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May 10, 2024

Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.6

Organization 4.3

Spectators 3.4

Number of comments: 93 [displaying comments 71 to 81]

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j. h. from westfield mass (12/23/2005) "great marathon course" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Nice fast course. Perfect for the 1st-time marathoner. The folks do a pretty good job organizing for such a small race. One of my favorite fall races. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
T. P. from VA, USA (10/26/2005) "Good course for a fast time and fall colors" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This is a small marathon, and a very fast if that is your goal. I finished in 3:49 and didn't even finish in the top 50%. You should NOT run this marathon if you want any type of expo, crowd support, or a cool-looking shirt. Only run it for a fast time, a pretty fall course, or because you need to run at least one in NY. The majority of the course is flat, but not miles 1-5 (or maybe 4). After that, the only significant hills are between 12-13, and after 16. Other than that it is only an occasional small incline or decline, because you aren't running on a mirror. Things to improve: 1. The course map on the website - hand-drawn and awful. 2. The shirt is lame! Just a small emblem on the front which reeks of the 70s/80s. If you have to raise the cost to put a nice design on there, then maybe it isn't worth it. But with such a beautiful course, I think you could put something nice here. 3. Couldn't find mile marker 1, and my Garmin said mile marker 2 was off. Be warned that some of the aid stations have 2 or 3 folks working them, so they can be self-serve. I brought my water bottle and it saved me. I would run this marathon again. My review may sound negative, but it is more helpful to know what is bad about this marathon than what is good.
D. O. from New York (10/21/2005) "This is a great course." (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I chose this race because I wanted to qualify for Boston, which I did with plenty of time to spare. The course is beautiful, but Long Islanders have a different conception of flat than other runners. This isn't flat, but the hills aren't terrible either. There are very few spectators, but I didn't mind it because I can't stand strangers saying, 'You're looking good' when I really just want to crawl into a hole and die. The race needs better organization. For each question I had, from the packet pickup to the return bus ride to the start line, I would have to ask several volunteers to get the answer. Yes, they're volunteers, but they should be briefed with necessary information. But these are minor problems. The course is stunning and fast, albeit not as flat as I had hoped. Do some hill work before you come.
B. A. from Margaritaville (10/14/2005) "Well Run" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Efficiently organized. Great, relaxing course. I agree with the previous positive comments and have a few more: a. Starting the half marathon folks separately is wonderful. Thins out the starting line and start area bathrooms. b. Not having a relay is nice too. Not as many demoralizing fly-bys late in the run. c. And I LIKE the shirt. Lettering down the sleeve is nice touch. It's refreshing not to be a walking billboard with 38 ads from unknown companies adorning the back. And with my under-developed laundry skills, all my shirts turn out brown or gray eventually anyway. Just one area for improvement. Volunteers were great- but some of the aid stations were way too polite. I need someone bellowing 'Gatorade' or 'water' meters before I get there so I don't have to guess - especially in the oxygen-deprived zone from 20 on.
B. K. from The other coast (10/13/2005) "Put on by runners for runners" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Pluses: What I love about this event is that it's almost a throwback to the days when races were focused on the race itself instead of bands along the course, goodie bags, and attracting celebrities. It's a beautiful, fast course. I even enjoyed the middle section on city streets that others didn't particularly like. The quality of the small field is very high, even though there's no prize money. A truly amazing percentage goes sub-3 and/or BQs. People come to this to run fast. Crowds are sparse, but vocal. Volunteers are wonderful. Low entry fee. Minor (very minor) minuses: a couple of the mile markers were either off or hard to see. Due to the size of the field, you may find yourself running a pretty big portion of the race alone. Food/water ran out pretty quickly at the finish area. Out of the 3 marathons I've done, this is definitely my favorite.
Bart Deplancke from Worcester, Mass. (10/13/2005) "Great fast marathon!" (about: 2005) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I chose this marathon because I wanted to PR and BQ. It did not disappoint. The course was fast and highly entertaining (run along bike paths next to the 2 rivers + beautiful fall foliage). The weather was great for running (fifties and it had just rained) and the water stops were adequate and timely positioned. This is a small marathon, so spectators are few, but those that were there were great. Check out also the excellent guide for spectators as posted on the marathon website. Only comment: port-a-potties at the start please. Great job guys, this marathon has been around for a while and will be in the future.
m. c. from NYC (10/12/2005) "Great fast marathon" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first small marathon and I never want it any other way. The course was extremely fast, making it ideal for a BQ/PR. The surface of the bike path was soft, but just right, so the feet weren't pounding. Bucolic setting and empty trail make it perfect for someone who prefers to train alone and doesn't really get off on huge crowds. Definitely for the zen runner.
K. E. from Capital district (10/10/2005) "Oh this can easily become a 5-star marathon" (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 First let's dispense with the negatives: 1. Please put porta-potties at the start. 2. Please design a better looking shirt. 2005 shirts weren't that nice. Now for the plusses: 1. Excellent course for about 24 miles. There is only one 2.5-mile stretch you just have to bear through (traffic, narrow running lane). 2. Really nice, enthusiastic race officials, volunteers. 3. Great water stops. 4. Great temperatures for running: 50 degrees.
Pierre Debray from New-Rochelle, NY (8/10/2005) "So pleasant, and fast!" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 After 4 NY marathons and 1 Paris each time with below average preparation, I decided to train more seriously and to look for a fast, flat race to run a sub-3:00 for once. It also had to be close enough to Westchester where I live as I am not the kind who will board a plane to run 26 miles. Through this site I found Mohawk, and what an experience it was. It helped that the weather was great for the most part, with only a headwind too strong for my taste for the last three miles along the Hudson. But the scenery is very pleasant, the scattered crowd around the frequent water/Gatorade stations was nice and supportive, the few fellow runners (compared to Paris and NY) quite friendly. I was lucky enough to run from mile 10 to mile 22 with the great runner who eventually won the women's race, and (unknowingly to her) helped me achieved a PR of slightly less than 2:55. I can only recommend this race to those who look for P.R., or nice course, or nice running community, or all of this combined!
C. K. from Niskayuna, N.Y. , (4/29/2005) "Yes, but.... " (General Comments) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The train part is definitely true, but for accuracy's sake, we should add that there is a course marshal present at the tracks and, if a train does come through, they time the delays and adjust the official times accordingly. It does not impact a BQ application.

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