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☰
Frederick Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Frederick Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 3.8
Number of comments: 116 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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S. B. from St. Charles, MO
(5/9/2009)
"Challenging but rewarding race" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my second full marathon and I found it to be challenging, but rewarding. I loved the start in historic Frederick. There were many spectators supporting us throughout the race. I usually run with music, but left my earbuds out the entire race to enjoy the spectators. I drove the course a few days before, which mentally prepared me for all the hills between miles 17-22. I loved having those hills run through a neighborhood with supportive spectators handing out oranges and cheering us on. I did achieve a PR on this run, which I am very happy about!!!! Thanks to all the supporters and volunteers!! | |
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David Trevio from Arlington, VA
(5/8/2009)
"A good marathon to enter" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Frederick Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my 2nd time running the Frederick Marathon, and I enjoyed it as much as the 1st one I ran, which was back in 2007. In fact, after running the Boston in 2007, I quickly registered for the Frederick Marathon and set a new PR. I was unable to do the 2008 Frederick run because of an agonizing hamstring pull that I suffered one week from the 2008 Boston. After the injury in 2008, I have run 4 marathons, including the 2009 Boston. All of the times were considerably slower, but than came the Frederick Marathon - my fastest time in awhile. The Frederick Marathon is one of my favorites because of the organization and the friendly people in Frederick. I enjoyed the course too; it's almost identical to running Boston, with challenging hills at the end of the race. One note though: the expo could have been a little bigger. I highly recommend this race to anyone and everyone who loves the sport of running, and marathons in particular. Frederick, I plan to come back next year. Thanks to all in the organization - keep up the good work. | |
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A. L. from Alexandria, VA
(5/5/2009)
"Hilly, but I managed a PR" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Well, after 3 years and 4 tries I finally broke my PR - and by more than 7 minutes! Yes, the hills after the half were tough (but nothing remotely comparable to the seesaw course of the Charlottesville Marathon). I think that because I train almost constantly on a hilly course, that was not a real factor. The rain? I think it was a blessing. It started raining (for me) at mile 10. By then I was soaking sweat because of the increasing humidity. I was able to breathe much better when the rain started. And I was VERY fortunate not to get blisters (because of the rain). I always get cramps on marathons, but on Sunday's race, zilch. I decided not to come to a complete stop (not even when drinking) and I think that really helped. I was lucky that it was my day. Marathons are like that. I have to express my thanks to the four or five 3:30 pacers whose steady drive carried me to the end - especially one named "Rich." But the top credit goes to my dear wife, who has prepared the best dishes of pasta in the most varied and original eclectic styles the past few months; and our precious daughter who learned the word "go" as she has seen me running over time. We are a team, and this medal is as much theirs as it is mine. | |
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J. M. from Hagerstown, MD
(5/5/2009)
"Good, but I probably won't repeat it" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 First half was fun and interesting. Even the run through Wal-Mart was neat. After mile 15, you run on a highway, next to cars and semis - not fun. I liked the hills, which provided a real challenge. I liked the start and finish at the fairgrounds. Need to reroute the second half to a better area. It was raining most of the time and that probably kept the fans inside. More food on the course would also help. All that was offered was Sun Chips. I wanted to stop at McDonald's as we ran by on the highway. | |
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Don Pattison from Bartlett, IL
(5/4/2009)
"Lots of hills on the 2nd half" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a pretty tough course by itself but this year we had the added feature of rain - and not a little rain for a short period of time, but constant rain about an hour after the start for the entire day. The course was not too bad, and going through the Wal-Mart parking lot was a hoot because they had shopping carts lined up to keep the runners' lane open for runners only. The placement of the water stops was perfect, about every 2 1/4 miles until about mile 20 and then every mile to the finish line. Again, the 2nd half has some nasty hills, so be ready for them or just walk them like I did. Nice medal and the folks that stood in the rain and cheered us on were great. I saw one lady and her two kids in pink shirts at least 4 times at different points in the course. She and the kids were yelling and cheering us on. Two young gals with rainbow-colored, knee-high socks were there at least twice on the course. The full and the half run together and the full goes right by the finish line, so that can be a heart-breaker, knowing that you've only finished half the course and sometime later you will be back at that same spot to finish. The main thing to watch for is not to burn yourself out on the front half because the back half will be harder. | |
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K. H. from Bel Air, Maryland
(5/4/2009)
"The hills are doable!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon is part of the 2009 Maryland Double Series (Frederick and Baltimore), which I am participating in. The course was very scenic. Runners received a good tour of downtown Frederick. The volunteers were encouraging and the course marshals and police did an excellent job of directing runners and traffic. The post-race food was abundant. Unfortunately, the constant rain kept the spectators away, but those that did come out were greatly appreciated, especially those in the neighborhood at miles 19-23. The only aspect of the course that I did not like was the stretch of highway from mile 16-19 - it was relatively boring. However, most marathons that I have run have a "boring" section. | |
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M. S. from Point of Rocks, MD
(5/4/2009)
"Fun Race" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon. I had run the half at Frederick last year so I was familiar with the first half of the course. Last year there was bad traffic getting to the race. I got to the race earlier this year, but it seemed that traffic was much better. I ran with the 4:15 pacers for about the first 16 miles, which helped me not go too fast. The beginning of the course is nice and scenic - around the city, including Bakers Park. The fans around the first part seemed to be fewer than last year, I assume because of the weather. There is an area around mile 8, where cars are using one side of the road and the runners' space is pretty tight. The famous back-of-Wal-Mart part of mile 9 probably had the best fan support and had a shopping theme that made it fun. After Wal-Mart, the next few miles were through a rural area and were uneventful other than the rain picking up. At mile 13, we were back at the fairgrounds where the half-marathoners finished. We then went back downtown and went to Carroll's Creek and turned around, going past the fairground at mile 15 and heading out to a more rural area. My brother met me at mile 16 and ran most of the rest of the way with me. He was a big help with encouragement. Miles 16 through 22 were the hilly part of the race. I think I did a pretty good job with the hills and they did not bother me too much. I maintained a consistent 9:45-to-10-minute-a-mile pace throughout the race. Miles 18 through 22 were through the Springridge community. Apparently there was not a lot of fan support in this area last year. I thought that, considering the weather, there was good fan support this year. After mile 22 we turned on Route 144 and headed back to the city. From mile 20 on there was a water stations at every mile, with PowerAde available as well. Throughout the race, the water stations were plentiful. The rain had picked up over the last few miles and there were plenty of puddles to dodge. My only disappointment with the race was the lack of fan support at the end of the race. Miles 25 and 26 were deserted until the last 50 of so yards that you run in the fairgrounds. It is not how I envisioned the end of my first marathon. My time was 4:17, which was right where I expected to finish; and other than being sore, I felt good. Overall, the marathon is on a good course, with a mixture of city and rural areas and a somewhat hilly second half. This is a very well organized marathon, something I have come to expect from Corrigan Sports. | |
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Steve Carton from Annapolis, MD
(12/16/2008)
"Real hills; great spectators" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This turned out to be a very hard marathon for me. I had just run a PR course in March and had high hopes for this one, but the hills in the second half did me in. For me, they were "real" hills and not as described in the race brochures. The first half was a very nice tour of old Frederick and the surrounding countryside - except for the tour of the Wal-Mart parking lot, which was weird. But, as I understand it, the course was supposed to go through parts of Hood College until the permit was rejected and the RD had to redirect. Tough to do on short notice. The second half was not a nice run 0 alongside the highway for most of the race, with cones separating us from high-speed traffic. And the hills! They did me in - bad leg cramps. And I agree with other writers about getting to the starting area - that needs to be addressed. We got there on time only because I used my GPS to find another route. All that said, it was a good race. I might run it again - and if I don't, it will only be because there are just so many to choose from. | |
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Paul Swaddle from Wilmington, MA, USA
(11/26/2008)
"Nothing to write home about" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course was pretty average; it's nothing spectacular, but I have seen worse. The best part was running round the back of Wal-Mart - classic. Not that many spectators out, but I would like to agree with JF from Stirling in that the kids handing out orange slices at 20 miles were very much appreciated. The weather was great and I set my then-best time, so I was happy enough with the event. The running top that we got was very nice as well, and I wore it for the Philly Marathon. Would I do it again? Only if I lived there. | |
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agha hasnain from usa
(11/12/2008)
"It's ok, though not very good" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Frederick Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The course after the half-marathon was very hilly. It was exciting before the half ended, but boring after. |
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