I was never thought of as a long distance runner. I was a Division I softball player and our conditioning training was never more than two miles. Last year, I decided I wanted to do something challenging and I chose to run the NYC Marathon. My training went okay, considering I have a teaching job, a pitching instructor position, and a coaching job. The course was great and challenging with its hills, the organization was amazing considering they had over 47,000 runners in the race, and the fans were fabulous. I didn't like that people were already tearing down parts of the course as I was running by and the fans were dwindling down as I was finishing. That could be my fault since it took me 5:48:32 to finish. Anyhow, this was the best experience of my life and if I never run another marathon, I will be happy knowing that the one I completed was one of the best marathons in the world. I loved New York!!

I have run 10 Marathons and 11 Half Marathons but have never been 'on the other side'. I was privileged to be accepted as a 'finish line' volunteer for this past Sunday's New York Marathon. The enthusiasm, energy and willingness to pitch in and do any job of every volunteer I met (of all ages, genders and diverse backgrounds) were incredible and infectious; they inspired my late 50s frame to keep at it for eight or nine hours. In addition, the organization of the NY Marathon was remarkable; it was a real education in logistics to see 48,000 food and drink finisher sacks lined up in giant sealed cardboard containers, 500 unit rolls of finisher shawls that needed to be unrolled and shook out, rows of 48,000 finisher medals on metal racks next to the volunteers who hung them on the finishing runners, medical stations on both sides of the finisher chute. Each segment of the NY race has a 'captain' who ensures that all is and remains in order; many thanks to Captain Eddie Vasquez who kept the finisher chute organized despite tens of thousands of onrushing runners. Great to meet runners from all over the world; the finisher I met who traveled the farthest to run the Marathon was a gentleman from Hyderabad, India. A wonderful and an educational experience on a fine day in a beautiful part of New York's Central Park.

This was the fifth time in a row I've run this race, and I didn't do so great (boredom, probably), but I'd still recommend running NYC. It's a great course, the crowds are spectacular, and the organizers are trying to make the pre-start scrum and the post-finish death march to one's baggage less awful. As it happens, the pre-start period flew by, and I got my bag a little sooner than usual (although I still had to walk quite a way). Highly recommended.

This was my 48th marathon and my second NYC marathon. My first one was back in 2002. The NYC marathon has the best organization, volunteers, water stops, course, packet pick-up, police and fireman any marathoner could ever hope for!
If you want to run a big time marathon, on a course that all the big time runners of all time run, then you come to run NYC!!

My 13th overall race (doing all 50 states) so I've got quite a few to compare. The New York Marathon experience was surprisingly not as great as I had expected. I was very disappointed due to the following:

OVERPRICED - $155 a little steep

1. SHIRT: Not great quality material considering NYC is supposed to be the fashion capital of the world. The color was so drab the graphic nondescript.

2. EXPO: Also not that great. Seemed to be more intended for the International runners who've never been to one before. If you have to drive in, parking even blocks away from Javits was $50.00, Giveaways? None. The amount of Gatorade poured in a cup? One sip. Asics merchandise was expensive (obviously not for Europeans who were buying up a storm) and not too interesting.

3. START: The start was horrendously crowded. It wasn't worth the 3-4 hours needing to be there prior to the start of the race. Staten Island Ferry left at 6 AM with start of 9:40. Sat around the camp for 2 1/2 hours before the corral closed, 45 minutes prior to the start of the race. Stood on a bridge for some 30 minutes in small corrals where I felt like cattle.

4. FINISH LINE: Absolutely no directions online or listed materials provided as to where you exit the park and where to meet people - big omission. Planned to meet my family right round 1/2 mile after finish but had no idea I would have to walk another 3/4 mile before being 'released' to the public. No room, and finally after about 45 minutes was able to pick up my bag of stuff and walk another 1/4 mile to the open street.

THE NYRR Club can and should do better. It seems like this race is intended for foreign runners to come and enjoy the sites and sounds of NY. Wouldn't recommend this race for those wishing to do the 50/50, especially now that they're doing away with the 'Three Strikes and Your In' lottery.

Fantastic fans. Great course. You'd be crazy not to want to run NY once. My one complaint, and it's not insignificant in my opinion, is the post-marathon forced march. I know that NYRR swears that it's impossible to avoid, but I'm not sure there's any excuse for this. After running 26 miles, we had to shuffle along for 45 min in a massive crowd. At points we just stood still for long periods. People seemed to be dropping like flies. I don't know what was going on (lactose buildup in muscles?), but I saw maybe a dozen people eventually just sink to the ground and need medical attention. And I saw another lady puke after a half hour. Such a mess. NYRR can and should do more about this.

The crowd, the organisation, everything was just perfect. It was my first marathon ever. I 'LL never regret this!

Been in this event since 1994 and I can't believe how much effort is put in by all the volunteers during the race. I also have seen how there are small improvements made every year.
Even after running so many times I get excited just thinking that the race is almost here.
I'm not an elite runner, but I'm treated like I was an elite runner. When most of the runners have finished and probably already took their shower, I get to the finish line and WOW the volunteers are there and making sure everything is fine.
The EXPO is organized so much better then 1994 and the lines are always moving.
If this is your first NYC marathon, say hello to me, I'll be wearing a white hat.

I have been counting down the days to this years marathon. I am addicted. I ran my first marathon in 2007, it was the NYC Marathon and it was the most amazing experience. Since then I have ran the '08, '09 and '10 Marathon.

The experience from the start was amazing. The volunteers out on Sataten Island are cheering you on from the moment you get off the bus. It might still be dark, freezing cold but those volunteers cheer you on as you enter the meeting area. you feel like a pro.

Plenty to do and see as you wait for the start.

I have nothing to say about the experience of running the actual marathon as there is nothing you can say. It has to be experienced.

If you run wearing earphones and listening to music, don't when you are taking part in this marathon. You will miss so much.

At the finish line, you will be fighting back the cheers.

I cannot say enough about this marathon. It was my 11th one, and I am unsure if I'll run another, simply because I don't know if it gets any better than that. The crowds were amazing! I felt like a rock star. It wasn't until about mile 16 that I realized I was running a marathon! It was all about the experience. It was a tough course, only because your emotions jump up and drop when the fatigue hits. But there is nothing better than having NYC's finest cheering for you.

I suggest you put your name on your shirt - or a fun saying, because the messages people carried were as entertaining and inspiring as it gets.

I felt a little like a member of a herd of cattle, but getting 45,000+ runners out of Central Park is no small feat.

DO THIS MARATHON!