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☰
Baltimore Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Baltimore Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 4.0 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 443 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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C. B. from Missouri
(10/22/2014)
 "Great Experience" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Overall, I enjoyed this one. Just some general comments: - The prerace communication via the Facebook page was excellent. - There are plenty of hotels within walking distance of the start/finish and the expo. It made life easy - Course: As others have mentioned, this isn't an easy course. There is a long, gradual uphill to start; then a tough uphill from around 17-19. The course description is pretty accurate on the race website, and this is not advertised as a fast course, so I have no complaints about the hills. My only complaint with the course is the cobblestone street around mile 14. I was really worried that I would sprain an ankle. Regarding the half marathon merge: I ran this in 3:09, so I encountered only a handful of half runners. If you're a relatively fast runner, the merge won't be a problem. - The finish area had plenty of food & entertainment - This race had probably the best quality shirt I've received. And the medal was pretty cool (thanks!) Summary: Easy logistics and a well organized race made for a nice weekend. I would recommend running Baltimore. | |
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M. F. from New York
(10/21/2014)
 "Deceptively Hilly" (about: 2014)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The back of my medal says it all: 'It's a hill. Get over it!' Baltimore was my first full marathon after about a dozen half's and 6 years of serious running. I trained hard and tried to familiarize myself with the course as much as I could before arriving in Baltimore for the race. The published elevation profile makes it look like the course has two major long, slow climbsone at the beginning and one from about 15-21. (The elevation map also inexplicably stops at mile 24.5.) The reality of the course, though, is nearly constant rolling terrain, with the exception of the miles around Druid Lake and the Inner Harbor. It was a difficult race to pace due both to the hills themselves and the intermittent bottlenecks with runners slowing on the climbs. I finished in the front third, and even in that group so many people were walking by the end that I had to bob and weave just to keep moving. Overall, it's a well-organized race with great crowd support. I would not recommend it as a first marathon, or if you're not interested in a lot of hill training. | |
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M. B. from Missouri
(10/21/2014)
 "It has its ups and downs" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I thought the course was a good mix of the downtown area, neighborhoods, the zoo, etc. There are some hills but nothing overly challenging or intimidating. There is great communication via email leading up to the race which was very nice. Nice shirt, medal and expo. I have two suggestions for improving this race. First of all, give the wheelchair participants an hour earlier start. Too many of them were mixed in the middle of the pack of runners and it created a hazard for everyone out there. My second suggestion would be to either eliminate the merge with the half marathoners or start their race at a different time. I'm a 4:30 marathoner. From mile 16, when we merged with the half marathoners, to the finish was total frustration. There were crowds of walking, picture taking, costume wearing and talking, so called runners, with absolutely NO runner etiquette, in the way of those of us trying to run a race. It's frustrating to pay $100 for a marathon and your performance is compromised by a cluster of such. Something must be changed. Correct those two things and Baltimore would have a perfect marathon. | |
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R. S. from Baldwinsville, NY
(10/20/2014)
"Hilly course, but great crowd support" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I was pleasantly surprised by the crowd support for this race. A lot of spectators came out to cheer for the runners. It was a bit hilly the second half of the race, however, overall I would say that it was a better than average marathon. | |
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R. B. from Pittsburgh, PA
(10/20/2014)
"Solid Race" (about: 2014)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Had a great experience at the Baltimore Running Festival. Expo was top notch from the shuttles taking us to and from the free parking area, to the number of quality vendors. Shirt received is as nice as they get. Upon arrival you could tell the city was really into the running festival. Had a good idea the crowds on the course would be energetic and they were. The course: Started up with a nice uphill for the first three miles (not bad at all) then into the zoo (very cool place to run). After mile three it was about 7 miles of downhill back into the city. The course flattened out from 10-14. I really liked the out and back at 10-13, but maybe that is just because I really like short out and backs. Mile 13 took you past the inner harbor which is beautiful. 14-24 were difficult. I had heard there was a small uphill from 16-18, but it ended up being a consistent uphill for 10 miles (Not a complaint, I actually liked the degree of difficulty). None of the hills were all that bad, but combined added a level of difficulty. I thought the merger with the half at 16 was fine. Others mentioned it being horrible in the past, but they kept the marathoners roped off on the right side for about a half mile and then we gradually joined the halfers. I thought it was a nice way to do it. I had mixed feelings about running with the half marathoners during the second half. It was nice to have so many people around and larger crowds of spectators, but discouraging to see them passing me like I was standing still. Finish through Camden Yards was very cool and I really enjoyed that. After the finish you had to walk to the Finishers Area to get your medal and grab food/drink. It was about 100 yards past the finish line and was well organizer. It made the finish line less crowded and I really liked how they did it. The medal is great. Really like the size, weight and quality. Nice race. Really glad I ran it this year. Great way to see Baltimore and cross Maryland off your list. | |
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E. B. from Baltimore, Maryland
(11/4/2013)
"Great Fans, Some Course Issues" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Baltimore Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 2013 was my second time running the full; and 6th time running in the festival. Expo: The expo always seem to be pretty well stocked. I was able to pick up some GUs - however, I was disappointed when I read in the runner's handbook that I would now only be able to pick up for one runner (I normally pick up for friends from out of town). I made other arrangements to obtain their packets - only to discover this rule wasn't enforced at the expo. Course: The course is challenging and hasn't changed much from previous years. I did not like the removal of the zoo (it was so fun to run through and see the animals) and the choice to run around the reservoir at Druid Hill Park so early in the race created a bottle neck that caused those in the 9:30 pace range to come to a complete stop. The merge at the half point is also still very crowded - and although I think it is energizing to join the half - I did spend much of miles 16 - 18 running around walking half participants. Support: The fans in Baltimore are amazing - and even going through some of the less affluent areas - everyone is always cheering. Water stops were pretty good / as were food and GU. I was able to eat a banana at both 8 and 20. Finish: Bag check was super easy and I love that Baltimore had tents for the runners to change clothing in. The line for the food is sort of ridiculous and I really wish they'd separate finishers, so that the marathoners (who really need it) could access the food quickly. If you're finishing between 4:15 and 4:35, you can easily spend 30 minutes waiting in line for food. The race still has problem (as detailed above), but it showcases my home down - so I'm certain this won't be my last. | |
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M. S. from Baltimore, Md
(10/28/2013)
"Good things and bad things in this race" (about: 2013)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I did the half-marathon last year and had a blast, so I thought I would opt for the full this year. It was fun, definitely not as fun as the half for a couple reasons. First of all, the merge at mile 16. I was in the zone, had enough space for myself and then boom! A whole boatload of runners are surrounding you. I obviously knew this was going to happen because I was one of those runners last year, but I understand how annoying it can be now for those running the full. The finish was great, but I do think there should be different chutes at the finish for various races. Overall, I really loved the course and as a Baltimore native, it's a great way to see the entire city in one long run. It was the perfect mix of up and down hills. A great flat stretch in the middle and a nice long easy downhill to the finish line. I love Baltimore, so I think I'll be back in the future to run this race. | |
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A. M. from New York
(10/26/2013)
"So hilly!" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Surprisingly, the Baltimore Marathon feels even hillier than San Francisco! It seems that tough hills are never followed by downhills, and a few miles before the finish I was afraid that we would have to jump from the cliff to get back to sea level at Mile 26. Baltimore is not the most beautiful city in the country, and there is not much to see on the course, though it is interesting to run through some streets that you would never visit unless you are a police officer. Water stations were not frequent enough - I think I saw only three in the first 9 miles. On a rather warm day as we had, I definitely needed more. Starting the Half-Marathon runners 1:45 after the full Marathon is not a great idea. If you are a 4-hour Marathon runner, when you encounter the Half runners, most will be walkers and very slow runners, and it is difficult to run between them. The bright spot of the Marathon was the spectators. And the medal was very pretty. Overall, if the organizers start the Half-Marathon 2 hours after the Marathon, or manage to make two starts simultaneously, and also add a couple more water stations, it will be a nice but tough race. | |
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g. p. from Shelby, NC
(10/25/2013)
 "I was not pleased with many areas of this marathon" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I will not run this marathon again. Halfway through the marathon the half runners are streamed into the marathon. This caused lots of crowding and pacing problems for me. Also the half should not start 1 hour and 45 minutes later than the marathon. I had half runners with me who had to wait 2 additional hours to run their race. The food after the race is nothing to brag about. I saw Chic-Fil-A sandwiches after I had left the food area and was not allowed to re-enter to get one. Long lines for beer tickets. The finish line was like finishing a 5k. This is a marathon it should be spectacular not just another finish line. | |
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D. D. from London
(10/22/2013)
 "Great Race" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Baltimore Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I love the Baltimore Marathon. It's always a blast. |
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