The Clarence DeMar Marathon is a fast, point to point course which travels through towns of Gilsum, Surry, and Keene, New Hampshire.
The course is a net downhill, dropping approximately 500 feet from start to finish. It is not an entirely smooth downhill since runners will encounter some rolling hills during their net descent to the finish.
The Clarence DeMar Marathon was the 166th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 186th largest in 2022.
Last year 12.9% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 19.7% of runners qualified for Boston in 2022.
This gives the Clarence DeMar Marathon the 128th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 51st highest percentage in 2022.
Its Course Score of 99.43 ranks it as the 112th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 2nd fastest course in New Hampshire.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are slightly above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Clarence DeMar Marathon a PR Score of 99.11. This PR Score ranks it as the 129th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 2nd fastest in New Hampshire.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Clarence DeMar Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 904 feet (275m) Min Elevation: 471 feet (143m)
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Keene is a sweet little town and beautiful as the leaves are just starting to turn. Pre-race the director sent out many emails explaining all the logistics including bus schedules and packet pickup.
Race Tips
The course was hilly but mostly downhill. It is easier to get a PR on this course. There's lots of green and some turning leaves as you begin the race. You run through a beautiful park, on country roads, past farms with beautiful horses, a small lake, a stream (river?), and towards the end you even run through a graveyard! It's pretty cool with all the old gravestones. The weather said it was going to rain but it never did. The weather was perfect for running!
There's a Best Western, Days Inn, Hampton Inn and a couple others all near the college where you pick up your packet and catch the shuttles. There's a great little place downtown that has several restaurants and a couple bakeries.
BK's review of 2021 Clarence DeMar Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
Review
I ran 2021, where Covid regulations were in place.
In general, this race was well ran. Everything from water stations, transportation and people to help along the way was perfect. I was so surprised to see so many people help you through the cemetery (mile 22).
If you are running the full, only thing to be mindful of is the half will intersect with you (multiple times perhaps). Running a 7:40p I seemed to smack into the start of the half marathon which was a shock and all of a sudden, you are running around a sea of people. The same is true after the dam, for the next 3-4 miles. After that it was fine, and that certainly gave you some energy, but also make it hard to keep the flow.
Race Tips
Be mindful that the first half has a lot of down elevation, makes it easy to run a bit faster. After you get to 14-15 you start to see more people to cheer you on.
Mile 22 is near the cemetery, and there is a lot of support there to help you up the few short hills. Power through that, and you should be in the final stretch.
