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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 601 to 611]
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Jerry Jennings from East Lansing, Michigan
(11/3/2005)
"It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This Folks" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and it lived up to its excellent reputation and billing. Excellent, first-rate organization, sponsorship, volunteers, course, crowd support, finisher's medal, and post-race food and support. This has to be the quintessential american-pie marathon. I must have made a hundred new running friends during the race. Everyone was very friendly and helpful.... Chicago, I Love You!!!! | |
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E. M. from Denver, Colorado
(11/2/2005)
"A PR kind of course" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first trip to run Chicago and by far the biggest marathon I've ever run. It was a good race and I was amazed at the number of people in the race. It is definitely a fast course and I wish I would have not gone out so fast. The pacers with balloons were a little messed up early on as the 3:10 pack passed the 3:00 hour pack about two miles into the race . ? . ? It is a race I'm glad I ran but I will probably stick to the smaller marathons as I had a hard time getting into a groove and there were so many people to maneuver around. The beginning of the marathon is much more scenic and nice than the end. | |
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P. W. from St Joseph, MI
(10/31/2005)
"Spectators, Neighborhoods, Crowds" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Did this one in 2004, and again in 2005. My first two marathons. Have since also done a much smaller marathon. Chicago is so crowded I call it the human sardine can. Lots of bumping and jostling, you cannot run your pace the first few miles - you go with the flow. Don't fall down - its like 'running with the bulls.' It doesn't really thin out til about half way, and you will find yourself battling to get to the aid stations most of the way. On the other hand, there are amazing crowds (although they tend to crowd the streets at points), and it is very special to participate in such an event. They also have all the nice photographic support throughout the race, so you will get some very nice pictures and videos of the race, and of yourself. There is quite a variety of participants here, some serious, some just having fun. This is like being part of a show. In my view, this race is about saying you did it, and enjoying being part of something really big. For just pure running, I prefer something smaller like the Grand Rapids Marathon, but I'm glad to say I've done Chicago. | |
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S. P. from St. Louis, MO
(10/30/2005)
"Truly a wonderful experience" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second time running Chicago, and it was better than the last time. The energy from the crowd made me run faster without feeling any pain. In fact, the first 15 miles of the race felt like they went by in 30 minutes. The city is beautiful and the organization of this race is second to none. This is a must-run for all marathoners! | |
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A. V. from Chicago, IL
(10/27/2005)
"Fun Race" (about: 2005)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I have been training with the Aids Marathon. This was awesome! The spectators are fantastic and it's Chicago.... Its so beautiful. The different neighborhoods were nice and the weather was amazing. I loved every minute of it. There were plenty of volunteers. God bless them. They were terrific. I will definitely do it again. There is a sense of camaraderie throughout the course. You feel like a rock star because the spectators treat you like it. There is not a negative thing I can say about it. The best part is definitely mile 8 at Boystown. | |
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Rodney Brown from Jacksonville, Florida
(10/27/2005)
"A fantastic running experience!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The people in Chicago really know how to host a marathon! The weather was great, about in the low 50's throughout and low humidity. The expo was fantastic, with many products that I hadn't seen before. The venue of the expo was plenty large, and convenient shuttles ran to and from downtown. We were impressed by the superb organization, from packet pickup to post-race pictures. The course was mostly picturesque (with the exception of the Boystown section). There was plenty of fluid available throughout, and the mile markers were clearly visible (and accurate). The first 10 miles were crowded, but that is to be expected with 40,000 runners. I ran with the 4:00 pace group for the first six miles, which was ill-advised due to the crowds and the erratic track and shortness of one of the primary 'stick holders.' After breaking away from that group, I settled into a PR pace. The Gatorade was consistently mixed at all the aid stations, a small but important detail for nervous-stomached runners like me. After the race, there was plenty of food and the podiatry tent was well staffed. If you like a fast course in a great city with excellent organization, Chicago is definitely for you. | |
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j. k. from Taunton, MA
(10/26/2005)
"Fantastic race. Terrific crowd support." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Love the race and plan to be back in 2006. | |
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T. C. from Philadelphia Pennsylvania
(10/21/2005)
"absolutely fantastic!! " (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My 6th marathon, 1st Chicago and hopefully not the last. Used this race to qualify for Boston for the first time. While the size of the race was a bit of a negative, everything else offset that by 10 times. What a great race, and I've never seen crowd support like this; truly inspirational!! Hats off to the race organizers and the city of Chicago; really fantastic experience! | |
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t. c. from Chicago
(10/20/2005)
"Great race, but needs a cap" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 You have to hand it to the organizers - the course does justice to the city, the city embraces it in turn, and the organization is tremendous virtually every step of the way. My complaint is similar to one voiced by others: too many people. Maybe a race with 40,000 runners can be something other than a traffic jam, but there seemed to be an undue number of people running side-by-side in large groups, 'wanderers' with iPods on, or inexperienced runners clogging up the massive water stops. I was expecting all of that but I wasn't expecting it to detract from the race as much as it did. Towards the end - in Pilsen, at the finish line, etc. - it's not only claustrophobic, but there's immense potential for something bad to happen. | |
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S. V. from NW Indiana
(10/19/2005)
"The one and only Chicago Marathon" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The Chicago Marathon is a great race. I agree with the people that say that there are a lot of first-timers and it is hard to pass some of them, which slows you down, especially in the beginning. But that is what the Chicago Marathon is about.... Everybody wants to do it. Some are there to race, others to say they participated. But there are some deceptions as well. My biggest gripe is when they say they care for you as an individual runner. The aid stations are great, but when you end and you have a photographer getting on you if you don't move an inch up to keep the finisher photo line going, it makes you feel like a number. I was not even set to take the picture so my face is all contorted (like the picture Kramer takes of Jerry). I accidentally thought the podiatry tent was the massage tent and I have never had a girl step right in front of me to cut me off asking, 'What do you want?' And then there is the post-race party. Again, it is held in spacious Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. I brought someone with me and they noticed the first thing I did, tables but most without chairs. So you sit there eating, standing up (this after you run 26.2M). Then there was the lady in the bowtie waiting and as soon as my friend left to get us some more food (thank goodness we did not both leave), she came and took his stuff to throw away even though he was not done. I had to shoo her away a few times. It was like, 'Ok, you are finished', and then she goes back to waiting. I've noticed that about certain races. For example, at Bix7 you can have as much as you want in the post-race party area. The catch: Don't drink too much or else you might have to use one of the 3 (yes, 3) port-a-potties for all the people. One guy had to go so bad I let him cut in front of me. Oh, there are bathrooms but you have to leave the post-race area. And as you guessed, you are not coming back in. It is this kind of stuff that really gets to me as a runner. It's like they want you to sign up to get your money, but then they just want to get you through that line. The positives are a very flat course, great aid stations, good camaraderie after the race, and the fact it is Chicago. But my vote for best large race goes to the Indy Mini. Everything from trying to seed the 'open field' runners (which really helps people like me who might be slow but are not walking and panting 1 mile into a marathon) to the little old ladies who have the plastic ties for your chip to having the port-a-potties right next to the course and positioned against a wall to keep away sun are why that is the best. I am glad I did this race, but at the same time, I don't know if I would do it again.... Maybe, but only because I live 20 miles from Grant Park. It is like at Chicago you have the elites and then you have the rest. There's not much of an in-between. Great course, great fans, but the individual care is lacking. It is one of those races you do once in your life to say you did it. That's the best way I can put it. |
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