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May 5, 2024

Wisconsin Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.0

Organization 4.2

Spectators 3.4

Number of comments: 91 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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C. C. from Chicago (5/4/2010) "Nice small marathon but needs better aid stations" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I ran the half while two friends ran the full. The course is quite pretty, winding up the lakefront, but the road is rather beat up in spots, making it important to watch your footing. The crowd was small, but cheerful, and the post-race party was great, with music, brats, and beer. However, the aid stations were seriously lacking. Gatorade was gone by the time we hit the second aid station, and we were not back of the pack either. I find that unacceptable in a long race. My friend did report that there was Gatorade after the half runners split off at mile 12. Also, each aid station needs a couple of more porta-potties. Finally, I thought about grabbing a bit of Vaseline from medical at a station to prevent chafing, only to find that I couldn't spot where medical stuff was! So, overall, it is a nice race, but it still could use some work.
K. Y. from Chicago, IL (5/4/2010) "Nice, friendly, small race" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was a fun little race. Being a pro "cheesy" race, it was fun to see runners dressed as cows, Cheeseheads, and German beer maids. Granted, the course was a little loopy, but it was mostly flat and showcased a lot of the lakefront. Near mile 18 we sort of ran off into the middle of nowhere, but running on the gravel road was easier on the knees. A more detailed and printable course map would be good to help anticipate the loopiness and to tell family where to watch. Crowd support was scattered, but very friendly and motivating. The Navy volunteers who helped direct runners were also motivating, sometimes randomly shouting, "Hoo-rah" as you run past. Water and Gatorade could've been a little more abundant, as it warmed up, but the purple Gatorade was a nice change of pace. The post-race party was fun. With a band and a nice large lawn area to stretch and relax in. It was cool to have a brat after rather than just the average bagel. It would be nice to see more cheese than just string cheese. As for the lack of an expo, its a small race, and after seeing the same stuff at expo after expo, I didn't mind not having one. The race shirt wasn't the greatest, so a little nicer of one would be cool, or it would be good to have other race merchandise for purchase. Overall, it's a nice race!
J. H. from Lake County, IL (5/3/2010) "OK local race" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Basically a nice, local, spring race. Just recommend working on the little things for next year. Possible improvements could include having a seeded start or at least eliminating the gates at the start line so that it is easier to self-seed. Since the roads are narrow for 3,000 runners during the first two miles, I would recommend removing the orange cones and other street objects at the start of the race. I understand that they are to divide the road for later in the race when it is two-way runner traffic, but you basically cannot see these road hazards until its too late during the first two miles. Many bathrooms were not stocked with TP so even some of the basics were missed. But the race started on time, the water stops were high-level, and given the route options in the area, the out-and-back loops are really the best choices. I think the real potential for race growth is with the half-marathon.
D. F. from Chicago (5/3/2010) "Great sophomore effort. Improved vs. 2009." (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the marathon last year, and just the half this year. The course was improved over last year. I didn't like the 4-mile loop, but understand that there are geographic limitations to changing the course (lake to the east, Sheridan is a hard cut off to the west). I would like to see Kenosha get behind the race and repave the path along the lake going north. This is a pretty spot, with awful pavement. Aid stations were great for the half. Good volunteers and nice crowd support downtown and near the finish. I agree with the comments that the start is too narrow. That problem is maybe a one-block problem though, because things did open up after that. I would love to see age-group awards, but the lack of them would never keep me away.
C. H. from Chicago (5/3/2010) "Well organized; a bit hillier than advertised" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Overall the marathon was well organized and it was very easy to park near the start. The volunteers were great too, especially in the more desolate stretches from mile 16-20. The "rolling" hills over the first 10 miles were a bit more difficult than I had envisioned from the website advertising it as a "flat," fast course. The weather was a bit warm and humid from the start (62 degrees with 78% humidity), which prevented most people I spoke to from achieving PR's - including me. All in all, this was a solid course for those running a spring marathon and very convenient for Chicagoans.
d. B. from Chicago area. (5/3/2010) "Needs Work" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 The 2010 Wisconsin Marathon was a decent but flawed event. First to good - the course was flat and thus pretty fast. The road surface in some parts was pretty chewed up - potholes - and in some parts you were running on streets with pretty significant crowns. But overall, the scenery was good - running along Lake Michigan for much of the route. No hills to speak of. The start was a bit off as, instead of seeding people by pace, they put people with "cheesehead" gear in the front. I'm sorry - that would be fine for a 5K, but not a marathon. So I had to run around them in the cheese head first mile. The organization was in need of improvement. Although I was not there at the time, I was told that they missed the lead running crossing the finish line. Apparently, they were surprised and didn't even have the tape ready for him to break. I finished in the top 50 and was pretty spent at this point and may have missed something, but as I was trying to catch my breath I expected someone to at least ask if I was OK. Nothing. The medical support seemed a bit light; I looked over and there was one ambulance at the finish line with one hefty looking paramedic person sitting on the bumper, looking bored. Just a little girl handing out a medal (same medal for full and half marathon). It was pretty anticlimactic. The race results were not broken down between men and women - nor were age group awards given or even tallied. All in all, if they are going to keep this as a marathon, it should not be conducted as a family fun run 5K.
C. P. from Chicago, IL (5/3/2010) "Overall, great race; meed more water near the end" (about: 2010) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and wasn't sure what to expect. Overall, I thought it was a very well organized race and easy to get to starting line. The aid stations from about mile 16 on were a little too far apart. I found myself not getting enough water on the back half of the course. Wish a few more spectators were around in back half where runners really could use the extra motivation. Overall the course was pretty good. There were a few areas in the first half where the lakefront path was pretty broken up and hard to run on, but the road sections were nice.
S. E. from Appleton WI (5/3/2010) ""Wesconsin" Marathon? Really??" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This was my 65th marathon and 9th different marathon in Wisconsin. Course was relatively flat and fast - mostly asphalt, with some concrete and some gravel road areas. Some nice views of the lake. Picturesque area. Don't expect porta-potties along the marathon course. If there were any, they must have been well hidden... bad situation for both participants and volunteers. Although water stations were said to be 2 miles apart, it was a good thing that some of the residents gave out water also. There was a pickup truck forcing its way through the runners in the mile 18-19 area... forcing participants off of the road. Where there were police at intersections, they seemed confused as to what their role was. Half marathoners outnumber marathoners by 3 to 1, and without separate starting times, it made the first 12 miles relatively crowded. The announcers were definitely not from Wisconsin... they couldn't even pronounce it correctly and seemed to mock Wisconsin's culinary delights. Expensive event for what you get from the organization. No age group awards. A beer (in WI, 1 is just an appetizer) and a brat (in a half pita). Tech shirt and medal are average. I liked the early 7 a.m. starting time. The wind was strong and it stayed cooler with the clouds and sun battling for supremacy. Thankfully the clouds won most of the time. There are 25 outdoor marathons in Wisconsin, and with that much competition, these organizers need to step it up a notch.
G. B. from wisconsin (5/3/2010) "no frills but solid" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Well organized for only its second year. Really disappointed with packet pick-up, as there were no items to buy if you forgot or needed something (except for GU). Fans were sparse, but it was family friendly for seeing runners multiple times due to the course layout. Would recommend this race to fellow runners.
M. B. from Nashville, TN (5/2/2010) "Solid local/regional marathon" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Wisconsin Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My 23rd marathon, and first in Wisconsin. Very well organized. I liked the lake views, but other commentators are correct: the double loop isn't all that interesting. No expo, but who cares: go to an R'n'R Marathon if you really want that. I enjoyed my trip to Kenosha and encourage others to consider this for a Wisconsin Marathon. Nice folks came out to cheer over the last several miles.

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