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Jul 7, 2024

Erie Marathon at Presque Isle Runner Comments

Back to Erie Marathon at Presque Isle Information & Reviews

Course 4.6

Organization 4.7

Spectators 3.5

Number of comments: 255 [displaying comments 131 to 141]

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G. K. from Kingsport, TN (9/15/2008) "Good job with the the things they can control" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Things that couldn't be controlled: 80-degree temps at 7 a.m. in mid-September, and a course that has stretches of concrete roadway. Things they controlled well: water stops every mile. An encouraging finish line for suffering runners. Nice technical shirt.
Aimee Gilman from Cleveland, OH (9/15/2008) "Best-kept secret in racing" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Erie Marathon at Presque Isles COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my fourth Erie. Weather was horrible, but this is such a great race. Water stops every mile, enthusiastic volunteers, flat course, great post-race food, and great organization. One of my favorite marathons.
M. M. from ohio (9/15/2008) "still love this race" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Erie Marathon at Presque Isles COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 My second consecutive year here, and I set a NEW PR. I still love the course, but it seemed like the hot weather and fear of rain made for too few volunteers at the water stops. They are still appreciated as giving and respected people; there were just not enough of them this, year compared to last. Very hot. A lot of walkers this year. But I'LL BE BACK. Great medal, great socks, great food.
marina white from Irvine, CA (9/14/2008) "Pretty Presque Isle!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course is run around Presque Isle twice, which is quite flat (perhaps a little too flat, not enough variation can get a little redundant), but still much prettiness to be seen, with the bay and greenery. The roads had a lot of concrete parts, so that was sort of a downside. Organization was done well; it was easy to park, use restrooms before, get some water, etc. Along the course there was ample support, with a friendly aid station every mile, and then race officials at other intervals to guide us along. I kind of disliked that toward the end (with me being one of the last on the course) the race team several times came by on bikes to ask if I was doing okay. It is nice, but maybe once or twice is enough. I think I got it at least four times! Overall, nice race, well put-on!
R. D. from NY (9/14/2008) "Awesome Race" (about: 2008) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first real race experience besides 5K local runs. Hotels: We stayed at the Comfort Inn Presque Isle. The staff was excellent and very accommodating. The rooms were clean and it was a nice setup overall. I can recommend them completely for your stay. The packet pickup: Erie was nice. We showed up and within 5 minutes we had everything. They moved you through nicely, but it's not rushed. Very organized. The race: The day itself was hot and humid. It was supposed to be a rainy day, but it ended up sunny and humid. The course was nice and flat, and if you are looking for a PR, this is the one. Water Table #2 was unprepared for us as we came through, and didn't have cups ready, which was hard on the runners anticipating hydration at #2 mile marker. It was not too heavy on the spectator support. It was a very flat course, with excellent staff assistance - and the ending was incredible. There were plenty of food and refreshments for everyone. I met and hung out with a 90-year-old gentleman who set a world record for the half marathon. Overall, it was a great experience, and we'll be back next year. It's the best-kept secret on the East Coast in term of marathons. (It's got about 1,000 runners.) Photographers were awesome, and would take any shots you wanted with family and such. The only thing I would recommend is to start the race walkers after the regulars, as they clogged the first 1.5 miles after the start. It's a tight road with no room for that. Good job, Erie Runners Club! We'll be back!
Rob Klein from Aurora, CO (3/31/2008) "A Great, First Marathon" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I am posting this a bit late, but this was a great first marathon! The pre-competition pasta dinner was great, and very worthwhile. The race was a double loop on Presque Isle, and it was as flat as a pancake. Being my first marathon (at age 49) and having done only a 16-week training program, I wasn't in the best shape, but my goal was to finish, and that I did. I did not think having trained on the edge of the Rocky Mountains helped much, but every bit counts. Just past mile marker 22, I hit the proverbial wall, and it was alternating between run and walk after that. The race course had aid/fluid stations every mile - which was great - and these were staffed with very friendly volunteers. GU products were available later in the course - maybe 2/3 of the way through (coming out of the 2-mile stretch through the woods). The course had a published 5-hour-15-minute time limit, but they seemed to let runners keep going past that time (a good thing). Also, throughout the course they had staff guiding the runners through turns, and the like. Even so, the course was well marked and had mile markers the whole way. The finish line area had Subway subs, fruit, and more. They ran out of bananas by the time I finished, but someone left a banana for me on one of the tables (beginner's luck, I guess). As a personal note, I came alone from Colorado for this marathon. The night before I met a couple down from Pittsburgh for fishing. These two great people came to the course during the marathon and personally cheered me on - not at one point, but at several locations during the second half. These folks were high-class, and were my personal angels. I highly recommend this marathon. The lower elevation and flat course make it runner-friendly - like the folks in western Pennsylvania.
Mervyn Chin from Toronto (1/1/2008) "A good recommended race" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Erie Marathon at Presque Isles COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I have now completed 44 marathons in many different cities/ towns so I can give an honest assessments of marathons. I have asked by runners what marathons do I recommend and my answer is always the same. What are you looking for in a marathon? Here are some categories that I think runners look for in marathons: 1. Flat/hilly. Erie is probably the flattest course that I have done. This is not something that I consider in races, but a lot of runners do. 2. Scenic: Erie is scenic since you are always running with the lake on one side. Other marathons such as Big Sur, Adirondacks, and Cape Cod are very scenic but hilly. 3. Spectators: There are very few spectators in Erie - only runners' families. The races with spectators are usually the big races like NYC and Chicago, and these races are very expensive. 4. Post-race refreshments: Erie has no par since there is good food galore. Subway sandwiches; Panera bread; chips; bananas; salads; popcorn; coffee; cookies; drinks; and on and on. Some runners have said that they do not go to races for the food and I agree, but it is nice to have good food after running a marathon. Some races give you a piece of stale bagel and an apple if you are lucky. At some races the slower runners get nothing. 5. Premiums for the runners. Erie has an excellent technical shirt and this year they also give technical socks. For the price of $40, this has to be a good deal. Akron Roadrunners race is also an excellent value for money race. 6. Early start. This category is for velocity-challenged runners and walkers. Erie has an early start and, although I am not sure I fit this category, I always take the early start because I want to sit and enjoy the post-race activities. I got to see a herd of deer crossing the roads this year because of the early start. 7. Last but not least is the race director's answers to questions. Erie directors always responded to my questions/concerns. The Bayshore, Akron and Big Sur Marathon staff also always responded to my questions very quickly and this made me feel wanted. Having discussed the above categories, my advice to any runner is to give the small marathons like Erie a chance. The directors put a lot of effort and hard work into the races and deserve your support. The big races like Chicago need your fees to pay for the elite athletes. It took an incident like this year in Chicago for runners to know how bad Chicago is. How many runners see these elite athletes or know their names; how many can remember who won the race; how many cared? I also like big expos and lots of spectators but these races are expensive and give the runners very little in return (the big races need the money for the elites). I do not train with spectators and 26.2 miles is the same anywhere to me. The choice is yours. Ignore the comment below of the shirt being cheap. The shirt is one of the best that I have received.
W. C. from Macomb,MI (12/7/2007) "Not Bad, But Not My Favorite Either" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This was my 14th marathon and I had high hopes for this one. I was trying to break 3 hours and didn't even come close, so I don't know if I am being unbiased in regard to this marathon. But I'll try: The expo was very small and almost non-existent. It is nice that the beach is right there and you are in the park, but don't expect anything like even a medium-size marathon. Shirt was kind of cheap, but this marathon costs less than 50 dollars, so I wasn't expecting much. Race morning brought hard rain and muddy conditions, but not the race organizers fault. They did need more porta-johns, but this is a problem at most races. The course had very few spectators (probably even less because of the weather). The volunteers were nice, but a couple of the water stops were unprepared as I came running past and didn't give me a chance to get a drink. Finisher's medal was wooden and unique, but I just didn't feel much after this race. Certainly not a destination marathon, but worthwhile if in the area.
M. M. from YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO (10/22/2007) "FLATTEST, FASTEST EVER" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I am typically a mid 3:20 to 3:30 marathoner. I ran a 3:16 here and qualified for Boston. The course is perfectly flat and you can tell this marathon is organized by runners for runners. The socks given were great, the shirt was great and the marathon worker support fantastic. My number one marathon out of five so far. I certainly trained a little better for this one but I would run this every year forever. Only one suggestion for improvement: Have people calling times along the course or have time clocks around the course. That's it.
Seford Olsen from Central Florida (10/15/2007) "Flat, Fast, Wet, Grand Organization, Friendly" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Erie Marathon at Presque Isle COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Wet, Wet, Wet, but who cares. Pirates, Hula, and the ROTC. They had to stand around and get wet, me I just ran. Thanks to my running budy for listening to me chatter for 20 miles. Run lots more marathons. Organization was very good. Fast and Friendly packet pickup. Dinner was very good, Hats of to the volunteers that cooked the meal. Water, and Gu very plentiful, easy to follow course. Just stay on the road. Flat but shady, well it did keep the sun of my face (so there was no sun, maybe next year) Only thing to make it better would be to have mylar blankets ready just incase of rain again.

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