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Kiawah Island Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Kiawah Island Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 3.2
Number of comments: 211 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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a. h. from Warner Robins, GA
(12/10/2007)
 "First-Class Event" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 4th marathon, and first time running Kiawah. I was really impressed with the organization of this event. I thought the packet pick-up was super easy. Several people were eager to answer our questions. They had a lot of literature laid out about the course map, a spectator shuttle, and a post-race map layout. There were plenty of porta-potties at the start, so I never had to wait more than 5 minutes or so. The aid stations were well stocked and plentiful. The post-race food was excellent. I loved how it was inside the conference center and you could actually eat at a table. They really had a nice spread! They did limit this to the marathon runners and one guest. The only thing that I was not crazy about was I felt it was fairly crowded on the first loop on the bike path sections. I had to weave around people at several points and for a small event I was not anticipating that. I really enjoyed the second loop better since the half marathoners were finished. The field narrowed by about 2/3's and it was more enjoyable. I just prefer smaller races. Overall I thought the course was really pretty and of course it's FAST! My husband was on a bike and saw me at several points throughout the race. I also thought there were quite a few spectators for a small event. Sure, it's not NYC or Chicago, but for a field of 4,000 runners, there were people out there cheering the runners on. I am really glad I did this event. I would recommend it be put on the "to-do" list! Oh yeah, I stayed in a west beach villa and took the shuttle back to my villa from the finish. The driver took out a step stool and helped us out of the van. That's service! | |
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A. G. from South Carolina
(12/10/2007)
 "Course was nowhere near ideal" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I cannot believe I spent as much money as I did to run on a crowded bike path. I was a first-time runner at this race, and I will never run again. Way too crowded at start. Need to have different start times for the different events. Shuttle service was great and the event seemed well organized. (I ran the 1/2.) | |
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gloria sanchez from Newberry, SC
(12/10/2007)
"very good" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well this is my first marathon and it's exactly what I had expected. The weather was good and the experience was great. I'm coming back for sure! | |
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T. L. from Dallas, Tx
(12/10/2007)
 "Beautiful marathon in SC" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 22nd different marathon. It's a beautiful course, flat, and the double loop is not monotonous. There are a few out-and-back stretches to keep things lively. Overall, organization is top-notch. The post-race food and refreshments offered indoors were great. Some cons, mostly minor, but worth mentioning: 1. The start with the half marathon is way too crowded. It would be much better if they could do separate starts. I know most people respond to this by saying you go on chip time, but age group placing goes on gun time. A lot of the half-marathoners simply didn't appear to know where to line up, even though they had pace banners. 2. When you head out for loop 2, they have you run single-file on the edge of the road in a chalked lane about 2 feet-wide, with vehicles coming up behind you. It wasn't for very long though - a few miles? Traffic thinned out after that. 3. Some of the aid stations on loop 2 were under-staffed, or staffed with high school kids - a lot of which had clearly lost focus by the 2nd round. 4. Warning: Not all of the island villas are within walking distance of the start, so if riding a shuttle to and from the finish is an issue for you, then be sure you ask for a villa close to the start-finish area. Worth mentioning to those who care about these things: No pace groups, not a lot of noise (music, hoopla, spectators), no gel hand-outs, a long-sleeved T-shirt, small expo, nice medal, and pretty age group awards given out. The post race seafood dinner was a lot of fun! | |
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D. P. from Virginia
(12/9/2007)
"Great support out on the course" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Pros: Packet pick-up went very well on Friday night (bring a flashlight with you to get around in the dark, as the streets and sidewalks on the island are not very well lit). Volunteers at packet pick-up were very friendly, even at the end of the evening of what was probably a long day for them. Post-race food was very good, but not a big selection. At about mile 24 I started hoping there was pizza at the finish! Stayed in Charleston the night before, and it took less than 30 minutes to get to the off-island parking area. Organization there was great, but the bus was too warm once it was filled to capacity for the shuttle ride to the island. Ultimately, a marathon is remembered for how well they took care of the runners on the course. First-rate service, with plenty of water stops. Cons: The combined half- and full-marathon start made for very crowded conditions on the narrow streets. Didn't really thin out until the first turn-around at 6 miles. Have the half-marathon start 30 minutes after the full-marathon. (Is it true that some of the full-marathon runners decided to quit after the first loop, and yet received the full-marathon finisher's medal at the finish line?) The post-race shuttle ride back to the off-island parking area was on a bus with broken air conditioner. Not fun after running 26 miles on a warm day. | |
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S. M. from Champaign Illinois
(12/9/2007)
"Another good year... great weather this time" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Kiawah Island Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Another great race! My 4th Kiawah and 62nd overall. One suggestion: any way to change the course slightly so that the turnaround on the first loop is the same as the second? Tough to have to go that extra distance when you're expecting to head back. | |
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David Terrill Sr. from Tarentum, Pa.
(12/9/2007)
"Flat and fast, but crowded on the 2nd lap." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Three cheers from all to Kiawah Marathon on its 30th anniversary!!! Outstanding job and recognition goes out to the organizers, volunteers, medical station attendants, fluid station folks, and of course, the residents of the gated community that we invaded and trampled through, while causing disruption for more than a few Saturday morning commuters. Sorry guys, but you'll have that. I'm encouraging runners to experience Kiawah in December, and perhaps a few will eventually reside here. But I digress.... The marathon's organizers offer a deferral option, which I exercised this year. Too many races don't. You focus, you train, you visualize, you prepare, you come up injured (it happens). Kiawah's leadership recognizes this, and approves of the deferral process. I thank them. Now for my perspectives: Try it, folks, you'll like it. We were lucky this year with calm skies that were clear of clouds, basically no winds, and plenty of shade available from the tree-lined course route. Water stops were adequately spaced and well stocked, with special acknowledgment going to the group with the Christmas theme at the far turn-around. You guys know who you are, and you were great. My only concern is that the half marathon field size has grown so much that the marathoners, on their second lap, are having to weave their way through folks on the bike path walking shoulder-to-shoulder across the path width. God bless these folks for being out there; you have my support, but please leave the left side 2 feet open to the runners. You may have the remainder of the bike path. I also had the opportunity to renew acquaintances while on the bus ride inbound with "Cowboy Jeff" Bishton, whom I haven't seen since "Fiddy2's" Drake Well Marathon. Kiawah also concluded his circuit of 50 states. Now that is some kind of awesome accomplishment, and he is some kind of fine gentleman. For me, my count is now 21 states, and this is the 45th marathon. I have plucked most all the low-hanging fruit from the tree, in the pursuit of 50 states, with most of the east-of-the Mississippi states conquered. But good Lord willing, I'll get there. | |
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D. E. from Greenville, NC
(12/9/2007)
"good first experience" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon and I had a positive experience. The course was very pretty, but it was a double loop. Now, I knew this going into it so that was no surprise, but I didn't realize how it would affect my motivation until I hit mile 17. Since it was in a gated community, there were not throngs of spectators lining the street, but the people who did come out in support were great! Little kids on their bikes giving you high-fives made a big difference. The best aspect of this race was the organization. VERY WELL ORGANIZED. The volunteers were super (thanks). I would run Kiawah again, but only the half. | |
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A. M. from Hendersonville, North Carolina
(12/9/2007)
"Well organized; great support!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon! The organization, the course, and especially the port-o-lets and water stops were great. Plenty of water, Gatorade, and food for the runners. The drum band was the best! | |
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D. F. from Lewes, Delaware
(12/5/2007)
 "Nice course, flat, fast, but boring" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Kiawah Island Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 My wife and I have done the 1/2 marathon at least 5 times. The staff at the race have a real attitude at times. If this race were not so close to Charleston, SC, we would not do it repeatedly. The post-race food is marginal at best, although they try to push it off as something better. Then there is the T-shirt design. Essentially the shirts have changed very little in all the times we have done it. When I brought up the fact that changes should be made outside of changing the year to the race director, my comments were "less than welcome." I was given a lecture on the virtues of a "clean" (i.e. non-advertising) shirt. I agreed but told them that the shirts all looked the same and now make nice bike-cleaning rags. Do yourself a favor: don't stay at Kiawah. It's overpriced, and you will have much, much more fun in Charleston. The drive out and the shuttle suck, but hey, it is only a few hours. |
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