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Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 195 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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J. S. from RI
(5/28/2012)
 "Hot and hilly" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Although the downhills were fast, there were still plenty of uphills. Not an easy race, especially with the heat this year, climbing into the 80s. The end of the race could have been better organized as we had to wait for an hour in the hot sun for a shuttle bus. If you do this race do lots of hill training. | |
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J. s. from Central NJ
(5/27/2012)
 "Nice medium size marathon - tough 2nd half" (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and I enjoyed the experience. I read the comments from past years so I knew what to expect. Plus, I ran the last 20 miles in training so there were no surprises. This race has gotten more popular this year; I believe due to the Runner's World article on the 10 fastest marathons. There were 1,200 registered this year compared to about 800 the yeear before. The race starts on a narrow road and you could feel the crowding. It was not too bad, just maybe not the small marathon it was in the past. The starting point was at a high school that was open to use the bathrooms and halls to warm up. It was chilly in the morning so it was nice to get inside. By race start it had warmed up to about 60F. They had a ton of porta potties near the start line and there were no lines - very nice! The first 6 miles is gently rolling, and then the big downhills start around mile 6 for 3 miles. After that it changes to rolling terrain again. As the race goes on, the frequent uphills start to cancel out any benefit of the downhills in the 2nd half of the race. With the temperature nearing 80 temps in the 2nd half, the uphills were hard and seemed to be around every turn. The course is beautiful, and I thought there was enough crowd support. It was a nice day, so there were many people out along the way. The water and gatorade stops every 2 miles were good and had plenty of people cheering too. The race ends at the high school stadium on a nice (new) track. I thought that was a nice way to end the marathon, but that lap seemed very long! If you want a nice medium size marathon without all the nonsense of the large events, and an unusual course, give this one a try. | |
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R. M. from Dresher, Pa
(5/24/2012)
"Great Small Time Marathon" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I enjoyed the small time atmosphere of the marathon. the course was scenic. The first half was somewhat downhill which beat up my legs. The heat and the second half hills really got me and I did a lot of walking. Normally I run a marathon end to end. This race should start at 6:30 to beat the heat. the host hotel was not very pleasant. the pasta dinner was surprisingly good. | |
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s. k. from scranton,pa
(5/23/2012)
"speedbump" (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 That speed bump need the finish line has to go. Very dangerous. Many runners didn't see this and has fallen. | |
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S. T. from Chapel Hill, NC
(5/23/2012)
 "Good if you like to run alone downhill" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 My 15th marathon (counting 2 in Ironmans) and ironically my slowest (3:43 vs goal time of 3:20) despite the downhill course. I tend to over-stride and the downhills between miles 6-16 pulverized my legs such that I couldn't handle the 4-5 hills in the last 8 miles. A lighter, more efficient runner might not have the issue. Although it was a warm day, I am from the South and didn't think it was THAT bad, as 70% of the first 20 miles were in the shade and the humidity was non-existent almost. It seemed like 50% of the runners had ipods so it was a quiet run if that matters to you. My only real disappointment was that this course is not spectator-friendly. The directions to viewing areas are confusing. Also, be forewarned - this of Pa near Stroudsburg was terrible for cell phone reception, so have a backup plan for communications with family, friends, etc. Overall, a very nice small marathon, I would do it again just train differently and just have the Fam go out to breakfast and meet 'em at the Finish Line. | |
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W. B. from Maryland
(5/22/2012)
"Hot, great folks but disorganized" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I had endured the 2012 Boston sweatfest and looked to RFTR to be my 'makeup' marathon, but unfortunately the weather was only marginally better. That's no one's fault, of course. It's a pretty course with huge downhill in the first half. The volunteers could not have been nicer, but I cannot ever remember a more completely disorganized marathon once we left the start. Water tables were often poorly staffed with no water ready. I needed some medical help at one stop but none was available and no one knew where it was. What others have said about the late buses and lack of course monitors was absolutely true. Well intentioned people don't make up for a lack of organization. I won't run it again. | |
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A. J. from New York City
(5/22/2012)
"Good Race - Tough for friends/family to watch you" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Generally had a good experience with this marathon despite the incredibly hot weather. The course is very beautiful rolling hills, the last 8 miles or so with little to no shade. Because of the heat, my friend and I took it much slower than usual. Because 5 hours had elapsed, toward the end of the race, there were points where the cones leading you in the right direction had been taken away with no race directors at those points to show you where to go. I had to ask a spectator at one point which way the course went. Made the finish a bit hard to find. The organization was pretty good about getting everyone as much water as possible during the race. One neighborhood was wonderful and had hoses out to spray us with lots of extra water. If you plan on bringing any friends or family with you, it may not be the best choice. This is why my spectator rating is low. All of the spectators we saw were very encouraging and wonderful, but very scarce. My husband was with a friend from the area and tried to find me at several points listed on the course map as good spots for watching the race. Unfortunately, even with his 'local guide' he found that most of the roads to access any of these points were blocked/closed. He was very frustrated by this, and only found (by accident) one place to catch me around mile 23. All in all, a good experience, but if you depend on your friends and family for more water or fuel at different mile markers, this may not be the best one for you. | |
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G. G. from Carlisle PA
(5/22/2012)
"Great Race needs organization" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I thought this race was pretty good. The course was downhill for the first half of the race. The 2nd half had lots of rollers. 17 had a nice steady grade not bad at all. The organization was not the greatest. Buses arrived late. When they left we follwed a bus that actually got lost. That was not good. The race is not family friendly. The viewing points had poor directions. This very fraustrating. They needed more ppl to hand out water. When kids hand out water its nice but difficult to reach down. No pre race refreshments like water on a very hot day. There was no cover near startline. HS was packed and hallways were cramped. Consider having gym or bigger area open. Its kind of difficult to cramp over 1000 ppl in a hallway. Consider having local companies man water stations along the course. I would come back if they improved spectator viewing points. NO viewing points at mi 20. That is a critical stage in a race. | |
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Jim Clark from Hatboro, Pa.
(5/21/2012)
"Fast course. Hot Day. Register at the Expo" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 The course is advertised as fast. It can be. However with the late May date it can also be a hot day, as it was this year. I recommend booking the hotel room early(with a 24 hour cancellation option), and registering for the race at the expo. Then you can let the weather decide if you will run the race. | |
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Charles West from Pottstown, PA
(5/21/2012)
"Hot, Hot, Hot" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 It was my 2nd time running this course and my running partner's 2nd attempt to qualify for Boston. The organization for the race is fantastic but no one can control Mother Nature. The crowd support was better than in 2011 but this is not a big city marathon. Unfortunately Mother Nature decided to send us a bit of heat and it took a toll on the runners and we regularly heard ambulances coming and going. The latter aid statons had ice avaiable and once you entered Stroudsburg, people had water hoses set up. The post-race food isn't anything special and there were delays with the buses to our parking area but the race officials were profusing apologizing for the delay (They lost access to the school parking lot a week earlier and had to scramble for a back-up plan. Based on the organization of the group, I expect this to not be a problem next year.). I would recommend this race to most runners. If you need crowds cheering you on, try another race. But this race does support a great cause. |
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