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Lower Potomac River Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Lower Potomac River Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.0
Number of comments: 67 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
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K. L. from New York, NY
(3/11/2009)
"Great organization and bang for the buck!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 22nd marathon and I definitely prefer the smaller ones such as this one. The race director, organizers and volunteers did a great job! Aid stations were spaced every 2 miles for the 1st 19 miles of the course, and it seemed like every mile thereafter. Volunteers were very enthusiastic and helpful. The course was pretty much flat for the 1st half, and then there was a gradual uphill from miles 15-19 where the turnaround took place. The last 7 miles of the course was pretty much downhill with a few small rolling hills thrown in. I was also very impressed with the food buffet after the race - lots of pasta, rice, vegetables, bread, cookies and brownies in a nice comfortable setting. This race is a great deal - you get a nice technical shirt, food at the finish, and great organization at a very reasonable price (especially when compared to the large city marathons). We stayed at the host hotel (Hampton Inn in Lexington Park) and really enjoyed our stay there as well. The pasta dinner the night before at a local restaurant was reasonably priced (less than $10 for pasta dishes). Great job again and I would highly recommend this marathon to others! | |
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D. S. from Shoreview, MN
(3/10/2009)
"Delightful Small Marathon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 As others have noted, the first half of the course was spectacular. The second half was an out-and-back along a road with very wide shoulders, so traffic was really not an issue. Although it had some rolling hills, none were severe. I find that by the second half of a marathon, I'm not paying that much attention to the scenery anyway; but I don't recall this course being boring. The fans were sparse, but enthusiastic and encouraging - especially the two ladies wearing leprechaun wigs. The race organization was terrific. The volunteers were helpful and sincere. The facilities were second to none, with the showers and buffet dinner after the race. It was the most accommodating setting I've seen for an awards ceremony in the 31 marathons I've run. This was definitely a race by runners, for runners. Liza had it all covered. | |
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S. P. from Richmond, VA
(3/9/2009)
"Disappointing course" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my 14th marathon, and I have done many both small and large marathons. This one was the smallest I have ever done and I was a bit disappointed with the race in general. The pros: 1) The first half of the course was beautiful! You run a series of 3 out-and-backs on an island right along the water. We started at 7:15 a.m. right when the sun was rising over the water - gorgeous! The first half was flat as a pancake, and it was fun to get to see the leaders 3 times! 2) Easy, no-frills, packet pick-up and parking right at the start/finish of the race. 3) The general atmosphere of the race was very easy-going and friendly. 4) Good post-race food spread and hot showers. 5) The awards were nice and plentiful. 6) The (very, very few) spectators were lots of fun. The cons: 1) The second half of the marathon course was the worst thing I have ever run. You run basically a half-marathon out-and-back on the shoulder of a highway, with cars (and exhaust) zooming by. The shoulder had an awful camber to it and was unbelievably lonely and boring. I find it hard to believe that, in such a beautiful area, they can't find anywhere better to run the marathon. I would have rather run the first half a second time than to have run on that highway. Also, everything I read said that this course was flat and fast - that is a lie. No, there are no mountains to climb, but it is definitely ROLLING terrain. Miles 16-23 have hills!! Do not expect to run a negative split. 2) This is a small complaint, but there were only 2 water stops until mile 10. They were plentiful after that, but the volunteers did not know water from Ultima from M&M's. It was great they were out there and they were really trying to be helpful, but it was frustrating on such a hot day to ask for 2 cups of Ultima and get handed a cup of water and a cup of M&M's!! I finally started grabbing off of the tables myself. This problem could have been easily solved by having different cups for each fluid. 3) The town of Lexington Park, where the race hotels were located, was awful and scary. I would not leave anything of any value in your vehicle in that place!! Overall, I had a nice time but I will NEVER run this one again or recommend it to anyone unless they change the course. | |
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Ben Mattheis from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, USA
(3/9/2009)
"Terrific "Small" Marathon!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Liz and crew did a superb job - not only with the race organization, but I understand that they also have an arrangement with the "big guy" upstairs so the weather in 2009 could not have been better for a March 8th race! | |
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A. P. from Northern VA
(3/9/2009)
"Spectacular Small Marathon" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Maryland seems to excel in small marathons; Lower Potomac didn't disappoint. The course was great, though we wondered how it would be to run the longest out-and-back first. The race director had plenty of info out well in advance. Lunch and showers afterward were more than we'd expected. Volunteers were wonderful - thanks for the mid-course gummy bears and the peeled orange slices at the turn-around. Best of all, it was a very friendly field of runners. Can't wait to do it again! | |
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S. B. from Lee's Summit, MO
(3/20/2008)
"Great race!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What a well organized event. From the race director's email prior to the race to the hot showers and food buffet at the end... this race was an enjoyable experience. Not a lot of spectators, but wasn't expected. Thanks! | |
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C. C. from Richmond, VA
(3/12/2008)
"Great small and fast race" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is now one of my favorite races. The logistics couldn't be easier - you get to hang-out INSIDE until the start, park 50 yards away from the start/finish, and have hot showers and a hot meal afterward. What more can you want? Yes, crowd support is a bit thin as you'd expect in a small marathon, but all the volunteers were gracious, supportive and helpful. Flat and fast course.;I'm planning on coming back next year. | |
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Joe Hanle from Columbia, Maryland
(3/10/2008)
"Great small-town race!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Lower Potomac River Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Very well organized, friendly race. This marathon has a nice hometown feel to it. Food is great at the awards lunch. Very fast, flat course; excellent for a Boston qualifier. Met several runners at the pre-race dinner, and swapped war stories with them. Race director Liza Recto makes all runners feel welcome and really puts on a nice event. I have run this race the last three years and will return next year. | |
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L. McKnight from Richmond, VA
(3/10/2008)
"Great small race!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is a wonderful small race. The course support is as good as or better than the bigger races and the meal (and hot showers) available afterwards are absolutely fantastic. This was my first year to do this race, but I definitely plan to return. | |
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C. P. from Richmond, VA
(3/10/2008)
"GREAT SMALL RACE" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lower Potomac River Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Okay, if you are looking for all the things that come with a race that is over a thousand people, this is not the race for you. If you like small, super low-key races that are more like a training run than a huge event, this is your race. The course, like others have said, does have very little to admire from about 13 to the finish; however, by then, I am not looking for scenery. I am looking for the finish line! The course marshals were great, and at no point, even though none of the course was closed to traffic, did I feel like a driver was about to run me down, or would be allowed to. Crowd support is a little like BYOCS (Bring Your Own Crowd Support); HOWEVER, NO ONE should knock the folks that are out there. Even though they might be sparse, they were great! The seamanship school was a perfect race headquarter. Plenty of warm, comfy space before the race, and hot showers and a meal after the race! Like any coastal race, there is always the chance you will have a windy day, and this race was a bit windy, but a tailwind nearly all the way from 18.8 to the finish. Liza and team put on an excellent race!! |
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