I would like to thank you personally, as well as the organizers and other
directors for putting on a great running event. I recognize all the hard work
that went into making the event so successful.
It was my 585th marathon and only the 2nd of some 70 international marathons
that I have repeated. I also ran in 2005. Perhaps it is a surprise that I would
choose to repeat this race.
The conditions are not the best nor is the course and it is not an easy place to
get to. To me the marathon is more than a race and opportunity to do my best.
The marathon event includes the city, the pre and post events and most
importantly the people, runners and all others. In that aspect Panama is
outstanding with its friendliness and making me feel welcome despite my not
speaking the language. I feel I have many friends in Panama after running these
two marathons.
I thought the race was an improvement from two years ago. The Start/finish area
is a better location which would facilitate an earlier 5:00 am start. Water
stations were excellent and abundant. The cold Gatorade was fantastic though I
would have liked some earlier. The course is more scenic, some parts very
attractive. I did spot some course markings but prominent markings, paint and
signs at 5k intervals would help. The bridges looked unchallenging during a tour
of the course but they grew into Alpine Mts on race day, humbling any attempt on
my part to run well. Course security was good but I did have to ask
policemen directing traffic which way to run in the later stages. The finish
stretch on Balboa was an improvement but running on the shade side of the street
would help a lot.
The finish certificate and medal are very nice, I was very thankful for the
banana a friend was able to find for me while I started to recover from my
depletion.
Chances are small that I would ever have visited Panama if it weren't for the
marathon.
So I am very grateful that you stage the event. I would like to think that I
might return again.
Andrew Kotulski
Montclair NJ
USA
