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☰
Georgia Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Georgia Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.1 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 459 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
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K. D. from Orlando, FL
(4/1/2014)
"Great, difficult race!" (about: 2014)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 When they say hills, they aren't kidding! Though if you make sure you train on them, they should be no problem (elevation climbs run between 200 and 400 feet). The first 15 or so miles is relatively straight forward, it's the last 10 or so that the hills really show up, so make sure you do some training that reflects that. Overall a great race, maybe not a good one for your first because of the difficulty level, but course is beautiful. Cherry blossoms and dogwoods were in full bloom. Crowd support comparable to other city races I've done (Decatour took the cake!). There is a tough moment around mile 7 when the half and full break up, 75% of the race field does the half, so it is a pretty big loss when you see everyone turn left and you have to keep going straight (up a hill no less), just be mentally prepared. If you are looking for a race to challenge yourself with beautiful scenery, fantastic participants, and a killer turn for the finish, put this one on your list! You won't be disappointed. | |
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D. G. from Atlanta, GA
(3/28/2014)
"Tough but fun..." (about: 2014)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first full and, perhaps stupidly, I planned on running 3:40 or below. Wow was I wrong, I finished at 3:56. Mile 17 to mile 23 was seemingly all uphill. The 12th street hill coming out of the park made me want to lay down and cry. However, despite the difficulty, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! The spectators and police were all helpful and motivating as were most of the other runners. The expo was small but sufficient. I would recommend this race to anyone interested in testing their limits with a well-run urban race. | |
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M. H. from Atlanta, Georgia
(3/24/2014)
"Gonna, never did anything!" (about: 2014)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Heard about it on Sunday, signed up on Monday and crossed the finish line on Sunday!! Barely... But as I see it, I won! Not being a runner, I broke the main marathon running rule and had to buy new everything. Shoes, 2 pairs of socks (shoes turned out too big), shorts, shirt and iPhone arm holder. Went to the gym on Tuesday and ran the first miles I have ran in over a decade. 10 miles and a slightly sore knee later, I stopped. Went home happy with my run, but worried about my knee. Iced it and tried not to irritate it anymore before the race. I'm 33. It didn't heal. Race day came and at about mile 7 or 8 it felt like I was being stabbed in the kneecap with every step. If it wasn't for the awesome support form the crowd, amazing volunteers, and a little angel fellow runner, who I'm so sorry I didn't get her name, gave me an Advil around mile 10, I would not have made it. Unadulterated, Hell. I am writing this on Monday after the race. My legs are swelling and I think I need to see a doctor. Don't do what I did. | |
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J. C. from Dayton, OH
(3/24/2014)
"Course, Sights, and Hills!!" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 Very scenic course was not your typical big city race which caters mostly to the half, this one gives you the goods for 26.2. Wonderful volunteers! 1 situation marred this event for me, however, as a month after I signed up I was somehow kicked out with my reg fee refunded for no reason at all. I was rudely told to just re-register at the now-higher rate, and told that my daughter was out also even though her fee was not refunded. They eventually 'let' her back in and I was reluctantly given a coupon code to get the lower fee. This was done with rudeness and they also implied I was lying. I luckily didn't let this one bad apple spoil my day, and ended up having an otherwise wonderful time. | |
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A. B. from Atlanta
(3/24/2014)
"A good challenge but not for the faint of heart..." (about: 2014)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Georgia Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a well organized event with good fan support while the marathon course is joined with the half-marathon course. When the courses split at mile 7, it gets a bit lonely until you rejoin on the last few miles. The support points are excellently managed and spaced perfectly with everything you need - water, power aid, and at the later stops oreos, GU, peanut butter pretzels, etc. (I've heard in its early days and with a prior, unnamed sponsor, the support tables were a joke). You can safely run this without having to worry about carrying your own water bottle. The course is challenging. Do not underestimate it. Study the map and elevation charts closely. the last four miles are unrelenting, full on punishment. (I heard one veteran say that outside of Pike's Peak, this is the toughest marathon they'd encountered). But it is not impossible. Miles 11-17 give you a chance to get good splits. It presents the classic paradox - you need to bank time on the first 17-18 miles, but you also need enough in the tank to not fall apart on the last 4. The expo is good, but parking is a nightmare. You spend more time trying to park and get there than you spend in the expo. Oh, and the pace groups have never been what was previously published. I.e., in 2014, they advertised a 3:55 and 4:10 pace group, neither of which existed. | |
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J. E. from pennsylvania
(3/24/2014)
"beautiful but very hilly course, organized" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I stayed in Buckhead and Marta (metro) was an easy, inexpensive mode of transport to the expo & race. Race morning, the train opened at 5am for runners. The expo was organized but small. I wasn't looking to buy anything. The race was organized with corals, gear check, food postrace. It was a gorgeous course & a terrific way to see Atlanta. I didn't train on hills due to an injury, but knew they were coming...and they did. But, for every uphill came a downhill. I would recommend some downhill training too. We escaped the rain, so conditions were perfect. I was pleasantly surprised by this race. I really enjoyed it from start to finish. The volunteers were exceptional...so happy. Aid was plentiful, but would have recommend gel at more than one station ( mile 20 only). I came prepared with my own. The shirts were nice, medals top notch. | |
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Gerald Ford from Lake Lanier Georgia
(3/24/2014)
"The perfect example of unity for a positive result" (about: 2014)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is such a good example of how a community can come together for mutual achievement and mutual support. It was a humbling experience to see all the supporters and the organizers were superb. | |
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R. G. from Atlanta
(3/24/2014)
"Post Race Disappointment" (about: 2014)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Georgia Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 After running 26 miles, completely depleted of energy, it was truly disappointing if not cruel that NO FOOD was available after the race. There was, oddly, only chocolate milk. This is unconscionable and sadly ironic given that the race was sponsored by Publix. | |
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R. R. from Kansas City Missouri
(5/7/2013)
"Fun Run, but the Hills are as advertised" (about: 2013)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Really a nice race. Well organized from Expo/Packet Pick Up to start to post race activities. Be prepared at start as the human traffic jam is pretty big, but if you have looked at the maps for the corrals you can make your way around. Race is fun with a nice scenic course and really great volunteer/spectator support. I must say thank you to the volunteers and spectators as they kept us going. Course is advertised as hilly and it is so. The one I remember was just after mile 22 coming out of the park and up (and I mean up) into downtown. But elevation charts don't lie nor does the Facebook post that had a picture of a highway of hills with the caption 'Do Them' as a friendly training reminder. Don't be scared just prepared. Swag was fine. Overall Really good Race. | |
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James Lehman from Coppell, TX
(5/5/2013)
"VIP package was good value" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Georgia Publix 2013 was a typically good race, maybe more like average, I guess. I volunteered on Saturday prior to race; that experience was so-so and I probably won't repeat it. What stands out for me about Georgia Publix were the expo and the VIP package. The expo was a worthy event with a lot of opportunity to sample products and talk with promoters and organizers of other race events. I liked the Georgia Publix expo and signed up for another race during this expo. Additionally, I had purchased the VIP package which was good value due to the convenience of parking in a designated garage and the post-race victuals. Many new, but friendly faces at the post-race VIP area. I flew in for the event. I recommend Georgia Publix and I may repeat it next year. |
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