This marathon no doubt is full of beauty.

HOWEVER, the organization was not the best I have seen. To start, the pasta dinner cost $12 and I am a chef/caterer (and have catered sporting events) and know how much food costs - we did not get our moneys worth. The restaurant made a hefty profit off of us.

The expo was very minimal with very little to show. The technical racing tops we received were very nice, but tailored only to men. As a woman, I would really appreciate a shorter sleeves and a v-neck. I mean, we did pay the same entry fee as the men darn it!

Next, the race time start was not specified and we were told it was ok to catch the bus to go to the ferry at 6:05 not knowing that this would make us late to the starting line. SO, we started late and our chips were not synchronized correctly, so our times were longer than should have been. NOT FAIR!

Since we started ONLY 7 minutes late, we took a wrong turn within the first-half mile because the markings were inadequate and there were not enough volunteers to point us in the right direction, which cost us an additional 10 minutes. Luckily a nice man pointed us in the right direction.

During the race there was enough water and HEED and the volunteers were helpful. It was nice to see no trash on the trail. GOOD JOB, RUNNERS!

The post-race food was not good either, considering the distance we traveled and the price we paid. All we had were quartered bagels and halved bananas. We have been to events with 300 people and better food. Perhaps trail mix, potato chips, peanut butter and jelly and Oreos. JUST SOMETHING MORE!

AND the last thing - the post-party was lame. We could not even fit into the room where it was held, nor hear what was going on. If the race director truly wanted to involve everyone and encourage them to stay, perhaps it should have been held somewhere larger and with kegs.

Ps. I would love to do this marathon again and think it has great potential. Please consider what I have said. Thanks.

I am a beginner marathon runner. I was pleased at how well everything was organized considering the race is on an ISLAND! I was even more pleased that everyone was so nice and Munising is such a nice little town to relax in and visit for vacation. Thanks to everyone for a great time in the UP of Michigan.

Absolutely beautiful scenery, and a fun race.

However: check-in staff was unfriendly, they used Heet for sports drink (that stuff is horrid), and there was a long wait for the ferry after the race. Also, having medals only for prize winners was disappointing.

The race shirt was a very nice technical shirt!

Otherwise, it was gorgeous and the run in the rain was worth it.

Big thanks to all the volunteers and the race director for another nice day on the trails. Not much to add that hasn't been said already. I love the course and look forward to returning next year.

I ran this course last year and came back for more. We got MUCH more, including a drenching thunderstorm that converted my shoes to two-pound blocks of water and mud. I fell just once, on a slick downhill stretch. On an island with limited access, there were no spectators apart from the fantastic aid station volunteers. The run was mostly a solitary one in the great outdoors, which is an enjoyable contrast to my other yearly marathon (Chicago). Jeff did another great job organizing the buses, boats, volunteers, etc. I hope he gives us the gift of arranging a third annual GITM.

The temp hit 100 when we left Minneapolis the day before, but we were relieved to have a cool start. The organization of the race was excellent once again. I always wondered what running a marathon in a rain storm was like. Once you realized you were going to stay totally soaked, and that the forest canopy was protecting you, and that the temperature was perfect, then it was great. Thanks to all for a great experience.

This marathon is awesome. How many marathons in July can boast a 60-degree temperature start every year? Single track and two track trails, shade, great organization. This marathon has it all.

Although I've raced on trails before, this was my first trail marathon, and what a blast! Despite the weather (and maybe because of it) this turned out to be a great day.

The organization of the race was first rate - no hiccups catching the pre-dawn ferry to the start - and the course was absolutely beautiful. Although just off the shore of the Upper Peninsula, this island seems remote. The cliffs that surround the back of the island are spectacular. All throughout this race, you are reminded that God is an amazing Creator.

Now to the weather: The thunder started about 4 miles into the race and the lightning and heavy downpours a short time later. The rain seemed to last through most of the race for me, and created some muddy conditions on the trail. I had been worried about potential hot weather, and we got drenched. A double bonus - a cooling summer storm and an excuse for going slow! The forest provided such great cover, I never felt the storm posed a threat.

And not to forget, the volunteers at the aid stations were tremendous. Thanks for a great event.

A beautiful trail run (even in a thunderstorm). Well organized from the packet pick-up to the ferry ride to the aid stations, to the ferry ride and bus ride back to the hotel. As you can imagine there were not many spectators, although those that were there were wonderful. The volunteers at the aid stations deserve a big round of applause for standing out in the rain for most of the day. I do plan on coming back.

Ps. If I had to do it all over again, I would try to stay at the Holiday Inn Express.

The island is, I am sure, beautiful... when not full of mud, lightning and thunder. Race conditions stunk, with slips and slides, twists of ankles and hips, and sliding down mud hills. When I finished, they handed me one banana and filled my water bottle from a pitcher; I almost passed out from lack of food. Had to wait for a boat to take me to the mainland, and that took forever!! Plus they left people out on the trails! The sweeper left, the timer left and all they did was put the t-shirts down with a banana and left a pitcher of water! Thanks a ton! Not!