Yonkers Marathon - Race Reviews

2019 was my 3d timing running the Yonkers Marathon and 53rd overall marathon. The Team organizing the race this year was awesome. Registration and Bib pick-up were EASY with multiple times to do so. The course layout was more runner friendly this year. Still hilly but its Yonkers! I have never seen so many Police Officers on a course. Every intersection was covered and safe. Thank you for putting on a wonderful race!!

I tore the bib number from my singlet at the finish of this race in frustration. In fairness, Im a pretty easily frustrated person, but I'd really lowered my personal expectations for this years race. Perhaps not in tip-top shape, I just hoped to finish without too much effort. That proved quite impossible. I grew up in Yonkers, so perhaps I should have realized what awaited me at Mile 22. The problem is that I'd always driven down Palmer Road, but never actually ran it. Thats by far the worst hill I'd ever experienced in 17 marathons. It makes Heartbreak Hill feel like a speed bump. I was feeling OK; a little hip problem, but on a flat course I would have finished with a smile. After that uphill, being asked to fly downhill was too much. I couldn't extend my stride. I cursed the name of Arnold Palmer, although Im only 40% sure of the accuracy of that reference. Arnold (or maybe Hall of Fame pitcher Jim?) crushed me. So I was more than a little pissed at the end. Why would they have changed the course? The double loop isn't the most interesting but still challenging, and fan support is what it is. It runs past my childhood home twice. I considered ending my Yonkers streak at three. Or just doing the half next time. HOWEVER: This course is beautiful. There are quiet parts beyond the half-marathon. There are charmingly shaded spots along Tibbets Brook Park. There are the students of Sarah Lawrence cheering on the athletes, evoking memories of Wellesley College at the Boston Marathon. Theres enough city in this marathon to make it interesting and not desolate. There are many more spectators than past years. Had I felt better, I would have loved the new finish down Main Street  I had visions of charging down the thoroughfare! I was truly excited to run these streets. (Although I could have done without having to cross two, sometimes four, lanes of traffic to make a left turn on many of these streets. McLean Avenue is not meant for these kinds of turns. Also, someone might consider doing a sweep of Midland Avenue; there were lots of brambles and twigs on which someone could twist an ankle.) This marathon has a special place in my heart. I was dating the woman who would become my wife as she cheered me on in 2011; she was holding our daughter in 2013 and 2014; and this year little Rosie ran holding my hand at Mile 10. I feel like I know every inch of this course, and I sometimes regret depriving Yonkers its due as a rather lovely suburb. Though I now live miles away, this is still my hometown race. It would be sad to think about a fall without spending a weekend with my parents, without seeing my little girl out on the course, without seeing the library at the finish, legs depleted but happy. SO: My message to the organizers: I WANT MY REVENGE ON THIS COURSE. Dont change it back, because Im coming with my A game this time. I WILL break 3:20, and I WILL charge down Main Street at top speed, even if I have to swerve around 99 cent shoppers and errant taxis, even if it means driving up to Bronxville and doing mile repeats up that unforgiving road in the searing heat of summer. No disappointment can keep me from reaching my goal; no poor showing will take away the joy this race has given me. See you in 2016!

This was marathon #7 for me and my first Yonkers. Having done NYC twice and MCM twice I figured why not go small and local for a fall race.For the first timer needing the music and cheers from spectators this is not the run for you. For those who truly enjoy distance running and the solitude it entails this is for you. The few spectators and the support that was out there was some of the most energetic and delightful I have ever seen. I wasn't a huge fan of all the hills but still had a decent race.I was really happy with how simple and low key the race was. Super easy to park near the start and getting out was just as easy. My experience with the folks at NYCRUNS left me wanting to sign up for all of their races. Very pretty and scenic in some parts but most of the run was through the city. The last two downhill miles were total quad killers!

The first half is essentially the same course as 2014. But at 12.5, Half marathoners dash to finish and marathoners move into serious hills. Volunteers and Police presence were really exceptional. Few spectators: It was really about our fellow runners and those HILLS! (Did I mention miles 22-24?) I'll be back.

Congratulations to the NYC Runs guys. You turned a low-key marathon into a really nice event, without devolving into a Disney-like atmosphere. Yonkers retains its status as a race for the hardcore - if you don't believe me, try running it. Of course, not their fault it was 80+ degrees. They tried pushing it back, to no avail. Oh well. If you're looking for crowd support, go run Rock and Roll somewhere. If you want to go for a big run and challenge yourself, and could care less about 'cheer zones' and big sponsors, this race is for you. Oh, and wag of the finger to the Metro North, who decided to conduct a MASSIVE construction project from midnight to 4 AM on Saturday night. I couldn't sleep through any of it. Boo!

This race had a low-key vibe. A double loop through gritty Yonkers. The course has some steep sections. On the second loop, the running crowd drammatically thinned as the half marathoners disappeared, and cars returned to streets that had been cleared. Water stations were well-attended. Kudos to the Yonkers city staffers for supporting the event. NYCRuns gets kudos for being a grassroots alternative to the otherwise monopolistic NYRR. Bottom line: a good low-key race, but probably not the all-encompassing event a first timer would want.

I will begin by saying that, although I have never done the full Yonkers marathon, the Yonkers half has been one of my favorites for many years. I have completed it more than 10 times, most recently in 2013. The full is basically a double loop. Unfortunately, the addition of current race management company NYC Runs has not been to the race's benefit. Admittedly, due to the company's efforts the number of runners entered has increased and the race now has a more 'professional feel'. This possibly has been important to the race's survival; however, one could argue that this has been at the expense of its small race charm. Race entry fees have increased significantly over recent years and you don't get much for it other than running the race. Packet pick up consists of one person handing you a race bib and cheap tech shirt. The start was disorganized and the starting line was awful creating a bottleneck effect...seemed to be set up more for a race of under 100 runners rather than one of more than 700. There was NO Gu or gel, and no clocks along the course, only mile markers. The finish was set up in the worst possible area where there was no space for spectators near the finish line. There was fruit, bagels, donuts and water at the finish. There were NO bathrooms at the finish. The post-race 'party' did not start until 12:00 but the race started at 8:00 AM. The restaurant that was having the post-race 'party' did not allow runners to enter or use the bathrooms prior to noon. Food and beverages were available at full price only (beers starting at $5 for a Coors or Budweiser); no discount for runners. Awards for some age group winners were not available and they were told to call NYC Runs rather than someone from the company taking initiative to contact these individuals. The volunteers as with all races are great! I find the course interesting and challenging. It has FEW scenic parts if you are looking for that. The course is not completely closed to traffic. There are few spectators, but the ones who are out there are great! Unfortunately, doing this race in recent years has had me wondering two things about the race management: 1) are they themselves runners and 2) are they in this just for the profit vs. a passion for running? That being said, despite its drawbacks I believe that Yonkers being an historic marathon (2nd oldest) should be on every serious runner's to do list.

Second time I've done this race. It's my hometown. I don't see the course as that tough; hilly, but not impossible. For some reason this year, there were more competitors, more fans, and more cops. Not a rough edge to be found. The NYCRuns influence was greatly felt. But my 6-month old daughter (and her mom and grandparents) greeted me at Mile 2 / 15. She laughed and smiled, and held (really) up a sign that said, 'Go Daddy, Go!' That's the best part. Thank you Steve Lastoe and friends for a great race. I'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR!

I ran the half for the first time this year and was nearly hit by two cars. First, a cop tried to stop a guy at an intersection and he decided to just run through it anyway. Another time, an 18 wheeler just pulled up right beside me- and this was within the first 1 hour and 40 minutes of the race basted on half marathon time. It was very nerve wracking. Also, the course went through a lot of unsafe neighborhoods, so watch out for that - and BRING GU if you use it.

This was a pretty good, small race. There was about 1000 participants, and about 900 did the half marathon. That left the crowd for the full very sparse, which was nice or not nice depending on how you like it. First issue, the marathon is a double loop. You finish the half, take a right and start over, mentally kind of depressing. Maybe some people like that, i don't imagine most do. Second issue, the roads were all blocked off for the half marathon (loop 1), not so much for the full marathon (second time around). I was often running on the side of the road, with no sidewalk, next to cars driving. It wasn't all bad, there were police officers at all the intersections, but i did feel in the way for a lot of the second half. Third qualm, water stops were oddly spaced, seemed to be a lot in the beginning and not so many toward the end. Other than that, it was a nice mix of 'city' running and rural scenic running. Hills the whole way, not too bad though. Food at the end was fine. Parking and all was fine as well. Would definitely recommend for the half. Be wary of the whole however.

This race was well organized with plenty of great pre-race communication and a great post-race spread. The course is GORGEOUS, but hilly. However, the enthusiasm of race team and spectators alike make it a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it!!

Always a challenge, this course can chew up the unprepared, but mostly every entrant has some idea what to expect and has trained properly (on hills). Don't run this race expecting to qualify for anything that you haven't already, because your time won't be a PR, but you will have a unique experience. The most fascinating aspect of this race is the contrast of views and terrain over the course. You will have breathtaking views along the Hudson, and later on the Yonkers inner-city. Don't be shy about asking cops for directions when the runners get strung out and you don't see anyone anymore; yes, it's possible to take a wrong turn otherwise. Very few spectators, so the motivation has to come from you, but it's all worth it to be able to proudly wear that Yonkers Marathon shirt on your training runs to come.

The start was a bit dissheveled but being a smaller race not a big deal. Otherwise water stops were fine. Course was well marked but because it was not fully closed to traffic there were times I was dodging cars. That was unnecessarily stressful. I would definitely run again though.

This is a great race that deserves to be experienced. Do not expect a huge PR, because of a couple of little hills on the course. Some said it was very hilly; I personally believe the course is a bit more challenging than flat courses like Central Park, but overall it was not tremendous. Organization was excellent and impeccable. The location is really great and even the crowd supported the event very well.

I'm sorry. I'm sure the folks at NYC Runs are wonderful and well-intentioned but I saw little upgrade in the Yonkers Marathon from the 2011 version except for the skyrocketing price (now close to $100). I think I paid half that last year and, at a C-note and with a credible organizing team, one expects better. On the positive side, NYC Runs did manage to get more bodies on the course (both runners and volunteers), and tech shirts were an improvement from twelve months prior. Race results were up within 24-hours, and photos at the event were made available without charge in a pay-what-you-will format. However, very little was done to improve the race, especially for full marathoners. (Yonkers runs a concurrent half.) In fact, the library building that used to house runners indoors pre-race (and serve as a baggage drop) was basically closed-off; only race officials were allowed in-and-out. So there was no way to escape the elements while waiting around, and many people took to their cars. Also, because NYC Runs altered the start and finish areas slightly, all the painted street mile markings from previous years were off. They did put signs on poles for distances, but the whole thing seemed a bit odd. And the 'new' portion included a bad last left turn off Main Street that was pretty hairy given Bronx drivers (and their well-deserved 'Hey, your body hit my bumper!' reputation). Plus, the race again disappointed with Gatorade/water stops. On the second loop, nearly every station was out of Gatorade  just when one needs it most. And while most stations that carried both had water at the first table and Gatorade at the second, some had it reversed. Again, for a local race this is forgivable. A bit less so with NYC Runs conducting. I can tell you what my $100 did not buy: more time clocks. I only saw one the whole time, at the start/finish. As with the 2011 version, there were hardly any spectators other than friends or family members of racers. And runners still contend with live traffic, long stretches of industrial scenery, and the return leg of each loop in direct sunlight. So it's not a real scenic course outside of glimpsing the Palisades, even though the Metro North makes travel there incredibly convenient. Yonkers also remains a nice warm-up to the New York City 26.6 six weeks later. Just don't call it a 'bargain' anymore.

Ran the marathon in 2010. Nice, well-organized, small, no-frills, inexpensive event. Challenging course. NYCRUNS took over this year promising a better event and charged more for it. The good: -Start/finish was moved to a better location, finishes on a downhill -Net times recorded (only gun time available in previous years) The bad: -Website was relaunched early on, looked nice, but was lacking in any useful information or updates. Felt like they just forgot about it -Post-race had hot food last year. This year: stale bagels, oranges and bananas -The race director was already having a beer at the after-party when I finished my marathon. There were 170+ more runners to come in after me; the RD nowhere in sight -My finish time wasn't recorded. I emailed the RD who told me to be patient; he wasn't in charge of it. He ignored my requests for status 2 days after. And again 4 days after. I emailed the timing company myself and they fixed the problem right away. My results are on active.com, but not on marathonguide.com since they weren't part of the original data set. Now I have to waste time trying to get that corrected as well. -I emailed the RD about age group awards. He curtly told me again to be patient; I'll know as soon as he knows. (I think 4 days is more than patient.) Shouldn't an RD be able to answer a simple question about awards? -A few other runners posted on Facebook about their missing results. I'll assume they were ignored too. They certainly didn't get any responses via Facebook. -TEN DAYS after the event, the RD sends out a mass email addressing questions in bulk: email him with problems with results (good luck), no age group awards (surprise! There were last year), and he really doesn't seem to know what's going on with the event photos. I was really happy with my result this year, but the events that unfolded as soon as I crossed the finish line sucked out all the excitement I had from that day. I would expect a race director to show a little more pride in his race. Not being at the finish line area when at least 95% of the marathoners haven't finished, ignoring emails with legitimate concerns, and just plain bad public relations are signs of a race director that just doesn't care. I'm a little curious to know what the extra $15 in registration costs were put towards this year since there were no age-group awards or hot food. The tech tees, I guess? This was my first and last NYCRUNS event. I certainly won't be returning to Yonkers next year as long as they're involved.

This is a great local race to run. Super easy to get to if you take metronorth from the City. Race starts just opposite the train station. You have an indoor area before the marathon (and real bathrooms). It is great to be part of the second oldest marathon in the US. Race number pick up a breeze. Great views of the Hudson and palisades for part of the course. Hills are rolling and not as bad as people talk about. Nice downhill finish. Low cost entry fee makes it one of the best deals around NYC. It was great being part of marathon history by participating in Yonkers.

Yonkers is my hometown. I grew up at Mile 2/15 of the race course. I'd run the Half 4 times but never had the guts to do the Full. So, in preparation for the Hartford Marathon, I decided I'd take it easy for Yonkers. Not possible. I was so taken by the scenery, at Mile 8, when I was supposed to lay back, I hit the gas. I thought I'd blow up at Mile 20, but it never happened. I think it was partly because I ran past so many settings of my childhood: my house, the Hudson River Museum, Main Street in Hastings, the Carvel off Odell Avenue, City Hall, Riverdale Avenue. It was wonderful to feel fresh, strong and happy at Mile 24, just beyond the Post Office. Please keep the finish as is: charging down Buena Vista is a thrill. Better than Main. A few points: Gatorade was terrible and in the wrong spot (not Mile 5 as advertised). On two occasions I had to tell a course marshal to please stop the cars. One water stop was totally unmanned and empty. I give the fans a 5 because the few out there were awesome. (Partly because I saw my gf, my nieces, my mom, my brother, and my Dad 3 times.) I remind you all that if you run well, you MAKE fans along the way. Such was a case with a dude on Ashburton; clearly not a runner but inspired by our presence. Churchgoers moved out of our way. Post-race party left a little to be desired, but it's not the first time that half-marathoners - who obviously finish earlier - get the lion's share of post-race attention. C'est la vie. Again interesting that you eat bagels and rolls - at a fancy restaurant. That was odd. Finisher's medal was a little weak. Not sure when I'll do this one again, as it doesn't fit with my goal of 50 states. But it was one of the most inspiring days I've had in years. Such a thrill to run one of the toughest races in the region and finish with a smile. Congratulations to the organizers and the finishers!

An excellent challenge to anyone who call him or her self a MARATHON RUNNER. Yonkers Marathon will break you down and in the end when you cross the finish line you will know I ran The Yonkers Marathon. I ran ING NYC Marathon 8 times and Yonkers is my greatest Challenge. You will be thinking, planning and working all the muscles and fight your mind.. Be ready - the course will take everything you throw at it. If you are a Spartan runner this challenge is for you. I am already planning for next year. Excellent organization, excellent volunteers, excellent police, and a great place to run. Awesome

Registering for Yonkers after a scheduled 'flat' marathon was canceled weeks earlier, I was extremely conscious of reports that Yonkers was a hilly marathon, and best for experienced runners. These fears proved highly unfounded. Yonkers is not a hilly marathon. Big Sur has major climbs. Mount Desert Island has miles of rollers. Not Yonkers. Not even close. What Yonkers does have is very long stretches of slow inclines. Nothing over the top, just a steady and gradual rise extending for miles, followed by very small spurts of quad-searing drops. Yet, it's a point of pride for locals to consider their run challenging. A cop driving by the finish line asked me how I fared, followed by, 'Well, you know our race is really hilly.' Okay officer. Speaking of cops, they are an absolute godsend in Yonkers. Each was nicer than the next, and they were amazing at patrolling intersections. Not once did I have to slow down at the crossings, and they were tremendously supportive and engaging. Plus, they had to deal with some of the craziest drivers I have ever seen during a race; two policeman even stood their ground with arms raised when a pair of cars doing 20 mph approached. Amazing. As for the race, cars do play a role, especially for those doing the second 13.1 loop. Yonkers has everyone run with traffic (instead of against the grain), so one can't see approaching vehicles. Even with a larger group on the first lap, some idiot drivers come dangerously close to runners. On the second lap, since the field thins out to 200 folks total, there's frighteningly little protection. This is especially true in the neighborhoods and woods along the Hudson. The course begins with one of the long modest ascents along the water, past check cashing outlets and auto garages into residential areas and parks that border the river and provide nice views of the Palisades. Most of these miles are shaded which is lovely, and one ends up in Hastings-on-Hudson for a right-hand jaunt though Main Street up to another street that again mixes park and river views with single-family homes. It's not until coming back south on Nepperham Avenue that the road opens up to more industrial sites and the sun begins to take hold. Eventually one climbs a footbridge and crosses back to South Broadway for a two-mile stretch through downtown Yonkers before doubling back to the start via Riverdale. For me, the focus of the marathon was fighting through the industrial area on the second lap (miles 21 to 23). It's concrete everywhere, there's no spectators or retail shops or restaurants (so there's basically no sign of life), and one is completely exposed to the elements. Plus, with a constant slight uphill, it's where marathon dreams die. I spent the entire second loop preparing myself mentally for getting through that section. Logistically, the race has a casual feel about it. No speeches or anthems at the start; just the blast of a horn and we were off. Water stations are placed every few miles, though only the latter stages of the circuit seemed to have Gatorade. On the second loop, a number of these stations are unmanned. Clocks are only at the halfway point of the loop and near the end, and mileage markers are spray painted on the ground in the shape of giant Ms, with mileage numbers inside. Parking near the start is not too bad; there's also a pay lot right near the library. The five-hour cut-off is liberal; they'll let you finish, but they will be taking down the signs when you finally get to the tape. Given the history of the Yonkers Marathon, modest cost, proximity to NYC, technical tee, and my personal experience, I'm really surprised that this race does not get more runners. Yes, it's an urban environment, and no, it doesn't have crowd support or on-course entertainment, but it's a credible run, and there should be (at a minimum) thousands of runners doing the distance, not just a few hundred. I would recommend.

The Yonkers marathon is such a secret that even the people from Yonkers don't know it exists! Well, they should!!! This event was very well run and the logistics are so easy. It is easy to get to the start, packet pick-up is morning of the race and the post race party is just down the street from the finish. The race director is great with communication - quick responses to emails. The course is somewhat challenging and it's a double loop, so you know you're going to get those hills again. I happened to PR on this course though - I loved it! Not much crowd support; just the random people standing in their driveway now and then; and then of course at the finish. The streets were open to traffic, but the cops did a great job at every intersection. I didn't have to break stride at all for a car. Overall, GREAT experience. If you like the small marathons, this one is a must.

I ran the marathon for 2011. While the race went ok, all the while I had the feeling I was on a training run and the town didn't have a clue what was transpiring. No signs or banners along the way. No spectators to speak of. Live traffic in our lane. Lots of drivers stuck in long lines made me wonder if they knew what to expect. I felt bad for them. The view along the Hudson was obscured by trees and much of the rest of the route was by warehouses and closed stores. Not much to look at and certainly nothing as exciting as music or a costumed cheerer along the way. On the plus side, the police did a good job of blocking the traffic for us, the race timing chips worked well, and the children at the aid stations were very enthusiastic. Lastly, the free food selection was pretty meager; the bagels were not edible.

This is a great race that seems to be underappreciated by the majority of marathon runners. It's got an incredible history (second only to Boston) and is one to challenge yourself with. No big crowds, no big field of racers - just you and the course and you're there to challenge yourself. The organization is always totally awesome - easy to register, easy to get to and from the race, great support/water stops on the course, and great post race party. It's the fourth time I've run it (I travel to NYC from VA to participate and I will be back again next year!)

Just ran this yesterday (9/18/11), and really enjoyed it. The course was well marked and not crowded. Good variation and it's actually nice to do 2 loops... helps psychologically late in the race to know where you are. It has a small and personal feel, but Steve did a great job organizing it. There are kids staffing most water stations, which is motivational as they are excited to cheer you on. Recommended! I hope to run it again!

The location of the marathon is great. The parking is close to the start. The race pick up smooth. The course is challenging. The weather was better than previous years. Could of used some food on the course. Liquid is not enough for the marathon distance. Food at the end has gotten worse.

Test n stretch yourself. Flat marathons are fun, but this hilly beast is a sweet challenge - gets you thinking, planning and really working all the muscles. Give it your all - the course will take everything you throw at it and give nothing in return, except that fabulous feeling of 'I DID IT!' at the end. Great organization, great volunteers, great police, and a great place to run. Awesome. Weehoo!

Growth is good; it would be cool to have a pre-marathon meal chat-and-chew. Location is very good. More website info (pictures of the area and hotels) would help. The hills are to die for. Bring it on! The race director takes charge - I love it!!!! If you don't hear or see fans, just listen to your heartbeat and respect the marathon.

It's a really tough and challenging course - no kiddin'. The first loop is a breeze, but the second loop is totally magnified and intensified: each hill, each incline... they all just get longer. My first time running it, but I'm pretty sure I'll sign up for 2011. And if you register before May 2011, I think the September 18, 2011 race is only $25! All tri-state area runners should sign up immediately; this race deserves the top runners in the area. Great staff, great volunteers, great location and great, challenging course.

This is my 4th year at this race (2 full, 2 half). I can say that each year the police at the intersections always do a great job, as do the people at the water stations. There were a few people along the course, but they were very supportive. Overall, this is one of the best marathons I've run. See you next year.

This was my first half-marathon and it was great! The hometown support was wonderful. I would recommend it anyone to really feel a hometown event. The kids of all ages were great and supportive. So were the fans, especially the police officers. Thank you!

There were hard hills and a lack of pleasing scenery, but the spectators were very supportive with drinks/encouragement and the organization was great.

I ran this race in 2009. It's 20 minutes from my house, and it's dirt cheap. For the first 13.1 miles I was running with a lot of half marathoners, including some West Point cadets. The second half was a lot lonelier; from mile 16 to 24 I saw nobody at all. Hills were pretty tough, but I trained on hills so I was o.k.

Despite being told, numerous times, not to run Yonkers for my first marathon, I did. And it was great! Yes, it has hills. Well, that's an understatement. It has cliffs. Of course, I heard about this before training, and obsessively did hill repeats. Let's just say the north hill in Central Park became my new best friend. With the right training, the hills just made the course challenging, not impossible. As mentioned in some other comments, the course itself is run on streets through a mix of neighborhoods - some residential, some industrial. I liked the mix; it kept things interesting. Not a lot of people run this race and after the first loop, after the 1/2 marathon runners finish, the field gets really thin. Toward the end, the next closest runner was three blocks ahead of me. It's more crowded in Central Park on a Wednesday afternoon. I liked this, especially for my first marathon, since I didn't feel any competitive pressure. It felt more like a long run. There weren't a lot of spectators, either. Most of the spectators were people hanging out on their front lawns. The water stations were mostly manned by kids who would run up to you and hand you water. Which, in a weird way, was very cool. It gave the race a very small-town, personal feel. I'm very glad I did Yonkers as my first marathon. I highly recommend it. Just remember to hit the hills first!

This race is a real bargain! It is the second time I have run the marathon here. It is close to NYC and easy to get to on the train from there. It is very well organized and the volunteers are excellent. The course is hilly (as noted by others), but it's great running along the Hudson and, since it's 2 loops, you know what to expect the second time around! I'll definitely be back.

I did the half-marathon, and yes, the course does have hills - not like Central Park in NYC, but steeper. The downhills concern me more than the uphills, but still, it's not that bad, so if you like a pancake flat course, then skip this one. It's a nice, small race, with fewer than 1,000 runners. Pros: the giveaways were pretty good. Pre-race: I received an energy bar and a cotton t-shirt. Post-race: bananas, oranges, lasagna, water, a MEDAL and a certificate of completion (in the mail). Semi-Pros: you run through the downtown area, but the race gives you a look at Yonkers, from the quaint neighborhoods to the industrial park to the downtown municipality. Some people may not appreciate the scenery, but you have to remember that the race is not called the Yonkers "river view" Marathon. The volunteers were great, friendly and enthusiastic. The residents seem oblivious, though some pedestrians do cheer you on. I will run this race next year.

The course was fairly straightforward and only moderately hilly. Weather was nice, and it was really easy to get to the race in the morning and pick up the race items. The course was pretty along stretches out and back, and then there were some streets and shopping areas that were kind of bland. Post-race was also simple but efficient. Organization of details seemed to go pretty smoothly, and there were not a lot of complications to this seemingly small-town, old-fashioned-type race. There weren't a ton of spectators along the route. Also there weren't a lot of restrooms, a poor component of this course. Those who were at the aid stations were very helpful though, and so were the police. For the cost and the simplicity, this is definitely a good one to run! I am a bit perplexed by the strict adherence to the rule disallowing early starts, as well as the five-hour cut-off. But perhaps that is part of the charm that gives it an "old time" feel (and keeps away larger crowds?).

Beautiful and challenging course!!! Great organization!!! I would like to give five stars to the volunteers!!! Thank you very much for your support!!!