This past weekend I ran the NYC Marathon. It was my 4th marathon and favorite marathon to date.
The course
What's great about the course is that it feels like a well planned sightseeing tour. Starting in Staten Island offers the opportunity to take the Staten Island ferry and experience nice views of the Statue of Liberty. Shuttles whisk runners from the dock in Staten Island to the starting line.
Experiencing Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan (1st Ave and Central Park) by foot is absolutely ideal. What better way to get to know a city than to run it?
As far as the elevation goes, the course is mostly flat with the exception of a few inclines over the bridges and at the end in Central Park. The inclines on the bridges are somewhat unnoticeable because most people are focused on the views from the bridge itself (at least I was). But careful not to try and go to fast and waste much needed energy.
The fans/supporters
Except for the bridges, the course is completely lined with enthusiasic fans/supporters cheering the runners on.
Some of the best signs I saw people carrying:
"Hurry up! It's cold as hell out here."
"Worst parade ever!"
The organization
The team behind the marathon did an excellent job. Everything from the communications, the expo, transportation, lodging suggestions, and the race itself were coordinated beautifully.
There was only one part of the marathon experience that needs to be reexamined. The end of the marathon after the finish line was a logistical disaster. At the end of the marathon, all the finishers are pushed into a narrow corral that is lined with the UPS trucks carrying runner gear from the start line. There isn't an opportunity to leave this corral because it's fenced in. Thousands of runners are literally stuck in a corral, standing up, after 26.2 miles of running. Not fun. People were getting sick next to me because we were packed so tightly together with no chance at getting some space.
That being said, it was a small price to pay for the positive aspects of the race itself.
Overall
The NYC Marathon was a fantastic experience. Highly recommended.
Comments