Jul 2, 2024
Current Year Results
Results Search
Biggest/Best Boston Qualifier
2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2020 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results
2009 Results
2008 Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
☰
Philadelphia Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Philadelphia Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 3.8
Number of comments: 749 [displaying comments 671 to 681]
|
j. l. from new york
(1/1/2003)
 "My first marathon and worth the trip." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon. I think the race organizers did a good job. The pre-race pasta dinner was a great experience. The food was not that good but the atmosphere and the conversation were great. I learned alot from experienced runners and compared notes with first time marathoners. The course is beautiful. I finished in 3:57. | |
|
A Runner from New Orleans, LA
(12/11/2002)
 "Protestors mar otherwise beautiful day" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The course is beautiful with the changing leaves, and it's challenging but not too hilly. It's not the organizer's fault, but the anti-abortion protestors ruined the race for many people, and probably convinced plenty to become pro-choice. The pictures were bad enough, but you don't need someone yelling at you through a loud-speaker at mile 14 that you are a sinner who is going to hell. There is a difference between free speech and wrongful, spiteful cursing. | |
|
Brian from Frederick, MD
(12/8/2002)
"What can I say? My first marathon and I BQ'd!!!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I just entered the world of racing not much more than a year ago and was looking for a good 'Beginners' marathon. More people recommended this one to start with than all other marathons combined. Overall, I thank those people for helping me make a wise choice. I ran this race to fulfill my goal of qualifying for Boston, and qualify I did. I was forewarned about the out-and-back nature of the last 10 miles of the course as well as sporadic crowd support, insufficient Porta-Johns...even the anti-abortion protestors..and prepared myself accordingly. (Repeat Philly runners did tell me that both the spectators and Porta-Johns were out in greater numbers this year.) However, I was not aware of the measly post-race food offerings. (Dinner rolls chicken broth, and oranges that were not cut up--and not even plates, napkins or flatware to eat the stuff with? Give me a break!) Also, since they made a big deal about CarbBoom being the official gel of the Philadelphia Marathon, I assumed there would be at least one gel stop along the course. WRONG! While training, I even went 45 miles out of my way to purchase CarbBoom to use on my training runs. Luckily, a spectator offered me a CarbBoom around mile 14, but only probably because the runner he was cheering on never saw him. Basically, I ran Philly because I knew it was an easy course. I will most likely never run it again. There are so many other fish in the sea of marathons. | |
|
A Runner from Philadelphia PA
(12/4/2002)
 "A no hassles race" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Living in Philly made this race much easier to run than NYC. The earlier (8:30am) start is much kinder on energy levels than the 10:50am NYC start. The ?cannon? for 2002 was magnificent (it was the blasting of the Mill Creek housing complex). More Porta Potties at the start and a few along the route would be helpful. The course DOES do a pretty good job of touring Philly w/o crippling the city. It would be neat to run through the Italian Market though. Most people have no idea how much parkland IS in Philly. Thus the run through Fairmont Park in West Philly was a welcome diversion. It would be nice to have a food station on the course, next year I?ll have to plan better. As far as I could tell, the ?protest? was a ?public? protest and thus could not be ?stopped? by the Marathon promoters per se. The ?Rocky? boom box in West Philly was cool. I hear it?s an annual item. There are NOT many spectators ? at least compared to NYC. That has a bit to do with the timing (too early for the sections that run through the city), locations (its not really a spectator friendly course), logistics (the bulk of the course is NOT through residential areas), traffic needs (a true city course would cripple the city), type of runner (most runners at Philly are faster than the non BQ runners at other races) and other factors I cant think of right now. Overall, it?s a nice race and one id do again if I cant make the lottery draw for NYC. | |
|
A Runner from New Jersey
(12/4/2002)
"Decent-quality, low-key marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my third marathon, and a pretty good one at that. Everything was OK, but nothing outstanding. They certainly do a credible job of putting on a marathon. Course - Mostly flat. A few big hills around 9-12, and a couple of long but not steep inclines from 19-21. The race also ends with a 12-mile out and back, so be prepared to slug it out while the leaders are coming home. That just adds to the challenge. Overall, very nice. Organization - Good in certain areas and bad in others. Water tables are well-staffed and well-stocked with water and Gatorade, although spaced out too far in the first 10 (every 2.5), and there was none at the start. After 10 it's about every 2. No Carb Boom on the course, despite the fact they're the official gel. The start was messy. I lined up at the 8:00 corral. It took me two minutes to get to the starting line. Slower runners than me reached the start sooner. I liked the mats at 13.1, 14, and 20. Spectators - A lot early on in Center City and Penns Landing. Most were a bit subdued, though. None by the Drexel campus, which was a bit surprising. Miles 14-15 and 25-26.2 were lined with screaming fans. That was great. Manayunk at 19-21 was similar. Between them there were almost no spectators. Another mental challenge. Note on the abortion protesters: yeah, those pictures of aborted fetuses were pretty digusting to look at, and certainly out of place, but it's a public park. Not much the director could've done about them. The expo was pretty disorganized, but they had some good buys. Very nice T-shirt. Overall, though, a low-key, quality race. I'd definitely do it again. | |
|
A Runner from Philadelphia
(12/3/2002)
 "Beautiful day on a fast course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Highlights of this race for 2002 were the perfect weather and the fast, relatively flat and scenic course (about 9 miles through Center City to the zoo with the rest mostly in Fairmount Park, with a stretch on West River Drive and an out and back on Kelly Drive to Manayunk). Unfortunately, the park section of the course is not readily accessible to spectators. More generally, I think the City and the race organizers do not do enough to publicize this race locally. There might be more spectators if there was more pre-race publicity. If you need the cheering crowds, this race might not be for you. Otherwise, I think it's a great course with good volunteer support. As to the abortion protesters, you can't fault the race for someone choosing a totally inappropriate forum for free speech - after all, it is a public park. I did appreciate the efforts of the few people who made their way down to the opposite side of the street from the protesters to offer encouragement to the runners which helped me keep focused during the last few miles before the home stretch. I live here and I will run Philadelphia again, but I won't hestitate to explore other options for late fall marathons. | |
|
A Runner from philadelphia
(11/29/2002)
 "a great experience" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first ever marathon - I was registered for the Marine Corps but that whole sniper thing freaked me out so it was Philly instead. I'm so glad I did it. I had read the reviews on this site and knew to expect weak crowds, cobblestones, and run-outs at the food stations. I was pleasantly surprised. The crowd was great (excellent signs!) and while they weren't everywhere, they were where I needed them to be. Plus it is nice for the race to be quiet in areas - gives you time to reflect. The cobblestones weren't bad and I got Gatorade at every stop I think. My only complaints - the first loop at the beginning (kinda cheesy), we should have run through Penn's campus (biased - I'm a student there :), and the anti-abortion people were just awful. Also I could have used some solid food around the 20s. The hills in Manayunk and Fairmount Park were challenging. Thanks SO MUCH to the race volunteers (they were so cheery), everyone who came out to cheer (esp. those two old ladies with the jingle bells!), the drum guy, Santa, and that kind lady in Manayunk who gave me a cup of beer. All my friends love that story. I beat my goal time by a ton and beat 'the standard' (Oprah's MCM time of 4:29:20) so I'm really happy. See you next year in Philly! | |
|
A Runner from Nyack, New York
(11/28/2002)
"It was a stupendous event on a stupendous day!!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wow!! I did New York the year before, and was able to take 31 minutes off of that time. The course is very nice, the park is great, and mile 19-20 is pretty much up hill. The crowd was great for the last mile. Lastly, the Best Western on 22nd Street is three blocks away from the race. I definitely recommend it. Nothing fancy, but it's close, and they have a 2:00 P.M. checkout time for the race so I was able to have a beer and shower. | |
|
A Runner from Toronto
(11/28/2002)
"Wonderfully scenic in a delightful city" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon and my first trip to Philadelphia. I enjoyed both experiences equally. The course was challenging, picturesque and the weather couldn't have been better. The city is truly very interesting and we enjoyed learning more about the city and the signifcance it played in US history. My experience in running is relatively short with one other marathon and several halfs and 10K's. This was the first race for me outside Canada and we stand to learn a great deal about course design, crowd control and enthusiasm from this particular marathon. Compared to running in Canada, the crowds were terrific and really inspiring for me especially one young couple who positioned themselves directly in front of the person with the loudspeaker in an attempt to drown out the negativity of the ill-timed protest. Well done Philly! I am also a rower and have never seen such beautiful boathouses anywhere. Rowing in Philadelphia would be a real treat as well. | |
|
Rick Trout from Perkasie, Pa
(11/28/2002)
"Great Course, beautiful day, my first mara" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 For my first marathon I loved it. Even with back spasms at mile 18, I will take so many positve memories of this race. The course itself was what I expected because I run in the Philadelphia area. The area around Belmont Plateau is so beautiful. You get to see parts of historic Philly at the beginning and the Art Museum more than once. The anti-abortion folk upset me also. I was upset enough on Sunday night I fired off a letter to our local newspaper the Philadelphia Inquirer. It will be published. Next year.... yea baby, be there. Rick |
Quick Links
Marathon Search
Upcoming US Marathons
Upcoming International Marathons
Search Marathon Results
Latest Running News
Recent Newsletters
Race Director Tools
© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC
