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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 81 to 91]
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james grua from salt lake city
(8/3/2003)
"I still had a good time." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I could voice some of the same concerns noted below, but feel it is all a matter of perspective. I had a great time. The course is much better than in the past. Whine about a little hill at 18? This is a marathon - its good for you. Mile markers should have a helium balloon 10 feet up so they are not missed, but I have run races with much smaller signs. All in all, I liked the race. The people I met on the course were in good spirits. I've done 30 marathons and I shall not let a few minor distractions prevent me from having fun. Running down the parade route is fun. I too have had years were I had to take the alternate route, but again no complaint. It was a good day and I hope someone picks up the banner and keeps this alive. | |
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P. K. from Salt Lake Citiy, Utah
(8/1/2003)
"Great - hope the tradition continues" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 There was a lot of pre-race hype that this might be the last Deseret News 24th of July Marathon, which I think generated more participation. About two weeks before the marathon, organizers hinted that it may continue in the future. I suppose we will have to wait and see. The course itself is challenging but rewarding. Beginning the run in the darkness at 5:00 a.m. helps to deal with what is a pretty steep initial ascent. I would have rated the course 5 stars, but was disappointed that the course was modified to insert some pretty steep hills (beginning at the 17-mile mark - when the July heat begins to take its toll). I agree with some of the other postings that participants could prepare better for this marathon if the positions of the aide stations were provided before the race, and if they were set at more regular intervals. I hope this marathon continues. | |
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J. O. from Salt Lake City, UT
(7/29/2003)
"One of the worst races I've ever run" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I think I will be one of many who complain of the race this year. The course, I like. The view and scenery are beautiful. I loved that, BUT... - I paid to have my race packet sent to me - it never came. I had to pick it up. But by then they were out of T-shirts. Even though they have a history of ugly shirts, I still paid too much money, and I want my ugly shirt. - Aid stations were sporadic with only water, and then watered down Powerade only towards the end. Last time I ran it, they had all sorts of energy stuff at every aid station - not so this time. **The people at the aid stations were great though.** - The mile markers were off and not at every mile. There was no way I was doing a five-minute mile after averaging an 11-min mile. Then, towards the end, there were hardly any mile markers, which is discouraging for me when I depend on them to make me feel like I?m making some progress. - Like many others, I didn?t like the new course change which requires a pretty steep hill climb late in the race. Then just when you have the park and the finish line in site and you can feel the pain coming to an end - they shoot you off in the opposite direction for 3 blocks before you can head back to the park. Then you make a 90-degree turn into the finish line, which is quite anti-climatic. THEN, with what energy I had left, I hobbled excitedly over for the finish line goodies only to find brown, rotten bananas with flies all over them. I found out, though, that all the good stuff was gone even before the 10K runners finished. - I was told there were massages to be given out afterward. But not so this year, either. Even if it was pretty much a sponsor-less year, I would think they could do a little more with the 40 bucks from 2,000 people than watered down Powerade and rotten bananas. So basically, it?s a great race to run, but don?t expect any help from the people who put the race together. | |
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M. N. from Salt Lake City UT
(7/26/2003)
"Never Again" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I have run over 10 marathons, and this was the worst run ever. The fans wanted the runners to get done so the parade could start. The spectators had just cheered in over 2000 10K runners before the marathon finishers came in. By the finish, all the goodies were picked over and gone. During the race I was lucky to find any Powerade. This was inexcusable in a race with temperatures reaching close to 90 degrees. People were passing out in front and behind me. At least I have done this one to know I will never do it again. | |
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D. C. from Provo, Utah
(7/25/2003)
"Poorly planned race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 1. Most of the aid stations did not have sports drink. 2. The aid stations were located pretty randomly. You never knew if it was 1.5 miles or 3.5 miles to the next station. 3. There were very few porta-potties. I had a problem and needed them. I had to run several miles until finding one at mile 12. There wasn't another one until mile 16. 4. There was no altitude map with enough detail to show the many hills. 5. The post-race snacks were pretty bad. 6. There were a lot of cars driving on the course. 7. The race organizers never answered an email question that I sent them prior to the race. | |
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Mike Rosner from Huntsville, Utah
(7/24/2003)
"Poor post-race goodies" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This is a very good course. Fortunately you can't see one of the toughest ascents in the second mile because it is still dark. Many of the spectators are enthusiastic and noisy. The organizers were very good coordinating everthing until you got to the post-race goody tables. Even though I ran a sub-4 hour marathon, there were very few things left for the late marathon runners. Rumor is that this is the last Salt Lake Marathon, so I guess the sponsors were getting out cheap. | |
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Yada Duck from Kearns UT
(1/12/2003)
"need more fans" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Great Scenery | |
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A Runner from Fort Lewis Washington
(9/25/2002)
"The worst Marathon T Shirt I ever saw" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Be prepared to get up REAL early (I broke my all time record for rising the earliest.) I had to catch a bus at 3:00 am in order to get to the start where private vehicles aren't permitted. The early start is necessitated by the desert heat normally associated with Salt Lake City in late July. The first 13 or 14 miles have varying terrain, but is predominantly an uphill climb. Dont expect to make out the terrain clearly during the first 30 or 40 minutes due to the 5 am start, but dusk breaks thereafter and the rolling red-brown hills are quite scenic. Not being a downhill runner, the 10 miles of down hill in the second half really did me in, coupled with the rapidly rising sun it was quite a challenge. Near the end it was close to 80 degrees. The last 3 miles follows the Pioneer Days Parade route, and if you make it in time (like I just did), you are encouraged by literally a hundred thousand parade goers! (The cut off to run a required alternate route is set up for post 3:30 marathon pace, so as not to interfere with the parade start but I finished in 3:56 and wasn't required to take the alternate route.) Following the route being cheered by one hundred thousand fans is inspiring even though one knows they are not necessarily there to cheer on runners. (They are waiting for you to pass so they can watch the parade!) At the finish you are awarded a kind of cheap looking medal. Additionally, the T shirt is one of the feeblest marathon shirts I have gotten. There was food at the end...a lot and very good. They did extremely well getting sponsors for post race refreshments. | |
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A Runner from Pensacola, FL
(7/25/2002)
"Beautiful...where are we?" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 A beautiful and challenging course. Make sure you get used to running at elevation and hills. Fun to start in the dark! Breath taking (in more ways than one) as you travel through the canyon. My only negative comment is if you are a slower runner, take your course map!! I went 'miles' without seeing anyone. Finally as I neared civilization a guy caught up with me and we finished together, passing a few people after mile 20. We turned a corner off a busy street somewhere around mile 22 along with 2 other runners and stood in the street looking for the course! A motorcycle cop finally came along and gave us 'directions.' The last trace of the route we ever saw was mile marker 23. No other runners were in sight (We had also been told there would no longer be traffic controll by the last race official we ever saw just before getting lost the first time). We kept running along that street asking pedestrians if they knew the route. (Marathon, what marathon?) Fortunately we did know the name of the park and the name of the street where the race ended so just kept going until we had to turn and go a few more blocks to the finish...even having to stop and wait for the light to change at a busy intersection. We finished a half hour before the course 'closed.' There were at least a dozen people strung out behind us. I got my finisher's medal, but for a 'certified course' don't know if I ran 26., 26.2 or 27.2! I am still confused! Seems to me if you advertise a 6 hour limit, you should make sure the course is well marked and there is an adequate number of support people on the course to make sure no one gets lost or at least picked up if it is obvious they will not be able to finish in the time limit. To make runners feel abandoned is not a good way to end an otherwise great run. | |
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A Runner from Alexandria, Virginia
(8/30/2001)
"SECOND HALF IS GREAT - First Half Ain't Bad Either" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very good, well organized marathon! The hills of the first 12 miles were a bit brutal but that was partly because as an east coast runner I wasn't used to running at higher elevations - however the near 0% humidity was GREAT! Although it got quite warm I didn't feel like I was running in a sauna! Cross over the mountain crest just past mile 12 and let 'er rip!! Easy to make up for the time you lost on the hills on the first half. Worked just like I had planned it. Ultra conservative on the hills so as not to 'hit the wall later' and then do a major negative split on the downhill. Great Marathon and I recommend it to anyone! If you're not used to the hills don't let them intimidate you - just approach them wisely! My only suggestion for improvement is at the finish line. Unless you run under 3 1/2 hours the finish is on an alternate course for the last few blocks. Unfortunately, this causes a 90 degree turn 5 feet from the finish line which makes for a TERRIBLE finish line photo! |
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