Jul 1, 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
☰
San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americas Runner Comments
Back to San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americas Information & Reviews
Course 3.3 
Organization 3.5 
Spectators 2.6
Number of comments: 122 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
|
F. B. from Reston, Virginia
(11/17/2004)
 "Had a PR in San Antonio!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Prior to San Antonio I had never run a double-loop course, so I was very concerned about it. It turned out that I liked it. On the first loop there were lots of runners around me because the marathoners and half-marathoners were running together, which provided an opportunity to dissociate and have other runners pull me. The second loop got a little lonely but in the last miles I picked up a lot of walkers, which also provided a mental boost because a lot of them yelled encouragements. Expo was reasonable, and the water tables worked very well. They had gel and vaseline in a couple of spots. Course is flat and I found that the 6 overpasses and 3 underpasses provided an opportunity to stretch and use different muscles. The scenery is not the best, several runners already commented on that but I didn't find it that bad because in a 26-mile course you will go through some boring parts. I agree that there were several opportunities for cheaters, but I did not see one. The only thing I did not like about the course was the fact that you run near the Alamodome (where the finish line is) for a long time. Mentally I think that it would be easier to go straight out so that on the way back every mile you run you are closer to the finish line and can see the Alamodome getting bigger. Loved the food and the massage after the race. I had the best performance of my running career (20 marathons) and finished 32nd overall. I very much liked this race. | |
|
F. G. from Houston, Tx.
(11/17/2004)
 "What a joke of a marathon!" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 After hearing and reading so many negative comments about this marathon I decided to find out for myself; it was all true and then some. Running a marathon in loops is not a good idea, and this double-double loop course (a small loop inside the big one) was horribly boring; going through run-down neighborhoods, a homeless shelter, warehouses, empty spaces, parking lots, etc. In fact it was worse than last year`s since it didn`t show any of the main tourist attractions of this nice city. And then there were those killer overpasses and just as many underpasses; but they claimed that they had eliminated the hills. Natural hills would have been better. The mile markers were confusing on the first part of the race since they were also running a 5k along some of the same course streets, and nobody was calling out pace times. We also had to pay a high parking lot fee wich is ridiculous - this shows that the city is more interested in making business than supporting the race. So is no surprise why this is still a small marathon. The race officials need to wake up and make some major changes to make this race attractive if they want it to grow, otherwise people like me won`t be back even though it is close to home. If there was something positive about this one it had to be the volunteers, who did a great job and were very helpful. | |
|
J. L. from San Angelo, Texas
(11/16/2004)
"Not a destination marathon" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americas
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The double-loop course was poorly laid out. My GPS showed the actual run was 28 miles. Even with the margin of error, the course was too long. No sites to see, no crowd support. I was very disappointed. If you live in or near San Antonio, go ahead. Otherwise, wait for Austin or Houston. A destination city could do better. | |
|
D. E. from North Carolina
(11/12/2004)
"Try another Texas Marathon" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americas
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 How do I begin this? First off, the course was a joke. I figured somewhere along the course I would see the Alamo or some sights. Wrong. I did see this nice homeless shelter twice. Who thought of that? Run the course twice. The expo was one of the smallest I have seen at a marathon. Race day started out with a shock. I have never had to pay for parking to run a marathon. Not even at Disney World. But there they were with their hands out. The course made it easy for people to cheat and I saw it happen several times. There were very limited spectators along the course. The only place I saw crowds of people was at the finish line and when we ran by the homeless shelter. Did I mention we ran by that twice? And then there was the pacers. I got behind the 3:15 guy. Well he took off and banged out the first 3 miles at 3-hr pace. After 2 miles I let him go and watched him disappear. At mile 22 there he is off to the side of the road walking. Nice job, buddy. I used a pacer at the Shamrock in Virginia Beach. He was the 3:20 pacer and he ran 3:20. If you live in San Antonio you should do this marathon. If you live anywhere else and want to run a marathon in Texas, find another one. | |
|
s. u. from san antonio, tx
(11/10/2004)
"Needs new changes" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americass
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I am from San Antonio, TX. I love my city, but the San Antonio Marathon Committee must do something to this marathon. The course is so boring, two routes around the west side... that is stupid!!! Why can't we have a route start at UTSA, then get on Fred Road, pass 410, pass by Woodlawn Lake, into downtown, pass the Alamo, into the Southside Missions? That is about 26 miles and 285 yards!! If they keep this course, I will not run another one for years to come... | |
|
Sam Balandran from Bedford, Texas
(11/10/2004)
 "I Shall Return!" (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americass
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 It was great running this marathon again. This was my 93rd marathon and my 10th San Antonio Marathon. I like this course. Keep it. The medal is awesome and the finisher shirt is a plus. Appreciate all you guys and gals work on this marathon. THANKS! - Tuxedo Man | |
|
M. S. from Houston, Texas
(11/9/2004)
 "First marathon, but not my last" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americas
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was just disappointed that a city as beautiful as San Antonio couldn't come up with a better course, or use more of downtown. The double-loop just didn't do it for me at all. | |
|
D. P. from Plano, Texas
(11/8/2004)
"absolutely pathetic" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americass
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Sorry to say this year's course was much worse than last year's. They should have left well enough alone. What happened to the Alamo? The unsightly route traversed through trashy run-down neighborhoods and passed by next to nothing of interest. Every time I thought I had climbed the last steep overpass, yet another one lay ahead. Their website bragged about eliminating hills from the course (laughable). Adding insult to injury, at about mile 24, the Alamodome is straight ahead, giving the impression that the finish is within reach, just before turning right to endure 2 more agonizing miles. I can't imagine how anyone could think this pathetic, uninspiring double-loop course was an improvement over last year. Even though it is a hometown marathon of sorts for me, I won't be running in San Antonio again. | |
|
R. G. from San Antonio, Texas
(11/8/2004)
"Never Again" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Course selection was horrible and did not do my beautiful city justice. I did not enjoy running by the jail, day labors, homeless, and broken down houses. There was not any promotion of the race by the local news or radio stations. I should have brought my MP3 player to keep me from falling asleep. The race organizers embarrassed the City of San Antonio. | |
|
R. E. from Flower Mound, Texas
(11/8/2004)
"New double loop course not a win" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americass
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 City should re-think their new course before next year's race. Double loop is NOT an improvement over the 2003 course. If they don't change to something like the proposed course that was outlined for 2004 then I am not coming back. Too bad because this is a fun city to visit - good volunteers and spectators. |
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
