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Colorado Marathon (prev. Fort Collins Old Town Marathon) Runner Comments
Back to Colorado Marathon (prev. Fort Collins Old Town Marathon) Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 118 [displaying comments 101 to 111]
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D. M. from Fort Collins, CO
(5/10/2004)
 "Go with the flow" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Colorado Marathon (prev. Fort Collins Old Town Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great run in '04... once again outstanding organization coupled with a course that runs along a scenic mountain stream much of the way adds up to one of the best marathons in the US. Warm day but the unique canyon nature of much of the race means running in mountain shade even after sunrise. Only downside is race organizers decided not to have a race medal for finishers this year... a real shame for those who collect these now standard race completion souvineers. | |
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Mike Rhyner from Fort Collins, Co
(6/7/2003)
 "Scenic and fast" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Of the 15 marathon courses I have run, this is my favorite. I ran the race in 2002 and 2003. The organization and planning for this race is the best I've seen. The entry fee for 2003 was higher than most marathons, but allowed for extras you won't find at other marathons. The t-shirts are something you can actually race in. The buses are comfortable and warm. The post-race party is well done. There are awards for all the deserving participants. They even snuck in an unadvertised finishers medal this year. The training runs were well organized, and definitely worth doing. Both years, my optimism exceeded my training and I started out too fast, leading to a good split time and a mediocre finish time. I expect I will come close to a PR in the future on this course - with proper training. I put this race on my calender for next year, and will work the other races around it. | |
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S. G. from St. Louis, MO, USA
(5/30/2003)
 "The Poudre Canyon Provides a Gorgeous Start!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I ran this race in 2003. It had snowed the night before (6+ inches in Denver) and there was a beautiful dusting of snow on the mountains at the start. The roads were clear and dry -- we couldn't have asked for better weather. The early start on the buses is worth it. The sun rises in the Canyon and you have new scenery around every turn. One view is more awe-inspiring than the next. Don't let the downhill scare you. It is a gentle downhill that doesn't give you quad-kill. The camber of the windy canyon road causes more problems than the downhill grade, but that too is not bad. After leaving the Canyon (approx. mile 14-15), the course dumps out on the shoulder of some not-so-great roads. This section is tolerable and eventually you end up on a paved bike path into town. (You'll run by Verns, which is a diner worth visiting after the run!). This was my 11th marathon, and it was the most enjoyable 1st half I've experienced. The first 13-14 miles go by in the blink of an eye because there is so much to look at and absorb. If you want a smaller, well organized, beautiful, and gently-downhill marathon, add this to your list! I have a feeling that as more people learn about this marathon, it won't stay so small. | |
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D. F. from Louisville Colorado
(5/20/2003)
 "well-run event" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Excellent course -- the nice variety of scenery and terrain kept it interesting. Fast, too. Good thing we ran Sunday, because it snowed at the start on Saturday! Pre-race packet pickup was smooth and the buses to the start worked exactly as advertised. Spectators were great and the finish line felt like a much bigger event. | |
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John Dent from Denver, CO
(5/16/2003)
"Beautiful scenery, great course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and I couldn't have picked a better one! Poudre Canyon was gorgeous. | |
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J. B. from Littleton, Colorado
(5/15/2003)
"Great course and great organization" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 30th marathon and one which I shall run again. Not many fans for much of the race, but that is because much of the race is run in a canyon. Great finish. Net elevation drop but not too steep. Beautiful course! Race director knows how to take care of runners. | |
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E. F. from Denver
(5/15/2003)
"Dedication of organizers will make a great race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The dedication and energy of the organizers will, in a couple of years, make this race a great spring marathon. At two years old, it's only got a couple of bugs that need to be worked out. The pros: the first 14 miles, a consistent, gentle-on-the-bones downhill through the Canyon is spectacular. Awards and post-race festivities are unusually generous. The organizers are very dedicated to the race, providing lots of information, arranging training runs on the course in the weeks approaching the race, etc. Allowing the busses to stay at the start, providing a warm place to wait, was very appreciated, as was a well-handled baggage check. Constructive criticism: Miles 15-22 are run on the very narrow, sometimes uneven shoulder (particualrly for the killer miles of 19-22) of a somewhat busy highway. I know road closings are an issue along this portion of the route, but the most difficult part of the race happens to be run on an unpleasant surface. A little more room taken from the more level travel lane of the highway would have been welcome. If that can't be arranged on the highway, perhaps it is possible to re-route the course to less-traveled roads that could be more closed off to runners. Although aid stations were well-staffed, there needed to be more, especially in the beginning of the race. With only four aid stations in the first 13 miles, staying properly hydrated requires runners to carry their own water. A couple of small water-only stations run out of the trunk of a car or off a card table by 2-3 people could help fill the gaps. These are not overwhleming problems, and the dedication of the organizers to this event suggests to me that, over time, they will be addressed, making this a very enjoyable spring race. Other comments: Traffic control is also what creates the need for a *very* early start time-- to get to the start for 6:00 a.m., the last bus leaves downtown Ft. Collins around 4:45 a.m., and the bus from the official hotel left no later than 4:15 a.m. Although the early start made it possible to get back to the hotel to shower and check out before the post-race party, it made for a very early wake-up call. Where it exists, spectator support is strong, probably because access to the course for spectators is practical only at the turn on Mile 16 and at the finish line. If you need fans to encourage you, this is not the race for you. A portion of Mile 22 was run through an area under construction, leading to some soft, muddy conditions and an awkward step onto and off of a concrete bridge. Presumably, by next year, this will just be regular road. Overall, this was a very enjoyable race, and the organizers deserve lots of credit for the job they did. A little work on getting the runners a little more room in the later miles and some more water stations along the course, and this race will be just about perfect. | |
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T. C. from Norton, Kansas
(5/13/2003)
"Best Scenic Half, Great Group of Runners!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon in Colorado, and I cannot imagine that there is a better race in Colorado for setting a personal best at altitude. I had a p.r. 6 months ago in Kansas City (4:49), but this being only my 5th marathon and me being nearly 42 yrs. old, I have set a personal record 3 out of the last 4. My new p.r. is 3:30, and that 19 minute improvement could have easily been 29 if there were just a few more porta johns at the start, and if I had not decided on the lighter shoes over the more cusioned ones. Sudden onset of leg pains at mile 20 are a dead giveaway that the upper part of the course was too much of a shock to those muscles! I live in West Kansas at 3200 ft. and the average elevation at this race figures to be 5500 ft or so. My only criticisms about the course would have to be the one mile out-n-back section and that the bridge construction section was in the latter miles and the mud and the little crater holes and the 10' step up onto the new concrete were all not welcome at that point. I didn't really know how to rate spectators because aside from just about enough of them to have about a 2:1 ratio, there were so few. Maybe they could hire a band or two, have music stations & Gourmet Coffee with scones at mile 18 and 25 to attract spectators and have a contest for 'best cheerer' or something. Personally, I'd like to hear bagpipes at mile 18 and some loud rock music a mile from the finish area. The post-race party was just the best ever. All of the people from the volunteers to the organizers to the fellow runners were fun and friendly. All you guys who were running in the 7:30/mile pace group (you know who you are) get my salute and thanks. Next time, I hope to stay with you a few miles further. | |
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Marco Michelini from Florence, Italy
(5/12/2003)
"1st Marathon ever, will do this again!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Scenic course, spectacular downhill race on the Poudre Canyon (saw a guy stopping every other mile to take pictures!). Mostly asphalt, gentle downhill, only a small hill at mile 19. Aid station w/ drink and gel every 2.5/3 miles (that helped... apart from the girl that gave me water instead of GU at mile 21...). PERFECT organization: Steve is a great host! All the volunteers were awesome, being there at 5 a.m. with 30F, what would you say??? I had loads of fun!!! Fans were great in the last 10 miles. It's a pity they cannot be allowed along the Canyon!!! See you in 2004! Marco | |
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D. W. from Denver, CO
(5/12/2003)
"a runner from Denver" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Given the spectacular views along the course - especially through the canyon, the great organization of the event, and the BLAZING fast course during the first quarter, this small-town race is only going to grow and grow and grow!!! I highly recommend this race and will be back next year! |
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