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May 20, 2024

Palm Beaches Marathon Festival Runner Comments

Back to Palm Beaches Marathon Festival Information & Reviews

Course 3.7

Organization 3.6

Spectators 3.1

Number of comments: 106 [displaying comments 91 to 101]

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C. M. from Ft. Myers, FL (7/4/2005) "scenic course but my sunglasses were 2 foggy 2 see" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I signed up b/c I saw that the organizer from the Boston Marathon was putting this inaugural race together. It was a rainy day and the costumed volunteers more than made up for the lack of fans. All in all a good race, but not my personal best. The Donald Trump bottled water at the finish line captured the image this race was going for - and I heard they fed the overall winners caviar... one of the little perks of NOT being an overall winner (but I did place in my age group). Anyway, a little pretentious fun never hurt anybody!
D. B. from New Jersey (6/1/2005) "Super scenery; amazing inaugural " (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Since I was ready to sign up for '05, I thought I'd check to see what others thought of this inaugural marathon. In '04, I did the half marathon and thought it was extremely well organized, especially for an inaugural. I was over the moon with the course and the sights. The weather started so perfect - and the sky like only Palm Beach can be - that it was hard to complain when a storm came around towards the end. At every water station we were met with a surprise: boys in hula skirts, car mechanics, nuns, and a couple of hopping Margaritaville scenes. Better than spectators! And these volunteers didn't flinch at the rain. At the finish line the food was plentiful, the entertainment non-stop and the announcing professional. I was surprised at how many elite runners were attracted and that Bill Rodgers himself was very visible, running a relay and signing books at the expo. All in all, a very impressive inaugural marathon and I can't imagine not participating in '05.
Beach Bum from Lido Key Fl (2/2/2005) "Well at least the weather was great and course OK" (about: 2004) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The learning curve is clear. Compared to Chicago --what a joke, even held up to the 3rd year Miami Tropical - yikes. No crowd, Not a 1 rating since a bad crowd can throw things at you (real fun in a bike race). Good course - perfect weather with a perfect sprinkle in the 3rd hour. I might do it again because it falls well in the year and is an easy trip. Northerners - try Gasperilla (Tampa) or Miami. The old folks in PB County don't have it together
j. k. from jensen beach, florida (12/9/2004) "I will do it again." (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 For a first try, I thought the marathon was pretty well run. Gu stations strategically placed, spectators cheering, even though they were drenched. I liked the course. I am a local, and I got to see lots of my friends during the race, both the faster and the not-so-faster. I was a little disappointed in the t-shirt. It looked like one you'd get at the local 5k. I know a few guys who did the half, and we're all doing the full next year. We're hoping for rain, but no more wind!
J. S. from Louisville, Kentucky (11/24/2004) "Skip this next year" (about: 2004) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 There may have been $34,000 worth of prizes, but very little of this money filtered down to the average runner. As a result, the finish line amenities consisted of a bagel, a small bag of pretzels, a banana, some Slimfast bars, and a bottle of water. There were numerous food/drink stands with food FOR SALE. (This was apparently the post-race party with lots of food and drink. They neglected to say it wasn't complimentary!) If the organizers want to have a first-class marathon, they need to provide more at the finish line for the runners! On the plus side, the organization was excellent. But the minuses outweighed the pluses for this marathon.
C. S. from Virginia (11/23/2004) "You should expect kinks in an inaugural race" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I thought this race was well organized for an inaugural race. I have done 23 marathons and this was somewhere in the middle of those experiences--not the best, but nowhere near the worst. The taste/mix of the Powerade was pretty poor and the medals were kind of cheap. The expo could've used a few more booths that pertained to running, but it was OK for the first shot - there was definitely community spirit there and everyone was nice. I liked the Army exhibit too. $5 is nothing for parking and race day was free. If you've ever done a big race like Chicago, you pay to park at the expo and on race day and it's about $20 each time. I thought the volunteers were excellent. Even when it was pouring out, they handed out Gatorade and Gu with a smile and words of encouragement. I never heard one volunteer complain, even the children seemed happy to be there. The placement of the Gu stations were perfect, there was enough time to warm it up and open it before you got to the water stops. I also liked how you ran through the midpoint while the 1/2 marathoners were finishing. I left my chip at the hotel that morning and didn't realize it until 10 min before the start. I was not the only one in that predicament either. One of the volunteers got me a replacement chip, I made the start of the race on time, and they announced my name at the end of the race and my time was properly recorded. Try that at a larger race. For an inaugural race, I thought it was well organized and went well. It will only get better next year. I'll be back.
h. a. from mobile,al. (11/21/2004) "First-time quirks, overall great race" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Just ran Boston in April and this race was a breath of fresh air. I loved the rain!! If you ran Boston you would agree. The first half had great spectators but 2nd half got lonely on N. Flagler up to the bridge and turn-around back towards town. I loved the Gu hand-outs, Boston did not even have this. But I only could hold one and use one - they were holding out two to grab. The finish was confusing - I could not find someone to take my chip off my shoe. And I had no extra clothes with me and I was cold and wet and I spent about an hour at the finish and I walked into a tented area and a man stopped me and said 'VIP' only. Who is more VIP than someone that just ran a marathon?? I left to go back to my hotel room to shower and change and check out. I ran a pr 3:14:45 and had no idea I had placed until about 1:30; my brother got on the internet and he told me on the phone. I have to mail $8 to get my award mailed to me. It is not the money, it is the principle - I am getting punished, because I did not stay 3 more hours in the cold rain for my award, which I had no idea I had received. I will run this again but next November I am running the New York Marathon. Thank you for the experience and the beautiful views during the race. The flat course was very exhilarating compared to brutal Boston!!
L. K. from Miami Florida (11/20/2004) "You can't control the weather!" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My group decided to run the relay being as the weather in south Florida can still be stifling this time of year. I found the race well organized from packet pick up to the finish. The water stops were imaginative and fun. Favorites were the 'hula dancing dudes' in their coconut bras and grass skirts and the Sponge Bob water stop. I couldnt see too much of the course due to the hurricane that hit on my leg but it seemed like it was scenic along the water. My only complaint is bathroom facilities at the 8-mile and the finish. Only 1 porta-john and the bathrooms were disgusting. This needs to be improved on. Hats off to the volunteers who stood out in the rain and handed out water and sports drinks. They did an excellent job! I might be back for the 1/2 next year but again the weather is just too much of a challenge in November to predict. Considering this area was in the path of 3 hurricanes this year, I think the weekend went well.
C. H. from West Palm Beach (11/18/2004) "Flat & Fast (depending on weather)" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 As a first-time marathon, this marathon was organized. Amazing the international field that competed. Some constructive criticism: 1. The drink (not sure if it was Gatorade) was mixed too strong out on the course for me. I could not drink it. 2. The food products after the race were very sparse and not the best. 3. The volunteers were treated very nicely which helps recruit for next year. Unfortunately, the weather couldn't be helped but was not runner-friendly with the 25mph winds and rain squalls. 4. The finisher medal was very poor quality. Miami had the same problem.
P. R. from Dayton, OH (11/18/2004) "Not Running It Again" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Palm Beaches Marathon Festival COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I have to agree with the "Waste Of My Time" runner from Yulee, FL. This was my 8th marathon and I have to say it was a huge waste of my time (and money also). Being an inaugural race with GM as the sponsor, they didn't spend any money on the t-shirt or the medal. I was expecting much more for my $53. I didn't mind the weather as much as I minded the lack of spectators and friendly residents, and the course itself. The expo was well organized even though there was not many vendors. If you are looking for a runner-friendly race, with outstanding medals and great fan support, and a nice quality long-sleeve t-shirt, come to Dayton, OH for the US Air Force Marathon in September.

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