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Memphis Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Memphis Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 382 [displaying comments 261 to 271]
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D. M. from Phoenix, AZ
(12/2/2006)
 "You've got to do Memphis!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 What a great race! It was very COLD at the start (low 30's), and partly cloudy, but the course was just wonderful: rolling hills, great scenery (loved those mansions, as well as Elvis!). More than anything, you can't help but feel good about supporting St. Jude Hospital. Now that I know more about them, I'm going to select them for charitable giving in the future! The pictures of the kids who need help (posted along the course), as well as parents of those kids who had passed on (but their parents still showed up to show their appreciation for the cause) were just awe-inspiring. What a great course and what a great cause! Memphis is a neat little town to visit too, and the Peabody was well worth the money! | |
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Brent Shetley from Salem, Illinois
(11/13/2006)
"Fans are great; post-race was the best so far" (about: 2003)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Chose Memphis from among four options. Glad I did. The people of Memphis are great at cheering us on. We had everything from retired folks sitting on their porch to college students as we passed by their dorms. The post-race food and drink are unbelievable, as were the race volunteers. I've run a number of the big marathons, but for a good total experience, I am going back to Memphis! | |
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T. M. from Local, TN
(11/7/2006)
"Very nice race for a great cause" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Memphis Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Loved the race. Aid station at every mile, which I have not seen at other races. Bands along the course, good crowd support but not a large number fans. Great post-race food. Volunteers go out of their way for you. Miles 14 through 17.5 had a slight uphill grade and sparse crowds, so that is the toughest part of the race. I would highly recommend running it. As for the guy complaining the he didn't get a finisher certificate (and instead, just got a link to an online version), I didn't want one, so they would have wasted money sending it to me. I'll send you three cents so you can get a sheet of paper to print it on. | |
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G. H. from Little Rock, AR
(9/15/2006)
"A really great city to run in" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The organization and support for this marathon is outstanding. And I really liked the finish inside the beautiful ballpark. Weather was perfect and fan support good for those that were able to make it out. There is a fair amount of running on the slant by the side of the road but treks through parks by the zoo mix things up. Bring your own gel packs - I missed the first gel stop somehow and believe me, I was looking for it. And even though the course is not fraught with killer hills, there are many frequent rolling hills that can take a toll over time. Be ready for a bit of an incline (and possible headwind) around mile 24 and a half - that sapped me - and I missed Boston qualifing by 21 seconds. But overall it was a great weekend in Memphis and I highly recommend the experience. Skip Beale Street though, and hang out in other parts of this cool city. | |
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H. G. from Missouri
(5/2/2006)
"Nice race for a veteran or first-time marathoner" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed this marathon. It's on the small side, although not tiny. The course is flat, but not TOO flat, and it's not a double loop (I HATE those!). Organizers were so generouse with fuel along the course and with the huge post-race buffet. Spectators were really motivating and kind. Sororities and fraternities manned aid stations and were totally into cheering us on. Running past the St. Jude's housing facility and hospital was humbling. There were probably 3 2-mile stretches (that's 3 2-milers, as in 6 miles altogether) where you didn't see anyone. That was lonely. But the rest of the course was filled with people. I thought it was very well done!! | |
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Embarrassed for St Jude/Wain Rubinstein from Memphis, TN
(3/22/2006)
 "Hometown runner embarrassed by hometown race" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Memphis Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I wouldn't normally post a comment about this race, but I just received my finisher's certificate. Oh wait, I didn't. Anyone who participated in this race received a web link to a finisher's certificate to print out. This was stupid. I am embarrassed for Memphis, St. Jude and Wain Rubinstein who are associated with this cheapness. We wonder why the Memphis Marathon has not taken off like Nashville and Little Rock. Use this as an example, and it is definitely a reflection of the lack of quality of this race. People are excited about the color of the T-shirt, but the blue is only a way to detract from people talking about the lack of anything worthwhile in the goody bag. I paid $85 to run this race. Now I can buy 9 sandwiches and get 1 free (woohoo!), which is even more useless to anyone who is not local. Yes, I waited until the last minute to sign up, but as local runner, I have the luxury to wait on how my body feels and the weather forecast. The course is decent, except for the cambers - especially on the stretch of East Parkway between Poplar and North Parkway. I was running on the cones and a race official was yelling at me to get inside. You run 20 miles and have to deal with the road slant. You think I wanted to be that close to the exhaust of the cars? You are allowed to run on the cone line, not outside of it (and I wasn't). I was on Linden and the traffic cop was so lazy that he wouldn't get out of his car. A car cut me off and all the cop did was honk his horn (too late as well). There were cyclists on the course inside the cones who thought they were so helpful by offering words of encouragement. They shouldn't have been on the course at all and I didn't want them on either side of me while I was running. I told them to get off the course and they decided to hiss at me the rest of the way. Where were the course monitors then? The post-race party was fantastic, however. Oh wait, there wasn't one, but we could all meet on Beale Street later completely unaffiliated. What a welcome to Memphis! I understand that this is a charitable event but it's also possible to make it a quality one as well. | |
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B. B. from Joliet, IL
(1/26/2006)
 "GREAT RACE!!! GREAT CITY!!!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Would highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a December marathon. The weather was perfect for running and the organization of the pre- and post-race was outstanding. The crowds were not large in number but the people that did come out were very supportive. Great finish in the ballpark; best post-race I've ever seen. If you're lucky enough to stay at one of the downtown hotels everything you need is within walking distance. I will definitely be back to do this race again. | |
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Chris Nolan from Toronto, Canada
(12/29/2005)
"Awesome weekend in Memphis" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 First of all, glory be to the Saturday marathon!!! Other race organizers please take note: this is fabulous because it gives visiting runners the chance to recover and/or party it up on the Saturday night (eg R. Stones or restaurant dinner) and spend the Sunday seeing the city and spending their endorphin-charged dollars (Graceland, Sun Studios, etc. then drive/fly out). I PR'd in Memphis with my first sub-3, improving 8 minutes on Niagara Falls 6 weeks earlier. The course is gently undulating but not hilly. I suggest the marathon start 30 mins before the half because it is very difficult to regulate your pace against runners going that much faster. Also, the spectators were almost non-existent in the second half so it's difficult to stay pumped and motivated. Finally, the best finish line and post-race catering I have seen in 8 marathons including the big US ones. The Coors Lite was a super idea, I thought. Thanks Memphis, you rock!!!! | |
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J. D. from Hamden CT
(12/20/2005)
 "Memphis rocked" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A great, well organized smaller marathon. Great start and finish areas. Hanging out in the indoor luxury box section of the stadium was phenomenal. Lots of bathrooms, no lines. The indoor massages and the locker room showers were great afterward. The course was probably the perfect balance of rolling hills (nothing major but just enough to give all the muscles an equal workout). There was a clock at every mile. I would only change the one out-and-back section near the end. I didn't notice too much camber but did note the car exhaust when running around the park the second time. The crowds, although not large, were enthusiastic (or maybe that was because of my Elvis T-shirt). The finisher's medal and T-shirt were both very nice. (I don't know what the other person didn't like about the design and color - I can't say that I have any others that color.) The race was for a great cause. Memphis is a fun city to party in afterward. What is not to like? My only complaint (a small one) was that I didn't get one of those Nike hats. I signed up fairly early but apparently the 1/2 marathoners and 5K runners were also eligible. You'd think that they would acknowledge the marathoners with the premium schwag. There were only about 1500 or so marathoners. You'd think Nike could have hooked us all up. And most of the logistical complaints noted elsewhere were due to the fact that there was a 1/2 marathon and a 5K as well. It's a shame everyone didn't get the soup. It was great! As was the hot chocolate. I would probably do away with the nasty Domino's pizza and Coors Lite though. Overall, a great marathon. Oh, and the Stones were great too! If you have to run one in Tennessee, this is the one! | |
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Arthur Sheridan from Swansea, Illinois
(12/18/2005)
"Fantastic Marathon Experience!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had an absolutely wonderful experience. This was my first marathon. I chose the St. Jude Memphis Marathon for my first marathon for several reasons. One, all the comments about the Memphis Marathon on MarathonGuide.Com were excellent. The clock/water/porta-potty at every mile definitely sold me. Also, I wanted my first marathon to be away from St. Louis (I live in Swansea, IL). I also wanted colder weather. I figured Memphis at the beginning of December would offer a better chance of colder weather than other big marathons. I was correct. December 3rd, 2005, was overcast, a slight breeze, and 52 degrees. Perfect running weather for me! Also, the course volunteers were fantastic!! Everyone was so helpful. Even though I never needed any assistance, I felt assured than any volunteer would have helped me if I needed it. I especially liked the college folk/rock band on the backend of the race. The band was somewhere right before or right after the 20-mile marker. Also, the cheerleaders cheering somewhere after the 24-mile marker, but just before we made the turn south onto 3rd Street were tremendous. Most of the runners by that point were in a lot of pain. Those cheerleaders brightened up my outlook and gave me the boost to finish the race. I don't remember what was written on their sweatshirts, but the shirts were red. They were very enthusiastic and cheering at the top of their lungs. I loved it! The finishing area inside the stadium was neat. It gave the spectators an easy viewing point of the finish line. My brother has run the Chicago Marathon 3 times and the St. Louis Marathon twice. He said the Memphis Marathon will spoil me because neither Chicago nor St. Louis has the clock/water/porta-potty arrangement like Memphis. I enjoyed my marathon experience and will return to the St. Jude Memphis Marathon!!! |
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