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☰
Garden Spot Village Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Garden Spot Village Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.9 
Spectators 3.4
Number of comments: 41 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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D. Z. from G'bury,CT
(4/18/2013)
 "Beautiful but challenging race" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Spectacular scenery and a glimpse at a different culture make this a truly unique marathon. The cleared land and rolling hills make it possible, at times, to see a string of runners over a mile long around the next 2 turns. These same rolling hills kinda rolled over me, so take your time. It's all too easy to underestimate the effects of all those small ups and downs. The organization and logistics made the race easy to handle. The area is used to visitors and the food at the aid stations and end of the race was way better than average. I gave the spectators 5 stars because there weren't all that many of them and too many people telling me how well I'm doing gets really annoying after a while. Get your PR another day and run this race and carry a camera. | |
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T. C. from Syracuse, NY
(4/11/2013)
 "Scenic, very hilly, well run" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a small town, country marathon, but was very well organized. The course was challenging, with almost constant hills. This is not a marathon to expect times anywhere near a PR. It was hard on the legs. The course ran through pleasant farmland, and one had to stay alert for the Amish horse buggys and the manure on the road. The weather was perfect, cool and sunny. This was a small race, so one does end up running some of the race alone after the half marathon turn around. Because it was so rural, the crowds were sparse, but those who were there were pleasant. The volunteers were great and the water stops were well stocked and easy to navigate. The packet pick up on race morning was simple and the start and finish area was by far the most comfortable of any of the marathons or half marathons I have run. The parking was easy and close. The food and refreshments were really fine. I much appreciated that the race was on Saturday morning rather than Sunday morning, with a race day packet pick-up. I had traveled from New York for the race and was able to come late Friday night and spent the rest of the weekend sightseeing at Gettysburg National Military Park, an hours drive west. It was a great weekend. So if you want a challenging spring marathon, and aren't looking for a PR this time out, you might enjoy this race through the beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch country. | |
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d. w. from corning ny
(4/10/2013)
"Outstanding event that I now consider a 'must do'" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The course is beautiful. It is hilly, but not outrageously so. The organization is flawless. Everything from packet pick-up to post-race festivities was handled perfectly. Pre-race pasta dinner was especially good. Aid stations were well run and spaced appropriately. Spectators were not numerous, but those who were out seemed appreciative of the runners. Everything about this event was outstanding. This was my first year at GSV and I will definitely be back. I highly recommend this marathon. | |
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J. S. from Bahamas
(4/7/2013)
"Beautiful but tough" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The organization of the marathon is very good. The volunteers are enthusiastic and helpful. The expo is not chock full of exhibitors but there was some nice local crafts available. The shirts ran like two sizes too small, but there was an exchange available race day. There is race day registration and an expo so I like that especially if you forgot something like gu or gloves. This year it was about 35F at the start. It warmed up to about 50F. The course is hilly - no joke and the farther you run - turnaround for the 1/2 marathoners and the course beyond that for the marathoners is hilly - long lead ins and deep declines. The scenery is nice - you have the cars and the buggys on the road with you. The water stations were nicely spaced. I am a walker and I felt no pressure to hurry and finish. | |
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H. S. from Washington, DC
(4/7/2013)
 "A great but challenging small marathon" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Hills, headwinds, horse manure, and hospitality, and lots of all 4 of those. The course is tough and most of what looks flat on the course profile actually rolls steadily. This year there were also strong winds. But the course is beautiful, the spectators appreciative (even if relatively few in number) and the organization and hospitality are simply the best. The race director is fantastic as are all the volunteers. This is not a good PR course, but you can still run a solid time and are sure to enjoy the event. Despite the way my quads feel today, I will go back to this one sometime in the future. I am tired of the corporate mega races, and this is the ideal antidote. | |
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Mervyn Chin from Toronto Ontario
(9/19/2012)
 "A very good marathon , just do it" (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I have now completed 64 marathons in many cities / towns so I have a fairly good opinion of races. To begin with, this race is usually held on the first Saturday of every April , if possible. There are not a lot of good races around this time and the weather tends to be fairly good. The start of this year's race was a bit of drizzle but it was not too bad during the race. The race is small and there was not much of an expo. I like an expo since it helps me to pass some time before the race and also meet some fellow runners. I am pretty sure that the director can correct this with giving the Amish the opportunity to sell their homemade handcrafts etc. Or anyone else for that matter. The pasta was very good and enjoyable. I loved the course and enjoyed seeing the buggies and Amish and this is like stepping back in the past. A small part of it was hilly but this did not bother me. The Amish would watch the race but do not expect them to cheer which is ok. A fair amount of the marathon course is out and back and I know that there are some other roads that could be used to reduce the out and back part Hopefully the director will give some consideration to reducing this out and back part next year. I do believe that most of the volunteers are residents of the village and they are top of the line for being helpful. All volunteers are excellent but these are special. The finish line food as some runners have mentioned was extremely good and you had most of anything you could think of. It was certainly one of the best that I have experienced. This marathon caters for walkers and allows them to finish with almost no time limit. If you are a marathon walker then this is the race for you. I brought my bicycle and rode around the area day or so before the race and enjoyed the scenery with the Amish. Intercourse is a good town to visit. The race is a bit far for me but I will certainly return . | |
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J. H. from Blakeslee, Pa.
(4/10/2012)
"Tough, scenic, well run, and friendly." (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Mile 14 is the lowest elevation and then the gradual uphill, to the finish, begins.(with a notably steep, but short hill at 21). It was my 24th marathon and one of the toughest due to the constant hills. I'd recommend it for anyone who wishes to challenge themselves. It was very well organized, the volunteers were helpful and plentiful, and the food and aid tent at the finish is about the best I have yet experienced. The course is very scenic and the spectators, though scattered, were very enthusiastic. This is a great, small town marathon. | |
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Bradford Hammer from Old Tappan, NJ
(4/4/2012)
"Quad-crushing, but a dynamite post-race spread" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Best news first: of all marathons I've completed, Garden Spot has the best free post-race selection of food for runners. Water, gatorade, chocolate milk, juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soda, yogurt, amazing yogurt smoothies with whey protein powder, ice cream, fruit wedges, trail mix, chips, pretzels, Rice Krispie treats, and homemade oatmeal (with raisins and brown sugar). Did I mention Mylar wraps and free massages? How about access to a pool, a hot tub, and clean showers? Additionally, volunteers and organizers genuinely thanked participants, personally invited runners to return, and inquired throughout on improving the race. Folks were listening and writing down suggestions at water/aid stations and at the finish all toward making future contests even better. And two days after the run I received an e-survey with the same intention. My primary suggestion had to do with having some sort of spreadable balm (like Ben-Gay) available at aid stations given the rollers throughout the course. I probably should have carried, having done other hilly races such as Big Sur and Mount Desert Island, but I didn't have anything and when the left quad went out at 19 miles it was a slow and painful limp to the finish. I rejected Advil/Aleve offered at the mile 20 station but ended up taking some at mile 23 that did provide a bit of relief. Even with the last six miles being all about pain/discomfort management, I was only a few minutes short of a PR so I really have no complaints. The course is full of rolling hills, with the largest of the bunch at mile 4 (that one attacks in reverse at mile 21). Scenery is classic Lancaster County, with Amish and Mennonite families watching the runners go by. Half- and full-marathoners are together for the first seven miles, then the 13.1 group turns back while the longer distance runners carry on. That split also marks the end of road closures, and one is left to navigate cars and buggies until returning to this point. Those are secondary obstacles (though the buggies are pulled along a lot faster than one thinks); the first is the organic 'Lancaster road sod' courtesy of the horses. It's everywhere. I've lived in central Pennsylvania so I wasn't as struck by the landscape as some. But for those doing their first 'Amish trip,' or others making a weekend visiting the Bird-In-Hand and Intercourse area, this run is a nice complement to quilt shops, furniture places, buffets, and train museums. But do expect to be alone for a good portion of the race, and don't expect the Amish or Mennonite families to cheer. (They will often wave, though some cowbell action would be nice.) Two more pluses: the water/aid stations are stocked. Gels, bars, pretzels, cookies, etc. And the GSV volunteers stay out forever to let everyone finish I don't believe there is a cutoff time since I saw people who appeared to be walking the entire course. One downside: any pre-race food or drink costs money. Nothing extravagant ($1 to $3), but it would be nice to grab a last-second cup of coffee without fishing through a backpack for dollars. And the technical shirts were see-through white; not ideal. I am happy to have run this race, I am amazed that the weather held out (as we never did get the expected rain showers), and I remain awestruck at the kindness of GSV volunteers. | |
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D. D. from Gaithersburg, MD
(4/2/2012)
"Hills and Horse Poop...But What a Ride!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 If you need people cheering every 10 ft then stop reading. If you need a perfectly flat course, stop reading. If you can't stand the smell of cows and horses, stop reading. If you're still here, let me tell you about a small marathon (350 finishers this year + 600 in the half) that has great scenery, some really killer (but fun) hills, and the best volunteers I've ever seen. GSV was such a great surprise and props to the volunteers who picked up all the discarded clothing (over the entire course) and brought it back to the bag check. I'm only surprised they didn't wash it first (JK) Also the post race food was amazing (hot dogs, chicken pot pie, pretzels, milk shakes, etc) Thanks for a great race and I'll be back. | |
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A. R. from Franklin, TN
(4/2/2012)
"tough, hilly, rural race" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Garden Spot Village Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a good smaller race. Good organization, lots of volunteers, constant rolling hills on the course. No real negatives to complain about, however, nothing stood out as being fantastic, either. I probably would choose another race in PA if I run another one in the state. |
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