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Columbus Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Columbus Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 333 [displaying comments 261 to 271]
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j. d. from columbus
(3/13/2004)
"Great spectators, nice course, sub-par management" (about: 2003)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I've run Columbus four times and three of the four of have been very good experiences. In 2003, however, despite perfect weather, there was something missing that had been there previously. I don't know if there is a new 'management' or what but here are a few things that had me scratching my head: The medals were square and ugly. Runner 'goodie' bags had pain relievers and stimulants! What? it was a humorous point that many people I noticed were joking about at the expo. It appeared that there were less volunteers and in fact less spectators as well. Who ever is managing this race will need to turn it around or I'll be going to Akron next year. | |
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R. W. from Ohio
(3/5/2004)
"Race Organization Is Terrible" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 Columbus fans are great and the course is very nice. However, do not expect anything from the race organization. Let's start with the results. Do not expect timely or accurate results. In 2002 and 2003 they had many, many problems with the results. Worse than any race I've ever run, chip-timed or not. Let's talk about amenities. The shirts are nice if they have the size you asked for. They ran out of my size. The medals are pathetic, a big metal square. Let's talk about the lack of port-a-johns at the start. Nothing like standing in line for 20-30 minutes for a port-a-john. Thousands of runners were forced to relieve themselves on the downtown office buildings. I'd hate to work in one of those buildings Monday morning. The marathon organizers need to hire a marathon runner for their staff, somebody who's run with the masses. These guys don't have a clue. But the course is nice and the spectators are very, very supportive. If you can overlook the poor organization, it's an average marathon. | |
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J. H. from columbus
(3/5/2004)
"Customer Service is VERY POOR" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Columbus Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 They have a nice course in Columbus and if the weather is good as it was in 2003 the fans are very supportive, especially in the downtown area. The race directors, though, don't care about the runners. 1. The results are not accurate and every day for a full two weeks my ranking fell. Ridiculous. 2. The race directors do not reply to runner emails regarding awards - I was an award winner - at least according to the results as of 10/31. 3. I just received my results book and now I'm a full 25 places lower than I was on 10/31. How does that happen? 4. The paid race staff is rude and not very helpful. They ran out of shirts, even though I'd pre-registered. They eventually told me they'd send one. I'm still waiting. This race has a nice course and good fans, but the directors are going to ruin it. | |
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J. D. from Midwest
(2/20/2004)
"OK - but customer service and dinner VERY poor" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 We decided on the Columbus Marathon because it was within reasonable driving distance - 7 or 8 hours. The marathon itself was OK - but no big deal. However, the customer service by race staff was VERY POOR. Beginning with our initial questions - minor but reasonable. We e-mailed the race staff with a question about runners starting with the walkers - with never a reply, so just dropped the issue... The pasta dinner was very bad and definitely over-priced. I don't expect great cuisine at these things, but for $12 I do expect more than watery pasta and catering staff guarding the food to prevent seconds on dessert. The final problem came after the race. We had a 7-hour drive home, so we left as soon as we were both done. In reviewing the results, we noted that my companion had placed high in an age group - so contacted the race about the award. After repeated attempts to get even an acknowledgment of this issue, we have given up. I guess I would have expected some contact - if only to say 'you snoozed, you lost'. Considering that this race has a great deal of sponsor dollars and paid staff, I would think that at least one of them could be assigned to communicate with individual runners. We both volunteer (in all capacities) for many races - so I rarely comment on the problems of other races. However, in this case the direct comments to race staff have not even been acknowledged. | |
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P. R. from Ohio
(1/26/2004)
"Columbus IS a Boston Qualifier..." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I ran the Columbus Marathon in 1999 (the 20th Anniversary) and found it a fast, fairly flat, uncongested course. Looking for a Boston qualifying time, I felt comfortable in picking this marathon in order to accomplish that goal... and did so very easily. They have reversed the direction of the course from 1999, but it was of no consequence whatsoever. The finish line has much improved over 1999. It was much easier to get to the fluids and food. Keeping the spectators out of the area helped finishers take care of their immediate needs. The finisher's medal was not as nice as the 1999 medal. The old medal was shaped like the state of Ohio. This year's was a fairly generic square piece of metal. The finishing times were posted incorrectly and continued to change daily for the four days following the marathon, which was a bit disconcerting since I started out as a 2nd place finisher in my age group and fell to 3rd place on the fourth day after the marathon. As of this date, I have still not received my award for my 3rd place age group finish. I can just imagine what other age group winners must think... especially those from out of state and new to this marathon. I have contacted the Race Director twice regarding the estimated delivery date. Both times I was given a date 4 weeks from my inquiry. My concern is that there may be some financial difficulty endangering the future of a very good marathon; one that has been listed in the top ten for a U.S. marathon. I'd hate to see it go the way of the Washington D.C. Marathon. Especially since I plan to run it again as a Boston Qualifier and a place to PR. | |
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J. B. from Carey,Ohio
(1/17/2004)
"Great course and great fans" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Columbus Marathon is one great marathon to run. Columbus is a very beautiful city. Great restaurants to eat at, very friendly people, fans along the whole course to help cheer you on. The finish line is awesome. | |
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K. A. from Indianapolis, IN
(1/6/2004)
"A Wonderful Experience" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 It was my first marathon and I loved every minute of it. The crowds were fantastic! Support was good on the course. About the only negative thing I could say is that walkers were allowed to start an hour early and had to walk on the sidewalk for the first hour. Several hundred people jostling for position in the dark on a sidewalk was a little unnerving. Since it was so early with no traffic, I don't understand why they couldn't open up one lane of the street. But I do appreciate the fact that walkers are welcome and it was awesome to be up front when the elite runners came through. Would I do this one again? YOU BET! | |
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J. H. from Col. OH
(1/6/2004)
"Overall an enjoyable race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have been a competitive runner and multi-sport athlete for 17 years, which gives me some experience to base my comments. I had an open marathon course (2:31), but can see how some of the side streets would get very congested with the large number of runners. Flat is a relative term and the course was not as flat as they seem to hype, but it is by no means hilly. Of the thousands of races I have competed in, I have never seen an available porta-potty around race time, so I don't see those complaints as warranted. The spectators were sparse in the stretch of the course from mile 12 to 19 but I've never been one to complain about a race because of the lack of spectators; rather I am grateful when there are a lot of spectators at a race. | |
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S. D. from Farmington New Mexico
(12/15/2003)
" Nice city and course!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 My first time in Columbus this year. The course is very fast and a PR course for sure. Two people in my group PR'd and BQ'd. The city is beautiful and very clean. The volunteers were friendly and helpful. I will be back next year (I've already registered). Only negative was running out of medals for some finishers. Other than that, A+. | |
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J. V. from Florida
(12/11/2003)
"Great overall marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I had a great experience at the Columbus Marathon. I have run many, many marathons over the last twenty years and this is one of the better ones. The course they use now is much better than the past one, and there were plenty of spectators. This is not NY, Chicago, or LA, spectators are in direct relationship to the number of people running. Aid stations were plentiful and stocked well. I was disappointed with the T-shirt and they did run short, but I did receive a shirt by mail later. I think this is a good PR course - lots of people to run with, but not crowded, and flat with the exception of a few minor hills which help break up the course. The downtown location is great, many places to eat and drink. I look forward to running this marathon in the future. |
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