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☰
Austin Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Austin Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 4.0 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 421 [displaying comments 341 to 351]
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V. C. from Georgia
(2/16/2004)
 "A nice flat course, but hectic pre-race" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 The course was flat and toured many of the legendary Austin sites. My main complaint is about the traffic control before the race. At the expo, the ladies gave wrong directions (we were told to turn on a street that wound up being closed off) and there were no cops routing the congestion. So, while I left in time for the usual marathon traffic and to still get to the start 35 min in advance, I arrived 7 minutes before start time. I only had time to squat in the bushes and pee! I wouldn't run this again unless they fix the organization!! | |
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Brian McGrath from Houston, TX
(2/16/2004)
 "Great race, great oranization I will do it again" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Just ran this race. Course is mostly downhill early but there are enough elevation changes not to effect your quads. Toughest part is the last 3 miles with some uphill. A good qualifier for Boston. The race organization is the best. Everything is done for the runner. There is water or Powerade every mile (good to know for training) and the volunteers hand you the cup so no slow-down. Registering, packet pick up, start, finish, and great end of race foods are smooth so you don't have to think, just run your race. This is the best marathon in Texas and probably one of the best large (2,900 plus a large half) marathons anywhere. It is so nice doing a marathon where there are no surprises. I have completed about 48 marathons. Unfortunately, I didn't make my qualifying time but that was me not the race and I am still positive about the Motorola Marathon. | |
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J. P. from Magnolia, Texas
(2/16/2004)
 "Not as good as the Houston HP" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my first Motorola Marathon and after running the Houston HP Marathon one month before, I expected with all of the hype and Motorola sponsorship, a much better marathon. First was the bus situation: you had to pay to get back to the starting line when you finish the race. If you parked at the finish line, you had to pay to get the starting line. I drove to the starting line and parking was terrible as traffic was lined up for miles going both ways on the main road in. Second was the spectators: there was about half as many as in Houston and you had to eagerly wave them on to cheer for anyone. There were no pace and time people always posted at mile markers. Third: If you wanted a finisher's t-shirt, you had to pay $20.00 for it. It was as if the 80.00 registration went for other things than blocking the roads and for the support of the race. The course however was good and challenging and the medal was nice. | |
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D. J. from Mead, CO
(2/15/2004)
"Superb Course!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This course is the best of all the marathons I've run so far. The gentle sloping downhill makes it very easy to establish and maintain a good pace. Mother nature also did her part and provided us with some excellent weather. The aid stations every mile were really a nice bonus. The organization was very good as well. But, what's with having to purchase the finisher's shirt??? Why not forget the generic marathon shirt that everyone got with their goody bag and include a nice finisher's shirt next time? Overall, a great marathon. All marathon runners would do well to consider doing this one. | |
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s. s. from Southlake, Texas
(12/17/2003)
"The best marathon I've done so far..." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have run this marathon 4 times now and it continues to be my favorite of all, including Boston. The course is easy, the weather almost always PERFECT (ok, 2003 was a bit windy)... and the aid stations plenty and great. I do agree the Powerade in the bottles was horrendous as people threw them when they were finished, sloshing red fluid all over everyone. BUT... overall, I have never run a better marathon, and every year set a PR at this course. Just be careful of the first few miles that are all downhill... your quads will be sore the next day. | |
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William Gibson from Panama City, Fl
(11/5/2003)
 "Overall... a good marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This is the third time I've run Austin, and needless to say this year's run wasn't quite up to par with previous years. First off, the start was ridiculously congested. Apparently the race is being capped this year, so that problem should be rectified. Secondly, the Powerade in the bottles was not the brightest of ideas. This was the first year that they did this... and hopefully the last. Every water/Powerade station became one giant trip hazard. Last but not least, the T-shirt and jacket were absolutely heinous. Somewhere on my list of motivations to run these things is the knowledge that I'm going to get a cool T-shirt and a medal. The two previous times I ran, a race shirt was given, as well as a finisher's T-shirt... but not this year. Instead, a garbage bag that had been fashioned into a jacket was given out, and the T-shirt was their worst one yet. On a positive note, the medal was very nice. Overall, the course was great and the organization was okay. The stiff wind added some misery, especially during the double-back and on the hills. The two previous marathons that I did in Austin had absolutely no wind, so hopefully 2003 was an anomaly. The spectators throughout the course were great. Support may have dropped off just a bit this year, but with the cold and the wind, who'd blame them? All things considered, I would definitely recommend this race... especially for a first marathon. If any organizers are reading this, please, make sure the T-shirt is better. And more importantly, NO MORE TYVEK JACKETS. 26.2 miles of anguish and a $75 entry fee should get you something you can be proud of. | |
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E. C. from Albuquerque, NM
(7/21/2003)
 "Weather was tough, needs better organization" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 This was my first experience in Austin after running Twin Cities, Grandma's, and the Air Force Marathon. It started off on a bad note when there were protestors near the expo harassing us with anti-war t-shirts (I am an active-duty military member and did not appreciate being harassed). On the day of the race, the start line was awful, and set me and my sister back about 5 minutes trying to get through the crowd (which, by the way, was less than the amount of time by which we missed qualifying for Boston). The Powerade in plastic bottles was stupid, and I almost broke my ankle tripping over discarded bottles. The finish line was difficult for my family to meet up with us, because the exit to the building was on one side of the finish line and they were on the other side. It took walking all the way around the building to meet up. I enjoyed the course, and the hills weren't too bad - if it hadn't been for the wind. I just hope that it is better organized - especially at the start and finish line - next year. For hotel recommendations, we stayed at the Wellesley Inn and Suites, and it was wonderful. They opened up the free breakfast early for the racers, and the staff was super. | |
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E. B. from Dallas, Texas
(5/20/2003)
"Very solid marathon" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My two best times out of eight marathons have been in Austin. Organization is as good as any I've entered and actually better in some ways than some of the much larger races such, as Chicago and NYC. The crowd support is good, though not great, and the aid stations are well manned. The expo improves every year. And the medal is the best I've earned, bar none. All in all, a superior marathon, much better than the boring out-and-back brain drain known as Grandma's. | |
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N. N. from Florida
(4/30/2003)
"Cory Sullivan is a MN homer" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Other comments about this race could not be more off base and misleading. This was a very good marathon. The only thing they need to improve is the starting area which is a little congested. However, after less than a mile the congestion cleared. It is obvious that you are so fond of Grandmas because it is your local marathon. And as far as your comment about the wind, in case you didn't realize, the weather is dictated by mother nature, not by the race organizers. Any marathon can have crappy weather. Other than the wind it was perfect weather for running. The temperature was nice and cool. | |
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Robert Brown from Houston, TX
(4/29/2003)
"PR Course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I have run Austin twice and both times have run a PR, so Austin holds a special place in my heart. The 2003 version of Austin did not have the perfect weather that has been a feature of Austin the last several years. A good portion of the last half of the race was run into a stiff headwind. The race is becoming a bit big and that is very noticeable at the start. It took over a mile for me to finally work into my stride and I estimate that I lost a minute off of my chip time. It may be time to do as Houston does and have two different starting areas. The first part of the course is gently downhill and if you can run relaxed, you can have a fast time, and still have energy for the last half of the race. The post race section was crowded and chaotic. I think the plan was to have most of the post race festivities outside, but it was too cold and windy. Despite the conditions, I improved my PR by 7 minutes on a day I was not trying to run a PR, so I will conclude by saying that I love this race!! |
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