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Jul 4, 2024

Philadelphia Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.3

Organization 3.6

Spectators 3.8

Number of comments: 749 [displaying comments 111 to 121]

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J. S. from Washington, DC (6/19/2011) "Great first race" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Philadelphia Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon, and I don't know if I could top the experience. I ran fast thanks to the pace leaders, gummi bears, and really weird supporters at mile 10. This marathon really loses some steam after the half mark due to many runners pealing off to finish. Manyunk (?) was a prime neighborhood because of the large crowds, rocky music, and the 'thank god I'm getting close to finishing' turnaround. Speaking of the finish, this is epic. You come running down a boulevard flanked with flags and thousands of spectators. The finish line food was lacking, but I guess Philadelphians like their broth and pretzels, so who am I to complain. Solid race, good course, mos def do it again.
J. S. from Washington, DC (3/19/2011) "Great first race" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Philadelphia Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Affordable, scenic (city and neighborhoods), and relatively quick course made this a fun first race to run. It does have its share of gentle rolling hills, but with so many families and spectators out cheering and handing out gummy bears/brownies, it's well worth it
Lucas Heart from Wausau, WI (3/19/2011) "Big-city race with the usual issues" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Philadelphia Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 My 14th marathon and my current PR. The expo was really run. I tried to run with Bart Yasso the day before the race (as part of a Runner's World promotion); that was a bit of a bust. Pre-race organization didn't seem that good. Starting corrals were poorly labeled. Waves started a bit back from the actual start line, but when we began, we had to weave through people who were just wandering around in between the two areas (I assume it was limbo for runners - make sure you train or you'll be wandering aimlessly in Philly). The course was pretty good and the fans were also okay. Post-race massage gets a thank you from me. Post race food was pretty much lame. And, the race website was down for a long, long time after the race so results were not immediately available. I expect a certain amount of polish in a big city race, but it seems that many of them have these types of issues. Still, I'm glad I did it.
D. G. from Cornwall, UK (3/8/2011) "brotherly" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Philadelphia Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my 12th marathon and I'm coming back, hopefully, for 2011. The expo was easy to reach in the town center, but you will need to book a table for dinner the night before as there were literally thousands of us looking for a restaurant on Saturday night. We ran past all of the best sights and got an early morning support from the gay contingency on South Street in the first quarter. Mostly flat; but Philly is mostly flat anyway. The second half we went out into the leafy suburbs, which is normal for any large race, where the locals cheered us on and supplied us with food and beer! Great finish in front of the Rocky steps, and I got a high-five from the mayor as I approached the finish line. Great weekend and I recommend it to everyone. I do wish, however, that the corrals were better managed. The half-marathoners could have had an earlier or later start than the rest of us, like they do in Baltimore.
S. S. from Delaware (12/20/2010) "Thumbs up!" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Philadelphia Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I am relatively new to the marathon distance, so I don't have a whole lot to compare to. I have run a ton of races and many large ones... so my ratings are based a lot on that. Pros: Course was great; 90% of it either had city or river-view. Course was fast but not flat (10 minutes faster than my last 26.2 on a pancake-flat course). Lots of spectators most of the race, even along the river. Nice crowds for that last mile were a plus. Perfect temps as well. For a race this size, water and gel were pretty easy to get to. Cons: I hesitate even to use the word "corral"... start was a bit of a mess. Couldn't find the right color, ended up starting ahead of where I should have, but still somehow had walkers in front of me. Switchbacks... the main one in Manayunk was fine (running the flattest part twice was no issue); however, the two other turnarounds on MLK seemed unnecessary and I am sure a half-mile could be added elsewhere. Overall: Fun experience. I would recommend it to newbies, veterans, racers, and those just out to have fun.
T. H. from Arlington, VA (12/11/2010) "Good, fast course and a great race" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Philadelphia Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my second time running Philly, and I came back specifically because I was trying for a BQ and remembered it being flat and very, very cold. It is pretty flat, although there are 2-3 medium hills in the first half, and then a few very slight but long inclines on the back half that feel worse than they really are. And a small number of hairpin turns add to the challenge a bit. But it's fairly easy to find a groove and stick with it. Expo was well-managed, with no real lines despite the crowd. Overall organization was very good. And the course itself is good, especially the more interesting (and crowded) first half. The race bibs came with our names printed on them - a great idea that all race directors should adopt (makes it a lot easier for spectators to shout encouragement). The only real complaint I have is that the water stations were under-staffed. I was running with a big pace group and the volunteers just couldn't handle everyone coming through, so several times I skipped the water because otherwise I would've had to stop (and lose my pace group leader). Especially with the half-marathoners running alongside the full, it got very crowded at the water stops. Soft pretzels at the finish, which I ate so quickly I don't remember tasting them. Overall a really good race, one of the flatter big-city races (though not as flat as Chicago), and lots of friendly, vocal support. And I got my BQ by two minutes, thanks to our fantastic pace group leader....
J. S. from Philadelphia, PA (12/9/2010) "Run This Marathon" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Philadelphia Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Philly is a great marathon to run. There are several pros, and a few cons. PROS: -Philly is a great city to visit and tour around. -The course is diverse (downtown, South Philly, 2 rivers, Fairmount Park, and Manayunk) and relatively flat compared to other big-city marathons. Some did not like the out-and-back at Falls Bridge and MLK Jr. Drive, but I'll take that over Lemon Hill any day. (It's called Lemon "Hill" for a reason.) -The spectators are very enthusiastic and supportive. Great music, dancers, costumes, and signs that made me laugh out loud. -The expo is not overwhelmingly large, and is well-organized. The long-sleeve, technical shirt and drawstring fabric bag were a nice touch. -Friendly and supportive team of volunteers (thank you, volunteers!) -Convenient switch from D-tags to B-tags (it's 1 fewer thing to worry about on race morning). -Easy transportation to the start/finish area via SEPTA. -Quick and efficient bag-check at the UPS trucks. -Decent number of port-a-johns at the start/finish. -Good crowd control this time at the finish line. The barricades gave runners plenty of space near the finish. -Attractive finisher's medal. CONS: -The corrals are still a problem. The beginning and end of the color-coded corrals needed to be better delineated. The corrals should probably be better enforced, as well. My wave had trouble trying to get to the starting line because eager beaver runners trying to get ahead, or because of runners who were just confused about where to stand and were in the wrong corrals and blocking other waves from being able to move forward. Even though your time does not start until you cross the starting line, I think most runners still prefer to run with others who run at/about the same pace. That seems to be the whole point of the corral system. It might also be beneficial to leave more gaps between the metal barricades along the corrals because I witnessed several runners trying to get into their corrals by jumping over the railings. There should be an easier and safer way for runners to get into their corrals. -There was a slight mix-up with the e-mail race confirmation initially sent, but it was quickly remedied. -Volunteers are certainly necessary and appreciated; without them there'd be no race. But, perhaps the race directors could provide a general instruction to try to keep gloves and fingers out of the H20 and Gatorade when handing out cups to the runners. (A minor point, I know, but my pet peeve.) At mile 23 I might drink H20 and Gatorade from cups handed out by volunteers with a lint-balled glove, hangnail, or chewed fingernail inside the cup because I'm tired and thirsty. But, I'd rather not. I would recommend this marathon for runners at any level. No marathon is 100% perfect, but the race organizers and volunteers this time around came pretty close. Thanks to all who helped make this a great experience.
S. T. from Charlottesville, VA (12/5/2010) "Thank you, Philadelphia!" (about: 2010) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first full marathon, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Course was scenic and interesting, with gentle hills and descents. The first part of the race was inspirational, with historic monuments; the second part along the river was a bit boring, but equally beautiful with best part being crowd support in the town of Manayunk. Spectators were handing out cut bananas and oranges!!! The name on the bib was a nice personal touch and many spectators supported me by calling my first name and giving high-fives. Nice medal and food with live music at the end. This was first and an unforgettable experience - better than I could've imagined. I came with family on Friday night and enjoyed touring the city on Saturday. Hotel was located 1 mile from start/finish area and they allowed late checkout and offered complementary breakfast at 5 a.m. for runners. I was very appreciative of this. The only minor complaint is that starting corrals could be better marked. There was no confusion in separating half-marathoners and full marathoners at the 13-mile mark. Way to go, Philly; we will be back!
R. H. from Excelsior, MN (12/1/2010) "Just about everything comes together well here!" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Philadelphia Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 For my 148th marathon and third time around the 50 states, I had some second thoughts about yet another big-city marathon, but it was a really great experience. Easy to take the train into the city center and everything is right there, including the start/finish. Being from the Midwest, large Eastern cities tend to seem hard and impersonal, but NOT Philly! Everyone, from the people at the corner coffee shop to the spectators, was great (on a VERY cold day). Only complaint is the 70-99 age group awards cut off. Race officials, you are WAY out of date on that; 80-plus is the new 70-plus and many marathons are going beyond that to 85-plus! I am a race director myself and would never, ever offer a race without going to 85-plus... at least. The landscape is changing, folks!
M. N. from Syracuse, NY (11/29/2010) "Overall, a Fantastic Race" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Philadelphia Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 AMAZING RACE!! Easy, accessible expo with plenty of help. Didn't do the pasta dinner, so I have no comments there. The corrals on the day of the marathon could have been a little more identifiable. The first part of the course was AMAZING - great city tour of Philly. The second half was mostly out-and-back on one street, so that could use some changing, but not terrible. The SWAG was amazing - great shirt, runner bag and medal. FANTASTIC spectators.

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