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Nov 16, 2024

Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Marathon) Runner Comments

Back to Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Marathon) Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.8

Spectators 4.3

Number of comments: 123 [displaying comments 31 to 41]

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B. B. from Texas (3/5/2012) "Fine race despite challenging weather" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is one of those little races you won't hear about, but it's excellent. And caps off to the RD and all the volunteers who were so wonderful, even after tornado warnings were posted at 9 PM the night before, and it was not clear we would even be running the next morning, then continued as the sirens again sounded early into the race, and it rained/drizzled/was 100% humid during. THANK YOU TO EVERY ONE. Pros: 1. Nice enough town which race finds the prettiest parts of. Lots of trees. And only a couple of minor hills. On a good day, a PR course. 2. Race hotel within 1/5 mile of start and finish. Good hotel (Hilton Garden Inn with reasonable rate - but they wanted 2 night stay/if you pay race rate of $129 you can just stay 1 night). 3. Half immediately splits off and you'll never see them again (except for a few walkers at the end) - bravo. 4. Plenty of well stocked and friendly aid stations, including Gus at least 3 times, and fruit. More bravos, especially for such a small race. 5. Ambulance circling course. 6. Good pace groups. 7. Small but good expo - well organized. Generous handouts of Marathon bars - I'd never eaten one, but very good (after the race). 8. Tech shirt. Chip attached to bib. 9. Pasta dinner at hotel with local speakers. We heard a guy giving some basic but good tips, especially for first timers. 10. Part of big cycling/community festival weekend, but that unfortunately got rained out. 11. Plenty of room to run. 12. Mostly shaded course, if heat becomes an issue. 13. Police did great job stopping traffic. 14. Nice finishing area along a river with plenty of room for every one. Announcer called out names as we finished. Free massages. 2 minute walk back to hotel - past a lovely statue of Ray Charles playing the piano. Cons: Just some minor ones: 1. A little hard to get to for out of state folks, but the drive from Atlanta airport was 3 hours or less, and very easy (this was my choice for my GA marathon). 2. Not much to do in the town. Restaurant and other hotel selections weak. 3. Not a particularly memorable course, or race, but excellent nonetheless. Probably more for South Georgians.
Bob Kroeger from Cincinnati (3/4/2012) "The good, the bad, and the ugly" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The good: 1. After dodging innumerable potholes at the Miss. Blues and Birmingham's Mercedes (saw one guy take a terrible fall there), it was a pleasure to run on Albany's well-paved roads. Not once did I see a pothole. They even placed an Astroturf mat over a railroad crossing. Kind gesture since the monsoon had everything and everyone soaked. 2. The route improved dramatically in the second half, taking us under canopies of oaks next to gardens blooming with purple azaleas. Made me think of the Masters (golf, that is). 3. Volunteers compensated with loud cheering for the lack of fans. Anybody with common sense should have stayed inside; I'm surprised at all the runners who showed up. No one ever accused me of having common sense. 4. Thanks to all those brave volunteers, the Marines, and the many policemen and women who guarded the intersections. We runners were well protected. 5. Gels available at mile stops as advertised. Nice. Gatorade mixed properly. 6. Route was PR flat with a few rolling hills. 7. Nice tech shirt and well-organized small expo. 8. Stayed at the Comfort Suites which allowed a late checkout. Thank God for that since my time was much worse than normal. Even served b-fast early. The bad: Weather is always a crapshoot. But, the tornadoes missed us! The ugly: My time. Piriformis syndrome stinks.
Pacer Paul from Ohio (5/29/2011) "A Real Southern Winter Surprise" (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Really enjoyed this event. And, the city was a major surprise to me...lovely city! The tribute to Ray Charles in front of the hotel was a stunning thing to see...wonderful! The Ray Charles tribute is something that other cities can learn from. Fun run, solid management. And, the people of the city were nice, helpful and excited to see we out-of-towners there! And, Great pace team.
L. B. from Florida (3/22/2011) "very nice and well organized race" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a very nice, well organized, and friendly race. I've never been offered so many gels, bars and fruit at any other marathon that I have done. There were water stations almost every mile. I would recommend this race to others. I booked a room 5 miles away and they had early breakfast starting at 5 a.m. and had late checkout so that I could get a shower before heading home. I have no complaints on this race. Good job!
R. K. from Central Time Zone (3/18/2011) "Food issues" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first full after running 13 half marathons. Overall, I had a very positive experience and would recommend this race. One surprise was that the hotel I stayed in five miles north of the start was not providing early breakfast! So I was glad I brought my own banana and bagel. The thing that jumped out at me was the lack of post-race food. As I waited in the massage tent (which was great!), I told my wife I wanted a Coke. She came back and said she couldn't find one. Maybe I missed it. If so, I am sorry, but post-race refreshments should not be hard to locate. I've been to a lot of smaller and larger events that had great post-race food, so if this race had it, I didn't find it.
B. D. from Pacific NW, USA (3/16/2011) "Easy logistics so one can focus on their race" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Organization is top-notch. Seasoned marathoners must be working behind the scenes to make things seem so seamless: Free and easy parking at expo and start/finish (staying at the host hotel - Hilton Garden Inn would be ideal); best start ever with a concurrent half "split" (half runners to the left, and full to the right) and about a block later each turn off to their respective races; promised aid stations stocked and hosted by enthusiastic volunteers; and (especially for a smaller field such as this), an amazing number of supportive spectators - even in the rain.
G. E. from USA (3/7/2011) "This is an excellent run, with plenty of fuel" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Maras COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have been in this race five times. This year, on top of jackets and shirts, they gave out hats for those who have raced here in five different years. I find it hard to believe that people don't like the event/course. I have been at races that don't even give you gels/bars. This event showers you with it every 2 miles so you don't even need a fanny pack. The heat is tough but the course is mostly straight and that saves your ankles. Yes, it has a few elevation changes, but for the most part you can't get a better event. So don't buy in to the folks who keep talking about scenery. I will gladly trade in scenery for course amenities any day.
J. H. from Locust Grove, GA (3/7/2011) "Great race with outstanding organization!" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a very well organized race! Lots of volunteers along the course and PLENTY of aid stations and porta-potties. They had several types of fruit, gels, and bars that they were offering. The course had some nice views overall - mostly through residential streets. I will run this race again next year! Book your hotel early because Albany only has a few decent hotels and they book up quick. I ended up having to stay 40 minutes north in Cordele. Live and learn!
R. R. from Collierville, Tennessee (3/6/2011) "Worth getting to know where Albany, GA is!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is perhaps one of the most unexpected marathons I've run in a while. Before signing up for this race I'd never even heard of Albany, at least not the one in southern Georgia. I knew it was rumored to be a well run small to mid-sized marathon on a fast course. To be honest I didn't really expect much. I was pleasantly surprised from start to finish. The packet pick-up was smooth and parking plentiful (although the expo itself was predictably small.) The speaker at the pasta dinner was interesting and the host hotel was both comfortable, close to start and finish, and reasonably priced. The race itself started at the Convention Center (right across the street from the host hotel) where you can choose to line up with a pace group if you like. The early race leaves the scenic river start for a more industrial part of town. The early miles lack of scenery is partially compensated for by enthusiastic volunteers and a reasonably flat course. The middle and late miles are through a series of neighborhoods that at times sport old growth tree lined streets and a community of residents and volunteers that clearly take pride in their home town race. The race ends in a park (across another street from the host hotel) and boasts beautiful views of the river and river walk area. The post- race food is standard fare sports drink, water bottles, oranges and bananas and honestly could use something warm like a soup or a local light dish to spice it up. The swag is standard fare as well with a pretty average technical shirt and finishers' medal. I heard they had finishers' jackets in years past. Sorry to see those go. Overall this race does some pretty amazing things considering its comparatively small size and rural location. The course is flat and fast. True it is not Chicago Marathon pancake flat but those who complain about the hills here are being really picky.The temperature in early March is good even if there were a few raindrops this year. There are digital clocks on the mile markers and friendly pace groups and enthusiastic volunteers at the well stocked water stations. Snickers does a lot for a race of its size. Its bound to put Albany on the destination map for those searching out quality marathons to launch their spring season.
d. d. from ohio (3/6/2011) "Smaller is better in Albany" (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Race pick-up was way easy; we got a nice, short-sleeve, tech shirt, and parking was plentiful, both close and free. The course was relatively flat - just some minor rollers. The aid stations were very well staffed and stocked, with plenty of course cheer. The marines on site were a big plus. The final miles were downhill and there was a nice finish line with all the trimmings of big races (but without the crowds). Great food and beer too!

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