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May 18, 2024

Green Bay Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.3

Organization 4.4

Spectators 4.0

Number of comments: 235 [displaying comments 71 to 81]

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T. M. from Des Moines, Iowa (6/4/2009) "Excellent, as always" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Green Bay Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is one of my favorite races ever, and it does well in capitalizing on what makes Green Bay special (football, brats, etc.). One suggestion: the starting area could be improved by corral starts (similar to the Memphis Marathon).
matt scheer from kitty hawk, nc (5/29/2009) "Great marathon" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Green Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great marathon in every way. I qualified for Boston, so I'm going to be a bit prejudiced, but it would be really hard to find fault with this race. Pre-race pick-up was very well organized. Good-sized expo with some good deals, which seems to be rare. As for the race itself, I was surprised to read some of the comments on a crowded start. The start areas for various predicted finish times were well marked, so unless someone buried themselves in the pack, that didn't seem to be much of an issue. Aid stations were plentiful (18), well manned and well organized. I loved the course. The course itself is not pancake-flat, with some rolls in miles 5-9. A look at the elevation chart can answer any questions in that regard. Crowd support was enthusiastic. There were some sections with very few spectators, but in a city of 100K, that is to be expected. Though I was pushing too hard to savor the experience, running through Lambeau in the last half-mile was very cool. Good food and beer afterward, to top it off.
Jeff Austin from Shreveport, LA (5/24/2009) "Excellent course with great support!" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Green Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Pros: 1. For a town of only 100,000 people, Green Bay came out in force to support the runners! Thank you all! 2. The volunteers were the friendliest and most encouraging I have ever seen! 3. Flat, fast course. 4. Very well organized. 5. Excellent post-race festivities. Cons: 1. The Lambeau experience needs a little work - consider the physiological effects of running from a bright and cold atmosphere on asphalt to a dark and HOT tunnel on hard concrete, then out again, then in again, then out again. A few amenities can solve this. 2. Better signage for mile markers. 3. Start the marathoners at 6:30, then the 5K at 7, and then the half-marathoners at 7:30. The start was too crowded. 4. Need something more than a cotton shirt. 5. Beef up the expo with more marathon apparel, Tyvek, etc.
John Eng from New York (5/23/2009) "Fun, Fast, Well Organized Event" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Green Bay Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Had a great time in Green Bay. If you are an out-of-towner, book way in advance, as there are only a few hotels right near the start/finish, and they fill up fast. Temps were ideal, starting about 40 and ending in the low 50's. Thankfully, the 43 mph wind gusts that were prevalent the day before the race died down to around 12 mph race day. Logistics for the race are great, as the start/finish/expo are in Lambeau Field. Also, very well priced race, with one free ticket to the pasta party. The nice thing about the pasta party is that they open up a section of the stands at Lambeau Field for your dining pleasure. The course is fast and mostly flat. I lined up slightly in front of the 4-hour pace group and had absolutely no problems with crowding at the start. There were more spectators than I thought there would be and they were all enthusiastic. Lots of aid stations, as I believe there were a total of 19 for the marathon. It's definitely a fast course, with the first half slightly faster. The only hills are the two bridges and those aren't very long or steep. Much of the second half was run by the river on an asphalt bike trail. The finish with a lap through Lambeau was a lot of fun, even though there were plenty of half-marathon walkers who insisted on ignoring the 50-foot "Single File Only" signs and would walk obliviously side by side, blocking the marathon runners. Unfortunately, there isn't much the race director can do about rude behavior from the participants. The race was very well organized, with great post-race brats and beer. Friendly locals, good logistics, free pasta party ticket, reasonable registration fee, lap through Lambeau, fast course... what's not to like? My only suggestion to the race director are the mile marker signs. Some were marked on large flags high off street level, some were on small signs just lying on the road, and some were missing altogether. I wound up missing over half the mile marker signs. The mile markers should should be consistent, large, visible and ideally on both sides of the street. In closing, I also want to profusely thank the medical volunteers who helped me post-race with my severe calf cramps and dehydration problems. Thanks for the race director for a fun and well organized event.
D. W. from Wisconsin (5/22/2009) "Great Marathon Experience" (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Green Bay Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, but it was an excellent experience. -It was an ideal size (in my opinion). It was not so crowded as to be overwhelming, but there were enough people on the course so that you never felt you were alone. -The course was very flat and fast. -Excellent communication prior to the race (weekly e-mail updates with training ideas, motivational sayings, etc). -They also had a first-rate "first-timers" program that included additional e-mails with more pointers, a Q&A session at the expo, etc. -Plenty of hotels within walking distance of the festivities (all offered shuttles to the race as well). We stayed at the Cambria Suites, and I would highly recommend the hotel (brand new, very large rooms, and they offered late checkout for all of the participants). -The crowd support wasn't like what you'd find in a larger race, but everyone was very enthusiastic and vocal. It was also easy for fans to make it to several points throughout the course (my family was able to see me 3 different times). -The finish at Lambeau was a treat, and the post-race activities were great. No "true" negatives. As someone else pointed out, some of the mile markers were difficult to find (I'm sure they were there but you had to know where to look for them). The first part of the race is mostly through residential areas so it didn't make for the most exciting running or offer inspiring views, but there were enough people lining the streets to help you get through it. All in all, I was very impressed and will continue to run this race in coming years.
Steve Slade from Appleton, Wisconsin (5/22/2009) "Great race, great race director" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Green Bay Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon is really a terrific event. I participated in the marathon for the second straight year in 2009, making it my fifth marathon overall. It was probably not a great idea for me to run in another marathon so soon after I took on the Boston Marathon, as Boston took place less than four weeks earlier. The first time in my life I ran longer than four miles was just under two years ago, so I'm new to all this and I keep having to learn some lessons the hard way. Despite the fact that I suffered a stress fracture over the course of the 2008 Paavo Nurmi Marathon and had to miss four months of training, I couldn't resist and gave Green Bay another go. During those four months of inactivity, I forced in about six ill-advised training runs, and I also ran in the fun Cheesehead 5K in September, something I paid for well in advance, though my participation there wound up setting back the healing process a couple months. My foot held up well as I trained for and participated in Boston, but I aggravated the old injury in training both too soon and too hard after Boston. Now I'm paying the price. Those experts who tell us to take it easy in the immediate aftermath of a marathon really know what they're talking about. :) Back to Green Bay: The course is really fair, a thousand times flatter than the Paavo Nurmi and Boston. Running through Lambeau Field at the end is a real treat, as are the brats and other refreshments once the run is over. The finisher's medal is terrific, right down to the cool design on the ribbon. Last year's medal hung from a plain white ribbon, so the major upgrade this year was a nice surprise. It's the first medal I've received in any race (5K or marathon) that featured an impressive design on the ribbon. Having just run Boston, it would be impossible for any race to compare as far as crowd support is concerned. There were long stretches without much in the way of spectators, but the race keeps getting a bigger and better name, and I expect the number of spectators to increase, as well. I couldn't have asked for better support from the people who did turn out, though, and as usual, I had lots of tremendously appreciated family support before, during, and after. I think Sean Ryan, the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon race director, deserves an enormous amount of credit for how positive an experience the Green Bay Marathon is. My main criticisms last year (the first minor, the other more important) had to do with a) the T-shirt we received, which had a small design on the side, near the bottom and b) the lack of instruction for walkers/runners as they entered and made their way through Lambeau Field. I was just ready to really turn it up a notch last year over the course of the last mile, and I had to completely stop a couple of times in order to make my way around walkers who were side-by-side, blocking the way for those behind them. This year, the T-shirt featured a nice, prominent design on the front, and I was pleased with that. The improvement regarding walkers/runners obstructing the way through Lambeau Field was remarkable this year, as there were huge signs all over the place directing participants on how to make their way through, as well as volunteers reiterating the same instructions. I need to give REALLY big kudos to Sean Ryan and the volunteers for doing such a great job here. I happened to run into Sean Ryan a month ago by chance after we both made our way off the same plane at Boston Logan Airport. He noticed my 2008 Green Bay Marathon T-shirt, and he struck up a conversation with me about it. Last year's Green Bay was the first of two races I qualified at Boston for, with the other being the Paavo Nurmi. We talked about that and about running in general, and he couldn't have been a friendlier guy. After noticing criticisms last year and seeing how any legitimate beef seemed to be addressed in a much more than satisfactory way this year, I look at the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon as an event to really, really "look out for." It's already a big deal, but I think, thanks to Sean Ryan, its potential is limitless. I noticed there was some issue this year regarding an elite runner falling near the nineteen mile mark, with some sort of mix-up occurring. I read Mr. Ryan's comments in the paper regarding how steps would be taken to prevent such an issue from taking place in the future. Based on Mr. Ryan's track record with issues that inevitably creep up at every race, you can guarantee that the man is ON THE CASE. No race is perfect, certainly not even the Boston Marathon, but I get the sense that Sean Ryan's goal is to make the Green Bay Marathon as close to perfect as is humanly possible. The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon couldn't be in better hands. :-) Side note: Just as the last mile was to start and I was about to make my "push," a spectator in a car yelled out much-appreciated encouragement to the runners. I waved to them, which provided just enough distraction for me to run right into a cone, causing me to fall on my hands and knees in rather dramatic fashion. Only Steve could get attacked by an inanimate object over the course of a race. I got up immediately and appreciated the kind thoughts shared by the runners behind me, but I was thoroughly embarrassed and picked up right where I left off. I ran the last mile in 6:45, by far my fastest mile of the day. This came on the heels of several sub-par miles, as my hips were killing me and the pain kept getting progressively worse over the last ten miles or so. I experimented a little at Green Bay, seeing as I'd already qualified for next year's Boston, and I started out faster than I should've. Maybe I've hit on a little trick the running experts aren't aware of - fall hard with about a mile to go. :-) So, yes, if your finishing time was somewhere between 3:15 and 3:17, I was the fool who entertained you around the twenty-five mile mark. :-)
D. P. from Kansas (5/22/2009) "Mixed Feelings" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Green Bay Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Pros: Running through Lambeau was an experience I'll never forget. Beer and brats at the finish! Great crowd support; volunteers were very friendly and helpful. The medal is my favorite yet. Cons: Cotton t-shirt a disappointment. Start line organization was horrendous. Green Bay as a town is unremarkable, and the course looked the same throughout (except for the river crossing and Lambeau). Some pace groups were horridly inconsistent (the 5:00 pacer ran 7 minutes fast).
M. D. from San Antonio, Texas (5/19/2009) "Great Race, As Advertised" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I had read many reviews of this race on this website and I have to agree with all the reviews. This is a great race. The town of Green Bay is very nice, as are the people. The Lambeau Field venue is awesome. Being able to hang out in the indoor atrium before the race, and stretch and have flush toilets that accommodate a whole packed Lambeau Field for Packers games means there's certainly enough room for all of the runners. The organization of this race was outstanding. The race director really has it all together for the race. This had the most water stops of all six marathons that I have run. Bag-drop was super convenient. Post-race food was excellent. Just overall superb organization. The course was pretty good. Only downside was that there were a lot of concrete roads (guess that is the way you have to build roads in that climate). The course wound through a lot of residential neighborhoods, which was nice. Lots of turns, but nothing bad happened with that. Getting to enter through Lambeau at the end of the race and running on the (enter John Facenda) frozen tundra of Lambeau Field (exit John Facenda) was really cool. Not a lot of fans on the course, but fans never were a big motivator for me. The race is enough to pump me up. The only downside for me was the travel to Green Bay. I currently live in San Antonio, and it took about 12 hours of travel time to and from Green Bay, which was a drag. Even still, I was really glad to chosen this race, and I agree: it is one of the best marathons in the country.
j. b. from Madison, WI (5/19/2009) "Sean Ryan for race director of the year!" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Green Bay Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The organization was top-notch. All of those little things that annoy you at other races were conspicuously absent. Three gel stations, exactly where I wanted them. The fluid cups were filled to perfection. Gatorade was at every water station. Even when the half-marathoners left, and things got lonely, I knew where I was going. The course is flat. The expo was decent for a medium-sized race. Packet pick-up was easy. Pasta dinner included at Lambeau. Ample parking and hotel shuttles. Free beer after the race, and at the pasta dinner. No silly bands or stupid gimmicks (unless you count running through Lambeau). Reasonably priced. Minor complaints: the running surface was often concrete and a little hard. I wanted to start nearer to the front of the pack and had to work to get there (I am a big fan of wave starts and fixed corrals, but this might be a personal preference not shared by everyone). Since it is a medium-sized race, I didn't mind running with the half-marathoners (sub-7:30 the field wasn't that crowded). The course was pretty fast, and I was able to chug along at a constant pace and get my first BQ. I don't know if I would travel across the country to run it. There isn't much mystique for non-Packers fans, and Green Bay isn't a stunningly beautiful city. But because of the strong organization, it is a good, no-nonsense, runner's race, and worth running for anyone in the region.
L. E. from St Louis Park, MN (5/19/2009) "Terrific race, not just a terrific price!" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Where do I begin? This was my 5th marathon and by far the best experience (and a PR!). I wrote the race director less than 24 hours after I finished to thank him for a great job. Where to start? FIRST: IT'S AFFORDABLE. In this world of "mega" marathons with "mega" prices, this one is cheap: $60. That $60 includes the pasta dinner (which was tasty, plentiful and clean), shirt, medal, and the best post-race food I've ever seen (water, root beer, beer, fruit, cookies, brats, cheese, YOU NAME IT!). COURSE: flat and lovely. The river-side part would have been tough if it were windy, but we had perfect weather. SPECTATORS: above average in number for a small race. And in the spots where there wasn't a lot of fan access (along the Fox River in De Pere), there were motivational signs (sponsored by local businesses) every 10 feet or so. FLUIDS/AID: these stations were well stocked and appeared every where they were advertised online pre-race. The aid stations even gave out Advil! (Some don't, like Twin Cities, which only gives out Tylenol (ick).) LAMBEAU: even as a Vikings fan, I liked the run through Lambeau: they allowed friends and family to be in the stands cheering for you and they were blasting motivational music in the arena. EXPO: normal-sized expo for an event with 10,000 people. PARKING: FREE. Free at the expo, free at the pasta dinner, free at the race. You won't get that in Chicago or New York, and not even Twin Cities! This race was spectacular, and if I didn't need to start my training in February in Minnesota, I'd make it a yearly pilgrimage. RUN GREEN BAY!

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