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Tobacco Road Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Tobacco Road Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 66 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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N. S. from Hopkins MN
(3/21/2011)
 "Could have been great except for end organization" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Great area, great weather, sparse but enthusiastic crowds. Organizers didn't have enough parking so they shuttled people to the start from a remote lot. Not a problem for race start but to get people back after finishing you had to walk to the shuttle stop about a 1/4-mile and then wait for a long time I'm talking 1 or more hours!!! I had a plane to catch and despite having to cut the line I still had to wait 30 minutes.Inexcusable.... | |
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M. B. from Riverside, CA
(3/20/2011)
"Post-race shuttle service terrible" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Basically everything was pretty nice (the course, fans, water, etc.). However, the post-race shuttle buses back to the parking lot were a mess. After finishing the full marathon, my family and I waited about an hour and a half in line to board a shuttle bus to get back to the parking lot. Either the organizers need to get more buses, or they need to figure out an alternative parking arrangement. Since this was an enjoyable run overall, I do hope this is figured out. | |
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M. M. from Clayton, NC
(3/20/2011)
 "A poorly organized race." (about: 2011)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 After hearing the positive reviews for last year's debut, I was very excited for this race. Although the race itself was good, getting to and from the start line was a nightmare. There were supposed to be 15 coaches on a loop going to and from the start/finish line throughout the morning. There were 2. At the end of the race, there was a 15-minute walk to the bus pickup and again there were still 2 buses (why wasn't this rectified in the morning when people were going TO the starting line?). It took us almost an hour and a half of standing around waiting to get on the bus. Needless to say this is not what you need after running 26.2 miles. And as mistakes go, it's a pretty unforgivable one. The organizers even gave out pizza to those in the line, but it was too little, too late. I hope we will get an email explaining what went wrong. The week of the marathon, we were told quite bluntly in an email not to park anywhere else, and there was hostility from the desperate housewives neighborhoods when people sought alternative parking. As for the course itself, it's quite good. It's almost all trail, though, and can get a little boring, though this is completely a personal preference. It doesn't have the varied scenery of a big-city marathon, despite having the big-city problems of access. The organizers are good people in the local running community and I really take no pleasure in criticizing a marathon, but the bus issue almost ruined what was a good day. If they fix this, I would recommend this race next year, if city marathons are not your thing. Just ask yourself if you want to run along the same trail for 20 miles. | |
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H. C. from New York, NY
(6/30/2010)
 "Really well-organized, good size, relatively fast" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my fifth marathon and I was aiming for a BQ. Although I missed it by a couple of minutes, I did get a significant PR and have no doubt that this could be a great course for a BQ. I was a little worried that the dirt on the trail would slow me down a bit, and maybe it did, but it's so smooth and well-worn for the most part that you don't much notice the difference even if you've only been training on road. I also never felt like it was too crowded or squished at any point, even in parts where people were going both directions on the trail I would definitely recommend keeping the event at the current size though, because I think more people would've made the narrowness of the trail an issue. I loved the beauty and serenity of the trail, with the trees lining it and providing shade, and had a rough time in the last 3 miles coming back onto asphalt under blazing sun. The organization seemed flawless to me - everything went smoothly. For someone traveling from out of town and hoping to minimize costs as much as possible, it was really nice to have a host hotel that provided free airport shuttle and to have the race provide a shuttle from the hotel to the start, so that I didn't need to rent a car. Overall, everything went without a hitch, which is really all you can ask for - great organization, great course, plenty of port-a-potties, GU, and drink along the course, and I'm happy with the t-shirt and food afterward. I highly recommend this one for a fast, peaceful, well-organized race. | |
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J. M. from Durham, NC
(4/17/2010)
 "lovely course, very runner-friendly" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third and favorite marathon. The first and last three miles are on road; the rest is on the lovely, shaded, flat Tobacco Trail. More GU, Chomps, and water/Gatorade stops than you could need, and supportive spectators handing out things like free beer shots. We were lucky to have perfect weather, which didn't hurt. Lots of photographers along the course and at the finish. A great finish festival with massages, pizza, fruit, bakery-fresh bread. Oh, and an attractive, hefty medal. I know, it's silly, but I'm all about the medal. I was impressed with how well it was organized since it was a first-time marathon. | |
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S. D. from Nashville, TN
(4/2/2010)
 "A great, quiet marathon" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The organization was superb for an inaugural marathon, but shuttles from the host hotel didn't show and several runners did not make it to the start in time. The trail is wonderful but do not underestimate the grade. Overall, a superb course and well supported race. | |
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T. S. from Indianapolis
(3/29/2010)
 "Rookies of the year" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 You could tell this race is run by runners for runners, and as a first-time event, it came off with few glitches. Nice expo, great aid stations and yummy treats afterward. Pizza was a bit cold by the time us mid-pack marathoners got done, but the Great Harvest bread and FREE beer more than made up for it. The only real problem was traffic getting into the parking lot. It's understandable, given the number of people arriving at the same time, but a word of advice is to allow an extra 15-30 minutes for your travel time. But having your car a minute or so from the start/finish is sure worth that minor hassle. I loved the trail, which made me hate the last 3 miles when we left the shade and came on to hot asphalt and a stiff wind. But then, I always hate the last 3 miles of a marathon. Given my limited travel budget, I might not do this race again, but I'd highly recommend it to anyone in the Southeast looking for a spring marathon. | |
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W. D. from Boonton, NJ
(3/29/2010)
"Great Time" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the half and was surprised to see one of the race directors on the course with me. Race started out right on time, which surprised me at a first-time event. Miles 7 - 10 of the half were very tight for me, as runners were going in the opposite direction; it was especially bad with the pace groups, which were taking up much of the trail. Worth the trip from New Jersey. | |
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Gary Spradlin from Pacific Grove, California
(3/24/2010)
"Got it right the first time!" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My wife and I have done many marathons over the last twenty years, and have never come across a first time event so well done. The race director and staff could give lessons to others considering undertaking such a large time and energy sink. Well done and thanks for all. | |
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E. J. from Louisburg
(3/23/2010)
"Great Event" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Tobacco Road Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I had to pick up someone else's packet, which went very smoothly. The aid stations were well supplied, and the volunteers were great. There are few spots for spectators, but those that were there were great. I'll be registering early for the 2011 event. |
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