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Des Moines Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Des Moines Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 295 [displaying comments 271 to 281]
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A Runner from Illinois
(10/9/2002)
 "Good race and great potential" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I agree with all previous posts about what a great race this was. This was my 3rd Inaugural race and I would rate it the best of the 3. Would also add that they had a lot of other activities going on throughout the weekend (karate demonstrations, club meetings, etc.) that I thought was a great added touch for us out-of-towners. My comments below are in no way a cut down to the race, but simply constructive criticism that I wish to share that I'm sure the race organizers would want to know as they are very determined to put on a world class event. I have no doubt in my mind that they will achieve this status. Chip timing- There were no mats to cross at the start. The purpose of chip timing is to track each individuals actual time. All chips were started when the gun went off. I believe it took me at least a minute to cross the start line. The early starters should have had the mat to cross when they started so the chips would have accurately recorded their time. I doubt this is the race organizer's fault, but the chip timing organizations. 7 Hour course support- This was consistently reiterated on the website and in the literature; however, it was actually only 5 1/2 hours. If I had known that, I would have picked up my pace rather that having to turn down a street and not know where I was going next. There were no arrows painted and I didn't know where to go next. A cop happened to show up (who had been picking up pylons a block or so back) and I saw him yell to a runner that had gone straight instead of turning left. If he hadn't shown up, I would have gone off course. Also, we had to cross 3 lanes of traffic to get to the next turn and spectators (not volunteers) were directing me where to go to finish. It was a bit disheartening and anti-climatic after having enjoyed such a beautiful run. Timing- a clock at various mile markers or a person calling out the time would have been a great asset for those going for a time goal. T shirt - With the great theme 'This ain't no cornfield' and the picture of the American Gothic with bib numbers and other cool pictures on the website, I had expected a better shirt than the plain one we received (white short sleeve with a picture of the Running guy on it.) Having a stylish shirt or humorous shirt makes a runner more apt to wearing it, thus attracting people to ask about it, which in turn gives you more free advertising. Those are my recommendations. They had great spectator support considering it was the first time and I can only see that growing in future years. | |
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A Runner from Des Moines, Ia
(10/9/2002)
 "A great course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The course is absolutely awsome. Great rolling hills and beautiful scenery! The last half is flat and fast. Spectator support was great too. The only flaw with this years marathon was that the course support was non-existent after 12:30. The website and all printed information promised the course would be open for 7 hours, or until 2:00. Runners that got to Gray's Lake at or after 12:30 had no support whatsoever. They had to fight traffic on Fleur Dr. and had no police support at intersections. The course personnel were nowhere to be found as these runners entered downtown. Several paticipants lost their way because the course markings had been put away already. Overall this race was a great success. I do think that the support situation needs to be looked at for next years event though. I am from Des Moines and quite proud of my city and this event. I just want to see all of the participants receive the same protection and support. | |
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A Runner from Strafford, Missouri
(10/9/2002)
 "lots of potential" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 First the positives!! : The course is very nice. I enjoyed the tree covered streets, & the run in the trail & park was great, especially the nice downhill! The spectators were very friendly as were the aid stations. The finish area was really neat, with the hill for spectators on one side, the river on the other. Overall, this was a very nice race. To call it first class is a bit premature though. However, it is very close to that, with some minor things needing to be added to reach that status. In no particular order of importance: There needs to be clocks at every mile. This is important to be considered a first class race. And on our official times listed, there were no distictions given, such as chip times and gun times. There were also no splits listed for us to look at. I consider this to be a major flaw. There was also hardly any port a potties out on the course, that is a major flaw. The really should be placed close to the aid stations, not only for the runners, but also the great volunteers & the spectators. There needs to be a better way to check your chip, rather than having to wait til race day.That was kind of a mess. THERE HAS TO BE AGE GROUP AWARDS!!!!!!! I had overlooked this in registration. Although I was out of the running for trophys, many friends would have won their division. Plus, it shows me that in order to cut costs,they are not considered important in the race organizers opinion. Another $300 or so would have been well spent for individual awards. When you drive several hours to attend a race, it is nice to be awarded if you finish well. Because of no age division awards,I knew of no one attending the awards ceromony. Maybe it was well attended,but I still see this as a major flaw. Overall, a very good race, but until these things are corrected, I'll go elsewhere for a fall marathon. | |
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A Runner from Altoona, Iowa
(10/9/2002)
"GREAT COURSE BUT...." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This is only my second marathon I have run so my comments are not from a professional means. My first marathon was Chicago last year and there were 36,000 runners and over 1 million spectators. Then I decided to run Des Moines. I live here so I thought I would support the run. Excellent Course and a bit challenging but fun. I loved the hills. I thought the most demanding part of the course was around the lake and on the paths. There was nobody there and it got very lonely and you started thinking okay I hurt here and here and here. I would be nice to have several spectators line this area next year or reverse the course and run this area first. Also I had a hard time fiquiring out where the mile splits were. could you have large display clocks for next years marathon. This way it is for sure to be visualized and not missed. Plenty of water, sports aid and gu. Loved it. Build it and they will come. Sometimes along the course the spectators again were very few. They are the life line of the runners ecspecially during the last 10k. I loved the run and will be back again next year. This was a PR for me. Granted all the hills but damn I just cant say enough. Great race Des Moines-!!!!!! | |
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A Runner from Sugar Land , Texas
(10/8/2002)
"Very enjoyable marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 One of the best marathon courses I have run on. Not many marathons get you off the road and onto winding trails through peaceful park settings over the last few miles. A little hillier than I had anticipated but nothing particularly steep. Organisation was excellent. Great inaugural event - one to be marked down for next year | |
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MJW from Lexington, Kentucky
(10/8/2002)
 "Des Moines Rocks!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon and it was much better then the first! I loved the course! I especially loved Grays Lake and the hill on Grand Ave.! I also thought that the crowd was inspiring! Thanks to the two groups who played the theme from 'Rocky!' The only thing that needed work was the Power Aid. It was real weak. Des Moines was an awesome host and I expect that this race will only grow larger in the years to come! Great job Des Moines! | |
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A Runner from Iowa
(10/8/2002)
"Great first marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was an absolutely delightful race. The course wound through the city taking in a wide array of its parks, interesting buildings, landmarks, neighborhoods, trails, and lakes. Perhaps it was a little hillier than most folks perceived, but the end of the race was flat as flat can be. The only hitch I saw was of a frustrated policeman who held up runners for a minute so he could ease some traffic congestion in the center of the city. Except for a few instances, there were cheering spectators all along the course -- even towards the end where in most races they thin out. There was great runner support all along -- plenty of fluids, gu, and goodies. They had several bike patrols looking after the runners, and more than adequate amenities and emergency services. Also, they had a fantastic first race turnout -- somewhere over a thousand runners in the marathon, signficantly more than in the 1/2 marathon. My congratulations to the organizers and the people of Des Moines for a great job. My congratulations to those who chanced an innagural marathon and got, in my opinion, way more than they'd bargained for. | |
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A Runner from Des Moines, IA
(10/8/2002)
"For a 1st time event the participation was great." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Great event for Des Moines, IA and Des Moines running community. Event was well organized water stops a plenty and the volunteers were great!!! Being from the Des Moines area it was a great place to run my 1st marathon. | |
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A Runner from Des Moines, Iowa
(10/8/2002)
"great race, needs only a little work" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Great job for inagural race, course was perfect[at least where this first timer was concerned. only critiscism-couse was promised to be open until 2:00 to accomodate walkers and slow runners, but aid and water stations and all police and other support on final 6 miles or more shut down at 12:30. people were wandering through downtown without a clue where to go. the course support cyclists were not even aware that the course was to be open that long this issue must be addressed if they want to truly cater to walkers. I hope it gets fixed, because my hometown in the fall is a great place to run, please join us next year. | |
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A Runner from Iowa
(10/8/2002)
"Awesome Inaugural Event" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, so I am unable to make comparative comments, but I felt that this event came off remarkably well for a first time event. The course was well marked and well staffed with volunteers, aid stations and porta-potties. I want to give a big 'THANK YOU' to all of the spectators who line the streets and encouraged. I really liked the Urbandale Cross Country team doing 'YMCA' when I was out in the park. The course was beautiful and the weather was fantastic. My hat is tipped to Ms Neville. I will be back with friends next year |
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