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Rocket City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Rocket City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 285 [displaying comments 221 to 231]
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Bob Thome from St. Peters, MO
(2/28/2005)
"Great race, it was my Boston qualifier" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I had been planning on running this event because I had read it was a good race for a qualifying time. Although the weather was less than ideal, I still made the 7 hour drive and the event was just like advertised, small, well organized, plenty of race support. The course was relatively flat although there were some challenging grades over the last 6 miles. Although I don't think I would go back again, I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a well-run, uncrowded race. | |
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Keith San Diego from San Diego California
(1/28/2005)
"A Step Back in Time Marathon" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 No face paint... no balloons... no gimmicks... and no feeling like you being fleeced by some big money making machine. The Rocket City Marathon is run the way races were run when they were footraces and not fundraisers or for-profit ventures. Although I am hesitant to say I'll never run another mega-thon again, the RCM made me appreciate how refreshing small marathons are. The organization was superb in all respects. The final touch was when I finished, a big bear of a guy on the other side of the mat put his arm around me, told me I ran a great race, looked into my eyes to make sure I wasnt ready to collapse and told me there was hot soup waiting for me inside. If he had any inkling that I need medical help, he would have made sure that was my first stop. That's the kind of outfit you have in Huntsville. A runner's race? Take a look at the results in the Grand Master's Division. Throughly impressive. Then look at the open categories. And beer drinkers, too!!!! :) It is blatantly obvious that they have done this many times before. One last thing: they had a volunteer calling times at EVERY MILE. Some of the bigger marathons don't even call times at the half... or even get the mile markers in the right spots. Bravo! | |
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David Young from Stanford, Kentucky
(1/22/2005)
"First marathon for my son" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 After a 14-year layoff from the marathon experience (2 knee operations), I decided it was time to get back inside my Asics. The whole experience was something that I wanted to share with my 14-year old son who had seen me prepare for this day in and day out. He was floored at the dedication that all the runners and the Rocket City Marathon staff showed from the moment we arrived at the Huntsville Hilton. He and I both enjoyed every minute. The course, although flat, had so many turns that it did seem to break the boredom of running straight. The weather that the organizers ordered was perfect for me. The crowds were small but the ones that were there made up for it with their enthusiasm. I want to congragulate Malcom for a outstanding event that I will and do recommend to everyone. For the record I was perfectly content with the shirt that I received, even though it didn't have the word 'marathon' on it and the date was wrong. That isn't what I run for; however, thanks for sending me another one. I really appreciated it. See you next year. | |
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D. P. from Nashville, TN
(12/26/2004)
"An athlete's basic running course, I loved it!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Not appealing to everyone, I loved the basic, no-hype feel of Huntsville. Even with injuries, I had a PR on this course! I've run Chicago & Boston with the crowds, complicated, efficient organization and massive expense but all this just wears me out... the yelling in my head, constant pleas for hand slapping, random people yelling, "keep on going, pick up the pace," crowed water stops... no thank you! Huntsville allowed my closest friends to see me, drive next to me at times and I could see and hear them at the end... awesome! They are my best "spectators". The turns on the course offered diversion and the "escalator" (did anyone else see that sign?) was relaxing... long sort of down hill! I was able to "get in my head" and run a smart race. The finish, for me, was great. I decided not to hit my watch and hoped to just salvage a sub-4-hour marathon due to my injuries. Then I heard my name and a man say... 'A PR'. I was shocked. Another man took my arm and helped me with the card, escorting me into the hotel. I did like the soup but I love green stuff anyway, right away found my friends, and no wait for a crowded, nauseating elevator ride! | |
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Jim Skibo from Cedar Hill TX (Dallas)
(12/25/2004)
"A Runners' Race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had a ball! Friends had told me this marathon was for more serious runners and, well yes, this race did seem to attract a faster field of runners than I?ve seen in other marathons. No circus...no frills...no stampede?no baby strollers?no 10K?no Half?just marathoners running a marathon. You go, you run, you hang with your fellow runners. I did a PR in 4:11 but still felt like I was outclassed because there seemed to be a LOT of sub-4 hour guys in this race. But if you like to run, then this race is for you regardless of your pace?things like that shouldn?t intimidate you. You enjoy running and when you finish, you finish. Having said that, I really could have smacked the kid at the water table somewhere around mile 22 who said to his friend ?Well it looks like we ran out of runners?! OK, so 500 had already gone by, but there were still a couple of hundred behind me!! Plenty of Gatorade and water well-spaced throughout the course. All intersections were directed by guards of some sort ?never felt like I was going to get run over. Course is basically a pancake...net ascent of 430' over 26 miles was nothing...greatest ascent was less than 30' in one mile. Also, a nice varity of scenery with enough turns so, when you aren't in your zone, you don't get bored out of your mind. The temps were deceiving. The entire race?regardless of your time?started at 41 and finished at 41. Seems like that would be warm, but it was overcast so there wasn?t any radiant heat, and the wind was 10 MPH with 20 MPH gusts consistently throughout the entire race. In other words, it was a bit nippy despite the 41 degree temp. Shorts with a long-sleeve shirt and mittens was perfect. Some runners did get cold, so if you run this race, take the wind chill into consideration because, historically, it is always windy. The post-race eats were plentiful and hit the spot. I liked the soup, and the peanut butter and jelly on bagels was neat. I think there was Hagen Daaz there, too. Last but not least, the lady on roller blades playing an accordion gave a welcome bit of comic relief to things. I think it was somewhere around the halfway mark. She also rolled up alongside a group of us and kept pace for a mile or so while she squeezed out some sort of melody. I don?t need cheering masses...there weren?t any...so I still gave spectators a 5. This was my 12th marathon, and it is on my short list of marathons to run again. Jim | |
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J. P. from USA
(12/22/2004)
"Solid runners' race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race is geared for under 4:30 runners. Good value and no frills. If you're a back-of-the-packer - which I was this day - or a walker, you might want to go try something else. Excellent traffic control until the last mile because it seemed everybody in Huntsville was out driving on race day. Even though we were an hour ahead of the cut-off time we had no traffic control the last mile of the race. It was dangerous. The host hotel was fantastic and very accommodating. Race starts and finishes at the hotel which was great. Course was pretty mediocre. Very few spectators. It runs through dull neighborhood areas, a few pedestrian tunnels to get to the other side of streets, parking lots and at times we got pushed off the street to concrete sidewalks and then back out to the road, which was not only confusing but some of the side streets were unprotected. Race shirt had the wrong date on it, no mention of the marathon and looked like a kindergartener drew the picture on the front. | |
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M. G. from Alabama
(12/20/2004)
"My first marathon -- I would run it again!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon and I would certainly run it again. I thought the course was very well marked. It had some small hills, but nothing overwhelming. The organization was excellent -- plenty of food and a free massage at the finish line. Very good race. | |
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Sherry Meador from Harpersville Alabama
(12/19/2004)
"WOW, Rocket City Rocks" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Rocket City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I loved your race again. You were my first marathon last year and I could not wait to try you again. Although I did not PR or qualify for Boston, it was me, not the course. I ran Mercedes in Birmingham last year and I found your course flatter, but in no way less interesting. I was in trouble from about mile seven, when I realized my stomache had not yet recovered from the virus I had caught. I ran a good portion of the race weaving and not really very lucid, but your guys kept me from missing a single turn or having to have any traffic considerations at all. It was nice to see the finish line still up this year. The complementary massage was wonderful. My worst review would be the soup; mine sucked, but I had the bottom of a pan. The aid station water also tasted funny to me, so maybe it was just that I was sick. This race is great for a first-timer or someone wanting or needing a fast time. I like it because I don't feel like I am caught in a cattle stampede for the first ten miles, like at Nashville. | |
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J. B. from Georgia
(12/18/2004)
"Greatest Volunteers!!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Can't say enough about the organization and volunteers for this race. From the great volunteers at the aid stations, the greeters at the finish line to make sure you are doing OK, the post-race massage vounteers (little to no wait), and finally to the lady who made me a peanut butter bagel at the end. What a fantastic group of people who put on this marathon. Extremely well organized. Not a ton of fan support, but I tend to concentrate on running anyway. Very fair course with no major hills. Overall, I highly recommend to anyone looking for a great marathon to 'run'. | |
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S. C. from Huntington, WV
(12/16/2004)
"excellent race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 16th marathon and I enjoyed it as much as any of them and more than most. The course has some mild ups and downs, which is fine with me because it provides some variety. Excellent traffic control, with someone providing guidance at every turn. Volunteers were outstanding. Race hotel was fine, and it is wonderful to get out of the cold immediately and have a warm comfortable place for post-race refreshments. Enjoyed the dinner the night before. I'd certainly run it again. |
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