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☰
Chicago Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Chicago Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 949 [displaying comments 911 to 921]
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Gayle Zywicke from Kalamazoo, MI
(3/16/2001)
 "RUN THIS RACE!!!" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and it got me hooked! Everything about it was amazing. The organization was phenomenal and the crowds invigorating. I want to do the 50 states and DC, but I will go out of my way to run this one every year, too. Congratulations to everyone involved...you make marathon running in Chicago an experience of a lifetime! BRAVO!!! | |
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Mark P. Gershman Scottsdale,AZ from Scottsdale, AZ
(2/20/2001)
"Midwest Hospitality and Very Runner Friendly!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race keeps me coming back again and again. With 30,000 runners, the organizing committee stages a race better that any other a tenth of its size. The expo is second to none, as is the pasta dinner. The start and finish area are well-organized, and the genuinely friendly volounteers greet you with that midwestern warmth that you always hear about. The crowds motivate and push you effortlessly, as does the beauty of the fall foilage. The host hotel does a great job, too. This is the race for first-timers. The pace groups are also well-organized and do their jobs well considering the masses of runners (the first few miles are hairy as you jostle for position and set your pacing). There's tons of water and aid on the course, too. You also get to see up-close the diversity of one of America's great cities; the place is clean, litter and graffitti free; a pleasant surprise! The entire city seems to embrace the event; the local merchants, airport workers, just about eveyone knows that the marathon is in town for the weekend. All they need to do is bring back those crazy cows! Don't let the size of this race deter you; it is a very well-oiled machine that treats its participants like you're in a small hometown event. I can hardly wait to be back in the fall. The post-race party is also a kick and the book and certificate sent to you in the winter is the final act of kindness you receive which just reminds you of how much fun you had in Chicago. | |
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A Runner from Chicago, IL
(12/22/2000)
"OUTSTANDING!" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run this race twice now, and intend to keep running it until my knees give out! The course is fast, flat and fantastic. Every meter of this race is carefully constructed. The course is lined with spectators and music and the cultural influences are entertaining and enlightening. Around each corner is something new and exciting. Kudos to Carey Pinkowski and Mike Nishi for making this one of the finest races around. | |
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A Runner from Anniston, AL
(12/11/2000)
"Chicago is a world-class event" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and it was everything I hoped it to be and more. Pinkowski and all of the great volunteers for this event deserve tons of credit. I trained for this alone at night on a deserted track. I highly recommend this method of 4 months solitary running and then running a big-city marathon with 30,000 other people around you and a million screaming fans. Quite honestly, I cannot think of anything remotely negative to say about this marathon. The worst part of the whole thing for me was trying to negotiate the aid stations since some of them get pretty narrow, and a lot of people will stop unexpectedly right in front of you, but that's not that big a deal in the grand scheme. So yeah, it's crowded-but not that bad, even with 30,000. If any marathon can hold 30,000, Chicago can. Don't forget to check out Pizzeria Uno or Gino's East. Feel free to e-mail with any questions. | |
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A Runner from Des Moines, Ia.
(12/6/2000)
"The Time of my Life" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Unfortunately I didn't encourage two of my daughters to come and watch me run my first Marathon. I thought it would be too crowded for them to enjoy it. They would have loved it. I only fear they might limit the size some day. The organization was UNBELIEVEABLE! Thank You LaSalle Bank and Thank You Chicago. It was my first and it was THE TIME OF MY LIFE. Which one should I do next? | |
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-online.de from Neubrandenburg, Germany
(11/29/2000)
 "A great experience!" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 First of all I am happy that I reached a new PR (over 7 minutes faster than in Frankfurt - Germany - 1999) - certainly due to the very fast course and the ideal temperature that day. I am a german runner, and I've been very impressed by the city (the skyline of the loop and the mexican atmosphere in Pilsen etc.). The organisation was the best I ever experienced at a marathon! My only ambivalent comment concerns the quantity of support by the people around the course: I felt much more supported in Cologne (over 1 million spectators, 42 bands), New York or Berlin (over 3 millions!). This time, it was a great run, not a great party for me... | |
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A Runner from Chicago
(11/28/2000)
"Superb" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great Race. Terrific job making this race available to public. Great Marketing creates the impressive spectators. +++ | |
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A Runner from illinois
(11/16/2000)
"this is the best" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run marathons in ten states and the Chicago marathon is by far the best. The course is flat, the organization outstanding and the spectators are with you every step of the way. If you can't get pumped up doing this marathon then you should't be running. The only drawback is that there should be an entry limit on runners. This year there were over 33,000. This is too, too many. | |
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Tim Mullady from Springfield, Ill.
(11/15/2000)
"My first marathon, can't wait till next year." (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Don't know why I waited till I was 53 to run a marathon, I'm hooked now and Chicago you are responsible. Please leave this race open to anybody. The only other sporting event I've seen as well run is the Masters Golf Tournament. | |
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A Runner from Lakewood, CA
(11/13/2000)
"AWESOME.....but" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first, but not last, marathon. I am hooked now and look forward to my next one. Considering that I have never been a fan of running. In fact I thought people that ran marathons were 51 cards short of a full deck. This is a major conversion. My biggest disappointment was that all the entertainment I heard about was gone by the time I got to them. In many cases, the water stations were being shut down. I was really glad I had my own gel and food. The biggest surprise was how soon we were told to get on the sidewalks. In some secitons, the sidewalks were not safe for running. While I understand the need to get the streets open back up to normal use, I really thought 1 1/2 hours after I started was too soon. Maybe they could just close down one side of the street rather than the entire street. That is what they did in Long Beach this past Sunday and it worked well. |
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