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☰
Grandma's Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Grandma's Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 298 [displaying comments 211 to 221]
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John Strobel from Bloomington, IN
(12/26/2005)
 "Great course, but they can't spell!" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed this marathon. I ran it hoping to get a PR, which I did. The course is flat and beautiful, along Lake Superior. The crowds are also great. The bad news: it could have been organized better. Even though it is a relatively large marathon, they have no online registration, so I mailed in my entry form. They misspelled my name, I presume because someone had to manually enter the names. I tried twice before the race and twice after the race to get them to correct the spelling, but I got NO response. None. They don't answer emails or phone calls. I got a PR, but you would never know it, because it is listed under John Stobel, not John Strobel. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I really felt like they didn't care. | |
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Kim Seagle from Huntersville, NC
(9/14/2005)
 "Great Hometown Race" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is my hometown so it was great to get out there and compete in this event. There was a good hill at mile 22 which was tough but the scenry was good. The weather was perfect and the spectators were a big help. | |
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N. H. from St. Paul, Minnesota
(8/24/2005)
 "Good 'starter' marathon" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Grandma's is a great starter marathon. If you are new to the running game and want a good beginner's race, then join Duluth's Grandma's Marathon. | |
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D. L. from Minneapolis
(8/9/2005)
"No complaints" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Grandma's Marathon was a fairly scenic marathon with a relatively easy course with the exception of the one hill mentioned often in these reviews. My training didn't go as well as I had hoped and I still finished in 3:20 which is about 10 minutes faster then I thought I might finish. I thought that the water stops were better then any race I have ever participated. As for Ultima - I heard people say it was gross so I just stuck to water (I personally believe that there are no in-race benefits to sports drinks over water). The medal was nice, although my only complaint would be that the ribbon was connected quite poorly and I was worried about it falling off (my mom found one lying on the gound, so it happened to someone). One other complaint would be the twisting and turning right before the finish line, so I didn't have any time to enjoy the last few steps of the marathon because it was suddenly on me. I liked Grandma's but I don't think the course is nearly as cool as the Twin Cities Marathon with the downtowns, lakes, and the river. Overall I would recommend this marathon to anyone who asked. | |
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S. S. from St. Louis
(7/18/2005)
"Worth doing at least once" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a nice race which pretty much lives up to its hype. The course is beautiful, the organization very efficient. The mile markers definitely one of the best. Slightly warm when the breeze off the lake died. Not much in the name of hills. Price gouging by the hotels in the area equally efficient. All in all, a good race and worth doing. I wouldn't go overboard to say its the best in the world unlike my gushing co-runners below. Eminently runnable, and I can understand why people return. But there are many other races out there to try, why run the same one again and again!. | |
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J. A. from north dakota
(7/11/2005)
"Well organized but would not do it again." (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my second marathon, my first being the Rock n Roll Phoenix marathon. The race is well organized but otherwise I wasn't impressed. The hotels jack up the prices and require a two night stay. We stayed in the dorms and they do the same thing there. The first 18.5 miles is pretty lonely. If you like spectators this is not a race for you. The ulitma is awful, even worse during the race. | |
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L. M. from Madison, WI
(7/7/2005)
 "Best Marathon thus far!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a race that knows how to do it up right! Magnificent organization, plentiful supplies, bountiful aid stations, HUGE mile markers that are impossible to miss, people seed themselves appropriately at the start, cool jet fly-by at the start, avid spectators offering beer, beautiful course...I could go on and on. The only two pretty minor things I would change: 1) They need to ditch the Ultima (nasty stuff) 2) Give everyone a technical moisture-wicking t-shirt, instead of the cotton t-shirt that we already have too many of. (It can't cost the race organizers much more, and if you raise the price of the entry fee a couple bucks to cover it, who's going to complain?) Even if my personal race time wasn't what I had hoped, it was still a great day. All in all, a fantastic race. | |
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C. F. from Cleveland, OH
(6/30/2005)
"Grandma's Treats You Like a Queen/King" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 We heard quite a bit about this marathon and 'had to do it.' The whole city gets involved and role out the red carpet treatment. However, the hotels get in the action also by increasing their lodging by 150% for one star establishments. We felt they screwed the runners royally. The race was a beautiful course. If interested in running, find a friend who lives there and can offer you lodging. | |
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M. N. from Toledo, Ohio
(6/29/2005)
"great time at Grandma's" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was the second time that I have run Grandma's and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the race. The organization is first-class and the community envolvement is fantastic. The only thing that I could complain about would be the difficulty in finding accommodations. That is no small item but overall we had a great time and plan to return in the future. | |
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S. K. from Milwaukee
(6/28/2005)
"Consistently great. " (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Grandma's is without a doubt one of the most organized marathons a runner could ever encounter. I've seen 5K's that don't run as smoothly. Packet pick up is a breeze (you wait longer in line to purchase items at the expo then you do to get your packet), transportation to the start is a snap, and every aid station is staffed adequately. The marathon itself is a very good course. I would say it rolls more than advertised (but that's the case with just about every race I know), but the scenery is fantastic and there is plenty of crowd support... especially the last 5-6 miles when you really need it. Lemon Drop Hill is always a challenge but once you clear it you know you are in the home stretch (and nobody ever mentions the mile-long gradual downhill after it). The lake effect helps keep temperatures cool for a good part of the race and you can definitely feel it when you get close. Pros: 1) Fantastic organization. 2) Scenic course. 3) Friendly volunteers (they legitimately make you feel welcome). 4) Clifshots at mile 17 (one less to carry!) 5) Great post-race celebration 6) Much improved finisher shirts... the color was great to see. Cons (and very minor ones at that): 1) We stayed in the dorms but they can still get a little loud due to doors slamming. If you are a light sleeper you will probably be awoken by late arrivals. 2) Ultima. It needs to go! All in all it adds up to a fantastic marathon and its rep as being one of the best is richly deserved. |
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