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☰
Memphis Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Memphis Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 382 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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Joan Steven from Marion, Ohio, USA
(12/8/2008)
"ONE SATISIFIED RUNNER!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and it was great! First and foremost were the fans. It was a cold day for Memphis and there were so many people out cheering us on. Lots of people had set up their own "aid stations," with candy and water. The marathon had water, PowerAde and port-o-pots at every mile, and there was GU at 4 different checkpoints at least. Plus the entertainment - bands, belly dancers, even a line of Santas! Getting my packet was easy, and I was lucky enough to be one of the first 1500 to pick it up and receive a free Nike running hat. Tech shirts were awesome and so was the medal. I was so worried about the hills after reading past years' posts on this website, but I didn't think they were bad - they were few and far between. I can't say enough good things about this marathon! | |
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J. S. from Oklahoma
(12/8/2008)
"Great Day/Great Race" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a beautiful day for a run. The course is great and the fan support was wonderful. The signs and pictures of the St. Jude kids posted along the course were inspiring. Plenty of water stops and the hills were not as bad as I expected. Running into the stadium and hearing the cheers from the stands was a blast. I do not repeat marathons, so I have to say that my one and only St. Jude Marathon was a very positive experience. I will recommend this one to all of my running friends. | |
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M. L. from Missouri
(12/7/2008)
"Disappointing" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Memphis Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Allow me to preface my comments by stating that I have the utmost respect for the main goal of this marathon, which is to support St. Jude's Hospital. However, the course itself is another matter. The organizers must eliminate the two 180-degree turns. The second turn led to a steep and narrow ramp just before the 26-mile marker! This was followed by four 90-degree turns. In many sections of the race, runners were limited to the shoulder of a road involving two lanes of traffic that resulted in repeated inhalation of exhaust fumes. Many of these sections included a steep camber that could only be escaped by running along the line of cones. On more than one occasion I witnessed runners having to adjust their position due to cars either forcing their way through the route or erroneously being allowed to move forward by the police. The organizers of this event must endeavor to create a course that matches the excellence of its purpose. | |
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J. M. from Evansville, IN
(12/7/2008)
"Not perfect, but AWESOME!" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Memphis was cold this year! It was 35 at start and was in the low 40s when I finished. It was windy too, but I don't think that anyone could have adjusted the thermostat to make the runners happy! I didn't mind the weather, but it may have kept some fans off of the course, as the support was not huge. I only saw one Elvis! There were not a ton of bands or cheerleaders, or other great pick-me-ups along the course. The water stations were great. Water and PowerAde every mile! The split times at every mile were also nice. They gave out GU 3 times, which was nice. When I came through there was plenty of GU to go around! The course itself is hilly and the roads are not the best, with lots of bumpy and uneven surfaces. I am not sure that there is a flat mile on the whole course, but the hills aren't crazy - mostly overpasses and underpasses. For every one or two uphills there were one or two gradual downhills. The finish was great in Autozone Park, with plenty of food: Pizza, beer, soup, hot cocoa, fruit, water, sports drinks, etc. The cops on the course did great to control the traffic, but the course is not really closed. The workers were all very helpful and friendly. Plenty of port-a-potties to go around before and during the race. If you are looking for a Boston qualifier, this was tough, but I don't suggest shying away from this one. I ran San Diego 2 years ao at 3:22. This was my second marathon. I finished Memphis in 3:09:54 and am bound for Beantown! Good luck! | |
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S. L. from St.Louis, MO
(12/7/2008)
"This is an amazing event." (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Memphis Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run this for the past three years, once the half and twice the whole. It is the most organized, supported, and fun race I have done. I have done 12 full marathons. This is by far the most organized, which means so much to a runner who spends months preparing for a particular race. The start and the finish are so seamless and smooth. The post-race food is the best I've ever had! It beats Boston as far as organization and runner comforts. I recommend this race as a must-do. Fun time! | |
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A. R. from Springdale, Arkansas
(12/7/2008)
"Very well organized" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Memphis Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 St. Jude is my favorite marathon, but I might be partial because it was my first. I love the wave start. It is very well organized and prevents overcrowding. The spectators and entertainers along the course are the best I have ever seen. The miles just fly by. It does not even seem like 26 miles. | |
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B. C. from Little Rock, Arkansas
(12/7/2008)
"Very well run marathon" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well done marathon. This was my fifth marathon, I'm a pretty consistant 4:30 to 4:45 runner. Very efficient check in and expo. Nice tech t-shirt. December is the right time of year for a marathon in the South. It can be a little cold, but it probably won't be too hot. This year was cold, high 30's to low 40's range. I liked the wave start. The first two miles were not too congested, considering that there were more than 10,000 runners. Nice course with lots to see. An aid station every mile is great. Very little food on the course. Plenty of PowerAde and GU, though. A few rolling hills but mostly flat. Traffic control was excellent. The Memphis police did a very good job. The finish was great. Running into the big stadium with all of the spectators cheering was fun. Finish line food was great: lots of snacks and hot soup. I would skip the post-race party, unless you're one of the fast ones who get awards. No free food or drinks; just "drink specials" if you show your medal. Memphis is also a great city with lots to do and see. Overall, a great marathon. I would recommend it highly. | |
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D. R. from Illinois
(5/11/2008)
"First Half-Marathon" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What an awesome city; the course was full of supporters, as well as some beautiful scenery. Within the first few miles, the course leads you by the Mississippi River and you can see the pack ahead of you in the view. What an awesome experience for my first. I will be back this year - with my wife, for us both to run. | |
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T. H. from Montgomery Alabama
(5/7/2008)
"What a BLAST!" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first half-marathon race. I thought the organization was excellent, and there were plenty of people to help answer questions. The aid stations were great. I thought the crowd support was the best part of the race - and the reason I will return. Every time I thought I was tired, I would see a picture reminder of what we were running to raise money for, and it just motivated me to keep on going, even if I was slow. The only complaint I had was that the post-race celebration left a little to be desired (unless I missed something... I was rather lame). But that said, I can't wait to come back next year! | |
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H. b. from Memphis
(5/6/2008)
"First marathon - a great experience" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Memphis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thought the atmosphere was great, the organization was great, and the race volunteers were great. I believe the finish line crew for the marathon consisted of mostly experienced marathoners, so they understood the emotions that people were experiencing as they crossed the finish line. They were very supportive. The people with "My-Garmin-is-better-than-the-course-measurement" syndrome need to look up the official course measurement on the USATF website. We are talking about steel tape measures corrected for temperature fluctuations versus a satellite signal coming from space to a computer on your wrist. Garmins are great, but you don't measure courses with them, and there's a reason for that. |
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