God's Country Marathon - Race Reviews

This is an excellent race for a number of reasons: 1) point-to-point in rolling hills 2) challenging up-hill and fast downhill (miles 14-22) 3) friendly and supportive staff 4) great organization 5) cash prizes for top 3 male & female 6) beautiful scenery everywhere. A great race to test yourself!

The greater the challenge the bigger the reward.A tough course and a hot day meant every mile had to be earned but the support for the runners was beyond anything I've seen in any other marathon I've entered, with volunteers supplying refreshment at every mile. It was 79 degrees at noon.I ran my slowest time but could not have been more pleased with my effort.There are not many runners here but it's truly one for the connoisseur. There is a Dark Sky park here as well at Cherry Springs. A scenic and uncrowded area and I was also impressed by the absence of litter along the roads. Great road trip.

I keep coming back to this one because of the great organization, the friendly spectators and volunteers, the small town atmosphere, and the challenge that 'the hill' adds to this tougher-than-most marathon. I definitely did not conquer the hill the first couple times running it! Test yourself against a challenging course, the organization, scenery, and top notch volunteers and spectators make it worthwhile. I'll be back and try to talk my running buddies into joining me.

Prior to this race, I had only run large city marathons. I chose this marathon because it was small and for the challenge. It was well organized, there were friendly volunteers and it was a beautiful course. Plusses: homemade desserts at pasta dinner, free & very close parking to finish line, had access to school gym and restrooms prior to start, GU available at 5, 10, 15 and 20 mile water stations, aid station located on the HILL also had cookies & MnM's available, your name and city was announced when you crossed the finished line, a free lunch buffet for runners just across street from finish line. The bonus for reaching the summit of the HILL is the 2 mile downhill stretch that follows!! Minus: only water and bananas available after the finish and located off to the side under a tent. I would run this marathon again and would recommend it to friends.

This was my first GCM, 6th marathon. FYI, there are a number of preceding hills before you get to 'The Hill'. Not a easy course by any stretch, but a great event run by some very nice folks. Crowd support is sparse, but it is a very rural setting with less than 200 running the 26.2... so it is about what one would expect.

This is a tough course to get to and a tough course to run. They brag about conquering the hill - it is a tough 2 mile hill between 16 and 18 miles, but downhill from there on in - if your legs can stand it. We saw bear, deer, and beautiful country all the way. Not many spectators, but wonderful volunteers.

Great as usual, 2012 will be my 10 yr. running it. Well organized, enthusiastic aid stations, pretty course, great post race comradery. Half marathon should add people & excitement. Recommend this race for fun & a challenge.

GOTTA COME BACK,RAN 9 MARATHON SINCE 2003 GODS COUNTRY,NONE COMPARE. TELL DAVID I MEAN IT,I WILL BE THERE THIS YEAR GUARANTEED

If you are running this race simply for a medal then you are running for the wrong reasons. I have run this race 5 times and I come back every year for the fine people that work the race, the challenge, the simplicity of the area and the friends I've made, not the medal.

The God's Country Marathon folks committed the cardinal sin! They did not have the medals at the finish line since there was a printing error. You can have a tough course, bad aid stations, no spectators but never ever ever fail to hand the finisher a medal after 26.2 miles of hell and a three mile hill. You need to have the medals well before race day. No excuse someone dropped the ball and the race was June 4th and as of June 16th still no medal in the mail. I am disappointed.

I was apprehensive about this one, but the hill wasn't as bad as I thought. The downhill into Coudersport was nice at the end when you need it. Had to make a pit stop at mile 9, or else I would have BQ'd. (Missed it by a minute.) There are things about this race that are very appealing: the people and runners are friendly, the showers at the end were nice, and the feeling that you are part of a small close group was also nice. While most roads / berms have camber, this course had a good flat surface to run on. Towards the end, each waterstop was like a full service station: you were the only one there and they took care of you. Some stops had oranges, bananas, and candy. I practiced on some small hills, and that proved adequate for this race. Don't let the hill scare you; run this one!

The 2010 edition was my third God's Country. I had the best course time yet, in part because the weather was cooler and cloudier than the past runs, but also knowing what to expect and how to train. My running partner and I both finished under our goal times and are thinking of a BQ goal time for next year. This is a tough course and you want to train harder than you think you have to for it. It is very well run, spectators are enthusiastic if not plentiful, the course is challenging and traffic was never a problem. Looking forward to next year's challenge.

I find it odd that anyone called this course peaceful. It is run on a highway on the shoulder of the road into oncoming traffic, some of which are "wide loads" traveling upwards of 55-60 mph. It was anything but peaceful. I ran by foul-smelling roadkill and couldn't wait to get off of that highway (which didn't happen until mile 25). People were great, the course was tough and aid stations were fine. I thought the roughest part was the gravel kicked up in my face by the traffic. Perhaps I am the only one to experience this.

This was my first marathon. I live in Potter County but never realized how wonderful this marathon is! Thanks to all of the volunteers; they helped to keep me going - even near the end, when I was getting tired. It was such a wonderful experience for me, and who knows, I might do it again next year. Thanks to David too for all of his hard work.

This is a wonderful, small-town marathon, tucked in the beautiful hills of Pennsylvania. The course goes on Route 6 from Galeton to Coudersport. It is a beautiful, peaceful run. The course is as difficult as you will find for a road marathon, exceeding that of Boston. Expect 15 miles of gradual elevation gain and 3 miles of steep climb to the top of Denton Hill, and then 2 miles of quad-pounding downhill before returning to a a more sane, gradual decline into Coudersport. The water stations are well stocked with Gatorade and water, and in many cases GU. The volunteers are enthusiastic and helpful. If you need an audience, run another marathon; the spectators are friendly but few in number. If you want a challenging run, a night in the country, and a nice home-cooked meal, this is the marathon for you.

Great job by Kim and David and all of the volunteers at this year's race. The runners have the easy part, that is for sure. Everyone I talked to after the race said they would be back next year, and I will as well.

Once again, a small race delivers. This one was so well organized - full of friendly runners and volunteers (almost all of whom took the time to look up your name as you came into their aid station so they could greet you by name), as well as locals who waved as they drove by (and didn't aim for you). The hardest part about Denton Hill was switching from uphill running legs to downhill running legs. First-class all of the way - definitely a small PA race to put on your list!

This was my 67th marathon and 5th God's Country. Hard, hilly first 18 miles, then a fast downhill stretch to the finish. Great water stops, and the pasta was outstanding at the pre-race meal. This is a tough course, but it's worth doing.

The water stops were great, and the volunteers were awesome. I can't wait until next year to run it again. Thank you to all.

This was my first marathon. I just started running 9 months ago. I felt so wonderful running this marathon. The course was a little hard, but it had wonderful water stops. I will be doing this marathon next year. Thanks to all who made this marathon possible. I had a blast.

Great job by Kim and David and all of the supporters for another great marathon. I will be back next year.

This was my 57th marathon, and I would say it's one of the best small marathons as far as beauty and organization. The "expo" is really just a packet pickup at the fire hall. The starting line is drawn on the road, as are all the mile markers. There is no chip timing. So if you're looking for high-tech, this wouldn't be for you. However, it is a well-organized, well-marked, challenging course through beautiful northern PA. The 7:00 a.m. start was much appreciated, and it helped to have Mother Nature cooperate with some cloud cover remaining from the cooling rains the day before. I agree with some of the other comments, that a few more porta-potties at the start and on the course would have been nice (although the women's bathroom wasn't as crowded as the men's... primarily because there were about 1/4 of the number of women running as men!). I also wish that they had said somewhere on the website or in pre-race materials that there was no chip timing, as I was worried that my chip was missing in my packet! And the medal was OK in appearance at first, but once you looked at it closely it does come off as rather "cheap." Finally, how about an elevation chart?! I swear the "hill" that they warned us about "at mile 17" started with a slow incline about mile 9 and didn't quit until mile 19. I really did like the challenge, and refused to walk (except at the water stations), but would like to know exactly what the elevation chart really looks like, if only for bragging rights! But with those few suggestions to consider for improvement, I would still say that this is a very nice race and would highly recommend it. It's not overly crowded, the logistics are well managed, the water stations were frequent and fun, and a special thanks to those families who brought out hoses to cool us, especially in the last few miles!

I came to the bottom of Denton Hill feeling strong and confident, having run a conservative but good-for-me pace up till then. But I had nothing for the the hill. The next four miles took me - I kid you not - an hour and a half. I did recover after getting some nutrition back into my system, and managed to stagger in dead last. BUT.... I must compliment the medical staff for their concern for me when I looked the worst but would not quit. Their concern and support were what allowed me to finish when all logic said that I should bag it. I've run this race 21 times. My favorite. Thanks, guys. The hill will be there and I'll be back.

This was my first marathon and I still have a smile on my face. I was initially intimidated by all of the apparent experience around me, but once the race started, I realized that everyone was pulling for everyone else. The camaraderie was amazing. Even while passing others on Denton Hill, there were nothing but words of encouragement. The thighs burned coming off of that hill!!! I met some super people. I have noticed others have complained about the "cheap medal." Who cares? The experience was priceless.

Great idea to get us off and running at 7 a.m. - hats off to Dave and Kim and all who make this race the best in the East. The volunteers along the way do not realize how much their support and cheers mean to us. It really felt great having energy this year to run the hill with ease and have plenty in the tank to sprint to the finish. Thank you all, and may God bless.

Hard? Yes! But a really nice, challenging course. Great volunteer support, including aid stations every mile! NICE! But two issues: 1) no porta-potties at the start (for us guys, just a two-toilet bathroom!) and 2) really lame medal for finishers.

Old-school marathon, like time-travel back to the roots of our sport. I loved the bus ride; it reminded me of high school sports. I hope to run in '09.

Finishing this race is the best feeling ever! The heat this year was extreme. This is my second God's Country race, and my only regret was having my family at the finish line to take a photo (they were following me in the car). I didn't receive any photos at all from the race this year. Big disappointment!

This was only my second marathon; the other was Philly in November of '07. The course was very tough, especially with the heat and humidity near record temps for this race. My pre-race goal was not to walk any part of Denton Hill... yeah well... that didn't happen. I was just amazed and happy to finish. I had bad leg cramps during the last 7 miles in muscles I didn't even know I had, making the run that much more of a challenge. All of the people at the water stations were great. Special thanks to the free massage after the race at the finish line and the lunch in the hotel. Oh, and the lady who used her own mini-van to take us and several runners to the post-race showers. I will be back next year with even more training prior to the race. Great idea moving up the start time 1 hour.

I did 16 miles of this race in 2007 (turkey in '07 - just healing from a broken foot) and completed it in 2008. Both times, the heat was awful, and I will not be back as a participant unless the start time is moved back before 8 a.m. I am a distance race-walker, and I spend an average time on a marathon course of 6 hours. The heat added 75 minutes to my time. I love this course; the scenery and the volunteers/helpers are great. You do have a great marathon experience. I just can't take the heat with my asthma. I usually start my miles at 5-6 a.m. Thanks for this opportunity to "share."

I found the course to be extremely tough, but beautiful and enjoyable. I am used to running marathons where the crowds sometimes exceed 25,000 people. What a great feeling to turn around as I was running and see one or two lone runners in each direction. It was like going out on a group run instead of fighting your way through the crowds. Had it not been for the extreme heat, all of our finishing times would have probably been faster (mine was almost an hour off my regular pace). Even with the heat I was lucky enough to place in my age group (W50-59.) The folks who put on this race couldn't have done a better job and all their work was much appreciated. My only suggestion for a better race would be to start much earlier... even earlier than 7a.m., due to the possibility of really warm weather this time of year. The pasta dinner the night before was the best ever. I would really love to have that spaghetti sauce recipe!!! Thanks to all for a wonderful experience and I will be back next year for sure.

By far the most difficult marathon I have ever run and I'm already planning do it again next year. This course is as tough as its reputation. Be prepared. Fifteen-plus miles of a gradual but unrelenting upgrade, then two-plus miles of steep upgrade followed by one and a half miles of steep downgrade. The last six miles are a gradual downgrade but I was too tired fully to appreciate them. It was hot - mid 80's - but there were water stations close to every mile marker and five locations with water hoses spraying the runners. Everyone involved did a great job, from the pasta dinner, to the shuttle bus to the start, to the facilities, water stations and a free meal at the hotel right at the finish line. My ONLY disappointment was that there was no prayer offered at the start of the race. After all, this is "God's Country Marathon"; how about a moment for prayer at the start of the marathon? (Still, I am sure that others, like me, offered plenty of heartfelt prayers while climbing Denton Hill.) Overall, a truly great experience. I highly recommend this marathon, but also recommend that the training be taken seriously.

I heard how tough this course was, so I had to run it. It did not disappoint! If you want a challenging marathon, here it is. The hill is long. The weather was hot. I loved it and want to do it again. The people of Potter County were terrific - extremely nice and accommodating. There weren't a lot of spectators (this isn't Boston). But those who were on the course were very supportive. They make you want to return. Add this race to your calendar.

As the sun beat down on Denton Hill, I feared that I had mistakenly entered the Satan's Country Marathon. Despite that - or maybe because of it - it was a great experience. Running marathons is about meeting challenges and getting that "I did it" feeling at the finish. God's Country provided that feeling, along with first-rate organization and the friendliest and most caring volunteers anywhere. If you want a PR, go elsewhere. If you want a challenge, come to God's Country.

This was such a great experience! The course was extremely tough, made tougher by 90-degree heat. BUT it was still worth it! The race was well organized - from the buses that got us to the start in plenty of time, to the race day packet pick up to the well marked course, to aid stations at every mile, everything flowed. The people were awesome - the volunteers were cheerful and very concerned that we stayed hydrated, the spectators were few in number but large in enthusiasm (we saw them several times as they leapfrogged ahead to keep cheering us on) and the other racers were WONDERFUL. There was such a kinship in achieving a real accomplishment together. The course was very beautiful - if you ignored the fact that you were running along a road with some traffic and looked out at the green mountains and rolling hills, you could see why they call it God's Country. I came in late the night before, ran very slowly and then dashed for my plane right after the finish - and I'd do it again. Don't expect to make time; expect to connect with some really nice people.

I was not prepared for this run, having just come off Nashville 6 weeks ago. I ran it for the accomplishment and the challenge of the course. I ran it to see if I could run uphill for 2 1/2 hours just to get to a 3-mile mountain, and then run for another 2 hours in blistering heat. I did. That is what mattered to me - not the spectators, not the medal, not the traffic. No one controls traffic for me when I do my long runs, so I was used to it. Also what mattered was the aid stations, which were the top reason I was able to finish. The ice and water hoses was the difference between forward progress and perhaps never running again! The volunteers were top shelf. Much thanks to everyone! This is a small, low-key event with few bells and whistles. What they do they do well. That's why you should run this. If you want the logistical problems and the expense of a major city marathon, there are a lot of choices out there. If you want a unique, memorable, and well run event that you will talk about for years, run God's Country. They call it that for a reason. It's beautiful. It's like showing up in your backyard for a 5K and then getting an experience of a lifetime.

Thank you to David and everyone else who had a hand in making it another successful God's Country Marathon. After reading some of the negative comments, I had to chuckle at the one chap barking about the speed motorists were traveling and the small crowd at the finish line. Maybe next year you can shut Route 6 down for 6 hours, Dave, and put some silhouettes along the way that make noise. I run the race for pride and self esteem - not for an expensive medal and a roaring crowd. I am sure this fellow won't be back next year, which is good for us all. Thanks again, and maybe next year you can do something about the heat and humidity!