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May 2, 2024

Grand Island Trail Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Grand Island Trail Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.7

Organization 3.9

Spectators 2.8

Number of comments: 71 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > ]

V. J. from Detroit, Michigan (8/4/2014) "Pretty Good" (about: 2014) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Island Trail Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The U.P. is wonderful in the summer and this makes for a good trip. While the island is gorgeous you don't see a lot of it through the tree canopy. Rock faced shorelines will flash by at lookout points while you're running. Besides the beach portion much of the trail was monotonous to me. Most of the race is run on a two track road. The finish line treats were great with watermelon, carb cubes, cherry water, bananas and more. The bring your own water receptacle was a great idea. The wooden medal unique but kinda thin and made from plywood. The U.P. deserves a cedar or oak medal. My main complaint was the large ferry that brought us was replaced by a tiny cruiser for the return trip. Thus we stood and waited 35-40 minutes to get off of the island. With a little tinkering this race could hit all notes but while overall good it could be improved.
E. W. from Troy, MI (8/3/2014) "Shirts fixed-other problems continue." (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Grand Island Trail Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Thanks for fixing the too small shirts! Unfortunately the same medals given the past 4 years continue. No dates, just the same ones given the last 4 years. As usual, food after was terrible. This year a new problem-long waits to leave the island. Instead of a large ferry boat, there was a small one. One worker said it was not worth using the large boat to return us from the island. Instead we had to wait in line an hour. Just what you feel like after running a tough 26.2 mile hilly trail marathon.
Rob Klein from Paradise, MI (8/1/2014) "A North Woods Experience" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grand Island Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have heard mixed reviews of this marathon over the years, but I ran with a guy from Ohio during the Porcupine Mountain Marathon in 2013, and he had run this event 3 times and encouraged me to run it. There is no race-day registration or check-in, so we had to arrive Friday. That caused me some discontent because it was close enough to drive race-day morning, and instead, I had to spend the night in Munising. Check-in was a breeze, and the ferry dock is close to the host hotel. Being approved for an early start, we needed to be at the dock by 5:20. An enormous two-deck ship gave us a ride to the Island - which was only about 5 minutes away (that ship was absent for the return to the mainland). We arrived at about 5:40 am; the early start did not begin until almost 6:15 am. The race started out on the road, right from the ferry dock. We started out heading north. After passing a couple of homes (there is about 40 acres of private property on the Island) we transitioned into the woods; we were in the woods for most of the course. The course meandered over tot he east side of the Island for an out and back of 2 to 3 miles. Then we went down to the beach and ran on the beach for about one mile. The lake was so calm and very pretty. Running on the shore was difficult because we were running on a slope with the left leg much higher than the right leg. It was still very scenic. Then re-joined the trail we had run on earlier, but only briefly. Then, a right turn off that trail had us heading north again. Now, it seemed, we ran along the lake-shore for a long time - gaining and losing elevation along the way. Very beautiful. About one-third of the way through the course, a tour bus had brought a group of cheering fans out (don't know who they were or how they got there). These were the only fans to speak of, except volunteers and folks near the finish-line. Although there were a few campers out along the way too. The course seemed to continue north, then looped around and headed down the west side of the Island. By probably 10 am there were streams of sunlight coming in through the trees. Perhaps a hour later, we were running in a thunderstorm. Significant rainfall got through the canopy of trees and we got wet. The two-track we were running on soon had puddled water in both tracks and we were running on the high ground in the middle of the road, trying to keep our feet dry, and stay out of the mud. By noon, the rain had stopped and the road had dried out some. The finish-line was co-located with the start-line. There were cheering fans at the finish-line. Right in front of those fans, about 50 feet from the finish-line, I caught my left toe on a small stone partially embedded in the road, and went down. I recovered quickly and completed the course. The food was not spectacular. Bananas (good), pretzels (okay)), and some kind of energy food that resembled granola, with cherry juice and water. The aid stations were pretty spread out (typical for this organizations marathons) but they were adequate. We had to carry our own fluid bottles, and they had Hammer gel at all stations. The medal was a wood medallion; unique, but cheap - with twine instead of a ribbon. It is just the way these guys do business. For the return trip to the mainland, they were only running the pontoon ferry boats, so it was a rather long wait to get a ride back. But it all worked out. This was a scenic marathon and though muddy near the end, it was worthwhile, and reasonably well supported, for as remote as the Island is.
R. M. from Wisconsin (7/31/2014) "Amazing Race" (about: 2014) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the 1/2 marathon for the first time. Extremely well organized and enjoyable race. Could use a few more porta johns at the start but nothing unusual about that. This is not a 'technical' race - no single track. I'll be back.
John Emmett from Central Illinois (7/29/2014) "A unique marathon that lived up to expectations." (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Island Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 30th marathon and 8th or 9th trail marathon. My wife and I drove 9 hours from Illinois and weren't disappointed. It was well organized with a beautiful course and who needs more than that? The race shirt was a perfect fit. The ferry got us to the island just before start time but the director kindly waiting until we were all ready to go. The course was well marked and the aid stations were fully stocked and the volunteers were friendly and helpful. The course is not very technical for a trail marathon and the hills, while noticeable, are not overwhelming. We had cloudy weather with a little rain but the trail would be mostly shady even on the sunniest of days. The wooden finishers medal was a nice touch and preferred over some of the ridiculously gaudy medals I've seen from other marathons. I soaked my legs in the cold, clear water of Lake Superior. There was a line to get on the ferry but a kind person transported us back over in his 6 person pontoon. I don't know if the line was due to the weather which delayed the ferry or if there was some other hang up but other runners said in pervious years they were able to walk right on to the ferry whenever they were ready to leave the island. The staff at the host hotel were very friendly and accommodating. The day before my wife and I enjoyed a Pictured Rocks boat cruise which was very relaxing and the scenery was amazing.
M. P. from Minnesota (7/27/2014) "Beautiful, breathtaking and peaceful!" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grand Island Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 We went for the scenery and weren't disappointed! It is a challenging trail marathon on an island/park a half mile offshore. It has 3 hills which beg walking. It was run well with adequate fluid fuel stops run by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers. I like the medal because it is wood and different from all the others I have. There weren't many spectators so if you need lots of attention and encouragement a larger race might be a better choice. Hint: get your hotel room months ahead of time as the area fills up.
A. T. from Chicago (7/26/2014) "Scenic, hilly, tough" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Island Trail Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My first trail marathon. Scenic, serene, mostly through woods, fun along beach, some tough, long hills, variety of terrain (single track, double track, road, mud!, rocks, leaves/pine needles). Would have been good to have shuttle information for Early Starters on website. Sunset Motel on the water is great place to stay.
E. W. from Troy, Mi (8/13/2013) "Same medal-same too small ugly colored shirts" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Grand Island Trail Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Even with all the complaints, the race director doesn't seem to care about the identical medals and the too small shirts every year. Must because the race sells out each year so he doesn't have to. This year things were the same, except the shirts were only one size too small instead of two. The course was muddy and challenging, but beautiful. Fix the medal and shirt problem and it will be a gem!
G. V. from WI - Wisconsin (8/8/2012) "Beautiful Race" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Island Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wow! What a beautiful race. By far my slowest, but I had to stop a few times and look over the cliffs! I thought it ran smoothly, expo was a breeze, getting across to the island was easy, race started well. Trails were nice, technical, but not crazy. Some easy two track parts, but most was fun. Volunteers/staff were friendly and the water stops were sufficient.
J. W. from Michigan (8/5/2012) "Beautiful Course! - Bad Medals & Shirts" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Grand Island Trail Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is my 3rd Grand Island Marathon. It is a hilly course, but beautiful. For the 2nd straight year the shirts were at least 2 sizes too small. I advised them about this last year too. The medal was exactly the same as last year's except with 2012 on them. Is this what repeat runners deserve? You can bring your own food and drinks to correct that problem, but you can't fix the shirt and medal problem. That is up to the race director.

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