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May 3, 2024

Washington's Birthday Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Washington's Birthday Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.6

Organization 3.8

Spectators 2.2

Number of comments: 56 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > ]

L. C. from North Potomac, MD (2/16/2009) "Just depends on what you are looking for...." (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Washington's Birthday Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 All of the previous comments sum up this marathon. It is not a good "first marathon" because there are not the crowds to keep you pumped up or lots of food and music on the course. But there are hills... uphills and long downhills that keep the course interesting. We won't talk about the one at mile 25. I liked the loop because it broke the run down into manageable goals and it allowed you to know and be prepared after the first time around for what was coming. But the highlight of the entire race was that lone wonderful and faithful fan (from what I have read), with his music in the parking lot in the middle of nowhere. Whoever you were... thanks three times over. Relay transfers looked smooth. Pre-race restrooms were warm, clean and featured hand-washing facilities. Post-race food was good. My favorite was the chocolate chip cookies with a big glob of peanut butter.
Brian McNeill from Frederick, MD (2/16/2009) "Low-key, good-value for experienced marathoners" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Washington's Birthday Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This is about the fifth time I've done this race. It's a great training run for races still to come as the season begins to emerge along with the spring daffodils and cherry blossoms in weeks to come. If you need lots of coddling, crowds, or attentive volunteers to support you, you're in the wrong race. It's a no-frills race, with a tough course, and a steady wind in your face at 8, 16, and 23 miles (every year I've run it), which are also uphill miles for good measure. Good training run for ultra runners looking for some "speed work." I like it and will be back again.
s. g. from Niagara Falls (11/18/2008) "Thank you" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Washington's Birthday Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I ran the race in 2007 and also distinctly remember the solitary figure in the one parking lot with the "ghetto blaster." I heard someone say that he is there every year.
Kevin Rassier from MN (5/15/2008) "Good race, but poor sportsmanship from Marathon Ma" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Washington's Birthday Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Like the other runner, I had a good race and enjoyed the course and it was well organized. However, I had a runner run off with my age group award. They had goofed up the results and the guy knew he had finished right behind me in the 40 year age group, but when they announced him as first place ahead of me, he quickly grabbed the award and left as fast as he could (a marathon maniac!). He gave that group a bad name! When I went up to the table and explained the situation, the race director realized that a mistake had been made. They corrected the results on the computer and so I'm listed a second ahead of the guy who took my award. The director said he would mail me a new award, but it never happened! I emailed him 3-4 times and have not received a reply. More than the lack of the award, the lack of a response is disappointing. He responded to emails before the race, so this is very upsetting. Anyway, I enjoyed the marathon but was disappointed with the Marathon Maniac that had the nerve to take an award he didn't earn. If anyone knows Pat Brown (the race director), please tell him to follow through with promises he made on the race day.
S. W. from Adamstown, PA (4/16/2008) "Can't beat $25" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Washington's Birthday Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 For $25 you get the chance to test your early season shape, get a great long-sleeve tech shirt and a hot meal inside. I liked the 3-loop idea, because you knew what was coming. While the first 2/3 of the loop were hilly with elevation gain, the last 3rd featured a 1-and-a-1/2-mile downhill portion. This way, you could push for 5-6 miles and then you got a little break on the downhill. The last 2 miles, however, featured 2 big hills, and even though you knew they where coming, they seemed much steeper on the way back. The race itself was a very positive experience. I recommend running hills for this race, and add about 10-15 minutes to your average time due to the hills. The negative aspect of this race was the race director. They had trouble with the results, I assume because they had a relay going on at the same time. They never handed out awards for my age group, but days later I found out that I finished 3rd in my age group. I contacted the race director (numerous times), and asked if they could mail the award, but I never heard from him. As a member of an athletic club, I'm involved in many local races, and I cannot imagine disrespecting a fellow runner by not even honoring a request with a response. I will not run this race again.
C. B. from Toronto Ontario Canada (2/19/2008) "Great February Weather this year" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Washington's Birthday Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is the first time I have run this marathon and got exactly what I expected (except the bad weather). The course was scenic, rolling hills in a rural setting. The DC Runners Club put on a good race, with a nice post-race meal, tech long-sleeved shirt and medal. For $26.50, I could not have asked for anything more. I liked the triple loop. I had reservations about it, since I thought it would be tough mentally. Not sure I would recommend this for a first time marathon runner as there is no hype or hoopla at the finish and the course is not 'easy'. For anyone looking to complete a small marathon at a reasonable price, consider going to Greenbelt.
S. S. from Rockville, MD (2/18/2008) "Hilly course to run in the solitude" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Washington's Birthday Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Run this marathon if: a) you have done your hill work; b) it is not your first marathon; c) you are not expecting a big show around the race; d) you don't mind running by yourself most of the time. This was exactly the type of marathon I was looking for, 26.2 without a crowd, but it's more than rolling hills, it's hilly and the last mile is painfully endless. The marshals are friendly and there are at least 4 water/Gatorade stations. Finishers got a technical (and beautiful) shirt plus a nice medal just for $25 entry fee, really a good value. The weather happened to be great, cloudy and in the upper 40s, but can be very cold in mid February.
D. B. from Maryland, USA (2/17/2008) "Got to be hardy for this awesome, small marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Washington's Birthday Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just keep in mind this is a small, few-frills marathon, so I'll put it simply. IF any of the following apply to you, you might want to think it over before registering: need big crowds to cheer you on, need to hear lots of music to keep you going (thanks to the lone man with the boom box!), need a pace group, need the weather to be perfect (60 degrees), need a perfectly flat course. However, IF you love a challenging course, can run in temperatures that could be anywhere from 20 degrees to 60+ degrees (but most likely 40ish), then come do this marathon - you will be rewarded! This is a great marathon for those that run during the winter, especially in cooler temperature zones. Its great for those living within driving range. It's cheap - $25 and you get a nice performance long-sleeve tee! Well staffed and stocked aid stations. Decent stuff to eat after the race. Big honker of a medal this year. I repeat that this is a challenging course; Beaver Dam Road has at least 5 moderate inclines that you get the pleasure of doing 3 times! The 1/2 mile hill beginning at mile 25 can be a killer for all but the most physically fit. So if you don't want to spend a lot of money doing some vacation marathon - do this marathon instead! Heck, come in a day early, hop on the metro and head into DC for the day (30-minute train ride). Done Washington's Birthday twice, and I'll do it again. Note on the 5 stars for spectators - there aren't many, but those that were there cheered enough for me!
P. W. from PA (10/16/2007) "Cold - Not for the Casual Runner" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Washington's Birthday Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I waited a while before commenting on this marathon, having done six more since this one to make sure my opinions are not just sour grapes. The course was fine, though not remarkable, and the nearby Marriott was comfortable and inexpensive. Room and marathon entry fee totaled little more than $100. But, the race was cold, both in temperature and in temperament. It felt like they really did not want any runners, and especially slower runners. It was anticlimactic for a marathon race, too, and had the no-frills (a term used by an earlier poster) feeling of a 5K run around a YMCA or junior high school. I dropped out at 24, well, because the organizers seemed to want me to, though I would have finished within the time limit. The Saturday registration started late, and it was irrelevant, because it turned out that participants had to come back and check in again before the race. Not being an early riser, I thought I would like the 9:30 start (10:30 for faster runners), but there isn't a whole lot to do in Greenbelt, Maryland on Sunday morning, or, for that matter, on Saturday night, so I would just as soon have gotten going earlier, though I might then have missed the experience of slogging along through a bitter wind-driven afternoon snow. Comments of earlier posters are fairly positive, so I suppose this could be the right marathon for the right person. But, the 5-hour marathoner might want to stay away from it and spend the long weekend in the warmer climes of Myrtle Beach or Tampa.
eric karandy from maryland (2/23/2007) "Marathoner's marathon" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Washington's Birthday Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a hardcore, no-frills marathon. It is reasonably priced ($35-race day)and well organized. A start time of 10:30 a.m. gives you a chance to prepare and take care of business. The shirt and finisher's medal are nice. The loop course is slightly hilly and tough when running into the wind, but can be fast on the back side. I used this race as a Boston qualifier. You do need to put in some significant winter mileage before running this race. You don't want to be walking on the third loop. The last mile has a very BIG hill. The weather is a big factor. It's always windy and cold in February, but not unbearable if you're dressed properly (many were not).

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