Pine Tree Marathon - Race Reviews

I've run more than 50+ marathons prior to this series (2019) but never 6 in 6 days. The race director was organized and the support was superb. The format was city and state parks with roughly 3.5 mi loops. The camaraderie was absolutely amazing as each marathon was completed. I can honestly say this series was the most enjoyable running experience I've had in 40 years of running. I highly recommend the New England Challenge!

This was day one of The New England Challenge series. Packet pick up was easy. Parking next to start/finish. Excellent volunteers and more food choices than you could imagine. Excellent race series. JC, the race director, celebrates your running milestones with a cake and balloons.

The cost was ridiculously high for what you got. We got an ugly T-shirt that wasn't even dri fit and a few snacks on the course. For $100 I expect more. The medal was okay. The course is around a lake so you always have aid/bathroom close, but the Race director was unorganized. I am shocked that he has a timing company. I was NOT impressed and felt like it was just a race to get 50 staters 'Maine' for a huge price. It was no frills what so ever. Do a different race for 'Maine' if 50 states is your pursuit.

This is an easy training run, multiple loops on a track around a pond. It is run for-profit by the organizer, who does not award prizes or show age groups or even publish results that show an order of finish. It is also expensive, and yet the only aid station requires you to label your own cup and refill it all as part of your recorded training time. But you make friends with a lot of people, because most are in no hurry with the race aspects missing.

I ran this series in my quest to finish my 50 states. It was my first experience with a small club race and I had no idea what to expect but it spoiled me for big city races. We started nearly on time every day -because there was one or two people we waited for. I was annoyed by this the first day, but as the week went along we became a solid group with great comradery and we laughed and joked about who couldn't find the start that particular day. I highly recommend this series - the organization was superb and the courses were scenic so even though you did laps, it wasn't boring or tedious. The aid stations were wonderfully stocked (PB&J, M&M's, coke, chips, pretzels, etc) and at just the right intervals. If you need spectators to cheer you on, this wouldn't be for you, although the volunteers at the aid station were awesome. I loved the 'family' atomosphere and plan to go back in 2014 to do the half challenge.