Baystate Marathon - Race Reviews

This race could be better organized. The half and full start on opposite sides of the road which makes no sense because they then merge. Why not start one earlier? It was very crowded running the first couple miles and I almost ran into a wooden A frame sign in the middle of the road. The signs were for cars entering from side roads which for some reason were not closed to traffic. One sign had been knocked over indicating someone ran into it. Why not close the side roads for an hour so the runners can get by? There were also cones in the middle of the road. Runners were yelling "sign" and "cone" so others wouldn't run into them. The roads were open for traffic for most of the course and there were stretches where the cones were only five feet from the side of the road leaving very little room to run. I specifically picked this race because it's advertised as a flat course. It's not. There are rolling hills for a good chunk of the race. Miles 4-8 and 14-18 are the same rolling hills because you do two loops. I struggled on the hills with the wind and my legs were spent by 18. Beware. Also, I ran tangents throughout the race as any experienced marathoner will do, but my GPS still said 26.45. Just received the results and my gun time and net time are the same despite the fact that I crossed the starting line a minute after the start.

So many things were done right - well organized, easy packet pickup, easy parking for marathon, inside space to wait before the race, friendly and helpful volunteers, great city support for race, nice shirt and medal. My only complaint, and reason for my 2 rating of course is that there are a lot of stretches during the race where runners had very little space (sometimes the side of the road only) and we were always going direction of traffic meaning that vehicles zipped past us from behind - if the road has to be shared, I do prefer facing traffic...easier on the nerves. View of the bridge twice for marathoners was fantastic, though.

The race was organized very well. Separate starting lines for the full and half made the starting line easy. The course was fine, nothing great to look at and the roads weren't fully closed which made certain areas bottle neck. Water stations were lively and helpful. They needed more bathrooms on the course (1 per water station). They also advertise the course as totally flat and that's a bit of a stretch as there were inclines in multiple areas. Overall run very well, they say it's a race for runners by runners and that is very easy to see.

I know that I am in the minority by NOT loving this race. I really wanted to enjoy this, especially after reading so many positive comments about it. I just couldn't! I was bored! So very bored! There are long stretches where all you see are mechanics and fast food restaurants, and cracked sidewalks, and the other long stretches where all you see is road and garbage and car-accident remains...and the last two miles running between Jersey barriers feel endless! Because the roads are open to traffic, they place cones to create a lane for runners, but (at least during the first loop), it is not wide enough and runners were constantly being tripped up by the cones. Many fell, or were otherwise hindered by this. It was unpleasant, to say the least. That being said, there were some good parts. The few spectators who were out were enthusiastic, though sparse. The volunteers at the water stops were outstanding, mostly high school students, and they were truly great! And I felt there were enough water stops. The start was easy, and there was plenty of parking. They want to you pay $5.00 and park in a lot, but don't bother. There is plenty of free street parking. The medal is great - a bridge with a moveable runner on it - very cute! But a cute medal won't make me do this race again. I think I just need more variety in a marathon, more turns, more varied scenery, less monotony. I could see why people love it; you could definitely BQ on a good running day. It just isn't the race for me.

When I saw that Baystate won findmymarathon's best marathon contest my expectations for the race were raised. While I liked the race, I wasn't overly impressed with it. The course is designed for speed, not beauty. It is fast and I did BQ, but if you're not interested in a BQ or PR you might want to look elsewhere for an interesting and scenic course. The organization was quite good and I appreciated the raceday packet pick-up and close parking. Make sure to get there early and bring money to park. The start and finish are steps from each other making logistics easy. I also liked the separate starting lines for the half and the full, allowing us to get into our paces early. The crowds were generally thin, except for the finish area where they were strangely quiet. I liked the finish area and the indoor staging area before the race. Really nice shirt and an elaborate medal. If you have time after, visit Nashua NH for wine at Fulchino's Winery and craft beer at Millyard Brewing. We had a great meal and excellent beer at Martha's Exchange.

I thought the event was extremely well run, easy to get to, easy to find everything, easy to get out at the end. We stayed in a nearby hotel, used the shuttle to get to the race in the morning, couldn't have been simpler. I had hoped to BQ here but it didn't happen for me, not through any fault of the course (nice and flat as they say) or weather or anything, I just didn't have it. Where there were spectators, they were great - long stretches where do you don't see anyone, but that doesn't really matter to me. My only small comment for improvement would be that the food options at the end of the race could be better, they were pretty limited. Otherwise, everything was great.

This was my 37th marathon and 1st Baystate. If you want to qualify for Boston, this is the race for you. Course if flat but has enough rolling hills to mix it up a little and give certain muscle groups a break. Water/Gatorade stops were great with fantastic volunteers. I was worried about the traffic before the start so got there in the recommended 90 minutes before and was able to find plenty of parking super close. They even let you in the Tsongas Center which was great since the start was 30 degrees. All in all one of my top 5 favorite marathons!

Well done, Bay State Marathon. You have a nice course, mostly flat with a couple of small hills to keep it interesting. There is a lot of support on the course and the volunteers from the local high schools were great. This was state #34 for me and the Bay State Marathon ranks right up there.

This was only my fourth marathon, so I just wanted a flat fall marathon to PR. I knocked about fifteen minutes off of my last time, so that worked out for me. Pretty happy overall. No issues with the Expo or packet pickup. The t-shirt is very nice. Parking was great, but of course since it's close to Boston you have to pay $5 for a parking garage. Decent food at the foot tent (nice to have warm soup on such a cold race day). Friendly spectators, especially the one young lady at mile 24 who was basically yelling at the top of her lungs. Basically, it was everything I expected. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a fast course.

Very nice rolling course. I cannot understand why people call it flat when it is a series of rolling hills. I don't mind rolling hills, but let's call it what it is. The wind made it very difficult. The volunteers were fantastic, and this was a very well organized race.

This was my first Baystate marathon. I've run 17 marathons prior and this was by far the most well organized race especially for the size. It was definitely an easier course than others but unfortunately I did not BQ or PR. I blame that on me for not putting in enough speed work during the week. I would recommend this race if you do want to attempt a PR or BQ because it is a flat course with a few rollers which are not overly taxing. A few things I loved about this race.. the field was definitely a higher caliber of runners, which pushed me to run faster. Other things I really liked about this race.. There were no designated corrals for the marathon but the runners knew their own ability and self seeded correctly. This enables some one trying to PR/BQ by saving precious minutes avoiding weaving around slow runners/walkers and is safer by avoiding potential collisions for individuals who decided to stop mid stride to get water at an earlier stop. The water stations were spaced out at perfect intervals and the spectators, while sparse in many sections, were located in key spots to keep the motivation going. I've never run a loop course before and I liked this experience. I did follow the instructions and allow enough time to arrive. Parking in the garages was abundant and I was able to wait in my car until shortly before the start (it was 30 degrees out side race day morning). The town of Lowell is cute and afterward they had an Octoberfest and sidewalk sale. I would definitely do this one again and train harder to get that BQ :)

My first marathon and this was a great race. Two loops around the river. A lot of nice woods along the road, with a few sections that were fine but not too scenic.

Was nervous about my first marathon, so picked Baystate because it's flat and not too far from where I live. Volunteers were great - friendly and enthusiastic. Water / Gatorade every 2 miles or so. The pace groups are helpful - one less thing to worry about. The roads were open to traffic and the marked running space was a bit narrow at times (mostly on the Lowell side of the river), especially if running in a large pace group. Although there was plenty of room and nice scenery once you crossed over to Tyngsboro. My Garmin clocked at 26.4 miles, which was strange. Not sure if it's just my watch, but I did hear that others had the same distance. Regardless, the course is fast and I got my BQ. Looking at other Marathons for the fall, but I think I'll go back to the Baystate.

This was my 3rd marathon and I PR'd by 18min (sadly 2min short of a BQ due to some leg cramp issues). The expo had easy packet pick up. I loved the shirts (long sleeves, women sizing, and thumbholes)! I stayed at the Courtyard by Chelmsford (about 4mi from start) bc the host hotel was already booked. They offered shuttles to the start, but glad we drove instead. When we left at 6am the shuttle had not yet arrived and there were 20 people waiting to get on a 10 seat bus. Yikes! Lots of traffic - took about 30 min to get there, so leave early. Plenty of portas and volunteers directing you at the start. I stuck with a pacer for the first couple miles to avoid going out too fast and they were great and visible. The course was a lot more scenic than I expected for the Lowell area! Fall leaves were at their peak, river/bridges were nice to look at. Decent crowd support for such an intimate race too. Not a totally flat course. Some rolling hills around 5-8 and then again 15-18. Also a decent-feeling hill around mile 22/23. (Really only horrible bc it comes so late on the course, so even a little hill will feel like a mountain). Plenty of water/gatorade stops, 2-3 gel stops, portas at every water stop. Never really felt crowded on the course except when going over Tyngsboro Bridge since it wasn't closed to traffic - could really only run single file. (I had to pass some people, so just tried to keep eyes on cars not hitting me). They had timers at the different splits of the course (I think 10K, half and 20mile marks) so you could easily keep track of your performance/BQ possibility. Medals were really nice, food was great (soup, bananas, chips, sodas, PB&J sandwiches). Volunteers were super excited for you at finish line. There was a little station at the end with iPads that let you look up your official time with splits and whether or not you BQd too. I am probably doing this race again for 2015 just bc the course really is great and the race itself is super well-organized, scenic and intimate. Definitely 'for runners, by runners' as it bills itself. Not a lot of frills/gimmicks, but this race proves you don't need them to have an amazing experience.

I lived in Boston for seven years and had heard about the Baystate Marathon from friends and also from Runner's World but never had a chance to run it while I was living in Massachusetts. Four years after moving away, circumstances fell into place and I finally got a chance to run it, and I can't stop telling others that they HAVE to run this marathon. I had high hopes for the Baystate Marathon, but I can truthfully say it exceeded my already lofty expectations. This is truly a race 'by runners and for runners'. After having a disheartening experience eight months ago with a very hilly marathon, I was looking for something flatter and was so happy that I decided to run this one. It is not pancake flat, but neither are there any tough hills. The few hills that exist are totally doable. I knew I wasn't going to BQ, but I came in 36 minutes faster than my last marathon, so I was very happy. The weather was beautiful and the scenery was something out of a postcardthe fall foliage was at its peak splendor and the views of the Merrimack River were awe-inspiring. It is a truly beautiful marathon and the volunteers, police details and other runners made this an experience that I will never forget. I would also like to thank the very nice gentleman who let me know right before the gun went off that I was standing on the wrong side of the starting lineI had registered for the full marathon but was standing on the half-marathon side! I would definitely recommend this marathon to others and I would love to run this marathon again.

Overall a very good small marathon. Well marked course with plenty of volunteers who are very encouraging. Allowed me to BQ.

Baystate certainly lives up to its billing - a flat, fast course that gives runners a great chance at a BQ or PR. The race is well organized from packet pick-up through the finish. My pace group leaders ran an even pace, as announced. The course is not closed to traffic, but the running lanes are well marked and separated by cones. The race organizers should see if they can increase the number of porta-johns at the start and also be sure there are enough tables at the water stations to pre-position enough filled cups of water/Gatorade. The volunteers at the water stations worked hard, but they had difficulty keeping up with the number of runners. I'll seriously consider coming back next year - I got my BQ but not my PR. This is a great race in my view.

I doubt I could have picked a better first time marathon. Every aspect seem to run smoothly. I loved my 3:45 pace leaders who were enthusiastic, supportive and ran like clockwork delivering me to the finish line with seconds to spare. Running along the Merrimack River may not be the French Riviera, but New England's fall colors and the scenic bridges shone through. It is not a big city race per se so fans were sparse, but those closer to town were supportive and a lot of fun. We were well cared for at the finish - once again the hundreds of volunteers were gracious. I look forward to running it again.

I would describe this race as a solid, no frills marathon that is very well run. I chose to run it because it was local, flat, and caters to runners trying to run a BQ (which I did!). The course was not my favorite, but it was pretty flat with just enough ups and downs to give your legs some changing terrain. The double loop turned out to be nice because you knew what was coming the second time around but was big enough that you didn't feel like you were running laps. It would have been nice to have all of the streets closed to traffic, but in the end that didn't bother me too much. The crowd was fantastic for a small race, and the volunteers at the water stations were awesome. My biggest complaint was the food afterwards, which was minimal at best. No gatorade, only water and Pepsi. Bananas, chips, powerbars, and soup. That's it. I wouldn't make this a destination marathon, but if you're close and want a good shot at a BQ, this is the race for you.

Great course, well organized. Park in the garage 50 feet from the start, cross the road and pick up your bib and wait in the warm high school, which is right next to the start. Loved the race, will definitely be back next year. Really flat and drink stops manned by schools, enthusiastic volunteers. Only a bit light on spectators, but I knew that signing on. And at the end, great food, especially the soup was just what I needed, great first marathon.

Ran this as my first half marathon. Great spectators and volunteers and great use of the most scenic parts of an average suburb. Finish food was refreshing and plentiful. My only criticism is that they need to increase the number of bathrooms available to runners prior to the race start. About half of the people in line didn't get to go since the lines were absurd, which affects performance.

I hear that it is not so pretty, the course is open and cars drive past, not many spectators. WRONG. The course was actually very pretty in parts. The volunteers were pleantiful and there were a surprising amount of steady spectators cheering me on. All using my name that was on my bib. That was actually very nice touch. Especially since I come from Florida and I knew no spectators. while on the subject. The course to me is hilly. Not crazy impossible but there are hills and it should not be considered flat. Flat is Florida courses. Mildly hilly is what I would say is more accurate. Good Race. Police support was good, course somewhat closed to traffic, we were barricaded off to side and plenty of police on motorcycles and cars and at intersections. It was perfect. Thank you.

The race started on time, packet pick up was quick and hassle free. I like the race tee- it wasn't the typical technical tee- one can wear it with jeans and still look good. The medal is pretty and different than other races. The course was visually appealling. I describe it was a loop within a loop. Most of the time you were in the shade and you pass by plenty of fall color. My only concern was the route itself. The race is not closed to traffic. The race website clearly states this but it's something I just skimmed over. When sidewalks were an option, I used them.

The Baystate marathon has improved over the years, from a race that had many glitches (according to friends who have run it), to a race that is near perfection. Everything that concerns the race is within 2 blocks of Lowell High School, where the race packet pick-up is located. The parking garage, start and finish are minutes a part. The aid stations are plentiful and offer water and Gatorade every mile. The course is well marked every mile too. As for the start, it is very easy to position yourself, and smooth at the gun. The finish line is very visible, well placed, and is an easy access to drop bags and refreshments. The course, by the way, is excellent! Flat with very gentle inclines and declines make for a very fast finish time. Lastly, the tech shirts are very nice and the medal is awesome. Job well done to the race directors and all the volunteers!

They had a great bunch of high school kids helping out at the bag drop and at all the aid stations. I can't say enough about how good all of the volunteers were. The course is mostly flat with a few rollers and the Tyngsborough Bridge is fixed now, so no boucing up and down going over it. 2012 weather was beyond perfect with starting temps in the upper 40's to mid 50's during the race. It was a throughly enjoyable day.

Having only run in New York marathon (21 years ago), I was very impressed with the beautful course and energetic volunteers.

Just ran this marathon today and I highly recommend it. The course is relatively flat (there are some overpasses and slight hills, but nothing crazy...I do believe flat is an accurate description) as it goes along the river. I ran a 2:50 and it was good to have competition (a decent amount of runners in front of me and behind me so that I did not feel like I was running alone as has happened at some races). If you need crowds to cheer you on, this is probably not the race for you because the only people are mainly at key intersections, and the water points. I didnt mind it. The water stations were plentiful along with the police support. I appreciated the gatorade and the energy suppliments handed out. The I had no issues with traffic getting to the race, or while running it. The course is very clearly marked out by cones. Thankfully the weather was gorgeous today. My only wish is that the race started at 0730 instead of 0800 because by the time I finished it was beginning to warm up. It is a weird fall in New England right now...very warm. On the website it stressed to get their early if doing race day packet pickup. I got there at 0600...parked about 100m from the start and packet pickup and waited two hours for start. I could have easily gotten there at 0715 and had no issue getting my packet and preparing for the race by 0800. Good race, highly recommend it.

I knew early this summer that this would be my 50 States finish so when I registered I contacted the race director requesting bib #50. Little did I know they would schedule great weather, a lovely course and a well organized event to make this a really special day for me and my family. I will recommend that the 50 States club make this a reunion marathon sometime soon. Thanks.

This is my second Baystate and I Thoroughly enjoy this race. Everything from packet pickup to the finish line was done very well!! Where else can your family see you from mile 5 to mile 12 and then again from mile 14-26.2 from the warmth of the car? I really loved the change from finishing at the baseball park to the Tsongas Center. Post race food was excellent. MY ONLY COMPLAINT is the race shirt. This year's shirt was much lower in quality than last year and the design needs some updating as well; other than that, this is one of the best races in NE. Keep up the great work Lowell!!!

2011 is my first Baystate Marathon. The organization of the race made everything simple, leaving the runner to focus on the race. Parking, start line and amenities were easily accessible. The volunteers were great. they were quick to greet before the start, called out water/gatorade locations as you came into the water stations, and cheered you on by name. The personalized bibs were a nice touch as well. The finish area was lined with spectators and had a nice home town feel. Overall, It was a good experience for me and I certainly would run Baystate again. JG

I have run this marathon many times from it's old days/course, orgnaization to what it is now. Simply put, in the earlier days there was always much to complain about and the organizers always wrote about 'this year we are better' but it was the same old same old. One of the biggest problems was Water Stops. The finish was ok but nothing to write to your mother-in-law about. Two years ago we got hit with a snow storm and freezing temps and winds. After the race with frozen limbs we had to walk to our cars and freeze even more. OK enough. I am happy to say that this year Bay State turned out to be a very pleasant and memorable experience. Totally new approach and and a very well though of plan and organization. What stands out in my mind especially is the water stops. THEY WERE EXAPLERY AND OTHER MARATHONS SHOULD LEARN FROM IT !!All stops were perfectly located, clearly marked, adequately supplied with water, Gatorade, Porta Potties and friendly volunteers.As soon as you felt thirsty you knew that a water stop is coming up. I have run 132 marathons and this is the only marathon where someone thought about making all things available at one stop. Doea it take a genius to figure out how comfortable it is for the runners to have all they need at one stop !! Having the start and finish at Tsongas Arena was icing on the cake. To warm up inside the Arena with bright lights, warms temps(ish :-)), no wind etc really put you in the right state of mind before the race. The finish line had a warm cozy feeling about it with people there to watch you and cheer you on as you finish. Then the food area once again was welcoming and colorful with benches , steps and green grass to sit on. All I can say is Keep up the good work, and now you finally belong with the Big boys. One last thing, please go back to the Cotton shirts. I simply hate all these Technical shirts. Try to give them away as soon I get them. Try folding and stacking them. Good luck.

Course is flat and fast double loop along the river. No real wind to speak of and the weather is typically perfect (as it was this year). My biggest complaint would be about the pace groups. I wanted the 3:20 pace group but couldn't find them until about a minute before the gun went off - and they were situated about 30 feet BEHIND the 3:40 pace group, right next to the 3:50 pace group. After the start, they took off - way too fast. They clicked off a 7:15 for the first mile (3:20 is a 7:40 pace), so I had to just let them go. Other than that the race was great. Water stations every 2 miles or so were fine; I don't think I needed more. I didnt BQ, but I still had a good race.

I ran the Boston Marathon 2008, and bombed badly in the race. A few weeks later I suffered a herniated disc. A few months later my wife and I separated, and we got divorced. I tried three times to re-start my marathoning, but twice was injured and once... well, my heart just wasn't in it. Thank goodness for the folks at the Bay State Marathon. I pulled a hamstring and they let me defer to this year. They kept me in the loop but didn't bombard me with spam. The course is just about running. No bands, or amusement park rides, or energy-drink vans. Just put on your shoes and run. It was exactly what I needed at just the right time. Water stops were well-placed, and traffic was not closed but protected from the runners. And there was nothing quite like finishing in a baseball stadium - what a great touch! Don't let anyone tell you there aren't fans - not true. Yes, you might go miles without seeing them, but I high-fived plenty of little kids - and even some 1/2 marathoners. And thanks to the woman with the "Nice Ass" sign. What a course! It was like going out on a casual long run with your pals. Not completely flat - kind of rolling hills between 4-6, but they're manageable. I like the idea of a 10-mile loop. Made things easier on which to concentrate. I set a new PR after 4 years, BQ'ed and did something I've never done - negative splits! One sole negative: they might want to load runners in the corral from the BACK, not the front. Too many crammed the starting line, but after about 400 meters there was room to run. Thank you, BSM, for making running fun again!

Previously a runner of bigger races (NY, Philly, etc.), I was looking for the sure qualifier for Boston, which I sailed through with no problem. Overall, a great race! A great course - I loved the double loop because I don't know the area and I got my brain in gear to sort of know where I was. Minimal hills, and great volunteers. Water stops were a little tight but plentiful throughout the race. Not a fan of the "bouncing bridge." I actually felt my knee buckle on the first pass. I panicked, so I literally skipped to the end of the bridge. The finish into the ball park was exciting, but the stairs up into the stands, and going back down to exit, was torture. Bag check lost my bag temporarily, so I had to go back and do the stairs again. Ugh.

I will say the best thing about this race is the group of pacers. They even paced all 26 miles. I could not have BQed without them. Thank you, pacers. The second best thing is the timing of the race, one day before the Boston registration. If I could whine about anything, it is the "exit strategy." The runners have to climb up the audience stand to exit the ball park, after 26 miles.

Any event, especially one of this size, takes fine-tuning, planning and execution, and the race directors and volunteers did exactly that. From months before the starting gun went off, the communication from the race director was outstanding. He addressed every aspect of the race all of us first-timers, and was a quick reply to any questions. Pre-race, the expo was very small, but the pasta dinner was free and delicious. Pre-race number pickup the day before went off without a hitch. Use of the Tsongas Arena was welcomed to get warm, stretch, use the restroom, change, etc. As for race day, we could have hoped for better weather (being mid-October and all), but that's no fault of the organizers'. The course itself was as flat as advertised, especially in New England. Please don't be THAT fooled by the fact that such a high percentage of finishers are BQ's - that also means that this race draws a lot of fast runners as well, looking to BQ or PR. The course had its fair share of spectators, particularly around miles 3, 13, 22 - all points in the same area that the marathoners loop through. The "bouncing bridge" crossing the river at the farthest point away on the course was something else. The volunteers were very enthusiastic, as I heard they would be - even at the latter stages of the race. The finish was awesome, being in such a place where space and seating isn't at all at a premium. The only gripe I have was that the men's bathroom at the top of the stairs after the finish was out of order, so I had to walk to the other side of the stadium to use it. At this point, my teeth were literally chattering because I was so cold, so to be out of the rain and cold right away would have helped. But the chicken soup helped warm my core, and I was on my way. Definitely not an experience to forget, and the event is definitely recommended!

I decided to try yet another road marathon after DNFing at the VT 100 in July. I figured I had a huge base of high mileage weeks, and it was time to go for my first BQ. I was told that Bay State was the place to go. After intensifying my training to get back the speed I had lost through ultra running, I PR'ed by over 13 minutes. Bay State is fast and well-organized. Finishing in the stadium was cool, although I hauled ass out of there afterward due to the cold and snow. The ultimate highlight was the SURPRISE visit my girlfriend made out to Lowell to watch me finish and share in the moment. Love you, Kellie!