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May 2, 2024

Providence Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Providence Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.6

Organization 3.4

Spectators 2.9

Number of comments: 169 [displaying comments 61 to 71]

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J. E. from Averill Park, NY (12/12/2011) "Ok race, but the course needs to change" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The race is advertised as fast and flat, though I think that's stretching the truth a bit. There definitely are some hills throughout the course, along with a couple short steep ones at mile 23 and 25. Right after the mile 25 hill is a stretch of single track over a bridge, which was congested with runners and non-runners. This is followed by a steep switchback ramp to descend off the bridge, adding to the stretch of unpleasantness. Providence seems like a nice city, but you don't see much of it on the course. I really wasn't a fan of all the twists and turns in the course since you start to lose track of where you are or what direction you're running in. There are a couple long stretches on the bike path, which are nice except that there are no water stops for several miles at a time. Other parts have you running on busy streets right along with traffic. While the police officers and volunteers were great controlling traffic, they can't be everywhere. I couldn't believe when I saw a car try to cut off a pack of runners to make a right turn. A spectator intervened to stop the car from driving into the runners. The aid stations had plenty of water, gels and even bananas at some locations. The only post race food I saw was tons and tons of pizza, which doesn't work for those of us who don't eat cheese. The beer garden was a nice touch though and had 3 varities of a local brew. The expo was ok and had some gear and supplies to purchase. The technical race shirt you receive is ok at best. I think it's the same shirt that the half marathoners and 5k runners get. The finishers medal is also generic and doesn't specify marathon on it. Definitely some disappointment on the shirt and the medal. The Hilton was walking distance to the start/finish line, the expo and several restaurants. This could be a great race, but it doesn't seem like the community supports it. The morning news had coverage of the 5k that ran the day before, but made no mention of the marathon that was about to start within the hour. It would've been nice to get the word out there either to attract spectators or at least warn people that there will be some congestion on the roads. Overall I was a bit disappointed with this race. It seems as though it has improved from past years based on previous reviews, but changes are still necessary in order to make this a fun, enjoyable race.
M. T. from Hopkinton, MA (10/13/2011) "Low-Key Marathon and mostly flat course to BQ" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran this marathon on May 1, 2011 as my 8th marathon (I'd run 5 boston's previously and also Cape Cod and Shamrock-Virginia Beach). I live in Massachusetts about an hour away so I picked this race since it was only 2 weeks after the Boston Marathon and I could train all winter alongside my friends who were training for Boston. It was an easy drive on marathon morning to just drive there and get my number, shirt, etc. Providence/Cox was a great course for the mostpart except for the terrible 'switchback'ramp' on a bridge around mile 25. what a terrible place for that. my knees were buckling in and just before that we all ran on a very narrow bridge where you would be unable to pass another runner (I was not in the position to do so but if I had there physically wouldn't be enough room). I liked running on the bike trails although a lot of bikers would look annoyed at all the runners everywhere. My husband and kids were able to drive the course with ease and stop to cheer for me over 5 times (something that is impossible at Boston or any big marathon). I did a PR here by 6 minutes and I qualified for Boston by 10 minutes. The shirt is okay but could have been a lot nicer but I was thankful for a 'child's size L' since I'd requested XS and was able to get a shirt that actually fit me. I was able to park for free but that's because I went super early that morning and parked in the Capital Grille parking lot before any attendants arrived. Also, you may want to wait till November to sign up because I signed up the end of October and then a few days later got an e-mail saying if I signed up between Nov 1 and Dec 31 I'd get a coolmax hat and a 'deluxe' goody bag. However, since I signed up in October I was told I wouldn't get any of that unless they happened to have an extra hat.
S. B. from Vermont (9/30/2011) "Has potential, but not worth going out of your way" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This race has lots of potential, but for now it isn't worth going out of your way to get to or to train for. The course was lovely in a few places, but mostly it seemed to be ran through lousy neighborhoods and at one point around mile 25 it wrapped around an overpass bridge, there was no way to run that! They kept the finish line open until the last runner made it in and the massage people weren't in a rush to clean up and there was plenty of food on the course and at the finish even though I was a back of the pack runner for this one. So kudos on all that; it really needs work setting up a new course through scenic areas and they should close off the roads, not have us running along the sides.
s. f. from Boston, MA (5/17/2011) "Average." (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I ran a PR two weeks after setting a PR at Boston. This course can be fast. The expo was small, disorganized, and geared to the half marathoners. The full marathon numbers were posted on the wall, out of the way, behind a booth and I had to ask where they were. The shirt is cheap and falling apart, and I haven't worn it yet. The race start was set up ok. In downtown PVD. I found free parking 2 blocks from the start on the street, but that was because I scouted it out the day before when I visited the expo. Plenty of porta-potties, although I used the BR at the convention center to avoid the lines. The race start area had signs suggesting a place to line up for your expected pace. Nobody paid attention to those and it was a bit of a cluster. The pack spread out quickly once we crossed the start. I liked how the half split from the full early, about two miles in. The water stops were located where they needed to be, and staffed with enthusiastic volunteers. You often didn't know if you were getting h2o or gatorade until it was in your hand. No consistent flavor of gatorade either. PLENTY OF GU!! Again, PLENTY OF GU!! I packed my own and didn't partake, but there was gu available every couple miles from something like mile 5 in. Also bananas and oranges available if you needed them. The course was ok. They got you out of providence as fast as they could. Which is always a good idea. Nice water views as you run along the river and the East Bay. Quiet community roads and the bike path were nice too. Rolling hills and a couple of slightly challenging peaks around mile 20. Weird little switchback coming off of a way too narrow pedestrian bridge. The finish was at the same location as the start. I was medaled, kind of a cheesy medal emblazoned with the sponsor logo, and then helped myself to a water and Gatorade, and there was piles of pizza 30 feet from the finish line, exactly what you need after a hard marathon. Pizza and beer! One free Naragansett beer in the beer garden. It was an ok race, not a destination race, unless you need RI for a fifty state endeavor. I won't repeat it, or any other event again.
S. M. from New England (5/15/2011) "Okay local race" (about: 2011) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This race was alright, but nothing special. The expo was small/non-existent. Ugly shirts. I wasn't a fan of the course. Sometimes it was kinda scenic, but mostly in industrial areas or on the bikepath. It was a very sunny day and there was little to no shade along the course. Finish line was a let-down. The only food I could find was pizza and stale bagel sticks. If you live near Providence this is worth checking out for a low-hassle race, but I wouldn't bother traveling for it.
L. R. from Florida (5/14/2011) "NICE COURSE, GOOD ORGANIZATION" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I enjoyed the course and the folks on the bikes who were supporting runners by riding back and forth on the course and providing words of encouragement! I don't know her name but one lady rode back and forth between miles 10 and 18 and cheered me on at every mile! Thank you so much! I won my age group and I was contacted right away as they are going to mail the awards. That's a nice touch. I really don't have any negatives. That last crossing of the river was on a narrow path and there were not only runners that were walking - there were other people trying to cross in the opposite direction, which made it challenging. That's the only thing I'd change. Waters stops were well stocked and volunteers were enthusiastic. We stayed at the Courtyard that was right at the start/finish and they were great.
B. H. from Naugutuck, CT (5/12/2011) "Better every year" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Providence Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run this race three years in a row now and it continues to improve. It's a scenic course with some good variety. Crowds are great in downtown at the start and finish, though quieter out on the bike path portion of the race. Water stations are well stocked and the volunteers were terrific this year. Great weather certainly helped. Expo was also a significant improvement over past years. I'd absolutely recommend this race to anyone looking for a well run, mid-size marathon.
George Southgate from Calhoun,GA (5/10/2011) "Great weather and course." (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a great marathon. The weather was ideal. The course had some hills early, and the rest wandered along bike paths and scenic sights of rivers and lakes.
R. W. from east coast (5/9/2011) "Kudos to the Race Directors!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Clearly the race directors have listened to the complaints from runners of the previous Providence Marathons. There was enough GU to supply the entire city. There was tons of food, even for those of us who limped in late. The expo was a good-sized; we picked up marathon-themed shirts for adults and children. One thing that I found puzzling was how little publicity there was in the local media. You really had to search the Providence Journal to find an article, even on race day. I've been places the size of Providence where there was lots of buzz, in the newspapers and on television. Providence is a great marathon and the city should celebrate it.
M. C. from York, PA (5/3/2011) "A well-run race on a relatively flat course" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Providence Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed this marathon. It's my 14th overall and I was trying to qualify again for Boston (which I did, although I missed qualifying 10 minutes faster than my BQ time by a shade over 1 minute). It's a very fair course with only one minor hill that's not really anything if one trains on hills. Race temps were ideal but I would have preferred an overcast sky. Oh well, can't have everything! Probably my favorite thing about the race (other than the course), is that the convention center is open race morning and it's only a block away from the start. It's a good place to hang out race morning and stretch, and one can avoid the portojohn lines entirely. Spectators were decent for a mid-size marathon, and there were a couple of places where they were very vocal. That always helps. The headwind with 1.3 miles to go was a bummer, but other than that, it was a fine race. My one big suggestion for improvement is to have separate shirts for marathon, half-marathon, and 5K runners. This is a small thing and easy to fix. Runners like to show off their accomplishments with their marathon shirt, and if it just says 'Cox Rhode Races' followed by 'Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5K', it's a bit of a let down. Especially for those that make this marathon a destination marathon (as I did), we don't want a generic shirt. My 2 cents.

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