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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 131 to 141]
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C. S. from NC
(11/12/2007)
"Just OK" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I didn't do it last year, so I can't comment on improvements made. A point to point race always creates problems, but everyone knew that coming into it. I was cold and not too happy about my performance. Would have liked to have gotten in my car and left. Instead had to find shuttle (no signs), wait for shuttle, figure out for myself which shuttle to take, and sit on bus for 45 minutes to get back. Instead of quick walk to car, took 90 minutes to get back. But again, I knew that could be a problem. Parts of course were scenic, parts were on a 5 lane road, but I didn't mind that. I wasn't out there to sightsee (though before & afterwards, there are great places to check out). There were 2-3 miles of hilly dirt/sand/mud roads and wood chip trails. I didn't mind, but not a PR course for that reason. Didn't mind bridge either, but be aware you have a pretty steep 90 second climb 23 miles into the race with a 2-3 minute gradual buildup. Don't think b/c it's on the coast it's an easy race. We lucked out on the 20 mph winds being at our backs most of the way, but there were sections of strong headwind & crosswind (bridge). Finish line was a little chaotic. I'm a 3:30 guy and more attention was being paid to 4:00 1/2 marathon walkers than marathoners. Lot of community support! Overall, I'd give it an OK rating, but know what you're getting into. Not blazing fast. Good place to take the family if you want to run a race and count it as a vacation. | |
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Hal Monsees from Mocksville, NC
(11/12/2007)
"Fantastic, I loved it. As good as any I've run." (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this two weeks after the Ridge to Bridge Marathon (another great race in NC) and ran with others who had just completed Marine Corps marathon. The level run with the tailwind helped me run about as quickly as I normally do. We all thought it was a great marathon. Everything was well organized, shuttles to the start from Wal Mart ran well as did the return shuttles after the race. The aid stations were more than adequate and well staffed by very enthusiastic volunteers. There were many supporters all along the course even on the trail portion. The course itself was beautiful, one of the best I've ever run. We passed through many attractive neighborhoods where the homeowners came out to cheer us along. Some have complained about the trail portion but I found it to be a joy to run. It added diversity to a great run and reminded me of the trail around the Duke University golf course. All of the volunteers were fantastic, they were energetic, helpful, understanding and all seemed to have a great sense of humor. I was concerned about the traffic congestion on Roanoke Island but it was not an issue when I finished. The wind was at our backs for all but about 1.5 miles. The Washington-Baum bridge provided a welcome break from the otherwise flat course. I thoroughly enjoyed this race and am planning on doing it again next year. | |
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Brian Schultz from Concord, NC
(11/12/2007)
"Great job OBX for a terrific race." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 After reading some of the 2006 comments I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the 2007 marathon; but it was everything I have come to expect and hope for in a marathon. The course had varied scenery: the Wright Brothers memorial, Nags Head woods, beautiful views of the Sound, the bridge, etc. Nags Head woods was a very nice and unexpected twist in the course. Although it was hilly, I very much enjoyed the 'trail' experience. The OBX residents were more than hospitable. It seems like they actually understand what having a sense of community is all about while understanding that 'tourists' keep their economy going. The organization of the race was outstanding. Every town we ran through had it's own logo spray painted on the road along the entire course. Every mile marker was easily recognizable and the many turns were clearly marked with signs and volunteers directing the participants. The only 2 items that could be improved upon are the food at the end and the medal. These 2 things are very minor to me because they are not key motivating factors that influence my desire to run marathons; however, I have participated in 10k's that had a better spread of food than this. The medal was nice, just not very big. With all of that being said, the wristband for 6 beers at the end was more than generous, although I would have gladly exchanged 4 of the beers for a couple of slices of pizza! OBX-awesome job in only your second year. It is obvious you learned a lot from your 1st year and made the appropriate improvements! Thanks for a great race! | |
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R. T. from Nags Head, NC
(10/1/2007)
"OBX Marathon - Scenic and Friendly" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the half and had a great time. I can't say enough about the volunteers and the people along the route - if you couldn't find food at the aid stations, you could always join one of the parties on the course. Unlike others, I found the bridge to be a nice change for my knees (plus the view was beautiful from the top). I didn't have to run in Nags Head Woods, but if you think there are hills there, try the half in Williamsburg - NH Woods has anthills compared to that race (it is a great race, too, by the way). Everyone involved in this race worked incredibly hard to make it a success and it shows. Yes, there are some small issues to work on, but I am sure that by November '07, the race organizers will have had a chat with Mother Nature about the rain. By the way, don't let the bad weather from last year scare you away - we could just as easily have a sunny warm day this year. Also, I loved the medal. | |
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M. M. from Manteo, NC
(9/29/2007)
"Beautiful course, great fans, good 1st try" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 My wife and I ran the half marathon. The whole morning was a great experience for us. We were on our shuttle and at the start without a hitch. We ran into dozens of people we knew, which added an unexpected bonus. All along the course, which took us through a wide range of places - like by Jockey's Ridge sand dune, through a golf course, over the Roanoke Sound and through the maritime village of Manteo - we were cheered on by what sometimes felt almost like more volunteers and supporters than runners. For about half the run the weather was beautiful, but then the rain started and we ran in a gully washer for about an hour. It was actually nice, except my shoes got heavy towards the end. I understand that the 2008 race ends in downtown Manteo, which will be a big improvement since it is connected to the location of the closing ceremony. We loved this run and will certainly do it again. | |
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C. B. from Outer Banks, NC
(9/27/2007)
"The idea is great; the execution baffles the brain" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is a great place for a race and in the future it should be one of the most sought-after experiences on this coast. There are just some things about island running that the organizer did not understand. First, we have prevailing SW winds, so any year, it is likely the runners will face a headwind from mile 1 to mile 22. And a stiff headwind of 20 mph is very common in Nov. - even 25. All that air comes right off a 30-mile open stretch of water; it blows cars off the road, let alone skinny runners. Point it in the other direction. The second thing is finishing ON Roanoke Island. That is crazy. It took 2 hours, due to the traffic and buses, just to get off Roanoke Island and back to the main island. Why not have a beach finish, as it is a beach marathon? I'd gladly run again but the thought of sitting in traffic, cramping up, smelling like a swamp for several hours after I finish just turns me off. The finish must have an exit strategy and there is only one road off RI. At least over at the beach there are a lot of ways to move around. | |
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J. M. from Savannah, GA
(5/30/2007)
"Good marathon... but a little suprising" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I must say great job to the community for their support - there were tons of people during the first few miles while we were winding through the streets. That definitely got the marathon off to a great start, which was then dampened (literally) by the rain that started setting in, and then our discovery that the flat and fast course on a dirt-packed path was actually a very uneven, hilly, narrow trail. (Talk about a suprise - especially to this first-time marathoner, who lives on the VERY FLAT east coast of GA. I for one did not train for that.) And, of course, the bridge at the end didn't help. (In all fairness, we were warned about that.) Just be fair in the description of the course for future reference, with that stretch of trail in the beginning of the race. It made for an extremely long second half of the race since I didn't know I was training for a hilly portion of a trail run. Personally, I can't complain about the port-a-johns at the start (I was in line early enough, I guess). Also, we didn't have to suffer through the extremely long lines for bag pick-up or shuttle (I guess that's a bonus for being in the last half of the finishers). A lot of the traffic had started to thin out, so the wait for a shuttle wasn't bad. It was a little disappointing, however, to watch the shuttle drive right by my hotel and have to sit and wait to get all the way back to one of the community parking areas only to turn around and drive the same stretch of road back to the hotel. And for those who have commented (both good and bad) regarding the post-race food, consider yourselves lucky! I NEVER saw ANY FOOD at the end of the race - must have been long gone before I got there. I was very glad I had packed a few granola bars in my bag. Also, it was disappointing that everything was so scattered at the finish with the awards ceremony - I have no idea where it was or how I was supposed to get there, had no desire to go wandering around looking for it at that point, and basically the finish seemed like it was a few runners like myself and a bunch of volunteers who were looking forward to being able to get out of the rain. (Don't get me wrong; many thanks for their time - they were great!) But I was looking forward to being amongst other runners and their families to enjoy the fact that we had made it to the finish line! I'm sure there will be many changes for next year, and maybe I'll be back after I find some hills to train on so I can be better prepared! | |
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A. M. from Midwest
(4/26/2007)
"Great Potential" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Cons: I missed running with my buddies because I was in the porta-potty when the race started. I was in line for 25 minutes. Tough bridge late in the race. We caused a huge traffic jam for a long time. Running in the soft sand, twisting, steep up and down, narrow single track trail. It was taxing. Why did they keep it a secret? Medal, t-shirt and expo were a big disappointment. Pros: Enthusiastic spectators and volunteers. Cool poster. Lots of choices to stay at a reasonable price through AAA. Suggestions: Reverse the course so the bridge is at the beginning when we are fresh and not cramping up. Plus we won't block traffic because we will all be past it so early in the morning. Good for everyone. Jazz up the medal and shirt. | |
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J. B. from Raleigh, NC
(3/22/2007)
"Awesome fans; surprising course" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The fans were amazing! The weather ended up being very harsh - driving rain and strong winds - and the fans just stayed right out there and cheered us on. I was inspired! For an inaugural marathon, I thought it was very good. However, here are some points that might be taken into account: 1) Every race organizer should know that one can never have too many port-o-potties. Unfortunately, at the start the lines ended up what seemed to be 20-30 deep. I was worried about runners making it to the start line on time (yes, it was that bad). 2) I didn't know that we would be trail running on hills for miles 8-12 or so. That was not a fun surprise. 3) It was very tough to run fast to the finish line when you are trying to dodge huge mud puddles. 4) I don't know where the awards ceremony was, but it didn't seem to be anywhere close to the finish line. I think you had to take a shuttle to get there. 5) I was so excited to win my first age group award but I had to practically beg in e-mails for it since I missed the ceremony. They finally e-mailed us about a month after the race and told us to send a self-addressed, stamped package to receive the award(cost $0.96... they can't pick up the tab on that??). 6) Mile markers were sort of hard to find if you didn't know what to look for. I think the race logistics and planning will improve with time. I don't think I will be running it again though. | |
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M. S. from Dover, DE
(2/21/2007)
"Great Volunteer Support But Needs Much Improvement" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 OBX Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I was looking for a late fall marathon on the East Coast. Chose OBX because I heard the Outer Banks is a great place to visit and had a lot of unique sights (Wright Bros. Museum, Lost Colony). Had absolutely no trouble booking a hotel 2 months prior, but it was all downhill (pun intended) from there. The pros (+): 1) Volunteers. Absolutely great. Very positive and helpful. Without them, this race would have been a complete flop. Literally, there was a volunteer on every corner with a map or shuttle schedule! Even better considering the wind and rain for nearly the entire day of the race. 2) Scenery. Monuments, bridge and ocean provide nice scenery and backdrop. 3) Kids' Race and activites, t-shirt. Son loves the t-shirt. Design of kids' t-shirt was much nicer than the marathon. The kids' 1-mile race itself was somewhat disorganized but enjoyable. My kids (10 and 6) loved the rock-climb. Of note: I witnessed a volunteer that did not stop traffic on a somewhat busy road while kid was attemping to cross street during race. Car nearly hit the kid. Major cons(--): 1) Lack of access and shelter at the end of the race. After finishing in the driving rain, I saw several shivering, sick runners walking around appearing to be waiting for a shuttle. There were not enough tents. Nearby school was locked! 2) Could not get a shuttle at finish. You needed a shuttle to get to an off-site parking lot since little parking was available near finish. Shuttles were disorganized. Saw many instances where drivers were confused as to their route. 3) Access to the finish, post-race party, and start were limited and downright dangerous. Many cars were stuck in long lines unless you took a shuttle or were leaving in an ambulance, there was no access to finish. Post-race party was nearly impossible to get to with roads blocked off. Note: it was more than a short walk from the finish, which leads me to my next point: 4) The start, finish, expo, post-race party (four separate areas, none within walking distance of the other) could not have been placed in the most inaccessible, remote areas of the Outer Banks. THIS WAS VERY POORLY DESIGNED!!! The real irony here is the organizers want another 1000+ next year. The race course, finish, etc. looked like it was designed to handle a crowd of about 500. There were 2000+ runners. Minor cons (-): 5) Course: At many turns (especially early: miles 2-11) there was not enough room for more than three abreast. A lot of contact. Did not see anyone fall. Course opens up after trails. Several instances of dirt-to-concrete transition. Also of note: speed bumps present near the end of race (miles 24-25) pose a trip hazard, especially with tired legs. 6) Took nearly a month to get my age-group award, after about 10 emails and five phone calls to various directors (after being promised by the assistant director day of race, "we'll take care of it") and paying postage, I received my award. Unless you were an elite finisher, the directors didn't seem to care. 7) For a $75 entry fee: Goodie bag full of useless coupons to overpriced resturants, etc. The only thing of any value was the "udder" cream used to prevent chafing. Value hunters: Not a lot of bang for your buck. On a positive note, a portion of the fee went toward the Outer Banks Charities. 8) Need more porta-potties (and access) at the start. My advice: Go if you like the crowded feel of the megas, being at the beach in November, and want to visit someplace with a unique history to it; but in my opinion this race needs a major overhaul. Unless the directors focus on improving runner safety, organization, and convienence rather than attracting huge crowds, my family won't be back again. |
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