May 18, 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 171 to 181]
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J. S. from Louisville, Ky
(6/10/2003)
 "Hills at mile 24, and they ran out of medals" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I agree with a lot of the comments by S.D. Water stops were good. Half of the course was scenic. Be prepared: at mile 9, you start down a large hill, and at miles 23 to 25, you go back up it and more. The finish is nice, but climbing the steps out of the stadium is painful. Also, the medals are awarded to the earliest finishers. They ran out of medals, and it did not matter whether you pre-registered or not; you did not get a medal if you weren't fast enough. The slower finishers may get medals someday, and the organizers are not taking responsibility for getting them to you. You have to email them to request them. For you half-marathoners, be prepared to be treated like second-class citizens. You are not allowed free samples of GU, foot salts, etc at the expo unless you run the marathon. If you want the very small poster of the event, you have to buy one; they are given to the marathoners. I realize this is their first year for the half, but they need to rethink this event. They had 3 times as many for the half as the marathon, so they need better organization for it. | |
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M. N. from Toledo Ohio
(6/10/2003)
"Well organized, but needs many improvements" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 First let me say that I found the organizers of this race to be very professional. I think that for the size of the race they do a great job. However, there were many areas that I think could be improved upon. The course is an out-and-back course that I did not particularly care for, and it also has more hills than I anticipated. I don't think this race is for beginners. Also, I was disappointed by the lack of community support throughout the course; not many spectators around. The finish was great, but they ran out of medals, which I find unforgivable. I was disappointed in the fact that they only had water in small cups at the end of the race. But they did have plenty to eat at the end, and the fruit was fresh and very good. This is not the best race that I have run, and I don't know that I would recommend it. All in all, I would rate it a 3-star. | |
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M. W. from Rockford,IL although I was listed as South Bend IN
(6/9/2003)
 "Great town, good race, not a PR course." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course was tougher than I expected, and the hills, although not steep, were plentiful. It was a good decision to start the race early due to the heat, as it was close to 74 at 9:15 AM. The run was well organized, and the water stations were around every turn - and there were many (turns). It was great finishing on the 50-yard line, but it would have been that much better had there been cold beer with the cold towels. It seemed odd that the walkers course crossed the marathon course at mile 25, but the walkers were great supporters of the runners, and maybe it was a good idea. I had a great time in South Bend and would recommend this race to others. | |
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R. P. from Washington, DC
(6/9/2003)
"A nice place for my first small marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 First time that I've run a marathon with less than 1,000 runners. The location is easy to get to, with plenty of parking. The lack of spectators didn't help my attempt to qualify for Boston. But the volunteers were great. The course had too many twists and turns, and changes of surface. The roads were in bad shape after a rough winter. Towards the end, the marathoners merged into crowds of runners doing the half-marathon and 10K, which slowed us down. The finish made up for the negatives. Touchdown Jesus, the Irish fight song, Notre Dame Stadium, the ice-cold towels, popsicles, and bowls of fresh fruit were great. It took a very long time to post the marathon results. I felt like the event was run more for the benefit of the half-marathon and 10K runners. The expo was very small, the tee-shirt is quite colorful, and Chicago was close enough to visit during the weekend. South Bend seemed like a nice, friendly but sleepy town. I will always remember the Sunburst as the place where I qualified for Boston! Thank you! | |
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j. f. from Florida
(6/9/2003)
 "Trying To Get It Right" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my 142nd marathon. The Bad: They ran out of t-shirts, no goodie bags, the crown in the road made my ankles ache, suprisingly hilly course, they did not have enough aid stations to accommodate the weather, they ran out of finisher's medals, and there was no beer at finish. After this one, I could've really gone for a cold beer. The Good: Easy to find start, plenty of parking, port-a-potties & bathrooms at Football Hall of Fame, enthusiastic volunteers, more GU/Powergel than any other marathon that I've ever run, ice cold towels at finish, mostly closed course, excellent police support, efficient shuttle back to start, a free hat and, of course, finish at Notre Dame Stadium. I'll run this one again. | |
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J. D. from Cleveland, OH
(6/8/2003)
"If you like lots of turns" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This course was interesting (there were several scenic places along the course), and the finish was wonderful. We actually ran through the tunnel with the fight song and finished on the 50-yard line of Notre Dame Stadium. My problem was that the course had too many turns. Every time I tried to get a pace, we had to stop and turn again. Overall, I do not recommend this race for a beginner. It could be very discouraging. | |
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S. d. from Cortlandt Manor, New York
(6/8/2003)
"Very well organized race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I want to start by commending the race staff for a professional and well organized race. The staff and volunters are first rate, and as good as I have found in the 31 other marathons I have run. The course, while intended to be as scenic as possible, is mostly run on cement, which pounds the legs and feet. Although the race runs by a river for long stretches, it can not be called a scenic race. The area is just not that beautiful. Due to the time of year and how quickly it gets hot, the race starts very early. The start time explains while there are few spectators, but those who show up are very enthusiastic. Even with the early start, it got quite hot for runners taking over 4 hours to finish. The finish in Notre Dame Stadium is very impressive; unfortunatly, the rest of the course lacks the same appeal. The volunters and staff are very warm and friendly, and make you feel very welcome and appreciated. I was glad I did the race, and would recommend it to my friends, warts and all. The people make an area as they do the race, and the warmth and congeniality of the people of South Bend overcome the deficiencies of the race. | |
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J. S. from Montgomery County, Maryland
(1/29/2003)
 "Beautiful setting - South Bend is a great town!" (about: 1994)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 What a pretty town South Bend is! I remember one stretch along the river that was particularly beautiful. And how can you top the 50 yard-line finish? | |
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M. A. from Macomb Twp, MI
(1/15/2003)
 "Great race but beware of the heat!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Very well organized with efficient packet pick-up and registration. Plenty of water and gatorade throughout the course. The finish in Notre Dame Stadium is well worth some of the more mundane stretches in the last half of the marathon. Be prepared for the heat because it's June in Indiana. | |
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Craig Redfearn from Granger, IN
(6/21/2002)
"3rd Consecutive Sunburst Marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race is very well organized at the start and finish. However, some areas in between need to be worked on. This was my 3rd consecutive year running this marathon and have lowered my time/place each year I have run. 2000 (4:19) 2001 (3:38) 2002 (3:23). Not a bad time for running that extra mile. If it wasn't for the mixup between miles 11-12 I probably could have qualified for the Boston Marathon because I had great splits going to that point. However, I am not disappointed because I lowered my time and had a blast. The good definitely out distanced the bad in this race as I hope to be back next year unless I run a different marathon. |
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