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Carlsbad Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Carlsbad Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 188 [displaying comments 121 to 131]
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J. C. from So. California
(1/17/2005)
"Great Day!!" (about: 2002)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My husband and I walked our first half marathon. It was such a fun experience. Competitors and event personnel were very nice. We are 'old geezers' and my husband had fun teasing the kids at the water stations. We got lots of cheering and support along the way. The event was well organized. We are hooked and looking forward to another event soon. Will definitely repeat this one next year. | |
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F. S. from San Diego, CA
(1/17/2005)
"Not satisfying" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Carlsbad Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I have run this race twice but spectated this year. Expo OK, but the race not. Does not lend itself to spectators, which we all know are a big help for runners. Walkers out before the runners caused 'traffic' jams. Saw an elite female almost fall because she had to move to get out of the way of a walker that was meandering without looking. Not against walkers by any means, but they should be instructed on keep to right, etc. Not a spectator friendly course as can't get to places to cheer easily other than the start/finish. The drums and WCRR spectators after mile 6 were great. Where are the porta-pots? Not enough even for the volunteers on the course. If we aren't to use the bushes... Suggest aid stations on 1 side for walkers and the other for runners. Results info is minimal. Is the time gun/chip time? Where are the splits? | |
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S. P. from Oceanside, CA
(1/16/2005)
"Rolling Hilly Course" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Carlsbad Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This course has several rolling hills that make it fairly challenging to set a PR on. With the walkers starting an hour early and held in conjunction with a half-marathon, the last 5 miles of the marathon is crowded with walkers, which can make it a challenge to run is a straight line. Very few specators from mile 16 to mile 20. | |
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B. C. from San Diego, CA
(1/16/2005)
"Tough race made harder" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Carlsbad Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This is maybe the most beautiful marathon course I've ever run, with a solid 10 miles along the Pacific Ocean. That said, it's difficult, with lots of rolling hills and a gradual incline from mile 5 to 9. That climb is made harder by the lack of spectators (though those who were there were certainly wonderful). Aid stations were plentiful and there were several gel stations along the way. One major gripe--they went from a staggered start for the marathon and half to a combined start this year, making the start area and the first few miles of the course, including the first few aid stations, far too crowded to the point of being dangerous. Dumb, dumb, dumb. They should take a lesson from Rock N Roll Arizona, which made the opposite switch this year, going from a combined start to a staggered one with great results. | |
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S. C. from Palos Verdes
(11/15/2004)
"A Poorly Organized Race" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Carlsbad Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 This race was not designed for out-of-towners. If you don't have a vehicle, I highly recommend you pass this one up. Shuttle to/from the hotel was not organized right. Even the shuttle vendor, 'Cloud 9' expressed their concerns for the number of shuttles hired for this event. Some people paid 5 dollars for the ride (which the brochure said was required) and others just hopped on. There was no clear bus route and you had to wait over an hour to get back to your hotel after the race ended. The course itself was quite scenic with a low turnout in spectators. | |
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Michael Witham from Colorado Springs
(2/25/2004)
"Awesome" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon, and the experience leads me to believe that it wont be my last. The crowd and course were awesome. | |
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A. M. from WINNIPEG MANITOBA CANADA
(2/4/2004)
"What an experience!!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 First time 1/2 marathon in Carlsbad... organization and course amazing as well as the post-race events and expo. Being from out of town, the challenge was just to get to the start line... our shuttle was cancelled, and thus forced to walk to a different hotel. There were no postings as to where this shuttle would be at 5am... it's dark outside! Overall a pleasant experience... but definitely not a flat course. Awesome job... lots of water stations, Gatorade, shots, etc... great volunteers. | |
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J. K. from Palos Verdes, California
(1/28/2004)
"Solid Half Marathon" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Mostly right on the ocean. Expect a few hills here. Great scenery. Pretty packed for the first 2-3 miles. I couldn't get out of the pack. Extremely crowded at the finish. Couldn't move or get out, started to cramp a little. Would run again though. Plenty of water stations and one Gu station. Plenty of snacks at the end. | |
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Colleen Gibbs from Carlsbad, California
(1/22/2004)
"Good Race" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon, so my comparison is obviously limited. I wanted my hometown marathon for my first, so I entered this event. This is a VERY well organized and supported event. Water stations were well stocked, efficient and full of happy, smiling volunteers. Expo is good and interesting, but still kept my little Carlsbad-town feel to it. The kids' event the day before is very cool, too. The course, when it is on the ocean, is lovely. Then it goes into an office-park area that is just plain dull. The inland-bound stretch of the course is just Dullsville. The entertainment is thin, as is the crowd support. Even the crowds that gathered in certain areas were just standing there, looking. The entertainment was one of the most astonishing topics of conversation after the event. Over drinks we all compared notes on the worst songs to be played during a marathon... they were all part of this marathon's lineup. Wind Beneath My Wings at mile 21? Yup. The love theme from Tootsie at mile 24? Yup. Sweet Home Alabama ad nauseum? Yup. Hard to believe. The pace team leaders were consistent, upbeat, encouraging, available and I cannot say enough about how great they were. I have a teeny complaint about the finish line. I crossed and was understandably in a total daze. I was ushered through the chute quickly and efficiently. But as I walked along, I was not offered one thing... water, snack, etc. I know it was all there. I saw others eating and drinking. Then, hours later, I hear there was a photo kiosk right after the snack tables. I was never told, ushered along, greeted, anything. I finished in under 4 hours so it's not as if the volunteers were thinned out and waiting for strays. I cannot explain this at all. Oh well. The after-event festivities were lovely and filled with food, drink, information, music. It was very nice. | |
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J. W. from New Orleans
(1/21/2004)
"Well organized beautiful marathon" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This marathon had some nice ocean views and several easy rolling hills. The organization was superior. The expo was well run, the pasta dinner was a bit slow in getting seated (it seemed like the restaurant really wasn't prepared for lots of runners), but the marathon day was very well run. The volunteers were very cheery even though the spectators in this small town were rather sparse; the volunteers made up for it. Also they had a pace team and our pace leader was excellent. I didn't get a PR, but I'd go back for this one again. |
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