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Apr 28, 2024

"Last Chance for Boston" Marathon Runner Comments

Back to "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.7

Organization 4.0

Spectators 3.6

Number of comments: 81 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]

M. B. from Ohio (2/19/2009) "Overall a good event" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 On the plus side, I actually like the one mile loop; it helps with pacing and mentally breaking the race up into segments. There were a few spectators who were very enthusiastic and helpful (special thanks to the guy with the megaphone; you really helped). The host hotel is nice. On the bad side, only two porta-johns? Thankfully I didn't need one. Not a very high quality t-shirt and no real race goodies to speak of, which is fine, but at the cost of the race you might think there would be more. And at times the loop gets pretty crowded. Even though they are constantly telling people not to run side by side, you'd commonly encounter groups of runners or walkers four-wide.
A. G. from Bridgeport, Ohio (2/17/2009) "True Runners' Course" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My husband and I actually just ran the half as a training run for the Kentucky Derby Marathon in the spring. We weren't sure what to expect, but thought it would be more fun than by ourselves on our usual route. I was impressed with the organization, and the people were very nice and accommodating. We're used to running hills so the flat course was a little bit of challenge. That "using different muscles" thing is really true. I applaud the marathoners because I don't know if I could have gone around thirteen more times. My only concern was that we didn't realize we had even started the race. There wasn't a gun, horn or even audible announcement. We were just standing around and all of sudden everyone around us started to run, so we did. We weren't sure if we had officially started until we crossed over the line. Our first mile was horrible. Thanks to the lady with her two little girls. We loved seeing the new hat each lap around! I also missed out on the third place award in my age group to a girl named Ron. Congrats if you're really a girl, but just had to wonder if that was a mistake or not. Anyway, thanks to Dublin for a fun training run!
N. H. from New York City (2/16/2009) "A race to dig deep into." (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was just as advertised. A race to dig deep into and get your goal done. Based on my 10 years of running, I can truly say, I loved it because I was able to use all the information I gathered over the years to achieve my goal. I have always been a 5-5 1/2 hour marathoner with the desire to be 4:30's. This time I was able to get it done. And that is this race, with the hotel close by, miles counted every time you cross the line, cheering sections in the same spot, as well as the fueling station and congratulations given with ease. I didn't find the 26 1-mile repeats boring because I was there to get the task done. I will go back!!! And as for the lady with the 26 different hats and wigs: Thank you; you made me smile....
G. B. from Westerville, OH (2/16/2009) "No Medal?" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I have run the LCFB Marathon 3 times now and I have enjoyed them all. My only concern was that I did not receive a finisher's medal when I finished this year. They said that they ran out of medals and would mail me one; I hope they follow through. I can understand this if I was one of the last few to finish, but I was in the top 40% of the field.
M. J. from Boone, NC (2/16/2009) "Very Underrated Marathon" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I ran this race without shoes and got a (shoeless) PR. The spectators were amazing and the course was great for me. I had read about how poorly organized this race was, so I was bracing myself for a bad experience. If the race had been poorly organized in the past, there have been some improvements. Lap counters were great, I never had to wait in line for the porta-pottie (which ALWAYS happens at other races), and directions were very clear. The only problem I had was finding out that I would have to wait for my medal to be mailed out to me because they had run out. I know there were a lot of race day registrants, and I understand the logic of not making more medals than you have runners. I'd rather wait for my medal than have them waste medals and have to drive up the fee for next year.
J. M. from Columbus, Ohio (2/16/2009) "Exactly as advertised" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This marathon is exactly as advertised. It is a one-mile loop run 26 times. It is well organized and the people are wonderful. The host hotel is accessible and provides some warmth on a February day in central Ohio. We had great weather for the event in 2009. It is a fast, flat course with no surprises.
C. H. from IL (2/15/2009) "This Event Has Potential" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 There needs to be separation of events between the marathon (to qualify for Boston) and the other events (Relay, 5K, 10K, and Half-Marathon). Today's event seemed geared for more of the non-Boston qualifiers as the loop was very congested at several points. It was too challenging to pass people on the corners and through the finish line and aid stations. There should be two different weekends with all non-marathon events on Saturday and one marathon event (women's or men's) on Sunday. This would ensure a better opportunity for both women and men to qualify for Boston or run a fast marathon around a fast, one-mile loop. With two separate events, there could be potential for two successful running expos, which is needed to promote the local area running and health places. The host hotel (Crown Plaza) did a very nice job with the accommodations. Thanks to all of the volunteers, support, police, and the remainder of the crew for making the event as supportive as possible.
T. S. from Audubon, PA (2/15/2009) "Set a specific goal, even if it's not Boston" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The course is exactly as advertised, and the experience is designed to run quickly, keep pace, hits splits, and make your goal. Neither course nor crowd support will get you through, and this race is not for those who simply want to finish. I think the repetition would be maddening. But for those with a careful plan and some running experience, it is exhilarating to be on the money with those mile splits in a way that would be very difficult on hilly or unknown courses. I'm overjoyed with a 14-minute PR!
Brad Toman from Cleveland (1/24/2009) "How can anyone complain??" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It baffles me that anyone can complain about this race. It is what it is... 26 laps around a flat parkway. The race was exactly as advertised. The workers were all extremely supportive. I did not qualify for Boston as hoped, but that was my fault. I will be back every year that I need a qualifying time. My hat is off to the organizers of this race to give one last shot at making Boston.
B. N. from Cincinnati (4/5/2008) "A potentially fast winter marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 "Last Chance for Boston" Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The Last Chance for Boston Marathon is a winter marathon run in central Ohio that was initially run on the last day of qualification for the spring Boston Marathon. Boston has since dropped the cut off date, but this race has retained the name due to the fact that lots of folks still come to take that last shot to qualify. Unofficially it has been reported that a little over 30% of runners in this race qualify for Boston, which puts it only behind Boston itself and Mohawk-Hudson River for qualification percentage. This is a race to run hard, not a particularly fun marathon. This race has two important distinguishing characteristics. First, the first mile has only four feet of elevation change. Second, the first mile is a loop that is repeated 26.2 times. A unique marathon indeed! For most that have not run this race, the route sounds very boring. Indeed the loop does get a bit familiar after ten laps or so, but there are many advantages to the lap course. First, the course is marked with markers every 1/4 mile, which is a big aid in early pacing. Probably the most interesting aspect of the set up is that the entire field of runners is always within one mile of each other. The faster runners are lapping the slower runners so that even at the end of the race, there are folks at all different speeds both passing and being passed. At the end of other marathons these runners would be 5 miles or more apart. The loop also allows the runner to go by friends and family who can support them every mile. I am perplexed at the price of this race. At $65 it costs more than the Flying Pig and does not compare in any way with the schwag of that race and does not close down the streets of the city for a morning. I am also not in favor of the concurrent 5K, 10K and relay that are held along with the marathon and half marathon. Trying to get all of the races started together created logistics problems that put off the start of the race by 10 minutes. Not nice in a winter marathon. Also the runners in those distances are going so much faster than all of the other runners that they completely interrupt the flow of the race. The 2008 race was run with temps in the 40's with threatening skies, but little actual rain. The wind picked up after the first hour of the race and was blowing significantly by the third hour. I started the race with a touchy hamstring that came up to bite me a few times when I tried to push the pace so I coasted in about one hour slower than my PR. I will come back one day only if I need to run a fast time and am limited to running in the winter in Ohio. Otherwise, I would prefer to head to Austin or Myrtle Beach.

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