What makes a Good Course
mlb929
Posts: 1,974 Member
I ran a half marathon yesterday, the course was TERRIBLE, IMO. I keep reading FB pages for various sites saying "great course". It sucked. I ran hard, was 2 min short of my PR and happy with my results as I worked for it. However, my faults:
1. It was 2/3 up hill, OK, I was prepared for that but even the "down hill" portions were steep sharp, falling forward down hills. My GPS shows peaks and huge straight down dips, back to sharp ups. There were 15 for these in 3 miles.
2. At least 30 "Turns" not straight at all, but hills with turns on them.
3. Water stations - Middle of the hills, not down, but on the ups, losing any momentum and encouraging me to just go ahead and walk.
4. Lack of law enforcement, traffic stopped to let cars/buses through, bikes crossing the paths in front of us.
5. Rutted pavement, with holes, not marked.
6. Two of the roads had major speed bumps - several 4-5 in the street.
7. It rained, and the roads got very very slick, on those downhills, with the downhill curves, it was easy to lose footing.
8. Lack of any support on about 1/2 the course
9. Water stations were tables full of cups of water, not being handed out - you just gabbed the gu's that were dumped on a table. Nothing marked upcoming water stations or where they had gatoraide and water both.
I guess when I race, I want to have fun . I work hard in training, for the reward of enjoying myself on a race. Having to worry about injury, from too much up hill/downhills was a concern. Slick pavement, too many turns. Hard to get great race times with just simple barriers to keep races from being super seems like a wasted race to me I don't race often, and pick bigger races when I do, I like the environment of the big race. I'm curious to know what makes a "Great Course" in someone else's perspective.
1. It was 2/3 up hill, OK, I was prepared for that but even the "down hill" portions were steep sharp, falling forward down hills. My GPS shows peaks and huge straight down dips, back to sharp ups. There were 15 for these in 3 miles.
2. At least 30 "Turns" not straight at all, but hills with turns on them.
3. Water stations - Middle of the hills, not down, but on the ups, losing any momentum and encouraging me to just go ahead and walk.
4. Lack of law enforcement, traffic stopped to let cars/buses through, bikes crossing the paths in front of us.
5. Rutted pavement, with holes, not marked.
6. Two of the roads had major speed bumps - several 4-5 in the street.
7. It rained, and the roads got very very slick, on those downhills, with the downhill curves, it was easy to lose footing.
8. Lack of any support on about 1/2 the course
9. Water stations were tables full of cups of water, not being handed out - you just gabbed the gu's that were dumped on a table. Nothing marked upcoming water stations or where they had gatoraide and water both.
I guess when I race, I want to have fun . I work hard in training, for the reward of enjoying myself on a race. Having to worry about injury, from too much up hill/downhills was a concern. Slick pavement, too many turns. Hard to get great race times with just simple barriers to keep races from being super seems like a wasted race to me I don't race often, and pick bigger races when I do, I like the environment of the big race. I'm curious to know what makes a "Great Course" in someone else's perspective.
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I can fully understand where you are coming from. A challenging course is one thing, but what you are describing is a total beatdown, A great course to me would be one where you have the opportunity to PR. It does not have to be completely flat or downhill. I did the Austin Marathon back in February, same thing you described. Long stretches of steep hills up and down. No way I could PR unless I was maybe in Dean Karnezes type shape. I have accepted some of the more grueling courses as a challenge and have enjoyed it as such...but not a great course. I guess everyone has a different view on a great course.0
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Other than the traffic control issue, I think you are being overly sensitive.
How much was the fee for the race? I am assuming it was small & therefore probably cheap. I'm not sure what you expected. It seems much of your complaints regarding the layout were things you could see before hand. Did they not have a course map or description? You also can't control the weather. Rain makes roads slick.0 -
Other than the traffic control issue, I think you are being overly sensitive.
How much was the fee for the race? I am assuming it was small & therefore probably cheap. I'm not sure what you expected. It seems much of your complaints regarding the layout were things you could see before hand. Did they not have a course map or description? You also can't control the weather. Rain makes roads slick.
Nope - very expensive major race series - very large event.
And I'm not "overly sensitive" - simply a stupid comment on your part, kind of funny to me really because I'm not taking it personally and said IMO it was NOT a great course and outlined why. I'm just confused by the online comments of "Great Course" when I've ran so many better courses and courses in the same town that have been "Great courses". I grew up in the area I was running and know such BETTER courses that could have been used. I'm really curious as to why other runners would think something was a "Great Course" when "I" really didn't think it was a "great course" . What makes something a "Great course" - as I know all runs don't have them. I knew going into it that the course wasn't what I would have considered a great course, just by the map alone, but... I also didn't expect there to be speed bumps, pot holes, or so many sharp dips, as there was no elevation profile presented, just the map.0 -
"Great course" is sooooo subjective. I'm a trail runner, so a "great course" to me has single track, switch backs, challenging hills, a water crossing, and maybe a sweet view. These are all things that are opposite of what would make a great road race.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds like the race was pretty poorly organized. Did the Race Director change from the previous year? Perhaps the organizers had issues with the local PD for whatever reason this year as well. I ran in to this issue when helping to organize a 5K for my local Animal Rescue League last year. Did the race site have a course map or description? If I'm looking for a PR I definitely want to know as much about the course as possible. Maybe it's because I run trails and conditions can affect timing in a pretty major way.
If you plan on repeating the event, or maybe more importantly if you're not, it never hurts to send a quick feedback email to the director of the race letting them know what didn't work.0 -
A great course depends for me, as I like to run trails and road races. But in general:
1. Clearly marked courses - I want to know I'm where I'm supposed to be.
2. Aid stations at appropriate intervals - With trails, this might not be for a few miles in between, but as long as I know that, I can plan for it.
3. Friendly, helpful volunteers - I love having those interactions with volunteers, whether they're handing me a drink or simply cheering runners on or directing us to the right direction.
Other than that, I like challenging courses overall, so I don't mind the hills so much and inclimate weather is just something you have to plan for, unfortunately.
I suppose you can say that I have "low" expectations for a "great" course, but really, what I just want is a clear course map with aid stations marked and an elevation chart provided prior to the run. As long as I know what I'm up against, I can handle/plan for it.0
