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☰
Dances With Dirt Devil's Lake Runner Comments
Back to Dances With Dirt Devil's Lake Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.0
Number of comments: 13 [displaying comments 11 to 13]
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S. B. from Madison, WI
(7/11/2011)
 "deliciously tough course" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Dances With Dirt Devil's Lake
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 What an incredibly awesome race. I ran the half marathon and loved it. Hills/bluffs are brutal but this course lives up to its hype - bruised, battered, and bloody. Do not expect to PR but anticipate a beautiful course that is mostly shaded (I can only speak for the half). There were few spectators, do not rely on them to mentally aid you in this race. The aid stations were great, the volunteers amazing, and the post-race food was so typically WI, I loved it all and would recommend this race to anyone looking for a thrilling cross-country/trail experience. | |
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L. M. from Cross Junction, VA
(7/10/2011)
"A first and last for non-trail runners" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Dances With Dirt Devil's Lake
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Only reason I give 2 for the course is it was every bit as ridiculous as the director states. I've never done a trail marathon before and maybe this was my stupidity. I knew what I was getting into but realize I'll probably never be a trail runner. Looking at my feet for 6 hours to avoid obstacles and lunging around things seems to take away the point of enjoying the race. More of an endurance challenge than a race. That said, I had a great time and am so glad I had the experience. Very well organized, volunteers were awesome, aid stations were the best I've had (potatoes, candy, cookies, nuts, pbj's, plus the usuals), post run food included free beer, brats, burgers, fruit, pasta. Small, very well done but no frills, nice medal and shirt, low cost. Although the only fans on the course short of the start/finish are the aid station volunteers, they were awesome and made getting to the next one worth sticking around a few minutes to talk with and gobble some more goodies. Only gripe I had other than the course was the food nazi at the station around mile 20. She was less concerned about checking in what numbers made it to the checkpoint and more concerned about ultra runners getting the food, and marathoners getting nothing more than the water and gu. Didn't know that was in the rules and if it was, she was the only one that enforced it. After running a ridiculously difficult course in heat and humidity, avoiding unwanted wildlife, and getting to the top of a mountain, taking a couple fig newtons shouldn't get you disqualified because you're a marathonerGod forbid I ran 5 less miles than those doing the 50k. Loved the atmosphere and people associated with trail running, just not this course. Will likely never be back, but this is a must do if you want to scratch off Wisconsin, and a trail marathon off your bucket list. Train hard! Thank you to everyone at the event! | |
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T. L. from Los Angeles, CA
(2/19/2011)
 "Beautiful and brutal." (about: 2010)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Dances With Dirt Devil's Lake
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race offers everything from half marathon to 50-mile options. It also offers steep ascents on ski slopes - steeper descents ditto - scrambles up and down stone steps; leaps from boulder to boulder following ribbons tied around trees; rooty, rocky, hummocky trails, paths through meadows that look like someone created them by riding a motorbike through the grass; trails through nice big stands of poison ivy... and I haven't even mentioned what the relay runners have to do. One of the most exhausting, most challenging, most scenic races I have ever done. And it was so much fun! Great course, good organization, great aid stations, nice volunteers, and I love the massive mug at the end (and the free beer to put in it). Do not expect a PR. It's unlikely you will get one unless this is your first 50K or 50-miler. Bring a friend, because you will be much happier running this with someone. Bug repellent is a MUST. And the poison ivy soap for afterward is worth it. Also bring a camera. The views from over the lake are spectacular. Not easy to get to, and the host hotel is showing its age, but one of the nicest races I've done in a long time. |
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