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Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon) Runner Comments
Back to Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon) Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 147 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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R. B. from Kansas City, MO
(5/23/2005)
"Third time is a charm" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was the third year and the third new course for this event. This point-to-point route was (for the most part) flat, but there are a couple inclines that will challenge you. Be prepared for no shade from the Kansas heat until you get to mile 23. Great water stops and volunteers are very supportive. All finishers this year were given a beautiful medallion that should cause embarrassment to what is given at another marathon with a larger participation in this area. The race finishes with a slight ascent, but there is a great descent before this to get your momentum. Great finish line venue located in downtown Olathe with lots of food and drink. You will not be upset if you give this event a try. | |
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M. L. from Kansas
(5/23/2005)
"Getting Better, But a Ways to Go" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)s
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I have run this marathon twice now, and while the course this year was improved, the heat was again a factor. The race either needs to start an hour or a month earlier. There was little shade on course, GU not placed where advertised, and there were some problems with transportation to the 15K, all of which add up to a marathon with growing pains. The cultural highlight of the city would seem to be its mall, and the course is run on either country roads or around heavily-traveled highways. I don't sense a lot of interest in the community itself by the number of spectators. Were it not for the relay teams, there would have been far fewer people on the course. The biggest problem is heat: either start the race at 6 - not 7 - or reschedule for April sometime. | |
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Jeff Bohlken from Olathe KS
(8/10/2004)
"Good race, getting better" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)s
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was the 2nd time I ran this race. There were some things that really improved. It was flatter than last year. The start had fireworks and a cannon. I have now run 4 marathons and not seen that before. I loved the shaded paved trails, away from the traffic and a cooler area. There was a nice out and back along a lake that was nice senic run. Lots of parking at the finish, we didn't have far to go to get to the car after the race. I plan to run this one again. | |
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Let Down from Missouri
(6/14/2004)
"Disappointed" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 No bibs, ran out of shirts, late start, ran out of finisher's medals. Other than that, it was okay. | |
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J. D. from St. Charles, MO
(6/7/2004)
"Thank You, Olathe" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Besides the heat and the sparse crowd, this marathon was excellent. The course wound around the city through residential areas and through a very welcome shaded park. My most vivid memory was when I had finished and sitting on a chair and a woman that I did not know, came up to me and brought me a drink and an orange - exactly what was needed. One suggestion is to start the marathon either at 6 or 6:30 to avoid the heat somewhat or move the marathon to early May or late April. The hills were a bit more than expected, but not terrible. | |
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M. S. from Olathe, Kansas
(6/7/2004)
"Hot and long" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Course was not as flat as published although the trail was flat. Hills were mainly normal residential type hills but certainly the hills were not just on the overpasses as they described in the brochure. They ran out of water at mile 6 and I got there at the 1:01 mark. There were a lot of people behind me too. It was the closest water stop to the 15k turn-around and that may have been the reason they miscalculated how much water to have out but with the water stops only at every other mile, it was too hot and too long to go from 4-8 miles without water. For a race at this time of year they should have water at every mile which would be easy because for the most part it's an out and back course. Although volunteers were great with lots of encouragement and music, there were hardly any spectators to cheer you on unless your family was there. Police officers were great. Sometimes as many as 3 in each intersection. | |
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Mark Dingmon from Lenexa, Kansas
(6/1/2004)
"Pylons, Pylons and more Pylons" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This course is very well marked, taking a wrong turn or getting lost should not be a concern to anyone who runs this event. Miles and miles of pylons to assure the safety of the runners, mile markers clearly posted at every mile, and plenty of volunteers to assure that runners are going in the appropriate direction, Olathe PD did an excellent job of providing traffic control. Spectator support was sparse but of those who were present were very vocal and supportive. Aid stations were well organized, and the aid station volunteers were vocally supportive to the runners, I was especially impressed with the volunteers at the finish line, they were very accommodating, and attentive to any potential needs, and several volunteers shook my hand and congratulated me as I passed through the line. I was quite taken back by all the attention at the finish line. Overall this was a well organized event, I would like to commend the race director and the volunteers who worked hard to provide an organized and safe event for the runners. PS...Prior to the start of the race the National Anthem of Japan was performed (in addition to the American National Anthem) in honor of a participant who had traveled from Japan to compete in the Olathe Marathon... A very classy gesture. Again, thanks to all who participated in this event. | |
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S. G. from Leawood, KS
(6/1/2004)
"Very well organized small marathon." (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my sixth marathon and the most organized I've been in. The aid stations were manned by energetic volunteers serving ice-cold water and Gatorade (plus fruit and GU at several stops). Miles were clearly marked and the course was easily accessible for family and friends. The trail portion of the course is a nice change from most marathons. The traffic control was tremendous. If the run took place a month earlier, it would be a treat (it was 78 degrees when I finished). | |
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Curt Schwartz from St. Louis, Missouri
(6/1/2004)
"Twisty course but a lot of fun...." (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Garmin Marathon (prev. Oz Marathon)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The race was a little more hilly than the description that I had heard (flat & fast), however, the changing terrain made for a fun and interesting race. From 2 lane roads, to 4 lane roads, to bike trails. The spectator morale was great and helped to push me to finish. The only thing that bothered me was the fact that they lumped myself, a wheelchair racer, in with the handcyclists. The handcyclists have an advantage in that their chair has 27 gears, where as my chair only has 1 gear... me! I would suggest that the organizers split up these two different chairs because of this disadvantage/advantage and to make it more fair. | |
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B. C. from Lee's Summit, MO
(1/6/2004)
"Great race, fun to do, but needs more water" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I think the organization of this race was excellent as well as the course. It was flat and well protected by the city. My only gripe, and it's an important one, is that there wasn't enough water in the last leg of the race. From about 18 miles on I really needed fluid, but they spaced the stations too far apart. That's the easy one to fix. The other points are more important and I'd still recommend this race highly. |
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