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☰
Mercedes Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Mercedes Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 267 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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C. J. from Louisiana
(2/11/2008)
"Well done marathon!!!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great marathon - well done in all respects. But the hills I could do without; they were brutal to me and my knees. Enjoyed the weekend and the run. Got to visit old friends who live in Birmingham. Just be ready for the hills!!!!!!!!! | |
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R. F. from Warren, MI
(2/11/2008)
"Evil Course and yet I almost PR'd!!!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 First off... WOW, it was nice to get out of the COLD weather Michigan was having and Birmingham, Alabama was PERFECT weather for running!!! Course: 4 stars. Beautiful scenery and nice running in many parts of the Birmingham area! Loved the bike path portion of the race! Although, I think the race director is a bit sadistic with that dang hill from mile 21-23... OMG, that was ROUGH!!! I thought the finishing area and keeping the halfers on one side and the fulls on the other side was BRILLIANT!!! Other race directors need to take note of that!!! Organization: 5 stars. No problems from my end on anything! From packet pickup the day before, to race start and finish... it was SMOOTH SAILING! KUDOS! Spectators - 4 Stars (4.5 is more accurate). Whenever they were present, they were cheering LOUDLY! Thanks to the Birmingham locals for all their support! In General: Well-run race from start to finish. Even though it was a spring marathon and there were all of those hills involved, I came very close to a PR. That in itself was a thrill! Improvements: The expo could have been bigger or at least had more vendors. Also, massage therapists at the expo would have been a nice touch. Also, at the end of the race there was Plenty of water and PowerAde... but where were all the post-race snacks (I ran in the 3:30's and there was no food left)???? The slower folks must have been really upset! Post-Race: The post-race meal was good, but not very filling after 3 1/2 hours of hard work and a few "ROLLING" hills!!! Excellent Southern hospitality and everyone I met on the course and before and after the race was EXCEPTIONAL! Love the medal. I will recommend this to my local running club as a must-do!!! GREAT JOB, BIRMINGHAM!!!! | |
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W. K. from Atlanta
(2/11/2008)
"Well done!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 After running an almost perfect 7-min. pace through 20 miles, I proceeded to finish with a 53-min. last 10K. That would have been okay had I not been passed at mile 22 by a goateed man wearing a strapless black dress (no, I am not kidding). He had the black spring hat to match; imagine a very fit Corporal Klinger! This is a very well run event, with plenty of traffic control, cheering fans, well-stocked aid stations and Southern hospitality. If not for a two-mile hill at mile 21, it would be the perfect race! They also did a very good job of separating the 1/2 marathon walkers from the marathon runners so that everyone had a clear path to the finish. | |
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B. Z. from Roswell, GA
(2/10/2008)
"Hilly but well done!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Mercedes Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the half this year. I have run the 1/2 or full for the past few years. Even though it is not the fastest course or the most scenic - for sure - it comes at a good time of year for a spring marathon training run and it is easy to get to from Atlanta and many other Southeastern U.S. cities. Two shirts, a cool medal, good food and free beer! Also the expo, start and finish lines are all at the same place. Very convenient logistics. | |
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GAYLA FRITH from TUSCALOOSA,ALABAMA
(11/1/2007)
"WOW!!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 THIS WAS MY FIRST FULL MARATHON AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.AFTER RUNNING AND FINISHING . I FELT AS IF I COULD ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING!!!! I LOOK FORWARD TO THE 2008 MARATHON. | |
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Cam Hope from New York, NY
(4/16/2007)
"Tough course, but great marathon." (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first Mercedes Marathon, and I was very impressed with the organization, atmosphere, pre- and post-race amenities, and the folks of Birmingham who took the time to come out and support the runners. This isn't a course for trying to set any personal bests - the course has some really difficult climbs, the hardest at around Mile 23 - but it is scenic, interesting, and finishes right downtown where it starts, adjacent to the post-race events. Best of all - this is a well organized "smaller-sized" race, which is great. Compared to running the huge races (like NYC) this was a real pleasure... or as much a pleasure as running 26.2 miles could ever be! | |
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t. b. from USA
(3/11/2007)
"Great event" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I read that people did not get food, but I saw tons of people that finished went home and came back and ate before they gave away the car. They had tons to drink for sure. The course does have hills.... They are big and steep both directions. Sorry that races can't seem to keep food until the course closes - the slow people need food more than the quicker people - and I hate to say it, but if you take more than five hours you must be used to rest stops being picked over and no food being left if there is any distance shorter than a marathon. Not saying that just because it happens a lot means that it is right... but get over it. The rich get richer. There was food for most of us... just not the late finishers, as the shorter races and faster people went home, showered, changed, and came back for the drawing. | |
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J. E. from Ellicott City, MD
(3/7/2007)
"B'mngham hills & balloon lady will TRAIN YOU!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Expo/pickup were easy (in and out), with a nice bag and gifts. Was asked about those gloves the following week in Myrtle Beach. I got the best training one could have... those HILLS and balloon lady behind me 2 miles before finish with my legs cramping like mad. Made me finish sooner than I expected! First in my age group! Will get the award when it's sent. First race of the season after doing mainly walking in London for nearly 3 months. Hills were quite challenging. BUT on the first ones, there was music coming from a drum line band on one side, and as I approached top of the hill, I heard a jazz sax that I was sure was a recording because the solo was so long! IT WAS LIVE JAZZ! What a treat. Had to applaud the group. Saw lots of variety in area including very neat and clean shopping center, some restaurants that had been recommended by volunteers, a park with campers and some fancy houses. Very friendly volunteers and homeowners who had treats also. I'm generally starving during the last few miles, so I welcome most anything edible. Food after the race?? I'm used to it. Ate coleslaw, bananas and chips. No point in complaining, as some did who ran and finished much faster, THEN went off and showered before coming back for food. Unlike C.M. from FL, I didn't know where to go later, as I headed to the airport and was sooo hungry. Settled for sandwich from Arby's. Good support along the course. Though I kept wondering what people were talking about when they'd say to me, "Are you the blue lady?" - when my outfit was purple with red print. Finally figured out they were saying "balloon lady." What little I saw of Birmingham made me know that I want to come back and visit the city. I'm a new 50-stater with 14 states done and this the first time I've decided I want to come back and visit, perhaps breaking my streak of doing states just once to get my 50 completed. Loved the friendly people and all the history that I've read about, and now must experience through the museums and other cultural opportunities. Thank you Birmingham, ALABAMA! Oh, another funny. I flew back after the race. On the plane, sat next to and chatted with a marathoner - younger and quite experienced. When I got ready to get off the plane, my legs wouldn't move. Attendant asked if I'd like a wheelchair. I laughed and said no. He explained that I'd just done marathon and helped with my bag. Pain, pain. Well, the Good Lord saw to it that I'd rest after this venture because my "stomach flu" hit on hard on Tuesday and I forgot about the muscle pain! I rested! Was able to do Myrtle Beach on Sat. because I had lots of time. "Keep moving" works! Lesson learned - next time, stay overnight and visit city you're in. Enjoy! | |
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R. C. from Tennesssee
(2/27/2007)
"Nice weather this year, but no medals left" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Mercedes Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Would like to have medal #5, but those are the breaks if you refuse to use credit and have to pay cash at the expo ($80 for a small, city half - ouch). | |
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J. M. from San Antonio, Texas
(2/25/2007)
"Good Marathon in a Nice City to Visit" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The Mercedes Marathon was my ninth, and although the hills were a challenge, my finish time was only a couple of minutes slower than expected. The course organization was very good. Lots of volunteers and water stations. You may want to note that PowerAde was the sports drink. Later in the race, volunteers were handing out bananas and oranges. The post-race event was a big disappointment. I took a shower at the YMCA (nice touch) and went back to enjoy the BBQ. As previously stated in other postings, they ran out. To make it worse, there were four or five people in front of me. There was also no place to sit, with all the tables taken. I left tired, hungry, and frustrated. I enjoyed the scenery of the course. There was a nice variety that included trail, city and residential. I think this is the first marathon where I have actually run in a mall's parking lot. I believe there were 2,500 1/2 marathoners and 690 marathoners. This was a little odd because it felt like I was running alone when the course split at mile nine. This could have impacted the BBQ fiasco. Although there were some spectators in the residential areas, don't expect many on the course past mile nine. In summary, I am glad I went to Birmingham. If you like to see other cities as I do when running, this is a great place to visit. |
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