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Deseret News Classic Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Deseret News Classic Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 3.3 
Spectators 3.2
Number of comments: 96 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
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A. T. from Chicago
(7/25/2008)
"Good Race" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Overall, a good race. Great scenery for many miles. Good organization at start (although do we have to get up there quite so early? and we need cardboard to sit on those stones!). Wonderful volunteers, plenty of water/Gatorade. Over the VERY HOT last few miles, they need aid stations every mile. It was a fun ending to be able to run as part of the parade. Great traffic control. Somewhat hard, boring last few miles, running along busy roads, with no spectators, in the heat. | |
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E. G. from Illinois
(8/14/2007)
"A disappointment" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The organization was poor at best. We were told at the expo that the bus times were 3:15 and 3:45 - DON'T BE LATE!!! I got there at 2:45 and didn't get on a bus until 4:15 anyways. Huzzah. The website advertised Gatorade/water every other mile and three gel stations. Reality was water every other mile, Gatorade every fourth mile, and one gel station. Why bother with a chip when you don't cross a pad at the start??? Food (no fruit but bananas?) and drink were scarce at the end. The few spectators were very supportive and so were other runners. The volunteers at aid stations were fantastic, and so were the police who guarded every intersection. The EMTs on bikes and sheriffs on motorcycles during the first 15 miles were great too. If you're looking for a mid-summer race, try this one. If you have other choices, go with one of those. | |
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David Weiss from Middleburg Hts., OH (Cleveland suburb)
(8/7/2007)
"Overall, an excellent experience" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Overall, I had an excellent time with this marathon! I was traveling into town from Cleveland, and this race happened to be going on, so with little training, I decided I'd give it a shot. First the good: -Great luxury buses to cart us to the start up in the mountains. -A nice area at the start; it was early, but there were music, a tent, drinks, etc.... Not much fanfare at the start, but a nice bagpipe player was a nice touch. -A fantastic view on the way down the mountain for those first few miles! The scenery was breathtaking! -Great workers at aid stations; and I wasn't as bothered as I thought I'd be by the stations every 2 miles instead of every mile. -Very helpful police officers helping with keeping the streets clear and giving encouragement. -I had heard the weather would be extremely hot, but the sun stayed under clouds, and the early start kept us out of the real heat -I learned that this race was on Pioneer Day (didn't know the holiday existed), a big thing in Utah, and I liked the little area of the course where we ran along the parade route. -There weren't many (any) spectators up in the mountains, but I truly enjoyed talking to other runners, who were extremely welcoming and friendly, especially when they heard that I was visiting from out East. -I liked the medals: simple, but nice. -Plenty of food/drink at the finish line. -Great medical people in the medical tent (I'll mention why I was there in the "bad" comments). -I didn't experience any of the shin or quad problems that I heard would be a problem on the downhill course, and my body felt pretty good at the end with one exception (which I'll mention in my "bad" comments). I felt like, with better training and footwear, I could have had a very good time. -The best part: to have my daughter and sister at the finish line and to have my little girl say, "Daddy, I'm proud of you!" ...always the best part at the end of any race! The bad.... - The "expo" (if you could call it that) was difficult to find (no signs), and very small... although the workers were very helpful. -The last-minute change to 3:45 as the LATEST time for bus pick up to the start is tough! I had to wake up at 2:30 a.m. Shoot, I'm usually getting in at that hour! -The goody bag and t-shirt were pretty weak, even though the entrance fee to this marathon was very reasonable. -It was a long wait at the top for the start. -I mentioned that I didn't have shin or quad problems... but I did have one major problem. After about 3 miles, my feet felt like they were on fire! And it got worse as the course went on. I knew they would be bad at the end, and they were! I had huge, painful blisters on both feet (they have just about healed up now, 2 weeks after the race). I think more downhill training and more cushioned footwear would have helped, and I did mention that the medical staff was great (and they were wrapping up several other runners blistered feet when I was there). -No spectators the first 14-15 miles. If you want spectators, no luck... although I have rather enjoyed the solitude. -The incline of about 1 or 1 1/2 miles about 6 miles in was very tough!! -It was tough for my family members to find parking to come to finish line to see me. -They had plenty of food/drink at finish, but most drinks were not cold. Once again, overall I truly enjoyed my marathon experience, and my visit to the Salt Lake City area. This would be a marathon that I would consider running again, and as I mentioned, I think with more downhill training and better footwear, I really think I could have had an excellent time here. Now I'm on to run NYC for the first time in November! | |
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A. J. from Utah
(8/5/2007)
"Where's the aid?" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Deseret News Classic Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I really enjoy the new course. We all know it's going to be hot in the middle of July.... Is there a reason you can't put in a few more aid stations at the end of the race? The last 4 miles, we really need something every mile. Way to go and a big thanks to the Locomotion Aid Station! They had cold sponges and COLD water(I think there was another one at 24 too)! Also, where was the Gatorade that was supposed to be at every other aid station? The police support was awesome, and as always, the aid support crews were great! We couldn't make it without those huge numbers of volunteers, and we really appreciate them and their words of encouragement as we run by!! Please look into having more aid those last few miles! | |
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J. P. from the USA
(8/1/2007)
"Difficult Course" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Pros: 1. Good intersection control by the police. 2. Nice people and kids having fun at the water stops. 3. SLC is a nice town to visit. 4. About the first six miles are the only real fast miles of the course. The rest are give-backs in grade and hills. It's not a screaming fast course at all. Cons: 1. No chip timing mats at start or on the course, so they're irrelevant. Saw a couple people taking advantage of this on the course. 2. There were hundreds of bicycle riders screaming around on the course taking advantage of the marathon closed course. 3. One set of lights at the starting area, so using the porta-potties was a joke. 4. Over a one-hour wait at the finish area for a bus back to the pick-up point. 5. Horrible race shirt, and the medal was mediocre at best. Don't think it even had a date on it. Holding the race on Pioneer Day really did nothing to enhance the marathon experience. The businesses are generally closed and everybody is off work. Yes, there are a few people for the parade, but it's such a small part of the course that it doesn't really matter. Put the race on Saturday or Sunday like most marathons and dedicate the efforts toward the race and not the parade. | |
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GrannieAnnie Singer from Suffern, New York
(7/30/2007)
"Utah, Salt Lake City could do better" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This is a 5:30-6 hour most marathon. If you are slow, this isn't going to work for you and it says so in the brochure. Expo has little to offer - no directions, no special care and a cotton shirt that doesn't even say "UTAH." Didn't know till I got to the mountain that you could have had check-in bag, although many said at the end that their stuff was not returned. The start of race is at 5:30 a.m. down the mountain in the dark with corkscrew turns, with hills from about mile 4 to 7. Missed many mile markers in the dark and such. Hot water cups given out... ugh... on a 90+-degree day. If you don't make it in before the parade is over, you'll be going "against" all the paraders exiting "Pioneer Day." Streets were hot, muggy and sticky from all the foods at the parade... and directions were nonexistent at the end. One policeman sent me the wrong way. The medal ceremony lacked pomp; we just lined up and they dispensed with the medals. Wonder if those who placed will be mailed their earned medals? I think this marathon needs a little TLC, especially if out-of -towners are willing to come spend money in the town and enjoy Salt Lake City. Visit Temple Square - very peaceful and beautiful. | |
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J. T. from Colorado
(7/30/2007)
"There's a reason other UT races get more runners." (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my 4th marathon and a prep trial for St. George in October. Easily the toughest and most disorganized race thus far. Despite starting purposefully slow(er) the first couple of miles and training on serious hills/declines for the last 6 months at an elevation over 6,500 feet, my legs were "traumatized" by the first 3.5 miles of this race - too steep to start a race, in my opinion. I believe we knocked off 1,600 feet in elevation by mile 4. The "old" course at least let you warm up going uphill the first couple of miles before hitting the steep declines. Not having any aid stations until mile 5 was not ideal either, due to the muggy/warm conditions in '07 (it was 82 degrees at Energy Solutions at 3:35 a.m.). As such, I developed slight cramps and tightening in my legs by mile 9 and things only got worse later when I hit the valley at 18. The last 6 miles were extremely tough and I didn't notice anyone else really finishing "strong." Tougher than advertised course for sure, can't imagine a PR here unless you ran the course regularly in training and got ideal weather conditions (highly likely in SLC in late July). While the race did have some nice post-race food and medals as well as good traffic controls, it lacked organizationally too much for me to consider a return. A recap of these shortcomings: 1. They bumped the bus departure times by 30 minutes in the pre-race packet vs. the online stated times. Good thing I read this at 10 p.m. the night before the race, but getting up at 2:30 a.m. for a 3:15 bus departure seemed a bit much. 2. Often the aid stations that were stated to be at every odd mile beginning at 5 did not correlate with the mile markers. At some they were a third to half a mile further away. 3. WARM DRINKS (H20 AND POWERADE) + WARM/HUMID DAY = SUSTAINED VS. FLUCTUATING MISERY 4. One gel station, which was stated in the packet to appear at mile 19 and showed up around 16.5? No additional gels at 19. 5. WEAK CROWD = I thought the crowd along the parade route was a joke. I heard rarely a clap and no enthusiasm - and it wasn't like I was the last, finishing near the top 100 runners. The crowd was actually draining vs. motivating. Sparse, too-little crowd prior to the parade route at mile 24. Wow... disappointing. 6. Chip, but no chip time available? 7. The packet stated no aid stations before 5 (true) and none after 21 (false, actually an aid station around 23). Why would you not purposefully plan an aid station in the last 5 miles of race when you know the heat and suffering will be intense for most? 8. Online course maps for the marathon gave you no idea of the severity of the elevation drops and climbs; a detailed mile map with elevation chart would be helpful. All in all, my evaluation is that there is a reason that this race tops off at around 700 participants and is the least popular in Utah out of the Top of Utah marathon, St. George Marathon, and Provo and Moab Half-Marathons. Highly unlikely that I will be back.... | |
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S. S. from Salt Lake City, Utah
(7/26/2007)
"Not too hard; not too easy" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Deseret News Classic Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course is mostly downhill for the first 14 miles, with one notable uphill up to Little Mountain. The hardest part of the course has go to be the last few miles. There's no shade, it's through downtown SLC, and there's traffic and people everywhere. With the exhaust and the cigarette smokers, and heat, and the parade crowd - plus being tired - it was tough. I liked the finish line - nice grassy area to lie down in (and puke if necessary). Watch the parade, and go to the rodeo afterward. Good race overall; save something for the last few miles. | |
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Matt Humphrey from Hurricane, Utah
(7/25/2007)
"C'mon Bob - listen to comments..." (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 The Good: 1) The police support all along the way for traffic control and words of encouragement. 2) The great EMT's on bikes that let me use some tape at mile 7 who checked on me the rest of the way. 3) The parade crowd that cheered you on that last little bit. 4) Cool medal. The Bad: 1) No chip timing at the top but giving out chips for racers to wear... WHAT?? 2) The lame t-shirt. (Could have used that chip money here.) People that run marathons like running gear, so put that T shirt money into running gear. 3) The disorganization from pre- and post-race staff as well as the attitude you get when you ask questions at the end... like: Where in the heck are the shuttle buses???? 4) Warm water and Gatorade at the stations. Ice is cheap - use it. Coolers will make it last awhile. 5) The road bike guys who fly by you at 50-plus MPH going downhill and about three inches away from you. The Ugly: My feet. Overall: Race was as advertised - easy at the top and your spent at the bottom. Hard on your feet and sticks. Very disorganized. | |
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Scott Bernhisel from Salt Lake City, UT
(6/13/2007)
"Old DNM course was better, when started at I-80" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 6+ Deseret News Classic Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Having run 7 DNM races (6 of which were in the 1980's), I find this new course not as interesting. The old course had larger starting area (Washington Park), and we got to see some of the faster runners as they came down from the turn-around at about mile 4. Starting at Big Mountain is very steep, and takes its toll on the knees. It's also a little scary running downhill when it's so dark. Easy to twist an ankle. Uphill in the dark is easier. Temperatures were hot, but that's just what it is in July. |
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