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☰
Carlsbad Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Carlsbad Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 188 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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F. S. from Florida
(1/21/2004)
 "Great Race - Awesome Volunteers!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is one of the best organized and supported marathons I have run. Everything was very professional. I do agree with the comments about competitive runners having to dodge walkers and early start runners. I was passing/dodging people from mile 2 on. It was like starting in the back of the pack. I know they start the slower people earlier because they can only keep the course closed from traffic for so long. Perhaps instruct the walkers that they must stay to the far outside or inside of the road and walk no more than 2 abreast? This is probably a primary reason why the event doesn't attract more elite athletes for the marathon. The inconvenience was minor compared to all the great positives. Overall it was a fine event. | |
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R. B. from North Carolina
(1/21/2004)
 "Not a flat beach course" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Note to self: never assume that a marathon at the beach is flat. I've run Shamrock (in Virginia Beach) twice, and also have finished Myrtle Beach and Tybee (Ga.), and all were flat. San Diego (which actually is run in Carlsbad, Calif.) has insane hills for a coastal course. Well, I should say that I suppose the fact that I grew up on the East Coast and had only previously been to East Coast beaches made that memory stick out. This West Coast beach definitely isn't flat! The hills were insane. I looked at the elevation grade on its website, but I figured that the hills wouldn't be that bad. But it seemed over much of the course, there were sustaining hills that weren't terrible, but they seemed never to end. It was nice that the last mile or so was downhill. Overall the beauty of the course was excellent, particularly the parts along the beach. The crowds were in short supply over much of the course, but the bands scattered along the course were nice. The walkers in the half-marathon and the marathon (all of whom started earlier) got a bit aggravating with many walking in groups of 3 or 4 side-by-side. I'd recommend this race highly in terms of how they run it. Just don't expect a flat course! | |
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G. R. from Rhode Island
(1/20/2004)
 "Great race - shame about the walkers!!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Six of us travelled from Rhode Island to run this event and it was all that we believed, although the hills were tougher than we thought... but that's running. Unfortunately an asthma attack cut my race short, but my friends were all successful; and I write this comment on behalf of us all. The only negative about this race (and it is a big negative) is mixing walkers and runners on the same course. It was horrendous. We cannot recommend this race to anyone who is serious about their running because of the mixed walk/run, which is a shame because it was a well organized, friendly and fun event. We are not anti-walker - we all run high-mileage in the frozen north-east and we come to run as fast as our little legs will carry us - not to dodge people walking and blocking the water stations. Kindest regards, | |
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j. g. from Seattle
(1/20/2004)
"Easy finding pacers" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 San Diego Marathon pace groups provide excellent opportunities for maintaining desired paces and incentive along the course. Unfortunately, in past years, it has sometimes been hard to find them in the more crowded first couple of miles and thereafter. However, this year, the pacers could be seen throughout the entire race as they somehow held their paces while holding up their pace signs the whole way. Maybe a bright-colored shirt would also help keeping them in sight even more (instead of the dark blue T's which did have 'pacer' on the back). | |
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j. g. from Seattle
(1/20/2004)
"Free massage improvement" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Although little publicized on the underused SD Marathon webpage (which used to provide pre-race information regarding things such as the famous expo speakers, etc. but which was little updated at all before the race this year), the 2004 San Diego Marathon featured free massages by professional and advanced student massagers both before and after the race. For those of tired runners who pre-paid for massages in previous years and then had to face congested post-race lines and runners trying to change their appointment times, being in line after the race this year with other runners chatting about the race was well worth the wait (somehow very short - 8 to 10 people - for us 5-hr finishers) - especially in light of how good it made us feel the next day. - jon | |
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K. V. from Portland, Oregon
(1/20/2004)
 "One of the best for spectators and support staff" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just got home from San Diego - I had a good time - a well produced event - and I enjoyed the whole experience. It was # 8 for me. I especially liked the 5:30AM start for us 6 hour marathon finishers. That is a GREAT IDEA!! | |
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J. B. from Los Angeles
(1/19/2004)
"Put This One On Your Calendar" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Fourth time running this great event and for me it is the perfect marathon. Managable in size, ususally ideal weather conditions, scenic ocean view for much of the way, relatively flat with a few easy short hills. The organization and all the volunteers are friendly, plenty of water and gel stops along the way. Another unsual feature is that slower runners are permitted to start an hour early so they are not so discouraged seeing other runners so far in front, they actually can see the fastest runners run by them in later stages of the race which is kind of fun. The crowds are great, however if you want to have thousands of people screeching at you like one of the mega marathons, that won't happen here. But there is definitely good support from the sidelines. | |
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Fred Van Wingerden from Ventura, California
(1/19/2004)
"Great course, organization; where were the fans?" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My second marathon and a 9-minute improvement over LA!! Weather was perfect and course and organization great! Suggest bibs with first names on them to get fans involved... it would help the runners particularly from mile 18 on! Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers, spectators, musicians and sponsors for making this a very memorable experience. A special thanks to my wife, Edith, for all her support!! | |
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Richard Perkins from Louisville, CO
(1/19/2004)
"Great Scenery And Good Organization" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and I was very pleased with the simplicity of the event. Very manageable and not overwhelming. The course was fantastic and the support crews were very friendly; although spectator turn-out was pretty low. Thanks to the pace leaders who kept us on track. The only suggestion I have is to place more portable toilets along the course... lines formed at nearly all. That said, I will definitely be back in 2005. | |
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S. B. from Pismo Beach, Ca
(1/19/2004)
"Marathon no one should miss!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just completed the 2004 SD Marathon. It was my 2nd time here. This was my first marathon ever (last year). Then I ran the Ave. of the Giants and the CIM. This marathon so far is the best on my short list; organization, fans support, the sports expo, the course... and always cool & perfect weather. No one should miss this one. I improved my PR here by almost 6 min. There are few short up and downs and 2 higher elevation changes that stretch over 1 - 2 miles, so if you don't push too hard on the way up, you will recover your time on the smooth downhills. Last year I thought it was a tough course (first marathon ever!), but after running the other 2 races, I came here again with much more appreciation and qualified for the Boston Marathon. I know I will be regular here from now on. |
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