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☰
OBX Marathon Runner Comments
Back to OBX Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 4.3
Number of comments: 183 [displaying comments 121 to 131]
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d. l. from charlotte, NC
(11/17/2007)
"Hurrah, OBX!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The absolute best race - we all LOVED the spectators, and the incredibly friendly atmosphere! The course was absolutely GREAT, the air is the best you can breathe (unlike in some other races), and I got my absolute PR here - probably from the adrenaline generated by all the cheering! I personally love the Outer Banks/waves for kiteboarding, and I was delighted to enjoy that part of them. Hurrah, OBX, and thank you all - I will be back for years to come! | |
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B. D. from Portland, OR
(11/15/2007)
"Exceptional!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Everything was top-notch! The wave start helped make the beginning smooth, the community spectators went all out decorating the course, the course was well marked with plenty of volunteers keeping you on course, there were plentiful well-stocked aid and medical stations, and there were plenty of friendly, knowledgeable volunteers.... There are just so many positive things to say: a community that really welcomes the runners, a shuttle bus system that runs flawlessly, a festive expo, and a truly amazing first 13 miles - beautiful, varied, and without the exhaust of a single passing car! If you want to treat yourself, do this marathon! | |
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c. j. from Greenville, North Carolina
(11/15/2007)
"Great event!" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Course was great. Ran through neighborhoods with good crowds sheltered from the wind for first 10 miles. Miles 10-13 take you on a packed dirt road and a short mulch trail; this section has gently rolling hills. Miles 13-21 take you back out in the open, mostly on main road. Miles 21-24 are across several bridges, including one high-rise at 23. The finish takes you into town of Manteo. It was a little challenging for spectators to get from mile 22 to the finish; limited roads forced spectators to go a long way to finish area (about 30 minutes), where there was limited parking. Helps to bring along a driver for your fans! Aside from that, it is a great destination, and the people were awesome. I highly recommend this one if you want to run a good time and have a good time! | |
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W. B. from NC
(11/15/2007)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Very friendly people. My wife and I ate pancakes for my carb loading and met some of the people that worked at Stack'em High Pancake House. One of the gentlemen asked my name and said he would remember for the next day at Mile 12. Sure enough, he remembered my name and cheered like a wild man! The trails and bridge were tough but that's what it's all about. | |
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C. D. from Roswell, Ga
(11/15/2007)
"Kudos to the race officials, volunteers, and crowd" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a great marathon all the way around, highly recommended. I can't believe this is only the second year, some of the larger races could learn a few things from you guys. The crowd support was wonderful, expo had everything you could want and more, volunteers were the best, plenty of aid stations, water, gel, and of course free beer at the end will always bring runners. | |
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R. W. from Houston, TX
(11/14/2007)
"Good Job OBX; I highly recommend this marathon" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Thanks Outer Banks residents and businesses for hosting a very good marathon. I really enjoyed the course and the community support. For anyone considering this marathon for next year, I encourage you to sign up and do it. The course is very scenic, especially the first half which winds through secluded neighborhoods, around the Wright Brothers' Memorial, and through Nags Head Woods. The volunteers and spectators were very supportive and encouraging. I found the course to be very fast. It is relatively flat with two exceptions: the trail through Nags Head wood was unexpectedly hilly, and I had my slowest mile split there; and the bridge at mile 23. The weather was almost ideal: upper 40's, lower 50's with a good tail wind out of the north. I set a personal best and Boston qualifier here. I look forward to returning in the future. | |
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P. K. from Reading, PA
(11/14/2007)
"UNBELIEVABLE!!!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 24th marathon/20th state and favorite so far. The varied course and the perfect amount of 'corner turning'/change of venue was what made the race great....running through Kitty Hawk village and the area along the water was calming, circling the Wright Brothers' monument was awe-inspiring, the woods were great, the bridge was beautiful...the spectators were so friendly and helpful. The kites/parasails at the finish were a great thing to propel me forward and I loved seeing the kites from a distance and thus knowing EXACTLY where the finish was. I really felt the OBX community wanted us there and they seemed to know just the right things to say to inspire usso impressed with the people who came out (have never experienced that kind of warmth at a marathon!). The spectators were actually *thanking* the runners for coming to OBX and they really sounded like they meant it!!!! The medical tents were unique and wonderful. It was comforting knowing medical had a presence. All aid stations were strategically and perfectly placed; I never felt that awful desperate marathon feeling of not having my needs met. I utilized the vaseline and the power gel often. The occasional music was wonderful and I really, really enjoyed having the visual mile markers without someone barking out the mile times. We all have watches if we need to know our times. The EXPO was awesome (easy in and easy out). The shuttles ran very smoothly. The host hotel was great. Awesome, awesome job, OBX. The runners were really, really friendly and great to talk to. Congrats on your first, Peter Greeno!!!! | |
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T. S. from McLean, VA, USA
(11/13/2007)
"Great organization, volunteers and course." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 OBX Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was a great race last year, but was even better with good weather this year. The technical shirts for the men were lacking - too small, especially around the neck - and I really think the winner of the full marathon should receive a purse that at least equals that for the winner of the half (not that it will ever affect me!). | |
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Jeff Hill from Glen Ellyn, IL
(11/13/2007)
"First-rate in all respects" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I had always wanted to visit the Outer Banks and this race provided both the opportunity for a visit at a less-crowded time of the year and a chance to run a marathon in North Carolina. In summary, this marathon exceeded my expectations in every respect. Reasons to run OBX include: 1) A very well-organized and professional race administrative infrastructure, which resulted in a very smooth and trouble-free experience from registration to packet pick-up through receipt of results. At least for me, everything was seamless, with no hiccups anywhere. 2) Great race shirt that I will wear frequently while training. 3) The best race timing vendor that I've ever encountered - results were posted on the website the day of the race and I received a personalized e-mail the day following summarizing my race time and providing detailed splits. 4) The course provided a bit of variety, some gorgeous scenery, some aviation history (you run right next to where the Wright Brothers took the first flight) and, at least this year, 20 miles of tailwind and perfect race temperatures. 5) The shuttle bus system worked great - which is very important for a point-to-point course like this. 6) Lots of portable toilets at the race start and along the course. 7) Bagels, bananas and Gatorade at the START - a nice touch. 8) TONS of volunteers who were genuinely helpful, pleasant and who seemed happy that we were there. And 9) Free beer at the end. ;-) There are so many reasons to visit the Outer Banks and the race is at a less-crowded time of the year. This provided less-costly accommodations while also minimizing traffic issues. The locals also seemed genuinely happy that we were there. I could not have had a more positive experience and I highly recommend this race. | |
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Greg McElhatton from Arlington, VA
(11/13/2007)
"A pleasant, smaller marathon" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I was looking for a reasonably-sized marathon to run this year, and the Outer Banks Marathon fulfilled that goal quite nicely. The first ten miles of the course were my absolute favorite; beautiful scenery along the water, through tree-filled residential neighborhoods, and around the Wright Brothers Monument. You can't ask for much better scenery than this (and I ran in Florence, Italy last year) and I've got nothing but great things to say about miles 1-10. The infamous "through the woods and hills" portion (miles 11-13) was indeed a tiny bit challenging, but at the same time, perversely fun. It was very different from any sort of marathon I've run before, and I appreciated the challenge. There is about a mile stretch in there where the trail isn't more than two-people wide, but for a mid-pack, 4-hour marathoner, I had no problems with crowds or passing people. I must admit that I was less than thrilled with the second half of the course, but not because of the infamous bridge to Roanoke Island at mile 23 (which is visually pretty daunting, but thankfully not actually that long). My complaint was the long stretch of highway that composes a lot of the second half of the course. I'd love to see in the future the marathon get shifted off of the highway a bit more; as fun as it was to see all the businesses having changed their signs to reflect the marathon (the funeral parlor telling runners "the end is near" had me laughing a great deal), it did get old pretty fast. There aren't throngs of spectators like you'll get in New York, Marine Corps, or Chicago, but you know what? I liked the crowds at OBX much more. Everyone came out of their houses to cheer, they were warm and friendly, and lifted my spirits the whole way through. Hurrah for them! I'd definitely recommend this race to others who are looking for a smaller, more intimate race in a nice location. |
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