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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 61 to 71]
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C. W. from Confluence, PA
(4/4/2005)
 "Beautiful and quiet marathon." (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Athens Marathon (Ohio)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 After leaving the town of Athens, it so nice and peaceful on the bike trail. Not all the screaming and noise making of the big marathons. This is an excellent place to run a personal record or qualify for Boston. Almost all flat. | |
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D. O. from Normal, IL (formerly of Morgantown, WV)
(1/17/2005)
 "PR Friendly" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is a runner's race; tailor-made for a PR or Boston qualifier. Most of the race is on a very scenic rail/trail--flat as a board. The 2004 race was a bit chilly and breezy. However, with the course being out & back, we had the wind at our backs coming home. I set a PR by 20 minutes (3:28) and my friend qualified for Boston. The race is very well organized with a small town feel. At the starting line, the Wendy's in town opened its doors early to allow us to use the bathroom and stay warm. Also, as you finish on the track, they announce everyone and where they're from. That was nice. The spectators there were enthusiatic enough but this isn't the race to run if you're looking for throngs of cheering spectators. I'm not running it this year but would consider running it again. Very positive experience. One suggestion: Run with a friend. With only 150 people in the marathon, it gets really quiet once the half-marathoners turn around. | |
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M. W. from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
(9/27/2004)
"This was a lot of fun" (about: 2003)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is the fastest course I have ever run on. No PR because I fractured my foot, but still ran a 4:38. Great weather, great crowd, no hills, lots of Gatorade. | |
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B. W. from London,ON,Canada
(4/8/2004)
"A really comfortable race" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 There wasn't much not to like about this marathon. Your typical friendly, small, university town. The course was flat and fast. The waterstops were well placed and well stocked with water, Gatorade, and fruit. Easy access to the starting area. Enough runners to keep you motivated or to strike up a conversation with. Not much fan support except for the enthusiastic waterstop volunteers, but if you brought your own fans, the organizers published directions to help them get to good viewing spots along the course. This race is definitely worth a look. | |
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Larry Zalewski from Pittsburgh, PA
(4/8/2004)
 "I Love Solitude, But Not This Much!!" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I am a tree-hugger enviro. I love solitude, but this race was way too much for me. Spectators only at the start of the race, they you can hear a pin drop after that. Only 150 finishers. The course, on a gorgeous rail trail, is fine for a long slow run of 18-20 miles maybe, but not a race. My main complaint: ABSOLUTELY NOBODY GIVING TIME SPLITS AT ANY MILE IN THE RACE!!! NO CLOCKS, EITHER!! I don't wear a watch so I had NO IDEA of my time for the entire race!! Fluid stations few and far between (every 2-3 miles). Only good part was the entry fee. Save your money and time and go elsewhere. | |
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B. M. from Western NY
(4/8/2004)
"Nice low-key race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race has the potential to be a PR if the weather cooperates. This year, unfortunately, it was cold and windy. Aside from that, it's flat, fast and very well organized. The miles are marked, the aid stations are plentiful and my family was able to see me at miles 10 and 15 on the course. On the downside, I ran the entire race by myself, which usually doesn't bother me, but due to the weather it was tough. Good value at $30 too. | |
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James Kilbourn from Laurel, Maryland
(4/5/2004)
"Great-value, small-town marathon" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Ohio)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The best marathon value I've seen: $35 for a marathon with well stocked aid stations, a shirt, a medal and a beautiful course in a small town. Check this out: I called the race director, Arnie, the night before and he called me back to let me know they had race-day registration - beat that for service! | |
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G. D. from Findlay, OH
(4/22/2003)
"Well organized; nice scenery" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a nicely organized small town marathon. Course is on a paved bike path, so is flat and fast. Since it is run on a bike path, spectators are few and far between. There were aid stations every two miles, manned by enthusiastic volunteers. My only complaint is that there were no porta potties at the start. | |
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N. D. from Columbus OHIO
(4/15/2003)
"Great PR course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This course is a nice flat course to PR on. The weather was perfect for running. I could not have asked for a better course and better weather for running. The one issue I did have with the course is there was no place to use the restroom at the start of the race. There were a few places where one could go throughout the course. At some of the water stops there were bananas and oranges, along with gatorade that really helped me during my run. This course did not use chip timing, which might bother some people with having an official time. Other than that, I will probably train for this marathon next year, because it was a great course to PR on. | |
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Dale Schulze from Cincinnati, OH
(4/15/2003)
 "Try this race at least once!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a well-organized, low-stress type of race on a very pleasant course. Once out of town, the rural course has gentle slopes on a well-maintained, tree-lined bike path. There were no herds of runners to negotiate around--you could really run your own race. There were a few bikers from the general public on the trail to watch out for, but not really a problem. The organizers and other volunteers at the water stations, etc. were very helpful. The finish on the soft, college track was sweet and what a nice touch announcing the name of each finisher. Great shirt too, I will wear it often. The medal is like the race: not pretentious, but very sincere! |
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