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☰
Seattle Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Seattle Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 182 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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Keith Wilson from Winnett, MT
(11/26/2012)
"Looking for a lesson from this" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran 26.2 miles in Seattle yesterday in 2:39. Unfortunately I had to run 2.5 more because I'd made a wrong turn, which I realized the second time I passed the 13.1 mark. I had made a left back into the crowd, assuming I was supposed to join back with the half-marathoners. It turned out I was supposed to make a right, which I did the second time. I accept responsibility for making this mistake, but it is incredibly frustrating knowing I would have been in the top five finishers. I don't mean to make complaints. I mean to suggest having someone stand in that spot and point into the correct direction. What may seem obvious didn't seem so obvious in that moment. | |
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M. M. from British Columbia, Canada
(11/25/2012)
"A good race experience" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 After the NYC Marathon was cancelled, I was looking for another marathon to run. I chose the Seattle Marathon. I was a little hesitant to run it since I just ran Rock 'n' Roll Seattle earlier in June. It turned out to be a good choice. The Seattle Marathon has a totally different atmosphere than a Rock 'n' Roll race. This event is put on by a local, volunteer organization. It is a medium size race with about two thousand runners. The two races are similar in a couple of ways. First, both races start and finish at the Seattle Center. Second, both courses run on the floating bridge and go down to Seward Park. Despite the similarities, the Seattle Marathon has a better course. It travels through a different part of the city and is more scenic. Race day organization was good. The Center House was open prior to the start so runners could stay warm. The marathon start was separate from the bigger half marathon race. Course support is first rate with plenty of volunteers at the aid stations. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was the Recovery Area. Non-runners (friends and family) were in the Recovery Area and helping themselves to food meant for finishers. The weather was cool and foggy, almost ideal running weather. The hills were challenging and slowed me down. Not many spectators along the course, but those who came out were supportive. Overall it was a good race experience. | |
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L. C. from Bellingham, WA
(3/21/2012)
"This race is rad." (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Seattle Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Seattle Marathon is a great race for a runner of any level. There aren't too many people which gives a mediocre runner a legitimate chance to compete. The course is very scenic and mostly flat. Yes, there are a few ups and downs and one moderate, but manageable uphill around mile 21. If you do your hill training like you're supposed to, this course is cake. I mean, what fun would a marathon be if it was completely flat? If you want a PR, expect a PR. There are fans everywhere and everyone is super enthusiastic. It is very well organized. The expo is huge. The post race food was perfect and plentiful - just don't expect a meal. The shirts are really cool and very comfortable. The design is simple and not too flashy. Overall, I'd give the Seattle Marathon a 10 out of 10 if I were to rate it. I highly recommend it to anyone. I plan on racing Seattle every year for years to come. Come on down next Thanksgiving to run around the most beautiful city in America! | |
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M. B. from Renton, WA
(1/24/2012)
"A very well-organized race!" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I enjoyed this race despite the rain because of its organization. There were plenty of bathrooms, aid stations, and plenty of GU. I especially enjoyed the fact that they were using bottled water and weren't filling up cups with a hose like other races. The Kids Marathon was awesome and my kids can't wait to run again next year. Good job guys! I only have two suggestions for next year. One-Please have more food available for late finishers. Those of us who were on the course for a longer time needed more than a cold bagel. I was thinking about the advertised chicken noodle soup during the last few miles of the race and was disappointed when there was none. Two- I would seriously consider using a different company for the sports massages. My massage was the worst ever and they were not very eager to work. I can't wait to run in 2012. | |
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M. D. from Georgia USA
(12/9/2011)
"A very good race" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is an absolutely great race. It is well organized, has a great EXPO, both the EXPO, start and finish lines , are convenient, and course is great The run takes you through downtown Seattle, across a floating bridge to Mercer Island, along Lake Washington for about 10 miles through some very upscale neighborhoods, and lovely parks. The end is at the 50 yard line of a high school stadium. At times it is hard to believe you are major metropolitan area. One steep hill is at mile one and miles 22-24 have very sharp hills. The fan support is lacking, but volunteers are very enthusiastic. The only negative is Seattle weather is cold, wet, and windy in late fall; therefore, be forewarned. I seriously considered running the RnR LV race rather than Seattle. I am very thankful for my decision. Just bundle up for the weather and enjoy the run. | |
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T. B. from Seattle, WA
(11/28/2011)
"Great race, consistent quality" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Seattle Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran my second Seattle Marathon yesterday. The race has been consistent in its course and its qaulity of organization. The goods of this race: the logistics are easy, the start/finish are well organized, the course is interesting (specifically if the weather is good), and the temperature is consistently good for running. The bads: there are few spectators, the runners are often rained upon (sometimes hard), and miles 21-23 require significant hill climbs. I love this race but the course is backloaded. I was passed by hundreds during the first several miles but, in the last 7 miles, there were lots of folks who were struggling with the hills. It is definitely something to plan for in your training long runs. All in all, a great run. I am not sure it is worth traveling to Seattle for this race because the weather is consistently bad in November but it is a great home town race. | |
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B. R. from Seattle, WA
(11/27/2011)
"2011: Wet, Cold, & Windy!" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Ran the full marathon today in Seattle. It was was wet, cold, and windy. The course is fairly flat until mile 20 or so... there are small hills, but nothing over 100 feet. After 20 miles, you are constantly either going up or going down. The first serious hill (Galer St). is a shocker; its only a block, but it's steep! The hardest part however was rounding Capitol Hill and facing a strong headwind and driving rain on the last three miles to the finish; that was more will-breaking than the hills. There weren't quite as many water stations as I would have liked, but it wasn't bad, and the volunteers were super friendly. I think they listened to the comments on marathonguide.com about the food after the race: when I finished at 4+ hours, there was plenty of food of all kinds left, and the recovery area was heated (yay!) and not that crowded (yay!). Mmmm... chocolate milk. Hot cocoa. Fresh bagels. Bananas. Water. I was surprised at how few people ran it compared to Portland. There are huge crowds for the half, but only 1300 people or so finished the full. I'll certainly run it again, but I'll wear a hydration pack and train harder for the hills at 20+ miles. | |
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A. S. from Snohomish, WA
(4/20/2011)
"Great race but pitiful recovery area" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Seattle Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I have completed the Seattle 1/2 Marathon 4 times now. The 2010 event had a great course and wonderful volunteers. This one lacked in one major area though. I can't believe after finishing the 1/2 that there was next to NO food in the recovery area. The only thing I saw was a little Campbells soup and some bananas. I have been to much smaller events in which the amount and type of food in the recovery area was well thought out. They had plenty for the amount of participants. I'm not sure what happened to the food organization at the Seattle Marathon, but it was the worst recovery experience I've ever had. Hopefully this years will be better. How about some bagels, bread, cookies, or fruit - the standard stuff? | |
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b. l. from nebraska
(12/13/2010)
"A must marathon" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Good organization, breathtaking scenery, and great shirt, though there was a somewhat weak post-race spread, and the software leaves much to be desired from what is thought of as IT country (race results are not searchable except for name, there are no age groups that I can find, no states or stuff that I am used to, and overall results were posted by gun time rather than chip time). I would go back in a heartbeat if and when I finish my 50 states. | |
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S. D. from Westchester, New York
(12/8/2010)
"Very Scenic" (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Seattle Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Forget doing a PR. Forget running your best time; the course is much too hilly for that. But take it easy and enjoy an beautiful run past parks, trees, waterfront, city center - and just enjoy. I cannot remember a prettier race that I have run in recent memory. The course goes from the downtown to the waterfront, to a floating bridge, to park, to an arboretum, and hills with views of the city that should not be missed. Run this race; enjoy Seattle. The expo was perfect, the organization first-class, the size of the field just right, and the city a charm. Seattle was great. The city is really nice. The weather, while not ideal, is not as bad as people like to say. On race day we did get lucky, having ideal running weather, but even if it had not been ideal, the city and the course are not to be missed. |
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