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☰
Tucson Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Tucson Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 2.3
Number of comments: 233 [displaying comments 191 to 201]
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M. S. from Phoenix, AZ
(12/24/2002)
 "awesome experience" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was an awesome experience for me since it was my first one i ran. | |
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A Runner from Sterling Heights, MI
(12/20/2002)
"I enjoyed the run." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 While I had an enjoyable time running this race I do have a few comments on the organization. 1) There were very few spectators during the first half of the race. The pre-race info was very specific that spectators were not welcome along the first half, but it still affects my enjoyment of the event. 2) The busses to to start were somewhat difficult to find. A map to the bus pickup location was not included in the pre race-packet, and the bus driver did not know where we were going. He ended up following another bus. 3) The course was narrow and tight for most of the race. The first half was along shoulder of the highway. We did not even get a lane to our selves during the full second half. 4) The snacks at the finish were not even on par with some of the 5K and 10K races I've done this year. They had water, bagels, and bannanas. No oranges, or apples. The aid stations along the route were not evenly spaced at 2 miles. Don't get me wrong, this race was not all bad. The course was asphalt all the way (after the first two miles on hard packed dirt road). We did not have to run on cement at all. While the weather is beyond the control of the organizers, I thought it was perfect, mid 40's at the start and warming up after that, (at least we didn't have to run in the rain like my last marathon). The desert was pretty to run through, and offered endless potty stops when there were no porta johns around. | |
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A Runner from California
(12/15/2002)
 "good, but..." (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Many of us sign up for this race thinking fast fast fast. As I've discovered the last two years, that is not always the case. Personally, I don't mind the low 30's cold early in the morning. But as the day progresses, the desert sun can be quite intense even though the actual temp may be only in the low 70's. The first half of the race is very fast, but there doesn't seem to be much mention of the long inclines in the second half. And there are several. The aid stations, especially early on, are only one table long, sometimes two. Overall, it's still a good run, but keep in mind the downhills, the uphills, the heat, the dryness, and not quite enough aid stations. | |
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A Runner from Kansas City
(12/14/2002)
 "Dissapointing" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was my fourth marathon, but the first one that I have no desire to repeat. The marathon is not runner friendly nor organized well. My wife volunteers at my marathons and she commented on how this was the worst organization as well. The course is run mostly along a narrow side of a highway. They do not even give you a lane the first half. Besides being slanted it is so narrow it makes it hard to pass slower runners. If you go outside the cones the policemen are everywhere to yell at you to get back off the road. Additionally, the policemen have no problem stopping you to allow traffic to go through the intersections. I was stopped for over a minute and I am a 3:50 marathoner. They do have people that track the time you are stopped so that if your trying to qualify for Boston they will give you back the time - UNBELIEVABLE. The worst part besides the 30's start and 70's finish is the dearth of aid stations. The were several spread over 3 miles apart. Major races should never go more than 2 miles apart preferably every mile. Also, the race sports drink is much sweeter than Gatorade or Powerade. I did not like it. As far as crowd support goes I think I can remember all seven of them. This is because they are very adamant about not have any parking for spectators at the start of the course and during the first 13.1 miles. It was not all bad. The course is actually rather scenic, however it is the same scenery for 26.2 miles. Does get rather monotonous. And if you do practice your downhill running and don't require much hydration you may be able to get a fast time. You will just pay for it over the next few days - I was definitely in more pain after this one than any of my previous marathons. | |
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A Runner from San Diego, California
(12/13/2002)
 "Nice scenery fast course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 If you like desert scenery then this is the course for you. Overall, the organization was good, I had no trouble getting my running materials at the expo or getting to the start. Water and sports drink were plentiful and well prepared. There was some crowding at the end of the race due to the small amount of space on the roadside shoulder we were running on. Overall the scenery was peaceful and the few fans that were out were very enthusiastic. This was my fourth marathon and one of my favorites. The downhill does take some getting used to but can make for a nice PR! | |
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A Runner from Jacksonville, Florida
(12/12/2002)
"A spectacular place to run!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I did the 1/2. The race was very well organized except for two things: (1) there were no clocks along the route and (2) what's with the walkers? The starting chute is very narrow and the race organizers should corral the walkers in the back of the starting pack. The road surface was good and for a sea-level runner, the view is spectacular. Few spectators, but that's not why I do it. The race finishes on a long uphill grade, so you really feel accomplished at the finish line. | |
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A Runner from Bellevue, Washington
(12/11/2002)
 "Perfect fast course, beautiful weather" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Perfect course! Fast, straight, smooth, soft asphalt (except for the first couple miles of dirt), gentle downhills, long stretches of good flats. Start was cool (35); finish comfortable (65); weather beautiful. From other comments, didn't expect to see crowds, but there were plenty of spectators. I would absolutely do it again. Specific comments: (1) Traffic cops stopped me for traffic. What's up with that? (2) 1/4 mile near finish was coned/taped to about a 3-feet width before dropoff to gravel slope -- runners had to go single file; (3) first aid station stop was way too small, caused a big 'train wreck' of runners (first station should be the biggest, because the runners are the most congested at that point); and (4) you have to take a bus to the start at 5-6 a.m. (which felt like 4-5 a.m. PST). | |
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A Runner from Lakewood, Colorado
(12/11/2002)
 "And the, Oh, By-The-Way-Half Marathon." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I never felt like a second class citizen at a race before. Most everything about the half-marathon (which had more runners than the full) smacked of afterthought: The appealing event logo on the entry forms, website and expo was reserved exclusively for the full marathon t-shirts, as were finisher medals, seeded entries, and (here I'm guessing) a full lane of highway to start on. The half even had to start a half hour earlier than the marathon, which started 13 miles further up the same road, as if we had to be out of sight before the real runners came into view. The point-to-point course is downhill, but, to me, not nearly as much downhill as shown in the course profile. Uphill was surely not a stranger to the course (especially the monstrous hill Right-At-The-Finish!) Although the coordination and volunteer support were big pluses, volunteers appeared to have No inkling of Anything or anyone beyond their given task. Maybe that was a matter of profound focus, but we tried all morning (as hypothermia set in) to find my warmups and no one who could even tell us who was in charge of a given area, including the one they worked in. Major pluses include spectators along the course, the ability drive up and down the course to different viewing areas without interfering with the race, plenty of well staffed aid stations, focused volunteers, and a well thought-out start (except for the --perhaps unnecessary-- early start time, and the narrowness of the starting line). Minuses: Not a single time split the whole way; possibly inaccurate mile markers; Police Officers stopping runners at intersections to let cars through; and the heart-wrenching hill at the finish. | |
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A Runner from Denver, CO
(12/10/2002)
"The race was stopped for the traffic" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I ran the half marathon. The volunteers at the expo were great! The pre race dinner of $15.00 was way too expensive for the food you received. Fancy hotel, fancy prices. The shuttle bus service was fine but half marathoners had to stand out in the cold for 1.5 hours before the start. They had 5 heaters but they only serviced the people that were right next to them and the other couple of thousands of us had to stand in the cold. Walkers were not told to start in the back so the first several miles were dodging in and out of walkers. The race was stopped for over one minute to let traffic go through. One of my other friends got stopped twice because of traffic. Very poor organization on that one!!! If I were in contention for an award, I would be furious. The setting for the award ceremony was very nice. It would be nice if they would give medals to the half marathoners because 13.1 miles is also a wonderful achievement. The highlight of the day was seeing Lute Olson, mens basketball coach at the University of Arizona!! | |
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A Runner from Phoenix
(12/10/2002)
"Race started with out us!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 We were on the last but to the start line. we left late and got stuck behind the 1/2 marathon start for 20+ min. Then our bus driver got lost! We started 17 min after the offical start. I was also stopped by police to let traffic by. They only credited us 30sec. For my first marathon things went well I guess. I finished 3:29 and change. |
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