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☰
Baltimore Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Baltimore Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 4.0 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 443 [displaying comments 201 to 211]
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J. J. from New York, New York
(10/20/2006)
"Tough first-time course, but a great overall race" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon, and it was a great experience. This was a tough course with the hills starting around mile 16. There was plenty of aid on the course, and the pace groups were really helpful. A great tour of the city with a very diverse look at the many neighborhoods. I would highly recommend running this race once at least once, but be prepared for some hills. | |
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B. W. from Aberdeen, NJ
(10/19/2006)
"Good flavor of Baltimore" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course travels through rough areas, but runners are given an overall flavor of Baltimore via Camden Yards, the Inner Harbor, Ft. McHenry, etc. Hills are tough but doable; just incorporate some in your training. Shirt good, but medal was not. Actually liked the long-sleeve shirts sold at the expo the best (bring $20 for those). Immediate finish area with runner food and drink is very congested. Volunteers were fantastic with plenty of water stops. Plenty of hotels within walking distance to start/finish area, which is a major plus for those traveling with young children. Crabs, beer and largest dessert on menu for dinner capped off a great family weekend. | |
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Bruce Yang from New York
(10/17/2006)
"NO CONES PLEASE" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course was scenic and a bit challenging around mile 18 to 22. Good preparation for the Heartbreak Hill in Boston! Yes, the post-race was a bit crowded and I could not find the booth where they served the crab soup. Or did they have one? The fans were great for those who woke up early enough on Sunday. For those fans of mine who waited for me near the John Hopkins University about 2.5 hours after I crossed the finish line, I really appreciate your efforts. Those orange cones were downright dangerous for the runners, especially in the beginning of the marathon when it was crowded and many people tripped over them. They should never be placed that way. I hope the race organizer will find a better method to deal with that next time. | |
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D. K. from Lilburn, GA
(10/17/2006)
"Excellent weather, tiny medal :(" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I greatly enjoyed all the food - you don't have to worry about water, Gatorade, or food along this course! The gummy bear man is the greatest! Sooo good! But I was really expecting a huge crab medal at the end (the one I had seen at a previous expo at another marathon in an advertisement for this marathon). Well, the medal was so little and light the wind could blow it around my neck! Ha! Ok, it's not all about the medal, but the Baltimore police were my heros!! They covered every inch of the marathon; someone should give them a raise!!! I really had a good time even if I didn't get any crab soup or a blanket at 5:58!! A beautiful harbor and city. Just remember to take the SuperShuttle instead of a taxi from the airport!! | |
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R. Z. from Baltimore, MD
(10/17/2006)
"Not a marathoner's marathon" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Baltimore Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 This event is marketed as "The Baltimore Running Festival." No question Under Armour sponsorship caters to the half marathoners, making it particularly frustrating for those running the full 26.2 mile course. Attempts were made to alleviate congestion where the half marathoners join the full marathon group. This simply meant joining the half marathoners at mile 16 rather than 13, while having to contend with running along a narrow, designated lane on the far right of the road, which of course sloped quite a bit. Once together, many half marathoners came to enjoy a leisurely stroll and walked 4-5 across. Etiquette needs to be addressed during registration. Water stops were good - it was a beautiful day and a tough course, a fun challenge if the only challenge was the course and not weaving in and out among the "casual" participants. Baltimore is a great city, with lots to look at through all the neighborhoods, and wonderful city support - especially from the Baltimore City Police. Would recommend another "big"-city marathon unless changes are made to better accommodate the true marathoners. Expensive entrance fee, nice shirt, cute crab on the medal but it was small and thin compared to years past, and there was limited food at finish, but plenty to "buy" at the post-race festival. The weather and the city made this one great, Under Armour needs to make it better for 2007. | |
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P. V. from Central New York
(10/17/2006)
"Tough course, but very good race" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A very good race overall - just be ready for the hills. Some congestion at the merge with the half marathon and some narrow spots on the course, but nothing too troubling. You run through some tough parts of Baltimore - boarded up houses and such - but you also enjoy a beautiful tour through Fort McHenry and the inner harbor. Pace groups were absolutely fantastic. My experience was that organizers were very responsive to runners and really cared that everyone had a good experience. Another plus - the start and finish areas were extremely convenient for stay at several hotels. I would recommend this race - just be ready for the hills! | |
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A. M. from Maryland
(10/17/2006)
"Baltimore--it's consistent" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Baltimore Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Baltimore is a tough race for a first timer, but once you get a sense of the race, it is satisfyingly consistent. There are hills, but they are manageable. There is concrete and pot holes, which really is more difficult than the hills. The course runs through some rougher neighborhoods, but that is Baltimore. If you don't like the 'big city,' don't run the race. One really gets a sense of the flavor of Baltimore. In 1/2 a mile you got from the ritzy Canton area to some streets right out of 'The Wire.' This race makes one understnad the challenges facing our big cities. Ok, enough about the sociology. The water stops are great, the t-shirt great, packet-pickup great and the after race party is great. There was a problem with timing issues, but I suspect this will be worked out as they race completes its review. What impresses me most is the race maagemnet. They have 5 or 6 races going on at a time, and they still listen to the runners. Last year the complaints involved Hillen Road, water at the finish and not enough room in the marathoning area. This year, all of the problems were fixed. Basically, the race delivers what it promises: a certified course, accurate mile markers, safe traffic crossings, water/gatorade, a good party with two free beers, and a challenging course. Everything else is window dressing. | |
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D. P. from NC
(10/16/2006)
"Great and Tough" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Good hills - great spectators - positive and challenging! | |
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D. T. from Detroit, Michigan
(10/16/2006)
"Not that good, not that bad" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was marathon #10 for me, so I have some comparisons. Many noted the course was tough; I did not feel that way. It was a good course, varied, with moderate hills. I felt the crowd was very poor. Many areas had no spectators at all. Rarely did the spectators make enough noise to drown out my MP3, which is my criteria for a good crowd. Even at the finish the crowd was not that deep. The expo was pathetic. The packet pickup was stretched over four areas at opposite ends of the display area. There were relatively few exhibitors at the expo. Post-race was poorly planned; the area immediately beyond the chip return was so packed it took minutes to get through. I noticed many runners, like me, could not find their way out of that area to get to our cars. Too small, too crowded. Overall, there was little incentive for me to run again in Baltimore. | |
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J. S. from Baltimore, MD
(10/16/2006)
"Great race that has improved each year" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Baltimore Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Exciting start and finish with good views for most of race. Lots of inclines going north and declines going south (I know it's not logical, but it seems more uphill and less downhill for some reason). Great job by the organizers removing the massive hill on mile 21 and having more Gatorade. Now maybe they can work on getting rid of the elevator lines for registration at Ravens Stadium! |
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