Christine Shearman's Staging Area

I participated as one of the official 2:40 pacers for this race.
Bib pickup was super smooth, there was plenty of parking right at the start line. Course was very pretty, some rolling hills but very manageable. Aid stations were great (though maybe one more water stop towards the end would have been good, as it was a hot day) and ALL the volunteers were amazing. Finish line festivities were fantastic— pizza, snacks, margaritas, and music (any race with Michael Bernier is top notch). Love the medal and swag. Shuttles back to the parking lot were smooth. This was a super fun race that’s not to be missed!

This was my first time running this and it was amazing. Race registration was easy, communication from the race company was clear. Bib pickup was race-morning only and was very smooth. Plenty of parking options on race morning! Swag consisted of a tech shirt, running socks, and drawstring bag— all awesome. The race started right on time. The course was very clearly marked and the ocean views were SPECTACULAR. There were no road closures so navigating some of the busy/narrow roads was a challenge, but there were lots of local police directing traffic, which helped a lot! Aid stations were plentiful. Finish line festivities included some of the best post race food I’ve ever had— sandwiches, cookies, donuts, fruit, drinks— you name it. The medal in the shape of Massachusetts is wonderful. And a big shoutout to ALL the incredible volunteers; the whole vibe was just so friendly and positive. Thank you!

This is a small race, meant to help runners prepare for Boston in April. I am not running the Boston marathon this year, but I wanted a good winter challenge and this race definitely delivered.
Registration and race day check-in were smooth. There was a big snowstorm rolling in on race day, and everyone was encouraged to take advantage of the early start. This proved to be a wonderful option for me, a slower runner. The storm started when I was about halfway through which added to the already challenging, hilly course. Through it all, though. The greater Derry track club and volunteers made it safe and enjoyable. Aid stations were well maintained, and volunteers took care to make sure that the water and Gatorade did not freeze on us. We were met with smiles and cheers at every point.
My goal was simply to finish in under three hours, and I accomplished that!
Swag is great— love my long sleeved shirt and pint glass!
There was an amazing after party with hot chocolate, coffee, snacks, and soup. There was also a later party with especially crafted beer, but I wasn’t able to attend that.Overall, a gem of a race! Don’t miss if you’re preparing for Boston or another Spring marathon.

I’ve participated in the relay several times, and today was my second time running the full. This event never disappoints. Bib pickup is always smooth. The start line is always easy to navigate, with water, med tents, and plenty of volunteers to assist. The course itself is hilly, but if you live in New England, you’ll be fine. Aid stations are plentiful and have plenty of water, Gatorade, and fuel. As always, the volunteers are AMAZING. The shirt is great and the medal is gorgeous!
Whether you want to run a 5k, relay, half marathon or full marathon, there’s something for everyone. 10/10 will always recommend!

First of all, a disclaimer that I participated as a pacer with Beast Pacing.
Beautiful course, friendly and helpful volunteers, and excellent swag. Shirt with thumb holes? Yes please!
Bib pickup the day before was smooth and the expo had lots of freebies in addition to merch for sale.
Start line was well organized and the bagpipes were a welcome surprise!
The course itself is beautiful with a few challenging hills. The ocean air and views made up for any difficulty!
Aid stations were plentiful and volunteers were absolutely amazing. Thank you!

Well managed, well supported, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Bib pickup at the expo was smooth and there were plenty of Revel folks to answer questions. The pre-dawn shuttle to the start was well managed. It was cold and rainy at the start and there were plenty of extra Mylar blankets, gloves and good humor to get us through. Gear check was smooth.
Late start meant extra time standing in the chilly rain, which wasn’t great but didn’t detract from the positive energy.
The net downhill course was challenging. Note to future runners: be aware of how much the Kanc pitches— I was fighting to stay level and losing 😂. Very few spectators which made for a peaceful race. Unfortunately it was chilly and rainy so the scenery wasn’t as vibrant as could be but still very nice.
Aid stations were well stocked and plentiful, and volunteers were AMAZING.
Swag was great— love my shirt and the bibboards were a nice touch. Beautiful medal as well.
I do wish there had been an option for start line parking, or at least drop off. The 6AM start meant a 3:15 shuttle, so it was hard to be well rested.
This was my 11th lifetime marathon; nowhere near a PR for me but I’m so proud to have successfully finished this one.
Overall a great race that I’d recommend!

If you’re looking for a great race experience in Maine, this is a sure winner. Registration and race communication was great. Bib pickup was hassle-free.
The start line had plenty of port-a-potties and water.This was a challenging and hilly course; thankfully it had some great coastal views, crowd support, and was well marked. Aid stations were plentiful and the volunteers were amazing and encouraging.
The finish line festivities were super fun, with food, drink and music. The medal and shirt are great too. Definitely recommend.

This is a well- run, well-attended and beautiful half-marathon. A can’t-miss for NH races.
This is a bigger race, so it’s worth getting to the start line early! We enjoyed seeing the sunrise on the beach before the 8am start. Parking is paid and the city enforces that!
The start was crowded but well managed and the energy was fantastic.
The course was well marked, mostly flat, and well supported with water/Gatorade stations. There were plenty of ocean views and lots of enthusiastic spectators and musicians.
The finish line food and refreshments were great. Lobster rolls, veggie wraps, chowder— it was perfect. There was beer available or soda for those who prefer— it was a little weird that beer was 1 ticket while soda was 2 tickets, but not a big deal IMO. The continued live music was the icing on the cake.
Swag is top notch. One of my new favorite hoodies plus a sweet medal.
This is one of the best half marathons I’ve ever run, and I’ve run quite a few. Highly recommend!

This was my 6th lifetime marathon and my first time running Clarence DeMar.
Runners received excellent communication from the race director in the months and weeks leading up to the race. All the pre race instructions for race day parking, pre race bib pickup, and spectator guidelines were clear and timely. I’m grateful that COVID restrictions were followed while still allowing a fun time.
Bib pickup the day before was convenient and easy.
I didn’t sign up for the pasta dinner BUT I serendipitously met the keynote speaker, Bill Rodgers, in the hotel lobby!
The weather was perfect on race day morning. The course was absolutely stunning — perfect New England fall scenery. Plenty of rolling hills but no crazy elevation.
Aid stations were plentiful. We were told far in advance that there would be only water and Gatorade; the race provided no additional fuel on the course. Fine with me as I prefer to carry my own food anyway. The volunteers were absolutely wonderful— kind, and encouraging at every stop. My only suggestion would be to add at least 1 more porta-potty stop between miles 1 and 10.
There were long, quiet stretches, but also lots of portions with tons of spectator support. So nice to be cheered on by the locals. The group at around mile 23 that had a spread of snacks and drinks for runners were the absolute BEST.
Due to Covid restrictions, family wasn’t allowed at the finish line, but race volunteers made up for it with lots of cheering and encouragement. I’m a slower marathoner, but I felt just as supported and special as an elite runner.
Overall, this was a near perfect experience. Fantastic race run by some clearly wonderful people. My favorite marathon so far.

I had participated in the Gate City in years past, both as part of a relay team and as a half-marathoner. This was my first time running the Gate City full, and this was my second marathon.
Overall this was a wonderful race. Bib pickup and expo was the day before. Pickup went smoothly, there were a few vendors, a raffle, and a massage station. Swag was nice, consisting of a gear bag, t shirt, and coupons from local businesses.
Parking was easy on race day. There was water and snack items for runners at the start, which was a nice touch.
Marathoners ran 2 alternating loops, twice each, passing through Main Street at the end of each loop. Directions were clear on the website (plus, GCS had orgainized a bonus “preview” run the week prior), the route was clearly marked, and there were ample volunteers and police to direct runners and control traffic. There were sufficient water/Gatorade stops with porta potties. The course itself was not easy. It was mainly in residential areas, with one portion going through Mines Falls Park and another on the Rail trail. Nashua’s neighborhoods are hilly, some streets are narrow, and there are a LOT of potholes. On top of that, the skies opened up and Mother Nature treated us to a torrential downpour for at least an hour. In spite of the weather, every single volunteer on the course went above and beyond to support the runners with water, fuel, and/or words of encouragement. They were spectacular. This was one race with less crowd support than I’m used to, probably because of the weather there were fewer spectators.
Overall this was a great marathon experience.

2019 was my third year running this 10k and it gets better every time. Parking at the event is free, easy, and a nice warmup walk to the start. Swag included a winter hat and gloves, plus a sweet pair of running socks for bringing a goodie to the after party. The course is very nice with a couple of hills. Volunteers are all friendly and encouraging. The afterparty at the elks club is lots of fun, plenty of good food and drinks and a relaxed atmosphere.

This was my first full marathon, and Baystate was the perfect choice for me. The course was mostly flat with some lovely scenic areas; The only drawback was the construction near the finish line, but I know the race officials have no control over that. Support along the course was plentiful; there was plenty of water, Gatorade, and there were also portapotties at each stop. Volunteers and staff were helpful, super friendly and very supportive. The race swag was really nice; I really like my long sleeve tech shirt, and the medal is gorgeous. Providing PR & BQ keychains to those who earned them at the finish line, was a sweet and thoughtful extra. The only thing that I would like to see them improve upon, is food and drink at the finish line. It is possible I was so tired after running 26.2 miles I missed something, but it seemed to me that there was not a lot of food beyond bananas, granola bars, and water…All good things, but it might’ve been nice to see some bagels and peanut butter as well. Overall, though, this was a wonderful race And I would recommend it to anyone who asks.

This was the first half marathon I ever ran, back in 2015, and I will always love it. Yes, there are rolling hills. There is also beautiful scenery, first rate volunteers, and wonderful support stations. Swag is always great for this race…In past years I’ve gotten gloves and headband, arm sleeves, a gym bag and a really nice tech shirt. The medal is always unique and adorable. Very nice spread for runners after the race….soup, cocoa, bagels, bananas, etc. love this race and can’t wait to run it again this year!

I’ve run this as part of a relay team and have also run the half marathon. Well produced run that takes you through the city of Nashua. Well run, great volunteers, aid stations are plentiful. Race swag is great…usually a good quality drawstring bag, shirt, and various coupons/freebies from local businesses.