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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 51 to 61]

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R. A. from Peoria, Az. (7/4/2008) "Need more water/drink stations." (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This is my 14th marathon. The water stations are too far apart, especially the last quarter of the marathon. The reason I like running marathons is that the organizers provide drinks so that I don't have to. They were out of sports drink at the second-to-last aid station, when I really needed it. You might add an aid station or two at the very end. I think I was saved by the cloudy weather. Beautiful course.
Brad Petersen from Portland Oregon (2/23/2008) "Complaining?" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This race was a blast. My first half marathon and I'm for sure coming back to do it again. For the size of the race, it was handled well. You can't expect everything, so be warned if you're going to be towards the back to bring your own liquid. If not receiving a medal or t-shirt defines the race for you, then I guess you do have a right to complain. For the money, however, it is unfortunate because the shirts are very nice quality. The gravel at the end was nice because it gave the course a little bit of variety and really made you earn the last mile. Great race, if you weren't too busy listening to your iPod to realize it.
J. D. from Portland, OR (10/17/2007) "Great race; don't listen to the whiners" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Foot Traffic Flat Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the half marathon in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and was very surprised to read all of the complaints about this race. This is a great race that has become a Fourth of July tradition for many runners in Portland. I have done this race three times. If it's so awful, why would so many people do it every year? And the numbers just keep growing. I agree with one comment that the numbers should be capped, and my guess is that it will happen. Traffic is a nightmare - but anybody who goes to Sauvie Island should be prepared for that. It isn't the race organizers' fault that there is only one road on and off the island. Although I did not get a shirt at the race, they got one to me a few weeks later. And by the way, the race shirts are always some of the best. This not really a fan-friendly race, given the location and parking situation. Not every race needs to be. I did not experience the other problems many people have discussed. The course change at the end wasn't that bad. So it was less than a mile of gravel. So what? Keep up the good work, Foot Traffic. I'll be back.
C. H. from Beaverton, OR (10/1/2007) "I PAID TO BE SUPPORTED BUT GOT DISAPPOINTMENT!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 I have run this race in the past (2) as a half marathon and (1) as a marathoner. This gem of a course and wonderful countryside run (yet still so close to town) had always been a holiday weekend treat. 2007 - I don't know what happened this year, but I feel like I paid for support and it wasn't there. I believe the excuse of too many slow runners is just the organizers shifting blame. You know what resources you have on hand - you have accepted payment from committed runners - so YOU NEED TO ESTABLISH A SAFE CUTOFF for those you have registered. To have runners without water in such heat was simply irresponsible. I won't give my patronage to Foot Traffic staff from this point forward. Oh, Ps. I was also promised a medal and tee-shirt for the money you accepted, but...? By the way, I ran the half marathon.
F. W. from Portland, Oregon (8/20/2007) "Won't be doing this one again." (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 A little late on the comments about this one. I was extremely disappointed that they ran out of medals before I finished. I understand that many more people registered at the last minute than expected. It seems to me that if there aren't going to be enough medals, that they should be awarded by race number so that those who did register early would get them before the people who came out at the last minute. It's almost 7 weeks post race and not one word yet about when we might get the medals we earned.
H. J. from Beaverton, Oregon (8/1/2007) "Good intentions don't make a good race." (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Foot Traffic Flat Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I did the half last year and really enjoyed it, in spite of some problems. This year, it was much worse. I talked my daughter into joining me and I doubt she'll do it again, even though it is not much of a drive for us. As others have mentioned, they ran out of cups in the first couple of hours - hopefully they got some more out there for the full marathoners who had to make two loops around the island. It was very hot, but that had been predicted. I was carrying my own Gatorade, fortunately. The volunteers were pouring water from the jugs directly into runners' mouths! I expected the traffic delays as it is an island with only one road in and out, but I do think that it is time to cap the entries, say no to race-day sign-ups, and get rid of that gravel at the end of the race! Nothing they can do about the weather, but there is much room for improvement in what has the potential to be a very nice, small, flat race. This is the third race I've done this year that has run out of water and/or cups - I will always bring my own fluid from now on.... Since we are running through miles of farmland, couldn't some of those irrigation hoses be turned on the runners on a 90-degree day? One spectator, who has a fast track to heaven, in my opinion, was spraying us at about mile 11 and the song on my iPod was, "You might as well be walking on the sun." I had to laugh! - Ozzie from Beaverton
M. T. from New Jersey, USA (7/24/2007) "Very poorly organized." (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This was very poorly organized. I only ran the 1/2 marathon and thank God it wasn't the full marathon. The last 3 aid stations ran out of cups. The water was warm and to top it all off, they ran out of medals in the end. We had to inquire about it because no one made an effort to let us know they ran out. We're still waiting for our medals to come via mail. I've run a few marathons and I don't remember any of them ever running out of cups.
M. M. from Portland, OR (7/14/2007) "If only ZERO stars were possible" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Foot Traffic Flat Marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I ran the inaugural marathon on the island in 2004 and swore I wouldn't run it again due to the poor organization. The past two years I ran the 1/2 but decided to try the marathon again this year after emailing the race director to see if they made improvements (he said there would be plenty of aid). The basic needs are not enough aid stations and then running out of aid at the stations. Unfortunately, this year was probably the worst. I have run 60 marathons and I have to put this one at the end of my list in terms of organization and will not run it again. The full marathon is an after-thought to the half and I think they should drop the race. The organizers have not shown they can deal with both races. This year they ran out of cups as well as aid (plus shirts and medals - the medals didn't have any year on it, which I guess is better than having the wrong year like they did in the past). The course was changed to "improve" the traffic getting off the island. The traffic was just as bad and as other runners have mentioned, the course change was horrible. I didn't speak to one marathoner who liked the loose gravel at the end of the loops. While I understand there were many last-minute entries, that really isn't an excuse for running out of aid/cups when you know the weather is going to be warm. Even if they didn't run out of aid, there aren't enough aid stations for a marathon. Each loop had 5 stations with another one at the finish, which makes 11 stations. For a marathon, there should be an aid station at least every other mile, especially considering the time of year of the race. For those who want to run a fast marathon in Oregon, I would suggest Newport (a wonderful well-organized race that is faster) or Portland (larger wonderfully organized and almost as fast - in some ways faster since you won't be dehydrated due to lack of aid). If you want to run a marathon in the NW around July 4th, check out Seafair (I also ran that one 5 days after this one). That race, while a tougher course, is so much better organized that it really puts this race in perspective. If you want to run a race on July 4th, check out the free Oregon Road Runners Club 10K that is held every July 4th. I hear that changes (again!!) are in the works for next year, including shuttle buses, same start time for marathoners and 1/2 marathons, and a LATER start time for marathoners. I, for one, have learned my lesson and will not run either race next year. I can't imagine the organizers getting the shuttles handled correctly and I would suspect the start of the race will have to be delayed because the runners won't be getting to the starting line on time.
E. B. from Portland, OR (7/12/2007) "My First Marathon and NO Medal or T-shirt" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I really was disappointed. It was extremely hot out and the aid stations were few and far between. Also I was told there would be Hammer Head Gu at the stations and only at mile 24.5 did I see any of it. I should have prepared to support myself better, carry more Gu, water etc., but this race has gone on for 5 years - I would have thought they'd figure it out. This was a goal I set out to accomplish before my 26th birthday, which was 6 days after the race, and as happy and proud as I was to finish, I was really kind of bummed that there was not a medal at the end waiting for me. I signed up a month and a half before the race and didn't get a shirt or medal... a big disappointment. Now for the GOOD! - As I was rounding the bend for my final mile of the marathon, there were a ton of cars stopped in traffic waiting to get off the island. I think every car in line honked and yelled encouraging words - I can't thank them enough... they are the force that got me through the final mile. It was a great feeling knowing people are rooting for you, even though they are stuck in traffic trying to leave. I don't know if I will do this run again; if I do, it will be the half marathon.
L. I. from Orange Park, FL (7/12/2007) "This is a Mom and Pop-Style Marathon" (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I feel that this marathon needs to be advertised as a local mom and pop marathon. It is a flat course for the most part - however, the part about it being scenic is a stretch from the truth. The course is basically two non-shaded loops around organic farms on a two-lane road with traffic still allowed to flow. They changed the course the day before to include a 3/4-mile loosely packed gravel section at the half and the finish. There were no aid stations on the entire course - only water/electrolyte stations. The "helpers" were filling the cups with only an inch of water and thus they ran out of cups and then out of water too. The electrolyte drink was a clear sugary orange-flavored water - clear electrolytes made if very confusing because you couldn't tell if it was water or electrolytes. And last time I check electrolytes are usually salty, not sugary tasting. There was NO food/GU on the entire course even though it was marked on the race map where calories could be found. The aid stations were not prepared for first-aid needs such as sugar tablets, Band-Aids, and sunscreen. There were also no race personnel out on the course to assist with injured runners - the walkers had to run to go get help for the people passing out. The firemen out on the course were only there to direct traffic, which was still terrible - no fault of the firemen. Also, there is no way for spectators to go out on the course so you saw no one cheering except at the half/finish. If you have spectators coming, I would have them bring a bike if they want to see you out on the course. The shirt does not specify that Foot Traffic Flat is a race at all, much less a marathon/half-marathon, and they ran out of medals. Poor planning! I was really looking forward to the big lunch at the end but was shocked to see hot dogs and hamburgers being served - who really wants a hot dog at the end of a marathon? There was a guy cutting up apple slices but was not cutting the seeds/core out so you had to spit half the slice out and most of the slices were already brown. Just give us the whole apple! My recommendation to anyone wanting to travel to this marathon, think twice. If you still decide to venture to the farm, bring your own water, food, sunscreen, and pray you don't get injured!

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