This race is a good small marathon that runs concurrently with a 12-hour, and 24-hour endurance race. The course is a 3.2 mile loop around Lake Quinnapowitt (it took me a few minutes before I could pronounce that) that begins with an .8 mile mini-loop to make up the distance needed to qualify as a marathon. Eight complete laps + the mini lap = 1 marathon. The food and drinks were good, the volunteers very friendly, and the course interesting. Remember to bring some kind of illumination since the run begins at 7PM. There are places were the sidewalks have been damaged by tree roots, the parking lot we run through had potholes, and there is a 35-yard run across a lawn, with large ankle-twisting rocks to avoid. One humorous thing happened to me with my lights, at least now I can call it humorous. My hat had built in lights, after the sun set after 8PM, the bugs started to fly and were attracted to the lights. I know I swallowed at least one insect while I was taking a breath. I'm still alive, so it must have been nutritious! Don't worry, the bugs stop flying about an hour later.

The finishers medal is small, but considering the small size of this race, and the low cost, it's understandable.

My wife and I stayed at a close hotel, not the race headquarters, and enjoyed the opportunity to tour Boston. I recommend this race to anyone wanting to try a different type of marathon: an evening race, with multiple loops around a scenic lake, in a lovely suburban community.

I completed this race and give it good reviews. It is a marathon, 12 hour and 24 hour race. The marathon is more of an afterthought. The course is a 3.2 mile loop, but I got use to the sights along the way and really enjoyed the experience. The sunset and sunrise were great. It was an easy and cheap trip from the airport by public transportation. The host hotel is nearby, but not memorable.
There was ample food and good support at the start every 3.3 miles of the loop.

This event was unique for several reasons.

It starts in the evening, and while that is a little out of the ordinary for a Marathon, I do most of my training at night so this race fit in well with my routine.

It is a ~3.2 mile loop course - so after a little lead in, you walk eight laps around (but only a fraction of the course is right beside) a lake. The loop made it great because my family got to see me multiple times w/o having to move around. I am a marathon walker, so I am used to being alone and at the back of the pack. With it being a loop course, and the fact this is a Marathon inside of an Ultra, there were always folks around me. That was a new (and nice) experience. Instead of walking by abandoned aid stations, I actually felt like I was involved in the event!

I had read enough reviews to know the course was somewhat dark in places so I came prepared with a headlamp in my bag. I did not feel like it was required so I never used it, but understand why some folks might have felt the need. My advice would be to bring one so you will have it if you need it.

The location was perfect. Right off the interstate, far enough out of Boston I didn't have any problem with traffic getting there. And there was plenty of parking right at the start line.

The results were posted quickly, but it took a couple of weeks for the lap times to be posted. I guess you get a lot more split times in an eight lap race than you do at others - another nice benefit.

I would also like to thank whoever made the PB&J I picked up at the aid station after lap six. It had just finished pouring down rain, it was around midnight, I was mentally tired, and that was, without a doubt, the most fabulous sandwich I have EVER eaten!! It (and its cousin that I picked up before lap eight) inspired me to a PR! Hats off to the chef!!

Funny how sometimes it is the simple things are among the most memorable!

this was a fantastic introduction to ultra running since it is a loop course. I did the 12 hour ultra. friends can see you every 5k. Organizers gave a heads up to bring a headlamp with a few sections of the course being dark, but not a problem. GORGEOUS sunrise and the view over the lake made it all worth it. Cool overnight weather made it comfortable (as comfortable as a 12 hour ultra can be) and enough runners on the course to chat with along the way. Volunteers are second to none at this event and go out of their way to help. This race runs like clockwork and its nice to know race proceeds to go local charities. This is a must do!!

Pros: tidy well run event on a 3.17 mile loop course around a lake. Run a 24 hr ultra, a 12 hr ultra, teams for either, or a solo marathon.
Cons: well meaning but sparse crowd support, two rough footing patches, and run at dusk into night.
It was my 1st marathon and I would run it again.

What a crazy race! From the night-time start, to the 24-hour ultra runners, this race is unique!

I was going for a BQ and fell quite short, but I learned a lot about myself and how to race a marathon at this event. I don't regret participating at all and I feel completely, 100% prepared to BQ at Bay State in October.

Overall this was a great race and an experience I'll never forget, but like any other marathon, it had its ups and downs.

I'll start with the downs...

1) Not only was the course way dark, but it was open to the public, so you had runners, walkers, dogs, roller-bladers, bikers all headed TOWARD you. When it's pitch black and you're at mile 23, this is can be really disorienting. That said, it was no surprise... there was plenty of warning about the darkness and the open course going into this thing.
2) Eating for a night-time marathon is weird. I had a stomach cramp from the very beginning.
3) The host hotel was a little rough around the edges - or maybe I'm just a princess. ;)

And the good things...

1) Running a marathon at night is totally fun.
2) I loved running 8 loops. I found it to be way more manageable to count in loops instead of miles.
3) Got to see my family a zillion times since they were spread out all over the course.
4) Loved the stainless steel water bottle in lieu of a medal.
5) The volunteers were awesome and friendly and helpful.
6) Aid stations every mile and a half.
7) Flat, flat, flat.
8) Nice scenery.

If you're planning to run this race, my advice to you is to wear a head lamp, have your friends/family have food for you since the food tables a little bit out of the way, and bring a giant air horn to get the pedestrians out of your way (not really, but maybe).

The weather couldn't have been better for late July, but there are problems with this course: 1. About a third is on a concrete sidewalk, which had me choosing to run in a rut in the grass until it got dark and then in the street, which had a nice wide shoulder. One guy might have tripped in the dark on a rock in the rutted trail and bloodied his face.

2. Another third is a rippled asphalt sidewalk, which is poorly lit, meaning lots of shuffling and running on faith. Although the director said head-lamps were unnecessary, I would advise them for this section.

3. Because there are eight loops and there are 50-stater participants and 12- and 24-hour participants and relayers, anyone who can run a 10-minute pace will pass these people many times. Unfortunately some of them manage to stay right in the middle of the sidewalk or go two or three abreast. They were not very considerate.

4. Finally, it's been three days and still no results are posted. It's dismaying that the marathon only gives awards to the top three finishers with no age group awards.

Pros: I ran this marathon injured and still managed to finish in a decently respectable time. A FLAT COURSE makes all the difference! The atmosphere was very chill, which is nice if you're into that sort of thing (I liked it, but have to say I prefer the big, amped-up marathons, like NYC) and it was definitely very cool and unique to do a night marathon.

Cons: The course is BORING. I would have really wanted to quit if I hadn't been running with my best friend. The start was confusing. A large group of us were walking the wrong way down the street to find the start. Not clearly marked at all. I was disappointed to receive the water bottle and would have MUCH preferred a medal... especially with the steep entry fee (and extra money that I shelled out for a t-shirt). Also, as others mentioned, it was pretty treacherous in spots because it was so dark and the terrain was so uneven. And the crowd support was nil. All in all, a decent race; if for no other reason, do it to do a night marathon. That alone made it a pretty cool experience.

There are not many marathon options in New England for July, so you take what you can get. It is expensive for the set up of running on sidewalks around a lake.

The lighting in bad and the sidewalk can be every uneven. It was interesting to run at night, but I was 15-20 minutes slower than previous marathons. You need to keep track of how many laps you make, even with the chip timing; and there was no fanfare for your finish. It does make you appreciate the efforts of the 12- and 24-hour ultra runners.

If you need a July marathon in New England, I would give it a go; otherwise, I am not sure that it is worth the cost.

The best loops on this course for me were the ones at dusk - it was just magical to look over the lake and see the lights shining off and the sun setting. But the ones prior to darkness are a bit annoying, as a great deal of the time I was running on cement or uneven surface. Then when it does get totally dark, it gets a bit treacherous!

This is NOT a well lit course! In fact, it is not even lit, save for the lights of the buildings or streets around it; I don't think the organizers had one extra light out there except for right at the start/finish area. I almost fell three times and saw one lady eat it pretty badly. Right past the start near the water it's pitch black, and coming around to the finish area is dark - and near traffic! Other parts on the back side (miles 1-2) near the road and on uneven gravel/pavement surface are dim as well. So I would say that is a big shortcoming.

The race started a bit late and it was confusing as to where to go exactly. They could have had more details online about this! Also, there were no race shirts - bummer. The medal was a thermos, so I guess that was ok. No photography on the course! There was a lot of post-race food. However, at the end, it was not clear if we had completed our final lap of the 8; a few of us had to go and check to be sure we were done! There were no real spectators, just some folks walking along the route who would cheer occasionally.

All in all, not the best marathon - perhaps better if you were out there longer and maybe got to see the sunrise, etc. and get your money's worth on the course. But 80 bucks for a thermos, some energy drink, and some pretzels seems steep.