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May 15, 2024

Miracle Match Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.5

Organization 4.3

Spectators 3.2

Number of comments: 113 [displaying comments 61 to 71]

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D. B. from NYC area (2/5/2010) "Not only the toughest in Texas but maybe the best!" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 When one thinks of Waco, immediately comes to mind the 1993 federal siege of the Branch Davidian complex (which isnt even in Waco). What should come to the marathon-mind is The Toughest Little Marathon in Texas. Not much advertised, it does without doubt live up to its name of little and tough - but its much morem being very well organized and over a gorgeous course. If that's not enough, its main focus is supporting the organization matching bone-marrow donors and recipients. Why come to Wacos Toughest Little Marathon in Texas? * Amazing hospitality by race directors Nancy and Debbie. It would be tough to find better except maybe in Little Rock, which is also famous for two women race directors and their hospitality. Just meeting the famous Nancy Goodnight (who's a world-class runner in her own right) might be worth the trip. * You're not only doing something for your health; you help raise funds for the Miracle Match, a National Marrow Donor Program. * Weekend includes a 5K and kids' run on Saturday. * Sweet little expo with give-away products. It's not little and includes loads of free Snickers Bars, ClifBloks and other goodies. * T-shirt (cotton), a logo hat, and a reusable bag. * Pasta dinner that's generous for $10 if you sign up in advance, and still a bargain at the $14 door price. * Dinner featured speaker Barefoot Rick Roeber. There's a barefoot division too. * Starts and finishes directly across from the host hotel with at least 3 other hotels close nearby and another one being built. * Course that's varied and as scenic as it gets through estates, parks, along the river, and over a famous and historical suspension bridge for the finish. * Course markings were perfect - long and continuous chalk marks complementing cones all along the course and one couldn't go astray. * Fluid stations that not only are well stocked and well manned but with more food than I can remember (other than maybe at Lake Placid due to their Ironmen training). We had choices of oranges, bananas, candies, Snickers, ClifBloks, pretzels, chips, etc. at most every fluid station. * Finisher's jacket of nice quality, with zippered pockets, periwinkle color and Miracle Match logo for marathoners. (The half marathoners received a long-sleeved tech shirt.) * Food by award-winning Waco Cookin Cowboys at the finish line, - a big fajita bar with chicken, beef and grilled onions. * Jamba Juice smoothies, many types of beers, and Barefoot Wines. (Funny, but I think its NO relationship to the barefoot runner.) So marathoners, listen up. If you want to be treated well, go to Waco. If you want to know how a marathon should be organized, watch Nancy Goodnight, who is literally everywhere and answers every email and is at the finish line to congratulate every marathoner who crosses. If you want loads of goodies to take home, go to Waco. If you want a full meal of fajitas after the marathon, go to Waco. If you want a very nice jacket, go to Waco.
B. F. from Texas (2/5/2010) "What an accomplishment!!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run "hilly" marathons and live in a hilly area, but this course takes the cake! The best thing about finishing was the incredible sense of accomplishment (and the jacket!). It's the perfect marathon size - not too small, but not big enough to be lost in the crowd. The support from local law enforcement was phenomenal. Cones marked almost the entire course. The only drawback was that there were not enough porta-potties. I had friends who did the relay and half, all with glowing reports. Definitely worth doing, just as long as you get your hill-work in!!
J. R. from Texas (2/4/2010) "How many hills can there be in Waco?" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Miracle Match Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon has grown this year, with many more participants, lots of great water stops, the same very difficult course, but still lots of fun! Great party at the end; I just wish I hadn't been too cold to drink a frozen margarita!
J. L. from Austin,TX (2/4/2010) "Great little marathon with perfect organization" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 We showed up early to the race start, parked half a block from the race start/finish, picked up the packet (no lines) and waited in the warm Waco Hilton at the start line until 5 minutes before the start, which was really appreciated on a day that started out at 32 and only warmed up two degrees from there. The course was much hillier than Austin's marathon (the only other road marathon I've done in Texas), and I thought it was also more interesting than Austin. The first quarter of the race is flat and fast through Baylor University, with cheering students at the aid stations (more than one a mile the whole race - it seemed like they had a lot more than they advertised they would, which is always a good thing). The second quarter of the race is slightly uphill through the business district of Waco towards some nice neighborhoods and a country club. Then the race gets really tough around mile 14 or so with some big hills. I didn't really like the large hill by Lake Waco - nice view of the lake, but the street was closed so no spectators. The course leveled out a little to an out-and-back on a dam that was pretty interesting, and then it ran to the community college up a huge hill at mile 20. There were some real steep rollers after that that made downhill running difficult, and then the course enters Cameron Park with its rolling hills (but these were shorter than the ones earlier). The course then crosses the Brazos on a bridge and runs on a sidewalk two miles along the river to the suspension bridge where the race finishes. The race provides a nice wind shirt and a sheet metal medal when you finish, plus a cotton race shirt at the start. The organization was great, with roads shut down the whole way, and mostly getting a whole lane for the runners. Some roads were completely shut down. In a few cases, we were running in a bike lane against traffic on not-too-busy roads. I'd recommend this marathon to anyone who wants a challenge - there were enough runners that I was always around other runners, but it certainly wasn't hard to run my own pace. I expect this race will continue to grow as word spreads!
G. B. from Waco, TX (2/3/2010) "Best Little Marathon In Texas" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a wonderful marathon for runners of all abilities. The course is beautiful and gives participants a wonderful tour of Waco. You see beautiful homes, the campuses of Baylor University and McLennan Community College, Lake Waco, majestic Cameron Park and finish crossing the Brazos River on the historic suspension bridge. There were plenty of aid stations with lots of treats and cheering volunteers. The host hotel is seconds from the starting line, and if you are driving in that morning, parking is easy. The post-marathon party included fajitas, wine, beer, and other treats. A true gem in the heart of Texas. I can't wait until 2011!
Jim Skibo, Ph.D. from Cedar Hil, TX (Dallas) (2/1/2010) "Great marathon with a challenging course!" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I liked this marathon. This was #49 for me and this was the most challenging course I have run. This is a real runner's race. It is one of those marathons where you pat yourself on the back when you are done, and the other finishers all smile knowingly. This is not a PR course, but you want to run it; it is what the spirit of the marathon is all about. Getting to the race is a snap; the host hotel (Hilton) is right at the starting line. We arrived Saturday night and the race organizers let us into the pasta dinner (we paid there), and gave us our bibs well after the expo had closed. On race day, we walked out and picked up our chips and then were able to go back to our hotel rooms until 5 minutes before the race! We took the elevator down and walked outside and started to run! Trust me: that does not happen at many races. The finisher's medal is cool. It is the firefighter's logo cut out of a piece of brushed and lacquered sheet steel with the race name on an attached brass plate. Unique, and I think it may have been made locally. When I checked the race finishers from prior years, I saw that it was smaller and I expected support issues, but that was far from the case. I am not a Kenyan and, well into the race, they had every intersection covered by police, firefighters, National Guard, or a sheriff deputy. They had aid stations galore and the stations had LOTS of stuff. You had your pick of the usual water and Gatorade, but also most of them had candy and fruit from mile 4 on. I always need some energy late in marathons and they had plenty of GU and very digestible candy pieces. No control over the weather, but it was just perfect for running hard: 30-33 degrees and overcast with a little breeze. Nice! Only complaint: a few more porta-potties would be nice. My thanks to Skinney's gas station for the use of their facilities at mile 10. They welcomed runners knowing that you were not going to buy anything.
Jim Wright from San Antonio, TX (2/1/2010) "This marathon is great" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am definitely coming back in 2011 for the full marathon! Great job to everyone who helped put this marathon together! What a great course - see you next year! :)
J. V. from Waco (2/1/2010) "Tough but fun race" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A very challenging course, with lots of steep hills. You must do some training on hills to prepare because there are a lot of them on the course, particularly at the end. From what I saw the organization was very good, the only thing I would recommend changing is to increase the local publicity, most Wacoans don't know anything about the marathon until they discover the roads are closed. The few spectators were helpful and the water/Gatorade/snack stations were well-run. The course was very scenic, the people were great, and the hills were plentiful.
Hutch Pine from Victoria, Texas (2/1/2010) "Great Course, Great Size, Great Organization" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Wow - Waco is a pretty nice town, and the course lets you see it. Baylor, Downtown, Austin Avenue, great neighborhoods, the lake, MCC, and Cameron Park. Was going for a PR until the right into MCC. Ouch! The Sunshine Girl's water stop was the best. Overall it was marked very well. Still finished in 3:57. The MMM was great.
D. S. from Kansas (2/1/2010) "Great race" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Miracle Match Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a great race. We traveled from out of state and stayed at the host hotel, the Waco Hilton. Packet pick-up was at the hotel, there are several good places to eat accross the street, and the race start/finish was right across the street as well. It was all very convenient. The course was great and difficult as advertised. There were plenty of aid stations that all had food to offer. The course was marked very well. The post-race party was perfect. The fajitas and a beer were just what I needed. This is a great smaller race to do.

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