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Memorial Day Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Memorial Day Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 2.6
Number of comments: 37 [displaying comments 31 to 37]
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J. T. from Massachusetts
(6/4/2010)
 "Hilly but beautiful" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Memorial Day Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 For a first marathon, I thought things were generally well run. The course was very scenic and off major roads, so there was often shade. The course was on open roads, but they had orange traffic cones every 100. I thought the cones helped make the course safer than other races I have done roads open to traffic. + personalized finisher dog tag + scenic course + cotton t-shirt (how many places can you wear a technical shirt) + the most bathrooms pre- and post-race anywhere + port-a-potties every two miles + lots of easy parking at the start/finish (no need for shuttle buses) + Tanglewood as a venue + having a half, 10K and 5K, so more people were part of the running - need Gatorade along the course - better food at finish (this is the Berkshires, where they are pushing local food, so how about a real meal or at least pizza?) - don't promote the Red Lion for post-race; keep people at the finish, and also have chairs and tables. - it would be great to have showers for those traveling - post-race event needs a little more to have people stay and mingle - mile markers need to be more than spray-painted on the road - need something to make those last hills entertaining | |
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W. R. from leeds,ma usa
(6/1/2010)
 "A very scenic... and challenging marathon!" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Memorial Day Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The sendoff by the VFW and that long downhill start are great, and you know the finish is back up there. Beautiful course (I will return to ride it on my bike next time!). If that weren't enough, the personalized dog tag finishers medals made this a marathon to remember!!! | |
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Dietmar Bago from Romania ( in USA now)
(6/1/2010)
"Love it... must do it again" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Memorial Day Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I'm from Romania... sorry for my English. I was very worried after I read the first comments about the course elevation. But I will never, ever complain about hilly courses. Never... So: 1. Not everybody knows about Tanglewood, even if it's a lovely place. I would like to have a clear address on the organizers' site. My GPS showed that I had arrived and I was in the middle of nowhere. Next year may we have a big banner before the entrance? It was quite early when I had arrived, but a volunteer was already there giving directions = A. 2. I loved the kind of music played before start = A+, 3. Course was very scenic - one of the most beautiful I've done so far. I was so excited to look around that I had stepped out of the pavement and I twisted my ankle (not an excuse for my finish time - I'm just a big, fat, lazy kind of guy who would like to become a runner). Very hilly; I wasn't ready for the last miles and I will never be. That's another reason I have said I have to do it again. 4. No cups at mile 4 and no water at mile 14. It can happen everywhere to anyone! The water was delivered at mile 14 until I made the turn and, the volunteers at mile 4 were inventive and drilled a hole in the water bottle caps = B+. 5. I really appreciate that organizers drive the course and checked how runners felt = A+ 6. Spectators....I don't miss them a lot. But I would like to thank to those persons who put out, somewhere between mile 15-17, the botles with cold water :). Thank you so much! 7. Love the finisher medal... keep the design = A+. 8. I would like to suggest an earlyer start next year. At least for people who are not able to complete the race in four-five hours. Conclusion: If it's your first marathon, do it! You may not have a "strong" finish, but all your future races will look very, very flat. If you don't care too much about organizational "hiccups" take a water bottle with and just do it! Can't get enough hills? Guess what? Try this race... and, if you're running marathons for a cause or just for the sake of running, enjoy it. I would like to RUN, not just to finish, this race someday. But, life is life... who knows. My deep respect for all those who had RUN or just finished this race. Don't run hard; run smart.... | |
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R. B. from Katy, Texas
(5/31/2010)
 "Beautiful, inaugural race, but very hilly" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Memorial Day Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Beautiful, small event in The Berkshires. I did the half. Being a flat-lander from Texas, the rolling hills were ok during the first 6 miles, but the last half of the race was uphill, with a killer hill at 11.5. That said, you won't find a prettier course as you run past lakes, woods, inns, and estates. There were fewer than 1,000 runners for this inaugural race, but that was a good thing. Small-town feel, and the organizers were well prepared. The expo consisted of just two tents, but that worked just fine. No need for shuttle buses and no bag-check. Not many fans on the course, but this is a sparsely populated area and all present were appreciated. Cool dog tags as medals; but I would prefer the tech shirt instead of a t-shirt. I would recommend this highly, but keep in mind it's got a tough course. | |
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E. G. from NYC
(5/31/2010)
 "Huge hills/mountains throughout the last 8 miles" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Memorial Day Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The area is breathtaking but hilly/mountain-sized hills were nonstop in the last 8 miles. It was a brutal course. This was their first year and there were some kinks - they ran out of water at mile 14, and no course maps were available at the expo. But there were no major problems and the water issue was quickly resolved. The entire course is on roads with cars driving on the other side, and there were only about 140 runners doing the marathon, so it was exhausting constantly having to worry you were going to get hit by a car. Most drivers were cautious but a few were oblivious. | |
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Krzysztof Wasielewski from Dover Plains, NY
(5/30/2010)
"Inaugural, but without any major mistakes..." (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I highly recommend this race (my 23rd marathon). The course was breathtaking, with views of the high peaks of the Berkshires, river, and the lake. There were sufficient aid stations with eager and friendly volunteers, offering water, Gatorade, and, at the end, even ice to help runners cool down as the temperatures climbed into the low 80's. The finish line volunteers were great too, especially the timing chip brigade! A special treat was a personalized fisher's medal. Quite a few volunteers expressed genuine interest in my sign I wore on my race shirt, dedicating my hilly and challenging marathon to to Katyn - soldiers and leaders of Katyn. Lastly, kudos to the PBC Sports Photography for many photos with beautiful scenery in the background. | |
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t. D. from Northampton, MA
(5/30/2010)
 "Well... at least it's scenic!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Memorial Day Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This race, in its first year, has some work to do before it should consider being put on for a second. Water was only available every other mile through the whole race. Post-race refreshments consisted of bagels and bananas and water. The course was scenic but felt like it was designed by a cyclist, not a runner. It's relentlessly hilly. They even threw in a solid hill at mile 25 just for good measure. Mile markers are only sprayed on the pavement most of the time, and course marshals were sparse at many intersections. Could it be fixed? Probably. More water, more Gatorade, better food. It's all in the details. It would be a good race in the fall, with cooler temps. |
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