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☰
Long Beach Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Long Beach Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 240 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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U. G. from Gilroy
(6/21/2009)
 "A superb marathon experience." (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Long Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and as a result, I have high expectations for other marathons. The Long Beach Marathon was extremely well organized, the course is great, and the spectators are very friendly and supportive. I highly recommend this marathon to people who enjoy city environments or want to run a marathon for the first time. | |
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C. L. from La Canada, CA
(5/17/2009)
 "Scenic and organized, but beware of the traffic" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Long Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The 2008 edition was my second half-marathon; the first was Long Beach in 2007. It was not my first race; however, I've run a large number of shorter races, mostly 5Ks and 10Ks. The pros from 2007 still apply: near-perfect race weather (60's and clear), flat course, nearly pancake-flat; scenic, especially miles 6-10 along the beach bike/pedestrian path; decent organization - plenty of water at the water stations and no traffic jams at the water stations. There seemed to be fewer spectators, even towards the final miles, than in 2007, which was a bit disappointing but not serious. The two main problems in 2008 were: (1) The lack of decent food/drink at the finish - I ran the half in just about 2 hours flat, so they shouldn't have run out of anything, but aside from water and bagels halves, there wasn't much worthwhile. A race that aspires to be a flagship and competitor to the LA Marathon should be capable of doing better. (2) More serious: Traffic and parking before the race was absolutely HORRIFIC. Much worse than even 2007. The race website warns of delays on race morning - and I'm a local, familiar with LA-area traffic jams. So I was prepared... I thought. I was at the base of the 710 Freeway at 5:45 a.m. - that's an hour and 45 minutes before race start - and it took ONE HOUR to get from there into a parking lot. I ended up scrambling into a generic lot about half-a-mile from the start (forget about getting into the convention center lot) since traffic was totally stalled and getting worse by the minute. For 2009, I'm probably going to do the full marathon. With the 2009 projected 7 a.m. start, I will probably need to get to the area no later than about 4:30 a.m., which means leaving my house, 40 miles away, by about 3:45 a.m. - especially since it will be the 25th anniversary race. I'm considering paying for a hotel room within walking distance of the race start, just to avoid having to drive there on race morning. | |
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J. P. from Buena Park, CA
(2/22/2009)
 "Great event." (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Long Beach Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great event. They improved the course by going through Long Beach State U. Plenty of water, Clif Shots and sore muscle spray. I will recommend this marathon to all of my running friends. I have run this race two times and look forward to this race every year now. | |
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D. C. from Los Angeles
(12/12/2008)
"The Best of Southern California in 13.1 Miles!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Long Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 There is a reason this is one of the most popular 1/2 marathons in the Los Angeles: beautiful course, beautiful conditions, and great race management. This is race is a perfect tune-up for your fall marathon. The first half is a bit winding, moving around the scenic port of Long Beach. After the half-way mark, you are out on the beach for a straight-away from miles 6-10. Great place to focus and pick up speed. The last three miles have some rolling hills, so save some energy for the end. ICR always puts on a great race - excellent T-shirt and goody bag, and definitely recommended. | |
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T. H. from Trabuco Canyon CA
(10/27/2008)
"Thanks for the California Dreamin' Racing Series" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Long Beach Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 We runners like special medals and jackets to commemorate accomplishments, and the Long Beach Marathon was the first of three marathons for me in the California Dreamin' Racing Series. The best part of the this year's marathon was the abundance of Clif Shots and Shot Bloks on the course and the spray for the tired muscles along the way. The course changes directions a lot, which is good, and the route through CSLB was an improvement. Please consider starting the marathoners at 7:00 a.m. 30 minutes earlier than the half-marathoners, so the start and first few miles are not so crowded on the narrow sidewalks. Thanks and I'll be back again for a 10th year. | |
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J. J. from USA
(10/21/2008)
 "Very disappointing event" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Long Beach Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 1. The LB Marathon is described as 85% flat and fast. Maybe 50% of course is that. There are a lot of hills. 2. There was only one clock and it was on the finish line. 3. I don't know my time, I'm not on the participants list because my chip didn't work right, and no one wants to help me. It was waste of money for me. | |
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H. Q. from Chicago, IL
(10/20/2008)
"Lower than expecations for a 24th marathon" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Long Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I would expect a better race, since it is in its 24th year. The course is not "flat and fast," as indicated on website. There are some hills along the way. There is no ocean view after 10 miles. If you drive to the race, get out EARLY! The traffic stalled on the highway a mile before the exit. Except the student organizations in CSULB, there was no organized cheerleading along the course. The students were great, also some individual people along the route. But there is no community organized effort otherwise. Aid stations were poor. It seems half of them only have water, and nothing else. The water cups are very small. I needed two of them each time. Overall, it is OK to run this marathon. But I would expect a better one in the shadow of the City of Angels. | |
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S. S. from Redondo Beach, Ca
(10/19/2008)
 "Update To No Results Below" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Long Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The race central folks worked some magic and I eventually got gun and net times (see below). | |
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J. K. from Van Nuys, CA
(10/19/2008)
"Not great, but not bad either" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Long Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The starting area was obscenely crowded - so much so that I never made it to my corral and had to wait with several hundred others on the sidelines before I could ease my way into the crowd. This resulted in me having to weave in and out of the walkers for the first mile or so. Still, once the race got going, the course was nice and relaxing. It was always crowded, especially on the bike path along the beach, but I never felt claustrophobic. There is a definite lack of spectators along the beach. There would be one or two small groups of kind folks clapping and cheering us on, but along this stretch, it's a bit lonely. I also missed having timing clocks along the route. However, when you get to the finish, the crowd thickens and they are supportive. At the end, the food was average. I managed to get a bottle of water with electrolytes in it, along with a bagel and a banana that looked to be about three weeks-old. The great thing about the race was the weather; it couldn't have been more perfect. All in all, it's not a bad race. It could be better, but I had a positive enough experience that I wouldn't mind coming back next year. | |
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B. C. from KC
(10/19/2008)
"Half marathon" (about: 2008)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first half marathon, and there were both positive and negative aspects to this event. Positives - The course was pretty good and very scenic, especially the part that went along the beach. Most of the volunteers were very friendly and helpful. The spectators were very enthusiastic, especially right after the course left the beach and went past a housing area (I think around miles 10-12 or so). Both the expo and the carbo load dinner (Queen Mary) were great. Negatives - I did not receive a finisher's medal because several "bandits" did the half marathon without paying, and took a medal when they were not due one. Shame on those who did that. I paid good money to do this, and so should everyone else. I am told I will receive my medal in the mail. One of the aid stations still had jugs of water left, but they ran out of cups, so no one in my area was able to get water at that aid station. Another aid station that was supposed to have some type of snacks ran out of those. My biggest beef - There was very little support, if any, for those marathoners that finished towards the last. I made it a special point to wait for those finishing the marathon, and made myself a self-appointed volunteer. I stood at the last turn before runners/walkers headed down into the finish chute area, so that I could direct them as to where to go. Had I not been there, some of them were unsure of, and would not have known where to go, as a lot of stuff had been torn down already. Some of the last people did not even get their finish times recorded, as even the electronic mat and time clock had been torn down. An event of this sort should NEVER take down the electronic mat and finish clock until the last person finishes. If the rest of the course markings are taken down, then there should at least have been someone there to guide them in. You should allow the half marathon walkers/slow joggers to start with the marathon walkers/slow joggers. |
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