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Tucson Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Tucson Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 2.3
Number of comments: 233 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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L. T. from Az
(1/2/2007)
"Have respect for this course and TRAIN!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have no negative comments about the organization of this race. Marilyn was fantastic the morning of, making sure everyone got on their "coaches" and made it to the start of the race on time. Being able to stay on a nice warm bus with a bathroom was a huge bonus, especially when I saw how few porta-potties there were at the starting line. A word of caution to beginners: I did hills in my training, but none of them were long runs. I was in great shape for a marathon, and had it been flat, I am sure I would have BQ'd, but this course was NOT fast for me, and though others keep talking of an all-downhill course, there were plenty of inclines. I have never, ever been so sore after a race in my life!! I take full responsibility, but I feel incredibly lucky that I did not get injured. I guess I can say the one downside (aside from not having yummy food after, but I prefer to eat my own stuff anyway) was the line of cars during some points of the course, all idling at red lights. Ugh. Breathing in exhaust is not exactly what you want at the 18th + mile. I really wish this were a closed course, or at least only one lane of traffic. The people were really nice though, so thank you to all of the volunteers! | |
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R. J. from Georgia, US
(12/30/2006)
"Fast, beautiful run with a few glitches" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Despite some of the previous comments I've read, I thought the race was well-organized, with a couple of exceptions. Small but efficient expo, with knowledgeable volunteers. Transportation to the start of the full marathon was efficient and we could stay in the buses to keep warm (the half marathon runners did not have that option). There was a short wait for the porta-johns, but less wait than usual for a big race. It was a scenic course through the beautiful Sonoran desert, and we could see mountain ranges over a hundred miles away, plus the western end of the Catalina Mountains (which was the finish line) for most of the route. That might be a bad thing or a good thing, because it looked like a very long way away. The course is a very gradual decline but not steep enough to really notice, although my quads did! The stiff headwind cancelled out the downhill and was a real factor especially in the second half. Spectators were told not to park along the highway, but that was ordered by the highway patrol, not the race organizers, which S.F. would have known if he/she had read the race instructions. Anyway if you need a cheering section, then run NYC. Water stops were plentiful and the Red Bull at mile 21 was just in time. Now the negatives: the T-shirt is just junk, white with dozens of sponsor logos on the back (although the finisher's medal was nice). I've gotten better at local charity 5K runs. Finish line food was really inadequate. Desk clerks at the host hotel (Westward Look) had no clue about race transportation and couldn't be bothered to find out, so they just passed out bad information. Lastly, it was next to impossible to find the ride back to the hotel afterward and it turned out they were using open Jeeps, which are a very uncomfortable ride if you've just run a marathon. If these easily-fixed problems were eliminated, Tucson would be a premier race. | |
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R. J. from USA
(12/29/2006)
"Beautiful, fast course; organization could improve" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Despite some of the previous comments I've read, I thought that overall it was a very well-organized race. It was a small but efficient expo, with knowledgeable volunteers. Transportation to the start of the full marathon was efficient and we were able to stay in the buses to keep warm. There was a short wait for the porta-johns, but less wait than usual for a marathon. It was a beautiful course through the Sonoran desert, and the air was so clear that we could see mountain ranges over a hundred miles away, as well as the western end of the Catalina Mountains (which was by the finish line) for most of the route. You might like that, or you might not, because it looked like a very long way away. It is downhill, but so gradual that it wasn't all that noticeable while running (although my quads certainly noticed afterward). The stiff headwind cancelled out the decline, so times were not as fast as might be expected, especially after the turn south at the halfway point. Miles were well-marked and aid stations were quite adequate. Spectators were not allowed to park along the highway, but this was a restriction enforced by the Arizona Highway Patrol and not by the race organizers, which "S. F. from Washington, DC" should have known if he/she had read the race info packet. Pluses: Well-organized, well-marked, good aid stations, good expo, great medal (copper, with saguaro cactus logo), great weather, beautiful, scenic course. Minuses: Cheapo T-shirt, plain white with dozens of sponsor logos on the back, more like a local 5K charity race T-shirt. What a piece of junk! Sponsor hotel desk clerks had no clue about the race bus schedule and didn't give a damn; they were passing out bad info rather than checking into it. After-race transport back to the sponsor hotel was almost impossible to find; it ended up being an open Jeep which you only could catch if you were lucky enough to find the pickup point, which was not easy. Finish-line food was crappy, again worthy of a local 5K but not a marathon. C'mon, Pam, I realize that you had to provide your own support for Badwater but that doesn't mean that we should be expected to do the same for your marathon. Pony up for some pizza, at least! | |
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J. S. from Kentucky
(12/24/2006)
"Downhill course makes for fast times" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I would recommend this marathon for anyone trying to qualify for Boston, because it is a fast course, which is mostly downhill with very few turns. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express right next to the race headquarters hotel, where the finish line was located. A very nice amenity provided by the marathon were the chartered buses (with a bathroom) that picked up the hotel guests and drove them to the start. The runners could wait on the bus until the start, so they didn't have to wait outside if the weather was cool. There were plenty of energy drink/water/energy gel stops on the course. On the minus side, there wasn't much to eat following the race, and the Holiday Inn Express wanted an extra $25 to extend the checkout until 2 p.m. (from the standard noon checkout). I will definitely run this race again next year. | |
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B. K. from Ontario, Canada
(12/19/2006)
"Run against the wind" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Thank you, Tucson, for beautiful running scenery, sunshine and many dedicated, excellent volunteers. Generally speaking, the event was organized very well and that was the beginning of my one-week vacation in the Tucson mountains. However, in this marathon I failed to achieve what I wanted to do: my better-than-average finish time. I expected a fast course and I was faced with a non-stop headwind that cancelled the advantages of running downhill. Unfortunately, the final two miles were just like a marathoner's nightmare - running steadily uphill towards the finish line. Never again! The course profile that was published at the website did not show this detail very clearly. Contrary to your warnings, there was a lot of space for motorized spectators along Highway 77. A message to runner 513: you lost your timing chip and I found it. I gave it to a race official just before the halfway point and asked him to do everything to find you and give it back to you before the finish line. The official results show that he did it. | |
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D. H. from Deep South
(12/18/2006)
"Not sure who this marathon targets..." (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 The Good: Motor coaches to the start and you get sit in them to race start - nice perk. Beautiful scenery. The Bad (yep that was it for the good): The first 13 or so downhill miles are sure downhill enough - but from mile 14 to about 21 is a gradual incline with a few rolling hills thrown in... all in all not bad if you train for it, but if you're not trained? You will be sorry, sooner or later, i.e. the next few days (even for the winner it was sooner - he slowed 2 minutes per mile over the last 8). Also, decent water stops, and no crowds (that's okay). The Ugly: For this kind of money, we got a white short-sleeve t-shirt??? Finish-line food amounted to quartered bagels and oranges... seriously! Awful - no excuse. We have 10K's wtih better post-race "amenities." Can't think of a reason why I'd come back (too many others I'd rather "repeat"). | |
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L. S. from Texas
(12/14/2006)
"Poorly organized" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Tucson Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This is the second time I have run this race (1/2 marathon, both times). In 2006, the organization was horrible! From the unorganized expo, to not enough bathrooms at the start, no water (but there was coffee) -- and what is with the walkers lining up where ever they please? This was worse than when I ran it in 2003, but after so many years of practice, this is inexcusable. I will not run it again. Sorry Tucson, you will lose my December tourism dollars. | |
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a. l. from USA
(12/12/2006)
"most beautiful course, great race!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Tucson Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second year running this race and it exceeded my expectations again. The course is beautiful and eliminating the turn around near mile 22 was a huge plus! I can't say enough good things about the organization of this race and the course. The bus ride was comfortable and being able to stay inside until the start was great. The spectators were not numerous - they can't be, they are prohibited from being on parts of the road - but they were very encouraging. On top of that, it's nice to focus on enjoying the amazing views that you encounter throughout the entire course. I prefer it to a wall of screaming people... I either missed the Clif Shot at mile 18 or it wasn't there. I came through early enough as a marathoner that there should have been plenty left, but I could have just missed it. As another person commented last year, it would be nice of those walkers at least stuck to one side of the road and choose not to walk together if it meant blocking the path of the runners. I know I find it hard to see people walking in the last miles of a race, especially when I have to dodge them. I also thought the wind was a little tough this year; it wasn't too cold, but it was pretty strong. As you can see, tiny complaints. I did really appreciate the distance we had from the half marathoners. I find it frustrating to catch up with the slower runners as I'm trying to finish a marathon in other races. It was nice that we shared the same finish but really had separate races. I plan on returning again next year and will look forward to it until then! | |
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C. L. from Texas
(12/12/2006)
"Beautiful, downhill course" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my third marathon and I qualified for Boston. The course was beautiful and almost all downhill - just as advertised. The first 2 miles are rolling, but then it is all downhill until the last 1/2 mile, which is a tough incline. But the decline more than made up for that. As long as you train properly, you should have no problem and have a great run - I suspect the people who complained in earlier posts did not train as well as they should have. The volunteers were great and being able to stay on the shuttle busses (which had bathrooms) until the start was a nice bonus because it was cold at the start! I will be back. | |
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S. F. from Washington, DC
(12/12/2006)
"Beautiful course, below average organization" (General Comments)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tucson Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Absolutely beautiful scenery of the mountains on this mostly downhill course. Unnecessarily long wait at the top of the mountain before the course. Spectators were discouraged for the first 2/3rds of the race for no particular reason. Water stops were ok, but there were way too few porta-johns along the way. Finish line food was almost non-existent. |
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