NYC marathon - does crowd slow you down?

Try whipping out your [censored], while they are searching their purses and
pockets for magnifying glasses, the lead runners will trip, and you'll
win.

New Yorkers are forced to put up with this runner's circle jerk every
year. Streets and public areas are closed. Traffic gets rerouted for
days. Security and safety costs incurred by the city are astronomical.
Most of you mouth breathers will either urinate and/or defecate and/or
vomit on a public thoroughfare at some point along the course. And the
residents are expected to not only put up with this astronomical waste
of time and capital, but cheer on and motivate this thundering herd of
narcissistic, heart rate obsessed, cartoon characters.

So, as you sit there worrying about those adoring New Yorkers slowing
you down, just remember........It's the NYC Marathon.......You clowns
ARE the crowd. You are the ones getting in the way.

I may have created some confusion with my initial post. I am not
complaining about the spectators and I do in fact appreciate them. My
concern is that I have read in a couple of spots that NYC can be less
then ideal for those shooting for a PR, because of the 40 thousand
runners and congestion issues in the first several miles. I am trying
to find out if this effect is severe or mild. I am quite excited about
the prospect of running NY, but I am concerned about this issue because
I am getting old and dont have too many more shots at a PR.

Miss Anne Thrope said:

Most of you mouth breathers will either urinate and/or defecate and/or
vomit on a public thoroughfare at some point along the course.

If that were unique to race day, this wouldn't be NYC.

w/nyc, the course alone is not conducive to a pr. the congestion
factor is there but really only for the first 1.5 miles before the
course opens up & you can break if that's your concern. don't do nyc
if you dig the serenity of the lone runner experience. you will be
constantly distracted (whistles, bells, screams, etc.... it's a zoo &
circus for about 21 of the 26 miles). i know some runners that wear
earplugs for this race. you can easily get seduced into the enormity &
hoopla of it all, out of your plan, and summarily bonk. it's a crazy
spectacle, not a place to pr. good luck.

As was said earlier, the course alone is not a PR course.

NYC marathon is an awesome experience, and if you have your head down
digging out a PR
I'm afraid you'll mss it. Think of the most heavily spectated race you've
run. That's NYC
for at least 20 of 26 miles. It's an absolute blast

The hills (bridges) are deceptively difficult and taxing and I train in a
hilly area.

As for crowds of runners. Depends what your point of reference is. If you
are used to
running big marathons, NYC handles the crowds well with 3 different routes
absorbing the runners
over the first 7 miles before the merge. Super wide streets thereafter.
Far better than Chicago.
Density on par with Boston (narrower streets in Boston with a stretched out
field)

Hartford? NIce event and well supported. It's not a great PR course
(some hills and lots of sharp turns in the final 6 after a rip roaringly
fast first 20),
but certainly more attainable than NYC. Albany (mind numbingly empty) and
Lowell (icky)
are probably better choices if PR is your only criteria.

NYC is best enjoyed without the pressure of a PR though. If it comes,
it's the cherry on the cake.

Good luck

"Josemas" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all...i am planning training for a fall marathon, my second
marathon. I am hoping to PR (shooting for around 3:40 ish). I have
prequalifed for NYC marathon and I am tempted, but I am worried about
the extreme crowd slowing me down. I read people's opinions on
marathonguide.com and there were several comments saying "don't run NY
if you want to PR", becuase of a combination of the crowd and the
hills. I am tempted by the NY experience but mostly i am focused on
the PR, I think I can deal with the hills but i worry about the crowd.

My question is, how much does the crowd cost you in time (and energy of
going around people)? My alternative is marathon that is perhaps less
of an experience but is faster and flat, probably hartford. If we are
talking about 3-4 minutes of difference (chip time) i would prefer to
do NY, but if it's 10 minutes i'd rather do hartford.

Thanks!