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☰
Detroit International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Detroit International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 402 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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M. F. from Colorado
(10/16/2017)
 "Well Done Detroit!!" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Very impressed with the organization, communication, support, and logistics. The course is really flat and should be a PR possible course. In 2017, it was a humid day and windy so it was a bit tough. Lots aid stations and volunteers with amble water. Start/Finish in downtown Detroit with plenty of hotels within walking distance of start/finish - makes the logistics easy. There was a fair amount of crowd support along the course which was motivating! BTW, downtown Detroit is making a comeback and feels very safe! I would highly recommend this marathon. I have done over 25 marathons and I would rank this in the Top 3 overall! | |
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L. M. from Philadelphia, PA
(10/16/2017)
"Best marathon" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was probably the best marathon I've run in 20 years. The organization was great. The course was mostly flat and interesting. I love how they start the USA half marathon at 10am so when the marathoners finish there are still lots of people on the course. I think this is a great marathon for first-timers. | |
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M. C. from Baltimore, MD
(10/17/2016)
 "Nice Race Through USA and Canada" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The expo was very easy to navigate. The start line was way too congested with spectators and supporters being down right rude blocking the few entrances that runners could enter the corrals. The course was very nice. Spectators were throughout the course and many offering beer along the way. The timing system for fans to track runners did not work. An issue that many were complaining about. The pouring down rain cooled the heat but running in soaking wet shoes made the last couple of hours quite difficult. All in all this is a very nice race. | |
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Guy Beels from Rockville, MD
(10/17/2016)
 "Well organized, well stocked, unimpeded race" (about: 2016)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I gave this race a tough test this year: Came into it with inadequate training due to injury, and still managed to like it. The start: Smooth and on time. 'O Canada' was a nice touch. Though corral placement was not enforced, and the half and full started at the same time, I didn't have to dodge any walkers in front of me. Runner traffic spread out immediately, and I never felt crowded. There was plenty of street lighting for the pre-dawn start. On the course: The water stops were frequent enough, and were well staffed and stocked, with coordinated water / Gatorade sections. I saw no crowding, pushing, waiting, fumbling, or fingers in cups. Well done. Porta-potties were nicely spread around the course. I saw no lines for those. Spectators were always around, and were enthusiastic - in crowds at times, but not usually. Finish: There was a good throng, with energy to 'pull you in'. Medals (very nice, and evocative of the city) and space blankets were at the finish. As for food, I can't speak, because I hung a right to exit the area immediately after grabbing a chocolate milk. Kudos to the Run Detroit shop for their excellent support tent before and after the race! Course topography: Many people comment about the bridge, so here's my 2 cents: The Ambassador Bridge is the only significant hill, but it is a gentle, even slope. It also comes at an early point in the race where I found it to be practically a warm-up, not a slog. Just relax and tuck into it for a couple of minutes. And, yes, we got a nice sunrise over the river and skyline while on the bridge. Apart from that (and a rise coming out of the tunnel), THIS COURSE IS FLAT. Any remaining topography does not even qualify as 'rolling.' It's just enough for helpful orchestral variations in your muscles, if you notice it at all. A light amount of hill training will negate the 'hills'. The sights: (Full disclosure: I grew up here, and the place warms my heart.) This is a beefy, gray, impressively industrial city with great spirit. The course represents it pretty well, complete with warts and gems. It was good to see some recently decrepit neighborhoods fixing up and blooming with young families out watching the race. The Indian Village neighborhood, Belle Isle, and the Riverwalk are especially nice, and they come late in the race where they can boost a sagging will. Other: I saw very few official clocks along the course. Some people have a problem with that. I don't. With chip timing, they're always wrong (for you and me, anyway). Get a watch. In sum, this race is professionally run, with none of the nickel-and-diming that can go with that. As a destination race, I would recommend it if you're looking for a well run, overall flat race in an intriguing, up-and-coming city with no shortage of entertainment, sights, history, and (especially) good food. But if 'pretty' is more your style, I'll admit that the course and the tone of the city might disappoint. | |
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C. L. from USA
(10/16/2016)
"Outstanding city & outstanding marathon" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Don't miss this one. Put it on the top of your list. Detroit was wonderful. I was a little nervous about going there but the city was great. Everyone made me feel welcome. I walked all around the downtown talking to people of all races asking directions etc. Everyone was polite and friendly. I stayed at the Holiday Inn. The staff there was wonderful & it was just two blocks from the start/finish. Perfect. The course had great river views. It was mostly flat. There were ample hydration stops with plenty of gels etc. This is a well organized marathon. If you have misgivings about Detroit it will change them | |
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B. M. from USA
(10/24/2015)
 "Not the best fall marathon choice" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Expo: I really liked the long sleeve tech shirt but it runs short in the waist, so get a size up. The expo had a free photo booth which was a lot of fun. Overall good size for the event. Course: There are no clocks at the mile markers which is a HUGE pain. The ramp onto the Ambassador bridge is a lot steeper than you think and goes on forever. When I ran up it, I passed a lot of wheelchairs, and then on the descent they came FLYING by and almost hit some runners. They should start them sooner. The first 2 miles are poorly lit and since you run the first 45 minutes before the sunrise I was so nervous I would twist an ankle or accidentally step on someone. Miles 15-18 go through a really nice neighborhood with lots of cool houses. Belle Island is pretty but windy and lonely. Spectators: They're concentrated in Canada and in a 5 block radius downtown. From miles 14-24 the course gets very lonely. Aid stations/volunteers: Typical to other marathons. Overall I would not run again, and would recommend other fall marathons to friends. | |
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A. M. from Virginia
(10/21/2015)
"Overall fun marathon!" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran Detroit as my Michigan marathon based off of glowing reviews from friends who have also run this marathon (and I also enjoyed visiting in-laws nearby!). Overall I would say that the Detroit Marathon was a unique and enjoyable experience. It can be a PR course if you properly train on hills to prepare for the multiple bridge crossings. Race expo: - Word to the wise, do NOT get there right when the expo opens. We had to improvise to find parking, and there were hundreds of people in line before the doors even opened. People who arrived about 1.5 hours later had no trouble at all. - Kudos to the volunteers who kept the line in order, they did a fabulous job. - Plenty of vendors at the expo with just about anything you'd need (or want) - Passport holders.. if you don't want to buy one.. we put ours in sandwich bags, wrapped top of bag in packaging tape, and attached with safety pin through packaging tape to our race shorts. Worked like a charm, hardly knew it was there for 26.2 miles. Race: - Plenty of port-a-potties near the start line - A little cold this year, low to mid 30s. Obviously outside of the race's control, just be sure to bring enough 'throw away' clothes to the start to stay warm - Don't underestimate the climb to the top of The Ambassador Bridge, do hill/incline training! - That said, very cool to run over The Ambassador Bridge! - Have your race bib CLEARLY visible, border patrol will pull you over if you don't - 2 more bridge crossings (over and back) to run around Belle Isle, otherwise rest of course is pretty flat - More crowds in the first half than the second half of the race - Sufficient aid stations along the course with enthusiastic volunteers - Nice race medal and technical shirt - Nothing special about free post race food. Best thing I got was an apple cinnamon tea and hot chocolate for my husband at a food truck. Overall thumbs up for this race. | |
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Michael Ford from United States
(10/21/2015)
"Great course, tons of spectators!" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Of the 25 marathons I've competed, this is one of my favorites. Great time of year in Detroit with the trees changing color. The spectators in Canada were fun and the amount of people lining the streets in Detroit was unbelievable. Even had a few snow flakes this year. Will do again. | |
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T. L. from Minneapolis, MN, USA
(10/20/2015)
 "Nice Tour Through the Motor City" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was a fun and interesting marathon. You really get to see Detroit, from interesting urban neighborhoods to raw post-industrial areas to the beautiful and wealthy homes of Indian Village, to the pretty and formal park on Belle Isle. The two border crossings are probably the highlight, and I especially enjoyed running through the tunnel since I've never done anything like that. It's a good PR course - other than the two border crossings, it's a very flat course, and those two crossings add variety more than strain. It does have a *LOT* of turns, which is why I gave it four stars, and especially late in the course there are places where I wasn't actually sure whether I was supposed to be turning or not. Which brings me to the downside: there were *VERY* few spectators, especially in the second half, and especially for a city the size of Detroit. After the halfway point (where we lost the half marathoners) there were stretches that felt downright desolate; this was exacerbated by the fact that there were no other runners within a half minute of me by the finish. Especially around mile 23 (right after Belle Isle) it felt as lonely as a training run. Come on Detroit, come out and cheer for the runners! The race starts early and it was cold, but I was able to warm up and use facilities in the Cobo Center until just before the start, which was really great. I was in the first wave, and at least for us the sun didn't come up until about mile 5 - so we crossed the bridge in the dark, but it was still pretty. The logistics - especially around the border crossings - were top notch, and made the race a real hit. The aid stations were well run and the volunteers were great. They were short stations, but with so few people around me I was able to take water or gatorade from whomever I wanted. They tended to have water first, gatorade second and then a little bit of water at the end again, but I never managed to get both water and gatorade from the same station. One minor logistical downside: wheelers started just two minutes before my wave, and with the steep incline to the bridge starting in mile 3, we found ourselves passing wheelers going up the bridge, only to make way for them going down it again at high speed. They had plenty of bicycle guides keeping it organized, but I think the wheelers should be starting a good ten minutes earlier given the bridge. Overall I highly recommend this one. The border crossings add an exotic flavor to a good, well-run but quiet marathon. | |
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D. M. from Utah
(10/20/2015)
"Nice cross-section of Detroit" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 We took a bus tour of the city the day before and learned that the city is well on the rebound from the depressed decades of the '80s and '90s. There are vibrant areas of the city that are worth exploring. Taking the time to do a tour is well worth the effort. One brief warning: the hotels downtown are expensive and there are only expensive options available to and from the airport from downtown (we paid $69 each way.) It seems that if Detroit is really interested in bringing people to the city, they would fix that. Personally, I can't see going back. Still, the course is interesting and diverse, with much support and excellent aid stations. Only one gel station (mi. 16), so carry what you need with you. The run across the bridge into Canada is pretty as the sun rises and the return through the tunnel is absolutely unique. I think I would still run Traverse City for Michigan if you are a 50-stater; however, this is a very nice option. |
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