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Apr 29, 2024

Martian Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 3.9

Organization 4.4

Spectators 2.9

Number of comments: 108 [displaying comments 61 to 71]

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J. D. from Beverly Hills, MI (4/8/2008) "Nice local race" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Martian Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Weather could not have been better for the 2008 Martian Marathon. The aid stations were well stocked and volunteers cheered me on when they saw me coming. The course is a lonely one, perhaps not the right choice for someone who needs the moral support. The traffic-free route was great, but I made two wasted trips to restrooms that were closed, so a few more porta-johns are a must. Good job, Running Fit.
R. O. from Utica, Michigan (4/7/2008) "Loved it!!! Loved it!!! Loved it!!!" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Martian Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great, small race. Not as many spectators as other races, but the ones that are there are very supportive and vocal. Because the race is small, the traffic and parking are easy! There are plenty of aid-stations with water, Gatorade, GU and energy drinks - plus the workers are fantastic. Plenty of pizza, cookies, bagels, and lots of other stuff at the end of the race. My stomach does not allow me to eat after a marathon, but if yours does, there is plenty to eat! :-) To sum it up: I'd run it again. Thank you to Running Fit. Ps. If you want to really have some fun, go to the expo on Saturday. Volunteer to work the 10K race and the kids' marathon. Make sure you watch the kids' marathon because the kids are a blast and they get you in the mood to run on Sunday!!!
Michael Delgado from Los Angeles, CA (4/7/2008) "Run it for the finisher's shirt" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Martian Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I run only major marathons (Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.), but the name, "Martian Marathon," sounded intriguing. So I registered for it. I was very impressed. Martian Marathon... what a great isea. The start and finish line were great. No traffic at the start. Nice quarter-mile straightaway to the finish. The course was very scenic. The entire course has gently rolling hills. Nothing steep. Just right to work different muscles, yet not work you hard. The weather was perfect for a marathon - about 44 degrees at the start and 50 at the finish. I ran in shorts and tank top, and I came from sunny California. Now, these were the best finisher's shirts of any I have received at a marathon. You just have to get one. I will definitely run it again next year.
Dotty Maddock from Phoenix, AZ (4/7/2008) "Nice Sunday long run with medals, basically" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Martian Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 In my quest for 50 states, this wasn't a bad way to check off Michigan. The weather was nice and cool, but sunny. As I was breezing along the lonely miles, it just occurred to me that it seemed like a nice long run (rather than a race). The water stops were adequate, the mile markings very visible, and it would have been hard to go off course. But my personal view is that it doesn't live up to its potential. There is a great theme here (Martian Marathon), and I loved the special long-sleeved "50 states" shirt they gave out ("I'm running a marathon in all 50 states and on a couple of planets"). But the race directors could learn something from the Flying Pig Marathon. When you've got a theme, use it! How about a finish line called a "final docking station"? Or themed water stops (one for each planet, and a few other celestial bodies)? Water stations with people in costumes, or with cone heads? I don't know... just play up the theme more, and the word would spread. That said, there are some more serious areas for improvement: 1. The packet pick up was a mess! It was basically a big room, where everyone formed a line out the door, but not everyone was waiting to pick up their bib or register. Some were just checking out the (limited) merchandise for sale. We finally heard someone say, just push ahead if you just want to pick up your race packet, which we did (but felt like we were being impolite). Then, once you got your bib and shirt, you had to fight your way back through the line out the same way you came in. There has got to be a better way! 2. I wish the race director would explain why the start is so late (8:30). The sun was up by 7:00 a.m. for sure, and an 8:30 a.m. start makes finishing and getting "cleaned up" a challenge to leave by the 1:00 p.m. late check out from the hotel. Maybe there's a reason for the 8:30 a.m. start, but you'll see from comments that an earlier start is what the runners want! 3. There were no "pace signs" at all that I saw at the race start. This would have helped with the initial congestion, since the half and full marathon start together. 4. More porta-potties on the course - especially the first 5 miles! Need I say more? 5. I would NOT recommend the Hyatt. The Hampton Inn looked like a better option. Either way, you still pretty much have to drive to the start, and the Hyatt just had many unpleasant features (overcharging for internet, overpriced restaurants, slow elevators, another convention going on, etc.). 6. As fortune would have it, I ended up winning an age group award! But due to the late start time, and the fact that the time of the awards ceremony would be "announced on race day," I have no idea what I won and if they're gong to mail it to me. I guess awards ceremonies work for those people who don't mind hanging around, but from those I have attended, many runners have to take off. Some clarity here on the options (mail, pick up) and times would help. Again, it was not a bad experience, but it has such potential that it was unfortunate to see all the areas for improvement needed and opportunities for some fun missed.
Ann Smorado from Cleveland, OH (4/7/2008) "Not hard; had what I needed; boring course" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Martian Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I ran the full marathon on 4/6/2008. The expo was small but sufficient. I had everything I needed and the volunteers were very nice. There was plenty of food and water at the finish. This was my 18th marathon and I prefer smaller events without all the rigmarole. I like to drive up, park my car, go the starting line and run. I don't need a lot of music and crowds cheering on the course. For me, this marathon was perfectly fine. The course had some slight grades but no hard climbs, and I had a really good run. I do not recommend this marathon for people who feel they need a lot going on on the course to get through a marathon. If you need entertainment, noise and people cheering, this is not the marathon for you. I had a great time. My only disappointment was that the U of M bookstore wasn't open, so I couldn't buy some Wolverine souvenirs. ;-) My husband ran the half and the turnaround was not obvious; he missed it and ended up running 17 miles and is hurtin' today. The turnaround sign was small and at about hip height and right behind a water stop. If the water stop would've been placed farther away from the turnaround, runners (my husband was not the only one to miss it) wouldn't have missed it. He was pretty upset.
S. B. from Sterling Heights, MI (4/6/2008) "Great Spring Race" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Martian Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Perfect race to start your season. Race organization and volunteers were great. There were plenty of water stops along the way and enough post-race refreshments for even the "back of the pack" participants. My only complaint is the lack of port-a-johns on the course. The park restrooms that I checked along the way were locked and I can only remember seeing 2 sets of 2 port-a-johns during the entire half-marathon course.
Scott Wrona from St Clair Shores, Michigan (12/16/2007) "A great run to start off the running year!" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Martian Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Martian Marathon is the first of many runs I participate in throughout the year. The course is well marked, with plenty of water stations. The medal is very cool and the t-shirt is rather psychedelic. Also a very cool addition is that you can see multiple hawks during the run.
D. M. from Canton, MI (10/25/2007) "Nice Race but hard for a first timer" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Martian Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Nice race. Tech shirt that is as ugly as I have ever seen. The medals are very cheap compared to the marathons I have run since. As a first timer I didn't realize how much support matters. Most of the race I was on my own, (literally)with the rolling hills there was a lot of time where I could see no one in front or behind me. The loop of the parking lot in mile 25 was all but insulting, out and back in a parking lot just yards from the finish was brutal. All in all nice race, glad they moved the 10K to Saturday this year. I'll run the 10K and the half and wait three weeks to run the Trail Marathon. Running Fit does a really nice job again. This is a neat, quirky, home town race.
K. M. from Livonia, MI (4/15/2007) "Another great year" (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Martian Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I had reviewed the course for 2006, and am now doing so for 2007.... The 2007 start/course was revised to eliminate the full marathoners need to loop back on the course 3 miles from the end. While I wasn't thrilled running down the entrance ramp to ford road with all the pot holes, I can appreciate the need to move the course. This year's staging area and course were great. Thank you to UM Dearborn for allowing this to take place, and I truly hope that it starts there next year. I agree with earlier posters - an earlier start would be great. I love this marathon - it was my first half marathon, and it's so laidback that you can't help but enjoy it.
J. H. from Atlanta, Georgia (4/12/2007) "Great local marathon" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Martian Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is a good, early-spring race. After putting up with all of the hassles and expenses of large races such as Chicago, this is a nice change of pace. The weather had ideal conditions. Mid-forties at the start and cloudy. The sun did not come out until around 11:30. The race was well organized from the start through the finish. There were plenty of toilets at the start and a place to stretch indoors if you wanted to. The course is a slightly hilly out-and-back in a peaceful park setting along the middle Rouge River. Just enough hills so as to not be too flat but not near as difficult as some of the other races out there. Water and electrolytes were well placed on the course. Wish there could have been more spectators out on the course but I'm sure that will change with time as the race grows. Many thanks to the students at the water stop. You guys were awesome! Your enthusiasm gave me a boost. All the volunteers did a great job! My only suggestions would be: To possibly designate some food at the finish for the marathoners in case there is a much larger crowd of half-marathon finishers. Perhaps consider moving the start time up to 8:00 or 7:30. Consider having some water or electrolytes at the start of the race. All in all, if you want to run a good qualifying race without having to spend a fortune for fees, hotels, etc., and without fighting crowds for the first 8 miles, I would definitely recommend this race!

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