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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 181 to 191]
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C. B. from Fort Benning, Georgia
(2/24/2005)
"Great!!!! Nice hills" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was the third half marathon that I have run since Halloween of 2004, Boston GA, Atlanta and Birmingham. I thought the support was great. The price was... well... not that wonderful. The suggested hotel was over-priced ($129 cheapest room). Baymont down the road was $49. The expo was very small compared to Atlanta. The water points were GREAT!!! The hills made the course very challenging. A lot warmer than Atlanta's 37 degrees during race. At the finish, no real direction signs to tell you that all the food, etc. was in a building by the starting line. Did not win the Mercedes, but do want to run it next year. Thanks for all the support. | |
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Mike Brooks from (Downtown) Danville, Maine
(2/23/2005)
"Tough course, excellent organization/volunteers" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There are two long hills on the course that make this a pretty tough course but the volunteers, plentiful and well stocked aid stations, and numerous enthusiastic spectators more than make up for hills. Around mile 21 or 22 it is either flat or downhill. The finisher's medal is really nice: large circular chrome finish 'Mercedes' emblem. You also get a finisher's shirt made of polyester-type material. The post-race massages are free and they are available until after the last runner finishes. The post-race food was excellent, along with plenty of beer. They had a drawing for a $37,500 Mercedes SUV that all runners who finished the marathon or half marathon were eligible to win! I have done 112 'different' marathons and think this race had the most quality extras of any race I have done, with just one exception. | |
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Tim Whitmire from Charlotte, NC
(2/22/2005)
"Not flat and fast, but a top-notch race" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great race. I was blown away by the strong organization, the spectator support and enthusiasm along nearly all of the course and the quality of the goodies. It was great to run a marathon in a mid-sized city where residents truly came out and cheered for the participants. Many miles were themed, with different neighborhoods and organizations competing to outdo each other; it was really awesome to have that kind of support and cheering all along the course. Everyone who made it to the starting line got the usual race T-shirt (featuring the race's attractive logo), while finishers got a distinctive finisher's medal (your own Mercedes emblem to hang around your neck -- my first piece of bling ever!) AND a black LS 'finishers' workout shirt made by Brooks (great for winter training). The post-race spread was a real barbecue meal and the awards ceremony was truly worth sticking around for, as one marathon or half-marathon finisher (sadly, not me) drove off with a new Mercedes M Class. No, it's not a flat and fast course, but since when does every marathon have to be? And in this case, the hill/mountain that you run over from 6-7 and again from 20-22 is one of Birmingham's most distinctive geographic features, so you're truly experiencing the city. Mercedes and the folks at The Track Shack in Birmingham have a race they can really be proud of. This was my 16th marathon and 15th state and I rank Mercedes as the best-run and best-supported mid-sized race I have participated in. Great job! | |
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Preston Pendergraft from Birmingham, AL
(2/22/2005)
"Here are my views" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Well this was my very first marathon. Overall I had a great time doing it. I ran it in 3hr 53mins, so I think that is pretty good. The course is hilly in two places. Once going up the expressway at around mile 7. This hill isn't too bad, constant grade for maybe a mile or a little more. The second hill comes after mile 20; it felt longer (also it's not a constant grade, it steepens, then flattens, then you go up again. Once you crest it you go downhill like a rocket though! Also from about 23-25 felt like a very gradual grade... My only complaint is the website, y'all need to keep it accurate, you shouldn't be doing updates 8 or 9 weeks out from the marathon... I understand some problems were outside of the race managements hands b/c of certification of the course issues... | |
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marcus teamcure.com from Buffalo
(2/18/2005)
"An enjoyable race" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 13th marathon run on the 13th of February so I knew it could be cursed, but it turned out to be a fine event. The rain held off and the temps were in the 50's, so it was good running weather. Road support was solid with some empty spots, but above average for a race this size. The expo was a bit small but appropriate for a race this size. You get a marathon long-sleeve shirt and a finisher's shirt along with a cool Mercedes finishing medal. Good post-race party with food and music and a Mercedes giveaway. I didn't stay, had to catch my plane, but I never win those things anyways. The course was a bit hilly but if you do hills it shouldn't be a big issue. If you don't like hills at all, I would probably look for a flat or downhill course. The course is safe as long as you run smart. I would recommend this course. I usually don't do the same marathon twice, but if I did and lived closer, I would definitely consider a repeat run. | |
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G. E. from New Jersey
(2/17/2005)
"Wonderful, well-organized friendly marathon" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am trying to do a marathon in all 50 states. This was state number 35 and the most enjoyable marathon I did so far in the US. I prefer rolling courses to flat poison - maybe that's why I loved this marathon. The people were friendly with well staffed tables. The medal was great and the Benz as a lucky draw was the cherry on the cake. One day, I want to come back to do this one again! | |
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s. k. from columbus, ga
(2/17/2005)
"challenging course, you earn your medal!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the half this year, and I have to say you EARN your bling at the end! It was the most challenging half marathon course I have run, but every once in a while you have to stop babying yourself with flat, downhill courses! Those hills were no joke at all! Needless to say, if you train right for it, you will be happy you ran it! The weather was decent, even with the rain, and the aid stations were great. I was expecting a little more crowd support though. The expo was good, and I really like the race long-sleeve, as well as the technical finishers shirt! All in all, while my body hated me for running it, I'm glad I did it and would recommend it to someone looking for a challenge! | |
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D. D. from Tempe, AZ
(2/16/2005)
"Good mid-size race that deserves to grow" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The Mercedes Marathon compares favorably to other mid-sized races I've run, such as Napa Valley and Cal International. The event is well organized. The race staff and volunteers are friendly and helpful. Marathon finishers received two shirts: a long-sleeve race t-shirt, and a long-sleeve Coolmax finisher's shirt, plus the distinctive Mercedes finisher's medallion. My understanding is that the organizers have tweaked the course every year. The 2005 edition had rolling hills, but nothing that I thought was unreasonably difficult. There was good crowd support. If you're in good shape, nothing will prevent you from running a good time, with proper pacing. Try to run even splits, hold something in reserve for the last hill that begins a bit past 19 miles, and you will be rewarded. Kudos to Valerie McLean and the race organizers for putting on a great race. | |
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C. M. from Pensacola, Florida
(2/15/2005)
"Where did they find MORE hills?" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Mercedes Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my fourth running of the Mercedes Marathon. The course was hilly the first two years, flattened a bit last year for the Men's Olympic Trials, but unbelievably somehow more hills than before were added to this year's course. I like a challenging marathon, but this was brutal. This marathon has always been a favorite, but was not up to par compared to previous years. No pasta dinner and movie; always a relaxing way to rest up for the next day (and I usually don't do pre-race pasta dinners). The traffic control also got bad for the slower runners. I was almost hit...once missed by mere inches just past a water stop and later going up a hill and saw the couple ahead of me almost get clipped by a car's mirror. What a suprise! I don't know how these cars got onto a closed street, but they did. Someone was not paying attention. The post-race food was great and also the excitement of watching the Mercedes being won... even though my name was not drawn! I am hoping that by next year a few hills are ironed out. | |
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S. W. from Atlanta, Ga
(2/15/2005)
"nice, small-town marathon" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Mercedes Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The run was pretty good. Weather cooperated (overcast in 50s, sprinkle for 5 minutes). Small crowds along route in certain sections to cheer, plenty of water, lemon Powerade, fruits. Hill @ 7 miles wasn't bad, but @ 20 miles was long, uphill along ridgeline. Once you reach the top, you can coast downhill for a couple of miles before the finish. The roads needed repair in certain sections (cobblestone, over train tracks). Nice post-race party (BBQ), concert. Two long-sleeve shirts, nice medal. |
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