Sep 22, 2024
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☰
Chicago Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Chicago Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 949 [displaying comments 781 to 791]
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Jen S. from Indiana USA
(6/13/2003)
"Personal Best Marathon - Go TNT!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 My 2nd marathon... This was a great race: great flat course (except for the big hill at the finish, UGH!), with lots of very energetic and active crowds, and many various things going on. I saw bands, cheerleaders, bagpipe players, a Chinese dragon, drumlines, lots of silly signs, and more along the whole route. The only place there was nothing going on was in the tunnel somewhere around 24 or 25, and that was only a few hundred feet without cheering crowds. Things seemed well organized, except for the fact there were very few porta-potties along much of the route (especially when I was looking for one!). Running with 35,000 other people was quite an experience. It was cold at the start, but absolutely perfect by mid race: light sun, but not hot, about 50 degrees, and very little wind. Overall, this is one of my favorite races I have ever done, and I plan to be back at Chicago again, probably every year! (Maybe I am biased, but my PR was at this race)! | |
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A. G. from NY, NY
(6/12/2003)
"Great event" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Great for first-time marathoners. Loved the course, and the fans were great, as was the music along the way (especially the Elvis impersonator). Had a great time, and will do it again. Complaints: Poor organization of the tent area. Finish line bottlenecked with spectators and runners. Need to fix that. | |
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Saurabh Desai from Raleigh, NC
(5/16/2003)
"Very Well-Run Race" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Chicago 2002 was my second marathon. It was an incredible weekend. I was a senior in college and a couple of us came up to Chicago for Fall Break. The race director (Carey P.) did an amazing job. Everything was very well organized. It could have been a local race in Raleigh, NC with 250 runners not the 31,000 that were there; that is how well-organized it was. Everything was run so smoothly and the race itself was an awesome experience. Extremely flat course, ran a 3:15, 5 minutes from Boston qualifying. I would recommend this race to everyone at least once. May run it next year, but am looking to do one in a different state to try to get the 50 States. | |
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D. C. from Buffalo
(5/13/2003)
"Well organized and LOTS OF PEOPLE" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did Chicago in 2002. It was my second marathon. Just a few points. Lots of runners. But extremely well organized. I didn't have to wait to pickup my packet at the expo! Chicago is a great town, and this run is a must for all runners (unless you don't like large crowds). | |
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V. N. from OHIO
(5/12/2003)
"GREAT RACE FOR EVERYYTHING" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The city is beautiful and the course ran through a lot of it. The crowds were fantastic, especially just what you need towards the last few miles. At every turn, there were fans. The water stops were many and the volunteers great. I really enjoyed everything about this race. Flat course, and the weather at that time of year was perfect. A good time was had by all: before, during, and after. Chicago is definitely a city with everything to offer. | |
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J. D. from Chicago
(5/6/2003)
"Great course poor finish line etiquitte" (about: 1997)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Overall the course was fast and flat, and there were plenty of fans cheering throughout the entire course. It was like a show of the various ethnic neighborhoods Chicago has to offer. My only complaint was the organization: 1. Too many sales vendors pushing their own personal agenda. 2. The police there for crowd control were not friendly to the runners. It was not stated that after you leave the course where the food and beverages are located you cannot reenter. I went to get my warm-ups from baggage check and found that I could not get any water or food because the police said we could not reenter. HELLO I JUST RAN 26.2 MILES. I should be treated a little better than that. 3. It would be a good idea to allow runners to register on race weekend. I still recommend the race to others (just remember when you leave the refreshment area you cannot reenter). | |
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D. S. from Chicago North Suburbs
(4/21/2003)
"Great Race & Fan Support -- Very Crowded" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I'm glad that I picked Chicago as the place (although living in the area helped). The course is flat, the fall weather is generally cool and comfortable for the distance, and the fans are everywhere. As they are allowing the race to grow in participants again this year, I think that the race organizers need to do a couple things: (a) corral the runners by estimated finish time rather than having just the elite, and then the masses; (b) try to keep the crowds off the race course. I was in the 4:30 pack and while I could deal with there being a lot of runners, having fans narrow the course isn't a good thing. I'll do this race again and get my time under 4 hours! | |
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Jeff Oliver from Chicago Area
(4/11/2003)
"Great race, well organized, huge fun crowd!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Chicago's LaSalle Bank Marathon is a wonderful first-timer's marathon. It's a relatively flat course with plenty of hydration stations, exuberant spectators, and great neighborhood bands with variety and pizaaaaz! The organization is first class. You will want to run in the Windy City again and again. | |
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g. h. from memphis, tn
(3/25/2003)
"The Best" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the most well-organized, fun race ever. The logo apparel is great, the crowd never ends, but my favorite part was the post-race party at navy pier. World records are set on this fast, flat course. | |
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Jim Gsell from Philadelphia PA
(3/25/2003)
"Great run, Lots of Fun" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon and it was a great one. The crowd support was amazing. I didn't even train for this run. I hadn't run for 6 months before the day of the race. There were no hills and i easily finished at about 5 hours. If i could, i would love to run this marathon again. |
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