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May 11, 2024

Roxbury Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Roxbury Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.2

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.0

Number of comments: 26 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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M. O. from Winchester, MA (12/15/2011) "good late autumn, rural CT marathon" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Roxbury Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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.
S. O. from Arlington MA (12/11/2011) "Great Low Key Marathon" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Roxbury Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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!
B. R. from Tulsa (12/11/2011) "A Perfect Race and Day" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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.
K. M. from Fort Lee NJ (12/11/2011) "Do this race." (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Roxbury Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
A. L. from New Jersey (5/6/2011) "The best $5.00 Marathon in the U.S. ;)" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Roxbury Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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.
Christopher McGovern from new york (12/18/2010) "no-stress local marathon" (about: 2010) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Roxbury Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 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.
L. A. from Providence, RI (12/13/2010) "Fantastic, low-key, no-frills marathon!" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran this as a training run for an ultramarathon, and really enjoyed it. This race is just as advertised: a locally-supported, low-cost, no-frills, rural marathon. I think the organization was great, and while there weren't many spectators (almost none outside of the water stations), the spectators who were there were very supportive. I highly recommend this race for New Englanders looking for a late-year marathon.
L. U. from Southbury, CT (12/13/2010) "Small marathon with big charm!" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Roxbury Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Roxbury is a very small, quaint, New England town. You don't get any crowd support, but the volunteers were absolutely wonderful. The race directors were also very helpful and friendly. No goody bags, etc., but for $5 you can't beat it. The first 8.5 miles of this marathon run out and back, mostly on a remote, single-lane, dirt road. It almost felt surreal how beautiful it was running past nice homes, smelling wood burning in fireplaces (instead of exhaust from cars), and seeing a light snow glistening in the trees. You then do 5 loops of about 3.5 miles on challenging roads. To me it felt like a mile uphill, a mile downhill, and then 1.5 miles of rolling hills. Difficult? Yes, but after you do the first loop you know what's coming and how to pace yourself, etc., on the next 4. On these loops there were two water stops. Both had plenty of water/Gatorade, and very enthusiastic volunteers. I can't thank them enough. (Especially since it was so cold!) I loved the fact that the parking lot was right at the start/finish line. It was easy to reload my water/gels and swap gear, without losing much time. The gear part was important because at the start of the race it was 19 degrees, but by the time I finished it was 41. Just have to be prepared for the weather, but not bad for December in Connecticut. Out of the 86 or so runners who registered, I spoke with a few who were doing this marathon as part of the 50 state club. But it was really a mixed crowd. Everyone was friendly. Despite the hills I actually finished Roxbury 30 minutes faster than I did the Marine Corps Marathon 6 weeks earlier. That race had 20,000+ finishers and the temperature was in the high 60s. With much cooler temperatures and only 86 runners, I found this marathon very enjoyable from a running perspective. You dont get the glitz of the larger ones (although I do love the overall experience of MCM and New York City) but it was a great way to finish off the year. Thanks again to everyone who puts on this race!
Paula Jean Lunt from Tenants Harbor, ME (12/13/2010) "Great place to run in peace." (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The best part about this race was the quietness of it. Low traffic volume, country dirt roads mixed in here and there, nice people at the water stops and no screaming spectators made this so enjoyable to me. I race because I love to run. I don't need someone to cheer me on; I can get to the end quite well on my own - and if you can do that, then this is a great race for you. It was so low-key that the thought of stress never entered my mind.
D. P. from Syracuse, NY (12/12/2010) "Pretty; old-school; hills suited for a 10K" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Roxbury Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Ran the 2011 race. Love the old-school feel of putting in your $5 and off you go. The organizers and support staff were great - braving 20-degree weather with a smile and an encouraging word. The course is brutal. I run hills all the time because of where I live; I know hills and like running them - but not over 26 miles. The loop portion of the race would have been a great challenge for a 10K or 15K, but a marathon? Please. I think most finishers would have to qualify their time because of the hills. If they have to keep the course they should consider running in the opposite direction so you don't finish uphill. I agree with all sentiments that this is not for the faint or for those looking to do their first marathon.

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