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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 161 to 171]
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A Runner from San Francisco, CA
(3/29/2002)
 "Scenic Course, But Certainly Not Fast" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I don't think the topographical map does this course justice, because the course certainly warrants a 'rolling hill' description. After reading some of the other reviews, I'll agree that there aren't any truly significant hills on the course, however it is the combination of multiple elevation gains/losses (especially late in the course) that greatly impair the 'speed' of the race. If you're looking for a well-run, scenic, smaller race to run then I'd recommend this venue, but if you're looking to PR or are an advanced runner (i.e sub 2:40) than you might want to choose another race (Las Vegas, LA). | |
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A Runner from Portland, OR
(2/3/2002)
 "What a fantastic race!!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a phenomenal race!! Yes it is GENTLY ROLLING, not huge hills as others attest to. I was so impressed by the race organization and the volunteers, not only the quality but the quantity. Few spectators but those that were out there showed spirit. This is a great 'vacation race.' We stayed several extra days to enjoy the sights and sun. The only thing I was disappointed by was the post-race food. There wasn't much and it was poor quality (cookies?). This one is definitely on my list for return next year. | |
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A Runner from Los Angeels, CA
(1/30/2002)
"One of the best!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 An all around enjoyable marathon. This is always a very well organized event; situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, on a course that is interesting, scenic and fun. To those who comment about the course being hilly, they obviously don't know what a hill looks like. The topography is in reality gently rolling with absolutely no serious hill in the entire 26.2. We seemed to have reached a point where people are expecting far too much perfection out of any given marathon. At the same time we all have our preferences, so what is appealing to one may not be to another. Nevertheless this is one marathon that if you hear complaints about, question the person doing the complaining, not the race. | |
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A Runner from Bay Village, Ohio
(1/25/2002)
"Harder than you think" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 When I review the race information on-line before a marathon I routinely check the topo for the course. The topo for this marathon promised a gently rolling course with only one real hilly section. What a mistake! The topo is wrong. The course is very hilly between 6-16 miles. The rest of the course is beautiful and the weather was perfect. There were no spectators along the course, but if you could choose between watching a bunch of sweaty runners or watching the blue Pacific Ocean what would you do? They had bands playing along the course but most seemed to be taking a break when we passed by. Very good race support. If you live in a snowy state it is a great excuse for a get away weekend in January. | |
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A Runner from Glastonbury, CT
(1/25/2002)
 "Sun, surf and sweat" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 2nd marathon. Organization was excellent. The carbo dinner at Lego Land was a little disappointing - perhaps it was too cold (hard to believe for SD). I have to agree with the others that the hills in the middle of the course were pretty tough. Don't believe the elevation map that would lead you to believe that the last 8 miles are flat. Rolling hills the whole way - up and down. Weather was great for running - had a great time. Excellent finishing medal and Polartec running shirt. My wife cleaned up buying $5 Marathon shirts after the race! Post-race massage was well worth the $5 donation for 15 min - I bought 30 min - a bargain at twice the price! | |
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Peggy from Apex, North Carolina
(1/24/2002)
"SUPER-DE-DUPER EVENT!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Everything was great, even the weather, which the organizers can't control! The course is absolutely gorgeous, the water tables and bands and spectators and volunteers were EVERYWHERE and as enthusiastic as I've seen anywhere! I have done many events in many different states and this is at the top of my list! The ONLY reason I won't be back every year is California is too far from home--but I wish it were closer! | |
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A Runner from Washington, DC
(1/23/2002)
 "All-around great event - highly recommended!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 If you haven't been, try this event next year. An extraordinarily runner-friendly event all the way around -- from plenty of parking at the expo (lots of freebies and plenty of booths with good bargains) as well as at the race start, to enthusiastic water station volunteers at every mile along the drop-dead gorgeous course, to a friendly crowd at the finish line where you collect a great medal -- and followed up with results posted quickly with lots of individual split data on the website. This management crew could give many other race organizers lessons in doing it RIGHT and hosting an event where every participant of every speed feels welcome. Well done, well done indeed! | |
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A Runner from Santa Barbara, CA
(1/23/2002)
"Great organization, nice course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I'd done the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego 6 months before I did the San Diego Marathon. RnR is the more famous one, but I think the SD Marathon is far and away the better organized one. The course was very scenic along the beaches, although much hillier than I expected. For a change, there were ample toilets at the start line so that you didn't spend half an hour in line. Throughout the course, the volunteers were fantastic. And the finish line was a dream compared to the RnR marathon. I would beg the organizers of this run to give some lessons to the idiots who organize the Suzuki Rock and Roll Marathon in the same city. Oh yeah, I PRed, so that could also explain my happiness. :) | |
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A Runner from Cleveland
(1/23/2002)
"Great Weather, Race Organization, & Hills to Char" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The weather was ideal, the ocean views magnificent, and the Penta water bottles, Gatorade, Cliff Shots and volunteers more than generous. The Polartec race shirt is the best I've ever received at a race. The Expo and the bands were great for a mid-sized race. Things went amazingly smoothly considering three races were going on at the same time on the same course.The roads were wide and roomy w/ soft smooth roads. The hotels and restaurants were plentiful, nice, and inexpensive. The only suprise was that the hills on Jan 2002 San Diego made it feel like the toughest course I've encountered in 20 years of Marathons. It must have been a Sherpa who described the course as 'gentle rolling hills' and it was a twisted soul who drew the topo map to show a downhill or flat second half of the marathon. This course makes Boston look like a picnic. I will recommend the Jan. San Diego Marathon to my friends looking for a good challenging training race located in a ideal town to relax or golf before and after the event. Carlsbad is the ideal location for the traveling spouse. For the runners it would be even more enjoyable if the organizers were able to put more of the race along the true rolling hills along the ocean road (Highway 101). | |
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A Runner from Peoria
(1/23/2002)
"Good course, a bit crowded late in the race" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The course is challenging, albeit not unreasonably so. Aid stations were numerous and the side stuff (expo, finisher's medal, shirt) was outstanding. However, the race did have 1) a 5:30 marathon walker start 2) a 6:30 4:30 and slower marathon start 3) a 7:00 am 1/2 marathon start then the regular marathon start. Hence, the course got quite crowded on certain spots, especially around the aid stations. This was a mixed blessing for me as, where I crashed at mile 22, I was still able to find lots of people to pass. That helped. :-) But, I wish that the course officials would remind the walkers to NOT walk 3 abreast! If it weren't for the congestion towards the end of the race, orginization would have been a '5'. ollie |
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