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☰
Houston Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Houston Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.6
Number of comments: 365 [displaying comments 231 to 241]
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M. M. from New Jersey
(1/16/2006)
"Hostile Security Staff" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Our experience was not as positive as others. The course was fine - though strangely smelly in spots - and the weather great. Though most of the volunteers were great, some security staff was hostile and rude. Rather than assist runners, they threatened to eject them from the runners' only food area for trying to use the wrong exit. And more porta-potties would have been helpful, too. Not a bad race, but room for improvement with better management. | |
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S. H. from Atlanta, GA
(1/16/2006)
"Amazing crowd support!" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am a teacher and this is how I would grade this course: Organization: A+ Course: C- Crowd support: A+ Medals/t-shirt: A+ Scenery: D+ The only room for improvement: The course could be improved by separating the 1/2 marathon and marathon; it was too crowded in the beginning and I kept getting shoved and knocked around the first 7 miles. Therefore, the stations were too crowded with both races running at the same time. The scenery was disappointing. Houston is the 4th largest city in the US, so I expected to be running in the heart of Houston. However, the neighborhoods did provide support. I would not recommend this course to someone who is recovering from an injury or is prone to injuries; it is 26.2 miles of hard concrete. Positives: It would be hard to top Houston in organization and crowd support. | |
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P. M. from Illinois
(1/16/2006)
"Excellent Marathon" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a well-organized, runner-friendly marathon. If you're tired of the bigger ones, try this. GREAT that you get pace times r/t elapsed time at each mile. Great weather, crowd support. Any complaints are minor. | |
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B. R. from Toledo, Ohio
(1/16/2006)
"Great Race" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Although this was a great race, the start needed some help. Not enough bathrooms before the race. I was still getting to the corral when the cannon went off. Unfortunately I had to jump in the back and had to jockey to get my pace. After mile 2, I was cruising - then I had to juggle when the 1/2er's joined us until mile 9... didn't like that. After 9 it was a great race with fans galore. I loved hearing my name being cheered; it made me run faster. Houston knows how to host a marathon. Hopefully I'll make it back. Nice flat course. Really like the split/pace times during the race. | |
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A. N. from Chicago
(1/16/2006)
"Not flat, good spectators, long lines" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 My 10th marathon, and 1st Houston. Long lines at porta-potties, including NON-RUNNERS. No course tour, good spectators (not as good as Chicago, Boston, or Twin Cities). Spectators sparse after after 1/2-marathon breaks off, and esp. sparse miles 20-25. Course not flat, more rolling esp. miles 1-5, 10-16, 21-25. Great staff support at finish for runners, but front door guards wouldn't let family in or direct them to convention center meeting area. Lots of water stops, very good size, marathon not crowded. | |
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Richard Lawhead from Bossier City, LA
(1/16/2006)
"Great marathon, but still room for improvement" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a great large marathon. I can echo the positives: 1. Great logistics with the start and finish right at the convention center. 2. The host hotel (Hilton) was extemely accommodating and service was excellent. 3. Completely closed course: Didn't have to inhale automobile fumes. 4. Plenty of volunteers and fan support. 5. Almost completely flat course; although run primarily on concrete instead of asphalt. I would have to loudly echo DP from Houston regarding the packet pick-up and the new corral system. 1. The packet pick-up was unnecessarily complex. You picked up your race number, packet, and shirt all in different places spread way out in the convention center. Many people had to go back and "complete" their packet due to the unusual logistics. 2. The corral system was TERRIBLE!!!! Because there was a fence system erected, and the entrances to the corrals were so narrow and hidden, my brother and I (as well as many, many others) had to enter the front corral through the very back of the system - through the 5K runners and the back corral. There certainly was a lot of pushing and frustration. A horrible experience such as this can easily erase all the good points of the race. This absolutely has to be fixed for next year. | |
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B. K. from Big Easy
(1/16/2006)
"One of the nation's best races" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Perfect conditions. Beautiful course (esp. for an urban race). Tremendous crowd support. Good organization (except too few port-o-potties and a little confusion for the turn-around in the half) with very helpful volunteers. Oh yes, and gorgeous people everywhere. Thanks Houston for a wonderful experience! | |
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R. A. from Houston, TX
(1/15/2006)
"Another great Houston Marathon!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Houston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race only gets better! Improved start with corrals this year meant no weaving around walkers! Finisher shirt upgraded from a sweatshirt (which you can't wear much in Houston) to a great technical t-shirt. Perfect organization as usual. Great environment in the GRB convention center. No wonder Marathon and Beyond magazine rated this race #2 in the country! Keep up the great work Houston!! | |
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M. P. from Joplin, MO
(1/15/2006)
"Awesome Organization!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the 2006 Houston Marathon this morning and came away thoroughly delighted. From the packet pickup and expo the day before to the pre- and post-race organization, it's very clear that the race was put together by runners for runners. Every detail was covered, including having vaseline available at the information desk! I have run Boston and MCM three times each. Houston puts Boston to shame and ranks (in my book) just above MCM for stress-free marathon logistics! I will run this race again next year, and I would highly recommend it to anyone from a first-timer to an elite runner. | |
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D. P. from Houston, TX
(1/15/2006)
"Great course and spectators, lacks organization" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 First off, this is a great marathon, and I am posting the comments on the negative side, in hopes that the race will improve. I do recommend this race. I had heard nothing but great things about the organization of this race, and though it is my first marathon, I have run several fun runs that have had participation leveles in the thousands. However, the Houston Marathon, dropped the ball completely. Here's why: 1. Packet pick up was unnecessarily complex; you are stuck wandering across a convention center looking for all the items of your packet. 2. The CORRAL SYSTEM IS HELL. Someone had the "bright" idea to put up fences along the street so you can only enter the corrals at center points. The problem: Cram 15,000 people on sidewalks, and through narrow entrances. This FAILED MISERABLY. People were pushing and shoving, and ready to fight, it was one of the WORST experiences ever at a race in my life. 3. Water stations severely undermanned. The early water stops would have one guy desperately trying to fill up water cups and get them out to runners. All the volunteer work is greatly appreciated, but these people needed help! My only complaint about the course is that the roads were not big enough to handle the merge between the marathon and half marathon runners. You were stuck getting knocked around and dodging people until they broke off around mile 9. Overall though, aside from the corrals, the race was a very pleasurable experience, and I do recommend it. Beautiful course, spectators are EVERYWHERE. I have never seen anything like that before. It was amazing. |
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