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☰
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 51 to 61]
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A. W. from Chattanooga, TN
(3/10/2010)
"Flat and Fast - Wonderful, Small-Town Race" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Two thumbs way up... run it for yourself and see. This was a wonderful small-town marathon. My dad, sister, brother and I all had PR's, and two of us had BQ's. The course seemed flat and fast, the few (and I mean few) hills were only gentle downhills. If there was an uphill stretch, it wasn't worth mentioning. The second half was more residential and pleasant than the commercial stretches in the first half. The finish line area was one of the best around for spectators. There was a hill on the side of the river bank that made for natural stadium seating, and when you combine that with a great park, face painting, and jumpy machines, it was very nice for our family. Volunteers and water stations were great as was the organization and packet pick-up. The only negative was the shirt. You don't run a marathon for the shirt, but you still want a cool shirt. This one was knock-off tech shirt with a crazy, huge logo, and the fit was trim, yet came well below my waist. | |
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M. A. from Atlanta, GA
(3/10/2010)
"Excellent small race in a runner-friendly town!" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run 7 fulls and 6 halfs for comparison, and I ran the full for this one. The start was hands down the BEST I've ever seen! They lined the full folks up on the right, the half folks on the left; you start together, but split after the first 100 feet. It's so refreshing after other races, where you fight the crowds at the start, counting the miles until the split. If only we could convince larger races to do the same! The pace team was great; there were tons of time groups to choose from. I started with Pacer Jim, who'd also spoken at the pasta dinner. Great guy! Pasta dinner was at the same hotel as the expo, so it was very easy to drive in to town Friday, get packets and dinner, and then get to bed. I must recommend the Country Inn and Suites - the manager made sure breakfast was put out far earlier than the official "breakfast hours" and was very runner-friendly. As for the course, it had a few rolling hills, but nothing to fight, and the course was quite well marked. The volunteers were great - at the finish the volunteer who gives you your heat sheet walks with you to get water and the fabulous medal to make sure you're ok - a nice way to keep everyone healthy! Also, the finish was organized in such a way that you were set up to see the finish and kick it in straight if you have the strength to! Very well done! | |
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George Neville from Warner Robins, GA
(3/8/2010)
"Great organization, supporters and course!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Much thanks and appreciation to the RD and the supporters! They made this race a huge success! Other postings about 2010 have already accurately covered the course/organization. If you are looking to run a PR and enjoy the "hometown" feel, you must do the Snickers Marathon. Thank you again to the police and volunteers for their time and cheers! I will do this event for years to come! | |
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R. S. from Atlanta, GA
(3/8/2010)
"wonderful small race" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great race with super organization. One of the best races I have entered. The course was challenging but fair, with a few gentle hills. Nice expo, good swag, and great post-race treatment. Don't stay at the Holiday Inn - no complementary breakfast, no coffee in my room, no late check-out (all promised when I made the reservation), trash in my room, no outside security, and someone entered my room and took all of my towels before I checked out. | |
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A. R. from Chicago
(3/8/2010)
"Benefits of a Small Race and Big Race in One!" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I picked this race because it was billed as "flat," it was in early March, and it (surprisingly) had pace groups (I was attempting to qualify for Boston). The race certainly lived up to my expectations and more! Weather was great (30 at the start, ~50 at the finish, sunny, minimal wind), and I loved that the race started right at sunrise (7 a.m.) because, if it had been warmer, that would really have helped. Parking right next to the start - one could have parked at 6:45 and have had plenty of time to make it to the starting line on time. The marathon itself had fewer than 600 participants and the half split off right away, so the 600 of us were on our own. I ended up running by myself for much of the race (the 3:40 pace group went out a little fast - I eventually caught and passed them, but didn't run with them for any more than 1 mile) - the closest runners most of the time were 20 seconds or so away on either side of me. This was a bit unusual, but it was ok with me. Although the volunteers were super enthusiastic and I felt like I had my own personal cheering section, if you need crowd support or other runners to motivate you, this race is probably not the one for you. Coming from Chicago, I wouldn't call this course "Chicago marathon flat," but I certainly do not run on hills and the very gentle rollers this course had were not an issue at all - it may have actually saved my quads and is DEFINITELY a PR course. The first 10 miles or so were pretty boring, but after that, the rest of the miles went through beautiful neighborhoods. Lots of turning and windy roads, so DON't follow the center line like your mind wants you to and instead run the tangents. I would guess it would be easy to tack on some distance by not running the tangents smartly. Aid stations were great - about every 2 miles - and most were stocked with water, Gatorade, Hammer Gels, and fruit. Volunteers were FANTASTIC, both in terms of aid stations, directions, and traffic control. For the size of the race, the expo was actually ok - if you forgot anything, it was available for sale, down to shoes, hats, sunglasses, and apparel. The T-shirt and medal were just ok, but I really don't care. Overall, I would absolutely recommend this race for someone looking for a PR or BQ - I certainly will always remember Albany as the site of my first BQ (and PR). It definitely has the perks of both a small and large marathon! | |
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S. A. from Columbia, SC
(3/8/2010)
"Great, Small Marathon" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The race was really well organized and very smooth for a small-town marathon. Because it was so small, there weren't really spectators. I was surprised by how few people were even at the finish. To me, this was less exciting than a larger race. The course was easy, almost completely flat, and the pace group I ran with was great. My advice: get out of Albany after the race. There is not much to do and very few restaurants. | |
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Terry Sentinella from Anacortes, Washington
(3/8/2010)
"Just about as perfect as it gets!!!" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the 2010 race as the 3:40 pace setter. I heard it was flat. I wasn't too excited about running a flat marathon, since I run most of my training runs on single track trails, with lots of big hills. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that it wasn't exactly flat; it is very easy, semi-flat, with gentle (almost unnoticeable) uphills, and gentle downhills. It is just the perfect type of course for a FAST time. This event only had 1,500 people, so I would call it a small event. They really thought of everything - chip timing, water, Gatorade, gels in 3 spots, a start and finish close by, a great expo. They provided everything they promised and more! I have run in many large events that were not as well planned as this one. The course was spectacular, and the people were the friendliest. This was my 100th marathon, and possibly my favorite. Leading a pace group is a blast, to see the fight and struggle that goes on with these participants in the last few miles, and to know that I helped as few of them make their dream to qualify for Boston come true is so rewarding. From mile 20 to the finish, most people look and feel awful. When it is all over, they are so ecstatic to have finished their race and conquer their goals. It is just amazing. Thanks, Snickers Marathon and Jim Crist, for allowing me to have this experience. Don't change a thing with this marathon - it is PERFECT! | |
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T. D. from Tennessee
(3/7/2010)
"Very well organized, very nice course." (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This course is great. It is varied but not difficult. The swag is not great, but it is definitely not bad either. The shirts fit very strangely, but they were tech shirts, and the finisher's medal was pretty standard. The really positive aspects of this race are the people involved in it. The volunteers were excellent, and though there weren't many "spectators," the volunteers did an excellent job of encouraging the runners. Again, the course is amazing, and I didn't really much have a clue of where I was running within the city for most of the race, and I was just taking it all in. This was great since there were, I believe, quite a few turns. If you are looking for a PR or just a pleasant marathon experience, this is a great race to do. | |
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L. D. from Tampa, FL
(3/7/2010)
"Great volunteers and organization made this race!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a perfect example of how a marathon is done on a small scale! Easy packet pickup at the host hotel. Small expo with only a few vendors, but it was very well stocked with race essentials. Nice shirt - one of the more colorful I've ever seen! Nice freebies - Snickers Energy and protein bars, and Publix recycle bags. There was plenty of free parking within 100 yards of the start/finish, and you were able to wait inside the hotel and stay warm. Prompt start on a cold morning. The course is not as hilly as Atlanta, but for a Florida flatlander, it was a challenge! Lots of curves and turns, just enough to make it interesting. Most of it wound through nice neighborhoods, and in total, lots of shade. The roads were very flat, so camber was not an issue. While there weren't a lot of spectators, the volunteers more than made up for it!! If there wasn't a policeman at the street corner, there were several very vocal volunteers cheering you on like you were an elite runner!! Pompoms, cowbells, noisemakers... you name it, they had it!! Kudos to the RD for recruiting so much support for the runners! Water stops were well maintained, and again, more enthusiastic folks!! YOU GUYS ROCKED!!! Nice medal, again, and great volunteers at the end to cheer you in, give you water, and point you in the right direction. Post-race food was not so hot - bagels, combos (pretzels), orange and banana slices, and more Snickers Energy Bars. The only thing that I would change is the last quarter mile. We went from asphalt to a brick street, then downhill on a concrete path with more decorative brick striped into it. I was really afraid I was going to trip and fall after 26 miles of running on asphalt. Thanks for a great race!! | |
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M. I. from Pittsburgh, PA
(3/7/2010)
"Fantastic race in a great town" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Albany Marathon (formerly the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Mara
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My first Georgia marathon, and I was looking forward to a small-town, no-pressure event. I got it. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn right at the start/finish, and close to the "Mardi Gras" and bike races later that day. Weather was great, course was fine (a couple of small inclines), and the spectators were surprisingly numerous. I ran the fastest I had run in 4 years, thanks to Jim Crist and the 4:30 pace group. A big thanks to all of the volunteers, especially those at the water stops and intersections. I'm not the fastest, and it was great to always have plenty available of whatever I needed - bananas, Snickers Marathon bars (my personal favorite, natch!), oranges, etc. Would definitely recommend this to anyone. |
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