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Apr 30, 2024

OBX Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.3

Organization 4.5

Spectators 4.3

Number of comments: 183 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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L. M. from Buffalo NU (12/25/2010) "Awesome" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 4th marathon and one of my favorites. The organization and course support were superb. The course was beautiful, with tremendous crowd support. I loved running around the Wright Memorial. The OBX hospitality was at its best for us. I will definitely be back next year.
R. D. from Durham, N.C. (12/3/2010) "Loved this marathon" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I qualified for the Boston Marathon for the first time with this marathon. This was my 6th overall marathon (my first time running in the Outer Banks Marathon). I loved the scenery (water), and the bridge at mile 23 was not so bad. This is a good marathon.
c. r. from Eldersburg, Maryland (12/3/2010) "Perfectly Organized Marathon" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I picked the OBX Marathon as my first and I'm glad I did. If you're a first-timer, look no further; you've found your race. The course is flat, except for two hills. Due to all of the twists and turns in the neighborhoods, It's not a fast course, but it is fun! Everything was completely explained on their website. The packet pick-up the day before was as simple as simple can get. The start was easy to get to. They had a few different options regarding where to leave your car and shuttle transportation to your car before and after the race. Starting at mile 3, they had water stations every 2 miles. I think after mile 7, all water stations also had Gatorade. A few water stations also had Hammer Gels. There was so much to see during the first 10 miles (people cheering, water views, trivia signs, etc.), I didn't even bother turning on my iPod until mile 10. The off-road portion (Miles 10-13) was a nice change of pace and was easy to run. The last half had some highway stretches that were a bit boring, but not too bad. There were plenty of easily accessable spots along the route for my family to stop and cheer. There were plenty of police along the entire route directing traffic away from the course. The bridge at mile 23 looked a lot worse then it was. It's really nothing to worry about. The finish had water, Gatorade, peanut butter, apples, bagels, soup and beer. Not bad at all. The people of the Outer Banks are simply awesome! They treated us great and they helped make my first marathon a wonderful experience!
S. E. from Western North Carolina (11/29/2010) "Great Marathon from Start to Finish" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run 4 other marathons ranging from the very large (Marine Corps) to the very small (Ellerbe Springs, NC - with fewer than 75 people). They each were wonderful for various reasons. However, I have to say that the OBX was by far my favorite. From the hometown crowd support that only Eastern NC can offer, to the great water views, to the never-predictable-or-boring course, to a finish in Manteo that put a smile on my face. I wish I could say its not good because I would not want this race to get any larger, but I must admit: it's that good. Come enjoy what the best of coastal NC has to offer and enjoy a well organized, scenic race as well.
D. E. from California (11/28/2010) "Beautiful course and very good organization" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As usual, the OBX community put on a great race. I've run the half marathon twice and this was my first OBX Full Marathon. The course was very nice and varied with ocean views, trail running and running through the neighborhoods. Although the spectator crowds may not have been as numerous as in previous years, it was still enough to keep me going. I finished the second half slightly faster than the first, passing people that were half an hour ahead of me halfway. I will never understand the "run as hard as I can and then hit the wall at mile 15" runners, but to each his own, I guess. The post-race offerings were good, with bananas, bagels, clam chowder and free beer. I didn't see the Dunkin Donuts stand this year, but perhaps I just missed it.
G. A. from Severna Park (11/25/2010) "Great Race - Come and Do It!" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed this race. The website gave you all the information that you needed. The off-road part was well advertised and not bad. The crowd support was good the whole course. The medical tent personnel were nice and very helpful. I would recommend this race to anyone!
Patrick LaSitis from New Stanton, PA (11/24/2010) "Just Not Improving" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I ran this marathon 2 years ago, but chose to do only the half last year and this year. I didn't care very much for the whole marathon course, i.e., the first half through the mulch, back road and wooded trail. Some rate this very high, but it's not my kind of thing and a definite non-PR or BQ course (at least for me). There just seems to be a smaller crowd each year - fewer homeowners that come out to cheer, no music along the way unless a resident was playing a radio or CD, no cheerleaders as seen in many other marathons (even though the profits support public education in Dare County), and I didn't even notice as many "trivia" signs along the course like in years past. I don't know; maybe I'm expecting too much - but I'm looking for a little improvement each year and haven't noticed any. I will still attend every year because its a good excuse to go to the Outer Banks (my wife and I bring along about 20 friends to run as I have a vacation home on Hatteras). One other minor comment: The emails from OBX Marathon offered a $50 prize to the best pirate costume. I was fully dressed as Jack Sparrow and had a friend running along with me as a pirate wench - maybe you saw us. Apparently no one from the race staff did! Not that I think we should have won the prize, but I didn't see many others in pirate costumes. No one said anything to us after the race and so we just went back to the house. I just wonder who won. Well, enough about this one - see you all next year - but NOT in pirate garb.
T. N. from Blue Ridge, Va (11/23/2010) "More challenging than I expected" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've only done 2 marathons, and both of them were this year: Shamrock in the spring, and OBX in the fall. I trained well, hoping to shave 6 minutes or better off my spring time, to qualify for Boston 2012. I assumed the courses would be similar - I was right and I was wrong. Here's what I was wrong about: there are 2 miles of trail and a honking big bridge. Since I am from the Roanoke area, and climbed Mill Mountain 24 times this summer, I was not afraid of the bridge. However, putting the bridge at mile 23? Tough! Having to look at the bridge for about a mile before reaching it? Even tougher! But, running a marathon is not for the weak, and I persevered.... The trail was enjoyable for me, as I do some trail running here. Nice and shaded. What I was dismayed to discover, though, was that one of those trail miles was at 10:43 pace, and I was attempting 9:09 to 9:20. That mile cost me dearly. Then there was the Siamese cat in the residential area that crossed the road, back and forth, back and forth, around many runners. It got right in my path, so I jumped over it. Talk about an obstacle course! The spectators were very gracious; nowhere but there have I ever heard: "Thank you for running our race!" There was one female spectator in particular that I need to thank: she was at mile 26 holding a sign that said, "Make Pain Your Bitch" and it is thanks to her that I rallied and plowed through to the finish line. She called out my name as I looked at her sign, and I qualified for Boston with 14 seconds to spare. The Expo: just about all of the vendors were in Richmond instead. Food: Gatorade, bagels, oranges. There was a vat of peanut butter but I could barely chew and nearly choked, although I can't blame them for that. Volunteers: took me to triage, even though I said I was fine. I appreciated their concern, since I had no family there. Beer: the other gentleman was wrong about the beer; I got 2 free beers Food Vendors: Kelly's was there giving away small samples of clam chowder; boy, did that hit the spot! When they found out my finishing time, they gave me another cup! Freebies: I loved the insulated black lunchbag I got at the finish. Different! All in all, Southern hospitality and a beautiful but tricky course. Will I go back? You betcha!
E. M. from Toronto, Canada (11/23/2010) "Beautiful Varied Course" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The most variety of surfaces I have run a marathon on. From rural road to waterfront trail, dirt road, forested and wood chipped path, secondary highway and up and over a long bridge. I really liked the course. Pretty flat course other than some hills in the forest path and the 23-mile bridge hill. Loved the 3/4 loop around the Wright Brothers monument. The course is twisty enough that you will save time if you can run the tangents. Great volunteers and great organization. Just about every hotel and restaurant and plenty of stores had a "Welcome OBX Runners" sign out. And no wonder the burger joint I went post-race was probably 80% filled with runners replenishing their protein needs. The hotel I stayed at also put out an early breakfast for OBX Marathon participants. Decent-sized expo for this level of race, though it was a little crowded. Weather was great this year; thank you to the organizers for making the right sacrifices to the weather gods. Not a huge number of spectators and no bands (except at the end), but the water stations were well manned and stocked with a couple of gel stations enroute. Plenty of course marshals to keep you on track. A few runners were in pirate costume. Arrrgh! Tech marathon shirt and finisher medal were nice and not too gaudy. The insulated lunch bag at the end was a nice touch to carry your post-race fluids and food. Found plenty of bagels with PB or cream cheese and fruit to eat. Had to search for the free beer and clam chowder, but I found them. Bring money with you if you want to buy anything more fancy to eat. Overall, a race I would recommend to my running friends to do.
Rich Walker from New Albany, Indiana (11/16/2010) "Off-road portion tougher than I expected" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 OBX Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 What I liked: Beautiful scenery Very helpful and friendly volunteers Spirited spectators What I didn't: Early on, splits were not marked or were unclear when you hit the mile marker. Needed more frequent water early on... warm weather contributed. Although it was pretty, portions that were off-road were on pretty soft ground at times. I pulled a muscle and I think running on the sandy ground 10 miles into the race, using different muscles, is probably why. What they could improve: The "Booty Bags" are nice but didn't really contain any freebies. The runners food after the race was almost non-existent. I saw Gatorade, sliced apples and pieces of bagels. The $85 entry fee is higher than the other races I entered (Indianapolis, Air Force and Columbus), but all of those races had better post-race food and a free beer. Outer Banks had other options but you had to buy that stuff and my wallet was in my car five blocks away.

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