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Sacramento CowTown Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Sacramento CowTown Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 31 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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S. K. from Rödermark, Germany (Frankfurt Area)
(10/22/2009)
"It was great to run the Cowtown Marathon" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I came from Old Germany to do my fourth US marathon (after NY, Boston, and Honolulu) in Sacramento. After return to my home, I wish to thank Rich Hanna, his team, and all of the volunteers for the excellent job they have done. Special thanks for making it possible that I could run with my personal chip and - more importantly - for arranging such a beautiful weather on running day. :-) The course was fast and very well marked; however, it was (unfortunately) without spectators on most parts of the course. The results were published quite quickly, and the massage after the finish was a real delight. The only three points that were not so positive to me are: 1) In the second loop, the marathon runners had to find there way through the mass of walkers who sometimes were walking in groups beside each other, and so creating "human walls" and blocking the roads. (They should be advised to walk behind each other on the right side at all times.) 2) There were lots of sweet soft drinks available in the marathon tent, but no plain mineral water (a nice female volunteer got me some from somewhere). I also missed some healthy food - sandwiches and tacos are not everybody's thing after having done a full marathon! 3) It was a bit disappointing that no finisher certificates were provided - or did I miss something?? In general, I can recommend that all runners do the Cowtown Marathon!! | |
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D. B. from Calgary
(10/12/2009)
"Great event and got a PR" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Rich I really enjoyed the marathon. There were lots of aid stations and lots of cheering people! Volunteers were excellent. It was fast and flat, and also quite shaded. I shaved 14 minutes off of my PR! One change you might want to consider is starting the 5K people 60 minutes after the start of the marathon for less congestion. I liked that variety of food at the finish. Chocolate milk and tacos were very tasty, as well the special sandwiches for the marathoners. Overall, I give this one two thumbs up! Dave from Calgary, Alberta | |
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B. R. from Texas
(10/9/2009)
"Could be improved." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I love Sacramento. It is a great place to spend a weekend. To improve this Cowtown event: (1) Have more at the expo. That was like a neighborhood 5K with a really good tent. (2) The bands should either play or go away. At least half were not playing. (3) Pass out awards before food, or allow paid runners to re-enter the food area. That was confusing and frankly rude. I would run this again, but not if Cowtown can't do just a bit better. | |
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julia thorn from melbourne, australia
(10/7/2009)
"Good event; made runners feel welcome" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I came to do Cowtown as part of a big weekend, after running St. George on Saturday. I have to admit that I picked Cowtown for the convenience of getting to Sacramento after St. George, and it would not have been my first choice of marathon for Sunday, especially after reading some of the comments here from last year. Please stop criticizing this race. It is great. The organization is flawless, apart from a minor point that some of the bands had stopped playing by the time I got onto the second lap - I did 4:30 so I was not at the back of the field. It is OK doing two laps because the first lap is very crowded, and the second lap you get to see the scenery. It is a pretty race through nice neighborhoods and along the river for two stretches. The cowbell medal is great - so much nicer than the awful medal I got at Lake Tahoe the previous weekend. I stayed at a convenient hotel off of Capitol Park, with restaurants nearby and an easy drive to the start. I parked outside of the funeral home, which was ominous, but my race went well and I survived. | |
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S. C. from Sonora, CA
(10/6/2009)
"Very Impressed" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This course is FLAT and FAST and I found the double-loop format to be a benefit - it provided mental/visual aid in determining your progress. I qualified for Boston with my finish time on this course and I was using this event as a training run for an upcoming marathon. What I was most impressed with was the overall organization and aid station support - this race gets top marks there. I typically run trail events where you are your own "aid station," and to see so many well organized water/Cytomax tables with competent volunteers for this race was remarkable. There were several porta-potties on the course too! This was a well marked course with mile markers throughout. Some didn't like running through the "walkers" as we finished the marathon, but I had no problem with it. As far as spectator support: like I said, I am used to running trails where there aren't any spectators, so I don't feel that category is all that relevant. I did like running through neighborhoods and having your average Joe standing on his lawn with a cup of coffee and his newspaper in hand saying, "Good morning." But I don't need throngs of people offering encouragement to give a race a high rating. It is far more meaningful to receive words of encouragement from your fellow runners - try it and you will see what I mean. I would run this event again and would recommend it to all skill levels. | |
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K. S. from Pleasanton, CA
(10/6/2009)
"Not a good marathon for marathoners" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I thought it best to calm myself down a bit before writing a review for this marathon. To begin with, I signed up for this marathon hoping to qualify for Boston, because it advertised a "flat course." And, well, they're right, it is flat - but not just from an elevation perspective. The course is a double loop with lots - and I mean LOTS - of zigs and zags. There were not enough aid stations, in my opinion, and the "support" was very quiet. The neighborhoods and parks we ran through were pretty and tree-lined (which was nice and shady). But, the volunteers and other spectators looked as though they could barely be bothered to get out of bed (lots of people in robes and pajamas). Well, okay, so no big deal - at least they came out, right? Well, yeah, kind of - for the halfers. But by the time the marathoners came around a second time, it was a ghost town. The reason this was relevant to me: near the 25-mile mark I was guided off-course - not by a volunteer, as there were none of those around, but by another runner. The course was not clearly marked and by the time I realized that I was headed to do the loop for a third time (and had asked several volunteers and others by then), it was too late. I ended up running 29 miles, and finished at 4:19. At the 26.2-mile mark, according to my Garmin, I was at 3:43 - more than fast enough to qualify for Boston, but unfortunately it won't count. | |
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A. H. from Bay Area, CA
(10/5/2009)
"Had no idea Sacramento was so beautiful!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Looking at the map of this course, I thought all of the twists and turnarounds - two times, no less - would drive me nuts; but aside from the one out-and-back section at the marina, I barely noticed them. Not knowing the area at all, the second loop hardly felt repetitive. The race morning packet pickup is a very runner-friendly feature. Porta-potty lines at the start were non-epic. The race is about 90% half marathoners, so on the second loop there can be big gaps between runners, and the water stop volunteers are not always feeling the energy any more - you're not going to get multiple volunteers yelling out, "Water!" or "Cytomax!" when they've got two or three runners per minute passing by. Once I got in the habit of calling out "two waters!" to them as I was approaching, that made things much easier. Apropos of the prior complaints regarding the lack of finish line food, they had a special tent for marathon finishers food, which had actual deli sandwiches, and plenty was still left there at the 4-hour mark, in addition to the "regular" finisher food of bagels, etc. There was technically a pacer for my finish time goal, but I never caught her, and, looking at the results, she finished three minutes ahead of advertised pace. Overall, a very well run race and I'd definitely recommend it. | |
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c. w. from Modesto, California
(7/20/2009)
"FLAT AND FAST COURSE" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really liked the double loop. It was nice to know what to expect for the second half. Parking was easy and race-day packet pick-up is a big plus. Also, you can't get more marathon for the price - quite a bargain. I plan on running this one again. | |
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J. C. from Bay Area, California
(10/13/2008)
"Flat, fast, PR-friendly course." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Sacramento CowTown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Rich Hanna, if you're reading this, BIGGER water cups next year, please.... Those tiny Dixie cups make it tough to get enough water. That's my only complaint. (Oh, and also, the groups of 2-3 walkers walking side by side near the end of the course, but I won't hold you for that.) Otherwise, if you are looking for a fast second marathon to run during the fall/winter season, I would say Cowtown should be near the top of your list (with CIM being #1). I got a nice ~20 minute PR, though missed my 3:10 BQ by 3 minutes. Some pros of Cowtown: - Second loop lets you know exactly what to expect for that always-tough second half. - Good field of semi-competitive runners to run with; 3:10 pace leaders were great. -Lots of porta-potties spread out throughout the course, though crowded at the start. -Good tree shade covering about half of the course. -Weather is usually nice: 50F at start, 70 at finish. -Flat, fast course. -Enthusiastic volunteers. -Very well organized. -Cool schwag: Nice tech-tee and cowbell medal. -Reasonable registration fee. There are probably other great things I forgot, but nevertheless... I would definitely keep Cowtown high on your list when considering a marathon to do. | |
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P. B. from Sacramento, California
(10/12/2008)
"Well-organized, low-key marathon" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sacramento CowTown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The race organization is impeccable. They have aid stations every 2 miles and bands are sprinkled along the course for entertainment. The course is varied, starting in Land Park, under the shade of trees, then running through "nice" neighborhoods, then in a gritty section of industrial warehouses, and then (mile 7 or so) in Miller Park along the Sacramento River. This is followed by a few miles along the levee, with the Sacramento River off to your right. It's very scenic, with boats and oaks off to the side. On the first loop, this is in the shade, but in the second you are exposed to the sun. That second loop is run without the half-marathoners, most of whom have finished, so it is a bit lonelier. I don't mind that, since I prefer getting away from the maddening crowd, but some folks might. (If running huge marathons, like New York City, Marines Corps in DC, or San Diego Rock N Roll is your thing, then this is not the marathon for you.) But you are not alone - you have your fellow marathoners, and the marathon relay runners, as well as the support crews of some runners, biking alongside their charges. Anyway, this levee section is followed by running through nice neighborhoods again, then back into Land Park, and on to the finish. Some runners and walkers balk at running any course twice, and this is a two-loop marathon, but it does offer some advantages. For one, you know the course the second time around and can prepare the proper mental state as you approach each section. Second, in a course in such a tight area, there are many switchbacks, which afford your family or support crew multiple opportunities to see you. Thirdly, since you come back to where you started in the middle of the race, before the race you could stash something to drink or eat, and then upon returning to it at the midpoint, avail yourself of it. Loops have their advantages. Especially if they are picturesque loops, as this one is. Regarding a comment made by a previous poster about the race not providing enough food at the finish, this was not a problem in 2008 - there was plenty of food. In previous years they had lots of food too, but they had a problem with non-runners crashing the food area (the race ends in a public park). This year they fenced it off and patrolled it, so there was plenty of food for the runners and walkers. Also, to confirm a previous comment, on the second loop, some bands did seem to be packing up their gear rather than continuing to play. Not important to me, but if it is to you, then be so advised. |
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