Clarence DeMar Marathon
Keene, United States · September · Independent
Why people love it
- RaceRaves 4.6 of 5 from 50 ratings; organisation and volunteers praised.
- River valley route from Gilsum to Keene State College.
- USATF-certified Boston qualifier.
- Cool September starts: 12 to 14 °C (54 to 57 °F) in 2026.
- Showers and a finish on the college quad.
Watch out for
- Hillier than the profile suggests: about 305 m (1,000 ft) of climbing.
- Steep cemetery hill at mile 23 (37 km).
- Little crowd support; only water and Gatorade on course.
- Half medals ran out in 2025; no expo.
- Manchester airport is about 95 km (59 mi) away.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.5
RaceRaves 4.6 of 5 from 50 ratings. Organisation, volunteers and scenery praised; thin crowds, no expo and half medals running out cost a little. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
RaceRaves production 4.7; runners call it very well organised with great volunteers. Minus for half medals running out in 2025 and no expo. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
A first-time marathoner loved it, but runners say it is hillier than expected (about 305 m (1,000 ft), 1,000 ft) and on-course fuel is limited. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
Cool starts and a downhill-labelled profile help, but 305 m (1,000 ft) of climbing and a steep hill at mile 23 (37 km) slow it. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.5
RaceRaves scenery 4.6; a 2024 runner called it the most scenic of 26 marathons, with river valley and New England hills. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.8
About 370 finishers on point-to-point roads; no congestion complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.8
Paved country and town roads; no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.8
Country roads and downtown streets; closures are not described. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly2.3
About 305 m (1,000 ft) of gain on rolling New England terrain, plus a steep hill at mile 23 (37 km). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillDownhill3.5
A findmymarathon page labels the profile downhill and one reviewer calls it net downhill, but the climbing offsets it. Boston qualifier. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Shuttle buses to the start in Gilsum and a quad finish at Keene State College; no expo per a 2026 reviewer. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Pace group range not documented. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
Reviewers say there is little crowd support; long quiet stretches, with a bigger crowd downtown. · High confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Water every 3.2 km (2 mi) and Gatorade; bring your own food. One 2025 runner saw first nutrition at mile 23 (37 km). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
River valley; no wind complaints found. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
27 September starts of 12 to 14 °C (54 to 57 °F) in 2026 and similar in other years; afternoons reach 25 °C (77 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
Starts from 4 to 25 °C (40 to 77 °F) over five years, with a 33 °C (91 °F) forecast worry in one year. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.6
Point-to-point on country roads; spectators mostly downtown and at the finish. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Keene sits about 150 m (490 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.2
Small city with a handful of hotels; little evidence. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Fall foliage weekend pricing is likely; no data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
The finish at the college is close to downtown; the start is by shuttle bus. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.7
Manchester airport is about 95 km (59 mi) away; Boston Logan is about 2 hours by road. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Shuttle buses to the start and a Saturday pasta dinner; no expo. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Small New England city with a historic Main Street, a college and restaurants. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.3
Open entry, about 370 finishers, no sell-out reports. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
RaceRaves swag 3.7; showers and medals praised, but half medals ran out in 2025. Fee not found. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Keene, Cheshire County, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 26 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 370 athletes
- First held
- 1978
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 305 m (1,000 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved country and town roads
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 8–22 °C (46–72 °F)
- Humidity
- Usually low to moderate
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT), 95 km (59 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Keene, Near Keene State College
- Booking
- Hotels around Keene downtown and the college; pre-race pasta dinner on Saturday. A 2026 reviewer flew into Boston and drove.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
50 ratings, 4.6 overall; difficulty 3.1, scenery 4.6, production 4.7, swag 3.7. Runners praise the organization, volunteers and scenery; the course is harder than the profile suggests; crowd support and course food are thin.
“one of the best organized races I have participated in”
- RaceRaves (hmlewis)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Marathoner who called it probably the most scenic of 26 marathons.
- RaceRaves (JanaRugg)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Found the course much hillier than expected, about 1,000 ft (305 m) of climbing.
“much more hilly than I expected”
- RaceRaves (charlenez23)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Noted no real crowd support and first on-course nutrition at mile 23 (37 km).
- RaceRaves (kellymunn)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Reports only water and Gatorade, so bring your own fuel.
Show 4 more
- RaceRaves (seagroves87)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Negative
Half runner who got no medal because they ran out and lowered the rating.
- RaceRaves (alexissherwin)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
No expo at packet pickup and long quiet stretches.
- BibRave reviewerblog · Positive
Several BibRave reviews: lots of rolling hills, none huge, much of the course shaded, scenery and aid stations praised. One runner had worried about a 33 °C (91 °F) forecast.
- MyKeeneNowRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Race-week preview of the 47th marathon: about 340 marathoners, water every 2 miles (3.2 km), steep cemetery hill at mile 23 (37 km), forecast 10 to 16 °C (50 to 60 °F).
Raced Clarence DeMar Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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