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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 71 to 77]
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Paul Donati from Thomas Mills, PA
(4/14/2003)
 "Very good, small town marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The 2003 Athens, OH marathon was a terrific event for me. It was my 4th marathon and 1st of 2003. The course was advertised as flat and fast, and it was exactly that...unlike some other marathons that say they are flat and then sneak in a series of killer hills around miles 18 & 19 (Harrisburg, PA). The course is out and back on a paved bike trail. There are very few spectators but the fluid stations were very well staffed with some offering bananas and oranges. The volunteers were helpful and the race director answered my questions through email the week prior to the race (Neither of which happened at the above mentioned marathon). The finish is at an athletic complex with a track and each runner is announced as he/she nears the finish line. The medals were nice and the shirt was a long sleeve mock turtle neck with a nice design. The town of Athens had alot of road construction going on near our hotel but it is a beautiful small, college town. I entered to qualify for Boston needing 3:20...I missed by 1 minute (arrrggh!) but I would recommend this race to everyone and especially those looking for a PR or to qualify for Boston. | |
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A Runner from San Jose, Costa Rica
(6/16/2002)
 "Flat, pretty course." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I enjoyed this marathon because I entered to qualify for Boston and I did. But, being my sixth marathon, I was shocked at the lack of organization. No one in Athens that we talked to even knew there was a race that day! We stayed at a recommended dorm/hotel and could not sleep for the parties. Between the 11th and 14th mile there was only water. Nothing but water at the end and only a handful of spectators. I enjoyed the race but probably wouldn't run it again. | |
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A Runner from Ellicott City, MD
(4/18/2002)
 "Small Race, but well run" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I ran Athens (as many did) as a training for the upcoming Flying Pig. This out and back course is on the flat (though It seemed like it was uphill both ways, but go figure) bike trail, that follows the river and railroad. Its a quiet, scenic run, with just a few hundred runners (this year, maybe 150 marathoners and 250 half). The Start, in the center of Athens, was rather loosely structured. There were no race officals (that I could find) till about 10 minutes before the start. There was no 'Start Here' banner (The one banner that I was there was 2 blocks away, off of the race route). There was pleny of water/gateraid along the route, and many had oranges/bananas. There were no aid stations (that I saw), but there were race officials with radios at most of the water stops. There are very few spectators on this course. I personally need them for motivation, so that was a drag. The transition from the bike path to the sidewalk (to the entrance of the stadium) was brutal. The lap-and-a-half around the stadium would have been nice if the stadium were full, but since it was mostly empty, it was just cruel. Nice finishers' medal, but no race photographers (I live for the picture). Overall, a good experience. | |
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A Runner from Findlay, OH
(4/15/2002)
 "Great small Race! Well done and fun!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Thanks for the great organization and effort put out by you all. Four of us from Findlay area came down to check out your race and the area. Many of us have run the Hocking Hills Indian Run in the hills. Appreciate your flat course, nice scenery and lack of cars. Excellent job. The lack of spectators mattered little. The water stops were handled very well and organization was done well. We Findlay Striders appreciate all the hard work that goes into putting a race on. Thanks for the enjoyable race (well as enjoyable as a marathon can be). Hope to see you next year. Surprised by the vast diversity of people and the distance people traveled to get here, like from Atlanta and Dallas. Thanks a bunch! joe | |
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A Runner from Hocking County, Ohio
(3/29/2001)
"great small town race" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run this race twice and it is my favorite race. If you like the solitude of the trees and the river then you will like it. If you need the excitement of running through city streets and people on the sidewalks watching then this is not your race. There is not one uphill the entire course. The first mile is slightly downhill and the last 25 miles are totally flat. The one problem is that Athens is sort of isolated and quite a distance from any major population area so it takes awhile to get there. However if you live in Athens County or anywhere nearby then this is a most excellent race. I can't imagine a better race geared towards local runners. The race this year is April 8, 2001. It looks like it may be a cold weather race this spring since the winter here has been so long. | |
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A Runner from Ohio
(12/11/2000)
 "an excellent race for Southeast Ohio runners" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I would urge runners to run this race. There is a marathon and a half marathon race. The fields are small but there are many good runners. After the first mile the course turns onto a bike path that follows the Hocking River towards the town of Nelsonville. After 13 miles the course returns on the bike path and finishes in the football stadium on the Ohio University campus. I give the spectators 5 stars because I don't believe lots of people watching the race is important. What is important is the fact that there were no cars on the course. It is entirely closed to traffic which made running this race the pleasure that it should be. I congratulate the people who organize this race. | |
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A Runner from Ohio
(12/11/2000)
"an excellent race for Southeast Ohio runners" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I would urge runners to run this race. There is a marathon and a half marathon race. The fields are small but there are many good runners. After the first mile the course turns onto a bike path that follows the Hocking River towards the town of Nelsonville. After 13 miles the course returns on the bike path and finishes in the football stadium on the Ohio University campus. I give the spectators 5 stars because I don't believe lots of people watching the race is important. What is important is the fact that there were no cars on the course. It is entirely closed to traffic which made running this race the pleasure that it should be. I congratulate the people who organize this race. |
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