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Pacific Crest Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Pacific Crest Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 42 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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D. B. from San Francisco, CA
(6/28/2009)
"Beauiful; well organized; great time for everyone" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I just got home from running this marathon and I wanted to add my comments to the list. Even though it is a double loop, the course is good and quite beautiful. The areas along the river are especially scenic, with the water in the foreground and the mountain behind. There were water stops about every mile, and most of the course seemed like it was downhill. Oregon is a beautiful place in general, and Sunriver is one of its crown jewels. If you get an opportunity, run this one. You will not be disappointed!! | |
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G. T. from Salem, Oregon
(8/21/2008)
"Great 1st Marathon" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I loved the fact that it was run in Sunriver. Aid stations at every mile were great; people staffing them did an outstanding job too. Thanks! | |
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N. P. from St Charles County, Missouri
(7/22/2008)
"Beautiful course with GREAT VOLUNTEERS" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I am working on my 50 state marathons and this was state number 10. We - my non-running husband, daughter and I - chose Oregon as our vacation destination this year, so we came when there was a marathon. The course was beautiful. I really liked the bike paths we ran on, and it was very easy for family members to drive around and see runners. It was very warm (record-setting temperatures in much of Oregon that day), but the water stations were plentiful and had cold liquid. The volunteers and spectators were very friendly - like almost everyone we met in Oregon. We did have a little trouble finding athlete village, but no big deal. Very nice expo - even though the marathon field was small, due to all the other races going on. I would highly recommend this race to anyone. | |
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C. M. from California
(7/2/2008)
"Beautiful course, great organization, nice folks" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Gosh, I feel like I was at a different race when reading the comment below. I don't know if the half marathon experience was different, but the full marathon experience was great! There's no question that the course was sensational, but I felt that the organization and support were also terrific. There were a ton of porta-potties at the finish, which is where we were gathered; the start time for the full marathon was right on track; the path was more than adequate in width and the water stops were ESSENTIAL on such a hot day - it might have felt early but if you were doing the full it was actually not early; and the field is so small that it's not that hard to figure out when the "official" start is, even if it's just a "go" - and besides, it's chip-timed, so it's not that critical. It's unfortunate that there wasn't a clock at the finish - something for next year. This is a small, local race and I'm so glad that the organizers were willing to put this on - a huge success, given that it's just one of several events. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes a small-town feel, wants to run in beautiful scenery, and enjoys friendly folks. Keep up the good work!! | |
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Rob Klein from Aurora, Colorado
(6/30/2008)
"El Scorcho! 98 Degrees F!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This weekend in Sunriver was very busy. There were a lot of different races going on, so lots of folks were present. The marathon event (what I am reporting on) was well done. It did not seem like anything was left to chance. It was confusing where to go for packet pickup, but everybody seemed to figure it out. Runners were briefed ahead of time, and directed (actually led) to the starting line, which was perhaps 1/2 a mile from the expo area. The overnight temperature was in the upper 40's. The course was well marked, and volunteers helped direct traffic in the resort, while other volunteers provided fluids at very frequently spaced aid stations. Some stations had ice to share, if we asked. That was good. The course did two loops around the resort, on a bike path. A lot of it was shaded, and there was plenty in the meadow areas too, which was direct sunshine. The course was very pleasant and scenic, nestled in the trees, with lakes, rivers, and glaciers all nearby. The neighbors were friendly and encouraging. Fans and spectators were not abundant, except near the finish area, but still all fans are always welcome. The organizers used Hammer Gel and a sports drink that contained no sugar - then told us, with the temperature expected to be in the upper 90's, not to try anything new on the race course. So I carried my own Clif-Shots and Gatorade, but still used the sports drink provided - and it worked well. By the way, the Clif-Shot folks were at the expo handing out their stuff free, while others were trying to sell the exact same stuff. I was told that the organizers would not let the Clif-Shot folks hand out their stuff during the race. That was poor decision-making, when runners needed more options and flexibility due to the excessive heat. Anyway, Clif-Shots were handed over the rail to the marathoners passing the expo at the start of the second loop. Hats off to the Clif-Shot personnel. The heat and altitude took their toll on the runners. I experimented with alternating between run and walk, as encouraged by Jeff Galloway folks, and I still had a consistent finish time. Thanks to the Sunriver Resort for letting us use their community for our race. As a final note, I camped for this marathon. There are National Forest Campgrounds quite close to Sunriver, and at $6.00, it is a reasonable alternative to getting a room with a bed in it (for those so inclined), and free showers were available at the resort. | |
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M. L. from Southeastern WA
(6/28/2008)
"Great opportunity, poor execution" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 The scenery around Sunriver is highly acclaimed; I wasn't disappointed. The course wandered through trees and meadows and beside lakes framed by snowy mountains: The perfect setting. And when it comes to race settings, I haven't seen better. But that's where the praise stops, I'm afraid. The race - in fact, the whole weekend - lacked a number of basic features. 1. Though everybody in my party of 7 registered at the same time, only 5 of us received race confirmation packets. 2. There were no signs to the athlete village anywhere: not on the roads leading to the area nor in the resort village itself. ON RACE DAY: 3. Inadequate bathroom facilities. There were 4 port-a-johns in a parking lot some distance from the starting area, but around the "athlete's village," runners had to find the one or two businesses that had opened the bathrooms to the public. 4. The runners were asked to gather in the village for warm-ups, and were told they would be led to the start by 7:45. We did not start moving toward the start until 8 (start time), and after walking about 1/4 mile, found that many runners had skipped the warm-ups and were already waiting at the start. 5. The race began (and was run entirely) on narrow paths. This could work well if runners were asked to line up according to projected start times. However, many walkers and slower runners crowed to the front and clogged the course. This problem was compounded by water stops very early in the course, I think about mile one. It took a good 4-5 miles for me to reach the pace I had hoped to run throughout. 6. There was no obvious "official" start. I think somebody said, "Go," but I can't imagine many others behind me did. This wouldn't have been as big a problem if we had started on time, but since the race started well after 8, nobody was sure when everything was officially underway. 7. Perhaps the worst transgression was that there was NO CLOCK AT THE FINISH LINE. This is bad enough in and of itself - it gives runners a boost to see seconds ticking as they approach the finish - but since the race started late and there was so much backup and clogging, there was no way to know your "gun time." 8. A last minor note is that the website advertised moisture-wicking shirts, but we only received cotton ones. If you've a hankering to tour Sunriver, I'd recommend a training run rather than this race. | |
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Bill Gaghan from Connecticut
(6/27/2007)
"Gorgeous Course!!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 My wife and I flew into Portland from Connecticut to run this race. It was my 22nd marathon and her 12th. We did the 3+-hour scenic drive down the Columbia River Gorge highway and then south on Rt. 35/26 past Mt. Hood and 97 South stopping here and there to see the sights. The race was very well organized. The committee must be reading comments here, because everything I read about here was addressed. The expo was nice; held outside near where the finish line was. Marathon was part of many other races, but I give major kudos to the organizers who seemingly kept everything straight. The course was, simply put, just gorgeous. Much of the time is spent running on the bike path through the woods. Glances to either side were rewarded with views of snow-capped mountains, streams, rivers, lakes and wildlife (horses and my wife even saw a deer along the course!). The finisher's medal was excellent and the post-race food was okay. I liked the fresh fruit, but it could have had more things of substance. As mentioned, since the course winds through the woods in Sunriver, there are not a ton of spectators (which is okay for me). The course never gets lonely as there are a small number of people out cheering, and for the marathoners, it is quite possible to catch the 1/2 marathon walkers on your second circuit of the 13-mile loop. My wife and I are 50 Staters, so it will be awhile until we get around to running Oregon again, but we both highly recommend a trip to Sunriver Oregon to experience this race and everything they have to offer! | |
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J. V. from Flowery Branch, Georgia
(6/25/2007)
"Fantastic Course, Great Organization" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a beautiful course: two loops on asphalt trails around Sunriver, mostly tree-lined and passing the Deschutes and Sun Rivers. It's relatively flat, but at 4,200 feet, the altitude may take its toll on flat-landers. Still, there are water stops every mile, the finisher medal is superb, the results and award ceremony is timely, and it's a memorable course based on the scenery. It's one part of an endurance weekend, but they execute each different race well. Central Oregon is gorgeous in late June. Highly recommended. | |
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S. C. from Beaverton, Oregon
(6/25/2007)
"Beautifully Organized Run" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This year the marathon portion of the race seemed to have bucked the negative trend described by runners below. Here are some improvements I noticed. I registered for this race on the morning of the run (Sat.) with my own ChampionChip. My results were available to me today (Monday). The medals were the largest and most beautiful I have yet to to see. I place its artistic design on par with the Great Wall Marathon medal (2007). Water stations were well staffed even on the second loop. The chiropratic/massage staff after the run was more experienced than those at the LA Marathon (2007). The views were of rivers, streams, far-away snowcapped mountains, championship golf course, private airport, horse and poney riding farm... were just totally unexpected. One thing I wish they had was a real shower - instead they only had a quick rinse station at the finish line (had to be fully dressed and the water was freezing!). It was a very memorable experience. I would recommend this run for 2008. (The tri and dual events were also fascinating to see....) | |
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S. K. from Texas
(7/17/2006)
"Great course - not-so-great organization" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 The course itself is beautiful and fairly flat. There are a few hills, but no big deal. The weather was nice. It happened to be a record heat streak that week, but the temp was low 50's at race time and low 90's by the time it ended - very pleasant! The crowd was great, and there were several events through a scenic path with lots of homes so there was always someone there to cheer you on. Aid stations were located each mile or so. Some of the stations did not have adequate staffing though, and they were behind in getting fluids. Waiting for a drink is not good. Also a couple volunteers did not hand me the drink but just sat there and had me reach for it. The poorly marked start line was very frustrating as several of us (about half) had to run to the start line to make it on time. There was poor organization at the end, as there were marathon runners and du/tri athletes finishing at the same time. While I rate the course and fans fairly high, I give poor marks to the organization of the event. If they can get their act together, I think this would be a great marathon for anyone. |
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