May 2, 2024
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Rocket City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Rocket City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 285 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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Nathan Berry from Memphis, TN
(12/12/2017)
 "Great race, Small but draws a FAST crowd!" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Everything about this race is well organized. Only about 1400 runners total, which surprises me for a community of this size and close to lots of other cities. But it does bring out a lot of relatively fast runners, with a large number around the sub-3 and 3 hour group. It's billed as a flat and fast course, but I would say it's more of a rolling course, especially on the second half. I had 473ft of gain and 460ft of loss. Course has a lot of turns as well, and my overall distance was 26.47. Other than that, this was a terrific race and I was able to pull out a nice PR. Quick and easy expo, long sleeve tech shirt, nice medal, GREAT volunteers including those calling out times at the mile markers. Lots of running through neighborhoods, through the Space and Rocket Center, and a nice indoor finish with an awesome finisher's blanket (warm cloth, not just those space blankets). Embassy suites is attached to the building you finish in, so you can walk right over to your room. Which is another bonus since the temps were unusually cold for 2017. | |
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R. H. from Milwaukee, WI
(12/10/2017)
 "Well organized marathon" (about: 2017)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I travelled to Huntsville to knock out Alabama as part of my quest for 50 states. The expo was unimpressive but the support staff was very friendly and helpful with questions. The race information strongly prohibited the use of ear buds/headphones. I have never run without music or an audiobook but travelled a long ways to not follow the rules. At the start of the race, I could see at least 20% of runners openly wearing their buds listening to their music...Kind of wish I would have broken the rules so as not to be left to my thoughts for 3.5 hours. I made peace with it and moved on. The race conditions were a bit chilly but their was zero wind to start the race so that made up for it. The race was mostly run in residential neighborhoods with very few spectators. There truly was no special scenery until after mile 17 when you run through the Rocket and Space Museum. Finishing chute was kind of cool as you finish inside the Von Braun Center and I hit a PR so that helped as well. To summarize, everyone I met or encountered was overly friendly. The race itself was very well-organized as well. On top of the standard medal and shirt, we all received a nice runners hat and a finishers blanket...which is very comfy! | |
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H. C. from Metro Atlanta
(6/28/2017)
 "Broken Finish Line Clock!" (about: 2016)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Rocket City Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 It's a nice course and relatively flat. However, the finish line clock was not functioning. I was finishing up my 9th marathon and headed for a PR just a hair under 4 hours. As I made the final turn, I could see the clock at 3:57 and cruised on through to the finish. Checking the official results later in the day I learned I finished at 4:00:01....My goal was to be sub 4 hours. Shock and disappointment! Monday morning I received the normal email pitching me race photos. I noticed the clock above the finish did indeed show 3:57. I reached out to the race director. Instead of any empathy, an apology or any good faith gesture towards a future registration fee, I was advised 'Computer malfunctions stink.' No doubt stuff happens - Totally bummed as I could have shaved off a few seconds in those last 30 yards. And I'm blown away at the director's response. I won't be back. | |
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P. E. from Valatie, ny
(12/11/2016)
 "Nice Race in early December" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Nice race for early December. Great day for a race. Being able to wait prerace in the Von Braun center was nice as the start was in the 20's but the day was perfect once you started to run. Well organized, nicely stocked stops and plenty of toilets, nice shirt and medal. Course is rolling hills with nothing too large, but enough to keep you pushing. I enjoyed running next to the training shuttle up close.. Would run race again. Only minor complaint was that free parking map was not detailed enough and packet pickup didn't know anything about the free lots. Just pay a fiver and walk to start in less than 5 minutes. Worth it. | |
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R. S. from Atlanta
(12/10/2016)
 "Nice, but . . ." (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 20 degrees at the start. No one to blame, but absolutely brutal. Lots of turns in the first half. | |
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E. B. from Philadelphia, PA
(1/10/2016)
"Meticulous organization, worth a visit." (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is a mostly flat race through residential Huntsville with a great stretch of running on the US Space and Rocket Center grounds and through botanical gardens. Some of the neighborhoods we ran through are a bit run down with quite an impressive police presence. The start, finish and expo are in the Von Braun Center (with ample restrooms, no long lines for port-a-potties!). It was warm in 2015, but the ability to stay inside until just prior to the run can be useful in case of rain or cold weather. The Embassy Suites is conveniently located, with an indoor connection to the expo and start/finish lines, but they do not have a late check out. Nice expo, easy packet pick-up, but no race day pick-up. There are some very loud cheering teams, more than expected for a race this size. A decent number of aid stations, although with temperatures in the 70s I had hoped for a few additional ones. The gravel surface that is mentioned in other posts was not as bad as I feared; its a hard surface with a few scattered loose rocks. Running underneath the fully stacked space shuttle Pathfinder (a full scale simulator) is worth the price of admission. An indoor finish, a nice technical shirt (Nike), great medal, ample post-race food (loved the giant PBJ sandwich) and free pictures made the race one that I can recommend. One more tip: I flew into Nashville, TN; instead of driving back 2 hours on I65, I took the scenic route through Lynchburg, TN, adding only 15 minutes to the drive, but also adding a great tour of the Jack Daniels facility (beware, there are some stairs to climb). | |
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K. B. from Colorado Springs, CO
(12/27/2015)
 "AWESOME ALABAMA MARATHON!" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a really well organized mid-sized race in a wonderful gem of city. Huntsville is not very well known outside rocket scientist circles, and that is why it is such a well kept secret. In addition to the race, you can visit SPACE CAMP and rocket museums, take bus tours that include visiting the International Space Station payload operations center ... AMAZING! Now the race itself is extremely well organized, fun, and incredibly enjoyable. It was unseasonably warm and humid in 2015, but thankfully it was overcast. The organizers and the people of Huntsville ensured awesome race support with ample hydration and nutrition - including several kilt-clad lads offering cold beer late in the race. Heavenly. Awesome expo, great race, and superb location - this is a perfect Alabama race for anyone in the area, those looking for a destination race, or for 50 staters/maniacs!! | |
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K. R. from Birmingham, Alabama
(12/16/2015)
"7th Marathon and this was the Best!!!" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 7th Marathon and goes down as my favorite so far!!! In the past I have run larger races i.e. Rock and Roll Sponsored Races etc. I have never been impressed. I do not love being lumped together with 30,000 other people. This is a much smaller race, I am pretty sure there were around 1500 runners this year. I heard great things about this race and it was appealing that there was not a Half, no offense to Half Marathons, I just find it hard to watch the majority of people finishing when you still have 13 plus miles to go! Everything from Packet Pick up to the start line to water stops to the finish was super organized. (If you are staying in town the Embassy Suites is connected to the Von Braun Center where you start and finish.) The race has a very strict no headphones rule, I was a little discouraged by this, however it was amazing what happens when you don't allow headphones....every one is forced talk to one another. I meet some truly awesome people. In my option the course was Very flat. I managed a PR!!!! I will be back for sure!!!! | |
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R. R. from TX
(12/15/2015)
"Nice course and city. A good one." (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course is the best labeled/directed I have seen-can't get lost on this one. A bit hilly but not bad at all. Some people did not like some of the later miles on gravel/hard pack trail, but I thought it broke things up a bit and allowed access to some nice areas. With such a perfect day I would have thought their would be more spectators but it was OK. Biggest complaint was the aid stops. 2-3 mile spans is not enough on a hot day as this. Each stop seemed to have its own ideas. Water and gatarade persons sometimes were all mixed in together, sometimes front/back split, once or twice split on each side of the street. At least once it was powerade, not gatorade. Several times too diluted mix. However all were very well staffed and energetic/supportive. The packet pick-up was confusing on where to park and get to the right hall as the convention center is large with many entrances. The use of the convention center is a big plus as you had plenty of restrooms and inside cover if it had been bad weather. I liked this one. A number of things to do in the area as well. Space center, military museum, botanical garden to spend an extra day. Easy to get around town. | |
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D. C. from Virginia
(12/14/2015)
"Great race experience" (about: 2015)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It being a smaller race in a smaller city than my previous marathons, I didn't know what to expect - but it exceeded whatever that was! Very well organized, with exceptional workers, volunteers and community support; and there were more supporters along the route than some larger races I've seen. The course was a little bit hillier than I expected, but they were mostly gentle; and the gravel section wasn't entirely welcome in the late miles, but it may be necessary in order to hit some great highlights including the space center and botanical gardens. All in all, it made for a great tour of a very nice city. Thanks! |
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