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Delaware Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Delaware Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 170 [displaying comments 101 to 111]
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j. m. from US
(5/19/2008)
"What a let down" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I have run a 5K here (Tour de Lance) with a similar number of runners with better everything for less money. The lack of total road closures led to some pretty close calls between motorists and runners on Walnut St. While running on the 9 to 10 ft. path along the river (where many runners are in different stages of their run), the motorcycle barreling through the pack (because the lead runner was lapping people) led to another close call for runners and motorized vehicles. The crowd running towards each other in different stages was an ongoing obstacle that would not have been so bad if the road was closed so you had more than 8ft of area to run in. The run through the park on the first ten mile loop was nice and the bobble head trophy I received was also nice. I just do not know where the entry money went in this race. It could be a great race, but maybe this is why the majority of runners are 50 staters, not the locals. | |
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M. C. from Philadelphia, PA
(5/11/2008)
"Good, with potential to be great" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon, but have run a few since then to compare. This is actually a decent small course. I was initially skeptical upon arriving at packet pick-up and seeing one lonely tent in the middle of an empty parking lot, but a lot of little things warmed me up to this race. The goodies you get are actually useful (good tote, note paper, plastic massage thing). I was stunned to see everyone's name printed out on the course. The parts of the run along the rivers are beautiful. I was also surprised to see bands in a race this small. This is the most food I've seen at the end of a race, which included pizza, ice cream sandwiches, and freshly cut fruit piled high. The officers manning the intersections were great. Unfortunately, the parts of the race not along the river were, well, the opposite of scenic. They hadn't roped off all the side streets, and one car attempted to turn onto the course, causing several terrified runners to jump out of the way. Also, the finish line set-up wasn't clear to this first-timer, causing me to run through the wrong gate and not have an official finish time (though I eventually found it). In retrospect, the gate you run through for the finish was fairly obvious. Overall, I give it a solid B-. This course really has a warm regional feel to it, and the race organizers put enough unexpectedly nice touches into the race that I'd run it again after my 50-state quest is over. | |
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Michael Freeman from Pennslyvania, USA
(10/14/2007)
"A fun experience" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My uncle ran this marathon, while at the same time I ran the 4-man marathon relay with my brother and two of my cousins. Our team name was "The Family." It was a fun experience, and a nice change of pace, it being a relay race and all. I loved the course, which is flat and fast. The 4-lap format is ideal for a 4-person relay, though I'm not sure what that would be like for running the entire marathon. Lots of food, pizza, and Arby's sandwiches. Apparently this marathon doesn't attract elite runners (given the winning men's and women's times in 2004), which is just fine. | |
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Cassandra Chouinard from APG
(6/30/2007)
"Great event for running" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was only my 2nd marathon, but I enjoyed it far more than my first. I've run a bunch of shorter races, too, and I think this was the race that allowed me to run the best. Pros: Friendly and efficient volunteers. Friendly spectators, and due to the loops, there were fewer empty areas than I was expecting. Someone mentioned the homeless people - they cheered me on, too. That was cool. Excellent traffic control. The cops before the hill were especially encouraging to the runners. Enough water stations and porta-potties. More than enough good post-race food. Good organization. Good loot bag. Neat prizes - I didn't know that I'd won a trophy, before I left, and they mailed it to me, too. It's cute. Hassle-free packet pick-up - no lines! No worries about gear storage, either - our car was but a short walk away. Nice course. Yes, there were a few places that were kind of bleak, mainly some underpasses (which did provide some nice shade, though...) but I really liked the 10-mile loop and knowing what was ahead on the 5.4-mile loop when it started getting tough. Plus, it was great to keep seeing the same runners and same volunteers, plus family more than once. Experienced runners. There were no pace bunnies, but a good percentage of runners who had run many marathons, and that was great for someone inexperienced as I. Plus, LOTS of space! I usually train alone, and I like racing but don't like feeling too crowded. I thought that folks seeded themselves very well at the start and there was very little jostling or speeding/slowing into place once we got started. It was wonderful. I didn't mind the 10-mile and relay runners... I thought that they fit in pretty well, and the signs on their backs made things clear. Plus, I found it invigorating and inspiring to have fresher runners around when I was wilting. Cons: Contruction made it a bit slow to get to the start, but I assume that this won't be permanent. The finish line was a little confusing, too... maybe just for me after 26 miles, though. I looked back on it and, duh, how could I have messed that up? LOL. I should add, I couldn't hear the race announcements at the start, and maybe they explained this. I read the sign "Marathon Left" or whatever, and didn't read down to what I presume was "Finish Line Right." Still, I gained only about a minute on my chip time. All in all, it was a well-run event and a good one for a PR. :) | |
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John Eng from New York
(5/30/2007)
"Nice Little Race!!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This year's race was a 10-mile loop going by the Delaware River, followed by 3 5.4-mile loops. The first 10-mile loop is much more scenic and interesting and I probably would have preferred to do 2 loops of this instead of one. The race was surprisingly tightly packed in some places along a narrow path but the race has just the right number of entrants so you never have to slow down. The out-and-backs of the course also enabled both faster and slower runners to encourage each other at many points of the race. Kudos to the volunteers - they were very enthusiastic and helpful. Due to the loop nature of the course, the water stations were plentiful and the spectators were more numerous than I imagined they would be. The race is extremely well organized and has probably the best post-race food I've ever seen and plenty of it (pizza, fruit, big pretzels, ice cream sandwiches, finger sandwiches, etc.) It's not a difficult course, as it's fairly flat. I think the marathon would be better suited, though, for March or April, when there is cooler weather. It's not just a race to cross off your states list because you will be pleasantly surprised that the race has a lot of charm and enthusiasm. All in all, a big thumbs up and kudos for a fine race and experience! Some suggestions to the race director: 1) Have the mile markers more visable at eye level instead of markers on the ground. 2) Have the pasta party at either a bigger venue or with more than a one-hour seating session as the restaurant area of the pasta party seemed to be overcrowded and poorly staffed. 3) Try to have Gatorade sponsor the race, as not too many people I know drink "GU20," and as a result, I had to carry my own Gatorade for the first 10 miles and then had to switch to water and gels. | |
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p. f. from Newark, DE
(5/25/2007)
"Fast and Friendly" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 10th marathon, but my first Delaware Marathon. First off, this race is very well organized with many runner-friendly features. Great parking, pre- and post-race food/drink, 21 porta-lets, great police support at intersections and very friendly volunteers. At one of the water stops, I missed getting a drink because as I ran through someone took the last one from the last volunteer. I knew there was another aid station in a mile so I said, "Don't worry" to the volunteer who was concerned I missed my drink. About 30 seconds later he comes running up to me with two Gatorades. Man, that is service! The ten-mile loop was a nice addition and as others have said, it is very scenic. I didn't even mind the 3 loops; it was reassuring to know what was coming up in those final miles as you get tired. The course is one of the flattest I have run and I set a new PR, which is always nice. There is a large percentage of 50-staters, which made it fun talking about races I might try in different states. I ran the other Delaware marathon 3 weeks ago and it is also a great trail marathon, but this one has far more amenities if you are interested in that. Both are great if you are up for them. | |
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j. e. from Delaware
(5/24/2007)
"Surprisingly awesome race" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was a little leary about running this race at first, but being my local one, I figured I would give it a try. The 4 laps were really making me worry, but in fact they turned out to be not too bad. Let me start by saying that my experience is with both large and small marathons. Here are my positives: 1. Amazingly organized directors. Received regular emails updating things. 2. Pre-race packet pick-up was quick and easy and had good merchandise and a lot of info on other local races. 3. Small race, but enough runners that you aren't running by yourself ever. (At Ocean City, MD. I felt like I was the only one on the course.) 4. Four laps allowed me to see my family four times, which was a nice boost. Also, could get handed gels, drinks if you wanted. 5. Fan-friendly. 6. Friendly fans. 7. Well stocked and well staffed, with well placed drink locations. All the staff was cheering us on, including the cops. 8. Had my name announced running through the transition zone on a few occasions, and as I finished. 9. Very nice finisher medal and great t-shirt. 10. Mainly flat course; some small rolling hills in town and in the Brandywine Park. 11. Music along the course (bands/DJs). 12. Super helpful volunteers at the finish (I went to take my timing band off my ankle and two volunteers came running and helped me before I could. At Ocean City I couldn't find anyone to help me and my wife had to help me. Mind you, there were only 120 finishers... not like it was crowded). 13. Post-race "party" had a great atmosphere. Music and more food than I've ever seen in my life: soda, water, energy bars, pretzels, pizza, sandwiches, pineapple, other fruit, etc. (At Philly, by the time I got to the tent, they only had bananas and water and I finished in the top 1/3.) 14. They gave bobble-heads to the first male and female and to all age group placers and relays. I didn't get one, but that was a really cool idea. Negatives: 1. Congested getting down to the race at the waterfront. Not really their fault. They were doing construction. I ended up making to the race 10 minutes before start. (They did hold the race for other runners... another positive for them). 2. Lap course is a little lacking after the first 10-mile loop once it goes into the three 5.4-mile loops. Would be nicer if they could go back into Brandywine Park or into the city. 3. Although well marked, the relayers and 10-milers flying past you can be a little taxing mentally. (They have relay signs on their backs.) All in all, it was the best race I've run in to date. I did even manage to PR although only by a little even after stopping to talk to my family on a few occasions. It's a very good race for 1st-timers or for people looking to PR. It's also great for the fans who wants to come out and support their runner. Highly recommend it and I'll see you all next year for the 5th anniversary. I'm sure they'll come up with something great for it. | |
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J. G. from Bedminster, NJ
(5/23/2007)
"Great "small town" event" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The event is a 4-loop course. It was the first time I've run such a course and I wasn't sure I'd like it but I did. This made it spectator-friendly and, after the first loop, you are familiar with the course. The course is open to vehicular traffic in some parts. However, the organizers and police did a phenomenal job of traffic control. There seemed to be enough port-a-potties. There were lines, as there frequently seems to be, but they were manageable. The volunteers are outstanding, even offering to hold my Gatorade at one of the water stops, for when I came around again. And the course is flat. All in all, I recommend this one, especially if you are planning on doing the 50 states and prefer roads to trails (I think the other ones in Delaware are all trail marathons). | |
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Tom Gerstle from San Francisco
(5/22/2007)
"Go Delaware!!!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The staff, volunteers and police did an excellent job on this run. Friendly attitudes and much enthusiasm. I didn't even mind the 3 loops. It was cute to see probably the narrowest marathon loop ever during about a mile of the loop. The signs for 1/3 of the runners were a nice touch. I've now run 46 and never saw that during a marathon (signs posted with the runners' names and their marathon count). Good canvas bags, shirts, and medals; and a lot of good food after the run.... I'd repeat this marathon and recommend it to anyone thinking about Delaware. | |
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M. M. from Baltimore, MD, USA
(5/22/2007)
"This is a well-organized, small marathon." (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I wasn't so sure that I would like running loops, but it works very well. For a small marathon (600 runners), it feels more festive. The aid stations were well organized and had plenty of support and goods. Traffic was reasonably well controlled. The riverfront portion is very scenic. Overall, I liked this course very much and it has very reasonable hills. |
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