Pre-Marathon:
Marathon organizers did a great job. I signed up for emails. I enjoyed reading the helpful hints and words of inspiration. Race director did a great job.

I wanted to buy some Green Bay Marathon sweatshirts and shirts. There is no online merchandise store on the official website. I got to the expo around 3 o'clock, and the little Green Bay Marathon logo merchandise that they were selling was pretty picked over. I would have looked forward to wearing a logo shirt or sweat shirt, so I would say the organizers are missing an opportunity to broadcast the Green Bay Marathon.

Pasta dinner at Lambeau was fantastic. There was plenty of pasta, salad, bread sticks and cookies. I like the idea of opening a section of the stadium to eat in stands.

Marathon:
Free and ample parking at the stadium made for a stress-free start to the day. Opening up the Lambeau atrium before the start of the race made a nice place to stretch and relax. Plenty of port-a-potties at the starting area.

The volunteers at water stations did a great job.... I never broke stride, as a volunteer always had a packet of GU or water ready for the taking.

The first part of the marathon winding through the neighborhood streets was a little boring. The one exception was passing the church at around the 6-mile mark. I think the whole congregation was cheering the runners on as they passed by the church. I looked down and noticed that they had written various messages in chalk on the street. The one that got me going was, "Jesus loves runners." Sometimes I run with my head down, so I was a little worried I might miss the break-off point of the 1/2 marathon full/marathon. The markings on the street and the guy on the elevated stand with the bull horn made it very clear which path I should be on. I enjoyed the scenic run along the Fox river. The wall at the 20-mile mark was a classic. When I got to somewhere around the 25-mile mark, I saw Lambeau. With the anticipation of running on Lambeau Field, the last mile was the easiest of the 26. Running through the players' tunnel, striking the sign in the tunnel, and the run and around the field was a rush.

I finished before the train, so that was not an issue. Since it is not a mega marathon, they don't completely close the streets for the runners. I did notice there were a few intersections where the police (all were friendly as you passed by) were standing to stop cross traffic. Each time I made it through the intersection without having to stop. Each time, in the back of my mind I was thinking, "That's really going to suck when the policemen stops the runners to let the built-up traffic through the intersection...." Not sure what the answer to that problem would be, but it's something the organizers should work on solving.


Post-Marathon:
The post-race Title Town beer and brats are a classic. There was plenty of food and drink.

The shirt they give participants is weak. It is a cotton shirt with design in the bottom corner.

If you are a Green Bay Packer fan, and I am, this is a special race. A took away a lot of fond memories.

Overall, a great experience.

Pros: Plenty of aid stations with water, Gatorade, GU, bathrooms, and enthusiastic people. Very friendly and helpful.

Flat course in a nice residential area and senic Fox River.

Lambeau Field both inside and out!!!

Cons: Cotton t-shirt with the design in the bottom left corner.

No changing tent at finish.

Mass start with 5K and half marathon. A great suggestion from a previous post to start the marathon first, and then the half 15 minutes later, and the 5K 15 minutes after that.

I am a Green Bay Packer fan, so this was a very special marathon for me. Well organized, with great support from the community.

We got to the expo at 6:00 on Saturday and the official marathon merchandise booth was already gone - and they didn't set up at all on race day. What the heck kind of sense does that make?!?! I am still disgusted that I dragged my butt all the way from York, Pennsylvania to Green Bay, and did not come back with a running shirt or a hat. I talked to the race director who was real nice, but have heard nothing since. Why not sell stuff on the website?

While I am whining, why were there cones every 50 feet in the middle of the running lane the first third of the race? I saw a number of people fall and nearly fall.

All in all, a great weekend in a very special town.

This was a fun, flat, well-organized marathon. Running through the players' tunnel and around Lambeau Field was great. I was one of the runners that was stopped by the train. Am glad I was not on track for a PB or Boston, but was still happy with my time.

This was my 1st marathon. I thought it was a great time. I don't think I could of picked a better race for my 1st one. It is very flat and fast.

I had an ultimate goal of a Boston qualifier. I was actually ahead of that pace at mile 22, when my leg started to cramp. The last 4 miles were a little slower, but I still got my ultimate goal. All of the aid stations and water stations were great. The volunteers were awesome. The flat course and Lambeau were my deciding factors for running this race. Turned out to be a great decision on my part. The first-timer's meeting was cool. The presenter there was awesome. Thank you. The medals are very cool. Love the idea behind them.

I would like to see a moisture wicking tech shirt of some kind offered to runners, as opposed to the cotton shirts. I like to wear them to other races that I run; it makes for good conversation. I would recommend this race to everyone. Being from S.E. Iowa, I will try to run this race again if I can. My 12-year-old son said he would like to run it next year if I go again. Thanks to everyone involved with this event.

Very well done!!!!!

When I decided to run my very first half marathon, I searched for a race that would be on the small side, but with the feel of a larger race. Green Bay really fit this bill. From registration to the finish line, the organization was outstanding. Being a "first-timer," I received weekly emails giving me encouragement and tips, and counting down the days to the race. All "first timers" also received a special t-shirt at packet pick-up. Speaking of the shirts, they were really disappointing. Not only are they not technical shirts, but they also are strangely designed. The image is printed on the bottom edge of the quite long shirt, so you cannot tuck it in or fold it up if you're short, like me.

The support along the course was wonderful. There were not many spectators along the route, but the people who came out of their homes were amazing. The little old couple with their record player playing polka music in their driveway was unforgettable!! Also, as another reviewer mentioned, the crew just after the mile 10/11 water stop was AWESOME! I think they all were members of a church - they were wearing the same white t-shirts. The run through Lambeau was cool, but not what I expected. It was hard being a sloooow half marathoner (finished in just over 3 hours) with the faster full marathoners finishing alongside me. I know that some of the more hardcore marathoners were getting annoyed by us walk/runners who were also trying to get the most out of our experience, if only more slowly. The finisher's medals are gender-specific and feature images of the fastest local marathoners from 2007's race. Very cool.

I really only have 2 major complaints: there was no Gu left at the mile 7 water stop for those of us in the back of the pack (from somewhere around 2:30:00 1/2 finishers). Also, the finish line food was pretty pathetic compared to other much smaller races I've done. We only received small bits of bagels and bananas, orange slices and Popsicles (which were great). It would have been nice to get a whole bagel or banana, but maybe that's just me. Of course, the FREE BEER at the end more than made up for that! ;-)

I highly recommend this race, especially if you're looking to do your first full or half marathon and want a special experience!!

PROS: Top-notch race organization. Plentiful, delicious pasta dinner. Excellent pre-race (especially the race director's course presentation) and race experience in Lambeau Field. Wonderful, flat, course through residential neighborhoods, complete with enthusiastic volunteers and entertainment, and numerous fluid stops (~ every 2 miles!). Fantastic post party (who doesn't revel in all-you-can-eat brats and beer while listening to a great band?). Sharp finisher medals (male and female, half and full marathon specific, with last year's male or female local winner engraved on the medal). We definitely plan on returning next year from Chicagoland.

CONS: None. Cotton race shirts were ok, but for folks who race a lot, these might be giveaways. A better design would make it a keeper. Other than that, this event was as perfect a big race as we'd ever experienced. AWESOME JOB!

p.s. Having hotels a block from Lambeau Field is also terrific!

This was a nice race and I loved starting and running with the 1/2's for the 1st 10 miles. Lambeau Field was great - especially entering via the same tunnel Favre did on game days. :) Two complaints: Finish line was lame - parking lot with a couple tents and not much food in sight. Also, stopped by a train during the race?! Unacceptable - it is not safe for those involved.

Weather for race day was mostly ideal: cool, mix of sun and clouds, and little breezy - but what else would you expect running a race so close to the lake and along the Fox River?

Aid stations well equipped, I loved the numerous GU handouts, and other runners were extremely friendly. I had several runners keep pace with me and talk throughout the race at different points.

For any football fan, running the track around the field in Lambeau was awesome. Really helped to give the extra kick at the end to finish strong. Brats and beer at the end were great, although I thought the finish area for runners was a little lacking in other post-race foods.

Main complaints would be to provide technical quality shirts to runners - or at least have more merchandise available to purchase at the expo that had marathon logo on them.

Also, my family only received one of the text message alerts showing my progress. I realize there is usually some delay, but they never even received any of the other messages at all!

Overall, good race if you are looking to PR and nice size if you don't like super large crowds. If I lived closer, I would definitely be back!

I ran my very first marathon on Sunday. From beginning to end, it was a great experience. The organizers of the race thought of everything! Please thank the wonderful man volunteering to hand out the women's marathon finisher's medals, who gave me the warmest hug as I was overwhelmed with emotions - knowing that I had qualified for the Boston Marathon on this very first attempt!