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May 5, 2024

Charlottesville Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.2

Organization 3.6

Spectators 3.0

Number of comments: 240 [displaying comments 61 to 71]

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J. K. from Oak Creek, Wisconsin (4/20/2009) "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COURSE I'VE RUN!!" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Charlottesville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Unbelievable scenery. Not a run to score a PR (very, very hilly). The organization was adequate - good markers, water stops, police directing traffic, etc. There needs to be more porta-pots out on the course and the community didn't seem all that involved or interested in the race (some were, but not like other marathons I've participated in). I recommend this course for out-of-state runners. What a beautiful and historic area. Bring your family to Monticello - home and resting ground of Thomas Jefferson. Downtown Charlottesville is a great time for young people and families.
J. P. from Washington, DC (4/20/2009) "great course, bad organization" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Charlottesville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I loved the course, and it does present the challenges that many have said it does: non-stop rolling hills! I ran it well; however, I ran it with the threat of cars hitting me, being told by police that traffic has the right of way, and a lousy post-race celebration (with no Gatorade, massages, beer, etc.). This race could be a massive event. It could and should be the best little race on the East Coast. However, the organizers in my opinion take advantage of all of the good press to continue to get people to come to it. The course is challenging and beautiful. Everything else was sub par.
N. F. from Maryland (4/20/2009) "Hills, Hills, Hills!!!" (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I first heard of this race through MarathonGuide and then Runner's World. I thought it would be great because of the scenery, but I was wrong. When I got into Charlottesville, I drove around in a cluster of traffic trying to find the tiny Charlottesville Running Company store. It was difficult because there was construction and the map I had received was poor. I wanted to get a PR for the half-marathon, but realized that I would not succeed due to the extreme number of hills and the congestion at the start line. I couldn't seem to get myself into the right pace because there were many slow runners at the beginning of the race area. The water spots were amazing and those few spectators were also very encouraging. If you want a challenge with hills then you should definitely run this race, but if you are coming off an injury, steer clear of this one.
C. L. from Carrboro, NC (4/19/2009) "Hilly and Tough - Beautiful!" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Charlottesville Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was a beautiful and scenic marathon, but very challenging due to the relentless hills. Do not expect a PR. Also, check the start time. It's 6:30 a.m. Race shirts were dull graphically and sized for men only. Race medallion ditto. Why so many comments about the race chip? We hear you and will return it - promptly, promise. (How many exclamation points can I use to make my point?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Please, race organizers: Add porta-johns between mile 8 and mile 20. Volunteers: Thanks very much for your support, and especially to the kind soul who permitted use of the gas station bathroom at mile 18. I love you! An added note: my friends signed up as walkers for the half. They had a sad and unpleasant time even though this race "welcomes" walkers. The organizers/police shut intersections down before they arrived (within sight of them), which was completely unfair because they had registered for this event and desired to be treated as full participants with everyone else.
M. T. from Arlington, VA (4/19/2009) "Beautiful course; organization needs some work" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Charlottesville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Pros - Great scenery on the course, nice work by city/UVA volunteers on their parts of the course and proper mile markers that were easy to find. One also had to admire that a city this size can even attempt a proper race. Cons - There was oncoming traffic during much of the run, and miles 18-22 were flat-out dangerous. The out-and-back on 15 was useless. Water stops were strangely placed (middle of hills?). Weak post-race food and support (cold pizza; other items were severely rationed). Lame medal/t-shirt (all said, "half marathon" regardless of the distance run.) I liked parts of the run but would not run again. The $80 entry fee was embarrassing, considering the lack of support and obvious skimping on basic items. I can live without a medal or t-shirt. The money would be better spent on the course.
G. M. from Charlottesville, VA (4/19/2009) "A fabulous country marathon" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Charlottesville Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a great, well organized race on a challenging course of spectacular beauty. The organizers are friendly, helpful, enthusiastic, and love to see all of the runners in their race. This marathon does a great job of being what it is (a challenging country marathon), and doesn't try to be something it probably can't be (Chicago). The realities of this race seem dictated by the winding country roads (some of them dirt) in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. So if you dislike hilly courses (it's hilly, not rolling), expect to see split clocks at every mile, or demand thousands of spectators along the course and aid stations at carefully calibrated intervals, then this race might not be for you. Me? I love it just the way it is. If there's one area that could be improved, it's probably traffic control. The nature of this area precludes total road closures on the course, but the police (who, to their credit, try hard and do their best) need to be better educated about the impact of their decisions on the traffic and on the runners. Oh, and watch out for the golf course. In the 23rd mile I almost got beaned from behind by a duffer who hooked his shot without yelling, "Fore." The ball whizzed by literally inches from my head.
Richard Belcourt from Waxhaw, North Carolina (3/1/2009) "Beautiful scenery and rough course." (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Charlottesville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I thought the scenery was spectacular; however, I was put off by having to run on the shoulder next to traffic. I though that was pretty unprofessional of the race organizers. I did have my PR though. It seems like every race I run is hilly! I've given myself enough time to forget the long hills and the lack of food at the finish... so being the glutton for punishment that I am, I'm running it again in '09.
L. B. from New York (2/25/2009) "Great course, beautiful country!" (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Charlottesville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a great race - very helpful organizers and a beautiful place to run. Virginia in the spring is so nice!
B. H. from DC (9/21/2008) "5 Stars!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Charlottesville Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This will be my 5th time to run the Charlottesville Marathon. I just love this race - great course and terrific town to visit. This race has become a spring tradition for my family.
M. G. from USA - moving to CO (6/4/2008) "Most beautiful race I ever ran!!" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Charlottesville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have lived and trained in the mountains of NC, NY and PA (briefly), so the hills were a piece of cake. Running while looking at race horses and blooming trees and the mountains took my breath away more than any hill. Volunteers were great and helpful, and the supplies DURING the race were great. Running out of bananas at the finish line was a small problem - four slices of pizza helped that. The race shirt is pretty cool, and I have run in it many time since then. Not a PR, but I hope to come back again in a few years.

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