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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 81 to 91]
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T. M. from Fort Mill, SC
(12/13/2009)
 "Great marathon!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed this marathon. I was very skeptical of the two-loop course and was not looking forward to it. However, I found I really liked the course. Being an out-and-back-loop sort of course, it broke the marathon down into 4 parts, which I found mentally easier to deal with. Therefore, I enjoyed the course much more than I thought I would. Other pros: Great, unique medal; and a fantastic marathon post-race party, with great food, unlimited beer, wonderful blue-grass band, and an indoor venue (so you could get warm and stay warm). We stayed all afternoon and enjoyed the party. Plenty of fluids on the course. I even skipped a few water stations, which I rarely do. Very scenic, flat course. No ocean view, but some very beautiful marsh and river views - and pancake flat. No traffic to speak of. Extremely efficient and organized packet pickup. We also picked up our accommodations stuff directly across from the packet pickup - very efficient. This island is usually well out of my price range for a vacation, but the accommodations are very reasonable for this marathon. We were able to get a 3-bedroom villa for 6 of us for less than what we would have paid for 2 hotel rooms, and we were within a half-mile of the start. Very convenient and affordable. CONS: The t-shirt was okay but nothing to get excited about. Not enough port-a-potties on the course. They were only at a few places and there were lines. They really need port-a-potties pretty much at every water station or close to that. We had friends in our party who ran the half marathon, and their post-race party was not nearly as nice as the marathon's. Of course, they paid less money, so maybe you get what you pay for. The pace signs at the start were very inaccurate. If I had lined up at my pace, I would have been woefully backed up at the start. Thankfully I have a lot of experience, and I sort of know where I need to be in relation to the start line, and I used my common sense. Even so, there were still lots of slow, slow people in front of me. Why do those slow people get at the front? I don't understand. Anyway, I loved this marathon and would definitely do it again. | |
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L. J. from Atlanta, GA
(12/13/2009)
 "Fantastic experience - would do this again!" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my third full marathon and about 20th half marathon, many of them destination races. I would definitely do this one again. It is an extremely well-organized event with great support. Course is very scenic and flat. The after-race party was beyond words; I felt so special. On-island accommodations were nice and very reasonably priced. They offered bikes at no charge to spectators and it was wonderful to have my sister ride beside me some on that second loop when the going got tough. | |
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g. a. from NC
(12/13/2009)
"crowded on the path" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Ran the half yesterday. Perfect cool weather. PROS: nice staff, well organized race. CONS: corals went 6, 7, 8, WALKER. (What about the 10-, 11-, and 12-minute milers?) It was also crowded on the bike path portion, and runners were going in different directions on the road. Additionally, traffic was not slowing down much when passing. Wear your Garmin (mile markers were easy to miss), and bring your own cheering section (spectators few and far between). I'll run it again, at least to soak afterward in the Sanctuary's wonderful tub!!! | |
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Eddie Adams from Jonesville, South Carolina
(12/13/2009)
 "Way Too Crowded" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon, so my opinion may be way off-base. Overall, the race seemed pretty well organized except for the start. It was just horribly crowded and people were not lined up in their pace zones. I planned to run an 8:20 pace, lined up between the 8- and 9-minute pace signs, and then spent the first three or four miles zigzagging and running up the side banks to get around slower runners. Also, the course spends some time on very narrow bicycle paths. Once most of the half marathoners have finished, the running becomes like it should be all along. Like I said, this was my first marathon, so all of this may be normal, but for me it was not a good experience. | |
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L. G. from Vermont
(12/13/2009)
"beautiful race" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My only regret is that we never actually had a view of the ocean on this island marathon. Lots of beautiful scenery, extremely helpful and friendly volunteers, and outstanding race organization made this a whole lot of fun. The pre-race pasta dinner and post-race food were far better than most. | |
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R. M. from Bay Shore, New York,USA
(10/28/2009)
 "From Pre-Race to Post-Race, it was ideal!" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I needed to qualify for my 25th consecutive Boston Marathon, and my good fortune was to enter the Kiawah Marathon on Dec. 6, 2008. The fine organization, flat course, comfortable December temperatures, and extraordinary Southern hospitality were the ingredients in the winning formula for me. At 74, I qualified for Boston! I completed my 25th consecutive Boston... and am qualified to return to Boston in 2010. Kudos to the superior team that organizes the race. Many thanks! - Rich Murphy | |
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Jack Donlan from Charleston, SC, USA
(12/23/2008)
"Overall Good" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Kiawah Island Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran my first full here. I do not mind the second lap. I only did not like the congestion on the bike path at the end of the first lap with the fast marathon finishers (I am a race-walker and took 5:43 to finish). One literally pushed my friend walking. Also, maybe they can do something other than the bike path. Had to maneuver around faster people who wanted to run in my way on the road. Other than that, the course is good. Organization is good. They had some volunteers spilling the water and Gatorade prematurely, but on Mile 24 (when I needed it), they left it out. Spectators is OK. A manager at the Sanctuary where we were staying made sure that my wife with MS did as little walking as possible to see me finish. He got a big tip when we got back to hotel. | |
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C. S. from Myrtle Beach SC
(12/13/2008)
"Flat and Fast, Pure and Simple" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Kiawah Island Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Although I got sick a few days before and had a sub-par race, it was not the fault of the course or organizers. Very, very well-organized race, from expo to a nice post-race sit-down luncheon. The only change on my wish list would be a little better corral system at the start. But I could say that about most races, and usually the fault is runners who have no idea what pace they're actually running or don't care about getting in the way of other runners. But after the first mile, it thinned out enough to run your own pace, so it was not too bad. I feared the double-loop for the full would make the race boring, but it didn't. The volunteers were awesome, and there were very well-organized water stations. The course was marked nicely. Few spectators, but then again the only folks haunting a seasonal beach resort in December are runners and their families. There were a couple of groups of enthusiastic spectators who "went the distance" for us, and they were much appreciated - especially the African drumming corps! | |
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B. R. from Charlotte, NC
(12/9/2008)
"You have to know what you're in for..." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Ok, so this really isn't that bad of a marathon if you don't need anyone cheering for you from mile 13 to 25. It's a double loop - you have to know that going in or you'll be disappointed. The course itself is not tough - it's very flat and fast. You do run by some phenomenal homes and there's a lot of good scenery. Heck, a deer darted out by me at mile 22. The beer afterward is great, as is the post-race food. I only gave 3 stars for the course because I really think the organizers could come up with something else for the full marathon runners so they aren't tortured with a second loop. The organization is great - it's a very laid back, low-key race. Only two stars for spectators because there are virtually none on the second loop (unless you're running a sub 3:30 marathon). I'll stick to the half, but I am definitely glad I did it. | |
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S. M. from Upstate, South Carolina
(12/9/2008)
"Crowded and expensive, but nice vacation!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Kiawah Island Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Over the past 10 years, this marathon and half have increased dramatically in price without a reduction in runners or an increase in benefits. The course relies on volunteers and very little, if any, police support (except for parking - which was increased with the increase in number of allowable runners on the island.) So, where does all the money go? Looking at race results, you can see that regular runners have all but stopped coming to this race (there are still the hardcore few that come). It is now a race for those that have money. I still enjoy if as a half, but if you are a 1:50+ hour halfer, you will be frustrated by the slim paths in the last portion of the race; too many people to run around if you feel a surge coming on. Post-race food is sub-par for the price paid, but most people were in the beer lines, anyway! |
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