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Myrtle Beach Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Myrtle Beach Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.2 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.3 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.6 
 
 
Number of comments: 318 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 12 13 14 15 16 .. 32 > ]

 

S. H. from Cary, North Carolina (3/2/2008)
"An Excellent Early Season Marathon" (about: 2008)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This race was terrific, beginning with the organization and volunteers, and including the course and weather. All in all, I was very pleased with the event. It appeared that the feedback from the 10th anniversary race was taken and mile split flags were better positioned this time. I was a little disappointed in not seeing more of the digital clocks that were to be placed every two miles - they may have been there but hidden a bit. It would also be nice to have different race starts for half and full racers. The roads in the early miles were very crowded and difficult to maneuver. I will most likely come back to run this one again. My only real gripe was the choice of technical fabric for the race shirt - it was, as my daughter and wife said, "Not a pretty sight!" Overall, terrific event for all levels of racing.
 

R. K. from Texas (2/28/2008)
"Nicely done" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


This was my 27th marathon. I thought everything was nicely done. The one suggestion I have for improvement is to have more tables at the refreshment points so the volunteers can spread out more. Things were really congested in the first 13 miles.
 

T. P. from Whitewater, Wis. (2/27/2008)
"Awesome Marathon!" (about: 2008)

3 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


It was a awesome marathon experience! I will definitely come back again. I was so glad I wore the red Wisconsin shirt; there were so many Wisconsin snowbirds among the spectators who cheered me on heartily! I thought the packet pick up area was a little chaotic. Perhaps it was because so many waited until late Friday afternoon or evening, when the pick-up was available as early as Thursday evening. If so, I recommend picking up your packet as early as possible, especially if you don't know Myrtle Beach very well. I wish to especially commend Microtel Inn for being such an awesome host hotel. They have a bit of a disadvantage of being a little farther away than the other hotels. The staff all did their homework and were extremely helpful with everything I needed to know. I arrived in town much later than I planned and was quite lost. It was my first time in Myrtle Beach, and the hotel staff saved the day for me. It was also great chatting with marathoners from all over in the hotel lobby! Keep up the good work everyone at Microtel Inn!
 

F. M. from Paris, TN (2/24/2008)
"A Great Memory" (about: 2008)

1 previous marathon | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was my first marathon. The police and volunteers were great. It was beautiful going along the ocean. Just a little concern: not enough porta-potties around miles 6-10 (at least I couldn't see them). There was no food and no beer by the time I finished (I was pretty slow), but overall that could not take away from a wonderful experience.
 

T. H. from Georgetown, KY (2/23/2008)
"Flat course, friendly volunteers" (about: 2008)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was my fifth marathon and my first time running MB. The weather was great for a mini vacation and the rates were reasonable. I found the expo well organized and informative. I asked a volunteer about parking for the race and he was very helpful.

The volunteers were very friendly and encouraging during the race. The Sun News,the local paper, had several fun and informative articles about the race during our stay.

I hope to make a return to the MB Marathon in 2009 and would recommend it to other runners.
 

Scot Gordon from Bath,Pa (2/21/2008)
"Very good organization" (about: 2008)

First Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was my first MB Half-Marathon. I have run several half marathons before and this was the best. The organization from the entire race committee to all the excellent volunteers, police, etc. was suberb. There was plenty of free parking very close to the start line at Broadway at the Beach. The views along the course of the Atlantic Ocean provided a great diversion. The crowd support was good, but sparse at some locations.
 

M. F. from Rock Vegas, NC (2/20/2008)
"Well Organized and Fast" (about: 2008)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


I really enjoyed the Myrtle Beach Marathon. As with every race, it has highs and lows, so here is my feedback:

The Good:
- Beer at the expo is always a plus!
- Lots of options to carbo-load the night before. Lots of hotel options as well.
- Parking is close and easy. No need for shuttles, or baggage check.
- Plenty of potties! I was shocked to have no wait 25 minutes before the start.
- Volunteers were fantastic. Everyone was friendly. Even the people sitting at an intersection by themselves kept cheering.
- Very fast course, with more spectators than I expected.
- I actually liked the relay (which is gone in 2009). It gave you spots on the course where you knew fans would be located.
- Beer at the finish is always a plus!

The Okay:
- At the expo you went to one room to get your number, and another to get the number, and another to get the shirt....
- The course is not very scenic. Miles 9-11.5 and 20-24.5 are on a busy 4-lane road that is coned off.
- The medal really was just kind of blah. Races seem to be improving medals now... but this was not one of them.
- For those who enter late, the race is pricey, especially considering the shirt, medal, and post-race area.

The Ugly:
- Snacks at the finish were okay, but after 26.2 miles, runners need more food. Spring for some pizza in 2009!
- The race shirt was horrible. A short-sleeve technical shirt with a zipper? Who thought that was a good idea?

All things considered, I really liked the race, and would recommend it. I ran a PR, so expect my opinion to be a little more on the sunny side.
 

K. S. from Goode, VA (2/19/2008)
"Very good race...all the way around" (about: 2008)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Myrtle Beach Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Overall, a very nice experience. Weather was perfect...cool temps with a partly cloudy sky. Spectators were more plentiful and vocal than last year...possibly the result of the much more comfortable weather than last year's 20 degree temps at the start. Once again, the volunteers were an absolute pleasure to deal with - from packet pickup to the finish line you are continually greeted with a smile and a friendly face. It is especially neat because most of the volunteers tend to be older folks but they obviously enjoy being out there assisting the runners. On the negative side, the tech shirt was fairly nondescript and resembled a golf/polo shirt more so than a shirt a runner would actually wear to run or train in. A BIG drop-off from the NICE shirts offered last year. Maybe that was because last year was the 10th anniversary of the race? The medal was okay - just gold - with the marathoner's medal being larger than the half-marathon. The expo was decent - about what you would expect at a race this size. Very well organized for an event that offers so much - 5K, half and full marathons, and multiple bicycle ride distances.
 

S. C. from USA - NC (2/19/2008)
"Great, Flat Course for a PR" (about: 2008)

1 previous marathon | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


This was the first time I ran the half at Myrtle Beach. By far it's the flattest course I've ever run. Well organized and well marked. The only thing I would have like to have seen but didn't was Gu/gel. Running the 1/2, it was not as big of a deal not having them, but would have been for the full. I normally have them with me anyway, but forgot this time. I still set a PR.
 

e. b. from west bloomfield, michigan (2/19/2008)
"A great destination race." (about: 2008)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 5


This race is in a very family friendly town offering activities, events and nice (smaller distance) runs for children and teens. My sons ran the 5K and received really nice (tech) shirts and medals. I ran the marathon and found the course interesting and full of enthusiastic spectators. Course support was good. The start was early but not early enough to catch sunrise over the ocean. It was the flattest course possible, without even a little incline. The crowded start really was not a problem because it opened up quickly. Only gun times were recorded so I was glad to know my chip time per my watch. The finish lacked any real food except bagels and cereal but there was some good micro brew to quench thirst besides water. The expo was nice but registration somewhat disorganized. One line for my bib, another line in another room to get my chip then yet another room to pick up my shirt - nice shirt though. Great job having traffic stopped and safety issues addressed. I found it funny that 3 green shirt race volunteers could not tell me where the finish for the 5K was.

One very BIG PROBLEM: I stood at the shuttle bus stop at 5:45 a.m. waiting and waiting. At 6:20 I was offered a ride to the start and made it there as the last notes of the national anthem were sung. The race had a 6:30 a.m. start and shuttle buses to the start were promised with departures up to 6:15 a.m. They never came!
 

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