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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 101 to 111]
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P. N. from Austin, TX
(1/17/2007)
 "A Jewel!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Husband ran the full marathon, I ran the half. This may be the best marked course I've ever been on anywhere. Pretty scenery, cheerful volunteers, well controlled traffic, adequate number of well-stocked aid stations made the course pretty easy to navigate. The half is pretty flat, the marathon has some hills. The weather this year (2007) was really nice (60F and cloudy at the start, about 70F and sunny at the finish). The pre-race dinner was fine, the post-race party had a lot more food and entertainment than most I've attended, and everything was included in a very reasonable entry fee. The expo is small but they did have caps and other First Light Marathon logo'ed merchandise for sale, which is all I really wanted, so I thought it was fine. They made us feel like they were glad we came. | |
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Poke Salad Annie Singer from Suffern, New York
(1/17/2007)
 "'You All' Come" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 About 385 marathon finishers...Balloon lady does 7 hour/16 minute/mile pace.. and she comes in last... Full/Half/Relay/Racewalk... Stay at host hotel Radisson Admiral and walk down the block to start and finish line...Bienville Square...within walking distance back to hotel. 74 degree...hottest of the 6 marathons so far...plenty of water and sports drinks to the last runner... pre-post food nicely provided... Yes, few well placed hills...college campus and local flavor of Mobile Alabama scenery... L'Arche community...residents with disabilities make medals and framed awards to be cherished...L/S white T shirts with medal logos on front... This is Martin Luther King weekend...some stores and eateries are closed...those open...friendly and very nice... This is a good local race to benefit L'Arche and for 50 staters to claim Alabama. Visit USS Alabama Battleship | |
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J. A. from Minnesota
(1/17/2007)
 "Nice course, warm day, lots of water stops." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The First Light Marathon is a relatively small race that does it's best to raise money for a good cause. The course is relatively flat for the first and last 6 miles. The middle part of the race has a number of hills that make it more interesting without killing you. It was an unusually warm day with a start in the upper 60's and a finish in the 70's. For a Minnesotan like me, this made it a little tougher, but as there were 17 water stops, I didn't end up with too many excuses. Congratulations, Mobile. | |
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P. M. from Birmingham, AL
(1/16/2007)
"These people know how to do it!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran this race in 2002 and found that the race director and staff had done some positive "tweaking" since that time. It is a very beautiful course for an urban marathon, running mostly through prime residential areas and college campuses. Plenty of water and food on the course. Police were the best at keeping things safe and smooth. The course was a nice mixture of pancake-flat sections and modest hills. It would be a good course for a pretty fast time. Not a lot of crowds along the course, but lots of residents were out in their yard, sincerely cheering for each of us as we passed by! In 2007 we had a nice day, but it was warm. The course has a lot of shade on it so it was not too bad. The medals are handmade by the residents of the benefitting charity and presented to you by the same. Post-event food was much improved... I had all I could handle! I read the comments below about the stroller not being allowed. Usually races are pretty clear about that for the safety of everyone. I don't hold the race director responsible for anything that was explained clearly. Good job, Mobile! | |
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d. b. from orlando, florida, usa
(1/16/2007)
"beautiful course" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Beautiful course, excellent organization. Very good support at the water stations, and the course was well marked. | |
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R. J. from Louisiana
(1/16/2007)
 "Outstanding" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am so glad I ran this marathon. This is my 12 marathon and Alabama is my tenth state. I actually registered for this marathon late because I could not run Houston (sold out). I was blown away by how well the marathon was organized (like a well oiled machine). The course was beautiful. The day was perfect. I would recommend this marathon without reservations. I would rank this marathon on my list of top three favorite marathons to run 1. Napa Valley 2. Big Sur 3. First Light Marathon. Thanks so much for giving us such a great event. | |
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C. D. from Pascagoula, Mississippi
(1/15/2007)
"Great First-Marathon Experience." (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 A challenging and scenic race. The course takes you through the streets of some of the most beautiful historic homes I've ever seen. The streets along the first five miles were covered with large oak trees whose limbs were so large that they provided shade across the entire roadway. There was plenty of scenery at the beginning and the finish line ended in the downtown district. The number of runners was large enough to find a pacing partner but small enough to enjoy some solitude. This is not a course for trying to set a PR. The mild Southern winter temperatures started off in the 60's and ended in the mid-70's. The course was flat during the first 10 miles with three ascents and descents in between miles 10 to 20, which felt more challenging with each hill tackled. The water tower at Springhill (mile 18) marked the highpoint and toughest climb. Fans were terrific given the small size of this race. There were plenty, even through some of the silent stretches of the race. They really kept me motivated through my first marathon. The pre-race and post-race meals were well worth the price of admission. My only complaint was there were no bananas or oranges at the end of the race but pulled pork, cole slaw, spaghetti and beer were plentiful. | |
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s. g. from Mobile, AL.
(1/15/2007)
"Had some troubles during the race" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I walked with a child who rode in the stroller. She has mild celebral palsy and fetal alcohol syndrome. I was told twice by police that I had to use the sidewalk, even though we were at the 9-mile marker and ahead of the balloon lady. I would have to stop and explain to them why she was in the stroller. They need to be aware that sometimes there will be a stroller in the race and it was for a good reason. | |
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E. C. from Germany
(12/10/2006)
"Small-town type" (General Comments)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Mostly locals. Met some great people. Have run the 1/2 twice and the full once. Interesting course. Last six miles are on a slight downhill grade. This is good. The post-race extravaganza is a bit spartan. Guess the sponsors in Mobile do not kow what a market marathoners can be. I shall return. | |
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S. C. from Jacksonville, Florida
(11/21/2006)
"Great, Small Race!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 First marathon in Alabama. I really enjoyed the race. The weather couldn't be better. Cold and clear. Course had few hills but was mostly flat. A lot of fried chicken restaurents on the course - I think four Popeye's, one KFC and one Church's? Too bad they were closed. I'm looking forward to running it again next year. Better-tasting sport drink would be nice. Love the award! Thank you! |
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