#41 • DERRY • NEW HAMPSHIRE
Cheap Marathon
Time of Year: April 2025
Race Cost: $122 (with T-shirt)
Weather & Temperature: cold, overcast LOWS – low 40s, HIGHS – upper 40s
Hotel Information
Doubletree Downtown Hotel
Manchester, New Hampshire
Older hotel with lobby that includes a restaurant and bar. Basic room with carpet floors, windows that do not open, and a wall A/C unit that was loud and rattled. Thin walls – could hear neighbors talking in room next door.
* Hotel cost: $187 per night; $662 for three nights
* Rental car: $147 for 24 hours
* Distance from Expo: 4 miles
* Distance from start/finish of marathon: 14 miles (20 minute drive)
Other Hotel Options: Multiple hotels in the surrounding area
Expo Information
Millennium Running Store
Bedford, NH
Features:
* Packet pick-up – no line
* a couple of vendors – 10 minutes to collect packet & visit vendors
Race Day Information
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Weather & Temperature:
* Start: Low 40s°F
* Finish: Upper 40s°F
* Overcast and drizzle
7:30am start @ Derry Rail Trail Depot
* Unique starting in pairs of two people every 7 seconds
* Will need to drive – no public transportation available – good amount of parking
* Some outdoor restrooms – but there will be lines close to the start
* gear check available
* crowd was laid back and made it easy to get to the start corral
* Full and half marathon start at different time at same location
Course Information
Miles 0-26.2
The race started after the sun was up so you could clearly see where you were heading. You start at Derry Rail Trail Depot. The start is unique because they line the runners up in pairs of two in corrals that have around 60 people. Each pair starts every 7 seconds with a small break between corrals. This leads to the beginning of the race being very spaced out and easy to run. There are no crowds of runners and you start with people who enters a similar finish time as you. The race is a 12.6 mile loop that is essentially a six miles out and back on a bicycle trail. The marathon is very scenic with forest and lakes on each side of you. The last mile of the race you are shifted back into suburbia to run a loop to get to the finish.
Final stats
The Race Finish was located at Derry Rail Trail Depot located in downtown Derry on a bicycle trail.
Plenty of shade and some vendors but not a lot of seating and no post-race party.
After cooling down from the race you can explore the town or depart to go shower and nap.
Overall Review
Overall the race was a small race – around 550 people for the full marathon. The race has a unique start with a pair of runners starting every 7 seconds so there is no crowd or problems getting to the start location. The race is an out and back 12.5 mile loop that you run twice. On the second loop you finish with a mile loop through suburbia. Most of the race is in the forest with plenty of shade.
Out & About
Places I visited around town
…or wanted to but ran out of time!
What restaurant will help me carbo-load the night before the race?
* Piccola Italian Ristorante
* Fratello’s Italian Grille
What grocery stores are in the area?
* Market Basket (400 meters from race hotel)
* Water; Energy drinks; Bananas; Oranges; Bread; Chocolate
What other restaurants are in the race area?
* Supply
* Firefly Bistro
* Multiple restaurants within walking distance
Where can I celebrate finishing the marathon with a drink?
* Republic Brewing Company
* Cocktail Lounge 815
* Stark Brewing
* Thirsty Moose Brewin