Latest reviews by Penny Williams

(2022)
"The crowds, the cheers, the excitement!!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

If you haven't done NYC yet, its a fun marathon! This was my second time running it and while it was unseasonably hot day, the course was prepared for it. Tons of people, lots of cheering, and the crowds were amazing.

While I ran a smart marathon this time due to the heat and my knee, versus racing it, I enjoyed the sights more and took it all in more than my first time. Its almost like you have to do it twice to properly digest it all in!

A few things to note:
- Both times I took the ferry. (So a cab from the hotel, to the ferry, to the school bus they provide, to the start.) Its like a two hour process, then an hour and half wait in the corral village. But there was water, bagels, coffee, and plenty of restrooms.
- You could get into a back log of people not only at miles 1-2, but also at 8-9 as the amount of runners is really heavy in those areas! So much congestion!
- Easy to slip on all the water cups fallen at the water stops every mile. They try to sweep them up but you'll definitely run over them.
- Weather can be unpredictable. Warm or cold.

All in all, if you like crowds and pizzazz, this is a big as it gets! This is it!!

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(2022)
"A good but not great race. "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

I would really love to give five stars across all categories for this race, but there are some changes that are needed in order to take it from a good race to a great race. Race communication is limited (one email sent one week before the race with a link to the app). I did not see an elevation chart posted and perhaps I missed this but much needed elevation chart as there are some hills to this course.

My biggest change would be to add medals to age category and overall winners. I won for first overall female in the half marathon and there were no special pictures taken, or a special medal given. While prize money isn't necessary, an acknowledgement to the top 3 runners by gender in the half and the marathon certainly is standard race protocol. And perhaps top 3 per age group. So while this might seem like a minor thing to race organizers, it is a big thing to runners. To not acknowledge in any way race placement is a major disappointment. And so, to cross the finish line, have my name announced and that was that was a bit of a bummer.

The course itself is somewhat scenic. The half takes you through Baylor University's campus, then along the river near the zoo, and back into downtown Waco. There are some hills and an underpass as well as a back and forth portion of the race. Not a ton of crowds to cheer you on but that's ok. It is meant to be a small town race versus a big world marathon major race.

All in all, a few tweaks to this race as far as race management and then I think you could get more serious runners.

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(2019)
"Tough course but worthy cause! "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Run for the Water is yes a run to race, but it’s also about the experience and helping others in Africa get access to water.

The first half of the course is tough- Austin hills! Ups and downs through mile 7. And then it flattens out!

Good course to negative split!

I love how the race keeps to its mission and wants most of the money from the event going to its cause. So just a t-shirt in the swag bag. No medals.

But that’s not to say they cut corners on the course. Management did a great job of marking the course, aid stations, etc.

Course runs through some beautiful neighborhoods and it scenic for being in the city.

All in all a “feel good you’re doing it” race!

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(2019)
"An amazing experience!"
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Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
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I ran the 2019 Berlin Marathon and received my 6th and final star! It was a great experience and the reason I went to Berlin. Here's my two cents. :)

Follow the Blue Line: The race itself was flat as we all know, but it did have a few turns which made for a unpredictable course because you didn't know which way the race was turning. There is a line on the course (triple blue) and if you follow it, it will guide you in the direction of the course and basically the line they used to measure the course distance. So its to your advantage to try to find the line and use it as a guide. (London does this too in another color.) My suggestion is in the corral stay to the right side, as after you go around the statue the first turn is to your right.

Weather: Prepare to be wet. It started raining hard at Mile 20 for me and then quickly became running into puddles. Just be prepared for rain as this has happened in years past too. Minimally at the start, head to Amazon for cheap packable ponchos that you can pack and then toss. At the finish line, they handed out heat sheets for everyone and then if you opted out of the shirt, you also received a poncho. Not as nice as the poncho at the NYC Marathon (which by the way you can buy on eBay if you want a really nice throw away lined poncho with a hood). The poncho they had out is more like a cheap fabric with a hood. Did the trick although I'm not sure if its worth it versus not getting a shirt.

Marathon Shirts/Jackets/etc.- Adidas has the rights to the World Marathon Majors. So, like what happened in Tokyo this year, Nike comes out with a version of their own without the word "Marathon". It will say "RunBerlin" or "Run Tokyo". The Berlin Adidas store sold out fast on their shirts/tanks/jackets as did the Nike store. This was by Friday! If you are on the hunt, make a pit stop to Adidas or Nike first to buy your items before the crowds. Adidas personalizes them too in store. At the Expo, skip the store if you are going into the city to get it at the Adidas store and having them personalized.

Timing Chip- Unlike the states, there is a charge for your timing chip. I made the mistake of walking away with it on and therefore I didn't receive my refund for it. The last thing I wanted to do in the rain was untie my laces, take the chip off, and toss it into one of the return bins (my thought was I could just mail it back). Nope. You can only return the chip in the bin by 5pm the day of the marathon. So just remember if you want your moola back, return the chip. Or you can keep it for another European race that requires a chip.

Getting to the race- We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria which as beautiful (a Hilton property too). Great location. Morning of the race I just followed a bunch of runners to the start by hopping on the S train to the starting village. I left at 7:20 for a 9:15 start. I thought this was perfect. Since I opted for the poncho, I didn't have a clear bag for my clothing to turn in, so I brought a big plastic Ziplock with my breakfast, Kleenex, water, etc. and they allowed me to bring it that to the starting corral. GO EARLY!!! EARLY! EARLY! I allowed 2 hours which was perfect but any later and it just gets mannheim.

Corrals- Never in all my races did I feel as crowded in a corral than in Berlin. It will be a tight fit and your first two miles will be crowded. (However, it will force you to slow down in those first few fast miles.) The marathon time you put on your registration is the time they base your coral. For a 3:05 marathoner, I was put in Corral D. (Which tells you that Corral A-B are wicked fast.) At the expo, I was able to change to Corral C based on my half marathon time. If when you get your bib, you are unhappy with your corral, stand in line for a switch and be able to prove via your phone and race results a better time if you can switch corrals. Seems like a minor switch but seriously, the crowds are crazy and it will be bumper to bumper crowded. Every little bit helps.

Expo- Not as fun as London. Expect long lines and lots of moving from one line to another to another to get all the pieces of your packet that you need.

Crowds- Not at every mile, but enough to keep you motivated at many points throughout the race. One major plus is that your family/friends can see you multiple times as they can easily hop on and off the course and use the free trains day of in-between meeting spots.

Kilometers- Study this. Know your kilometers and when (in kilometers) you need GU. Then cross check this with the course map as far as when there will be aid stations. Water is not at every kilometer or every mile. The water station signs are not dramatic (more like small poster boards) so memorize out what kilometer you will take water and anticipate the stations. Water is always to the right side of the course after the first station.

Course- The reason for my five stars is despite all crowded corrals, crazy busy expo, this is an amazing experience. To run in West and East Berlin, through the Brandenburg Gate, on the world's fastest course was amazing. To meet runners from around the world, to experience this, was a truly one in a lifetime experience.

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(2019)
"A memorable race!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

I ran the 2019 Tokyo Marathon and received my fifth star there. Here are the details:

Weather: It will be cold so be prepared. In 2019 it also rained and coupled with the cold temp it was not a great day to be outside much less in a marathon. Be prepared. I bought on eBay the nice NYC Marathon ponchos that are lined and have a hood and then I just tossed it at the start. That poncho saved me as you stand in the corral for awhile.

Hotel: Worth mentioning, but I stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Shinjuku and literally you walk to the lobby down a few steps and you are entering the corrals. It was a great hotel for a starting location. (The Hilton is right across the street too and another great location.) To get back, you just hop on the subway which is free that day. Convenient and really easy day of the marathon. To note as no one told us, but to get into downtown from the airport its a good 2 hours. So after traveling for a LONG time from the US, you have another 2 hours ahead of you by hotel bus or taxi.

Starting waves: I was part of the One to One program so my corral was up front, but just know ahead of time how to get into your corral. Everything is super organized but you just need to know where to go. They have lots and lots of volunteers helping. English speaking volunteers have their hats labelled with "English" and just ask one of them if you are in a bind. So so organized. Seriously the most organized race I have ever been to.

Expo: I had to laugh as this expo was nuts! It reminded me of being in Vegas with all the lights, sounds, and noises! It was like an expo on crack! It was crazy! Just lots to take in and very stimulating. Easy to get to by train. I went on the Friday prior midday and I felt like the crowds were perfect and totally manageable.

Course: Flat, running through lots of parts of Tokyo, and you can preplan to see family members at various spots. Nothing really stood out to me until the end by the Imperial Palace. Crowds were ok not like NYC or Chicago or London.

Swag: Medal, heat wrap, and a towel that all match the same them. The towel is like a big workout sweat towel and actually is useful. The medal design was super sleek and a great design.

Bag check: I normally do not check in anything prior to the race but due to the weather I changed my mind morning of and was so so grateful. Everyone receives a clear bag and they have it so organized. I had brought some warm clothes and it was so helpful at the end of the race as I was literally freezing and soaked. They require you to change into specific changing tents after the race (versus on the street). Everything is labelled so you know where the tents are in the finish zone, but they are really crowded. Gender specific and most runners change into dry gear.

Bottom line: I think this is one of those races that was extremely neat and so grateful for the opportunity, however if it was not part of the World Marathon Majors I don't think I would seek out to do it. I think over time this race will become bigger and bigger and I could see it becoming the next London or NYC where its 45,000. Right now the crowds were totally manageable. Every spoke English so I didn't feel that there was a language barrier. And...speaking from experience, if you like a bagel, Google bakeries to score a bagel Saturday and save to eat Sunday. (There's a great bakery in the hotel The Knot with American style bakery goods including bagels.)

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