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☰
Jay Mountain Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Jay Mountain Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 45 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
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Bill Lapsley from Plymouth, MA.
(8/2/2003)
 "Toughest marathon I've ever done" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Anyone who is looking to add a little adventure to their racing has to add the Jay Challenge to their list of 'must do' races. The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish. The race director, Dan, went out of his way to meet the participants and to let them know what the course would be like, as well as what would be needed. The course itself was definitely challenging. We climbed up and over Jay Peak and then had numerous river crossings and shoe-sucking mudholes to contend with. As hard as it was, I think I had a smile on my face the whole way. I doubled my previous slowest time for a marathon! I don't think there really is much of an opportunity for spectators, but the aid stations were well staffed and extremely friendly. After the race there was a great post-race meal, as we watched the runners coming in. A very relaxing and friendly atmosphere. Can't wait to do it again. I will definitely be back. | |
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C. V. from Massachusetts
(8/2/2003)
"Tough, but satisfying" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I did this race last weekend and enjoyed the challenges of the course: up Jay Peak, down Jay Peak, and then some other long ascents. I have never seen so much mud in my life on a race course, and mind you, it was not raining on race day! As to my results: I ran 3:50 at Adirondack Marathon (on roads) last fall; here I finished in 6:22, coming in fourteenth out of forty-eight finishers, to give you an idea. (I have run quite a few marathons and ultras; this race feels more like a 50K than a marathon). I recommend using gaiters for this race and taking the race director's advice of changing socks and shoes after the Missisquoi river crossing. The course is well marked, and there are eleven aid stations, but I would still bring a water bottle. A fun thing about this race is that there is a Yahoo chat group for it, so you get to 'know' the other racers before you run. | |
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John Taylor from Minneapolis, Minnesota
(7/31/2003)
 "A Great Adventure!!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 What an incredible day! It has to be one of the more interesting courses I've ever run. It was my 34th marathon. The course was hard, but not impossible. It was an adventure with beautiful variety of woods and mountain-top vistas with fields of wildflowers. I had a great time. The post-race food and party was great. I am so glad I did this race. It would be fun to do it again. The attention given to the race and its participants by the race director and the volunteers made the event GREAT. | |
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Fredrica Introne from Boston, MA
(7/30/2003)
"I won't miss my toenails at all" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 One of the most exciting race experiences I've ever had. I'll definitely be back next year. Race director is super-nice, support crew was awesome, and the racers were a great group. | |
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Ray Zirblis from Northfield, Vermont USA
(7/30/2003)
 "This is a tough, fun, one-of-a-kind trail marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I really enjoyed myself this Saterday at the Jay Challenge Marathon. While much of the course is runnable for the fit, non-elite, mountain runner and trail dog, this is a shin-skinning, butt-sliding, suck-the-shoe-off-your-foot-in-the-mud kind of course. Not for the finicky! Beautiful, varied course, with wonderful volunteers. This is a small race with a big heart! (My marathon road PR is 3:12; these days I do about 3:45 to 3:55; and my Jay finish was in 6:55 (!), though I was taking it easy because I have a 24-hour race this coming weekend). | |
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Ken Frey from Boston,MA
(7/30/2003)
"A real adventure challenge!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 A run up and down the Jay Mountain ski area, across beaver dams, and along deer trails. The course bushwhacks for a while before travelling down a mountain stream with a river crossing aided by a climbing rope. Good thing the rope was there, as the water was deep and cold! Took me 8 hrs, and I was not the last! This is a new event, and everyone is very excited. A must attend for next year. | |
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Dave Russ from Boston, MA
(7/30/2003)
"What a great race!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I run a lot of races and was blown away by the organization in this event. The race director, Dan, takes the time to really get to know all of the participants, and puts forth the effort to put together a top-notch race. The volunteers were phenomenal. There was not much crowd support due to the fact that it is all in the wilderness, but the fans you do come across are AWESOME! The volunteers made up for the lack of spectators with their incredible encouragement! It was the hardest course I had ever run on, with lots of mud, hills, and river/brook crossings (yes, you get to swim across a river in the race!). The course was very well marked, though I still found myself lost a time or two because I wasn't paying attention to the markers. This is not a marathon to run for a PR or to BQ. It is an adventure and a challenge. The scenery is just spectacular and it has now become my favorite race in the world. I WILL be back next year to tackle that mountain again!!!!!!!!!! | |
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C. F. from Colchester, Vermont
(7/29/2003)
"Best Race Ever!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 OK, this was my first marathon ever and I don't think I could have picked a better one. The course was beautiful, challenging, and above all, diverse. The terrain was awesome - it was a mixture of double track, dirt roads, bush whacking, fields, streams, and mud. This race was totally the best thing I have ever done, and I will surely come back next year. | |
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Anna DeBattiste from Colorado
(7/29/2003)
"For those who are truly adventurous!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a very tough race! It was my second time running it, and I found that the good stuff stayed good - a beautiful course in rural Vermont, well organized, wonderful volunteer staff, and a friendly, small-town atmosphere. But the course got tougher and more interesting this year. We bush-whacked, crossed rivers, even swam at one point. It was the most challenging marathon I've ever done. I'll be back next year for more. | |
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Tom Licciardello from North Andover, MA
(7/29/2003)
"Are you brave enough for the toughest test?" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was an absolutely fabulous event. By far the toughest of the 64 marathons I've run, but that's what makes it so special. This is the right marathon for someone looking for a different kind of challenge. Throw away the watch and have some fun taming this beast of a course. The organization is terrific. Of course, since it's trails, there aren't too many spectators. The race director and his wife, Dan and Lisa, are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet, and they are passionate about making the experience as safe, exciting, and fun as can possibly be hoped for. If you've wanted to dabble in trail running or ultras, this is a terrific place to go. The scenery is second to none, the challenges are masssive, and the support is fantastic. And, of course, you get to spend the weekend in beautiful Vermont. I ran with 3 friends... we'll be back in 2004 with a lot more! |
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