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May 5, 2024

God's Country Marathon Runner Comments

Back to God's Country Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.6

Spectators 3.4

Number of comments: 80 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

Sarah Duttera from Coudersport, PA (6/8/2008) "I saw God" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 God's Country Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was a super race. Beautiful course and challenging. The water stations were awesome. Thank you all.
N. H. from Pennsylvania (6/8/2008) "Not as good as advertised." (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 God's Country Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I'm having a little trouble understanding how this race has gotten the glowing ratings that it has. Not that it doesn't have its merits, which include: Easy race day logistics - I parked 100 feet from the finish line. Affordable entry and pasta dinner, free post-race lunch. Interesting age-group awards (gift baskets with local goodies). Big prize money for a race of this size - $750, $500 and $250 for the top 3 men and women. And finally, plentiful and excellent aid stations, some with hoses and misting stations, 4 with GU, many with fruit, and all with helpful volunteers. Now for the bad news: Kudos to the organizers for adding aid stations when it became obvious the day would be hot and sunny. But was there any thought given to moving the start time from 0800 to 0700? That's not a big deal for a race this size, when sunrise is well before 6 a.m., and it would have meant trading an hour in the mid-80's for an hour in the high 60's. Huge difference. Things don't happen on time. The 6:45 bus left Coudy at 7:05; the race started a couple of minutes late; and the 2:30 awards ceremony began at 2:55. You expect this of an inaugural race, not of one in its 34th running. Despite attempts by race officials and police to slow down motorists, it is disconcerting to have cars and trucks whizzing by at 50-60 mph. Chintzy medal. Maybe a little less money can be spent on the prize money for the 4% of runners who received it, and a little more on the other 96%. *Very few spectators. Who is giving 4 and 5 stars in the spectator rating, and have you ever run a race with more than 100 spectators? Bottom line, in my opinion: Run this race if you want to be able to say you ran one of the toughest road marathons in the country, because it is, and it is rewarding when you finish. Don't run the race because you think it will be excellent in all other respects, because it isn't. You can do better - think Steamtown and Akron.
Vicki Jessop from Ohio,USA (6/9/2007) "Think BIG hill!!!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first God's Country, and I have gained huge respect for Denton "Hill" - I'm pretty sure it was a mountain, not a hill. Even so, I loved it - it was the most difficult marathon I have ever done, and really gave me a new appreciation for what heat and sun can do. It really took it out of me, but I finished it, and it was a real personal challenge - just purely stubbornness and determination to finish it took me to the line. I loved the way my husband could support me easily and be there with me throughout the race - as much as he wanted. It was very spectator-friendly. The people were great - could't be nicer and more supportive. But we could have used a little more enthusiasm from the townspeople - a lot of times you would never know there was an event going on. Most people seemed unaware and appeared not to care especially. The spectators and volunteers that were out were wonderful. This was the first marathon I was ever in that I could not feel pleasure at passing a fellow runner - I just felt bad for them, and I knew how hard they had fought to get there. Tough run. I hope to go back next year and conquer that "hill" - actually most of it is hills. But the last bit of the run is a nice decline - I really loved that! Next year I'll pray for a little less heat and sun! A great B&B to stay in is Frosty Hollow - wonderful and cheap!
Joe Hvilivitzky from Niagara Falls, Canada (6/8/2007) "A hidden gem" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 God's Country Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If there's a list of "hidden gem" marathons somewhere, this one should be on it - if it isn't already. Forget a PB; concentrate instead on challenging the course and enjoying the surroundings, the small-town hospitality, and the little touches this race offers. I love a point-to-point course. I love this marathon.
Jim Daly from Red Lion, PA (6/7/2007) "Really hot... but a cool race!" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 God's Country Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 2nd God's Country Marathon and this one was every bit as good as last year! The only bummer was the heat. This race is all on pavement and it was easily 95 degrees on the pavement for the last half of this race. I ran this last year and I don't think it got into the 70's. Nonetheless, a first-rate effort by all the volunteers (thank you) and the locals who came out to cheer us on (thank you). See you next year!!!
T. B. from Maryland (6/7/2007) "Super-friendly, well-organized, GREAT RACE!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 God's Country Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 8th marathon, and I've run some really good ones. God's Country might be the best of all of them so far. Downsides: - Early June can be hot (and it was this year). - US-6 (22+ miles of the course) is kind of busy, and there were long stretches without a good shoulder, so I was running along the fog line and then hopping into the gravel when the next 18-wheeler came along. Upsides: - It was amazing (and truly touching) how much the town of Coudersport cared about the race. It was a big deal for them, and I felt like a star. Banners across the road, signs up at local businesses, LOTS of people out cheering. Awesome. - The race organization was superb. Lots of nice touches, and done in a friendly, small-town, small-race way. Great water stops. - Pre-race and post-race meals were both very nice. The pre-race was at the fire hall, only cost $6, with homemade desserts. The post-race was at the Hotel Crittenden (very cool old-timey place), and included in the race fee. - Lots of interesting gift baskets given out as overall and age group awards. Small field, so lots of people came away with something. - Friendly shuttle service out to a nice post-race shower. - They put on a great race, they know they do, and they still ask for suggestions on how to improve things. Thank you Kim for putting on a wonderful event. You rock!
N. K. from Horsham, PA (Near Philly) (6/4/2007) "Loved This Marathon" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 God's Country Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my very first marathon and I absolutely loved it. It's a nice quiet race and even though there aren't thousands of spectators, there were plenty to help motivate you. Denton Hill wasn't as bad as I had imagined but the next 6 miles after (18-24) were really tough. Everyone is so nice and after the race everyone wanted to know if everything went well and what they could do to improve. And to top it off, I hear it's been ranked in the top 10 for hardest marathons... so if you want to feel really accomplished, run this!
Bob Long from Myerstown PA (6/4/2007) "Hoo boy, it was hot" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 6+ God's Country Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The temps reached into the 90's, and I ran through a (cooling) thunderstorm at mile 21. I kept moving backward through the field because a lot of those behind me kept dropping out from the heat. I had a great time. See you next year.
T. M. from Virginia (6/4/2007) "Wow" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 God's Country Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great people running this race. Great local people who support the runners. Great water stations. Long open road. Hot sun until the end. Big hill. Really big hill. However, the greatest part was seeing families come out to be pit crews for their runner. My husband rocked by being there for me. I haven't been in a marathon before where my family could be such a part of it. I also met really great people along the way (Charlie and Tim). It was a tough day for me, I didn't feel well, but it made finishing it, that much sweeter. And, where else can I say I placed in the top 5 in my age group? No one needs to know there were only 5 in the category, right? Oh yeah... so cool. Thanks, Potter County - beautiful scenery, beautiful people.
E. V. from U.S.A. (6/3/2007) "God willing, I will be back!" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 God's Country Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Thank you for "running" a great marathon! Such a good time!

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