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Little Rock Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Little Rock Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.2 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.6 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.2 
 
 
Number of comments: 409 [displaying comments 161 to 171]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 15 16 17 18 19 .. 41 > ]

 

Sid Busch from Charleston SC (4/7/2009)
"need more then a 5-star rating for this one." (about: 2009)

50+ previous marathons | 4-5 Little Rock Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my 5th Little Rock Marathon, and they get better every year. If the finisher's medal gets bigger, it will need wheels! The organization is the best, the support is awesome, and the city is so friendly and supportive. I injured my ankle a few weeks before the run, and thanks to the great early start, I still got to run Little Rock. This is a great idea, and besides, for a few hours, I was ahead of the Kenyans. (It was amazing to see them FLY by us at mile 16.) I just found out the date for next year's race and made my reservations at the Peabody. (By the way: KEEP THE PEABODY.)

One more thing: It had THE BEST PASTA DINNER EVER. The food was awesome.

 

T. C. from Medford, Massachusetts (3/26/2009)
"What a Nice Experience!" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was a very well run marathon. Everything from the answers to my pre-race emails to the support on the course was done to perfection. There were plenty of porta-potties on the course, plenty of water, the elevation map was clear, the pre-race expo was a lot of fun, the giant finisher's medal was a kick and there was a nice, slightly downhill finish. The location of the start was great; I thoroughly enjoyed the area and the river area nearby was beautiful.

 

J. N. from Tulsa, OK (3/25/2009)
"Very well organized" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I loved this race! The course was not as hilly as I had expected, the weather was perfect, and I was able to PR. What more could you ask for? The event was very well organized and supported. I really enjoyed the run and the finisher's medal is AWESOME. To top it all off, we had a great post-race meal at the Clinton Library. I highly recommend this race. Thanks, Little Rock! Great job; great race!

 

C. S. from Omaha, NE (3/24/2009)
"Very impressed" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


What a great marathon - perhaps the best of the seven I have done so far. It is the first marathon for which I've felt compelled to leave a comment.

Let me start with the prior day's activities, which really set a positive tone for the whole marathon experience. The expo was more than satisfactory, but what was really great was being able to explore the market area next to the expo. It was great to go a few steps to get something to eat, watch a St. Patrick's Day parade, and visit the museums that were made free for us. I also couldn't believe how close the hotels were to start/finish line. I could have walked directly out the Marriot Courtyard into my corral.

As for the race, the corrals worked incredibly well; especially for their first year. Volunteers were diligently manning the entrances to each corral and it made all the difference in the world. When the gun went off, I had plenty of free space and was able to run immediately. I have no problem with walkers and slower runners, but it sure is great not to have to deal with them at the beginning of a race.

The route itself was okay. I wasn't sure if sprinting down those hills at miles 16 and 17 was going to take anything out of me or not.

I would love to be able to credit the organizers for the weather as well. It was 55 and cloudy, which made for a splendid run through Little Rock.

Great job, organizers!

 

M. T. from Fishers, IN (3/22/2009)
"Good Experience" (about: 2009)

3 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


Overall, it was a good experience. I set a personal best by 15 minutes so I will always remember this race. The weather was perfect (45 degrees, cloudy and no wind at the start). You need to train on hills so you can handle miles 13-16. The downhill at 16 can be hard on the quads, but the hills weren't too bad. The out-and-back from 18-23 miles is brutal. That is too long a stretch and it couldn't have come at a worse time in the race. The rest of the course winds around and is scenic. Organization was good and having the start and finish 6 blocks from the hotels was great. The expo was fine and the pasta dinner was worth the $20. I would recommend it to others.

 

L. M. from Kansas City, MO (3/19/2009)
"Great race with a couple minor details" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I loved this race!! I live in KC, so hills are not uncommon. I really liked the easy packet pick up and the corrals. The perks tent was worth the $20. I wish every race did that! This race was well organized. Kudos, ladies; you do a great job!

However, I do take issue with a couple of things:
1. Don't stay at the Holiday Inn-President. Trying to get directions to the expo was like pulling teeth and the staff is rude.
2. Look, I only do half-marathons because I am short, fat and slow. I know my place... in the back. So to hear marathoners constantly whine about why races offer a half gets on my nerves! We are all there for the same things, are we not?
3. I do appreciate the post-race food bag, but the food I got was passed its expiration date and tasted like it. I still ate it anyway because I was hungry.
4. To the guy who complained about the medal: I know you read about the race before you entered, right? News flash... that's their thing. BIG MEDALS!

All in all, this race was great and I'd do it again in a minute!

 

M. S. from Sterling, Ma (3/18/2009)
"Well run, nice tour of the city, nice people" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I didn't really know what to expect. I heard about the heat and the hills. The temp was 55 (awesome) and the hills were really not bad at all. If you don't like hills, there are two (1 mid race about 1.5 miles long) and 1 at about 25 (like the Superman incline at 6 flags). The organization and support were first class. Only complaint is the jam up in the first 1-2 miles. Corrals helped but there are a lot of turns, which slows people down. Regarding the out-and-back portion - it's no fun watching those people coming back at you and not knowing when you'll get to the turn, but on the way back it's awesome. It was a PR of 6 minutes (16th marathon). You gotta love any marathon with those results.

 

K. M. from Elmira, NY (3/18/2009)
"Great mid-size marathon" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This is my 8th marathon, my husband's 14th, and we were not disappointed. Hospitality was great, the hotel was great (reasonable price, high end, close to the start and finish), and the course shows off the city nicely. I did not find the course particularly hilly; I only noticed the hill at mile 15 and the two short steep hills in mile 24. We did enjoy going to the post-race party at the Clinton Library even though we didn't eat anything. I like that the race accommodates runners and walkers of all abilities, and the walkers and half marathoners do not get in the way of faster runners (thanks to excellent organization). I would recommend this race to both new and seasoned marathon runners.

 

Kendra Stumpf from Pleasanton, CA (3/18/2009)
"Super duper fun!" (about: 2009)

First Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


My very first marathon (or any run for that matter) and I am so happy that I chose this one! The race organizers and volunteers were amazing! Thank you! Lots of Gatorade and water stops, with lots of enthusiastic fans and hardworking volunteers (except through miles 18-24) - and maybe that's why that was the hardest part of the course? Or maybe it's because this is where you double back and see the same trees/grass twice? All other parts of the course, scenic and interesting. Hills? Not a big deal at all, but maybe it's because I trained extra hard for hills because I was worried about them. ;)

Even though this was my first, I can appreciate that the walkers, half marathoners, and relay teams were identified with signs on their backs. I didn't attend any pre- or post-race events, so I can't comment on those.

My only complaints are:
1. I don't think the city of Little Rock got the memo that thousands of people would be in town - one of the few coffee shops downtown ran out of milk on race-day, and one of the restaurants we went to after the race ran out of beef to make hamburgers, leaving our choice for lunch to include omelets or waffles. Ugh. Most importantly, what's the deal with finding a decent liquor store? My husband wanted to buy some champagne to celebrate and had to take a taxi - even our hotel didn't have any. Really? I didn't know Arkansas was a dry state? Or, is it a beer-only state?

2. I really didn't like that so many runners had ear phones (I also saw many on cell phones). If the rule says no head phones, then make it a rule and enforce it. I wasted my breath too many times talking to/encouraging a fellow runner, only to find that they couldn't hear me. Don't these people realize they are completely missing out on being "in" the experience by tuning out??? I loved hearing the various bands playing along the route, the shouts of encouragement, the kids cheering and the cow bells! Glad I didn't miss that!

Thanks again to the organizers and volunteers that made this first experience soooo amazing that I might even run another someday!

 

William Tichenor from Dallas, TX (3/18/2009)
"Tough, but worth it." (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 4


I've run Big Sur twice, and Whidbey Island, and felt this was as tough as those. A beautiful area though, and great friendly people. I was woefully under-trained and it showed in the end.

 

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