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☰
Freedom's Run Runner Comments
Back to Freedom's Run Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 126 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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Rob Engels from Gaithersburg, MD
(10/17/2009)
 "my favorite race yet" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed the marathon course. It was really challenging and very scenic. This was race has a small-time feel with big-time race organization, and the area, at the time of year the race was held, was simply beautiful. I hope to do it again next year. | |
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C. M. from Christiansburg, Va.
(10/7/2009)
 "LOVED IT ALL THE WAY AROUND!!!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my 6th marathon, and it's certainly my favorite so far. Excellent organization, especially for a first-time race. I will certainly do it again, and I highly recommend it to all marathoners. There's a good variety of scenery, surface, and incline. I loved the fact that it started getting more difficult at mile 14. Great challenge! EXCELLENT job by director and all volunteers! This one is a MUST-do. | |
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K. C. from Pittsburgh
(10/6/2009)
 "Small Marathon with Big Heart" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I loved running this marathon. Early on, I knew it was going to be a day to just relax and let the course take you. Honestly, the forest trail lulled me to sleep. Not a timing mat or ticking clock in sight. We met bleary dog walkers, campers in PJs, and scouts at breakfast. Just leaves and rocks and trees. A pair of runners were chattering behind me. They were so damn loud. Do you mind? I'm trying to listen to the Potomac. But, just as I was growing weary of the flat, shady trail, I hit the rolling hills of Antietam. This woke me up. The battlefield was breath-taking: a bouquet of cannons and standing stones, bathed in goldenrod. Turkey vultures spectated (four stars) from fence posts. The hills: merciless, but lovely. (Yes, lovely. I'm sick of flat, fast courses.) Seeing the half-marathon parade on the other side gave me heart. So many kind words from strangers. In the home stretch, we found the road, and reality set in. Orange cones, traffic cops, and broken glass. Would we join the road kill? So, the elevation chart may have misrepresented the hills in the second half. And, I didn't get a fancy medal for crossing the finish line. Yeah, maybe the mile-markers weren't posted with precision. And I didn't run a great time. I was barely sore. But, every now and then you just need to have a good old run. The way the community embraced this event made you feel like you were at Boston (almost), without getting trampled on. I know this event can only grow, but let's hope it won't get too big. Did I mention the hills? Also, to the runners who littered: shame on you! You should be shot out of a cannon, scattered to the vultures. | |
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s. c. from salisbury,maryland U.S.A.
(10/5/2009)
"This was a definite winner!!!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I was amazed at the excellent organization and attention to detail, and ALL at a reasonable entry fee. This is not to mention the diverse beauty of the course, i.e. C and O, the canal, Antietam, hills, and some quaint and historically significant towns in both Maryland and West Virginia. I agree entirely with the above comments that this is a VERY challenging run with an intense but rewarding second half. You've really got to hold yourself back on that 10 mile "C and O" stretch because Miller Sawmill Road and Antietam make a real bear. Again, my only hope is that this run stays small-town, quality-driven and runner-friendly. A great experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! | |
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D. B. from MD, USA
(10/5/2009)
"Excellent Small Event" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Well done inaugural event. This is just a nice, small, local marathon. If you need cheering crowds, music along the course, and all of that, then this is NOT the race for you. You can almost count the spectators on fingers and toes. The course goes from Harper's Ferry, WV, crossing the Potomac River into Maryland and follows the C & O towpath up to Antietam battlefield and ends in Shepherdstown, WV at Shepherd U's footfall stadium. It was just a nice (albeit challenging) run. The first 14-plus miles are the easiest; the most challenging are the approximately 6-7 miles in Antietam. There are lots of little elevation changes and a couple of long grinds and virtually no shade, so by mid or late morning it can be warm. So make sure to train doing some hill work and make sure to hydrate - that can be a problem, as there are not that many hydration stations. You should plan on carrying a water bottle. The highlight for me was being at the point where the Shenandoah and Potomac meet right when the rising sun was a big orange blaze; it was one of the most beautiful scenes I've encountered while running a marathon. Running through Antietam was nice as well. My only two negatives: PowerAde blows! And not receiving a medal at the finish line (to be mailed later) was surprisingly a kind of a letdown for me. Minor negatives aside, I plan to do this again. NOTE: that I rate the crowds as a 5 so as not to penalize it, as there are very few places for spectators. What spectators there were, were fine. | |
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C. Y. from Denham Springs, Louisiana
(10/4/2009)
"Tale of two halves and great fun!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Fantastic community support (although few spectators); great organization (first time or not) and historically beautiful course! Can't say enough positive about the pre-race and race day organization and execution. Enough water/gel stations unless you need them every two miles; I don't. Do be prepared for two very different halves. The first half was fantastic: flat; scenic; no traffic; shady and cool. The second half had many tough hills as well as traffic, and it was sunny and hot (though still scenic). The small number of runners was nice and the townspeople could not have been nicer. We had great fun visiting the shops downtown after the race. Few suggestions: a course that is flatter for the second half; a little more food at the end; and start the marathon an hour earlier. Great experience, great cause(s), and great organization! Thanks, Mark and Lois! | |
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K. S. from Towson, MD
(10/4/2009)
"Great" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my sixth marathon. All six have been "medium to big" races. This was the smallest of all and the first I will definitely repeat. It features a TOUGH final 12 miles. Tough, yet historic. Great organization; great course. I will dare say that the course rivals Big Sur - though the organization is more sincere (if you can imagine that!). Small-town race; great course. Terrific leadership and support in organization. Run this marathon. | |
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A. V. from Newark, DE
(10/4/2009)
"very scenic and historic race" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I agree with the first poster that bus ride to the start was enough to get your heart rate going. I just told myself the driver knew that road and every single curve to it! The course is just absolutely beautiful, and out of seven marathons, it's the best yet for scenery. My favorite were miles 1-2 - the out-and-back on Murphy's farm where the fog was lifting up over the fields with canons poking out. The sunrise was gorgeous crossing over the Potomac, probably the best minute of the entire race. As previous posters say, the first 14 miles are a breeze: downhill to flat. I don't think I saw anyone running up that first hill coming off of the towpath; the hills for the next six miles were indeed rolling steep hills. I don't blame the hills at all. I think the course is amazing and I'll most likely be back next year. The RD kept everyone up to date with emails and everything seemed to be organized well. Going 3-4 miles between aid stops turned out to be a little far when temps started to rise up toward the second half. All of the local volunteers were amazing - some of the best around. The people in West Virginia were very welcoming to all of the runners. I know 2010 will be even bigger and better. | |
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M. S. from Maryland
(10/4/2009)
"Well organized race; beautiful, challenging course" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The bus ride from Shepherdstown to the start area was an exhilarating way to start the day. The locals drive these narrow, winding, hilly roads in white-knuckle fashion. I liked everything about this marathon - my 17th. I can't recall a more scenic course, nor more challenging hills. The killer hill after 14 is prelude to a rather brutal second half (the first half is a breeze). But don't let that keep you from this race - just slow down and enjoy the scenery. The RD and crew did a fabulous job. I'll definitely do this one again. | |
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Richard pimentel from California
(10/4/2009)
 "Amazing course; this race will be top-notch soon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Water stops were very sporadic, but extremely friendly. They need closer water stations, especially in the second half. The course is simply mesmerizing, running along the Potomac, Antietam and Harper's Ferry was just awesome. Very few spectators. I think that Mark will definitely fix the glitches and make this one of the top ten small marathons in the nation. |
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