Pace Setter : January 2026

Maureen Cox Steps Down as Race Director of the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon

Maureen Cox Steps Down After 13 Remarkable Years Leading the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon - By Cathy Sliwinski

 

 

On November 5, 2025, coordinators of the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon gathered for the race's annual wrap-up meeting, an evening traditionally meant for swapping notes, revisiting challenges, and brainstorming improvements for the year ahead. This year, however, the gathering carried extra significance: it marked the final wrap-up for longtime race director Maureen Cox, who concluded an exceptional 13-year tenure guiding one of the Capital Region's signature running events. In true Maureen style, she passed the baton with grace and zero fanfare to incoming race director Bob Barbato, who will take the helm in 2026.

A Decade of Meaningful Change

Under Maureen's steady, thoughtful leadership, the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon evolved dramatically,  always with runners' experience, safety, and community impact at the forefront. Among her many achievements:

• Sharper athlete tracking: She added additional course splits, giving spectators and race officials more precise runner updates.
• A pioneering charity bib program: Maureen launched a system that offered a limited number of free marathon and half-marathon bibs to selected local nonprofits, turning race entries into powerful fundraising tools.
• Community partnerships with heart: The event deepened its connection with local food pantries and expanded sneaker-recycling efforts, reducing waste while supporting families in need.
• A clear 6-hour course cutoff: Instituted to support city permitting and liability requirements, the cutoff ensured the safety of runners, volunteers, and police. Maureen also added a 6-hour pacer to help athletes stay on track.
• Registration insurance for runners: This new option offered athletes peace of mind with refunds for covered circumstances.
• Visual course previews: She oversaw the creation of a pre-race and post-event course video, now a staple resource for first-timers and veterans alike.
• A solution to the infamous Cohoes train crossing: Long a logistical headache, the issue became even more pressing when Boston no longer accepted net times for runners delayed by trains. Maureen's persistence and coordination helped the race navigate this challenge.
• Community-powered aid stations: Water stops, as well as the start and finish areas, became a showcase of community involvement, staffed by local groups and volunteers.
• A push for sustainability: She brought in Boy Scout troops to help recycle water bottles at the finish line.
• Steering the race through COVID-19: Maureen guided the event through pandemic cancellations, restarts, and rebuilding—emerging with renewed momentum.

Record-Setting Years

During Maureen's directorship, every course record—marathon and half, men's and women's—was set or broken. The 2025 race alone produced new men's and women's half-marathon records, along with a stunning 21% PR rate in the half and 23% in the full. Fifteen percent of marathoners qualified for Boston—numbers that speak to a fast, well-managed course and exceptional race-day execution.

Participation trends mirrored the race's evolution. The event peaked in 2016 with 2,935 runners and more marathoners than half-marathoners. In 2025, registration totaled 1,916, an increase of 120 over 2024, with most athletes in the half. Of those registered, 1,641 finished, a 15% no-show rate, lower than in previous years.

Leadership That Made It All Work

While Maureen consistently credited her coordinators for the race's success, her team, many of whom have served for more than a dozen years, points to her leadership as the reason the event ran like a well-oiled machine. Her trust in her volunteers, combined with unmatched communication and organizational skills, set the tone for smooth operations year after year.

Maureen Cox will be deeply missed not only for the improvements she brought, but also for her calm professionalism, kindness, and dedication to runners and volunteers alike. The Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club is extraordinarily fortunate to have benefited from her leadership in one of its most important volunteer roles.