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May 5, 2024

Charlevoix Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Charlevoix Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.5

Spectators 3.3

Number of comments: 68 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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S. F. from Saginaw, Michigan (6/29/2009) "Great first experience!" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and I was very nervous as to what to expect. Any fears and anxious feelings quickly subsided on Friday night while picking up my packet. Everyone involved with the race itself, including fellow participants and the community as a whole, was very welcoming, encouraging, and gracious. Running along Lake Michigan was a treat. My entire family was able to enjoy Charlevoix, and this experience. Thank you to all involved.
H. F. from Southeast lower Michigan (6/29/2009) "Beautiful northern Michigan town" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Well organized. Very scenic along the shores of Lake Michigan, but sort of boring along the highway. Excellent water, Gatorade, and gel stations every mile and a half, with very friendly and enthusiastic volunteers. Thank you very much to the lady giving out ice around mile 23, and the sprinklers in the last few miles. What lifesavers on a hot, muggy day. Just two ways that this marathon could have been better: 1) Start at 6:00 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m., since much of the course was in the sun; and 2) end the race before that steep downhill. It killed to go down that hill after 26 miles.
C. S. from Chicago (6/29/2009) "Amazing small-town race." (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is one of the best courses in the country and the most organized race I've ever competed in.
L. R. from Los Angeles, CA (6/28/2009) "Beautiful lakeshore marathon" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This a lovely, somewhat remote, small, lakeside town in northern Michigan that organized a very high caliber and memorable event. The course was a single out-and-back route, mostly along a scenic, flat bike path. The staff and volunteers did an excellent job. There was a nice complementary pre-race pasta dinner at a friendly local church. The aid stations were well stocked with gels, snacks and liquids - and only one ran out of Gatorade. The technical shirt is first-rate, and the medal is beautiful. My only complaint was the hot, muggy weather on race day, but that's the luck of the draw.
A. O. from South Bend, IN (6/28/2009) "Scenic route; top-notch event!!" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Very well organized with well-stocked aid stations every 1 and a 1/2 miles. Mile markers every mile. It's a scenic run along a wooded bike trail, with some amazing views of Lake Michigan! Flat and fast. Volunteers along the route and at the post-race party were friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic about both the race and their community!! The course was not very conducive to spectators, with an out-and-back route along the lake and highway, but nothing you wouldn't expect from a smaller race. Plenty of food/drink at the post-race party, enough that family/friends were encouraged to eat as well. Great event and a marathon I would certainly repeat!
VA Runner from Virginia (10/8/2008) "Beautiful location; small but growing" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This is in my hometown area and I wanted to take the chance to run 26.2 miles in a place I knew well. Red Rock is a pretty small company but they are very personal in their approach. I communicated with them before and after the race and each time a real person (not a call center) responded to me with honest feedback and was happy to listen to my questions, comments, and concerns. The race isn't designed for a large crowd since it starts in one lane of US31 through Charlevoix. But once the crowd gets going it breaks up pretty nicely. It IS flat. Yes, there are some elevation changes but nothing even remotely significant. Only Floridian's would complain. :) Red Rock acknowledged the flub between offering GU and PowerGel. They obtained PowerGel as a sponsor at the last minute and didn't have time to update the information. I brought my own GU since I'm not a fan of PowerGel anyway and I believe in being prepared. This was my 4th marathon with others being much, much bigger. I liked the quaintness of this race and the location and the scouts and other volunteers did an amazing job. They did run out of Gatorade and flat Coke on my last loop (sub 4), which was a bit of a bummer, but I suffered with water, which was plentiful. The finish was a little strange in that the timing mat was on one side of the drawbridge but the actual finish "line" was in the park about 250 yards down the road and across the street. So there was a bit of a pause between finishing and receiving your medal and getting some food. And there was no beer. The medal was OK but probably not one I'd spend any money framing unless it was my first or only marathon. I'll definitely run it again, but would also consider other races at the same time before signing up again.
K. J. from Wheeler, MI (7/7/2008) "Scenic, Fast, Friendly" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 First off, I have read a good deal of complaints dealing with the weather (humidity, wind, etc.). To me, the weather is not the fault of the race director; if you dislike the weather that much on race day, then just drop out and save yourself for another day. Secondly, I don't know how flat people expected the course to be, but I thought it was flat as a pancake for northern Michigan. A few small inclines, but nothing to slow you down. The race itself was great, and the aid stations were well stocked, albeit not with the advertised items. The spectators that were along the course were awesome, and the other runners were very encouraging. All in all, this was one of my favorite marathons. I will definitely be back, and I expect that this marathon will grow in numbers considerably over the next few years.
p. d. from chicago, IL (7/2/2008) "great job for a small-town race" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Very well done - congrats to Ron, and the staff, and all of the volunteers for making the race go on without a hitch. Very scenic, and the people very friendly. If you are looking for a small-town race with lots of hospitality, this is the race for you.
R. W. from Waterville, Ohio (7/1/2008) "serene and friendly" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was the first marathon I completed. Although it was out-and-back (twice), and I was worried about mental fatigue, there were enough bends and dips, and a wonderful bridge such that one of my fellow runners described as "it feels like it has energy in it!" And having an abundance of aid along the way to make it anything but boring. I love not having to trip over and dodge in between thousands of runners. Few spectators, but everyone was so friendly and encouraging, including each runner I encountered. What a wonderful experience! Bonus: there was an art fair going on in Charlevoix. My mom (who rocked her first 10K!) and I enjoyed puttering around town and the fair afterward, and we ate a great whitefish dinner. Thank you to Charlevoix and the Red Rock Company for this event.
J. D. from Midwest (7/1/2008) "OK for a small race" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Charlevoix Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This is a nice, small race in a really pretty town. The people were nice, but I did expect a little more from a race put on by a company (rather than community volunteers). The course is a double out-and-back, so you could see other runners all along the way. They did have mile markers for miles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. After that, you were on your own to figure out where you were. They also advertised that there would be GU at each aid station. However, they really had Power Gel and for some people that matters a lot. This is a nice race if you moderate your expectations, and it's one of the few in the Midwest at this time of the year. I may well do it again but would be more likely to do so if I knew that some of these small things were addressed.

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