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Suresh Koneswaran from Toledo, Ohio
(10/8/2007)
"Amazing fan support and volunteers-beautiful race!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and had been told about how great the fan support is, but this was beyond anything I had expected. With 300,000 spectators, you can't ask for much more by way of inspiration! I had been running well until mile 18.5, which is when my legs betrayed me and cramped up severely. I had to limp, walk, and intermittently jog the rest of the way. However, there were numerous people (spectators) who came up to me and offered to walk with me, give me their shoulder so I could try to stretch, and just empathize with me. I even had a marathon coach walk up to me off the side of the road and told me how proud I should be of myself. From all the live bands, bagpipers, percussionists, and choirs, to the numerous little kids looking for high-fives, I can't imagine there being many more enjoyable marathons to run...I'll be back! | |
L. B. from St. Louis, MO
(10/8/2007)
"Gorgeous race with tremendous support" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Twin Cities Marathon was superbly run, even in the face of a record-setting hot start. There was plenty of water along the gorgeous course and the fan support rivaled Boston - it seemed like everyone in both Minneapolis and St. Paul was out watching the event. The course has rolling hills and a much-appreciated gradual decline to the finish overlooking the capital. It is a first-class race and I will definitely be back. | |
Ed Magarian from Minneapolis, Minnesota
(6/8/2007)
"Beautiful course and supportive fans" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run Boston, Las Vegas (the old and the new courses several times) and Grandma's Marathons, as well as Twin Cities (2007 will be my 12th Twin Cities Marathon). Twin Cities has fan support on par with Boston, but the course is more scenic than Boston's and you don't start off with rolling hills like in Boston or at 6 a.m. like Las Vegas. I come back every year because the organization is great, the volunteers supportive, and the sponsors generous. The only thing I would love to see TC do is to put runners in gates like in Boston so that you are really lined up with people going your pace. It would reduce congestion even for those of us who are in Wave 1. I run Wave 1 and it still amazes me the number of non-Wave 1 runners who sneak up front and clog up the road, slowing everyone down and creating an obstacle course at the beginning. Boston seems to be the only marathon that has solved this problem. | |
K. B. from Nebraska
(5/22/2007)
"Very Emotional" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I couldn't have asked for a better one. I ran cross-country in high school and thought that I would be prepared for it; it was a challenge for me but looking back it was something that has become a sort of addiction. Everyone was kind, including the high-fiving kids. I plan on running again this year, with more training under my belt. | |
N. B. from Kansas City, Missouri
(10/14/2006)
"A suprising spectrum of spectators" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 2nd marathon, and my 1st large marathon. Though I read realms of runners comments on marathons, there were lots of things that caught me by surprise and it's hard to sum it up in print. - I waited until half an hour before the race to line up, not knowing it would take 12 minutes to get outside from the stadium. I still don't have a clue how early I'll need to line up if I want to run with my pace group - a learning experience. - There was some talk of hills; but, I found this course tame compared to my other marathon. - I usually chat a lot with runners; but, I was drawn to the spectators in this race: the hundreds of children wanting "high fives"; the neighborhood cookouts/celebrations; the organized cheering business groups; the choirs; the bands-from rock to mariachis to strings, woodwinds, and brass - it was so much more then I was prepared for that I was overwhelmed. - With this vast sea of spectators cheering people on, I was least prepared for the emotion of it. I ran this race poorly, I started sick, made tactical errors of running too fast early and by 13 miles was reduced to figuring out a way to finish. So at the back of the pack, and five hours into it, spectators were still yelling to me, "You can do it," "You look great." I wasn't prepared for this much enthusiasm and if that wasn't enough, I then saw a teenage boy in a wheelchair cheering folks on between mile 25 and 26. I won't forget - I can't forget - the enthusiasm of the spectators. - The community of St. Paul/Minneapolis made this a memorable event despite that this will probably be one of my worst run races ever. | |
D. P. from Colorado Springs, Colorado
(10/10/2006)
"Fantastic Marathon!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third time to run the Twin Cities, and I must say that it was a marvelous experience. The crowd support was great, the course exceedingly beautiful, and the weather was fine. Thanks for adding more portable toilets, even though I did not have to use one. It was a tremendous event and I will be back in the coming years. Thanks, Twin Cities, for a great marathon. | |
A. H. from Mexico City
(10/9/2006)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 It is a great marathon, my second one; fantastic view, the hills at the end of the route were fun, incredible people cheering you all the way; I will do it again, and recommend it to everyone. | |
K. K. from Chicago suburb
(10/8/2006)
"Great race, even with the heat and hills" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I would have preferred it to be 40 degrees cooler - who knew it would be 80 in October? But, it is such a well-run race that I cannot complain - but all runners do when they do not hit the time they wanted. The race shirt (Brooks tech tee) was a great premium. I ran part of it with a first-timer and it was fun to cheer her on. | |
A. O. from Mexico City
(10/6/2006)
"JUST INCREDIBLE, ABSOLUTELY AWESOME" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and although I bought an injury just one week before the marathon, and suffered through the whole course, the spectators, course and the organization made it possible for me to finish. Absolutely impressive how they all cheer and supported me all the way. Thank you. For all runners, this is absolutely a must. | |
D. H. from eagan, minnesota
(10/6/2006)
"It really is the most beautiful urban marathon" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Once again, the Twin Cities proves to be the perfect place for a fall marathon. Sunny and crisp, 50 to 65 degrees. The two-tiered start worked well. Great fall colors. And i set a PR. I can't wait for 2007. |
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