This is only my third Marathon and I was one of the back of the packers (5 hours), but to the New York fans it didn't matter. They screamed for me and everyone else in the race for almost the entire 26 miles. Running in Manhattan up the gauntlet of 1st Avenue and then back down 5th, I felt like an Olympic runner with all the fans pushing me to keep going.
The course is a difficult one. The bridges are very intimidating, so you probably aren't going to break any personal records, but who cares. Just take in the diversity of the city and have fun.
The race was extraordinarily well organized. Their web site with daily tips is great. E mail updates keep you informed throughout the months preceding the race. Bus service to the start is organized. The corral system was great, it only took me 2 minutes to get to the start from the time the cannon went off. The only drawback of the whole race is minor. You need to get to the staging area at least 3 to 4 hours before the race. Wasn't bad this year because the weather was perfect, but I could see it being difficult with poor weather. But hey, how else do you get 30,000 runners organized. Thank you NYRRC and thank you all of New York. You are the best!!!!

This race was so well organized. Even the weather was perfect for runners in shorts and singlets. Expect to be pampered in NYC -- a chartered bus to get you to the start, a huge staging area with food, plenty of water and Gatorade stations along the course, loud fans, and an efficient chute system at the finish.

What some people may not realize about New York is that you are running across very hard pavement and metal bridges. Both of these elements can really injure your legs (esp. knees) if you are not prepared for it.

I ran the NY Marathon in 1999. It was my second marathon and my first time running a marathon that draws a large number of participants and spectators. Overall, the NY Marathon was a wonderful experience. Wonderful sights and fabulous spectators every step of the way to cheer you on. First time marathoners (or all runners for that matter) should wear their names proudly on their shirts as the crowds love to cheer for you by name. The two drawbacks that we experienced were at the expo having to stand in line for 2 1/2 hours in the freezing cold waiting to get our race numbers and after the marathon when we had a long walk back to our hotel which was directly across from Central Park. Due to the way the runners were directed out of the park, it seemed that we had to walk about 2 miles to get back to our hotel. The NYRRC could learn a lot from the organizers of the expo for the LaSalle Bank Marathon in Chicago. NY is a great race though and the spectators and the scenery really make it one of the best.

I worked so hard to get ready for this marathon. Deferred in 1999 due to an injury, ready in 2000. It was everything I hoped it would be.

The start of the race crosses the Verrazanno Narrows bridge for two miles. On the bridge, there are no spectators, obviously. What a shock to enter Brooklyn and hit crowds five deep screaming their lungs out. It is a rush that brought tears to my eyes.

The next shock was about mile eight when it dawned on me that the crowds of spectators were still just as strong as the start. And for the most part, the spectators are lining the course for the full 26.2 miles. What a trip!

There is no greater running experience that the NYC Marathon, with the exception of Boston. If you get accepted to NYC, thank your lucky stars. You will have the experience of a lifetime.

I supported an athlete with the Achilles Track Club at this marathon. This was truly an amazing experience from the people rocking on the sidewalks, the food, music and thousands of people running around us for hours. The fininsh line was exceptional. Thank you New York.

Out of 35 marathons completed (including 3 in Boston); this is by far my all time favorite. I have to rate everything related to the race 5 stars.

It's the opportunity of a lifetime.

I highly encourage ANY marathoner to run this marathon.

The day I found out that I 'won' the lottery and was entered to run the New York City Marathon I knew I was in for a very special experience -- the NYRRC, race organizers, volunteers, spectators, & fellow runners ALL exceeded my expectations! To run this marathon is truly the opportunity of a life time. The communication from the race organizers is wonderful, very comprehensive. The web site will also answer any questions you may have prior to race day. As for descibing the course -- forget the racing termanology -- it is FUN! After coming off the Verrazano Bridge at mile 2 and seeing a banner that said 'Yo...Welcome to Brooklyn' it set the pace and mood for the rest of the day. I soaked in every mile, thanked every spectator that cheered me on and had the opportunity to talk to runners from all around the world who came to run and enjoy this fabulous race. I will keep running marathons (in fact I just finished Disney yesterday) and hope I find as more as enjoyable as New York. And, I will enter again this year and keep my fingers crossed until the draw the winners in June. Three Cheers for New York!

I ran my first marathon this year in NYC. Yes, there were frustrations..the line at the Expo can be long and you do have to get to the start early but the frustrations were so minimal compared to the entire experience. That's exactly why 35,000 people put up with it every year! I ran a surprisingly good time..I'm convinced it was the awesome turnout of crowds and bands screaming from the moment you cross the bridge to the finish line. There's always an overwhelming turnout of supporters. I didn't check my stuff with UPS because I heard the process could be long..and I regret not doing so because they have gotten a lot more efficient at this process and it was easy for everyone to get their stuff back. Also, they serve gatorade at almost every stop which makes a huge difference over water! If you're in doubt..go for it! But do skip the pasta party unless you're looking for a running buddy..the food was cold and bad!

I ran NYCM for the first time in 2000. It was my 10th marathon. General impressions:

Organization - I was very impressed with the race organization. It is no small task to bus 30,000 runners to an island and then provide them a fun and interesting experience running through one of the world's most exciting cities. United Parcel Service collected our drop bags and I found this to be very organized, I got my sweats in no time after the race.

Course - The course has some challenging aspects to it, but isn't too terribly difficult, in my opinion. I had prepared for a lot worse. I thought the 59th St Bridge (Queensboro) was the worst, and the few small rolling hills in Central Park didn't impress me, but it wasn't bad.

Crowds - This is is one of the best parts of NYCM. The crowds, especially along 1st Avenue were incredible, although I think Chicago has some great crowds too.

Volunteers - I think this race has some of the best volunteers ever. They were helpful, cheerful, congratulatory, and just generally wonderful. I can't thank them enough.

Race Logistics - This is a big race and had some of the poorest race etiquette I've ever witnessed. People would just stop in their tracks in the middle of the course and start walking or take pictures. It is really fun running with people from all over the world, but it is nearly impossible to move if you're in the middle of the pack. I found it very frustrating to have to dodge around people for 26 miles. Do it for fun and not for time.

Be Careful - New York is an exciting city and it's easy to spend the days before the marathon walking around seeing the sights. I made that mistake and come race day, my quads were already shot!