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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 51 to 61]
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A. C. from Athens, Ohio
(10/27/2010)
"Easily the best of the cities that I've run" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I try to run as many different cities as I can, but I always keep coming back to Columbus. The course is beautiful, flat and fast. There are 20 or so water stations evenly placed. The fans come out in big numbers and line the course from start to finish. The starting line and finish line congestion were adequately controlled. The best bang-for-the-buck marathon by far. Drawbacks are small but worth noting: goody bag had nothing to help prepare for the race - just flyers and ads. Also, gel stations were placed at miles 7 and 15. There should have been one at around mile 20. | |
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D. S. from Michigan
(10/21/2010)
"Great course support & entertainment!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Columbus is well organized and probably one of the most music-packed courses I've run. OK, some of the bands weren't as musically adept as others, but I enjoyed the effort and variety every half-mile or so! I also noted a distinct effort to cover some of the "dead stretches" of the course with banners/flags and entertainment. There were plenty of water stops and porta-potties along the course (at least eight porta-potties every mile or so). Lots of community involvement; expo, the bike patrols, and the spectators. The 15,000 runner cap is probably as far as they can go. It bordered on being rather congested for probably 5 miles despite using the corral system, but it was manageable. Parking around the finish area in one of the Nationwide Arenas ($5) was convenient and easily accessible. I think in retrospect, though, that the race lacks a little imagination. The course was good but how about waking up OSU a little? A side trip into one of the OSU sporting venues would have been a highlight and the medal and shirt were downright boring; a round medal with just the state outline of Ohio, sponsor name and event?!? Come on, Columbus, you're a good event but now zest it up a little and make it special! | |
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DAVID HURLEY from ROANOKE, VA
(10/21/2010)
"A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I was impressed with the Columbus Marathon. Having run 61 marathons, I would rate it near the top. The video of the course that we could view on tv was very helpful. Fantastic crowd support that was much better than most throughout the marathon. Handsome shirt that will not find its way into a storage box, as many do. I would have paid for a soft drink after crossing the finish line. Take your credit card, since our host hotel was over $200 per night. This is definitely a "must run" marathon. | |
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P. W. from Wynne, AR
(10/21/2010)
"Awesome Race!!" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a homecoming for me. The course was flat for the most part, which allowed me to finally beat the 4-hour time that I have been shooting for. I don't think there was any part of the course that didn't have awesome fan support. And running by the Horseshoe was great. This is a must-do for anyone looking to PR, and feel the support of every community you run through. Thanks for a great homecoming, Columbus. | |
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T. H. from Avon, Ohio
(10/21/2010)
"Fun race on a flat, fast course" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race is very well organized. The course has changed over the years but the current course is the best by far. Enthusiastic spectators and volunteers. The race organizer does a great job to make sure that the runners have everything they need along the race course with frequent, fully staffed water stops. It is a great regional marathon and is perfect for those seeking a Boston Qualifier. | |
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J. M. from Ohio
(10/20/2010)
"Fast and flat, lots to see" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Loved the course and there a lot of fan support at the finish. They resolved finish chute problem from 2009 and the corrals are a step in the right direction. Didn't see too many spectators on OSU's campus, though. | |
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A. B. from Raleigh, NC
(10/19/2010)
"A Fast Marathon in a Great City!" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a very nicely run marathon. The course showcased the city beautifully. I had never been to Columbus and was a little apprehensive about the city. But it is really a nice, medium-size city. It would have been nice to spend more time there for sure. The crowd support was very good. Only a few times did I think, "Where are all the fans," and more than a few times the amount of support was so amazing that I was overcome by all of the fantastic support. PROS: - The course is flat and fast. I had a PR and my first BQ! - The course is great for visiting spectators. It was so easy for my family to navigate; they saw me 6 times! - They said there were 80 bands on the course and I believe it! - Great post-race food rocked: Soup, chocolate milk, bagels, chips, pretzels, bananas, Gatorade, water. - Fireworks at the start were very cool! - Corrals worked wonderfully! Each corral had "guards" checking bibs; this was kind of annoying but it kept everyone in the right place. I was not stuck behind a whole bunch of slow runners. CONS: - The shirt was a nice, Nike, tech t-shirt. But the overall design was pretty lame. Not impressed. - The 1st half of the race was beautiful, the second half was a little little dull in comparison. OSU campus was pretty barren. - The expo was small but overall pretty nice. However, the goodies in bags pretty much only contained the bib. Nothing else. The cons were minor. The pros made this race one that will go down in the memory book as very simply "Awesome!" Would I run this marathon again? Maybe, only because there are so many great marathons.... Would I recommend this race? Absolutely! Without hesitation. | |
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D. H. from Cincinnat, OH
(10/19/2010)
"Great race. Would do again." (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Organization: This year, 2010, was the first year it sold out and a corral system was introduced. Being in corral 1, it was a struggle to fight the crowd to get there, but the system worked well. I was hardly slowed down at all in the first mile. The expo was ok. And the finish/recovery area was well done, with plenty of room and refreshments and pictures. The course was pleasant, with little few out-and-back routing, which is important to me. Spectators along the way were very encouraging, especially in the last 6 miles and at the finish. It was not as hilly as the Dayton USAF, but don't believe anyone who says it's flat. There are still plenty of gradual hills that will work you - just nothing that I'd call steep. I just have one complaint. I registered 2 months in advance, and yet they were out of my shirt size at packet pickup! I don't know if this was poor organization or some sort of screw-up with the shirt ordering, but it was disappointing. | |
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C. W. from Lewiston Michigan
(10/18/2010)
"My first time" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Weather was good. Not a flat race. Need to save more food for the marathoners. I ran a four-hour marathon and there was nothing but bananas and bagels left. | |
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nick fellers from Columbus, OH
(10/18/2010)
"Great race with no mental mountains" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Columbus Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Columbus Marathon has a reputation as a great Boston qualifier. It's decently flat, but more importantly, there are no "mental mountains" thrown in your way (e.g., dead stretches, hills, wind). The course has regular aid stations, changing scenery and great crowd support - especially from miles 19+. My only slight negative is that the first 13.1 miles are pretty crowded, with 8,000+ 1/2 marathoners. Lots of bobbing and weaving. That being said, it probably kept my adrenaline in check. Two years ago the course changed to route through Ohio State's frat row. The Buckeyes lost a late Saturday night game, so students weren't exactly lining the streets at 9 in the morning, but we did see several "walks of shame" - that was entertaining. I noticed comments from previous years dinged the race for not enough port-o-johns. There were a TON throughout the course this year. |
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