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Boulder Backroads Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Boulder Backroads Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.5 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 89 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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G. G. from United States
(9/25/2009)
 "2008 was better... even without beer!" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Boulder Backroads Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I ran this as a half in '08 and a full in '09. The organizers made a big deal about how good the food would be in '09. Wrong! I finished over 4 hours, and all they had were some white buns and weak bagels. "Real" food? Pizzas you could BUY for $1. Are you kidding? For your $80+ fee you don't get food? I would have paid at that point, but DUH. I don't carry cash during a race and my car was parked too far away to go get it. VERY disappointing. Medical support looked good, however, as I saw at least a half-dozen people being treated, likely for heat-related injuries. They should start the marathon at 7, not 8. | |
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T. W. from USA
(9/23/2009)
 "Fun!" (about: 2009)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon so I am in no way qualified to rate it as compared to other marathons. I had no problems figuring out where everything was and I felt like there was always enough water/Gatorade/fuel. It was super hot and sunny, but I trained for that because I know how Colorado is; September can be wicked hot or freezing cold. | |
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s. r. from broomfield, colorado
(9/22/2009)
 "no water - bring your own" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Boulder Backroads Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This was my first half-marathon experience, and I was shocked to find that they were OUT of water at both the 5-mile-mark and the finish line. I wouldn't be surprised if people passed out. Looks like I need to start running with my own water supply. Disappointing organization. You should NEVER run out of water. EVER. | |
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T. J. from Thornton, CO
(9/22/2009)
 "Boulder Half-Marathon 2009" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Boulder Backroads Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The race started at 9 a.m., but needs to move back to 8 a.m. like last year. The heat was an issue this year and the late start only made things worse. Also, it's Tuesday and no results are up? The ankle straps that we had to wear for timing were really uncomfortable; I preferred the chip that goes on your shoe like last year. Otherwise, everything else was nice. I loved the t-shirt, parking was easy, and there was a good assortment of food. | |
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D. R. from Illinois
(9/22/2009)
"Heat, Hills, & Altitude!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Boulder Backroads Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Whew! This was a tough one! I've never run in such heat, but the next day it was 50 degrees, windy, and rainy, so I guess we were lucky. The hills and altitude were overwhelming for a flat-lander from Illinois. Yes, some water shortages were a problem, but handing out bottles of water worked great. Carrying that water bottle and knowing that I had water at all times was reassuring in the 80-degree heat. I wished for food at the end that wasn't the same as what I found throughout the race, but there was still food for old, slow people like me! I loved the dirt/gravel roads, the open space, the views, and the countryside. As a trail runner, this was perfect. This was the most difficult race of my 20 marathons, but I would recommend it. | |
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K. C. from Fort Collins CO, USA
(9/22/2009)
"Hot, and not as organized as expected" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Boulder Backroads Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 It was hotter than expected. Many people struggled. I like the back road-course, and spectators were there at times, but this is not the race to run if fans are a priority. It was a well supported course until mile 23 when water/Gatorade seemed low. I got what I wanted but I was surprised that at this crucial time, the support was lowest. The parking situation was not ideal. | |
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N. T. from Boulder, CO
(9/22/2009)
 "Fun race; roads should have been 100% closed" (about: 2009)
First Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I enjoyed the dirt roads. Around mile 2 or 3, the course turned onto a paved road that was still open to traffic - horrible runner congestion! The little boy dressed as Batman near mile 6? Awesome. Why was the mile 13 marker so far from the finish line (like 0.2 miles instead of 0.1)? Why aren't results posted yet?? | |
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A. L. from Westminster, CO USA
(9/21/2009)
"Just a couple of suggestions" (about: 2009)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Suggestions: 1. The only thing I could find on all of the info I received was that packet pickup would be at the expo in the 29th Street Mall. Mentioning that it would be upstairs, at the east end of the mall would have been really helpful, as from the mall entrance I took, it took a good 40 minutes to find where this expo was. 2. Have enough food (and water and cups for water!) for all 3,000 finishers! Pizza Kitchen was selling pizza for $1 since they ran out of the sandwiches, but with the parking situation, getting to the car and back with any money was not easy. Then it was difficult to find any water when I finished, as they ran out of cups. Then, and this is my fault for not checking more closely on the start times, if a half-marathoner starts at 8:00, there is no good marking of the half turnaround. I ended up accidentally doing my first full marathon today. The announcer asked at the start, "Who is doing their first marathon today," and many hands went up. Then he asked, "Who is doing their first half-marathon today?" ...no hands. Maybe that should have been my clue, but he also could have added, "Good, because you guys don't start until 9:00?" :) According to some volunteers I spoke to, this has happened more than a few times. I did think that this was a beautiful course. It was better in the way of scenery than the half, which I ran last year. And there were plenty of porta-potties and aid stations, which is nice for someone like me who was 50% unprepared. I will do this again next year, on purpose, but would really like there to be enough food and water at the finish. | |
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s. l. from boulder colorado
(9/20/2009)
"I love the back roads and didn't expect spectators" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Boulder Backroads Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Worst run ever. It started too late, got too hot, and ran out of Gatorade and water! I think the half runners were taken care of but the marathon runners were left to struggle and suffer. No food left at the end! | |
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B. M. from USA
(9/20/2009)
"Course was good. Post-race offerings not so much." (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Boulder Backroads Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I enjoyed the course very much although I am not a fan of the relay race option. I believe that people need to either be able to do the 26.2-mile distance or run the half-marathon course. Adding relay runners adds vehicular traffic to the course, and some of the relay participants seemed rude to the legitimate marathon runners (i.e., showing off, passing closely, standing in the middle of the course waiting for their realy exchange, etc.). I would also like to see the starting line-up organized better so it is not as difficult trying to get around the slower runners. It would also be nice to have vegetarian options for food and something besides water to drink (i.e., soda or Gatorade) at the post-race party. Last year seemed a lot better organized with better sponsors. (I realize that the recession probably has a lot to do with that.) Still, it`s a good race and an excellent course. Don't get too caught up in my negativity; it is meant as constructive criticism only. I will be back next year as long as I am physically able. |
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