Clarence Demar Marathon - Race Reviews

I picked this marathon based on the great reviews I've read in the past. I thought the race director and volunteers were amazing. Very convenient packet pickup at Keene college. The course was fairly flat some small hills near the end but nothing major. I thought the crowd support was decent for the size of the race. Personally I came in expecting the race course and the area to be more scenic which was slightly disappointing. Overall I am glad I ran this marathon!

The weather was perfect for a BQ. The route was as scenic as ever. The spectators came out and cheered over all parts of the course. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a small and easy introduction to their first marathon to consider Clarence Demar. I encourage the pasta dinner the night before, its totally worth it. The guest speakers so far have been amazing. One thing that did get to me a little bit about the course is that, if you intend to run a fast marathon, you will run into the half marathon field at some point in the first 10 miles. I was steady on a BQ pace, but I got held up a bit because I hit the half marathon field just as everyone was coming out of the start and onto the main course. I made up for it later, but it was a little rough having to maneuver through the back end of another race. The finish line is great. The timing is done in real time. This year Albany Running Exchange did a great job getting the finish times out fast. Medal was sweet and well made. A great addition to my marathon collection.

I've run the half marathon twice, in 2022 and 2023. Both times I've run this race it was a small town race of around 800 participants, with a big time race feel! This race is so well run from the minute you sign up until the moment you cross that festive finish and head over to the amazing spread of hot soup, fresh fruit, yummy cookies and many options for refreshments. The on course support from the local community and volunteers is amazing. All road crossings are well managed and assisted. The marathon and half merge where the half starts in this point to point race, and split/merge again over the final 13.1, but all splits are extremely well marked and staffed with volunteers. Finishing on the Keene State college campus is festive energizing! This is a popular Boston qualifier Marathon for good reason! I love the quality of the long sleeve shirts you receive with sign up, and the additional swag goodies are great! I cannot recommend this race enough for all ability levels! You will be glad you chose to run the historic Clarence DeMar race!

This marathon is always a pleasure to run. I cannot think of a single year when the weather was bad. I ran this marathon way back when it was a simple race with no chip timing and small medals. The Rotary Club that has since taken over has done very well to make this race better every year. The scenery is excellent. You start off running along a beautiful river, across a dam, and you go through a cemetery. At the finish line you get a souvenir water bottle and plenty of good eats. I recommend the pasta dinner the night before. It is a small venue, but totally worth it. My only complaint, no fault of the event, is the hotel prices. Be warned, everything is over $300 a night and always booked up. So, if you plan to stay overnight, plan way ahead.

Five stars are not high enough for the level of organization with this race. The pre-race communication and website information was fantastic. If you didn't find an answer to a question then you either didn't read well enough or you really didn't need to know it. This was my 15th marathon and this was the most well marked course I've ever run (including 20 halfs). Color coded route arrows on the pavement and corriplast signs as well as at least 2 volunteers at each turn made it impossible to get off course. I think the website described it as 'challenging but fair' and I would agree with that. Net downhill according to my watch, but that wasn't really noticeable. Some rolling hills at various parts with a couple of steeper ones later in the race, particularly a down into the cemetery and then a couple ups closer to the end of the cemetery. Crowd support was decent, but it's a smaller race mostly through NH countryside, so if you need the roar of a Chicago crowd, this probably won't work for you. Volunteer support all weekend was top notch. Pre-race pasta dinner was good with an enjoyable program (Frank Shorter this year). Post race food was okay, cookies and chocolate milk were my favorites, some fruit, bagels and vegetable soup (heavy on chickpeas and beans) this year. The course was mostly open to traffic, which at times was not great but manageable. Several times you were running with traffic, but the drivers seemed more courteous to runners than I'm used to. Porta-potties were not super plentiful and were fairly spread out (none from 4 - 10). I also had significant overlap with half marathoners (they start 1 hour later, I ran mid 3 hours), passing the same runners 4 or 5 times based on how the courses were set up, so that got a little old. All in all, a fantastic race weekend (nice quaint small town also), highly recommended if you are a 50 stater needing New Hampshire.

This was my second Demar marathon, the prior one being 9 years ago. The first half of the course is where you get the net downhill (but beware that there is significant uphill mixed in), and that part of the course is very scenic and nice. The middle part of the course is kind of boring (but the people who are out to cheer you on are the best!) and then you get into the last part of the race and the course can really humble you. Going through the park followed a bit later by the cemetery, presents you with some significant hills. None too steep, but a bit too much for me towards the end of a race. Still, loads of fun, and I knew it was coming, so fair game. Plus, both are nice places to run. With Covid protocols, it was a bit more subdued, but the people out there, from random spectators to other runners to volunteers, were tremendously positive and enthusiastic and make this a great experience. Pasta dinner with Bill Rodgers was great too - I don't normally do these, but was glad I did this one. Race director came over and chatted for a couple of minutes. I may be getting too old and slow for this course, but I recommend it to anyone who wants a challenge and a fun weekend in a scenic area and a great smaller town.

The main thing I look for in a marathon is good organization and this one did not disappoint. The pasta dinner the night before was well worth it- Dick Beardsley is a fabulous and heartfelt speaker. The race gets very good speakers, so take advantage of that. No expo at packet pick up but I didn't care. Keene NH is a LOVELY town and the course takes advantage of the beautiful landscape. Point to point course, runners are bussed to the start. You can stay warm in the elementary school gym & the start is a 5 minute walk away. It was about 61 when we started this year, warm for me (down right hot 3 1/2 hours later). The one negative for me was the extreme downhill nature of the course for largely the first 11 miles... I didn't hold back enough (just went with it) and I paid dearly- my quads were trashed by mile 21 or so and this has never happened to me before (this was race 41 of marathon or longer distance), so watch out for being sucked in by the elevation change. I've run Boston 5 times and it has nowhere near the same degree/amount of pronounced downhills. Keene really does not have any accomodations that are less expensive - expect to pay a bare minimum of $150+/night, a lot for a small town in my experience. However, there is LOTS of great food. Be sure to go to Lindy's Diner. Am a 50 Stater and did this for NH. Recommend it. Just watch it on the downhills. :)

This race is the best! Best course, best organization, best fans. Easy to get to on race morning. Can't say enough about it! This was my 37th marathon, with Grandmas being my favorite until this one. The course is unbelievably beautiful. Plenty of hills, but very doable. (Coming from Texas) The water stops are plenty, well stocked and super friendly. The town embraces this race. I felt welcomed and supported everywhere I went. Oh, even the pre race emails were often and contained all the information I needed leading up to race day. Highly recommend!

This is a high quality smaller marathon and half marathon put on in southwestern New Hampshire. This event is very well organized with all the runners' needs taken care of throughout. The course is largely downhill alongside a river for the first five miles. From there it is primarily rolling along country roads until you came into Keene for the last four miles. Runners are bussed to the start of each event. The marathon staging point was a small elementary school about 5 minute walk to the starting line. Runners were able to stay inside until almost the start. The finish was on the Keene State campus on a tree shaded lane. There were limited people cheering along the course, but if you have family following you, they should be able to see you in multiple places. Perhaps the only negatives are: limited reasonably priced hotels in the area, no expo at all, running through graveyard. Positives included great organization, race packet pickup up race morning, even throwaway clothes were brought to finish line for pickup if you wanted, and showers available (downstairs) a short walk from finish line.

Race director puts a lot of effort into the race and it showed from packet pickup to the finish line. Beautiful course. Great volunteers.

I agree with all the positive comments from other posters. The packet pickup is very easy (morning option) and it was easy to put my shower things in a locker in the Keene State Univ. gym. LOVED the convenient shower. Loved the obviously well-trained water stop volunteers in their bright yellow jackets. There was a volunteer at the top of the worst hill (around mile 13-14), and he jogged with me for 100 yards at the top encouragingly. I am a back of the packer, and the course directors were all still there when I arrived at the later turns. There were water cups at all the water stations, and even bananas and soup still at the end for my slow self. The course was interesting, and the waiting area at the beginning was comfortable. Ample porta potties. Everything about the race was great, and the weather cooperated this year--gorgeous. The highlight for me was running over the dam and through the cemetery. I didn't notice it until I read another review, but my bib number was 19 and this was my 19th state! I guess they did ask when I registered :)

I just completed this race (2018) and strongly recommend making this you new Hampshire marathon. Here are the reasons not in order of importance: 1) Pasta feed - I usually do not go to these (this was my 72nd full marathon) but it was well worth it - it was held at the Marriott Courtyard where I was staying - very inspirational and good food as well. 2) Great organization from packet pickup, transportation to the start, finish line - all very well done. 3) Course support was top notch and volunteers were very enthusiastic in supporting the runners. 4) The first half of the course was awesome - I gave the '4' rating, however, because during the second half, runners were on side of the road a lot of the time with fast traffic buzzing by from behind. This bothered me a great deal, but it did not seem to bother others. 5) Race director was at finish line and gave me a high 5 - a memory I will cherish! 6) Race director very caring about participants...really makes a difference - volunteers too! Just awesome! 7) Town of Keene was lovely with very friendly people - at the recommendation of a runner named Peggy that I met at the pasta feed, my sister and I went to Luca's for dinner the evening after the marathon - awesome! 8) 2018 weather was perfect for a marathon! 9) Race medal and shirt were both awesome!

Course was very fast in the first half, mostly downhill. Second half (it was starting to get hot, too) was more 'meandering', but fun. Pretty interesting going through a cemetery. PR'd, but missed my goal due to the heat. Definitely recommended.

Top 10 Reasons to run the Clarence DeMar 10 - Race organization - 2017 running occurred in record heat requiring last minute reorganization with EMS, police, water stations, volunteers but all was seamless to runners 9 - Ice and ice water at water stations 8 - Rallying of countless Keene homeowners who sprayed us with cold water from their garden hoses 7 - The Keene State College cheerleaders at mile 26.1 - maybe not as loud as the Wellesley girls in Boston but still very effective! 6 - The race volunteer at mile 18.5 who poured an entire bottle of ice water on my head 5 - The view of the New Hampshire hills from atop Surry Dam 4 - The first 5 miles: gorgeous with the morning sun filtering through the trees which were just turning along a creekside. One of my most beautiful running experiences 3 - The next five miles: almost as beautiful 2 - The history of Clarence DeMar whom this race honors 1 - The finishers medal which is embossed on its backside with a quote from DeMar, "Not only in running but in much of life is a sense of balance and proportion necessary"

Clarence DeMar is just about everything you want in a fall marathon. Most of the course is scenic, wooded New Hampshire, including a spectacular stretch on across a dam and spooky run through a cemetery. Unlike most small marathons, there are no loops - 26.2 unique miles. It's all most downhill and generally a fast course (if you can do downhills) except for a killer mile 23. With a field of only ~400 runners and the course is NOT crowded. Unlike every 'world major' marathon (CHI, NYC, etc.) no one is going to elbow you in the chest or push you from behind. You can run your own race. Organization: top-notch. Course is well-marked, even with funny motivational signs ('Pain is temporary but online race results last forever'). Aid stations every 1.5 miles, also unusual for such a small race. Prerace they held a pasta dinner with a presentation from Dave McGillivray, head of the Boston Marathon, who shared his inspirational story and history with running. Loved that. The biggest downside is that being held in late September the weather can get you. In 2017 the forecast was for 91F. They moved the start up an hour and luckily it wasn't so bad. About 60F at start and low 80s by finish (unless you are really slow) but it was warm and muggy. But it was unseasonably hot across the U.S. that weekend - it happens. The only other drawback I can think of is that the roads are not closed off, you share them with cars. Cops man intersections (good) and these rural drivers are generally respectful (also good) but for long sections you will be curb hugging to avoid cars. Not a lot of crowds but having run big city marathons many times I think this is a better overall experience. When you register you provide a fact about yourself that they announce on the loudspeaker as you approach the finish line. They call this a 'runner's race' and it really is almost everything you'd want in a marathon. If you get sick of big city marathons treating you like a piece of meat, you can't go wrong with Clarence DeMar. Great race.

I loved this marathon. Rolling hills, a lot of downhills, and spectacular scenery. But the best thing about the race is the support of the incredible volunteers, race director, and the entire town. Keene is a charming small town, and they are very proud of their race honoring Clarence DeMar. 2017 was HOT, but by the time the weather became an issue, most every resident in town was on the curb with their hoses, sprinklers, extra water, and ice. The race director is great, with a lot of communication about the weather throughout the week. He was driving the course himself, checking on the last runners to make sure everyone was doing OK in the heat. As he had told us all to slow down, they kept the finish line open until every single runner came through, even though it was well past their cut off time. I am extremely impressed by this marathon, it's director, volunteers, and the town. HIGHLY recommend!

Great point to point course thru scenic new Hampshire. Fan support was great with many offering a water spray or a cold drink, great on a unseasonable hot Sept in NH. No expo but the bib pickup was convenient and organized. Great food & drink at the finish and a great medal. Small field at about 250, my fav size, overall a great marathon, one to do again!

This is a very small race, about 500 runners. There is little crowd support. There were volunteers and water stations at every 1 1/2 miles. It felt like a down hill course with rolling hills. Beautiful views of streams, mountains, live cattle, farm land, and newly paved roads. Beautiful medal and cool tshirt. Very well organized. Special Thanks to Sheryl at registration. Some of the race was done with moving traffic which at times you needed to run single file. Overall... I would run this race again :)

This race is in honor of Clarence Demar; see the race website for more info. I learned that it is also the 2nd oldest marathon in the US only after Boston. It is neat and full of history, and you can tell that the locals take pride in the annual race. Overall, the race is well organized, and it is a small New England type race. It is a point-to-point race. I had perfect weather (between 40-50 degrees and sunny) on the day I ran. The only reasons I do not give the organization 5 stars is because we could have used coffee at the start and the water cups were a bit too small. Regardless, there was water and Gatorade at every 2 miles. It was very nice to have the option of showering right after the race, and the minestrone soup at the finish was delicious. Even though it is a small race and a small-budget production, you can tell that the organizers spend the money on the things that matter most to the runners. The race shirt and medal are superb. There were just a few hundred runners in 2016 and just a few spectators along the way, but I give the spectators 5 stars because the few that were out there were very kind and energized. The course has a lot of turns and some hills but not an awful lot. We shared the road with traffic for most of the race, but traffic was not bad so it was not a huge deal. There were police at all the major traffic intersections. The race offers bag check, water, gatorade, GU gel in your welcome bag, free photos, chip timing, good food at the finish, race shirt, medical tents, buses to the start, early start, great medal, easy parking, and race-day bib pick up. It also offers indoor shelter the morning of the race. I am happy to see races like this exist and have been organized year after year. The race is organized by a local nonprofit group.

Ran this the first time in 2016 and what a great surprise. From the start in Gilsum (a quintessential small New England town) , the course is very scenic along a river, across the Surry Dam with beautiful views, through a neighborhood, cemetery and along a bike path. Very good communication before the race, easy check-in by very friendly volunteers, good water/Gatorade stations and results at the finish (on iPads). All around a wonderful experience and a must on your marathon calendar!!

This is a small race in a gorgeous part of New England. It is extremely well-organized, designed for runners. It is special because of the heritage and the man it honors, the volunteers and organizers LOVE their race, and it features the beauty of New Hampshire. This course is not an easy one, but it's not hard either. There are a lot of turns, but it is well marked, and volunteers guide you at the places where the turns are not totally intuitive. Most of the difficulty comes from gently rolling hills ... not tough, but taxing after many miles. Keene is a bigger small town in the area. It has lots of amenities and plenty of New England charm. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, be sure to visit Country Life, a wonderful buffet run by some kindly ladies. Shirt, medal, and support are tremendous. Highly recommend this one!

As good as a small race gets. Spot on organization with race day packet pickup and easy logistics. Indoor staging area with plenty of room to stretch and lots of bathrooms. Free parking close to the finish. I really liked the course. Lots of down hills and gentle up hills. The out and back over the dam and the cemetery are the most memorable parts, but much of the course is very pretty. The aid stations were frequent and well staffed with enthusiastic volunteers. Medal and shirt are first rate. My new favorite small marathon.

I've done this race twice. This is a *very* small race. If you need huge crowds all along the course to motivate you, then this isn't the race for you. They're not here. If you prefer enthusiastic volunteers who perform cheerleading cheers for *you* personally, and who are uniformly positive, friendly, and helpful, then you're going to love this race too. Good organization, nice quiet country roads, scenic views, good post race refreshments, and warm showers after the race.

This is the smallest (by far) marathon I've ever run, and much of it didn't feel like a 'race' at all, which I loved! I soaked it all in, the sheer beauty of the day, from freezing at the start to resting/roasting in the sun with my bagel (THANK YOU to the kind volunteer who found me an uncut bagel, the only thing I'll eat after a race, I would have been happy to buy one) at the finish. Satisfied with my time (BQ, but I don't care, been there, done that), not my fastest, but learned so much from this experience, helped me get clear on why I run marathons and how I want to continue 'till I croak. Aggravating little things (like the walk to the start, for one) matter not at all. Shirts, medals, food? Whatever. People here were just wonderful; fellow runners I had the pleasure of talking with, super volunteers, supporters. I highly recommend this marathon, just do it, don't worry, be happy!

You're heading to New England to check out the fall colors? Might as well do it on foot from Gilsum to Keene. A gorgeous course, especially the first half, with a trip across the dam being one of the highlights. With around 350 full marathon finishers, it was never too crowded (the half started 13 miles down the road), and it seemed there were almost as many volunteers as runners. Hats off to all of them, especially the local Rotary Club, which took the lead a few years back when it appeared the event might come to an end. A great finishers medal, though the shirt left a bit to be desired. But I saw shirts from previous years, and they were nice, so maybe this one just comes under the heading of one man's art is another man's trash. And it was nice that the goodie bag included a mini-bio of Clarence Demar, a former Keene resident and the only person to win the Boston Marathon seven times. His 76-year-old daughter walked the half and was an inspiration. Whether you're into fall scenery or not, I recommend this race.

I enjoyed this race very much. Course: The first 15-16 miles or so are absolutely beautiful New England countryside. They are net downhill, which seems like a pro during those early miles (feels so easy to run target pace), but may on net be a con (my legs were shot for the last few miles; the extra downhills may have contributed to that). I could have run on the first section, which slopes gently downhill next to a wide brook, forever. The course is less scenic for the last 10 miles or so. It's fine, just not as great as the first half. The hills in the cemetery aren't too bad; I lost some time on them, but by that point I was losing time on the flats, as well. Organization: The race is extremely well organized, and most everyone involved with the race was positive and friendly. Registration and taking the bus to the start was quick and easy- no crazy crowds or hassles. I don't run races for the swag, but I have to say, the finishers' medals were really nice. And I really like my etched mug that I got for winning my age group! If you like a no-hassle, well-run race, look no further. Spectators: The spectators were great; there just aren't very many of them. Which makes sense for a small race. But, there are times late in the going when a little more attention and encouragement would be handy. The crowd at the finish line was great.

I had the privilege to run in famously scenic places and this marathon is up there with the best.The course is in the mountain roads near Keene, NH. Keene is a beautiful town; if you can, stay over Sunday night to R&R because the marathon ends late (unless you're Ethiopian, which would also help to actually run the epic downhills rather than downshift and engine-brake like I did). The staging area at Keene State in the early morning was excellent and comfy, we were then taken by bus up to the start at high elevation. I agree with other runners that this part is a bit rough, but was no worse than, say, the Towpath Marathon, another great destination race that happens to start in the outdoors at low, early AM temperatures. Given the terrain challenges, the organizers deserve very high marks for their hard work and skill. The scenery was beyond praise. Being overweight, I found the steep downhills taxing, but a very fit runner should enjoy that first half. The halfway hill is big, but the cemetery hill is really as memorable as the other victims, err., participants say it is and will sap you unless you train like a hero. Volunteers were splendid; spectators deserve praise for being out there (that is, really far out there, as you will see if you run it). I plan to go back if I can.

This was a lovely, scenic, local, small town, charming race! It's about as beautiful as New Hampshire in the fall gets. The dam crossing was the highlight! So pretty! A very well organized race, not a thing missed. I especially liked the pre-race pasta dinner the night before with the first race director being the guest speaker. That was a perfect touch to a perfect race. Volunteers and supporters were fabulous. There were not too many, but those that were there were great. Only hangup was that there was a 5K fundraiser walk/run that overlapped the course around mile 20. It caused a little confusion at worst, no real problems. The shirt is a long sleeved tech shirt and it looks great, one of my favorites. The post race soup, bread, and treats were tasty and above and beyond. This is a great race and if you are looking to get a feel for New Hampshire, this race will do it. Read my detailed take on the race on my blog: http://empoweredbyrunning.com/?p=532

There are a lot of choices if you are looking for a fall marathon but I think Keene may be one of the best. The organization is excellent with easy parking at Keene State, buses to get you to the start and then showers and food afterwards. The race director responds to emails almost instantly and the volunteers are very helpful and very friendly. To say the route is scenic is an understatement and it really feels downhill with the exception of the infamous cemetery. With 400+ runners it is not so small that you ever feel you are running alone but you don't have the logistical challenges that come with bigger city marathons. All in all, a great marathon that I'd go back to without hesitation.

I chose this marathon based on previous reviews of the race and could not have been more pleased with my choice. The weather was superb on race day, no wind, cool start and a good amount of shade. The first half of the race mimics Boston, in my opinion, which can lead to a faster than anticipated pace. I would say that the gem of the race was the out and back portion of the Surry Dam. Breathtaking is not an adequate description. I was completely taken aback by the panoramic views. The hill in the cemetary was the toughest portion but having people strategically placed at the top of each hill, was helpful. The cheering stations set up at the bottom of other climbs were a nice touch and the volunteers were top notch. The medal was great and the tech shirt is the nicest I have gotten. The personal touches of the marathon were evident throughout. I particularly appreciated the welcome we recieved on the bus upon arrival at the start, from the race director. The finish was also well organized and exciting with very personal recognition from the race announcer. I was assisted by a Keene State PT student, as I was struggling to walk at the finish. She stayed with me until I re-united with my family. I cannot recommend this race highly enough. I do hope that it grows, but not so much that the personal feel of the event would be sacrificed.

Pros: Very nice course during the first half, with mostly downhill running in the shade. The out-and-back by the dam was very nice. The spectators and volunteers were great. Cons: Late start because they didn't have enough buses. I showed up at the bus pickup at 6:45, but didn't get on a bus until 7:30. Normally, a 10 minute delay wouldn't be anything to be upset about, but I had a flight to catch out of Manchester, so every minute mattered.

A nice run through the country, great weather,well organized - overall a lot of fun. This point to point course has a net downhill grade. That being said, it is New Hampshire, and there are hills. The memorable ones were the long one just after the 14 mile point, and then 2 short steep ones in a cemetery just past the 23 mile point. (Thank you to the girl who saw me struggling up the last hill, and came to run next to me. It really helped.) Quick and easy packet pick up. A big thank you to the volunteers, spectators and race director. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This was simply my favorite marathon ever (save perhaps my first Boston, but for different reasons). The course is breathtaking and easily the most scenic I have ever run. The race is exceptionally well-organized by friendly volunteers and finishes at Keene College. With just over 400 finishers, the finish line has a marvellous atmosphere (and folding chairs for runners to rest on). The course is net downhill though the often rolling terrain and a steep hill near the end offer challenges. While I wish the organizers well-deserved success (and more runners) I hope the race remains a small community race.

A well organized marathon...no need for an expo...great to just pickup your number and tech shirt...did not care that there were not many spectators...great to have volunteers on bicycles thru the race...had a beautiful day to run, a very scenic course, except....HOW CAN YOU HAVE RUNNERS WHO ARE DYING RUN MILES 20-22 THRU A CEMETARY???? hahaha

If you want a fair, but fast course, usually perfect weather, great organization for aid stations, parking and getting to the start, and a chance for a marathon personal best, look no further. The Clarence DeMar Marathon is a terrific experience! Very cold at the start, shaded for the first 17 miles and somewhat shaded in spots thereafter, with a longish, gentle uphill at 15 and a couple of short, steep hills in the cemetary, around mile 23. Lots of downhills too. Beautiful scenery, nice shirt, and a nice medal. You are missing out on America's best kept marathon secret, if you haven't run this one.

While I agree with the positive comments about this marathon, there were a couple of things that need to be changed. The minor one is that one gets the impression from the website that the course is a mildly downhill course. I found it hillier than I had imagined and personally found that the early downhills (much like Boston) tend to take the strength out of one's legs by the time one gets to the second half. Please indicate the difficulty in the course description. The bigger issue is the start. It may have been complicated by the fact that there was a big growth in the field this year. Runners were bused to a parking lot of a lumber business. It was in the low 40s and there was no shelter. One may find a bit of protection by getting against a building. Being on the first bus meant waiting over an hour. Then everyone was advised to walk to the start 20 minutes early. The walk began by going through a downhill gravel field. My friend had to stop a remove a pebble from his shoe. The shoes I had just cleaned were dusty looking before the race even started. Once through the field, we got onto a road, turned a corner and walked maybe 3/8 of a mile to the start. The problem was that the start would be going back out the road we just walked. Because of the larger size of the field, there were many stranglers, probably waiting in line at the portajohns. Most runners had stripped off their extra clothes back at the parking lot. So we were standing around, shivering. We ended up waiting for the stranglers until 12 minutes after the official start time. It took me five miles to get my hands and feet, which were going numb, warmed up. My friend had to pull off the course to relieve himself, having stood around so long after hydrating. The race directors really need to figure out how to get the runners approaching the start from the back and to start the race on time.

This is a great small marathon. Many fast runners in attendance but a slower runner like myself was welcomed and treated superbly. Beautiful course along a bubbling brook, across a historic stone bridge and trees with fall foliage. Excellent medal and well fitting shirt. Easy logistics for packet pickup, bag drop and shuttle to start. Showers available afterward. Volunteers were enthusiastic and helpful. The pasta dinner was a bargain at $10 with good food and a chance to mingle with other runners and learn about the event history. There is true community support behind this race and they are looking to also improve the health of the local community. Highly recommended.