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Apr 27, 2024

Yonkers Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Yonkers Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.9

Organization 4.4

Spectators 2.8

Number of comments: 78 [displaying comments 61 to 71]

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J. R. from Long Island (9/19/2005) "Tough Course" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Yonkers Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you want to run a marathon that's not over crowded this is for you.This year there was plenty of medals and food. The organization couldn't have been any better or friendlier. There's not many spectators ,but the ones that were out there were the best. I saw one family buying water from a store and giving bottles to runners. This is a very challenging marathon and half marathon, but well worth it for the nice hardware at the end. I have no others to compare it to yet, (i'm in NYC 05) but i will be back every year!
John Ward from New Jersey, USA (9/19/2005) "I love running this marathon! " (General Comments) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Yonkers Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I think that this marathon is well organized and that the runners are taken care of in so many ways. Before the marathon, there are so many folks directing the runners to the pick up areas, free parking, and staging areas. During the race there are sufficient water stops at every mile, some with gatorade. Along with that some locals have their own water stops along the way. After the race we are treated to a massage and a post race hot meal. One year there was even entertainment. This marathon treats runners to a very tough course. A true marathon. Great price. Perfect timimg for folks who want to run another marathon in November-December!! Be sure to join us in 2006.
Jerrold Bregman from New York, New York (9/19/2005) "If you like Central Park you will LOVE this course" (about: 2005) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Each of the two laps is like a giant Central Park run in terms of terrain. Great views of the Hudson followed by a sweet residential area is the first 60% of the loop followed by a run through the town. A few blocks that aren't so lovely but they are hardly a distraction. Cheering helpers at the water stations, which are spaced at every mile marker (families, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, children and adults of all ages), and nice police officers at intersections. If you enjoy Central Park terrain you will love this course. If you train on flat all the time and that's all you like, stay home. The race is followed by ample beverages, fantastic veggie pasta, and an artsy finisher's medal. Nice comradery among the racers. Also, the Hudson is accessable at the finish, so you can sit in the water for 10 minutes after the race which is perhaps the best way to refresh your legs so they're 95% by the next morning (oddly, I didn't see anyone else doing this but it was great!). The temperature was mid 60's at the start and mid 70's at the finish; not a cloud in the sky and nice breeze so one did not over-heat. This was my first marathon which I ran as a trainer for NY in November and it was a wonderful experience.
Rob Leder from Stamford, CT (9/18/2005) "not for everyone" (about: 2005) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Yonkers Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I just ran the full marathon today, 7/18/05. I was looking to do a hilly long run in preparation for an upcoming 50k, and this was perfect. However, it's not a race for everyone. If you're a regular road racer - i.e. the kind of person who jumps out of bed at 6am on a frigid Sunday in February to line up with 50 other crazies in a small local 20k - and you live within driving distance of Yonkers, then you should definitely get around to running this hilly & historic course. However, if you live far away and are considering a 'destination race', you've never run a marathon before, or consider marathons to be just as much about fanfare & festivities as they are about racing (nothing wrong with that), then the Yonkers marathon is not for you. First, the hills. Marathoners, don't pay attention to the feedback half-marathoners leave about this course. You have to run it twice, and as I'm sure you know, there is a world of difference between running 13 miles and running 26. If I had run the half-marathon, I probably would have said 'eh, they're not that bad' too. Anybody who trains and races in this part of the country is used to hills, and I've run everything from 5k's to 25k's here in Fairfield county, CT, that have been loaded with tough terrain. But trust me, a loooong persistent climb around mile 18 is a much more formidable challenge than it was around mile 5, and short steep ascents are a lot more brutal after you've hit the wall than they were when you approached the half. Depending on what you're looking for, the hills are either a pro or a con. Here are some features which I think most people will categorize the same, though: Con: 1) Climate. This is a late summer marathon in Yonkers, NY, and it does not start particularly early ( 8:30AM). Not a big deal for the 2:30 guys, I guess, but typical mortals will finish under the midday sun. It won't be 100, but 85 and humid is far from out of the question. 2) Scenery. Although the first four miles or so are run along the Hudson, for the most part there are apartment buildings, stores, and trees blocking the view (you'll catch the best views of the river and Palisades at the post-race meal). There are a couple of more miles along quiet shaded streets, past things like a town park, cemetary, etc., and these are pleasant enough. But at least half of the loop is through either a drab industrial zone (think auto body shops, warehouses, etc.), or the crowded and noisy cityscape of south Yonkers. In the latter section, you'll find a few people who will clap and offer encouragement, but mostly there will be pedestrians/shoppers who seem indifferent or at best bemused at the site of (at this point) solitary runners with numbers pinned on their sweat-drenched singlets/shirts. 3) Traffic. Although the cops and volunteers do a great job of keeping all major intersections clear for racers, and there are a few coned-off sections that might otherwise be dangerous, this is an urban race where the streets are not closed to traffic. As you can imagine, this makes it less pleasant than typical big-city races or small suburban/rural ones through quiet streets. Pro: 1) Parking is easy. There's a decent-size lot about 50 or 100 meters from registration/packet-pickup and the start of the race. 2) It's a bargain. Depending on when you register, it's either $15(!), $25, or $30 (day of race!). For that, you get a finisher's medal, t-shirt, post-race pasta meal, and a thoughtful goody bag containing a rain poncho and a nice assortment of snacks (Hershey bar, Power bar, pretzels, and snack mix) 3) No big crowds clogging up the opening miles. (of course, the flip side is that you may end up running pretty much alone during the second loop). 4) You're in good hands. There is a water station at every mile marker. Despite the fact that the course isn't closed, and the 'pack' really spreads out in the late going, there are plenty of cops and race volunteers out on the course, both stationed at intersections and driving around. The race director himself even loops the course several times in a mini-van, asking every runner how they are doing. 5) Feeling of accomplishment. Every marathon is tough, but there aren't many as challenging as this course. Finish it, especially in your target time, and you'll definitely feel like you accomplished something.
D. C. from Long Island, New York (9/18/2005) "Not a very pleasant run" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yonkers Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was hoping to make this my 14 marathon. But as I was running through an industrial section, past factories with no crowds and plenty of hills, I decided to change and do a half-marathon. Since this is a 2 loop run, once around was sufficient. This is definitely not a very enjoyable run, but the support crew and the police at the intersections were helpful. This is just not one I would run again. Something more scenic and not down a busy main street would be more my idea of a nice run.
John McCarroll from Medina, Ohio (2/10/2005) "I dropped out in 1964" (General Comments) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Yonkers Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I was really interested to see the comments about this race. I ran this as the Olympic Trials Marathon in 1964. The course was out and back, the heat was incredible (about 100), high humidity, little water, lots of big hills, little shade and 71% of the field dropped out (including me, at about 10 miles). Only 37 finished of the 128 who started. What a massacre!!! Runners were collapsing all over the place. There is a good description of this race in 'A cold Clear Day' which is a biography of The race's winner, Buddy Edelen, who won by about 20 minutes. I want to run this one again, hopefully this time under better conditions.
Matthew Scheiner from Allentown PA (9/26/2004) "Prepare for hills and no spectator support." (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Yonkers Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 You need to be prepared to go up and down hills throughout the race. The first part of the two loop course is scenic... along the Hudson River. Then it gets into industrial Yonkers... ugh! No spectator support plus few runners equals major isolation come the toughest miles. They were not prepared with enough medals or food to supply the marathoners after finishing... not good! My advice: choose another marathon!
shannon police from bronx, ny (9/21/2004) "Great no-frills race" (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Yonkers Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you like the big city hoopla races w/more spectators than participants, than this is not a race for you. But if you like a race where you can run to the beat of your own drum while running on a measured course with plenty of aid, than Yonkers should float your boat. I just ran the full marathon this past Sunday and I have to say I?ll be back next year. I see why a lot of the people who run this make it an annual tradition. Organized wonderfully, lots of water stations, clearly marked miles and even some nice scenery at parts. Just pray you don't get a day like we had, the wind was not very nice to us, though the hills were not as bad as rumored to be. If you pace yourself right (which I didn't!), you can run this double loop course with good results. I gave it 4 stars for spectators b/c I actually prefer to run a race w/out feeling like a parade float. So this was fine for me. Like a long training run where I didn't have to stop in stores to buy fluids.
J. D. from Long Island, NY (9/19/2004) "HillLLLLLLLLs" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Yonkers Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my third half marathon. Disney in January, Long Island in May and now Yonkers in September. I can only compare this boutique marathon in relation to the two megamall previous. I train in the absolutely flat South Shore of Long Island, so was comfortable with the hill portion of Disney (the ramp leading down from Cinderella's castle) and Long Island (two curbs and one highway overpass). When I read about the Yonkers hills I tried a few runs over pedestrian overpasses. There are really only two hills in Yonkers, but the first one goes from Mile 1 until Mile 6 and the second goes from Mile 8 to Mile 12. On the first hill you are running on the East shore of the Hudson River with spectacular views of the Palisades making for a bit of a distraction. The problem is, when you finally see the top and think you can make it OK you discover that you've just reached a switchback and the road continues upward and onward. After the scenic portion you get into the industrial area which was no better or worse than the Disney World support areas or the LI bus depot areas. I should mention that the start area had five porto-potties, which was an adequate number. There are no facilities along the course for pit stops and I was looking over likely front lawns at about mile 6 when an absolutely magnificent architectural vision appeared on the side of the course. Porto-potty #6, in just the right place. So the facilities measured up to the Disney & LI standards. During miles 8 to 10 I saw no runners, no spectators, no traffic control, no signs, no nothin' for portions, and began to wonder if I had made a wrong turn somewhere. Just then I saw a traffic light and a Yonkers police. The traffic control was terrific with police at every intersection and necessary spot to direct traffic and the runners. In this area some of the full marathon leaders began to pass me and it was a terrific kick to be running beside them for a few seconds until they disappeared. (As a general marathon note - there should be weight categories as well as age categories. Never in my wildest dreams will I run like these guys, but I am hauling around 230 lbs., while their weight isn't in triple digits. Let's be fair.) The last two miles was into a wicked headwind that made 2-3 foot waves on the Hudson. The finish line was manned by helpful people who took your bib tag, gave you a great medal (close to Disney but much better than LI) and sent you up a flight of stairs for pasta. The pasta was great; the stairs were Hell. Overall the course was well laid out, with some great scenery, the organization was very slick and the people along the course, well they were going to the Stop & Shop for groceries, they weren't really interested in those nuts playing in traffic. My wife and son were able to see me along the course, which they had not been able to do at the other two races. Oh and the kids at the water tables were really cute and gave the runners a real lift. This is just a real nice way to spend a fall Sunday morning and running a PR at 2:39 didn't hurt at all. Thanks, Yonkers and the race organizers, volunteers and police.
C. L. from New York City (10/2/2003) "They've got the basics down..." (about: 2003) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I have just ran the half marathon last week. The famous hills were not as dreadful as I had anticipated. The first few miles alongside the Hudson River are very beautiful. Some boring miles later on in industrial areas. Traffic is also bothersome on some streets, but cops were very helpful at intersections. Very nice support from the whole community at water stations - they really give you a boost. It is a simple and modest marathon by many standards, but very well organized and pleasant. I'll be back next year for the full marathon.

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