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Georgia Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Georgia Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.1 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 459 [displaying comments 181 to 191]
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S. F. from Atlanta, Georgia
(4/5/2008)
"GREAT MARATHON... NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I am so glad I did this one and I would highly recommend the course for those wanting a challenge. If you are looking for an easy first marathon (or half for that matter), this would not be the one. For those of you who were asking about the end of the course: they had to move the end away from the Omni Hotel, which was hit by the tornado. They did not want broken glass to fall on the course, so they had to make up a small area at the end. While it was a legitimate excuse, it was still a horrible ending! Here are my quick thoughts on this one: PROS: 1) Lots of water/Gu/Gatorade along the route. 2) Many different neighborhoods to go through and not boring. 3) The spectators were excellent. There were many people along the route. I never felt like I was alone on the course. 4) It was a very challenging course (which will also be a con below). CONS: 1) The start of the race was horrible. We were supposed to be in corrals but you could not find your way to a corral because people were so packed into the street. 2) Holy hills, Batman! I am a hill trainer from Atlanta but the last four miles were brutal. The first half of the course was much easier. Bank your miles early so you can get through the last few miles. Once you hit Piedmont Park, you are entering what I consider to be the worst part of the course (and there are four miles to go). | |
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J. R. from Atlanta, GA
(4/5/2008)
"Not recommended for marathoners running sub 3:20" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 The problem with the course is the marathon joins back up with the half marathon course around mile 21. For the last 5 miles you have to zig-zag your way around many of the half marathoners still on the course. Volunteers are constantly telling the half marathoners to move out of the way for the marathoners. Don't recommend for sub-3:20 marathoners!!! | |
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J. L. from Toronto, Canada
(4/5/2008)
"Turn Right... Hill... Turn Left... Hill" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I truly enjoyed the challenging course. Marathons weren't meant to be easy and this definitely fits the bill. Just remember... what goes up, must come down, and so there were some nice downhills that you could coast on. My only complaint with the course was the last mile snaked through a bit of a sketchy part of town. Is there a more grand way of coming back into the city? Crowds were decent (gotta love the dudes who tapped the keg). The weather was great and the water stations were well stocked. It was pretty neat finishing at Centennial Olympic Park. Thanks for a great race! | |
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M. G. from Metro Atlanta Area
(4/4/2008)
"Second time was a charm!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Georgia Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This years ING Georgia Marathon was much better than last year! I KNEW Atlanta could do better sponsoring a major marathon!!! Wish List: 1. REGAIN the confidence of full marathoners across the world to come back and support this race!!! 2. Timing clocks out on the course. Good Job On: 1. I am glad race organizers were able quickly to change the start/finish lines and re-certify the course without having to cancel the race due to the tornado damage. 2. Having corrals this year and the waved start helped spread the crowd of runners through the course. 3. PLENTY of water and Gatorade stops this year. The tables were many and on BOTH sides of the street. There were plenty of enthusiastic volunteers eager to serve the runners. Thank you! 4. Having enough porta-potties on the course. 5. Marking potholes and road hazards with orange spray paint on the roads. 6. Having snacks and drinks left over for the marathoners. Needs Improvement On: 1. The expo was much better last year. There seemed to be more vendors with more samples/give-a-ways. Maybe some of the vendors pulled out due to the last-minute change in venue? 2. Enable runner tracking starting at the expo or sooner. Race day was too late in some cases. 3. There was still some confusion at the race start. More volunteers to direct runners into the corrals and verify runners are in the assigned corrals would be helpful. 4. At the start, place the signs higher for runners to see. 5. Visible mile markers. 6. Media coverage. 7. Parking recommendations for those who want to drive. | |
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D. H. from Alpharetta, GA
(4/4/2008)
"Exceeded my expectations" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and it exceeded my expectations in almost every way. The course went through one beautiful neighborhood after another with no boring stretches. Water, Gatorade and gels were plentiful and the people at the water stations and cheer zones were enthusiastic. The course is hilly, but reasonable. The organizers did a great job with last-minute adjustments due to the tornado damage in the start/finish area - with only minor inconvenience to the runners. I will definitely run this again. | |
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J. G. from Marietta, GA
(4/4/2008)
"Definite improvement over 2007" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Georgia Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Ran this marathon last year as well and must say, 2008 was significantly better in terms of planning and logistics. I liked this route better, but the hills definitely get your attention. Really would like to see a few more goodies in the bag, such as a hat.... I'll be back for more in '09. | |
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L. K. from Atlanta, GA
(4/4/2008)
"Good, but still room to improve" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 While this was my first marathon, I have run a number of 5Ks, 10Ks and half-marathons, and think I can still add some helpful comments. The Good: 1. The weather. 2. The scenic course. 3. The many water and Gatorade stations. 4. The volunteers. 5. The medal and t-shirt designs. The Bad: 1. Hard to see mile markers (very frustrating, esp. miles 24 and 25, though maybe in part due to my mental state at the time). 2. Difficult to get to the correct coral at the start with all of the barricades. 3. The hills. There may be no way around hills in Atlanta, but don't place the longest, biggest incline in the last 3-4 miles of the race. 4. The crowds. I understand that it was improved from last year. But try some more things to promote crowds (live music, etc). | |
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W. M. from Atlanta
(4/4/2008)
"Much improved" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Georgia Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the 1/2 both years and it was obvious that most of the issues from last year were resolved. There are still some areas for improvement (starting corrals, for example) but they were minor compared to last year. As others have said, the course is certainly challenging. I don't know how they managed it, but this year's course, I thought, was hillier than last year's; you definitely want to be prepared for that. Personally, I really enjoyed the finish! Granted, it didn't allow for the final "sprint" to the finish line, but I liked the feel of being in a chute of spectators to the end. Let me add for all those that didn't like it, please remember that they had to make a last-minute change to the start/finish to accommodate for the storm damage. Which reminds me: Kudos to Atlanta for having the course race-day ready! All in all, a great race that I will do again and would absolutely recommend. | |
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t. s. from Tulsa, Oklahoma
(4/4/2008)
"A challenge from the beginning" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Georgia Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was going to be the last marathon I run for a few years and what a way to go out. A very demanding course with many uphill grades, but always with a downhill to follow. If someone looked only at the elevation charts, they would have been scared off. Fluid stations were everywhere, and from last year's comments, something the race worked hard to improve. The spectators came out in good numbers, considering the weather. Being from a cooler climate, I enjoyed the temps for running, but watching may be another story. Agnes Scott College, thank you. I wish you guys were stationed after the climb from Piedmont Park! If you are looking for a challenge, consider Atlanta ING in 2009. | |
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Erin Collins from Cumming, GA
(4/3/2008)
"Great Improvements; Great Race" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Georgia Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 What a difference a year makes. I ran this race last year and I loved the improvements. Great weather and ample water stations. I had no problem seeing each and every mile marker. The spectators were great and I loved the themed/sponsored water stations - also a big improvement over last year. The course was hilly, but I knew that already and had trained for it. I didn't think the end was any more hilly than the beginning. Maybe it just seem that way at mile 20. I actually got my PR! This was my 7th marathon and every marathon I have run had the half marathoners finishing with the marathoners. The chute was a bit narrow. My only complaint: the race was a little long, according to my GPS, as well as others' Garmins; but hey, I'm not there to win the race, just have a great time. Thanks for a great race, ING! I'll definitely be back. |
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