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May 5, 2024

Bucks County Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.4

Organization 4.3

Spectators 3.5

Number of comments: 30 [displaying comments 21 to 29]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 > ]

B. S. from South Jersey (11/30/2012) "Beautiful Fall Run Along the Delaware River" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Really enjoyed this race, my 47th marathon. I've run most of the big city races (Boston, NYC, L.A. , etc.) but there is something nice about just driving up, parking the car, and taking off! The wave start was nice and the path did not feel crowded at all on the way out. (It did get a little crowded after the turnaround however). The runners I met were very friendly and mutually supportive. It was nice to talk to a few who ran this race because 2012 NYC was cancelled. The finisher's medal was very nice as was the tech shirt. (I prefer cotton, with winter coming. But I guess I'm in the minority because it has been years since I've received a cotton race shirt.) Race was very well organized, Gatorade at almost all stops and Cliff gels as well. Thank you very much to the young men and women who volunteered at the aid stations. We can't do it without you!! Could have used a few more spot-a-pots at the beginning. Other than that, no complaints!!
j. e. from pennsylvania USA (11/20/2012) "Trail, Historic area, scenic, perfect weather" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 A marathon of 500 runners, who by average marathoners, was fast. Course was trail, with grass & some single track. Scenic, little elevation, few spectators, but my kind of marathon. Medals & long sleeve tech shirt were colorful. The wave start was perfect in accomodating 500 runners on a small trail. There were 14 aid stations. The night prior, we dined and drank in New Hope, PA...so quaint, and went back postrace to the brewery. A terrific alternative to the hustle and bustle of Phili...the same weekend. Only drawback was that at the end, you have to circle the park, essentially running past the finish line..THAT STUNK. That was my only complaint. The terrain was very forgiving on your legs, but a little harder on the low back and hips. I enjoyed it.
J. H. from Blakeslee, Pa (11/19/2012) "Well run, nice course, enthusiastic spectators" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 For only their second year putting on this marathon, I thought it went very well. The organization was great, the wave start worked well, the volunteers along the course were very good, and the finish worked well. The tow path only crosses roads in two places and traffic control was excellent. The tow path is mostly well groomed, some is paved and some is a dirt path, but it allows for unimpeeded running. It is and out and back course but I didn't find passing opposite direction runners a problem even with some parts of the trail being narrow. Running the last mile loop, when you have already passed the finish line was torture, but just a part of this course. There were many people there cheering us along as we ran the loop. The course doesn't lend itself to a lot of crowd support by it's nature, but anywhere spectators could access, there was an enthusiastic group cheering us on. Overall a great marathon experience.
D. F. from New Jersey (11/19/2012) "A Runner's Race" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Cannot conceive of trail running being more civilized. The trail is essentially flat and the course is packed dirt - a great surface to run on. Very pretty setting for a race and the crowds, while small, were very enthusiastic and spread out throughout most of the race. Everything about this race (pre-race registration, water stations, post-race, etc) was mellow and well organized. Let you focus on the running.
M. U. from PA (11/19/2012) "Great Experience" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and I thought it was organized and very well supported. Very easy to get to, pick up packet info... There were plenty of water stations and all very well staffed by the Track Team. They did a great job and really cheered us on! Thank you! The course was beautiful and scenic. The fans there were great, especially in Town and what a cute town! The only draw back would be number of fans only due to size of Marathon and places for fans to cheer you on due to access to course. Other than that it was a great experience!
J. T. from Massachusetts (11/19/2012) "a good race, on s dirt path" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I agree with the previous comments so I will not repeat them. They do a good job with a wave start of 50 people every 30 seconds so it was not crowded. The path can be narrow in spots, but it was never bad. I do wish I had light gaiters, since I got small rocks in my shoes 4 times. The post race food was cold pizza. I love pizza post race (even cold) but they could have done a little more. A nice simple race, that is worth running.
D. P. from Alexandria, VA (11/29/2011) "great small marathon" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 something to be said about a small marathon. No big city hustle and bustle just to get to the starting line. I was able to park at the train station just a few hundred feet from the start, and more importantly the finish. Running on the canal tow path was a treat. My toes didn't take near the abuse they usually get from running on the roads. Plenty of water stops. Packet pickup on race day was quick. Enjoyed reading the signs along the course, especially the ones commenting about the Philly Marathon held the same day!
D. R. from Toronto, Ontario (11/21/2011) "First Bucks County Marathon was a winner" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is 'the race' for anyone interested in a very civilized trail race: it is a trail race minus rocks, minus roots, and minus ravines, run on a quiet and calming canal towpath. There is a short paved section at the beginning and at the end (it is an out-and-back), with another short stretch close to mile 11, all told there is less than one mile of paved ground. The towpath surface varies, much of it is packed fine ground stone, some is hard-packed soil, some is packed gravel with grass verges. All quite comfortable. No hills. The towpath not only runs alongside the old/historic Delaware Canal (no longer used and actually 'overgrown' near the New Hope, PA turning point on the marathon), but there are several stretches where the Delaware River is less than an underhand stone's throw away, with the path separating the two. Very pretty vistas. And, unlike some poorly organized trail races, staying on course was not an issue; the path is the path and the one stretch where we moved away from it briefly was very well policed by mature volunteers who made sure that no one had an excuse to get lost. There are lots of trees along the course and the race would have been spectacularly scenic if it had been run 2 - 3 weeks ago when the leaves would have been at their finest. The photos on the website show how the course would have been at the beginning of the month. That's not to say that this wasn't memorable; I thoroughly enjoyed the environment and the atmosphere away from traffic. Because of the 'trail' format, there are not a lot of spectators/supporters along the route, but those who were at the bridges (and there are many bridges over the canal) and in the little community where we crossed the road were vocal and fun. My rating for spectators relates solely to their numbers and is not intended to reflect negatively on their abundant enthusiasm and friendliness. The race organization was very good. To ensure that there was order and decorum, the race director had a wave system based on the reported anticipated finishing times. I'd guess there were more than a dozen waves and there was no congestion at any time on the course; even as the faster runners started to 'run at us', there were no crowding issues. Smart move. The spacing was great. The hydration stations were appropriately spaced and well run. Post-race there were lunch bags: PB and jam sandwich, banana, nutrition bar, and a very salty monster pretzel. There was no expo; hats and sweatshirts had been made available for pre-ordering. The pick up was at a golf course along with the pasta dinner on Saturday. They also allowed pick up on race day at the start, which was at 9 a.m. That made for a very easy morning, no need for panic or worry about sleeping in. The race shirt is fine: a very bright lime green and decent quality. The race kit also included a magnetic 'decal' 26.2 Bucks County Marathon etc., a nice souvenir/trunk ornament. The finisher's medal is colourful and well-designed; quite attractive. This race should sell out next year. I believe the number of runners is a function of the course and its being part of a state park. The race was more expensive than other small town U.S. marathons I have run this Fall, but their fields were also appreciably larger. Nevertheless, I am sure that it will get good reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations, with very few justifiable complaints. The Bucks County area is a treat. Extremely friendly and polite people at every turn. I arrived a day early at my hotel and had no trouble getting a room at the marathon rate; the room the desk clerk gave me was away from the elevator, the stairs and the ice machine ('You'll need your sleep' he said); and when I asked for a late checkout I was asked if 4 p.m. would be satisfactory!! I'm glad that I had the opportunity to run the first of what I expect will be many marathons on this course.
B. S. from New Jersey, USA (11/21/2011) "Out and Back by the Delaware River" (about: 2011) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Bucks County Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 One-on-one service and stimulation provided by the immaculate race director Pat McCloskey. Nice and friendly small marathon, still providing all the basic requirements for a good marathon (plenty of service stations, pre/post goodies, etc.) Only drawback is perhaps the terrain as it is on a towpath (no blacktop!), but with plenty of little stones that can make it in your sneakers, a part from this very minor gripe, a perfect late fall marathon in a small setting. Well done Pat!

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