Mad Marathon - Race Reviews

Positives: 1. Beautiful course! Not the most beautiful, but definitely in my 'top ten' of most scenic marathons I've run. ...idyllic farm scenes, iconic barns and covered bridges. 2. Convenient. Our Air BNB was only 5 minutes from the start/finish. 3. Fun. Loved the activities in Waitsfield associated w/ the marathon: Friday night concert/BBQ; Saturday farmer's market, etc. The maple 'creamees' [soft-served ice cream cones] were the bomb! Our kids also LOVED swimming in and jumping into the Mad River. 4. Aid Stations. Well-stocked and manned by kind/energetic volunteers. 5. RD. Dori was helpful and responsive to my questions, and even offered us help in securing lodging. Negatives: 1. Brutal course, hill-wise. This was state marathon # 48; however, if this had been my first marathon, these hills might have scared me away from running a second. 2. Roads were not closed (that I could tell.) This made for some close calls when cars drove by quite fast/close. I didn't always feel safe, nor did some of those running alongside me. 3. No shirt in my size. Though my buddy and I registered many months beforehand, neither one of us got a shirt in our size, as all the Mediums and Larges were taken. (The volunteer at bib pickup was super apologetic, but there really should have been one reserved for each of us.) All things considered, I was glad to run and finish the Mad Marathon. It was fun AND brutal. The finish area was picturesque with all the various flags of the many countries, and the medal was classy. I won't run it again, but I'm really glad I did it once.

Great organization and super volunteers.Definitely a race for the BOP. Party in the back. Unless you run in the mountains you will not come close to the mile-long steep climbs. The downhills are rewarding for those with good knees. There are no shoulders to run on until the last 10k and not much of it. I walked backward at the famous dip to stop the knee pain. Bad race decisions make for better stories. Go for lt.

The course was every bit as hilly as advertised, but also just as beautiful, and I had let go of any time goal and just planned to walk the hills anyway. Once in Waitsfield, the logistics were SO easy - you could easily park almost at the start line even 20 minutes before start. The volunteers at the many water stops were so helpful, and I also appreciated how the late-in-the-race water stops continued to be well stocked even for the slower runners such as myself. The scenery was amazing, and what the spectators lacked in quantity they made up for in quality (people sitting out in their front yards encouraging all the runners individually, individual water/orange slice stops, etc.) We rented a condo nearby, and luckily the pool heater was broken, so a dip in the bracing water was perfect for post-race recovery - I imagine a dip in the nearby natural watering holes would have been even better. This was my first Mad Marathon, but I chatted with another runner who does it annually and said it 'kicks her butt' every year. It kicked my butt, but in such an enjoyable way. Highly recommended.

Great RD! And it shows throughout the weekend. Super easy bib pick-up, with the ability to do it the morning of the event. Hills weren't as hard as I expected. And the best part is, most of mile 18-25 is a nice downhill slope. VERY appreciated. There are a couple of doozies; I just walked up them and flew down the other side. My overall time was similar to other marathons. Waitsfield is a super cute Vermont town. The course is very scenic, as advertised. I'm on my second lap of the 50 states and glad I got to run Mad Marathon!

Mad Marathon 2019 had everything I want in a run. Beautiful scenery, not crowded, outstanding planning and execution along with friendly and helpful volunteers, especially at the many water stops. The route is mostly back roads, some unpaved, through hilly 'classic' New England farm country. Not many spectators, but those who came out were enthusiastic. The course is tough with plenty of hills and few flat stretches. Whatever your finish time, you earn it at Mad Marathon. Mad River Valley and the town of Waitsfield are lovely if a little out of the way, at least coming from PA. That said, it is absolutely worth the trip. I think this is a 'must do' event.

I hadn't heard of this marathon until two weeks prior, but am in the process of doing 50 states and always wanted to run a marathon on my birthday, so we traveled to Vermont. I wish I lived close enough to make this an every year event! The scenery was amazing. I took over 40 pictures during the race, including a selfie with some cows that came to greet me at the fence when I stopped. And you run past Loose Cow Lane (another marathoner and I took pictures of each other there!) Aid stations were well-stocked (the watermelon with sea salt came at just the perfect time). Volunteers were extremely friendly. Course was hilly, but fun. Lots of shade, and incredible views. We ran through covered bridges! Packet pick-up was a breeze. Food options in the area were delicious and abundant, and more craft beer than even I could try! Somehow I missed a hug with the race director at the end, but went back and got two. Post-race food included some of the best apple cider I've ever had and apple cider donuts (we went to the cider place to buy a pie later - so good!) This is a hidden gem, though not sure how much longer it can stay hidden. It's that amazing. We stayed four nights total and had a perfect relaxing getaway.

A Hill Lovers Paradise! Love It!

Looking for a Vermont Marathon. Look to southern Vermont away from the hustle and bustle of Burlington. Very well organized. Very hilly, but beautiful. The race director was very visible, and she hugged every runner who crossed the finish line. This is the race to do.

One of the most beautiful courses I have ever run. Well organized. Organizer put runners' safety first. Well marked course. Closed course at beginning and end of race. Nice volunteers. Loved the cool towels and the watermelon on the course. Lovely rolling hills. Very easy packet pickup. Everything I want in a race.

What a great experience! Definitely worth the 12 hour drive from Virginia. Hilly to say the least but easily enough done if you walk the hills like most of the slower runners. Great organization, people and community!

The MAD marathon is one of the few whose web site accurately depicts the elevation profile. I signed up anyway because I wanted to run Vermont, and was hoping to find that the hills weren't as steep as they appeared on the profile. Unfortunately that's not the case, so I ended up bonking the last few miles, had to walk coming thru the DIp the 2nd time. But the aftereffects were minimal so we had a great time afterwards. The race is small so it was kind of quiet the second half, but one of the big benefits is that you can stay close to town in one of the many B&Bs, and park within a 5 minute walk of the start/finish area, a half an hour before the start of the race. The race was well organized, mile markers were accurately located, aid stations were well-staffed and volunteers were energetic. Scenery was spectacular as noted by every other reviewer. In my experience it's better viewed from a car after the race. I'd highly recommend the Mad marathon to anyone looking for a race in the summer, Vermont, or both.

In June I ran the Hatfield McCoy Marathon, named by the weather channel as one of the world's toughest - the Mad Marathon made it look easy. I consider myself a hill runner coming from Cincinnati, but the hills in this race are steep and relentless. That being said, the vista is spectacular, with gorgeous bucolic charm. And yes, cows really do come out to cheer you on right up to the fence line. But the most spectacular feature of the race is the people of Vermont. It's almost crazy as everyone is so incredibly gracious and friendly. As others have mentioned, don't expect your PR, but do feel proud when you cross the finish line and receive a hug from race director!

Wow! Breathtaking Scenery. Volunteers that Rock! Friendly, kind & supportive fellow runners. A beer stop. This race has it all! When you are done chasing PRs, Mad Marathon should be on your bucket list. Town is quaint. Great restaurants. Beautiful Bed & Breakfasts. New England at its finest.

I read all the reviews for the race before I signed up so I knew what I was getting into and trained accordingly. It can be done! My time was about 25 minutes slower than my current marathon PR but wasn't too worried about that during the run. It truly is beautiful! There are so many beautiful B & B's to stay in, all close to the start. Nice places to eat and even a couple places to get massage after the race. They had a Farmer's Market the day before the race which really helped make up for the 'small' expo. Dori is such a great race director! She truly cares about every detail! The shirts were nice and I got an extra medal for winning my age group!

If you're not a mountain goat, as long as you don't try to sprint up every hill you can handle the hills. After mile 17 or so there were long, wonderful, downhill stretches (aside from 'the Dip') where you can really cruise if you didn't push too hard in the first half. I actually PR'd on this course, but it was only my fifth marathon and I ran a good race. The weather was nice this year (unlike the brutal conditions in 2015 when yours truly literally passed out around mile 21). I was a little nervous this time, but I took the hills slowly and ran the second half 25 minutes faster than the first! Be prepared for any temperature from the low 50's to the upper 80's. The views were beautiful. Dori is a wonderful race director. I would recommend this race to anyone, but it's pretty challenging. The four hour drive back home was brutal; aside from that I'd sign up again for next year. I just might!

Mad Marathon, held in the Mad River Valley in Vermont, is clearly a labor of love. The care the RD gives this race and the enthusiasm of the volunteers is amazing. The course is tough... one of the tougher I've run... but the rural VT scenery makes it all worthwhile. In terms of swag, the shirt is nice that it's on my 'keep' pile, which is saying something when you get 15+ race shirts per year, and the medal was just as charming as the venue. Two advisements about the area, tho: 1), there is virtually no cell service, so a GPS or paper map are recommended, and 2) the locals are hospitable, but have a more casual pace than I'm accustomed to. Do this race, and take a little time to explore. It's worth it!

As all the prior comments note, be prepared for hills. However, if you plan and train right, and go out slow, you will be rewarded with the beauty of Vermont. The scenery was breathtaking, lined with farmland, mountains, and cows who come right up to the road and cheer you on. The course is challenging, but it is a mix of paved and unpaved roads, which is a nice relief for the legs. There were plenty of aid stations, and volunteers at each were great. The weather cooperated - so happy we had rain and cool temps rather than the heat wave that had hit the week prior. The organization is top notch and it was easy to pick up my packet at the Waitsfield Inn the day before. I stayed in Waterbury, 20 minutes north, and loved it there. There was plenty to do with an arts fair going on, and convenient, friendly restaurants with good food. A special thanks to the Reservoir Tap Room where I was able to relax with a beer and burger the night before the race. There was plenty of parking race morning. Post-race was well stocked and I especially enjoyed the donuts and apple cider. The race director really puts her heart into this one and it shows. The people of Vermont are friendly and hospitable and the communities that the course run through really support the race. If you're up to the challenge, this race will reward your efforts.

One of our presidents said: 'Vermont is a state I love. I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney, Killington, Mansfield, and Equinox, without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me. I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people. If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the Union, and support of our institutions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little state of Vermont.' Run this race and you'll agree. (And I was injured, so had more time to experience the course.) Dedicated volunteers, totally responsive RD, outstanding pasta dinner and absolutely beautiful views. I really want to go back.

1. The singing of our National Anthem was spectacular. 2. It rained during the course, what a blessing. 3. Getting to the race was easy and parking was easy. I picked my bib on race morning. 4. Aid stations were plentiful and very enthusiastic. Plenty of GU. 5. Not a lot of spectators but those present were very good. 5.Post race food. Bagels, chips, apple cider. 6.Nancy Smith whose husband built the finishing structure actually offered to let me shower at her home. I did not do this, but it tells how nice the people at the race were. 7. I would strongly recommend this race to anyone who wants to run Vermont.

Don't recall any flat spots, but a beautiful course you have no choice enjoying as you slow scale the hills. Impeccable organization including the aid stops which are numerous enough so you don't have to haul your own liquids. Parking is great, I parked 20 feet from the finish. People stopped to take pictures from the bridges to the cows often. Only course distraction is near the last stretch along the main street you were left a choice of running in the gutter with drain gratings and deep water puddles from the rain or the sidewalk which is uneven. With dead legs it distracted from the finish just a bit but otherwise great and recommended for people who come in expecting the hills. Not a PR course by any means. Lots of stuff nearby but don't miss Ben & Jerry's ice cream tour.

I loved it!!! I train on flats and despise hills, but needed 'Vermont' in my pursuit of 50 States. Weather was perfect: 55, rainy. Course was a ton of elevation that most walked. Even the downhills were steep. My saving grace was the amount of dirt roads that salvaged my legs and the cool temps. The shirt was best ever, mint green and nice heavy medals. The setting was very rural and typical Vermont. Tons of B&B's and quaint places to dine in the area. It was a perfect weekend for myself and family. It is a smaller field ie 350 which I consider perfect. The spectators were phenomenal, enduring the downpour with all of us. Well aided stations every 1.5 miles or so, with 3 or 4 gels stations. I was impressed from the website to the finish with this race

This race has incredible New England charm, wonderful scenery from awe inspiring vistas to cows up close and personal, great organization and strong spectator support. The race organizer, Dori Ingalls, is a sweetheart, hugs every finisher, and is bend over backwards helpful. Actually all the organizers are like that. If you can handle the hills - mountains really - it's a wonderful experience. For me, I spent most of the race concentrating on managing the hills and didn't enjoy it as much as I might have. But it was clear others loved it.

Top Ten Reasons to Run the Mad Marathon: 10) Just getting there is a beautiful adventure - For most runners, Waitsfield isn't exactly a short jaunt, but that's OK because to get to Waitsfield you will most likely take one or two of the many scenic byways of Vermont - absolutely gorgeous 9) The Shirt - a beautiful tech shirt with the Mad Marathon logo emblazoned on the front - one of my most favorite shirts 8) The Finisher's Medal - perfect memento of Vermont - just what a 50 state marathoner wants 7) Vermont hospitality - from the race volunteers, to Dori, the race director, to our hosts Peter and Susan at the West Hill House Bed and Breakfast - unparalleled. For instance, Susan at our B and B made a complimentary sumptuous carb loading spread the evening before the race for all the marathoners staying there AND she woke up on race morning to serve us a small breakfast at 5AM! 6) Waitsfield Farmer's Market on Saturday morning - truly a Vermont experience 5) The Hug from Dori as you cross the finish line 4) Running through Covered Bridges - you don't have this type of experience in NYC, Boston, Chicago! 3) The hose at mile 23 - a local resident ran a hose from their house to the street and allowed racers to douse themselves with refreshingly cold water - much needed on this 85 degree day 2) To say you conquered the hill at mile 22.5 - it's short but steep and even steeper at this stage of the race - they call it the Cabot Cheese Dip - more like the Cabot Cheese Abyss 1) The whiffs of balsam fir throughout the course - a true pick-me-up and an unforgettable memory of running in Vermont

This was tough, but SO worth it. If you appreciate a good challenge and the feeling of finishing stronger and better than before, this is IT! Indescribably gorgeous mountain views, beautiful course. This was my VT marathon, excellent choice. Just make sure your training includes HILLS; trust it, and prepare to dig deep. Stayed at the Golden Lion Inn, perfectly adequate. The following morning I walked up Sugarbush Access Rd, right across the street, to the top, this was also an awesome place to start recovery and reflection; and get psyched for my 1st ultra (10/10/15). Heartfelt thanks to all who made this wonderful marathon happen!

Great organization with easy logistics. Nice shirt and very nice medal. Everything that you like in a small community race. But boy was this a tough course between the heat and the hills. Not for the faint of heart.

This is a gem of a marathon. If you want a marathon with community support and simple logistics, this is the race for you. But be warned that the race is hilly and got warm towards the end, but the scenery and enthusiastic volunteers (in fact, one volunteer opened gel packets for the runners - a first!) helped pulled me through. Race director Dori does a fabulous jobs with the details. For example, I really liked the kiddie pools filled with ice water at the finish or having Spiderman at the kids run. I really appreciated the hug that I got from Dori when I finished. I do promise to come back to this race in the future.

I really loved this race. Small, very well organized race. It's a bit hilly, but nothing to get worried about. I would say the weather in July is what to worry about. When I finished, it was 86! And the course is gorgeous.

Yes, the route was hilly; only 13 BQs out of nearly 300 finishers. But the beauty of Vermont rolling farmland helped me forget about the relentless hills. Nearly every view made me want to paint. Or, if you're into photos, plenty of great ops, too. The most beautiful marathon in the world? Sorry, Maine's MDI and its ocean setting takes the prize for America's most scenic. At the finish the temps had to be in the mid-80s, making this the hottest marathon I've run. Thank goodness the aid stations had plenty of water and Gatorade. In fact, out of my 72 marathons, even without the heat, this ranks third in difficulty, right behind Pikes Peak and Grandfather Mountain. If you run this one, train on hills or suffer. However, I'll give credit to the White Horse Inn - where we stayed - for balancing pain with pleasure. Superb service, delightful woodland setting, and a gourmet breakfast (We stayed a second night for this reward). Book early; they were sold out.

This race was full of hills and great scenery. It's definitely not a PR course, but if you enjoy a nice run in the country and over covered bridges, this is good one. I gave five stars for the spectators not because there were a lot, but because those that were out there were enthusiastic, including the cows that a local farmer brought out to watch and some turkeys that crossed the path in front of us. The weather was a little warm, but not oppressive. There are plenty of water stations to cool off, and the finish area has a couple of blow-up pools in the shade for you to soak tired feet. Packet pickup was a simple affair outside a local restaurant. Based on the reaction of the staff I think I was the first one to arrive. Everyone was friendly and welcoming; the whole event definitely had a small marathon feel (which is my preference).

HARD. Hilly. Humbling. ;-) The hills are abundant, frequent, and merciless. But a BEAUTIFUL course, and for such a small race in such a small town - really good crowd support and really good organization. No hitches. Don't get me wrong on the crowd support lots of long stretches alone, but a collegial group of runners and it seemed like proportional to the town size, a lot of people were out to cheer you on. Did I mention hills?

This marathon states that it is 'The World's Most Beautiful Marathon' and exceeds all expectations. The race director was very helpful in locating a B&B and answering all our prerace questions. The hills are long and difficult, however, living in the flatlands they were a welcome change. Not many spectators since this is a small event run on mostly country roads, however, all were quite enthusiast with their support with some even offering cold watermelon. There is even a special division for half walkers with a warning not to run. A nice touch was the RD at the finish line to shake the hand of all finishers before enjoying the wading pools for feet soaking filled with ice water and bright yellow rubber ducks! Recommend this marathon to all runners and walkers looking for a change from the large city running events. Go for the beautiful course and friendly small town environment, and a well run event. Do not miss staying staying at one of the many local B&B.

This marathon has some of the most spectacular scenery in the Northeast! And the reason is those hills take you up to some amazingly beautiful vistas!! From beginning to end this race was wonderful...not too many spectators but the volunteers were so wonderful! I am nursing very questionable knees and took it nice and easy on this race. Set my Galloway timer to 4:1's but wound up walking a lot of those major uphills. Ice baths at the finish was a wonderful gift as was the swimming hole about 1/2 mile from the finish. Don't miss this well-done marathon, and appreciate the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

I chose the Mad Marathon as last in my quest to run one in all 50 states. What a GREAT choice! Yes, it was the hilliest, most challenging road marathon course I've ever run, but I was glad that my last state was on a tough course! It was also an absolutely gorgeous course the entire way! Waitsfield is a darling little town with nice inns, a great Farmers Market and awesome hiking close by. The race director was awesome at helping our group of 27 from Michigan with restaurants, accommodations, etc. and made sure I had race number 50 too! Would highly recommend this 'destination' marathon!

I thoroughly agree with all the positive remarks I read below - my 57th marathon and by far the prettiest. I'm beyond PRs so walking the ubiquitous hills was fine with me - better opportunity to enjoy the scenery. Volunteers were amazing and enthusiastic as were the Expo attendants. I gave four stars instead of five to organization as I felt this race could easily have started at 6 am rather than 7 am. Perhaps there's a good reason I am not aware of for this. Weather is too hot and muggy in Vermont July to have runners battling a very challenging course. One hour earlier start would have made the race perfect and would avoid future heat issues. Very few cars were on the rural roads (I only noticed one cop blocking traffic for us) so it appears this would have been easy to start sooner. We were told there wasn't an early start but we later heard there was one offered? Which is it? Director should be more proactive with that option if there is one. Otherwise a great race to knock off Vermont for 50 Staters!

My favorite road marathon of the 69 I have run. Great organization and finish area. I would highly recommend this marathon; also a great area to vacation and for hiking. Zero Gravity black cat Porter is my favorite of the local beers.

This was my first time in VT.I drove from Charleston SC to run the Half. The course is breath taking,but living in THE LOW COUNTRY,the hills killed me. The support and organization of this race were fantastic. The volunteers and people of Waitsfield sure cheered us on. If you ever in this area,this is a great run,but be prepared.

What a great race. Hardest race ever. With that said, every single moment was beyond beautiful. Every view at all 26.2 miles were post card worthy. Incredible. Had a BLAST. Volunteers, runners - SO NICE! Icy cold beer at mile 24 was a nice boost to finish a beautiful course. I will be back!