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☰
Richmond Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Richmond Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.5
Number of comments: 401 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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Joe Maletta from Pittsburgh, PA
(12/10/2010)
"Richmond was everything I'd hoped for!" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first "out of town" marathon experience and it was excellent! Richmond is a very nice town with good entertainment/restaurant options. The expo was very good and well organized. The shirt was ok, but I bought a nicer non-running shirt that was a good deal. I especially liked the Runner's World booth, and getting to meet and talk to Bart Yasso and Mark Remy without feeling rushed. The logistics of the race were tremendous. I stayed at a hotel that was just a few blocks from the starting line and even closer to the finish line, so that helped. The fact that the 8K and half-marathon start before the full marathon, coupled with the proper corrals for run-times, made the start of the marathon very enjoyable. The start is flat and runs about 2.5 miles before the first turn, so there is very little congestion if you start in the proper corral. However, I had to rely on my running partner to keep me from going too fast at the start because of how smooth it was. Be careful! The course was outstanding: Lots of great fans cheering your name (personalized bibs) and some of the most humorous signs I've ever seen in my life. Some of the "party zones" were so loud that I couldn't hear my racing partner. The Lee Bridge was advertised as the only "lonely" part of the race (mile 17 or so), but there were cars driving back and forth on the other side with signs, music blaring and fans screaming too! I had to laugh. Seeing Bart Yasso at four different spots on the course was quite motivating to me as he is my running idol. Having the video of me and him exchanging "thumbs up" as I raced to the finish line (to my PR) is something I will cherish forever. After the race: The medals were very nice, the food was even better and the local bars were wonderful and inexpensive. The volunteers and the musicians: I can't say enough about them. Wonderful! I wish I could have high-fived them all. The only thing keeping me from signing up for this again in 2011 is I now have a burning desire to go experience new towns through marathons. Thanks, Richmond, for feeding this fire! If you haven't run it, just do it! And stay in town to enjoy it. The Saturday run makes the party (Saturday night) and the recovery (Sunday) that much more "doable." | |
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R. B. from North Carolina
(12/7/2010)
"Great fall marathon!" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and I had a great experience! I have no complaints about the organization or the course itself. The course has some really scenic areas in the first half; there are some hills along the way, but I don't think most runners would find them overly difficult unless they train in a pancake-flat region. The medals could use some aesthetic improvement, but that's a minor issue. I would definitely recommend this marathon to others. | |
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C. F. from Philadelphia, Pa
(12/3/2010)
"Wonderful Race" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race in Nov. 2010. It was an awesome experience. I was afraid that running a "smaller" race, I would end up running alone since I'm a 5-hour marathoner. I was wrong. I had company the entire race but wasn't overwhelmed with people. The crowd support was amazing. There were people out cheering where I least expected them. The volunteers and overall race management were wonderful. The expo was nice they had everything you need at an expo. I loved running through all the neighborhoods and getting to see Richmond from a different perspective. This is a must-do race. | |
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J. P. from Phila, PA
(11/30/2010)
"Near-perfect conditions for this autumn gem" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I enjoyed this race very much. I took training seriously this time and PRd. This course had a lot to do with that as it is pretty flat, very fast and well-supported. Only a few gradual hills but nothing to be worried about. Big thanks to the 3:40 pace group, which I caught up with at the end. They helped me get home. Nothing to complain about, but if you force me to, I guess the T-shirt could have been better. Not sure why everyone is so happy with the downhill in the last mile - it's a bit severe, and after running 25 miles, it is not a very pleasant decent. Something a little less steep would have been a perfect ending to a great race. Good snacks at the finish made up for it. | |
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J. O. from Virginia Beach, VA
(11/22/2010)
"Fantastic Race All Around" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There are so many great things about this marathon that I don't even know where to begin. I love the course as it is fair yet challenging. The spectators cheer for everyone, not just "their" runners. The organization is fantastic all around at this race. Kudos for the junk food and the water stops each mile starting at 20 - I wish more races would do this! Run this race! It's worth it! | |
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J. B. from Lynchburg, VA
(11/19/2010)
"Great first marathon" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first full marathon so I don't have much basis for comparison. The expo was fine although I wasn't impressed by the race t-shirt. The first half of the course was quite flat and the stretch along the James River was scenic. The back half was more challenging. Volunteers were helpful and there were plenty of refreshments (including beer shots at mile 21, which I strictly avoided). The marathon started at 8 a.m., which allowed things to warm up a bit for those running for 4+ hours. I would have preferred a 7 a.m. start, as this would have eliminated some of the afternoon heat, which led to some cramping. Overall, a great event - well organinzed and executed. A nice introduction to the marathon. | |
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C. A. from Meadville,PA
(11/18/2010)
"Very Well Done Race!!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Hats off to the organizers of this race, as they did an excellent job. This was my 11th marathon and my wife said that the instructions for getting around the course for spectators was second to none. The course itself was beautiful and the run along the river was especially nice. I really didn't think the hills in the race were very significant but as we all know when it comes to hills, one man's mole hill is another man's mountain. My only 3 complaints are small and really more like suggestions: 1. Could we jazz the shirt up a bit? The logo was nice but how about a little more color? 2. It would be nice to see water stops every mile for the whole race. 3. Maybe I just missed it in the pre-race info but the parking was much more difficult than I anticipated. Since the marathon went off last, a lot of the streets were closed when we hit town and it was very difficult to find parking. We were almost late for the start. This is more my fault than the race but I think I would go earlir to the start next time. Overall, two BIG thumbs up for this race!! | |
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David Harvey from Hillsville Virginia
(11/16/2010)
"First-class all the way" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third Richmond Marathon. I highly recommend this race. | |
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C. N. from Culver City, CA
(11/16/2010)
"Best Race Yet!" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the half-marathon and indeed loved the wave starts. Noticed that through the course, the runners in my wave seem to always keep together, with no trampling whatsoever. The road condition in Bryan Park was a little tricky, with lots of uneven areas and potholes - and with the sun out, I hit some blind spots. The downhill grade finish stretch gave everyone some quick energy to bring it in and finish fast. I would recommend this race to a friend. | |
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M. A. from Niskayuna, NY
(11/16/2010)
"Great Race!" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a great race to run. A nice mix of urban locale, neighborhood-type settings, and park-like settings. The crowds were very enthusiastic and present throughout the race, routinely shouting out the names on our bibs to give extra inspiration. Lots of bands throughout as well. Miles 7-10, crossing the James River and then running along it, constitute a highlight. Miles 10-20 have rolling hills, so don't (like I did) go out too fast in the first 10 miles, which are mostly flat and downhill. Because of calf cramps in last 4 miles, which forced me to intermittently run and walk, I missed my chance for a PR. Nevertheless, I loved the experience of running this race and would gladly recommend it to others. |
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