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May 3, 2024

Marshall University Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Marshall University Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.2

Organization 4.4

Spectators 3.0

Number of comments: 208 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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T. H. from Shaker Heights,, OH (11/25/2011) "Enjoyable, hassle-free, low-cost run" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Everything pre-race spoils you: nice, close-by hotels; no traffic; parking right next to expo, race start, 1/2 point, and finish; lots of indoor/outdoor bathrooms; no need to stand in bag-check lines. You can hang out at your car, and feel relaxed right up to race start. At the half, changed shirts at car, used no-line john and only lost a few minutes to feel real refreshed for second 1/2. Course was as advertised; seemed 60% scenic and 40% business area. Very light car traffic, with friendly volunteers at the intersections. No sucking up car fumes or worrying about cars coming close. Very few spectators, so you could concentrate on your running and the scenery. First time (of 29 marathons) running a double loop. Liked seeing what fast runners look like, and liked the familiar feel of the course in the last few miles. Stadium finish was OK, but didn't like the football interuption of the marathon-finish feeling. I would also suggest adding a photographer for some finish pictures, and some bagels and lighter food. Hot dogs are my favorite food, but not at a marathon finish. Was happily surprised to find all the fast-food outlets right behind the stadium. Would definitely recommend this as your 'West Virginia' race.
James Munnis III from Shepherdstown, WV (11/22/2011) "Best ever" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The event was top notch....it is my favorite event shirt due to lack of insane number of sponsors and commercialism....nice , neat and clean. Plenty of water at water fountains at the stadium finish, can't believe folks didn't drink from the fountains when the fancy plastic bottles temporarily ran out. I guess few know that football stadiums all have a large number of water fountains?? Course was perfect....ALL miles VERY WELL marked. Not sure why folks need a mat of any kind when all you need is a watch....will never figure this out. PLENTY of support throughout the entire course.
T. M. from Danville, KY (11/14/2011) "nice small race with an easy course" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race is very small but well organized. I have no complaints about anything. The expo is super quick since it is packet pick up and only one vendor. The start is great with plenty of parking, potties and close spots to the start. The course is a double loop and had some very boring parts. Basically zero spectators but a few good ones at the water stops. Very pretty to run by the river and it was nice to do it twice. The only negative comment I have is that they allowed spectators to eat the water and food. So when I finished in 4:03 there was no water or healthy food to eat. I waited for 15 minutes and drove to my hotel for water. Some people complain about no mat at the start but it is not a problem for me since I was not trying to BQ and did not get close to my sub 4 to make a difference.
Jennifer Culp from Indiana (11/13/2011) "Great race! Would do again if kinks are worked out" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I really liked the race! I LOVED THE PARK AREA PART OF THE RUN! I thought national guard did a great job. Only few things I would change... 1)would rather have start time over half time. 2) NEED, AND I MEAN, NEED GU ON COURSE!! 3)need fresh fruit and other good for you stuff at finish. Nothing like promoting healthy west Virginia by offering snack cakes and hotdogs. In a half you barely burn off enough calories to have all of that. Just an idea. LOVE MY JACKET! Thanks so much for making 8th marathon memorable! Again loved the park area it was my favorite part!
V. D. from Omaha, NE (11/12/2011) "Awesome small marathon" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a really nice race. The swag included a Brooks running jacket if you registered early enough. Packet pickup was a breeze, although the expo consisted of one table from a local running store (no big deal for me). The pasta dinner was free and not too bad. The race itself is fairly small, 500-600 runners. Was able to park 1/2 block from the starting line and hang out in my car until the race started. The course itself was a nice mix of urban streets, riverfront, park, etc. It was a loop course, 2 loops, and generally flat, with any elevation change not noticeable. About 1/2 mile before the finish line, we were handed a carnation flower to place at their memorial fountain, to honor the plane crash victims of 1970. Finished inside their football stadium and got to carry a football across the finish line. Post race spread included hamburgers and hot dogs hot off the grill, and we got to use the rec center to take a quick shower afterward. Overall, a wonderful race.
j. m. from Illinois (11/12/2011) "The glass is half full" (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I give credit where it is due, the organizers seem to be nice people who are trying to put on a good race. The jacket is awesome, and there were some cool parts of the course such as the parks and stadium finish. Other parts of the course are dreadful. Covering the same ground four times (there are out and back portions, double loop) in a very unatractive commercial area was pretty boring. Runners going in both directions is a single lane is ridiculous. The community support (other than race volunteers, who were great) is non-existant. The worst part is a bait and switch on the fun run. They advertised a 5 mile with everyone getting a long sleeve tech shirt. My wife signed up as she usually will run the shorter distance run when we travel to a marathon. With no notice they changed to a 5K with a short sleeve cotton t shirt. They wouldn't give her the time of day when she asked about the shirt. To then sell the long sleve tech shirts after the race is shameful.
J. L. from Columbus, OH (11/11/2011) "Not especially Wild, but could get to Wonderful" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 There's not much to add that hasn't already been said. The Race Director already apologized and promised to rectify the water situation. I finished early enough to get some but was also able to go out to my car in the adjacent stadium lot and get more. I did very much like lounging around post-race inside the stadium that was open to all and being able to walk freely in and out, can't do that at a big race. Although it wasn't necessary on this beautiful day, cover was available inside the stadium. No mat at the start (boom, seriously?); I was one of the many who went to where the website said the race would start only to hear rumblings that it was starting near the stadium. That faux pas was enough to help me figure out there was no mat so I suppose I was lucky to be right up front. This race is very modestly priced for the early registrant and the jacket was nice. I also bought a technical shirt at the finish on the cheap. Maybe a little advertising on the shirt could help fund a few improvements. I didn't mind the double loop but I'd love to see more of the course along the river if that was possible. The park was nice too and while I was leery of getting rocks in my shoes, it somehow didn't happen. I didn't know that showers were available at the Rec-Center post-race. Even though I didn't have that far to travel it would have been nice to see this on the website. The hotels were plentiful, reasonably close and also moderately priced. If you need West Virginia, this is the race.
L. K. from Houston, Tx (11/11/2011) "Thoroughly enjoyed this race" (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I have run marathons in 38 states and this was one of my favorite races. Good organization, excellent volunteers at water stops, good police protection, flat scenic course, inexpensive race fee, quality Brooks running jacket instead of a t-shirt, nice finishers medal. It was great running onto the field the last 100 yards and running with a football was a nice touch. Be sure to watch the movie 'We Are Marshall' before the race. Gives you a perspective of the city and the University. I recommend this race for 50 staters.
M. C. from West virginia (11/10/2011) "It's a great fast race I will run again" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Marshall University Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Class act. It's organized flat and fast.
A. S. from South Charleston, WV (11/10/2011) "Great race w/ just a couple kinks" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Marshall University Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This being my first full, I only have the Freedom's Run Half and Charleston Distance Run for comparison, but my comments come more from observation than experience. I have mostly praise for this race; it seems to be well organized w/a few kinks, the course is great, the volunteers, police, and National Guard support was amazing. I do have a few suggestions, recommendations, etc, which will be scattered in below: At first, I thought I would not like running the same loop twice, but it actually was fine, and definitely better for the spectators. I know the ones who came to support me really appreciated the ease of getting around, and I got to see them many times at different points on the course. It was a little confusing on the corner of 3rd and Hal Greer where the marathoners & half-marathoners split. I would recommend having a couple volunteers posted there for the ENTIRE race. When I came through the second time, there were only the Hiton PD directing traffic, and no one directing runners. Maybe this was easier for non-natives, but everything in me just wanted to run up 3rd Ave to the stadium! Being a WV native (and Marshall Grad, twice!), I am used to running hills, so a flat course is strange (I really love hills), but great! I finished 20 minutes faster than my goal. Also, I have logged many miles through Ritter Park, and the crush-&-run path is welcome relief from the pavement. However, I would recommend LockLaces (or something similar, like Newton Yankz!, etc.) for anyone planning to run this in the future. It's nearly impossible to avoid small pebbles in your shoes, and I never stopped to take them out, so ran w/them nearly the entire race. I thought fluid support was great, as well. There was one area (maybe after mile 5, but I can't exactly remember), where there seemed to be too large of a gap, but I had planned ahead, and had my family support hand me a water bottle in that stretch. I stayed well hydrated throughout the race, so wasn't actually affected by the water shortage at the finish. Still, I hope that's a one-time error. I'm not sure if it's typical of races to provide food support along the course, but the Freedom's Run had several food stations with fresh fruits and gels. I suppose most runners come prepared w/gels, salts, etc., (as did I), but one food station for the marathoners would be very nice. Bananas are a welcome break to gels & other sport products (bleh!)! I have only 2 actual complaints: 1) There should be 2 lanes blocked off for this event. Huntington traffic on Sunday is LOW, and it was very crowded for many miles. There were many of us running outside of the cones because we basically had to in order to keep pace. But more than that I think it was very unfair to the lead runners to have to run against the flow of slower runners. A pacer on a bike could be ahead of the lead runner directing everyone else into one lane at that point to allow the fast runners to have a clear lane. 2) I was NOT one of the fast runners, so this may have been different prior to my finish, but at the end of the race, the food was all burgers, dogs, and sweets. Burgers & dogs may be fine (I don't eat either), but I think most runners would prefer to have - at a minimum, fresh fruits rather than the cookies and other sweets provided. Nuts & other salty snacks would also be good, and one beer/runner (seriously), is a fabulous post-race drink for those who so choose! I do appreciate those who made the sweet goods, but at that point, our bodies need replenished, not rewarded (just yet!)!! This is a Healthy Huntington event, after all! And I understand that there is expense in all of this, but I know of several locations who often donate their goods at events such as this. Other suggestions: PROMOTE! PROMOTE! PROMOTE! Through the city (and those surrounding: Charleston and Ashland are SO CLOSE!) & especially on campus!! Some of the comments I've read (esp. the one about the hotel not knowing there was a marathon in town) indicate that much of Huntington didn't know about this event. Huntington is a great town, I know b/c it's home: let's show it to the rest of the folks who travel here. There are 50,000 people in Hiton & let's get them out to cheer! Fanfare in the stadium (Marshall has a band, and cheerleaders, and there are high schools and I'm just saying&!!). Use us, the locals. I'm sure a lot of us would be happy to help in any way possible to promote this great event. Also: I know it's a great expense, but a starting sensor is really a must if this race is to be promoted as a Boston qualifier. Otherwise, what's the point of even having sensor tags? Overall, this was a fabulous, well organized race. I really appreciate all the hard work that went into it, and hope to see it grow in the coming years. Huntington is so close to most of the eastern US population, that I think it could easily grow into one of the prime Boston qualifying races. Ooh, and the medals & shirts were awesome!

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