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Erie Marathon at Presque Isle Runner Comments
Back to Erie Marathon at Presque Isle Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 255 [displaying comments 201 to 211]
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K. D. from Ohio
(9/25/2005)
 "Best kept secret on the marathon circuit." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I've run 17 marathons including 3 Bostons and one NYC and this marathon is what running is all about. If you run to have people cheer for you, stop reading. This course was FLAT, scenic, shaded and on an ISLAND. Wild turkeys, blue herons, water on both sides of the course . . . what else could you need? Bathrooms and water stops were plentiful and parking within 500 feet of the start/finish?!! The shirt was lame but who cares? The volunteers even forced me into the wrong chute at the finish line but I didn't care - I ran 85 seconds off a P.R. with a bathroom break. This is the place to come to qualify for Boston and re-connect with the outdoors. GREAT JOB ERIE! | |
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D. P. from Bartlett, IL
(9/25/2005)
 "Fast course and not too expensive" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was looking for a nice flat fast course to qualify for Boston this year and they are not lying when they say that the Erie race is one of the flattest and fastest. There was one little hill and other than that it is pretty much pancake flat. Most of the course has trees covering the roadway but you could really feel the sun and the heat on the open spots. Having water/sport drink stops every mile was also a big plus. The only thing that is a bummer (and it is just a mind game) is seeing the 1-mile mark and about 300 yards past that seeing the 19-mile marker. It makes you think about how far you have to go before you get back to that spot. The course helped my qualify for Boston and gave me a PR of 3:25, so I left Erie very pleased. All of the folks that were working the registration area and handing out food at the end were all outstanding. The local motels were pretty reasonable in price and the 50 state club had their quarterly meeting there. It sort of humbles a person seeing some of these people have done over 200 marathons. | |
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c. l. from Pennsylvania
(9/18/2005)
 "Fantastic!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 If you are looking for a low stress, easy marathon, well, keep dreaming because running 26.2 miles ain't easy! However, Erie is the place to be for a well-organized, flat race. Packet pickup took less than 5 minutes, the chip was included, and there was plenty of time to drive the course and look for Great Blue Herons. No problems with parking or finding the start. The course was smooth and flat with beautiful scenery and enthusiastic volunteers. I'm coming back. | |
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Don Pattison from Bartlett, IL
(9/17/2005)
"Fast course in a friendly city" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I was looking for a fast race to qualify for Boston and this is one that works great. The course is pretty flat, a small hill that you have to go over twice. Much of the course is in the shade so even though it was warm, the shade helped a bunch. The only downside that I saw was mental in nature, because the course is a double loop you see the 1 mile marker and about 300 yards down the road there is the 19 mile mark. Sort of depressing knowing that you will be back the same way in about 18 miles. Since it was a double loop they were able to have water and sport drinks every mile. The race is growing in popularity so much so they had to delay the start by 15 minutes (not a big deal) to allow runners to get parked and over to the start line. There were lots of folks around the course cheering you on, not like NY or Chicago but I was suprised at the number that took the time to watch us run. It is also a race that you may want to have an MP3 player or CD player, if you are running for time and not for fun there can be long open stretches where there may not be anybody to talk to. The city is full of friendly people. Several of us roomed at the Bel Air and asked the front desk of the motel if there was a good pasta place in town. Even though the motel had a very nice steakhouse they could have recommended they pointed us to one that was very close and had great food. | |
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D. A. from Virginia
(9/15/2005)
 "Where are the clocks, spectators,and munchies?" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran the half marathon; a good friend ran the full, trying to qualify for Boston. She PRed but missed qualifying by just over a minute. The course isn't quite as flat nor quite as shaded as advertised. It's a beautiful area, but it was much too hot, though it's still possible to PR. I ran faster than I ever have and placed third in my division. It's well organized with enthusiastic volunteers (except for cranky Frank), excellent water support (every mile) but NO munchies, a great, cheap pasta party and post-race food and goodies, but there are almost no spectators and NO clocks on the course. Even the few spectators who were there, including Erie Road Runner Club volunteers, did very little cheering. On their website, they don't post half-marathon splits, and they don't tell you ahead of time what sport drink they'll be using--it was something I've never used before, and I wasn't going to try it on race-day. | |
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B. M. from Western NY
(9/13/2005)
"One of the best......." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is just a well organized marathon run on a scenic, fast course. The 2 loops never got boring. Crowds were just right and volunteers were many and fantastic. Only downer can be summer heat but as warm as it got this year(high 70's)it wasn't a factor because of lake breeze and shade.Nice race! | |
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J. V. from Columbia, South Carolina
(9/13/2005)
"Fantastic Marathon" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great marathon, and extremely well-organized. The course is super-flat and super-scenic, the aid stations are ample, the spectators make up in enthusiasm what they lack in number. It's two loops of Presque Isle State Park, with views of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. Great course, great views, great support. It's well worth the trip. | |
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K. S. from Pittsburgh PA
(9/13/2005)
"Best value for your buck!!!!!!!" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was by far the best value for A marathon EVER!!! I wanted a chance to see how close to the Boston qualifying time I could get and I heard this course was very flat. That is true, and there is even a little downgrade at the end! I decided to run this race 3 weeks prior, and was still able to get a room at the Inn at Presque Isle, which is the closest hotel to the start. It cost $49. Our room was small but clean. There is an outdoor pool at this hotel also. After chcking in we went right to the expo, where they had lots of gear for sale and the pasta dinner was going on. The dinner was only $5 for all you can eat spaghetti or penne with meat or marinanra sauce or oil and garlic, which was my favorite. The stuff was all homemade, and the dinner also included salad drink and ice cream sandwiches. The people from the Erie Runners club and volunteers were all so friendly! The next day the race was delayed 15 min because of parking difficulties (I had no trouble parking) The DJ at the start played music until it was time to start. Then we were off! There was plenty of room at the start of this chip timed race, I started :10 into it. The course is 2 laps around a 13 mile loop. There is also a half marathon, so there are plenty of runners around during the first lap, making it seem like a bigger race than it is (I think there were 300 marathon finishers). The second lap is surprisingly not so lonely due to the walkers and slower runners who took the optional early start still being on the course. There is at least one water and sports drink station per mile, and a GU station that you pass twice. The volunteers are AWESOME. Due to the hot weather, I slowed down in the last 3 miles and didnt make my qualifying time, but still broke my PR by 20 minutes!!!!!This is the marathon to run for convenience, organization, and fast times! Oh, I should also mention the copious subway subs, panera bread, and fruit at the finish! Awards are matted pics of one of the lighthouses- a cute souvenier. I will be back for sure. Great job, Erie runners!!!!! | |
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D. D. from Canisteo, New York
(9/12/2005)
"My first marathon, I'm glad I chose Erie for first" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, course was flat and good, shade was plentiful, volunteers were very enthuiastic and up lifting, I would run this marathon again, for the enthuiasm alone! On the negative side, I was very concerned with the 'diluted' energy drink, since this can compromise my performance and my health; it's necessary to replace the lost fluids and sodium muscles need for strength and endurance. | |
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M. A. from Cleveland, Oh
(9/12/2005)
"great venue and support big bang for your $" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Was well run and the hundreds of cheerful volunteers made it a great experience no matter how you ran. Very inexpensive with lots of great food, & a nice shirt to boot!. Only downside I can think of was having to run in and around some traffic here & there, sucking up car exhaust. Will definitely return. |
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