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May 4, 2024

Marathon de Mayo Runner Comments

Back to Marathon de Mayo Information & Reviews

Course 3.3

Organization 1.7

Spectators 2.1

Number of comments: 44 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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

Arsiyanti Ardie from Los Angeles, California (5/9/2007) "Rough Start, Great Little Race" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 My comments on the race are overwhelmingly positive. However, the few problems I had with it were REALLY BAD (more on that below). First, the good. The course is mostly flat and on good asphalt surfaces (with some opportunity to run on dirt or grass if your joints need a break). It is VERY beautiful (and I've run marathons in Honolulu and Florence, two very lovely locales). The volunteers were outstanding, very cheerful and supportive, down to the last runner, who came in at just under 9 hours. The aid stations were well-staffed, well-provisioned (water, Gatorade, energy gels, bananas, oranges, cookies, etc.) Spectators were few; but the ones there and locals generally were awesome. The police out on the course were numerous, super nice and extremely helpful. The organizers tracked every runner to make sure everyone was okay and also gave a medal and refreshments at the end. They called your name out and said nice things about you as you crossed the finish line. These personal touches make all the difference, especially in a small marathon. I felt very, very well cared for. The expo was small but fun, although I bet people would buy more stuff if there were more stuff there to buy. The marathon shirts were dry-tech and the women's tees were fitted and a pretty, universally flattering mocha color. The medal is gorgeous. Now for the bad bits. I heard from several local runners that the start delay was a clear error on the municipal and Police Department, not the organizers. Apparently they were unable to secure some streets and had to change the 5K course last-minute. Unfortunately, especially for us marathoners, it's still unforgivable. Rule #1 of ANY event ... secure your venue! Also, the Police Department started "un-securing" the course (picking up cones and leaving) AS IF the race had begun on time, so unless you were a 4:30 and under marathoner, you were hitting the sidewalks, waiting at intersections, and risking being flattened by trucks. The water stops and even medical aid stations DID NOT HAVE SALT. That's a pretty bad oversight in a marathon on a hot windy day, and I and others suffered for it. The course was 90% well-marked, but that's kind of an all-or-none deal. I got lost just past 22 miles where there was NO MARKING at a major fork. The course map in the race packet was not readable and the printed course directions which I tore out of the booklet said 'follow the trail' without saying WHICH WAY. The medical truck did drive down to find me, but unfortunately, at 22 miles even the 1/2 mile I got lost really irritated me. Also, the guys in the truck repeatedly assured me that the remaining trail miles were very well marked (not true) and once on the roads again, all the cones to the finish were still up (not true either). I was wandering the streets of Reno and finally asked a passerby who was a local where the arch was, since I knew the finish line was there. Festivities surrounding the marathon were kind of blah, especially for Cinco de Mayo weekend in a party town. Also, the altitude (just under 5000 ft) got to me. Catch-22: if you're an out-of-town flatlander, come a few days early to adjust. But if you're from out of town, this marathon is not worth traveling in for. To sum up: if you live relatively nearby and are dying for a sweet little small-town marathon, by all means do this race. Unfortunately, there are much better small and large marathon options in Nevada and especially neighboring California, so I think at least the marathon part of these races is destined to die out.
J. B. from Reno, NV. (5/8/2007) "0 for 2 on organization" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Marathon de Mayos COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This year was a little better than last year. Starting "almost" 2 hours late was unacceptable. It doesn't matter if it was the directors' fault or the city's organization was poor again. Reno needs to get with other cities that pull this off yearly. To have 6+ months to coordinate road closures is not that hard. I'm trying not to be overly critical here. To have people wait this long can have negative effects for runners over the long-haul: time on feet, time outside, time sweating in heat, and lack of proper food. Many of us had planned our food digestion to the minute and waiting threw it off (many of us were starving).
j. b. from usa (5/8/2007) "beautiful course...not sure it was accurate" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Although the race start was delayed around 1 hour; the race was a nice run through the downtown area, as well as the scenic areas etc. My only bad comments would be that I couldn't find port-a-potties along the 1/2 marathon course and that either the aid stations were not close enough or aid stations were not labeled on mile makers, making it a little frustrating if you work your hydration in that manner...and the mileage was a bit off, according to my Garmin watch. I would run again next year and hope they would be a little more organized. The spectators were great, but there was not a lot of turn out...their loss.
B. H. from USA (5/8/2007) "Disappointing" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This years Marathon de Mayo was a big disappointment. Before registering for the 2007 race, I read the comments about the lack of organization and the poor quality of the 2006 race. Then I read the promise from the new race director that 2007 would be different. WRONG! An hour and twenty minute late start time is inexcusable. I'm just an average runner, but I do prep myself for a certain time to run. Maybe the most irritating thing was when the announcer told the runners that, while waiting for the start, it would be a good opportunity to put some money into one of the near by slot machines. Unbelievable. The last thing I wanted to do was go into a smoke filled casino and gamble. I ended up being the winner of my age group, the prize: a free entry to next years race. NOT A CHANCE! Issues: § One hour and twenty minute late start § The course route changed three times since December (according to a map I picked up at another race in December) § Missing mile markers § There was a lack of direction along the Truckee River bike trial § No time clocks on the course § Running along side traffic (I actually had to slow down once to let a Wal-Mart tractor trailer cut in front of me) § The lady race announcer who thought gambling would be a good way to kill time One good thing: The Reno Police Departments help with the traffic
Jenelle Borden from Squaw Valley, CA (5/7/2007) "late again??" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 After waking up at 4:15 a.m. to make it on time to the 6:30a.m. start (50 minute drive from my home), you can imagine the disappointment of hearing the race start will be delayed 45-60 minutes, after they had us all line up under the start! Fortunately, I was able to forget about the horrible delay once the race started (over an hour late), and had a great time on the beautiful, mostly flat course. Aid stations were staffed with enthusiastic, wonderful volunteers, and it was a wonderful morning/afternoon of running and sunshine.
D. w. from pasadena, CA (5/7/2007) "Do NOT run this marathon!" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This was a horrible event. What a waste of money and time. I drove all the way from L.A. for a very disappointing race (and I had the flu too). A few positives: - the course, nice mountain views, nice finish at the river - the support stations and cops were nice and helpful Negatives : - 90 minute late start! There is no excuse for that and they said it was not the fault of the city or police...so what was the problem? - no ETA on when the race would start, how can you prepare and warm up if you don't know when you will run - not enough port-a-potties on the way, and if there was one, there was only ONE, I lost 2 minutes at one just waiting in line. - expo was horrible and I overheard a lot of people with problems about lost registration - no food at the finish line - you got handed the medal in a plastic wrap instead of someone hanging it over your head. - no clocks anywhere Now, this marathon would have had great potential for coming years if it would remedy the 90 minute late start. Please do not support bad organization! I will not be back. nor should anyone else. This was by far my slowest marathon due to me being sick, but the late start did slow me down at least an additional 10 minutes or so, due to added port-a-pottie breaks, warmer weather, wasted energy waiting around, warming up, cooling down, warming up... Too bad, the course was decent and the support was nice.
B. H. from Oregon (5/7/2007) "Disappointing" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 The 2007 Marathon de Mayo was a big disappointment. Before registering for the 2007 race, I read the comments about the lack of organization and the poor quality of the 2006 race. Then I read the promise from the new race director that 2007 would be much different. WRONG! An hour and twenty minute late start time is inexcusable. I'm just an average runner, but I do prep myself for a certain time to run. Maybe the most irritating thing was when the announcer told the runners that, while waiting for the start, it would be a good opportunity to put some money into one of the near by slot machines. Unbelievable. The last thing I wanted to do was go into a smoke filled casino and gamble. I did win my age group, the prize: a free entry to next years race. NOT A CHANCE! Issues: § One hour and twenty minute late start § The course route changed three times since December (according to a map I picked up at another race in December) § Missing mile markers § There was a lack of direction along the Truckee River bike trial § No time clocks on the course § Running along side traffic (I actually had to slow down once to let a Wal-Mart tractor trailer cut in front of me) § The lady race announcer who thought gambling would be a good way to kill time I gave the spectors two stars because of the lack of them. The one's that came out were great. One good thing: The Reno Police Departments help
SWS Stahler from NV (5/7/2007) "Don't bother with Reno" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 In 19 years of running many types of races, this race has earned 'worse race organization ever'. It started with all races starting an HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE! Not so great when the temps are high 30s low 40s. Fortunately, I wasn't signed up for the marathon, only the 5k, so it was less of a problem for me than for the people who had to do the marathon. Once the race was under way, it was OK until the last mile or so. I was running in about 5th or 6th place when the majority of us went off course and ended up running into 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. This occurred at a barricade that directed us into the traffic with a cop there that didn't say a word about our wrong turn. At the finish, the times were really 'slow' given the '5k' distance. A glance at my GPS watch confirmed that the course was actually 6k, which explains the apparent 'slow' times listed in the results. Its not even close to being 5k. The chip timing failed and results were not available online, with most people having no finish time or a time of something like 20 seconds. At the awards ceremony, there were no times or results posted. I was an age group winner whose 'prize' was a free entry into next years race certificate (no thanks), which they were out of. Wow! All for $35 for a 5k! What a deal!
P. B. from Belmont, CA (5/7/2007) "Ironic race theme: 'Let 'em Run'" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I ran the half marathon here in 2006 and, due to the organizational problems (especially lack of water) was leery about trying the full marathon. But I was reassured when told that the organizers had hired an experienced race director and decided to give it a whirl. My first inkling of lingering organizational problems was a last-minute e-mail stating that the Saturday carb feed was NOT included with race entry, was limited to 350, AND would cost $30 that was supposed to be a great deal, they said, because it covered the admittance fee to the automobile museum. I felt my money (and time) would be better spent by dining closer to my hotel. I hate the design of the race shirt. The Live2Run logo is so prominent, you really have to look closely to figure out what race it is for. Race day morning, 6:25 a.m., we are standing there wondering why we haven't heard the national anthem yet. We can't understand what the announcer is saying since we were hustled about a block and a half down the street. Finally some guy came walking through to tell us the start had been delayed 45 minutes, something about the police and the course. Keep in mind that it is 38 degrees out and we are all standing in the shade, with no idea of when our race will begin and not much of anyplace to sit down and get off our feet. Finally, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes following the scheduled start time, we get underway. Of course, there are assorted half marathoners and 10K-ers standing around getting in our way while we start our race. The organizers either need to have a common marathon/half-marathon start or find a better way to segregate the two groups. There was a big improvement in the aid stations this year, however, with plenty of water and Gatorade to go around. The volunteers were great, encouraging those of us slower runners. More than I could say for the police, who 'left the building' around 11:30 leaving those of us left on the course to our own devices to cross busy streets.
S. W. from Clovis (1/10/2007) "Some things I failed to mention before" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I forgot to mention a couple of things: Where else do you get a FREE CARB-FEST DINNER included with your race entry?!! The downtown start makes it so convenient - stay at one of the "big 3" casinos and you can walk to/from the starting and finish lines! I have been in contact with the race coordinator this year, and things are DEFINITELY changing. I can't wait! Don't be afraid of this one. Hope to see you there!!

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