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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 161 to 171]
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V. R. from Virginia...where else is there?
(11/17/2009)
"Richmond pulls off another great race!" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was another great marathon in Richmond, Virginia. Plenty of aid stations, porta-johns, and food at the finish line. Even Patrick Henry showed up to provide support! This was my ninth Richmond Marathon; count me in again next year. | |
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J. R. from Baltimore, MD
(11/17/2009)
"One of the best!" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've done Chicago and Marine Corps and now Richmond. This race is definitely worth checking out. Being a medium-size race means you're never crowded or impeded. The course is scenic and has lots of variety. It is pretty flat, but it does have some steeper sections that are followed by downhills. The spectators were better than at both Marine Corps and Chicago - the party zones were awesome. The mile markers were EASY TO SEE and the water stops were perfectly timed - every two miles exactly. Shirts were gender-specific and pretty nice. I liked the heavy medal a lot. This is my favorite marathon thus far! | |
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K. S. from Goode, Virginia
(11/16/2009)
"Another great race for Richmond!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my sixth year in a row running Richmond and it is my favorite marathon for several important reasons. #1. Location: it is only a couple hours drive from my home. #2. Course: enough variety to keep me happy and interested, although coming back across the Robert E. Lee Bridge at mile 15 is always a character builder, especially when it is windy like it was this year. #3. Organization: top-notch. #4. Spectators: the best around. #5. Most important to me for personal reasons, the official race charity/beneficiary is Donate Life. Gives me the opportunity to help spread the message every year about the importance of organ and tissue donation. My teenage daughter was an organ donor in 2002 and saved five people's lives. There is a reason it is billed as "America's Friendliest Marathon" and was selected by Runner's World magazine as the marathon they were going to highlight this year. | |
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M. M. from Still running!
(11/16/2009)
"Excellent race, but not a cupcake course" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Good: This is a runner's race. The little things DO add up (placing aid stops after a mile marker, for instance). The starting corrals were well-organized. The spectator support was EXCELLENT. Yes, some empty stretches for sure, but Richmond is a welcoming city. The text messaging system for updating times appeared to work flawlessly for most, by keeping it simple (no updates every 5K, just half, 20 miles, and finish). Richmond as a whole, however, is extremely welcoming for runners. There were many specials offered by local businesses. Bad: As mentioned in earlier years' races, if the weather isn't cooperating, you won't get your BQ, PR, or whatever. There are windy stretches even on pleasant days, but in 2009, the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida were even mentioned by some of the half-marathon winners (who didn't have a lot of the really windy periods!). As someone mentioned for another year, you can end up kind of running the entire second half knowing you won't hit your goal, but the support along those stretches are some of the best parts, so it's not all bad. Just be aware that your race could depend on the weather. There are long stretches of hills even after the windy (no matter what year) mile 15 bridge, and they'll feel rough. The Richmond Marathon website could use a better elevation map, in fact. Overall, a challenging course in the latter half, but a wonderful city and well-organized marathon. | |
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B. B. from Virginia
(11/16/2009)
"Great mid-sized marathon" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Richmond has everything together. Great organization; great post-race food. The course is good - relatively flat and at times scenic. Running around the monuments and through the beautiful neighborhoods is an impressive hook. The field is not so large that you can't quickly get into your pace and be able to hold it. The only negative is that the few partially closed streets, with coned-off lanes for running, are at times a little narrow. I ran this race in 2007 also, and the best improvement is that the '07 t-shirt was awful, but this year it is first-rate - a long-sleeved, moisture-wicking shirt with nice graphics. | |
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H. S. from Charlottesville, Virginia
(11/16/2009)
"Great Race" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I like everything about this race and will no doubt run it again. | |
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M. K. from Richmond
(11/16/2009)
"Great organization; great size; great race!!" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is perfect size - there are just enough folks to make you feel part of an event, but not enough to interfere with your pace. The course is moderately hilly but very fair, and the last six miles are flat, with a downhill finish. Organizers did a great job, and though there weren't as many spectators as last year (weather), the ones that were out were loud and energetic. Overall, a great race. This is my hometown race, so I'm a bit biased, but the title of "America's Friendliest Marathon" is justly deserved. | |
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Steve Davis from Durham, NC
(11/16/2009)
"Richmond - propelled by Party Zones" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Richmond Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This really is a friendly marathon. It is easy to get to the start with ample parking. Everything is set up perfectly (except the weather - drizzle followed by humid, but nice 50's). The Party Zones were so loud that they re-energize tired legs. The aid stations were easy and the volunteers wonderful. Riverside Drive, with loud rapids on the James River, was awesome. It seemed that there was a gradual uphill from mile 15 to 20. After that it was much better. Some hill training is recommended. The screaming downhill finish is great. Good time to smile! | |
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j. v. from The great state of Texas
(11/16/2009)
"Another Great Virginia Marathon!" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Choosing a marathon to complete a state is generally pretty simple; which one fits into your schedule? I had chosen Shamrock for mine, as I had always wanted to run this race... but I had an open weekend and got an email - flights for under $200 to Richmond! Decision made! Shamrock will wait yet another year... or longer. We had great weather this year. The expo is open late for the "quasi locals" to be able to work and drive in from Northern Virginia... and I presume northern North Carolina too. Whatever; it's nice to have an expo open until 9 p.m.! Made it easy to get into town in time. The weather was wonderful this year - a bit misty at the start, but mild. Simply wonderful. The course was just the way I like them. It was not flat, but very easy to run for all except for the very flat-landers like Floridians, etc. I loved the neighborhoods and all of the colorful homes. The junk food on the course was great! I loved the mixed cups the best (hard to grab a cup of cookies, a cup of gummy bears, a cup of pretzels... oh, wait, a water stop... ummm, let me rearrange my cups...). The spectator support was strong...we had music all along the way...very well done effort. Pizza at the finish, plus the usual fruit and bagels. I parked at VCU (I thought parking was confusing at best, a pain in the butt at worst as I did not receive enough help to know where to go... but then I am challenged in this area anyway), which made the walk back through the capital a great event! The statues and structures were a nice treat! You need to seriously consider this race for your Virginia run.... | |
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R. C. from Michigan
(11/15/2009)
"OK course/organization, fantastic spectators" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Richmond Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I left Richmond with good vibes, despite not getting my BQ. My transformation from a runner to a tree/signpost/parking meter-hugger starting at mile 15 up and going right up to the finish set me back a full nine minutes. The course certainly isn't Chicago-flat, but I thought it was fair, even scenic at times, and the inclines were manageable. Organization was almost perfect - this is minor, but please don't have us select shirt sizes when we sign up if you can't stop people from getting sizes they didn't sign up for (I signed up for a small, and all they had left were L and XL). I couldn't say enough of the spectators, though. There were a lot of "deserted" stretches, but THE SPECTATORS AND VOLUNTEERS ALONG THE COURSE WERE SIMPLY AWESOME. |
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