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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 61 to 71]
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B. L. from Monterey, CA
(1/30/2008)
 "slightly better this year" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 THE GOOD: I have to say that this was an upgrade from last year's event. Although I wouldn't say the directors went "above and beyond," they did a good job at this, especially when you consider what else is out there. The views are nice, the hills are tame, and the aid stations are well stocked. I do have to say that these were the BEST spectators of any race I've attended. It was a bug out but it seemed like people really meant it. THANKS! The vibe was chill. Post-race food was better than last year, but still needs improvement! FYI: It gets warm. Wear shorts under your disposable sweats - thank me later. Directors could really use a wave start. To be honest, the spectators and neighbors really made this race! THANK YOU! I'll be back next year! | |
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H. F. from Houston, TX
(1/28/2008)
"Challenging but Wonderful Experience" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I was planning on running Arizona R&R but changed due to business reasons and think I was one of the last who made the cut-off. Though at 20 I was at my target of a sub 3:45, cramps and nausea changed all that in a hurry. Despite my finish, I feel truly fortunate that my plans were changed. The start was a little frustrating,with such a narrow space confining such a large volume of people. Despite the early starts there were a significant number of walkers that were almost impossible to pass in such a confined space. The finish bag of goodies was a bit weak. I really support the idea of ensuring that everyone gets something - it's just my recovery needs didn't jive with what was provided. But, I really liked the course, the expo was strong and well organized, and the on-course support was some of the best I've experienced. Thanks to all those volunteers! All in all, a great experience (and I learned to surf!) and I will be back! | |
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C. K. from Rock Springs, WY
(1/28/2008)
"friendly people and good music" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Pretty course much of the time, by the ocean; very, very friendly workers and volunteers; great music along the route (country, rock, jazz, bluegrass); long-sleeve shirt, nice medal.... | |
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Paul Timm from Orem, UT
(1/25/2008)
 "Spectacular - a real high!" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A charmed weekend! My second full marathon (after a bunch of halfs and some triathlons) in my 31 years of running. (I'm a 64-year-old geezer.) Although not as fast as my last one, I enjoyed it more. Loved the early start option, the course, the spectator support, and the volunteers. Organization was great. Thanks, all! A few tiny gripes: I was hungry at the end and the food bag was pretty meager. I would have killed for some fruit and, well, any food beyond the small banana, chips and some other junk food in the bag. Oranges were apparently available at a few aid stations but I didn't see them. A young man I came up on about mile 21 was pealing an orange and I said I'd kill for one of those. He gave me a big chunk. Thanks, kid!! I liked the fact that iPods were discouraged - it made for more frequent and enjoyable conversations with the always-cheerful, upbeat fellow runners. I had never run a long race without mine before. 'Met some great folks! Hills? What hills? I didn't notice them, although I was going at a measured 10.5-mile pace. Thanks, Carlsbad! Oh, and the shirt is my favorite ever. Neat medal, too. | |
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Bob McGwire from Yonkers, New York
(1/25/2008)
"A Hidden Treasure, Carlsbad" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Prior to running this marathon, I thought that Carlsbad was a bunch of caverns in New Mexico. What a surprise! What a delighful little beach town. Like the previous reviewer, I really loved this race. Please keep the staggered starts. I too was thrilled when the elite runners passed me like gazelles crossing the African Savannah. That only happened because I got an hour head start. I also got to watch the walkers take off at 5:30 a.m. At least, I think that they were walkers. No problem, but some of them were actually woggers (walk-jog) or slow runners. But as slow as they were, they were obviously properly placed at the 5:30 start. As far as access to the race and parking problems, that was easily solved by arriving early and strategically parking near the exits. This is basically the case with most races these days. As with others, I too was shocked by the continuous hills. However, they weren't very steep, just continuous. Proper pacing negated any problem that the hills would have presented. The high-quality long-sleeve t-shirt was fantastic. In fact, I have been wearing it proudly all week. You can definitely expect me again next year. Thanks for a great race. | |
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L. Y. from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada
(1/25/2008)
"What a fabulous run" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Carlsbad Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I have done about 9 half marathons and this is my favorite - I recommend it to everyone that I talk to. I did the full marathon in 2005 and even though I was not prepared for the hills and it took me more than 5 and half hours to finish, it was a great run. This year again was great. - All the support along the course - So many water stations you never had to worry about not taking any water at one station because you could get some in another mile - The expo was set up well with lots to look at and purchase if you chose - The long-sleeve finisher shirt (for me, it's great, as I train in cold weather and snow) What more could a person want in a race? I will definitely do this one again. | |
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R. C. from San Diego, CA
(1/25/2008)
 "Not bad for my first marathon!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I had heard that the ascent up Palomar Airport Road was tough. It sure helps that I usually pass people on hills. The race was flat in the beginning; then you hit numerous rolling hills after getting back to the coast from Palomar. Weather was perfect. I didn't sweat too heavily at all. I did have to weave in and out of tons of people (walkers, slower runners) for the last half of the race. There was no 20-mile wall for me, though my right calf almost pulled half a dozen times, slowing down my pace. I came 1:30 from a Boston qualifying time (3:12:29) on what is supposed to be a 'slow course.' I'm proud of my time, but had I run faster early on.... I will run this again next year (maybe only the half marathon). The crowd was fine, with sparse musical entertainment, but you can't beat that ocean view and waves crashing against the shore. Ahhh! Awesome finisher's medal, long-sleeve technical shirt, and plenty of energy replenishments. | |
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J. N. from Chandler, AZ
(1/24/2008)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I loved this course. The ocean views were beautiful, of course, but I also loved the surrounding area, the trees and country, and the little neighborhoods. It is a very hilly course, not full of mountains, but almost entirely rolling hills. But that's fine. They don't all have to be "flat and fast." I was amazed at all of the Accel Gel that was being handed out on the course. Of course, I had carried my own. I did see Vaseline being provided out on the course. Of course, I used my own Body Glide before the start. Loved the shirt. Loved the medal. Good post-race food and water, efficiently distributed. Nice expo, but after walking halfway around it I gave up and climbed over the fence to get in. A few more signs indicating where to park and how to get into the expo area would have helped. | |
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P. W. from New Jersey
(1/23/2008)
"Wow - The Pacific Ocean is Cool" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I like running along the ocean. However, I had previously run only along the Atlantic Ocean, where it is nice and flat. Along the Pacific, they put mountains, and the sun is on the wrong side. But, what views! The stretch of the course along the ocean was awesome. There was a long, winding, uphill portion of the marathon, with no end in sight (it looked like the mountain just kept getting larger), but the reward was nearly 1 1/2 miles straight down hill at Mile 10. Nice town, plenty of restaurants, and a soup and salad buffet right by the expo tent fit the bill for a pre-race dinner. Precision-like organization. Lots of fluid stops, several with gel, and Vaseline was offered at several stops. The tables were in place and fully staffed even for the early (6:30) start. I appreciated the encouragement and Cross and Runner's Prayer offered at Mile 8, though the string got wrapped around my neck after a few miles, and I had to put the cross in my pocket. We traveled from Philadelphia. A perfect Martin Luther King long weekend event. Our kids ran the one-mile run through Legoland the day before the marathon. The $15 kids run included a T-Shirt, a pass to Legoland and a movie ticket, all of which the kids enjoyed, and Legoland was just fine for adults, too. The post below with the numbered points is right on target. I am surprised it was 39 degrees at the start. It didn't feel that cold, and a fleece and shorts were fine. Looking at the results, almost all of the entrants were local, but this is one worth traveling for. Register early, though, as it sold out weeks in advance. | |
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C. W. from San Diego, CA
(1/23/2008)
"Beautiful Course" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I LOVE this course. It is AMAZING to run by the ocean. Even Palomar Airport Road is beautiful (I had run this before because I knew of the hill). The weather is the best at this time of year, with no concern about overheating. And, to see the elite runners pass by TWICE was wonderful. They looked so graceful and beautiful. I love out-and-back courses and will absolutely do the half. I highly recommend this course to others. Just be sure to train for hills... you get to go up and then you get to go DOWN!! Yahoo! Good expo and fabulous volunteers. |
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