I thought the marathon was a nice experience and am grateful for this marathon being around in July. It is great in that there is a 6 a.m. start time, giving you time to get a shower in before checkout if you have to drive to the race. The finish area was also very nice and festive. The timing system is also excellent. I really didn't expect much going in based on previous years' comments, as it is truly a no-frills race.

However, there were many aspects of this race that were unnecessarily frustrating (especially for someone not familiar with the area) that could have be solved easily with a better website such as: how to get to the start (use Google maps; you'll never find it with MapQuest), and when and where each type of fluid replacement was located (which mile markers different fluids were at). Also, if they could put up signs race morning to confirm you're going the right way; that would be nice, as it's a bit strange to be driving into a neighborhood to a race start.

I had no idea where the Gatorade was located, so I brought my own packets. I was glad I did, as there really wasn't any logic in terms of the spacing of PowerAde.

The one thing that did surprise me was that the PowerAde that was being served came straight out of a bottle. I think the directors could save a lot of money (and waste) by using Gatorade powder and having volunteers make it up. Additionally, they could invest the money into other areas of the race.

There was still confusion around mile 11 as to where to go, with an arrow pointing in the wrong direction from a previous year's race.

There were adequate bananas and post-race vitamin water at the end, although there was no water available at the start of the marathon.

As mentioned, there were no port-o-johns on the course (fortunately, I didn't have to use one). However, considering it goes through neighborhoods and many open areas, I can see it being a major problem if you need to use one.

I like low-key, small marathons, so for the most part, I really liked this one.

However, this was my 41st marathon and by far the most dangerous as far as vehicles. The part that runs along the main road had very heavy traffic. Combine that with runners running WITH traffic instead of against it, narrow road shoulder, bikers in the triathlon traveling in the same direction and lane as the bikers, and it is extremely dangerous. The rain made it even more so. I know one biker went down on the main road, but I don't know the cause. Except for this issue, this is a great marathon. Maybe the directors could re-route this part of it?

NOT A SINGLE BATHROOM ON THE COURSE. What do you think marathoners do for the week (AND ESPECIALLY THE NIGHT) before the race? We eat. A LOT. And that causes bowel movements over the course of 3-4 hours of running.

Water breaks were enough, but some a half-mile apart, and some 3 miles apart. No food from start to finish (or past the finish, unless you buy something from the funnel cake stand at the finish line).

Nice course to look at, but it's hard to run. ALL hills, up and back down every quarter mile; still, nothing ungodly.

Very disappointed by the lack of organization; I won't run it again.

Spectators get 5 stars because twice I had to use someone's private property bathroom. I would NOT want to have to deal with a soaking wet (it was storming) hooligan wanting to use my bathroom at 7:30 in the morning when I'm about to leave for work. Thank you to the people who were kind enough to give hospitality.

I thoroughly enjoyed running this race. The cool temperatures and rain on race day made the race much more enjoyable than it would have been had it been 80 degrees out. The rolling hills on the course were enjoyable rather than difficult, and this made the race quite lovely. There are a few things I would change though.
1. Add porta-johns on the course. I only saw one porta-john on the entire route and was forced to take a bathroom break that consisted of more than liquid waste in the woods along the road.
2. Close off the highway. With runners and bicyclists from the tri, and all the cars on the road, it is not only distracting but dangerous.
3. Make the aid stations spread out more evenly.
4. Offer XXL shirts, for the larger marathoners amongst us.


Overall I would recommend this race if you like small-town races, with small crowds and small numbers of runners, and can handle doing without some of the amenities you would get at a larger marathon.

Also ran this race as a training run. A friend and I are doing a 50-miler in August. This was the 2nd time that I have done this race. It was humid at the start but not bad temperature-wise. For me, the rain and thunder started at the halfway point. It rained for about 6 miles. This is a low-key marathon without a lot of fluff. You get a small medal when you finish. You do finish right by the pier on West Okoboji, which is kind of neat! The people involved with the race are friendly. Allsport Central always does a good job with the timing. It is a low-cost race - 55 bucks!!! A person can always do Twin Cities or somewhere if they want the big marathon with all of the stuff!

Disclosure: ran it only as a training run; dropped out at start/parking area between miles 20-21. Essentials are covered, sometimes barely adequately. Enter it for a tour of a unexpectedly nice area and friendly people. Don't run it if you want or expect nice amenities, thorough and smooth race basics, or ideal conditions.

Glad I didn't plan to run this as a goal marathon. The '08 edition of Okoboji had surprisingly cool weather, thanks to rain and some lightning. Unpredictability of aid frequency and contents was a little annoying - first aid station was past mile 3, some aid stations had energy drink, some did not, and some aid stations were close together. Most had fewer than four volunteers, so slowdowns or self-serve was part of the experience.

There is a lot of complaining going on about this race.... It is an Iowa marathon in July with a cheap entry fee. What do you people expect? Look around and see how many marathons are run in July in the Midwest.... Not very many, are there? Why do you think that is? If you are not hungry to do a marathon... maybe you should look somewhere else. If you are a marathoner who looks for flat and fast, a big finisher medal, tons of people cheering you on, and someone to hold your hand and fill it with sport drink every mile... go to Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, etc. Shell out $90-$125, buy the perfect outfit, put on some makeup, wait forever in line, pose for the pictures... and have the cliche marathon experience... but stay away from this race. Go back to the Y. We are fortunate this race happens. The organizers are doing what so many people do not: Put on a race for people who just want to do it. Thank you.

I love Okoboji - love it, love it. I even love saying Okoboji because I am familiar with the area.

Confession - I ran the half, not the full marathon. I will start with the complaints: Not enough water stops for a hot race. That is my only real complaint. I would have rated the spectators higher but there weren't many of them. The ones that were out there did their best to cheer us on. Before the half marathon started I was a support person for a full marathon runner. Coming from Boston I appreciated how easy it was to move along the route and how easy it was to find parking (not something you will ever say about Boston). I really enjoyed seeing the Wisconsin crew come by with their cheers about the Packers.

The number of runners was low and so it got a little lonely at times (I am not a particular fast half marathon runner) but it still was a beautiful simple course with rolling hills. The stretch where there were three dead raccoons on the road was a bit unusual, but hey, this is Iowa, where roadkill happens.

The people were very nice and we found a lot of fun stuff to do during our visit. Other than adding more water stops and better mile markers, it was just about perfect for me.

This marathon could be so much more than it is if the race directors would put some money where it counted. I realize that the entry fee is $35 but I'd rather pay $10 more for a higher quality organization.

To be fair, I would say the following are the pros and cons:

Pros:

- Pretty course, lined with beautiful houses, fields of corn and soybeans, and views of Lake Okoboji.
- Volunteer staff at the water stations were really friendly.
- The people that show up to run this are all awesome and I felt like I was on a group run with all of them. Most people were locals.
- The finish line was adequately staffed with plenty of fanfare, and despite reviews from previous years, there were medical staff there.
- There was PowerAde on the course this year.

Cons:
- The website sucked. I had to do massive research to find out information that most marathon websites make easily available... uhm, such as HOW TO GET TO THE START.
- The medal was a complete POS. It was a generic cheap looking medal that was on par with what you give a 5th grader for winning a spelling bee. It has a light engraving on the back that says, "U of O Marathon Participant." I don't need a manhole cover but give me something that I actually am not embarrassed to show people. I think I would have rather gotten nothing.
- The starts were timed so that everyone in each event finished in a smaller window. This resulted in several bikes whizzing past me at high speeds as I ran down a road that had no shoulder. So you have bikes dodging cars - by running runners off the road!

A couple of people who I spoke to at the finish even mentioned that the race directors are basically millionaires and they put ZILCH into non-critical parts of this race. That is a shame.

If this marathon was better organized I could see it being a great destination marathon because Okoboji is a beautiful place and I think I will go back - but not for the marathon.

I know it's only $30 for the entry fee; but, participants spend so much more to travel and participate in a marathon, the organizers should do just a little more to make it a first-class event, even if it is necessary to boost the price a few dollars.

This is a terrific venue. Lake Okoboji is a beautiful setting. I was surprised at how nice a vacation community the lakes region of northern Iowa was. The weather this year also participated and gave us relatively cool temps and a nice breeze.

Of my 25 marathons, this offered the absolute cheapest of all medals. There are no Gu stations, no bananas, oranges or any other food on the course. In the finish area, the half marathoners drank all the water and ate what little post-race food there was (there was still PowerAde left, thank goodness).

The markings on the course were marginal. All signage was spray-painted on the road. I almost missed one turn (mile 11 or so) because I was running on the shoulder (gravel) and the arrow was painted in a very faint paint on the road a few feet to the left. There were no other runners near me (a common occurrence) and I almost went right past the turn. I did make it and did the approximately 2-mile loop that took us back farther down the highway. Toward the end of the loop, a marathoner was running in the opposite direction - obviously having missed the turn and was now running the loop in reverse to make up for his error.

There was no expo, of course, but it's a small event that one would not expect to have an expo. I wouldn't even mention it except that the packet pick-up is at the organizer's store - way in the back. We were all encouraged to come back and shop after the marathon. It was just a little too self-interest motivated for my taste - and all the while several critical components of the marathon have been neglected.

The volunteers were great. The course is particularly suited for family and friends to get to various points on the course to cheer their marathoner on. The venue, as I said, is terrific. I also think this course is suited to a potentially fast time (except, perhaps, for the many twists and turns the course takes).

I must say - I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. I hope the organizers think hard about the potential of this event going into the future.