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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 61 to 71]
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Wade Morris from Birmingham, Alabama
(12/29/2010)
"Always a Good Race" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Rocket City Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is my second time to run this marathon. The organization was not as good this year but it's still better than most races. The course is flat for Alabama but quite boring; but I guess you cannot always have it both ways. It is a good thing for me to have pace teams and I'm glad that they have added them. They need to make sure they have good pacers because I beat the 3:20 pacer by at least 5 minutes and ran a 3:32. Overall, I would still run this race again because it is one of the few marathons that you can race that is only a marathon. It creates a unique atmosphere when everyone is running 26.2 miles. | |
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G. D. from MS
(12/27/2010)
"Great race for non-iPod runners" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 18th marathon. I liked almost everything about it, EXCEPT the most important thing to me... no iPods! Many races have the typical no-iPod rule stated, but very few enforce it. Had I known before registering, I would have NEVER signed up for a no-iPod race. It wasn't until 7-10 days out that they started to make it known that the no-iPod rule would be enforced. The course is great for PRs, but not very scenic - just average, in my opinion. Other than the above complaints (and the scenery really wasn't a complaint, just an observation), EVERYTHING else about the race was super. It's a great PR course, and we had PR weather. The race had the convenience of a small race; it was very organized, and the post-race stuff was great. The host hotel was adequate and convenient, and we got great shirts and a nice hat, etc. This is a racer's race, which I love, except that I'm an iPod racer. This is a race I would attend often if the iPod ban is lifted. So if you are a purist runner, and don't run with an iPod, it's highly recommended. | |
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Z. R. from Fort Scott, Kansas
(12/26/2010)
"Rocket scientists must have helped" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The attention to detail of the race organizers was outstanding. We flew in at 5:00 p.m. the day before the race, easily made the expo and pasta dinner, and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on University Drive. They opened the breakfast early at 5:00 a.m., gave us a 2 p.m. checkout and you could "buy" a later checkout up to 5 p.m. for 20 bucks! Back to the airport after the race for a 5:00 p.m. flight and slept in my own bed that night by midnight. Easiest in and out yet in my 8 marathons. The lack of a half marathon at the same time makes it so much less crowded getting in, parking, racing, snarfing down the great food at the end and leaving. There are lots of turns, but that did not seem so bad. My Garmin did measure it way long, 26.54 miles, and I could hear everyone else's clicking off the early miles too. It has measured other marathons long, but not that long. Maybe I am not running the turns correctly. Another water stop or two would be really nice late in the race, The average 2.4 miles between aid stations was the longest I have seen. Hard to criticize it, though, as it is a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone. | |
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M. B. from Medford, WI
(12/24/2010)
"Marathon for marathoners" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Good event; good winter marathon option. I wish the organizers and community would embrace the out-of-town element a little more. Good course - well-patrolled. Great dinner and speaker the night before. Very handy if you are staying downtown. | |
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David Zajic from Alabama
(12/20/2010)
"A marathon for runners" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Rocket City Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Since I've joined the 50 State Club, I've seen my share of marathons - and this is really one of the best. It was my first many years ago, and though the race directors have changed, they continue to learn and make it better for the runners. I've done the big ones (Boston, Marine Corps, etc.) and the small ones (LYTR {LA}, Ridge Runners {WV}, Grandfather {NC}) and I'd put RC in with the organization of the big ones and the home-town "feel" of the small ones. It is really a great race. The weather can be a little tricky, but hey, it's December in Alabama. I recommend this run to everyone. | |
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G. R. from NC
(12/20/2010)
"Marathon for ALL Marathoners!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you are even considering running this marathon, then DO IT. There is only a marathon option, there are pace groups for almost any time you need, the course will get you a PR, there's easy access to start/finish, you can stay inside the host hotel lobby until the start, and local hotels were very accommodating (early breakfast and late check outs). The course is almost flat, with several turns. Not much to see but well monitored at EVERY intersection. Perks you don't get other places: Tech shirt and hat, finisher photo, and plenty of food (soup, fruit, bagels, Moonpies) inside of the hotel with seating at the finish. | |
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Matt Garza from USA
(12/16/2010)
"great experience but few restrooms" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Excellent marathon; it has a very small-town/small-race feel, which was nice. Expo was small, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I had a PR here, but I almost blew it because of needing a restroom and not being able to find one. It was shocking how few port-a-potties there were. Probably a dozen were available at the start and seemingly fewer than half a dozen along the course. Overall, I would definitely run it again. Wonderful race, but please add more toilets! | |
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T. W. from Kentucky
(12/15/2010)
"Rocket City Marathon 2010" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race was very well-run and organization was top notch. The course was fairly flat, with just a few small inclines that are all followed by longer declines. The weather was almost perfect: cloudy, dry, and 45 degrees. There was a little headwind at times, but nothing too taxing. My only two complaints are: 1) there were LOTS of turns 2) and the use of headphones is absolutely prohibited. If you race from out of town: stay at the host hotel (Holiday Inn) or the Embassy Suites right across the street - nice hotel, but no late checkout. | |
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Derek Opperman from South Bend, IN
(12/15/2010)
"A good race to do." (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The Rocket City Marathon is a good runner's race. It is a nice, small-sized marathon put on by folks who know how to put together a race. I liked that it seemed like a more "serious" race than a lot of marathons out there. There are no bands or costumed runners - just people out there to run a good race. The course for the most part is good with a mix of scenery. The organizers did a good job of keeping the course relatively flat, considering how hilly Huntsville is. The toughest part was Bailey Cove Road (about a 4-5-mile stretch of straight road). The Nike, tech, long-sleeve shirts were great as was the finisher's tech hat. The medals were OK but the post-race food was great! It is nice to have the host hotel that is so runner friendly. A great touch to have tables and chairs set up for the post-race food afterward inside the hotel. It would be nice if there were a gear drop for next year. Plenty of water stops along the course and good volunteers manning the stations. Crowd support was little, but those who where out did an awesome job cheering! Overall, a good race to run. | |
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S. D. from Birmingham, AL
(12/15/2010)
"An Event for Extremists" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 PRO: All of the others' comments are true about how well organized this event is. The course is fast and flat. There were great pace teams so time-goal runners could concentrate on their run and not on their watches. I was able to set a PR. It was very easy for day-trippers like myself to drive up, check-in, run, and get home with zero hassles. CON: The course is boring: Residential neighborhoods and strip mall roads. I was hoping to run by a spacecraft or two. The no-headphones thing gets taken to an extreme that throws a big wet blanket on the event. Lighten up already, if not on your policy then at least on the tone and volume with which you communicate it. |
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