Back to Louisiana Marathon Information & Reviews
James Lehman from Coppell, TX at race date (now Switzerland)
(5/20/2012)
"I'm pre-registered for 2013" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 For an inaugural event I was so impressed by 2012 that I'm expecting big things for 2013. The Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge 2012 featured the best post-race food I've ever sampled; restaurants providing good portions of both cajun and New Orleans gumbo and other varieties of food I'd never eaten. I volunteered for packet pick-up on Saturday but was put into merchandising instead (blah), but volunteering means doing what's necessary to make matters organized and that's exactly was this inaugural race had as an advantage. 26.2 finisher medal was average, the black technical shirt however is awesome and I use it in other races. I'll be in Baton Rouge next year. | |
M. M. from Colorado
(5/14/2012)
"Flat and Fast" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Pros: 1.) Good technical T 2.) Great finishers medal and original/unique poster awards 3.) Downtown start/finish 4.) Expo/finish festival were really good for an inaugural race. 5.) The state Capital building and surrounding grounds were interesting Cons: 1.) Had to run with 1/2 marathoners at multiple points throughout the race-weaving in and out of slower runners is frustrating 2.) We stayed in the Baton Rouge downtown area but it was kind of dead, very few stores were open, not very many restaurant options. | |
J. D. from Signal Mountain, TN
(2/20/2012)
"Excellent inaugural race" (about: 2012)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was the first running of the Louisiana Marathon and, for an inaugural event, it was VERY well organized. Pros (many): cool looking bibs with runner name on them so spectators could cheer us by name; scenic first half of course around big lake and through LSU campus; mostly flat; good placement of fluid and gel stations; really nice tech shirts; my favorite race medal yet; chip timing; beer at the expo; beer at the finish! Cons (I am assured these will be addressed next year): pasta removed from buffet before we could get seconds; narrow streets at the start made for crowding; railroad crossing about mile 12.5 had a train arrive during the race and dozens of us had to wait on it! (May have cost some people including me a PR :( If they can devise a course that doesn't cross actively used railroad tracks, I would definitely run this race again! | |
M. M. from Lafayette, LA
(2/3/2012)
"Louisiana's new marathon destination" (about: 2012)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a great race and only has room to grow. The expo was small, but it was nice to meet the pacers and get a free 'tat'. The shirt was well designed, but my wife was disappointed that they had run out of her size, even though we registered early. Starting in front of the State capitol was a nice touch. Try to get the governor to shoot the starting gun next time!!! The course was scenic and well supported by staff, volunteers and police. Baton Rouge is much prettier than I expected. I plan to return next year. | |
B. S. from Nederland, Texas
(1/31/2012)
"Awesome inaugral event!!" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It was well organized and plenty of water/powerade stops. Beautiful Course!!!! I have already signed up for 2013!!! | |
L. G. from Alexandria, Louisiana
(1/31/2012)
"a MUST do race!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 extremely well organized. plenty of parking around the start (i always appreciate a start/finish in the same general vicinity). great bands at the finish festival. traffic controlled even for the slow movers like me (5:50 finish). supportive locals cheering us on and well stocked aid stations. | |
G. L. from Lake Charles, La
(1/22/2012)
"Fantastic run" (about: 2012)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my Boston Qualifier and I got to do it in our Capital City! For a first time event, I thought it was done very well. The course was awesome, safe and fast. I will definately do this one every year if it continues. There were spectators throughout the course which really means a lot to the runners. Great food and beer afterwards. The medal is first class! Thanks for a great race | |
J. S. from North Potomac, MD
(1/20/2012)
"A gem for an inagural event" (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Overall grade A- Pro's Great scenic fast course, Excellent shirt w/o sponsors! And a medal that also serves as a bottle opener Marthonpacing.com pace teams really are awesome, way more personal than the up tight pacers of Cliff Bar Great post race party, please add non-alcholic beer, 2 beers after a marathon and we may be drunk Great start/finish venue excellent capital bldg worth seeing b4 or after the race Cons Widen the start area too crowded I know it was 1st yr however get the neighborhoods out, although the police were all over and providing plenty of traffic control Don't expand this event too much 1500 marathon 2500 1/2 cap would be great Put this race down as a MUST! | |
Bryan West from Gardner, KS
(1/19/2012)
"Absolutely a MUST-DO event!" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I can't believe this was the first year for this event. It was amazingly well organized and well run. The shirts are high quality, the finish festival was a blast, the course was beautiful, there were lots of spectators and friendly encouraging police officers directing traffic. It's hard to find much bad to say. The weather is top notch that time of year and I was stuned by how much the community got behind the event and came out to support the runners. Many great volunteers including student groups from LSU and Baton Rouge Police directing traffic. The Facebook page is also great and they do a wonderful job keeping people informed and answering questions quickly. Drop what you are doing and get to this event!! | |
d. c. from Chicago, IL
(1/18/2012)
"This is a Keeper!" (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Louisiana Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Usually I would stay away from an inaugural race, preferring to let them work the bugs out. I gave this race a chance and was glad I did. The race directors should be complimented on the excellent job they did organizing this event. This is a great flat course, plenty of enthusiastic volunteers at the water stops, good Louisiana food at the finish, plenty of free parking, nice expo, great shirt, and COLD beer! I would highly recommend this event. A pleasant surprise and overall great experience. |
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