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☰
Dublin Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Dublin Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.0 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 267 [displaying comments 151 to 161]
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Tina Hayes-Siltzer from Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA
(11/11/2003)
"Beautiful city and extraordinary people!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thank you to event organizers and to the people who showed up as enthusiastic spectators! I was prepared for rain and the weather was sunny and cool -- perfect for a long and enjoyable run. Plenty of water and sports nutrition products at the right times. Phoenix park and runs through quaint neighborhoods were utterly delightful aspects of the marathon. Afterward I took a tour of the entire island and saw why it has the reputation for being such a 'fair land'. The beauty and the history of Ireland are really something to experience. The people though, are who make it so appealing -- friendly with a twisted sense of humor... must be the Guinness. This is a first marathon that will be hard to beat in every way (other than my time)! | |
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P. Douglas Barr from Lexington, Kentucky
(11/11/2003)
"Perfect day; great course; good fans" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This was my 9th marathon but first one I've run in Europe. The one thing the organizers couldn't control was the weather and it was perfect. As for the things the organizers could control, they managed those things reasonably well. No one is going to confuse the Dublin Marathon with Chicago or Boston. But, the organization was much better than I had been led to believe from others' comments. The process of picking up race numbers was simple and well organized; the start of the race was much better organized than I expected (although putting walkers at the back should be a future priority); the water stops were plentiful and well-staffed; and the finish was well organized. The course isn't flat like Chicago or Columbus but it's not hilly, either. In fact, I found the few hills to be not a significant challenge (thank goodness!). The views from Phoenix Park were inspiring. The course led through a number of interesting and diverse neighborhoods, as if to give you a sample of all Dublin has to offer. The spectators were sparse in some areas but thick in others and enthusiastic throughout. (Ireland has such a rich musical culture -- from folk to rock -- that I was surprised by the lack of music along the course.) The only somewhat negative comment I have is the finishing medal. It doesn't seem like it would increase the costs significantly to get a decent medal. It's only a slight exaggeration to say that it resembles the 'prize' you'd find in a box of Cracker Jacks! All in all, a very good marathon and a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Ireland was wonderful. | |
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J. O. from NJ USA
(11/10/2003)
"Great Marathon " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This was my first international marathon, and second marathon overall. I'm from NJ, USA and the course was a wee bit hilly. The crowds were good and the marathon participants were from all over the world. Big problem: one water stop in the last 6 miles... then after finishing, no water 'til after the pictures were taken. Had a lot of fun. Beautiful course, and great volunteers too! Lets get some more water next year... | |
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j. s. from Wisconsin, USA
(11/10/2003)
"Loved the course and the weather..." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The lack of an accurate timing system was a real downer. There appears to be no way to determine one's finish in age group... and Mylar blankets would have been nice at the end. | |
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Dink Jardine from Germany
(11/8/2003)
"Great locals, poor organization" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 The race itself was good to great. Wonderful weather, great fans (I loved hearing the locals yell, 'Go lads!', then realizing that I was in the mix 'Oh, and you too lassie!'). Unfortunately, as everyone else has mentioned, the organization needs some work. The map was completely wrong, our supporters couldn't find us several times because we were on a completely different street from what was listed. The lack of a Champion Chip was a HUGE disappointment, especially since it was promoted that there would be chips. The course itself was good, the water stops well placed for the most part, though there wasn't enough water at the 17 mile power gel stop. My biggest complaint was the end of the race. We finished and stood like cattle for 20 minutes without room to walk around and stay warm (it was in the shade and VERY cold) while waiting to get our medals, barcodes pulled, and T-shirts. No reflector blankets were provided and given the chill in the air, I felt that was a little dangerous. Finally, the expo was really nothing to write home about. Little selection from vendors and weird stuff in the goodie bags (mayonnaise and mustard??). I am glad I did the race, but I won't do it again. This was definitely a one-timer. | |
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L. M. from Calgary, Alberta
(11/6/2003)
"Pretty Course; Poor Organization; Great Spectators" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Knowing that I wanted to end my marathon career in Dublin, I expected great things. Overall, the course was very pretty but roads too narrow. The biggest complaint I have is not having a chip to measure my time at different points around the course. I started my watch just as I went under the starting clock and it took me about two minutes, so my finish time is not a true picture of how I did. People that fully intended to walk the entire marathon should have either started at the back or had a different start time. At the end of the race, I was disappointed that we had to stop and wait to get our medals and it took me five minutes to pick up my finisher's T-shirt (of which I was given a large due to the fact they had run out of mediums). I still hope that a finisher's certificate and finisher's photo will be either sent to me or made available to purchase as I would like to frame them for memory's sake. Loved Ireland! | |
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M. N. from Málaga, España
(11/2/2003)
"A great experience ruined by bad timing" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 I had trouble preparing and motivating for this, my ninth marathon in a year. Two really bad colds and little training made me fear the worst and my first ever non finish. However, I sailed 'round on a cloud. Dublin and the Dubliners were great. The weather, sunny and cool, was perfect. The Pheonix Park was inspiring, and the course reasonably flat. The city has a small-town feel, and I for one felt very welcome, enjoying a few pints of Guiness and a friendly chat with strangers in a cozy bar on the Saturday night before the race. I self timed myself at 4:17:34 and passed the finish at 4:22:12 (I started right at the back with the six hour crowd because I found some rays of sunshine there on a chilly morning). Imagine my disappointment to be given an official time of 4:26:43, four and a half minutes and 200 places adrift of my 'real' finish. Grrrr... Dublin organizers should get in touch with Vienna. Chip timing, and live web reports meant that my wife could track my progress in real time from our home in Malaga. Incredible! Still loved it, and the feeling you get from finishing, well, it's better than s--. | |
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Enda McMorrow from Dublin, Ireland
(10/31/2003)
"Great course and crowd, but poor medals and timing" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 As a native Dubliner and one who has done this marathon 12 times now, I would have to say that the course this year was excellent. Essentially it was last year's course but in reverse. There were certainly many hills in it but they were well spaced out. The support was as good, if not better than normal. There were plenty of drinks and energy bars to keep us going. I would have two issues with it though - The first issue would be the poor quality medals at the end, that did not even have the year on them. The second issue would be the timing - there was no Champion Chip this year and the timing appeared to be based on a barcode that was attached to each race number. In any case all the people that I spoke to after the results were published felt a minute was added to the time that was on the clock when they finished, and no account was taken of the amount of time it took them to get to the start line after the starting pistol went off. | |
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A. M. from Nottingham,England
(10/31/2003)
"First marathon - good choice" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my first full marathon and I couldn't have asked for a better day; the weather was great. The people lining the route provided some very welcome support, especially round the 18-mile mark when we were flagging. The only minor niggle was the organization. Chips weren't provided despite the form saying they would be, and I appear to have missed the space blankets at the finish, which, given the temprature, could have been a bad thing. Other than that, I had great fun and now my one & only marathon is looking like turning into my first marathon. | |
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S. L. from Chicago, IL
(10/30/2003)
"First International Race For Me! " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My first international experience in Dublin was lovely. The weather was perfect for running, as it was sunny and near 50 degrees. The race start is very easy to access, if you are staying a hotel near the city center. (It certainly beats the NYC start!). I was able to walk from my hotel and arrive at the start in about 5 minutes. (Crowds are not out that early on Grafton Street). The course was easy, except for a hill near the 10-mile mark, and 16. Water was easily accessible from race volunteers, who were all too nice! Even though the spectator support was minimal and sporadic, I thoroughly enjoyed shaking locals hands as they congratulated runners, all along the course. The best part of the race was the medal that was awarded this year. (I heard about the plaque). My only complaint is that there was not any post-race food left for runners who finshed after 5+ hours. I would definitely recommend this race to others. |
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