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☰
Seattle Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Seattle Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 182 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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P. S. from Tacoma, WA
(4/6/2005)
 "Fight to get your time" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Seattle Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Seattle is always a great event with a manageable number of runners. Fans come out despite the cold weather. You'd think with such a small field they'd work out the problems with the chip timing. It was like pulling teeth to get my time and get it posted - I was not alone in this. This was frustrating since I was using this time to qualify for Boston. All in all though a great event and a tough course. | |
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A. O. from Green Bay, Wisconsin.... Go Packers!!!!
(12/28/2004)
 "Seattle Marathon is a definite must-do!" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Breathtaking city (Mt. Ranier was visible), wonderful volunteers, a course that separates the men/women from the boys/girls, spectacular weather, classy medals and great people to meet along the run. I'd encourage anyone looking for a challenging marathon to sign up today. We trained for the hills and were prepared, so we weren't shocked at the course, we embraced it and owned it. It gave us bragging rights to bring home to Wisconsin. I even qualified for Boston (but I'm over 40). I only wish there would have been more crowd support. We were there earlier in the week, and when we mentioned we were running the Seattle Marathon, we were shocked that many people had no idea Seattle sponsored such an event. Expo was great!! Lots of goodies and good advice. | |
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K. M. from Visalia (Central Valley) California
(12/11/2004)
"Wow and Wow again" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was lucky #13! Seattle was a completely spectacular course. It was more difficult then I expected but the beauty of the course more then made up for the challenge. The spectators were wonderful; sure there were not thousands out there - it was me and the road, the way a marathon should be. My one complaint was the porta-potties. I do not always 'respect' a course so to speak, but this course is so beautiful that it required respect and there were not enough porta-potties. What is up with 10 at mile 20 and 3 and mile 6? The expo was great; lots of freebies and the vendors were glad to be there (not a usual sight). But when you are in Seattle with good weather and a great course, you cannot help but smile. | |
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chris rossiter from Mountlake Terrace, Wa
(12/5/2004)
 "First-timer's paradise" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the half marathon (first time ever!). Beautiful scenery - good timing - and all kinds of difficulty in the course to challenge. I love it! Good course for first-timers, like me. I might try the full marathon next year! | |
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J. R. from Vancouver, BC
(12/4/2004)
"Almost Perfect" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was the best organized marathon I have run. First of all, the value for the money was great. $45 early registration pays for a technical shirt, as well as running a big-city marathon through an entertaining course. The expo was great, easy packet pick-up, and good deals. Too bad that only pay parking is available around the Westin Seattle. The volunteers were nothing short of great and even encouraging. The recovery area was nice and warm, though the temperature on the course was great for running. Also spectators were very supportive, and quite numerous for this type of marathon. My first suggestion for improvement is that the chip be of the shoelace-type. The ankle strap version that they used will hurt during a marathon. I have cuts in my ankle from it. Also I would suggest that the recovery area be free from friends and family of runners. It got a bit crowded. After the marathon, it is hard to avoid distracted walkers in this enclosed space, and I am in no shape to take them on. | |
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S. D. from Mount Vernon, WA
(12/3/2004)
 "best year ever!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Seattle Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This year had a far better expo than previous years with short or no lines for picking up numbers and tons of freebies and interesting vendors. The only problem I had was getting to the start from the Mercer Street exit. I should have remembered how bad the traffic backs up from previous years -- next year I'll park on the west side of Seattle Center. It was definitely short-sleeve weather this year with virtually no wind. This is the first time I have run this course hard and without wind it can be a fairly fast course, but you can expect to lose 5 to 10 minutes in the last 7 miles due to Madison Street and the Arboretum. You just need to have a time cushion before the hills. This is my favorite race and I'll continue to run it every year that I am not sick. | |
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Greg Wilhelm from Bellingham, Wa
(11/30/2004)
"Good, but not quite 100%" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 There are a few things that would upgrade this race -to top-notch. 1. Better overall publicity would encourage more spectator participation. 2. More porta-potties, the lines along the route were often twenty deep in the half marathon. 3. The race recovery area was so packed you had to fight to get air. 4. More volunteers, who add so much to the experience. 5. More entertainment. On the positive, the half marathon course was interesting and diverse. All the volunteers did a great job. In comparision to Portland, it lagged behind. In Portland I felt a larger community involvement that was exemplified by more entertainment, more crowd support and overall more facilities. All and all however, it was fun and just a hair away from becoming exceptional. | |
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A. Y. from South Dakota
(11/30/2004)
"Sunlight in Seattle" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It does NOT always rain in Seattle; we had partly sunny weather, in the 40s, making the run out and back to Mercer Island in the morning a feast for the eyes and soul. Much of the course is run along the lake waterfront, which is lovely. If you are prepared for the hills at the end, you will find much to delight you here. I gave it 4 stars as it is almost all concrete/asphalt, which does get to some of us with older bones. The expo was good; race well organized (although the mile-9 marker was in an odd place), volunteers peppy (thank you people in furry suits somewhere around mile 22 or 23, you made me grin), and Seattle is quite a remarkable place to visit. I would very highly recommend this--there was plenty of crowd support as far as I am concerned. Good size--about 2300 marathoners--you run with folks, but aren't overly crowded. Gorgeous medal, too, and you run into a stadium to get it. Most excellent award distribution--you just go pick it up, no tedious presentations. Lots of clam chowder, or so it seemed, this year. A classy race, overall. | |
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J. Z. from Seattle, WA
(11/30/2004)
"I had a lot of fun for a first-timer" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon. The hills were hard, but if you are prepared you'll get through them. The only reason I gave the course 4 stars rather than 5 is because I got bored with the turn-arounds. There are 2 of them, one on the bridge and one and Seward Park. The scenery got redundant during those stretches. The 'Rocky' theme playing at the top of the hill at mile 20 ruled! The fans were great. I read that there were issues with not enough food at the end. I was relatively slow at 4:31 and there was plenty left. Boy Scouts running the equipment check were handy also. | |
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L. M. from Seattle, Wa
(11/29/2004)
"need more small marathone shirts" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Seattle Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 We need more activities after the marathon is completed. |
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