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Apr 27, 2024

Foot Traffic Flat Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Foot Traffic Flat Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.2

Organization 3.4

Spectators 2.6

Number of comments: 91 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

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

S. F. from Boston, MA (7/15/2011) "Best Boston Qualifier during the summer months." (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I came here to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and I'm glad to say I made it! The course does have some rolling parts, but was quite fast. I actually prefer some roll to prevent monotony. There was a bit of a headwind at a few points along the course, but not a big deal. Beyond that, the weather was about 55 degrees at the start, and maybe in the low 70's at the finish. Pretty much perfect! The course was beautiful, with rolling farmland, some snowcapped peaks, and various livestock (ostriches!) along the way. I live in the city, so I found the setting quite peaceful and felt supremely focused until I hit the wall. BTW, I hit it hard, but that wasn't the race's fault. I started up front, so the one lane going out didn't seem like a big deal to me, but perhaps the organizers could reverse the direction of the course to prevent congestion as late arriving 1/2 marathoners sat in traffic watching us run by. For people complaining about traffic getting there, the organizers had about 1000 warnings that there would be traffic, so I don't know what else they can do. I am ambivalent about the fact that after the out-and-back section from about mile 5-17.5 (don't remember exactly) the marathoners rejoined the course that was quite full of half marathon walkers. On the one hand, it was kind of annoying to have to weave through groups of walkers when I was running on fumes of fumes. On the other hand, many walkers cheered for me, which made up for the lack of spectators on the course. Finally, to the 1/2 marathoner who gave me a fuel belt bottle full of Cytomax as I my hamstrings had locked up from dehydration/carb depletion around mile 25: YOU ARE THE BEST! Thank you so much for the kind gesture! Once I started running again and attempted to hand the bottle back, she just yelled, 'just throw it at me and go!' You have some good karma coming your way!
G. A. from Portland Metro (7/13/2011) "Pleasant course offset by difficult logistics" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Course ok after mile 1.5. Only ~500 marathoners, but bad 1st mile squeezing through a single lane (other side was lineup of cars trying to get parked for half marathon). The few spectators were pleasant, but this rural race is not about spectators! Good race overall, but I doubt I'll be back. I just can't deal with 30+ minutes to go the last 3 miles to the parking lot before the race!
S. T. from Atlanta, GA (7/11/2011) "Excellent Small Country-Side Race" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The weather was spectacular this year with a very cool start, no clouds and warmish-finish. For the most part, the full marathon course is also spectacular as you run along the river where you can see house boats, fishermen, etc. We passed a lavendar field, ostriches and lots of farms along the way. The last five or six miles are a little boring as you are running back inland but still pretty. Very well organized race. Packet pickup was at the running store and there really wasn't any swag. It's an inexpensive race but the marathon shirts were extra (still only $25) but while attractive, they were far too small to actually wear, even after trading in for a larger size. The host hotel happens to be near a fun district with great restaurants, good shopping and nightlife. There was plenty of water and electolytes on the course which were stocked even late in the a.m. Really no spectators to speak of though so take your music or plan on communing with nature - there's plenty of that. Porta-potties along with way were also sufficient. There are fantastic waterfalls, shopping and lots of things to do around Portland. Definitely visit the coast. All in all it was an extremely enjoyable time!
G. R. from Atlanta, GA (7/7/2011) "So so...but needs improvement" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I agree with many of the comments here. The course is nice and great volunteers, but this marathon is way overpriced. I paid $80.88 for the marathon and $9.50 for the shuttle bus...no t-shirt. That would have been another $10, which I opted to not get. The buses need to leave earlier and provide a system where they are rolling as they fill up. The finishers medal is cute, but cheap and filled with a piece of cardboard inside the chain links. I like the concept, but please use something other than cardboard. Overall an okay event&it has potential, but the race director needs to step up the ante and improve the shuttle process and incorporate more swag for the price of this race.
William Foster from Colorado Springs, CO (7/6/2011) "Great local feel marathon" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 What a great race! Well organized. Don't expect an expo-there isn't one. Course is very flat but beware the heat-ended at 75deg. Post race there is shortcake and hot dogs. Overall had a blast, tacked on two days on the front and toured seattle. You can go fast on this course if you are looking for a particular time. Aide stations are about every two miles but that was ok. Very few spectators and your family will have a hard time seeing you on the course. I took the shuttle and my family met me at the finish. Worked out well.
G. A. from Portland, OR (7/5/2011) "Beautiful Course, but logistics detract" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The course is beautiful, but tends to get warm in the many open areas where you are running with the breeze. The event is growing, and is already beyond the capacity of Sauvie Island's roads. The marathon start confined a race of 1000+ to a single lane for the first 2 miles, and you are breathing the exhaust of the cars lined up in the other lane trying to park and get to the Half Marathon start. Aid stations were plentiful, and friendly. This is the third race I've run where Nuun was the only electrolyte offered, and it seems to cause stomach upset. My personal preference is to have an electrolyte drink with sugar. Spectator support was weak, but there is really no easy course access for them. But if you want a beautiful rural setting, with views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Saint Helens, and Mt. Adams, come on down.
K. H. from Maine (7/5/2011) "Great small race" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Ran the Foot Traffic marathon yesterday and I was very impressed. Great course, albeit a bit lonely at times. Well run race. Aid stations had water and electrolytes. I had a ball and would recommend this race as a casual, fun, fast marathon
E. B. from California (10/17/2010) "Great Marathon!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I enjoyed the marathon and met my BQ time! Packet pickup was great, as was the hotel. Rode the bus, as recommended, and the course was scenic and flat, as advertised. The atmosphere was very friendly and runners and volunteers all appeared to be having fun. The half-marathoners were walking in groups; but that's to be expected at 4+ hours. I was thrilled with my time and every aspect of this race. I hope to do it again.
B. H. from California, USA (7/19/2010) "Three strikes, they're out" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 3 Foot Traffic Flat Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was the third year I've run the Foot Traffic Flat Marathon, and probably it will be the last. There is a lot to like about this marathon, but ultimately the poor organization is a dealbreaker for me. This year we had: * Energy drink advertised at every aid station (about 2 miles) after the first. The first aid station with energy drink was at M13! Then, only every other aid station after that. By M13 I had already given up caring about this race. Running a marathon without fuel is not cool. * A large hill in the middle of the course that was not indicated on the course map. * Poorly placed mile markers. * And the usual issues - horrendous traffic and a course clogged by the slower half marathoners. (They start after the marathoners, but the marathoners do an out-and-back, winding up behind them.)
T. W. from Washington (7/14/2010) "Beautiful Course, a Bit Pricey" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This course is beautiful, and there is a farm at the start/finish area where my family had a great time seeing the animals and walking around while I ran. The post-race refreshments were tasty (and fun for the July 4th festivities), and the medal is one of the coolest I've seen in my 18 marathons (it's made from a recycled bike chain). The course is on an island, so the traffic was crazy, and a lot of runners were late for the start, but that is not the fault of the race directors, who offered shuttles, encouraged car pooling, and warned about the traffic. The one downside is the price; it's a bit pricey for the size of the event, and the t-shirt is not included in the event cost. The race directors said it's equivalent to a Rock 'n' Roll marathon (it's not, in size or entertainment), and the price seems a little steep for this level of event.

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