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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 381 to 391]
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A Runner from Norwood,NY
(10/24/2001)
"Tough Course, organization needs work" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This race has a very hilly course. The first 16 miles are a series of rolling hills which amount to a climb for most of the distance. Very long hill at mile 21. Of 5218 finishers, only 27% broke 4 hours. It was quite warm with no cloud cover. It might pay to move this race into November. The course is not to be taken lightly. Organization at the registration/packet pick-up was poor. Runners were wandering around trying to find the next stop in the process. Runners Expo was mixed in with the registration area to add to confusion. The on course organization was fair. First few mile markers should have been elevated. They sat on the ground, and were obscured by spectators and other runners. The first few water stops should have been set up on both sides of the street. They were set up on one side only causing confusion and congestion as people tried to get in and out of the water stops. Add to that some people getting water and immediately stopping to walk and drink in the water stop area, and you had problems in those first few water stops. Once the pack thinned out they were very good. Traffic tie-ups in the city due to the race seemed to be pretty bad. I felt sorry for the cops trying to deal with it. Also, there were several runners down that I was aware of due to the heat and course. I wouldn't be surprised to see some tweaking of the course to take it away from some of the busier intersections, and to take some of the hills out. The meal after the race was nothing to write home about. A couple of pieces of fruit, a bottle of water, and a bag of chips. No other drinks were available as far as I could tell. For $60 I expected more. I think the race organizers need to spend less money on the post race party and more on runner amenities at the finish line. Overall, this race has potential. The scenery early is very nice, and the facilities are pretty good. I can see a tough year ahead for the staff to iron out some of the glitches. The course makes it a poor choice for first timers. | |
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A Runner from Baltimore, Md
(10/23/2001)
"Requires some help!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 The course could not have been mapped out by experienced race planners! (ie, the hills and the neighborhoods it took you through). It needs to be re-worked. This race should have taken runners through much nicer parts of the city. Organizers should incorporate Federal Hill over Patterson Park, Charles Village over Druid Hill, and St. Paul or Charles Street over Howard St. and MLK Blvd. This race took runners through the worst of Baltimore! The organization needs improvement. Runners finishing after the 4:30:00 mark found the main food vendor loading up the truck. There was no food at the end for runners after this time, only water! The race promoted that there would be bands along the course to motivate the runners, there were none! Water stops were fully staffed and the encouragement and excitement of these folks should not go unnoticed! The fans and the police did a wonderful job making all runners feel like the toast of the town. Organizers: The foundation is there, get this right for next year! | |
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A Runner from New Jersey
(10/23/2001)
"Physically and mentally beat on the hills" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I felt well-trained for a marathon and felt that a sub-4:00 hour time was very achievable having run 1:44 half-marathons over the previous few months. However, this course physically and mentally beat me with the hills which seemed never ending...long up hills and short down hills until mile 18 seemed like they would never end as well as miles 20 - 21...but by that time I was mentally and physically beat by the hills, although I ran the half in 1:50...unfortunately the 2nd half got me at 2:40...I know I was trained better than that...I believe the course organizers wil have to review the topography of the course if they want people to come back. For a first marathon, the organization and spectators were top notch! The logistics of starting and stopping at Ravens Stadium and being only blocks from the Inner Harbor and hotels was great! | |
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Jason Saitta from Northglenn, Colorado
(10/23/2001)
"This marathon has a bright future!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Although this course has some difficult hills, the crowd support and well manned aid stations made this a fun marathon. The organizers, race director and volunteers did an excellent job...my hat is off to you guys! I will be back to do this one again. | |
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A Runner from Baltimore, Maryland
(10/23/2001)
"Hot, Hilly and Wonderful" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Without the heat, the hills might have not been so bad. The last 8 miles are not shaded, so we runners were cooked by the end. Maybe next year we will have better weather. The race organizers for this inaugural running of the Baltimore Marathon did a wonderful job. The spectators were amazing; I have never seen such enthusiasm from a marathon-naive city. Good job Baltimore and I'll pray for cooler weather next year. | |
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A Runner from Philadlephia, PA
(10/23/2001)
"Should call it the Roller Coaster Marathon" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Lots of rolling hills with the worst (and last) one coming at 21. Which is where my knee finally gave out costing me a PR (not to mention a mere finish). Even with this sour experience, I must still admit that this was a very well organized race and the fan support was unbelievable. Great job Baltimore | |
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A Runner from Linthicum, MD
(10/23/2001)
"Beautiful Course Perfect Weather" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The course was hilly but not impossible. The crowd support was not shoulder to shoulder for 26 miles, but lots of folks out having fun, handing out cookies, candy, water and enthusiasm. I thought it was very festive and I found both the runners and support folks warm and friendly. While some of the course was pretty plain (especially the last 3 miles), much of it found parks and even some much-appreciated shade trees. Extra kudos to the guy misting runners around mile 17. I did see some runners bonking, but I never passed up a chance for fluids and finished fine. First time marathon for me, but I'm hooked. There's undoubtably faster courses to be found, but full support from the city and sponsors made for a memorable day. | |
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A Runner from Wilmington, Delaware
(10/23/2001)
"Very Well Done for a First Time Race" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I was very impressed by the whole show. As others have said its a pretty rolling and hilly course; not a P.R. sort of day. Could have used a few more porta-potties along the course; they were only in two locations that I recall. Also, put water on both sides of the road for the early water stops; it avoids course congestion that way. Baltimore is much prettier than I imagined. The course went through many interesting neighborhoods and, I thought, was very scenic (Ok, it's not Big Sur but it's nice.) Plus the people of Baltimore really turned out; I thought they were great. | |
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A Runner from Manassas, VA
(10/23/2001)
"Well organized race, beautiful urban course." (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was pleasantly surprised with the Inaugural Comcast Baltimore Marathon. There were many more runners than I expected and many more spectators, too. The race was started appropriately with statements by city officials, including the Mayor, the singing of the national anthem and 'God Bless America,' and an invocation by a local pastor. The weather was beautiful, crisp and sunny, though it did heat up too much a little later in the morning. There was fan support throughout the race, with all the traditional shouts of 'C'mon, this is the LAST hill!' and 'Water just around the corner!' Lots of high-fiving younsters and barking dogs on leashes to cheer us along. The course wound through beautiful and diverse neighborhoods and really gave a flavor of why Baltimore is called 'Charm City.' The race volunteers were great -- helpful and encouraging. The US Army volunteer water stop wins the prize as the most organized and clean -- they kept the cups picked up and the running course clear. The race was challenging given the rolling terrain, though none of the hills were particularly steep -- they were just constant for the first 17-18 miles! And there seemed to be a lot of miles run on unforgiving concrete streets as opposed to the slightly more hospitable asphalt. On a scale of of 1 to 10, I would rate the Inaugural Comcast Baltimore Marathon at 8. Great job and I look forward to running this race every year for a new running tradition. Thanks to all the organizers, city officials, sponsors, volunteers, fans and fellow runners for a wonderful way to get to know your city better. - Steven Dorsey, Manassas, VA | |
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A Runner from Maryland
(10/23/2001)
"Challenging & interesting course" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This course is not your typical 'flat and fast' marathon. There are a lot of hills - not steep, but continuous rolling hills from mile 5 to 21. But that is what makes it interesting. The course is challenging - definitely not a BQ course for the average runner - but not impossibly so. It's an accomplishment when you are done. True, there were some logistical problems that need to be worked out. But for a first time marathon with 6500 people that's to be expected. There could be more food on the course, more than one GU stop, better signs for the start and the finish area (meeting areas, etc). I saw a number of medical personnel along the course. And I thought the route was fairly scenic for an urban marathon. The fans were great. All in all a very good event. P.S. There is talk of redesigning the course next year to take out some of the hills. |
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