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☰
Heart of America Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Heart of America Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 68 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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S. G. from St. Louis
(9/8/2004)
 "A lonely road to the top" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Heart of America Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 We lucked out with great overcast and cool weather. The volunteers and organizers made this beautiful and challenging course one of my best running experiences yet. You will need to watch out for impatient motorists at some junctures, but you'll never be in harm's way. When I finished, I asked a Mizzou professor for directions to my hotel. His wife -- Carmella, I think it was -- gave me a lift back, and saved me from a mile walk. There are very few spectators (VERY few), but the scenery is so breathtaking, you'll want this spiritual experience to go uninterrupted. | |
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J. S. from Oak Forest, IL
(9/8/2004)
 "Simple Event" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Heart of America Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Grade B- Marathon #26, state #20. This race was decent, but if you want big crowds and the frills that go with it stay away. The course is hard, however I don't feel it is all that. The race director stated add :15 minutes on to your normal time. I was only about :5 slower than what I was expecting, although the weather was nice (in the 60's and cloudy). Positives: -$25 fee, decent medal & shirt. -Well marked challenging course, 6 hills over 200ft climbing. -Early start 6:00 am to fight the heat. Negatives: -1st few miles in dark with no cones on roads. I found this rather dangerous. -Aid stations very far apart and none until mile 5-6, luckily the heat was down this year. -No spaghetti feed. Race has been around for 45 yrs - community should support this event more. | |
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R. Y. from St. Louis, MO
(9/7/2004)
 "What a small marathon should be" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Heart of America Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Labor Day wouldn't be complete without the Heart. Aid volunteers give you personal attention, the course gives you a feel for what marathons used to be about and Joe Duncan puts it all together year after year. | |
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S. S. from USA
(9/6/2004)
"Outstanding first experience" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Heart of America Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Here's the deal. Everything in this race was exactly as advertised. If you're looking for a big race w/ lots of spectators & goodies and an easy course, then this is not for you. The course was not closed to traffic, but this proved not to be a problem. All the cars I met gave the runners more than enough room. The course was extremely hilly, just as advertised, and it turned out to make it very interesting for this first-time marathoner. The course was clearly marked, with a lot of variety in scenery, surface, as well as elevation. As for the organization, the race director (a 30 year veteran) has it down to a science. You get a simple t-shirt, water/Gatorade stops every couple miles, and a finish line w/ fresh fruit. The volunteers at every single stop were wonderfully supportive and vocal. As each runner approached the finish, his/her name and town were announced. This was a nice touch. As for spectators, they far outnumbered the runners, but still were sporadic. They were however very vocal especially at the finish line. One of them even gave me a ride back to the hotel after the race. I would gladly do this marathon again, and would recommend it highly. The marathon hotel, The Campus Inn, on the other hand... ...was dirty (although I never saw any bugs). ...was robbed at gunpoint the night we were there. Yes, you read that correctly. ...had a pool with way too much floating debris to bother trying to swim in. It only cost $42.00 bucks a night, but convinced me that it's worth the $80 to stay at the Holiday Inn. | |
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Edward G. Keller from Topeka Ks.
(8/28/2004)
 "To FINISH This Marathon is THE goal (Hot & Hilly) " (about: 2003)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Heart of America Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I've run this marathon two other times; 2001 {really hot} and 2003 {really rainy and really hot}. It rocks! When you cross this finish line you really feel the rush of achievement, and enjoy the hospitality of Joe Duncan and his enthusiastic staff, They have the 'GETT ERR DONE!!' attitude and make you want to come back and attack 'Easley Hill' again and again. I'm hooked and will be at the starting line on Labor Day again, and again... Well you get the point! Thanks, Joe, for keeping on, keeping on!!! | |
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Rachel Johnson from Tucson, Arizona
(7/27/2004)
"My hometown throws a great marathon!" (about: 2003)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Heart of America Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I didn't start running until I moved away from Columbia. Since then I have completed four marathons and this is one of the best. At the start of this race I thought 'no problem!', in the middle, as I met the hills I realized I might not finish. At the finish line I felt like dancing for surviving the challenge and I treasure the medal because it was hard-earned. I can't wait to return and improve my time. | |
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J. B. from Overland Park, KS
(6/12/2004)
"I'll do it again" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Heart of America Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I've run Heart of America a couple of times and intend to run it again. It's a great marathon to help prepare for the larger and flatter fall marathons. I don't understand the 'no medal' comments. I've gotten one both times. In '03 I got a magnet also. Maybe the number of entrants were higher than expected. I help organize a couple other races and it's very difficult to judge how many will participate - all the more so with one so small. An extra 10 entrants can mean an increase of 20%. Their budget probably doesn't allow for a lot of extra medals that might just go in the trash. The course is hilly, it is hot, but you're in central MO on Labor Day, so that's to be expected. Give it a try if you dare! | |
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B. S. from St. Louis, MO
(9/9/2003)
"A race for real runners" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a great race for the runners that know that the best things in running come from simplicity. The second half of the race is very challenging with a combination of hills and heat. Knowing this, the smart runners go out easy and finish strong, while the others get passed while walking in the last couple of miles. I learned the hard way, and have come back every year since to learn from my mistake and attempt to conquer this course. | |
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R. L. from Louisville, KY
(9/3/2003)
"I had a blast!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and I loved every moment of it. Although it absolutely poured the entire time, it was wonderful. The scenery was gorgeous and support was great. Dodging cars was a little difficult, but it did take my mind off of the actual running. I would recommend this marathon to anyone living in the area. | |
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B. L. from Columbia, Missouri, USA
(9/1/2003)
 "A beautiful run!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This marathon was so awesome! This is such a scenic area of central Missouri. The run goes from the heart of Columbia (Mizzou football stadium) to the Missouri River and back to downtown Columbia. The aid station volunteers were cheerful and motivating, the aid patrol cars were seen often driving the route to make sure everyone was okay, there were volunteers at each 3-mile increment calling out your splits, and the finish had the best 100 or so loyal family and friends to cheer you to a great finish! Even in the drizzle this was a wonderful race! |
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