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Alpharetta Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Alpharetta Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 2.6 
Organization 3.4 
Spectators 2.1
Number of comments: 43 [displaying comments 41 to 43]
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L. C. from Atlanta, GA
(3/5/2007)
"OK for the inaugural event" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Alpharetta Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 If this marathon is to continue, there are a lot of changes to be made before next year. The "expo" was tiny and pretty well organized. First major complaint: you did not pick up your timing chip here with your race packet. You had to be at the race start between 5:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. to pick that up. People are always running late and there were runners pulling into the parking 5 minutes before the race start. I hope they were able to get their chip. There wasn't a lot of info in the race packet about the race, except this - that ALL 18 aid stations would have Gu. Not only did all 18 stations NOT have GU, I didn't see ANY aid stations with it. I just wonder how many other runners saw that and didn't bring anything because they thought it would be provided. Second major complaint: if you say you're going to provide GU for the runners, provide Gu for the runners! Other than that the stations were good, they all had plenty of water and Gatorade and a couple of them had peanut butter sandwiches. The little bit of info on the race website promised the course would be some of the most beautiful scenery in North Fulton County. Well, if they consider "beautiful scenery" to be running on 4- and 6-lane highways in and around strip shopping centers and mall parking lots, then we got it. This was probably the most lackluster course I have ever run. I know the area and the organizers could have come up with a better course. The abundance of hills did not bother me as much as the very boring course. This was also a very challenging course. The website boasted an 8-hour time-limit for the marathon. I finished in just over 5 hours and they were already starting to tear down the finish area. It was freezing at the finish (cold all morning) and there were NO Mylar blankets. I've run marathons in 90-degree heat that had mylar blankets; we really could have used them here. At the finish you were handed a bottle of water and your medal. So where is the rest of the food? UP another HILL (as if you had not run enough!) and into the parking lot for a few cookies and a warm Coke. If that was all they had left there was probably nothing left by the time the 7- and 8-hour finishers got there. They did the awards ceremony at noon. That's OK because I'm not going to win anything anyway. At the "expo" they said there were going to be door prizes that all runners were eligible to win - you just had to be present to win. I guess still running their marathon does not count as being present because by the time I finished (5+ hours) and hobbled my way up the hill to the parking lot where the prize drawings were, they were done!! All the prizes had been given out. They should have qualified their "need to be present to win" by stating that you need to be one of the fast runners because they're not going to wait around for the slow runners or check to see if you're still on the course. I live about 25 minutes from Alpharetta but IF this race continues I probably won't waste my time with it next year. I'll go to Little Rock or Virginia Beach instead. | |
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M. M. from Rock Hill, SC
(3/5/2007)
"Not bad for their first race" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Alpharetta Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 First, the good points: traffic control was superb, and the course was extremely challenging (all hills, all the time). Aid stations were well-spaced and well-supplied. Volunteers were numerous, helpful, and friendly. But then there were the things that could use improvement: the marathon advertisements promised GU at all aid stations, and there was none. Luckily I brought some just in case, but imagine the people who were counting on it - that could be disastrous to your marathon! Also, although I paid $75 to run this race, when I picked up my packet, they were out of my T-shirt size. I got stuck with a huge shirt. Why even request T-shirt size on the registration form if you're not going to use the information to buy enough of the correct sizes? The worst part was the "post-race party." It was 35 degrees with 15 mph winds - and the awards/party were outside. That's the last place you want to be after running 26 miles of hills in the cold wind. Marathoners need shelter at the end - or at least a Mylar blanket to block the wind (didn't provide that either). Next time, they need an indoor back-up location. Overall, they did a good job for their first shot at this. | |
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S. H. from Sandy Springs,Georgia
(3/5/2007)
"Tough, hilly course on a windy, cold day" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Alpharetta Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran this marathon with four training buddies as a warm-up/training run for ING Georgia in three weeks. First half of course winds through residential parkways and the city of Alpharetta with a fair number of spectators on a tough day. Second half was mostly on main thoroughfares, so fan support was sparse. Course was well marked with mile markers easily seen. Plenty of water and Gatorade at stations/with porta-potties, but no energy gels! One nice lady did have peanut butter and honey sandwiches at 8 and 21 miles - thanks! Packet pickup/registration was fine and start was easy to get to with plenty of free parking. Return bus shuttles ran on schedule. Nice finisher medal but a Mylar blanket at the finish should be standard on cold days. For $85 I would have expected a bit more at the finish area food-wise, other than cookies and Krispy Kreme. Highlight of the race were the highly enthusiastic volunteers and cool bands along the way - kudos to all! Overall, positive experience for an inaugural marathon. Would do it again, training schedule permitting. |
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