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☰
Chicago Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Chicago Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 950 [displaying comments 771 to 781]
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F. V. from Austin, Texas
(10/13/2003)
"2003 Chicago Marathon Review" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran this year's marathon for the first time (my third overall marathon). The course was wonderful, the crowd was great... like running through a constant finish line that you would see at smaller marathons. The only negative was the water stops were spaced too far apart (there were only 17). It may not have been an issue, but the weather was very warm this year and it adversely affected my race. Another tip: don't stay at the Hyatt McCormack Place. It is a nice hotel and close to the expo, but it is a good distance from the start/finish, and there are no nearby services like restaurants, shopping or groceries. | |
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M. M. from MemphisTN
(10/13/2003)
"Absolutely perfect" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and I don't think I could have picked a better one. Fan support was amazing along all 26 miles. The course ran through some great neighborhoods, and it is a flat course. I will definitely be back and have no reservations about recommending it! | |
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R. M. from Chicago, IL
(10/13/2003)
"They heard us..." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run three Chicagos and this year they made three major improvements: 1. Eliminated the tunnel run under McCormick Place (because construction on Soldier Field ended and they can run us up the streets again). 2. Added more bathrooms. 3. Encouraged more crowds along the last three miles of the route. Chicago is fantastic! It's well organized with a huge expo and the entire city gets into it. | |
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Matthew Cutrona from Wilmington, Delaware
(10/13/2003)
"Simply Awesome" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This marathon was topnotch from beginning to end. The pre-race organization was great from email reminders, website updates and race correspondence. The expo was the biggest I've ever seen. With 40,000 registered runners, I expected it to be a chaotic nightmare. I was delightfuly surprised when it took less than a minute to get my race packet and another minute to get my goodie bag. Race day was awesome, with ideal weather conditions at the start, high 40's. It did get warmer than usual for Chicago by the end of the race. I was in the Preferred Corral and had no problem being in the front of the corral by arriving by 7:15. Once the race started, I was surprised that I was able to settle into my race pace right from the beginning, without having to dodge or jostle with other runners. The aid stations were adequately staffed throughout the course. The crowd was awesome - over 1 million spectators yelling and cheering all the runners. The crowds thinned down at some points during the race, mostly between miles 15-20, but there was always someone to cheer you on. And this course is FLAT, with only a slight incline at mile 21 and a small hill at mile 26. I ran a personal best of 3:31:03. The only thing that could present a problem is that I'm not sure if any other marathon can meet the experience of this one. This was my fifth marathon (first Chicago) and definitely the best. | |
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M. S. from Minneapolis, MN
(10/13/2003)
"Fantastic" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Chicago Marathon is a well organized, world-class event. Spectators galore. Thanks, Chicago. | |
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Paul Zavodnyik from Chicago
(10/13/2003)
"Too many runners/great organization" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third Chicago Marathon so I think I am getting the hang of them. It was unusually warm and sunny which resulted in many runners with medical problems. Sadly, one woman died after crossing the finish line. While this is a tragedy, it does not reflect the quality of the organization of this race. It could not be better. The only criticism I have is that there are too many runners. The path gets really crowded for the first third of the race. Unless you are an elite runner, you will have a hard time setting a PR here because there are too many people. But as big city races go, Chicago is topnotch. As a native Chicagoan, I am bored with the course, but a tourist will surely like it. | |
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Gary Reich from Washington, DC
(10/13/2003)
"Beautiful course, great supporters, well-run race." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon and one of two I am running this year. The 40,000-person entrant field honestly had me a bit worried about packet pick-up and logistics, all of which was unfounded. From packet pick-up to the starting area to the finish, this was a well-run and well organized marathon. The course was beautiful, flat (except for the finish hill, ugh!) and lined with entusiastic supporters. The course is also very fast (I posted my personal best). I only have two complaints (minor). 1. There are definitely not enough port-a-potties as evidenced by the hundreds of men (including myself) peeing throughout Grant Park before the start and at every turn for the first 6 miles of this race. I have seen more port-a-potties at marathons half this size. Since the police weren't locking people up for public urination, it didn't bother me, but it is something to consider for women. 2. If you are going to take a water/Gatorade break, get off to the side of the course please. There were people just walking in the middle of the course at each stop casually sipping on their water. Move to the side (be courteous to others). I nearly ran over two or three people who walked right in front of me. This is a great marathon - run it! | |
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Quintin Washington from Charleston, South Carolina
(9/15/2003)
"Run Chicago, sincerely!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Chicago is an absolutely amusing race! It is relatively flat, fast and definitely fun. Additionally, the city literally goes all out for this marathon: giving out drinks to everyone on North Michigan Avenue the day before the marathon, Niketown puts their sporting expertise to the test and caters to the marathon, and locals treat runners like loyalists. The expo is personally one of the best in the world! The city is amicable and there are a plethora of spectators out literally cheering you on - in the cold, needless to say. The experience I had was overwhelming and astonishing. I wish I could run it this year (2003), but essentially, I have SAT's to take. Next year: Chicago. My kinda town. Go Chi-town! I am going to live there one day, sincerely! Run Chicago everyone, sincerely! | |
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S. K. from Lansing, MI
(9/3/2003)
"Run this race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There is a reason Chicago is quickly becoming the best large marathon in America: it is awesome! Everything you could ask for in a first marathon or to make a charge at your PR are here: great weather, flat, scenic course, great fans, super organization. Registration was capped at 40,000 this year and still filled up with more than seven weeks to go. If you haven't done it yet, I urge you to give it a go. You won't be disappointed. | |
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D. K. from Connecticut
(7/28/2003)
"Very good, but not great..." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Overall this was a enjoyable marathon. The course really was pancake flat, and it's a great course for a PR (except for the crowds of runners in certain spots). The one disappointment to me was that over the last few miles, the crowd support really disappears, and mile 25 is pretty ugly through a long underpass. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't up to New York or Marine Corps. |
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