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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 81 to 91]
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G. H. from Florence, AL
(12/31/2009)
""By runners for runners"" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 ....that's the slogan for this race and it fits. Easy check-in, and a nice, technical, long-sleeve shirt. Not really an expo, but great deals. The course is fast and the organization is first rate. This was my 14th marathon and first Rocket City. With my recent move to Florence, AL, it won't be my last. By the way, I got a "sort of" BQ - not good for 2010, but it works for 2011. A nice thing about getting older. | |
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Joe Cullitan from Sherrills Ford, NC
(12/26/2009)
"ALABAMA ROCKS IN HUNTSVILLE." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 One of the best organized runs I have been to. The race directors (Dink and Suzanne) and guest speaker Bart Yasso (class act - must see!) are great. The volunteers are the cream of the crop. Spectators were fabulous, and the fellowship amongst the runners was like a reunion of long-time friends that I had never met. The pasta party had great food and portions unlimited. It was a great, laid back, comfortable setting with probably the best bang for your buck that you are going to find anywhere. Accommodations at race headquarters were another added value and everything was under one roof. Hats off to all the staff and their planning. The course was fast with bursts of enthusiasm all over the course (except Bailey Cove Road). There were mile markers, and the water/Gatorade stations were well staffed (thanks to the Boy Scouts and all of the other fine organizations). The post-race meal has by far the finest fare that any runner could ask for on a great WINTER day. Where else are you going to get great soup like the Rocket City folks provided? Okay, now for the downer of the whole event: The medal with the blue lettering on the black background makes it very hard to see where we were. With a great race such as this, I would be bragging about what Huntsville does for marathoners by awarding a great piece of IRON to show off to others. | |
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Jim Skibo, Ph.D. from Cedar Hil, TX (Dallas)
(12/19/2009)
"Great "Runner's Race"" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Rocket City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 39th marathon and the 4th time I have run Rocket City. For many reasons it is my favorite marathon. It is superbly organized, very friendly, and logistically a snap even if you are not staying at the host hotel. You can park within 100 feet of the starting line, get out of your car, and start running. The many volunteers take care of you. You can drop clothing at any aid station and whatever you drop gets returned to the finish area. The pasta dinner before the race is an excellent value and the post-race dinner the evening of the race is worth staying another day for. I have said that this is a runner's race because it is ONLY a marathon. Anyone who is at the starting line is there to run 26.2 miles. That does not mean it is an elitist race though; it is very friendly. I beat Bart Yasso, too, although only by 2 seconds. Heck of a finisher photo with him just behind me! | |
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R. C. from Nashville, TN
(12/18/2009)
"Race geared for SERIOUS racers, not rec runners." (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Some flexibility regarding packet pickup for out-of-towners would have been nice. The volunteers on the course and traffic control folks were AWESOME! | |
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S. W. from Louisville, Kentucky
(12/17/2009)
"Great value, great course, great people!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 15th marathon. It was an excellent race. Very good value. Great organization and people! I'll be back for sure. This is a flat, fast course with just a few small inclines. Many long declines! I was worried about all of the turns in the course, but they were no problem and did not slow the pace. | |
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George Rogers from Lexington, KY
(12/16/2009)
"Great organization and support!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Rocket City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My second time running Rocket City and another great experience. This time a BQ! Very well organized event and great food at the finish. Course is very similar to the suburban streets I train on at home so it feels very comfortable. Very convenient start and finish at the hotel. Not a lot of spectators but all were very enthusiastic and supportive. Grissom High School kids were great! | |
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Mike Chaudron from Johnson City, TN
(12/15/2009)
"Stars fell on Alabama via Rocket City" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Rocket City was my second full marathon. It an was outstanding experience. My expectations were high, but they were all exceeded. Check-in was fast and right in the hotel where we stayed. Starting line was well organized. The course was fast and fun. The locals really come out for the race and it was run waving to them as we went by. Lots of kids along the route who seemed to really enjoy being out. Major road crossings were very well done with one/two cops at each one. They beamed when we told them thanks. Going through the school at mile 7 and again at mile 21 was a lot of fun. I loved the short tunnel under the street and the people in the school lot cheering for us, and even giving us pretzel sticks. The finish line area was great. The middle school cheerleaders insisting on high-fiving us as we passed the 26-mile mark and the announcer calling your name and home town as you finished were both nice touches. The finish area was well organized and they got us into the area where a fantastic food spread awaited on us. I had a massive PB&J sandwich, moon pie, lemonade, and ice cream sandwiches. The finisher's cap is a nice touch. My one complaint - and it's very small - is about the medal. The blue writing on black background doesn't show up very well. The after-race ceremony was very well done and a lot of fun. Overall, this is a fantastic marathon and I urge you to consider it. Although this is my second full, I ran an 18-minute PR and had a much better experience than my first. I even beat Bart Yasso! | |
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R. G. from Georgia
(12/15/2009)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Flat, fast course. You could tell that the course was well thought out to remove the hills. Great police coverage at all intersections. Not a lot of spectators but they were great and did a lot of cheering. Good support after race. | |
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Richard Betz from Highlands, North Carolina
(12/15/2009)
"Another great experience at Rocket City" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Rocket City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 14th marathon, and half of them (including the first one) have been run at Rocket City. The reason for that is the excellent organization of this race, down to the smallest details, as reflected in many of the other comments. It truly is a race organized by and for runners - no fun runs, no 5Ks, no costumed runners, just every detail as it should be. I like the course - it's flat and fast, with enough twists and turns (except for Bailey Cove Road) to keep it interesting. The spectators make up in enthusiasm what they lack in numbers, and the traffic control is just superb, with true dedication on a cold and windy day this year. I especially like the variety of food and drink at the finish line, too - who wants pizza and beer immediately after finishing a marathon? It's that awesome vegetable soup that I crave. This year, 10 years after my first marathon and at the age of 60, I broke four hours and finally qualified for Boston! Thanks to Dink and Suzanne and all of the other many volunteers who helped make that possible. | |
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d. d. from ohio
(12/14/2009)
"Best-kept secret in Alabama" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rocket City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The temp was in low 40's and very windy, with 30-plus gusts (which is unusually cool). The host hotel and others were within just blocks of the start. The course had mild to rolling hills and was well staffed, with crossing guards at most intersections, good aid support, and great spectator support. There was a cool after-party, but no freedom to buy tickets on the day of the event. They have a nice finisher's medal and hat, and a great finish buffet. I highly recommend this one. |
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