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☰
Buffalo Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Buffalo Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.8 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 315 [displaying comments 91 to 101]
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Arturo Marcano from Toronto, Canada
(5/31/2010)
"One of the best!" (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run at least 10 half marathons and this was one of the best. I ran it in 2010 and the course, organization and crowd support were outstanding. I really want to congratulate the organizers and the city of Buffalo since you have an event you should feel proud of.... | |
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R. D. from NY
(5/30/2010)
"Nice Job, Buffalo" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Buffalo Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race seems to have improved over the last few years. The course is not flat and has a few hills here and there (mostly bridges), but nothing bad. Awesome medals this year. The only complaint I have is the actual finisher's chute. You cross the mat and SLAM... bottleneck. Maybe open or widen the area a bit next year. All in all, well worth running. | |
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B. C. from Buffalo, NY
(12/13/2009)
"Disappointing" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Buffalo Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 The race is run through the projects and the worst parts of the city. They did not order any small shirts, which makes no sense as female runners are typically smaller! The packet pick up was very disorganized. The medal is unimpressive. This race could be one of the best if it were organized better and had better community support. I am from Buffalo and run this race because it is local. | |
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M. T. from Erie, PA
(7/28/2009)
"official results are a waste of money" (about: 2009)
First Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Another person wanted to know where all of the entry fee money went since the shirt and medal were lousy. I figured it out. I just received the "official results" in the mail today, and I can't believe that, in the day and age of the internet, that money is being wasted on sending out a book of results for a race that happened 2 months ago - especially since the date is listed as the 31st instead of the 24th (when it actually was) and the relay results are from a previous year! If you are going to spend money to send out results, they should at least be correct. The race was fun but could be so much better! Also, I only ran in the relay, but did so in the third leg and found much of it to be uphill. | |
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C. H. from New York City, NY
(7/25/2009)
"Good marathon overall; missing first aid stations" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I've never been to Buffalo, and this gave me a reason to go there (aside from visiting the founders of Buffalo wings at Anchor Bar). It's a small marathon with many local runners. The expo was very small, but the deals were great. The pasta party was nice, and a great deal if you wanted to bring your family ($5 for each additional person, and kids ate free). There are more half-marathon runners and relay team members than full-marathon runners. The first half of the course was nice - allowing us to see the city of Buffalo - and the second half was okay. You ran through the residential area of Buffalo. We ran inside a city park, which was a bit weird with non-marathon runners, bicyclists, and park-goers. We also ran on the side of the street next to a cemetery, which was also weird. Here are my pros and cons for this event. PROS: - Event organization was good. The staff and volunteers were very friendly and helpful. - The technical, short-sleeve t-shirt was plain, but of good quality, with a small logo on the front. - There were a lot more spectators than I expected, given the small size of the race. - Not a very crowded race, which was nice. - I did enjoy them calling out your name and where you're from as you cross the finish line. CONS: - The finisher's medal was light and small - not very impressive. - Post-race finishing area setup was poorly setup, in my opinion, and small. - My biggest complaint is about the FIRST AID STATIONS. Where were they? Were there even any? Staff and volunteers along the marathon route were NOT very knowledgeable when it came to telling me where first aid stations were. Many just said, "I don't know" or said, "It's the next water or mile stop mark." I felt a hot spot at mile 6 and was looking for a first aid station for either Vaseline or tape or anything, but not even ONE staff member or volunteer or police officer knew where the first aid station was located. That made the run very disappointing and frustrating at times. I ended up just running the entire event and getting the biggest blister I've gotten in any marathon run. Would I run this marathon again? Maybe not the full, but I might consider the half or relay, since they seem to the focus. Would I recommend this race? Sure, if you've never been to Buffalo and would like to run a small marathon. Overall, an okay experience! John Beishline did a great job improving the Buffalo Marathon. | |
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G. M. from Toronto, Canada
(6/16/2009)
"Great PR Race" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I was impressed with this race. After running Boston I was looking for the chance to run a faster time. This was billed as flat and fast and I was not disappointed. To the organizers, I second the need for split times. It would be great to have a 1/2 split. Overall, it's well done and I will definitely run this again next year, as the timing is perfect for applying all of your Boston training! | |
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S. S. from Virginia Beach, Virginia
(6/15/2009)
"Good but not GREAT!" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I enjoyed this marathon. I traveled from Virginia to participate. I was pleased overall. It was small and that made it pleasant. The weather was pretty good, even though we did have a little bit of rain. The expo, although small, was fun to pick through. I did not like the late change of course - especially since none of the maps were updated. I really like to review prior to running a race, and this made that nearly impossible. I have to mention the lack of elevation charts for this course. There were at least six overpasses in the first 13.1, and several overpasses and two lengthy inclines in the second half. Letting people know the elevations helps them decide whether it is hilly for them or not. I come from flat-lands, so any inclines are "hilly" to me. It was a good experience, the people were friendly, and the scenery was interesting! | |
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Jim Daigneau from North York, ON, Canada
(6/6/2009)
"Way to Go, Buffalo!!! Great Race Experience!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 15th marathon, and it ranks as one of the best: great weather, "runner-friendly" logistics, good organization, friendly people, flat and fast course (showing off nicer areas, including Delaware Park), and an overall excellent value for the money. I highly recommend this race, and would run this one again in a heartbeat. Way to go, Buffalo!!! | |
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Anthony Chiodi from Oneida, NY
(6/1/2009)
"Great Place for a First Marathon" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a great experience. It is a pretty small marathon. It was pretty well organized with plenty of volunteers and police support. The people complaining about the medal or the schwag goody bag (the type of technical T-shirt, the training T-shirt, assorted samples) run races for the wrong reasons. In my opinion, they are a bunch of cry babies who should go to the mall if they want a shirt or pancake-flat course. The packet pickup was fairly quick and painless. The expo was fine. It was small, and had nothing I hadn't seen before. Honestly, I never stick around for those things. They also offer a free pre-race pasta dinner for all race entrants. I didn't attend, as I was staying with my bro- and sis-in-law. They had already made plans for a pre-race meal with other runners. The gun went off at precisely 7:00 a.m. No shoving or anything. It was a single common start for all runners: full marathoners, halfies, and relay runners. Weather-wise, the day was perfect. It was cloudy for most of the morning with temps in the between 60-70. It felt like 65 but I can't be sure. There was a slight, cooling breeze. Very nice. About an hour and half into the race, it started to drizzle. It was so light that it was more like a misting. It lasted about a half-hour and didn't even dampen the ground, but it did help with cooling. By 10:30-11:00 a.m., the sun was up, but it still wasn't that hot or muggy - maybe 70 degrees tops. The course was fairly flat and, I would think, fast (I am not sure as I am not a fast runner, nor do I have any previous marathon experience to compare to). If people think that it was hilly, then they should try some races in Ithaca or Utica (the Boilermaker or the Falling Leaves). It winds its way through downtown, along the water's edge, around Delaware Park, and through some nice residential streets. There was a stretch through a more industrial/commercial area in the beginning, which wasn't much to look at. Beginning at mile 3, there was water and Gatorade every 2 miles with port-a-johns at 10K, 20K, 30K, and scattered in between. I noticed very little congestion at the tables, and the volunteers were definitely supportive. Traffic control was very good, and I never had trouble with residents (pulling out cars or blocking roads). The finish is at the end of a downhill stretch and your greeted loudly by the crowd. If the MC can see your bib number, your name is announced over the microphone as you cross the finish line (mine was). The post-race party is in a hotel (I forget which one) with pizza, beer, bagels, bananas, apples, and a DJ (typical stuff). Overall, I think that the Buffalo was a good first marathon for its smaller size, with good organization, mild weather, a flat course, and low registration fee. I will definitely do it again - hopefully without any whiners there. | |
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E. B. from Colorado
(5/30/2009)
"The volunteers/police were FABULOUS! THANK YOU!" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 As a Buffalo native who now resides in Colorado, I have always wanted to run this marathon, and it did not disappoint. The volunteers and police officers were FABULOUS - I can't thank them enough. There were plenty of porta-potties at the start. There was plenty of water/Gatorade along the course. My father handed me water at the Belle Watling water station at the 17-mile mark - thrilling! There were plenty of opportunities for my family to see me along the course. The only change I would like to see is the ability to record split times along the course. Overall, GREAT JOB! I would run this again, and recommend it. |
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