Johnny Miles Marathon

With the rising cost of marathons this one is affordable and New Glasgow is beautiful. It is well organized and a Boston Qualifier. I look forward to participating again 2014.

I want to offer my thanks to the organizers of this event, all the great helpful volunteers and the supportive crowd of New Glasgow. You all made the marathon a great race for me and I am very grateful. I loved the course (both on pavement and trail), loved the food pre and post-race, loved the finish and the cheering! I hope to return next year. Thank you New Glasgow!

I first ran this marathon in 2004 and intend to return for the sixth time this year. Other marathons could take lessons from the organizers of the Johnny Miles. This is an affordable marathon that provides loads of extras you won't find elsewhere. In 2009, for their modest entry fee you got a great commemorative ball cap, tech shirt, pasta dinner, all the donuts and coffee you could handle prior to the race, and a boxed lunch to devour after your post race massage. The organization of the event is top notch from start to finish and you can't beat the friendly, small town atmosphere. Although I was initially leary of a marathon which involved doing 4-1ok and 1 small loop, it turns out this is an ideal set up for race officials, spectators and competitors alike. As a runner, you are rarely out of sight of other competitors and it is easy to monitor your progress (and that of your friends) and plan your moves as you negotiate the varying terrain of the 1ok loop (ie. a long straight stretch of flat roadway to a rolling trail system along a river to a couple of good hills within a subdivision and ending with a gradual downhill to the finish area). The only portion which may prove frustrating for some is the trail section -it is sometimes necessary to use your manners to alert slower runners and walkers (yes, some don't heed the officials request not to walk 2-3 abreast) to obtain room to pass. This congestion is usually minimal after your fist time around the loop. All in all, it is an event that should not be missed - I hope they don't change a thing!