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Tacoma City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Tacoma City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 51 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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B. R. from Seattle
(5/3/2009)
"What a fabulous race!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was marathon No. 16 for me and one of my most favorites. I took it slow, since I had just run Boston, but I really loved the course. Sure, it's hilly as advertised, but I found that I preferred the uphills, given that I had trashed my quads in Boston. Still, if you live in the Seattle area, the hills aren't anything you're not used to. I hesitate to give only 3 stars for spectators since that certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment. But if you're looking for lots of crowd support, it's probably not the race for you. However, if you're looking for tons of VOLUNTEER support, then this race truly delivers. Plenty of aid/port-o-potties along the course. And speaking of the course, can you say "breathtaking?" Mind you, we were blessed with perfect running weather (it had been threatening to rain all week, yet on race day we had cool temps with blue skies with a few clouds). But the scenery was spectacular. I'll definitely run this race again. | |
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J. M. from Mill Creek, WA
(5/24/2008)
"Pleasantly surprised" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Perhaps it was having to endure the "aroma of Tacoma" as a kid, or watching too many episodes of "Almost Live," but my opinion going into this race wasn't the best. After all, it is Tacoma. I was wrong. This was the second year for this race, which consist of a full and half marathons, along with a 10K. I was able to get on-street parking (I got there about 6:00) a block away from the convention center (packet pick-up, finish line and plenty of real bathrooms), and about 6 blocks from the start line (which is where marathon pickup was at). The race start times are staggered by 30 minutes, so most full and half participants will not be passing one another (the full and half share the first 8 1/2 miles and the last 100 yards). The weather was just about ideal, as it was cloudy/overcast, with a starting temperature of about 48. There were sprinkles a few times during the race, but nothing significant. While running past Stadium HS (~mile 4), several were commenting that there would be a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier, had it been clear. The marathon meanders for about 4 miles around downtown, then makes a counter-clockwise loop around the city. The race starts by heading south for about a mile, fairly flat, then turns to head north one block over. The block between makes you realize that this is not going to be a flat race. There are several hills, but if you live in the Puget Sound area, you've already trained for that. As with 99% of races, the volunteers were wonderful and law enforcement great. I didn't see any significant instances of frustrated drivers being stuck due to runners (the first miles were early enough that there wasn't much traffic - Ruston Way was pretty much closed to traffic - and when it was time to re-enter traffic, runners were spaced out to allow auto traffic through). If you are looking to do a race in either Seattle or Tacoma, do this one (Yakima in early April is the one to do, if you don't mind driving farther). This "felt" like a race for runners. The Maniacs and company run (no pun intended) a first-class event. Perhaps the best part was heading to Frisco Freeze after the finish and un-doing all the good for my body that I had done that morning. (Frisco Freeze is Tacoma's version of Dick's Drive In, but greasier. Growing up, my grandparents lived 2 blocks away, so it is amazing my heart made it past 12 years.) Frisco Freeze is at Division and L (3 blocks from where the route goes through Wright Park). | |
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M. B. from Alabama
(5/20/2008)
"Well organized event,challenging course" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was a very well staged event, on an interesting and challenging course.The weather was perfect for running a marathon; starting around 48 degrees and rising very little during the race.The course was well staffed with volunteers and drink stations. I especially liked the bright yellow mile marker signs, which were easy to spot from a distance. I would have to rank this as one of my favorite marathons, even though I have run much faster at other places. | |
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S. P. from Kemore, Wa
(5/20/2008)
"Lots of scenic variety and challenging hills" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I'd never been to Tacoma so wasn't sure what to expect. I really like the variety of the scenery throughout. We ran through downtown, along the river, through beautiful Defiance Park, neighborhoods, and along a super smooth bike path to finish. Great! Kept my mind busy since there wasn't much crowd support. However, I liked the more peaceful journey without all the hubbub. Small race made it super easy run your pace right from the beginning. No starting line chaos. Parked on the street nearby so I could walk to and from the start/finish with ease. Awesome! Volunteers at the aid stations were wonderful! Great to have 3 different GU stations along the way so that I didn't have to carry any nutrition. Love that! Only 2 suggestions for improvement: the race packets for the morning of were not at the expo site, as advertised. Since we parked near the expo, we had to walk all the way to the start line to get our numbers and then back to our car and back to start line to run. So better pre-race communication on that would've been good. Also, the awards for the women's race were improperly distributed and still haven't been sorted out (two weeks later). Most people could care less though, I'm sure! :) I would definitely recommend this race to others with fair warning that the hills are very, very challenging. It reminded me of Boston - my quads were sore for a week after! | |
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P. G. from Belfair, Washington
(5/19/2008)
"One to run for Washington!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I loved this course; it was a bit difficult, but the day was perfect and the scenery and atmosphere just seemed right. The maniacs were out in full force and had pacers for those wanting a certain time, which was a nice touch. There are many marathons in Washington state, but I have to put this one at or near the top of my favorites. The volunteers were wonderful and they gave out Gu, as advertised. Just showing up with running shorts, shirt and shoes is all you need to do, as they take care of you completely from beginning to end! | |
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Grannie Annie Singer from Suffern, NY
(5/15/2008)
"More hills... that is what this race needs" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Listen up!! If Grannie Annie, at age 64 1/2, can do these hills, so can you. The Marathon Maniacs put on one good, challenging race. Thank you for the one-hour early start for us slow pokes. Great medal; great, black, tech, short-sleeve shirt; great directions throughout the course; great traffic control. There's one killer hill just to get your heart rate up, and there are other hills to challenge the muscles. Expo, wonderful: even better. After-race expo is open; baggage pickup, bathrooms, medals - all indoors. This is my 47th state in 50-states quest, and I am very proud to say I came through it just dandy. Tacoma City is a wonderful place to visit. | |
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R. W. from Port Orchard, Washington
(5/13/2008)
"Great Race!" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is my third half-marathon (the first two being Seattle and Vancouver). The primary reason I chose Tacoma was the proximity to my own home in Port Orchard and the fact that it was on a Saturday. I loved running this course. The hills in downtown were not that bad, especially since they were at the beginning. I enjoyed the historic downtown area and am impressed with how they have cleaned it up. I loved running by Stadium High School and Stadium Bowl. Running down Ruston Way was OK - it would have been nicer on a clear day. I enjoyed the last mile - it was a great challenge. The finish was a bit tight (I squeezed through in an effort to get the best time possible). I don't need big crowds, music at every mile, or some of the other things the bigger city runs have had. My young family was able to get a GREAT spot to watch me round the corner and finish. I thoroughly enjoyed running in Tacoma and there is nothing like that first mile, with so many people of like mind and purpose. I look forward to making this an annual tradition. | |
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C. C. from Monroe, Washington
(5/12/2008)
"Excellent marathon" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Tacoma's Marathon will become a destination for all marathon runners. It is a beautiful course, challenging and fun! It runs along the water, through Point Defiance Park and past the Narrows Bridge... with a great noise distraction between miles 20-23 (Highway 16), and a final mile with a gentle downward slope (with a slight upward hill at the very end). All it needs is to recruit a few more spectators, which will happen in the years to come. Great job, Tacoma... see you next year! | |
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L. R. from California
(5/12/2008)
"Beautiful, scenic and hilly course" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The day was perfect - cool and overcast. Great scenery along Puget Sound and Fort Defiance Park, with flowers and views everywhere. The hills were a challenge, but actually good for the legs and mostly gradual. Most complaints in last year's "comments" were fixed. This was worth traveling up for. | |
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h. d. from from ireland living in tacoma
(5/11/2008)
"My first half, and I loved it" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Tacoma City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 So it was my first-ever half marathon run, and I've never done any type of race before, and it was awesome. I loved the staff - they even had encouraging police. There are several hills, but I loved them; they added to the challenge next year. I would love to try for the full. |
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