May 6, 2024
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☰
Eugene Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Eugene Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 4.3
Number of comments: 159 [displaying comments 151 to 157]
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a. n. from portland oregon
(4/30/2007)
 "overall nice marathon with good support" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Eugene Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I would have liked to finish as you come into the stadium. Psychologically it was a bummer to get to Autzen and still have another 1.2 to go, and coming in on Centennial next to all that traffic wasn't the best way to finish a marathon. | |
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G. K. from Portland, Oregon
(4/30/2007)
 "this one's a keeper" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Eugene Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Cons first, just to get these out of the way: - Three mile markers weren't all that visibly marked, or maybe not marked at all, including two in a row (miles 9 and 10, I believe, or maybe 10 and 11). I suspect they were obscured by coincident water stations, but missing a marker, particularly two in a row, is always a bad surprise. - There was no Gu, or any solid food other than GummiBears, out on the course, not even once at a mile 18-20 aid station, as many races will do. To be fair, the website didn't say that there would be, so I wasn't unpleasantly surprised out on the course. But, personally, I would pay $1 more in my entry fee in exchange for someone handing me a Gu at mile 18. - Food at the finish was a little lacking cookies, bananas, and plain bagels (with nothing to put on them), and that was about it. A little more fruit would have been nice, maybe some yogurt drinks, too. Pros: Really, just about everything else. The course was great: Flat, fast, and scenic, with only 1-2 miles in one lane of a busy multilane street, and all the rest on back streets or, of course, those great riverside bike trails. Course support was excellent; we went through a lot of neighborhoods, and there were people out in force throughout. Ample water stations 15 in all? with well-trained volunteers at all of them. There was ample parking at Autzen Stadium, and it was easy to leave from there efficiently in short, a well-put-together race, on a very attractive course, that was very well run. And did I mention how nice it was to run alongside the Willamette for over half the course? Bottom line, I guess I can't help but compare this to the Portland Marathon, as that's my hometown run, and one I've done five times. The capsule review of Portland, as just a few minutes browsing comments on that race would suggest, is that it's very well-organized and yet not particularly attractive. (Fairly true and very true, respectively, I would say.) In comparison, Eugene was just as well-organized, and about ten times nicer out on the course itself. Hope this one sticks around. | |
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M. K. from Seattle, WA
(4/30/2007)
 "Beautiful Course" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Having been raised in Eugene, it was a thrill to see the hometown finally get its own marathon. The course itself is the strongest asset, at least for the marathon. Miles 15 through the end are almost all paved trails along the river and it is a joy to be in such scenery. The 1/2 marathon didn't have anything like the views and trails that the full had and they really should change that to put their best foot forward next year. Volunteers and overall organization were adequate, but not insanely wonderful as I have seen in some other marathons (Portland). Overall, for an inaugural, I think it's off to a good start; some minor fine tuning and this will start to pick up some big numbers. | |
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S. H. from Minneapolis, MN
(4/30/2007)
"Good Start!" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Eugene Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Overall, the race organizers did a lot of things well for an inaugural event. For example, packet pickup was easy and smooth. The website was well done and continuously updated. The race t-shirt and finishers medals were excellent. The name on the race number was a nice touch. In addition, course marshalling and directional markings were excellent. If anyone got lost, they shouldn't be running a marathon. And while I would have liked to have started on Hayward Field, logistically I think it would have been very difficult, but not impossible. Regardless it was great to start at the 'House that Pre Built.' The fluids were plentiful and were at frequent spots. Ninety-five percent of the volunteers at the aid stations knew how to hand the fluids as I ran by (i.e., they were experienced or well trained!). Thank you volunteers! Things to focus on next year ensure mile markers appear at every mile, they were missing from 6, 9, 10 & 13; Provide some gels at 17, 20 & 23; Move the finish inside the stadium (Instead of going left off the bridge, go right and around to MLK Blvd, and straight into the Stadium); lastly post direction signs indicating where the shuttle pickup is from Autzen to Hayward (e.g, at the intersection of MLK Blvd and LH Pkwy). One other thing that would be nice, but again difficult logistically is to not have the Half-Marathon merge back with the Marathon at 11.5. Or alternatively, what might be possible is to create two running lanes one for the marathon & one for the 1/2 marathon at the point that the two merge to the point where they diverge again. Half-marathoners would stay on the right side and marathoners would be on the left. Again a lot of things done very well. My hats off to the organizers! | |
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R. G. from LA, CA
(4/30/2007)
"Best race I have ever done!!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Eugene Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wasn't sure what to expect at an inaugral race in such a small town but it was the best race I have ever done. Besides setting a PR for myself, the course was amazing!! Running along the river was beautiful and the rest of the scenery was so nice. The expo was small but nice, the hotels were convenient and close to the start and finish, the shuttle buses ran smoothly and got us to where we needed to go in plenty of time, parking was abundant, volunteers were superb and the small crowds were so supportive as they cheered you on. I am used to running VERY large marathons but this one was small but perfect!! A+ to those who designed and set this race up!! This will definitely be a race I will do every year!! | |
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a. e. from Seattle
(4/30/2007)
"Great race - would highly recommend" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Eugene Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a fabulous race. Great course - flat, fast and scenic. Really well organized, with great aid stations. No first-year problems for a first-year race. | |
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Matthew Barnes from Fort Ashby, WV
(4/29/2007)
"Great race organized by runners - Track Town USA" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Eugene Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the first year revival of this race and while I did not search out deficiencies, none were really blatantly put in my face. Expo: Neil (I believe his name was) organized a small, albeit quality, expo that was very enjoyable. Number pickup was smooth and easy. Hopefully this will grow in future years. Starting line: Limited parking, but the bus system was lined up to bring people down to Hayward Field. I stayed in a hotel 1 mile away, so I walked down. Plenty of "facilities" but it did seem to stack up soon after I used them. Baggage check - a little disorganized; this was the one only thing that I found to be a negative. I think having bibs with baggage tags to put on the bags, and slightly larger bags, enough for a pair of shoes and sweats, would be a huge plus. Course. A little crowded at the start, but I didn't see many problems. Roads were a little rough in the beginning, but once we got to the trails it was wonderful. Beautiful weather also smiled down on us for today. Water stops were sufficient. Maybe add 2 Gu/gel stops for future years. I personally would have liked a few miles on the wood chips through the trails. Crowd support: In the 9 marathons I've done, only surpassed by Boston. About equal to Richmond for you East Coasters. Very few spots without anyone around. Just an awesome community in the Eugene/Springfield areas. Thank you. Finishing: Medals were about average, but I'm holding this one a little more prestige. Finishing inside the stadium would have been great, but it was easy to find family/friends at the end. Plenty of fluids, etc. I'm sure there will be some minor tweaking here and there, but I felt this was a grade A act, and all the more so with it being the first year. Great job Eugene. |
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