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Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon) Runner Comments
Back to Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon) Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 153 [displaying comments 91 to 101]
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J. H. from Tennessee, USA
(1/14/2008)
 "Good Race, Good Organization for a Good Cause!" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I would definitely recommend this race to anyone who's looking for a fun race, for a really worthy cause! The organization was good, the host hotel was very accommodating and the proximity from the hotel to everything was very convenient. The free pre-race pasta dinner was good. The race course was 70-80% shaded, with the start temp around 45 and later temps in the 60's. A few hills to deal with but nothing like what I expected, based upon my understanding of the elevation chart. Finally, the finisher's medal may not be one of great value, when viewed from a monetary standpoint, but when viewed from the standpoint of "what this race is all about," it's worth more than most any medal you can achieve! Thanks for a great weekend! | |
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James Richardson from Portland Maine
(1/14/2008)
 "My First Race - Great Experience" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race was well organized, well supported and actually fun to run (I say this after it's over}. The hills aren't as bad as advertised and the last five miles are a flat-out dash back to downtown Mobile. The post-race party included free massages, which were much appreciated. As the title to this commentary indicates, this was my first race but I am hard-pressed to think of anything that could have made it better. Impressive community support. | |
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K. S. from near Ogden, UT
(1/13/2008)
"Outstanding "small-town" feel" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my 3rd marathon in as many states. I was really impressed by, as small as it was, the organization, course marking and set up. The pre- and post- race pasta meal was free for entrants. Because it was small (roughly 1500 including half entrants), the parking was a non-issue. Overall, I was really impressed by the event and would recommend it to others. The hills from mile 11-16 seemed an issue when you were ACTUALLY climbing them, but after you topped them, eh, they weren't that bad - overrated. | |
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J. M. from Florida
(9/30/2007)
"Great Southern Marathon!" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 3 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I just got my application for the 2008 race and it reminded me how much I have enjoyed this race for the past 3 years. It's a beautiful course through the azalea -lined streets of Mobile and finishes under the shade of old live oaks in a beautiful park, made all the better by the Cajun food and music on a warm day in January in the south! The best part of the race is being presented with the handmade finisher's medallion by one of the members of the L'Arche community in Mobile, which is the reason I started running this race, and always makes me feel wimpy for dreading "the hill" at mile 18. I've run 50 marathons all over this country and other countries, and First Light will always be one of my favorites. | |
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L. J. from Hallandale Beach, Florida
(3/21/2007)
"Very organized, very friendly, touching event" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great event!! Mobile is a very cozy town with friendly people and a race for a great cause!! Anyone have the link for the photos for runners to purchase? Can't find it anywhere on the website!! | |
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Tom Hallee from Manzanita, Oregon
(3/2/2007)
"WHAT A SUNNY MOBILE MARATHON!" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I did it, did it, did it! I also broke 6 hours! If you asked me at mile 20 if I had a chance, I would have said, "NO WAY." Wonderful aid stations! Lots of encouragement! Wish there was more shade in the latter stages. Got kind of hot in the last hour, but staying wet helped the cooling process. The blisters have healed. It was the best way to add Alabama! I would recommend adding the Champion Chip though. | |
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K. F. from Jeffersonville, Indiana
(2/22/2007)
 "Great Race!" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a great race. The course was excellent (the hills were a surprise), the traffic control was great, and the water stops were wonderful. Well organized and for a great cause. I would highly recommend this race. | |
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e. p. from Atlanta, GA
(2/1/2007)
 "Fair Marathon" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was a so-so marathon. The scenery was ok. There were parts when you were on fairly busy roads, they had them blocked off, but I would just prefer to be running on smaller roads. However, I must say they did a great job directing traffic. There were cops at intersections and had everything under control. One more big thing... watch out for miles 12-18. The first 12 miles were pretty flat, then... wham. They weren't terrible, but when your legs are shot, they sort of are! And that is when it got windy, too. But, for a January marathon, the weather was good. I ran in short sleeves and shorts... what more can you ask for? The water stops were good and well manned. It was a decent marathon to run, don't get me wrong, but I would say there are better ones out there. ... and watch for those middle couple of miles! And the pasta dinner wasn't very good. I ended up eating some more stuff later because I was still hungry and needed the fuel for the morning. | |
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PokeSaladAnne Singer from Suffern, New York
(1/23/2007)
"Hometown marathon; very friendly" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Coming from New York I had to get used to the "humps and lumps" (speed bumps)on many of the roads... and the hill by the firehouse at mile 18 on a 75-degree day was a challenge. Course ran through two colleges and past many mansions and moss trees. There were 384 finishers to the marathon and many for the half and relay teams. The water/sports drink stations were GREAT, with friendly people telling us, "You all are doing GREAT." Marathon, pasta dinner, and the finish line all within walking distance of each other. Oh, and the host hotel (Radisson). GREAT for us 50-state, out-of-towners. Directions floured on pavement as well as signs on poles, so you can't get lost if you are a back-of-the-pack marathoner. There is a 7-hour limit - very sweet. Plaques and medals made by The L'Arche community of handicapped people, which is the charity the race benefits. This is on Martin Luther King Weekend, so many of the shops and restaurants are closed. You should tour the USS Alabama - there's a free trolley. | |
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Bob Kroeger from Cincinnati, Bengal country
(1/21/2007)
"MY MOST TOUCHING MARATHON" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 L'Arche Mobile organizes and benefits from this race. I did not realize what this meant until I sat, very tired, winded, and nauseated from the heat, on a bench in the lovely park after the race and watched two ladies sitting across from me. The black lady was obviously handicapped and she was being spoonfed by an older white lady. This is L'Arche Mobile, a community of mentally handicapped adults and their caregivers who live together. Often it's the first time that these mentally handicapped people experience life outside an institution. I walked over to the ladies and congratulated them, telling them how much I was moved by their love and dedication. This also made me very grateful for my being able to run a marathon. There were others from this community who mingled with the runners. They made the wooden medallions and they made the awards, one of which I was fortunate to win. I will treasure it. The temperature was hot (60 at the start and about 70 at the finish) and took its toll on this Yankee. The pre-race pasta dinner was the best I ever had and the post-race party was absolutely wonderful. I also enjoyed the route through the college campuses and under huge Spanish oaks draping the streets. But I will never forget the two ladies at the end. |
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