate a scenic tour of historic Brooklyn neighborhoods as Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights and Flatbush, before heading through a loud and enthusiastic tunnel of spectators cheering you on into beautiful Prospect Park, I have the race for you. Again, I would recommend running the Half Marathon - as more than 17,000 of the 20,000 entrants had the good sense to do. If you enjoy a big, splashy, slightly tacky medal (as I very much do), I definitely have the race for you. Bottom Line: I was excited to run Brooklyn's first full marathon whose course extended beyond Prospect Park. However, this was a very challenging course, and I think needlessly so. Did any runners look it over before it was finalized? It works much better as a half marathon, until some major changes are made. You can start by scrapping the metal detectors at the start.

The 2022 New and improved version of the Brooklyn Marathon. The race run by NYCRUNS was bigger and better than ever. Of course, there were a few snags to contend with as it was the first time this organization was doing a race with this large number of runners. Brooklyn marathon has been ongoing for 10 years - in 2018 & 2019 in exited the confines of Prospect Park and ran about 10 miles on the streets surrounding the park - mainly using the old Rock & Roll Half Marathon course. In 2022 the race expanded and showcased new and interesting areas of Brooklyn. The race was combines with a Half Marathon with about 20,000 finishers between both races, about a 75/25 split Half/Full. As this was my 53rd marathon let me give you a review as best as I can recall Course: New this year was the first 10 miles through the northern areas of Brooklyn. Williamsburg, DUMBO, etc. Starting near McCarren Park and winding through the waterfront areas. Passing under the 3 East River bridges, Williamsburg, Manhattan & Brooklyn bridges with beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. After passing the Brooklyn Bridge and waterfront park area runners traveled through Old Fulton Street and Fulton Street to emerge on Flatbush Avenue going towards Barclays Center and Grand Army Plaza. From there an eastward trek through the iconic Eastern Parkway and back toward Grand Army Plaza into Prospect Park. One ½ loop for the Half Marathoners and a full loop for the full Marathoners (once up the big hill). From there the Full Marathoners exited the park at Grand Army Plaza and proceeded south around the park toward Ocean Parkway for a out and back loop, then back into the park for 1 more loop up the hill to the finish line. While the first half of the Full was interesting the second half has the out and back of Ocean Parkway and leaves a lot of open space. The slight problem arises for the fast runners when returning for the last 2 miles, you will encounter slow half runners blocking your way. Swag: Nice runners short sleeve runner's shirt (adidas) and big, beautiful medal for the finishers. Plenty of food after the race (bagels with cream cheese and apples, Gatorade, and water. There was some much food that as a slow runner we were given bags of bagels to take home. The finishing area in the park is a large grass field and makes it easy to find friends to bring you support. Spectators: What surprised me the most was the number of spectators cheering for the runners early in the morning. In the early stages (along the waterfront areas) there was quite a lot of spectators considering the early morning hours. When the runners arrived around the Brooklyn Bridge area the crowd stated to grow. On Flatbush Avenue and Grand Army Plaza the crowd was at least 10 deep similar to the NYC marathon. The fans in and around Prospect Park were astounding. I was greatly surprised of the amount of cheering. Brooklynites really showed up and supported. Issues: Being the first time NYCRUNS had a race this large you expect a few snags. The start area was very hectic with little direction. Being that runners had to enter a NYPD checkpoint it was a bit slow (rumors had the opening delayed until 6AM) Being that the Full Marathoners had to use Wave 1 at 7AM. I did not enter until 7:20 AM. If you are in contention for awards and prizes this can put a damper on your race. More help and signage at the staging area is needed. As for bag check it is best not to check a bag. Now the course does loop around Prospect Park so fast runners will encounter slow Half Marathoners around mile 25 near Grand Army Plaza and Full Marathoners doing their first loop around mile 24, there is clear signage that a merge of runners will occur. It would be nice if the part of the Full would avoid Ocean Parkway and make a deter around other part s of Brooklyn. Many races use Ocean Parkway as its course and it can get quite boring, though it is flat. In conclusion the race was 4/5. It has some issues but that was to be expected for a large new race. It is bound to improve with minor tweaks. It has the potential to become the spring marathon of choice in NYC area and can complement the NYC Marathon in the fall. Maybe a joint medal for completing both races. (Are you listening NYRR)

I have run 27 marathons and this is by far the most poorly organized one that I have ever been a part of. They have the full and half marathons finish at the same place. I ran just under 3 hours and 13 minutes and was running around a sea of slow half marathoners and full marathoners on their first loop. To put it in perspective, You had people like me running about 7 minute pace trying to get through the final 3 miles of the race having to fight through droves of people walking or jogging very slowly. I had 3 collisions and almost fell on one occasion. If this wasn't bad enough, the race cost $200 and for the first time in all of my marathons, there was no food given to me upon finishing. I then turned to the volunteers to ask where the family reunion area was to learn that there was no family reunion area! It took me over an hour and half to find my family at which time I was shivering and famished. These people have no business putting on a marathon and I feel like I was cheated on so many levels!

Accidentally signed up for this half marathon and the service representative wouldn't refund my money after contacting them 5 minutes after my initial sign up. They go by the same name as the Popular Brooklyn Half (ran by NYRR) that is basically a better race / charity event in every aspect compared to this money making scam organization. There is a reason the Popular Brooklyn Half is much more well received compared to this scam. Couldn't believe that they wouldn't give me my money back based off an honest mistake due to some dumb 'policy'. Who doesn't refund money when there is no service being provided / is a part of a charitable event? Awful people running this event.

When I first heard about this race being offered by NYCRUNS I was a little skeptical if the race was worth it. Having done a few of this groups races before on a smaller scale I was curious to see their effort on a grander scale. For Brooklyn I was greatly surprised with such a fantastic job NYCRUNS did. Course: Since this race was a combination Half Marathon and Full marathon the majority of the finishers (90%) were for the half. The course seems to be the Brooklyn Rock & Roll Half Marathon race from the past few years. The race starts by the Brooklyn Museum off of Grand Army Plaza. First through the security checkpoint of the NYPD. This was quick and simple excellent job as always by New York's Finest. From there you pass by the baggage areas seeded by the last digit of your bib number then on to your corrals. In the corrals there are plenty of port-o-potties, if you move further into the corrals there will be much smaller lines. The race started on time 7:00 AM. The first 10 miles were outside of Prospect Park with relativity flat roads along Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park and Ocean Ave. There is a turnaround around 6.5 miles that can be confusing. The first turnaround is for the marathoners and about 500 feet later is the turnaround for the Half. Not sure why the different turnarounds but the staff and volunteers do a great job in assisting the runners and the different colors of the bibs (blue for Full , orange for half) make it easy for the staff to point you out and make sure you turn at the proper location. There is one slight steep hill or on ramp from Ocean Ave to the expressway to the park. At mile 10 you enter the park and it the course gets much harder. The half marathoners will do one loop of the park then head to the finish line while the Full marathoners will do 5 loops. This entails 5 times up the long hill (about ¾ of a mile, you can see it on the course map of elevation, the down is not as long as the map shows) on the Flatbush Ave. side of the park, basically from the Pavilion to Grand Army Plaza. This is extremely challenging physically and mentally, the thought of going up the hill again and again can wear on you. You can also feel the slight grade of the road that flows to your left, which can affect your right hip. Keeping track of how many loops you have completed can be done with their rubber band trick. For someone who has done over 40 marathons I have to say this was the toughest I have done. In my opinion, it is harder than NYC (I never did Boston, though Yonkers was tough but that was due to the lack of runners) hopefully over the years the course can change to include less loops of the park and more on the streets of Brooklyn. The water stations are well stocked with both water and Gatorade and filled with cheering volunteers and staff. Swag: Though the price of the race varies by when you register it can seems to be a bit steep compared to other races. You can easily offset the costs by participating in the NYCRUNS volunteer program. If you volunteer at one of their other races you receive a $50 race credit, 3 volunteer assignments basically cover the cost of the marathon (depending on when you register) The expo at City Point in Brooklyn is an adequate size for the scale of the race. The great part is the location. It was the first time I was ever at City Point - it is off the DeKalb Ave subway stop (B, Q, and R). The place is fantastic, many shops including Traders Joe, Century 21 and Target. The best part is the food court area in the lower level. So many excellent choices to indulge your taste buds. If that does not do it for you, Junior's cheesecake is one block away, the cheesecake alone is worth the trip. The shirt is a nice short sleeve runner's shirt, same shirt for both races but the Marathon is the main highlight of the shirt (see the race logo on the website). After finishing you receive a nice winter ski pompom hat with the race logo. The after race food is abundant, fresh Brooklyn bagels (yes these are real New York bagels not factory made in a package you get at other races) with individual cream cheese, jellies, apples and bananas. For the slower runners there is so much food leftover they beg you take as much as you want. The piece de resistance for this race is the BIG finisher's medal. I have never received such a big medal (never been to Little Rock Marathon) and there are 2 different sizes for the Half and Full finishers, the full is much bigger. It does not have the spin of Miami or the clang of Philadelphia but the medal alone is worth it (unless that is not your thing). They also have awards for age groups and for doing a challenge with another one of their other half races. Other things that one might consider, travel to the start is best done by the subway. If you need to drive try parking by the southern end of the park (Prospect Park Southwest and surrounding area) closer to the finish line by 6am. You can easily get a free street parking but you need about a ½ hour walk to the start. Finisher's heat wraps were provided. The race is on a Saturday which I think is much better than Sunday. It does not take up your whole weekend I was able to finish by 11:30 am and get back home to Queens by 1 PM leaving the rest of the day to enjoy other activities. I find getting to sleep early on Friday after going to work much easier and makes me well rested for the race. With a Sunday race you always have too much nervous energy to sleep well on Saturday night. Final thoughts: This was a fantastic job done by NYCRUNS, kudos to the management, staff and volunteers. They never leave you in the dark (though you start in the dark at 7am) with the abundance of emails. I hope they can make some changes to the course over the years to make it a bit less challenging (my legs will thank you). This is a great race if you did not make it into NYC marathon since it is 2 weeks before or if you are a maniac like me you can do both and maybe stick the Suffolk Marathon on the in between weekend and do the trifecta.

There were apparently issues with the time keeping for the 2017 race which were not disclosed until I pressed for the 10K and half-marathon splits (results that have been reported in previous years). The organizers did not acknowledge the issue publicly and were likely attempting to sweep it under the rug...very unprofessional. Organizers were unwilling to offer any consolation or discount despite this failure on their end.

This is the 2nd Year I have run the Brooklyn Marathon - my 44th since Nov 2011. Having just run the TCS NYC Marathon a few weeks earlier this did not disappoint. Brooklyn is easier going; arrive 7.30-ish for day of bib pick-up; sub-400 runners; even with cold pre-race rain the vibe was positive and everyone was friendly; Race organization is one of my favorite - super professional and all bases are covered from the start through post-race. Such a welcome experience!! Sign me up for next year!

The day was chilly, windy and the course was full of hills among late autumn trees in a beautiful Prospect Park. After each of the many loops the hills seemed to be steeper and steeper. The mile markers were posted at each and every mile which dismissed any confusion about counting remaining loops. The organisers and volunteers made this race a great event. Hot chocolate at the finish line saved me from hypothermia. Thank you, Brooklyn and New York...

I did this race last year because the local people were super friendly and nice. Really, I never had a bad experience in the US and the kindness shown to me makes me want to do more races in the US. This race was tough. The winds were strong and the temperature was cool. I finished a bit slower than I expected to conserve energy during the race. I do recommend it though. The packet pick up is easy and the shirt and medal are nice. You get a towel when you finish and there was lots of food for the slower runners at the end. The pricing was a bit high but organizers do great races throughout NYC.

Three short loops and six long loops of Prospect Park. The loops were a mental challenge. The 4%-grade, 1/2-mile uphill and subsequent rolling downhills took a physical toll on the knees and quads after six repeats. However, I was surprised I was never bored, and beating the challenges was satisfying. The terrain is interesting in its variation, and the landscape is pretty in the fall. I liked the relative quiet and lack of traffic compared to most marathons. Most of my fellow runners were not even participants, and many didn't seem to realize a marathon was happening (only 400 finishers in 2016). However, avoiding them did not affect my pace, and I enjoyed being around different types of runners. Spectators were few, but consistently spaced, and I came to know and love each of them. A decent crowd of Brooklynites at the top of the hill grew larger and more boisterous as the race progressed. My wife painted 6 different signs for me! Frankly, the organization was no more elaborate than a local 5K, but adequate and friendly. One of the two water stations (located at opposite sides of the park) had clueless Gatorade volunteers blocking the water cups. Decent food afterwards. Appropriate porto-johns. Scoring glitch meant no awards and results were only emailed, not posted. The terrain and wind killed my sub-3:00 goal, but I was delighted to win my age group. If you enjoy track work and you're good at pacing and strategizing, this is the race for you.

I love this race! The course is hilly with one big hill you do six times. The volunteers are very enthusiastic. I do not mind sharing the race course with moms and strollers, casual runners and walkers who will stop and ask about the race. The coolest was almost being hit my a horse. The horse was nice and I petted him. The medal is very pretty and the opposite of medals I get in Canada. The race shirt is also cool enough that you would feel bad using it as a wash cloth or something. Not to put down race shirts from Canada but they are too understated and apologetic. This shirt makes you want to run this race! the temperature was nice and the other runners were very friendly. I liked how green this section of Brooklyn was since I spent the day before just exploring the city by foot and seeing places like the Museum of Morbid Anatomy! Post race is great with bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter, oreo cookies, coffee and tea and grapes. After doing this race I do not want to do the other race two weeks prior.

Not sure how useful this review is going to be, as we were told this was the last year of the marathon being loops of the park and next year the intention is to bring it on to the streets (this would be awesome). They've said this before, and subsequent emails from NYCruns kind of hint that its got another year in the park, so maybe this review will come in handy. Anyway, I really enjoyed it. Feels like a small community marathon, capped at 500 people but with the benefit of being easily accessible from Manhattan, I'd still list this as a destination run and in my opinion worth traveling to New York for. It's no NYC Marathon, but it's not trying to be either. Packet pick up from jack rabbit sports near the park was quick and efficient, as was the start - got there 20 mins beforehand, quick national anthem from an opera singer and we were off. Some nice crowd support at the top of the hill, but mostly regular people enjoying their park. Runners were in the pedestrian lanes and didn't interfere with cyclists or other walkers, so no noticeable obstacles. Other reviewers have talked about the hill&yeah it's an incline but I didn't think it was that bad. It was marathon #7 for me and I beat my PB by 15 minutes so it couldn't have been that bad. Repetitive loops wasn't a problem either - there's a clear sign which you need to go left twice and pass 6 times&I forgot my rubber bands so kept count by taking one finger out of my glove each time I passed it. Sanity checked with a GPS watch for when you go a little crazy at that 25 mile point, it wasn't a problem. I think I enjoyed it more than any other marathon I've done. Partly because I felt good and didn't hit a wall, partly I think because you always have a good idea of how many more loops you need to do and where you stand. The organizers and other runners were a good bunch and there was a generally friendly vibe. I didn't hang around long at the end, had some hot chocolate and a bagel and then got back on the subway. It was a cold day but great to run in, there was a bag check for the end and hoodies on sale. I'd happily do this one again. <word of caution and written several months later: after enjoying the NYCruns Brooklyn marathon so much, I signed up for the Central Park marathon in January. This was not good and highlighted the negatives of dealing with a small race organizer. Based on this I have no intention paying for any more of their events. This doesn't change my experience in Brooklyn and I hope they learn from it, but as a point of principle I'll pick another event>

Positive: The park is great, the volunteers and spectators were steadfast, and the organizers are earnest in all they do. Event included a medal, shirt, gloves, food and drink at the end [all of which were excellent quality]. Also less expensive than other marathons in the area. Negative: Multiple identical loops w/ hills, lanes are not cleared and become cluttered with non-participants. It was a beautiful run through swirling leaves in a great park. I was able to park less than a 5 minute walk from the start. Two water tables [you pass one or the other every 1.5mi] were operated by local running clubs, and were steady in cheering and always having water/gatorade in hand for you. Great spectators as well, arranged in patches through the loop. Packet pickup was easy, and can be done the morning-of. The track is not easy (not horrible either), constantly changing elevation, and most of the length is made of 6 identical full loops of the park. It's a great park, but there was no attempt to 'mix it up,' and if you lost count of the laps, there was no obvious indicator if you had turned for the finish line too early. I used the suggested rubber-bands-on-the-wrist, and it worked fine, with each lap feeling like an accomplishment. There were also signs counting each mile, so if you know roughly what your last mile was, you'll keep track easily. The only thing that got in the way of really enjoying the race was that they don't close the track to the public, and the park starts seeing heavy use by 11am on Sunday. There are plenty of oblivious people in the public, and the running lanes [that you are confined to in order to make it a USATF-certified course] is only ~12' wide. When you're running hard and come upon a group of people on a lazy Sunday walk that completely block the race track, it is a major hassle. It got my blood pressure up that I was dodging people who were oblivious to the fact that there were hundreds of people using this track for a race. People wandering in from off-course, dog-walkers, kids, strollers, rollerbladers, people standing in the lanes for no reason, and even people working on juke-ing exercises...all were obstacles at one point, and by late-race delirium, it took a lot of mental effort to make sure we didn't crash. I even almost collided with a non-participant who wandered in the way of my reaching for a cup at the water station. I understand it would be another level of permits to close the run lanes to the public, but the Turkey Trot race that is done on the same track 11 days later (by the same team) manages to close the entire road [different conditions, but still]. Overall, it was a great experience, and when it gets out of the park, it will be a great event. The city needs a second big run event, and this is posed to make it.

This was my 4th marathon during fall 2013. It was the toughest one due to: repeated loops of the hill (which was psychologically challenging moreso than physically) and it was gloomy rain from my mile 10+. But you couldn't ask for a better organization. I was very impressed with the medal, my favorite shirt EVER (thanks for considering sizes for small women), and cute logo skull cap that was given at finish. The pickup was a breeze and communication was accurate and timely. I appreciated the extra touches like having a soprano sing the national anthem and some sort of local mascot in costume at the start line. I still have that song 'No Sleep in Brooklyn' by the Beastie Boys going in my head..hilarious! I was staying with friends on the upper west side and it was a breeze taking the subway. Luckily there were locals also running the race on my train, who were heading to and fro, or I would've been lost maneuvering thru the park on my own. I suggest creating a map for those that are not local but will take the subway, because it really was a breeze. When I emerged on the UWS, I was congratulated by Manhattanites which felt great and cracked me up. They were curious about the huge medal. Lastly, I was impressed by the local pride of the Brooklyners. This was my first time in Brooklyn, and I urge others not to be too intimidated to take the subway over and do it!

Pros: Volunteers and spectators were great. Liked the loops - knew when and where to expect hills. Great for families/spectators. My family saw me run by 7 times. Hills were not nearly as bad as some comments suggest. Hot chocolate was yummy. Bagels are always clutch. Cons: Getting to start is tough. Subway does not run well on Sunday mornings. Parking is hard to find. Delayed start time by 30 minutes with only 1 week notice - not a huge deal but I had to alter my plans for post race fun

We had a baby in March, so I wanted to keep all the marathons local this year. This is as local as it gets: I live four miles from the start. The most I'd ever done before this was 6 loops. Those extra lower loops really did me in! This is NOT for the faint of heart! I've done Yonkers 2x and this was tougher! Unfair to say the fan support was poor because A. this didn't seem meant to be a big fan experience, and B. the weather was rainy and quite humid. The fans at the top of Grand Army Plaza disappeared after loop #3! Organization is top-notch. Low-key but 'human'. I felt very valued and supported. Only once in a while did a pedestrian or dog-walker get on the course. Pretty good food - very Brooklyn-esque. Bagels were awesome. Fresh fruit, too! This was the biggest medal I've ever seen. Inspired by Mr. T. I got laughed at outside the park. Great T-shirt. Overall Kudos to Steve Lastoe and the crew. Not sure I want to torture myself like that again but it made me proud. I really hope the plan comes true to run it through the streets of Brooklyn; that sounds magical! Thanks!

This is a tough course, 8 loops total around prospect park. The longer loops go up about a 150ft grade. I think, this is not so bad but by the time i got to loop 3 I was feeling it! What is exciting about this course is being on the cusp of something that could be great. NYC started out in Central park and I hear that this one is attempting to do the same and make a leap out of the park through the entire city of Brooklyn. If this happens, I will definitely be back. Pros: Small race, lots of nice people, great vibe, excited. Finisher medal was unbelievable (huge!). The shirt, hoodie and cap were awesome. The post race treats that included lots of yummy donuts and fresh coffee was a nice touch. Cons: The course is very challenging. Don't let it fool you. If you are used to training in Prospect park then you are good to go, if not, you will feel the hills... trust me! Signs up everywhere were confusing as all get-out. They give you rubber bands to keep track of your laps but if you are like me and are directionally challenged it gets a bit confusing (especially as you are getting near the end and are somewhat delirious). There was a nice person at an electronic mile marker so you can ask where you are at in the course and that was very helpful, however there has to be a better way to set up the mile markers? They have water stations but I did not see anything in the form of Gu or other edibles so I did bring my own but if you did not bring anything you will find yourself in a heap of trouble. The course, the loops.... I am not sure what to say. I loved the park but by the second or third loop i was over it. I realize that this is where this race is at and I accept that but just because of this I am not sure I will be back next year. If it does come out of the park though.... Hells yea!

I would not recommend this race as a first or second marathon - it's a tough course. You do three half loops and six full loops of Prospect Park, and there is one big hill and lots of small, rolling hills that you hit again and again. That said, the organization is great, the packet pickup is a breeze, and the race is well run and well supported. Since you pass through the aid stations multiple times volunteers get to know you and cheer you on, which is nice. The course is not closed to the public; the weather was awful yesterday and kept it from being too crowded, but I image running this on a beautiful day would actually be kind of awful. The organizers are planning on moving the race out of the park and onto the streets of Brooklyn in a few years, which would be amazing. Don't know if I'd do this course again but would definitely run that one.

I decided to finally put my two cents in about The Brooklyn Marathon. This was my second marathon so I decided my training this time was not just to finish but run a smarter and faster race. I accomplised both. Great job by NY Runs. I will be running here again. Prospect Park is a beautiful course to run.Running the 'Hill' 6 times was a killer! There were plenty of Aid Stations and the volunteers were super. The spectators by the Hill were very encouraging!! I had to drive so parking was a issue. If the race gets bigger this could be a problem. The shirt and medal is very cool! If the race goes onto the streets of Brooklyn it will be even better!

I've rated numerous Marathons on this site and until now I have never submitted a negative comment. I'm all about the race. A good course that is accurately measured, easy access to water stops, and a course that is at least clear of pedestrians. I have been involved in organizing road races including a local Marathon in my area so I am aware of the difficulties faced with organizing an event of this caliber. I don't think this group is ready to handle a larger sized field. The Pro's: 1) I didn't mind the elevation changes on the course and really did not feel the hill that we ran on the loop was a really big deal. It was nice to know what laid ahead on each loop of the race. In my opinion the course choice is outweighed by the negative aspects as described below. 2) The finisher's medals were probably the best I've ever seen. 3) The volunteers on the course were very supportive. Having volunteered for many events myself I thought they did a terrific job and were not at all resposible for the problems with this race. They are the one reason why I have been reluctant to write this review. Con's: 1) I was OK with the idea we would be passing many runners on this course during the six loops but I never imagined there would be a lot of people (some with dogs on long leashes) walking toward us during the race going on their daily walk! Because of the loops you would sometimes run into the same people more than once. They even walked through the water stops. They were as irritated with the runners as we were with them. If I knew about this ahead of time I would have never made the trip. If you can't provide a course that is somewhat free of pedestrian traffic of people not involved in the race then you should limit the field dramatically. 2) The course can not handle in my opinion more than 200 runners without it having a negative impact on the quality of the race. There were nearly 500 on the course in 2012. The race director a couple of weeks prior to the race was pushing to get permission to expand the field to at least 1,500. This would have been a disaster. 3) We were told before the start that the course had been re-measured from the prior year and it was found to be short. Because it took way longer than usual to go from 26-26.2 I'm assuming the mile markers were never adjusted to the new measurements 4) The course and packet pickup location are not very convenient for those who are not local and don't know there way around the New York City Transit System. If this were a great race these inconveniences would be worth it but this is not the New York City Marathon. 5) There were age divisions in the race but so far no prizes two months after the race took place. We were told after the race they did not have anything for age group winners but they would send something in the mail. After a couple of weeks they asked us to E-Mail them if we won our age division so they could send the prizes to us the following week. I haven't heard anything else from them since other than numerous E-Mails asking me to give them high rating and plead that they be allowed to open the race up to the streets so they could get more runners. I am not an elite runner but I do invest a lot of time in my training. Marathons are not like 5k's to most of us. I only have a couple of these efforts in me every year so I'm a little more demanding then I would normally be for a regular road race. In my opinion New York City Runs has some work to do in providing a quality event and the race director should be concentrating on puting a well organized race together and less about the bottom line.

The Hill, The Hill, The Hill... That's all I heard about the Prospect Park course. OK, it was a hill, but not a significant HILL. I guess because you run the hill 6 times, it can become an issue. But... Pros: .. Running a loop takes a lot of the mystery out of the course. You know what to expect. To paraphrase Yogi, 75% of the race is physical, the other half is in your head. .. Really good crowd support .. There were 2 water/GatorAid stops per loop, approx. 3K apart. .. Prospect Park is beautiful. Thank You Mr. Olmsted .. It's in Brooklyn!!! - whodathunk Cons: .. Parking is tough .. No Gu or other gel at water stops .. For those that dislike loops, it's a 6X loop. .. I know it's 'their park', but there was just a little bit too much other traffic on the course. Most of the walkers were great, especially the seniors, staying to the outside lane and cheering the runners on. Even the horse back ridders were great. Yeah, that's right horses. But some of the 'owners' walked 3 and 4 across on the course. Their attitude was the only true negative about the race. I will definitely run this race again.

Really well organized and they had great pre-race communication with the runners. This was my first 'loop' course and I was dreading it, but the park was beautiful, and the sweet spectators made it fun. It's a hilly, intermediate/advanced level course, but I would recommend it for a fun challenge!!

It was a beautiful day! No waiting at the start, hardly any waiting at bathrooms. I ran with a friend. We talked and ran, shared healthy gel snacks like they were candy, ate home-made brownies ( DELICIOUS!!!), drank soda, ran some more, made friends with a lovely woman spectator who ran up the hill with us on our 5 th trip up to give us some strength, which she did! ate more snacks, got cheers from all PPTC er's. I enjoyed the race so much ! I finished the race and walked away with my Brooklyn Marathon Medal, did not realize that the bridge lit up until I got home! Cool!I usually lose weight during a marathon, feel sick and tired at the end- not this one. I felt very well taken care of. Thanks. It was really fun and well organized!

The race was very well run, the organization was fantastic. The field for the race was relatively small, which allowed some of mistakes and confusion with numbers, lap counting, and post race food. However, the spectators were great, and got to see the runners multiple times! Great cheering in Brooklyn :) The course is simply around the park for loops on end, which can be very mentally taxing or very mentally motivating depending on your mindset. Great race! I would do it again!

Like 47,000 others I was supposed to run the NYC Marathon this year. I wasn't sure about running a make-up race, but my running club gave me the opportunity to claim one of the few remaining spots in the race, and having heard good reports about last year's inaugural race, I decided to sign up. This is a very different marathon than NYC. It's a low-key race but one that has big aspirations for the future. 500 runners on a course of 3 lower- and 6 full loops of Prospect Park. Keeping track of the loops was easier than it sounds, thanks to well-placed mile markers at the side of the road. Water stations were capably staffed by volunteers from the Brooklyn running clubs, and doubled up as cheering stations: in this race you're not going to get the rock star feeling of running past thousands of screaming spectators, but you will find enthusiastic and genuine support, especially where you need it the most, at the top of the big hill at the north end of the park. This marathon has a reputation as being a difficult course, but I can't say I agree. Control your pace up the 1/3-mile long hill, and you then have a long flat/downhill to look forward to for a couple of miles afterwards. In my experience, this makes Prospect Park a faster course than Central Park. I normally race without music, but made an exception for this race, thinking I might need a little extra help to get me through the many loops. Given that I ran alone for most of the course (as expected, given the low number of runners), this proved to be a good idea. If I had to come up with a couple of small quibbles, as a faster runner the last 18-20 miles were spent continually passing people, making it hard to run the shortest tangents. On the other hand, psychologically this can be a good thing, especially in the later stages of a race. You might be slowing, but it doesn't feel like it if you're passing runners! Also, it should be noted that the park remains open to non-runners out for their regular daily walks. These are minor concerns, though. Keep your eyes on the road ahead and you should be able to anticipate the best path through the traffic. Only once did I have to come to a near-stop due to being blocked, and that was after the 20 mile mark, at which point anything other than moving straight forward is a bit of a struggle for me. The marathon must-haves: The t-shirt and medal were great. NYCRUNS (the organizers) clearly have some graphic designers who know what they're doing. Baggage check was simple and efficient, as you'd expect at a small race. Good supply of post-race food and drink. Both the usual (bagels, fruit) and, in a Brooklyn twist, a generous slice of Cousin John's Bakery cheesecake. While a marathon like this isn't for everyone, I can honestly say I have only good experiences to report. Right now it feels like a small community event, but you can tell from the professionalism of the organizers that their aspirations are greater. This deserves to be a bigger race and to go out onto the streets (they're working on it, and given the relationships they're forging with the Parks Department and city officials, don't bet against it happening soon), but even now, it's well worth running.

Come to Brooklyn for this terrific race. The multiple loops offer great spectating.

Great race. Well-organized. A fine, little marathon. The loop was a tad frustrating for the faster runners who had to deal with getting around the slower athletes. Perhaps two lanes would fix this. Otherwise the race was fantastic. Shout out to Steve Lastoe and NYCruns. Great local organization.

I looked at the course description and thought 'this sounds awful.' But it's a very fun race. By doing loops, it's like you're multiplying the number of spectators  and you even develop relationships with them from lap to lap. I thought I would get bored, but it was pretty fun.

Packet pickup was very simple- just in/out nothing personable. No 'thanks for comin' , 'good luck'. Handed a shirt and number and that was it....Also, there was no nutrition offered,it was not advertised that no food so i was not prepared with enough gels ect. at end had no blankets left- I froze walkin to the car. BUT I finished and felt great.Happy to have been there. THANKS for everything.

I loved the Brooklyn marathon - and not just because I PR'd. or because it takes place a mile from my house. It is what a marathon should be: local, low-key, friendly, but a real athletic challenge. The organization was good, the camaraderie excellent and the post-race food fine. The biggest disadvantage is running 8 or so times around the park and 6 times up a steep hill which means that it's not the fastest course but it was a beautiful fall day and a great experience.

NYC's only true marathon this year, thanks to the last-minute cancellation of the New York City Marathon, Brooklyn delivered an awesome and challenging race once again. The course was exactly the same as last year - which meant nearly 3 miles of challenging uphills divided among 6 large loops and 3 small loops of the 'never flat' Prospect Park. Crowd support was great once again - this is one of those races where it really feels like you're part of a tight knit local running community, as the majority of hardcore spectators are from the many local clubs around Brooklyn and the 5 boroughs. Post-race cheesecake stamped the 'Brooklyn' into the finish, and the medals were once again awesome - some of the best looking, unique medals you'll earn in any race. Hopefully Steve can get clearance to take this race to the streets next year, because while I plan on being a 'Legacy Runner' and doing every Brooklyn Marathon, those hills in Prospect Park are a KILLER.

I volunteered last year and ran this year; I had a blast then, and did so again. I'm very familiar with Prospect Park's hills, so knew what I was in for. The organization couldn't have been better, given NYC Runs' tiny budget, and the laid-back and festive atmosphere made the race all the better. Great, if concentrated, support, and perfectly adequate water stations. I know they want to grow out of the park, but, boy, I hope they don't lose the atmosphere of a great little marathon.

This race was a lot of fun. A refreshing chance of pace from the bureaucracy and hassle of the NY Marathon. Kind of felt like a friendly small town marathon. Very well organized. Plenty of gatorade and water. Volunteers were extremely friendly. Had the best medal of any of the 7 marathons I've run so far. Only downside was of course that the course was entirely in Prospect Park, but hopefully it will branch out to the streets of Brooklyn within a year or two once the race is well enough established.

NYC Runs may not have the notoriety, money, fanfare, or political pull of the (too) powerful New York Road Runners, but in a way that makes their races more attractive - very laid back, community-centric feel that encapsulates the best of a borough without going overboard, as larger races focused on foreign and charity runners often do. As a lifelong resident of Kings County, I was honored to run in the inaugural Brooklyn Marathon, despite my reservations about the repetitiveness of the physically demanding course through Prospect Park. This is not an easy marathon. You are challenged both mentally and physically around each of the 9 loops of Central Park's hilly little brother. 3 'short' 2-mile loops encompassing the park's Center Drive, followed by 6 full, 3.35 mile loops, all featuring that infamously winding, 600 meter hamstring-killer of an incline at the north end of the park. Unfortunately, after cresting this beast, you won't get a downhill reprieve for another 1.25 miles. The organization, energy, and crowd support were top notch, with adequate water and Gatorade stations, and plenty of much-needed support from local running clubs, and just random park stragglers. The plan is to get this race, or at least part of it, out of the park and onto some of Brooklyn's diverse streets by the 3rd year. For now, it's most likely another 9 loops of the park. If you're looking for a challenging but fun, and much cheaper alternative to the NYC Marathon, and especially if you're seeking a race that has a soul and a *gasp* human side to it, where you're not herded into corrals like livestock 3 hours before the start, check out the Brooklyn Marathon.

This was the inaugural Brooklyn Marathon - limited to 350 entrants. The race was entirely run in Prospect Park. Three 'small' 2 mile loops plus 6 'large' 3.3 mile loops gets you to 26.2 miles. Usually, first time marathons have logistical issues, but this one did not. A very well run race. The race organizers would love to take this out of the Park and onto the streets of Brooklyn, but for a start, an excellent race. Recommended if you don't mind a multiple loop course. Super recommended if they eventually get out onto the streets of Brooklyn.