calendar icon May 14, 2024

Myrtle Beach Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Myrtle Beach Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.2 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.3 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.6 
 
 
Number of comments: 318 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 32 > ]

 

J. Y. from Fort Myers Florida (4/11/2016)
"This was AMAZING!!!!!! MY first and only!!" (about: 2007)

1 previous marathon | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


The fans were amazing!! The water stations were perfect! The heated tent and massages after were AWESOME! ONe question! Were medals awarded at this race? If so, I have misplaced mine and was wondering if I could buy one!! I am finally displaying my medals and I really wanted one from my first full marathon to remember it!!! I will gladly purchase it!!!!
 

p. c. from Boston (3/10/2016)
"Great organization" (about: 2016)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


Super location to host a race and the volunteers were great - thanks to all of them. The course was flat and fast, a bit boring but otherwise well marked. Good job on the shuttle service and bag drop-off. The expo was very well organized and i thought that the race shirt iron-on was a little campy. MB was a nice town, nice weather, nice airport.

Cons - (not the fault of the RD) I know we're in the tobacco belt but the cigarette smoke from the crowd was absolutely disgusting. Got several good whips of secondhand smoke.

Con#2 - PowerAide ! I know CocaCola is your primary sponsor but c'mon ! The primary ingredient is High Fructose Corn Syrup and no one trains with this stuff.

Con#3 - lack of crowd support but that's par for a tourist destination.
 

K. C. from Morgantown, West Virginia (3/7/2016)
"Fast, flat, great layout course - great weather." (about: 2016)

4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I really liked this course. There were a couple of minor inclines but otherwise very flat. The large loop, beginning and ending at a great location was very appreciated. Decent spectator support but not a lot along the entire course. The layout of the course allowed my supporters to see me a couple of times during the race which was nice. The weather couldn't have been better. Set a new PR on this course. Great communication and overall organization from the event. Would recommend this to anyone!
 

A. T. from Chicago (3/6/2016)
"Flat, well-organized, variety of scenery" (about: 2016)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


CHEAP hotels (off-season). Vancouver Inn (near a Shuttle stop in 2016) was $75 (oceanfront, balcony, kitchen; FRIENDLY). Great support (aid stations, volunteers); some ocean views in second half; had 'big' expo. I recommend it. Airport super small and easy to fly in/out.
 

M. F. from Edwardsville, IL (10/13/2015)
"Best Race Organization" (about: 2015)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Race directors take note...this is how you organize a race. I have run 30 different marathons and MB had the best race organization. They did everything right. The course doesn't repeat, the location is scenic and flat, course support was stellar, hotels are cheap and plentiful, expo is great, nice medal, quality shirts, nice people, sufficiently sized marathon numbers to feel camaraderie without feeling overwhelmed, and it's the beach in February.

All in all this should be on your marathon bucket list and is a great 50 stater choice.
 

A. M. from Virginia (2/22/2015)
"Fast Course, Given Good Weather Conditions" (about: 2015)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was my 13th Marathon and first time to run the Myrtle Beach Marathon. I ran the full marathon and my husband ran the half. Overall we had a very positive experience with both the race and with our overall stay in the area over the weekend.

Pros:
- Packet pickup at the expo was easy, and the expo itself had pretty much anything you might want or need (running gear, gels, etc.).
- We took advantage of the shuttle service from our hotel on race morning (cold morning!). Signs clearly identified where to catch the shuttles at both our hotel and near the race finish area. Nice peace of mind to have a reliable shuttle, and also not have to worry about parking.
- Plenty of port-a-potties at the start.
- No issues with getting in line at the race start.
- Course was clearly marked.
- Aid stations were well stocked, and the volunteers were enthusiastic.
- Plenty of food at the finish line, and I'm always happy to see chocolate milk!
- Several local vendors and restaurants offered a discount all weekend to race participants, just show your race bib.
- Nice medal, long sleeved technical shirt, and embroidered drawstring bag.
- Post race party was fun! Get there early though, we arrived about an hour and twenty minutes after it started, and the only place left to sit was on some stairs.

Cons:
- The cups at the aid station were very big! Much bigger than the Dixie cups I'm used to seeing at races.
- Cold at the start of the race, and windy for the last 6 miles... it happens in February. At least it wasn't raining!

Overall I would recommend this race to anyone looking to run a personal best. A good number of participants without being too big, logistically easy to get around in MB, plenty of hotels offering discounted rates, flat course, overall good deal for the entry fee.
 

E. I. from Central Pennsylvania (2/20/2015)
"A well oiled machine" (about: 2015)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Myrtle Beach Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


After running MBM in 2012, this was my second time. In 2012 I came to qualify for Boston (I did), and now I returned to run under three hours for the first time (I did). I enjoyed the race in 2012, and 2015 was no different. The course is flat and fast, the organization is top notch, and the volunteers are incredibly friendly and helpful. One small detail that shouldn't go unnoticed... in 2012 I commented here that gels were promised at miles 16 and 22, yet there were no gels on course. This year, there were two prominently stationed volunteers at 16 and 22 handing out gels. The other thing I like about this race is the size. It's small enough you don't have to deal with crowds and get everywhere an hour early to deal with them, yet it is large enough that it has the amenities you'd expect at a larger race. Hotels are very reasonably priced since its off season in MB this time of year. I would heartily recommend this race to anyone looking for a small to medium size marathon with a fast, flat course. Nice job Myrtle Beach Marathon!!!
 

B. B. from North Carolina (2/18/2015)
"Flat, fast course, good for a BQ attempt" (about: 2015)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my 8th marathon, but first time at Myrtle Beach. I was aiming to requalify for Boston, and had an 18-week training plan for it. My BQ standard is 3:15 (minus the entry curve), so I was aiming for a 3:12:30. I thought I might have a 3:10 in me depending on conditions (if the wind held off on the return leg). From the moment of registration until we got home Sunday afternoon, it was a great weekend for me. The ONLY issue (and not the marathon's fault) was that my wife developed a stomach bug at midnight Friday night, and was unable to compete in the half marathon Saturday. Not sure if it was food-related or what, as we shared lunch and dinner food Friday, but she was down for the count for 24 hours.
Expo was great, plenty of portapotties at the start, event started right on time, the course was well-marked (I did notice the race clocks were off by a minute at some point, but then were corrected), the water stations were perfectly staffed, course control was excellent, spectators were loud and encouraging, and the finish area was awesome. I enjoyed the complimentary massage, had never done that in a prior marathon. The after party at House of Blues was awesome, thank you for that touch! Even better was that we were staying just 1 mile away from HOB.
I set an over 5-minute PR on this course, and punched my ticket to Boston 2016 with a 3:08:33. Thanks Myrtle Beach!
 

R. S. from Washington state (2/16/2015)
"Well organized but ugly course" (about: 2015)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This is a flat course, with undulations of just a foot or so. But an ugly course. Myrtle Beach is a tourist town-at least the part we saw on the course. Discount beach wear shops about 5 per block. Trully. Couldn't see the ocean except for one or two vacant lots which didn't have a highrise hotel or-you guessed it: a beachwear shop.
Best things: quick and accurate results and the Mellow Mushroom restsurant.
 

H. K. from New Haven, CT (2/14/2015)
"Amazing Organization, Flat Course" (about: 2015)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was a very well organized marathon. Its a nice midsize marathon with an amazing personal touch. I was scheduled for another marathon the same weekend that was cancelled due to weather, and the organizers were very accommodating. Flat course and a great after party. Recommend it for first-timers or advanced runners.
 

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