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Georgia Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Georgia Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.1 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 459 [displaying comments 441 to 451]
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K. S. from Atlanta, GA
(3/25/2007)
 "No sports drinks on course on a warm day" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I would expect a race organization as experienced with marathons as ING to have electrolyte replacement sports drinks such as PowerAde or Gatorade on the course. There were none. Repeat, none. I asked at every hydration station, and none of them had any. The high temperature on race day was approximately 80 degrees. | |
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Sid Busch from Goose Creek, SC
(3/25/2007)
 "Great first-time marathon" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was the first running of the ING GEORGIA MARATHON, and for a first-time event it was really good. The course is hilly and challenging, but you get a great tour of the Atlanta area. The weather was 30 degrees warmer then normal, and there were problems with water stops (only on one side of road, and no PowerAde for the whole run for back-of-the-pack runners. This will probably be taken care of, since a lot of us are writing the race director. All in ALL it was well run. At the expo on Saturday morning, they gave out free coffee to all waiting in line - really a great thing to do. UPS did its usual great job with baggage check, and being the home of Coke, lots to drink at the finish. I recommend this run highly. | |
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N. P. from Atlanta, GA
(3/25/2007)
 "Scenic, hilly course" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have lived in Atlanta area for more than 10 years and didn't know that it had so many beautiful neighborhoods, which dominated this course. The course was hilly, and combined with signature Georgia heat, it was a great challenge. I want to name the course "the roller coaster" because of the many twists and turns and ups and downs. Great inaugaral marathon and great handling of more than 15,000 runners! I started up front and finished in 3:16, though I had problems with many half marathon walkers using the width of the road for the last few miles. A few more water stations with PowerAde would have been nice, but many spectators were handing out water, which was great. | |
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W. N. from Dacula, Georgia
(3/25/2007)
"No sports drinks on the course" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This is a scenic, hilly course, winding through some nice neighborhoods in the Atlanta area. Good fan support in different neighborhoods. Temperatures were warm, starting in the mid-60s at the start, and reaching the high 70s by the finish. The only relief from the heat came from the shady tree-lined streets most of the course covered. There was no relief at the water stations. Only 2 water stations in the marathon had PowerAde and they were both in the first half. At least one water station was missing. It was a real struggle in the last half with just water. Unseasonably high teperatures combined with sub-standard water stations made it a struggle for many in the second half. | |
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S. M. from Greenville, SC
(3/25/2007)
"Hot, Hilly and Hard" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I have run 20+ marathons but never a big one like this one. I figured ING would know how to organize a big race. The course was scenic but definitely not an easy one. I give the course 3 stars only because it was more demanding that most thought. I was shooting for sub-3, but I'm satisfied with my 3:10 given the course and the conditions. It was 48 degrees at the 7 a.m. start. When I finished in just after 3 hours, it was 64 degrees. Those finishing in 4 hours finished with a 75-degree temperature. A race director cannot control the weather but can make sure the runners have adequate hydration. With such a warm temp., the fluids would be vital. There were 17 planned aid stations advertised to have water and PowerAde at each. There were NOT 17 aid stations and by the time I got to them, there was PowerAde at only 2 of the aid stations. It is difficult to run 26.2 miles without an energy replacement drink. With the tough course and the unseasonly warm temperature, many people wilted during the last 8 miles. It's a shame for the runners that traveled to Atlanta, and especially for those who made this their first marathon, it was a shame that there weren't adequate fluids on the course. I do not know if it was poor planning or poor distribution (although PowerAde is made by Coca-Cola, which is based in Atlanta) that resulted in the lack of PowerAde on the course, but I will stick to the smaller marathons in the future. | |
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M. S. from Atlanta, GA
(3/25/2007)
 "Lovely course, incompetent organizers" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The most incompetently organized marathon imaginable. Website and printed materials stated PowerAde and water station would be found every 1-2 miles. There was NOT A DROP of PowerAde on the entire course. As to water, some stations were missing, others had run out of water (I finished about 300th of 4,300 marathoners). At the finish one small bottle of water was handed out, and only immediately after the finish line - runners could not obtain a second bottle once they passed, unless they pilfered it from the medical aid station. What shameful organizational malpractice. As a physician, I've treated both dehydrated and hyponatremic marathon runners in the past, and I'm sure there were plenty of both in this race. If you're one of them, call your lawyer. | |
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P. K. from Atlanta, GA
(3/25/2007)
"Zero Organization" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I was very excited for Atlanta to get a major marathon and even more excited when it was announced that ING was the lead sponsor. It was all for nothing, as it turns out. From the bib pick-up to the finishing corral, this race was a complete mess. Some water stations were not ready for the runners. Only two had PowerAde (how this happened in Coke's backyard is beyond me). There was a car parked about 50 meters after the start that you had to dodge. Absolutely no order of any kind in the staging area. Read this as a complete free-for-all as to where to line up. Honestly, there was not a water stop for 5 miles at one point. Combine all of this with a really hot day in Atlanta and there were good runners breaking down all over the place. I live here and probably won't run it again. I like races where I can drink a sports drink when I want it and not have to stand in MASSIVE lines to pick up my bib. I should say, though, that while the course is very hilly, it was well laid out. | |
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J. S. from Jackson, MS
(3/25/2007)
 "Hot and hilly" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course was run through beautiful neighborhoods and the fan support was terrific. More PowerAde stations would have been good. Once the sun was up the heat made the run much more difficult. Can't wait to try again next year! | |
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J. S. from Atlanta, GA
(3/25/2007)
"Overall a good marathon, but had a few issues" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 As a local, we were thrilled to have ING bring a marathon to Atlanta. The course was awesome... very scenic through the different neighborhoods, although tough on the hills. Lucked out on the weather... 50's at the start and low humidity with almost no wind. The organization of the water stations could use improvement... many stations were missing and PowerAde was scarce, so many runners were calorie-deprived. Police were letting cars through the runners too frequently, resulting in some runners having to pause when crossing an intersection. Overall, though, had a great run today and would definitely do this race again. | |
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T. S. from USA
(3/25/2007)
"Water and PowerAde would have been nice!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 When the temps are expected to hit 80 and above, you would expect the race organization to act accordingly. Non-existent H2O stops, and very little PowerAde. The cheer zones were set up, but I'd give them up for some PowerAde. ING needs to do their homework for next year.... |
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