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☰
Chicago Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Chicago Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 949 [displaying comments 91 to 101]
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M. B. from Geneva, Switzerland
(10/12/2012)
"Simply briliant. Best Marathon To Date!!!!!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wow, what an amazing world class marathon from the course, organisation and deafening crowd support from start to finish. The weather conditions were absolutely perfect, breezy 8c and overcast for most of the race. Thought the jet lag would play a role coming in from Switzerland just two days before but felt fresh as a daisy on the start line. The expo is massive with all the big players flogging their gear. Packet pick up is dead simple but I would recommend going Friday as I spoke to many who went on Saturday and it was a tad 'zooish'. The start corrals are well sign posted before the start and there were no crowds at all trying to push in or anything (I was in corral A). I would get in your corral by 7:10am. Don't waste energy standing around for ages waiting for the race to start. The atmosphere was electric as we looked up Michigan Ave before the horn went off. Goose pimples! They play the American national anthem before the start which added to the build up even to a foreigner. I was gunning for a sub 3 marathon (for the 11th time) after upping my mileage and training harder and better over the last 18 weeks. I was on pace with the 3:00 group up until 35km and then I started to tire running up Michigan Ave. I didn't get my A goal but am absolutely over the moon to have smashed my PB by 4m32s to cross the line in 3:01:43. Brilliant finish area with bags of refreshments. The medal was also the amazing. Will certainly be coming back to run Chicago again. Fantastic world class race in a world class city!!!!! Thank you very, very much!!! | |
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James Lehman from Coppell, TX
(10/11/2012)
"Well organized and top-notch event" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the first wave, corral A. Every experience was positive which pleasantly surprised me. Considering this is one of the largest participation events for runners the organization was professional. Energy drink along the course was not diluted. Spectators were energetic. I'm keen to repeat Chicago. Thank you. | |
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Todd Hinze from McCook, NE
(10/11/2012)
"BIG TIME!" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a 'Must Do' race. I've run marathons with several dozen, several hundred, and several thousand participants. All were unique, all were special but nothing compares to Chicago. The downtown vibe the day before the race and at the expo was electric, the course was fast and flat (a couple of overpasses and a hill at the last 400m), and HUGE support from the supporters the entire race. One of the few complaints I've run across were long waits at bag check. Tip: If you can stay downtown (Congress Plaza or Hilton) skip the bag check. K-Tape your key card to the back of your bib and skip the lines. | |
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A. B. from Indiana
(10/11/2012)
"Great spectators, organizational bumps" (about: 2012)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This is my first Chicago (2nd marathon), and I signed up for a big race in the hopes of more spectator support and a general sense of excitement. The marathon met my needs on both accounts. However, the two-wave start was a challenge. I was in Corral E (ran with a charity), and I didn't have the opportunity to run with a pace team...nor to be seeded in my appropriate pace, which would have been several corrals behind. Since I'm on the slower side, I had to deal with thousands of faster runners elbowing me out of the way for several miles as they worked towards their PRs. This negatively impacted my race experience, and made me feel claustrophobic. Also - while I understand handing out bananas from a nutritional standpoint, banana peels in the last 5 miles = major obstacles and danger for runners. Many runners had bonked by that point, and weren't paying attention to where they threw the peels. I felt like I was in a video game at many moments. | |
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B. S. from Illinois
(10/10/2012)
"Never fails to be amazing!" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my 3rd Chicago marathon. I have never had a bad experience. Very well organized. Each race has been different - due to weather conditions, training, etc. But all three times I ran for Team LIVESTRONG. It was great to start with the team this year so you aren't alone on your journey. I tyrpically run a 4:15-4:30 pace but this year, due to training issues, I did a run/walk method. Although I liked the charity corral, I would suggest having a charity corral in each wave. This would spread out the faster and slower charity runners. If not, provide some instructions to those that choose to walk to go over to the side and be mindful of the faster corrals coming behind them. I felt bad for the 3:40, 3:50 pace groups having to 'dodge' runners. Don't get rid of the corral, but perhaps give us two options. | |
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J. L. from International Falls, Minnesota
(10/9/2012)
"Another great year" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have never had any complaints about Chicago...it is always a great event, but you must sign up the moment registration opens. My gear bag split down the side after finishing the race and carrying it around was awkward, but other than that, this is a must run for urban runners. You see the best of the city come out to cheer you on! | |
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T. B. from Chicago
(10/9/2012)
"Why have the Charity Coral start before the Open?" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Why have the Charity Runners start before the Open Corals? Sounded like it lead to course congestion for the faster runners in the F coral when they caught up and tried to get through the slower runners from the first wave, | |
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C. D. from Columbus, OH
(10/9/2012)
"Perfect Weather" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 After 4 out 5 years of hot marathon days, the weather was great. The organization is top notch and gets better every year. I am not sure the 2 wave start accomplished a whole lot, but it did seem like pre and post race congestion was improved. The crowds are great and there are very few places where people do not line the course. Be aware that the course is congested the entire way. The last few miles (at least at the pace I run) saw a lot of people walking, so a lot of dodging is necessary. A smaller venue may work better if you are interested in your finish time. Take cash. If you have not driven in Chicago for a while, you will be stunned by the increases in parking and tolls. | |
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D. L. from Charlotte, North Carolina
(10/9/2012)
"Great experience, will run again" (about: 2012)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The race was wonderful, I had the best time. Everything was about as perfect as you could get. My only small issue was the gear pick-up. Took me 45 min to an hour to get my gear bag. | |
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D. M. from Ann Arbor, MI
(10/8/2012)
"Great Race, Great Organization" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was great, the foolish news reports about missing shirts and medals should not scare you away from this race, A great town and a great race! |
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