May 3, 2024
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☰
Sunburst Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Sunburst Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.7 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 2.9
Number of comments: 197 [displaying comments 61 to 71]
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S. K. from Michigan
(6/9/2009)
 "Great experience!" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the half-marathon this past weekend. I had to overcome many personal adversities, but still placed 6th, and had a great time! :) I loved going through the neighborhoods and having spectators outside offering Vaseline, water, and sprinklers! There were LOTS of volunteers and water stations as well. The course was a bit confusing at the end because there were the marathon, half-marathon, 10K, and 5K finishing all at once, but it was great to be surrounded by lots of encouragement. The finish was a lot of fun! The after party was great too; lots of refreshments and food (not heavy food either that would make me barf to look at at that point)! I would say that this event was a great experience... and I can't wait to come back next year! | |
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N. C. from Carmel, IN
(6/9/2009)
"Excellent, Small Marathon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is my first Sunburst and it delivered. The small size was a big plus for me. However, the course support and organization were among the best that I've experienced. Lots of aid stations and volunteers, and everything moved like a well-oiled machine. The course was absolutely scenic; running along the St. Joe River and finishing in ND Stadium was a real treat. I'll be back to run this marathon. Well done. | |
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E. H. from Kentucly
(6/9/2009)
 "I like running with more runners" (about: 2009)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I meet great people at this race. Hopefully I will be running with them at other events. I ran the half this year here. | |
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Stefan Faehnrich from Karlsruhe, Germany
(6/8/2009)
 "not my personal favorite" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran this one as my fourth marathon, and the course was quite flat and somewhat scenic too. Running alongside of the river was nice, and the starting time of 6 a.m. was great for running in a decent temperature - even in June. Finishing in the stadium was definitely a highlight. The organization of the race was quite good. Packet pick-up was easy and quick, and there was a station every 1.5 miles (PowerAde and water, and some had GU too). At the finish, there was only one stand of water and one stand of food; and you had to line up for that. But they gave you ice-cold towels, which was definitely a plus too. With all that being that, I have to explain why I gave it only 3 stars: The course itself was, for most parts, an in-and -out course, meaning that you often faced oncoming runners. I personally don't like that at all. Especially around mile 16, you ran alongside the river already seeing the runners on the other side, where finally 2 miles later the turn was to run it all back. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing that you have to run all of that, knowing that you have to run it all back again. Further, around mile 11, the marathon runners actually had to cross the course of the 10K runners (could have been the 5K too - I'm not sure), and at the time that I got there, it was totally crowded and people were running into each other. That was simply awkward. Some of the marathon runners almost took the wrong turn - joining the 10K runners. At some points, there were 180-degree turns too, which are not nice to run at all. I finished after 3:37, together with a lot of the 5K walkers and slow, half-marathon runners, which was somewhat bothersome too, as I had to zig-zag between them. | |
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J. S. from Iowa
(6/8/2009)
"Nice, small race; well organized" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a nice, small race. Organization was great, and the medal and t-shirt were good. There were not a lot of spectators, and the course does a lot of winding around the river. But the finish is fun! | |
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C. P. from Wind Lake, Wisconsin
(6/8/2009)
 "This Course Is A Nightmare" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Sunburst Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This is the second time I have done the Sunburst Marathon and both times I have PR'd. However, the course is poorly managed and I would not recommend it. Since there are only 600 marathon runners (out of 8,000 doing all of the races - half, 5K, 10K, etc.), there are times where you feel like you are a second-class citizen. I had to ask a volunteer at least 5 times which way to turn, mostly in the second half of the race. And worse yet, during Mile 6 I missed a turn and ended up one mile ahead of where I was supposed to be. When I realized it, I then turned around and got back in with the group of runners that I remember being ahead of me before missing the turn. The top runners had police escorts, but the second group had no help and since there were so few runners on the course and so many turns, it was up to us to figure out which way to go several times. The course is a nightmare. I have been playing out this race in my head ever since I finished and, each time it gets worse. Take a look at the course map and you will see all of the turns. I was extremely pleased with my time, but I can't recommend this race unless they straighten out the course. | |
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G. K. from Southeast US
(6/8/2009)
"Given the limitations, it's not a bad race" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race is one of many (5K run and walk, 10K, half-marathon). Plus it starts and finishes in different places. So laying out a course must be a big challenge. This marathon has a lot of cornering and loop-di-dos, but overall it runs you through some nice areas. Roads are typical of a northern city - either really bad asphalt, really hard bricks, or concrete as running surfaces. The finish into the stadium is one of the best finish areas in ~30 marathons. There is probably a reason that it runs in early June. Heat is a serious risk, but they have prepared well, with water stops every mile, frequent Vaseline, and iced towels (a real treat). My only organizational criticism is that the multiple finishers, though well divided up to the finish line, jam together after the finish with long lines to get food. A separate line for famished marathoners would have been appropriate. The 5K walkers didn't need the armloads of food they were grabbing. | |
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G. T. from Beavercreek OH
(6/8/2009)
 "Still Awesome" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Sunburst Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Only two comments. 1.) Technical T-Shirts don't help you advertise if we don't wear them casually. Please bring back the cotton. 2.) Could you have put the shuttle buses any farther away? All in all, a great race. Thanks! | |
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J. E. from West Lafayette, IN
(6/7/2009)
"Solid, small marathon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is the fifth year in a row that I've participated in this event, but I've done the half-marathon until 2009, when I did the marathon. I like this race, a lot. The RD clearly listened to concerns from the previous years. Mile markings were both accurate and easily identifiable. The many, many volunteers were very helpful, even at the end of a long morning for them, as I was at the back of the pack. There's no way to over-emphasize how cool it is to finish at the 50 yard-line at ND stadium. It is a marvelous experience. Towels and Popsicles are perfect at the end of a warm, humid morning. With 600-ish runners, count on spending a lot of time by yourself on the course... which I like, and so it worked. | |
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M. G. from Indianapolis, IN
(6/6/2009)
"Can't be positive about this course" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I ran in the marathon today and fell on some plastic netting put at the side of the course to keep runners off of the grass. The netting was white, so of course I couldn't see it. I fell flat on my face and broke my tooth, etc. The care along the route was poor; they didn't have antiseptic. The care in the medical tent was quite good. |
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