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Buffalo Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Buffalo Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.8 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 315 [displaying comments 181 to 191]
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K. L. from Buffalo
(12/7/2006)
"my first & second half-marathon" (General Comments)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Buffalo Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I originally chose the Buffalo Marathon for my first half marathon because I'm from Buffalo. It's a fast course but there isn't a lot of spectator support! When there is, it's usually in Delaware Park and at the finish line. I have only experienced perfect weather on race day, but I love the heat! It is hard to adapt to though, considering that the majority of training is done in mild spring weather. My only suggestion would be to get more of a crowd! Buffalo has a GREAT community and there is no reason more people can't come and show their support. | |
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S. N. from Wakefield, West Yorks, England
(7/2/2006)
"VERY HOT AND POOR COURSE MARSHALLING" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I traveled from the UK to run this race after a good run at London, and was looking forward to a good run on a flat course. Mixed views on this race. The expo was a little disappointing as in stores, etc. - more just a collection point. However, the staff were helpful, friendly and welcoming. Pasta party was a good value for money - well organized and a good meal. Race day... where to start? A false start to the race (what is that about?!?!), then off I set in the lead pack to be sent the wrong way in the first 2 miles, before losing control of my pacing, as the mile posts were the wrong way, and I had to run into the rest of the mararthon field who had been sent the right way. I then spent the next 10 miles running on my own as the field spread out; the heat kicked in and that started to take it's toll. There was lots of water, etc. on the course - can't moan there - but on three to four occasions, marshals forgot to tell me to turn left/right as I carried on a good few yards down the wrong way before being told I had gone wrong. Frustrating and time consuming. The course itself is flat and fast, but crowd support is spread out - there are long periods with very little support, although there are pockets of strong support to lift you. I would recommend the race and hope the organizers learn their mistakes from this year's course errors (for example, putting up a few signs to tell runners where to turn and having a few more alert marshals would be appreciated and would go a long way). The heat was the biggest factor of the day - sadly that can't be controlled, which is great for spectators in the park, though awful for the runners. I had a bad run and was hoping for a much better time than I got. I have good friends in Buffalo and would run this race again. Lastly, the website could do with a face lift as a lot of info on it is old and appears to only have the years and date of race changed. | |
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A. S. from Kensington, MD
(6/10/2006)
"1st Time Half Marathon at Buffalo 2006" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed the 2006 Buffalo Half-Marathon, my first 1/2 marathon ever! Having read 2005 reviews, I wasn't expecting that much, including any food at the stations (I carried my own), good course directions, or much crowd support (mainly due to lack of publicity, as the people of Buffalo are the warmest and friendliest around). However, I was pleasantly surprised overall. It definitely was uncharacteristically warm and humid (in the mid 60s and 1 hour into it, low to mid 70s), but the crowd support WAS wonderful (hoses, candy, oranges, etc. and more folks out than I expected), the course was clearly marked, the police provided good traffic control, and the announcer saying your name and hometown at the finish was great! I was proud to come back to Buffalo and run a very pretty, VERY flat course through Kenmore, Delaware Park, past the Albright Knox Art Gallery etc. The only hilly parts were a bit through the park and right after the Knox. In fact, the last 2-3 miles are downhill! For $35, I think the easy packet pick-up, nice cotton T-shirt, Gatorade and water at the stations every 2 miles, and food and water available at the finish and in the post-race party were great. I would suggest to the organizers the following: - more publicity to get Buffalonians out and cheering - closing off the streets better for the marathoners behind us half-ers - energy snacks at the water stations - a listing of restaurants and attractions for out-of-towners to highlight Buffalo and its offerings I thought for a small-city marathon it was quite good overall and has great potential, especially for the price. When I told him, my husband, who has run several elsewhere, agreed with me. I'm definitely thinking about Buffalo 2007! | |
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S. C. from USA
(6/8/2006)
"We loved it!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My husband and I have been running marathons and half marathons all over the country from small to large, and we can safely say this was one of the best. We had none of the problems mentioned below, and thought the volunteers and spectators were fantastic. Neither traffic nor directions were a problem. There was food at the finish line - fruit for sure. We thought the FREE pasta party the night before was great, and the after-party was light and casual. We would certainly run this marathon again. | |
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C. S. from Beavercreek Ohio
(6/8/2006)
"Low entry fee, but you get what you pay for." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I was initially attracted to Buffalo by the low entry fee and ability to sign up at the last minute. Overall, I would have to describe the event as "rinky-dink." If you want a first-rate marathon, pay the first-rate price and go somewhere else... really. Positives: - Great pre-race dinner included with entry fee - Easy access to the start and parking - Flat, fast course (if it's not hot!) - Check-in was accurate and efficient Negative: - False start at a marathon? You gotta be kidding me! - Leaders off-course before the second mile? Are you serious? Where was the course worker at this major intersection? This was extremely frustrating. I went with the leaders. The first half of the pack went one way and the second half went the other (right) way. Shouts of "you're going the wrong way!" are not what you want to hear when you are shooting for a PR. Found out later it was a loop, but could not dial in my pace until after mile 4 because mile markers were set for the other direction. - Organizers, you NEED BETTER COURSE MARKING! Put a little paint on the street at the turns or put out more signs!!! - Very little crowd support if you want/need that sort of thing. - No real expo, just a couple of vendors. - Two medical folks at the finish didn't seem like enough to me... especially on a hot, humid day. - Not particularly scenic if you like that sort of thing. - Post-race food was definitely lacking; looked like my local 5K... cut up bananas and oranges. Other stuff: - Stayed at the Holiday Inn one mile from the start/finish and it was excellent; very understanding about a late check-out so I could grab a shower before heading home. - Heat and humidity were terrible, but nobody can control that! Maybe have the race a little earlier in the month? | |
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C. D. from Buffalo,NY
(6/7/2006)
"Buffalo needs this marathon........." (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Buffalo Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 As a life time resident of Buffalo and a second time runner for this race, I agree with others comments that this race is very scenic. The people of Buffalo are wonderful and supportive. BUT, the race is poorly advertised and the turn out scarce especially if you finish in the five hour range. The course was not marked and we ended up having to turn around and back track at the last 1/4 mile. NOT something you want to do at mile 26!!!! I do appreciate the work that goes into planning this event. God knows, Buffalo needs good PR and this marathon could do that for the city image if a few changes were made. | |
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A. M. from Spencerport, NY
(6/7/2006)
"Get what you paid for" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I'm not going to reiterate what everyone else said, but here are some new comments. Website was a disgrace. It still referenced 2004 & 2005 in some spots. It also appeared never to be updated since January. Finish Clock was not properly placed. The clock was not close enough to the finish line, so the finish line photo taken by the official race photographer DID NOT show the finishing time. Maybe that is not important to a veteran runner, but to a first timer it most certainly is. I disagree with previous writers - I thought that the marshals and aid stations were sufficient. Overall, for $40 it was fine. | |
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c. c. from Binghamton, NY
(6/7/2006)
"I had a good run!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Buffalo Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my fourth Buffalo marathon. The course has changed a few times since the first time I ran it in 1996 (my first marathon). I was worried when the day turned out so warm since all my training was in much cooler conditions, but I ended up having a great day. THANK YOU to the people in Kenmore who brought out the hoses! I think this really helped to cool me down and was much appreciated at that point in the course. Number and spacing of water stations was fine for me. I really needed those pretzels around 18, so thanks little girl! I found traffic control much improved. But after reading comments, I do remember points where there was no one to show the way. It was not a big deal to me since I am familiar with the city and the course (Bflo is my hometown). Thanks for fixing the conjestion bw halfers and full M at the aid station in Delaware Park. Not a big fan of out and back loops (Lake, Chapin) but it was okay. Love the cemetary and Franklin/Linwood portions of the run. Kinda miss the finish in front of City Hall. Keep plugging away Bflo organizers. Thank you for a fun run! | |
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J. F. from Buffalo
(6/6/2006)
"So much potential...." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I've run this race several times before as a relay runner and half marathon, and for those events it was wonderful. It shows off some of the best parts of Buffalo and since there is still a crowd, directions are not a problem. Also, by the time you finish, there is still something left at the party. However,as a marathon, this left a lot to be desired! The slower runners who were out there the longest and needed the most assistance received the least...sparse water/Gatorade as early as Kenmore, poor coordination/organization (on pace for a 4:30 at Lincoln Parkway, we were told by a policeman to get on the sidewalk); no police at all at Bidwell/Elmwood (the poor volunteers were being abused by the public); no direction at all toward the end (I saw people going 3 different ways around Niagara Square, as there were no marshalls and no directions!); nothing left at the Convention Center when we finished (assume many friends/family of racers cashed in on the free food, leaving nothing for the slower finishers.) In short, the slower marathoners, who paid more than the half marathoners and probably really needed more assistance on such a hot day received the fewest services. I suggest that the course be made a double loop, and that the half marathoners not start until at least 1.5 half hours after the marathoners, so that everyone on the course gets the same aid, and the volunteers are not spread so thin. | |
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B. D. from Slatington, PA
(6/3/2006)
"This race is not for back-of-the-packers" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Buffalo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 After reading some of the other comments already posted, my Buffalo Marathon race experience feelings are similiar to those of 'Where's Waldo?' I was hoping to finish in 5 hours but because of the heat, I was not even close. I would have never found my way through the many twists & turns of the course without the help of runner Peggy Hillery who was the woman with the great,loud whistle who helped keep many of us back-of-the-packers on course. A volunteer did press a map into my hand, but it was really hard to run in a strange city and find our way with just a map. Crossing the busy streets was a challenge too. On the plus side, we did enjoy the pasta dinner the evening before. And the course does show off the best sections of Buffalo. The volunteers and folks along the course were very supportive although they became sparser as the morning went on. A word about the Hyatt--we were disappointed with just about everything there Nine of us from Pennsylvania stayed at the Hyatt. Some checked in as early as noon on Saturday, others had to wait till after 6pm to get into their rooms. And one of our group of runners from PA had her car window smashed in the city parking garage across from the Hyatt. But the race directors can't help those types of things. We won't be back to run Buffalo again. |
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