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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 251 to 261]
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R. F. from Bentonville, Arkansas
(10/6/2006)
"Great marathon; could use some minor tweaking" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The Twin Cities Marathon lives up to its reputation as the The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon In America. It was my first full marathon, and as such my comments are as follows: Positives: *Packet pick-up was flawless and the expo was well-done with numerous suppliers. *Very beautiful course, which offered incredible crowd support. Others aren't kidding when they say how strong the community supports and encourages the marathon participants. *Hills from mile 21-23 are very manageable. Only the one at mile 21 was really noticeable. Areas that could be improved: *How about a third starting wave? I started in the second wave and it wasn't until about mile seven that I was able to get some spacing amongst other runners and settle into my pace. Due to the urban setting, the course is pretty narrow for the first 10 miles, which really makes for some congestion. *More water/aid stations on the second half of the course. Every two miles just doesn't cut it, especially on a day when it was in the mid-70's by late morning. I drank over three gallons of Gatorade the day before the race and found myself dehydrated by mile 19. My fault, I know, but the extra stations would have been very nice. *As someone else stated, the organization at the starting waves could be better. If you got to your wave late, the congestion made it virtually impossible to get to your starting pace in the wave line. Entrance was from the back only, even after the first wave had started. Overall, this is a great marathon and one that I would recommend. My comments are meant in a constructive manner and I'll probably run this again. | |
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K. B. from Leawood, KS
(10/6/2006)
"Could not have been better!" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My only other marathon was NYC, which I loved, but wait times were long compared to this. My family parked two blocks from the start 45 minutes before the race started - amazing!! Bag dropoff was quick, and the coffee line was non-existent (great Caribou Coffee). The crowd support was fabulous. I especially enjoyed the musicians (official bands, orchestras and women's drumming groups and the "unofficial" bagpiper at 25.5 put a lump in my throat). An abundance of volunteers at water stops, and they were all very encouraging. I loved the expo (compared to NYC), as there was actually room to walk around and look. I ran the course in a little over five hours, and my family saw me at mile nine and 17, but could not find parking near the finish to see the end. The only suggestion I'd make is that it would be nice to have a few more refreshments available to later finishers once we reunite with families and are outside the "runners only" area with bananas, etc. It is also emphasized that no one after six hours will get a finisher's medal, but it seems the kind thing to do would be to close the course, and have a volunteer still give out medals. I saw a man finishing at around 7:30, and would have given him mine if I had thought about it. He truly earned the medal. Overall, very well done - thank you so much! | |
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M. L. from Beaverton, Oregon
(10/5/2006)
"This is a "Must Do" Marathon" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 First a foremost this is a great marathon. Medtronic did an outstanding job as the title sponser. As a veteran of over 30 marathons, this was my first TCM. I would rate is race easily up there with the big boys (Boston, NY, Disney, Marine Corps.) Everything from start to finish was top-notch. After reading some of the other comments, I agree with all the positive things said. Of the few negative ones, they were very minor. Of all my marathons, I do not repeat any race, but this one I would do again.... Well done Medtronics... | |
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D. W. from Rockford (Chicago) Illinois
(10/5/2006)
"Lives up to billing." (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Beautiful course. Needed more aid stations. A little too quiet at times. Didn't see any beer at the finish. | |
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D. H. from Virginia
(10/5/2006)
"more water stations on both sides" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 There needs to be more water stations - I just ran the AF Marathon two weeks prior and there were water stations at each mile marker there. It was great to have those to break up the mileage. | |
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R. H. from Atlanta, GA
(10/4/2006)
"Great marathon experience!!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and it set the bar high for any future races I may run. The race was well organized, the weather was great, and the crowd (250,000+ supporters) was extremely supportive. The crowd definitely keeps you going, but be careful not to get too aggressive in the first 20 miles because the final five to six miles is one extended, sneaky, low-grade hill. It's easy to push the pain aside once you hit the 26-mile marker and see the capitol in the distance. The large, enthusiastic crowd at the finish line made me feel like I was in the lead even though the winner had finished over an hour and a half before me! The weather and changing leaves certainly helped this course live up to its name as America's most beautiful urban marathon. I loved that family and friends across the country (and in Iraq) could track my progress on the race website. The entire weekend in the Twin Cities was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it!! | |
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D. J. from Mound, MN
(10/4/2006)
"Wow, what a great race!!!!!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have worked medical at this race in the past and have always felt the crowd support was great but I ran the TC this year for the first time and on the other side of the crowd it was amazing! There are so many people cheering you on it almost lifts you up "the hill." A special thanks to blaze-orange guy - every time I started slowing down, there was blaze-orange guy and his girlfriend. As for the course layout, this was my first marathon and my wife and kids were able to navigate the streets and appear in the crowd at a number of mile markers as well as the finish. The Jumbo-tron showing the finish is a great touch! I'll be back next year for sure!! | |
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Tee McClenty from US
(10/3/2006)
"I loved every moment, especially the fans." (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I loved the spectators. They cheered for all of us. It didn't matter what your size, color, or how fast or slow you ran; they were wonderful. I couldn't have completed it without their support. | |
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Jane Engelen from USA
(10/3/2006)
"AWESOME!!! A++++++" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just returned home from running the TCM and want to add my comments. This was my 1st marathon and it was more then I expected! What a BEAUTIFUL course and the volunteers and cheering spectators were really great! I don't think I would have done as good as I did without all the support from the sidelines. Thank you so much for coming out and cheering! I will run this again. Awesome first-time experience. THANK YOU!!! | |
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R. K. from Longmont, CO
(10/3/2006)
"Best marathon ever, with only minor gripes" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 First, let me say that when they say it's the "most beautiful urban marathon," they mean it. The run was spectacular, and although I thought the aid stations were a little spread out for an 80+ degree day, the volunteers were great, the spectators were great, the other runners were great, and the overall atmosphere was great. Adding to the sweetness was by far the coolest finisher's medal ever, and probably the coolest finisher's shirt ever (a blue, long-sleeve, technical, running shirt - VERY COOL). Gripe 1 (and the only one worth mentioning): Why have "gun time" and "chip time" if you use the timing chip? First, the gun time goes by the first wave, so even if I was at the front of the second wave, there was no way I could run when the gun is fired. Second, from the starting gun until I crossed the start line, 8+ minutes elapsed. I guess, I thought the purpose of the timing chip was to eliminate these "getting to the start line" disparities. Otherwise, great race, great volunteers, great spectators. This was my favorite race ever. It doesn't hurt that all of this, together with the aid of good coaching, pushed me to set a PR by 37 minutes. This race was at the top of the class for me. |
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