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Ogden Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Ogden Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 157 [displaying comments 151 to 157]
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A Runner from Utah
(11/4/2002)
 "A very nice course" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 As has been stated by previous posts, the course is fantastic. I have no complaints about the course itself, except for maybe that one little bump towards the end that they say will be eliminated in 2003. Let's hope. And, like may who have posted before, my concerns focus on the organizational aspects of the marathon. It is my hope that as Sportsnuts.com and the RMSA, with experience, can get a first class marathon going up in Ogden. As far as spectator support goes: Was there much of any? | |
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A Runner from Salt Lake City
(6/4/2002)
"if only race management were as nice as the course" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 i've run this marathon in both the inaugural year (2001) and this (2002) year. the course is very scenic. the downhill through Ogden Canyon starting around mile 18 can pound you if you are not prepared. i've found myself fatigued (it is mile 18, after all) going into the canyon and completely beaten up coming out five miles later. But if you're prepared, this can be a really fast course. my 'real' compaints lay with the race director. i made some public comments on my Odgen Marathon experience to others which included a few (admittedly) nit picky shortcomings of the race: * difficulty finding info on the website (such as day of race bib pick-up, and a couple other things), which occured last year as well. * the handling of the award ceremonies showed a lot of lack of experience. again, a repeat of last year. * understaffed aid stations. i came through an aid station and there wasn't a filled cup available for me b/c the few volunteers that were there were scrambling to refill. this one was not so nit picky, but i found there to be enough aid stations on the course that it didn't make or break me. this didn't happen last year, but i think there were more aid stations than last year, which may have spread the volunteers too thin. * which brings me to another interesting point. they were advertising up to the last minute in need of volunteers. i knew some people who wanted to volunteer and literally spent WEEKS trying to contact them via the advertised phone and email. finally, someone helped them get in contact a day or two before the race. my first clue at how well they pay attention. no wonder they were short on volunteers. so word gets back to the RD of my comments on my race day experience, and i receive a scathing email from him that if i don't like his marathon then 'stay away next year.' with an attitude like that, i certainly will. i have no desire to experience where that attitude will take this race in upcoming years. | |
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A Runner from Suburb of Minneapolis, MN, USA
(5/7/2002)
 "Scenic Downhill Push; Minor Wrinkles" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 (Ran in '02). Course was quite scenic, with very little to spoil it; overall downhill, with biggest drops in first 6 miles and mi 17-22. I thought neither downhill segment chewed up my legs. Biggest cause of disappointment was the bike trail. Shade was good, but surface was uneven, path was winding, and there was a cruel uphill just before mi 24. A sign promised this hill's elimination in 2003. Some vehicles were let onto a supposedly closed-to-traffic portion. Course info could have been a little more detailed by mentioning more race features/amenities... the basic FAQ-type stuff. Glad I picked up my packet the night before, as it looked chaotic and sparsely staffed during race-morning pickup. Closed course and limited access limit crowds. Personally, I'll take fewer crowds if it means a safer course in a scenic, remote area. Those who did make it there were moderately enthusiastic. Decent post-race food selection that included ice-cream bars and OJ. Aid-station volunteers could've been thin in spots if a crowd went by... I had no problems and, overall, vols worked their tails off with a smile. Host hotel was reasonable (under $70) for a nice suite, location across street from finish line, and happy-hour and race-morning food/drinks. Several other nearby lodging options, including ones under $45. Seemed many people were from the area/region and drove up race morning. | |
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A Runner from Utah
(3/1/2002)
"Beautiful course but just not enough fans!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I thought this was a beautiful course and scenery, I hope this year that Ogden can get more spectators out there on the roads!!! One problem was that the racing bibs were not well marked, it was tough to tell who was running the marathon or the relays out there. I think they need to make sure that the bibs are clearly marked so spectators can tell who is who out there. The road was shut off coming down the canyon which was nice, also only the one very small uphill between miles 14-15. | |
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A Runner from Salt Lake City, UT
(5/28/2001)
 "Fantastic Race." (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Beautiful scenery. Great run for veteran or first timer. Aid stations were well placed. I plan to run this marathon every year. I have run almost 50 marathons and this is one of the best for course layout. | |
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A Runner from San Diego, Ca
(5/17/2001)
 "Great 1st race with excellent scenery" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Since I only ran the 5k, I can only imagine how cold it was for the marathoners who started an hour before me over 20 miles up the canyon. It was a little brisk at the start but once we got running, I was shedding layers. Being a native to the area, I have always appreciated the beauty of the ogden canyons and the valley. Although the pre-race organization was a little overwhelmed such that participants started helping, I felt it was a great success for an inagural event. The only problem was lack of spectators, in that there were none until the finish, I can imagine how lonely it was for the marathoners on their 26.2 mile quest never seeing any one except at the water stops. Overall great time, and next year I'll be running the marathon so I won't have to imagine. | |
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A Runner from Sandy, UT
(5/11/2001)
"Off to a great Start!...." (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 First year race. As such there were a few glitches. Mostly pre-race stuff (at least that I noticed). They mailed bibs-I didn't receive mine so I had to get an alternate. (ironically I live about 1.5 miles from the organizers office) A friend of mine was put in the wrong age group. Little nit picky things mostly. They put this thing together in about 4 months. They didn't have the necessary permits until end of December or first of January. Given those factors, I thought they did a good job. The course was great. Point to point course, run through a beautiful rural area. Total elevation drop of about 900'. Down a canyon, around Pineview Reservoir then down Ogden Canyon and through the Ogden River Parkway trail and into town. Only one significant uphill and it was at about mile 14-15. And it isn't bad. Sorta rolling before that, but only a couple - none significant. Most of the elevation drop is in Ogden Canyon over about 6 miles. Good spectator participation in the first 15-20 miles. People in yards cheering you on, one guy was playing accordion music for us-somebody said it was the Rocky theme - I didn't really pay that close attention to it. After the halfway point there was a family waiting for a runner that was playing Eye of the Tiger on a boom box or car stereo. Course has the potential to be pretty fast. Men's winner ran a 2:41 Womens a 2:58. Most of the top runners in the area were at other events. Utah had 2 place in the top 10 at Pittsburgh, both with the potential to lower that time. Once on Washington Blvd near the end the spectator participation is not as good until you get about a 1/2 mile from the end then it gets better. About 350 runners for the full, 70+ teams for the relay & a couple hundred or so for a 5k. Food, aid stations, more than adequate buses were done great. I would do it again. My only complaint (and this is really nit picking) is I would have liked to see a couple more aid stations in later miles. From mile 20 on there were only 3 (not including finish) 13 total and that included the finish. I ran a 38 minute PR on this course on training that was less than for Top of Utah last year. My biggest week was only about 38 miles. |
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