Oceans Run Marathon Reviews

  Total rip off

By JB about 2019

Review

Trimom rips runners off. Complete packet pickup chaos. Poor on course support. Failed to hand out finishing medals in the half marathon. They lied about mailing the medals. And they are now no communicative. Despite the nice layout. They mismanaged the entire day and after care for the racers. They ought to be out of the road race planning arena.

Race Tips

Stay away from Trimom.

  A sinking ship...

By JR about 2019

Review

You know about the child who doesn't do his homework. He is evasive, gives conflicting excuses, hocks up some garbage at the last minute, and then slinks away. Now you know what Ocean's Run 2019 was like.

To be nice, we'll start with the positives. Easy to find, easy to park, pretty area, nice police officers. But none of those have to do with the race organizer, which is probably why they went well.

Now for the negatives. Everything else. The aid stations went from every even miles in one e-mail, to “every 2.5 miles in a later one, to close to every 3 miles in reality. These stations were generally unmanned, and lacking in what was promised (no Gatorade from mile 2 to mile 11), and the cups seemed to be filled with teaspoons.

The well-marked course did have mile markers, but those miles marked appeared to be measured with the ruler from the Fisher Price tool box. Some were 3/4 mile, others 1-1/8, miles 7 and 20 were practically atop one another, while 12 and 25 were separated by 1/3 mile... on a two-loop course. While it is a generally flat course, especially for New England, it has two significant climbs the race director doesn't mention in her flat claims.

Check in is a joke on an annual basis, understaffed and chaotic, leading to a late start. Given that all that is provided is a bib and a shirt (no pins here), it's amazingly and agonizingly slow.

When you finish, you cross the finish line. That's it. No medals. No cheering. Nothing that was promised (swag! medals!). Instead you saunter over to a table for some Doritos and a platter of Sam’s Club cookies (other items, such as bananas, have been graced upon the half marathoners). There's no explanation or apology, not then, not in a follow up e-mail, not ever.

Race Tips

Best advice: Leave this dead fish alone. Do not get caught up in the bargain pricing, the promises, or the opportunity. Go somewhere else for a late winter race (Hyannis, Savin Rock)

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

If you ignore the advice and run anyway, expect nothing. It's the only way you'll finish anything better than disappointed.

  A very sloppy race

By BW about 2019

Review

Race conditions were great, luckily between two winter storms. On course support was not. Two loop course through westerly neighborhoods. Only two aid stations on the entire course were manned (and only for the first loop).

Finished race in first and was not acknowledged whatsoever. About 5 min after finishing RD asked if I won (half marathon course shared same finish so it was not completely clear).

Nothing to show for the race other than a BQ; no finisher medals, awards, acknowledgement etc. Great course but extremely disappointing experience.

  Disappointing!

By DP about 2019

Review

Ditto to all the comments below. I have run 54 marathons and have never experienced one such as this. I wasn't trying to qualify for a Boston but I don't see how it could be a qualifier with all the twists and turns and one timing mat. I emailed the race director the other day (2months after the race) about our medals and have still not received a response. I noticed FB page has been taken down. I'll be surprised if this event is run again.

  No water, no medals, many problems!

By JM about 2019

Review

While I loved the course, the entire production of the day left plenty to be desired. First, the website promises live tracking. There was none, in fact the only map was at the start/finish line. Second, the water stations were mostly unmanned, and two were in fact devoid of water. One of which had only Gatorade (a problem for runners like myself who do not train to have Gatorade during the race) and the other had nothing. Setting up and manning tables seems like an obvious must for most races. In addition, at the end of the race the food they offered runners were small bags of cheez-its and small circular store bought brownies. Delicious to be sure, but after a race, how about some bananas, or at least something helpful. To cap off the day, they had no medals. They promised they would be mailing medals to participants at a later date, but I have now followed up 3 times and heard no answer. I'm not sure what they spent the registration money on but it certainly was not on the runners. Oh and a tent blew over at one point and nearly knocked out a woman. Mistakes happen but that was the type of event Trimom ran that day.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Bring your own water, medal and t shirt because you might not get any of them here.

  

By RJS about 2019

Review

It has been a full week since this event. Still no mass email stating why no medals were provided (which we had paid for in our $100+ fee). Race director and TRIMOM owner Kathy Robbins clearly only cares about collecting her money and moving on to the next scam.

Race Tips

TRIMOM does not respond to questions prior to or after events.

  100% letdown

By Mark about 2019

Review

Bad event is an understatement. Most people finished the race disappointed considering everything the race website promised. All negative Facebook reviews have been deleted by the organizer TRIMOM. No apologies or explanations have been sent out as to why the event failed.

Race Tips

Bring your own water, energy gels, race t shirt, timing mats, and finisher medal.

  Cheaply done, poorly organized.

By M about 2019

Review

This marathon in Rhode Island was poorly organized. The race took off late. We were lied to at the start of the race, race officials said we would cross timing strips on the course but the only strip was at the 13.1/26.2 finish line. We didn't even cross that strip when we took off. Race coordinators were very evasive to runner questions. Race communication was very poor before the race. Medals and additional finisher swag were promised to runners and we received nothing at the finish line - not even an apology. The race was very cheaply done, makes you wonder what your $90 registration fee went to. Water stations for marathoners after mile 15 were unmanned.

This was my 35th marathon and the least well organized one I have ever participated in.

The course was beautiful, locals in town were kind and the police were courteous and very appreciated.

Race Tips

The only tip I can offer is to not give this race a chance. They were thoughtless and left you feeling like they took your money and ran.

  Poor organization

By DS about 2019

Review

This could have been a great marathon-the course was very nice, weather perfect for an early spring race. Save your money and run it on your own. The race was very poorly run. At check-in, we received cheesy thin cotton T-shirts and race bibs with no pins supplied. We had to scrounge the car for safety pins from our last race. The race started late, as they were still checking people in at the start time. Aid stations for the most part consisted of unmanned tables with water and Gatorade. There were no cups at one. The few volunteers who were present seemed very nice and were appreciated. Upon finishing the first loop of the marathon, you cross the timing mat at the finish line and then run the course again. After crossing the timing mat, my way was obstructed by a crowd cheering on the half marathon finishers. No race official helped and I ended up shouldering my way through the spectators to continue with the marathon. I finished the race in a respectable time, yet it seemed like the few race personnel at the finish were so absorbed in packing up the race they didn't notice. I walked over, managed to get a woman's attention, and asked for my medal. I was told there were none but that I could take one from last year and they would mail one to me. The advertised "extra swag" for marathon finishers turned out to be a leftover (wrong sized) t shirt from last year. The after party was a case of bottled water and a bag of chips or something lying on the ground. I feel bad for those for whom this was a first marathon. As it was, I had a nice enough run by the sea and ticked another state off of my list. I'm sure there are much better races in Rhode Island though. After reading more reviews about TriMom races, I'm not going to enter any of their triathlons either. It should be noted that the race organizer deleted from her Facebook page multiple negative comments from other participants.

  Poor planing, bad execution, terrible value!

By B about 2019

Review

TRIMOM Productions doesn't really seem like a legitimate event company. Prior to registering, attempts to email, Facebook message, and message through the website were met with zero response. The official race website seemed out of date. Facebook page was also not updated.

The event description on the website describes a professionally run marathon. It is far from it. There is no live athlete tracker for your family and friends to follow you on the course because the only timing mat is the 13.1/26.2 finish line (the finish line is only timing mat on the entire course). I counted 3 water stations on the entire course, not at every even mile. There were NO MEDALS at the finish line. According to one of the organizers, they were not ordered in time, and it was suggested we email "Kathy" for her to mail it. WOW good luck getting that to happen.

The race start and registration was located 1/4 mile from the parking lot. The starting line did not have a timing mat, meaning you could've just hopped onto the course and claimed an official BQ! There were a total of 3 volunteers on the course.

They only positive was the course was well marked, but mile markers not at every mile or any timers along on the course.

$100 for this marathon is not worth it unless you need this race for a BQ.

  One of my favorites!

By AMM about 2018

Review

Sure the course was flooded this year, but the route along the ocean was beautiful, well marked, and pretty flat. They gave out 2 shirts for the marathon, and they're both cotton (YESSS), not those crappy tech shirts. Sufficient water along the course, small racing field, and great enthusiasm from the volunteers. Communication from the organizers was great. Would highly recommend this race.

Race Tips

Relax and enjoy the race!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Plenty of parking at Misquamicut State Beach. Treat yourself to lunch at one of the nearby waterfront restaurants!

  Poorly Planned Marathon

By Jonathan Rowe about 2018

Review

I am disregarding the bad weather and partially flooded course which could not be helped. However, this race was extremely poorly planned. Only positive was the well marked course. Major negatives included no actual finish line or adult volunteers at the finish line, poor t-shirt, poor finisher medal, age group place medal with no related wording, no promised after-party and food, and aid stations at miles 19 and 24 with only water and no electrolyte sports drink. I got sick and vomited after the race.

Race Tips

I could never support someone running this race.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Don't run this race.