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☰
Houston Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Houston Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.6
Number of comments: 365 [displaying comments 201 to 211]
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M. C. from Nashville, TN
(7/16/2006)
"Good Mid-Size Marathon" (General Comments)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Houston Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is one of my favorite marathons for several reasons. One, it is a loop course, so you don't have the logistics of a different starting point from end point. Second, the number of runners is large enough to be very challenging but small enough to run your own race after the first few miles. This is also one of the flattest marathons you will ever run. It is also close to sea level. Most years it is warmer than I like for marathoning. Oddly enough, however, one year I experienced the the coldest marathon I have ever run in - freezing rain. What an experience! I recommend this marathon to everyone. | |
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W. R. from Houston, Texas
(5/5/2006)
"AWESOME!!!! THE BEST MARATHON!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Houston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my favorite marathon. Awesome course for first-time marathoners. Awesome fan support. The bands are great. | |
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Erin Collins from Cumming, GA, USA
(4/30/2006)
"What a crowd! What a race!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Houston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second running of the Houston Marathon. I am originally from the area and still have family there. I wanted to run to raise money for the Houston Area Parkinson's Society and the organizers make it very easy with the Run for a Reason section of their website. The new wave-start was terrific. It was much less cramped on the course. The best part of this race is the fans. They are everywhere and they are excited. The fact that your racing bib has your name on it is great because you are cheered for by name! This is really motivating. The course is concrete, which is a little tough on the legs, but all of Houston is concrete, so what are you going to do? Great freebies for your fee - an entry shirt, a finisher's technical shirt, a mug, a hot meal, a medal, a certificate. Most freebies of any of my previous races. Overall, a great time. I highly recommend this for first-timers because of the supportive fans and volunteers. | |
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J. M. from Dallas
(3/22/2006)
"First-Timer" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did the half marathon in Houston a couple of years back and decided that if I were to ever do a full one, this would be my first. The fans were GREAT. They really helped push me through and not walk. I recommend this one to anyone. My time was not good, but I finished, and that was my goal. :) | |
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Barry Oliphant from Albuquerque, NM
(2/25/2006)
"Most enjoyable experience - very nice." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 4th marathon, including Boston last year. The other two were small, fewer than 1000 runners. Well, I stayed at the Hilton, even though I have relatives fairly close. So, I ended up showing up at the starting corral early, i.e. on-time, and did not have any problems warming up and moving up toward the 3:20 group. As for the packet pick-up, they're all a little different - I don't remember being frustrated or confused. I pick my battles - this was no problem for me, or for my wife who was doing a 5K for the first time. We went at about 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and the crowd was thinning out I guess. Piece of cake. The only thing I remember complaining about was the amount of concrete on the course, virtually all of it. I did feel some leg fatigue toward the end of the race. I'm not sure what can be done in the short run - it's not easy to change and secure a new course. As for myself, I will opt for light trainers next time instead of standard racing flats. This was a PR for me, so although the concrete was hard, the course still holds a lot of potential for good racing. It was a 5-minute PR for me over Dallas, and 8 minutes faster than Boston. I will be back again! | |
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R. G. from Caldwell, Idaho
(2/21/2006)
"This was an overall great experience for me." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I chose Houston as my eighth marathon, seventh State, partly because I have family living in the area and it was rated well as a January event. I found it to be a wonderful experience, especially since I was really on my own, with no running buddies or personal cheering sections on the sidelines. The organizational aspects were wonderful, easy time through packet pick-up and to the start of the race. Getting into the corrals was tough; we ended up cutting through an undesignated area due to time constraints (porta-pottie lines got us to the start late). The course was all city and concrete, but the community members on the sidewalks provided good distraction. Having our names on our bib numbers encouraged spectators to cheer for us by name. This had more of a positive effect on me than I had expected. :) Using the convention center afterwards allowed space to calm down out of the sun and crowds, opening up the space quickly. I did not eat the breakfast offered, but enjoyed the water and ice-cream. I also like the finisher mug. I can use it on a regular basis and remember the accomplishment (whereas the medal is hung up out of sight). I have received my personal results in a variety of formats; email updates, postcard, and summary email. My sister, who did not come to the race, was able to watch the video of the finish line and pretend she was there. | |
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D. L. from Houston, Texas
(2/10/2006)
"Definitely a good race" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Houston Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second Houston Marathon; the last one was in 1997. They haven't changed the course much, if at all. There was a tremendous amount of fan support, and it was very organized, with good food at the end and plenty of refreshments on the course, and it was a fairly flat course overall. I would highly recommend it. Only problem is Houston can be freezing or hot - you just never know in January. | |
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M. M. from SJ, CA
(2/8/2006)
"Running on concrete with potholes!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Houston Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my 14th marathon and by far the worst ever. The concrete surface was bad enough, but add to that numerous potholes. I know of 4 people that fell and I'm guessing there are more. My friend fell because someone fell on top of her. After a warm, humid marathon I didn't enjoy being led into a stuffy convention center. I started to wait in line for the breakfast, but the line didn't seem to be moving. I picked up my shirt and mug and had to ask where you could get water. After going into the restroom I felt the need for air. The closest door was the one we entered. A very rude volunteer would not allow me to just get a breath of air. I was led to the medical area when all I desperately needed at the time was fresh air. Most of the fans were supportive. I remember one woman banging on a drum just before mile 12 yelling, "You're almost there!" I know her heart was in the right place, but get real! The results that were posted were great - it was amazing how they compared you to others in the race. I wouldn't recommend this race mainly because of the course and the possibility of very warm weather. | |
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Ralph Eccleston from Houston Texas
(1/29/2006)
"Outstanding! Fast, Flat, Super Crowd!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Houston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is the third year I've run this course. Super organization from registration to post-race party! The course is super fast and a humid Texas-sized welcome along every mile. Come on, what are you waiting for? | |
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S. M. from Palomas, Mexico
(1/23/2006)
"Great event, better than expected" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my fith marathon and I finally broke the 4-hour mark, by far, finishing in 3:46. The expo was great and also the package pick-up process. Exhibitors and goodie bags, plentiful. The program gives you enough information about the race. This is a loop course that gives you the oportunity to stay in a downtown hotel and walk to the start line and back in minutes. On race-day, a few delays in the porta-potties and baggage check, but good on the whole. The couse is great despite it being mostly on concrete. It's 90% flat - really flat. Running along the university campus and Galleria Mall district is very scenic. Spectators along the course were a great source of support; there were music bands, belly dancers, and close to the half-marathon mark there was a Catholic church where the priests were on the street blessing you with holy water. Really nice. Reception was super, full hot breakfast, ice cream, quality finisher's t-shirt, more goodies, and there was plenty of room inside the convention center to meet your family and friends. Overall, a great experience, Texas size, a great marathon if you are looking for a PB. I´m sure I´ll come back soon. |
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