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May 4, 2024

Marathon de Mayo Runner Comments

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Course 3.3

Organization 1.7

Spectators 2.1

Number of comments: 44 [displaying comments 31 to 41]

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S. W. from California (5/16/2006) "Nice course - terrrible organization" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Wonderful course but when you can't get the mile markers right, promise aid and fail to deliver it's not one to encourage anyone to do. There are plenty of good races out there and races in hot places without aid are dangerous.
D. F. from Sacramento, CA (5/16/2006) "Runners left high and dry by race organizers" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Aid stations with water and an electolyte drink are a simple concept yet one that this race failed to deliver. The first few miles were encouraging with great volunteers handing out beverages. Then came mile 8 and there was nothing but a table and an empty water bottle box. No water, no people. This scene repeated itself for most of the next 10 miles. Fortunately, I found a partially full water bottle on the ground at mile 12. I ran with this till mile 18 when aid stations appeared with water and volunteers. At mile 23 I grabbed one of the last cups of water. The volunteers were pleading with a motorcycle cop to find some water for the runners. Bless the woman in the SUV who drove onto the course at mile 24 to offer Gatorade to me outside her passenger window. Did I mention that temps were high 70's that day? Throw in an elevation of 4500 and I feel for anyone who ran this as their first marathon. Starting the race a half hour late didn't help knowing that it was going to be a warm day. Never again in Reno. Which is too bad because most of the course was pretty nice.
C. M. from Central California (5/16/2006) "Worst Oganization" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I only ran the 1/2 marathon, and glad I didn't do the full marathon. The Good 1) Traffic control - Many cops at all intersections 2) Medals - Very good 3) Course - Good mix of hills/flat and city/rural 4) Water Stations. I had plenty of water, but the full marathoners were not happy about this item. 5) The announcer working the finish line was very entertaining. The Bad 1) Late start (30 minutes) 2) Horrendous Mile Splits, when they were marked (Inexcusable) 3) No post race food. (5k didn't have water until the casinos bailed them out) 4) Half of the 1/2 marathoners did not recieve medals (according to the newspaper) This race seemed like it was organized by the chamber of commerce, not a runner. They went for the maximum number of runners (4 races, the marathon course open for 9 hrs) but forgot to set up a race. The 5k runners were never told where to turn around and ended up running the 10k course until a volunteer told them that they had run too far. All this for $80. I would give 'Organization' a zero. This race could be great, but I would definitely recommend skipping 2007 and see if they can get their act together.
Eddie Hahn from Tacoma, Washington (5/14/2006) "What went right?" (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Undoubtedly journal entries for this marathon will be overwhelmingly negative considering the obvious lack of organization we encountered. (There was an accompanying 5 KM, 10 KM, and half marathon.) Negative commentary may be rightfully so, in an endeavor to make future races better. For myself, I prefer to start with the positive, to make sure those aspects of the race continue. The packet pick up at the convention center in down town Reno was (nearly) flawless. A greeter at entrance to the expo identified what each person was there for, and directed them to the proper pick up table. There were separate pick-up areas for the race #, goody bag, t-shirt and timing chip, as is common in most mid size marathons or larger. (There was some confusion amongst runners of various distances as to where to pick up the timing chip, which was compounded the following morning at the start.) To this end packet chip pick-up instructions could have been better clarified. Entry into the marathon distance event included admission to a pasta dinner ($20 value) and a latin jazz concert the evening after the marathon ($25 value). The t-shirt was a cotton short sleeve with each major turn noted in multi colored words, (a design used by the Portland Oregon marathon since its inception)... There was only one size remianing when I arrived-for all tense and purposes at the '11th hour'- a half hour before expo. closure. I therefore wasn't angry nor did I blame it on the staff-(though marathons guarantee t shirt sizes to pre-entrants...I have so many I didn't care)... Lodging in nearby sister city Sparks is probably the best bet, about one third lower cost, and only 5 or 6 miles from Reno. Marathon day parking was a breeze for once. Park right in the heart of downtown near the start at the Reno Arch. The big casinos never seem to run out of free, secured parking. With mild temps you can always leave your warm up gear in the car since you are close to the start. Restrooms at the start don't pose a problem either, unless you count passing 500 slot machines a concern, in the gambler configured casino confines. The start of the announced marathon was a half hour late-7 am vrs 630-which I could forsee being a huge problem for someone on a deadline, travling with flight plans, or a slower marathon runner that could end up in the desert sun a half hour hour at a 5 degree higher temperature. The early mile markers were not positioned correctly (I base this on the fact that my mile splits varied by almost two minutes, yet I know I was running evenly). There were a large number of mile markers absent-I didn't note any markers between about miles 9 and 14. There was no 'prominent' half marathon marker. There were no course officials deliniating the marathon course route from the half marathon split. (There was a police officer directing traffic, but it wasnt his postition to direct runners). (Several marathoners accidentally took the half marathon route.) Most of the aid stations had water only and were unmaned by voluneers. A few had diluted gatorade, and the gummy bears provided a needed energy boost. Consuming a power bar on the run proved difficult but that's all I found at the 20 mile marker. (Self sustaining runners with gu belts were never happier here).... Of the 5 musical bands that were supposed to be on course, I noted two, and one was so far inset that I could bearly discern the music. What happened to the Latin based theme the race promoted so highly? I was frankly embarrassed that I had brought my first language Spanish speaking spouse under the premise of geeting her involved with a 'Latin themed Cinco De Mayo Marathon'... to this end the Race Director should go back to the drawing board. The spinning finishers medal with a backdrop of the Reno skyline was nice, but unless they do something about the music it's a waste of space flanking the top of the medal with those musical notes....
T. T. from u.s. (5/14/2006) "I hope better for future marathoners" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This was an inaugural, so I expected a few minor flaws. However, it stunk. The race started 30-minutes late. This was the first late start I have experienced in 13-marathons. The mile markers were NOT labelled consistently. I didn't see a mile marler from mile 8 until mile 13.1. I saved a guy from being hit by a truck because we merged into traffic and he did not see this truck coming. The medal is beautiful, but it does not overshadow the disappointing overall marathon. What a joke. I can only hope it gets better. The finish line was an absolute joke. After crossing, they told me, there is a box, drop your timing chip in there when you can. They had two tables of water, warm orange juice and warm yogart. Jerry Dunn was there and I felt bad for him. The finish line food and drink were an absolute joke.
J. J. from San Francisco, California (5/12/2006) "Don't run this Marathon" (about: 2006) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 From brutal hills to missing mile markers, not to mention the water stop workers, sponsors, and bands who failed to show up, this marathon, while beautiful, was an organizational disaster.
l. p. from Ca (5/12/2006) "Needed mile markers!!!" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Only two mile markers on the course. Hard to tell what pace you are running without them!
M. C. from USA (5/9/2006) "First-Time Marathon Frustration" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The positive thing about the race was the awesome view of the snow-capped mountains throughout the entire race. This was a "first marathon" and it showed in the organization. I would imagine that all "first time marathons" experience "lessons learned." Unfortunately, there were some basic things at this marathon that should not have happened. If you ran it, you will know the things of which I speak. If you didn't, then believe the race director will check out these and other comments about the race and make appropriate changes.
d. s. from Florida (5/9/2006) "THIS IS A DUD OF A RACE" (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I traveled over 2,000 miles to do this race and was very disappointed in the lack of organization which was partly to blame for me running off course and not being able to finish the race. The race started a 1/2 hour late with no explanation. Rumor had it that the aid stations were not ready yet, causing the delay. They run 4 races, with each race starting 5 minutes apart. The 1/2 marathoners started 5 minutes after the marathoners. The course needs to have course marshals and markings/signs at the marathon/half-marathon split. I went the wrong way and ended up with the half-marathoners and had to drop out. I don't remember seeing any course marshals at the split. I remember a police officer who was trying to keep traffic off the course and tell runners where to go. I thought I heard the officer yell half-marathoners left, so I assumed I would need to go right, which I did. It turns out I should have turned left and didn't realize I was off-course until over a mile later. I was not the only runner that went off-course. I will admit I am partly to blame for this. I'm an experienced marathoner, having completed 77 marathons, so I should have studied the course map a little bit better. However, the course maps that were given out were of a poor resolution and lacking in detail. Mile markers were sometimes missing or inaccurate At the aid stations that had sports drink, it was very diluted. Another marathoner who finished the course told me some aid stations were unmanned. I read in the paper that they didn't have enough medals for the 1/2 marathoners. The t-shirt is a joke. It had the directions of the course on the back of the shirt. One of the organizers at the expo told me just to read the back of the shirt of the runner in front of you to find your way along the course. I thought they were just joking. They weren't kidding. The positives about the event were the expo which was of a decent size for an inaugural event and the pasta dinner was good and included in the entry fee.
Brian asher from Sacramento, CA (5/9/2006) "Great course, 1st year" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon de Mayo COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Beautiful scenic course starting under the arch, at 4,500 feet. A few organizational problems for the first running. Amazing course. Loved it.

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