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☰
Famous Idaho Potato Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Famous Idaho Potato Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 2.5
Number of comments: 54 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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Buck Weaser from Nampa, Idaho
(8/6/2003)
"Beautiful Course - Great Weather" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 As a first timer on the marathon, I was very pleased with the race conditions. The start was great - I enjoyed getting to meet a lot of very friendly runners. I will definitely run this race again next year! I wish more runners would participate. The spectator support was small in numbers, but very encouraging. Thanks for the soaking at mile 25, I definitely needed it. | |
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C. F. from Great Pacific Northwest
(7/22/2003)
"Help 28.2 -- I Got Lost On Course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Most of the course was scenic, it wasn't marked well at all, and lacked any kind of crowd support. I actually got lost and ran a mile on the wrong side of the river and had to come back, so I really earned my medal running 28.2 in the heat. There was a group of water-station volunteers at mile 25ish that helped me get back on course, and actually ran with me. They were great! The course was a bit confusing, but Boise is a beautiful city, so it's hard to imagine a bad run. I would recommend again, but make sure you pay attention to every turn so you don't get lost. | |
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R. U. from Boise, Id
(7/21/2003)
"Aid Stations Close Down and People Get Lost" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 As a local, I have done the Great Potato many years to support it, but this year might be my last. As a slow participant, I found that 2 of the water stations closed down before I got there, and only one station offered energy gel or PowerBars. And I witnessed several people get lost at two different points during the race. Very frustrating for all concerned. | |
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R. M. from Wichita Falls, TX
(6/3/2003)
"How not to be a couch potato" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What a wonderful day! Beautiful course (some subdivisions towards the end...), pretty well marked, and ample aid stations. Not enough hills for my taste, but I am happy to have run this marathon! It could stand to start an hour earlier, as it had been light for quite a while, and really scortched us temperature-wise towards the end (especially those of us more inclined towards the slow-baked potato than the quickly-mashed variety). I would recommend this to everyone - and there are many other race-lengths run the same day, so the whole family can get into the action. | |
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C. R. from Chicago, IL
(6/3/2003)
"Nice course... lacking spectators though" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The scenery for the first half (in the canyon and along the Greenbelt) was pleasant, and the course relatively flat, if not slightly downhill. The number of participants from the marathon and half-marathon were able to give me some momentum in keeping a decent pace. However, the second half of the course was basically devoid of spectators, and the field of 200+ marathoners was spread out. The course was not as great at this point, as you run through subdivisions, and then on local highways with open traffic. The heat became an issue with temperatures in the lower 80's. Race organization was great, with ample aid stations full of water, Gatorade, and gels/energy bars, etc. Overall, it was a great experience for my first marathon, but if I return next year, I will run the half-marathon instead. | |
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C. E. from Cleveland, Ohio
(6/3/2003)
"This is what racing should be about!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Based on comments about last year's race, I took the time to fly into Boise for the 1/2 marathon, and I really enjoyed the weekend. The scenic, flat course follows the Greenway bikepath through several parks and a golf course. Aid stations were available every two miles. Volunteers and spectators were extremely helpful and friendly. Where else can you get a baked potato with sour cream when you finish the race? I am really glad that the temperature dropped from the high nineties earlier in the week to around eighty for race day. The shuttles from the Holiday Inn to Discovery Park, and back from the finish, were great. I'll be back! | |
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Richard Taylor from Orem, Utah
(2/22/2003)
"Great 1/2 marathon, poor support for full marathon" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 The 1/2 marathon course was beautiful, well supported by spectators and aid stations. After most of the runners ended at the 1/2 marathon, little support was given to those running the full marathon. There was un-clear directions, almost no spectators, running on open traffic roads and empty an empty aid station left me with a bad experience. This should be held as a 1/2 marathon only. | |
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A Runner from massachusetts
(10/17/2002)
"worth the trip." (about: 1997)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 On the way to business meeting out west and thought stopping in for the race would be fun. Course was green and even. Other than near-late shuttle to start, the organization and outreach was superb. Outstanding post-race party, few spectators. Met some terrific people along the way. Great, small race that I have recommended to many. | |
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A Runner from Boise Idaho
(7/19/2002)
"Most bang for the buck!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I live local and run the course all the time. Not because I have to (lots of places to run in Boise), but because I want to. It's really a great course to run. It was the first time I ran the marathon, more as an obligation to the local running community, and I am glad I did. A nice tailwind gave me PR on this nearly pancake flat course. The Potato medal rocks, shirts were good, organization great, fantastic post race awards ceramony (catered at a hotel!) and all for $30 bucks! Not sure how they do it, but hats off to the Boise Y and all the volunteers. Great race. | |
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Mark G. from Boise, ID
(7/16/2002)
"This Spud's For You!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I'm a local and ran this race because I had nothing else better to do that weekend. Well, I'm really glad I did. This race is the little race that could. It's a nice course that runs along the Boise River which is clear and pristine. Some locals might find this course boring since everybody in Boise runs the Greenbelt (trail that runs through town). But you shouldn't take this course for granted. Not many metro areas have a beautiful, clean, well-maintained trail that runs through the middle of town. This course starts out at Lucky Peak which is 10 miles outside of Boise. It's a bit chilly at the start but you get a great tailwind moving through the small canyon at the beginning. The course is superflat and P.R.'s are a given if you have a tailwind. Spectators are sparse as to be expected at a race this size but the ones that were there were enthusiastic. The finish area is a huge local park down by the river where you can soak your legs if needed. Free massages too! The postrace banquet was at a hotel and they had great food and nice door prizes. I even won a ten pound bag of Idaho potatoes! This race was surprisingly well done. The course wasn't well marked toward the end but, hey, I'll take my P.R. The medal is in the shape of a potato too so that's cool. T-shirts were pretty cool too with the requisite running potatoes on them. They should give every finisher a Spuddy Buddy. Another great thing is this race is relatively inexpensive (around 30 bucks). |
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