Re: Long Beach International City Bank Marathon Reviews

guest — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:25:58 GMT

I would really like to write a nice review telling every one what a great time I had, how wonderful the course was and how terriffic the organization was etc. etc. Unfortunately this is just not in the cards. The package pick was easy and although I was shocked at the way there were big piles of bibs sitting on tables it all seemed to work out. But that was kind of the end of the great. The expo was small and over crowded, with very few exhibitors. For a marathon of this size I was disappointed.

Fast forward to race day and I was glad I had stayed in one of the downtown hotels as traffic looked like a mess. So there we are in the corals and hundreds of people are pushing past us. I am looking around and there is the pacer so I know I am in the right spot. What is going on? Well all of the half marathoners are up front. Great! So then when we get out on the course it is jammed with all the half marathoners. It is fine until we get out on the beach and then it is a total mess. Runners are elbowing past, and I mean elbowing, walkers are three abreast. Come on! Get them out of the way start half marathoners 30 minutes after the last marathoner or do something but don't put them up front.

Ok we are past the half marathon turn off and there is some running room but where are the photo guys. Oh there is one and he is talking to his girl friend. No picture there. I am sure there is another photo op around the corner. Wrong! I can see the red sign but nobody around. Oh there he is eating a sandwich by his car. NICE! Real nice. So went the entire race. Ok I am coming down the finish line and where are the photographers!!! Oh there is one I guess I better run over and ask to get my picture taken. OOPS his battery is dead. WHAT!! Finally he is done and snaps a staged picture. I cross the line no photographers. OK there is a line up for photos after the race. It is huge because there is one guy with a camera taking pictures. But guess what after the pictures came out they don't have my picture. LOOSE THESE GUYS -- THEY STINK!!

I limp around the corner to find there is no food and wind up with a banana and an apple in a blue plastic bag. And I was expecting great. Silly me.

Sure there were good things. I mean how can you go to LA and not have a good time at Disneyland and Universal. We had a great meal on the Queen Mary. The race was ok but it didn't make my top ten list.

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Re: Long Beach International City Bank Marathon Reviews