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Myrtle Beach Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Myrtle Beach Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 318 [displaying comments 151 to 161]
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h. n. from Maryland
(4/8/2007)
"Do organizers know what running means?" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Look, if you pay $60 to run a race, you expect at least the timing to be correct. Time markers where off and very confusing. This is a shame and people from Myrtle Beach should take care of this. Besides that, things were OK. I liked the beer at the finish line. This was great! Medal was also excellent. Course view was also nice. Running while looking over the ocean and palm trees is wonderful. One remark: The start time (6:30 a.m.) is extreme. Running in the dark and cold is not a pleasure.... Hey, Myrtle Beach is not New York, so traffic is not a big issue. Therefore starting time can be pushed to 7:30 or 8 a.m.... Otherwhise, it is a nice place to visit and run. | |
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Tracy Stewart from Colorado
(3/9/2007)
"GPS vs. Certification" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran this year and had a great time for me. The course is flat with a few long gradual grades, lending to fast times if there is no wind. I would come back for a last attempt to qualify if Myrtle Beach wasn't so hard to get to from Colorado. I didn't have any of the problems other runners are complaining about in terms of a crowded start - with a marathon, half marathon and a relay, you need to expect a larger start then with just the marathon. The race handled it well with using both sides of the road then merging after the start. Yes, miles 1, 2 and 3 were off. Mile 1 was a little long, which made Mile 2 seem short. The distance for Mile 2 was in the correct spot. Mile 3 was in the wrong location on the road - I saw the correct marking about 200 M later. I wasn't monitoring my mile splits because of the clocks every two miles so I can't vouch for any other miles. I do know that the even mile markes with the clocks were in the correct places based on my splits at those points. In response to the comment saying the the GPS for the course was 26.62 miles. GPS is not a acceptable method of certifying a course per USATF guidelines. There is too much error involved with the GPS. The courses are certified on the most likely path that a runner would take within the limits of the road. We had one lane for much of the course, so when the course was certified, they had to trace the path that the runners would take within that lane. Also, they certify for the lead runners, not the middle- or back-of-the-packers. That makes a huge difference in terms of how far you really run. If you don't cut the corners right or use the tangents, then you will be running longer then the marathon distance. And that's not the fault of the organizers. | |
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F. W. from Melbourne, FL
(3/6/2007)
"Cool, flat course - good for PR" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Expo was fun. Enjoyed the pasta dinner. Needed more organization at the start line. Walkers started up front and were almost trampled to death. Other than that, a good race. Well marked. Plenty to drink at the aid stations. Temps were a little cool; made it good for running. Very gentle gradients. Enjoyed the post-party at House of Blues. Everything in M-Beach was closed for the winter. Interesting to see a resort town closed for business. | |
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K. H. from Virginia
(2/26/2007)
"Great course; mile markers COMPLETELY OFF" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The course was surprisingly interesting for a flat course - lots of turns and loops to mix it up. The mile markers, however, were COMPLETELY OFF. Out of 26, I'd say at least four or five were off by as much as a quarter mile, and for someone trying to qualify for Boston, this was a big deal. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE. Even though I liked the course I will NEVER run this race again. | |
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M. s. from Maryland
(2/23/2007)
"Great Marathon, Great Expo, Great PR Party" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race was a real joy from beginning to end. Major kudos to the race organizers! It was my first time in Myrtle Beach, but not my last. Cool tech. tee, great medal, super expo, and fantastic post-race party. This is not the continual big-city hype of Baltimore or Philly. But I like the intermittent serenity mixed with pockets of cheering supporters. All thumbs up for this great event. Thanks. | |
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S. D. from North Carolina
(2/23/2007)
"Wonderful PR/BQ Course" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Myrtle Beach Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the marathon. I really like the size of this race, which is boosted by combining the half and full. Sure, it starts slow due to the lack of corrals and combination of race distances and runners' experiences. But it thins out much more quickly than a mega marathon. Posting expected pace signs could help the flow. Finish times would not help since it is a combination of the full and half. The aid stations were comfortably set after the mile markers so you could hit the split and be ready for fluids. Volunteers were great that chilly morning. The police did an outstanding job stopping traffic just in time. The temperature was perfect for me: 26F at start and about 40 with a breeze at the finish. The long straight bit, slightly uphill, into the wind, from miles 21-24, was a nice challenge. My ONLY complaint is the accuracy of the mile markers. Some were spot on and others way off. I just used GPS pacing and was able to hit my first BQ! (Thank you Myrtle.) This event was very well organized and I got to park near the start and stay warm in the car! | |
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S. M. from Charleston,SC
(2/23/2007)
"Nice, fast, small race" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I chose this race due to its location (close to home) and the fact that it's flat. It's not a terribly scenic course, but then again, unless you are standing on the beach, Myrtle Beach isn't the prettiest place either. I didn't necessarily like the fact that we were running on a busy road with traffic, but it wasn't horrible. The volunteers and police did a great job of monitoring the traffic so I never felt in danger of getting hit by a car. The course itself is a pretty fast course. Flat, with a few "hills" in the second half. The weather was perfect this year - cool and sunny - so it was easier to run it well. The second half was a little windy, which could have been a problem if it had increased, but that can happen at any race. As far as race logistics, I read the race guide the night before and knew that 21st was going to be closed, so I opted for 29th instead and had no problems. I have several small complaints: 1. Signage - it was available but placed on the ground, so if you weren't walking toward what you were looking for, you wouldn't be able to find it. For example: sweat drop off and pick up. A map of the start and finish areas would have been helpful. Also, my GPS clocked the course as 26.62 - 1/4 mile too long. I read another review that had a similar experience. No one wants to run one step over 26.2! Overall, a great experience. The pace groups were a nice surprise and helped me beat my goal time by 6 minutes. Boston here I come! | |
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M. K. from West Virginia
(2/22/2007)
"Recommend" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Very well organized. Flat, fast course. PR-possible if you can avoid the congestion within the first several miles (full and half marathons start together). Plenty or food and refreshments (beer) at the end. Vehicle traffic not too bad on the course - but need to be alert. Running in the far right lane for lengthy periods can cause knee issues, but I doubt a course modification to correct this is feasible. Anyway, I recommend this race and will likely return in 2008. | |
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D. B. from Chattanooga TN
(2/21/2007)
"Great first-time marathon!" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Chose this for my first marathon due to its being flat and cool. Turned out flat and cold - but warmed up nicely. Walkers and slow runners clogged up the start, and this needs to be addressed. Consider having the water and juice lines better marked. Just small things to consider at a well-run marathon. I highly recommend it. | |
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M. A. from Waynesboro, Virginia
(2/21/2007)
"Fun Race" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Myrtle Beach Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The Myrtle Beach Marathon has a lot of pluses to it. The idea of having the start at a location (Coastal Federal Field/Broadway at the Beach) where there is ample parking is good. The course is not too bad - the marathon had a few inclines (I hestitate to call them hills) that helped relieve some muscle aches. Seemed to be plenty of port-o-potties at the start - I only waited a minute or two for one. Ending location was good - lots of good food, music and free beer! Course volunteers were plentiful and enthusiastic. Crowd was a little sparse, but probably reasonable for a cold (early) morning in a resort town. Overall, kudos to the organizers and volunteers. Post-race party at House of Blues was also enjoyable - got there in time for free food and beer but avoided the lines at the beginning. Things for improvement? Definitely need some better order in the starting area - got caught behind lots of walkers and slow runners. Took a good two miles to sort that out. The run is now large enough for corrals or some method of establishing starting order. Overall, good job, nice course and looking forward to next year! |
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