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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 41 to 51]
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E. I. from Barstow, California
(7/18/2011)
"Who new Delaware could be so nice!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Ran this race for my Delaware Marathon and was not dissappointed. It has several hills so it is not that fast, but it is a nice course that is easy for spectators to zip around to cheer for their runners. | |
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A. B. from Boston area, MA
(5/24/2011)
"Recommended Overall" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I am a 50 State Club member and chose this as my Delaware marathon. This marathon has a lot of good things going for it and has a lot of potential but still needs some tweaks. The good stuff: Facebook page, Twitter account, and emails were all very thorough and helpful; Race committee very responsive to questions Loved that they offered an early start (I didn't need it but appreciate races who recognize this need) Race info packet in goody bag really informative and had cool statistics more than ample fluid stations; I never wondered where the next one was we were repeatedly warned about parking yet I found parking to be a total breeze. I parked in the Chase surface lot as I was staying about .7 mile north of the race. I could have shown up 30 min. before the race and still had no problems. Baggage check for such a small race was great. Nice that relay runners and half marathoners had bibs on their backs indicating their status so us marathoners knew who they were when they blew by us. Constructive Feedback: There simply MUST be volunteers stationed along the riverfront when the marathoners do their second loop. Imagine a really narrow path along the riverfront that is teeming with people who are completely in your way as you are trying to make your way through the start of the second half of the course. I had to yell 'runner coming through' far too many times and I didn't have the energy to do that. Marathoners should not have to do their own pedestrian traffic control. At least one fluid station and several intersections were not staffed at the end of the marathon when I came through. This was disappointing and potentially dangerous. There was hardly any food left for the marathoners. The race advertised ice cream sandwiches, pizza, and hot pretzels (among other things). None of these items were there when I finished. This is a common problem at races that have more than just a marathon as the relay runners and half marathoners get their pick of the food and the marathoners get any left-over scraps. I suggest having 2 food lines, one for marathoners and one for everyone else. Overall the race committee did a really nice job and they are to be commended for their hard work and their attempts to make everything right. The course was more challenging than I expected, but there were some very scenic sections. The spectators in the beautiful neighborhoods were great. With some tweaks this race could become a 'must do.' | |
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S. M. from Philadelphia, PA
(5/24/2011)
"Bad news for the Back-of-the-Packers" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This is a [mostly] pretty course and the canon firing at the start is fun, but the spectators were really only around the finish line. This was my first marathon and I encountered several setbacks during training, and despite being a double loop, this course gets very lonely. Long story short, it took me a long time to complete the marathon. By the time I hit the 20 mile mark just under 5 hours into the race, many of the aid stations had run out of Gatorade and there was absolutely no food on the course by the time I got to the promised food stops. It is difficult enough to run a marathon, and even more difficult to do with no electrolytes past mile 16 and absolutely no food for more than 5 hours. To make matters worse, there were no volunteers or police left on the course by the time I hit the last 5K. That meant the following: no one to block traffic for me so I was running in open, busy roads and intersections; no ambulances or medical aid; no nutrition (I didn't see a single Gu pack, fruit or salty foods), and absolutely no one to help boost my morale with encouragement (either volunteers or on-lookers). They ask that runners are in by 1 pm (with a gun time of 7 am, so there is a 6 hour limit), and although I was within the time limit, it was a ghost town the last hour I was on the course. By the time I hit the finish line, they were breaking down the hospitality tent, had very little food left to choose from, and the promised 'free beer' was gone. I paid $90 for that!? PLUS - people were finishing behind me for another hour. Who was out there taking care of them and how did they get food and hospitality if it wasn't even there for me?? As the result of the lack of nutrition and electrolytes when they were most desperately needed, I was hyponatremic by the time I finished. My hands were swollen up like boxing gloves and I had stopped sweating while my body attempted to conserve what little electrolytes I had left. I was starving, hysterically crying, and exhausted the last two miles. Luckily, my boyfriend was concerned that I hadn't crossed the finish line yet and came looking for me on his bike. He blocked traffic and shared his water with me while talking me to the finish. If you are a back-of-the-pack runner, I suggest you find another marathon, especially if this is your first. I think it will be sometime before I run another one. | |
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R. C. from Charlottesville, VA
(5/22/2011)
"The Perfect Marathon" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If Wayne Kursh, the race director, wrote a book, it would be called "How to Organize and Execute the Perfect Marathon." I was hesitant about the 13.1-mile double loop, but in this location, it was a brilliant decision. The course maximized beautiful scenery, water stations, spectator support, and a feeling of togetherness with other runners. I have no complaints. And I found the shirt, glass, and medal to be of superior quality. | |
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S. T. from Charlottesville, Virginia
(5/20/2011)
"Well organized race" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first Delaware marathon (overall second) and I was truly impressed with organization. Expo was efficient, start/finish well labeled, enough port-a-potties, hydration was excellent especially considering high humidity and high temperatures, post-race food excellent. Course is very scenic, traffic was well controlled, it is moderately challenging with 2 big and 2 small up-hills and equal number of down-hills. They had a drummer, live band and a piper position on nice spots on the course but I would like to see more live music. Spectators were not that many but extremely supportive, as well as excellent volunteers. Medal, technical T-shirt and glass souvenir were very nice. Wilmington is a nice city with a lot of good places for sightseeing. Hotels are very close to start/finish area and staying with my wife in DuPont hotel was very memorable. The only complaint: it would be nice if hotels would provide early breakfast/coffee for runners. Overall: congratulations to organizers and well worth to come and run it again! | |
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K. G. from Southeast US
(5/19/2011)
"Pretty good course for a two-looper." (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The course made the best of a tough place to squeeze out 26 miles Cons: A lot of concrete on miles 1-3 and 13-16. Parts of the downtown area that you run through twice are blighted and ugly, but that's only a couple miles. Otherwise, it's a very pretty course. I don't like double loop courses, but this one was worth running twice. The big houses and Little Italy section were especially nice. There are two pretty stout climbs when you run away from the river, and the second one comes right when you pass the 12/25 mile marker. Fortunately, there's a sweet downhill back to the start/finish. Water stops were appropriately placed, even on a warm and very muggy day. More gels (only one location) would have been a good addition. | |
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B. P. from Wilmington, DE
(5/18/2011)
"Well organized and great post-race food" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've done about 20 marathons, and after finishing DE, I had to make sure to comment because of the great job the race director and volunteers did. Even with a 1/2 and various relays, the organization was perfect and everything went off without a hitch. Plenty of good food and drink afterward also. Races2Run really knows how to put on a great event. As for the actual race... very challenging, 2-loop course (you're not going to PR at this one). Course goes through downtown Wilm and many parks. Very enjoyable. | |
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M. D. from Georgfia
(5/16/2011)
"A very nice, small race" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is as nice of a small race as I have ever run. The couse is lovely, with two moderate hills. It is a two-loop course, but it is such a nice course that it doesn't matter. It gets my highest recommendations. | |
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S. P. from Florida
(6/1/2010)
"Great double-loop course" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thought this was one of the best-organized smaller races I've done. Packet pick-up was easy and efficient; the start/finish area had the look of a much bigger race, with a loud canon that no one could miss hearing to mark the race start ;-); great volunteers and well stocked aid stations; good traffic control; and excellent post-race food. I LOVED the new 2-lap course: part ran along the nice, flat, scenic riverfront area; we got to see pretty Brandywine Park; there was lots of shade in places; and there was a foot bridge, the zoo, and some hills too to keep things from getting boring. There were some mix-ups with the awards given out at the race this year, but things were straightened out within a week. Thanks to Wayne, Joel, and the entire Delaware race crew for a wonderful event. Though it's the only marathon in Delaware, it's a very good one! | |
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J. S. from Merion Station, PA
(5/24/2010)
"Will run this marathon again!" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Delaware Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From the registration to the post race party - a great marathon experience! So much so that I'm seriously thinking (despite me wanting to run a different race every time) of running this one again next year! With registration, we got a nice tech shirt and a custom pint glass. This was by far the smallest marathon (people-wise) I've run (ok, this is only my 3rd marathon). No pace groups here! From the moment of the canon (yes, canon!) start, I was running solo (which was fine, since I train solo), but there was lots of room along the course - even at the hydration zones (where it's typically crowded/nuts). The spectators were sparse, but the ones that were out were plenty loud and supportive. As far as entertainment goes, they had a well placed drummer (who was fantastic!) at miles 12.5/25. As far as the course goes: I absolutely loved it! It's a two-loop course, but with all of the twists/turns/zigs/zags, it really didn't feel like it. I really enjoyed the boardwalk running along the riverfront, the sections through the park, and going through the older neighborhoods - those big trees provided lots of shade, which was nice (after the sun burnt off the clouds). |
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