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☰
Ocean Drive Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Ocean Drive Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 2.8
Number of comments: 199 [displaying comments 171 to 181]
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T. M. from Maryland
(5/21/2003)
 "Great Experience" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 A few observations . . . Overall: Had a wonderful time. Great marathon & neat place to visit. Course: Totally flat with a few small bridges. The scenery was pretty and varied ? ranging from the beach to the back-bay areas, including all the little ocean-side communities in between. The running surface was mostly (closed off) roads ? the boardwalk sections & promenade were a very nice change of pace. Organization: Outstanding. The 5th ODM accommodated a very large influx of runners left stranded by the DC Marathon cancellation on very short notice, and I noticed no hiccups in race quality or services. The race director was very prompt and helpful in responding to some e-mailed questions. Volunteers were terrific. Race t-shirt & finisher?s medal were both very nice. Spectators: Given how early in the ?beach season? the marathon is held, very few spectators were on-hand, but the ones we had were very supportive. On the bright side, with little traffic on the roads, it was very easy for family & friends to travel to spots on the course and see the runners several times. Accommodations: Stayed at Congress Hall, which was a very nice hotel that borders the outdoor ?mall? in Cape May and literally is located 100 yards from the starting line. The benefits of having your accommodations so close to the start are tremendous. Weather: Not much more to add here. Mother Nature didn't do us any favors in 2003. | |
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E. G. from Manassas Virginia
(4/18/2003)
 "Flat course, marked well and no spectators." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The course was flat and straight with few moments of excitement. The first two hours were wet with rain and a 15MPH head wind for 23 miles. This was my first marathon; I was hoping for crowd support but none turned out. The time of year for that city is like running through a ghost town; everything was closed and no tourists. There were voluntees who cheered you on but it was few and far between. Thankfully I was running with my two training partners and there were some great people we met on the course who were encouraging. I wouldn't want to do a race where they include a 10 miler to begin with the marathoners then end on the same course making the marathoners run past the 10 mile finish line; discouraging! Fewer port-a-jons than posted and the finish line was narrow so I couldn't cross with my partners. Not a race I would hurry to do again. Highlights; Cape town was great! The Congresshall hotel was fabulous! | |
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K. M. from Ardmore, PA
(4/7/2003)
 "Great Course Despite Advserse Weather Conditions" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I ran this race as a tune-up for Boston 2003, and it proved to be quite a challenge for weather-related reasons. I was impressed with how positive participants remained at the starting line, when the rain temporarily subsided. Once the rain started up again and we headed off across the coastal wetlands between Cape May and the Wildwoods, the stark reality of the task before us set in. The strong northwesterly winds caused runners to be wet on the front and left side of their bodies while dry on the back and right sides. After awhile though, everyone was thoroughly soaked and generally cold and miserable. Gradually though, conditions improved. The buildings within the beach towns provided some welcome relief from the wind, and the rain finally let up. Hats off to a great course - a true running tour of some great communities. There were enough twists and turns to keep you looking around so you were not bored. Aid station support was great despite the conditions. The post-race massage was fantastic. I would definitely run this one again. Some suggestions for improvement include: 1) add another 1-2 departure buses from Sea Isle City at about 7:30 or 7:45 am (instead of just 7:00); 2) make available indoor gathering space before the race and let people know about it; 3) more space needed at the finish line to accommodate marathoners. | |
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E. H. from Lewisburg, PA
(4/4/2003)
"Unyielding Headwind! " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was told that there is always a strong headwind at OD. Well, this year the weather continued to be true to form. The rain, cold, and wind provided a challenge and 'gut check' that other thons lack. It was a good way to finish the winter of 2003, which provided for some tough training conditions. Good job race organizers. Team Hurricane will be back! | |
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John McCleary from Connecticut
(4/3/2003)
"Nice Small marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my 10th marathon and I consider it my best performance. It wasn't a PR, but, with the weather conditions documented elsewhere, I was happy. How this one rates: I haven't seen another marathon that hands out bananas & oranges at the stops like this one. That was very much appreciated. Mixing the gatorade properly was nice, also. Volunteers were A+ Spectators - being offseason in Cape May and with poor weather there were very few. Course - nice views, although I expected to be running next to the ocean a little bit more. The hills leading up to the bridges were very minor. This was one of the flattest courses you'll find. I understand the date of this marathon won't change - the town wants to attract people in the offseason, but, why not reverse the course and have the wind at your back most of the time? Overall - It was a nice small marathon. I don't rate it quite as high as the Vermont or Clarence Demar Marathon, but, it's a young one and will continue to improve. If the weather is friendly this is most definitely a PR course. It offers a nice early Spring marathon choice. | |
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J. F. from Washington, DC
(4/3/2003)
 "Surving in style" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Wow!!! What brutal weather we had. This was my second marathon, and I enjoyed that contrast to the first one that I had run (Marine Corps Marathon). I think everyone should try running in a smaller race. It makes the experience more intimate. The organizers did an excellent job (especially considering the weather). Though the fan support was sparse (if I wasn't running I wouldn't have been out there either), but those hardy souls that were out there were very vocal and encouraging. Hats off to the volunteers for braving the cold and rain. All in all, it was a very enjoyable experience. | |
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K. W. from Washington, DC
(4/2/2003)
"Will I do a Second Marathon?" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 As a first time marathoner this was harder than I anticipated and harder than our longest 24 mile training run. Of course, we did not have wind and rain like that in DC for our training. My husband and our good friend all trained together and really enjoyed the area for the weekend despite the weather. Would just love to know the reason the race is not a bit later in the season. I can only guess that a second marthon would have better weather conditions. Who knows maybe we will go for it. I thought the organization of the race was just great. Every question was answered and everyone was helpful and friendly. The expo was fun as well and the t-shirts are good race quality. We missed the dinner though. Loved the sites along the route. That is when I had strength enough to look up and enjoy! I hope that the DC runners will support this race again next year since H2O ripped us all off in DC. Co-runners were all very friendly and supportive. Would have loved to have had more cheering along the sidelines. How can you get the folks to come out, I mean, open your front door and drink a cup of joe as we run by and let out a cheer. I did get kind of loney out there. The best part was thru the boardwalk in Wildwood. I saw a woman in the rain in a wheelchair that was holding up a sign that said 'You know you can do it' I cried! And, I did it! Thanks to all who made it happen. | |
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D. P. from Washington, D.C.
(4/2/2003)
 "Nice course, no crowd support, brutal head winds" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon. It's hard to get past this year's awful weather and judge the race on its merits. I liked the scenery along the course -- OK, maybe I'm not so sure about the flooded-out road at the starting line and that uphill to the last drawbridge at mile 23 was a rude shock. But running along the deserted boardwalk in the Wildwoods was a good diversion, although you really needed to watch your footing on the slick and somewhat uneven boards. The later miles take you over many drawbridges and through some nice neighborhoods. There are plenty of twists and turns in the course. Lots of bushes too if you can't make the porta potty. I'd recommend to future runners that you run the first 10 miles with a bottle of Gatorade, as there's only water provided for that first stretch. After that, I was impressed with the Gatorade, bananas, oranges and GUs offered at the aid stations, which were about every 2 miles as promised. The volunteers were all friendly and helpful and I salute them for standing out there in that cold driving rain and wind all day. The spectators stayed home. It would be nice if the race director could provide a slightly more detailed map of the start area and the course: we tried to drive it the day before and couldn't and those with friends/family that might have wanted to cheer them on along the way would have had a hard time telling them where to be. Also wish there were more frequent aid stations in the last 5 miles. I saw quite a few runners in distress and it was a long stretch between stations. Most of all: I'd warn anyone thinking about running this one that the wind is a major force to reckon with. If you like hurricanes, you'll love this. | |
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K. Z. from Michigan
(4/1/2003)
"great first marathon experience =)" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon... actually... race, ever, and it's one of the greatest experiences of my life. I mean granted the rain at the beginning and the head winds deterred the pace a bit, but it wasn't impossible. The course is beautiful and flat except for the 5 bridges. The volunteers were very enthusiastic and cheerful, although gatorade was not avaliable until like after mile 10, and diluted to 1/2 strength. Clif shots were nice at 2 of the later aid stops. From my experience, I would definitely recommend it for other first time marathoners. | |
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A. L. from New York, NY
(4/1/2003)
"Flat course with a strong headwind." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I was lucky before the start of the race to becoming off the bus with a guy who knew the Convention Center lobby and restrooms were available for racers. It was warm and dry from the falling rain for the lucky thirty of us. At the start there was a hugh puddle so it was hard to know exactly were the start line was. There was no chip timing so I guess it did not really matter. The course was nice. I enjoyed the bananas at the later aid stations, early ones only had water. A good number of time clocks along the course. The finish area was small and disorganized and did not have any bagels when I arrived in the first half of the pack. |
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