Marathon Details - Baltimore Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > MD > Baltimore > Baltimore Marathon

Baltimore Marathon & Half Marathon, 10K, 5K

Baltimore, MD USA

October 19, 2024

http://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com

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Contact

Name:	Baltimore Running Festival
Address:	6725 Santa Barbara Ct., Suite 104 Elkridge, MD 21075
Phone Number:	410-605-9381
Fax Number:	410-605-9389
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 3.9

Organization 4.0

Spectators 4.1

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Number of comments: 443 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

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R. B. from Maryland (1/5/2019) "My hometown race has its ups and downs.." (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Baltimore Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Ups and downs - literally. The course is tough, with a good number of hills, and the potential for windy, cold October weather. I've done the Running Festival numerous times and at all distances. The expo is always solid. Between nice clever medals (usually crab themed) and Under Armor shirts (used to be REALLY soft tech shirts - more traditional now), the swag was a plus. Back in 2014 - the course ended at the stadiums, now it ends at the harbor. Being a sports fan, I enjoyed running through Camden Yards more. The finish celebration back then, was in the stadium parking lots. Now, it's at the park near the harbor. A nicer location, but a bit more crowded, from what I hear. Overall - the race still has sentimental value to me as my hometown event. And even though the course is challenging, the festival is well-run and what I would pick for my Maryland race, even if I didn't live here.
E. O. from Minnesota (10/23/2018) "Good urban race with lots of support" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This race was well-organized with a lot of spectators. Having the half-marathon start in the middle of the full was actually a benefit because it kept lots of spectators and runners on the course; I didn't feel like it ever got too crowded and the merging section of the race was well partitioned. The post-race food was average but good for a race this size. The medal is unique; I didn't realized until the next day that the top of the crab on the medal was on a hinge and opened up to give a nice panorama of the city. The best opportunity for improvement is the restrooms at the start. Rather than have portable potties at the start, they opened up Camden Yards, but only 2 restrooms that only had 3 stalls each. The lines were extremely long and I'm sure that many wouldn't have been able to make it through the line in time. Additional options here would have helped greatly. Overall I would recommend this race mostly from the wide variety of sites the course ran through and the strong crowd support.
P. H. from Seattle, Washington (10/22/2018) "Terrific Destination Marathon" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Kudos to the City of Baltimore and its mayor (a runner herself) for showcasing so much of the city. They all but shut the city down to let the runners have their day, running thru its iconic Inner Harbor and many of Baltimore's fun and funky neighborhoods. The Baltimore Police Department does a fabulous job keeping traffic away from the runners. Yes, the course is challenging with its grinding (but never steep) hills. Get your PR's and BQ's elsewhere. But run Baltimore to savor a well run urban marathon. I knew of the infamous merge of the Half-Marathoners at Mile 15.5, and it wasn't as bad as I had feared. Barricades kept us in separate lanes for a 1/4mi or so to ease the merge. At the first aid-station, post-merge, I actually had to stop for a full second, but that was all. A very short, late hill in Mile-25 was an unwelcome surprise, but the finish is fast, downhill and exciting. The left turn onto Pratt Street for the final stretch is reminiscent of the final turn onto Landsdowne Street at Boston, with cheering crowds lining the way. What a thrill. Aid-stations were well-stocked and the volunteers were terrific. Local Baltimorians also ran their own 'bonus' aid stations, offering up beer, mimosas and gummy bears. Good expo, typical of big city races, but this was a first (for me at least), a 'Show Your Bib' program that offered discounts at local eateries, museums, etc., just by showing your bib number. And if you're into race medals, Baltimore's might be the finest: A hard shell crab (of course, right) that opens up! Well done, Baltimore! I really enjoyed your marathon.
T. S. from Mountaintop, PA (10/21/2018) "Do hillwork, and practice mental toughness" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran the race as my MD state. My thoughts are pretty much on par with what others have said. Pros: I found the expo to be well organized and easy to access at the Convention Center with free parking. I found the course to be quite unique. We started out at Oriole Stadium where there were ample restrooms. The starting line was easy to maneuver and confetti fell as we ran through the arch which was a nice touch. We then ran through city streets, into the zoo, back by the hotels where most of spectators were, around a lake, then back to Inner Harbor. I came from out of town and enjoyed my time in Baltimore. There are so many things to do and the race really captures the essence of the city. The course was closed to traffic and the police and volunteers were fabulous. The UA shirts and the crab medal are beautiful. Cons: As we walked to the start there were no signs. At first I went the wrong way out of my hotel and then found I was following the 5k runners. As I corrected myself and found Oriole stadium, there were no signs for baggage check, so we had to ask other runners. Everyone seemed sort of lost unless they had participated prior. I trained all summer on hills for this race. The elevation chart shows it is uphill from 1-5 and 15-20. However, there are many more hills to go before the finish. The middle miles 8-12 are run near the finish area by the hotels with lots of spectators cheering, and has a few inclines, but hold yourself back for the hills the rest of the way. I thought they would never end. They are manageable, not too steep, but never ending. One section of the course suddenly takes you over cobblestone where the footing is tricky and difficult. There seems to be too much going on in the race at one time. There is a marathon, relay, and the half joins everyone at mile 16. Merging was not a problem, but those who entered the course were walking. I was running about 10 minute pace so maybe for faster runners you will not find the same experience. It was not motivational at that point to see so many people walking. I powered on up the hills past them with some other full participants. It was actually interesting to see that as we wore little bibs on our backs showing we were in the full so you could pick the other runners out. As for the new finish in Inner Harbor, I was given my medal and some food at the tables then that was it. I had no idea if there were any other things I was supposed to do. I grabbed some chips, candy, a granola bar and water, but wasn't sure if there were any other offerings. Again, no signs, and I had to ask someone where the baggage pick up was located, and then found a band playing and the beer area. Maybe I didn't study the guide well enough, but usually the finish area flows seamlessly at most races.
H. S. from Boston, MA (10/29/2017) "Great Race but Expect Hills" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I only ran the half marathon. I have run a total of 7 half and 4 full marathons so I can compare this to many other races. I am a slow runner and was quite worried about the hills. But it was OK. The race is well organized for water and energy drinks/gu. The course is not built to give you a PR but it really was one of my favorite races (and I am hill phobic). I don't really have a lot of hill training in my normal running and I didn't feel like I had to walk. Only comment is more bathroom stops early in the race.
R. N. from West Friendship, MD (10/25/2017) "Well-run showcase of quirky Baltimore" (about: 2017) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my first marathon, and I'm a bit biased as I like Baltimore. The race was well organized with great communication and a website full of maps and schedules and links to live tracking and parking information. Same with the expo ($5 parking and shuttles to the convention center). Free stadium parking on race day. Starting this year, all races end in the event-friendly Inner Harbor, with waterfront space for the concert, food vendors, beer, etc. Full takes off from the Oriole Park stadium, 5K is now all flat and runs by the harbor water. A definite improvement over previous years up hills into west Baltimore. The course is probably hilly for a marathon. I didn't think it was bad, but I live 20 miles west of the race, so all my runs are hillier than this. But look at an elevation map for the course if you're concerned - one 3 mile incline at the very beginning (so not noticeable) and one around mile 15-19 (more noticeable). But hey, downhill from the mile 24 marker and no steep hills. Crowds were good - lots of people downtown, but most of the race is sparse. But Baltimorians are fun, so if you want tequila or cheap beer, it's available! There is the infamous merge with the half marathon runners around mile 15.5 - I didn't see it previous years, but I think they lengthened the partition/shared road area. It wasn't bad at all, but I was luckily at a 3:30 pace, which means I merged with 1:45 pace HM runners, so there was no jostling. I just got more crowded at water stations, but I never had to actually stop to grab a water. So overall, it was good time, and the city deserves credit for pulling it off. With 11,000 half marathoners but only 2,500-4,000 full runners, this is great for those who like big races, but for the first half especially, it's not too crowded on the course.
A. K. from Washington, DC (10/22/2017) "Low-key hilly course" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Pros -Low maintenance marathon. You start without all the checks to getting to the line and jostling to get into your stride. Pretty great. -The full marathon only had 2,500 runners. This meant that there were long stretches where there was plenty of space to run. -Overall, a nice scenic course. I have a greater appreciation for Baltimore. Finishing at the Inner Harbor was a nice touch. -Organizers made the Camden Yards bathrooms available before. This alone gives the race a gold star. -The Baltimore Police was great. While the race was short on volunteers, organizers and signs out there telling where runners needed to go, police officers were there to direct traffic and runners as well as high fives and encouragement. -The pacers were great. They stayed on track and gave good advice during the run. If I could have hung with them after mile 19, I would have made that goal. -Free beers at the end! Thanks, Dogfish Head! Cons -Not enough water stops. The weather was 70+ by the later miles, when the cramping sets it. -The course was really hilly. I got in my head that the hills would end, but I was very wrong. -The variety of races happening in the same course was a bit of a distraction. Reading from past reviews, it seems that the organizers worked hard to make the merging better. But it is hard mentally to be at mile 21 and see a half-marathoner or relay runner just smoke you. -Few spectators and low energy. Who was out was great. -More signs and information would have been good. There was no information on where baggage check was, no signs at the start. I found out where it was by word of mouth.
J. L. from New Jersey (11/3/2016) "Advise against running this marathon." (about: 2016) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 The course was pretty good, although quite challenging. It climbs from mile 18 for about five miles. Hill exercise is a must to prepare for this marathon. The problem with this marathon is that they merge the full marathon with the half marathon at mile 16. When you are beginning to get tired, but you are supposed to get into a rhythm to power through to the finish line, you come smack against a herd of half marathoners. I had to weave in and out trying to get past slower runners and walkers, sometimes running 3 or 4 abreast. I nearly got knocked over twice, by a half marathoner having a good time, laughing, talking and weaving in and out of the herd. If you run slower than 3 hour marathon, you are pretty much an afterthought. Needless to say, the water stations were nothing but chaotic. They were overwhelmed by the sheer number and I saw runners lining up while water was hastily poured into cups. I didn't see energy gels being held out, but I saw plenty of protein bars and pretzels. I had to go grab gels from the tables. I'd never run this again and I'd advise anyone considering it not to do it.
M. S. from DC (10/17/2016) "THE HILLS AND THE HERD" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 URBAN COURSE: Pro: the course never feels like it leaves 'the city'...unlike other marathons that may start in the city but eventually travel to suburban or industrial hinterlands. Even the early miles through Druid Hill Park feel like running through a city park. I liked this a lot. Con: Baltimore wouldn't ever be described as a 'pretty' city. It's a gritty city. Of course, I would describe most photos of me during a race as gritty rather than pretty. So I have no room to talk. HILLS: Most of the race is either uphill or downhill. Significant hill training advised. The hills for the first few miles aren't so bad because of early adrenaline. But the hills between miles 15 and 19.5 aren't kidding around. Despite the course description generously describing the last 5 miles as 'mostly downhill' (well, yes...there is a net loss)...miles 21.5 to 23 are rolling. And the 25th mile is graded mostly uphill. The elevation profile on the marathon site is only a very rough approximationsmoothing out a lot of the ups and downs. And the graph of the last 5 miles is particularly rough...my Garmin suggests I must have been running a different course. THE MERGE: Infamous for a reason. And apparently not going anywhere anytime soon. Unless you are running faster than a 3:30 marathon (and only 10% of this year's marathoners finished faster than 3:30), at mile 16 you will shift radically from running in a fairly spread out line of marathoners (or small groups of marathoners) to running in a crowded herd of half marathoners...most of whom will be running a significantly different pace than you at the time you merge. It is not 'like' suddenly joining a completely different race...it 'is' joining a completely different race. If you enjoy reaching mile 16 of a marathon and having thousands of runners suddenly flash mob the street, go for it! The crowded herd of halfers will make it feel like elbowing across the start all over again. The weaving and jostling might take your mind off the uphill climb from 16 to 19.5. SPLITS: Poor communication and execution on this. Every announcement leading up to the race informed marathoners they would receive splits at 13.1, 19.5, and the finish. The actual splits were at mile 5.7, 12.5, 19, 24, and the finish. It's great that the race provided MORE splits than the measly three advertised...but having different splits than advertised was confusing...as was having these particular splits. BATHROOMS: More than adequate on the course...they are every couple of miles. However, communication and execution of pre-race bathrooms could be improved significantly. Only a passing mention of pre-race bathrooms was made in the pre-race guide. Most runners must have been using bathrooms near the bag check prior to the race. I'm not sure what lines looked like for those because I was at the bathrooms at the actual finish. Of which there were about 100. Runners could use them but hardly anyone was. And I mean hardly. We hung around the area for a good hour before the race and at any one time maybe 3 of the 100 portopotties were in use. THREE! All those glorious unused portopotties there for the taking...when just across the way at the bag check, lines must have been forming to use the ones there. It was as if no one knew they could use the finish line portopotties. Perhaps this was by design. Allow but don't inform...as a way of saving them for after the race. Consider it a best kept secret then.
R. K. from Virginia (10/16/2016) "Who doesn't love a medal shaped like a crab?" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran Baltimore to check Maryland off my list, and I'm glad I did. A few of the pros: -Awesome medal! I know it's not a big deal for some people, but I do love a good race medal and this one is among the best. -The race runs through the zoo and the zookeepers had penguins out on rocks for us to see. First and only time I have ever stopped to take a selfie during a race, but I couldn't help myself with that cute little bird. -Lots of course support, both in the form of official race volunteers and spectators providing everything from Swedish Fish to beer. -I like hills, so I'm going to put those in the 'pro' column. Cons: -My only issue, and I know this has been discussed in years prior, is that the full and the half converge with about 10 miles left in the race. The half started an hour and 45 minutes after we did, so this meant that when I met up with them I was holding a 9:20 pace and they were doing a 12:00 pace. It got very crowded and I did a bunch of weaving around the slower athletes who aren't well versed in running etiquette. This crowding continued until the finish line, but at least by then I had almost caught up to folks keeping about my pace. I know how much of a logistical nightmare it is to put on a race of this size, especially with the number of road closures involved, but I still can't help but wonder if there might be a better way. -The road surface isn't ideal in many places (potholes, etc.,) but it's a big city marathon so that's kind of par. Certainly not the fault of the race organizers in any way. Overall, I had a great experience. Thank you to the city of Baltimore for tolerating us. I'm sure it couldn't have been fun for anyone who needed to travel either in or out of the race footprint that day, and I could see the frustration on the faces of trapped motorists. I would recommend this marathon to anyone who likes a big city race with cool bling.

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R. B. from Maryland (1/5/2019) "My hometown race has its ups and downs.." (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Baltimore Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Ups and downs - literally. The course is tough, with a good number of hills, and the potential for windy, cold October weather. I've done the Running Festival numerous times and at all distances. The expo is always solid. Between nice clever medals (usually crab themed) and Under Armor shirts (used to be REALLY soft tech shirts - more traditional now), the swag was a plus. Back in 2014 - the course ended at the stadiums, now it ends at the harbor. Being a sports fan, I enjoyed running through Camden Yards more. The finish celebration back then, was in the stadium parking lots. Now, it's at the park near the harbor. A nicer location, but a bit more crowded, from what I hear. Overall - the race still has sentimental value to me as my hometown event. And even though the course is challenging, the festival is well-run and what I would pick for my Maryland race, even if I didn't live here.
E. O. from Minnesota (10/23/2018) "Good urban race with lots of support" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This race was well-organized with a lot of spectators. Having the half-marathon start in the middle of the full was actually a benefit because it kept lots of spectators and runners on the course; I didn't feel like it ever got too crowded and the merging section of the race was well partitioned. The post-race food was average but good for a race this size. The medal is unique; I didn't realized until the next day that the top of the crab on the medal was on a hinge and opened up to give a nice panorama of the city. The best opportunity for improvement is the restrooms at the start. Rather than have portable potties at the start, they opened up Camden Yards, but only 2 restrooms that only had 3 stalls each. The lines were extremely long and I'm sure that many wouldn't have been able to make it through the line in time. Additional options here would have helped greatly. Overall I would recommend this race mostly from the wide variety of sites the course ran through and the strong crowd support.
P. H. from Seattle, Washington (10/22/2018) "Terrific Destination Marathon" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Kudos to the City of Baltimore and its mayor (a runner herself) for showcasing so much of the city. They all but shut the city down to let the runners have their day, running thru its iconic Inner Harbor and many of Baltimore's fun and funky neighborhoods. The Baltimore Police Department does a fabulous job keeping traffic away from the runners. Yes, the course is challenging with its grinding (but never steep) hills. Get your PR's and BQ's elsewhere. But run Baltimore to savor a well run urban marathon. I knew of the infamous merge of the Half-Marathoners at Mile 15.5, and it wasn't as bad as I had feared. Barricades kept us in separate lanes for a 1/4mi or so to ease the merge. At the first aid-station, post-merge, I actually had to stop for a full second, but that was all. A very short, late hill in Mile-25 was an unwelcome surprise, but the finish is fast, downhill and exciting. The left turn onto Pratt Street for the final stretch is reminiscent of the final turn onto Landsdowne Street at Boston, with cheering crowds lining the way. What a thrill. Aid-stations were well-stocked and the volunteers were terrific. Local Baltimorians also ran their own 'bonus' aid stations, offering up beer, mimosas and gummy bears. Good expo, typical of big city races, but this was a first (for me at least), a 'Show Your Bib' program that offered discounts at local eateries, museums, etc., just by showing your bib number. And if you're into race medals, Baltimore's might be the finest: A hard shell crab (of course, right) that opens up! Well done, Baltimore! I really enjoyed your marathon.
T. S. from Mountaintop, PA (10/21/2018) "Do hillwork, and practice mental toughness" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran the race as my MD state. My thoughts are pretty much on par with what others have said. Pros: I found the expo to be well organized and easy to access at the Convention Center with free parking. I found the course to be quite unique. We started out at Oriole Stadium where there were ample restrooms. The starting line was easy to maneuver and confetti fell as we ran through the arch which was a nice touch. We then ran through city streets, into the zoo, back by the hotels where most of spectators were, around a lake, then back to Inner Harbor. I came from out of town and enjoyed my time in Baltimore. There are so many things to do and the race really captures the essence of the city. The course was closed to traffic and the police and volunteers were fabulous. The UA shirts and the crab medal are beautiful. Cons: As we walked to the start there were no signs. At first I went the wrong way out of my hotel and then found I was following the 5k runners. As I corrected myself and found Oriole stadium, there were no signs for baggage check, so we had to ask other runners. Everyone seemed sort of lost unless they had participated prior. I trained all summer on hills for this race. The elevation chart shows it is uphill from 1-5 and 15-20. However, there are many more hills to go before the finish. The middle miles 8-12 are run near the finish area by the hotels with lots of spectators cheering, and has a few inclines, but hold yourself back for the hills the rest of the way. I thought they would never end. They are manageable, not too steep, but never ending. One section of the course suddenly takes you over cobblestone where the footing is tricky and difficult. There seems to be too much going on in the race at one time. There is a marathon, relay, and the half joins everyone at mile 16. Merging was not a problem, but those who entered the course were walking. I was running about 10 minute pace so maybe for faster runners you will not find the same experience. It was not motivational at that point to see so many people walking. I powered on up the hills past them with some other full participants. It was actually interesting to see that as we wore little bibs on our backs showing we were in the full so you could pick the other runners out. As for the new finish in Inner Harbor, I was given my medal and some food at the tables then that was it. I had no idea if there were any other things I was supposed to do. I grabbed some chips, candy, a granola bar and water, but wasn't sure if there were any other offerings. Again, no signs, and I had to ask someone where the baggage pick up was located, and then found a band playing and the beer area. Maybe I didn't study the guide well enough, but usually the finish area flows seamlessly at most races.
H. S. from Boston, MA (10/29/2017) "Great Race but Expect Hills" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I only ran the half marathon. I have run a total of 7 half and 4 full marathons so I can compare this to many other races. I am a slow runner and was quite worried about the hills. But it was OK. The race is well organized for water and energy drinks/gu. The course is not built to give you a PR but it really was one of my favorite races (and I am hill phobic). I don't really have a lot of hill training in my normal running and I didn't feel like I had to walk. Only comment is more bathroom stops early in the race.
R. N. from West Friendship, MD (10/25/2017) "Well-run showcase of quirky Baltimore" (about: 2017) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my first marathon, and I'm a bit biased as I like Baltimore. The race was well organized with great communication and a website full of maps and schedules and links to live tracking and parking information. Same with the expo ($5 parking and shuttles to the convention center). Free stadium parking on race day. Starting this year, all races end in the event-friendly Inner Harbor, with waterfront space for the concert, food vendors, beer, etc. Full takes off from the Oriole Park stadium, 5K is now all flat and runs by the harbor water. A definite improvement over previous years up hills into west Baltimore. The course is probably hilly for a marathon. I didn't think it was bad, but I live 20 miles west of the race, so all my runs are hillier than this. But look at an elevation map for the course if you're concerned - one 3 mile incline at the very beginning (so not noticeable) and one around mile 15-19 (more noticeable). But hey, downhill from the mile 24 marker and no steep hills. Crowds were good - lots of people downtown, but most of the race is sparse. But Baltimorians are fun, so if you want tequila or cheap beer, it's available! There is the infamous merge with the half marathon runners around mile 15.5 - I didn't see it previous years, but I think they lengthened the partition/shared road area. It wasn't bad at all, but I was luckily at a 3:30 pace, which means I merged with 1:45 pace HM runners, so there was no jostling. I just got more crowded at water stations, but I never had to actually stop to grab a water. So overall, it was good time, and the city deserves credit for pulling it off. With 11,000 half marathoners but only 2,500-4,000 full runners, this is great for those who like big races, but for the first half especially, it's not too crowded on the course.
A. K. from Washington, DC (10/22/2017) "Low-key hilly course" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Pros -Low maintenance marathon. You start without all the checks to getting to the line and jostling to get into your stride. Pretty great. -The full marathon only had 2,500 runners. This meant that there were long stretches where there was plenty of space to run. -Overall, a nice scenic course. I have a greater appreciation for Baltimore. Finishing at the Inner Harbor was a nice touch. -Organizers made the Camden Yards bathrooms available before. This alone gives the race a gold star. -The Baltimore Police was great. While the race was short on volunteers, organizers and signs out there telling where runners needed to go, police officers were there to direct traffic and runners as well as high fives and encouragement. -The pacers were great. They stayed on track and gave good advice during the run. If I could have hung with them after mile 19, I would have made that goal. -Free beers at the end! Thanks, Dogfish Head! Cons -Not enough water stops. The weather was 70+ by the later miles, when the cramping sets it. -The course was really hilly. I got in my head that the hills would end, but I was very wrong. -The variety of races happening in the same course was a bit of a distraction. Reading from past reviews, it seems that the organizers worked hard to make the merging better. But it is hard mentally to be at mile 21 and see a half-marathoner or relay runner just smoke you. -Few spectators and low energy. Who was out was great. -More signs and information would have been good. There was no information on where baggage check was, no signs at the start. I found out where it was by word of mouth.
J. L. from New Jersey (11/3/2016) "Advise against running this marathon." (about: 2016) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 The course was pretty good, although quite challenging. It climbs from mile 18 for about five miles. Hill exercise is a must to prepare for this marathon. The problem with this marathon is that they merge the full marathon with the half marathon at mile 16. When you are beginning to get tired, but you are supposed to get into a rhythm to power through to the finish line, you come smack against a herd of half marathoners. I had to weave in and out trying to get past slower runners and walkers, sometimes running 3 or 4 abreast. I nearly got knocked over twice, by a half marathoner having a good time, laughing, talking and weaving in and out of the herd. If you run slower than 3 hour marathon, you are pretty much an afterthought. Needless to say, the water stations were nothing but chaotic. They were overwhelmed by the sheer number and I saw runners lining up while water was hastily poured into cups. I didn't see energy gels being held out, but I saw plenty of protein bars and pretzels. I had to go grab gels from the tables. I'd never run this again and I'd advise anyone considering it not to do it.
M. S. from DC (10/17/2016) "THE HILLS AND THE HERD" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Baltimore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 URBAN COURSE: Pro: the course never feels like it leaves 'the city'...unlike other marathons that may start in the city but eventually travel to suburban or industrial hinterlands. Even the early miles through Druid Hill Park feel like running through a city park. I liked this a lot. Con: Baltimore wouldn't ever be described as a 'pretty' city. It's a gritty city. Of course, I would describe most photos of me during a race as gritty rather than pretty. So I have no room to talk. HILLS: Most of the race is either uphill or downhill. Significant hill training advised. The hills for the first few miles aren't so bad because of early adrenaline. But the hills between miles 15 and 19.5 aren't kidding around. Despite the course description generously describing the last 5 miles as 'mostly downhill' (well, yes...there is a net loss)...miles 21.5 to 23 are rolling. And the 25th mile is graded mostly uphill. The elevation profile on the marathon site is only a very rough approximationsmoothing out a lot of the ups and downs. And the graph of the last 5 miles is particularly rough...my Garmin suggests I must have been running a different course. THE MERGE: Infamous for a reason. And apparently not going anywhere anytime soon. Unless you are running faster than a 3:30 marathon (and only 10% of this year's marathoners finished faster than 3:30), at mile 16 you will shift radically from running in a fairly spread out line of marathoners (or small groups of marathoners) to running in a crowded herd of half marathoners...most of whom will be running a significantly different pace than you at the time you merge. It is not 'like' suddenly joining a completely different race...it 'is' joining a completely different race. If you enjoy reaching mile 16 of a marathon and having thousands of runners suddenly flash mob the street, go for it! The crowded herd of halfers will make it feel like elbowing across the start all over again. The weaving and jostling might take your mind off the uphill climb from 16 to 19.5. SPLITS: Poor communication and execution on this. Every announcement leading up to the race informed marathoners they would receive splits at 13.1, 19.5, and the finish. The actual splits were at mile 5.7, 12.5, 19, 24, and the finish. It's great that the race provided MORE splits than the measly three advertised...but having different splits than advertised was confusing...as was having these particular splits. BATHROOMS: More than adequate on the course...they are every couple of miles. However, communication and execution of pre-race bathrooms could be improved significantly. Only a passing mention of pre-race bathrooms was made in the pre-race guide. Most runners must have been using bathrooms near the bag check prior to the race. I'm not sure what lines looked like for those because I was at the bathrooms at the actual finish. Of which there were about 100. Runners could use them but hardly anyone was. And I mean hardly. We hung around the area for a good hour before the race and at any one time maybe 3 of the 100 portopotties were in use. THREE! All those glorious unused portopotties there for the taking...when just across the way at the bag check, lines must have been forming to use the ones there. It was as if no one knew they could use the finish line portopotties. Perhaps this was by design. Allow but don't inform...as a way of saving them for after the race. Consider it a best kept secret then.
R. K. from Virginia (10/16/2016) "Who doesn't love a medal shaped like a crab?" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran Baltimore to check Maryland off my list, and I'm glad I did. A few of the pros: -Awesome medal! I know it's not a big deal for some people, but I do love a good race medal and this one is among the best. -The race runs through the zoo and the zookeepers had penguins out on rocks for us to see. First and only time I have ever stopped to take a selfie during a race, but I couldn't help myself with that cute little bird. -Lots of course support, both in the form of official race volunteers and spectators providing everything from Swedish Fish to beer. -I like hills, so I'm going to put those in the 'pro' column. Cons: -My only issue, and I know this has been discussed in years prior, is that the full and the half converge with about 10 miles left in the race. The half started an hour and 45 minutes after we did, so this meant that when I met up with them I was holding a 9:20 pace and they were doing a 12:00 pace. It got very crowded and I did a bunch of weaving around the slower athletes who aren't well versed in running etiquette. This crowding continued until the finish line, but at least by then I had almost caught up to folks keeping about my pace. I know how much of a logistical nightmare it is to put on a race of this size, especially with the number of road closures involved, but I still can't help but wonder if there might be a better way. -The road surface isn't ideal in many places (potholes, etc.,) but it's a big city marathon so that's kind of par. Certainly not the fault of the race organizers in any way. Overall, I had a great experience. Thank you to the city of Baltimore for tolerating us. I'm sure it couldn't have been fun for anyone who needed to travel either in or out of the race footprint that day, and I could see the frustration on the faces of trapped motorists. I would recommend this marathon to anyone who likes a big city race with cool bling.

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Marathon Details - Baltimore Marathon