Freedom's Run Runner Comments

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Course 4.7

Organization 4.7

Spectators 3.7

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Number of comments: 126 [displaying comments 121 to 122]

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J. E. from Hagerstown, MD (10/3/2009)

"Better Love Hills!!" (about: 2009)

3 previous marathons | 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2

I ran the half and enjoyed it. There are some nasty hills on this course and I would recommend driving the Antietam Battlefield section before running this course - either full or half marathon. I felt bad for the full marathon folks running (most walking) up Sawmill Road while I was headed down. That did not look like fun at all. The organization was great for a first-time event - traffic was well controlled through Sharpsburg and there were plenty of water stops (and even a bagpipe in there as well). Weather was perfect and there was plenty to snack on after the race. For the half, I would like to see the last "climb" off of the towpath not be that steep walkway up to the Route 34 bridge deck. Wow! That is a steep one right at the end. I'll be back to run the half again but I don't have the courage to attempt a full marathon on that course just yet.

R. S. from Baltimore, Maryland (10/3/2009)

"Steep hills, steep descent, repeat over and over" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Freedom's Run
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2

Looking at the course elevation profile, you'd think that this course has three or four hills but is primarily flat. You'd be wrong. Maybe the scale just doesn't convey the elevation accurately or maybe elevations are just taken every half-mile and then the dots connected. Bottom line: when you hit the hills, they are constant and unrelenting. You can't rest during the downhills because they are so steep you have to use your quads and "brake."

Put it this way: in winter you'd need to put chains on your tires to be able to drive this course.

Having said that, the organization was impressive, especially for a first-time event. Nice shirt. Sparse food selection at the end, so if you want more than half a banana and a bagel, bring your own. Gel on the course was a nice touch, as was the low cost.

Afterward, everyone said that the half-marathon course was significantly short. That is job #1 for a race director and everything else is secondary - no excuse. Hopefully the marathon, which was mostly on a different course, was accurate.

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Freedom's Run Runner Comments