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Estes Park Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Estes Park Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 2.9
Number of comments: 66 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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D. L. from West Orange, NJ
(6/18/2006)
"Breathtaking and good training for sea-level runs" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I did the full marathon with my 16 year old son. It was an amazing experience. I did this marathon 1) because my goal is to do one in every state and 2) to train for a sea-level marathon. EP marathon was the best training tool for flatlanders, as myself. For runners wanting to train at high altitude, this course is not to be missed due to its spectacular high altitude course; reaching its peak of an elevation of 8,150ft!! The scenery at every step was so breathtaking, you'll get a boost of energy from the scenery alone. I also liked the way they spaced out the water stations. Too much water does not help so theirs was just right!! I say DO IT!!! Estes Park, CO rocks!!! It is the nicest and most friendliest town ever!! | |
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Chris Justice from Denver, Colorado
(6/18/2006)
"Estes Park" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I just returned home to Denver after running the 2006 Estes Park Marathon. The only word that I can come up with is "brutal." That is one hard course. I live in Denver and train at altitude and I was really stuggling the first five miles. It is a very hilly course with almost zero specators. The scenery is spectacular, but I live here in CO, so I see it all the time. I do like the city of Estes Park a lot, though. This was not a bad marathon. The organization is top-notch. But it is a rough course. Hills galore, very little shade, and the elevation is tough. My "normal" marathon time is around 3:30 and I stuggled to get 3:45 today. The first half is interesting around town, with a few people to cheer you on. The second half I can only describe as "long and lonely." Only 150 runners today, so everyone gets spread out. You are on your own out in nowhere-land. And it is tough to come around a bend and see a LONG stretch of uphill slope more than a few times. My only real complaint about the organzation is the spacing of the fluid stations. You get one at mile 2 and then not again till mile 5. Normally I would run through them that early in the race, but believe me, you need liquid at that elevation. Most of the rest of the stations were spaced out every two miles. (Maybe I just got spoiled in Durango last year with a station every mile). My recommendation would be to bring your own bottle to fill at each stop, or even wear a Camelback. The finish at the high school track was fun, although there were about 6 people in the stands. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this to a Coloradan unless you're looking for a challenge. If you're an out-of-stater and looking for the 50, I recommend Durango or Ft. Collins (or the NEW Denver Marathon looks like it might be a winner). This is a marathon that is not to be taken lightly, if it's possible to do such a thing. | |
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K. R. from Denver, CO
(6/14/2006)
"Difficult but amazing. True Rockies Charm!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the half marathon the first year(2004) and was not sure I trained correctly for it. The weather was warm, no HOT, but the views were wonderful and relaxing. As others mentioned, the volunteers did more than their part in regards to being spectators and cheering us on! Always helpful and friendly cheering the runners on to a victory. I look forward to doing it again. | |
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s. k. from New Orleans
(6/25/2005)
"spectacular and difficult" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is the most beautiful marathon I have run in, but also the most difficult. I knew this would not be the run to achieve a PR, so I brought a camera along to take pictures. The views of the Rocky Mountains are spectacular!!! Nice small town to shop and dine in the day before. Enjoyed the food at Mama Rosa. Visit the Stanley Hotel and see the inspiration for the movie "The Shining." You can definitely feel the altitude and thin air at 7000+ feet above sea level. Volunteers were well placed to guide us in the correct direction. Police stopped all the traffic on time. Elk roam the course. Water stops were too spread out this year since temperatures reached the low 90s. Without my own water bottle, I don't think I would have finished. The hills are difficult. Mile 16-20 is a mild incline that just never seems to end!! With the heat and altitude, I saw many people walking this portion. If you do this marathon for fun, you will be quite pleased. I loved the small-town feel. Only 150 participants. If you are running for a PR, this is not the place to come (winning male this year: 3:08, winning female: 3:54). Only 14 runners finished under 4 hours this year. If you are choosing to run the 50 states, I would definitely recommend this as the marathon to do in Colorado. | |
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d. b. from Texas
(6/22/2005)
"Picturesque" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is a small-town run with few runners. The course is very challenging, especially for those of us who think the Chicago LaSalle Marathon is full of hills. Estes Park was much quainter than I expected and I would certainly visit again. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, and they seem very responsive to suggestions. The expo is not much, but that could easily be improved upon by inviting some of the Boulder running stores to set up booths. There are not many spectators but every volunteer marking the path was cheerful and supportive. The race was very well organized, especially since it was in its second year. The race times are slow - but you are running in the Rockies, high altitude, and this year with penetrating sun. This is the slowest marathon I ever did, but definitely the one that I feel like I accomplished the most since I was ready to quit at mile 5 - when the hills didn't seem like they would ever quit. | |
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F. O. from Denver, CO
(6/21/2005)
"Worth a trip to Colorado" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I did the half marathon. The scenery is Colorado at its best. This is one race that everyone should experience; however, hope for a cloudy, cool day. The race is run at about 7,600 feet and it was a hot, hot day without a cloud in the sky. The aid stations were two miles apart and on this hot day, the marathoners could have used one each mile for at least the last six miles. The volunteers were great. The electrolyte drink was horrible; they need to switch to Gatorade. Everything else about the race was super. Don't plan on a PR with the altitude and sun. | |
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Julie Cormani from Fort Collins, CO
(6/30/2004)
"Most Beautiful Run Ever" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This marathon was the most beautiful run I have ever done. I took it like a long slow run and enjoyed every minute - breathtaking panoramic views, flirty glimpses of Long's Peak, lush greenery, big mountains all around give the effect that we weren't really running at close to 8000 feet. Not many fans, but all the best of a long run - solitude, cool temps, FANTASTIC views! I loved it! | |
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Kevin Witwer from St. Louis, MO, home of the Cardinals
(6/29/2004)
"WAAAAY high. And SWEET. Do it." (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Anybody that ranks the course or organization of this run as less than 4 stars is just plain goofy. This run was GREAT! The official website terribly undersold the actual run. No mention of the medal, the goody-bag, the great wicking t-shirt or the FANTASTIC support and volunteers. The 'water stations' at every 2 miles had water... AND energy drink, bananas and oranges, and occasionally cookies or whatever else. LOVED the 'Go Runner' dancers...you know who you are, and this Cardinals fan sure appreciated your efforts. You carried me for 4-miles at a time. This was in inaugural run. I understand that many of the half-marathoners were basically polled at the finish for suggestions on how to improve it. Personally, I was able after the marathon to speak with a few of the organizers (sorry Rick, never found you, but Mom, Pop and computer girl were GREAT!) and was grilled on how things might have been better. All I could say was more port-a-potties would have been nice, and there would have been at least 150 more participants if the website could have accurately described how incredible the actual run was to be. The real flushing toilets (if you care, you understand) at the beginning were sweet. The course markings, volunteers and other amenities, let alone the scenery (which needs no further description) at least rivaled bigger runs like the Rock 'n Roll series, if not surpassed. It rained, it shined, it stormed and was just wonderful. If you absolutely need spectators lining the course and can't stand the least scenic portions being those running along a beautifully maintained golf course... this run isn't for you. As an asthmatic running his first high-altitude (and probably the highest I'll ever run) course, I can say you can probably forget setting a PR, but come here anyway. You'll live, and you can brag for a long, long time. PS. MapQuest will tell you that should you choose to stay way out in Denver the previous night, and that the drive will be 2 hours at least marathon morning. With no traffic and mostly obeying the speed limits, Sunday morning commute was actually 1:15. No biggie. And that's as bad as it can get. Do this run. I sure will. See you there. | |
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Mike Jensen from Centennial, Colorado
(6/26/2004)
"Beautiful summer vacation destination marathon" (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Fantastic first running of the Estes Park Marathon. ChalleNging and beautiful! A true destination marathon. After the marathon, you can spend the week hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, and enjoy beautiful and friendly Estes Park. Great Marathon! | |
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Tom Riggs from Fort Collins, Colorado
(6/24/2004)
"Beautiful but difficult course." (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Estes Park Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my 24th marathon and by far the most difficult. It was also by far the most beautiful! Even more breathtaking than Steamboat, which I have run several times. There were long (3-5 mile) up-hills and some screaming down-hills, and the high altitude really makes you watch your pace. You can tell by the relatively slow times that everyone had to pace themselves carefully. I wouldn't recommend this marathon to a first-timer, but for everyone else...you shouldn't miss this one! The views are amazing. Majestic Rocky Mountain peaks loom around every turn. The famous Stanley Hotel turns up late in the race. Even the section of the course that runs just one block away from the main street through town is pretty and a nice change of pace from the rest of the course. I will definitely be back. |
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