Marathon Details - Mid-Atlantic Trail Run Challenge

North America Marathons > USA > DE > Newark > Mid-Atlantic Trail Run Challenge

Mid-Atlantic Trail Run Challenge

Newark, DE USA

~~September 1, 2002~~ - CANCELLED

http://www.midatlantictrailrun.com/

Results:

2000
Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact

Name:	MATRC Race Director
Address:	14 Kings Grant Road Hockessin, DE 19707
Phone Number:	800-739-0824
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 3.4

Organization 2.7

Spectators 1.0

Write a review

Number of comments: 7

Michael A from New York, New York (2/13/2002) "Trail Run - Very Challenging and Worth It!" (about: 2001) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 First, let me say that I ran the Half Marathon for the Mid-Atlantic Trail Run Challenge this past September. It was my first trail half marathon and I did not know exactly what to expect. However, I did know that I would have to be familiar with the course and keenly follow the trail markings in order to stay on course. I did both and finished the race with a tremendous sense of accomplishment in just over two hours. I would compare it to an Eco Challenge. This is a trail run in the true sense of the word. The trail winds it way through corn fields, next to a river, up & down hills and through openings in the woods. You must stay focused at all times. If you are used to following the person in front of you and zoning out, forget about it. You WILL get LOST. This race is as much a mental test and it is physical. I was lucky enough to meet a fellow competitor before the race. We started talking and wound up running two thirds of the race together. He nearly took a wrong turn along the trail. He was so focused on climbing a hill that he missed the marker. I quickly pointed it out to him and we continued along the trail. Now, if he went the wrong way, would that have been the race director's fault or his? It would have been his for missing the marker. On a 13.1 mile course there are only so many markers that can be placed. My advice if you feel like you are going to get lost, then run the race with someone. The race organizers, volunteers, competitors and the few spectators were great. The pre-race talk, amenities and support were fine. Since, you are running in the woods, do not expect crowds cheering you on. However, that is the beauty of this race. It is about you and nature. Please do watch out for the tree roots, as I nearly wiped out twice. Someone made a good suggestion to wear bike gloves and to bring your own energy bars & gel, I agree. As for the comments of Karsten Brown, all I can say is if she put as much effort into race preparation as she did into bashing the race, she would not have gotten lost on the trail. Feel free to drop me a line if you want to ask a fellow competitor what the race is like. In summary, I absolutely loved the challenge that this race offered and I am definitely going to do it again.
A Runner from Atlanta (9/7/2001) "Challenging but course not well marked" (about: 2001) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I ran this course in 2001. The course is challenging because of rocks and tree roots and a 'stream crossing'. The course was not as well marked as it should have been. One runner who ran it a previous year got lost and took a wrong turn. There was water but no energy drinks( this was in the pre-race packet. The race director was very nice and wants a good race for participants. Overall I found the course pleasant but the markings and course directions definitely need improvement.
, Allan Holtz from Oakdale, Minnesota (9/3/2001) "Mismarked confusing scenic rugged enjoyable trail" (about: 2001) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I ran the 2001 version held in early September, rather than early November as was done in the past. While I don't know about the weather in November, I think the earlier date is better, what with the stream crossing. My first time through the stream, I and other runners stepped into water above our shorts and the second time by going just a bit downstream I stayed in knee deep water. One major course intersection was mismarked and I believe most marathoners went wrong the first time around the course. The arrow was replaced the 2nd loop. Most aid station volunteers were there for the 2nd loop, but many were missing the first loop, but at least the water was at most of the spots. Don't expect energy drinks at all of the water stations. The race was challenging, but much easier than Pike's Peak! The finisher mementos are unique. The course is rugged with lots of tree roots and small rocks to trip you up. I fell 3 times and stumbled twice. Wearing leather bike gloves would be a good idea for minimzing skin abrasions should you fall. I also wore tights which helped in that regard. I saw another runner with a nasty leg scrape.
A Runner from Washington DC (9/2/2001) "Not for wimps, or whiners!" (about: 2001) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 2001's race was a wonderful event. The race directors made sure they met us before the start and made sure we were okay at the finish. The course briefing was excellent (so what if some charming individual thought it was cute to reverse the first arrow?), the course was difficult, but well worth the effort. The creek crossings (waist deep this time) were refreshing. Volunteers were as nice as they could be and very helpful. Water stations had plenty to drink and we especially appreciated the donated pb&j sandwiches. Our finisher's medal was unique and beautiful. And the post race food was plentiful. Perhaps Karsten's temper tantrum worked, this race was well worth doing!
A Runner from Philly (8/28/2001) "It's a tough little trail race" (about: 2000) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 First, it's a trail marathon so don't expect all the pampering the roadies usually get. Complaints about poor course marking are really about individual runners not knowing the course and not taking it as their responsibility to learn it beforehand(i.e., study the darn maps in the race package, geez... it's a TRAIL marathon). The course is very hilly, the stream crossing is knee deep, the volunteers are nice, the scenery is great. It's a nice litle race and the only marathon you'll find in Delaware. (Yes, race proceeds go to Birthright, an organization that is pro-life/anti-abortion, but they are a NON-religious, NON-judgmental, NON-hell-and-damnation group offering support to women in a fix that choose to take their pregancies full-term. Sometimes the world's not black and white, it's gray. Get used to it. Run the race.)
A Runner from FLORIDA (7/28/2001) "Challenging but Unorganized" (General Comments) COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 There are some hills which make the course challenging. I did the half-marathon a few years ago and there is usually a stream to cross that is a few feet deep. Some people just run through it but I'd take my shoes off. I wouldn't want to run many miles in wet cold feet. The course is definitely poorly marked and the volunteers don?t do a good job of directing you at the points that they are on the course. I had actually ran about a half mile course and I didn't even know it because the volunteers failed to point me in the right direction and so few people run this event. Fortunately I heard a fellow runner in the distance yell that I was off course. However the main reason I would not run this course again is because of the accuracy. I only did the half-marathon and it seemed like at least 15 miles. There is a lot of up and down hill (you go pretty fast on the down hills--almost tripped over roots many times) when I was there back in 1998 they used aerial photography to measure the course the this method of measuring is inaccurate because it doesn't account for the elevation changes due to the hills.
Karsten Brown from Front Royal, VA (7/23/2001) "An awful, awful race!" (General Comments) COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This trail race, which has been renamed the 'Mid-Atlantic Trail Run Challenge' for 2001 [was Mid-Atlantic Cross-Country Challenge in 2000], was flat-out awful. Why? Let's see. The course markings were wholly inadequate or nonexistent. One of the race's officials did not know in which direction we were supposed to be running, telling many of us to follow the course in what turned out to be the wrong direction. The aid stations were pathetic. Volunteers did not know what they were supposed to be doing. And organizers did not plainly state that proceeds from the race would be going to an organization that is on one side of a controversial social/political issue. If I could give this race negative stars, I would. To read more about the fiasco at the 2000 race, visit www.rmaonline.net/kar/maccc00/!

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Marathon Details - Mid-Atlantic Trail Run Challenge