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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 111 to 121]
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i. w. from Mobile, AL
(8/15/2006)
 "good marathon, will repeat again" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run the half marathon 2-3 times and the full marathon twice. It is good for me, because it involves no travel (it is in my home town). PR'd at last year's marathon by 13 minutes. Course mostly flat, with two hills thrown it. Crowds good, but not huge. Good course support. Great job by the police directing traffic. | |
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D. C. from Gulfport, MS
(3/21/2006)
 "Great first marathon!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first race and first marathon. I chose it because it was in my home town and was a small field. The course seemed very flat and fast. There were minimal turns (given the area). There is only one really large hill. I turned in a 3:29, which was much faster than I expected. I can't imagine a better organized race. Every detail seemed to be taken care of. Water stops ever 1.5 miles. Volunteers at ever turn to keep you headed the right way. Traffic was handled beautifully. The start and finish are only a few blocks away with plenty of parking. There were more spectators that I expected. The only (small) problem I could mention is the Gatorade is not really Gatorade; it's a local mix. The director of the race told me I could get a sample before the race if I wished, but I just risked it. | |
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D. I. from Gainesville, Florida
(2/1/2006)
"Great experience" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 5th marathon... and it was a great experience. The weather was somewhat cold, but no rain. The course ran through beautiful garden districts and was easy to follow and well marked. There was only one really tough hill at mile 18. The police support was great... thanks! The aid stations were well staffed. The hotel had great accommodations, and the start was right outside the hotel... very convenient! I will recommend this marathon to friends. A very friendly group! | |
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R. H. from Minnesota
(1/20/2006)
 "Observations from a Northern Runner" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The First Light Marathon is a very good marathon. It's small with only about 250 marathoners and about that many half-marathoners at the same start. Don't expect a lot of company and spectators, but I learned how much I enjoy a smaller marathon where I can focus on the race itself. The organization was great. Marty, the RD, was always prompt about returning my emails. I was surprised by how well this event went since I was an early register and paid only $35 for the race, pre-race meal, post-race meal, shirt, medal and very good course support. There's no reason this race won't grow as more people learn about it. The course itself was good. The first 10 miles are flat. The next 10 miles have some hills but they are all (including the one at mile 18) manageable. That's coming from a 240+ lb runner. The last 10K works its way back to the original elevation. This was my 7th marathon and I improved my PR by 4 minutes. We lucked out this year with ideal weather, especially for those of us from the northern states. I believe it was about 37 degrees at the start and maybe low 50's at the end. I doubt the wind even made it up to 5 mph. Having made my first trip to the Deep South, I was pleased to discover the southern hospitality of so many people, both runners and non-runners alike. I am still fairly new in my quest for a marathon in all 50 states so I don't know when I'll be back to Mobile, but I highly recommend this one. | |
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L. B. from New York NY
(1/19/2006)
"a wonderful race on a gorgeous course" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The weather was perfect and so was everything else about this race. Mobile's a lovely city, and the course shows it off nicely. Race organization was excellent, traffic control excellent, the course well-marked, the volunteers helpful: Full marks for everyone. If you're used to Central Park, the hills aren't too much. AND I wound up with a PR, so what's not to like? | |
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p. A. from Louisville, Kentucky
(1/18/2006)
 "VERY LONELY, ESPECIALLY AT THE END" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I knew from the previous year's comments that this was not going to be a big spectator course, but there was absolutely no one out there rooting for you. The volunteers at the water stops, and the policemen were very friendly. The course was very scenic in the beginning, very hilly in the middle, and pretty bad at the end. We were running on a 4-lane highway for about 5 miles - the last 5 miles, where I really needed something to keep my mind off of my pain. This could be a GREAT marathon, with a some more support from the city, and a change in the last 5 miles. | |
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L. R. from United States
(1/16/2006)
 "Well run race" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran the 2006 marathon. This was my 8th marathon and would run it again. The staff was wonderful, the course was very scenic. I think they had all of the police from all of Alabama out on the course. The course was well marked with volunteers at every corner. There were a few hills but nothing you can't train for. The weather was perfect. They had food and a band playing at the end. I would recommend this race. | |
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B. S. from Enterprise, Alabama
(1/16/2006)
"Great event with very friendly volunteers" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Ran this race for the first time this year 2006. Great race and very well organized. The course is very well laid out and is a good course to set a PB. Everyone from policemen to special needs people handing out medals were wonderful. This race will grow into a big race in the very near future. I will definitely return next year. | |
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E. M. from Brooklyn, NY
(1/16/2006)
"This is a wonderful race." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Mobile is a beautiful city, and long stretches of this course are very pretty, but for me, the distinctive element in this race was the fantastic people of Mobile. From the folks at the water stops, to the volunteers directing traffic, to the race organizers themselves, I found everyone to be extremely friendly and helpful, and eager to make this an all-around great experience for the runners. I would recommend this race to anyone, and would run it again. Beware that hill at 18 though - holy cow! | |
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t. h. from Birmingham, AL
(8/12/2005)
"Great race!" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mobile Marathon (prev. First Light Marathon)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great course with lots of turns and variety of scenery. Went from historic to college to urban. Nice, rolling hills. Only minor complaint was that I was turned around at the end and walked for miles before I found where I'd parked, but this was largely my fault. |
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