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Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 240 [displaying comments 161 to 171]
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T. H. from NC
(8/22/2006)
 "Didn't care for the Rock" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This was only my second half marathon, so maybe I need to run a few more, but I felt there needed to be water or sports drink at the start. Also, there were so many people, there was no way to run at any kind of normal pace for the first few miles. The major gripe I have was the lack of port-o-potties. I had to wait 5 minutes to use a potty at mile 6 and there was only a single potty! For THAT many runners? Outrageous. The finisher's hat was nice, but how about somewhere to change clothes? Someone needs to take a few tips from the Air Force Marathon in Dayton. I'll never run this one again. | |
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Sung ho Choi from Jacksonville, Florida
(6/13/2006)
 "PR Course!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 30th marathon and 1st marathon as a pacer. I was pacer for 3:20. I ended up finishing at 3:18. Thanks to those who joined me and I hope you can join me again next year. Don't let the wind scare you away. (not so bad) we did have backwind heading towards the finish, guess they didn't feel that! :) | |
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matt sandlin from indianapolis, in
(5/3/2006)
 "fast and fun" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Windy, windy, windy. I don't want to complain about that or make changes, but I just want to state that the headwind was bad. Race directors can't prepare for that. The course was fun for the first half. I thought it was kind of weird that the half marathon starts 30 minutes before the marathon. Tell your family to stick around for awhile. You run something like the first half of the marathon on an out-and-back and then pick up the half course. The bummer is that run from about 2nd Street all the way up to like 87th Street. Running for 80 blocks on one road was mind-numbing. There were lots of ROTC types on the course to get you motivated. It was a fun course, with good provisions, beer and beef (Irish) stew when you finish to fill you up. Everyone was wasted within two hours of finishing. I ran it this year and the medal had a typo on it saying "VIRGINA" Beach instead of Virginia. got myself a collector's item. I'll do this race again in a few years. I am going all over the nation but it's definitely worth coming back for. Check out Murphy's Pub post-race; wear your medal and someone is bound to buy you a beer. | |
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Terry Pescosolido from Columbus, OH
(4/22/2006)
 "It's a run for the beer!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my 32nd marathon, and Virginia my 17th state in my quest to run the 50 states. Pre-race: Packet pickup was a breeze. Tiny expo. Technical race t-shirt was nice (I say "was nice" because, after two washings it has faded at least by half). Race day: Cold (upper 30's to low 50's), very windy day. The course was scenic - mostly an asphalt road near the beach, some woodsy areas. Virtually dead flat, would make a great PR course with a little less wind. Water stops were adequate. Like a previous poster said, the ankle chip bracelet was nasty. A got a significant sore from it. Post-race: The medal is nice, and the finisher's hat a very nice touch. And the Killian's and food were great, too. | |
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J. R. from Denver, CO
(4/6/2006)
 "Virgina is for Lovers!!!" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I chose this race as my diamond marathon (#75) and it was good. Although it had it's problems with the wind, overall I think it was a great course, well organized and a lot of fun!!! I would rank this in my top ten list of marathons and would recommend doing it. The expo was well done and a good size. The course was interesting with a very convenient start and a finish on the board walk. Many of the problems of previous year's reviewers were solved. I finished at the back of the pack (5:52) and found plenty of food, water, and beer still at the aide stations. The board walk was fenced off and the finish was well organized. The hat at the end that was embroidered with 26.2 or 13.1 miles was a nice touch. Of course the medal is one my favorites as it had dolphins, shamrocks, and misspelled Virginia Beach as 'Virgina Beach.' The error was also on my wife's half marathon medal and added to the charm of the race. When I finished, there was still plenty of food (stew, pretzels, cookies, fruit, bagels) and beer. Needless to say I left with a bag of cookies, a box of pretzels, a stomach full of stew and beer, and my prized medal and hat. A guy from Wisconsin pointed out the error on the medals and a group of very happy (did I mention the sponsor was Killian's and they had plenty of beer this year) college women began chanting a variation of the error and the state slogan. This was a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's day. The organizers did a great job!!! | |
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D. L. from Fairfax, VA
(4/3/2006)
"Excellent Race!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I would highly recommend this race! Very organized, plenty of support along the way. Water AND Gatorade at every stop, etc. I have run both the Marine Corps and the Baltimore Marathons and this one is FAR superior!! | |
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E. J. from Venice, California
(4/1/2006)
"Flat course, cool temps and a beer at the finish!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Great weekend for a race - cool temps, sunny, but a little windy. Course very flat - took 10 minutes off my PR! Spectators sparse in some parts, but the military guys and gals along the way made up for it with their cheers and high energy. Two disappointments - 1) No Mylar blankets when I finished (they didn't start handing them out until the 5:30+ people finished) so I was freezing while I waited for friends to finish and; 2) They were charging for the finisher tent massages! Bummer. Other than that, great race! | |
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Scott Bickham from Corning, NY
(3/31/2006)
"Good but not great" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Like some others, I had some problems dealing with the wind from miles 7-17. It sapped my energy, and though I tried running with a pace group, they didn't slow down as much as I would have liked at the water stops. The Boy/Cub Scout volunteer stations were great, but one recommendation is to add half bananas at mile 21 and also at the finish. One other suggestion - if the prevailing winds are from the N-NW, would running the course backwards be an improvement since the hotels offer some shelter along the boardwalk? | |
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John Grieco from Bedminster, NJ
(3/29/2006)
"Great views and small-town feel" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The race was well-organized and the areas running along the boardwalk featured outstanding scenery. The course is fast and flat and amply supplied with water and Gatorade, though I would suggest using Endurance Formula next year. I never used the port-a-potties on the course but there seemed to be plenty of them. The weather cooperated (mid 30's to mid 40's and sunny) and the cheers from the soldiers as we ran through the base were a welcome boost. Surprisingly, I didn't think I'd crave a beer at the end, but the Killian's tasted great! After the race, my wife and I stopped at Chincoteague Island to see the ponies. I highly recommend this as a side-trip as the area is simply beautiful and peaceful. | |
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A. G. from Guttenberg, NJ
(3/27/2006)
"W0o0o0o0!!!! PR COURSE!!!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 FANTASIC RACE!!! Small enough so you can move without congestion... but big enough so you are not running alone! I stayed at the host hotel. The Cavalier. Perfect hotel for walking out to the start with 10 minutes to spare. No standing out in the cold. Fun course!! We ran through a military base and there were hundreds of army men and women cheering for us!! It was wonderful. There were some complaints about wind... but not enough to slow you down that much. This is a PR course!! Nice finish on the boardwalk. Take your shoes off and walk in the sand after the marathon!!! HEAVEN!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RACE!!! I had a great time!! Nice tech shirt and finisher's hat too! :) |
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