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May 4, 2024

Waterloo Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 3.7

Organization 4.0

Spectators 2.8

Number of comments: 20 [displaying comments 11 to 20]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

m. w. from Alden, New York, USA (4/28/2009) "A nice, rural marathon in a great area" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Waterloo Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is a very small marathon in a lovely Mennonite area, but close enough to the city to make it a nice family destination. You should be able to finish in fewer than five hours, since this is such a small event. Its size, however, is more than made up for by its heart: there had to be at least three volunteers for every marathoner! If you are a fan of a nice, long run on country roads amidst farmland, go for this. The race director actually met me on the course and ran in with me. The pottery medal was lovely, and we received a nice shirt. The host hotels are close, and St. Jacobs and the market are true gems for Saturday pre-marathon shopping. If hoopla is for you, keep looking; if you like a quiet, quality marathon in picturesque countryside, give it a try!
Jennifer McCreath from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (4/28/2009) "much improvement from apparent past problems!" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Waterloo Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Needless to say, reading some of the comments from previous years had me questioning whether or not it was wise to run this one, but it appeared evident early on, when I first contacted the race director with some questions, that he was taking things very seriously. He even went above and beyond the call of duty to provide me with some rather unique accommodations. Throughout the weeks leading up to the race, Tony sent out several e-mails to all runners with important info. The race featured a brand new marathon course that differed from previous years. From start to finish, I found the organization of the run to be excellent. Marshals were positioned on the course at every turn to ensure that no runner went off-course. There were KM markers stationed at all 42K on the course. The Gatorade stations were frequent and were stocked full of water, Gatorade, and even chocolate! There were porta-potties stationed at least every 8K on the course. Most importantly, the course was fairly flat, something that really helps with BQing! The run itself went through some pretty scenic parts of rural Ontario. It felt rather isolating running out there in the middle of nowhere with practically nobody around me once the field had spread out (KM 31-38), but that has to be expected in a run through rural countryside. Running on a fully-open highway always concerns me, but there were periodic signs posted warning drivers that a road race was in progress and there were police cycling around the course periodically to keep an eye on things, so overall, I felt that they did what they could to mitigate the risks. Logistically, the t-shirt and medal were standard and sufficient, while the post-race tent featured a selection of food, a massage table, an awards ceremony and printed results. The race started and finished at the same place (always great not to have to take a shuttle bus before or after a run), and there was free shower facilities and ample, free parking for athletes close to the start. And there was race-day kit pick-up allowed, which was also a great bonus for runners like me who are often coming from out of town at the last minute. Not tons of fans out there but the few spectators that were out there proved to be very positive and encouraging to all runners. Pro photographers were on the course and took excellent pictures. Overall, i was extremely impressed and would certainly not hesitate to run this one again. The race registration fee was half as much as most other marathons, so it made for a great bargain. Thanks, Tony, for pulling off a great event! I hope to be back again next year. All the best! - Jennifer
V. L. from Ontario (2/6/2008) "Room for Improvement" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Waterloo Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I ran the 1/2 in 2007. Unfortunately, i found more negatives than positives. Pros - lots of parking - friendly ladies at the after-race snack area - interesting finishing medal Cons - water stations were terrible; one station ran out of water, and at another, the kids weren't paying attention and I had to stop at the table and ask for water! - I was one of the slower runners and when I was nearing the end of the race, no volunteers were around to direct me; I could barely see the runner ahead of me and didn't know where to go - the shower facilities were nowhere to be found as advertised; I was told there were PLENTY of showers but only found ONE, and there were 5 of us waiting to use it - the t-shirt was made of heavy cotton, nothing special - not many spectators at all I also did not like the course (which is a negative for me, but others might not have a problem with it), as it seemed we were running uphill most of the race.
B. S. from USA (5/1/2007) "Poorly run marathon; disorganized" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Waterloo Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This is the worst marathon I have ever experienced. The aid stations ran out of Gatorade and some had no water either. When they did have fluid, it was warm and only a little bit was placed in the cup. You had to basically ask the workers for the fluid, not something you want to stop and do while running a marathon. Not enough aid stations and not enough fluid when there was an aid station. A lot of confusion at the 1/2 marathon and marathon exchange route. I was misguided to go towards the 1/2 marathon finish. I had to turn around and run back to the marathon route. I would never run this again and urge anyone that asks about it to not waste their time. Terrible experience!
L. F. from Waterloo, ON (5/9/2006) "Good training run for the money" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Waterloo Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I didn't mind the mass start for the half and full runners as I was able to draft off them in the beginning!! (It was 6 degrees, windy and raining!) It's not an easy course, but I was feeling great until the halfway point where I didn't know where I was to continue and the where the halfers finish. I wasn't even able to yell out to a marshal because none were around! Orange pylons were everywhere, but in my "race state," not clear enough to comprehend. Furthermore the turn-around was not included in their map of the course! I slowed my pace and continued in the direction I thought was right until I saw a group of runners who were able to verify that I was on the right path! I adjusted fairly quickly to this questionable stage of the course, but not sure about those who were directed to the finish line for the half when they were really doing the full. I would have been quite upset if I were one of those people! The 42K course consisted of 2 loops. The second loop was less eventful... fewer runners, and fewer spectators. I didn't expect a lot anyhow as the course is pretty rural and the weather was terrible. I have to hand it to the bagpipers and volunteers giving out water and Gatorade. They did a great job in the cold and rain! The worst part of the marathon was the finish area. I wasn't even sure it was one. There was more activity at the water stations including the presence of St. John Ambulance workers/volunteers. At the finish line there was no water or Gatorade provided, which I thought was alarming. No one asking or caring how I was feeling or if I needed medical assistance. No medal was put around your neck for a race you specifically trained 27 weeks for - not including the running base of 1 year that is suggested. If I didn't have my dad and friends waiting for me at the end I don't know who would have helped me down the hill to the recreational center. I know I could have done it if I rolled or crawled down the hill to the parking lot into the rec center only to find that I still needed to walk about 300 meters to find refreshments. This brings me to another point: no signage for participants in the building. A few would have helped to get you headed in the right direction. I just don't have common sense after running 42K. I was one of the first ones to come in so I was very sympathetic to the runners who came in after me - especially those first-timers, or older runners - to have to experience this disatisfactory finish. I think they were even taking down signs after 3 and a half hours. I hope everyone remembered the course and markings the first time, as they might not have seen it the second time round. Race organizers seemed so anxious to go home - thankfully the volunteers weren't. The ladies who provided the food were nice. One even offered me her coffee from Timmy's as they had already dumped out the coffee urn they had for participants. I didn't stay long after the "speedy" award ceremony, but I have to ask: was there enough food for ALL the marathon runners? The ones who ran longer and endured the elements? When I came in I only saw a few bags of food left and I am sure there were 50-60 more people yet to come in. The bananas that were available were green and unripe. I couldn't even peel them. I think I finally ate mine Thursday, 4 days after the race. I just hope that someone ran out to buy pizza or something to feed the rest of the finishers. I commend them all for what they accomplished with mediocre organization and nasty weather conditions. Cheers.
R. M. from Kitchener, Ontario (5/7/2006) "Can't Beat the Price" (about: 2006) First Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Ran the 1/2 marathon at Waterloo. This is my second 1/2 marathon, my first Waterloo. Truly enjoyed the experience. Weather was lousy (pouring rain), but turnout was up from last year according to organizers. This is a course that has gently rolling hills mostly in the country. I enjoyed the hills but it would be challenging doing them twice (loop course for the marathon). Being in the country, crowd support is small, but when present they were enthusiastic. As others have mentioned, the facilities are excellent being set up at RIM park sports complex. For $40 though you can't go wrong. Unique clay finisher's medal. Different for 1/2 and full. Food at the end was adequate. If you're looking for a nice challenging run at a great price, the Waterloo Marathon can't be beat.
d. g. from toronto (4/27/2006) "good... not great" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Waterloo Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I agree with the previous comment. I just ran the 2006 half marathon. Pros: -the race is held at a large, modern sports complex -good volunteers -hilly course but fairly scenic -cool ceramic medal -low registration fee Cons: -very poorly marked course -rural setting means very few spectators -course is not closed to cars -they started dismantling the post-race area only 4 hours into the marathon I hate to say it, but the organization of this race was kind of amateurish. Just not enough attention to detail (especially critical course directions).
J. L. from Toronto, Ontario (4/24/2006) "Intimate and quirky" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Waterloo Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race has a very pecuilar feature in that it's a two-loop course that has the half and full marathons starting at the same time - they're the same price for registration - and it happens to be one of the earliest spring marathons in the area. Officially, you could enter the full and finish the half and get a time for it. This means that you could decide, at KM 20, whether to carry on and go for that BQ, or call it a day to try again later, and get a time and a finishing medal either way. This was enough for me to give 4 stars for organization. It missed out on 5 because it wasn't clear at the end of the first loop where to go to carry on for the full (I almost wound up in the half finish area), and the distance-adjustment spur at the beginning of the second loop was likewise poorly marked. There were no timing mats to get a half split, and if there was a halfway marker so that I could mark my own on my watch, I never saw it (in fact, I saw no distance markers between KMs 20 and 2 on the start of the next loop). Also strange and disappointing was that the massage therapists had packed up and gone by the time I finished (just over 4 hours)! The start/finish area is the massive sports complex at RIM park, with lots of parking and plenty of indoor toilets! The race base was one of the ice rinks (with no ice) with lots of seating around and places to stretch. The bag check was rather rudimentary - the railing at the bottom of one of the staircases in the stands had a sign that said "bag check" stuck to it. A little better than leaving your bag in the food court (I had been dropped off so couldn't leave mine in the car).... The course is fairly tough. Rolling hills start almost immediately making it difficult to settle into an even pace (also the 5 KM marker was short). The steepest climb is at 15 KM with an almost contiuous rise from there to the start/finish area. I must say it was a little easier to know it was coming the second time around. The route is mostly countryside with rivers and farms, with a little suburbia, and with only a couple of KM of big, ugly boulevard. I didn't mind at all going around for a second look at the town of Conestogo and the Grand River. (I hadn't been there in a while!) The roads were getting quite thick with traffic on the second loop, but at least people didn't seem to mind my avoiding the sloping shoulder, and I had several honks of encouragement on my otherwise rather solitary journey. I enjoyed the bagpipers, except I only saw them at various spots on my first loop and would have appreciated them more on the second. The aid station and corner marshal volunteers were looking rather worse off than the runners after several hours in the wind and rain, but everyone was friendly and helpful. Oh yes, as they said in the University of Waterloo brochure when I registered for engineering school there 20 years ago - they don't call it WATERloo for nothing. It's been wet the last three years! The food ladies inside were particularly nice, filling a big paper cup with orange wedges for me, and offering to spread jam on my bagel (my hands were still numb). If you're looking for an early spring race, are sick of the crowds and having to wait in line to pee before the start, and don't mind being slowed by a few hills, this is an interesting alternative event. The option to pick your distance on-the-fly is very nice.
G. S. from Oakville, Ontario (5/8/2003) "Good for a training run" (about: 2003) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This race could be good if you are prepared for what you are signing up for. It is well worth the money as its $40 (Canadian) fee covers entry, shirt, very nice ceramic medal, and all of the food you can eat. The difficulty with this course is that it is a double loop and very hilly. The hills are a nice challenge the first time around but become never-ending on the second loop. In addition, because it is a very small race (53 marathoners in 2003), the roads are open for traffic and you are running on the side of the roads. When you are getting toward the end of the race, with the runners spread far apart, it feels like a training run with the exception of police letting you through the intersections. If you need crowd support, this is not your race. The only spectators are those at the aide stations and the occasional police officer. A friend of mine was also running the marathon and finished in 4:45. It was very disappointing to see that the police had already left and the organizers removed the finish area, despite the website saying that the course would be open for 5 hours. While I probably wouldn?t run this marathon again, due to many other races to choose from, I would run the half in the future.
G. S. from Oakville, Ontario (4/28/2003) "Good for a training run" (about: 2003) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race could be good if you are prepared for what you are signing up for. It is well worth the money as its $40 (Cdn) fee covers entry, shirt, very nice ceramic medal and all of the food you can eat. The difficulty with this course is that it is a double loop and very hilly. The hills are a nice challenge the first time around but become never-ending on the second loop. In addition, because it is a very small race (53 marathoners in 2003), the roads are open for traffic and you are running on the side of the roads. When you are getting toward the end of the race, with the runners spread far apart, it feels like a training run with the exception of police letting you through the intersections. If you need crowd support, this is not your race. The only spectators are those at the aide stations and the occasional police officer. A friend of mine was also running the marathon and finished in 4:45. It was very disappointing to see that the police had already left and the organizers removed the finish area, despite the website saying that the course would be open for 5 hours. While I probably wouldn?t run this marathon again, due to many other races to choose from, I would run the half in the future.

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