|
We often receive unsolicited
complimentary, as well as critical, e-mails from runners. Below is the most recent feedback from runners and our response: |
||
|
||
| Hi Rick, I just raced your marathon today. I have to say it was a very good race on many levels. I thought the course was great, flat and straight. I think anyone who is looking to PR or qualify for Boston should do your race. I really think that this marthon is going to get bigger and bigger every year. People are gonna hear about it and want to give it a try. After running 2:47 at Towpath, I didn't think I could come out here and run 2:51. Guddos to you and your help. I'll see you next year. - - Johnny P. |
||
|
||
| Hi Rick, I just wanted to congratulate you on yesterday's race. It was a wonderful course with a nice informal atmosphere, friendly marshalls and great weather (which you don't control, but was good anyway). The Longboat runners who participated will certainly be talking up the race positively to others! I do have a couple of suggestions, though. It would have been great to have a set time for the pasta dinner and to have someone from the race organization there to meet people. Also, a couple of our runners missed the chute at the end. It was clear enough for most of us, but you know how a marathon muddles thinking. And the volunteers at the end (who were very kind to me personally) got a little peremptory with a couple of our runners who missed the chute, requiring one to go back and come in again (which put him several seconds behind), and leading another to try to jump over the cord -- which completely seized up her hamstrings. I don't want to make a big deal of this. I just thought it might help in thinking about organizing for next year. Congratulations on a great event. I hope it grows (but not too much)! - - Jennifer P. from Toronto, Ontario |
||
|
||
|
We apologise to your runners for the confusion and we WILL work
on better markings for the chute. As for the pasta dinner time...we agree! Major oversight on our
part for not getting it listed on the Web site, and we apologise for that, too! - - Rick at NCN Racing |
||
|
||
| Rick, My son and I ran the half marathon yesterday and I just wanted to give you some feedback. This was my sons first "big" race and I was surprised that there weren't any other kids in his age group. I've run numerous marathons and was thrilled that my son wanted to start running races with me. We live in Poland Ohio and drove about an hour and forty minutes. I think the registration process was very well thought out and check in was quick. I think you need to put more thought into the actually races going on. The water stations were not too prepared for the runners. I had to pick the water off the tables at some stations. I thought the Gatorade should of been more diluted. Crowd support was nonexistent, which out in the trails would be tough to get. If my son was running by himself I would of been nervous having him run along the school on the street with traffic to our back and exposed. I thought that you should of given each runner a medal or something for finishing. It sounds like I'm really negative but that's not the case. I wanted to do a race with my son that wouldn't be too large and a flat course, which yours was. The food after the race was very good. We will be back next year so he can tear up the course this time since he has a race under his belt. Thanks again for having this race and I look forward to next year. - - Mark R. from Poland, Ohio |
||
|
||
| Hi Rick, I participated in the Marathon event in Elyria this past weekend (yesterday). I saw on the website that you guys are looking for feedback, so here it is: What a great event, very much a local feel and it appeared that all had a fun time participating/volunteering. There are however a few things that I kinda wanted to mention and hopefully see improvement. What really mattered on the course was well-handled: traffic control. There was virtually no problem with the control of traffic, all intersections were well-organized, and I had no porblems crossing any of them. Even received supporting words from policeman which was very positive to see. The course is fantastic, at times monotoneous but the clean air/lack of traffic made it so much nicer. One of the major area that needs improvement is the fact that coming back on the course at the waterstops there were no volunteers handing us (the runners) water/gatorade. At mile 20-22-24 a runner is tired and breaking stride for anything is not an ideal way to run the last 4-5-6 miles of a marathon. This includes the GU station as well: stopping and getting the Gu out of a box on a bench that is 10-12 feet from the path is not ideal. The volunteers on the way out were very enthusiastic but coming back there were quite a few stops that were unmanned (when runners really need support). Course was well-marked and I believe accurately as well. It is a great idea to have the course certified since I know at least 5 runners who would not have shown otherwise. Great local race, much room for improvement but no race was perfect on its third try, even races like the Boston Marathon makes major changes after 110 years of running. :) Great job by everyone! - - Adrian H. from Toronto, Ontario |
||
|
||
| Dear Rick, I wanted to write you and let you know of a job well done this past weekend. Everything that I experienced this weekend at the race is what I look for in a good road race. The volunteers were very helpful, the course was a good choice, the logistics went well (small issue with the buses getting to the starting line), ample eats afterwards, and no waiting another hour after finishing to see the awards ceremony. Also, kudos to the local law enforcement for keeping the traffic under control at the intersections. I am sure working with the local police was a marathon endeavor in itself. Having run many races in the Cleveland area, I have grown tired of the same old problems and the usual 5K races. I like the "long distance" of the at least five mile nature. Having ran the Sandy Ridge Half Marathon this past spring, I will now look to your race schedule first for selecting my races during the next year. Again, keep up the good work! See you at the next starting line! - - Steve T. from Cleveland, Ohio |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Thanks, Folks! Runner feedback is always welcome, and compliments keep our volunteers happy. Even critical comments help us strive to do better in the future. We know we make mistakes, and we regret them, but things DO happen. We appreciate the fact that most of our runners realize the logistics of putting on a race, (and that our workers are volunteers) and cut us some slack on things that go wrong on race day. - - Rick at NCN Racing |
||
|
||
| To all - Keep those comments coming! | ||
