calendar icon Apr 28, 2024

Teton DAM Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Teton DAM Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.2 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.3 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.5 
 
 
Number of comments: 32 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

 

S. M. from Salt Lake City, Utah. (5/8/2008)
"First marathon; could not be more pleased." (about: 2007)

1 previous marathon | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I trained well and went up alone. I was a little nervous since it was my first marathon. I enjoyed the small-town scenery and the great support. They ran out of water at mile 15 or 16 that was a little bit tough - only Gatorade. A couple in a car gave me a water bottle that I carried for 3 miles. Thank you! Otherwise, it was very well organized. A very flat course with great scenery.
 

M. S. from Springfield, MA (7/6/2007)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2007)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my 29th marathon experience and my slowest, but given that I completed the Deadwood Mickelson Marathon in SD 6 days prior, I can't complain. The organization was surperb. The whole town gets behind this one. The mayor actually hands out your number and goodie bag. I had #1, don't know how other that I must have registered early. I wanted the mayor to have my number, but he declined. What a personable and down-to-earth guy. He even ran the marathon. There were not a lot of spectators but those who were at the water stops were second to none. The scenery was great, along with the weather and shirt. Keep up the good work, Rexburg.

- Mike from MA
 

C. L. from Coral Springs, Florida (7/2/2007)
"Breathtaking Course" (about: 2007)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


I only did the half but the course was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Everyone was very friendly and we got a lot of nice freebies. It was fun to meet the mayor of Rexburg and to see him run the marathon. The food post-race could have been a lot better. I think this is an area for improvement, but other than that it was a really nice race.
 

Linda Emerson from Bishop, CA (6/21/2007)
"Wonderful small-town race!" (about: 2007)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This is a scenic, well-organized, feel-good, small-town race. Everyone - the race organizers, the volunteers, the other runners, and the spectators - were all so friendly and enthusiastic. The mayor of Rexburg also ran the marathon this year - his first! - setting a great example for the citizens of his lovely community. I highly recommend this wonderful event.
 

C. R. from White Sulphur Springs, MT (6/12/2007)
"Great first experience!" (about: 2007)

1 previous marathon | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was my first marathon and I can't say enough about the enthusiasm of the volunteers, even for those of us at the back! Also, people would leapfrog ahead so there was plenty of cheering. The route was well-marked so even though there were lots of turns you never felt confused. The addition of 1 or 2 more porta-potties would be nice, but otherwise it was wonderful. The refreshment stops were every two miles, and some of them had gels and fruit - wonderful. There was plenty of fuel so that those in the back (like me) still had a choice of what they wanted. Thanks for making my first marathon so memorable!!
 

k. b. from caldwell, idaho (9/3/2006)
"Will run it again, and again, and again, and so on" (General Comments)

2 previous marathons | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I ran the 1/2 in 2005, and the whole in 2006. I love this marathon. The course is challenging and beautiful, the fans are awesome, and the memories that you will have when you are finished are well worth the money.

I do recommend attending the pre-race dinner.
 

Angie Rasmussen from Rexburg, Idaho (6/23/2006)
"Small-town event... Big-time experience!" (about: 2006)

1 previous marathon | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


For a first-time marathoner, I couldn't have asked for a better experience than the Teton Dam Marathon! This is very much a small, hometown event, but that allows its organizers to make it all the more personal. Extremely well-organized and carried out - from the registration, pre-race dinner, starting-line preparations, post-race activities and everything in between!

The course is very open and rural, but serenely beautiful, with the sun at your back almost the entire way. If you're considering this marathon, be sure to do some hill training.... They can get you, especially being so many miles into the race. The good news is they're gentle and rolling and have just enough downhill portions to offer slight reprieves. Spectators along the course are few (almost painfully so), but the volunteers at the many aid stations are supportive and enthusiastic. There's never a lack of water, sports drink or food as they're offered every two miles. Port-a-potties, on the other hand, seemed a little scarce and I might've had some trouble if I actually needed one!

There's a little bit of amusing irony at mile 15 as the course passes a very small cemetery, which looked somewhat appealing at that point. :-)

The finish line comes after running down a stretch of Main Street in downtown Rexburg between police-controlled traffic, which makes the end of 26.2 miles all the more fun to reach! Lots of noise and applause at the finish line, including your name and hometown read out loud over the speakers. There are food and activities galore at the finish (in one of Rexburg's city parks) where the atmosphere amongst the runners of all the combined races can be soaked in and enjoyed.

If you don't mind small numbers, rural scenery, and a few cows, horses and llamas as your "spectators," put the Teton Dam Marathon on your list to consider. You won't regret it!
 

Jeff Shadley from Idaho Falls, ID (6/13/2006)
"Well organized local race that is growing fast" (about: 2006)

4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This local race is a fun, well organized event! A great value for the money (long-sleeve tech tee, good stuff in goodie bag). The race course itself is very scenic, albeit rather hard with the uphill climb from 16-21. The finishing line is great, with lots of food, drinks and activities. Plus, the trophies are very cool! I hope this event keeps growing. Not a lot of fans along the route, but many of them jump from water stop to water stop to cheer you on throughout the race!
 

T. B. from Idaho Falls, Idaho (6/12/2006)
"Great Weather" (about: 2006)

1 previous marathon | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was my first marathon and I had a great experience. The weather was wonderful and I enjoyed the green fields we seemed to meander though on the back country roads. The course was very challenging from mile 16-20 (uphill). I never once found myself wishing there was another aid station becuase there was one every 2 miles. I was always hydrated and comfortable.
 

Steve Creviston from Moses Lake, Washington (6/12/2005)
"A small but very well organized, fun marathon." (about: 2005)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Teton DAM Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was the second year for this small but fun marathon. It commemorates the dam break that happened some 30 years or so ago and swept through the valley and the city of Rexburg. They have fun using the play on words of dam this and dam that --- like signs every two miles that say 'Teton Dam Marathon, Mile 15, eleven dam miles remaining.' A little humor never hurts.

By small I mean about 50 marathoners and maybe an equal number of marathon relay teams that start at the marathon start -- the place where the dam broke. The race is point to point, so prepare for an early morning bus ride. The race starts when they shoot the hose stream over the start line and runners take off under the water arch. Spectators were few but enthusiastic. The course was beautiful, a nice farming valley with mountains surrounding 360 degrees. The weather was PERFECT. Basically flat or slightly downgrade except for miles 16-20 with some moderate hills, elevation is a factor. Along with the marathon and marathon relay there is also a half-marathon, 10k, 5k and fun run all on courses different from the marathon.

I was very impressed with the great organization for a race of this size. The City is the organizer of the event and the mayor seems to take the production personally to ensure a well run event along with the parks and rec people,... they were very nice to me on the phone. Police on bikes and in cars patrol the entire course -- traffic isn't a problem -- with plenty of volunteers for the liquid stops (gel and fruit was available at a few of the stops) every two miles and at the busy intersections, even for the plodders in the rear. Nice finish line in the downtown city park with individual names called out while crossing the finish. Nice finishers medals -- not generic. I highly recommend this one. Small and higher elevation but friendly and very well organized. Oh yeah, and a nice spud dinner the night before, it's Idaho, you know.
 

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

Become an Advertiser

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Become an Advertiser