New Hampshire Marathon - Race Reviews

I don't understand how the race director can get insurance on this race. The late saturday start (9am) was not only made a hot race but inconvenient for many of the town people trying to drive around the lake on a Saturday. An earlier start is a must and she should consider moving it to a Sunday. Most cars moved over but a few did not and made the passing down right dangerous. It was almost as bad as my Bermuda marathon, but they had small cars not huge trucks. I have no idea why such a late start, the world is getting warmer every year. This was my 70th marathon over the past 13 years, I know the weather is changing , race directors really need to pay attention and make a change. 9am is ridiculous. A very nice shirt, junky medal, no food left, but granola bar. The course was beautiful but the convenience of hot showers at the school was the best. Very convenient since my hotel would not give me a late enough check out.

Wow! What a hidden gem of a marathon! Traveled to Bristol from Omaha with my wife to run this race. (Yes, I LOVE small-town marathons!) Our experience here was outstanding: from the small-town charm to the great restaurants (BHOP) to the cool B & B's to the unique N.H. Marathon Arts & Crafts bazaar to the AMAZING (and affordable!) pasta-feed to the high school marching band playing a concert before the start... I'm SO glad I got to run this race. Perfect weather for a marathon; cool (45 degrees) with little wind. The course was hilly, but it was packed with so many gorgeous views that it didn't affect me as much as I thought it would. Not a ton of spectators, but the ones that came out were super encouraging. Stayed at an amazing B & B: Sculptured Rocks Farm. Kudos to our hosts Mike and Dawn. (The B & B actually manned an aid station, and Mike was the official starter of the half-marathon!) My only suggestion might be to design a better finish. Not sure I can explain it, but after an entire race of great views of the lake or countryside, ending as we did, kind of on an alley/backstreet, seemed just a little anti-climactic. Still, we had a blast in New Hampshire. Way to go, Bristol! Run this race!

This race was on a very scenic course going around Newfound Lake and through mostly residential neighborhoods. This was by far the hilliest and most difficult marathon I had ever run, so make sure you do plenty of hill workouts in preparation for this race!! I don't think there is a single flat section on the entire course!! A good portion of the course is on narrow streets with narrow shoulders or no shoulders at all, which makes it 'interesting' ! This is a very small race with only about 200 competitors, so don't expect much. Only water and Gatorade was given at water stops with no GUE or Gel or even fruits, so make sure you bring your own or you'll hit the wall for sure. You figure after 24 years, they have the nutrition issue all figured out, but I guess not !! The finishers medal was also very lame and resembled a dog tag! Very disappointing indeed. All in all, I would not recommend this race, unless you either have to do it as part of your 50 states or live in the area.

I ran this in 2015 and could not have had a more positive experience. Beautiful course around Newfound Lake. Definitely some challenging hills, but that kept it interesting, and the small field size meant I could run my own pace on the hills and not get held back or run over. The course is pretty quiet and not a lot of spectators, so if you need the crowds to keep you going, this may not be the race for you. I really enjoyed the quiet aspect of it though, and when there were spectators, they were so enthusiastic and welcoming (and there was even a donkey spectator in a pasture around mile 11/15!) Race was very well-organized and good communications. Logistically very easy - could not make it up Friday for packet pickup so picked up my bib etc. the morning of the race. I stayed at a B&B in town and was able to walk over, pick up my bib, go back to the B&B for 30 minutes, then walk to the start and wait inside the middle school with indoor plumbing with no lines! Pasta dinner was a highlight - meeting local volunteers and trying all of the different homemade sauces (several vegetarian options too). Others complained about the traffic, but I really only noticed it from probably miles 22 - 24, and it was not bad at all. The runners were spaced out enough that I almost never had to share the shoulder, and there were not that many cars. Highly recommend!!

The New Hampshire Marathon is a very simple, basic no-frills, low cost marathon. Entry I think was $55 for the full and $45 for the half. Packet pick-up is very low key event at the local middle school, no 'expo' so you better bring what you need with you. On race morning the halfers are bussed to the turnaround point, and the marathon and 10kers start together in the middle of town. It's a rolling hills course, nothing major, is open to traffic and you run against traffic on the shoulders of the road. For the most part the shoulder is well enough, sometimes not. Few spectators sprinkled through-out the course. Beautiful when running on the lakeshore area. Water stops were spaced a little too far apart for my liking, and only had liquids as far as I could tell. There was one un-official rest stop that I saw multiple times along the route offering different things including beer but wouldn't say they'd be there every year or not. Finish line area is so-so. The basic food and drink items and the most basic of medals. They probably use the same undated medal every year and just change the ribbon. I don't run races for the medal though, just run them to check them off my states list. Enjoyed the post race massage for the young woman in the school cafeteria and the showers were available afterwards also. After that I was off to Maine to complete my weekend double marathon.

3rd time back, so, yes, I'm probably biased. Such a homely feeling. From the pasta dinner night before to the High School band at the start. Course is great, has hills (some ups, but also downs), nice scenery particularily last 10k. Great character. Hope it does not get too big. Congrats all involved.

I really enjoyed this race. The organization was first rate and the scenery beautiful. The most helpful person was the marathon maniac lady, who travelled throughout the course offering everything from pretzels to chocolate bars, even to the non club members.

This was a challenging course around Newfound Lake with a short out and back loop thru the quaint town of Hebron. The water stops were plentiful, the volunteers were very friendly and the school in Bristol offered post race showers. This was a small race (275 full marathoners)with a very intimate feel. Great experience!

OUCH! This flat-lander was hurtin' BUT this was such a friendly marathon well run and organized. Plenty of water stops and the locals were so patient with us holding up their traffic. The pre-race dinner is definitely worth it with 7 different sauces for your pasta, salad, and dessert. Post race, there was plenty of food left for a 6+ hour finisher like me. The on site showers were awesome since I was driving right out to get to the Maine marathon. The only thing I wish they would have had was a GU station on the course.

I picked this race because we were running the Maine Marathon on Sunday. Small town and small race but an overall awesome experience. The only negative was that the road was not closed so the out and back course felt like we were dodging traffic a little bit the closer we got back to Bristol. The highlight for me was interacting with the people at the water stops, sitting in the icy cold stream that winds through town, and the unlimited pizza at the end! If anyone is a 50 stater, pick this one for New Hampshire and run the Maine Marathon on Sunday. A perfect back to back!

Overall, I enjoyed this race. It's got a few potential gotcha's that you should be aware of if you're considering it. (1) Efficient packet pickup. Note this is a small race, so there's no expo. Nice tech shirt. (2) Nice pre-race spaghetti dinner ($8). Held in a fairly small room, where it's hard to hear the guy sitting next to you. (3) Race day. Start is in front of a school, and the school is open, which means decent restrooms and staying out of the weather before the race. (4) The course is very hilly, especially the first half. Nice, scenic views of the lake (most of the course goes around the lake). Autumn leaves very nice. Traffic is not stopped. The drivers were quite courteous. But I got way too many deep breaths of exhaust. Ugh. (5) Water/Gatorade stops are ~2 miles apart, which was sufficient (50's, cloudy). Water stop volunteers were first-rate. A small number of stops were on uphills, suggest moving them to flats or downhills. (6) Medal is small and simple (no date on the medal, the year is on the ribbon). Food at the end (bagels, bananas, drinks) was fine. There was live music at the finish by a guy playing a guitar and singing Neil Diamond songs. Nice. There was a craft show in the school, but we did not check it out.

I am going for 50 states and I ran here to qualify for New Hampshire. I wasn't alone because there were many 50 staters and Marathon maniacs in attendance. Many of them were also planning on running the Maine marathon on Sunday. It is easy to see why this race was popular among these experienced runners. It is a very small race which really reduces race day stress for runners. The race had a race day packet pick-up (which I took advantage of) and there was also a Friday afternoon packet pick-up and I'm not sure if there was any expo as well. Probably not but I don't know for sure. Before the race you can keep warm in the school gym and use real flush toilets. As others have said it is a hilly course. And not just gradual upgrades. There are a few very steep hills. The good thing however is that most of the hills are in the first half and after mile 17 or so it's mainly flat and down hill. I'm grateful it wasn't the other way around. The course is very pretty. This year the leaves had only just begun to change but some of the locals I spoke to said that usually you can expect more brilliant colors the last weekend in September. Much of the course is running around Newfound lake. Unfortunately we don't get many unobstructed views of the lake until a pretty 2 mile stretch around mile 18 or so. There were very few spectators but there was a vocal bunch in the town of Hebron (you run through Hebron twice at mile 11 and 17) that made me smile. The roads are open to traffic but this isn't an issue as the roads are very quick. You do get some traffic the final miles but not much. If you enjoy sleeping in this is a 9:00 am start (I prefer the earlier starts myself). The race is so small that they don't use timing chips (and they really don't need to) and the post race food (at least for us 5 hour folks) was only cookies and water. During the race all the aid stations were well manned and the volunteers were enthusiastic. The t-shirt is a long sleeve cotton shirt (I like the colorful design) and the medal is very simple design without a date.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the race. I did the half with a friend while two other friends did the full. It was very pretty. The fog over the lake was breathtaking. Aid stations were very good and volunteers just lovely! The last bit of the course, though, was so busy with traffic we actually ran single file. We had to turn sideways sometimes and were constantly muttering in disbelief at how close cars got to us. I understand this is an inexpensive race to do. Would be appreciated if directors would get some police auxillary in areas with blind curves, etc...

I ran the half marathon here for the first time and loved it. The scenery on the course was perfect for New England foliage. I especially loved miles around the lake. The local volunteers at water stops were very friendly and cheerful which added to the fun of this event. Only negative was last two miles. It was a little scary running against traffic on the main road. Otherwise the half was wonderful!

New Hampshire Marathon was scenic with many climbs through 14 miles and then a rolling descent. the 50 states were well represented in the field of runners. Plenty of water stops.

I'm not a fan of big, hyped up, commercialized races so this was a perfect fit for me. No expo, simple packet pick up. You will likely need to stay in a neighboring town as there isn't much in the way of lodging in Bristol. Course is hilly, but scenic. It is also open to traffic which did present a little bit of a problem due to some idiot motorists. Perhaps starting the race at 7 or 7:30 instead of 9 might eliminate some of the traffic. Aid stations were good. I would suggest offering gels at a couple of the stations in the second half. Other than that, no other suggestions. Appreciated the access to showers and the post race massages.

Spectacular leaves and scenery, and home-town, personal organization make this a wonderful marathon. I loved it. And, this race is on Saturday.

The race is great if you want a small-town, no-crowd, well organized race. The course is rolling and most likely you will not get a PR. If you want a PR, go somewhere else. If you want a beautiful course around a lake with the leaves changing, come on down and bring your camera. The T-shirt was good - long-sleeve, cotton. The medal is ho-hum boring. There are 12 spectators, so if you need cheering to finish, go to NYC. This town is so small that there are no brand name hotels. It is not the race to take your spouse to so that they can hang out in a resort and go shopping. I stayed at the Bridgewater Inn and I was OK with it, but think more Motel 8 than Hyatt. Dining choices are the same. They've got a pizza joint and a nice Irish pub, but you won't find any brand name eateries. So why are you coming? If you are doing all 50 states, this is great for NH. If you are one of those crazy Marathon Maniacs who were running this race and then Portland, Maine on Sunday, then you are doing it. I swear at least 100 of the 300 runners were wearing their Marathon Maniac shirts. They owned the course. I loved the race and the scenery and the directors were very organized and had it all together. Just know why you are doing this race.

This was a great small-town race: friendly spectators cheering you on from their front porches, warm showers at the middle school, and a race director who placed medals around the necks of all finishers. The course was absolutely breathtaking: running around Newfound Lake, through the village of Bristol and along quaint and quiet roads. Yes, there are hills. But it was pretty smooth sailing for the last 6 or 7 miles. Make sure to bring your own fuel, since only water and Gatorade are passed out along the course. I LIKED that this was a basic race: no crazy high entry fees or useless junk/schwag to weigh down your race packet. I came to run and to enjoy the beautiful New England fall - and got exactly that!

This was my second marathon and very different from any big-city marathons. At just fewer than 300 runners, it was a friendly, small-town, enjoyable experience. Although there were not too many packs of runners, it was a true mental strength test during the race. Well organized and a must attend. Course was very hilly, but manageable. Certainly kept things interesting at every turn. If you can run this one, you'll be able to conquer any that stand in your way.

Bristol was my first small marathon. (I have done NYC, Chicago, Disney, San Diego and other big city races.) I loved BRISTOL. This a basic runner's marathon, and I highly recommend it. I thought the worst with the hills, the rain, and the small town, and I got the BEST. Pros: 1. Hills - yes, they are there, but that is what makes this race. This is no big-city, urban run; it is classic New England. 2. Trees - from Florida I never see leaves turn colors; it's so nice and pretty. 3. Newfound Lake - you run around the lake and the scenery is spectacular. There was a slight drizzle but still you had to love it. 4. Race Director - I had a problem with my result showing up on the official listing and he stayed in communication until we got it solved. Thank you. 5. Gym - start (for the heat) and finish (the warm shower) made the race very enjoyable. 6. Price - for $40, yes, you do not get a tech shirt and, yes, the medal does not weigh 2 pounds, but what a deal. 7. Marathon Maniacs and 50 State Club - what a FUN group of people to run with, both at Bristol and then Sunday at Portland, Maine. Cons: None.

Love this race! It's the first half of the NH/ME Double with the Peak Performance Maine Marathon the next day. The course is definitely great for those who love rolling hills. Fans and water stops were AMAZING out in the rain.

Great race, great course, great organization. This is a great, small-town race with an excellent race director and very dedicated, friendly volunteers. The course is extremely scenic. I say it is a runner's race because of the frequent, long, smooth hills. Don't listen to complaints about the hills, as they are an added benefit that makes the course interesting. Anyone running a marathon in New England should be regularly training on hills anyway. If you are looking for a race with lots of fanfare, freebies, music, etc., then don't choose this race. However, if you are looking to run with dedicated, friendly runners, be assisted by dedicated volunteers, and participate in an event with a very small-town feel, then this is your race!

This was one excellent marathon - especially the hills. If you complain, go home. The volunteers need to be honored for staying out in the rain with all of the runners. I felt bad for the volunteer before the turnaround. A runner came from the opposite side and said they should be aware of people with allergies and hand out cookies and crackers. Well, if you have an allergy, carry your own food. The organization was great, the volunteers superb, and the course beautiful!

The drizzly weather was a significant detraction from this race, which was not the best to begin with. The course had some pretty sights here and there, but it was also fairly tough, and the signs along the course were kind of confusing and annoying. For instance, bathrooms were advertised a quarter-mile before they appeared, mile markers were small and often looked the same as other signs on the course, and the course had a fair amount of traffic. The expo and pre-race organization seemed disorganized and lacking. They did not have enough shirts of the right size from the opening of the expo, and there seemed to be a real lack of communication, since I would sometimes get totally different answers to the same questions from different people. Post-race stuff was fine, considering the rain. There were still people out there with snacks after the race. There were also massages being advertised, but I think fewer than a third of those on the list who signed up actually got one. Spectators were necessarily sparse, as it was raining; but still, there were enough aid stations and so the race seemed to go on fine.

I flew into the beautiful, small Manchester Airport from Chicago and drove roughly three hours. I stopped in Concord for a great lunch at a small cafe next to the history museum. Avoid the old part of the Red Roof Inn - no internet! The pasta dinner was GREAT. It was all-you-can-eat, and you could sample at least a dozen sauces made by volunteers, as well as homemade desserts to rival any sweet table!! The folks running dinner were funny, friendly and downright welcoming. Picture a holiday dinner in Grandma's cramped dining room with a bunch of cousins you meet once a year! Race day was rainy, and the course had lots of hills for this flat-lander doing her first double (and states 25 and 26)! Post-race stuff included free massages, awards and showers. Don't miss this one.

Everyone involved with this race was a delight. When I forgot to fill out the size request for my shirt, the race director personally called me. The pasta dinner at the local Mason's hall was wonderfully small town in a good way. I had heard repeatedly how challenging this course is, but it didn't seem terrible for New England standards. Yes, there are hills, but overall the last six miles are gently downhill. That is a treat to any marathoner. I liked the out-and-back loop (starting around 11 and ending around 16) because I knew a number of the runners ahead of me and it was nice to see them. We missed the party at Kathleen's Cottage later but appreciated the on-site showers available to us. I would have given this five stars if there had been a few more spectators. There were few indeed, but since it is raining, I gave them additional stars just for showing up. Oh, one more thing. There was a good-size group of marathons from Ohio who ran this race and planned to run the Portland, Maine race the next day. They were a lot of fun.

Even though I live just a few miles south of Bristol, New Hampshire, I had avoided running this marathon based on what many of my running friends called one of the "toughest" marathons in New England. I had run the 10K event many times in the past and enjoyed the whole experience, so I reluctantly decided last year (2008) that I would finally run the full marathon. A few weeks before race day, I ran the course in two installments on consecutive weekends. I took plenty of mental notes and was able to visualize the road ahead on race day. My plan was to run a Boston qualifier. On race day, all was going as planned until mile 23 when my calves started to cramp and spasm. I lost about ten minutes as it forced me to stop and walk. I struggled to the finish line in 3:55 and change. Not good enough for a BQ. A bit disappointed, but it gave me and incentive to train harder, and run smarter. This year, despite the rain and relative cold, I was very fortunate to avoid any muscle cramps and finished in 3:43 and change. I like the fact that I was able to run a BQ at the New Hampshire Marathon in my own back yard. Being from this area, it's hard for me to be objective. I simply love New Hampshire and all of its races, especially in autumn. And, to me, there is no lake more beautiful than Newfound Lake. I think Ed Begor is a top-notch race director, and the entire event is very well organized. The folks in Bristol and Hebron were very supportive and the volunteers were great too. Thanks to Ed and all of his super-nice staff for making the New Hampshire Marathon an incredible experience for me and many of my friends who share my appreciation for this world-class event.

This is a small, well-organized race in a stunningly beautiful area. It rained during the whole race, but it wasn't ever really uncomfortably cool. The course was hillier than I expected but not too bad since there were plenty of downhill stretches. The race officials and volunteers were very friendly. I heartily recommend this marathon!

Though it rained the entire day, it was a great race. It was my first time in NH and running this race, and I had a wonderful time. There weren't many spectators, but the volunteers were awesome. Other runners were very friendly. There were a couple of killer hills, but it's a great course, and very scenic. It's a little hectic at the pre-race check in, but that could have been due to all of the runners lingering indoors, to stay dry. I was a little disappointed that they ran out of pizza by the time I reached the finish line, but there were other snacks available. All in all, it was a wonderful race experience.

A very well organized race! The course has hills so beware! However, the course was very well marked and very well supported. I never had doubts about getting lost. There were lots of aid stations and volunteers directing the runners. You had to be careful because the course was not closed to traffic... but that was about my only concern. The scenery was lovely - the leaves, the lake, the quaint villages! I enjoyed the start and finish at the school because we were allowed indoors in the warmth! Everyone was friendly and helpful. I enjoyed my time in New Hampshire!

This is a great smaller race. The course basically goes around a lake in the fall... in the lake region of New Hampshire... in the fall! How can it get any better than that?! The race starts from a school (read: flush toilets and a warm, dry place to wait for the race!). You also finish at the school, so you get showers. We had warm food at the finish and lots of support along the course. The course is an open one so that you could have family or friends follow you around... or use the family and friends of people running your speed as built-in spectators! I had some of these supporters cheering me on in Portland, ME the next day! Very good event, and it allows for that wonderful double opportunity! Somebody told me that it had a downhill finish... and it does! Well, for the last two miles at least. There are still bumps during mile 25. Actually, there are plenty of bumps before this too... some pretty large bumps, unfortunately, for you lazy runners! But still, it's a very runnable course, and a very well done event... and for the price and scenery you'd be a fool to pass it up! Come run a beautiful race... but stay in the area for the hiking and great views of fall color!

Great race, with the same dedicated officials year after year. Only problem is that the race attracts many pros. I don't place in the top 3 in my age-class, as I did 9 years ago.

Nice, rolling course, with some very nice views of the lake. Enjoyed it. Last 4+ miles descending made running in so much easier. Weather was perfect. I'll remember it for a long time.

I would have rated the course higher but I didn't like running with traffic. That's my main complaint. The lack of food on the course was also a surprise. Nothing at all. The water stops and volunteers were great though. I would suggest adding oranges, bananas, candy, whatever, those last few miles. Really makes a difference. The start area was organized and the high school band played tunes to warm up the runners. Too bad they didn't play the national anthem at the start of the race. I don't understand that at all. I liked the shirt, but the medal on a white ribbon looked odd, and kind of wimpy. Those are my only complaints, and I did enjoy the race. I didn't think the hills were that bad from what I was expecting. I guess that's relative to each runner. The finish line food and music were excellent. Very pleased with that. All the volunteers did a great job and I would recommend this race for anyone wanting to run a small, rural marathon, or to add to one's 50 states quest.

They had quick and easy registration, and great volunteers from registration to the finish line. There was also a lot of community involvement and friendly faces. Course is hilly, from a Midwest point of view, but beautiful in spots. The first part of race is on a busy road, but it has a wide shoulder. After making the first turn, you're on rolling, New England roads. Plenty of water and Gatorade on the course. Bananas at the turn-around hit the spot. Many "doublers" participate - runners participating in the New Hampshire/Maine Marathon Weekend. Overall, I would recommend this marathon for those who want to enjoy the friendly, courteous dimensions of a smaller race.

New Hampshire Marathon Bristol, NH Saturday, October 4, 2008 9:00 AM This was a small marathon in an absolutely gorgeous setting. Each runner received a long-sleeved cotton shirt and a few gift items. The pasta dinner was one of the best pre-race dinners I have ever had. Spaghetti, eight or nine different homemade sauces, salad, bread, and a variety of homemade dessert items; all for $8! I stayed in Days Inn at Campton (about 21 miles north of Bristol, off of I-93). The race day temperature ranged from low 40s to mid 50s, and it was a bit windy, and partly sunny. The loop course started outside the middle school and ended at the nearby Kelley Park. This is a very hilly and challenging marathon, which requires mental toughness and is certainly not for the timid. We basically circled the Newfound Lake, surrounded by forested mountains; fall colors were in their formative stage and scenery was fantastic. At about mile 11, we reached the Village of Hebron and ran an out-and-back route for about 5 miles. There were 14 water/sports drink stations. There was hardly any crowd support, which was expected. We ran on roads, facing the traffic. Although most drivers were slowing down for the runners, a few didn't, and frankly, I didn't feel very safe running the last four to five miles, which is the reason for rating the course as four. There were plenty of refreshments at the finish, as well as complementary massages. We also had access to showers inside the middle school. In short, we enjoyed an excellent running weather to run a finely organized, tough marathon in a beautiful place. I am a 50-stater and this was #41.