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Myrtle Beach Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Myrtle Beach Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 318 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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k. m. from GA
(2/18/2008)
"pretty good run overall" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very well run from an organizational standpoint, the volunteers were great and you can't beat having a cold beer at the end. The spectators were ok. My only complaint is the 21-24 stretch could be hyped up with a local band or two along the way as it was a dreadful stretch of just running along the highway for what seemed like forever. | |
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S. D. from Richmond, Virginia
(2/18/2008)
"One of my favorites......" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Myrtle Beach Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Myrtle is one of my favorite marathons. I have always loved going to the beach, and having an excuse to go in Feb. for a few days is great. Love the town, course and enthusiasm of the spectators. The start and finish are great and this race just gets better every year. The only drawback is the congestion in the early miles caused by the half and full starting at the same time. Both races were sold out this year and I would expect that to be the case in upcoming years as well. Oh yeah, do yourself a favor and stay at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes. Top-notch luxury hotel featuring impeccable service. | |
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Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX
(2/18/2008)
"Bravo!" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The 11th edition of the marathon was very well organized. There were different sponsors for the marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 5K, and runners' expo. BI-LO, which sponsored the marathon, is a grocery chain. Packet pick-up was conducted efficiently. The short-sleeved race T-shirt was a nice one, and the expo was good too. The race day temperature ranged from low 50s to mid 60s, overcast during the first two hours and then became sunny; wind was not a factor. At 5 a.m., buses began transporting the out-of-town runners from host hotels to the start/finish area at Coastal Federal Field. The Coastal Carolina University band provided the pre-race music. The mainly flat figure eight loop course included a few inclines. There were water/sports drink stations at approximately every two miles. There were pace groups. The mile markers could be seen from a fairly long distance away, and splits were displayed digitally. Crowd support was fairly good, and race volunteers were awesome. The finisher's medallion was nice and there were plenty of refreshments at the finish line, including beer! I flew into Charleston. From the airport to Microtel Inn, one of the 12 host hotels, was approximately 106 miles. I salute the race committee for organizing an outstanding running event. I am a 50-stater and this was #35. | |
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W. M. from Wilkesboro, NC
(2/18/2008)
"Great Race" (about: 2008)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the half-marathon (my second one) and I have to say this was a great experience. My wife and I enjoyed the expo. There were several dealers and reps there selling clothing, shoes, PowerBars and Gu at a discount. They also had a nice tech t-shirt, which did distinguish between half and full marathon this year. The race itself was a great experience, especially the long stretch down Ocean Drive. There were lots of people on the course holding signs and cheering, and the sunrise back behind the hotels/condos was inspiring. It also didn't hurt that the temperature was in the mid-50s and the wind was really not a factor. I didn't like the stretch going up 17 Business to the finish. I just don't enjoy sucking in car exhaust after I've already knocked down 11 miles. Post-race was nice - especially the free massages. Overall I would give this race a 4 out of 5 and I may try to do the full marathon next year. | |
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M. S. from Ft Worth, Texas
(2/17/2008)
"Great flat/fast race" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Great course! Flat and fast, good one for a Boston qualifying time. Despite the name, the course does not have much time along the beach, but it's a good route anyway. Plan to arrive early and plan where to park; a lot of traffic congestion prior to start. | |
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F. L. from Rocky Mount, North Carolina
(2/17/2008)
"Great day, good marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Support was excellent. Packet pickup was easy, enjoyed the expo and things weren't too crowded. During the race aid stations were frequent, well supplied and the volunteers were great. Post-race was excellent too! Great finish area and lots of food, fluids (including beer), etc. The weather was just about perfect and the wind didn't show it's fangs... so since the course is quite flat, it was a fast course this year! Only complaints were the medal was okay a best (I expected quite a bit more!) and the shirt they gave out is without a doubt the ugliest shirt I've ever seen! Can't believe anyone would choose it! Overall an ok marathon. | |
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D. M. from Phoenix, AZ
(2/16/2008)
"Nice Race, but Some Areas for Improvement" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 First, the positives...this area of the country is beautiful, and running Myrtle Beach is a great way to check off SC in a quest for 50 states. The ocean views were wonderful (although the sunrise was 'hampered' by clouds this year), and I actually did what I'll call a 'Modern Era PR' (meaning the best time I've had since becoming a 'grand master'!). Now, the areas for improvement. If you bring your own chip, it doesn't register at the expo when you 'test' it. They assured me that it would still work in the race (and it did), but be aware. I have not had this problem any where else, and I've been around. Secondly, there are several comments here about the walkers placing themselves at the front. Why doesn't the race director do something about that? They had 'pace time' flags posted at the start, but I'm wondering if the half marathoners thought the 3:00 pace time meant 3:00 to finish the half! It took me longer to cross the start line than it did in NYC, and just got worse from there! They NEED to make this clearer to the half marathon walkers, for everyone's safety and enjoyment. Finally, for us age group award winners, I suggest they make it clearer that you can hang around for an award ceremony (this year, at about 11:30 a.m.), or pick up your awards at the post party. There were confusing instructions on this. Overall, it's not a bad little race, and we enjoyed a mini-vacation in the area to further enjoy the beach and other recreation. However, we did try to go to a buffet that was advertised as open but on the door had a 'closed for the season' sign. | |
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J. Z. from Worthington, KY
(12/30/2007)
"Great Race" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Myrtle Beach Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The BI-LO Marathon is an outstanding race. I have ran this marathon three times and the half-marathon three times. B. B. from Rocky Mount, NC has a great assessment of this race. It certainly was a cold start, 26 degrees, but I was ready for the temperatures due to previous races that have had cold starts. However, this year was a little colder because once you got down to Ocean Blvd., at approximately 4.2 miles, the wind off the Atlantic was bitter. You run along the Atlantic Ocean for approximately 4.3 miles, all the while the sun is rising making for a spectacular view; I love this part of the race - it is very motivating. The cold temperatures and bitter wind did hinder me in getting loose and running a smooth even pace, though. I should have hit the turn off of Ocean Blvd. at approximately 8.55 miles in 56:45, when instead I was at 1:00:42. Once you got back up to Hwy. 17, at approximately 8.80, the buildings helped block the wind a great deal. The fact that the mile markers were off, in my opinion, should have had little effect on someone wanting to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I was in pursuit of a guaranteed entry in the New York City Marathon, where it takes a 2:55:00. My GPS showed that there were 6 mile markers off, all within the first 11 miles - the worst being 0.21 off, with an overall distance of 26.26. I can see where to new marathoners this might be disconcerting, but it should have little or no effect on your overall time. K. H. from Virginia makes a big deal of this when it was not. If it had been a 5K or even a 10K, then maybe it would have been. B. B. from Rocky Mount, NC suggests staying at Sea Mist; if economy is your aim, I second the suggestion. I have stayed there three times, however in 2008 I am staying at Sands Resort - Ocean Forest Villas, just $79 a night for a two-bedroom suite. F. W. from Melbourne, FL suggest that everything in M-Beach was closed for the winter. This is incorrect. I usually spend three or four days with the family in Myrtle Beach for this race, and we find plenty to do; one year, the ocean did not even feel bad, but normally this is not the case. Broadway at the Beach has several excellent eating options, entertainment, and shopping. F.W. also states "Walkers started up front and were almost trampled to death." This was a real problem for me a few years back, but now I simply start right up front close to the start line. I would suggest that they have a second line where walkers would start behind. Several years ago I started about 1/4 of the way back, just to come upon a group of six 300+ pound women walking side-by-side. Even though I greatly encourage and support these participants, they do not belong at the front of the pack; they made a big logjam, and that could have become hazardous for them and others. H. N. from Maryland does not like the start time; the 6:30 start time is designed so that a vast majority of the runners can experience the beautiful sunrise that I spoke of earlier. It is worth it - believe me. | |
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b. b. from rocky mount, nc
(6/27/2007)
"not what you might expect" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Myrtle Beach Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I like Myrtle. It is a good race, but not great. I have run it three times, so I obviously recommend it, but be prepared for some surprises. First, if you are a Yankee, you might think SC is warm in the winter. It's warmer that NY, but not warm typically. In fact all three times the race has been quite cold at the start - 26 or 27 this year. No problem as long as you are prepared for a cold wait outside or have other options (I will give a few suggestions later). The cool temps can obviously help your time. It may, on the other hand, indeed be warm, especially at the finish. Second, flat it is, but I have not found it to be particularly fast because it is almost always windy. Since it's a loop you will probably head into it for quite some time at some point. I find wind to be tougher than hills since it is unpredictable and relentless. Third, as you have read, the mile markers were off at several places, particularly the beginning - the worst spot for this problem. They were far off. I agree with a couple of them being as much as a quarter mile off. I totally agree with the person who said, Why have them if they are off? Now, in all fairness, I do not remember this problem previously, but that makes it even odder. Otherwise, the organizers do a good job with plenty of pre-, during-, and post-race support. It is inaccurate that everything is closed down. It is the off-season, so it is very quiet, but restaurants and even some entertainment is open. You won't want to swim. Here are some tips: For a great price, stay at the Sea Mist - a no-frills place for sure. It has some services for the marathoner including a shuttle. Just drive though since parking at the race is ample because of the proximity to Broadway at the beach, a huge shopping and eating center. This hotel should offer a later check-out those running as it advertises itself as the race host hotel. Park at the gas station across from the stadium. This is adjacent to the start and has a huge parking lot adjoining (that isnt very crowded). It has restrooms, coffee, etc. It is warm and they are racer-friendly. Restrooms get crowded about 45 minutes prior to start. If you park at the station your car will be close to start in case of cold. But in past years they're fine if you just hang out in the station. Of course I may have just ruined that. Broadway at the beach has several other excellent eating options if you do not want the post-race party at house of blues. Excellent tech shirt! | |
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J. A. from Lansing MI
(5/13/2007)
"Great event, but maybe not for the BQ crowd" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I guess some of the BQ crowd didn't like the marking/timing. I ran it at a more relaxed pace and I thought overall it was a great, great event. No complaints - beautifully entertaining course along the strip and US-17. I would definitely recommend this. |
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