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☰
Mercedes Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Mercedes Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 267 [displaying comments 161 to 171]
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D. M. from Denver, Colorado
(2/15/2006)
"Tough course, but worth it for the medal..." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is definitely a tougher course. The hill at mile 5 is long, the hill at mile 22 is steep, and the most difficult part, the decline at mile 23, very steep and hard on your tired quads. But in the end it is definitely worth it for the finisher's medal, a very cool silver Mercedes emblem (best medal I have seen) along with the satisfaction of finishing. The weather also made it difficult this year (low 30's and windy) but overall this marathon has good organization, a scenic course, and while not a huge number, great spectators. The only downside was the host hotel (Sheraton). We had nothing but problems, including waiting over 45 minutes just to sit down for the spaghetti dinner. Run the marathon, but stay somewhere else! | |
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K. L. from New York, NY
(2/15/2006)
"Great post-race food and finisher's shirt!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The course was tough, due to the LONG hills between miles 22 and 23 and miles 5 and 6. Crowd support was pretty sparse, but those who did come out were very enthusiastic. The volunteers at the aid stations and the police directing traffic did an excellent job, so thank you to all of them for helping out on a cold, Sunday morning! Not much to do in downtown Birmingham, which was pretty deserted over the weekend. In fact, it was tough to find an Italian restaurant that served pasta in the city. I guess Italian food isn't that popular in Birmingham. The post-race food and party were really great (even better than the Dallas White Rock Marathon). The BBQ sandwiches were delicious, as were the bountiful amounts of free beer and Coca-Cola drinks. The Brooks technical long-sleeve finisher's t-shirt was also a nice touch, and the Mercedes medal is definitely the nicest I've ever received. Overall, I thought the organizers did a great job. I think the course could be changed, because that hill at mile 22 was truly tough. I also think having an organized pasta party the night before would also be nice, especially for out-of-towners like myself. I would definitely recommend this marathon, although I don't think there's much to do in the city after the race. | |
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J. S. from Georgia
(2/14/2006)
"good, but not getting better" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Mercedes Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my second year running this race. There are several nice things that make this race unique such as the cool medal, second finisher shirt by Brooks, great post-party and meal, and chance to win a Mercedes lease. The course changes made this year actually seemed to make this hilly course seem a little more hilly. Aid stations were well manned and the organization was all you could ask for. My only real disappointment was the crowd and neighborhood support. There seemed to be a significant drop-off here, and despite all the great things the organizers do, this race will only get better if the town embraces it a little more. | |
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M. W. from Indiana
(2/13/2006)
"Small, OK race" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 It was my first trip to AL, and I can say that the city of Birmingham is nothing to brag about. City is a ghost town, and even the 5 points area is so-so. Expo was small, but volunteers were nice. Race route was more impressive with the nicer neighborhoods and hills. Crowd support was small. Excellent finishing medal!! Not a bad race to run, but I don't expect to return. | |
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D. P. from Atlanta, Georgia
(2/13/2006)
"Tough course but well put-together" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon. Overall, I was more than satisfied with my experience and highly recommend it. Following are my thoughts as to the pros and cons of the event: Pros: (1) Very well-organized. Everything seemed flawlessly run and super-efficient. (2) LOTS of aid stations. They were more or less at every mile, with gels and fruit at many of them. (3) The prizes are great - the medal is really cool, and you get two shirts, one of them a long-sleeved runner's shirt. (4) The fans were great - much of the course went through residential neighborhoods, and many kids, families, and school groups got involved. Their enthusiasm really helped. (5) The course went through very nice and scenic parts of the city. It never got boring or dull. Cons: (1) The expo was not very exciting. Few vendors, not much of interest. It took only about 20 minutes to go through the entire thing. (2) The course was VERY tough. This could be a pro, too, depending on how you look at it, but the toughest hill was around mile 22, which is not where one has energy for climbing. (3) The marathon and 1/2-marathon follow the same course for the first 8 miles, and it was a bit crowded. On some of the roads they blocked off one lane of four, whereas blocking off two lanes would have made it much more comfortable. (4) Starting at 7 in the morning, in February, makes for a very cold race. I would have rather started at 8, or even 9. (5) There could have been more port-a-potties. | |
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R. T. from Arlington, Virginia
(2/13/2006)
"A well organized winter race with a hilly flavor" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 February's Mercedes Marathon is an out-of-the-ordinary race which features many big-city-race bonuses without huge crowds. The best features of the Mercedes Marathon are the type that you wish every race had. With several hotels near the start, you can take your time getting ready indoors, which helps on a cold morning like the 2006 race featured. If you're not staying in the hotels, you can still warm up indoors, at the auditorium close to the start. Every mile is marked well (most with clocks) and nearly every mile has a water stop (with several offering oranges, bananas, etc.). You won't find New York- or Chicago-type crowds here, but you will find plenty of people who come out of their homes to cheer you on. I'm sure that conditions better than the 30-degree, 15-mph wind type that greeted the runners in 2006 might raise the crowd level another notch. The medal is quite different, the two t-shirts (one for entry, one for finishing) are a nice touch and the indoor post-race offering of barbecue is a special change from the traditional bagels and orange slices. But before you send in your check for 2007, be aware of one thing. Or more exactly, two things. This is not a flat course. There are two long inclines, one from mile 3.5 to mile 6.0, which goes up, plateaus for a mile, then goes UP, with a gain of 200 feet between miles five and six. Conquer that one, and minor bumps and 18, and there's still one monstrosity left between you and the finish, an unforgiving 1-1/2 mile incline from 21.4 to 22.9. If you haven't planned for it, it will get you. Also, be aware that there isn't much to do in downtown Birmingham on the weekend. While the 5 Points area makes for a pleasant dinner, don't expect to do much without access to an automobile. | |
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S. K. from Atlanta, Georgia
(2/13/2006)
"An awesome race that's first-class!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was one the best races I've run... if not the best (out of 6 half-marathons and 3 fulls). It was very well organized and the runners are treated to a challenging course with plenty of "water stops." The idea of selling "mile" sponsorships was brilliant... it means that every mile you can expect a cheering section! You receive two t-shirts... one prior to and one for finishing (a t-shirt that actually means something... you actually have to finish the race). This is still an up-and-coming race (i.e. only been around for 5 years) that has been embraced by the community. I'm sure that the number of runners will continue to climb. I look forward to the years to come! | |
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R. M. from Alabama
(2/13/2006)
"Fabulous time!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first full marathon and I am so glad I chose this event. The course, although tough because of the two large hills, is very pretty. The last hill was incredible, especially the decline, but the view of downtown at the top was wonderful and made the climb and descent worthwhile. The support was great, the aid stations plentiful and stocked and the volunteers were so friendly. It was very cold. I love cold weather for running and I was hoping it would be cold, but this was really cold. We received Mylar blankets at the end, which really helped. The medal is awesome and the finisher's t-shirt is really neat. Birmingham should be proud to host such a nice, professional, and well-run event. Stay downtown if you are from out of town. The hotels are so close to the start/finish that it makes race-day really easy. | |
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Eric Rubinson from North Brunswick, NJ
(2/13/2006)
"Tough course, a formidable challenge" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is the marathon you should do if you are looking for an Alabama race. Well organized, smaller field, GREAT spectators. The hills are monsters if you are not ready for them - I wasn't and ended up doing a 20-mile run with a 6.2-mile cool-down. Still finished in 4:15 but I don't care, I earned my medal as much as at any other marathon! Warning - there is not a ton to do in Birmingham, but if you stay through Sunday night, go to Jim and Nick's BBQ and treat yourself. If you're not from the South, it's like nothing you've ever tasted in your life. (I am from NJ.) Take my advice: Train on hills for this one. Do at least 2-3 x 1-mile repeats at a grade of 4% as often as it fits into your training schedule. Run hilly training runs whenever possible. There is no reason to shy away from this course unless, 1) it's your last chance ever to qualify for Boston, or 2) you're a wuss. | |
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S. R. from Warner Robins, GA
(2/13/2006)
"An absolute must-run!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run a few of the bigger, more well known marathons and I have to say that this is probably my favorite. This marathon is still young (2006 is #5), but I think before you know it, it's going to be just as big as Marine Corps or New York. The organization was great, the crowds were awesome and my goodness, all the water stops. The course was beautiful. I felt bad for the people running the half-marathon because they missed out on all the real beauty. My husband (as a spectator) loved the fact that we went back into Boutwell after the run. He said it made him feel like he was more involved in the whole race and felt included. Of course, when there is free beer, everthing is better. The band after the race was great, and so was the BBQ. The medal is awesome. It makes you want to get a chain and wear it around your neck for a little "bling." I also couldn't believe that you got a second shirt at the finish. Not just any shirt either. It's a really nice running shirt. One of my favorites! I am so glad I ran this race and I look forward to doing it again. Normally I wouldn't do the same marathon twice (just to save money), but this one I would do over and over again. Thanks for a great run!!! |
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