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☰
Pasadena Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Pasadena Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 44 [displaying comments 41 to 44]
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A. A. from La La Land
(3/23/2009)
"Inaugural Marathon, Inaugural Kinks" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I chose this race due to the (unfortunate) postponement of the L.A. Marathon. Being an inaugural edition, my hopes were not terribly high, but rather realistic. I did find the $90 registration steep for the caliber of this event. Respectable expo. Easy race-morning logistics, including close (covered) parking to the start/finish. It was not clear whether there would be a gear check. It was not explicitly printed in the marathon guide, posted on the website or known by volunteers. It turns out there was. Not a major issue for a small race. Aid stations were ample and well staffed. Due to wet cool weather, I didn't have to depend on them. Course was decent; 1,000 feet of climbing was enough to keep me honest. I enjoyed the alternating running with those in the shorter distance events. Crowds were very thin. I saw a couple of course-cutters. I called one out and scowled at another. Good event; close to L.A. and a decent substitute for their marathon. I set a P.R., so I'm happy with how the day unfolded, but I wouldn't emphatically recommend the event - nor do I think I will run it again. Thanks anyway. Pasadena will hold a special place in my heart (at least until my next P.R.). | |
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Z. Z. from San Diego, CA
(3/23/2009)
"Inaugural event success - fun course!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pasadena Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was a fun event. Too bad it rained after the previous wild fire smoke delay. But, the sun-blocking clouds and cool temps made for perfect running (for me). The first half of the course were rolling and scenic. The out-n-backs in the second half were less exciting. The ups and downs were challenging. Course support and supplies were excellent, thanks to volunteers and police. Accommodations at the host hotel were spot on. I'm glad I had a chance to run the "inaugural redux" event. If I had to be picky, I don't like that style of shirt, but no biggie. Great job. | |
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T. L. from Canyon Country, CA
(3/22/2009)
"Nice course, some issues, very few spectators" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pasadena Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I ran this race today. It has promise. It needs some improvements: Parking: The parking for the race was a disaster. Who allowed overnight parking on the exit road from the 210 so that all the traffic had to merge into one lane? And the race website had little to no indication that one could take the Gold Line and get to the race without any delays. Parking problems were almost as bad as Long Beach's. This needs to be addressed. Course was fairly good. I've never seen a race before with repeated splits for half/full and then bringing the halfers and full runners back together. It worked fairly well. There were an awful lot of out-and-backs, though, rather than loops. Good work with the water station volunteers; they were good, enthusiastic, energetic, and abundant. Would that the same could be said of porta-potties along the course. Definitely insufficient. Need more facilities. Overall, a good race, and one I'd consider doing again. But please, more porta-loos and more organization with the parking! | |
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Marina W. from Irvine, CA
(3/22/2009)
"Maybe pass up this one, at least until improved" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Pasadena Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The course was fairly hilly and did not have very enjoyable scenery. There were a few times when it rained pretty heavily, and without the use of my iPod (had to put it away so it wouldn't get wet!), the course was just boring, difficult, and/or down right unenjoyable at parts. Organization was lacking! There were traffic jams in the morning, probably due in part to rain, and then for those of us who had been delayed, we were yelled at and told to make our way to the mats before the 5K time started. But isn't that the point of tag-timing: so your time can start whenever you cross, even if you are behind a little after being held up by poor race organization?!? Also, at the start there were not enough bathrooms for all of the full and half runners to use before we all started together. Then we all ran together for the first 8-plus miles, meaning that there were too many people for the bathroom count through those miles, and that there was just too much course crowding in general! Aid stations seemed well stocked, with lots of gels and fuel - but big mistake: the sports drink was clear, and in the same cups as water. How can we tell the difference as we are running through?!? Sometimes the people handing it out didn't say clearly, which brings me to the next section: the spectators. Spectators were enthusiastic, but they were sparse. As for the volunteer spectators/course support, they seemed to be having a good time amongst themselves, and unfortunately this sometimes detracted from their aid station duties. After being canceled for fires in November, the inaugural race seems to have gotten off to a bumpy start with poor weather and the aforementioned deficits. Hopefully some of this can get sorted out for next year. |
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