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May 5, 2024

Frederick Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Frederick Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.9

Organization 4.2

Spectators 3.8

Number of comments: 116 [displaying comments 61 to 71]

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P. L. from Berkeley Springs, WV (5/5/2006) "Great for a first-time marathon" (about: 2006) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Frederick Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Overall, this was a great marathon for my first one. The hills were minor, but the two in mile 25 were tough. It's all road running, but traffic was well controlled by the police and race volunteers. I found everyone to be enthusiastic and supportive. I only had a few minor complaints. The race volunteers at the stadium were surprised to see the shuttle buses full of runners and had no idea where to direct the bus. Also, one portion of the website had stated energy gels were at miles 12 and 20, and another said they would be available at 6.5, 13, and 20. I depended on that third gel, and there were none to be found at mile 20. Fortunately, Gatorade provided some energy, but those gels are essential to avoiding "bonking" in those last miles. Also, a friend of mine running a 5-hour marathon encountered several water stops without water. The only other minor issue (and not in any way the fault of the race organizers) was that the Holiday Inn placed us in a "smoking room." Think about that one. I made the reservation three months before the race, but they simply overbooked and placed a number of runners in smoking rooms. Housekeeping provided some industrial strength odor eliminator, but it's still not acceptable. I hope the hotel got enough negative feedback to not make that mistake again. I'd do it all again, though. I would recommend this weekend to anyone.
B. C. from Vienna, Virginia (5/5/2006) "Very well done. I'll be back!" (about: 2002) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Frederick Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon at age 54. Overall a great experience. Course is fun, especially the first 2/3. Last part is a little boring and could do without the last 2 hills after mile 25. Volunteers and directions were great. Again, fans were good the first 2/3, but then not much. Other than the last 2 hills, the hills aren't much to worry about (and I didn't train at all for hills). A couple of minor glitches. Need to have officials at the check in to answer questions and at the race in the morning. I had signed up for an 8 p.m. pasta dinner and showed up to find out it was cancelled. At the end of the race, the people who provide the timing chips stop you and want to sit you down immediately to get the chip. Bad idea. Heart attack waiting to happen. No water for those in the last 1/3 of the pack at the first water stop and not much at the second. Rest of the course the water and Gatorade were great. Otherwise, it was very festive, and well organized; great fun, a good size and reasonably spectator-friendly. Last thing: they send you several emails in the weeks leading up to the race that are fun and really help to get you excited. Thanks to all involved.
P. F. from Virginia (5/5/2006) "Was looking for the energy gels" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Frederick Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Just a quibble: I was expecting energy gels to be provided at some of the stations, but they were not. How come?
L. C. from Gaithersburg, MD (5/5/2006) "Fantastic race" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Frederick Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is my second year running the Frederick Marathon. What I really enjoyed were the emails we received leading up to the race. Whoever wrote these updates made them fun to read. A little bit of humor is always a good thing. The course is challenging. I don't think I could run this hilly a course this early in the season.
M. M. from Arlington, VA (5/5/2006) "Well-put-together event" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I only ran the 1/2 so I guess I can provide half the comments. 1. I can never grade or mark down a race on spectators. It is not the job of the RD to get people up at 7:30 or to ask the residents to line the streets to cheer. 2. As confusing as the map was to look at prior to the race, there was no doubt about where one had to run while on the course. Not once did I approach a turn and have to ask where to go (there not many people in front of me to follow). The volunteers were on top of everything. There were plenty of volunteers and police directing and holding traffic. While this may seem like a simple thing to do, some races I have run have a hard time doing this. The "Obey Me" shirts were a nice touch. 3. Only markdown: buses for the 1/2. Volunteers at the end of the race should know where the buses are to get back to the start. Also, the bus driver should not be carrying on a loud personal semi-profane conversation (cell phone) and threatening to "go home" if something didn't go his way. 4. Award ceremony - not sure what time it started for the 1/2 marathoners but according to the webpage it started at 12:30. That is a long time for the award winners to sit around and wait, especially if people need to get home. 4a. Pre-race - if you picked up your bib up the morning of, you didn't get a goodie bag (with the normal pre-race stuff) and the tech shirts were almost gone (which at first I thought were the race shirts so the shirts at the finish made up for that concern). Your goodie bag should be there for you whether you get it at the expo or the morning of the race. 5. Overall - I'd give this an 8.5. It was a well-put-together race and it is still fairly new race. It can only get better and the "running shorts" e-mails were awesome (informative and funny).
j. p. from bowie,md (5/5/2006) "Could have been a contender" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I did the 1/2 marathon. Great weather, course not too difficult. I guess my biggest beef was the tech shirt. I got a choice of either medium or small. Usually if a runner pre-registers for a race, they should have some degree of assurance of getting the size shirt they indicate. Normally if this would have been a regular t-shirt, it wouldn't have mattered much. So now I have a great tech shirt that I can't get over my shoulders. The other small issue was the bike rider who came by twice at about six miles and again at about nine and a half and encouraged the runners by telling them that they were on the last hill of the course and that the rest of way was flat and/or downhill. I'm thinking that there were many "first time on this course" runners that didn't find this amusing, after encountering several hills after his comments.
R. B. from Pennsylvania (5/5/2006) "Overall Good" (about: 2006) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Frederick Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The course and premiums were very good. One comment on the half marathon post-race party. There were no bananas left when I finished and no donuts/bagels. There were probably more runners at the half than the full, but the refreshments were less. I guess if you wanted better refreshements, you needed to take the shuttle to the stadium. However, I was concerned about being able to get back to the hotel since there was a lot of uncertainty about shuttle buses. A suggestion for next year is to have both races finish at the same place with one post-race party.
A. G. from Virginia (5/5/2006) "Good small-town race" (about: 2006) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Frederick Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was a great race for a small town, but I felt the crowd support was good, given race size. Police and volunteers were plenty and did a good job managing traffic and the course. Miles 20-25 (I think?) were a bit lonely, but it helped that relay runners were alongside. All in all, a great race for the size.
E. F. from Lutherville, Md (5/4/2006) "absolutely great and getting better every year" (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Frederick Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Kudos to race director Rachel Ridgeway. She and her staff of volunteers put on another first-class running event. From packet pick-up, to volunteers on the course, to the finish line, one could not ask for more. I'd even like to compliment the director on the weather if she had anything to do with that too. The technical shirt was excellent and it was really great at the finish to get a classy medal and finisher's shirt. Again, congratulations on a job well done, and will see you again in 2007.
H. W. from North Bethesda, MD (5/4/2006) "Excellent race" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Frederick Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 As a local, I wanted to volunteer to see what it takes to organize a race and run it. I met some great people at the expo. The goodie bag was great - a hat plus a performance shirt. For any woman who complains that her small size wasn't there - arrive early!! Be thankful that you're not getting another boring t-shirt. Larger races charging $100 don't have this nice of a bag. The course was rolling and fun. My pace group leader was awesome (thanks John!). It was an overall good race. I highly recommend it.

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