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☰
Knoxville Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Knoxville Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.8
Number of comments: 138 [displaying comments 121 to 131]
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W. N. from Georgia
(3/22/2005)
"Well Organized" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The marathon was well organized. The availability of the convention center for pre-race warm-up was a plus. The course was somewhat hilly as expected and water stations were frequent. The finish was cool at the 50-yard line in the stadium. Showers at the YMCA were appreciated. Great Job Knoxville! | |
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K. S. from Landisville, PA
(3/22/2005)
"Great marathon, very challenging course" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 First of all, congratulations to the city of Knoxville for putting together a very well organized inaugural effort. I was very impressed by how well everything was put together. In fact, I have run marathons that have been around for over 20 years that are not nearly as well organized. The race started exactly on time, the police did an outstanding job of controlling traffic, and the aid stations were very well-staffed with helpful and supportive volunteers. Spectators were sometimes sporadic, sometimes non-existent, but the folks who came out more than made up for the lack of quantity. There were also a few bands along the course which helped to keep me going through some tough miles. This is definitely not the kind of course you want to run if you're looking for a PR. It was very hilly, and there were hills on every part of the course. I'm not complaining about the hills; I feel stronger for having survived the challenge. I ran this marathon 15 minutes slower than my PR and yet I am more proud of this finish than any other due to the challenging nature of the course. This is a great marathon if you're looking for some good hill training. It's a real quadbuster. | |
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A. W. from Knoxv ille
(3/22/2005)
"ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I enjoyed the race... however a suggestion: in other races I've participated in there has been an agreement with a local agency where runners can wear old warm clothes, discard them along the race, and have the race volunteers then pick them up along the way, then donate them. It is great PR for the race, and shows a caring and compassionate side. If that agreement was made in this race, no one knew about it. It would be a great positive storyline for newspapers and television stations to pick up on. | |
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r. n. from USA
(3/22/2005)
"The half-marathon - a real workout!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Nice to have been part of this inaugural race with nice scenery and wonderful spectators. Problem is the start is straight into an ascent; very twisty and continuous hills (esp. Noelton Drive at Mile 7) the whole way, which took the wind out of my sails. If the hills could be toned down, I'd revisit. Also, neither rubdown tables at the finish nor medals, both of which were surprising. | |
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B. M. from central Alabama
(3/22/2005)
"Good first effort... but" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 There's a lot that could be done to make it special. The finish was awesome, Neyland Stadium - 50-yard line, absolutely awesome. But the course!!! Jeez Louise - yes, I know Knoxville is hilly, but there's plenty of flat around that I, an out-of-towner saw... the hill @ mile 25.5, really!?! The 3-mile out-and-back (mile 20 -23), blech! Yes, it showcased the city, but even a few natives felt better course planning was in order... the post-race was ehhh... good music, nice park, standard food... on a cold day it would have been awful, but this was a 'chamber of commerce' day. Expo pretty good... I enjoyed it as a training run for Boston, and I may do this again, someday. Good first effort, but I think room for improvement... especially with such a DYNAMIC track club as the KTC. Good luck with it. | |
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A. D. from Darien, CT
(3/22/2005)
"Well Done" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a very well-organized marathon, particularly for an inaugural event. The Knoxville Track Club did everything right, including the little things, which, if neglected, detract unfairly from an otherwise successful event. The packet pickup, pasta dinner, and baggage area were all located conveniently at the convention center, and the start was right outside, a short walk from several downtown hotels (also, no standing around for an hour freezing while you wait for the race to begin). Everything was on time. The course does indeed earn the description (or epithet) 'rolling,' as there are several hills, particularly in the first half of the race - no real killers, but certainly enough to get your attention. The water stops were well staffed (thank you, volunteers!) and there were plenty of them. I never found myself thinking 'when-oh-when do we get to the next cup of water?' The course also has some nice variety: a stretch along the river through attractive neighborhoods, a few miles in the park, the Old City, as well as some so-so areas that you are going to find in any urban marathon. There were not many spectators, mostly family and friends and some Knoxville residents in front of their homes, but those who came out were very friendly and supportive. Traffic control compliments of the police and the National Guard was absolutely superb. Finishing inside Neyland Stadium is wonderful, one of the nicest finish lines I've experienced. There may not have been 50,000 screaming fans, but you could certainly imagine them, and seeing yourself on that gigantic screen crossing the finish line is a real hoot. In terms of suggestions for improvements, I really cannot think of much besides perhaps making the mile markers a little more prominent. Also, the web site could be a tad better organized, and the last minute instructions should have been posted earlier - I almost missed them. One final comment: As often happens during a marathon, I struck up conversations with several fellow runners along the way - always fun. At about mile 14 (when a marathon is starting to be un-fun) I started a conversation with a local runner, and it turns out that we stuck together through thick and thin for the next 12 miles. A special 'thank you' to Lindsay (a UT graduate) for helping this old out-of-towner finish marathon #29. | |
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M. T. from Indianapolis
(3/22/2005)
"Excellent (but hilly) Inaugural Marathon" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The organizers of this inaugural marathon deserve great credit for excellent work! Great location for packet pickup, start, finish, and post-race food area (required walk to last helped ease soreness). Course security was excellent; volunteers were ample and cheerful; water stops and portolets were ample and well distributed. Spectators were great in residential areas and market area but sparse elsewhere. A few streets had rough surfaces, but not nearly as bad as Las Vegas or Mardi Gras. The course is quite hilly but, as one sign said, 'Flat marathons are for wimps!' Come enjoy a great marathon, but train on hills before you get here! | |
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M. H. from Concord, North Carolina
(3/21/2005)
"Beautiful course, well organized, and some hills" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For my first marathon, I thought the fan support was outstanding, extremely well organized, and great finish in the UT Stadium. Plenty of water stops along the way. It was a bit hard having to go away from the city around mile 18 for a final leg, but overall great experience. I thought the hills posed a good challenge, but there were plenty of good, flat stretches. Congrats to 'volunteers' on a wonderful first marathon for Knoxville! We loved it. | |
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B. N. from Knoxville, TN
(3/21/2005)
"My first but not my last" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I'm from Knoxville and this was also my first marathon. I'm used to running the hills here so that really didn't bother me at all. The course was great and really showed off Knoxville very well. I can't say enough good things about the organization and how everything was handled. They did a first-class job for their first one. The best part was finishing on the 50-yard line in Neyland Stadium!!! Go VOLS!!!! | |
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D. J. from Greensboro, NC
(3/21/2005)
"Amazing Debut for a Marathon" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Knoxville Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thought the Inaugural Knoxville Marathon was a smashing success in every respect. Great expo in the very spacious Convention Center. Bib number, T-shirt and goodie bag pickup couldn't have been easier. Beautiful, scenic course that threads through some of Knoxville's prettiest neighborhoods. Terrific finish inside Neyland Stadium. Great post-race festivities with amazing food (everything from strawberry-banana smoothies to dried cranberries). I think organizers should be really proud of what they have accomplished in only their first year. When I compare this race to the dreadfully organized Country Music Marathon in Nashville (which is twice as expensive), which I ran last year, the Knoxville Marathon comes out miles on top. I believe this race will in the near future earn the cachet of being one of the must-do marathons in the United States, taking its spot along such perennial favorites as the Marine Corps, Grandma's and Twin Cities to name but a few. Kudos! I'll be back. |
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