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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 31 to 41]
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M. N. from Columbus, OH
(4/12/2010)
 "Nice but Boring" (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 The Athens Marathon has a nice, flat course with only minor disturbances of bikers on the public trail. Depending on the weather, the late start time can make it really sunny/hot for full-marathon finishers. The crowd support was minimal/non-existent and the bikers on the course didn't seem to know what was going on. The medal is small but the full marathon t-shirt was pretty nice. I wouldn't run this marathon again, but it was worth the really inexpensive registration fee. People who ran the half-marathon seemed to have a better time (minus the t-shirt - and it was yellow, 100% thick cotton, with a mini-turtleneck). | |
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A. R. from Powell Ohio
(4/9/2009)
 "Definitely a course for a PR, weather permitting." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you are looking for a spring marathon with a fairly flat course, then this is your race. The only drawback is it's primarily a half-marathon, where most of the runners are college students - which translates into a late, 9:00 a.m. start time. If you are a four-hour marathoner or longer, you will be running at least half of your race in midday sun - and possibly heat, as in 2009. The out-and-back on the bike path has some shade, but the trees do not have leaves yet, which can make for some very sunny spots (while the final 3 miles are fully sunny on a track). Spectators are almost nonexistent between the water/Gatorade stops. I was fortunate to have my spouse ride his bike on the path, so I wasn't alone most of the time. Overall, it was a very good race with nice organization. The medal is average to small, and they have pizza, bananas, oranges, and water at the finish. It's the most cost effective marathon I have ever run. I would do it again if weather would allow; it's about 20 degrees cooler and has a start that's at least an hour earlier. | |
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S. D. from Gastonia, NC
(4/8/2009)
 "First-time marathoner" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was a perfect for someone like me who has never run a marathon. No stress at all when it came to registration, starting line, parking, etc. Very little fan support, but with an iPod and beautiful weather, no big deal. In fact, after the half marathoners turned around at 6.5, there were points where I did not see a single person behind or in front of me. Pretty neat to see my family a few times along the trail where access was available. The course is as flat as one could be, besides the opening downhill trek. Only my quads really ached for the next two days. Great organization with water/Gatorade stops - really helpful, even for us near the end. Only disappointment was the lack of food or anything after the race. All I got was a bottle of water. Oh well, I found a good pizza place nearby. It's a great first one to run. I may look for a much bigger one, if I decide to do another one. | |
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J. F. from York, PA
(4/7/2009)
 "Flat and Fast Course" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The out-and-back course on macadam paved rail trail is perfect for a P.R., weather permitting. Good aid stations: water and Gatorade - and oranges and bananas toward the end. Great finish on the stadium track, with your name and city announced. If you look hard, the only negative was that the mile markers changed to xx.1 after the half - e.g. 14.1, 15.1, etc. I would do this one again!!! To offset any negatives: Athens, Ohio is a great little town with plenty to enjoy. | |
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V. M. from Piqua, OH
(4/6/2009)
"Fast and beautiful course" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Wonderful, small race - very inexpensive. Beautiful course: out and back, and totally flat. Lots of water and Gatorade stops (the most I've ever seen). Food at the end was limited but I'm not complaining; that helps keep the cost down (and me from over eating), and I appreciate that. Parking was really easy. A lot of the directions refer to landmarks that a visitor doesn't know, but it's not too hard to follow the crowd. A big thanks to the West Elementary School PTO for the pre-race pasta dinner. | |
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C. B. from Columbus, Ohio
(4/6/2009)
 "2009 Experience" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my 8th marathon but 1st Athens Marathon. The town was beautiful, the people were friendly, the course was scenic and flat, and the Gatorade and water stops were frequent. I missed several mile markers on the trail - they were not always easy to spot. I only saw one porta-john on the course, and I ended up having to go in the woods (not so easy for girls). At the end of the race, there was no ice for injured runners by the time I came in. Granted, this was my slowest marathon due to complications, but I think ice is crucial for those runners who take longer to finish. So I would suggest more porta-johns, larger mile-marker signs, and ice available at the finish - even for the very last runner. | |
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Linsey Williams from Ohio, USA
(1/16/2009)
 "I ran the Athens Half-Marathon and it was awesome!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed the whole experience that came with running the Athens Half-Marathon. The weather was awesome and the bike path where the race was run is gorgeous. I ran with my step-dad and this was our second half-marathon together. The finish is so nice because you end right on the Ohio University track. We ended the race together and had a lot of fans cheering us on. Then we were given our medals and pizza and Gatorade. It was a very nice experience, in all. I can't wait for the '09 race! | |
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S. B. from Athens, Ohio
(5/19/2008)
"Low-key and low-pressure" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first Athens Marathon, since I just started at school down here. It's not for those who require a lot of fans and support, but it's beautiful, run along the bike path, and it couldn't have been nicer weather. The volunteers were friendly, and there was a great biker bringing up the rear (of which I was a part!) who made sure to check on the remaining runners on the course in their final miles. This was much appreciated! I look forward to doing this one again next year, and for the rest of my time in Athens! | |
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Helen Garen from Dayton, Ohio
(4/22/2008)
"I won money!!! First time after 29 marathons!!!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Athens Marathon (Ohio)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It's a new thrill!!! I am a seasoned marathoner after 29 races in Europe and America. But it was a whole new kind of thrill to get a check in the mail. I forgot, or never really considered, that part of the experience. And to do it at Athens on a beautiful day.... What a treat. The Athens course is great - almost entirely on these wonderful Ohio-style rails-to-trails paths through the countryside. I can't recommend any marathon more highly than this one. To improve it, how about a German-style beer tent for my husband and dog to wait for me in. | |
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m. s. from south carolina
(4/10/2008)
"Very good, small marathon" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you are like me, when you read these comments, you are trying to figure out whether to run this marathon or not. So here goes. The course is set up for PRs. I sure didn't, but that had nothing to do with the course. The race starts with a downhill section, then a slight hill, and after that, it is flat for a few miles. Then theres a VERY gradual incline for most of the way until the turnaround. The only way you know it's an incline is because the river is running the opposite way as you run along it. As you return along the same bike-way, that means you have a very gradual decline most of the way back. The finish is great - a loop and a half on a soft finish track. And hearing your name announced as you near the finish line is pretty cool. As far as the organization, I thought it was great. Yes, the cannon didn't fire for the start, but who really cares? An ex-champ just yelled, "Go," and we went! Water stops are about every two miles. They are well manned, with someone clearly calling out which side had water and which side had Gatorade. I didn't pay much attention to which ones had gels, as I had brought my own. Plenty of post-race pizza, etc. As far as spectators go, you better not need much encouragement. We ran under nice, clear conditions, but it had to be the loneliest course I've ever run. Anyone who came out should be appreciated, because frankly, who wants to spend a beautiful day clapping for people you don't know? If you don't need crowds, then this is a great marathon. I highly recommend it. |
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