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☰
Maine Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Maine Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 132 [displaying comments 101 to 111]
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J. F. from Vermont
(10/5/2005)
"A nice race" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Maine Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I enjoyed this race very much. The course is very pretty, and the spectators are friendly and encouraging. It would have been nice to have more runners in the high 2 to low 3 time range. Once the half marathoners turned around, the course was very sparse for probably the top 20-30 runners. The spectators were great, but being alone for the last 20 miles makes it much more difficult to maintain pace and concentration. Company helps the miles pass and keep the pacing consistent. Obviously that is not something the race directors can control. I would like to make a few suggestions that would improve the marathon greatly. First, I was going crazy trying to get a course profile, so I could see how hilly or not the course was. (It was more hilly than I expected.) Second, I would like to see more water stops; I was just looking at the course map with water stops and it showed 14 with about 2 miles being the longest break.... Were there really that many? Anyway, I would like to see some more. Especially on a warmer sunny day, like we had this year. Third, I would like the refreshment tent at the finish to provide some pure sugar plays, Coke or Pepsi, more cookies, etc. The type of food we all stay away from every other time of the year... are welcomed at the end of a marathon. Also a plate or bag to collect the snacks would be helpful. I know that sounds like a lot of griping, and for that I am sorry; because the marathon was one of the best I have run. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to run a nice course at that time of year. | |
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J. F. from New England
(10/3/2005)
"Great time of year with a beautiful view!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Maine Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 With a light cool breeze blowing along the shoreline, combined with an Indian summer day, and a pretty skyline, I give this course a 10! I enjoyed every minute of it and would highly recommend it. Hat's off to my partners - Kimmy, Science Bug, Gardner and Deb! | |
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L. W. from Canada
(4/12/2005)
"Excellent first marathon" (about: 2003)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Maine Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon, and it was a wonderful experience. The course was beautiful (although a few more hills than expected). The organization was very good both before, during and after the race. There weren't a huge number of supporters, but the one's who set up impromptu water stations on their lawns and gave out Gatorade and gels in the suburban neighbourhoods were much appreciated. | |
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g. b. from windsor locks, ct.
(11/8/2004)
"First-rate marathon: worth doing!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Maine Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 As a member of the Achilles Track Club and a disabled marathon walker of twenty-two (22) previous marathons, I would easily put this marathon in my top five (5). The positive and warm reception of the organizers, the course and the time of year are all positives. I will certainly be doing this again. It certainly lives up to it's advertisement: 'A marathon they way it should be.' | |
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P. C. from Worcester, Ma
(10/19/2004)
"I love this race!" (about: 2003)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Maine Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great course, with a few rolling hills but lots of fast straight-aways. Great volunteers, good fan support. A good-sized crowd with the combination of the relay and half-marathon. Watching Joan Benoit-Samuelson fly by on her way back in the half was a bonus! A good cause (Camp Sunshine). Lots of food and plenty of hot showers available. This was my second time participating here (once in the half), and the weather was perfect both times. I will be back. | |
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John Grieco from Bedminster, NJ
(10/9/2004)
"Great start and end" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Maine Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The first and last 4 miles of this out-and-back course offer breathtaking scenery. Fan support is sparse out on the course but that's to be expected in a smaller marathon. Likewise the expo is small. There were some rolling hills of about 200-300 yards in length, although I live and train in a hilly area so my perception of 'rolling' could be skewed. When I passed the half-marathon turn-around it was clearly marked and half-marathoners peeling off appeared to make it out OK. People passing it at other times might experience things differently, as it appears R.B. from Annapolis did. The best suggestion I have is wear longer socks, so the timing chip ankle-band thingy doesn't chafe your ankle (still, just a minor inconvenience). And expect some light traffic out on the course. If you are looking for a first marathon and like fall foliage, give it a shot. Everything from the bag check to start and finish-line organization for this one is first rate. | |
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S. S. from White Plains,NY
(10/9/2004)
"Nice scenery, hill and small" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The race started on time and had some areas on the course which had traffic coming both ways. I thought the course was closed to traffic but the back bay part was the nicest part of the race since the start and finish ran through it. The course was hilly, not flat, like they state on the application. The race had few spectators and the post-race was just a quick food tent. The weather was excellent but I do not understand why they do not run this race on Columbus Day weekend. The city of Portland was beautiful and I wonder why they cannot run through part of it. | |
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S. S. from White Plains, NY
(10/7/2004)
"A hilly race but nice scenery" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race was a very hilly race but the nice scenery helped. I liked that the race started early, many more marathons should follow the early start time. The roads were not closed to traffic so at times you had to deal with cars coming at you in both directions. The post-race party was very small but at least there was food. The hills affected a lot of people and the sun got hot near the end because there was no shade. People did not follow the rules stated on the race application, no headphones, no bikes so this also affected the course. Overall a good race!! | |
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P. M. from Scarborough, ME
(10/7/2004)
"Excellent scenic marathon" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Maine Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I don't know what S.L. from Hopkinton, N.H. is talking about. A 3 mile long hill starting at mile 19?? Actually, it's about a 300 yard hill and then the final 6 miles are about as flat as you would ever want in a marathon. I train on the course and yes there are a few sizeable hills maybe a half mile long (mile 14+), there is nothing like what he describes. Is he sure he ran the Maine Marathon? Based on what he describes, it appears that he didn't. Maine Marathon is a very well managed event and the course is moderately challenging but fair. Last 6 miles are mostly flat. | |
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David Hurley from Roanoke, VA
(10/7/2004)
"A Marathon That All Should Run" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Maine Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I would place this marathon near the top of the list in all areas of the 39 marathons that I have run. Having run the Grizzly Marathon in Montana two months ago, the hills did not bother me at all. I actually thought the short hills made the scenic course more interesting. Maybe I was having such a good time talking with the other runners that I did not notice. My time was more than 30 minutes faster than my Montana time which qualified me for Boston. The water and sports drink stops were very much appreciated. The policemen and volunteers were very helpful along the way. It is definitely a marathon that all 50 state runners should include. |
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