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Atlanta Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Atlanta Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.2
Number of comments: 130 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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T. C. from Boston, MA
(11/27/2009)
 "It is Lonely if You Run 4:40+" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Atlanta Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This race says it has a five-hour cut off, but they shut down the course for runners running slower than 4:40 - and when I say, "Shut down," I MEAN shut down. There was no water after mile 13, no traffic support, and you are handed a map to guide yourself with. They even take away the mile markers. I even had volunteers getting in my way as I tried to run by. Fortunately, I had been warned and brought my own water, but I am sure several people were struggling because they did not think they would get cut off. The course is steady mild hills. Nothing steep, but constant hills. It runs through the downtown, and since it is a morning race, you spend a lot of time in the shade. Not scenic at all. The idea of a Thanksgiving marathon was fun, but a nasty chest cold made it very unpleasant experience. The half marathon had a much larger crowd and that probably would have been more enjoyable. | |
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Jerry Flippin Jr from Douglasville, GA
(6/14/2009)
 "It was great to be able to finish my second marath" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Atlanta Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 There's not much to say. I was thankful to be able to complete my second marathon without injury. I did not train enough, and it was apparent when I reached the 18-mile marker. My goal was to finish in under 5 hours, and I believed that I missed my goal due to severe cramping. I did not experience any cramping in my first marathon, but afterward I had a torn right meniscus that caused me to "just be able to finish" run. I will be more prepared this Thanksgiving! | |
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D. P. from Brookfield, WI
(12/31/2008)
 "Good Marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Atlanta Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This checked off my 12th state in my "50 states before I'm buried" goals list. I thought it was a good marathon, and several runners I talked with had run it for many years, some traveling from other states to make it an annual event. The 1996 Olympic sign at the top of the start was pretty cool, and it reminded me a little of when I ran the Knoxville Marathon, which takes you through the site of one of the world fairs. The course is pretty much out and back, though out you go on Piedmont and back you come on Peachtree (you have to hit at least one Peachtree in Atlanta!). There are some hills, but all are runnable and not steep. The longest hill seemed downhill on the final leg back. Downtown has a lot of tall buildings, and the shade can make you feel a little cold, especially if you are a little tired and have slowed your pace in the final few miles. I have a hooded tech shirt with a zippered front that I could use to regulate my temperature effectively, so I didn't find it an issue. | |
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M. A. from Atlanta, GA
(12/15/2008)
"First-class event all around!" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Atlanta Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wow! This is my second year running the 1/2 here, and the Weather Channel sponsorship really swanked it up! As others have noted, fabulous tech tee's and we also got Weather Channel embroidered gloves at the end. The medals were fabulous compared to last year's! Another cheap thrill: face painting post-race. ;) Yes, I'm 30; yes, I did it! The new corral start was smooth - I ran a 2:12 and was in the middle corral. It only took me 4 minutes to cross the start line. The Atlanta Track club can always be counted on for a smooth, first-class, quality production! This isn't a "party" run; it's a race! No bands, no stunts; just a great race at which to go out and test yourself. I love it! The course has fabulous support from both volunteers and police! The spectators this year were at least double from last year! They are still sparse, compared to "production" races, but it's a holiday morning, so I was thrilled with the number out there - and they were all very supportive! Great race all around - highly recommended! | |
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R. R. from Tampa, FL, USA
(12/5/2008)
 "Killer-course for those accustomed to flat running" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Atlanta Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I trained 16 weeks specifically for this race, in Tampa, Florida, home of hill-less country. Having never been to Atlanta, I thought it would be a great opportunity to run through the city and get a "feel" for the area. I also had specific goals: A) run sub-3 hours; B) qualify for Boston (3:10 for me). First off, this course was beautiful, the city is awesome and the volunteers were amazing. The weather was pristine - 35 degrees at gun time, around 50 at the finish and a moderate breeze. However, this is not a PR course, nor is it a good place to qualify for Boston. I fell 25 seconds short of qualifying; the hills were too much for me. I ran strongly in the intermediate 10 miles from 8-18, but the other 16 miles were best summed up by saying they were pure hell! In the last mile there is a sick joke played on you: a quarter-mile, 45-degree hill. It is called "capital punishment" and that's exactly what it felt like. If you're looking for a hell of a challenge, in a beautiful city and a well organized race, go for it! If you're looking to run a great time, try the Gasparilla Marathon in Tampa. | |
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K. H. from Stockbridge, GA
(12/4/2008)
"Great fun!" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Atlanta Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I was happy to hear that there were so many more runners than in previous years, but the full marathon still has the feel of a small-town race. Having just under 1,000 runners is nice. It was nice to see the electronic timers at the 5-mile intervals instead of the flip charts as in past years. The volunteers are great!!!!!! Thank you. I was disappointed that this year's finishers medals didn't have the different colored ribbons for finishing times; however, the technical race shirt was sweet! | |
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C. G. from Atlanta
(12/1/2008)
"Couldn't ask for better weather" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Atlanta Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This year's race was the best of the three I have run from 2006-2008. It's got to be the weirdest race in that the profile, on paper, looks tame - yet, the entire time you are running you feel like you are going up or going down. Good for the muscles. Constantly switching it up. I'll run it as long as I live here. | |
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Brian Peabody from Roswell, GA
(12/1/2008)
"A Great Way to Earn Your Turkey" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Atlanta Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I had run the half-marathon version of this outing the previous year and based on that experience, chose to take on the full 26.2 miles in 2008. This race is billed as a "no frills" marathon - there's no prize money, no invited or elite field, no bands along the course, the briefest of award ceremonies, and a remarkably small race expo. If you expect those things, you might be disappointed. On the other hand, consider this to be a "just us" race conducted for runners, by runners, with a remarkable attention to detail. While the half and the full share the finish line, the marathoners have a separate chute at the finish. The marathon and half-marathon starts are staggered and in different locales to allow the longer distance runners to stretch out, encountering relatively few of the walkers and slowest participants of the 13-mile trek. Road obstructions and uneven pavement were meticulously marked with white paint. Water/sport drink stations were well stocked, though a bit too infrequent (every 2 1/2 miles) for my preference, port-o-johns were in ample supply and the race baggage handling would be the envy of the Ritz. Results (using the ChronoTrack D Tag) were posted on-line the afternoon of the race. The course has a 5-hour time limit, which restricts the field to those who can maintain an 11:30 pace or better. Where this event REALLY shines though, are the volunteers: They're friendly, engaging, and attentive. In the final mile, I had an almost continuous presence of volunteers shadowing me, concerned for my medical and mental health. In my only other marathon to date, I felt and performed (and imagine that I looked) worse in the final miles, but nobody ever so much as asked if I was OK! These folks get a gold star and gave me much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. | |
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Michael Anderson from Avondale, Arizona
(11/30/2008)
"A great way to spend a Thanksgiving morning..." (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Atlanta Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon, and my wife's second, and I can honestly say that the experience was one of the best of my life. We came from Arizona, where our training was exclusively in warm, flat surroundings. The brisk morning start (39 degrees) and the constant rolling hills were a huge change of pace for me, and provided a real challenge. I felt that I got a great sampling of what the Atlanta area was like, and the Olympic rings near the finish were a nice touch. I had completed several half-marathons in the past, and I was very impressed with the organization. Plenty of aid stations, security, port-a-potties, etc. The volunteers that gave up their Thanksgiving morning were wonderful, and deserve a medal. I would recommend this marathon to anyone, but make sure that you train properly, as this is not an easy course. | |
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C. S. from Normal, Illinois, USA
(11/29/2008)
"Great Marathon!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Well organized race with lots of wonderful volunteers who came to help even though it was Thanksgiving Day. And the volunteers (and police officers) were even cheerful about it - cheering us runners on and wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving. They were great! They had lots of porta-potties at the start - no wait. That was a first for me! Nice, long-sleeve, technical race shirts, too. The course chart makes the race look flat; however, I thought it was mostly rolling hills, albeit nothing too difficult. It was great to receive your award right after you finished so that you, and the volunteers, could head home to Thanksgiving dinner - more races should do it that way. I really enjoyed the experience. It was a great race and we even lucked out with wonderful weather this year too!!! |
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