Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
This is such a fun weekend! Everyone is so helpful and all runners always seem to cheer each other on. Can't wait for next yr.
Downhill course and the last 7 miles are a nice gradual downhill so it is easy to have a strong finish. The race director goes out of his way to accommodate the runners (almost to a fault). The course is scenic, the road from mile 14-18 is not in great shape but the traffic is so low it is not an issue.
It is a well-priced race for all you get.
Steep downhill start so it may work your quads. The miles are marked but there are old mile markers too so you need to know which is which. There were cones for most miles in the beginning.
There are shuttles to the start but you have a warm building to wait in.
GPS and cell service around the finish area is non-existent so make sure you know where you are going, it could be easy to get lost on the way to the parking and pre-race shuttle.
I ran this marathon in 2016 and loved it! It was my first marathon and I highly recommend it for less experienced marathon runners. It's not huge and intimidating and the scenery is really pretty. It's also a lot of downhill so probably a little easier than most. I used my GPS and it had the marathon distance pretty accurate (I think mine said it was about a half a mile longer than 26.2 but that happens sometimes). They also had water stations about every 2 miles. My only complaint was that they food was slow at the end of the race (although it was free).
A lot of downhill at first so it's easy to go too fast with your pace. Just a few rolling hills after that.
Find a hotel early. I stayed in the Hotel Belvedere in Hawley and it was pretty convenient.
I ran this is 2014. It didn't finish where it was supposed to, so not a certified course. Course was also short and fluid stations were mostly out of anything for slower runners.
It's far away from anywhere. Stayed at a motel 15 miles away.
While this is a pretty course, 2014 was 1 mile short on the Sunday race.. director said "maybe you lost sattelites?? Well it was longer than Saturdays race" - turn around cone was moved in the early morning.
It's a fast start as the course starts on a downhill
It's a small race... not many logistical issues