North Central Trail Marathon - Race Reviews

Respectfully request for early start to allow time for senior & slower runners as well as the management. This year I finished last. Be so grateful & much obliged if name is included in results list; bucket list is counting full marathons completed. From a satisfied oldie marathoner.

The organization of this race was really well done and I was very impressed by the efficiency of packet pickup, bag check, and the awards ceremony. The course is ideal for fast times with the first half having a slight uphill grade and the second half then being downhill. However, there isn't much in terms of scenery change and it can get a little monotonous out there, especially once the runners thin out and you spend large sections with few others around you. I ranked the spectators a 3/5 just because there weren't a ton of them (think a handful every mile or two) but the ones out there were terrific. Since it is an out and back course there is also the chance to cheer on fellow runners you meet along the way which provided a big boost. Great swag with the quarter zip and fleece blanket. Overall, I would definitely do this race again because of the people involved and the PR I got here.

I participated in the 2017 NCR Trail marathon and really enjoyed it. I have done one other trail marathon and enjoy running out and back nature trails type marathons. I enjoy these rail trails because as you go through the old train stations you come to crowds of spectators and usually water stops. Then you return to a more secluded run where you can take in the surroundings. This marathon was well organized and the volunteers were super friendly and helpful. If you are looking for crowds, this is not the marathon to sign up for. If you want to get in a 26.2 that is flat, scenic and not crowded, then this is for you. The price was great and the swag was the best. Very nice quarter zip under armour and a gigantic cozy sweatshirt blanket at the finish. This is handy because you have a bit of a walk to the gym for your post race refreshments. The hot vegetable soup was tremendous! I would have been fine without the veggies in the broth, but still wonderful. The results were immediately available in the gym too. I would definitely do this one again. Great way to burn off the Thanksgiving calories. It was an easy morning drive from NJ to the race, but allow for holiday traffic on the drive home.

Well organized race with really responsive race directors handling all the race day issues professionally . Great run for 50 staters looking to avoid the large race largesse while getting in a late November race. Agree with other runners that the warm gym is nice and ample restrooms provided. Slight up on the half out and slight down except for the last 2 miles which have some moderate hills at 24.5-26. Nice swag with a no ad sweat shirt and finisher blanket, medal is unique. Don't miss the post race soup in the warm gym . Would do again, A well run race for runners, organized by runners, looking for a nice run not glitz.

I ran this marathon as my first 23 years ago and revisited it just yesterday. The course has changed only slightly, and I have nothing but great things to say about it. It is small but well run. There is a warm gym and easily accessible bathrooms to start, along with a bag drop at the school. The start and finish roll, though the ending has some climbing. The course is basically an out and back along a lovely trail along a river/stream. There are enough people in the middle pack to keep you company and not be alone for huge periods of time (that may not be the case if you are running at a 10+ minute pace). The support in water/gatorade was spot on, plus I carried a handheld just to be sure. Slight incline out, meaning slight decline back until the road. This is a great run if you want small and well done.

Decided to run this marathon in an attempt to achieve a BQ time and because it hit at a perfect time for me training-wise. I knew what to expect from others' reports-flat, scenic rails to trails course along a river, relatively small number of runners (500), warm gym before and after, etc. It was all of those things and more! Nice long sleeved shirt and very nice medal! And I got my BQ time too!

The good. This marathon has a lot of positives. The shirts were very nice, unique and NO ADS!! The course is a rail to trail and scenic. The volunteers are great. Maps to places where spectators could find you were detailed and very helpful. Awards were cute. The ugly. I experienced bad back cramps and had to walk the last 4-5 miles. The bad. No results available for finishers over 5 hrs and 23 minutes and award master didn't want to give out award. In brochure it states in capital letters that no awards will be mailed. I sat for over an hour. in moderate discomfort trying to wait the situation out. The timer told my husband to check the website later I was finally reluctantly given my award. I was my age group. For a group with 25 yrs experience, I was really disappointed that so little thought and regard was given to us slower runners.

A very well organized race because the Baltimore Road Runners have been putting it on for years. Warm school gym for before and after is perfect. Downhill road mile to start, uphill road mile to finish. The middle 24 miles are on a mostly flat smooth packed dirt trail through the woods along a creek. 500 runners, so you are never totally alone, but never crowded. Terrific mock turtleneck winter running shirt, but the swag is different every year, so check ahead. Reasonable registration price with easy packet pickup either in advance at a running store or on race morning in the school gym. Thanks especially for the thick homemade vegetable soup at the end, just what we needed! They also have a man who personally fills out a customized finisher's certificate on the spot calligraphy style with your finish time on it!

Having ran this race for 18 times and reading comments some fine points are missed. The BRRC started the race to fill a void and it was not to become a mega race. The race delivers what running is about. All seem to over look the volunteers who drive the event year after year and the sponsors. The BRRC take good care of the runners given the limitations along the trail. The race is small and that's a nice change and it makes you run faster so you are not last. Enjoy the race!

The NCT marathon is a very simple out-n-back route, mostly on trail, with very few spectators. The trail is pretty enough, but became a bit mundane after 20 miles. My only complaint about this marathon is that there are not enough water stops along the route!!!

Today was windy and cold but still a really pretty course thru a user friendly trail. Look if you want cheering crowds and a lot of hype then go to Philly or Bawlmer Hon ! But for a race of 500-550 runners they gave out a nice wind vest, nice medal, warm gym to wait in, cute little man filling out your certificate right there. Very friendly organizers. Didn't miss a step. Aid/water stations were well stocked and those folks stood out in the blustery wind handing me my cup and I am grateful ! Happy Thanksgiving ! God is so good !

Second time running NCR Trail Marathon. Weather was perfect (50s) for a marathon. We got lucky for this time of year as last year in the mid 30s was a little cool. Course is very scenic through the woods for 23 of the 26 miles. Beats the big city marathons hands-down on that front. Logistics were very simple and well-organized for the most part. Shuttle getting to and from the start line was convenient and ran frequently. Minor complaint was that there was a lot of traffic over the last mile. Maybe they could have done something different to funnel traffic away from the course although at no time did it become dangerous as there was plenty of room to run on the side of the road which was marked off with cones. There were some bikers and other walkers on the trail during the race but I didn't see it as any hindrance. However, they do need to keep this race limited to 600 participants as with more, some portions of the trail near the top where runners are going out and back at the same time 'could' get crowded. But again, I only had 2 or 3 instances where I maybe wanted to pass someone but had to be wary of oncoming runners. It had no negative effect on my performance. And like some other comments stated, if you need lots of crowd support, this isn't the race for you. It's more of a peaceful race. However, there was lots of crowd support at the water stops about every 2.5 - 3 miles. I used to run the Philadelphia Marathon this time of year but with their price increases, I find this marathon to be not only more cost effective but a much better overall experience. I may not be back every year but it's a race that will I'll always consider this time of year.

My husband (who also ran race and BQ'ed) and I drove from Central New York to run this marathon, and was quite disappointed in whole 'trail' experience. Was very disappointed to find that instead of shirts or hoodies like they gave last year we received coolers, I have NO USE for a cooler please give us shirts!! The course itself was incredibly boring, the start was downhill which was nice then the path led us to the trail, of which consisted of a dirt path that was far to narrow for marathoners esp since there were no signs that indicated a race was going on, it was a mild day for Nov so there were a lot of walkers and bikers out and they were not looking out for us runners nor did they give us the right of way. The course itself was running 24 of 26 miles looking at bare trees, not too exciting. The course is out and back so be prepared to run the last 1.5 miles uphill, great way to end a marathon plus being on main highway the cars were very unforgiving to runners and were going very fast!! The food at the end was more for a 1/2 marathon or 5k, there was bagels, my husband was 'lucky' enough to get some of the 'soup' that was advertised and said that it was 'tastless broth' with no flavor. The medal was nothing special. A very big thank you to the school who was nice enough to let us stay warm and use facilities, it was quite chilly to start the race. To sum it up, no shirt, no food afterward and very boring scenery was my experience of this marathon, glad that this state is complete.

Drove from upstate NY to run this with some friends. Packet pickup was easy. People at Charm City were very friendly and helpful. Cooler and hat a nice change. Still would of purchased a shirt of some sort , if they had one. We stayed about 2miles from bus pick up. Went very smoothly. School was warm, able to use restroom in the building. Start of race started off smoothly. As we got further in the course ,it was just plain unsafe. Once we reached mile 8-9 and the fast runners were already heading back , trail was very crowded. The number of bicycles was just too much. I tried to allow those coming back as much room as possible, but the trail narrows up through there. All I heard is 'to your left'. Several times going off trail and stopping because those on bikes did not slow down. I am sure because it was a nice day there was more people out then usual. Also, in their defense there was no signs alerting them ' race in progress'. One portapot along the way which was absolutely gross and one other portapot you did not see until you went by. Heading back last couple miles was even more frightening. The road winded up hill and traffic coming back from the school was awful. Sad thing is they were probably runners who had parked at school and where in a hurry to get out of there?? Whomever they were very disrespectful to those runners still trying to finish. Which is a tough uphill finish. A man fell in front of me avoiding cars. Not one car slowed or stopped to see if he was OK. It took us just over 5 hours. we all went up to school to get something to eat. There was next to nothing. Really wanted that nice hot soup as advertised. Only banana and bread. Terrible. Sat down for few minutes, got up and the chair was taken right from underneath me, they were cleaning up ? Metal was just fair to poor compared to some marathons that I have run and payed much less. Was not impressed, especially with 22 years of running this race. Really need to keep traffic down (bikes,cars) when course when still open, more portapots, minimizing the bicycles esp. in the section between miles 8-19.

If you are the type of person who does not need a lot of ancillary things to run a marathon, this is a good race for you. The course is an out and back with most of it on the relatively flat North Central Trail. Getting to the trail at the start is a wonderful mile plus down hill. Getting back at the end is up those same down hills. Being on the trail is nice as it is quiet and deserted. So if you are a person who needs the crowds, the bands, etc to run a marathon, the solitude of the trail would not be for you. If you are relatively self sufficient while running, the race is your baby. Well organized. Plentful water stops (Bring your own gels). Starting and finishing at the school means you are not standing around in the cold pre / post race. The people are wonderful (I had some people running in another runner adopt me which helped at the end). They also understand that not everyone wants just another T shirts...this year we got knit hats and a neat cooler) If you have anyone watch you, the course has several roads that wind around the trail and it is super easy for them to get around) Nothing I can really say bad about this race.

I enjoyed the race, great course, but it's not one for a person who needs crowds for motivation. You will run alone a good deal of the time. Killer hill at the finish, be warned!

A well-run race on my home course. The trail is a wonderful surface to run on but the course is tougher than may appear, with the slight upgrade going out and the hills in miles 25 and 26 (this year made more difficult by a nasty headwind). It is a fair but challenging tract. Who can complain about spending pre-race time in a heated building with all of the comforts of home, especially on a cold, windy morning? The event hosts let everyone know when its time to walk to the start, so runners can stay warm right up to toeing the line. This race is well-organized, and has great premiums, including a very nice medal and thematic age group awards. Post-race refreshments and recovery area are superb. The event pays respect to the beautiful resource that is the North Central Rail Trail. Thanks to BRRC for a great race.

First trail marathon. Scenery far better than I've seen on any road marathons I've done. Moderately tough course, especially over the last 1.5 miles if you're used to running on the flat (like me, in South Jersey). Out and back with big downhills to start. Be careful not to start too fast; the majority of runners, including me, did so over first 2 miles. With 22.6 miles of trail, we were pretty much shielded from the wind. Trail was about 8 feet-wide most of the way. It wasn't rough but had small rocks. Unlike a road race, you have to be a little more conscious of your footing but that is to be expected on your typical trail. All tree-lined. Spectators generally at the road crossovers every few miles. Water stops every 2-3 miles included Gatorade that wasn't watered down. Recommended as a very scenic marathon with great logistics. Bus transit 5 minutes from the start/finish ran frequently. Another big plus was packet pick-up on race-day morning. Great for price-conscious runners. Only minor negative is that it's a tough course to PR on due to hills, terrain and likely cold this time of year.

I have run on the NCR Trail before when visiting my family and was intrigued when I discovered that the marathon takes place the same Saturday after Thanksgiving. What a great excuse to eat extra stuffing and mashed potatoes while carb loading. It runs out and back, on a slight uphill grade with rolling hills; it's also mostly downhill at the beginning and obviously mostly up the last 2 miles. Great start and finish area at an elementary school. It was nice to stay warm before the start on a cool and windy day. Perfect marathon weather this year (high in the low 40s) except a little windy, and the non-technical course was well supported at the aid stations with enthusiastic volunteers and fans. Nice sweatshirt and even a medal too. Great finish line support; they placed the medal over my neck and handed me my space blanket. Thanks to those who put it on. This might become a tradition for me.

Just completed my first NCTM today. The course is out and back, wooded, and rustic, with really pretty scenery. I especially liked how quiet it was; I don't need the thousands of spectators (well not for every race). A nasty headwind plagued us throughout but that can't be helped. Hills at the end are tough but, hey, this is supposed to be tough, right? The on-course support was great, with plenty of fluids, snacks, and small pockets of enthusiasm. Sparks Elementary was an awesome staging area - warm with plenty of space. Loved that hot soup at the end and shuttle buses were well timed. Definitely one I'll be back for.

Ninth marathon and first time to qualify for Boston. This is a fast course - despite the hills in the last two miles - on a forgiving surface. Outstanding organization - bib pick up in the morning was easy, and being able to stretch out in a heated school with great music was key. Shuttle service to parking was convenient, easy, and timely. No big crowds but small groups of enthusiastic spectators. I would definitely run this one again. Great sweatshirt too!

Entered this race after running pancake-flat Chicago and just missing a particular time-goal. Thought that this course would be similar, save for the storied last mile or two back to the school. Turns out that the first 14 miles out to the turnaround are slightly uphill; it's nothing you would notice just walking or even jogging, but during a marathon you notice. Additionally, the first mile marker was off, which contributed to the feeling of not really being able to settle into a particular pace early on. Positives: Course surface, indoor staging area, enthusiastic volunteers. Negatives: Better directions to start/finish should be posted on the website, and there's a long wait for the awards ceremony after the marathon. Overall, a much more challenging marathon than expected, but a day made complete by helpful, smiling volunteers and some beautiful scenery.

This was my favorite marathon so far. The warm indoor staging area, complete with real bathrooms, was very nice. Not much to improve on except the uphills to return FROM the trail. To avoid the major uphills at the end, the finish could be ON the trail (race doesn't have to finish at the same location where it starts). The shuttles could bring the finishers back to the school. Regardless, still a GREAT run. Volunteers were the best!

This was a nice, well organized, small marathon. The indoor staging area was a nice place to rest before the race started. The course would be hard to find a fault in. There was a hill at the end, but it was an out-and-back, so you knew what to expect. Weather in Maryland can vary this time of year, but it was almost perfect weather. It was sunny and a high of 50 degrees. The spectators were located every 5 miles or so. They were few, but from what I saw, they cheered for every runner. At the finish there was adequate food and drink. The shuttles ran frequently to and from where cars were parked. At the finish, medals were placed on your neck, not handed to you in a plastic bag like some other races I have run recently. The premium was a nice jacket. I have a hard time finding anything I didn't like about this race. I will definitely run this one again.

There's a lot to like about this marathon: a comfortable indoor staging area, a beautiful course, a soft running surface, plenty of water stops with well-coached volunteers, nice give-aways, and much more. One complaint: I suspect the mile markers were off by a tenth of a mile or so - at least until the turnaround. (It was probably to sync them up with the permanent signposts on the trail.) Even though I didn't achieve my fastest time, I'll look back on this as one of my favorites.

This is a top-notch event - small in scale, but wonderfully put together. The jacket this year was especially nice! The volunteers, as in past years, were enthusiastic. As always, the finish was tough - but I knew what to expect having participated in 2007.

State 31: I flew in from Maine for this race - leaving behind a husband with the flu. In order to make an earlier flight home, I asked to start early (granted by Dave within about 30 minutes of my email). Packet pickup was breeze, and when I arrived at the shuttle to the start a bit early, Bailey (whom I had never met before) graciously let me sit in his car and then drove me to the start - how nice! Once there, I met Philip, who had run each of the 20 runnings of the race (despite a health concern in 2007). Early start went off without a hitch. Good course and great spectators where the trail crossed roads, though I was slower that I had expected. At the finish, I asked about the next shuttle to the cars (to make that flight) and a very nice man drove me back to my car. In addition to all of this personal service, we got jackets - instead of a t-shirt - and a cool 20th anniversary pin. Doesn't get much better than that!!!

I could not have asked for a better weekend. I drove in from Illinois with my youngest son and husband. Stayed at Marriott Hunt Valley - beautiful and clean, empty, and honestly, I could have had a 6 p.m. late check out because that is how accommodating they were. Packet pickup was organized, though it was strange not to get the chip until race morning (but I never asked why). Simple, quick drive to the start, so I slept late. The day was perfect for running, and the volunteers were the nicest I have met in a long time (there were few, but they all seemed happy to be out there with us). Course was as described by many last year; save something for the hills at the end. I managed to PR, which was such a treat as this was my 8th marathon in 9 straight weeks! The jacket for the 20th anniversary was quite nice, as were the finisher certificates. Ran along Gunpowder Creek, which offered a lot of beautiful scenery, but be aware that it is hunting season, and a friend making an unofficial stop in the woods came cheek to cheek with a deer and a shotgun No joke! He was lucky; it was a very close call indeed. Excellent, cheap pasta at the mall across from the Marriott near the AT&T store.

My only complaint was the course distance and the mile markers being significantly off (initially overestimating the distance, and after the half the mile markers were underestimating the distance covered). My Garmin registered 26.43 miles from the point I crossed the start line until I crossed the finish line. The first mile marker was overestimating the distance by about .12 of a mile. I am not aware of the criteria that need to be met to label a course as certified, but to be over by 400 meters is pretty alarming in my book. To the race director, please get this course distance right for the sake of those not wanting to run more than needed to complete the race.... Other than that, the course was very scenic and I had a pleasant experience overall. I could only imagine what the course would be like if this race were held during foliage season. The volunteers were phenomenal!

I've run this marathon twice (2007 and 2008), each time in beautiful sunny weather. Other than the first and last one and a half miles (downhill/uphill), the course is completely flat. There are long stretches without water (or people). But when you come upon intersections across the old rail siding the course runs along, they are full of people cheering enthusiastically and offering water and Gatorade, and sometimes gels and fruit. On a nice day, this marathon is beautiful. You run through trees nearly the entire way on a flat, slightly hard, path. It's also not crowded and there are a fair number of dedicated, die-hard marathoners. The organization is very good. The first one and a half miles are fast since they're downhill. So the final one and a half miles are very tough - uphill until the finish. Save a little energy for this part - lots of people bonk here and end up walking. This marathon is a treat. A perfect late fall marathon.

I had wanted to do this race for years, but I'm usually out of town for Thanksgiving or recovering from another November marathon. Several things appealed to me, including the soft surface, low-key atmosphere, and the "fast" course. I thought the 1.75 miles of winding uphill INTO TRAFFIC at the end were some of the most difficult hills I'd done in a marathon-- and I've done many marathons. I'm shocked that people run PRs on that course, but it happens. I definitely went out too fast, but I don't think I could have BQ'd on that course under any circumstances. I thought the organization was great, although we could have used another couple of water stops. I think the organizers figured that water every three miles was sufficient due to the always-cool weather. I loved being able to wait in the school gym at the beginning--I'm all about keeping warm while waiting. The National Anthem was even sung indoors.

Well organized race, with water stops just when you need them. I didn't have gels with me and I was offered some to use during the race. Shirt was nice. Very scenic run. You have to be okay with running solo at times. Runners I talked with during the race were great, as well as the volunteers and spectators at the water stops. Would recommend it to other runners.

Course: I give it a 25/26. It featured 25 of the most scenic miles I have ever run, but that last one is a killer. And I'm not complaining about the hill (fair is fair - what goes down...). The last mile was just plain dangerous, with no shoulder to run on and traffic going both ways. Way too busy for a tired marathoner to have to deal with. Organization: Small water stop issues (missed 2 late ones) but volunteers meant well. Simple solution is to have an "extra table" after the volunteers for us to pick up our own. Not a big deal. Spectators: Personally, I don't need them. Not on a course like that. The volunteers at road crossings were enough, and offered great support. Overall, a GREAT experience!

Great marathon for those who enjoy nature, as most of this run winds along the Gunpowder River and the state park forest that accompanies it. Flat and fast, so if you have your mileage in, you should be pleased with your time. The dirt/packed stone surface is more forgiving than asphalt and results in less muscle soreness. Nice having a warm elementary school for the start and finish as the temperature range was about 38 to 48 for start to finish. There are a few challenging hills in the last 1.5 miles, but they're not as bad as some posts make them out to be! Organization was great and the volunteers were very enthusiastic. One warning though: if you like the crowds and excitement and support that come with the large marathons, you won't find it here, mainly because there isn't enough room. Be prepared for some self-motivation!

I have run many marathons and three that were a rails to trails course that are pretty flat. I train and run in a hilly part of the country and most of my marathons have some hills. Hills help change the muscles you are using. The first two miles being generally downhill creates an effort to keep from going out too fast, especially on a nice cool morning like we had - 40-ish. The next 22-23 miles are flat - 1 to 2% doesn't create a change in the muscle use. By mile 23 my legs were dead. Then the last mile and a half is a fairly steep grade in places. The spectators were great where there were some. Usually the only place you saw them was at major road crossings. Some of the road crossings were minor roads and enough room to set up a water table but no parking to attract spectators. The volunteers were fabulous! What can you say about folks that are willing to give up several hours on a Saturday to freeze while they are standing around waiting to hand out some water? My thanks to them; they treated us runners well! That also helps with race management. The course is beautiful and I used that to help me through some of the flat. If the leaves were still on the trees, it may have been too boring - green tunnels are not very friendly so it is a good thing to have it after the color change!

I just returned from Sparks, Maryland and wanted to contribute. Course: I give the course 25/26 - the first 25 miles were as good as it gets. I didn't notice the slight uphill from 9-13.5, but it definitely felt good coming back "down." Beautiful, scenic course for 25 miles. My problem with the last mile has nothing to do with the climb (fair is fair - it all balances out); rather, my complaint is the narrow road with no shoulder, and that there are too many cars (considering the fatigue). Too dangerous. (I appreciate the convenience of having the start/finish at the same spot, but Belfast is too narrow.) The first 25 miles are BEAUTIFUL.) Organization: Great, although some water stations only had one person on each side handing water (compared to 2 or 3 handing Gatorade). Once you choose a side you are down to 1 person handing out water. Twice (late in the race) I missed water because the person ahead of me took one and the volunteer scrambled to get another. This was frustrating because I always call out, "Water" as I approach. All of the Gatorade people say, "It's next" or "at the end," but then only one person on each side had any. I will take some of the blame for this, as I am not willing to stop, walk, or wait as I am always running for a time goal. Having some extra sitting on a table just past the volunteers is a simple solution. Also, a small detail that the water was always in plain cups and the Gatorade in green cups was nice. Spectators: Personally, I don't need them. The course marshals and volunteers are all I need and they were all supportive and vocal - great job. It was a perfect balance of solitude and spectators at the road crossings. And the maps that were provided for spectators/support/family to catch at the various crossings were EXCELLENT. Overall: a GREAT experience!

Small marathon (c. 400 people). Scenic, pretty, riverside, course - mostly flat, tree-laden. About 22 miles go along rail-to-trail surface, with fairly smooth, compacted gravel. Asphalt descent in miles 1-2 to begin race winds up being preposterous climb in miles 25-26. One guy who won his age group and qualified for Boston said he had to walk much of end. Still a fast race, nevertheless. Few spectators, yet those there were enthusiastic. Bizarre spacing of drink stations. Supposed to be every couple of miles in each direction of out-and-back. But there were several instances of multiple stops in same mile, then none for roughly 3 miles. It didn't affect me much, but it could bother thirsty types. Vehicular traffic being stopped was moot. I only saw about four cars at intersections the whole race (but the cars indeed were stopped). The bigger issue is abundant use of the trail by locals for running, walking, bicycling, dog-walking (even horseback riding). It made for especially tight constrictions at confluence of where elites were returning on miles 14-16 of course, where regular runners were heading out on miles 11-14, where slow relay folks in 2nd half were buzzing along in same vicinity, and where everyone needed to merge with aforementioned locals (and their animals) on the path. Maybe the organizer could find way of getting the trail closed for half of Saturday. Otherwise, this was a high-quality event.