Sep 20, 2024
Current Year Results
Results Search
Biggest/Best Boston Qualifier
2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2020 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results
2009 Results
2008 Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
☰
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 271 to 281]
|
D. R. from USA
(9/23/2006)
"Ranks with the big league marathons like Boston" (General Comments)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great marathon. Having run Boston and other marathons, TCM is way up there with the big leagues! Awesome course! | |
|
S. S. from San Francisco Bay Area
(5/13/2006)
"Good marathon, colorful topography, nice finish" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The starting from HHH was a great touch and very restful. Very scenic route. Weather was reasonable. Finishing close to the state capitol was a nice touch. Three issues that put a damper; 1) The initial miles (10+) to Lake Calhoun were very crowded and it was hard to pass people. There was hardly elbow room. 2) The pacers were difficult to follow since they threw away their placards in the first few miles. 3) St. Paul, which was close to the finish and expo, did not seem to have good choice of restaurants. | |
|
S. S. from Fort Mitchell, KY
(5/12/2006)
"Very disappointed" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I have run many marathons, large and small and I was very disappointed with this marathon. The wave start was a bit confusing. We felt we would be ok starting toward the back but the streets were so narrow we couldn't get around the slower runners for many miles. The finish was the true fiasco. They ran out of shirts by the 4:30 finish mark. How can that be? They know how many are running the race before registration even began. There was an announcement made that the finishers would be coming in later than the spectators might have expected due to the very hot and humid conditions. There is a 6 hour cut off. This is the case with many races but never have I seen a race completely stop, pull up the chip mats, take the water and food away, and stop the finish area celebration at the 6 hour mark (for the first wave) even though there were runners on the course. My husband was promised a medal and shirt as he staggered across the finish line that had just been pulled up. His finish time was 6 hr and 1 min. There were many on the course behind him. When contacted, the race personnel refused to send him a medal and a shirt. I dont know about you but I have attended many races and those who finished were rewarded. | |
|
j. r. from Fargo, ND
(2/26/2006)
"loved it!" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Was a great time the whole time. Cramped up on the last hill. (Yuck.) Finished about 15 minutes off the pace I was on after the cramp, but oh well, it's all in good fun. | |
|
B. H. from Minnesota
(12/10/2005)
"THE BEST URBAN MARATHON!!" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Crowd was SPECTACULAR the entire route. The course was exciting winding through Minneapolis around lakes and finishing in the capitol/St. Paul. | |
|
L. C. from Minneapolis,MN
(12/6/2005)
"Non-USATF members not welcome?" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first TCM and it was a great experience. The organizers did a tremendous job in so many different areas that it is hard to list them all. The warm weather attracted large crowds of spectators and the course is tremendous. The humidity and long incline beginning at mile 21 only added to the challenge. But since the race occurs at the end of the summer, everyone is used to heat and humidity by then anyway, right? I experienced only one disappointment. My training had gone perfectly and I was able to both PR and come in first in my age group! This was the first time in a major marathon that I had ever done that well. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the organizers don't give recognition to all of the age groups winners. When I contacted them 6 weeks later, I was informed that they feel no obligation to give any sort of recognition to an age group winner unless that person is also a member of the USATF. You would think that each and every age group winner could expect a minimum of a handshake, or a letter of congratulations, or a certificate of accomplishment. Wrong! It was a surprisingly low-class response to an otherwise first-class event. | |
|
B. H. from Lake Oswego, OR
(11/29/2005)
"Great fans and a enjoyable course." (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my 6th marathon and ranks as one of the better ones. The course is pretty flat through mile 20. The 'big' hill at mile 20 is really just a few hundred yards and is a non-event. But the last 5 miles or so the gradual incline did affect my time for sure. But it wasn't so bad as to wear me out. Having the last 1/2 mile downhill was great. The starting area was great for everything except the actual corral for the runners. It was very tight and I could not get near my pace group. So we started about 50 from the back and still had a great run (PR by 16 minutes.) Went into the Metrodome used the rest rooms then just relaxed. Bag drop was the easiest I have ever seen. (Marine Corp Marathon should learn from you!) On the course the fans are amazing. Seeing Alan Paige play his tuba was great! Plenty to drink even though I carry a water bottle. Tons of snacks too. Fans clapped the entire race! Many complained it was too hot, but I found the weather just fine. It stayed cloudy and mild. The finish area was the best I have been too. Great choices for food with no lines. Bag pickup was a breeze and close by. Bus back to the hotel in St. Paul was fast and easy. We took a cab to the start from downtown St. Paul; it cost 17$ for 2 of us. Great way to get to the start! Last I would like to thank the race timer. I was trying to break 4 hours for the first time on this race. I sprinted with all I had to the finish. As I crossed I looked at my watch and it said 3:59:59. Yes!!!! Later that day the official results online said I had run a 4:00:00. So the next day I emailed the timer and asked if he could give me my time to the hundreths of a second since it was chip timed. Ten minutes later he emailed back: 3:59:59:54. I was estatic once again. He had to round up due to the rules, which is fine. But Mr. Timer, thank you so much! Twin Cities is a well organized race that isn't too big. If you want a medium-size race in a nice city, try this one. | |
|
D. T. from Bellevue, WA
(11/16/2005)
"Great course, well organized" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed the TCM even though I had a disappointing run because of the humidity. If only the weather had been typical for early October! The race course was extremely scenic and the crowd support was excellent. The shuttle buses at the race start and finish were very convenient. The wait for the start inside the Metrodome was good and I found the restroom lines quite manageable. The bag drop off and pick up were outstanding; quick and no hassle at all, unlike at many marathons. Getting to the right location in the starting corral was a bit difficult. You either had to get there very early or push your way through the crowds, so this could be improved. The finish line logistics were very good. There was plenty of room to move around and to stretch and it didn't feel like a cattle drive. There seemed to be plenty of water and food. I would recommend this marathon to friends and may do it again myself. | |
|
m. a. from texas
(11/7/2005)
"very beautiful and great fans" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is the most beautiful place for a marathon. I highly recommend it to anyone. The crowds were incredible the entire way and so nice!! They had everything you could need. Plenty of aid and water stations. Beautiful changing leaves. The course was a little bit more hilly than I had anticipated and the heat made that difficult. Staying in Minnesota was great; everything you could want was within walking distance. I had friends who walked to the tram to go to the mall. Minnesota was clean and everyone was very nice. My only complaint was the start. After we dropped our bags off we waited in line for more than 30 minutes, with tons of people, for the restrooms. They need many more of these at the start. I could not get into the corral to get to my pace group. It was very narrow and a small amount of room for each pace group. Plus if you tried to find the group later, their little balloons were hard to see. They needed to have signs. I got stuck way in the back of the line. I was someone who needed that pace group so I did not make my goal. Several places along the lakes were very narrow; we were on top of each other and almost walking at times. This is one race to get to early and don't get out of line, and please don't make it any bigger. You can't fit any more runners on the course. The finish was very good. Plenty of water and food. The final aid station needs to be in a better place. I had to walk around to get my things then go back for ice, or so I was told. I had a great time and did PR, just not at my first goal. A lesson learned, but I really did enjoy it and the medal and shirt were great! | |
|
B. C. from Minneapolis, MN
(10/28/2005)
"Great " (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon. I am in a running club and was told that this would be a GREAT way to get my marathoning started, and I agree wholeheartedly! From the amazing numbers of people who come out to cheer the runners on, to the gorgeous layout of the course, I can't imagine a better race! The only flaw I saw was the small number of porta-potties (therefore long lines). But that's what God made trees for, right? :) |
Quick Links
Marathon Search
Upcoming US Marathons
Upcoming International Marathons
Search Marathon Results
Latest Running News
Recent Newsletters
Race Director Tools
© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC
