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☰
North Central Trail Marathon Runner Comments
Back to North Central Trail Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 128 [displaying comments 91 to 101]
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Tom Banchy from Baltimore, MD
(12/30/2003)
 "Flat, chilly, nice soft surface, good low-key race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the first (uphill) leg of the 2-person relay, and it was my first half-marathon -- I am planning to attempt a marathon in March. The start was very nice. No big-race jostling; very fun and social. Lots of space in the warm school to wait prior to the start. My experience was probably a bit different from most of the runners, since I was only doing a half-marathon and was planning to race it at 100% effort. So I found myself completely alone from about mile 2 all the way to the hand-off at mile 13. But the people at the water stops were great, and even most of the non-racers (walkers and cyclists) I saw waved and said, 'hi' also. I didn't have any problems at all with interference from non-racers, and sort of enjoyed having them there. It would have been a lot more lonely without them. I never saw any deer, but there was one loose dog wandering around -- fortunately he didn't seem interested in chasing. One thing I wondered about before the race was whether to wear lightweight 'scree gaiters' to keep pebbles out of my shoes. I eventually decided not to wear them, and had no problems. I wore lightweight shoes and had a bit of foot soreness from landing on rocks, but overall I really liked the soft surface. The cold wind was a factor, and was dead in my face for about a third of the first half. But it really was not unreasonable, considering that the weather that day was MUCH windier than normal for this time of year. Like others have said, this is a race for runners, not for gimmicky 'Team in Training' people who want to bag their marathon and then move on to the next fad and never run again. One area they should try to improve is the finish. I was freezing cold, and there was nothing hot to drink. Also, I only saw one port-a-pot at the finish. I hope nobody needed it and found it occupied! Overall, a very good race. | |
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M. S. from Astoria, NY
(12/9/2003)
 "Beautiful, mostly flat, fast, but lonely" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race for the second time this year and qualified for Boston. I agree with almost all the positives: the scenery, good support, few participants, few but colorful fans, and very friendly runners. I think the course has a couple of challenges: it is easier to percieve the slight uphill on the way out, than it is to percieve the corresponding downhill on the way back. It is hard to tell at points that you are running downhill, because the stretches are so straight and long. You have to look at the river and believe. Second, miles 20-23 or so have are very isolated, I found myself running alone for most of the race, but when I most needed the encouragement of fans or another runner - there was almost no one. I recommend this course to anyone frustrated by big city marathons with too many runners and too many loud fans, and to anyone looking to run PR/qualify for Boston. Also check out the marathon relay, I plan to be back - maybe next year. This year was WINDY and COLD. | |
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S. G. from Maryland
(12/8/2003)
 "A RUNNER'S MARATHON" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I've qualified for Boston 3 of the 4 times that I've run this race. The median finishing time of 3:54 is much faster than the Marine Corps Marathon (4:46), NYC (4:36), and the Marathon in the Parks (4:10), as this race attracts more experienced runners. No charity runners or walkers here, as there is a 5 1/2 hr limit... The start allows runners to stay warm inside the school, which is a big help. Miles 2-14 have a gentle, but noticeable, upgrade... water stops are adequate, as the weather is usually cool. Runners often are quite spread out on this course, so it takes a fair amount of concentration to maintain an even pace. Overall, would highly recommend this race for those looking for a PR or qualifying time for Boston! | |
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K. B. from Northport, NY
(12/6/2003)
"Wonderful, low-key day in the woods" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 It's hard to imagine a better, faster marathon as long as you don't need crowds to pull you along. I actually enjoyed the solitude and natural beauty. I also managed my first Boston Qualifier after a number of tries. I had never run a marathon with fewer than 4,000 entrants (there were 375 finishers). Lots of serious (but friendly) runners. Median finishing time was well under 4 hrs--maybe more like a marathon would have been 20 years ago. Fast times a reflection of the flat course. Better than flat, really... the first 1.8 miles are run on country roads and probably drop a couple hundred feet in elevation. The next 12.2 miles gain 30 feet elevation per mile (so I heard from a local), so you lose that on the return--nice! Another reason for the fast median finishing time is the absence of Team-in-Training types (not that there's anything wrong with that). This is not a big destination marathon, although it really has a lot going for it. Crowds were better than I expected--you saw people at just about every road crossing, maybe every 4 miles. You even pass through a couple of small towns like Monkton where there were close to 100 'fans'. | |
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B. C. from Mt Laurel, New Jersey
(12/2/2003)
 "Pretty course, tough conditions" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This my 47th marathon and my second trail marathon. I found this course much easier than the Triple Crown held in Newark Delaware in April. It was however very cold and windy. Somehow the wind was in our face both up and back. I enjoyed the serenity and the beauty of the woods and the stream along the trail. The race was well organized and the water stops were well staffed. At one water stop we were greeted by a sumo wrestler. We were so cold at the finish we never even checked out the post-race refreshments. Great job!! | |
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M. F. from Bethesda, MD
(12/2/2003)
"Elementary school start: a big improvement" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is the second time I've run this race and the 'new' school house start is a big improvement... especially with the wind and cold that accompanied the race. Pre-race organization is significantly more fine-tuned! Despite the weather, a hardcore, albeit small, group of dedicated fans were there for support. Seems like the water stops are improved and more plentiful as well... all in all, a great race that has incorporated multiple improvements to make it all the more enjoyable for runners! | |
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Fran Tassone from New Freedom, PA
(12/1/2003)
"User-friendly, small-town feel, fast, lonely" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is my second time for this race. Being able to be inside the school before the start to stay warm is a big plus! Although the trail is open to non-racers, I did not find it a problem for the most part. There were 2 deer that crossed the trail amongst the runners just south of the turn around. Luckily, no collisions. The course can get lonely as there are long stretches without spectators and the 4 to 5 hundred runners get pretty spread out. Even though I ran a PR and was able to qualify for Boston, the virtual flatness of the course is hard on the leg muscles as every step is essentially the same without variation. Organization, water stops, after-race food, etc. were excellent. Thank you much. | |
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O. M. from Maryland
(12/1/2003)
"Love this race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon is one of my favorites. Why?? Low-key, beautiful scenery... I just wish I could have pitched a tent and stayed longer. | |
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Scott Wilson from Baltimore, MD
(12/1/2003)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The NCR is a fantastic marathon. It is totally flat and the trail is easy on your feet and joints. The wind this year could have been brutal, but it was mainly a crosswind (although it did seem to come at you head-on a few times). If you're a local who trains on the trail, then you're lucky because it seems like a home-field advantage. Although there aren't a ton of spectators (what do you expect for a run through the woods in late November?), the ones who did come out were terrific. Joggers yelled encouragement as did bikers, who were very courteous about announcing their presence and giving plenty of room when passing. The water/Gatorade stops were perfectly spaced for me, but that's a personal preference - some people might have wanted more of them. I have run it twice and set PRs both times, so my opinion is admittedly biased, but I think most of the negative comments in other reviews are a result of runners who had the wrong expectations. The website was pretty clear about the trail surface, the other trail users and the shuttle buses. All in all, it is a great race, and running in the same direction as the water flows for the last 12 miles is a great mental cue that while it seems flat, you really are running downhill on the way back. | |
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Marie Wilson from Canada
(12/1/2003)
"Great volunteers - nice flat course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 As a first-timer at your event, coming from New Brunswick, Canada, I just want to say that the fabulous volunteers and their smiles and cheering at every water stop and road crossing were very helpful. The course was very flat which helped me to meet my goal of qualifying for Boston!! Yeah! I was not a fan of the windy conditions but you can't help that! Thank you for a great race. |
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