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May 1, 2024

Lower Potomac River Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Lower Potomac River Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.1

Organization 4.7

Spectators 3.0

Number of comments: 67 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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J.R. Ankney from Waynesboro, VA (3/9/2008) "Delightful, small marathon with great amenities!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Overall a well organized, fun race in a beautiful place. Many others have commented on the course (beautiful first ten, then "boring" second half), and I asked one of the club members why not do it backwards, or do the island twice. The main reason (according to him) is that the island has narrow roads, and there are several churches on the island that would be severely disrupted if we were to appear any later in the morning. Fair enough. Other comments are listed below in the Kudos/Room for Improvement section. Thanks to Lisa and her crew for putting on a really classy run! KUDOS 1. Good course, beautiful sunrise over the bay, mostly flat, and the few hills were very manageable. 2. Excellent, well stocked aid stations with friendly volunteers braving the very cold, windy day. A gentle suggestion: maybe slightly bigger cups. One gulp isn't really enough. 3. Nice start/finish area. We were able to keep warm with plenty of toilets until right before the race.... Very nice. 4. Post-race feed was perhaps the nicest I've ever had in over 20 marathons. Hot food and lots of it, and a beautiful view of the water in a nice dining room. Very, very nice amenity. 5. My personal favorite: Hot showers with a supplied towel and soap at the finish! Oh my god was it good. I'm a slow runner, but there was hot, hot water left and nice fluffy towels. How could you NOT love this?? Room for Improvement 1. The shirt was a little on the plain side (I'm really reaching here for negatives) and cotton. How about a technical tee? 2. Hold the pasta feed somewhere else. The price was right, but the service was slow, they ran out of food, and substituted whatever they felt like in exchange. How 'bout having it at the dining room that where the finish line luncheon is held. Jack up the race price a bit, include the dinner and we'd all have a great time. Executive summary: One of my favorite small races; keep up the great work, and thanks for a wonderful day.
S. B. from Wyoming (Cincinnati, Ohio) (4/11/2007) "Everything a "Small" Marathon Should be and More" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Although all are entitled to their opinion, I think that the comments from f. g., Playboy Mansion, California (3/13/07) are definitely in the minority here. I will not waste words trying to refute opinion, however the comment about "horrible water stations" was off-base, mean-spirited and uncalled for. The small but enthusiastic band of volunteers are to be commended for their dedication and enthusiasm. But, I guess when you hail from Playboy Mansion California, you probably aren't in touch with reality anyway :-). Enough negativity! First and foremost, the race director is second to none: the best among some good one's I've run into (Akron Roadrunner and Virginia Creeper). From the day I signed up, I felt she was organizing the marathon specifically for me. Her e-mail communication was timely, personal, detailed and humerous. She is a runner, giving of her time and talent and passion for the benefit of other runners. Liza Recto, you're #1 in my book. By the way, Liza has a love for filet mignon, and gladly accepts "thank you gifts" from past and future participants... really! I'll echo what you'll see throughout the rest of these reviews. Beautifully scenic course - yes the 1st half is prettier than the second, but the second half doesn't deserve some of the abuse it is getting. In fact, the 1st half was so scenic that I went back and drove the course after completing, so I could share the sights with those not lucky enough to have been there. The host facility and the post-race buffet are are both wonderful. The headwinds from mile 12-19, were indeed, tough. But, who do you blame that on? The volunteers were enthusiastic, cheery and helpful. I too would have like to had the water stations spaced a little closer in the second half of the race, but think that was more a function of my "pre-race" dehydration than any real "need." More crowd support would have been nice, but those who were there were enthusiastic. And yes, it was nice to have your vehicle parked within 100 yards of the start and finish. Thank you Liza and staff/volunteers for putting your heart into this event! Most of us truly appreciate your efforts! I'd definitely run this one again!
Peter Lamberton from Falls Church, VA (3/21/2007) "LPRM and San Francisco?" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Lower Potomac River Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is my second run on this course (I did the full in 2005 and the relay this year). As I ran the flat, scenic, first part this year, I enjoyed again what I carried away from my first run - the wonderful, early-morning water vistas encountered on every part of the first part of the course - and I noticed things I hadn't the last time. This is a complete spectator course for the runners. As we mid-packers went into beautiful St. George Island, we saw the leaders come charging back on their way out, and we were entertained by the sight of three-peater John Piggott running past, stride for stride early with a fast relay runner. The same was true for the trip down the road to Camp Merrylande, and then it was off the island (the wind hits you hard on the bridge off the island) and over to Piney Point. By this time the race was more spread out, but we could still see friends coming or going as we ran. Then it was off for the long slog out along the highway and back, where the rolling hills kicked in. This is a course with some challenges to it. But we could also see the race unfold one last time on the opposite shoulder as the race leaders ran by on their final return. It was exciting! The support at this race is ample and enthusiastic. The ambience is great. Do you like finding parking with no problems, within 100 yards of the start line? Do you like showering after a race? Would you like a full post-race buffet, served to you? Come run this race! I encountered a 50-stater marathon runner in the dining hall afterwards and asked him, "What marathon have you run in the country that has a more beautiful first 4 miles?" He thought long and hard, seemingly stumped. Minutes later he suddenly brightened and said, San Francisco! Nice company for a nice, little marathon!
C. S. from Springfield, Illinois, USA (3/20/2007) "Not bad" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 First the positives, which are many: good organization; informal pasta dinner was great; race start was on time; inside building area before start was great; post-race meal the best of any of my 37 marathons. Areas of possible improvement: while I'm not a big fan of double-loop courses, turning us around at 13.1 and taking us back toward the lighthouse and back across the bridges to the island would make it more interesting, since there isn't much to see during the current stretch from 12 - 25 anyway. Also, double-check the mile markers from 25 to the finish. My GPS showed the last 1.2 miles to be over 1.4.
P. W. from New York (3/19/2007) "Great small race" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My first "small" marathon - about three hundred or so runners. the scenery was gorgeous, but there was a bit more traffic than I expected during the final "out and back" stretch. The hospitality at the school of seamanship was great.
J. G. from Charlotte, North Carolina (3/17/2007) "Excellent small, country marathon" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 First half of this race is as pretty as they come - bay views, narrow lanes, nice trees. Second half is not as good - boring in fact - on a wide country road with very little traffic, but lots of wind and sun. Why not run the first part 2 times? Liza and her crew, in particular the wonderful volunteers, did a fantastic job... no complaints at all. The full, sit-down buffet (lasagna, pasta salad, meats, dessert, chefs in big white hats, 20 servers, etc.) was incredible. I have never seen as fine a food service as this at any race, any where - all high quality and delicious. My sincere thanks to all who made it possible.
Patrick Lynam from Arnold,PA (3/17/2007) "Special place for a special race!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Lower Potomac River Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race will always have a SPECIAL place in my heart among the marathons I have done. What a great time was had by all whom I spoke with at the post-race feast! Liza is a fantastic race director (every e-mail was answered within 24 hours). The volunteers on the course were outstanding, and those behind the scenes did a wonderful job also. Though the spectators were few, each was enthusiastic and encouraging. The course is very scenic and some light hill training would be advised. This has to be one of this best-kept secrets in marathoning. Post-race meal is SECOND TO NONE!! It is a FEAST. Believe me when I tell ya, if you register for this one and expect a great time, you will not be disappointed. This race has sold out the last two years, so don't wait till the last minute to register. Thanks again, Liza and the CBRC. I hope to stay injury-free and return to LPR next year!!
J. A. from Denver, CO (3/14/2007) "beautiful, small race" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Scenic course, low-key atmosphere. Very friendly and enthusiastic volunteers. Headwind helped make the hills a bit more challenging.
f. g. from playboy mansion, california (3/13/2007) "Boooooooring" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 OK - I give credit to all the folks who worked hard. Nice first 13 miles, and then a "highway to hell." Boring highway with cars going 60 mph - NO crowd support. I have never seen a community not support a marathon in any way. Horrible water stations with volunteers expecting you to pick your cups up and throw them out. So lame in spirit of a marathon. The pasta party was the worst, bar none. The shirt was sad. Nice day weather-wise. The steamship academy that hosted the post race party was the saving grace, with indoor good grub. Sorry running club, but this was a clunker. Sad but true....
Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX (3/13/2007) "An Outstanding Marathon!" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Lower Potomac River Marathon Sunday, March 11, 2007, 8:00 AM Piney Point, MD This was an EXCELLENT small marathon/marathon relay (limited to 300) organized by runners (Chesapeake Bay Running Club, CBTC) for runners. I flew into Washington National Airport on Friday and drove 63 miles to Lexington Park, which is the commercial center of St. Mary's County, and checked into a Days Inn (about 12 miles from the race site). Start and finish were at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. Race-day temperatures ranged from the low 40s to the mid 50s. It was sunny and windy. There were water/sports drink stations at about every 2 miles. Sports Gel at the half point. At about mile .8, we crossed the bridge to St. George Island and ran the next 7 miles there which was out-and-back, scenic, and flat (we had to climb onto the bridge twice which was relatively easy). At about mile 8, we were back in the mainland and ran a 4-mile route to and from Piney Point Lighthouse Museum that was flat and scenic. From approximately mile 12 to mile 19, we ran north on the wide shoulder of a two-lane highway, which included a few lengthy inclines (the lowest and highest points were 3 feet and 110 feet, respectively) and a fairly strong headwind (the toughest part of the run). At about mile 19, we made a U-turn to the other side of the highway and ran south to the finish line, which included a couple of inclines and a pleasant tailwind! The post-race lunch buffet was quite fancy and I must say that I have never seen anything like it at a running race! We were treated like loyalty by the students at the School of Seamanship! The race T-shirt and finisher's medal were nice. As expected, there was no crowd support, but race volunteers were cheerful and enthusiastic. As a member of 50 States Marathon Club, I received a $10 discount and paid only $45 to register for the race. The race director, Liza Recto, was quite helpful, and I very much appreciated her driving directions from the airport to Piney Point. The winning times were 2:33:05 (overall male), 3:24:05 (overall female), 2:57:22 (Masters male), and 3:33:20 (Masters female). I am a 50-stater and this was #26.

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