I hadn't run Bay State for 10 years, and I've got to say that I really enjoyed this new course. You still get to run the double loop, and finishing in the Spinners' ballpark was a nice plus. As far as hills go, I ran 45 minutes faster at Bay State than I did the week before at another marathon. Organization was great. I accidentally signed up twice and I got $55.00 back when I picked up my race number. The local high school track teams were great at the water stops, too! And finally, the two choices of soup were great; I had four bowls of the chicken soup. But the most important thing is that Bay State is fast.

- Steve

Very well organized race. All of the volunteers made this a memorable event for me. Being able to use the Tsongas Arena before the race was nice (warm, clean bathrooms without long lines). A short walk over to the bag-drop and starting line. It was a fast, flat course, as they stated, and those local high school kids at all of the water stops get you pumped throughout the race. The day was a little cool and windy, but the sun was out for most of the race. At the finish line inside Lelacheur Park (what a great place to end a race), the volunteers came through again. One of the students had my checked bag already on the table before I had even to ask for it. The hot soup and sandwiches really hit the spot, and there were enough to feed everyone in the park, it seemed. I missed my goal time by 2 minutes, but got what I really wanted: a BQ time. I would recommend this marathon to all!

Had a great time. I ran with a friend who needed a 3:10 to qualify. We were pleased to find out that there would be a pace group. The Umass Lowell men's cross-country team ran as the pacers. When my friend started to struggle at about 18 miles in, Rex, one of our pace group guys, rotated back and coached him in to a 3:10.31 finish. Qualified! Nice job, Bay State. Looking forward to running it again.

From an old guy's viewpoint, the weather this year was unfortunately too cold, and the wind exacerbated it. It seemed I was the oldest, though I heard that there was a 70-year-old who drew the announcer's favor right behind me.

At my age, I have to fuel up as I go along the second half or I just run out of energy, and when I heard GU was one of the sponsors, incorrectly assumed that there would be GU at the aid stations. I was wrong, and bonked at about 19 miles when I was still on track for a sub-four, which is why I traveled up from Cape Cod for this faster course.

Everything else was positive. This course is as fast as anything in New England, with the possible exception of Clarence Demar, which is a point-to-point.

I have run over a 150 marathons, and none of them as a social outlet, but instead for time - as fast as I can go on that given day. So I have become kind of an experiment of one when it comes to marathons, and still enjoy the physical preparation and training from a coach's standpoint.

I find what works for a runner is a changing equation, one that is different as he moves through the aging decades, and if one is willing to learn and stay open-minded, he becomes better at it. I am running far better today (AG-wise) than I was 30 years ago. In my opinion, the accepted thought that aging requires more time to recover is a mistaken one, along with a lot of other truisms that are equally wrong. Other dilettantes that went before me, like Ted Corbitt, Carlton Mendell,and Bob Borglund, all older runners who took their running seriously, have been my instructors and motivators, unlike the 50-state guys who just jog/walk their 26.2s to pad their totals.

- Pete Stringer

This year had perfect marathon weather, despite the strong headwinds in the final 5 miles. The course is definitely fast... mostly flat, with a few very small hills that don't seem to hurt or help, and nice stretches of straight-aways. The organization was good. A couple of comments: Somehow I either missed a few miles markers or they didn't exist, aid stations were wonderful, and I was never ever confused on where to turn next. The track was a nice touch at the end, but the food area was absolutely chaotic. There's got to be a way to separate the spectators from the runners. It was a dangerous area for a guy with extremely sore legs to have to weave through without hurting someone or getting hurt (double strollers, folks of all ages, soup spills, etc.). Fortunately, the food area didn't make or break the experience. Got my BQ and would definitely do it again!

Someone has to explain to the race organizers what a "flat course" is. If this is a flat course, I am the Queen of England. ;)

Positive points:
* Very well organized.
* Great volunteers manning the water stations.
* Excellent post-race food.
* Good registration fee.
* Beautiful city.

Not so positive points:
* Advertising this race as a flat course is misleading. A few years back I ran this race on the old course and it was flat then, but NOT the new course.
* Streets were open to traffic - and the course indicated with cones only. We were running on the side of the road.
* Very little crowd support.
* Very few clocks indicating your time (I only saw one at 5 miles and at 15 miles... maybe there were more but they were not highly visible. No trace of it at the halfway point.

I've run the last 4 Bay State Marathons. It is nicely done. The course is very flat and fast, making a great place to go for a BQ.

The course is not closed to traffic, but there are plenty of police to keep you safe. The water stops are plentiful and manned by enthusiastic local high school students.

The finish of the course is inside a ballpark. The park's seating is open that day, so your friends and relatives can sit in the stands and watch you finish.

I ran this race in 1997 as my first marathon and ran this year to get my BQ. I really liked the start and finish accommodations at Tsongas/LaLacheur.

The course is flat and fast. Probably the fastest you will find in New England. It has some pretty spots, but also some bleak industrial stretches. Overall an enjoyable run, and great views of the Merrimack River and historic mills of Lowell.

The race was well-organized with spot-on water stops and good chow at the finish line.

Spectators and HS CC runners at the water stops were fabulous. There are many stretches, however, where the crowds are thin or non-existent. Where there are crowds, they were really supportive and enthusiastic.

We had spectacular weather and overall; I recommend the Bay State to anyone running for the first time or seeking a BQ time.

The whole experience was a very good one.
It started for me by meeting Mark Coddaire and two other race organizers with him a couple of days prior to the race when I picked up my race packet at Marx Running & Fitness Center in Acton. Everyone was most helpful and this friendly atmosphere continued on throughout the entire race experience.
On race day before the race my wife and I enjoyed having use of the Tsongas Arena to keep warm and take care of our needs. I should add that my wife thoroughly enjoyed herself as a spectator.
The day itself could not have been better. The weather was sunny, dry and perfectly cool for running. The course was refreshing. I loved its many shaded and wooded areas and its long stretches along the Merrimack river. It picked me up during the race just to look at the sun shimmering off the water.
At the end of the race, I really appreciated the ready help of volunteers getting my chip out of my shoe as well as putting the silver wrap around me for warmth. Also, the finish in the LeLacheur Park Stadium was quite a nice touch. And, yes, the baggage pickup was handled with ease as was the baggage check-in at the start. Again, the atmosphere created by the organizers, volunteers, police and other runners really made the day a delight.
But the thing that took me by total surprise was the food and, in particular, the chicken soup!
I tend to cramp up rather severely after a marathon and my stomach can be somewhat sour. So when my wife mentioned to me after I came in from the race that she loved the chicken soup being served, I was not particularly interested. Nevertheless a little later I tried some and the effect was for me like a miracle. My whole body relaxed and the cramps disappeared! And the soup was delicious.
My wife and I were so intrigued by the food that we looked up the provider and found that the food was provided by Cote's Market in Lowell. We made a trip to the market a couple of days later and met the owner, Roger Levasseur, who, we found, besides being a cook was also an avid runner. All this just added to our experience of the Lowell marathon.
Of course we thanked Roger very much for his miracle soup, and he convinced us that we should have also tried his beans. So we left the store with bags of food and another good memory.
I guess you can tell, we'll be back next year for the 2008 marathon.

Nice job!

Richard (and Linnie) Regan

This was my first marathon and it was a great one. The people were all very friendly and helpful. I gave only 4 stars for organization because of the lack of potties at the starting line. The course was picturesque in many places. Beware of taxis in Lowell! They are very expensive!! The spectators who were at the race were great, but there was not too many throughout the entire course. The volunteers at the water/Gatorade stations were great and always cheered you on!