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Niagara Falls International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Niagara Falls International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 3.2
Number of comments: 172 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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Dan Penney from St. John's Newfoundland
(10/30/2003)
 "A great event with little to dislike" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was just my second marathon and my first big one. I was very impressed with how smoothly the registration process went. The morning of the race there was some confusion over whether or not we needed our ID to board the bus for the border crossing. The U.S. border guard clarified this for us in no uncertain terms. DON'T FORGET YOUR ID. Once we arrived over in Buffalo we had to wait for 90 minutes in a wet and crowded tent for the race to start. Once the race started it was all a positive story. The course is scenic, fast and in good shape. The drink stations were plentiful and loaded with highly motivated volunteers. I could hear the cheers of encouragement 1-2 minutes before arriving at each mile marker. Elvis also helped to make us laugh when we needed it. The finish was a tremendous thrill. They made me feel like a champion even with my 4:21 time. The medal was great and I liked the bagel, PowerBar etc. A very kind volunteer untied my running shoe for me, removed the chip and tied it back up. I will never forget this race. I would strongly recommend it to anyone. | |
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Eric Fowler from Slippery Rock, PA
(10/29/2003)
 "Run this race... skip the bus" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 Last Sunday was the first time I ran the Casino Niagara Marathon. The course is beautiful and includes a panoramic view from the Peace Bridge. The route is definitely flat and it would encourage fast times if not for the chilly rain and substantial headwinds on race day. Veterans of this race say the windy conditions are common. Well, it?s a marathon. It?s supposed to be hard. This marathon guide asks you to rate the race fans. There weren?t many spectators at this race but that was to be expected given the weather. The few who were out there cheering are hearty souls. Hats off to them. I give them five stars. Volunteers at the aid stations were topnotch and deserve a vote of thanks for working very enthusiastically in foul weather. Each aid station should be moved 25 meters beyond its mile marker. Many markers were right in the center of aid stations and couldn?t be seen through the station workers. And it?s troublesome to try and grab a drink while trying to record an accurate split on your watch. While the overall marathon experience was positive, it was damaged substantially by the disorganization surrounding the bussing of runners to the starting line. None of the pre-race information I received mentioned the need to have a photo ID when boarding the bus on race day. And, despite claims to the contrary by race officials, no verbal announcement was made while I cleared immigration and collected the race packet at registration. I told the official who wouldn?t let me on a bus that no instructions about the ID rule had been mentioned at registration on Saturday. His response, ?That was yesterday, today is another day.? Very clever. There were many, many runners in this same predicament. Two of us secured a ride by car to the starting line, which, in hindsight, was really great because we didn?t have to sit around on a cramped school bus or stand around in the cold rain. Some things do work out well. Do this race, but get your own ride to the starting line. | |
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Jamie Johnson from Flat Rock, Michigan USA
(10/29/2003)
"Nice marathon!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I was very pleased with it. The course was flat and scenic. It was also neat to start in New York and finish in Canada. However, the only bathrooms along the course are at the start, the 13-mile mark and the finish. The spectators and volunteers were very encouraging and I give them a thumbs up for being out there in the cold rain. However, there was a lack of organization when picking up your bag of personal belongings at the finish. The wait before the race wasn't too bad. Chatting with fellow runners made it go by fast. However, there was no indication to carry proper ID with you when you board the shuttle bus to take you to the start of the race, since the bus had to pass through US customs. For the most part I really enjoyed this marathon and would recommend it to other runners. | |
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Darlene Rahn from Guelph, Ontario, Canada
(10/28/2003)
"Enthusiastic volunteers, fast, interesting course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and will not be my last. Every aid station was filled with loud, cheering pre-teen and high school volunteers; some aid stations even had themes such as Men in Black. Most had loud positive music playing as well. As I approached, I always announced, 'louder, louder'. Very encouraging pep-squad type support. As you ran away from one aid station, you could hear the next one approaching. It rained all day though, but that's nobody's fault. The ponchos helped; I wore mine until the 13-mile mark. It really helped to have the porta-potties at the halfway mark. More tents at the beginning of the marathon would have helped, but I stayed dry. The goodie bag with one bagel, one banana and a dried fruit treat was disappointing, and the 'Gatorade' they were giving away was by the cupful, not the bottle. Hot chocolate would have been greatly appreciated. My goal was to finish, and I did; I noticed some did not, so I was happy. | |
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J. H. from St. Catherines, Ontario
(10/28/2003)
 "Done it twice, not again!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Having just run this marathon for the 2nd year in a row, I would like to add the following observations. 1. The course is a great run except for the wind but that is something you cannot control. 2. There are a lot of sparse spots with no support. Where people do congregate is great though. 3. The volunteers on route this year were great especially with the wind and heavy rains. 4. The finish line sucked. One bag of food with a stale bagel, one bottle of water and not allowed a 2nd and given a hard time if you went for a 2nd drink of Gatorade. 5.Medals were great. 6.Why do they charge an extra $5 to take the bus to the start line and then another $2.50 to go back to the host hotel from the finish line? Haven't they got enough of our money? 7. Re. the 1/2, three of my running group ran the 1/2 yet there were no 1/2 marathon shirts -- the shirts only reference the marathon Gave this one a second chance, not going to do it again. | |
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Michael Frawley from Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada
(10/24/2003)
 "As a son of an original 1974 Skylon participant..." (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Although I have not raced on this particular course (I did complete the '82 Cleveland Marathon), I have a particular interest in this race. My father, Irv Frawley, was one of a dozen who completed all of the original Skylon International Marathons which were held on this very same course starting back in 1974. He has always had high praise for this event. I remember as a boy traveling the course with my mom to watch him race, and how picturesque it was. Now, as a resident of the nearby community of Crystal Beach, Ontario, I have the privelage to travel, fish, or just meander regularly along the pleasant and breathtaking Niagara River Parkway which this course is run. For all the racers considering this event in 2003 and the upcoming 30th Anniversary celebration/race in 2004, I would like to pass these experiences on to you. My good friend, Scott Franasiak, also raced this course last year, and I acted as an assistant for him and his family. I helped to guide them to different stops along the course to provide support and extra provisions for him during the race. Contrary to some of the comments from other racers preceding my message, the support along this course is positive and strong. The communities bordering this course come out in droves to cheer the runners to completion. Each station was well manned and people between each station were out clapping, cheering, and truly supporting each runner, even in adverse weather. Yes, this can be a difficult race if the winds pick up or if the rains appear, but that is what it is all about. We train for not only being physically fit to complete a race, but to be mentally prepared for any adversity that may show its hand. Character and pride and strength prevail in the end and this race brings out all of those qualities. I highly recommend this race and course to every runner to add to their racing program. The experience will be rewarding to all. Much luck to all the racers this year, and to those who, including myself, who will participate in the 30th Anniversary Edition of the Skylon/Casino International Marathon in 2004. Michael T. Frawley formerly of Tonawanda, NY | |
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b. f. from carlisle pa, usa
(9/27/2003)
"One of my all-time favorite events! " (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran it in 2002 and 2001. I came back in '02 because we were not permitted to cross the bridge due to post 9/11 fears, and also because I had such a great time in '01. Yes it was cold and windy in '02... but good grief, it's October in Canada, what are you gonna do?! In '01 it was a little better, but not much. But that's weather. You can't control weather. I know for a fact that they have had spectacular and perfect conditions for this race more than once. If you are lucky enough to run the race under good conditions you'll fly, because it is flat and fast. Considerering the logistical nightmare of clearing 1,000 runners through customs the day before, and then busing them across an international border to the start, the organizers do a really good job. My one and only criticism of this event was that our particular bus driver had no idea where the hell she was taking us to start the race. We wasted a 1/2 hour driving around downtown Buffalo, and I think we'd still be driving in circles now, if my friend didn't have a photographic memory of the streets surrounding the Albright-Knox. I can't imagine why anyone would complain about crowd support at this race. There was not much in Buffalo, but once you crossed the bridge, there were tons of enthusiastic volunteers at each mile mark. Canadians make very warm and gracious race volunteers! I suppose if you expect a throng like they get in Boston or New York you'll be disappointed, but the volunteers really put out for the runners, and I appreciated it both times. The course is spectacular. Period. The finish line workers were really kind and accommodating. No they did not have 7-course meal for you in the chute, but there were some snacks, a Mylar blanket, and a warm bus waiting for me at the end. To me, that's all you really need. In '01 they had all the free beer you could drink, and I got happily soused with the winner of the wheelchair race. I was looking forward to a similar instance of post-race frivolity in '02, but alas, they were charging for beer. I guess that's something worth complaining about. Bottom line: I would be back this year if it was free that weekend. | |
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S. Y. from Scarbarough
(8/15/2003)
 "Cold, cold, cold and windy" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Bad time of year; they should do it in the spring, and maybe the weather would be better. It may be flat, but it's not fast, and I found it too much of a headache for registering (with visa's and travel documents). They need to be better organized and get more people out on the route to encourage runners. | |
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J. h. from Guelph, Ontario, Canada
(5/12/2003)
 "I'd rather run the half " (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I ran the 2002 Niagara marathon because the 2001 half marathon was so well organized. I can't say the same for the full. Bad points: 1) If you took the bus, you had to sit in the cold for 3+ hours before the race started. It was hard to get moving after that. 2) The first 2 drink stations were missing (a real problem for the unfortunate runners who didn't bring bottles). 3) There are no toilets until the half way mark. 4) It was really cold and we had a 40km wind in our faces for almost the entire race. By the time I finished, my arms were so numb by the cold I couldn't open and close my hands. I understand the wind is a common factor in this race Good points: 1) The course is pretty and flat. On a windless day it would be a fast course. 2) The voluteers were great, and all of the drink stations were organized so that water was first, followed by Gatorade. 3)The fans were few in number, but very supportive. 4)As soon as you crossed the finish line, two volunteers met you, asked if you were ok, and walked you into the medical tent (which is right beside the finish line) if you required assistance. All in all I had a good time, but next time I will choose a different marathon. | |
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A Runner from Belmont, California US
(11/21/2002)
"Chilly but Beautiful" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my 4th marathon, first at this event. Boarding the buses at 6:00 and waiting approximately 3 hours before the marathon start time was a chilly experience, but at least the organizers put up a tent to help stay out of the wind while waiting. The Niagara Falls raincoats that were in our goody bags came in very handy for sitting on the grass, which was still damp from heavy rains the previous day. Crowd support was minimal on the Buffalo side (some residents of the Delaware Park neighborhood weren't even aware there was going to be a marathon that morning) and shortly before the Peace Bridge approach I found myself running among cars (no big deal for me, run in traffic all the time at home). Crossing the Peace Bridge into Canada is very cool. Alternate crosswinds and headwinds were very chilly, but after my last 2 marathons in 80-degree-plus weather, I swore before this one that I didn't care if it snowed -- this was my best marathon time yet, due mainly to the cool temperatures. However, I admit to feeling a bit hypothermic at the end, and the space blanket was most inviting. Photos ARE taken at the finish, although they are not available online, only via mail order. Free breakfast before the expo was a great ice-breaker. Met many wonderful people, especially from Ottawa area. Would definitely do this one again if in the area. |
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