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May 8, 2024

Skagit Flats Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Skagit Flats Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.0

Organization 4.2

Spectators 2.7

Number of comments: 51 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > ]

L. W. from Skagit County (10/15/2004) "well... it's flat" (about: 2004) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Skagit Flats Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon. I was the third place finisher, and i believe that I can contribute that to how nice and flat this course is. If you are a runner that enjoys flat courses, you probably don't want to miss this opportunity. I used to train on many of the same roads a couple years ago so the scenery was not terribly special to me... however, I imagine it would be beautiful to a first-timer.
Jim Boyd from Seattle (9/21/2004) "What a fun outing!" (about: 2004) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Skagit Flats Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 What a fun outing and the 2004 Skagit Flats Marathon was no exception as marathon #208! I have managed to run four out of the last five Skagit Flats Marathons since my work moved me to Seattle the first of Y2K. This is what I call a "great small-town marathon"; a small field of runners and an almost all rural farm/ranch course, typical of such events. Also typical is that the race benefits local sports. Not so typical is the high quality T-shirt and the great aid stations far better stocked and more plentiful than the norm. Although I prefer more rolling, this is a very flat and fast course to go to Boston on, and the weather seems a sure thing to be nice. As a 50 State +DC marathon finisher in (1993-97), all the California marathons (1997-1999) and having run multiple marathons in many other states, the Skagit Flats Marathon is head and shoulders above many of the other races. So, some runners that have expressed disappointment in one area or another, just don't have a clue to what a well run event Skagit Flats is. It isn't a Boston or an LA big city marathon, nor a St. George medium city marathon or the local Yakima River Canyon small city marathon; all bell ringers: Its 'Skagit Flats' and this runner thanks the Skagit Runners and all the volunteers! Happy trails, Jim Boyd.
Lynnette Smith from Everett WA (9/19/2004) "Probably won't run this course again" (about: 2004) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Skagit Flats Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 In 2000 I ran the full marathon, and it was my first. I was pleased with the course, but felt they could use more people at the stations (at one point my husband and a friend manned a vacated water station). This year they seem to have taken care of that by using local high school runners to man the stations. I think they were fabulous and didn't mind at all that they were having fun while doing it. Thank you! I ran the half this year and my big complaint (everyone has one) is that toward the end of the race I would prefer more direction. Since it is an out and back, the change at the end is welcome (even after looking at the map, because after 11 or 12 miles who remembers what it looked like?). I would recommend distance markers closer together. Actually I would recommend that for the whole way back, not just the end. As happens with many sporting events there are not enough women's restrooms. It may be a good idea to rent a couple of honey-buckets for the years to come, as the line gets out of control in the locker room.
S. W. from Camano Island, WA (9/16/2004) "Very poorly organized" (about: 2004) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Skagit Flats Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This is my first marathon and I found it to be a very poorly organized event. They did not have the active.com registration information so we had to give it to them all over again. They had NO (did not run out) XL shirts. They didn't have any signs saying where the race started. We figured out by following the crowd. They advertised awards, 'LOTS of prizes', massages available. I saw none of these. You simply crossed the finish line and that was it. The kids running the aid stations played with the water and Gatorade more than hand it out. No garbage bins for the used cups. A bike race was on the same route so you had to go in the dirt to avoid the bikes and cars all trying to share the road. No aid station in the last 2 miles. The price on active.com was $5 more (not including the processing fee) with no explanation. I sent emails before the event with questions and didn't even get a response.
j. b. from Seattle (9/14/2004) "well-organized/safe" (about: 2004) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Skagit Flats Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The 2004 edition on a sun tan lotion day had plenty of Carbo-Boom, Gatorade/water and patient volunteers for even the slowest back-of-the-packers, plus all sizes of the comfortable long-sleeve, technical, gray shirts for DOR registrants. Cars went by fast on some of the wider roads but universally slowed when passing on the narrower stretches. 'Caution - Runners on Road' signs were in place too. After smooth pavement on the two closest miles to the Burlington-Edison High School start, the remaining 11 out-and-back miles (22 total) consisted of unusually sharp crushed rock seemingly so dense as to obliterate any evidence of softer underlying asphalt at all. Wear good shoes and bring a towel for a refreshing post-race free shower in the school locker room.
G. M. from Bellevue, Washington, USfa (9/14/2004) "great course: flat w/no traffic; ideal weather" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Skagit Flats Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran this marathon on no training, having done several marathons before and, although I faded a bit, I didn't fade completely because the course was completely flat after an overpass at 1/2 mile. There was both water and Ultima at all aid stations with extra stations after 20 mile, a really good idea. The course is rural - no traffic, and few turns, none of them tight. There were very few spectators but the people along the course were all friendly and cheered, waved, etc. This would be a great course to shoot for a PR!
Timothy Holmes from Gig Harbor, WA (9/22/2003) "Great way to start as my first marathon." (about: 2003) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon. I'm fifty years old and this was a great marathon to start with. No waiting in line to pick up my number. Plenty of port-o-potties at the start. Beautiful weather added to the beautiful view of horse (Palamino) ranches. Great friendly support. Great to hear the applause when crossing the finish line.
A Runner from Bremerton, WA (9/9/2001) "Much better in 2001 version" (about: 2001) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This year's race was very organized, and there were about 100 marathon runners and another 100 half marathon runners. We also get coolmax long sleeve shirts. Yes, they still need to work on getting permits to close the roads. But these rural roads are not as busy as the other runner commented. The good news is that a brand new running store, the Skagit Running Company in Mt. Vernon, just opened 3 months ago today. And they will be a major force in making the race bigger and better next year. I spoke to the new race director, Kerry Jones as well as the running store owner, Wendy Scott after the race. They both want to make the race bigger and better next year. Overall, the scenery, the terrain and the weather just beat Seattle Marathon in November.
A Runner from Vancouver,B.C. (9/9/2001) "not bad." (about: 2001) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Very flat course.No police on intersections but there was very little trafic.An ambulanc vehicle would be a reasuring sight.Hot weather and aid stations only every 3M; should have more of them. Few volunteers but they did a very good job.The course is entirely out of the city in a rural area so there simply are no people to watch us.
A Runner from Seattle (9/25/2000) "If you like traffic, you'll like this marathon..." (General Comments) COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 For the 23rd annual, you'd think they'd be a little better organized. I arrived at 7:45 to get my number and found that the bathrooms had not been unlocked yet. They had almost no day of race entrants and they still managed to run out of pre-ordered medium size t-shirts. There was one sign on the course warning motorists of an event in progress. I was honked at, whistled at, yelled at, and nearly run over while running on the dirt shoulder of the road most of the time. My running partner had the same problems. I can't believe they didn't put up signs that said 'Runners on road' or 'Event in progress' -- anything to warn the motorists that there were people out there. Skagit county drivers do not believe in slowing down when going past a runner on the road. I saw one police car on the course, and the entirety of the course was on main roads, none of which were closed. The course was flat, and it was pretty, but it was dangerous. There were no spectators except the volunteers, who were wonderful. I don't understand how they could run out of gatorade, though. I will not be returning to this marathon.

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