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Marine Corps Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Marine Corps Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 4.6
Number of comments: 937 [displaying comments 921 to 931]
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A Runner from Camp Pendleton, California.
(11/7/2000)
"SUPERB COORDINATION AND SUPPORT" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had the pleasure of entering this Marathon 5 years ago and the experience, support (staff) is one of a kind. Soon after that marathon, I became addicted and entered many others. However, by far MC Marathon is the best of all. I want to take this opportunity and THANK everyone involved: from the crowd control, baggage care, guides, water/sport drink handlers, medal handlers, food supply personnel and lets not forget the JELLY BEAN CROWD. It is people like you all that make people like me want to come back. I sincerely appreciate every effort that was put in and believe me it was an investment because like many others I will return. Thank you very much. Sincerely Gilbert Morales MSgt USMC | |
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A Runner from Denver
(11/6/2000)
"It's dangerous to run out of Ultima/electrolytes" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Runners who finished after 5 hours could only find water the last third or so of the race. This caused hyponatremia (salt/electrolyte imbalace) for many runners, at least 40 of whom required medical attention. Some required hospitalization and further developed rhabdomyolysis, a very serious complication that can result from or be exacerbated by hyponatremia. Otherwise, it was a great race and the Marines were superb. But future races need to have adequate supplies of Ultima or a similar sports drink. Drinking more water when your salt levels are down only makes you worse and can be very dangerous. | |
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A Runner from DC
(11/2/2000)
"Ran in 95 and then 00" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 95 was my first Marine Corps as well as my first marathon and you guys have improved so much in the last five years. Unfortunately you had closed 2000 registration by the time I moved back to the area and I had to run under another team-mates name. This year the course was great (thanks for making Hains point at mile 17 rather than later!!) and the spectators, though too close sometimes, especially through the mall, were great. It helped me to my PR of 3:43 and would have been a boston qualifier had I been running as myself. Also, kudos on the Ultima!! It made a huge difference for me. Looking forward to getting in under my own name next year.. when can we register??? | |
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A Runner from Maryland
(11/1/2000)
"Volunteer supporter comments" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The comments regarding supplies on Hains Point by the 5-hour-plus runners are absolutely accurate. We were running a volunteer relief station out there. By the time the 5-hour runners had passed, the Marines were close to being out of everything except water and good cheer. Their supplies out there were gone, and this was confirmed by the comments of hundreds of runners who stopped with us, desperate for Vaseline, electrolytes, etc. The Marines did a 99.9% superb job, but supplying Hains Point was not one of them in 2000. | |
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A Runner from Montgomery, AL
(10/31/2000)
"Simply OUTSTANDING!!!!" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Hooahh!!! Every year it gets better and better!!! How do you do it??? The Wave Start was a good idea - don't let anyone tell you different. Ultima is a life saver - I hope it's there next year. Personally, I think Power Gel is better than Goo. It would be nice if we could twist Power Gel's arm to supply their product at mile 17 next year. Expo, crowd control, runner support, rockin' music at Hains Point, and overall marathon execution was FIRST CLASS. Without a doubt... Marine Corps is the most 'Fun Marathon' around. I'll be back next year. Thanks again for a job well done. | |
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A Runner from Oakton, VA
(10/30/2000)
"Great Marathon with uniformed Marines in support" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'd like to refute the comments of 'A runner from Fairfax, VA', entitled 'Close to Great -- minor problems', dated 10/24/00. The MCM 2000 had no problems. During my 4:47 time on the course, there was Ultima at every stop, although not at every table. Gu was plentiful at its stop. On-line registration was slow but I completed it within 2 hours. At the conclusion of the race, the Marines removed the runners' timing chips, gave them a space blanket and Fiji water, and herded them efficiently into the food tent. All during the race, hundreds or perhaps thousands of uniformed Marines were helpful at the packet pickup, start, water tables, aid stations, Gu table, and finish. This marathon was perfect! And I'm a former Army airborne, not a Marine. | |
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A Runner from NC
(10/25/2000)
"Great experience and even better tradition." (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Though inexperienced and naive in my assessment (this race being my first), the Marine Corps Marathon fulfilled all my expectations ? and then added its own touches. If you have ever felt pride and patriotism for any country, seeing it in these young men and women serving the racers is a welcome reminder. As with any physical event, water is always too far away and hills at the end are damaging to the soul, but if you are going to run that far: What better place to do it in than among the monuments to modern freedom and democracy? | |
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A Runner from Fairfax, VA
(10/24/2000)
"Close to Great - minor problems" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am hoping you are looking for real feed back rather than just 'Hey it was Great'. This was our first marathon so take what I say with a grain of salt. My wife and I finished at 5+16 and 5+24 (just to give a yard stick on our times hitting various water stops). There was no electrolyte drink available between stop 3 and the last one on Haines Point, trust me - I checked. Also, they were almost out of goo by the time we got to Mile 17 (so I figure there must have been a whole bunch of runners behind us looking at empty tables). Now lets face it, there was water and fortunately I did have extra goo along so we did ok BUT . . IF I had suspected logistics problems, I would have also packed a drink bottle for the electrolyte dry spell. We runners depend upon the advertized logistics and can come up short and hurtin' when things are not there when expected with no ability to make up for the loss. Perhaps a more experienced marathoner would have expected problems and been better prepared- but this marathon is famous for its high quantity of first timers so how do you warn them to expect the unexpected? They paid $60 to not have any 'unexpected'! Also the bagel stop with out an adjacent water stop was not an incredibly positive situation - ever eat a bagel dry? After a really long run? Still running? YaHooo! Note - it is easy for me to criticize when I have zero knowledge of the difficulties that your team experienced and did overcome. It just may be that such shortages are inherent and unsolvable by reasonable means - I am sure you folks did your best but you just might give this a little bit extra next year. You may trust that we will be better prepared for the unexpected. Lastly, when I finally came across the finish line- crowd control was pretty much non existent. I understand a large number of runners had finished but . . .you still had a whole bunch coming in! The photostand was way too close to the exit of the food tent and the crowd was naturally excited to see their runners and nothing stopped them from pressing forward. I gotta tell you that getting through that mob in the condition that I was in at 5+24 is not a fun memory. A few rope fences and a couple of your large smiling marines would have gone a long way here. About the jelly beans - all I can say is - sticky pavement. Lastly, your on-line registration was totally hosed up (I spent 6+ hours on line siging us up and anecdotal evidence from other runners indicates this was the norm)but from comments that I read - you're fixing that next year by having a longer mail-in period before opening the website registration. Hey - now that I am done with my negative critique - I just want to say that other than the above minor problems - the organization and execution for that quantity of bodies and the requirement to keep us all happy and full of fond memories was pretty damned good. And your Marines were squared away and lookin' sharp and were sincere in their positive comments along the way and congratulations at the end. We lucked out on the weather. See ya next year. If you would like to take exception to any of the above comments or discuss them, please let me know. | |
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A Runner from Hanover, PA
(10/24/2000)
"Best Organized & Managed Marathon I've ever run." (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really appreciate the attitude of the race attendants. Especially the Marines who help before, during and after the race. They are courteous and supportive. It is a pleasure to run this Marathon and I will be back to run it again and again. | |
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A Runner from Baltimore, Maryland
(10/19/2000)
"One GREAT Marathon" (about: 1999)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Marine Corps Marathon was my first marathon and as soon as I finished it, I wanted to do it again. It just was a great organization, helpful Marines, supportive and encouraging runners. It is a People's Marathon, unlike many other races. I love the name People's Marathon in a People's City. I would like to do it every year if I could get in every year, which is the only downside I saw. If it is the People's Marathon, people should be able to get in. But I like the fact that there is no qualification to get in which encourages the average runner to run a marathon. Supportive. |
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