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Apr 27, 2024

Marathon-to-Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.2

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.5

Number of comments: 76 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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T. B. from California (6/14/2008) "Great marathon for a small town!!" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I read all the comments before doing this marathon and boy was I blown away! This was one of my favorites! Great organization, great volunteers and beautiful countryside. This is a great marathon to PR in and just enjoy the town and great people. The marathon was definitely one to remember, and at the top of the list of great fun for Iowa. Keep it going, and for those looking for a marathon that helps you get your 50 states, this is it!
Tung Tran from South Bend, Indiana (9/18/2007) "Great Marathon" (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The course was a little hilly - only you cannot tell because of the long inclination. Hot, humid, and lonely country roads - but I loved it. If you are slow runners like me, you will be running alone most of the time. It is a small marathon. There is no looping on this course, so you would never see other runners again on the course after they pass you. The volunteers were very friendly and helpful. There were not many spectators. Much appreciated the volunteers, especially at the water stops. They were out there in a very hot day to help the runners. Thanks again for everything.
K. F. from Des Moines IA (7/3/2007) "This was my first, and I finished it!" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first and maybe last marathon - not because I didn't enjoy it; it is just a lot of work!!! I'm so glad I did it though. I think it is a perfect first marathon. It is small and everyone was absolutely great! I didn't mind the spares population. The less people to see how horrible I looked, the better. It took me longer to run the marathon then to have my first child, but then again, I am fully recovered from the marathon. I can't say that about the child. :)
M. R. from Omaha, Nebraska (6/20/2007) "Great, Small-Town, Country Run" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Marathon-to-Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This race is for you if you like to run past lots of corn fields and you don't depend on lots of people to get to the finish line. It is not very hilly and can be hot, but is not always hot. This was the 4th time I ran the marathon and I love it! You could set a PR on the course - it is a very nice course! (I almost set a PR even in the heat!) One year I ran it I couldn't see runners in front of me because of fog.. and because it is a small marathon. I had a dog chase me and almost trip me.... It was a nice dog that just wanted to run! The spectators are awesome; there just aren't very many. There are some cows that join the spectators! The farmers bring out their chairs next to the road to watch the race. The organization is good. What I didn't like about the organization was that some of the water stops weren't ready for the runners and we had to take water off the table. But at least they were there! The best part was at the finish line; they had a baby pool with ice water for you to sit in! I would recommend that every hot marathon do this! They have buses that take you back to the start in Storm Lake after you finish. Every year my husband has ridden his bike with me and then ridden back on the bus. This year the bus driver told him he couldn't put his bike on the bus. He had to ride back. (Not a good small-town gesture.) Finish is in Marathon, IA, and I believe the whole town is there to support you! It is worth running!
S. I. from Iowa (6/18/2007) "Hot!" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you like oppressive heat and the smell of cow manure, this one's for you. It was my first and people were so friendly! But, I had to bail my pace at mile 11 because of the 80 degree heat and 80% humidity. There are a few hills but the incline in long so you really don't notice them. There aren't a lot of places for spectators to meet you because it's out on lonely Iowa country roads. Other than the heat, I'd do it again.
A. D. from West Bend, Wisconsin (6/28/2006) "A Very Friendly Run" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I rated the Course as * only because the it was pretty boring. And as far as hills, I really didn't notice any. Outside of Chicago's this was the flattest course I've run on. I rated the Organization as * - everyone was very nice, and everything from packet pick-up to water stations were very well run. As an example of just how nice the volunteers are, as I walked up the race-day bag drop-off truck, the gentleman taking the bags noticed another runner walking up to hand him his bag. As I approached I heard the bag check man say, "Don't you have a hat to wear?" The runner replied, "No I forgot it at the hotel." The bag-check guy said to him, "I think I have a Feed Mill hat in the truck you can have," and he proceeded to get him the hat. Too funny... but it's a true example of just how nice these helpers were. I rated the Spectators , as there really weren't any. Sure there were the friends and families of runners cheering you on, but that was about it. I do recall that as I entered the town of Marathon I heard a soft voice say, "Welcome to Marathon," so I looked to find where the voice was coming from, and it was this little old man sitting in a lawn chair about 20 feet from the road. I smiled and waved back. Again, too funny and too kind. Oh I must say that the course was VERY well patrolled by police and rescue vehicles. The weather was hot and I'm sure they were looking for anyone needing assistance. Knowing they were there gave me a great since of security in this heat. I would do their run again.
D. H. from Minneapolis, MN (6/19/2006) "Great Little Race" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I would say if you want to run a small, hometown feeling race, this is the one to do. The race has no bells and whistles, there is no big expo, but it's easy to get around, the people know what is going on and the race started right on time. It was well marked, the water stops were plentiful and they had plenty of gatorade and water at each. They were every 2.5 miles and every mile after 20. They announced your name and city as you came across the line and all of the race people were very friendly. Easy for spectators to see you often if they want to but the spectators are light, these are small towns and it is the farm lands of Iowa. The course is one to consider for a BQ. I was within 2 minutes without actually having trained with that in mind, there are rolling hills but they aren't bad. The worst of the uphills are early and most of it feels more downhill, especially toward the end. It could potentially be warm, but luckily we got a cloud cover and winds at our backs this year.
F. W. from Melbourne, Florida (6/19/2006) "Corn and Beans Anyone?" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was 26.2 miles of a slightly hilly, rural landscape, passing acres and acres of crops (corn and beans). It was pretty for the first 5 miles, then it got a bit boring. We were lucky with the weather; temps started in the 50's with a few breezes. No rain or searing heat which was entirely possible for the time of year. The first 20 miles had aid stations every 2.5 miles; the volunteers were wonderful. I really felt there should have been more aid stations. After MM 20 they were every mile. Upon approaching the finish line - one runner at a time - the RD announced your name, state and city over the PA. That was a nice touch. The few spectators at the finish line (mostly relay runners) were very enthusiastic and cheered loudly for everyone. Some of the volunteers picked up a heat stroked lady and aided her across the finish line where she fainted. They got her immediate medical attention. I hope she was OK. The after party at the community hall was fun. They served a nice lunch and a live band played. The pasta party the night before was fun also; very informal and friendly. Although the people were nice, they could not compensate for a very boring course.
C. F. from Atlanta, Georgia (12/11/2005) "Unique, interesting and enjoyable" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thoroughly enjoyed this marathon. This was my first time for the Marathon to Marathon (I have run 8 previous marathons). The course was beautiful and sprawling, a desolate type of run. Understandably, the spectators were sparse, but the ones that were there to cheer us on were amazing. Very fun. The water/Gatorade stations varied by the groups/clubs/organizations that colorfully manned them (sometimes in costumes and singing) - so it made the stops even more fun than just routine rehydrating. It was definitely small-town Americana, plus a special treat to have Lois herself put the finisher's medal around our necks at the finish line! Again - this was a fun, unique marathon. I hope to run again.
L. G. from Iowa (6/15/2005) "Perfect glimpse of the real Iowa" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marathon-to-Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 When I was running this last Saturday, I kept thinking how this marathon really would be perfect for the 50-stater. It's really, truly Iowa! The course is nearly flat, farm-to-farm for the most part, beginning in Storm Lake in western Iowa and ending in the engaging little town of Marathon, where all the locals cheer you in. Although I suspect it could get hot, it has an early start (6AM) to compensate and this year we had a nice drizzle. Our governor ran with us too (hey, I ran against our governor and won--lots of pols wish they could say that!). The course is certified, which means you could qualify for Boston here, although you can also place in your age group with a very mediocre time. I got a trophy, probably my first and last, which I will guard with my life from now on. The organizers do all the usual things--pasta dinner, t-shirts, medals--but there's a really nice small-town, slightly raw edge to it all. By the end of the race, I felt as though I must be related to half of them. The water stops are a little sparse, especially if it's hot, (every 2-1/5 miles, a little closer at the end), but I loved the enthusiasm of the staffers, many of whom were kids. If you need lots of spectators to keep you going, well, this one isn't for you. If you can be self-motivated, though, and want to pretend you are an early marathon pioneer running alone through the cropland after farm chores, this is absolutely it. My heart gives Marathon-to-Marathon 5 stars in every category, but trying to be objective, the course loses 1 star for a little lack of variety and potential for heat, the organization loses 1 star for lack of confirmation of the registration (I wondered at times whether the race really was going to happen and whether they had gotten my check), and the spectators, down 1 star just because most runners like the charge of big crowds. In case you think I'm just a local booster, I live in Iowa now, but am originally a city kid and not a native Iowan. This was my first marathon in Iowa--very different from my previous Twin Cities, Grandma's, Chicago and Boston experiences, but I loved it. It's DIFFERENT. Try it!

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