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May 2, 2024

Trailbreaker Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Trailbreaker Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.5

Organization 3.6

Spectators 2.1

Number of comments: 28 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 > ]

D. S. from New Berlin, WI (7/29/2007) "Third Time Is Not A Charm" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Trailbreaker Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I've run this marathon for the third time and will never run it again. Although the seven-mile trail run is challenging, most of the marathon is run on an old railroad right away that is flat and rather boring. As mentioned before, there is no finisher's medal, which is odd as this marathon is billed as "one of North America's 25 most difficult." The only thing it had going for it was discontinued this year: Your finisher's shirt was somewhat personalized with tower chevrons on the sleeve indicating the number of times you've run the marathon. Now you have to run it ten times before this is done! This change was not indicated on the entry form. It's obvious that the race organization is catering to the 1/2 marathoners and 5K run/walkers. For the second year in a row there was basically no food left by the time my friends and I finished the marathon (we were in the middle of the pack). Why let 5K walkers eat all the food? What are they recovering from? A friend of mine heard the race director say, prior to the 5K race, that they didn't spend any money on this race this year. THAT WAS QUITE OBVIOUS! I understand that the proceeds go for a worthy cause (Children's Hospital of Wisconsin) but at least offer some of the amenities that you find at other small marathons.
M. P. from Milwaukee,WI (4/5/2007) "2nd straight year doing the 1/2 mary" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my second straight year doing the half marathon, again as a motivator over the winter and a good gauge of where I was at for a late spring marathon. This year it was cold, rainy, and windy as opposed to just cold last year. Nothing has changed from the previous year as far as race organization/supplies. Course is a flat black topped out and back. Bring your own GU and water! Great fun after the race, got to love beers with other runners!
C. L. from USA (4/3/2007) "You get what you pay for" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Trailbreaker Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Positives: low cost, nice dry-fit shirt, runners did a great job supporting each other since spectators were minimal. Negatives: boring trail followed by a very difficult trail will not give you a PR in this race, dissappointed with the finish (no finisher medals for anyone), waited 3 hours for the award ceremony to get a piece of paper with my finish time on it. Do this one as a training run only.
K. C. from Milwaukee, WI (4/1/2007) "Tough run, but worth your while." (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Trailbreaker Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The run on the ice age trail and up the tower is very difficult, but makes the run more interesting than most. There are very few water stations, and you have to bring your own Gu, etc. I suggest using the bag drop, which will drop your bag at the mile 10/16 mark (you can put extra Gu, fruit, water, etc., or anything you think you might need. There is also very little fan support. However, there seems to be an even stronger camaraderie between runners on this course. I recommend this race if you are looking for marathon that is a bit more challenging.
K. G. from Madison, WI (4/1/2007) "No frills... where were the mile markers??" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Trailbreaker Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I ran the half marathon in 2007 and thought that it was OK. I have run around 10 other half marathons, and this was by far the most low-key of any race I've ever done. The course was almost completely flat and paved, which was a nice change of pace... albeit a bit boring. One word of warning: There were mile markers between miles 1-4, and 10-13, and none in between. I ran with a first-timer who found this to be extremely frustrating, so wanted to send that warning out! Overall, a nice race, but not recommended for a first-timer who deserves to be more spoiled the first time around. :)
N. G. from Plymouth, WI (4/1/2007) "Very low-key, but a bit dull" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Trailbreaker Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Not sure I will do this again. The out-and-back course is great for the first 16 miles, but when you get back on the bike trail (especially with a headwind) it's really boring. The organization was good, it's very low-key, and if that appeals to you, go for it!
M. P. from Milwaukee, WI (4/18/2006) "Nice first race of the season." (about: 2006) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I did the half marathon this year so that I had something motivating me to keep active over the winter. I ran the race with 2 very good friends and met some nice folks along the way. The police did an excellent job at the intersections. There could have been maybe one more water stop somewhere along the 1/2 course, mile 3 and 7 and then back at 10 when you looped back seemed like a long stretch near the end of the race. No GU (it was bring your own), and after-race munchies and drinks were sufficient, but nothing fancy. I'd suggest it as a first race of the season.
M. J. from Denver, Colorado (4/4/2006) "Excellent, well organized, low-key run" (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Trailbreaker Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Excellent, well organized, low-key run, Wisconsin style - munchies and beer at the finish. Great wind-shirts and hats for finishers. Beautiful course through town, farmlands and woods. If you need to be pampered on the marathon course, go run Chicago.
M. W. from Wales, Wisconsin (4/3/2006) "Awesome! Fun warm-up run for the season." (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Trailbreaker Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I loved the course, the hardcore runners, and just the simplicity of the whole thing. This race was all about getting back to basics - running and good people. Again, I just loved it.
Thomas Jordan from Stockton, Illinois (4/2/2006) "Tough race, very scenic, small and fun" (about: 2006) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Trailbreaker Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a very tough race and is not a "blow you away" marathon. It was a very scenic run and is a great way to open up the season. Very friendly atmosphere but not for those who need spectators clapping along the whole route. If you bring your own spectators, though, it is very easy for them to jump in the car and jet up ahead to the next checkpoint to cheer you on. Also, they worked very hard to slice up hundreds of fresh oranges for most of the stops. The only real hard part was going off on the trails through a wooded area and climbing to the top of a lookout tower which is bad for race times, but great for a fun run!

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 > ]

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