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Columbus Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Columbus Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 335 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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O. L. from Athens, Ohio
(11/7/2011)
"Got to fix some issues before next year" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my 15th Columbus marathon. 2nd time on the new course. For the most part it's a great marathon, up there with Boston and N.Y.C. with organization and fan support. But I can only give it 4 stars this year because: 1. The course is .10 miles too long. Everyone with a GPS watch(there are many in our group) beep earlier as the course progress. Officals better check that 360 degrees turn at Ohio Stadium should actually be there. 2. Too many people in the race for the start. It's great but with 17,000 of runners wil eventually narrow into 2 lane streets. Think about corral start with qualify(1/2 marathon) times or start the half 1/2 hour later. Next year, they are expecting 22,000. That's going to be a mess. 3. Porta johns should be lined up from parking lots(finish lines) to the start. This will help the mass number of people just waiting in the starting area. 4. Bring the old course back. I know the city wants this to be over with quickly but the start is now 2 1/2 hour later then my 1st Columbus. | |
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G. C. from Flatwoods, KY
(10/23/2011)
"Nearly Flawless" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 2nd Columbus marathon and it was a great experience. You can tell it is an event by runners for runners. There were bands or music playing everywhere and almost the entire course had spectators cheering. The course has some gentle rollers, but if you run any hills at all you will barely notice them. If you run this get to the start early, it got really congested this year and they are increasing their capacity in 2012. | |
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G. P. from New Albany, OH
(10/23/2011)
"Glad I ran Columbus for my 1st full marathon" (about: 2011)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Great race! The start was exciting with fireworks and the firing of the cannon on the statehouse lawn. Lines for port-a-potties were very long by the start. I managed to find some with no lines down a random alley/sidestreet by Corrals C/D. Perhaps a detailed map of the start area next year to show exactly where port-a-potties are located? The course takes you through many of the main areas of Columbus (Downtown, Bexley, Old Town East, German Village, Short North, OSU Campus, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Victorian Village, and Arena District). Crowd was great overall but there are a few dead areas on the course with minimal support. OSU Campus (miles 16-19) was sparse and there was an industrial wasteland (miles 23-24) between Grandview & Victorian Village that was also lacking. The finish was great! Downhill with big screens and the announcer calling your name(s). I heard people complaining about the post-race food but it didn't really bother me. The course is fairly flat but there are some slight hills between miles 17-20. Also, going up High St. from miles 11-15 is a slow gradual incline but nothing too bothersome. Overall, a great race and I'll definitely do it again next year! | |
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d. c. from La Habra, California
(10/21/2011)
"Well Organized Marathon" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was very impressed with the organization of this marathon. Cannon start. Fireworks at the start. Fluid stations evenly spaced out. What impressed me the most about this marathon was the tremendous fan support for a mid size marathon. Also the vast # of Rock Bands and DJs and some High School Bands on the course. There was always something to listen to on every street we ran. Reasonably priced marathon. RNR Organizers take note. I did not anticipate the 2nd half of the course to be almost entirely downhill. It helped me obtain a BQ once again. Expo was good. It was a very nice course, going through the neighborhoods of Bexley and Upper Arlington. It was also nice running through parts of OSU, including past the football stadium. It was worth taking this trip to Columbus. Also visitng The Jack Nicklaus Golf Museum, The Pro football HOF, and The Rock and Roll HOF after the marathon made it even more worthwhile to visit The Buckeye State. | |
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c. c. from columbus, ohio
(10/18/2011)
"Great overall with a few areas of concern" (about: 2011)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Overall a great experience. A few issues: 1) The race packet is very underwhelming - just coupons; 2) The full medal is identical to the half medal (except in color); and 3) Personally do not care for a downhill finish (tough on the knees and shins). | |
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Helen Garen from Beavercreek
(10/16/2011)
"Tremendous build-up an start!" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have never experienced a better send off for a marathon. They must have hired the best cover band in Ohio; they played for maybe a half hour and got us (quietly, unresponsively..we are all nerds on this bus) PUMPED. And a real cannon Then: Fireworks. Fireworks make my hair stand up. And A REAL CANON!! And a guy who could sing to do the National Anthem! WOW!! (sorry, there is rarely no substitute for exclamations). Yankee uniforms on the cannoniers. Save your Confederate money, boys, the politicians are bankrupting the union. | |
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J. P. from Conesville, Ohio
(1/27/2011)
"PR at Columbus with great fan support" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I would list all the positives, but it's quicker just to say that the list covers almost everything. No, the course is not "FLAT." There are some rolling hills in the second half, and High St. is a very gradual 5-mile "hill," and the rollers at the end will get your attention, BUT this is NOT a hilly course. Come on, it's a marathon. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it!!! The only section of the course that could use some work was the section just east of the OSU campus that was really cambered to both sides, and had several 4-6 foot-long speed bumps. What's up with that? Also the medals were just O.K.. Other than those 2 small details, everything else was fantastic! And, oh, by the way, I beat my previous PR by 14 minutes, so if you're looking to PR, this could be the course for you. Go to C-Bus for a fast time, good value, and great spectators. Go, Bucks!!! O H ... I O. | |
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A. R. from Powell Ohio
(11/28/2010)
"FUN but not flat!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the third time to run the Columbus Half and I've previously run the full marathon twice. Oustanding race organization and an amazing start complete with live band and fireworks, but it was entirely too congested until the half marathon turns off to the finish line. Crowd support with bands/music is incredible! Plenty of jiffy-johns, water and Gatorade every mile, although the use of plastic cups for water was stupid, making a dangerous mess on the street. When you tried to fold them into a V to drink, obviously they cracked and broke. UGH! My pet peeve about Columbus is that it's NOT flat! Look at the elevation map. A steady incline up High Street, which is 5-miles long, as well as rolling hills beginning at mile 17. "Flat" to me is "pancake flat from start to finish," which Columbus is not. The downhill to the finish is invigorating, but on a brick road, which can make for some near falls/wipeouts. Post-race food was horrible. Krispy Kreme donuts and cheese puffs? White bagels in plastic wrappers? The only fruit was cut bananas, which were messy/slimy. Usually the food is yogurt, whole bananas, and various flavors of fresh bagels - they've obviously cut back on the food to make a better finisher's medal since it is by far the best medal I have received in any marathon/half marathon. Unique and bIG! Overall, from the perspective of an experienced marathoner/runner, Columbus is a great event. My negative comments are meant to inform the participant of what others may not mention. If you are looking for fun, organized, and relatively fast course with undeniably great weather year after year, this is it. | |
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J. B. from Central Ohio
(10/30/2010)
"Major Marathon Quality Without the Trappings" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 WOW! I ran Columbus back in the 80's, and it became a standard by which I judged other marathons. Then it seemed to slip somewhat sometime after hosting the Olympic marathon trials. But all I can say about this year's experience is Columbus IS BACK! When I read other reviews of races they will be much more mixed than you're going to read and hear about Columbus. The negatives of this year would seem like comparative whining and the positives are numerous. Highlights: very organized race expo with short lines for "edgy" and nervous runners; highly visible mile markers and water stations EVERY MILE that you could see from a quarter mile away; it seemed like there was some kind of musical entertainment every few blocks (did I really hear there were almost 100?!); the governor shouting encouragement at mile 4 or 5; a fairly scenic race course taking you through some of the best of Columbus; one of the flattest 26.2 courses you'll ever find (every course will have some hills, but come on...); and a real nice finisher's medal and finish with the big screens. I really appreciated the encouraging guy at 20 calling out our names telling us we were "busting through 20" when we all knew we were crawling (nice touch). I know they've tinkered with the course over the years, but I agree with others that they've got it right now. Don't change it. Even though I hadn't done this race for a few years, I heard a lot of people say comments like "best ever." When you've trained so hard for one big day, you need the weekend to be as comfortable and pleasing of an experience as possible, and Columbus delivers! | |
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Kevin Nolan from Havertown, Pa.
(10/27/2010)
"Another great day" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon of the weekend. My first double! I really enjoyed this marathon. It was crowded for the first half, but once the half marathoners left, it was perfect. I was able to run a negative split. Turns out that the early crowds slowed me down enough to ensure a fast finish. I especially enjoyed the tour of OSU campus and the return back into town. Flat and fast. I was able to lock in a pace and finish to a great crowd at the finish. The fan support and aid stations were great the whole way. Columbus is a wonderful city! |
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