Apr 29, 2024
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☰
Grand Rapids Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Grand Rapids Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.9 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 329 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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M. F. from Mid Michigan
(10/20/2014)
 "Enjoyable, well planned and well supported race" (about: 2014)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Lots of community support. Great volunteers. Excellent information feeds from the race director leading up to race day in the form of emails. website is very good source of info. Sense of humor and good fun about the race. Nice pace groups. Course was interesting with beautiful fall colors. Course is open for a long time, so runners of many abilities can enjoy their run. | |
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Steve Douglas from Muskegon, MI
(10/20/2014)
 "Great orginization and finish line food!" (about: 2014)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a great 1/2 marathon race. I ran my PR (1:35:10) for the second year in a row. The course is nice and flat with just a couple of hills to make it a good challenge. I will definitely be back next year and I might train to take on the marathon this time. | |
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Seung Kim from IL
(10/19/2014)
"Great overall experience. Highly recommended." (about: 2014)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Michigan in the fall is truly beautiful and the course highlights the autumn colors. There aren't tens of thousands of spectators or a sea of people, but it felt like there were always people along the roads or just a little up ahead, as well as other runners (both full and half-marathoners). So even though it's not as big as Chicago, you won't be lonely or bored during the race. The support is great, the race is very well organized, the course is fast and the weather is ideal (cool). What else do you need? | |
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K. P. from Grand Rapids, MI
(10/19/2014)
"awesome race support and beautiful course!" (about: 2014)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Grand Rapids Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the half marathon for the second time and it was just as great as the first. I did find that they were out of energy gel at the only aid station that carried it during the half, but it was more than made up for with the awesome food and beer at the finish line! | |
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James Higgs from Barryton, Michigan
(9/22/2014)
"Great Day of Running" (about: 2013)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I am a slower runner and started out in the pack. Slowly I fell behind, but enjoyded the course a lot. Running later in race, fans and water stations were unstaffed. This did not bother me. Water was left in cups on the table. I was really slow that day because of a dislocated toe coaching football a few weeks before. It was an awesome experience and I am redoing it this year with my daughter. | |
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H. H. from Perrinton, MI
(4/26/2014)
 "Such a great experience!!" (about: 2013)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Grand Rapids 2013 was my first marathon. I had a great experience. The crowds were great, the course was flat, it was wonderfully organized. I will be back this fall to run again. My only wish is that the bibs were personalized so that you can draw even more energy from the crowd. | |
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J. M. from Michigan
(1/28/2014)
"An excellent race" (about: 2013)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon after a long absence from running. I was nervous, and wanted a race that was well organized and simple so I could reserve my energy for the run. I chose Grand Rapids on the basis of previous reviews, and everything about the race lived up to its billing. Packet pickup was a breeze, and even though I was later in the day, I received a (very nice) shirt in the size I had ordered. Race morning parking was easy to access and the Y staff let us huddle in the building to stay warm before the race (even though this essentially congested the whole building). Bag drop/start line were well organized. During the run, water/gatorade stops were plentiful and well stocked. I think towards the end someone handed me an orange. The medals were very nice. Crowd support was a little thin at a few places, and the course was such that it was difficult for family to get around to many places to cheer. Thats really the only negative I saw. I had a wonderful race weekend, and will definitely do this one again. | |
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N. H. from Marne, MI
(11/7/2013)
"Awesome" (about: 2013)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The course is very pretty and for the most part flat. I never got bored and there were a lot of spectators to cheer you on right when you needed them. It was very well organized and there was an excellent selection of food after the race. My only complaint is that the water stations got a little bit backed up and it was hard to distinguish whether they had gatorade or water. | |
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P. H. from United States
(11/6/2013)
"One of the best." (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Grand Rapids Marathon was my 13th marathon and I was really impressed. The course was great, excellent spectators were out and when I could not see them I swear I could hear them from a mile away. Perfect amount course support and that pickle juice at mile 21 may have really helped. The course was never boring and felt quick the whole time. It is not a huge race like the majors, but there were always enough runners to keep me motivated. | |
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A. G. from Traverse City, MI
(11/3/2013)
"Great race, aid stations troublesome" (about: 2013)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Grand Rapids Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is my second time running GR and it was overall a very positive experience. The only negative aspect I feel needs to be addressed would be how the aid station volunteer hold the water cups (I know it sounds petty but it actually is an important aspect of the race. I am the aid station coordinator for a couple large races in MI.) They set the cups on their hands and hold their arms out steady so runners are supposed to try to grab them. Volunteers should hold the cups by the lip and follow runner with their hands to ease the grabbing process. I can not even count the number of people I saw trying to grab cups just to knock them out of the volunteers hands. Normally hydration is the least of my worries during a long race/run but I never knew if I was going to actually be able to get water at the aid stations during this race. |
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