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Apr 29, 2024

Swan Lake Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.1

Organization 4.8

Spectators 2.7

Number of comments: 52 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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J. C. from Bremerton, WA (6/10/2008) "Great supportive people in a nice setting" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I ran the half. Except for about one mile of really muddy and rocky road, the course was nice. The organizers were great and supportive at all the aid stations and some additional corners. There were few other people along the course. I would recommend this race for the great location and supportive organization.
M. K. from Illinois (6/10/2008) "Wonderful little marathon" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I am not one for running in races (especially marathons) off in the country with few spectators, but I absolutely loved this marathon. It was small and well organized. The water stations were plentiful and well-stocked and the volunteers were cheerful and supportive. They also gave out technical shirts, which was a nice touch and unexpected at such a small event. The course is mostly dirt/gravel, which was nice on my legs.
C. S. from Springfield, Illinois, USA (6/9/2008) "This should be a "must do" for all marathoners" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The setting is a camp outside of Viborg. Very laid back, but efficiently managed race. If you need spectators or bands, go somewhere else, but if you want to meet the nicest people (organizers AND runners), this is the place for you. Runners met each other on porches the night before, and sat around the dining room after the post-race lunch, just to keep talking. Of the 45+ marathons I've done, this featured the most friendly and nicest group of people I've met. The race itself is mostly on gravel, level roads, and the aid stations all had enthusiastic, friendly staff. I'm not sure Race Director Renee slept at all - she did a great job. Put this one on your schedule, and stay at the camp the night before the race.
P. H. from Sioux Falls (7/5/2007) "Pleasantly surprised" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course is mostly gravel backroads (easy on the knees) and a few rolling hills. The scenery is distinctly rural. Cows, sows, sheep, and various other barnyard animals as well as acres and acres of farmland line either side of most of the course. The race director is to be congratulated for the number of well-stocked aid stations. Thanks to all the friendly volunteers. Showered and enjoyed a complimentary home-cooked meal on the camp grounds after the race. Overall, a very pleasant experience. Definitely a friendly Midwest feel to this race. I understand that the field was much larger than expected this year. Quite a few finishers did not receive medals but we were told that a replacement medal would be mailed. If you are interested in a small-town mid-summer marathon this race is recommended. Don't forget to ring the bell!
A. K. from Scottsbluff, NE (7/5/2007) "Good Summer Marathon" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran this marathon spur of the moment, which seems to be the trend here lately for me. Although the camp offered cheap housing for the night, I have relatives in Vermillion, so I opted to stay with them instead. (This turned out to be a 40-minute drive.) I drove down to the race to register the night before and had a nice time chatting with the camp staff. Even though I paid the higher registration fee, it was still cheaper than most other marathons I have run. The race itself was alright. I think this would be a difficult marathon if you haven't done a lot of them, due to the heat/humidity and lack of fans. That said, the volunteers at the aid stations were amazing! The only thing I would ask for would be a few more aid stations the last 6 miles. Although there was one at mile 23, there wasn't another one until after mile 25. Finally, I don't necessarily mind hills, but the course was hillier than I was led to believe by previous comments. I would probably do this race again if my schedule allowed.
Rrrick Karampatsos from Temple Terrace, FL (7/5/2007) "If Heaven had a marathon!" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you want to feel like you're a part of a special family that puts on a marathon, have free parking, be able to relax before and after the race, be waited on, eat great homemade food (even homemade ice cream!), stay in a nice room with fellow runners, have the start line just a few yards from where you just had your morning coffee, be able to shower, change and share a great meal after the race just yards from the finish line, not have to spend a lot of money for a weekend "vacation," be surrounded by nature at its best, take home a nice medal and t-shirt and have been able to be a part of one of the best organized marathons anywhere - then THIS is the marathon to be at!
D. P. from Brookfield, WI (7/3/2007) "Top-Notch Organization" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The T-shirt read 5th annual marathon, because according to the camp director (this race takes place at a Christian Camp), the first race was started by someone who just decided to run a marathon, and still did even though his half dozen friends wimped out at the last moment. The next year he ran again with a dozen friends and they decided to make it an official race. At 19 and 25 participants for the next two official races, they were surprised this year with 85 marathoners! It isn't because of the course scenery (unless you're into corn and soybean fields) or the spectators (unless you count sheep and cows), but the organization is outstanding. Consider, they had over three times the number expected, yet still had water/PowerAde at all the stations for all the runners, and plenty of food before and after the race. The pre-race spaghetti dinner the night before was delicious with homemade ice cream. You could tent on site if you couldn't get a cabin, and the facilities were clean with nice individual shower stalls. They had bagels and bananas available for pre-race breakfast, and a delicious post-race meal. The course is very well marked (they spray painted several big arrows on turns that you couldn't miss, plus usually had an aid station by those turns). There were usually 2 volunteers per station, and they were well coached, announcing what they were offering palm up for easy transfer. A unique touch after the race is that you get to "ring the bell." Good medal and T-shirts. I saw more sheep and cows than spectators, so this isn't a race for runners who thrive on large crowds (Viborg, pop. 832 seemed asleep when we ran through it at mile 8.5), though I'm not sure how big any crowd would be in South Dakota. The course is 2/3 gravel/dirt road, mostly consisting of 2 1x3 mile rectangles, one south of camp and the other north. Shade is sparse, especially in the 2nd half of the course when the temps are at their warmest (we had a nice breeze this year). There are gentle rolling hills, but nothing excessively steep and long. Besides the half-marathon, there is also a 5.3-mile race your non-marathon spouse and kids can run (or walk) so they can officially ring the bell also. I expect the numbers to increase next year as word gets out, but they'll be able to handle it.
R. T. from Washington, DC (7/2/2007) "The best-kept secret in marathons" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very rarely these days do you find a race that harkens to what marathons used to be about - small fields, local community support, and outstanding organization. If you're looking for the new style, the million-dollar expos, the corporate sponsorships, the crowded fields and a tour of the best industrial parks, choose any big-city race. If you want a marathon where you will treasure the experience from start to finish, head for Swan Lake. A few things to get straight here: Viborg, South Dakota is in the middle of nowhere. You will need a rental car, you should remember to pack everything you need because you're going to have travel miles to replace anything you've forgotten, and if you're looking for crowds lined up along the route, you're in the wrong place. That said, there is one thing you're probably thinking that needs correction. If you think that South Dakota is some land-locked state with hardly a watering hole, just try keeping that belief as you watch the sunrise over Swan Lake. It's a view you'd pay a lot for on the East or West Coasts, but here as you round the serene and picturesque lake several times, you might adjust your beliefs. In fact, this race will change everything you believe about marathons. The housing could not be simpler. If you stay at the lodge at the camp (make reservations early), you are a mere 100 yards from the start and finish lines. You are a staircase away from the inexpensive and well-planned pasta dinner. If you can't get a room at the lodge, go truly rustic and stay in one of the cabins. The nearest hotels are dozens of miles away. The course is a rough bowtie, meaning that you do one loop, pass near the start, and then do a loop in an opposite direction. Every mile is more than adequately marked with large signs (although this year, some vehicle took out the mile 14 indicator). Along the way, here is what you will see - homes, cows, sheep, fields of hay and corn, the picturesque lake, and downtown Viborg. Please note, it is rural. If tall buildings and endless chain stores excite you, this is not your race. Though the race does travel three miles on a pavement road (speed limit 55 mph), the traffic is virtually non-existent at that hour on a Sunday. Most of the rest of the race is on hard dirt/gravel roads, firmly packed in most spots, although you'll want to keep your eye on the ground to stay on the firmer portions and away from the rocks. The road loosens up a bit from miles 16-19. It's not quite loose dirt, but you'll definitely feel the surface give a little more here. The support is where this race earns is gold star. The fluid stations are plentiful - they carry both water and PowerAde as promised - and in a stretch of foresight, the beverages are cold. Instead of letting them roast in the cloudless South Dakota sky, the volunteers (one star in number, but five star in spirit) keep them in coolers and on ice. Chilled, they go down refreshing and smooth. While you may be running in one of the least densely-populated areas in the lower 48, you will never feel alone. The volunteers and the staff are the nicest people you will ever meet. While other races may bill themselves as "friendly," they couldn't hold a candle to the individuals here, who go out of their way to make sure that runners are cheered on as if they brought their whole families with them. Back at the lodge, they'll look out for your every need, which includes medals, post-race meal, massages - everything you'd expect from the big-city race without the big-city hassles. The race director, a veteran marathoner herself, is there every step of the way - from pre-race questions, through registration and the pasta party, and at the finish line. Whether you are a 50-Stater or someone who just wants to see what a marathon should be about, make plans to run Swan Lake. You may not leave with a PR, but you'll leave with a smile on your face, knowing that the marathon experience rarely gets better than this.
Tyson Poskochil from Lincoln, NE (5/21/2007) "Quiet, peaceful, scenic, rewarding." (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Overall, a great experience. The race was very well-organized the by camp staff who will respond promptly to any questions you bring. The course is run in a very rural, but lush and beautiful, farming community of southeastern South Dakota. It is mostly flat with a few baby hills, and the surface of gravel roads are easy to follow and run on, especially when a bit saturated by recent rains. Very few fans, but aid stations are adequate and well-spaced, and post-race food is excellent (especially the potato casserole). I felt very comfortable and welcome at this faith-based camp, and would recommend it for those enjoying a quiet, refreshing run on a peaceful Sunday morning.
D. T. from California (6/29/2006) "great fun" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Swan Lake Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I also really enjoyed this race. The folks at SLCC are wonderful, worked very hard and put on a fun event. Be sure to stay at the camp for convenience and price - check the website photos. The post-race potato casserole was worth the whole 26.2 effort. Nice medal, T-shirt and goodie bag, plus great volunteer support. I have only good things to report and hope more people will venture to Viborg next year.

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