Jay Mountain Marathon - Race Reviews

I started this race in 2007 and made it to the aid station at the blueberry farm before my body refused to go another step. I vowed vengeance for 2008 and thankfully finished. Its truly a great experience. I run it with my cousin and some RTB friends and it's a high point of the summer. Dan does an incredible job putting it together and trail runners are some of the coolest people you could ever meet. The course is no joke! It's the hardest thing I've ever done and it's given me a new appreciation for the sport of running that I'm so passionate about.

The descriptions you read about this marathon are no joke; in fact, expect it to be more grueling than you can imagine. The run up and down the mountain is the least of your worries! Bring tons of mental strength because you will need it when your body wants to quit. When you do finish, what an experience. Cry, baby, cry!

I ran the full "marathon" at just around 33 miles. The distance was long and my time was around 8 hours, but it felt more like 4. I had so much fun during the race that I was actually sad when it was over. I am 30 years-old and there were several sections (the crazy mud, and the beaver swamp) where I found myself gleefully laughing out loud, as though I were 5 years-old again. The river sections were a great way to cool down, although my shoes kept filling up with sand, but I had anticipated this and brought extra socks with me. There were opportunities to change shoes and I changed mine at the bottom of Jay, but after that there really was no point. Keeping dry shoes was like trying to put a fire out with gas - it was futile. But as long as you accepted this and accepted that the race would be one of the hardest things you've ever done, then there was room actually to enjoy it. I knew going into that race what it was going to be like, but I must say that it blew away all my expectations and became the greatest, most difficult, and most liked race I have ever done. The mud was intense this year due to 7 days of rain prior to the race. The streams were rivers (with strong, over-your head currents) and the shallow swamp became more of a bog. One of the greatest sites that I found at the finish line (besides the awesome BBQ) was a pile of running shoes in the garbage. This is an iPod-friendly course, but in the words of Dan, "It won't survive." I will be back next year and I am only hoping that the course is longer, muddier, and maybe the beavers will be out and rabid so that there is an extra element of difficulty. There weren't too many spectators due to the nature of the course, but the ones that were there were FANTASTIC! The volunteers at the aid stations were some of the nicest ones I have raced upon. The wild blueberry field was a unique and great aid station. I loved this race and wanted to hug the race director for creating such a beautiful concept of the ultimate cross country.

On Saturday, July 26, 2008, my wife and I were up in far northern Vermont so I could run the Jay Mountain "Half" Marathon. I put "Half" in quotation marks because the half marathon distance is 13.1 miles but the Jay Mountain Half is officially listed as 19 miles. Jay is a trail race. In fact, it's official name is the "Ultimate XC Vermont Edition," and the organizer, Dan, really does mean to make it the "Ultimate" race. One of his volunteers told my wife his goal is to make you cry for your mommy before you finish. Well Dan, sorry to tell you that you failed. I certainly hurt plenty, but I was having way too much fun to cry. If I hadn't run Jay this year, I would have been in New York City to run the NYC Half Marathon on Sunday. I ran NYC last year in 1:53 or something like that, and I remember people complaining about the hills in Central Park. The Jay Half is a trail race, so comparing it to a road race is completely unfair, of course. But let me start by telling you that it took my over 5 hours to complete the Jay course. My watch read 5:09:30 when I finished, though I haven't seen the official time posted yet. A few minutes before the race started, Dan called the runners together and went over a few points about the course. He told us things like, "If you pass somebody stuck in the mud up to their waist, please help them get out," and "when you get to the first culvert on the first stream portion of the course, stay to the left to climb up the rocks. If you go in the middle the water will be over your head and you won't be able to climb up into the culvert." Okay. Got it. That finished, we lined up for the start. Usually at the start of a race, runners push towards the front, but in this event there seemed to be a general reluctance to go first and everybody hung back trying to be towards the rear of the pack. I managed to get myself about 3/4 of the way back. Dan counted down from ten, said "Go!" and we were off up the first grassy slope at an easy jog. In a few minutes we were into the woods and running along a path more or less in single file. We were heading steadily uphill but not very steeply and the runners were sorting themselves out as people occasionally passed or were passed. There were a few muddy stretches and at first people, including me, worked to skirt the mud and keep their feet dry. Later on during the run I would repeatedly think back on this and laugh. The first few miles continued like this, with a few more muddy stretches thrown in so that everyone got their feet wet and dirty and could quit wasting time trying to stay dry. Then we turned right and suddenly the world tilted up. In fact, it tilted up so steeply that there were actually ropes stretched from tree to tree to allow us to haul ourselves up the hill hand over hand. That was fun! Somehow I don't remember a lot of detail of this section. I think the first aid station was at about mile 4. A bit after this we were running along through the woods again and could hear a mountain stream tumbling down over the rocks. Soon the sound got louder, and sure enough, we broke out of the trees and found ourselves right in the stream with the orange flagging we were following strung from tree branches over the stream. We all turned upstream and started wading from rock to rock in water that was anywhere from ankle deep to waist deep. We struggled up the stream for a long time, until we finally came to the first culvert. Here we had to climb up into the mouth of the culvert, which we used to run under Rt. 242, and then back into the stream until we reached the second culvert. I'm not sure how long the stream portion of the course was. I have 1.5 miles in my head, but I'm not sure if I read that somewhere or heard it or what, so it may or may not be accurate. In any case, after the second culvert, we climbed out of the stream and up to the second aid station at the base of one of the ski trails at Jay Peak. I believe this aid station was at something like 7.5 miles. From here it was about 2.5 miles, and about 2600 vertical feet, to the summit of Jay. There was a 3-hour time limit to reach the summit of Jay; those arriving after that limit would be pulled from the race. I reached the second aid station in just a few minutes under two hours. Two hours to go 7.5 miles! From here I could look up and see the summit of Jay w-a-y u-p t-h-e-r-e. If I were hiking up Jay, I would figure about 2.5 - 3 hours, using the 30-minutes-per-mile-plus-30-minutes-per-thousand-feet-of-elevation-gain formula. I knew I had to reach the summit in about 65 minutes, so I started off pushing a bit harder than I would have liked to. Absolutely nobody was even trying to run, as it was way too steep for that. I started plodding up at a pace as fast as I thought I could sustain. I actually passed a few people on the way up, including one poor guy puking his guts out on the side of the trail. As we neared the summit, the ski trail got even steeper and I and others were reduced to walking a few paces, then stopping to breathe. Finally just before the very summit we turned off the ski trail and joined the Long Trail as it scrambled over the rocks to the summit. I made the climb in 45 minutes, with 20 minutes to spare! Whew! After drinking as much Gatorade and water as I could hold, eating some snacks, and refilling all of my bottles, I set off running down the other side of Jay, on ski trails just as steep as the ones we had just struggled up. Near the bottom we turned off onto a cross-country ski trail, which soon turned into a sea of mud. For the next several miles the trail taught me a lot about mud - all the different varieties and consistencies and depths of it that can exist in the woods of Vermont after a solid week of rain. Sometimes it was only ankle deep, and sometimes I sank in to my shins or to my knees. Sometimes it was so thick that I would sink in and not be sure if my foot was ever going to come back out or not - and if it did, whether my shoe would still be attached to it or not. Sometimes I swore. Sometimes I laughed. Sometimes I giggled. There was another aid station in here somewhere, but I don't remember exactly where it was. I do remember telling the volunteer that handed me a cup of Gatorade that I wished it were a relay so that I could stop there and she could carry on. She just laughed at me and refilled my Gatorade cup and offered me a brownie. So we ran in mud for miles and miles. How many miles? I don't know, really. Finally the route broke out of the woods and I found myself running down a dirt road. Wow! I could actually run. I wondered how long this would last, and what nasty surprise this would lead to. The route signs pointed down this first dirt road, and I was passed by a couple in a car and I remember wondering what they would think when they saw me running down the road, coated in mud up to my thighs with more mud splattered all over my back and coating my butt and even my water bottles, since I had fallen in the mud just a few minutes before. The route turned left and uphill on another dirt road and I kept running, marveling that part of the course was actually runnable, then took another right turn and went gently down until a sign finally directed me off the road and back into the woods. To my great surprise, the route here was mostly dry and wonderfully runnable terrain, but by now I had been going for over four hours and I found myself only able to alternate walking and jogging. Between watching my footing and checking out the piles of moose scat along the trail, I stole a glance at my watch and noted that while I thought I was doing great with my strategy of alternating walking the uphill and trickier parts with running the level or downhill parts of the trail, I was actually barely managing a 15-minute-per-mile pace. Oh well, barring catastrophe, I knew I wouldn't be pulled from the race and would be allowed to finish, so I just accepted my pace and forged ahead. Eventually this trail brought me to another stream, and this time, instead of running up the stream, we were running down it, which is even harder since the current tends to want to sweep your feet out from under you. This stream even went over a little cascade, which objectively probably wasn't all that scary, but by now my legs were showing signs of independence and were not always responding to commands from my brain, so I muttered something about this being "slightly insane" and managed to pick my way down without being swept away and carried on. Finally, we reached a point where the course sign pointed right up the stream bank and we ran up to and across the road, then around the "infield" area and back through the same banner we ran out of to start the race. Just before the finish line, there was a small drainage ditch and as I jumped over it I fell with my nose literally a foot away from the finish line. I jumped back up and over the line. Finished! Wow! Once we got home Sunday afternoon, I downloaded the data from my Garmin into my computer and looked at the elevation profile of the route. The total elevation gain is shown at 4,561 feet. The profile looks like a huge, inverted "V," with the summit Jay Peak in the center. My data shows a total distance of 17.0 miles, while the official distance is listed as 19. I'm not sure which is more accurate. I know the course does get changed a bit each year, and I don't know how they measure the course. It really doesn't matter. It's not really about the distance; it's about the terrain.

Ran the half in 2007. As long as you know what you're getting into you should have a blast. I think they learned from the past, with water and food being free at the finish.

This was the first ultra, and first trail race I'd ever done. I was thinking that since I can run a regular marathon around 3:45, I'll do this one in under 6 hours. That was because I was young and foolish when I started. The packet pickup should have warned me this wasn't a normal race. You had to sign a waiver and the words "death" and "serious injury" were used throughout the waiver. Also, Dan had found a beaver dam and wanted all of the full marathon runners to experience it, so he added about 3 more miles to the course. The course was 31.5 in 2006 and it was 33.8 or something like that this year. At that point I tried to talk my wife out of making me run this course; she just laughed and laughed and said no. The start is like no other race. All of the runners are herded into a corral but no one seems to want to get to the front, everyone mills around the rear of the corral. When the horn went off, off we went. It didn't take too long to get everyone stretched out and there were no real choke points. Dan (the insane race director) found every mud bog, rock, tree branch that he could to put in our way. The course was marked with little pink ribbons with black polka dots so it was almost impossible to get lost. Through three different stretches of river that you had to jump from rock to rock or just plod on through the water were in his course. The water actually felt very good - nice and cool - but it blistered up your feet pretty fast. Then there was the climb up the ski slope just to run around the top of Jay Peak and then go down for more mud, trees and rocks. I got to the 3rd aid station thinking that we had to have gone 17 miles and was informed we were at mile 13. That crushed my spirit because that meant there were still 20 miles to go. So back to following the pink ribbons and just cursing Dan and my wife and myself for ever going to VT, I tromped on. I would stop at every aid station and tell the folks manning it that Dan was a truly evil person and they would laugh and say, "We know." It got to the point of one foot in front of the other over and over, not thinking about anything, finally we got into the cat tails so I knew we were on the way to the beaver dam. Who would know that you could cut a path about 1 foot wide and 2 miles long to get there? Well, Dan did. Along the way you get to cross a deep river by rope; that was also different. I was so thankful for the young guy that was coming up the back of the course and told me that there was only about 1/2 mile left, I was able to run that last 1/2 mile. I finished under 8 hours and was thankful. I ate boiled potatoes and salt for the first time on this course and drank over a gallon of water. I couldn't walk normally for 2 days and didn't start training again for 4 days - and even then my legs felt like rubber. Two suggestions if you run this race: Take a water bottle or water belt with you. It is a long way between aid stations. I drank 40 ounces between stops plus 2-3 cups at each station. Always, top off your bottle at every stop. Take 3 pair of shoes and socks and just throw them away when you change them. I brought 2 old pairs of shoes but should have had one more because your shoes get filled with mud, rocks and sticks. When you change them, your feet feel good for about 100 yards until you run into one of the mud bogs Dan found for you. I didn't think I would ever want to go back and run this race ever again, but after about a week I started thinking I might be back in 2008. After the race, they had grilled burgers, potato salad and all sorts of good stuff. I normally can't eat after a race for an hour or so, I was so hungry I could have eaten a road-killed skunk. But the burgers were better.

I can't begin to describe how incredible this event is. I entered the 19.5 ("half" - although it is more than half) Half Marathon and loved every minute of it. The 3-mile brook run was my least favorite part and the MUD was my favorite! Great job marking the course. Dan is very passionate and it shows in every detail. I wish there was more running but I hope that is something I can change next year! Great aid stations! People are awesome - great vibe. Definitely entering the full next year!

My second time running this race. Last year finished and said I'd never do it again after bonking like I hadn't in 15 years. Two days later was psyched to try again. Course is excellent! Reminds me of the Hope to Homer run in Alaska (on a smaller scale). Volunteers are great. Dan's got everything here: mud, mountains, river running, sand, trail, heat... and moose (saw tracks mile 26 or 27). Don't know how those guys do it in under 5:30!!

I ran the half (19.5 miles this year) and recommend everyone do that before trying the full (33 miles this year). It was harder than a standard marathon. The organization and spectators were first-rate. The scenery was beautiful. My only complaint is that I spent more time walking through thick mud, streams, and up and down mountains than actually running. If you like a TOUGH course, this is your race.

First, the trail was marked vividly, allowing no chance of getting lost. The scenery was beautiful. The course, although very tough, was extremely fun as well. The volunteers were friendly and helpful and just great. The overall race planning was excellent. So, the most important aspects of this marathon are covered and covered well, leaving me with what may sound like petty complaints for the finish line. For example, charging for a bottle of water at the end I thought was tacky. It is the first time I have ever experienced that. I mean, who carries money on them when running? And why require the food tag that is in your marathon packet? Again, it's something you have to remember to carry with you as you are running. Can't your bib be checked and your number written down? And finally, as trivial as this may sound, you can't get a burger and a hotdog - you have to choose one or the other, and you can't go through the food line twice. Charge me $5.00 or $10.00 more for the chance to run this beautiful course with the great volunteers, but please, give me free water and enough chow at the end.

This was a very tough, challenging, and fun trail race. I did the half, which was really more like a 30K. The course was extremely well marked and the volunteers at all aid stations were supportive and uber friendly. They cheered us on and made sure we had plenty of food and water. If you enjoy a lot of mud and muck, your shoes getting stuck in quicksand like trails, getting bushwhacked, bees and mosquitoes, poison ivy and poison oak, crossing a couple of brooks and climbing straight up a mountain into clouds and a drop in temprature, then this race is for you! Not for the timid. But a very rewarding feeling crossing the finish line. They had a nice BBQ for the post-race meal, but make sure you bring cash with you, because water is $1.00 a bottle!!!

This was my first trail run of any real length, so I was a bit nervous. Even more so when I finally saw what I would be climbing. I was from Detroit, so the biggest available hill for me is in a four-story parking garage. Race day was amazing. Everyone (runners and organizers) were uber friendly. So many warm smiles and words of encouragement. The race was a highlight of my running career. I met so many interesting people just walking up the mountain; it is a nice change of pace to be able to talk so much while still in a race. The view from the top made it all worthwhile!! My only gripe is that I could not continue on to complete the entire 26 miles. I only registered for the half. 2006 will see me come back stronger and ready for all that Jay Peak can throw at me.

I ran the race so named 'the half marathon' (18+-miler) and had a blast. I am no stranger to toughing it out; however, I had a perfect opportunity to start small and keep my eyes wide open. I definitely liked what I saw and ran! Dan and his crew did a terrific job with getting the course put together. The stream running was not for those light of heart, as one could have slipped and tripped at a moment's notice. I like that kind of challenging element added to a tough course, as it brings out the competitor in me big time. The weather was right on and the runners were oh so friendly. We ate out, so I cannot comment on the pasta dinner, but I can say that the post-race meal was ok, not fabulous (I'm a picky eater). A huge highlight for me was that I won a pair of flyroc's in Dan's generous raffle. I absolutely love them and will wear them on the long course next year. The delayed posting of the results due to a computer glitch did not totally bum me out as it did some. I knew the results would appear as soon as humanly possible. I look forward to next year's run and will be sure to persuade a runner or two to try it out. Come on, quad pain for 4 days is enough to incite even the modestly-interested soul.

I attended the Jay Marathon as a spectator and would like to pass along a few comments. I followed the runners along the routes, stopping at several aid stations to take pictures of the three runners in the race with whom I am acquainted. The directions (maps and discourse) were easy to follow and I easily found all locations. Volunteers at the stations were very helpful to both runners and observers---the runners were well provided with snacks and hydration at each station. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting participants, volunteers, and other interested onlookers like myself. I look forward to attending next year and hope to experience the same fine time I had this year. Who knows----at age 72 I may decide to run the half marathon instead of being merely picture taker. Keep up the good work.

This was my second entry to the Jay Peak Marathon and it seems to only get tougher, longer... and more enjoyable! As advertised, the race is an adventure and not recommended for those who have not properly trained. Dan gives fair warning to those entering for the first time. He provides an accurate description of the course and what to expect your running time might be based on your previous marathon/trail running experiences. There should be no surprises if you have properly read the course description and participated in the forum discussions. It is true that some of the trail is difficult to actually run but this is the 'adventure' part. I have participated in hundreds of races of varying distances and difficulties both overseas and in the US. The logistics in organizing Jay Peak must be nearly as difficult as actually running the darn thing. I have yet to find a single race that is perfect but I sincerely feel Jay Peak is extremely well organized. The volunteers at the aid stations were quite willing to fill hydration systems for tired runners and the food was plentiful. All of us were warned beforehand to carry extra fluid since some of the aid stations would be far apart (not in distance but in time it takes to get there!). Again, paying attention to the forum is wise if you plan to do this next year. The course was perfectly marked, often with marking tape every 4-6 feet. It is nearly impossible to go off course. I am sure that Dan is aware of the shortcomings and will make every effort to improve the race even further next year. Happy running--see you next year. Tom

Having done several ultra trail races before, I found Jay to be more of an adventure hike than trail marathon. I certainly don't mind the water or mud, but I don't think all 3 of the fairly long sections of brook running were really necessary. There is a safety/comfort issue (that really does not need to be present in this type of race) particularly when there is a sign saying 'caution... danger' b/c of the wet rocks around the waterfall that required some bouldering. While the volunteers were great, the aid stations were lacking in substance. I think it is important to refuel early on in a race like this. Financially, I felt like the race was trying to cut corners: 1) Lack of food at aid stations 2) The shirt for all 3 races just said Jay Challenge 3) No medal for the 'half' 4) Not sure who was responsible for the post-race food, but they ran out of the promised beer and barbeque. Overall, I thought it was a beautiful area with great volunteers, but not a race that I would do again.

I still remember that day in May when I decided to run this crazy race. It sounded so tempting and so intimidating. Particularly enticing was Dan's claim that his scare-mongering is not a marketing pitch. Then was the next step: getting ready and to try to find a partner in insanity. The former was predicated on financial commitment to the event, i.e. registering. The latter was harder and I failed to solve this one even though I knew a few potential candidates. Reading reports and recommendations proved to be extremely helpful.... The race itself, e.g. volunteers, spectators, mud, river crossing, markings, brooks, and the mountain were totally great and accept no substitution. My largest concern about the race was the brooks. I was wondering about stumbling on wet stones and getting blisters in wet shoes. Both concerns proved to be non-issues. There was a single tricky spot along the brooks (that’s where D.H., see below, got her head bump). Wet shoes were no problem either. I got no blisters or chafing at all and shoes and socks were getting dry in 15 min (Masai + WrightSock). Actually, running through the cold water was rather refreshing. But nothing was better than getting completely wet in the river. I’d pay, if I had to, not to change after that one. I ended up finishing in the same clothes I started in: dirtier bit though. Food along the race was ok. I particularly liked that volunteers were offering to refill the bottles – that was totally awesome. At some point I had to run without liquid for 45 min. It was somewhere between 4th and 6th aid stations. It was rather painful. I should have had larger bottles. Overall, food and liquid were my largest mistakes. Last two hours (that is after 5 hours of running) my running was rather uneven. I’d be passing people for 15 minutes only to be passed by the same people a bit later, then passing them again. I attribute that spotty performance to mismanaging nutrition and lack of experience running 5+ hours. Pasta dinner kind of sucked though, and beer after the race... how should I put it... basically it wasn’t there. Or at least I haven’t seen it. The only two guys consuming beer bought their own. After-race food was better than the previous night, but not great. No bananas or other fruits, limited choice of drinks, BBQ was certainly there... no complaints. I give only three stars for organization for two reasons: first, pasta dinner and after-race food; the second reason is kind of funny. Just before the race Dan said that it would start at 8:10. At that point I realized that I needed to pee yet again. Plastic toilets were on the other side of the fence, thus half a dozen of men were taking care of their needs next to it. At that point Dan started counting 10, 9, 8.... It was still 8:08.... Oh man, should I run with my pants down or be late to the start?

I have never been so nervous about running a marathon. I am new to trails and didn't do many trail training runs, although I did do a few mountain runs which helped. My goal was to finish. The thing I liked best about the course was that it was never boring. I loved the brook running and river crossing, the mud and sand dunes. Jay Peak was awesome and the views incredible. Because it is so long you meet wonderful people along the way and the volunteers and spectators were the best I have ever seen. Incredibly motivating. The food and drink at the water stops were perfect. I especially loved the potatoes but probably ate too many! The weather was perfect, and best of all, hardly any bugs! I did much better than I had even hoped (6:44) and now that I know how to train for it, I will be better prepared next year. Lots of runners will disagree but I found this easier than a road marathon - at least mentally. The only reason I gave it a 4 for organization was because of the delayed race results, but everything else was organized perfectly. I have never had so much fun before, during and after a race (or been so sore after one). This is my favorite race ever!!!

If you are looking for a tough trail run challenge, I would doubt that you could get much better than this. Lots of really fun technical running, some climbing (up Jay Peak), and lots of variety. It is long, but you won't be bored! The race was very well organized. I was amazed with how well-marked the course was with pink ribbons around the entire 28 mile course. The spectator access was quite good for such a remote trail race and everyone cheered enthusiastically. Also consider doing the 3-day challenge (paddling on Friday and mountain biking on Sunday) if you're looking to get really beat up!

This marathon is INCREDIBLE! I have only run road marathons in the past and decided that I wanted to 'get my feet wet' with my first ever trail marathon (didn't really relize I would also be getting my calves, quads, and basically everything up to my neck wet as well). The course is challenging, scenic, and beautiful. From the moment that I arrived in the tiny little town of Jay, until the moment that I left I had what has been the most memorable running expirience of my life. I have had few races that have given me such a sense of accomplishment at the finish (where Dan was waiting to shake your hands and give you your medal). Five stars all around! See you there next year!

This RD is one sick puppy! Seriously, though, see my summary line. There was no sugar-coating. Dan was very explicit in all pre-race material about the challenges of the course. And he delivered! Beautiful single-track, stretches of shoe-sucking mud, brook-'running,' ascent/descent of Jay, mud, rocks, brook, mud, river... and LOTS of mud within 2 miles of the end. This isn't a race for most of us, it's an adventure. The sights are gorgeous, in the northern Vermont mountains. I would definitely go back! I gave 'Spectators' 4 stars. Being off-road and remote, it's obvious there wouldn't be a peanut gallery. But the volunteers were great, and the many tourists/day trippers at Jay Peak lodge and hiking the ski trails were quite supportive.

I was getting very nostalgic thinking about this marathon recently, so I thought I'd hop onto MarathonGuide.com and share my thoughts on the race. First of all, it's the only marathon I've run. I chose it because I love trail running, and I figured if I can run this one (which is supposedly among the most difficult in the country), then I could run any one that came along. I can't compare it to other marathons, but here are some general thoughts and some suggestions. - It is super well organized. I figured that running all over the northern Vermont countryside would get me lost, but it is well marked with tape, and when not, there are volunteers on 4x4 quads to help you on your way - The race didn't have a finisher's medal, and I thought the t-shirt was kind of wimpy. I hear there will be a finisher's medal this year. If you finish this race, you deserve one. - Aid-stations were well staffed and stocked. Might be a good idea to pack some carbs or a water bottle of your own though, but no need to go overboard. - Couldn't ask for a better finish area. Beer, great picnic buffet, and great place to make friends with everyone else who survived. Some training advice... - Whatever your normal training routine is, it's probably a safe bet that you should run a little bit farther, and with a little more intensity. Make that 10 mile run a 12 instead. Definitely. - If you have loose sand available, especially if it's uphill, you might want to spend a little bit of time in it. - Swimming lessons, while not necessary, aren't a bad idea either. - Any training in swampy areas with black flies or horse flies that bite you might also be a good idea. - Learn how to dodge barbed wire on the run. - Training on a stair climber or stationary bike to build up your quads is well advised. Don't go crazy, but twice a week for a half hour might be in order. I chose this race because it looked challenging and I wanted my first marathon to be very difficult. It was, but bear in mind that it's all about your attitude. If suffering is your thing, there's no lack of it in this race... good luck!

...but, if you're looking for spectators, run Boston! Kudos to Dan for an incredible amount of hard work, excellent organization, an absolutely incredible course, and an unforgettable running experience! Before the race started, and before I knew any better, I had very realistic expectations of finishing the JC in less than 6 hours. I have run 8 marathons, and a couple of ultras, with a personal best of a few seconds over 3:33. I knew I was more than prepared to run another 3:30-3:40 road marathon, and really believed that a goal of 6 hours or less on the Jay course would not be a problem. Man was I ever wrong!! I crossed the finish after seven hours and twenty minutes of pain and suffering. In this very dazed and confusing moment, my first thoughts were not of cold beer, but of the famous fight scene between Rocky and Apollo Creed. Two exhausted men, drooling and bleeding over each other, and gasping out two seemingly appropriate words - NO REMATCH, NO REMATCH. For eighteen bloody and unforgettably painful miles, I told myself this is it, once is enough, never again, I will never be back, no rematch – no rematch! But today is another day. And, after a day of rest, and an over abundance of foolish pride, I have decided to run it again. I will run it smarter and faster and finish strong. I owe the course and myself at least one more respectable effort. I would not hesitate to recommend the Jay Challenge to anyone. In fact, I would most strongly encourage anyone to run it. It’s a great and challenging course. Regardless of the outcome, you will not be disappointed. Avoid the Traps Trap Number 1 The first part of the course is a very gentle climb to the base of Jay. Nice single track and worn in ATV trails lead you comfortably to the base of Jay Peak. In fact, it is so mellow it gives you a false sense of strength and invincibility - two very dangerous thoughts going into the Jay Peak Climb. Treat the first five miles like an ultra. Walk the hills and pace yourself. There are plenty of places on the second half of this course to burn inexpensive energy. Save it for later. You’re going to need it. Trap Number 2 Do not rush up the face of Jay Peak. Take your time. This is very expensive energy that will come back to bite you. I believe the race is won and lost on how well you come out of the ascent and descent of Jay. Trap Number 3 The Meat Grinder – WARNING – WARNING - DO NOT SPRINT THE DESCENT. Unless you trained endlessly on the steeps of Mount Washington... you’ll be sorry. You’ll be tempted into thinking that the descent is a great place to make up time. You will pay for this thinking. Take it slowly and save your legs for a solid effort into the Halfway Aid Station. Trap Number 4 Do not think you have run thirteen miles because your watch says 2 hours. Plan to be out there for a while and definitely underestimate your distances. Trap Number 5 Unless you are an elite cross-country runner with physical characteristic of a mountain goat, do not plan on setting any PR’s this day. You will pay a great price. Trap Number 6 Do not let all of the pre-race hype psych you out. Is there mud? Should I tape or not tape? Should I buy gators? Can I run this course if I haven’t trained in the hills? Should I bring a change of shoes? BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. Don’t worry! It’s really not that bad if you use your head and run a smart race. I unfortunately did not! 10 Potentially Helpful Suggestions: 1. Run this race like an ultra. It is not your average marathon. 2. Walk all of the up hills and the steep downhills. 3. Do not burn expensive energy if you don’t need to. If you can walk almost as fast as you can run... walk. Save your energy - you will need it in the second half. 4. PACE YOURSELF in the first 5 miles before the climb. Hold yourself back. 5. Do not attack the climb up Jay... very expensive energy. 6. Do not attack the descent – take it slowly – save Your quads – do not try to make up time. Your quads will melt on you. TRUST ME! 7. After the descent, do not really start to run again until you have jumped back into the woods. You’ll soon be out on some dirt roads that will lead you to the halfway station. You definitely want to be feeling strong heading into the halfway station. 8. THE RACE STARTS HERE. Start to let it out after the halfway station. If you ran the first half smartly, you can and will make up all of your time in the second half of the course. You want to be in a position to pass everyone who thought they were stronger than the mountain. (I was passed by many people I never even saw at the start – and it killed me.) There are plenty of places to burn stored energy in the second half of this race. 9. Keep running it like an ultra to the finish and you will finish strong. (Continue to walk all the hills and take the rivers slowly in the second half of the course.) 10. Cross the finish line, pat yourself on the back, and head directly to the beer tent.

I've never talked so much about a marathon after the fact. The course is amazing I didn't quite double my PR but I'm a solid 4 hour marathoner, and it took me over 7 hours. The area is beautiful the race is well organized. This course is the highlight, you literally run up a mountain and through a creek and there are a couple of water crossings. This is not a trail marathon unless knee deep in mud qualifies as trail. One improvement, they didn't offer a medal this year for finishing. My understanding is that they plan to next year, you actually kinda want one after finishing this race. It is an awesome marathon, I've run 7 marathons and a couple of ultra's this year and if I only repeat one race next year this will be it.

This marathon claims to be the hardest marathon course ever put together. It doesn't earn that reputation lightly. Like the previous reviewer, I did the Jay Challenge Marathon to check off Vermont in my 50-state quest. It was at a good time (not many marathons available in the summer), and I was ready for a departure from the regular road marathon. Quite the departure this was! The weather on race day was gorgeous--a perfect marathon day. The route was as promised: on trails, off trails, through water (multiple times), up a mountain, down a mountain, traversing fields, over a sand dune and through LOTS and LOTS of mud. But, the scenery was spectacular and the volunteers wonderful. The website did a good job of setting expectations, and the Yahoo! message board gave me a lot of tips and insight as well. I do agree that a finisher's award of some kind on this one is much deserved. It's a relatively expensive marathon with few other amenities. (I did like the singlet, though.) And, while I found this marathon to be very difficult (tripling my marathon PR), since the winner did it in 4+ hours, it obviously wasn't so difficult for everyone! ;) For a brief moment I considered doing this race again to better my time, then sanity kicked back in! If you are looking for a challenging race that is different, grab your trail shoes and ankle gaiters and enter this race.

I 'ran' (if you call 9 1/2 hours anything close to running) the event in '04. Had the race director chosen to enforce the five-hour cutoff time at the halfway mark, I would have been pulled off the course. However, those of us in the back of the pack were allowed to continue, perhaps because the even-muddier-than-usual course was slowing people down. My single enduring memory from the event occured within the first couple of miles when a young lady in front of me tried to pull her foot out of the mud, leaving behind her shoe and knee-high gaiter. You couldn't even see the shoe--there was this gaiter sticking straight up out of the mud. This was my 27th marathon and I wouldn't call it a marathon. It's an adventure run and extremely challenging, as other comments indicate, and there appeared to be at least a couple of runners in the field older than my 60 years. If they return, they're a lot tougher than I am. I'm intimidated by the thought of trying this again. I told my wife at the next-to-last aid station that my plan is to get fat between now and next July and spend the day of the '05 event sitting in an easy chair drinking beer and wearing my '04 Jay Challenge shirt. And I don't even drink beer. You'll have a tremendous feeling of accomplishment if you finish this 'run.' The only reason for the fairly low 'spectator' rating is that you spend most of your time in the woods so there are no spectators.

This race is not for the weak-hearted or for those looking for a P.R. It's for those people who want to say they did somrthing bigger than themselves... the course is grueling... severe uphills and downhills, rough terrain, water (yes, you run through it) and parts of trails that are unfit for animals let alone humans. The sand dune hill is sadistic. However, it was the GREATEST experience I could have running except probably completing my first race. I would only go back if I trained and could complete all three days because that would take it to a new level. The course director is a great guy and available to speak to you. The vounteers are very nice and supportive. The after party was fun good food, music and FREE BEER. The pasta dinner was OK. The only downside was that not all competitors got a medal, but I hear Dan is trying to correct it. A truly great experience.

The course was great if you like a really challenging run. There was a lot of mud because it had rained for most of the early summer. The mountain was fun and the view from the top was spectacular. The aid stations were great, plenty of good food and helpful people. The organization was great, the pre-race dinner was good. The post-race cookout was very good. All in all I had a great time at the race and I would definitely do it again next year.

I have done 60+ marathons (including Pike's Peak) and this is probably the toughest. At Pike's Peak, you really only have to deal with the altitude and a few rocks and roots. At Jay Peak, you have to deal with mud, extremely steep downhill, slippery river rocks and boulders, woods with no trails, and prehistoric bogs that just might swallow you up (not completely). It was both mentally and physically challenging. I did this marathon to get Vermont in the quest for 50 states and wanted something beyond the ordinary road marathon. The race director is a great guy--very friendly and helpful. The cookout at the finish was fantastic. There is a little room for improvement. The web site said that water and Gatorade are available every 5K--not so. I believed that and didn't carry water with me. Sometimes you went 6 or 7 miles without aid (at 20 minutes per mile average). Most marathons give you a medal at the end. If you finish this one, you deserve a medal, but only the top three in 10-year age groups get one. The shirt could definitely be improved. (You expect some of these amenities for the $75 entry fee.) The course is very well marked, but needed a bit more clarification in one or two places (I got lost for about 5 minutes, but it would have been an hour or more if not for a local resident telling me I was lost). The scenery during the marathon (actually about 28 miles) is great--lots of beautiful forest, creeks, fields, and mountains. Drive up into Canada and go to Knowlton for some quaint shopping and dining. I would recommend this event. Expect a hellacious course but a great feeling of accomplishment when you finish.

I agree with Bill that Jay Peak is the toughest marathon in USA. The hills were steeper, track rougher and the river deeper. Aside from that, Dan and his people made us feel at ease. Hotel's late check out was 'when you finish the race'. Wearing gaiters (knee length) could save you an hour. I'll be back with gaiters, I can't afford to let my wife shop for 8 hrs.

Anyone who is looking to add a little adventure to their racing has to add the Jay Challenge to their list of 'must do' races. The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish. The race director, Dan, went out of his way to meet the participants and to let them know what the course would be like, as well as what would be needed. The course itself was definitely challenging. We climbed up and over Jay Peak and then had numerous river crossings and shoe-sucking mudholes to contend with. As hard as it was, I think I had a smile on my face the whole way. I doubled my previous slowest time for a marathon! I don't think there really is much of an opportunity for spectators, but the aid stations were well staffed and extremely friendly. After the race there was a great post-race meal, as we watched the runners coming in. A very relaxing and friendly atmosphere. Can't wait to do it again. I will definitely be back.

I did this race last weekend and enjoyed the challenges of the course: up Jay Peak, down Jay Peak, and then some other long ascents. I have never seen so much mud in my life on a race course, and mind you, it was not raining on race day! As to my results: I ran 3:50 at Adirondack Marathon (on roads) last fall; here I finished in 6:22, coming in fourteenth out of forty-eight finishers, to give you an idea. (I have run quite a few marathons and ultras; this race feels more like a 50K than a marathon). I recommend using gaiters for this race and taking the race director's advice of changing socks and shoes after the Missisquoi river crossing. The course is well marked, and there are eleven aid stations, but I would still bring a water bottle. A fun thing about this race is that there is a Yahoo chat group for it, so you get to 'know' the other racers before you run.

What an incredible day! It has to be one of the more interesting courses I've ever run. It was my 34th marathon. The course was hard, but not impossible. It was an adventure with beautiful variety of woods and mountain-top vistas with fields of wildflowers. I had a great time. The post-race food and party was great. I am so glad I did this race. It would be fun to do it again. The attention given to the race and its participants by the race director and the volunteers made the event GREAT.

One of the most exciting race experiences I've ever had. I'll definitely be back next year. Race director is super-nice, support crew was awesome, and the racers were a great group.

I really enjoyed myself this Saterday at the Jay Challenge Marathon. While much of the course is runnable for the fit, non-elite, mountain runner and trail dog, this is a shin-skinning, butt-sliding, suck-the-shoe-off-your-foot-in-the-mud kind of course. Not for the finicky! Beautiful, varied course, with wonderful volunteers. This is a small race with a big heart! (My marathon road PR is 3:12; these days I do about 3:45 to 3:55; and my Jay finish was in 6:55 (!), though I was taking it easy because I have a 24-hour race this coming weekend).

A run up and down the Jay Mountain ski area, across beaver dams, and along deer trails. The course bushwhacks for a while before travelling down a mountain stream with a river crossing aided by a climbing rope. Good thing the rope was there, as the water was deep and cold! Took me 8 hrs, and I was not the last! This is a new event, and everyone is very excited. A must attend for next year.

I run a lot of races and was blown away by the organization in this event. The race director, Dan, takes the time to really get to know all of the participants, and puts forth the effort to put together a top-notch race. The volunteers were phenomenal. There was not much crowd support due to the fact that it is all in the wilderness, but the fans you do come across are AWESOME! The volunteers made up for the lack of spectators with their incredible encouragement! It was the hardest course I had ever run on, with lots of mud, hills, and river/brook crossings (yes, you get to swim across a river in the race!). The course was very well marked, though I still found myself lost a time or two because I wasn't paying attention to the markers. This is not a marathon to run for a PR or to BQ. It is an adventure and a challenge. The scenery is just spectacular and it has now become my favorite race in the world. I WILL be back next year to tackle that mountain again!!!!!!!!!!