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Apr 28, 2024

Charleston Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 2.9

Organization 3.3

Spectators 2.8

Number of comments: 90 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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Jonathan Hanbury from Reno, Nevada (1/20/2012) "Flat and fast" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my 19th state and I enjoyed it. This was a flat and scenic course with a great start and fun finish. If you want a lot of port of potties and huge crowds along the way this is not a course for you. But if you want a well organized race on a fast flat course with a lot of southern hospitality - I would recommend this race. I loved the area, my hotel near the airport and how convenient everything was.
Ross Brennan from Washington, D.C. (1/20/2012) "Friendly smaller marathon through diverse area" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've done about 40 marathons as a mid- to back-of-the-pack racer and feel compelled to offer a more positive view of the race. Most comments focus on the race course. Yes, about half is pretty gritty. That shouldn't surprise anyone who's done any research before the race. The course runs through about 2 miles of downtown, followed by 2 miles of working-class neighborhoods, a long straight slog through low-slung industrial areas, some pretty neighborhoods and parks in N. Charleston, then the bleak transitional area around the navy yard. I actually found the grimier parts more interesting than the boring stretches lots of other marathons offer through office parks and suburbs. I gather the organizers needed to combine the draw of historic Charleston with the logistical ease of the N.C. navy yard area. Maybe the race could be renamed or re-marketed to more accurately reflect the N.C. aspects of the race and give credit to the obvious effort made by N.C. Other observations: -Packet pickup was simple. Good directions to the venue, easy parking, nice expo, good music, friendly folks. -Race-day parking was easy. Lines for the buses got long toward the end of the pickup period since most of us waited til the last minute in order to avoid the chill at the starting line. -There was a well-run bag drop at the start, much appreciated given the cold starting line conditions. -Traffic control was outstanding; no vehicles anywhere on the course. Volunteers were cheerful (especially at mile 15.5: made me feel like a star!), water/Gatorade stations were spaced about every 2 miles. Local bands along the course. Nice personal touches: name printed on bib, so spectators cheered me by name; and I was welcomed by name at the finish line. -Beautiful medal and t-shirt. Finish line included shrimp/grits, two free beers, more music in the warm expo tent. To the extent other racers were deprived of liquids during or after the race, that's a serious concern that will need to be addressed next year. But I had a lot of fun and thought the marathon was a thoughtful, well-run event: especially for a small race in its second year.
T. A. from Viginia (1/19/2012) "Would not run this race again" (about: 2012) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 First, I want to say that we were aware of the course and knew that the majority of the race would be run in a less than scenic area and being chilly didn't expect many spectators. I'm glad that I was running with my husband, I may have felt a little uncomfortable had I been running by myself. The course is flat, with only 1 very short hill. Also, there are never enough port a potty's at any race I've ever ran. We began the race about 4 minutes after the start and our chip time did work. Luckily we were only running the half because the last 3 water stations were running out of water and cups. I know that there were a lot of people behind us. When we finished there was plenty of refreshments. However would have preferred water along the course. We did make the first shuttle bus back to the start, however it didn't leave until 10:45, many other people had been waiting in the cold for awhile. Also there was no signage posted for the shuttle pickup. Not a total bust, but the most important things - water and transportation back to the start were lacking.
r. h. from Jefferson, GA (1/19/2012) "Very disappointing" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This was the first marathon I've ever run. I thought this race would be a great, flat course through a beautiful city. This was partly true. The course was very flat and the scenery during the first few miles was great. The last six miles being an out and back, along with the blight of the city in between, was disheartening. Major problems with this race include but are not limited to: inadequate supply of water, Gatorade, gels, bathrooms, and volunteer/crowd support. I couldn't find any water or Gatorade until after mile 10. This is unacceptable. The liability of leaving runners on a course without adequate fluids and volunteer guidance is a quick way to ensure your race will not flourish in the years to come. The race organizers and directors need to really address the water issue first and foremost. With so many runners on the course, and being so spread out throughout the city, volunteer support was critical and severely lacking considering the lack of available fluids and the distance of the race. I understand there were last minute people who registered for the run which depleted the supply of cups, medals, etc., but race organizers and directors have a responsibility to the runners to deliver what was promoted which were numerous water and Gatorade stops, gels, bathrooms, and volunteer support. If there was such a shortage in donated goods for this race, then the number of participants should have been limited or cut off before the actual race day. When I finished the marathon there was no water to be found. None. This race was such a disappointment. Although the city was welcoming I will not run this race again until these major issues are addressed. I've run many half-marathons throughout the southeast, and was really looked forward to my first marathon being in a beautiful city on a flat course. Sadly, the race organization and support is a major deterrent in me coming back for another race in Charleston.
R. C. from Greenville, SC (1/19/2012) "I can't imagine a worse course." (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The expo was outside in a dusty (VERY DUSTY)and poorly lit tent. Everything at the expo was covered in dirt. There weren't enough port-a-johns at the start, and probably 300 people were still in line when the gun went off. First 5 miles of the course is the most beautiful, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The next 21 takes you through blight, railroads and abandoned industrial complexes. No entertainment, no crowds. The topper? Mile 21 begins an interminable out and back. Just a horrible, cruel way to end a marathon. I live in SC, and I want my state to do well, but I wouldn't recommend this race to ANYONE until the course is changed.
E. G. from Florida (1/18/2012) "Not a bad race but needs a lot of improvement" (about: 2012) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I'll start by saying that I brought my family with me and we stayed in historic Charleston and had a nice weekend. The race itself was not very good though. It was a flat course and I ran a PR but it lacked many of the amenities I am used to. The start of the course was nice, but after the first few miles it became boring. It went through unappealing parts of town and had few spectators. There were very few porta-potties, no clocks at any of the mile markers, and no place to register your chip time until the end of the race. The course looped back on itself a lot and at times I got confused on which way to go. When I got to the finish there were no beverages left. I was told there was water and sports drinks in the tent but all they had was iced tea and beer (not what I was looking for at the end of a marathon). Overall I enjoyed Charleston, and I ran a good time that I am happy with, but I would not do this race again.
J. O. from South Carolina (1/17/2012) "Ok race, needs some improvement" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Charleston Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I had a great race, finally a BQ, first 1/2 is nice, second 1/2 of course not so much but I knew that running it again a second time (ran in 2011). I have one complaint really and I think it is a pretty big onewhen I finished the full there was NO WATER and NO GATORADE available to runners...really??? WowI did not get anything to drink for a couple hours (waiting on friends to finish and then had to be shuttled back downtown, where, I was finally able to buy my own water and gatorade). That is pretty unacceptableI am surprised to see that there hasn't been more complaints about the lack of fluids at the end of the race. Yes, there was shrimp and grits but I need gatorade at the end of a race.
carl casterlin from Summerville, SC (1/17/2012) "About what I'd expect from a newer race." (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Last 6 miles kind of depressing knowing I had to turn around and run back the same way after 3 miles. Web site said there was bag drop off at water stations 2, 4 and 6 miles. Dropped off my well marked bag at station 2. No bag after 5 hours. Gave my phone # to info station at the finish, who said they would call. Ha! No call yet. Otherwise, the day was what I expected.
G. Y. from Atlantic Beach, NC (1/17/2012) "Lots of room for improvement!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I was extremely disappointed in this race (I ran the full), out of the 32 I have run this marathon ranks at or near the bottom. While the course itself could use some improvement the overall organization leaves much to be desired; I was even more disappointed when I reviewed the comments from the 2011 race to see the same concerns had not been addressed. At the start of the race there were 14 porta-johns REALLY??? I was one of the few hundred still waiting to use the john as the gun went off; so I actually crossed the start line nearly 5 minutes after the race start so I guess the chip didn't register: THANKS! Take a look at the results did you think all those people without a listed chip time didn't know how to put it on correctly? It was a good thing I took the time because I only noticed 2 porta-johns during the entire course. I will say that the after race party was really great! But, I do not plan to run this race again unless I hear that serious upgrades have been made. The city of Charleston has an incredible opportunity to showcase itself here; I sure hope they get behind it.
Johnny Priest from North Carolina (1/16/2012) "Great Event, Great City and Great Volunteers" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Charleston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Even though I have read some negatives reviews on the Marathon I would like to say that my wife and I had a great experience. The issues I have read about can all contributed to the great growth over the number of runners in 2012 over 2011. It is a art to be able to plan and pull off an event of this size. The number of buses required, the amount of water,cups and yes even the number of metal to order and have available are all based on the number of registered runners. I talked with one of the volunteers about the shortage of metals when I finished and was delighted with his answer. 'A surge of people registering over the last few days caused the shortage' Well I say Hooray!! More money for the Arts!! Gosh, I have to wait a few weeks to get my metal, but the Arts gets the extra money up front to fund their programs!! I call that a success where I come from!! CONGRATULATIONS! I hope the growth and success continues into 2013 and gets so big you have to consider a cut off for the registration in order to fine tune your event. We will be back in 2013 and many years after that! To the City of Charleston and its Citizens, a heart felt thanks for opening your city and expressing your 'Wonderful Southern Hospitality' in such a wonderful way!! To the Marathon Team organization, Thank you all for the hard work and dedication it took to pull this event off. To the Shirt designer! Excellent Job! Very cool shirt. I cant wait to receive my medal and hang it proudly on my wall and cherish the experience of the 2012 Charleston Marathon. Looking forward to 2013!!

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