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Twin Cities Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Twin Cities Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 455 [displaying comments 311 to 321]
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Jennifer Eubank from Kodiak, Alaska
(11/10/2004)
"This was AWESOME!" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was probably the best experience I ever could have hoped for during my first marathon. WOW! 26.2 miles of cheering people! I am hooked... | |
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Doug Philipp from Colorado Springs, Colorado
(11/9/2004)
"Magnificent Marathon" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my very first marathon, and it was a tremendously great experience. I had family and friends along the route, cheering me on at four different spots! The weather was great, the course lots of fun, and the spectators marvelous. With that written, I would like to thank the people of Minneapolis/St. Paul for this very fine marathon. I'll be back next year! My only criticism is the lack of enough portable toilets along the route. I did not need one, but pitied the people standing in line for one. TCM organizers--please remedy this situation, or don't ask/expect people not to relieve themselves in the shrubbery. | |
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I. B. from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
(11/3/2004)
"An incredibly beautiful course" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I am 57 and haven't run a marathon in 14 years. The Twin Cities Marathon 2004 was awesome. It was well organized, the volunteers were great and the spectators cheered us on to the finish. I am now committed to running at least one marathon each year. | |
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S. S. from Minneapolis, MN
(10/26/2004)
"One of the best" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was trying to think of something negative to say, but there is none. Awesome course (even though I train on it all year), the best fan support, great volunteers and awesome medal and tshirt at the end. The only minor, minor complaint is that there weren't any Clif shots this year. But that's why you bring your own. | |
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M. S. from Minneapolis
(10/22/2004)
"Great" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the best marathon of them all. | |
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P. M. from Chicago, IL
(10/14/2004)
"A Great Fall Race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I hadn't run under 4 hours in 11 years, and really wanted to give myself the best shot at doing so. I live in Chicago, which has a very flat course, but is an exceptionally large race. I was attracted to Twin Cities by its smaller size (compared to fall mega marathons like Chicago or NY), as well as the comments on course beauty and spectator support. I loved my experience. The course is challenging, but I knew of the uphill in miles 22 and 23, so I trained for them. The organization of the race was wonderful, from the staffed information booth at the airport, to the staging at the Dome, to the two wave start. I had plenty of room in wave 2, I was able to run my planned pace in mile 1. Try that in Chicago or NYC! The weather was perfect and crowd support good. I would have liked a few more bands on the course, but I got a lot of energy from the spectators having their lawn parties. The course is beautiful, very shaded. The hills were as advertised. The finishing mile is the most inspiring of any mile in any of the 17 marathons I have ever run. A nice downhill past the cathedral to the state capitol, under the giant American flag at mile 26. I was able to run 3:54. I will return to this race. | |
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Jay Groom from Dallas, TX
(10/12/2004)
"What an incredible experience!!!" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The weather was picture perfect, sunny, 45 degrees, with a slight breeze. The horn sounded, the runners cheered, and off to the races we went. The first few miles went by quickly, and I was surprised by the number of hills at the start of the race. But on each side of the road were cheering fans, countless banners of encouragement, and a television helicopter hovering overhead. As I approached mile two, standing on the street corner playing his tuba was Minnesota Viking great Alan Page. Without a doubt I knew this day was going to be different. Once we left the downtown area we entered the lakes district: Calhoun, Harriet, Nokomis, along with Lake of the Isles. It soon became apparent why this is called 'The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America'. As we left the first two lakes, and approached the seven mile mark, we left the road and headed onto the pathway along Lake Harriet, it was what I can only describe as an incredible rush. Thousands and thousands of spectators on both sides of the path, yelling, cheering, encroaching on the path to where all you could see was the path before you and the enormous crowd that in some places reached seven deep, shoulder to shoulder. The excitement was like that of a Super Bowl kickoff, and each one of us runners was the hero that everyone had come to see. This experience alone would make everything I was about to endure worth it. During the first thirteen miles I ran fast and I ran free. I saw great beauty in nature and in the kindness of the residents of the area. I floated through street after street, neighborhood after neighborhood, and I conquered the road as a warrior trained in his art. But this was merely a parade for the adoring crowd before the real battle had begun. Soon I watched as my comrades, one by one, fell to the side. Swiftness was no longer in our feet, but rather pain and suffering. My quads tightened and I was but a shadow of my earlier self, now reduced to walking for much of the last twelve miles. The crowds were thinner here, but the few that remained cheered us on as best they could. No longer did we hear the words 'you're looking good', but rather we heard things like 'you can make it' and don't give up'. Indeed it was a tale of two races; a race of glory and a race of courage. And I found that when I did cross that line and they called out my name, indeed I had reached what would be a crowning moment in a gloriuos effort, and a medal of honor was placed around my neck. This is how us warriors of the road come to find our glory. And when it was all said and done we would all be road warriors tested in battle. Heroes, each and every one. A glorious experience that should be had by all. | |
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margaret mason from Santa Barbara, CA
(10/11/2004)
"A Classy, Efficient and Beautiful Marathon" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a keeper--certainly not a '2nd tier marathon' even in comparison to Boston and NYC--and I'll run it again. The course winds through sparkling lakeside greenbelts in beautiful old Minneapolis neighborhoods, traverses several parks, runs alongside the Mississippi, then crosses over into St. Paul. It tracks back down the river, then up a few hills, finally cresting at mile 25.5 with a stunning vista of a cathedral, and a straight downhill shot to the gorgeous state capitol building. The organization was flawless, and the spectators delivered with enthusiastic, solid Midwestern hospitality. I'd never run a marathon with so many folks calling out my race number. Like Boston, they pull you up the hill with encouragement and excitement. A few notes defending this lovely race: While I don't run marathons for the crowd, T-shirts, medals and finish-line food, all of these amenities were just fine if not outstanding. More importantly, from start to finish, this marathon was extremely efficient in terms of physical logistics for the runners. We stayed warm in the Metrodome before the gun, the 2-wave start was a real bonus for faster runners, the aid stations were well-stocked and plentiful, and I was able to pick up my sweat bag within minutes of finishing--remarkable. The website was quite clear about Gu not being offered on the course... it wasn't 'buried' information. Any hills in the last miles will feel challenging. These were mild compared to Boston, and if you apportion your energy, very do-able. The abundant downhills in the first 20 miles make for a fast course, if you prepare for them. Otherwise, the latter hills will take their toll on your quads. Thanks to all the generous Minneapolis and St. Paul denizens who made me feel I was part of your community. You have a lot of heart. | |
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J. H. from Des Moines, IA
(10/10/2004)
"The Best" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It is really hard to think how this could be any better. Chamber of Commerce course, great crowd support, runner-centric organization, perfect weather and the best left turn in any marathon...that view of the finish is truly special. 'Great job' to the organizers and the community. | |
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R. H. from Eagan, MN
(10/9/2004)
"An Exceptional Course" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The TCM is an awesome marathon regardless of whether you are running your first, fourth, or 100th marathon. Transportation from St. Paul to the Metrodome prior to the race was easy and effective. It's always nice to have a warm place such as the dome to wait until the start of the race. The course is beautiful with the lakes and river to run along. The crowd support was the best I have seen. I appreciated the fans that offered candy, oranges and other treats to runners they didn't know, that was great. The aid stations were stocked well and I had no difficulties getting either water or Powerade. I didn't see any Gu along the way, but that was fine since I know enough to bring my own. I liked the shirt and medal better than last year. The massage and food tent with free food from Outback Steakhouse was a pleasant surprise. The chicken broth at the finish line went down so well. The only complaint if you can even call it one, is that I didn't have a tie for my chip, but this was easy to fix, I just unlaced my shoelace one hole, attached the chip and relaced them. Actually this is more secure than a tie anyway. Like I mentioned earlier, this is a good course for a first time marathoner and I ran this one as my first marathon and liked it well enough to run it again. My number one piece of advice is to pace yourself well and save some gas for the last five miles, which goes for any marathon, but this one includes extra climbing towards the end. I will definitely run the Twin Cities Marathon again!!! |
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