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Austin Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Austin Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 4.0 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 421 [displaying comments 261 to 271]
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l. r. from The Great State of Texas
(2/20/2006)
"On a cool day, this is a PR course" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Austin Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was cold ths year! Bear that in mind. The roads were icy, there were some wrecks, and so the race organizers delayed the start by 30 minutes. The good news is there was a warm place to wait, inside the Freescale building. The expo was quite good, with the usual national companies, plus some local Texas outfits. Very organized, and it was possible to get in and out quickly. Lots of food samples, which I like - especially the bread. The staging of the race was good, too, despite the weather and related chaos. I took a cab in, arriving at 5:45. No traffic then, no need to worry about shuttles or parking. Runners could wait inside, as mentioned, and stay warm. This race does have a problem with people arriving late. There has been a big traffic jam for those coming close to the gun time, even without the ice. So be aware. The course is not too exciting until the 11-12 mile mark. Lots of running on access roads past office buildings. Then it gets a little funkier and runners see neighborhoods and odd shops, UT and the state capitol. But it is a fast course. Mostly gentle descents; the only really noticeable rise (not even a hill) comes at mile 24 or so. The volunteers were outstanding. It was a cold, cold day by Texas standards, but still there was plenty of water and sports drink and support on the course. Some of the bands were absent I think, but there were a decent number of musicians out. My favorite was a little girl with a violin playing Ode to Joy over and over. Finish line was also well organized and staffed. Is there another race that gives you Frito Pie at the end? | |
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r. s. from texas
(2/20/2006)
"Excellent Marathon - Very FAST & Friendly" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Austin Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I strongly recommend the Austin Marathon. It was as good as it gets, and VERY FAST! I ran a 3:54 - my best time ever by 12 minutes! Excellent course, organization and spectators! | |
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Debbie Schmidt from Irving, TX
(2/20/2006)
"Freezing, Freezing Cold; A Terrific Race & Support" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Austin Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wow, what a marathon! This is my third Austin Marathon. I was amazed so many spectators came out to support the race considering it was so incredibly cold; thank you, thank you! The finish was unbelievable - I had chills for the last 1/2 mile. Also, the medical tent was staffed with very excellent, personable, sensitive doctors. My fingers were almost to the point of frost bite & Dr. Smith was AMAZING! The only negative I saw was that the last 4 miles are an out-&-back, which was very hard mentally and also the hill was incredibly hard on the way back (miles 24 & 25). I hope they change that for next year. | |
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C. L. from Houston
(2/20/2006)
"Organization?" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Austin Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Obviously, there needs to be better planing for the start. The traffic getting to the start line was awful. More shuttles are going to be necessary, not only from the finish but from other central locations where people are staying, like at the arboretum area. Volunteers were great at all the water stops. I liked the music along the route. | |
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D. P. from Houston, Tx
(2/20/2006)
"A few tweaks and you got a great race!" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Austin Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Weather: Around freezing, ice everywhere, misting. The course was decent overall. There were some really neat parts, running into downtown, running through the capitol and such. However, it also had a lot of long bleak moments. For instance, around mile 22 or 23 you made a right turn and just ran for a mile and a half down a very bland streach of road with a nasty hill and nothing to look at. Once you reached the end, you just turned around and ran back down the same stretch of road. If this loop was elminated, that'd really bring the course up to a whole new level. The weather was really bad, around freezing the entire time. But that's Texas winter for you; it could easily be that cold, and it could easily be 80 degrees at start time, and you just never know what you are going to get. The starting chutes were a little narrow, but easy to get in and out of. Breaking apart the half marathon and marathoners at the start would've probably helped. The half marathon split at the end, was very clearly marked. The packets were ok, and the finisher shirt was nice. Overall the organization was pretty good. The fact that any volunteers showed up in this weather was amazing. A few more volunteers around the shuttle boarding area in the morning at the finish line would've been a big help. Also, providing the bus driver with directions would be a good thing. Our driver did not know where the starting line was. Luckily someone had their packet with them and we made it just fine. A lot of people complained about not making the start on time due to traffic backlog. I agree that a few extra volunteers/police officers directing traffic at the starting area would've been a big help, but over all the race was delayed a half-hour due to weather, and the weather was exactly what was forcasted. You need to remember to watch the forcast the night before, and plan to leave extra early in weather like this. There were not a lot of spectators out, but the fact that anyone showed up to watch in this horrid weather was incredible. Overall, I'm not sold that this is the PR course that it's advertised as, but it is definitely a good marathon, with some great potential. | |
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Mark McGraw from College Station, Texas
(2/20/2006)
"Great organization and support" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Austin Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very well done. There was PowerAde at every water station, Clif Shots at the 21st mile. Some bands turned out to play despite the freezing temperatures. Half-hour late start was due to the (good) decision by the Austin Police to make sure icy road surfaces were covered with sand before the start. I liked the fact that they put your first name on your race numbers so spectators can cheer you on by name. I wish it had been a tad warmer, but that's not the organizers' fault. I also like the fact that they had a Clydesdale category. I look forward to doing it again. | |
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d. m. from asheboro, NC
(2/20/2006)
"Friendly and fast but not a multi-year marathon" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Austin Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The weather was awful for 2006 because it was a damp, bone-chilling 27 at the start and 31 at the end, with freezing rain as the forecast, but the organizers can't do anything about that. The spectators and volunteers deserve major kudos for being outside when I didn't even want to be outside. They print your first name on your number so people you don't even know say, "Go David." Very nice touch. The course is flat and slightly downhill (elevation loss of 500 feet) but the big problem is the start and finish are not in the same place. You are bused out 26 miles and you run back (like Boston). The bus ride should take 45 minutes but there was a huge traffic jam of cars and buses at the starting area trying to get to the Freescale parking lot. It took an hour and 20 minutes. If you catch the bus later than 5:30 a.m. for the 7:00 a.m. start, you will be late. Because of the weather they delayed the start for 30 minutes which meant you got to freeze your buns off if you did manage to get there on time. The course itself is good and free of traffic, with enough room that you aren't forced to walk at any part. The only part I didn't like was the out-and-back at the end. At mile 22 you run about 2 miles away from the finish line and get to watch all the people ahead of you running toward it. Then you turn around and run back the two miles and over the bridge to the end. It is mentally hard to run away from the finish line. The Hyatt is the closest hotel to the end and it is the host hotel. They did let you have a late 2 p.m. check-out, which was nice. Darn nice medal with embroidered ribbon. The T-shirt is one color with an uninspiring design. For the marathon finishers, there was a Mizuno tech shirt that was nicer than the T-shirt given out at the expo. The expo was just OK. The offical race merchandise was overpriced and uninspiring. The poster for $20 was very nice and I will frame it and hang it up soon. Can't say that I would do it again but glad I did it once. | |
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D. R. from Chicago
(2/19/2006)
"COLD, but I loved it" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Austin Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I loved this marathon. I didn't even really mind the 28-degree start temperature, but that's sure not typical Texas! Maybe the marathon weather gods heard all of the complaining about the heat/humidity last year. I'm a cold weather native, but I bet the Texans had a hard time coming to terms with it. My experience was fantastic. Good start parking/accessibility, efficient and handy gear-check at both ends, fast service and comfortable equipment for the bus ride back to the start, and I love the course. The capital, the University of Texas, and the overall downhill course were great. The brave (brrr!) spectators and volunteers were friendly and enthusiastic. This was my third time in Austin. I hope to make it four sometime. | |
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D. D. from Dallas
(2/7/2006)
"Fun race & perfect weather this year!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Austin Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I enjoy doing the Austin Marathon but the one overwhelming disappointment I had during this race was the lack of H.E.B. fresh grilled hamburgers for the finishers that they had last year. Visions of hamburgers at the finish kept me going during this race, but I was SORELY disappointed to see scrambled eggs awaited in the finisher's tent instead. Who wants scrambled eggs after running a marathon... especially at NOON when I came across? We may never again be able to get cool Motorola backpacks or Tyvek finisher jackets, but please, please, bring back the burgers! | |
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T. C. from Austin, TX
(10/7/2005)
"Great for me" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Austin Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I live in Austin, so maybe I'm a bit biased, but I thought the race was great. It was humid, but this is Texas, so no complaints there. Course was changed a bit from the first time I ran and for the better I think. There are some slight hills, but nothing to be afraid of in my opinion. Overall, it's a fast course. Crowd support is not heavy, but it is enthusiastic. Many bands set up at various points during the race, which is always fun. Post-race festivities were fun as well. Bands, water, food, and cold beer were plentiful. Confused about one poster's comments that there was no fruit available - there was a whole tent full. Maybe he missed it. I find the race very enjoyable. I only have one other race to compare to it (Disney, which I also liked for different reasons) but, I would think this would be an enjoyable for out-of-town runners. |
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