I have been running in races around the Northeast for many years and never really gave much thought to how much it matters that a race is well orchestrated and organized. Well, Schroon Lake has changed my mind and set the gold standard for perfection. The volunteers are NUMEROUS and so accommodating that it is unbelievable. Maybe the clean mountain air does something to their personalities that make them behave so wonderfully, or maybe it is just a sense of giving, but whatever it is that motivates these volunteers, I cannot say, "Thank YOU" enough! I brought along three more half marathoners with me this year, and let me tell you, no one went home disappointed. It was a fabulous day of running around a jewel of a lake.

As runners read these reports to decide on races, I just want to say that I have done 36 marathons in many different cities and this race ranks as one of the best. It is scenic - a bit hilly, but if the hills do not bother you then this race is perfect.

Not too many spectators, but you will get value for money here. The food at the end is very good, there is a beach close by, you get a windshirt, and the town is very quiet and very scenic. The fees are very low also. The year I did it, it was raining a lot but I still enjoyed myself.

I would do this race every year if I could but it is about 10 hours driving one way for me so it is not practical.

Highly recommended. Do it if you are close by.

I qualified for Boston in the ADK, my first marathon. And although my training had something to do with my performance ;), lots of credit has to go to the ADK course, organization, fans, all of which are top shelf. The hills through the first half are a challenge, yes, but by no means are they unfair. The fans are few, but kind and enthusiastic. It is a beautiful course. Tree-lined country roads that occasionally open up to lake views. And the finish area was glorious. All manner of food (homemade brownies!), massage, quick posting of results, etc. As I said, this was my first marathon, but conversations with other, more seasoned marathoners confirm that it is a stand-out. My second marathon was Boston, a spectacle. (Boston was fun, yes, but a real circus). ADK is Boston's antithesis. My weekly training runs, which are run in a small upstate city, are noisier than the ADK. If you want a quiet, beautiful course to which you can devote all your focus and energy, this one's for you.

This was my first marathon and due to my wonderful experience I can't wait to run it again. The course is absolutely beautiful...the crowds, although sparse, are highly supportive...and the race organization is highly efficient. The course is very hilly and although many suggested that the early hills from mile 4-12 were the worst, I actually found the rolling hills over the last 6 or so miles to be even harder (although I confess, I definitely should have logged more miles for this race). The race is small (~200 runners), so there were times when I was running alone, but they were very few. They advertised this marathon as the most beautiful 26.2 miles you'll ever run and although I haven't run any others yet (my 2nd is in a week, the NJ marathon), they do make a compelling argument.

What a nice job with the organization of this race and the buses for spectators! The course was beautiful, some hills on the first half but not so much on the second. The whole town seemed to be out to cheer on the runners and the volunteers were the best!! The bands along the way were fun and the volunteers were the best! Did I mention that the volunteers were great? Nice race, good time, fun people, this was a class event!

This was my first experience with a full marathon and I found the event to be exceptionaly well organized with a great support system, especially the folks cheering along the route. It was like having family every half-mile cheering you on. I would also like to thank the gentleman with the French accent who stopped around mile 21 to assist me when my calf cramped and offer me his Gatorade and Advil. I was able to continue on and finish. I did not get his name but if he should read this, thank you for your kindness; it motivated me on to finish when I was considering dropping out.

Glenn Yarris
Long Island, New York

I went in knowing this marathon would be very scenic with some tough hills and few spectators. For the most part I was correct, although in some places there were more spectators than I had thought there would be. The organization was topnotch, more than I would expect from a small marathon like this. There were more portable toilets on the course than most of the other marathons I?ve run. Mile markers were all there and very visible, except mile 20 where the water station was on top of it, but you can't be perfect. There was more than enough food and drink at the end of the race and the volunteers were very helpful and friendly. The only problem was that this race wasn't chip timed, and I found myself wondering if I was just mistakenly not given a chip or if I missed that station. I figured it out when I got to the starting line, but as most races are chip timed, a reminder would have helped ease my worries. Other than that one little detail, everything else was amazing and I?d recommend this marathon to anyone who loves the challenge of running a hilly course.

This is the second time I've run the Adirondack Marathon, but I appreciated the event more this time than nine years ago. I brought three children and a running partner with me this time. The kids rode the spectator bus to the half-way point; there they had breakfast at the very quaint Adirondack General Store; they cheered and snapped pictures as we ran by; then they rode the bus back to see the finish. Everything clicked! Knowing they enjoyed the day made my race more rewarding. As far as the event itself - challenging course (of which we ran 13 miles a few weeks earlier), friendly volunteers, clearly marked routes and markers, plenty of water, wonderful finish-line refreshments, awards ceremony and post-race dinner. I would recommend this race as a family-friendly, premier Adirondack event.

This was my first distance race and it was a very enjoyable experience. The organization was fantastic, from pick-up of race day materials, to parking, bussing to start of half-marathon, musicians at roadside, finish-line crowd, after-race massage, goodies and awards. Thank you to all organizers for a great experience! Next year I may come back for the Full!

I cannot recommend this race enough - you should run it.

It is in easy weekend driving distance from the whole Northeast. It is great for many reasons and types of runners - runners who want a challenging and varied course rather than a contrived 'fast-flat' course, people who want a gorgeous run in magnificent surroundings, and any mid-packer who doesn't want to feel swallowed up anonymously in a big event yet who wants quality support and organization - in fact this race was the best I've experienced in those categories.

I PR'ed here (3:45) after having run 3 NYCs, Twin Cities and Mystic Places (CT). So while it's hilly, I wouldn't be scared off - I would just train for it. The race-day key was to run cautiously through mile 12 or 13, to speed up a little for the next 8, which are pretty flat along the beautiful lakeshore, and then to just hang in there coming back up the last 6 or 7 with their long gradual inclines. Those were hardest for me, but perseverence got me through. (Drive the course to preview the hills. I think 4-6, 10 and 11 were the toughest climbs but even the topo map, while accurate, can't match a preview.)

Prior posts if anything understate what a great weekend this is. I felt like royalty the whole time - volunteers from packet pick-up remembered me and chatted at other times during the weekend, the pasta dinner is very, very nice; the small expo is efficient and all you would need or want; and they even threw in a free dinner Sunday at 4. And the race director asked me afterwards how they could make it even better; I couldn't think of a thing.

From a pure running standpoint, everything is superbly thought-out and supported. There's water and sports drink every two miles (and each mile after 20) with volunteers telling you which is which. The race is small enough so you can hit your pace essentially right away, and you'll have no delays at the water stations unless you choose to walk a bit. Miles and 5K intervals are clearly and accurately posted, and there's extraordinary support from legions of voluteers plus locals who come out to watch. They close the roads and have more law enforcement and EMT support than probably even exists in the local county. Then you finish and there are medals, space blankets, and a humongous and varied feast (fruit including cantaloupe and grapes as well as bananas, homemade brownies and cookies, tons of yogurt, bagels with cream cheese, coffee/cocoa/tea/water - you name it).

At the same time it's so small (206 official finishers listed on website 2 days after race) that it's really a tranquil, idyllic run along stunning forest-lined small blacktop roads, then along lakeshore with views of mountains all along. There are plenty of spectator-free stretches but they're not too long; soon you always come upon some nice, caring, enthusiastic folks even out in the more remote parts.

Re: training for the hills - I just ran hill repeats at least once weekly during my build-up, basically seven times up a one-third mile hill at a tough pace. I got in one 18-miler and three 20- to 21-milers, one of which was quite hilly. I maxed out at around 42 miles per week. That proved sufficient.