Apr 29, 2024
Current Year Results
Results Search
Biggest/Best Boston Qualifier
2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2020 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results
2009 Results
2008 Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
☰
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 61 to 71]
|
A Runner from Marshfield, Wisconsin
(7/21/2002)
 "Dit toe" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Sorry folks, the clowns in charge are still holding this race back. Still no electrolyte drink on the course (one runner went in the ambulance vomiting blood today) and they don't seem to care. The race director seems to have no clue about safety. I don't care if they think it's 'low key,' it's lazy and when I pay to run, I don't expect lazy. If you must do an Iowa marathon - try Marathon to Marathon - a small town race that cares. | |
|
Diane from Rogers, MN (35 minutes north of Minneapolis)
(7/20/2002)
 "Got water?!?" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This course has the potential to be a great place for a marathon, but after 25 years I still don't think the race organizers quite get it. Running about 5 miles total on the side of 86 is definitely not a highlight of this course. Also, with the weather climbing to 95 degrees and with the humidity, they could have had water stops every two miles. It would have also been nice to have Poweraid or something at the water stations also. | |
|
Minnesota runner from Minneapolis, MN
(8/13/2001)
 "Man am I thirsty" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I grew up in Iowa and love the Okoboji region. I loved portions of the course but the conditions were hot and humid and the support too sparse to truly enjoy the race. I strongly recommend the organizers do three things to greatly improve this marathon: 1.) Have water stops every 2 miles (currently it is every 3 miles) 2.) Have sports drink in addition to water 3.) Move as much of the course off highway 86 as possible. | |
|
A Runner from chicago, Il
(8/10/2001)
"could be a great one, but..." (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This race has much potential, nice course, beautiful area to run and nice people. What it needs are the race organizers to really take a close look at what marathoners need during a marathon. Not enough water stations, the need for an electrolyte drink, and more safety on the course (marshalls, medical support, protection from traffic)and after a marathon, most runners need more then just a banana and a bottle of power-ade. I will come back to run this race, just to beat this damn course, (I ran my slowest time since I was 15 years old, I'm now 37) but I will bring more support and place electrolyte drinks at a number of spots on the course. Do not run this race unless you are an experienced marathoner or want to experience hell. | |
|
A Runner from WI
(7/26/2001)
"For the Love of God....Water" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Course was hilly. Temperature was hot. Great combination for someone to THINK to put water stations closer together. Water being three miles apart on a course like this and with the weather as hot as it was can only be summed up in one word...unconsciounably. Ran a PW. At mile 16 put it in survival mode. | |
|
A Runner from Dayton, Ohio
(7/24/2001)
 "I Owe Iowa a Good Time" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Sports drink and more frequent water stops would be nice for such an arduous event. Luckily the sun didn't come through much, which saved my cookies! I, too, was surprised by the rolling hills and running on some traffic-heavy roads, but when we dipped into the lakes area...a piece of heaven. The volunteers were wonderful. One even fetched me a soda from the kitchen since I was desperate for something other than water. Overall, we had a ball. My husband ran the 10k and loved it! So there is something for everyone. What a friendly race, but organizers...could you offer runners some gatorade next year and a few more stops along the way? (Thanks for giving us a great race otherwise...no I am not whining really. Was thrilled to add another state!) | |
|
A Runner from Dayton, Ohio
(7/24/2001)
"I Owe Iowa a Good Time" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Sports drink and more frequent water stops would be nice for such an arduous event. Luckily the sun didn't come through much, which saved my cookies! I, too, was surprised by the rolling hills and running on some traffic-heavy roads, but when we dipped into the lakes area...a piece of heaven. The volunteers were wonderful. One even fetched me a soda from the kitchen since I was desperate for something other than water. Overall, we had a ball. My husband ran the 10k and loved it! So there is something for everyone. What a friendly race, but organizers...could you offer runners some gatorade next year and a few more stops along the way? (Thanks for giving us a great race otherwise...no I am not whining really. Was thrilled to add another state!) | |
|
A Runner from Nebraska
(7/23/2001)
"Could be Great, but need much improvement!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I just finished running this marathon as the previous posts read, it is VERY HOT and HUMID. It was also hilly, but nothing too tremendously steep. The spectators were few, but those who did show up were very friendly and supportive (special thanks to the female who handed out ice cubes, she was a life saver). This course needs some major sponsorship! I would haved rather paid more of an entry fee and had some sports drinks at the water tables. Running in humidity and heat like that and only having water, is not taking care of the runners. I am suprised they didn't have a casualty. When you run that distance in those conditions, your body loses much more than water fluid, the lack of sports drinks, orange slices, etc. at the tables really hurt the quality of the marathon. Additionally, not only was water the only liquid provided, it was only given at every 3 mile point. I have not ran in a marathon that did not have tables set up every other mile after the 13th mile, that extra mile makes a big difference, especially if you are only getting semi cool water out of a garden hose. The course was good, and very challenging, however, there needs to be some type of temporary road blocks on the highway portions, this portion takes up a significant distance of the run and is flat out dangerous, there is no shoulder to run on, and many runners (including myself) almost became hood ornaments to some of the local Iowa drivers. If you are a female, you better have the bladder of a camel, because there are ZERO port-a-potties in the 26.2 mile course, some males urinated on lawns of people's homes because there was simply nowhere to relieve themselves. I understand the concept of staggering start times for half marathon and 10K runners, however, I felt that after just over 13 miles of running, it was mentally distracting and broke my concentration and pace to have 50 to 100 runners run by me in a pack like I was standing still, not to mention dodging traffic on the highway at the same time...This was a personal worst time for me as it was for most of the runners. It was very beautiful country in that area, and I did enjoy the runs through the neighborhood portions. I think they have a great idea, they just need to make some major adjustments if this race is ever going to attract more runners...Sponsorship would be a big plus, and maybe increase entry fees and get some road blocks, sports drinks, and port-a-potties out there...That is just plain taking care of the runners.... | |
|
A Runner from Iowa
(7/22/2001)
"HOT! HOT! HOT! Don't expect a PR" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I just got back from running this marathon. I really liked the course-very scenic and pretty, but beware of the hills! None of the hills on the course were huge, but there were many along the whole way. The hills really added up on my legs by mile 20, making it the hardest 6.2 miles run. Water stops were located about 3 miles apart, yes only water stops. No sports drinks or food were along the course. I think that is the major downfall of the course. It is just too hot in Iowa at the end of July to run a marathon without a sports drink or some sort of enegy replacer. I was lucky to have a friend who came up to watch-who ended up saving me from a sugar crash. Volunteers were great! And the spectators who showed up along the course were great, very slim though. I liked this marathon, and it was very memorable to me. I ran a personal worst, but was not depressed about it since most of the runners out there did the same. I was very happy to finish, at many points along the race I wanted to quit since my feet were covered with blisters, I was lucky to find someone to run/walk the rest of the marathon with. | |
|
A Runner from Tampa, FL
(7/22/2001)
"Hot, Hilly, and Humid" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I ran this race because I am trying to run a marathon in every state. I have run 36 marathons, and this ranks as one of the most difficult. The town of Okoboji, Iowa is beautiful. |
© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC
