Steamboat Marathon - Race Reviews

The expo was small but it was held at a really nice ski & bike shop so you were able to get gels if you needed it. My wife was able to use the $10 coupon from my bib for a pair of flip flops. Vendors and sponsors were in tents in the parking lot. I went to the expo on Saturday afternoon and they had plenty of t-shirts in all sizes. I've run 23 marathons and this was the most scenic course I've run. We ran past ranchlands with the Rockies in the distance. The course was downhill but with lots of rolling hills. The weather was sunny with temps around 50F at the start but it got into the 70's fairly quickly. There was hardly any shade on the course but I put on sunscreen before the race. They had some at the start if you needed it. Not many spectators along the course as the organizers discouraged people from driving on the route. It was a 2-lane road and only one lane was open to traffic in both directions. Volunteers at the aid stations were great. At a station around Mile 18, a volunteer took my water bottle as I ran past, filled it with Powerade, and caught up with me to give it back. Overall, this was a really nice marathon with awesome scenery and great but slightly warm weather but don't expect to PR.

SBS Marathon is well organized and well done marathon with breath taking scenery. Recommend aid stations spaced out every 2 miles after mile 13. Runners were hurting with the warm temperatures. Suggest the aid station with only beer have water/power aid to assist runners. Mile marker 14's message says it all - 'Hydration is key'. Support the runners.

Great cool weather in 2015 for the first 20 miles, a lot of shade too. Overall downhill and many small hills. Around 22 one long incline, this is also about where the shade stopped and the heat started - also the end of 'scenic'. Good aid stations but there could have been more. Few spectators until the last mile. Overall a great small town marathon in a fantastic place. One to do again!

Very well organized from top to bottom. Good stocked and supported water stations, could have used one more in the first half of the marathon with the altitude. I prefer a t-shirt that actually says Steamboat Springs Marathon. Nobody from my family and few runners at the start of the race knew what SBS stood for.

This was my second marathon. The course is completely gorgeous - rolling hills all the way with a killer hill around 21 that was really tough given the heat. I'm in agreement that this shouldn't be your first marathon, not only because of the hilly course, but because of the lack of spectators. The people who are watching are enthusiastic, but they are few and far between, and the nature of the course makes it difficult to follow your runner. There were tons of bathrooms at the start, but too few until the half mark. There should be two port-a-potties at every site at least. I'd also agree that the post-party was lacking, especially in food which should be placed immediately after the finish. The most important thing the organizers should do is review the website. Directions to the expo site, for example, would have been helpful to post. I also would have liked an FAQ email to be sent prior to the expo just to fill in some missing information. To end on a good notethe people running the race - both runners and organizersare some of the nicest people I've met anywhere. I've never felt quite so supported by other runners during a race as I did during this one. So that, plus the AWESOME views will keep me coming back.

Easily the most difficult course I've done. Living in Houston there's no way to train for the altitude and also for the hills. Still, I enjoyed the challenge and the beautiful scenery along the way. Pros -Beautiful course. Winding your way through the Yampa Valley and along the Elk River provided great scenery while running the marathon. -Small field. Sometimes I like running big races, but sometimes I prefer a smaller and less crowded atmosphere. The Steamboat Marathon had ~250 people run it, so for the majority of the course I was by myself and this provided a great opportunity to have some solitude and 'me' time while running in the Rockies. -Technical t-shirt has good design. Nothing's worse than doing a marathon and getting a crappy-looking shirt that I'll never wear (think Toronto Marathon.) Cons -They had plastic cups at the aid stations...really?! After 32 years of running this race they haven't figured out that they should be using paper cups? It's frustrating when trying to drink and run at the same time and spilling half the water b/c you can't fold the cup. -The aid stations were well placed throughout the course, but towards the end they really should have had bananas, orange slices, pretzels, etc... They did have Honey Stingers, but I've never heard of those and didn't want to risk trying something new during this race. They really should consider other food snacks at the aid stations in the last 10K. Overall, if you're looking for a small, summer marathon with some great scenery, Steamboat should be on your list.

Course: is beautiful. Long rolling hills for entirety of course which makes this a hard marathon and not a PR or BQ course. Very little shade. Sometimes running directly into oncoming traffic. Organization: Online is terrible and lacking in information. No race shirts other than in XL for men was stupid and left a bad taste. No need for a prior day expo for less than 300 runners. Could have done a morning pickup. Bus transportation, gear check, start area and aid stations were handled well. Finish area was a joke. Maybe a banana? Fans/spectators: None, other than aid station folks or a few people in their front yards. Note: they don't make this clear because of the non-existent web presence, but your family can't see you on the course even if they want to as traveling anywhere on the course is discouraged. Altitude: This was my first race at altitude and everything was fine after the first mile or so (for any flatlanders out there). Overall: It was fun and unique. As it was a destination race that coincided with a family trip, I won't be back. Race organization is a little lacking and it shows. Nothing to do with size as I have run races with less than 100 people that were run better and felt 'bigger'.

Pros: - well organized bus transportation to the start - plenty of port o potties at the start Cons - ran out of ALL men's shirt sizes at the (poor excuse for an) expo - PLASTIC cups at the aid stations (who made that decision?) - not enough aid stations - you had to pay for the post race beer (which is pretty criminal for a Colorado race where post race beer is STANDARD) - you also had to pay for a post race massage (first time in 15 marathons I've seen that) - post race food was virtually non existent (tiny subway sandwich, cookie and chips was all you got) - age group awards were pretty pathetic....we just ran a marathon! Smartwool (main sponsor) needs to step it up in this department Basically the marathon is the sideshow event of the half marathon. I wouldn't waste my time with this one again....you can get stellar scenery at other small marathons in CO and avoid all these cons.

Had run the half several times before. The full had a field of under 400 runners which made aid stations very easy to get fluid at. Spaceing of aid stations was perfect for me. The stations are closer together on the second half of the course. If you were patient on the downhills early and saved something for the last 6 tough miles you prob. enjoy this race. It was very important to be well trained for both downhill and uphill running. If your training was all about running fast and flat this course would chew you up badly. It got warm near the end, maybe 80, on the asphalt, but again if you trained for the heat and ran smartly, not a problem. With the temps and hills I would not recommend this race for a first timer or anyone that takes much more than 4 hours to complete the race. Despite the overall net drop, elevations are in the 7000's and the ups and downs, etc.. make this far from an ideal course to think about pr s on. The only thing this race has lost on lately are the quality of awards for placing runners. I did not see any prizes that would not find their way to the trash can pretty quickly.

Fantastic race in a great location. Weather was ideal in 2012, bus transport to the start was well organized. Aid stations were fun and well stocked, great volunteers. A brutal & long hill at mile 22. Overall a great race, one I hope to do again!

This was my first marathon. Definitely glad I did it, but probably wouldn't recommend it to other first time marathoners. I did it was 4 other first time marathoners and we all thought it was HARD. For a downhill course, there sure is a lot of uphill. I had expected much more downhill and had trained mostly for that, but I wish I had done a lot more uphill training. Since reading other reviews, I took a pack and was glad I did since the aid stations were far apart. The people at the aide stations were very nice though. It was over 80F when I finished the marathon, and that heat and the hill between miles 18 and 22... man it was rough. I ran my 20 miles in just under 4 hours and felt great afterwards. This took me more or less the ENTIRE 5 hours and 30 min which I was not expecting... The course is beautiful, even though sometimes it smells like cow. All in all, glad I did it. Wouldn't have chosen it for a first marathon if I knew it would be THAT challenging. All 5 of us finished.

The race was well-organized and I felt like everything went very smoothly. The course is beautiful, as advertised, though a bit hillier than I expected (the smallish hills are dwarfed in the elevation profile by the large descent between miles 4 and 6-ish, but they seem a bit bigger when you're climbing up them). The aid station workers were enthusiastic, well-organized, and helpful. Really a nice race overall. My only real complaint is the spacing of the aid stations - as the temperature rose through the mid-70s, it would have been nice to have aid a little more frequently than every ~3 miles on the back end.

The most beautiful course I've ever run but know the only course support will be the aid stations. It's hard for spectators get get around the course so it's you and your fellow runners. I ran a lot of miles alone except when someone caught me or I caught someone which was fine for me. The scenery kept me occupied. While the course is downhill, there are a few strategically placed inclines which will be challenging. The variation was probably good for the quads. My advice would be to carry water. This was my first high altitude race and I was encourage at packet pick up to carry water and I'm glad I did. They could have used a few more water stops. I'm not sure why anyone would think the marathon catered to elite runners. I'm not an elite runner and didn't get that impression at all. If you're pushing the 6 hour time limit, the post race event may have been sparse but I thought the post race scene was very good, especially for a small race. If you like small marathons, give it a try. If you like big marathons, give it a try and you might prefer smaller races after running this marathon.

This was a great marathon - but it wasn't the marathon for me. I had a feeling from reading the website that the marathon catered to more of an elite runner. Having only just over 360 runners in the marathon made it painfully obvious if you weren't a faster runner. That being said, the event itself was wonderful (despite my performance). The volunteers were great and very supportive. There could have been more restrooms at the bus pick-up. I found out later that there were more there, but most everybody was lined up behind the only one we saw. The shirts were fairly plain. If Steamboat wants more participation in the marathon, they should cater to regular athletes. If they want to make it an elite event, that should be noted more specifically on the website.

What a fantastic, small, marathon. There is really no expo to speak of, but packet pick up was a breeze. The transportation to the start was easy to access and the driver let us stay on the bus rather than stand around for an hour in the cold. The course is definitely a challenge. Some of the downhills are pretty extreme in the first half, and then the rolling hills in the second half are tough. However, this was all expected, so I'm not complaining! There was a huge swing in temperatures from start to finish (low 30's to mid 70's), so being able to check gear easily was nice. The aid stations are farther apart than usual for a marathon. The first one was at 3 miles, then there wasn't another one until almost mile 7! I carried a small bottle with me, and that helped a lot, but it would be nice to have a few more aid stations, especially when it got warm in the second half. There really are no spectators (other than the enthusiastic aid station volunteers!) until the last mile in town, and the field really thins out, so I ran about 25 miles pretty much by myself. However, I expected this and actually enjoy this kind of race. The course is incredibly beautiful! Finally, the town of Steamboat Springs was a great host for this event, and it's a nice place to hang out before and after the race. I would highly recommend this one.

This marathon has been around for a while now (this was year 30). It seems they have really nailed down some aspects, yet need work on a few others. The bussing to the start was great. Very well organized, easy to access and nice busses. The start and finish areas were well organized, and the bag-drop was nice. The course had several porto-potties which came in handy. As far as improvements; I did not get a t-shirt this year! Well, I could have gotten a mens XL, which is way too big or a small which wont work either. How hard is it to set aside the shirt for those who pre-registered? I arrived at the Expo on Saturday afternoon and there was nothing left? Now sure who was in charge of this, but I think its not acceptable. The course is tough - steep descents in the beginning and some really small rolling 'hills' in the 2nd half. Be prepared for a cold start but warming rapidly. Use the gear trucks! Overall, its basic and beautiful. If you like paved roads then you have it made. I prefer trails, but I knew this coming into the race. We had dinner at Riggio's the night before and would certainly recommend it (Lincoln and 11th Ave, I think).

This was my 28th marathon. The fresh mountian air and scenery were memorable. Packet pickup was in a small ski lodge near downtown with friendly staff. At the expo, I asked about their plans to address the previous year's complaint about insufficient water stations, I was assured that the aid stations are up this year. I agree with other runners' comments that, at high altitude with 80+ degrees, the last few miles should have aid stations every half-mile, especially towards town in midday sun. One aid station had water cups laid on the ground. How about a foldable table or even tailgate? I was also surprised by lack of fruit pieces such as banana or oranges on the course. Other marathons with far more moderate temps and no elevation provided more drink and food aid stations. The race shirt was a cotton tee - pretty useless - while the nicer tech tee with better design asks for $20, and long-sleeve is even more. Why can't marathoners get the nicer tee? I haven't got a cotton tee in a long time in a marathon. Another big disappointment was the finish-line food, or lack thereof. I grabbed a brown "lunch" bag at the finish. When I dug into it, I found the "sandwich" was a gooey mess, and the cheap, white bread had become a paste in the hot sun. Were these made the night before? Totally inedible. There was no yogurt, juice, or sports drinks at the finish. Just bottled water. All in all, I think the race was great, CO is probably the most beautiful state in the lower 48, and while in town, I chanced upon the Friday night Art Walk, and met some local artists and had some nice snacks. Very friendly people. I found the local CO runners very fit and friendly.

This was my 35th marathon and was one of the best. It was the most scenic. The only problem is only having 10 aid/water stations over 26.2 miles. Most marathons have one every mile. With the temperatures over 80 near the end, water was badly needed for the last 6 to 8 miles. Why not have more stations during the last 8 miles, or give out bottles of water? If you carry a bottle, who wants to stop and fill it with 5-10 cups of water? Other than the lack of aid stations, everything else was close to perfect.

This is a fantastic, scenic course. Steamboat is a great place to spend the weekend, and the race is very well organized and well run. The mile markers were accurate and the aid station workers and all volunteers were amazing. Thank you to all volunteers! This year the weather was pretty hot, so my warning to others is to prepare yourself. With only 10 aid stations, I chose to carry my own water bottle through the first half - and I'm glad I did. Also, you simply cannot train enough on hills to prep for this course. It is very challenging, so practice your hills. I was finishing the marathon while the half marathoners were still on the course and they were awesome about cheering me on. The spectators at the end were great and I had the time of my life. This is a top-notch event on a great course. Just be ready to make some adjustments depending on the weather.

First time at Steamboat. Most scenic course I've run, for sure. Helped me forget about the altitude, heat, and downhill slant. The only negatives: 1) The bus ride to Hahn's Peak was on a schoolbus. 2) No sliced fruit or sports drink at the end. 3) No race medals for the half runners. My wife and buddy were disappointed they didn't get medals. Let's not forget who finances our marathon... the 1,100 half runners.

Beautiful town, with great scenery.

To those who want more schwag, or who complain because the full fanfare is not available after 5 hours, I would suggest either sticking with the "big box" marathons and stepping up your training. This is a top-notch event - best scenery ever, accurate mile markers, well stocked aid stations with enthusiastic and helpful volunteers, EMT's sprinkled throughout the course, and this year, perfect running weather. If you are a marathoner, you will love this race. I am not a "big road" marathon fan generally, but of the 4 road courses I have run, this one is the best, hands down.

Steamboat is a beautiful run down a mountain valley. The majority of the course is run on a country road beside a rolling river and through mountain ranches with beautiful views. There is not much crowd support along the course, so if you need the support of a crowd then choose another marathon. If you want to run with a few other runners and enjoy the scenery along the way, you will not find to many marathons better than Steamboat. The course is mostly a long downhill with some late-mile climbing. Besides the light drizzle throughout the first half of the marathon, and a strong headwind along the finishing stretch, the running conditions were ideal. This is my 3rd time running Steamboat and I deliberately ran without a watch to soak in the surroundings. The experience was my most rewarding marathon to date. I beat my goal time by a minute and would strongly encourage such an approach for most runners. Marathons are so tough physically, mentally and emotionally that removing the persistent need to stay on pace was refreshing. Steamboat was the ideal backdrop to clear the mind and enjoy the whole run. Okay, running the last 1.5 miles into the cold headwind was pretty draining, but I'll take that on my way to Boston in April. Love LIFE, Tim

We all know it's a beautiful town and a beautiful course. Overall I had a very good time. Nice restaurants + nice town + good people = a fine experience. But being asked to leave a comment here invariably leads to the discussions of what could be better - it's the nature of the beast. And mine involve the trials and tribulations of the back-of-the-pack runner. I've been coming up for the Steamboat HALF Marathon since 1998, but this year was my first attempt at the FULL. It took me that long because of their intimidating 5 1/2 hour finish time requirement - I didn't want to get thrown off of the course.... So, after training enough to finally finish in the required time, I approached the finish line this year in 5:16. My 5-year-old son jumped off of the curb, joined me for the last 50 yards, and we crossed the finish line together, smiling and holding hands. But the official Brightroom race photographer was nowhere to be found, so I get no finish line picture of this special day? I was told that he had left 15 minutes earlier because he was "wet." (?) So was I. What a disappointment. Can we not assume that if we MUST finish within 5 1/2 hours, the support staff will stay AT LEAST that long as well? Last time I checked, I didn't get a discounted fee for alternate accommodations... Perhaps these notes should also go directly to this professional photographer. Since I was certainly not last to finish, I can safely say there's many of us who would gladly chip in to buy him a sturdier poncho so we, too, could have the irreplaceable memories that the faster runners take for granted. A quick note about the aid stations, too: I realize the weather got bad. This year, we slower runners really took some extra abuse from Mother Nature. Anyway, as my faster friend waited at the finish area for me in his warm hoodie, I was slogging up the notorious mile 22/23 hill in blinding rain, sleet and hail. Watching an aid station fold up its tent and scurry out of the elements as I trudged by was very deflating. I needed water (and more) in the worst way. Changing gears, though: A BIG "thank you" to the one kind soul (I believe part of the race crew) who drove up and offered me a poncho - he might have saved me from a DNF. So yes, there were angels out there, too. Just some honest comments - about real experiences - in case anyone wanted to read them. I sent them directly to the race director, too, but so far no reply. I'll definitely be back - there's always next year....

It would seem that this race is one where you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Last time I ran it, it was a nice, warm day - but with one no-show aid station, which led to dehydration. This year featured some unexpected bad weather (rain, hail, strong headwinds). It is in the mountains, so the weather "forecast" is somewhat less accurate. (If there is any rain in the forecast, tuck a folded garbage bag into the back of your shorts for an emergency "hail/raincoat.") The traffic management is unfathomable on this race (my opinion). Mostly very good; for most of the race, they had one lane blocked, and what little traffic there was had a lead vehicle to escort these cars through at a safe speed. Then all heck broke loose. For awhile, there was two-way traffic (I hoped to hell that they could see me through the rain?), no shoulder to run on, and no safety cones to provide a running lane. You had to hope that the cars swerved into the other lane to get around you, which they did unless there was traffic coming the other way (in which case they tended to cut it pretty close). The last miles had a wide running lane with safety cones, but lots of traffic and road noise. Subway came through again with delicious turkey or vegetarian subs for finishers. This is a great town and great race; they just need to be a little extra prepared for the unexpected.

This was my first marathon. I was expecting more out of the packet pickup area. The race organization was great. The course was great. Plenty of water stops with plenty of food. I was expecting a little more at the end, such as refreshments. With this race being the 25th anniversary, it was a little bit of a letdown.

This was the 1st race I ran during a "3 marathons in 3 weeks" road trip that I took in June. The course is scenic and provides views to take your mind off of the fatigue you might feel at certain miles. It was in the low 40's at the start, but quickly warmed up after about an hour, and by the time I finished (4:23 later), it was in the mid 80's, with no clouds in the sky, and with the sun beating down - wear sunscreen for sure!!! I had no trouble with the spacing of water stations, but I could see how it could affect some people. It was really relaxing running along the river at certain points - the sound of running water is always soothing! I also enjoyed the cows as they watched us runners run past their fields. Although there are some hills, there are only 2 big ones that did any damage that I could remember - one at about mile 3, which was about a half-mile long, and another at about mile 22, which was about a mile long. My goal was just to break 5 hours, since I come from Chicago and am not used to the elevation (8,100 feet at the start, 7,000 at the finish) or the hills. I still ran a 4:23, and felt fairly decent afterward. Compare that to a flat course at sea level in Port Angeles, Washington, on which I ran a 4:12. But, maybe since it was my first race at Steamboat, I was more prepared for it. If you haven't run it, I think you will enjoy this scenic mountain course to put on your resume!!

I thought this race was great for the scenery; the weather was good; and it was in a cool location. The hills are a little brutal at halfway and mile 22. Water stations could have been closer together. All in all, I had an awesome time. Spectators are plentiful near the finish. I would do it again. Do not expect a PR here.

Beautiful course, with lots of twists and turns in the roads - and don't forget the hills (mountains to us flat-landers). There is a "hill" about mile 3 to 4 that can really set the type of race you will have. The water stop with Larry the camel was nice; it gave me a change to really slow down and take a break. Bring sunscreen because you will likely need it. Most importantly, bring your own water. The biggest complaint I'd have is the water stops were too few and too far between. The first one was at mile 3 and the next one was about mile 6.5 so they were right at the extreme distance for a race. All of the folks were great and helpful. We had perfect weather for sunbathing, as it did get in the upper 70's low 80's during the race, and clear skies with no clouds at all (I was praying for clouds). I ended up with sunburn in places that haven't seen the sun all winter long.

While there are good things to say about the beautiful scenery... scenery is overrated when you are dehydrated and cannot stop thinking about if the next water station will be there or not! Everyone will say, "Bring your own water!" BUT when I pay good money to run a race, I expect water. A simple request. Also, the RUMORS that this a downhill marathon have got to end. Though I know the elevation chart is accurate, this marathon is anything but downhill. Do not expect a fast time. On a positive note, I did appreciate the cold towels at the finish line, and the spectators were great there too.

This was a great run but with one major flub-up: A missing water station meant running ~ 6 miles with no water. Everything I've read suggests once you get dehydrated, you're pretty much done for. And 6 the waterless miles plus warm weather at the end of the race seemed enough to do just that. The excuse given was that the aid station team "didn't show up." How about some sort of contingency planning... couldn't they have at least dropped off some self-service water and a stack of cups? While the course is beautiful, spectators aren't to be expeceted (or really even necessary) on this remote and pristine course. Steamboat is a great place where you'll see real ranchers mixed in with visitors. For a unique treat, drive up to the beautiful Strawberry Hot Springs facility (clothing optional after dark)... a great pre-race day relaxation treat. And, try Cuginos for great Italian food. Speaking of food, thank you to Subway for providing turkey subs at the finish!

Course was incredibly beautiful, while rather brutal. This was expected. The lack of an aid station between miles 3 and 10 was not! There was supposed to be an aid station at 6.5 miles. While not a dealbreaker, it did enchance the difficulty of an already challenging course. Saw plenty of runners drop like flies in the second half of the race. Would do it again for the sheer beauty of the course and the great volunteers who did show up. I will carry some of my own liquid aid next time!

There are not enough aid stations, especially in the early miles. Bring your own water bottle for this race.

Plusses: - The course is visually magnificent. It starts at about ~8,100 feet above sea level, and winds down a vally past peaks, alpine meadows, streams, and old farms to Steamboat Springs at 6,700 feet; - Very well organized. Good water/Gaterade/gel stations, transportaion worked well, nice volunteers; - The first 4-5 miles is on a nice downhill pitch, which causes confidence to soar... (but see my negatives). Negatives: - First, no negatives. This is a great race. These are more warnings: - Don't get fooled by the speed on the first 4-5 miles. The course slows down, and if you go out to quickly, you will die. I saw a lot of walking dead (full disclosure: I was on the brink of joining this group) in the last 6 miles that I had seen sprint out ahead, more so than usual; - As you should expect for a rural course, not a lot of spectators. But, the scenery more than makes up for it.

Not surprisingly, there is very little "crowd" support. Until the last 1/2 mile in town, you may see more cows/horses than people, but that is part of the attraction. The starting area is like a big club run, with everyone mingling and trying to stay warm until the start. Very casual. The course profile looks like a lot of downhill, but it rolls, so don't expect long stretches of relief. Steamboat in June can be truly beautiful, and the marathon can make for an enjoyable addition to a vacation.

Steamboat is a great and challenging race. The race was well organized and the course was beautiful. Lucky for this flat-lander, there were a lot of declines to cruise down. The volunteers were great and still out and energetic. The last 6 miles were very hot, so THANKS to the volunteer who wrapped ice in my bandana during the last few miles! After drinking what seemed to be gallons of Gatorade, I finished in six hours. A big thanks to everyone! By the way, when they say the cut-off time is six hours, they mean it. There was no food left and the finish line and tents were just about down. This time I didn't care; I found shade and took a nap.

I included this race as part of my Colorado vacation. It was a little tougher than I thought. Even after spending a week at 8K ft and climbing to 12, 13 and 14k ft twice I found myself breathing really hard just to maintain a moderate pace on that hilly course. As the others have mentioned, the event was well organized, I just wished there had been a few more water stations to compensate for the warm and dry weather.