Seriously, where can one run an organized December marathon in the Northeast for $15? This race is an absolute bargain, and I have nothing but love for the Roxbury Road Race folks (and the winsome volunteers) that put on this holiday run.

One of the key aspects of the race is being able to use a parked car as a 'staging area' for refueling, wardrobe changes, etc. The course is an initial out-and-back followed by five identical loops, so one comes right through the start area five times during the distance. On a cool and misty morning (which was perfect running weather save for the light sprinkles during the first two hours), the opportunity to refresh and recharge before tackling each circuit was a true godsend. And, while I still wore my fuel belt, the back gate of my Honda was stocked with bananas, additional GU, bottles of Gatorade, dry technical hats and shirts, Clif bars, ibuprofen, etc.

I also made two friends during the run, in part because of the communal 'rest stop.' I happily provided bananas to another runner (who checked in between loops about the same time I did), and I heard several runners ask one another (in the parking area) if they needed anything during the run.

This is not to suggest that there isn't modest course support such as the pseudo-beer stop halfway through the loop portion and water/Gatorade at the start/finish. But, at only $15, I wanted to contain costs for the organizers, and it certainly was no trouble to get Gatorade from the car as opposed to pulling fluids from the course.

And, at the end of the race there's a welcome fire going in the covered pavilion, as well as homemade cookies, soup, apples, bread rolls, and coffee. Again, all for $15. Incredible.

People describe the course as 'hilly and challenging,' warning participants to 'add 30 minutes to their 26.2 times.' I'm not sure what to say about this. Are there some hills? Sure. Are they killer? Not really. The longest incline is right after the first turn on the loop portion and it's followed by an even longer nice downhill. My time was only three minutes slower than a flat marathon I had run a month earlier, and all three of these minutes (plus!) were spent at my car changing shirts. Have to look good for the cameras.

(I will confess that I drove up an absolute monster hill to the start of the race and it freaked me out. However, that portion of the road is not part of the course, so all other inclines appeared quite-doable after skirting around that tower.)

One other course note: it's about 1/3 on dirt roads, which is nice on the knees. But, these are actually roads (not trails), and it's always a bit odd when cars are trying to get by.

If you like tony well-kept New England homes in woodlands, you'll like Roxbury. For a town near industrial areas, Roxbury and its environs sport some real charming homes. One house along the course had a bit of moss on the roof; one house needed to shore up a second-story porch. Everything else was top shelf. Really pristine.

Almost everyone I spoke to post-race said, unprompted, that they'd do this run again. Easy to see why: low-key, low-cost, and lovely.

I absolutely loved this race! This is a marathon to put on your bucket list, and if you are a 50-Stater, I'd strongly recommend this for your CT race.

Here is what I loved about this marathon:

1. The beauty of the course - the scenery, and charming rural neighborhoods. The hills are certainly there, and this will probably not be a PR course for many people, but it is not overwhelming, and they add variety.
2. The 5-loop course is fantastic - it broke the race down into manageable chunks, and running past your car 5 times to drop off/pick up stuff is a luxury I have never experienced.
3. The organization - great job done by Chris Deming and the team, online sign up, pre-race emails, bib pick up race day, and race day activities all were perfect.
4. The volunteers at the various race points were great, loved the jingle bells, the guy with the colorful hat, and was pleasantly surprised to see so many kids/teens out there supporting this race.
5. After race 'party' - I did not expect anything after the race, but there were snacks, hot soup, bagels, and even a bag of homemade holiday cookies for the runners, to whoever took the time to bake and wrap all those cookies, thank you!
6. The small town feel of the event - other than the beautiful race course, this is perhaps the most appealing thing about this race. I still get nerves before marathons, despite how many of them I have run, to the point that I have questioned why the heck I keep running them. But this marathon was my first no-stress race - seriously, no stress. With only 100 participants, this is more of a running party - it is relaxed, fun, chatting with runners before and after the race was so enjoyable. The after race gathering is in a covered picnic area with a fireplace, what a cozy way to close out the running year!

Cons - there aren't any other than it was a bit brutal to travel back home race day. Hartford airport is a 60-mile drive from Roxbury, and having to get a flight connection made it one long day (got home 2am PST). But, I'd do it again, this race is well worth it.

The course is hilly. Many back roads with some mud and a lot of dirt. You pass your car several times which is extremely helpful. This is a small town race. There are aid stations but it may be easier to carry your own fuel and water. Very very friendly people. Can't wait to do it again this year.

I reviewed this in 2010 and had such a nice time reran the marathon in 2011. To sum up:
-Very nice people and volunteers.
-There is little stress you get with a huge marathon. Parking is easy and you pass your car many times with the loop (get there a bit early for best spot), Nutty volunteers and race directors brave the cold to help you out - There is still a young guy that stands at a cross roads for HOURS plays music on the radio while cheering you on/ making sure you don't get lost = that is great dedication & was happy to see a Lady friend join him this year :).
-The first out and back is beautiful. Loops are OK because u get to run to your car if need be
-Key water stops even had some Gels etc this year but make sure to pack a water bottle cause the first out and back is a long haul before you get some hydration
-Dress in some nice 'high tech' winter gear, check weather =it can get cold in Dec.
-Set your expectations correctly = there are many hills so you will be slower & think small town marathon (no shirt, no medal)
*Thanks again to all! Hope to see you in 2012 back at Roxbury Marathon

When I got my bib on this mild December race morning, a fellow runner cautioned me to add 30 minutes to my expected time. She had run it in 2010 and said the early hills and rolling terrain would wear down your legs.

Connecticut has only two road marathons, so a few 50-staters show up for this one despite its time of year (early Dec. in the northeast), rural location, no frillsOK, for only a $10 entry fee!-and small size (91 finishers). The race director recognized the 50-staters at the start, a nice touch. And the runners from the Roxbury Running Club, the staff and volunteers manning the water/Gatorade tables-and energy gels at one table-were welcoming and supportive.

The race scenery is picturesque and, after the first hilly eight miles, an out-and back past a horse farm and a river, the course loops five times. Curiously, the concept of running the same loop five times is at first daunting, then manageable, when you realize the loop is only 3.5 miles. Having the car parked at the start/finish meant you could change clothes, grab a GU, then tackle the next loop. Not surprisingly, only a few fans out there.

This was the toughest terrain of my five marathons, and my time was exactly a half-hour slower time, as advised. It was great to run a marathon on a Saturday, not a Sunday (to recover). The organizers can be proud of a marathon well done.

The Roxbury marathon is organized by a group of runners who know what makes a good run. This race is really about the run and no need for all the hoopla. You can park right at the start, pay $10, get a number and line up. The course support was great. I was apprehensive about the 5 loops but in the end it really broke down nicely by knowing what spectators/course officials were where. No mile markers anywhere. Really refreshing when you just want to go out and run 26.2 miles. Those folks who want to know their pace bring the fancy watches. Scenery was spectacular and the course had a nice mix of paved and dirt. It was not flat but the hills were not as steep as expected. At the finish there was hot soup, hot drinks, a fire in the fire place, and homemade cookies!

Couldn't have asked for any better support from the people of Roxbury. Drinks every 1.5 miles or so, clear, cool weather and an up-and-down course that took us through some beautiful countryside and New England homesteads (or weekend homes). It was laid-back and what a welcomed relief from the 2,000 to 25,000 people runs. Sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, a bag of cookies to eat on the way home and a warm fire at the park, couldn't ask for more. A word about the Crowne Plaza: so accommodating, they let me back in the afternoon to shower in the health club. Made the flight home better so all concerned. Add this one to your list of early winter marathons without hesitation.

I though this race was great for so many reasons. To start the route was tough, the runners and people at the aid stations were really nice. I'm not a fan of running in the cold but for this time of year in CT. I'm sure the race day conditions could have been colder. Besides you pass you car about a half of dozen time so picking something up/dropping something off is easy. Do this race for some good views and great price. Not many people along the course but the people out there were as loud as they could get.

Very nice people and volunteers. One of the best things you could do on a cold weekend in the middle of the Holiday season = go have some crazy fun and get a marathon done.
There is little stress you get with a huge marathon: no huge crowd to deal with, parking is easy and you pass your car many times with the loop (get there a bit early for best spot), the nutty volunteers and race directors brave the cold to help you out - my wife even decided to hang and help the 1st rest stop and the people there could not have been nicer to her and the runners - there was even a young guy standing at a cross roads for HOURS playing music on the radio and cheering you on/ making sure you dont get lost = great dedication.
The first out and back is beautiful - going down an old farm lane (mostly dirt track on those few miles helps with the pavement pounding later on) really helps make up for the many loops later on. Even the loops are OK because u get to run to your car if need be and there are some key water stops manned by some real nice/die hard helpers.
Thanks again to all. If you dress in some nice 'high tech' winter gear, set your expectations to think small town (no shirt, no medal) you will enjoy completeing a marathon and avoid some of the stresses that normally come with all the big $100 plus marathons out there.

If you want to get one more marathon in this year, this is the race. No commitment - just drive up and pay $5. It is an unusual course because it starts with an 8-mile out-and-back along some beautiful dirt roads before the last 18 miles, which are 5 laps on a loop of rolling hills. Since there were only 72 finishers, the multiple loops helped me not to feel like I was running with people. The loop is mostly paved. It does have one annoyingly busy intersection with a state highway but it's mostly very nice and quiet.

The most surprising thing was that there were no mile markers. Since I have no innate sense of pacing whatsoever, I went out way too fast. It was interesting to run without knowing how fast you're going, and very challenging. It is much hillier than Yonkers.