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☰
Twin Cities Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Twin Cities Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 454 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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Geoff Martin from Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada.
(10/6/2009)
"Outstanding" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Congrats to all who are connected to putting on the TCM. This race is a gem: Great course, wonderful scenery, fantastic and very noisy spectators, and of course, the wonderful volunteers. I had the privilege of running in a Clif Pace team led by a wonderful lady, Lori. She was wonderful leader and the miles just slipped by. Lori, you can be my wingman any day. Folks, this marathon has it all. It's superbly organized from the packet pickup, to the expo, to the pasta dinner. This is my 12th running in TCM and it just gets better and better. I have never heard a negative comment about this course. Race organizers, we love you. Thanks for a wonderful, (and most importantly) a fun day. You guys rock. Or as Gunny Hartman would say, "Outstanding." | |
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j. b. from Twin Cities, MN
(10/6/2009)
"Very strict 6:00 limit" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 TCM is a wonderful race for those who can finish by the 6:00 limit. They have a very strict 6-hour limit due to traffic concerns, which I can understand; but it is a heart-breaker for those who aren't assured at least a 6-hour finish (especially because this race has the best finishes in the country). I'd say that you should not attempt this marathon if you can't do it in 6 hours because you will be very disappointed to either be pulled off the course or to move to the sidewalk and finish by yourself. (In order to discourage slow people from entering, they tell you that you will get nothing AND THEY MEAN IT.) I repeat: this is not a course for slow people or walkers. They warn you that they are serious about the cut-off, but it is still painful to actually experience just how strict they are. I've done 24 marathons and probably can't/won't do another one because I'm getting too slow. Otherwise, it's a wonderful race for everybody else. If you are slow and can't be assured a 6:00 finish, do Grandma's in Duluth or Med-Cities in Rochester. Even if you have to move to the sidewalk, there are still a few marathon people at the finish and you are actually celebrated for going the distance no matter how long it took you. | |
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T. L. from AL but from the Yankee States
(10/6/2009)
"Beautiful city, beautiful spectators, #1 marathon!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I love going to this marathon. I qualified again for corral #1, so I will return. I have qualified for Boston eight times since 2004, but who cares!?!?! I want to keep going to this race! It is large enough, and the course loops conveniently through the city with no repeats. | |
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A. D. from Minneapolis, MN
(10/5/2009)
"Great Marathon!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race directors for TCM know how to put on a great marathon. Every single detail was carefully thought out and made the experience wonderful. Great post-race food, clearly marked aid stations, easy logistics for start and finish areas, organized sweats pick-up, I could go on and on. The hills in St. Paul were not nearly as bad as anticipated, and if nothing else the crowds there were very encouraging. I cannot wait til next year to run TCM again! | |
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D. S. from Knob Noster MO
(10/5/2009)
"Crowds!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 An outstanding race! Mahalo to the spectators who came out to support the runners in the TCM. What an incredible showing! I've never seen so many people out to watch the runners. You can feel their energy and feed on it as you run. I can't think of anyplace along the course where there weren't people cheering and in some places it was 3-4 rows deep. The course was beautiful and the weather was perfect (although I would rather have had the breeze at my back from miles 21 to the finish). The support was very well done (thanks for the hot broth at the finish). Coming off of the hill by the cathedral and heading down to the state house was an amazing way to wrap up a race. I highly recommend this race to first-timers and experienced runners alike. | |
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B. B. from Atlanta, GA
(10/5/2009)
"Awesome Race" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Twin Cities should be extremely proud of this race - it was excellent in every respect! * Pretty course * Excellent volunteers * Crowd support throughout * Plentiful PowerAde and water at every stop - even sufficient GU for everyone at mile 21! * Great logistics for getting to the race. It was wonderful to be able to use the Dome pre-race rather than standing out in the elements * Great food and support at the end of the race until the last finisher made it home With the excellent weather and quality organization, this was a perfect race weekend. (The ONLY suggestion I have is to provide more entries to the corrals - the crowds were just jammed into corral 2 from the rear, and as it filled up and faster runners still tried to get to the front, it was a bit of a zoo.) Thanks to the organizers and the Twin Cities! Great job and a great race! | |
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M. S. from Minneapolis, MN
(10/5/2009)
"Outstanding" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the best marathon ever. Everything about it is perfect. If you have done it, you know. If you have not done it, you should. | |
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M. K. from Minneapolis, MN
(10/5/2009)
"Beautiful race; good fan support and organization" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second TC Marathon and second marathon overall. The course is, as advertised, absolutely beautiful. The crowd support is really great, especially where you need it. And the race is well organized. I'd criticize the course only on the count that the crowds are big enough and the trails narrow enough during the first 7 or 8 miles that it can be really difficult to pass slower runners. Not a major complaint unless you're counting on every last second. The weather could not have been more perfect, but it was a coldish day for spectators to stand out there (most of the race in the 40s). They stayed. The crowds in Saint Paul are especially fantastic. I also have to say that I think the organization was pretty seamless, and the volunteers were great. Plus, you get a great medal and an even better shirt. I really loved this race. | |
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k. t. from Apple Valley, MN
(10/5/2009)
"Another GREAT Year at TCM!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There really is nothing like the Twin Cities Marathon. This race is something special. The course is a bit tough, but as long as you run smart you will be fine. The organization of everything from start to finish is top-notch - porta-potties, start line, mile marks, volunteers, water stops, course entertainment, everything. TCM has thousands of spectators but this year was more than I have ever seen. One small hiccup was at the first water stop - there were many tables out of water and volunteers scrambling to pour cups. Sorry to even write that when the race was so awesome. It is still the BEST finish line I have seen. Amazing every time to pop out of the trees on Summit Avenue and run down the hill to the capitol and thousands of fans. Great quality medal and finisher's shirt. They even had a small for me - at most races a men's medium is the smallest they have and that is way too big. There were plenty of goodies at the finish also. Thanks for another great race, TCM! | |
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M. B. from Washington, DC
(10/5/2009)
"Wonderful experience for a first-time marathoner" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Running the Twin Cities Marathon was a wonderful experience from start to finish! I had chosen this for my first marathon mainly because of others' comments about the race: great course and spectators, and I could not agree more. PROS: -Start Line: One of the best starting situations of any major marathon out there, from what I've heard others describe. You can wait inside in the warm Metrodome until the start time. -Course: The race bills itself as the "Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America," and I have no trouble believing it. The first two miles pass through downtown Minneapolis, but almost immediately you shift to 13 miles or so of running around (and over) four beautiful, tree-lined lakes in beautiful neighborhoods, where it seems like everyone not running has come out to cheer you on. Miles 15-19 are running up a road next to the Mississippi River and then you cross over the river itself to St. Paul. The last seven or so involve racing up another pretty tree-lined street with mansions on either side and then ending up at the state capitol building. In addition to being pretty, the course has a lot of special details. It was really motivating to pass by the two big cathedrals (at the start, and at the end in St. Paul) which were both ringing their bells in full glory. It was also special to run by the large American flag on the way to the finish line. -Spectators: Iave never run Chicago, NYC, or Boston, but it's hard to imagine better spectators than in the Twin Cities. The whole course - especially in the neighborhoods bordering the lakes and on Summit Avenue in St. Paul - was packed with loud, sign-waving, music-playing spectators. I really appreciated the strangers who shouted individual encouragement to my race bib number as I climbed the big hill in St. Paul. It was hard to slow down when so many people were cheering. -Organization: Something not to be overlooked is how good the organization was here. My only previous race experience was running the Salt Lake City Half-Marathon (which is run with the marathon and is combined a smaller race than this). At that event, bag pickup was a disaster and took over an hour. Here, it was perfectly organized; there was no waiting in lines - you showed up and your sweat bag was in your hands immediately. It was easy to meet up with family, and also, the finish line is well organized so that you don't immediately have to stop and get bunched up. CONS: There weren't really any major cons, but here are a few things to be aware of. -Weather: I get the sense that the weather can be pretty variable. This year, the weather was pretty good (~50ish and cloudy), but I may have also had good timing; I heard it poured at some other points on the course but I only got very light drizzle once. But in the two years prior, I heard that it was cool with some thunderstorms one year and then 80+ the other. So this is not a marathon where you are practically guaranteed one weather outcome or anything. -Narrowness of some early parts of the course: This wasn't a huge issue for me, but the early parts of the course around the lakes are pretty narrow. Since I started in the very back, I had to weave my way through traffic for the first 5+ miles. So my only advice is that if you want to avoid this, try to situate yourself in the starting corral relative to how fast you plan on running the race. Overall though, these are pretty small considerations, and should not stop you from running it. It was truly a wonderful experience. I can't thank the organizers and the people of the Twin Cities enough! Run this marathon! You will not be disappointed! |
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