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May 12, 2024

Quad Cities Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Quad Cities Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 4.6

Spectators 3.9

Number of comments: 195 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 20 > ]

M. F. from Illinois (9/29/2015) "Good experience overall" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Quad Cities Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I'm a 'First timer' for the 1/2 marathon. I have 2 big complaints. 1-please don't start all participants in a large group. I passed several much slower individuals, which caused myself and others to run on the sidewalk at times to get around especially at the start. possibly divide into finish paces (similar to how the Bix starts) may help. 2nd complaint - the Government bridge. I was feeling great until running across the 'mat' that was laid across the bridge to protect runners from stepping in the holes. My knees killed me after running on this. Others who I ran with had similar complaints. I was on pace to finish before 2 hours for the half until this as well. Which was a huge disappointment for me to finish over my goal time. Please use a more stable base for this bridge - possibly plywood or something like that. Otherwise, I very much enjoyed this race and have already registered for next year!
C. H. from Iowa (9/29/2015) "Nice fall Race" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Quad Cities Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my second marathon of the year and my favorite. Running along the river really made for an awesome run. The only complaint I have is the start is really crowded until you get pass the first bridge. It would be nice if they would start the marathon and 1/2 marathon first then do a start for the other races.
A. H. from Ohio (9/29/2015) "Not the greatest course" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Quad Cities Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I've ran in 11 half marathons/marathons and I was not impressed with this course. It would have been nice to have been corralled in the start of the race to avoid having faster runners be stuck in the back of the pack and trying to pass a lot of others (especially when there's a one lane bridge you have to cross within the first mile or two). I also did not like having to cross railroad tracks in the half marathon course. There was a train coming just as I was about to cross the tracks so I literally had to try and outrun a train. And then going over the bridge into Rock Island, it would have been nice if there was more than just a single 'lane' of mats. The post race food was good though!
P. E. from Quad Cities native (9/29/2015) "Nice community oriented race" (about: 2015) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Quad Cities Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the second time I have done the half marathon and I was impressed with the organization and how smooth packet pick up was for everyone. I was in and out in under ten minutes. The spectators along the course were great and the signs were much appreciated as they provided much needed inspiration as well as comic relief. The refreshments after the race had a little something for everyone and the volunteers were supportive and plentiful. Thanks for a great race and I will see you again next year!!
M. H. from USA (9/29/2015) "Good course. Good runner support. Ugly shirts." (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Quad Cities Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have done the half the last three years and enjoy it. The race starts by crossing the I-74 bridge across the Mississippi River which is an experience that itself is worth the price of admission. The first five miles is hilly but it flattens out after that. After party is pretty great with lots of beer flowing. The start is awkward, lots of jokers and old ladies to push out of the way. It's worse than most races I've been to, they really need to coral them away or have a separate start. The shirts are so ugly that they are unwearable. Past two years have been weird blue/green colors.
J. J. from Iowa, Uniited States (9/29/2015) "Great course for the first 20 miles!" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Quad Cities Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Loved everything about this race until mile 21. Great music and scenery, nice quick route, fun spectators!! After mile 20, the out and back was mentally tough, very hot and sunny (very little shade), and limited water. Would have liked to see more cold fluids to get through that last stretch.
T. R. from Rock Falls, IL (9/29/2015) "Very positive overall." (about: 2015) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Quad Cities Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Things to work on: Marathon/1/2 Marathon clarity of second separation on Arsenal Island is an issue. Volunteers should have printed coarse maps just in case. This cost me an extra 5k and I ran 29.3 miles for the day.
t. j. from usa (9/28/2015) "well organized race" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Quad Cities Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A well organized race that goes above and beyond to make the runners happy. The course is diverse and quite flat, with the hardest inclines being the bridges crossing the river (you spend well over a mile on bridges, admiring the Mississippi below). The first two miles are crowded, but never confining. The water stops are plentiful and they have much-appreciated fruit (oranges and bananas) and candy (soft fruit chews) at two spots late in the race. The weather in 2015 was hot, with bright sun and 76 degree temperatures by 11:30. In response to the heat, the volunteers handed out cold towels with smiles on their faces and encouragement in their voices. Running through four cities is nice and the military base on Arsenal Island added an interesting aspect for the middle miles (I'd never run past an 'atomic cannon' before and the military golf course is beautiful). While spectator support was moderate, the volunteers were the highlight of this race. They were numerous, great spirited, and just plain nice. I was very impressed with the warm reception from the people of the Quad Cities, with the well organized race they put on, and I would certainly recommend this marathon.
E. V. from IA, USA (9/28/2015) "Flat course, awesome finish line" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Quad Cities Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I ran this race with my boyfriend, it was his first race. The expo was fun, the t-shirts were awesome. Some of the best I have seen. The start line was great, I loved that parking was so easy. The first half of the race went well, but it wasn't that pretty and there were not many spectators out. Then the sun came out. It was HOT. And there weren't many spectators or other runners around us. So it got quiet and lonely. It was a hard way to run your first marathon. Arsenal Island was pretty, but I was hoping there'd have been soldiers out with their families. We saw hardly a soul. Then we crossed the bridge off the island, only to literally run about 20 feet from the finish line to do a not-so-pretty out and back for the last 6 miles. Talk about mentally challenging! The course layout was not well thought out. This is not a race I would do again, nor would I recommend it to people. The half would have been fun, but the full was just tough, especially for such a flat course.
S. W. from Illinois (10/14/2014) "Good race but start should be in waves by race." (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Quad Cities Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This is a great race, but could be better if either it was divided by the different races via start times, or making waves via time. The bridge is way too crowded at the beginning.

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