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Apr 29, 2024

Athens Marathon (Ohio) Runner Comments

Back to Athens Marathon (Ohio) Information & Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 4.3

Spectators 3.1

Number of comments: 77 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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R. a. from Reading, PA (5/29/2014) "A Nice small marathon; deceptive elevation chart" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I'd like to add just an observation or two about this marathon; my first at Athens. It's a nice, small marathon run mostly on a bike path; you run with half marathoners through the 13.1; you'll welcome the elbow room immediately thereafter. Surprisingly I did not see any mile markers throughout the course; at the halfway point, there were a couple of people directing full marathoners to 'Keep going straight ahead'. My main point, however, is in regard to the references to the 'pancake flat' course. Either I'm very easily fooled by optical illusions, or there is a gradual incline from just past the halfway point until about mile 24, where it levels out as you enter a small park and continue to the finish at the track. The elevation chart indicates a gradual drop from about mile 17; I saw/felt no such descent. No hills, just a gradual, continuous ascent until about two miles from the finish. Perhaps it was the 80 degree heat that had me feeling that way through most of the second half, but I don't think I was hallucinating. And to the Jk who was yelling at the volunteers to get their 'Heads out of their ' because he thought they were handing out water and sports drinks on the 'wrong' sides of the stations, I've got a few choice words for you. These people were good enough to take up six hours plus of their personal time to help us out; who are you to scream at them, using expletives no less. Even if you are Olympic caliber ( and since you were near me, I KNOW you are not), there is no excuse for exhibiting such low class antics to hard-working youngsters and people who are there TO HELP US and make our marathon experience better. If you have a gripe, take it to the director. I'd like to thank the organizers of the Athens Marathon and the people of Athens for the opportunity to visit your city and participate in your marathon.
R. T. from Ohio (5/22/2014) "Enjoyable experience" (about: 2014) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I thought the course was beautiful. As mentioned in an earlier post a little hot at the end (for us slower runners!) and sparse water stops. Loved the shirts and medals. A few cons were the 20 min wait in line for the restroom before the race, and having to make 1 1/2 laps aroumd the track at the finish. (Cruel having to run past the finish line, then make another lap). Also didn't care for the snake I had to jump over at about mile 16! Overall enjoyable.
B. B. from Texas (4/24/2014) "Good enough" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I picked this for my Ohio marathon (state 44) after considering others and can recommend it. Pros: 1. Nice little college town. Kids were already drunk when I drove in around 1 the day before. Parts of the campus are charming, including where the race starts. Small town - nice change from Columbus or Cincinnati, the others on list. 2. Stayed at the Ohio U Inn - expensive but only 1/2 mile from start and finish and good service, and good place for pasta the night before. 3. Well organized for a small race. 4. Start is in the middle of town, then down some hills heading out to the bike path. Great place to run. Even with the half, plenty of room to run. Totally flat. Sometimes there was a creek to look at, but not much else, but I liked the feeling of being away from it all. 5. Good support at the end, including free massages. Cons: 1. The weather was very warm starting half way through, and we turned and ran 13 back into a 15mph + wind, and there's no shade and it was sunny not that you can fault the race for that. 2. Course does get a little monotonous. 3. I don't remember any or enough port a potties (it's the kind of race a man can peel off and find a tree, because there are so few people running). 4. The lap or two around the track at the end is either great or cruel at mile 26, depending on how you're feeling. 5. The drive from Columbus airport took about 2 hours. 6. There were hardly any fans, if that's important. I chose to bring music. 7. I'm not a fan of the finish being different than the start, for transportation reasons, but another runner nicely gave me a ride back to the Inn. It's not that far between the two though.
C. B. from Iowa (4/14/2014) "small and friendly" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Small and enjoyable, friendly volunteers, personal attention in a beautiful city. Website stated the course was marked and it was, but the markings are permanent and do not match up with the marathon mileage. The Hocking Adena Bikeway, while scenic and flat was a bit narrow and congested for this event. It would be a hilly marathon in the city but Athens is a beautiful city and a marathon would be a wonderful way to see it!
J. G. from Columbus, Ohio (4/14/2014) "boring flat course poorly staffed with volunteers" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Athens Marathon (Ohio)s COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I did not enjoy my experience at this marathon. The race was hot and I found the aid stations were sparse and not well managed by the volunteers. Also the bathroom pre-race is an issue as there did not seem to be much thought or time put into providing bathroom amenities. The course was flat and somewhat scenic could have been marked better but overall the best part of a mediocre experience. Will not be back next year kind of a let down
T. S. from Cleveland, Ohio (5/19/2013) "Nice flat course with great volunteers" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a small race which started on The Ohio University Campus. It quickly picks up a bike path about 2 miles in and stays on the same path to the finish on the track. I wish the course would involve a little more of the college town and a little less path. Besides that and the fact that there were NO MILE MARKERS I had a great experience. Maybe run it with a friend because it gets kinda lonely out there.
L. W. from Pittsburgh, PA (5/14/2012) "Really Enjoyable Low-Key Marathon" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the half in 2011 and enjoyed the course and got a PR, so I decided to come back for the full this year. Athens is a fun and funky town to visit, the price is right, and the course is lovely. The race is mostly on a beautiful bicycle path running along a river and through quiet countryside. It was easy for my boyfriend to drive a few miles, pull off, walk to the course and see me go by, then hop back in the car to catch me at the next trailhead. The stadium finish was fun and gave spectators a place to sit to wait for family and friends to finish. There is an attractive long sleeved technical shirt as well as mugs for age group prizes. The number of marathon runners was fairly small and it got very quiet after the turnaround for the half, but there were very frequent aid stations stocked well for the full participants. If you like a low key, inexpensive event in a fun location, this is a keeper.
J. M. from Chicago, IL, USA (4/2/2012) "Good small race, couple of logistical problems." (about: 2012) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 If you're looking for a small, local, no frills race, this is it. Good organization and communication, good race hotel, and everyone in town knows about the race and was happy to chat. But it's pretty much a half marathon for the locals and college kids. Probably only 200 in the real deal. Flat bike path course (except for the first couple of miles, which are downhill through the town) out and back through quiet woods along a river, like running through a Robert Frost poem. Not many spectators, but the groups you do see are very enthusiastic! Water, yellow or orange gatorade, and oranges and bananas every couple of miles, but not in any kind of pattern. If you want something shout at a volunteer as you run up, otherwise you'll have to stop and look at everything on their table. Long sleeve tech t, different versions for the full and half (thankfully!), nice small medal for everyone and the top 3 age group finishers also get glass or ceramic mugs. Free biofreeze massages afterward, plus pizza and more oranges and bananas and gatorade. Two complaints: mile markers were short .5 on the way out and long by .6 on the way back. Reviews from past races also note problems with the course length, so be ready. And, it's a small town without public transit or bike sharing. So if you don't have a car you walk to the race area/downtown. It's the difference between a 5 minute drive from the race hotel and a 25 minute walk. Race organizers need to set up a shuttle bus from the hotel to the start/finish area and have it run all day on race day. This year was the 45th annual, and except for the distance and transit issues everything else is dialed in. You should do this race. Train for it and you can BQ or PR. Or run just to run. The race is fun and the people are fun and the town is fun.
C. R. from Charlotte, NC (4/2/2012) "Great 'small town race'" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I decided to run this race because I had a poor run a few weeks prior & wanted to find one for redemption. This was exactly what I needed. This race is VERY small and quiet but great just the same. All the other reviews are correct about the flatness of the course, the GREAT volunteers, and the organization. It is pretty lonely and quiet once the halfers turn around but it really is pretty and peaceful. If you need the yelling crowds, and bands, etc., this is not for you. If you just want a nice run with lovely and friendly people you will love it. I am a slower runner so by the time I hit the finish (5:04), not many people at the finish but, those that are there are great. Cheap entry fee and nice hotel. I stayed at the Baymont about 6-7 miles from the start. Parking was NO problem. The whole thing was just easy and smooth. Would do it again!
J. P. from Sioux Falls, SD (8/16/2011) "Nice small town marathon" (about: 2011) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 After running Jax a couple months earlier with 7,000 other runners I picked Athens to stay away from crowds and got what I wanted. The course was a pancake and quiet it was almost like a training run. Hearing my name announced at the finish was nice, even though my time was lousy. Not much of a spaghetti dinner, but it wasn't bad. My only advice to runners is to get your lodging in advance Athens is a college town and everything was booked solid for the weekend. I didn't sleep a bit in the one-star fleabag I stayed in.

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