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Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.0 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.9 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.0 
 
 
Number of comments: 37 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

 

N. S. from FL (4/13/2024)
"For Runners By Runners" (about: 2024)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


The flawless organization of this event makes it very worthwhile for you to come and run here!! Scenic, good time of year (weather was ideal - 32 - 50, clear and sunny), water stations & portolets spaced properly, correctly measured course and mile signage. A few small rollers but otherwise flat. Extremely glad I chose this as my Ohio marathon!!!! The ORRRC knows how to put on a running event!! Xenia is a great place for cycling/running paved paths but otherwise a town without much to offer, Yellow Springs is a nice village about 8 miles away and a nice day visit.

 

b. k. from Cincinnati (4/3/2023)
"Wonderfully organized small marathon!" (about: 2023)

50+ previous marathons | 2 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I judge this small marathon as one of the best organized of them all, based on my 95 marathons, including Boston and nine Flying Pigs. In fact, I love marathons put on my running clubs - as this one is - since runners know what other runners like: clear and obvious mile markers, excellent signage, police blocking traffic where needed, cheerful volunteers at aid stations, and a route mostly on asphalt. Parking in front of the YMCA made packet pickup on the morning of the marathon a breeze. The route itself was just fine; no mega mansions, just blue collar neighborhoods, and a long bike path along a creek. A few gentle rises, which I hesitate to call hills. So, it's PR friendly.

I can't vouch for the food since I took a tumble at the finish line; genetic clumsiness, I guess. I can, however, vouch for the EMTs, who took care of me immediately. Thanks to all those brave firefighters for helping an old man up from the pavement, bandaging his wounds, and walking him to his car.

Oh yes, one more thing. This marathon is a no-frills affair; and so is the entry fee. Bargain! Thanks to the ORRC and all their volunteers!

 

L. L. from North Richland Hills TX (4/7/2014)
"Great course, great people, great price" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


This was my 34th marathon and 31st state.

Great course - country roads through cornfields and the Ohio to Erie paved trail on occasional rolling terrain.

Great people - friendly race directors & volunteers give it a family feel.

Great price - Race number, chip, tech shirt, medal, pre-race pasta dinner, post race meal indoors, including hot food, bananas, homemade cookies, and sodas, and finish with a post race shower.

I told the RD I could not think of one thing to make this race better.

If you need big crowds/fanfare and the accompanying hassle this isn't the race for you.

If you want to relax and enjoy yourself go to Xenia!

 

P. K. from Cincinnati, Ohio (4/18/2013)
"Chili and Cow Manure" (about: 2013)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathons
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


This is a low-key but reliable race. I ran it back in '98 when it was in Bellbrook, and it's matured a bit since then. You get all the basics (water and electrolytes every 2 miles, gels, painted mile markers, nice SWAG), and for a good price. BEST THING: hot chili and chicken noodle soup at the end. Also, showers at the YMCA. WORST THING: monotonous course with heavy winds (paved bike path and roads through corn country). Although a mainly flat course, the strong headwind coming back is a detriment if you're running for speed. And the minimal crowd support is a letdown if it's your first marathon.

But if you don't need bells and whistles, or a fast time, or big-city excitement, it's a good race for the money (maybe hold your nose near the 14.5 mark).

 

S. M. from Ottawa, ON (4/9/2013)
"BEST. RACE. EVER." (about: 2013)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


If you are a Buddhist or Hindu marathoner then pray that you come back living in Ohio. This race is amazing! I wish more race directors in Canada followed these rules. I paid $25 for the race, got a medal, a shirt and had lots of food at the finish line. Free showers at the YMCA and paid $8 for the pasta dinner. The aid stations also had gummy bears and Smarties (okay - M and M,s eh). This race is very underrated. You can sign up for next year's race for $15!!!
More aid stations but that is a mild complaint. Well done! My 44th BTW.
PS - Congrats to fellow maniacs who ran their 231st, 204 and 80th marathon.
I will catch up with you all soon enough!

 

J. P. from The Midwest (4/8/2013)
"Good Small Town Race" (about: 2013)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon
COURSE: 1  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


My comments are for the half. This is an 'old school' runners race put on by a local running club. I really enjoy finding these little gems in the running world to participate in. Super organization and hard working volunteers. Thank you so much!
The rating on the course is low because it's almost exclusively on a paved bike path with not much to look at. There are virtually no spectators so I felt like I was on a big training run at home with a super support group. I am not a fan of these bike trail courses because I run on them often at home. If you enjoy this kind of course for a half or full marathon then you'll love this one.
The course is not really fast or flat. First four miles are a hill climb with little give back but not over the top. The bike path is flat. The last five miles you get a full face wind because of the nature of the course and there's a slight grade to the last quarter or so mile to the finish.
Overall, it's a fun event, with good post race soups, drinks and awesome cookies. Best cookies I've had at a race. Again, big thanks to all the volunteers for all your hard work!

 

J. H. from Tennessee (4/3/2012)
"Great race at a VERY reasonable price" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I drove 8 hours to run this race and did NOT regret it one bit!

PROS:
1) Where else can you enter a race for $25 and get a nice tech shirt, medal, chip timing, well-stocked aid stations, plenty of food after the race, post-race showers and close proximity parking?
2) Course was a nice rural, mostly flat course with only a few small hills.

CONS:
1) Start time was 8:30. I was told that it's usually very cold this time of year, so that was why it started so late. For people driving a long distance home, like me, a 7:00-7:30 start time would be much more reasonable.
2) Had it not been a cloudy day, the sun would've been tough to deal with, since the course has very little shade.

Would I recommend this race? Absolutely!

 

J. H. from Chicago (4/2/2012)
"Incredible small town race" (about: 2012)

3 previous marathons | 1 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


It's not a big race but they do a great job. It's low key which is great. I was able to drive in park with no problems. Packet pick-up the morning of was a breeze. Other runners were friendly and encouraging during the race. The half-marathon and the full start out together. It made it a bit hard to pace properly in the beginning and I started off a bit fast because of it but I still ran my best time yet.

Pros:
Start isn't crowded, able to walk up at the last second
Packet pick-up morning of race
Plenty of well stocked aid stations
Post race showers at the YMCA
Homemade food after the race including chili and excellent cookies
Easy to find your support crew and for them to find you.
Well marked course with guides at all of the turns.

Potential Cons:
If you like big crowds you won't find them here
Course isn't flat, but the hills aren't bad.

 

Kathy Waldron from Green Bay, Wisconsin (3/26/2012)
"Beautiful!" (about: 2012)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my first time doing this race. I drove 9 hours from Green Bay, WI to run this and would do it again! I absolutely love the 'back to nature, peaceful' feel of the course. It really is very beautiful, and the people most wonderful. Thanks for the great time!

 

C. M. from Centerville, OH (3/26/2012)
"Another fantastic event!" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This is my second year running the half and I was even more impressed than last year! There were around 400 more people than last year and the ORRRC did a great job to accommodate everyone. The course runs from the YMCA through a few streets in Xenia, out on a country road, and then out on the bike path for a few miles before hitting the turn around. The only hills of note are within the first four miles and they are very easy. The course is great for a fast time and I PR'd by over four minutes! Great New Balance tech shirt, finisher medal and great food at the finish. All of this for the preregistration price of $25! I've done some very small races and some larger ones (Air Force, Columbus) and this one is my favorite. Would not be surprised if it keeps growing.

 

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