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Baton Rouge Beach Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Baton Rouge Beach Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 2.9
Number of comments: 113 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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Jon Alexander from Minnesota
(12/7/2008)
"A REALLY nice marathon!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Wow, what a great time! This is a small-town event, so if you are looking for big crowds and an expo, go somewhere else. If you want to meet some nice people who know how to put on a race, please visit Baton Rouge. This was the 20th state in my quest for all 50. The course is a two-looper with only one hill, so you should be capable of fast times, even if I am not. My thanks to Lee from Mississippi for running with me over the last 6 miles. The post-race cookout has some pretty interesting southern food and lots of it, as well as plenty to wash it down with, including beer. I stayed at the host hotel, which was fine, although you should try to get a room away from the highway noise. There was some confusion about late checkouts, though the race director had specifically arranged for them with the management. All in all, I highly recommend this race. | |
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Bob Kroeger from Cincinnati
(12/7/2008)
"Baton Rouge is a gem!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 BRBM was my 30th and one of my most memorable marathons. Temps (high 30s to start, low 50s at finish) coupled with an extremely flat course, routed through streets lined with huge Spanish oaks and around an interesting large lake, made it a day when it's just plain joyful to run. I liked running the course twice (a double loop) so that I knew exactly what to expect in the second half. Most races that are organized by running clubs are well done and this one is no exception to that rule! The positives: · Early 7 a.m. start and on-time · Beautiful Brooks long-sleeved tech shirt with blank reverse · Microfiber socks with running club's logo · Brooks 50/50 running gloves · PR, flat course with scenery; not boring at all · Timing chips · Great pre- and post-race food · Handsome black tile age bracket awards The negatives: · Some uneven pavement (watch your step) · A few sections of running with traffic (local drivers were courteous) · Baton Rouge traffic is very congested (lots of folks displaced from Katrina seem to have settled here) Still, and without a doubt, this marathon is a gem! | |
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L. M. from Madison, WI
(12/7/2008)
"The lordly knight is kind to the serfs..." (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Wow! Of the 30-plus marathons I've done, this one is in the top three. And I'm not sure that it's not tied for #1 with 2 others... (it's like picking children...). They had a yummy pre-race meal of home-cooked Cajun food - complete with beer (for those of us who aren't out to set any course records). Slick pre-race registration, substantial schwag (long-sleeve tech shirt, tech chicken socks, and gloves all for $60???). The course has two loops, which usually isn't my favorite, but it is such a lovely combination of the LSU campus, stately Southern homes with arching old live oaks, and calming waterfront that I noticed new things on each lap. The second lap was lonely as expected, but the aid stations were still fully stocked with plentiful PowerAde and calories, even for those who are out at a more leisurely pace. There was even more local Cajun food at the end, and more beer. Thanks to Cecil for the great food, and the most memorable quote of the day, to some uppity geese: "I'll make some gumbo outta y'all!" My only picayune suggestion to the race director - embrace the chicken!! I love the chicken logo, and was disappointed that it wasn't integrated into the medal and shirt design. :) | |
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T. M. from Eunice, LA
(12/7/2008)
"Very well organized local marathon" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Ran this race because it was close to home and fit my schedule conveniently. I had a fantastic experience... carving over 14 minutes off of your PR will do that (now under 4:00). However, I almost did not run this event, as the website seemed really unprofessional and the ridiculous chicken noises every time I visited the page made me cringe. Really gave the impression of a thrown-together club run. But the reality was quite different. Very professionally organized. Online registration was very simple. Packet pickup was a breeze. Course was well marked. Post-race festivities were great: music, food, nearly immediate posting of results. Great shirt as well. (I am a bit frustrated that those results haven't been posted anywhere on the internet yet.) The size of the race kept the finish area from being overwhelming. My family also enjoyed the race, as they were able to easily see me at several points along the double loop course. I would the describe the second half of each loop as having a little bit of "roll" to it. (More than I expected, but keep in mind we run railroad crossings for hill training where I live.) Second loop sans half runners had the real potential to get lonely; however, I met Bob from Cincinnati and we paced each other most of the rest of the way. Thanks, Bob. I plan to run the race again next year. | |
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Stephen Wargo from Columbia, MD
(12/18/2007)
"Organized by Runners for Runners" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I traveled from Maryland to Louisiana for a late fall marathon and I wasn't disappointed. The course was flat with one small hill on an overpass. Registration was smooth and easy - and I even got a surprise pair of colorful chicken socks. The Friday night dinner was fantastic for out-of-towners. I traveled alone, but met lots of runners, many attempting the 50 marathons in 50 states challenge. Weather was perfect - 50 at the start. Buses ran on time. The volunteers at the water stops were enthusiastic... especially the dozen bananas and the gorilla! The two-loop course was lightly crowded on the first lap (with the 1/2 participants). The second lap required you to dig down a little deeper. The post-race feast was the best I ever had. I really enjoyed the Cajun dishes!! Very happy with the entire experience. Would highly recommend. | |
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Andy Robillard from Chicago
(12/17/2007)
"Baton Rouge Beach Marathon" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Not to be argumentative with anyone else that has posted comments here about the Baton Rouge Beach Marathon, but there are a few comments that have been made that could be looked at from a different perspective: The singlets: I didn't feel that the singlets were cheap. They were short-sleeved technical shirts made by Brooks. They only had the Baton Rouge Beach Chicken logo on them. I liked them much better than shirts I've received in other events (including the Chicago Marathon) because they were technical shirts (not cotton) and they weren't plastered with any logos from the sponsors. Kind of refreshing and something that I will wear long afterwards. Gu or other energy supplements: Like most runners that I know, I am kind of finicky and made certain to bring my own so I could use the same supplements during the run that I trained with and so I wouldn't be reliant on anyone else. Also, occasionally during the course there were spectators that were handing out candy canes and other sugar items to help pump up your sugar levels if you wanted to go that route. Sparse crowds: It has been pretty well documented in this forum that this isn't the kind of marathon that has a high level of spectator energy throughout the entire course. The finish line did lack a little of that energy/climax that a runner would hope for. That being said, the post-race food, drinks and camaraderie were a lot of fun. The event wasn't so big that it became unmanageable and wasn't so small that it was forgettable. It was a nice balance. | |
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L. G. from Louisiana, USA
(12/9/2007)
"Only worth it if you are local" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I ran this marathon because it was a local Louisiana race. I knew the field would be small but I wanted to try it. The course itself was challenging. It had lots of long, gradual inclines that really took their toll on me. That, however, was where the good points stopped. The singlets were extremely cheap for a marathon. The weather was unusually warm, however, the organizers gave not help to the runners at the aid stations. No fruit, Gu, salty items, etc. were given at the aid stations; only water and Gatorade. The course was a little confusing at the half marathon point, and if you are not careful, you will end up running through the half marathon finish. The finish line was poor for photo ops because the finish sign was facing the wrong way and the clock was barely readable. There were very few spectators, especially on the last 13 miles. Be prepared for a lot of miles of running alone. If you are a Baton Rouge local, this is an ok race. But if you are looking for a real marathon experience, you are better off running New Orleans. | |
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Andy Robillard from Chicago, Illinois
(12/7/2007)
"Great Time!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The Baton Rouge Beach Marathon was a great experience. As many others have previously indicated, the event is well organized and there are a lot of little extra things the organizers do that add to the fun. I'm from Chicago and came to Baton Rouge earlier in the week to make certain that I would be acclimated to the area. I wanted to do a practice run on a section of the course on Wednesday and the great news was that the course was already marked out several days ahead of time. The course itself ran through the heart of LSU's campus and through some of the local neighborhoods. It was very attractive and, although the weather was ideal, it was laid out mainly in areas that kept the runners out of the direct sun and in shady tree-lined streets. All major intersections were covered throughout both legs of the double-loop course by police, so traffic was never a problem, and the water stops and bathrooms were ideally located. Never had a problem with any part of the course. I felt that the course ran fast, too. Although the crowd wasn't very big throughout the course, it didn't detract from the run in any way. The people that were out were all friendly and the water station volunteers were all helpful and added to the fun by dressing in costumes like bananas and cheerleaders. The packet pickup was pretty busy but the lines moved quickly and there was a great array of free food and drinks available. The after-race event was pretty elaborate, too - several different kinds of foods ranging from jambalaya to hot dogs, and there were plenty of different kinds of drinks, too, ranging from water to pop to energy drinks and beer. It was a great event and I couldn't have had a better time. My thanks go out to all of the people who organized this event to make it a great time! | |
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Shaun Fisher from NOLA
(12/6/2007)
"Stellar event!!! I will return!!!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Baton Rouge Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This may not be a great event for a first-timer, but for anyone else, this is the best marathon event in LA, hands down! Baton Rouge is a beautiful city and the course travels through the most scenic parts of town. Views include LSU, Tiger Stadium, historic mansions, scenic waterfronts, and tons of huge oaks and Spanish moss. This is the premiere, down-south race! There are no expo, no elite Kenyan teams, no prize money, and an extremely small field, but very, very well organized and beautiful course. I will be back next year. Thank you, BRBM!!! | |
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Ray Gildea from Madison, MIssissippi
(12/5/2007)
"Just Gets Better" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Baton Rouge Beach Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race just gets better every year. I enjoy this event so much. The weather gods smile on this race and this edition was sunny with an occasional breeze. Warm, but could have been much worse. A two-loop marathon has its own challenges, but I for one enjoy the contrast between the first lap and the second. There's a big old half-marathon composed mostly of local people, with a very impressive contingent of LSU students and staff thrown in. No other SEC town could have better town-gown relations or participation. There was noticeably less traffic than usual - perhaps because of the road trip to the SEC Championship football game in Atlanta. The second lap was more fun after teaming up with a first-timer who needed a bit of encouragement. Because I lived here years ago, the course makes me feel nostalgic. I caught my first fish in University Lake. I remember when the Lake froze in '62.... How they manage to keep that wonderful alligator avec sauce piquant for the slower boys is beyond me. There may be 4 or 5 demi-marathoners these days for every two-lapper, but the food and drinks are there big-time no matter how long it takes. On a fair weather day, the runners are joined in the late morning by hordes of recreational runners and walkers enjoying the lake area, but that only adds to the ambiance of the event in its latter stages. The race is graced by one of the nation's finest race photographers. Her photos are generally first-rate. A word to the wise - come early if you want finish line parking. When they say the parking is limited these days, they ain't just woofing. Finally, all that online diatribe couched in feudal parlance about knights and such - it's absolutely metaphysically true! The vassals are loyal to the benevolent but tyrannical lord of this manor who insists on universal kindness and civility. |
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