Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Apr 29, 2024

University of Okoboji Marathon Runner Comments

Back to University of Okoboji Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.6

Organization 3.1

Spectators 2.8

Number of comments: 74 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

T. G. from Great Falls, Montana (10/17/2006) "It is what it is!" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I ran this expecting it to be very minimal for support and such. Actually it is a very pleasant run. Lake Okiboji is beautiful; the homes around are way nicer than my neighborhood. The rural setting with running on the highway didn't bother me, being from Montana. Our Governor's Cup runs that way, and is the biggest race in the state. I am not a competitive runner; I'm just a jogger, so this was an excellent choice for me.
G. B. from Worthington, OH (8/3/2006) "Hot... Warm... Humid" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 You get what you pay for! Price was great, NO extras. Finisher's medals not at the finsh line, but a great price. Great price, but no Gatorade or PowerAde. Nice shirt, but not a wicking one. Parts of the course were nice, but the highway parts sucked.... Lots of cornfields. Would I do it again?... Only in Iowa.
T. S. from Chattanooga, TN (7/31/2006) "Okoboji, IA is a cool place. I would do it again." (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I enjoyed the experience. I am a 59 year-old clydesdale runner. In cool weather, I usually run just under 4 hours. Okoboji was my 12th marathon in the last 11 months. I needed a July marathon to keep my string going. The marathon course travels around Lake Okoboji, in northwest Iowa. The distance around the lake is approximately 21 miles. The last 5 miles of the marathon is the same as the first 5 miles. The marathon started at 0600 about 5 miles north of the finish line. At 0700, a triathlon started, with a half-mile swim, near the start point of the marathon. At 0800, a half marathon started 13 miles from the marathon start line. At 0900, a 10K started 20 miles from the marathon start line. Being a 4-hour marathon runner, I came to the 13-mile point just as the half marathon was starting. I ran with the "middle-to-back-of-the-pack" half marathon folks to the 20-mile point and just missed the start of the 10K race. The triathlon folks had been passing me on bicycles for a while. I ran the last 6.2 miles of the marathon with the "back-of-the-pack" half marathoners, triathletes, and 10K runners. My point is this: the farther I got into the marathon, the more runners I had to run with. I was never alone on the course. I carried three gels and a 12-ounce water bottle, filled with Gatorade. Due to the July 15th temperature, I intentionally started slower and maintained a slower pace than I normally would run. I finished with a 4:17. I thought the organization was excellent. The water stations were more than adequate. The support staff and volunteers were great. The shirt and medal were also an excellent value for the $35.00 entry fee. I thought Okoboji, IA was a very cool place. The University of Okoboji may be the best-kept secret in America. I am very proud to now be an alumnus of the U of O. I would do it again. For those who may be skeptical from reading the complaints from previous years, just keep the following in mind: it is a marathon, it is in Iowa, it occurs in the middle of July and there is no sports drink furnished on the course. I made it OK and I got Iowa checked off the list. I appreciate the Three Sons clothing store for orchestrating the four events and for making July 15, 2006, a day for me to remember. Thanks to everyone.
B. K. from Iowa (7/9/2006) "KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a well run marathon but it is very difficult for all the reasons stated in the previous posts. This was by far my hardest marathon. If you plan on running the last half of the race with people around you then you better be able to run sub 4 hours in 90-degree heat with rolling hills and lots of humidity. I have run the 1/2 marathon here 7 times and I suggest one runs that first before trying the marathon here.
J. G. from South Dakota (9/15/2005) "Know what you are getting into..." (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon. Lots of people thought I was crazy to make this my first one. First of all it was cheap. I'm also pretty familar with this area. I read all of the previous reports of this race and I knew exactly what I was getting into. I would recommend reading the previous reports. I read that there was only water at the stops so my loving wife met me at pre-planned stops with electrolyte drinks. My wife and I did a lot of preplanning for this race. Overall I really enjoyed myself. It is small and cheap and there really aren't many fans. I had a blast because I knew what I needed to provide and planned for it. This race is not for everyone. Organization is about as good as it well get. I vacation in this area frequently and it was fun to run my first marathon infront of my family and friends. The finish at the pier is the best part.
k. f. from ia (7/26/2005) "hot, humid, but nice course" (about: 2005) First Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I agree with the previous comment. I was surprised there were no medical personel at the end of the race. It was very hot and humid. I ran the 10K.
U. R. from Des Moines, IA (7/18/2005) "Where were the medics?" (about: 2005) First Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 On a 90-degree day at 10am, where were the medics at the end of the course? My step-father collapsed at the end and we waited for over 20 minutes for medics to arrive. The spectators were wonderful and I would like to thank everyone who helped. There is absolutely no reason, however, that there were no medics at the end of a marathon!
b. m. from minneapolis, MN (7/21/2004) "Most memorable marathon" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Very scenic with lots of rolling hills. The topography kept my mind off the running. I was a bit disappointed in the water stops, they were sporadic but very nice people working them. Other than watching a guy shoot a bunny in his driveway and getting attacked by two terriers (yes they got away from their owners and tangled my legs up with their leashes), it was quite nice.
Brett Wertz from Lincoln, Nebraska (7/20/2004) "Went in feeling shaky about this, came out pleased" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I had read a lot of feedback on this site before deciding to participate in the half marathon. Needless to say, I was quite unsure of how well it would go. There was a lot of negative feedback. Despite all of it, I registered, and I had a wonderful time. First thing is first, this is a SMALL marathon. There weren't many runners at all, but the fact that it is a triathlon, 10k, half-marathon and full marathon with staggered starts means you won't be running alone. Some people say you are running alone, and well frankly it's not a big city marathon, but you aren't isolated. There are others around you. I was a bit nervous about the stretch of 2 lane highway, but it turned out well in my experience. Cars slowed down and I had no trouble, nor did I feel worried at any point. I didn't even notice anyone speed by too quickly. I would have preferred the highway be coned off, but I don't think it's necessary. I ran on the side of the pavement, but there is ample room to run on gravel if you are really that worried about being run down by a car. I finished the half in a decent time and didn't have a problem with the lack of electrolyte drinks... but then again I could see it being a big problem for full marathoners (though I think I drank about 5 or 6 Powerades post-race). The finish area was probably the best portion of the course... it is on a nice 200 meter drive ending in a circle directly on West Okoboji Lake. To your left is the amusement park (Arnold's Park) and to your right are plenty of shops. In addition to the runners who have finished and the fans, there are many curious onlookers to provide ample applause at the finish line. My MAIN complaint with the race was the beginning of the half marathon. I think it was miscommunication, but they announced 5 minutes till start over a loudspeaker. So I waited a minute and slowly made my way to the starting line (which was in a fenced in sort of area). Not 30 seconds after I got there, I heard the two men running the race say something to one another about 30 seconds to go, and then I heard a shout, '10 seconds!' None of the runners knew what was going on, and after a few moments passed there was a gunshot and startled gasps of, 'It's starting? What happened?' It wasn't a big deal for me, but I kept thinking to myself how lousy it would have been to have taken only a moment more to relace my shoes or check my watch, or something like that. That needs to be fixed. Otherwise, a good time. :)
Dave Graves from Volga, S.D. (7/20/2004) "A good time around the lakes" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 University of Okoboji Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The vast majority of the course was great, winding around beautiful neighborhoods and around the lakes as well as a foot bridge over a lake. The only drawback was running a few of the miles along a two-lane highway. There were no accidents, but with runners, bikers (a simultaneous triathalon) and drivers that weren't content to slow down, there was the potential for an accident. The course was well supported. While there was no Powerade, I had my personal support crew to help me there, and the weather was decent for Iowa in July. As one might expect, there aren't many fans at a race like this. But there was a good crowd at the finish (Arnold's Park amusement park) and it's always good to have cheers when you finish.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

Become an Advertiser

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Become an Advertiser

© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC

Privacy Policy Refund Policy Terms of Use