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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 21 to 31]
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L. L. from Virginia
(11/27/2010)
 "Best marathon yet" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ninth marathon and first time to qualify for Boston. This is a fast course - despite the hills in the last two miles - on a forgiving surface. Outstanding organization - bib pick up in the morning was easy, and being able to stretch out in a heated school with great music was key. Shuttle service to parking was convenient, easy, and timely. No big crowds but small groups of enthusiastic spectators. I would definitely run this one again. Great sweatshirt too! | |
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A. A. from U.S.
(12/25/2009)
 "Harder than expected, but great day!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Entered this race after running pancake-flat Chicago and just missing a particular time-goal. Thought that this course would be similar, save for the storied last mile or two back to the school. Turns out that the first 14 miles out to the turnaround are slightly uphill; it's nothing you would notice just walking or even jogging, but during a marathon you notice. Additionally, the first mile marker was off, which contributed to the feeling of not really being able to settle into a particular pace early on. Positives: Course surface, indoor staging area, enthusiastic volunteers. Negatives: Better directions to start/finish should be posted on the website, and there's a long wait for the awards ceremony after the marathon. Overall, a much more challenging marathon than expected, but a day made complete by helpful, smiling volunteers and some beautiful scenery. | |
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C. S. from Baltimore, MD
(12/4/2009)
"Change the Finish Location" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my favorite marathon so far. The warm indoor staging area, complete with real bathrooms, was very nice. Not much to improve on except the uphills to return FROM the trail. To avoid the major uphills at the end, the finish could be ON the trail (race doesn't have to finish at the same location where it starts). The shuttles could bring the finishers back to the school. Regardless, still a GREAT run. Volunteers were the best! | |
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M. C. from Baltimore
(12/2/2009)
 "Great small marathon" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a nice, well organized, small marathon. The indoor staging area was a nice place to rest before the race started. The course would be hard to find a fault in. There was a hill at the end, but it was an out-and-back, so you knew what to expect. Weather in Maryland can vary this time of year, but it was almost perfect weather. It was sunny and a high of 50 degrees. The spectators were located every 5 miles or so. They were few, but from what I saw, they cheered for every runner. At the finish there was adequate food and drink. The shuttles ran frequently to and from where cars were parked. At the finish, medals were placed on your neck, not handed to you in a plastic bag like some other races I have run recently. The premium was a nice jacket. I have a hard time finding anything I didn't like about this race. I will definitely run this one again. | |
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J. M. from Marietta, GA
(12/1/2009)
 "Small, but first-rate" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 There's a lot to like about this marathon: a comfortable indoor staging area, a beautiful course, a soft running surface, plenty of water stops with well-coached volunteers, nice give-aways, and much more. One complaint: I suspect the mile markers were off by a tenth of a mile or so - at least until the turnaround. (It was probably to sync them up with the permanent signposts on the trail.) Even though I didn't achieve my fastest time, I'll look back on this as one of my favorites. | |
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Patti Beauchesne from Newark, Delaware
(11/30/2009)
"Great day for a marathon!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a top-notch event - small in scale, but wonderfully put together. The jacket this year was especially nice! The volunteers, as in past years, were enthusiastic. As always, the finish was tough - but I knew what to expect having participated in 2007. | |
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L. J. from Maine
(11/30/2009)
"Amazing runner support" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 State 31: I flew in from Maine for this race - leaving behind a husband with the flu. In order to make an earlier flight home, I asked to start early (granted by Dave within about 30 minutes of my email). Packet pickup was breeze, and when I arrived at the shuttle to the start a bit early, Bailey (whom I had never met before) graciously let me sit in his car and then drove me to the start - how nice! Once there, I met Philip, who had run each of the 20 runnings of the race (despite a health concern in 2007). Early start went off without a hitch. Good course and great spectators where the trail crossed roads, though I was slower that I had expected. At the finish, I asked about the next shuttle to the cars (to make that flight) and a very nice man drove me back to my car. In addition to all of this personal service, we got jackets - instead of a t-shirt - and a cool 20th anniversary pin. Doesn't get much better than that!!! | |
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A. W. from IL
(11/29/2009)
"Perfect race/volunteers/weather" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I could not have asked for a better weekend. I drove in from Illinois with my youngest son and husband. Stayed at Marriott Hunt Valley - beautiful and clean, empty, and honestly, I could have had a 6 p.m. late check out because that is how accommodating they were. Packet pickup was organized, though it was strange not to get the chip until race morning (but I never asked why). Simple, quick drive to the start, so I slept late. The day was perfect for running, and the volunteers were the nicest I have met in a long time (there were few, but they all seemed happy to be out there with us). Course was as described by many last year; save something for the hills at the end. I managed to PR, which was such a treat as this was my 8th marathon in 9 straight weeks! The jacket for the 20th anniversary was quite nice, as were the finisher certificates. Ran along Gunpowder Creek, which offered a lot of beautiful scenery, but be aware that it is hunting season, and a friend making an unofficial stop in the woods came cheek to cheek with a deer and a shotgun No joke! He was lucky; it was a very close call indeed. Excellent, cheap pasta at the mall across from the Marriott near the AT&T store. | |
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G. R. from Ft Lauderdale, FL
(11/29/2009)
"Is this course really certified?" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 North Central Trail Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My only complaint was the course distance and the mile markers being significantly off (initially overestimating the distance, and after the half the mile markers were underestimating the distance covered). My Garmin registered 26.43 miles from the point I crossed the start line until I crossed the finish line. The first mile marker was overestimating the distance by about .12 of a mile. I am not aware of the criteria that need to be met to label a course as certified, but to be over by 400 meters is pretty alarming in my book. To the race director, please get this course distance right for the sake of those not wanting to run more than needed to complete the race.... Other than that, the course was very scenic and I had a pleasant experience overall. I could only imagine what the course would be like if this race were held during foliage season. The volunteers were phenomenal! | |
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Paul Mladineo from New York, NY
(11/14/2009)
"Peaceful marathon through the woods" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 North Central Trail Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I've run this marathon twice (2007 and 2008), each time in beautiful sunny weather. Other than the first and last one and a half miles (downhill/uphill), the course is completely flat. There are long stretches without water (or people). But when you come upon intersections across the old rail siding the course runs along, they are full of people cheering enthusiastically and offering water and Gatorade, and sometimes gels and fruit. On a nice day, this marathon is beautiful. You run through trees nearly the entire way on a flat, slightly hard, path. It's also not crowded and there are a fair number of dedicated, die-hard marathoners. The organization is very good. The first one and a half miles are fast since they're downhill. So the final one and a half miles are very tough - uphill until the finish. Save a little energy for this part - lots of people bonk here and end up walking. This marathon is a treat. A perfect late fall marathon. |
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