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Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.5 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 347 [displaying comments 261 to 271]
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K. R. from Las Vegas Nevada
(10/24/2006)
"Great race- could use more water around lake" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my very first marathon and I thought it was a fantastic race overall. The course was beautiful, hilly and challenging. I thought the people of SF were very supportive, although there were a few spots with little or no spectactors - especially around the lake. The lake comes at a crucial point in the race (mile 20-23 I think) and there was no water for much of it. We also ran alongside traffic. It was hard to stay motivated and feel good at this point with no water and no fans. Other than that - this race was very well organized and a great first time experience! | |
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J. H. from Kansas City, MO
(10/24/2006)
"My experience" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 This is definitley a hilly course, I probably underestimated the course...but was still able to PR due to hill training, a must for anyone that considers running this. There were a ton of porta-potties at the beginning and at the end, but they were very sporadic during the course. Water stops were well stocked, but they needed more considering that is was unusually warm and sunny for part of the course. I think there was a period in the course where there wasn't a water stops for almost 3 miles. I also thought it was a little odd to pass out chocolate on the course (caramel chocolate at that), away from any of the water stations. I can't imagine trying to swallow chocolate after running double digit miles with no water. The expo was hardly worth it, and way too compacted to support the amount of people going through. It was like trying to work your way through wall to wall people. The sign outside of Niketown with everybody's name on it was a nice tough though. The finish was laughable, the only thing I saw being passed out were jamba juice and luna bars. If they were passing out anything else (bread, fruit) it was not in a location that was easily accessible by runners. We had bought shuttle tickets ($10 for runners, $15 for spectators) to get back to the start area, the buses were probably about a mile away from the finish, and they didn't even check your tickets so we probably could have jumped on without having to pay almost $60 to transport everybody. Unless you have a car, this is probably the only transportation you will find at the end. I had some friends that tried to take a taxi, and it took them almost 45 min to flag down one cab, and the ones that couldn't fit in the cab walked a couple of miles before they were able to catch another cab. | |
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J. K. from San Francisco, CA
(10/24/2006)
"Nike goes all out!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Nike does a wonderful job of putting on a marathon. I think they've gone out of their way to make everyone feel special, which is important, because this event attracts a LOT of first-timers. I love this course, hills and all, and everything was very well-organized. They definitely improved on things from last year as well. My only complaint was that they should have two aid stations in the Lake Merced loop. 2.5 miles is too far to go without water, especially that late in the race! Overall though, this is a wonderful race, and I would definitely consider doing it again! | |
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s. f. from Portland, OR
(10/24/2006)
"Beautiful course, needs organization" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 Course is gorgeous. That is the only reason I'd do it again. Hills aren't bad if you train for them. Everything else was poor. Should have more porta potties along the way. Finish food was irresponsible - bananas and one bottle of water. Sponsors also provide granola and broccoli (?! why would someone want broccoli after running!!). With a $90 entry fee, would be nice to have pretzels and/or cookies and electrolytes and more water at the finish. Friends could catch the bus to the finish only until 8:30 - meaning they would have to wait 3-4 hours for full marathon winners. Bus lines back to finish were horrible - maybe consider having a loop course in the future so buses wouldn't be required (I guess that means more hills, though) or end close to public transportation. Expo was a waste - just long lines for pedicures and massages (like I would've had to wait for over 200 people to get theirs before I could get one - and I was there pretty early), and Nike gear. Spectators were mainly TNT people, but they were great. I wasn't a TNT person, but got cheered on. | |
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K. H. from San Diego, CA
(10/24/2006)
"If you want jewelry, you must do hills" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my 2nd Marathon and I did both with TNT. While I loved the whole race weekend experience with TNT, I wont do this particular race again. I'm slow so I did the early start and missed all the prettiest parts of the course because it was dark. Plus, there were SPRINKLERS going off - and pointing right accross the course at one point. We had to go into the grass to get around them in the dark. The course itself was much harder than my first for a few reasons. First, the hills. Second, the course entertainment could have been better. They did have some music stations but they needed more, louder, and more upbeat music to pull you along. Third, the spectators were very sparse in some areas. The organizers could make it easier for spectators to get to the more deserted areas so that racers can feel the energy. It really makes a difference. Fourth, the lack of bathrooms was a problem. There was one place on the highway where there was the first bathroom we had seen in miles and it wasnt even a race port-a-potty, it was a permanent structure - and the women's side was LOCKED so we had to use the mens. The expo wasnt even really an expo. They told us about the free massages & manicures, but you had to take a number and come back a few hours later to see if it was your turn yet. And if you missed it, you lost your place. How hard would it be to have more than 6 manicurists there to service 15,000 women and give us a TIME to come back rather than a number? Of course Nike won't invite any competitor to their expo, but they really could have had more vendors there. Jamba Juice and Cliff Bar were the only ones. That's just not an expo. I LOVE the necklace. I like the idea of a women's Marathon, but what DO the men do with their shirts and necklaces? It's fine that they let them run with us (some women had their husbands or brothers run with them), but have something they'll actually use as their reward for such an accomplishment. | |
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p. c. from Greenwich, CT
(10/24/2006)
"Worth it for the views...." (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I did the Half through Team in Training which is the best experience for any novice racer. However for doing numerous other events, here are my comments: 1)Walkers & slow paced folks must be separated at the start. Very unorganized and lots of walkers in the way in the first few miles. 2)water stations at mile 3 didn't have cups filled and ready 3)More free food has to be available at the finish line than yogurt with granola, jamba juice and broccoli salad. That doesnt cut it for full marathoners. TNT, however, had a great spread. 4)Expo is horrible for a first timer. One of the great things about big expos is you get to see what the running world offers for accessories and gadgets. Nike had one little table on the 5th floor you could buy your bodyglide at. 5)Nike website didn't post the finishing times for days 6)though hilly, course was beautiful. Downtown to Embarcadero, see the fog at the Golden Gate bridge, run up a hill for a mile into the fog, end up at the beach. 7)great finishers necklace and shirt. Felt bad for the men to get these. | |
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Cynthia Gugg from Bay Area, California
(10/24/2006)
"Scenic, challenging, but needs improvement" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The course is very scenic - gotta love SF. The hills can be a challenge, but I trained for them - just be very prepared. The aid stations didn't have anything to wrap my leg (I got injured) - at mile 17 they did nothing more than offer ice, but at 20 there was a doctor who tried to stretch it out for me. Tape or bandages might have helped. The Expo was worthless and not organized. Lots of port-a-potties along the course and I liked the staggered start (too many races are way too crowded to run the first mile). Like some others, I was not part of TNT and didn't get the usual cheers from spectators making much of it very lonely. Some of them would run into the race to see their TNT runner while stopping right in front of me! I was disappointed with the Tiffany necklace at first because it looked like it needed a picture of a Saint and request for charity donation, but it's growing on me. Didn't like that the 1/2 marathon & full marathon shirts were the same (slightly different wording) and we received the same necklace. I do appreciate the accomplishments of the 1/2 marathon runners (any runner for that matter), but it is in no way near the same as running a full marathon. As for next year? If Nike Women's 'Marathon' doesn't reward the 26.2 better, why bother with the full. There are better marathons. For a fraction of the training and half the race distance I can still get the same Tiffany prize and shirt. | |
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Teresa Chavira from El Paso Texas
(10/24/2006)
"This race was great, with a wonderful view" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a great race for women, and it was very inspirational; I like that it is a women's race. The t-shirts were great at the finish. The only problem: I was looking for more souvenirs to take home (men's and children's shirts). I would like to add that the walkers need to stay to the right, and need to be instructed of the "rules" before the race. But overall it was great!!!! | |
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T. R. from United States
(10/24/2006)
"Spectacular Views" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first full marathon and I could not have asked for a finer city to run through. The sometimes-thick fog along the course provided a cool mist for running and the sights were fantastic. The hills were a welcome challenge and nothing like I had imagined. I'll be back for more. | |
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A. S. from Tacoma, WA
(10/24/2006)
"Good, but 4th year could be great!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Nike 26.2 = Nike Women's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 San Fran was my 6th marathon. I think for a fairly new marathon the organizers did ok. To make better: COURSE - more toilets earlier in the course, especially first 6 miles where jitters/coffee/etc are hitting. Later many people are dehydrated and don't need toilets. If you give Clif shots, have water to wash down! Open up the full lanes of blocked streets. Many streets were blocked off going one way, yet for that direction cones were placed to hold runners into just half of the blocked road. Why??? Pull the chocolate and animal cracker samples to after the race. Hardly anyone I saw was taking this food b/c it's too hard to eat while running. Excellent job on the water/Gatorade stations - plenty of workers and cups. Wonderful. The course was beautiful - one of the most scenic I have run. Loved that part!!!!! Comment from my support people - DJ/Announcer at the finish line (male one announcing around 4:15 -4:45 finishers) was offensive w/ sexist comments, especially not fitting with Nike's views on strong, women. Not cool at all. EXPO - terrible. I know Nike was the sponser, but could there at least be a few other companies giving away samples and info? I rely on the expo to buy gels, get info on other races, etc...EXPO gets 1 star only. MERCHANDISE - Nike women's sizes are ridiculous. I am a fit, NORMAL weight woman and the XL size shirt is too small for me. I saw a lot of larger women on the course and fill bad for them b/c I know they could not wear their finishers shirt. Get REAListic Nike and design for REAL women, not stick figures. |
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