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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 281 to 291]
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j. z. from columbia md
(10/18/2004)
"Nice run, bad organization" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Good things: Cool Under Armour shirts, nice course. Bad things: 7000 people come across the finish line to get crammed into a 1/2 acre parking lot to give-up their chip, get a medal, get food and water, etc. What a zoo, I decided to forego the food and drink b/c it was just too tight to move... it was like waiting for a Tokyo train. The 'free beer' tokens given to runners was only a plus if you wanted to wait 40 minutes in line after running for four hours. I skipped that too. These problems are permissible for a first or second year marathon. Three strikes for Baltimore... | |
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R. j. from md
(10/18/2004)
"ok" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon, and I was semi-happy with my finish (although I bonked very badly at 22). Very challenging course. I would have liked it if they had Gatorade and food in front of the water at stations, and I would of liked splits to be posted. | |
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Maria Price Detherage from Accokeek, Maryland (USA)
(10/17/2004)
"Awesome Experience - the city, the fans, the race!" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thoroughly enjoyed this marathon experience. Everyone was really supportive - the citizens of Baltimore are OUTSTANDING!!!! I loved the diversity of the neighborhoods and the tour of the city. I now have a new appreciation for the slogan 'Charm City' as it is quite fitting. This was my first marathon and although I moved away several years ago, I wanted to return home to run my first. What nostalgia. I ran past my old alma maters (City and U of B), my old church (Bethel AME) and many old 'stomping' grounds. In two weeks, I will run the Marine Corps Marathon with friends but I can't imagine that topping this experience. Palman Qui Meruit Ferat! Kudos to the race planners, Under Armour and the City of Baltimore!!!! | |
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M. L. from Frederick, Md.
(10/17/2004)
"Not perfect, but a great event nevertheless" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 First, want to thank the City of Baltimore and the sponsors for putting on a great event and hope it will continue indefinitely. Generally, I liked the diversity of the course and neighborhoods, but I think some of the nicer byways in Baltimore were left out. I thought the aid stations were great and the enthusiasm of the volunteers was outstanding. The crowd support was great in most areas, but sparse in others (another reason I think the selection of streets for the route could be improved). I wore my 'Run Against Bush' t-shirt and was very pleased with the supportive comments I got thoughout the race. As far as hills, I had heard this was a hilly marathon, but it wasn't as tough as I had anticipated (I actually PR'd), and I think the descent during the last 4 miles is great. I was somewhat bothered by the merge with the 1/2 marathon, and wonder why it couldn't be scheduled to start at a time that would allow greater dispersion of the field before any merger takes place. I also think the 1/2 marathon should have a separate finish line from the marathoners. Perhaps this could have helped cut down on some of the chaos in the finish area where it was awfully crowded and many runners were having to seek out their medals and wraps, and often didn't have anyone to assist them with removing their chips. (Thank goodness I had someone nice enough to help me remove mine because bending over that far at that point in time would have been a real challenge.) I also wanted to give kudos for the thoughtfully convenient location of the bag checkpoint. To anybody who was overly bothered by the crowds or event management otherwise, let me warn you, if you thought this was bad, don't ever run the Marine Corps. | |
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C. F. from Annapolis, MD
(10/17/2004)
"it was very pleasant to run it!" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was a fun race with a lot of support from the spectators! | |
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John Steiner from Thurmont, Maryland
(10/17/2004)
"I fully enjoyed this race!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a fantastic start to run a first marathon! From start to finish, the organization was super! The course was challenging, and the spectators through all of the miles were great! I thought the course layout, support from the volunteers with water, etc., couldn't have been better. The city streets were a bit bumpy in some spots, but overall, the organization, layout and even the end, though crowded, was a plus with how quickly the organizers moved people through. No problems throughout -- I'll definitely be back to run the race again next year! Great job Baltimore!!!! | |
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B. R. from Baltimore
(6/9/2004)
"My first time" (about: 2003)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Ok, so Baltimore was my first marathon and I don't have any other experience to compare it to, but I thought the race organizers did a good job. I thoroughly enjoyed the race. I live in Baltimore, and was impressed with the support the race received. My family came in from out of town, and they really enjoyed the event. They got to see me several times, with only walking a short distance, and enjoyed shopping at the harbor. I find it hard to believe that people were worried about being mugged on the course! That's ridiculous! And as for the hills, what did you expect? It's Baltimore. There are hills everywhere. I have a friend who did the marathon the first year, when the hills were much worse. Personally, I think the hills make it a challenge. So, if you aren't interested in challenging yourself, don't do Baltimore. I trained with a group in Baltimore and was very well prepared. The official training program was well organized, knowledgable, and fun! It turned this former couch potato into a runner. Now, I'm preparing for my second marathon. | |
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P. S. from Annapolis, MD
(4/30/2004)
"A diverse course that is a good tour of Baltimore." (about: 2003)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I found the course truly enjoyable. Some people have complained about a few of the neighborhoods the course ran through ? I actually enjoyed the diversity. Even though I live in the area (Annapolis), I saw neighborhoods and parks in Baltimore that I had never seen before. I was pleasantly surprised by how many residents came out and offered their support and never was I afraid of getting mugged (as one runner wrote previously). There were probably a few potholes along the way and I don?t doubt that a few runners tripped over orange cones; at some point we have to take responsibility to watch were we are running though. The race organization was fast, friendly and efficient with one exception. As many people have commented, the half-marathon start did present some problems, particularly for those trying to run 3:00?3:30. I was fortunate to only be using the race as a long training run. The race wasn?t perfect, but it did give you a chance to see what Baltimore has to offer. The route through Camden Yards was an extra perk. If you are in it for the experience you will love the race ? if you are trying to PR somewhere between 3:00?3:30, you may want to wait until they fix the half-marathon start. | |
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S. S. from White Plains, NY
(4/3/2004)
"Baltimore is a nice city but THE RACE IS NOT!!!!!" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Well, the city of Baltimore is nice but the race was not great. At the halfway mark you ran into a wall of people who just started the 1/2. This slowed many marathoners to almost a stop. The race directors are changing the course sightly so I would still think anyone running the marathon will be slowed again a great deal. I hope that the race director will change the 1/2 totally so it does not run with the full marathon until the end. If they do this I would definitely run it again. But anyone running in 2004, beware!!! | |
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C. S. from Baltimore, MD
(3/30/2004)
"T-shirt concern" (about: 2003)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Baltimore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 While I was excited to receive an Under Armour shirt as part of my registration, I was disappointed with the 'girl's' shirt. The shirt is white with a marathon logo on the bottom right corner. This marathon was my first and I would have loved to have a shirt with the full scoop nice and big in the center- just like the boy's shirt. Maybe it'll be different next year?! I hope the marathon organizers read this site. |
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