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☰
GO! St. Louis Marathon Runner Comments
Back to GO! St. Louis Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 357 [displaying comments 251 to 261]
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D. S. from St Louis, MO
(4/17/2005)
 "A Great Day for a Run!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 GO! St. Louis Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I just ran this week last weekend and read the comments that have been previously posted. Here is my two cents: This was my third St Louis Marathon but the first that I've run only the half (I am doing the Flying Pigs in two weeks so I wanted to rest up!). I thought the course was much better this year. The loop to the Brewery last year was torture since you could 'see' the finish line and had to keep on running! I liked the Art mile markers though they could be hard to identify the mile (perhaps put signs next to them?). This year there was plenty to eat the the Finish line and everyone was so friendly! I agree that many walkers were 3-4 abreast so it was difficult to get around them but it's part of running in my book. Not a big deal (at least folks are exercising!). Good job on improving from lasy year! | |
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j. f. from central Illinois
(4/16/2005)
 "Good, but more work to do" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 GO! St. Louis Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 This is my 3rd St Louis. Seems like the route changes every year, and overall it's a nice course. A little hillier than you'd expect, though. Still need to kick the organization up a notch for the size of this race. Not enough port-a-potties throughout; water stops are lacking, especially early; need a gel stop earlier in the race; no clocks at any mile markers. Finish area was very good, however. Overall a good race in a good city, but the organization needs to improve to keep interest and numbers up. | |
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M. M. from Oak Park, IL
(4/16/2005)
 "great race" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Being from the flat midwest, the hill were a bit of a challenge. I thought the police and volunteers did a great job for the runners. The mile markers were a bit hard to see, but a great race overall. | |
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R. F. from Arkansas
(4/15/2005)
 "Improving & almost a very good marathon" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 GO! St. Louis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I enjoyed the course; the hills weren't bad at all. The race is similar to the Cowtown in Ft. Worth - small hills, half marathon makes up 75% of starting line crowd, confusion & not enough liquids or volunteers at the early water stops (although they tried hard & were very apologetic), and the half runners split away at the 9 1/2 mile mark. After mile 9, things got better. Good support and frequent crowd support throughout the university areas, Clayton, and the relay stations. Traffic control was great. Volunteers very supportive. The refreshments at the finish area were plentiful & good. Race photographers were at several locations. Using the art sculptures for mile markers was neat and gave you something to look forward to, but I missed a couple of the early ones due to the large crowd of runners. The start/finish area is located conveniently downtown near motels & the metro rail. I enjoyed watching the Cards and Philly play the day before. A couple of improvements could make the Spirit of St Louis a VERY good marathon. 1. Increase the amount of fluids, volunteers, and tables at the early aid stations; and utilize both sides of the road if necessary. With more than 6,000 runners at the starting line, and the race growing, you need to be prepared for even more next year, especially if you continue to allow race entry as late as the day before (which I took advantage of - thank you). 2. I love the marathon course, BUT, with the massive pack of runners heading west on Market, and the leaders of the half running east toward the finish line; there is a 2-mile section that has some very fast runners having to zig zag their way through thousands of us slower folk. I don't see how any of them could get to their aid stations from the center lane of Market to the north side of the street for the aid stations. Perhaps have a different route for the last 3 miles of the half, or have barrier type seperation between the eastbound and westbound runners on Market St. I'll probably return to this one someday. | |
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S. K. from Seattle, WA
(4/15/2005)
 "Nice race, but will only run it once" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 GO! St. Louis Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Liked the location of the host hotel relative to the start line. Organization was below average, not enough sani-cans at the start, hundreds of people in line when the gun when off (I was 9 minutes late) and was in line for 45 minutes before the race. For a small race, too congested with walkers, 1/2 marathon and marathon. Loved the hilly course, and the water stations were plenty, with ample supplies, particularly from mile 13 thru 26. Few people on the course to cheer - finishers area was very good, the announcer at the finish line was real fun! I had a good time, just wouldn't be dying to go back for this race. | |
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R. m. from Olathe, KS
(4/14/2005)
"Fantastic Race" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 GO! St. Louis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I love the mile markers with the art sculpture, I thought it was really neat. I love the scenic course, going through Forest Park was really beautiful. The weather was great for the people that finish under 3.5 hours, I finish in around 4 hours, and it got really warm at around 10:30am. Since the marathon was small enough, I wish they gave the option for the runners to start at 6am. I bet I will have done much better starting at 6am instead of 7am. The water stops were sufficient, however, I wish they had carb gels earlier in the race, I think I got one around mile 20. Next time, I know to take my own carb gels. The medals were very nice, and the food after the race was also good. The course was pretty much rolling hills, I thought it was great! I will run it again, please do not change the course to be flatter, I think it was perfect. In addition, maybe if the race was earlier the traffic would have been lighter. I saw many cars passing really close to the runners, even though the police officers were nice enough to come out and direct traffic. | |
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k. f. from Germantown, Tennessee
(4/14/2005)
"Perfect Day Wonderful City Fun Race" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 GO! St. Louis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Ran out of race packets. I'm a new racer so maybe I just didn't get it with the art but I could have used a few more obvious mile markers. I was shocked at how much of the race was uphill - I'm still recovering. But I will definitely come back next year. | |
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E. F. from IL
(4/13/2005)
"Confusing" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 GO! St. Louis Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 First off, I was 2 min from my PR so I am very happy about that, the weather was great although a little warm for me, 82 at the finish. The water stops for the first 2-8 miles are total mess, there are two tables each for Gatorade and water. That's not bad, but they were not marked. We came to one that had about 100 cups on the table but not one with water. We ran around to the Gatorade table and stole their water and brought it to the table. The volunteers are trying their best and it's not there fault; maybe next year they should get a few more people to help at the early stops. The mile markers were an art form type thing and it was very easy to miss them. Traffic control was very good, spectators were sparse except for were you would think they should be. The Adam's Mark Hotel would not give us a late checkout but they did allow us to leave our bags there and come back and take a shower up stairs by the pool. Don't be fooled by the elevation chart (I came from IL, which is as flat as can be)m but those 'little' hills from 20 to the end are draining to say the least. The people in St. Louis are great, the city is clean, the view is spectacular. Even though I didn't give this race two thumbs up it is a good time none the less, take in a Cards game and go up to the Arch. | |
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D. H. from Pennsylvania
(4/13/2005)
"A few tweaks and it will be excellent." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 GO! St. Louis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 High points: Nice expo for this size race; interesting, varied course - not easy, but not unfair, with excellent traffic control; very good after-race amenities; pace teams; good number of johns on the course. Needs work: not enough johns at the start, and the lines backed directly into the starting area! Mile markers were tough to spot, and a few of us missed 24 entirely; no elevation profile on the large course map at the expo; I still haven't decided if I liked the half-marathoners starting with the full marathoners, because the first three miles were a bit crowded. If this practice is continued, at least put up some signs to help the runners stage properly at the starting line, with the minute-per-mile pace you should run if you line up at that sign. | |
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D. D. from USA
(4/13/2005)
"So-so" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 2 GO! St. Louis Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 As much as I love my town, St. Louis, I have to be honest and say this was one of the worse half marathons I've ever run. The weather was warm which made the water stations very important. When we were at 2 or 3 of them, there was no water. We had to stand with an empty cup and wait for them to fill! The markers were not easily seen on the course and the course is pretty hilly. Not hardly any spectators which tells me there needs to be an incentive for people to come out and watch. Maybe a 26.3 curb crew recognition similar to what Chicago does? I've very proud we have this race and I wish they could just get it together a little more. |
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