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Tucson Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Tucson Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 2.3
Number of comments: 233 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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R. F. from Midwest
(12/11/2014)
"Not a Fast Course" (about: 2014)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The Marathon's website describes the course as, 'This is primarily a downhill marathon, with some hills around mile 2-4, and mile 11-12 and 22-23.(Again, there are some rolling hills and inclines between miles 2-4 and miles 10-12, as well as between miles 22-23).' That is a technically accurate description. Pay attention to the website's hill warnings. I think a more fitting description is: 'A net downhill course, but some downhill portions are punishing and the uphills (especially at mile 22) are sadistic.' The first two miles are a steep downhill where you can easily go out too fast with unfortunate consequences later in the race. The next four or so miles are annoying rolling hills, and then the road becomes flat to a slight decline until mile 10. At mile 10, you turn on to the road leading to the Biosphere for two miles of basically uphill and then turn around and go downhill those same two miles. At this point, I started to feel a calf cramp and knew the remaining 12 miles were going to be painful. (At one point in the race, I had both calfs and quads cramped simultaneously.) From mile 14 to about 22, the course is a manageable downhill, but unfortunately for me the first 14 miles so affected my legs that by about mile 20 the 3:15 pace group passed me. (I had passed them at mile 6.) At mile 22, to add insult to injury (literally), comes another mile or so basically uphill portion. Who does that at this point of a marathon? The remaining three miles are generally flat to a slight incline at times and, again who does this, the last tenth of a mile is a slight incline. I missed my BQ time by one minute thirty-one seconds, so admittedly I'm bitter. And, four days later, I can still feel the lactic acid in my quads and calfs. So, that's a more realistic description of the course and, if you don't like or train for hills, the downsides. On the positive side, it's a well organized course, logistics are excellent, volunteers are great and the first eight or so miles are of beautiful desert scenery. | |
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B. S. from Nebraska
(12/9/2014)
"Pleasant run in the dessert." (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Pre race: there was a nice sunrise, & a full moon on the opposite horizon to gaze at. The morning was chilly, bring layers of clothing you can shed. Be ready for the hills at the end. Post race: the host hotel/resort was a fantastic place to unwind, & socialize with other runners by the pool in the warm afternoon sun. | |
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m. b. from Tucson, AZ
(12/9/2014)
"Small. Friendly. Organized. Not that fast." (about: 2014)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Overall, I thought this was a well-organized, small race. The expo was simple- quick and easy to pick up your stuff. I stayed at a host hotel, which gave us an early breakfast, a late checkout, and had a bus to the race start. The bus was nice- and equipped with a bathroom (handy). I believe the 1/2 marathoners got 'school' buses. The start of the race was scenic. Buses brought you right to the start, and you could stay on them and keep warm for as long as you wished. Big floodlights lit up the pre-dawn road; rock music playing; quick and organized drop bag check- exceptionally easy and stress free. Race started before sunrise, but plenty light enough, and begins with a confidence inspiring downhill. Plenty of aid stations with lots of volunteers. Few spectators. The course, while it drops 1600 vert, also has about 450ft of climbing in it to take away from much of that benefit. It also starts at nearly 4900ft elevation. I'd call it a reasonably fast course- but not as fast as it might seem. Others are faster. Just the basics at the finish line. A nice medal, photo board, some basic food and drink. Nothing fancy. My only complaint was that (backdoor brag) the line to pick up age-group awards was really long. Unlike some comments below- the bus took us back to the hotels. For your family: There are only a few places that are accessible for spectating along the course. 19mi, 22mi and finish. Plus- it's a half mile walk from the nearest parking area to the finish; although the buses WILL take you back there. I'd do it again. Advice: Train on hills! | |
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G. I. from Rio Rico AZ
(12/8/2014)
"Challenging course, good organization" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Transportation to start line and from finish line well organized. Small expo. Stations with plenty of water and gatorade. Great volunteers. Not as fast or flat ad advertised: roliling hills for half the course, killer hill at mile 22. Not many participants in the marathon, which is nice, you don't get that mega marsthon feel and have lots of space to run/work on your pace right from the start. Would run this race again. Crowd support is almost non-existent. | |
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C. H. from Canada
(12/8/2014)
"Much Harder than Advertised" (about: 2014)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I have nothing negative to say about the logistics of this race. Maybe a few extra porta potties- but are there ever enough? Drop off at buses went smoothly. Drive out, had a nice nap and chatted with a polite gentleman beside me. Pottie line-up 6-10 deep but when you average 3-5 minutes per use- some people waited a while. They kept the busses going to keep us warm which was nice. Good music on a clear PA system while waiting for the start. Kept grooving to keep wam. Aid stattions well spaced and well stocked handing out gels early on- which I'm sure was a bonus for some people. Here's a tip for every race organizer on the planet: hand out salt pills to the needy at mile 20-ish. We had a hot day and lots of people cramped up- it's not lack of hydration- it's lack of salt. Now the negative: elevation profile on the website is VERY MISLEADING. The first 10 K has some pretty steep rollers and many with steep camber to the road. Murder on the knees and calves. I expected a smooth downhill as shown on the website but what I got was the toughest initial set of hills I've done besides Maui. If you do this race then plan for early hills followed by a serene, quiet run. No fan support to draw adrenaline from on this course albeit the law enforcement officers watching the corners were friendly and engaging. Finish line had ample water and food-I am not picky so bananas and water are enough for me. Once I download the elevation profile from my Garmin I will post it somewhere on the net so others are not caught unsuspecting as I was. My advice to the race director is to post a more accurate elecation profile on the website so racers have good information for their race plan. | |
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M. P. from MN
(1/10/2014)
"One way shuttle to the start and no breakfast" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Tucson Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I emailed the race director a few days after the marathon but she has not responded and it has been over a month. The shuttle from my 'race hotel' to the bus transfer point was one way only. I did not find this out until after I finished the marathon. I went over to the volunteer directing the buses and asked which one was going to Hotel La Posada and he said there was none and that it was a one way shuttle only. I had no idea which way to start walking or how far the hotel was. I did not have money for a cab either. I was tired, freezing and hungry as my 'race hotel' did not offer any breakfast. The volunteer did find me a ride after about 15 minutes for which I was grateful. I was really surprised that 2013 was the 20th anniversary for the Tucson Marathon. I have run 91 marathons and have completed all 50 states. Such shabby treatment is inexcusable. On the positive side the course was beautiful and the volunteers wonderful. There were plenty of H2O stops with gels. | |
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C. G. from America
(12/16/2013)
"Below average" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was disappointed in this race because of all the bus and car fumes they both run side by side with you for most of the course.the race takes place on the shoulder of a major road. | |
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Alejandro Giffords from Mexico City
(12/12/2013)
"Is this the real course?" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I am wondering if the course included in the web site -mostly downhill with few, small rolling hills- is the same that we ran on Sunday, with ups and downs all along the way and right from the start. This should be a prime winter destination marathon, that compares most favorably vs. Miami, a zoo with so many people and high humidity. Tucson is a friendly race and the sights are second to none. I really loved running it. | |
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H. B. from Calgary Alberta
(12/9/2013)
"over_rated and not as advertised" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 shuttle arrangements were not reliable. Did not find out until morning of race no shuttle return only get there but 4AM shuttle for 7AM start ridiculous.Busses stayed until start so could stay in until cold start that was good.Well stocked with Gu good volunteer base next to zero spectaters and dull but fast course.Would have been nice to at least view biosphere at turnaround. | |
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J. B. from Charlotte, NC
(12/9/2013)
"Good scenic course, lacked volunteer support...." (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Expo: I don't care much about the expo, so this area doesn't matter to me. However, if it does for you, then this is a pretty small expo (the smallest I've been to in my 12 marathons). Bus Shuttle to start: I didn't like the fact that we had to depart at 5:00 (2 hours from the start) because we arrived to the start an hour and 20 minutes before the 7:00 start. It was 28 degrees at the start, and you could stay on the bus, but you were just sitting there getting all tight. Not an ideal situation to me. I would have liked to see them get the buses up there more like 30-45 minutes before the start of the race (not 80+ minutes) Course: The course was down hill, obviously from the elevation map. However, it did have more uphill than I thought (especially from mile 10-13) which on the elevation map, looks like it is flat. That is deceiving, because you actually go down like 50-75 feet, then up 50-75 feet, and repeat this about 7 times over the 3 mile stretch. I wasn't ready for that, but if you know that going in, I think the course was good. Volunteer support: It was unpredictable to know how much water/Gatorade you would get in a cup at the stations. One stop you would have about 6 ounces in a cup and then the next 2 stops the cups were like Dixie cups with maybe 1-2 ounces. At one point, I grabbed 3 water cups, and felt like I received a total of 4 ounces (not enough for my 190lb body). Overall value: I would rank this marathon in the $70 range (not the $100+ that they want to charge). I feel for the poor quality of the race shirt, the inadequate volunteer support, and poor post-race food (PBJ rollups, animal crackers, chex-mix, and bananas) that the entry fee should be decreased. I felt I got much more for my money with less expensive marathons (although they do have to shuttle you up to the start, which has its expense I'm sure). |
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