Michael Tartaglia's Staging Area

It was my first time at the Buffalo Marathon Weekend event, though I had run the half.

What Worked Well: Location, location, location. Even on race day, there was oodles of parking. My hotel was right by UB at Amherst (towards the northeast), and I had no issues getting to or parking on race morning. The convention center is also a stumble ‘n’ roll from the finish line. If you only manage to pick up your bib the day before, the swag is still for sale on race day. Bag drop is also in the convention center ball room, which was very convenient, and could have been moreso if it rained! Per the course? Easy to follow, the half-marathon did not have any sharp hairpins of note. Mild to moderate rolling hills, and with a half-marathon on my legs from the day before I was still able to punch out a run five minutes off my PB. It’s that flat… -ish.

What Could Have Been Better: Not much? Niagara Square served as a mini runner village once through checkpoint, and there were plenty of portajohns. Yet if you got there a little closer to race start, it would be a bit of a wait. (See if you can get into that area on race day no later than 5:45am for the 6:30am start.) Speaking of, the 6:30am start seemed way early, yet there was plenty of daylight at that time. It could be an issue for those traveling far on race morning. Course support was great, water support for the half was fine, but I could have done with carrying my own hydration as well.

TL:DNR? Great race, easy enough course, friendly for beginners, great vibe, I mark this as West New York’s answer to a mini mini mini NYC Marathon.

What Worked: Though a university town, the race was small, as about 75 finished the half marathon. All finishers received a laser-etched wooden medal which was quite cool! The course was easy to follow, arrow marks on the pavement and placards kept you on track. Most roads were not heavily traveled by vehicles early Saturday, so I felt relatively safe. Also, since there were not as many runners as other halves, this meant the crowd dispersed quite a bit – so you can relax into your pace, or feel free to push as hard as you’d like. The elevation profile looks like a stretched out “M” – a decent climb on the first third, a bit of a dip in the middle, and a gradual descent. There are rolling hills throughout, yet the toughest climbs were at mile 3-4 and 8-9.

What Could Have Been Better: The race day was apparently a little warmer than usual. There were four water tables, about 3-4 miles apart each. I felt it necessary to bring my own bottle, learning my lesson from a race elsewhere the prior week. The roads were not closed for the race, and though not as heavily traveled by cars, runners still need to keep their heads up, and stay to the left-side of the road.

TL:DNR? This is a great springtime race, especially if you are in upstate NY. A decent challenge, crowds that will stay to cheer you on at the end, and beset in a wonderful city with much to do downtown!

Since 2017, I’ve run the NYCRuns Big Apple Half seven times. For all but one year, it started toward the west side, made two upper-loop circuits (including the Harlem Hill twice) and finishing on the 102nd transverse. Every year was a little different, last year included two full loops after starting farther south. This year was the aforementioned “usual.”

What Worked: Corral is separated by expected pace from the time you register. I was put into corral “A” even though I’m not near the elites’ athleticism on this course. This may imply that other corrals (D,E,F, etc) could be a bit more loaded, but since I can’t say for sure, I’m leaving it in the “well organized” considerations. Also, bib pickup looked like a gargantuan line, yet it never stopped moving. This felt more efficient, as they paired your registration QR to a bib.

What Could Be Better: This might be controversial. Because of the looped nature of the course, faster runners of loop one will intersect with those of a different pace once beginning the second loop. In other words, expect water stations to feel a little congested, and twice I encountered a runner who just *stopped* after grabbing a water cup!

TL;DNR: Great race worthy of annual running, smoother and smoother execution and management as the years go on. Course is very hilly with a tough hill, yet beware other runners if you’re quick.

What Worked: Not enough can be said of this “big little marathon weekend.” The expo had a great amount of merchandise for sale at extraordinarily reasonable pricing. The swag included a small bottle of wine and a wine glass in addition to a quality tech shirt! Though I had run the full marathon twice before (’18, ’21), this is the first time I had run the half – the overall experience from corral to course to finish was consistent for both. As this year they forecast a rising temperature for the marathon, they accommodated with extra water stations beyond the map plot points. Following the race, the usual spread of Wegman’s goodies was so plentiful they give you an empty shopping bag to have at it.

What Could Have Been Better: Bib pickup this year on Saturday afternoon was a little hectic. Half- and full-marathoners were queued in separate lines (owing to separate chips and bibs). This was not entirely clear at first, as the long marathoner line extended out to the atrium aside the museum gift shop. There was nearly no wait for the half-marathoners. Yes, there was ultimately someone who later came out to clarify, though I had long finished with the expo visit at that time. Minor minor minor.

TL;DNR: Great race, great scenery, amazing support, the spread at the end is unmatched.

What Worked: Bib pick up for the 5K “Mini-Marathon” was at the runner expo, which requires gathering on Thursday or Friday. Transport to the start was efficient, way finding made getting to where you had to be simple. Keep your head up!

The race itself was straight forward, as a minor directional change compared to where the marathon concludes the following day. Slight rolling uphill to start, then around Mrs Maquarie’s, back out for a hairpin, and returning down Macquarie towards the Opera House. There was a medal for the finish, which was nice, and no other swag – if that’s your thing. Overall it was a great preview of those final hills and what to expect for the race.

What Could Have Been Better: Registration was focused solely on the honor system. If you said you could finish in under 27-minutes, you were in Corral A. This was perhaps too generous. Though I was propped up towards the front, there were runners ahead moving at a far slower pace. With the various choke points at the start and around Mrs Macquaries, this made dodging a bit treacherous.

TL;DNR? This is a great warmup race if you’re looking for a final “engine check” for the marathon, yet don’t take it too seriously. If registering, please be honest about the time you’ll finish your race to keep traffic fair.

What Worked: Getting to the bib pickup Pre-Party was easy. There were volunteers dotted throughout the area in addition to way-finding signs. I arrived early afternoon Wednesday (the first day of the Pre-Party) and had no hiccups. Fast forward to race-day, I had no issues logistically getting to the race start area by 6am. Everything after then was quite fluid, going through security, getting to the corral, and queueing up for the start. The course was easy to follow and wiiide. All the hard hills are in the beginning, and the second half being significantly flatter does aid in the “negative-split setting.” plus the previously narrow incline to the boardwalk just before mile 13 was significantly widened compared to my previous two times here. Post-race, the flow was easy as well. I had an easier time this time getting through to my bag pickup and Maimonides Park. I finished exactly 2 minutes slower than my PR for the same course, and exactly five seconds faster than my NYC Half!

What Didn’t Work: I only heard through the grapevine that the Pre-Party was a wild experience owing to changing weather conditions, making it difficult for people to get what they needed. Fast forward to the race, and it was the first I’d seen NYRR set the course to Yellow Flag indicating hazardous conditions. Also, some of the water stations were understaffed – I felt bad for the volunteers who were working incredibly hard to fill cups, and I was only wave 1!

TL;DNR: Weather created chaos at the pre-party and made the run itself much harder. Stay hydrated, have fun, it’s a great PR-friendly course if you’re careful!

What worked: Getting to the expo was easy from Grand Central Station (walk west to 5th Ave and south a few blocks), with crowd control based on registering for a time to show up for it. This, like the NYC Marathon expo experience seems not to be enforced; with 28,000 runners taking part, it didn’t seem at all chaotic. Great place to get info, just a bit cramped. Per the race, getting to the start was easy by ride-share for me. Bag check was effortless. The course itself was a good degree of challenging, with Prospect Park’s massive hill hit early. Construction by the Manhattan Bridge re-routed the race over the Brooklyn Bridge. Clearing the park was easy, and getting to where one needed to go afterwards also simple. To wit – I was Wave 1, so I may not have seen the crowds that could have evolved from four more waves of runners.

What could have been better: The expo felt a bit cramped, and somewhat awkward to navigate. (What if I required mobility assistance?) Per the race, the tape to allow runners into their corrals dropped less than 10 minutes before race start (of Wave 1) which felt like a mad rush. We crowded up by the entrance to the Brooklyn Museum parking lot, which didn’t make things any more comfortable.

What exceeded expectations: Portajohns galore! After getting through security, there were no fewer than three large areas to access them: by security on the expressway, in the parking lot, and in the corrals. Water was well placed, though my experience with Tokyo spoilt me: traffic was occasionally an issue. The course change over Brooklyn Bridge felt incredibly smooth, with no sharp turns or dips in elevation. I hope this stays a permanent change, as the iconic combo of Prospect Park, Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn Bridge, 42nd Street, Broadway, Times Square, Central Park, then Tavern on The Green is a grand slam of landmarks.

TL,DNR: Well organized, stick to your registered time for the expo, get where you need to early, and keep your head up!

I’ve run this race nearly every year since the 2017 iteration. Until last year, the course was the same loops around the upper 3/4 of Central Park. This year, it’s a new layout that goes a full loop of the park!

What I liked: big crowds were managed well enough. If you didn’t get your bib in the mail, bring your QR code – you’ll be scanned and assigned a bib and corral on the spot and fairly fast! This year’s swag shirt was controversially tacky but I loved it; others hated it! Per the course itself, it started further south than previous years, yet that also meant the festival area was by the bandshell towards the southern half of the park. You don’t hit the Harlem Hill any later than previously, yet two sharp turns don’t exist anymore.

What could have been better: While overall production value felt polished, the weather didn’t help matters. I’m not blaming the organizers on it being cold, yet the water stations were mostly ice patches. One station was salting itself, another scraping, but it felt sloppy either way.

TL,DNR? Production value improves, course is not more difficult, just watch your step.

So! Easy as pie to get to, once off the ferry race central is right outside the building. (I found parking by South Ferry in Manhattan.) I volunteered last year so knew the lay of the land a bit. That said, first and last few miles were hilly, middle 5 or 6 miles were flat.

What I liked: The scenery didn’t really do it for me until mile 4. We were running though urban environments, but there was something about hitting the flats that was beautiful on the day. On the return around mile 9, we saw amazing views of the Verrazano. Organization wise it was smooth as always from NYRR.

What could be better: The course was well marked and laid out, and came across as almost intentionally challenging. I counted three hard uphills along the way, but that’s more addressable with training. Post-race potty access is extremely limited if you pick up your bags first. Placed after security, you can check your bags and use the portajohns, but you need to use the portajohns before you reclaim your bags afterwards – or wait until you get onto the ferry, pretty much.

For context, I was planning a road trip and stumbled upon this race as part of a charity project. I had not specifically planned for this race, yet decided last minute to make it a destination about 10 days in advance. That said…

What I liked: I stayed in Watertown and traveled to Sackets Harbor for race day. The commute was straight forward and butter smooth. Volunteers made sure we parked appropriately. Packet pickup and portajohn amenities were available. (Side note, not sure if this is a metro NY thing or not, there was ultimately one long queue for all the loo’s, rather than multiple lines for batches of them. Runner psychology, eh?) The corral was simply laid out with wide enough roadway that front-runners didn’t jostle elbows. Per the course, the scenery was unexpectedly awesome, between running “downtown,” through neighborhoods and farmlands. Water stations competed for your attention, which really helped the atmosphere, and was perhaps one of the most unique experiences I’ve had on races like this! (I didn’t forget to vote!) Post-race, the spread was large and generous. The swag shack had plenty of offerings in various colors. The swag bag also had coupons for various downtown business we coincidently ran by, which was a great plus!

What I wish could have been better: Not much, really. The race date in early September still meant warmer weather. The aforementioned portajohn line wasn’t managed well, yet that’s me nitpicking. Course layout was easy to follow, turning arrow signs were clear. Mile markers were precisely placed out. For an out-and-back style race, it was pretty straight-forward. For someone who registered really late relative to the race date, I found it easy to get to, get what I need, and get ready to go. There were moments post-race where announcers may have lost track of runners (e.g. the lead marathon runner came through without much fanfare until it was too late). Again, I’m nitpicking. Getting out of the race area, there was ample traffic control, just have patience in the downtown area if you need to get around soon after a half-marathon finish.

TL;DNR? Great race, so happy I stumbled upon it, would recommend it!

This was the first time I had run the 10K in Queens with NYRR, having completed various 10K’s and Halves with NYCRuns in years prior. Overall I found it to be a successful event, yet there were parts I hear were a lil’ awkward.

What I liked/What worked: Race central was quite close to where the 7 train and LIRR let off at Mets-Willets Point. Bag drop and portajohns were easily accessible (though don’t forget the restrooms tucked away on the bottom of the park-side of the bridge connecting to the 7). There was a cool finisher festival area which featured snacks and ice pops after the race, with live music. Let me tell ya, everything was GREEN with the sponsor logo and artwork everywhere. Not too bad. The race itself was well mapped out, 27 turns. I was up by Wave 1-B, so did not have much jostling. The course was easy to follow around, with only one major sharp hairpin on the north. Maybe two or three hills of some consequence, I liked how the entire course did not repeat any turns or legs.

What could have been better: Finding where everything was happening was easily, yet weaving around the park’s east side to get to the starting corral was a bit wonky. I spent a few minutes walking the wrong way! I was hearing from my teammates that the Wave 2 crowed was somewhat “forgotten.” A lot of walkers, and those who voluntarily started farther back caused a bit of traffic. While I did not face any hydration issues (five tables over six miles) it remains to be seen if the last of the 12,000+ finishers had cups for them. I digress! By the way, registration filled up FAST.

Overall: Great race, good to scratch the itch of running my first 10K in a few years in spice of recent half- and full-marathon focus.

Production from packet pickup to post-race amenities for both days (I also ran the 5K) was top notch. Course was moderately flat, save for a bridge in the first mile which might scare you into thinking the course is rolling – not so!

Scenery started urban and went through more suburban parts of Baton Rouge, including a lap around the LSU campus and lake. Crowd control was consistent, and road markings were clear as crystal.

Post race amenities were amazing, even if the weather was somewhat chilly. I could see what prior reviews meant by reduced availability of foodstuffs as time went on. Close to the five or six hour mark, most beers, coffee shots, and gumbo varieties were on the verge of running out completely.

That said, I would recommend registering for the VIP package. Food, beer, parking that is obscenely close by, and ten steps to the starting corral, and heat lamps all felt worth it.

Note: If you would like your medal engraved, you must pay cash unless you purchased the engraving options during registration. You also must bring the results receipt provided freely at the marked tent in the finish festival.

What Worked: Race Central is located on 102nd St Transverse and easy to get to, whether you take: a train to Harlem 125th then a taxi; the subway on the east side; drive in and park at a garage. If you did not register 30+ days ahead, you bring your confirmation email which has a code – this scans in to match up to a bib, which in turn has a code that is scanned for your swag. Super efficient, there was no long line waiting to get a pre-printed bib. The race was decently supported, but more on that later. Lots of people turned out for cheering on their family and friends.

What Needed Improvement: While there were 8 water stops (three tables passed over 2.5 laps), in the third loop it was a bit slim-pickin’s. Those who were in the lead pack had diminished setup to grab water/electrolites, and some that had longer mile times tended to walk or congregate around the tables. At times, it appeared only one or two volunteers were there to stock the tables. The later start time might have exhausted those who were there for the 5K that started at 8AM. On that topic, splitting the 5K and Half Marathon into two waves 1 hour apart helped with mitigating traffic in the park, though made things a bit of a hassle to pick up or drop off bags. My advice would be that if your race starts at 9am, drop off your bags no later than 8:20am when the mass of 5K runners finish.

Overall: It is a nice race. I’m sentimental to it as it was the scene of my first-ever half marathon. The Harlem Hill in the park’s northeast is no joke, and otherwise the course is a mix of gentle rolling (west side) and long flats (east side). The venue is great, the swag is great, even the post-race bagels are iconic at this point!

I registered for this race because it was close-ish to where I live (2hrs away) and would provide a refreshing new venue. There were surprises big and small, and no real drawbacks.

What Worked: The expo was quite small relative to what I was used to for other marathons (Wineglass, Brooklyn, etc), yet had all the essentials. Swag seemed of decent quality – except for the shirt that came with race entry. That ran small for me. I wasn’t expecting much for race morning, but was pleasantly surprised! I opted in for the VIP experience which included covered parking and shelter, with a moderate spread of bagels and coffee. Getting on to the race, the course was a good mix of downtown-to-suburbs-and-back, with most of the elevation change happening in the first third of the race and the final mile. It was exhilarating to run east as the 5k runners were “coming at us” – don’t worry, the road was divided, and the crowd was kept in spectator areas. The half- and full-marathon split point was also well marked. Just keep your ears open! This race had a relay component, and where the handoffs would be there was a sizable crowd. Maybe this was a tongue-in-cheek way to assure that there was crowd support all throughout, but it worked either way! Many families were out of their homes to cheer on runners. The after-race party was really stacked, and I wished there would have been more people there!

What Needs Improvement: Not much, really! Though the expo was on the smaller side, it still met my expectations for getting what was needed pre-race. The race itself exceeded expectations, and was well organized. I always knew where I was supposed to go and felt safe/supported along the way.

What was great: The distance is the most accessible of the road races offered by NYRR. It is a hugely popular event, and while not their largest, it is one of the rare ones where corral is determined by age group. The starting corral itself was engineered in a way to prevent people stoping on top of others, with dividing stanchions parallel to the course forcing runners to leave the corral in an organized way at the start. The chute at the finish to get hydrated and get your gear flows nicely. Plus, it’s 5th Avenue right next to Central Park!

What could be better: Getting physically into the corral was a little rough. Entrances were slim, and I feared for the volunteers. Also, with heats so close together, pay special attention to your watch so you don’t miss your heat! For special note, I kept my bags checked at the finish line area, whereas some checked at the start line. Bags are not transported, and this might add to the start corral business for those who opted for the latter.

Overall: Great race. I’d do it again, and it’s a great opportunity to go for a run or jog in Central Park afterwards.

What I liked: This iconic course brings you through as many neighborhoods as one could fit into a 13.1 mile race. Prospect Park is easy enough to get to (see my notes below), the tougher parts are at the start, and a run down Ocean Parkway leads you to Coney Island! The expo was a pleasant experience, making this feel like a much bigger and more serious event than other half marathons NYRR produces. Bib pickup, swag pickup, New Balance shop, and other vendors were present in addition to a party atmosphere. It truly felt like a race and destination at which you *have* to be. Post-race, the chute and bag pickup were excellent. Meeting family on the baseball field was cushy! Even though it rained, there was some shelter in the stands.

What could have been better: Not a race problem per se, just be advised getting to the start may be a bit tricky so give yourself extra time. For example, many of the streets leading up to the corrals are blocked off, so if you Uber/Lyft you might have to walk a bit. Bag dropoff is a breeze, yet the two years I’ve run this there was a line to do so. The course itself is moderately difficult, Prospect Park as *that* hill in its northeast corner. Yet, the rest of the course is somewhat flat to lightly rolling. Post-race, the brewery afterparty is not worth the wait and crowds to get in. Skip that altogether, chill in the baseball field.