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Apr 29, 2024

Salt Lake City Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.1

Organization 4.1

Spectators 3.9

Number of comments: 162 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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Z. J. from W. Jordan, UT (4/18/2009) "Great race! What's all the fuss about?" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Salt Lake City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thought the organization was great, but the re-design of the course this year was icky - especially the last hill going up State St. to South Temple. That bugger has got to go. And Van Winkle wasn't any fun, but that wasn't a surprise. The volunteers were great, and the aid stations well stocked, but there could have been more eats in the finish area. Nice fan support, though not as much as you'd expect in a big-city race. I will definitely be running this race again.
R. R. from Nevada (1/4/2009) "well organized race with plenty of support" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Salt Lake City Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run this race two years in a row and I enjoyed both times. This year, 2008, had a bad headwind (obviously organizers don't control the weather), but it turned into a nice tailwind for the second half! Aid stations were well-stocked and staffed. Will run again in 2009.
B. B. from Pittsburgh, PA. (6/21/2008) "Need a lot of work" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Salt Lake City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I found the course to be very pretty, the spectators to be supportive, but the organization to be lacking. The start area was far too congested, as was the finish chute. The bag pick-up area was a 10:00 walk through very congested streets. I still haven't received my race shirt or medal. No one from Devine has acknowledged my e-mails. I don't feel that I got my money's worth.
S. S. from Colorado (5/27/2008) "Still Great!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Salt Lake City Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Perhaps they don't call it the Great Salt Lake anymore, but if they've dropped that term, I believe the SLC Marathon should pick it up. Whenever a race has poor weather on race day, I always see people bash the organization. This shouldn't be the case here! Sure it was windy this year, but if you train and pace properly, this shouldn't be too bad at all! As an organization, Devine has had issues in L.A. (which I won't run anymore) and some problems in Las Vegas (which I didn't see, but was told about); but as a participant in 3 of the last SLC Marathons, I cannot hold any prejudices against the Salt Lake Devine people. This course was gorgeous, and it actually was able to run through the highlight reel of the Salt Lake City area. The only hiccups I saw were the shirt colors, and the medals. The shirts were great quality; it's just that the colors this year were a step down from previous ones. The medal seems like they spent too much on a graphic artist and not enough on any runners' input. (I don't care if it looked good on paper; I want it to look good around my neck.) As for the previous medals, they've always been great! Though people are complaining about the finish line food being unhealthy, what they fail to mention is that SLC has a variety. Us runners need to learn to grab what they want and leave that which they deem "unhealthy." There is always fruit and bread and Gatorade. Me? I'm grabbing the hot slice of pizza or a beefy hot dog! I've earned it. Where this race really shines though is hands down with its spectators. Sure there are a few dead spots on the course. But I'll run New York if I need a bunch of people cheering. The Delta Center is one of the loudest NBA arenas, and the finish line is no different! I've never seen another double-decker marathon finish line, and the energy from this one keeps bringing me back! Thank you, Salt Lake, for bringing me back to your "Great" Salt Lake City Marathon.
a. b. from Elko, NV (5/14/2008) "Funnel-Effect Finish Line!" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Salt Lake City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 It was very different to hear gospel music at the start line - not my first choice to get pumped up. Glad to have my own music! I liked the wind at my back, and the course; I just didn't like finishing on brick roads. That was not good for the ankles, and the funnel effect: I couldn't sprint to finish. Also, too many runners for the 1/2 marathon. The whole mess with the shirts and the colors... terrible!! At least on the bile-colored shirts you can see the sponsors' logos on the back, and the lack of gender-sizing left me with a huge men's size, or a fat boy's size. I can't run in either size! Lame medal!
Allen Thomas from Las Cruces, New Mexico (5/4/2008) "A 'Devine' Race'?" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Salt Lake City Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 As an outsider, I don't understand all the negative comments. I appreciated the gospel choir (it is SLC after all), I thought it was a good idea to have the major present at the start (city support of the race can' be bad I would think), and the course picked took advantage of the elevation. The only undesirable element I found was the wind, but I don't ee how that's Devine's fault. Utah is a beautiful state and I'm sure the other marathons the state hosts are wonderful&but this one wasn't nearly as bad as others made it out to be. Don't be put off the negative comments...run it and judge it for yourself.
s. m. from slc, utah (5/1/2008) "Wait a month & do OGDEN" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Salt Lake City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Bad shirt, medal, crowd, pre/post-race music, on-course music, post-race food.... What else is there??
D. M. from Arkansas (4/28/2008) "Bad Race" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Salt Lake City Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This was my second marathon. My first was the Marine Marathon in DC. In the SLC Marathon, the food and refreshments were all gone by the time I came in at 4:25:09. The medals were small and Devine made sure its name was all over the ribbon. This race is more about the 5K, 1/2 marathon, and bike tour than the marathon. I traveled from Arkansas for a not-so-good race. I would not do it again. I was very disappointed in Devine Racing. Do yourself a favor: Don't run this one.
J. G. from Colorado (4/28/2008) "Great but not Devine" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Salt Lake City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Despite the periodic dusty wind surges, the weather was great; and the course changed directions enough that runners got breaks from these pesky gusts. Good: 1 The spectators. There was a lot of support throughout the whole course. It was awesome that many of the residents of the neighborhoods were out cheering on the runners. 2. The relief stations. There were ample water stops with friendly volunteers. Minor detail, but the paper cups that were handed out are much easier to drink out of while running than Styrofoam or plastic. The Gu and fruit slices handed out during the run were also a major plus. The timing clocks at all of the miles were a great advantage, too. 3. Ease of transportation. Of all the marathons Ive run, this marathon was by far the easiest to get to and fro. The location of hotels, pre/post-race events, registration, start line and finish line were all either within walking distance or assessable via light rail. Not only was it convenient for the actual runners, but it also provided ease for the traveling companions. My entourage was able to travel with me to the start line to see me off - and simply use the light rail to catch me back at the finish line, and that is a superb advantage. Bad: I wouldn't make as much of an issue about the bad aspects of the run if it weren't for the fact that the announcer made a verbal pledge that you couldn't find a better marathon than the SLC Marathon. Well if this marathon were to get a perfect 10 in my book, the following would have to be rectified: 1. The host hotel. I stayed in one of the two host hotels. I can't speak for both of them obviously, but I was disappointed to learn that the dirty hotel I was staying in did not offer continental breakfast and the overpriced restaurant was closed that early in the morning. Ultimately it was my fault for not inquiring about this beforehand; but in all my past hotel stays during marathons, I've been provided some kind of food at the lodging establishment (and they've had fewer stars). Bottom-line, for this hotel to have "host-status," it wasn't up to par. And because transportation to the start line was via light rail, a runner could stay at any downtown hotel and have ease of travel. I just think the marathon organizers could find a better place or coordinate something with the host hotel to provide more amenities aside from a very small room discount. 2. Pre- and post-race food. There should have been more than just water at the start line! Some of us were there two hours prior to the start time; and because of the lack of food at the host hotel (see above comment) I'm thankful I packed an energy bar! I realize runners aren't going to (and shouldn't) overindulge prior to a race, some fruit slices would have been nice. I also took issue with the finish-line food. I know you can't please everyone's whims; but I'm curious to know how many runners who just ran 26.2 miles in the wee hours of the morning really want to finish it off with a nice juicy pork hot dog. Maybe I'm in the minority; but I'd rather see a variety of fruits, yogurt, bagels, muffins - which there was none of! (There were bananas, but that was the ONLY kind of fruit.) 3. Medals. They appeared somewhat cheap; and I'm hearing from other runners that many are in agreement. 4. Pace groups. Since the marathon website offered information about training, and training runs, etc., I was disappointed to see that there weren't pace groups.
J. H. from Salt Lake City (4/24/2008) "Gets Worse Every Year!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Salt Lake City Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I've run this race for the last four years and have seen a steady decline in the organization and participation. The medals continue to get smaller each year and now they don't even attempt to call everyone's name when crossing the finish line. My suggestion is to wait a month and run Ogden instead. The smaller Utah races, organized by the cities (Ogden, St. George, Logan and Park City), do a much better job than the Salt Lake Marathon, which is managed by professional organization - Devine Racing. Go figure!

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