As this was my first marathon, I have been thinking about it for years and volunteering for 5 years at mile #20 in the S. Bronx. It was a picture perfect day and hot for NYC (65degF). The crowd was wonderfull and you travel through the city and see the changing demographics. Truely we were united in running. A memory that will stay with me forever. However ten minutes after the finish, my mind shifted to 'I can do better than that'. So the training continues. Sorry for the stop at the top of the Verazzano Bridge, but it takes over an hour to line up and that is too long to wait. Suggestion: Be certain you are on the top of the Bridge as it rains on the bottom level even when it is sunny. {Get it?}.

The NYC Marathon is not particularly hilly, the amenities and crowd support are second to none, yet the times tend to be slow. The reason this course is tough is because of all the cold, hard concrete: the bridges are bad enough, but that run up First Avenue beats up every joint from the hips to the toes, and it comes late in the race, when runners are more vulnerable to hard surfaces. Concrete especially affects heavier runners and those who otherwise plant their feet hard. The NYRRC should re-route the course up any of the other streets from 59th to the Bronx which are predominately asphalt.
A strip of carpet on the Queensborough Bridge would likewise be welcome.
Otherwise, the NYC Marathon is a beautiful race, and the contestants see more of the city in a few hours than most visitors ever do.

This was my fifth NYC Marathon. As a native New Yorker I find running through the Five Boroughs to be an absolute blast! Crowd support is fantastic, although it does diminish in East Harlem and the Bronx. It resumes in West Harlem and for the duration. Every runner needs to do this race!

The New York Marathon was my fifth marathon (Marine Corps Marathon twice and the Maui Marathon twice). This was by far the best marathon that I've done. The diversity of the runners and each of the boroughs was spectacular. As a native New Jerseyian, I still had never seen the diversity of New York until I ran the marathon. The fans make you feel like a million bucks, there are thousands of kids who all want to slap you five and keep you going even when you have no energy left. The fact that the race still went on and still had the energy that radiated from it after September 11th was amazing. The weather was great and the volunteers were very organized. I'd recommend this race to the slowest and fastest runners. You'll never feel such a feeling of community as you do running the New York Marathon. Don't let the challenging parts discourage you.

It's interesting to read the takes many runners have on the 2001 NYCM. Unlike a previous runner, I AM affiliated with the sport and have worked hundreds of finish lines. I've probably visited every major marathon expo in North America.

I'd say it might be a good idea to cut the NYRRC a little slack for any delays with the expo, and particularly with the pre-race staging.

No event in the history of marathoning ever had to cope with circumstances like this one. A week before the marathon, nearly 7,000 runners dropped out because the Attorney General of the US announced that another terrorist attack was imminent. There was always the imminent threat that this mighty marathon might be called off. One reason the expo did not match other events or previous years was that the US economy, after the 9/11 attack, crashed and burned, and vendor companies aren't much different than many of you are. Many of them were scared off by the circumstances and the uncertainty.

The attack occured in mid-September, and the expo site was usurped by the disaster forces dealing with ground zero so with just a few weeks to adjust, the NYRRC had no idea where the expo would be held. But Allan Steinfeld and his stellar staff and former Mayor Rudy Guliani and his, found a new site to process the nearly 30,000 entrants. Of COURSE there were glitches. The miracle was that this City, this Mayor, and the NYRRC's leader, Allan Steinfeld, did not flinch. They staged the best marathon I have ever participated in, and I've been running since 1955.

The energy in NYC on that day was electric. The crowds seemed to need us as much as we needed them, and the interaction was moving and nearly overwhelming. The roar coming off the 59th St. Bridge was the loudest I have ever heard it...like coming into the Olympic Stadium in the lead. And believe me, I was really a long way back for this one.

Given all they had to cope with, particularly regarding security and last minute shifts and changes over which they had no control, I think we all owe the NYRRC some respect. Some of the folks making the negative comments may have forgotten to weigh the circumstances as they considered their ratings.

For any marathoner considering any of the Marquee races (NY, Boston, Chicago, L.A., Marine Corps, Disney and the like), enjoy the big marathons for what they are; extravaganzas, happenings, be-ins, huge moving block-parties. If you want to run a PR, choose an event with about 5,000 runners and a nice, wide start and finish, with moderate terrain. If you want one of the most moving personal experiences of a life time, this is the one. Find a way to run this marathon at least once in your life.

The hardest thing to learn about marathons is what your expectations should be. And remember that the marathon is a metaphor for life. On any given day, just about anything can happen, and you just need to figure out how to go with it.

Hopefully, the folks who publish this Marathon Guide will fill a void left by a great publication that has gone out of print. There isn't any great guide to marathons that novice and veteran alike can turn to in choosing each race.

NYC 2001 was my third marathon, after running Ottawa and Toronto in 2000. Despite all of the incredible hype about this race in books and on this website, it was even better than I expected. Superb organization, completely amazing crowds beginning at mile 3 and continuing for most of the race (petering out in Spanish Harlem and the Bronx, then picking up again in Harlem and all the way down to Central Park), great information to help prepare, first class volunteers....I've gotta go back and do it again.

After completing 4 marathons in Europe, this one (in 2001) was the best in my life. And it will be difficult for me to run a better one. Weather, organization and crowd support were unbeatable.

Course: The course was really tough - this was my first marathon and I think I underestimated the course and ended up with a time that I did not expect!

Organization - Security was to be expected - but the long wait of more than 4 hours was too bad - I think it might have also contributed to my poor time - bananas were scarce to come by at the start - toilets were also not clearly marked and there were long waits at some of them and none at others; but other than these, organization was excellent overall.

Spectators: What can you say about them - they were awesome - their enthusiasm and participation is what makes the NY Marathon a great race!

This race will mean a lot of different things to different people. You'll meet runners from all over the world and you'll traverse a variety of neighborhoods all with their own character and diversity. This diversity begins at the Expo, and is continued at the pasta dinner, and finally at the start line on Staten Island. Because of the size and the notoriety of the race, this race can encourage first-timers or can be daunting for those looking to run a race a little more intimate in size and scope. Personally, the race has its own mystique and like New York itself, it has something for everyone. No matter what you take away from this race, you will always have the memories of very large, enthusiastic, and passionate well-wishers to cheer you on from beginning to end; this is the race to really take in and as you do, the miles easily melt away. Two letdowns that I noticed, as did others are (1) the expo was a major disappointment; it was short on vendors and booths--the emphasis was clearly on the oversized merchandise area (the best by far expo is still Chicago's) and (2) the long, very long wait at the starting area--over 4 hours. I realize the security concerns especially this year, but the confusion of the layout coupled with a lack of anything to do for hours made for a long morning. I can't imagine the misery of waiting there with adverse weather conditions. Folks, maybe a bonfire, more tents, a pre-race meeting area based on states or country, anything. These oversights are made up for by the extraordinary team of volounteers; every single one was helpful, courteous, and really had a great attitude. I think you should make it to New York at least once (if the lottery allows you or you qualify) because it really shows you the true brotherhood of the running community no matter what your level. And while you're there, you can't miss all that the City has to offer; it's a very walkable city full of a lot of energy and a lot of terrific people and tons of culture, food, shopping, and entertainment.

NYC was my fifth marathon, and I have to say that it surpasses all others! Being in town for the marathon was great, got to sightsee and take in a musical the night before.
There are, of course, things that aren't perfect, such as:
- The poorly distributed toilets at the start. I think they were enough, just not visible to everyone. You really had to look for them.
- They were giving out coffee, only to hear the announcer say coffee was one of the worst things you could drink before the start: Duh!
- Bring a blanket, or even some cardboard, to lay on while you wait at the start. You don't want to be standing around in the cold for three hours prior.
- Sponges are a good idea, if you pass them out once and tell people to hang onto them. I had to pick my spots do I didn't step on those and fall.
- This is not a PR course. Every one of the 3 or 4 bridges you cross has an uphill, and downhill doesn't help much when you're too sore to crank it up. Queensboro was by far the toughest bridge.
- I was not impressed at all by the expo. LA has a much bigger one.
Well, that's all the negative stuff I could think of, that future runners should be aware of. The positives, of course, outweigh any negatives.
The weather was absolutely perfect, and this year was special because of the focus on 9-11. I saw a firefighter run in full gear. Rhino Man was funny too. The diversity of the different neighborhoods was awesome, and I had a great time running through all of them, especially Brooklyn.
I hope to run NYC again someday, and I highly recommend it for people who like a lot of encouragement along the way.
One last tip: Write your name on the front of your shirt. You'll have thousands of people cheering you on!