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Apr 28, 2024

Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA) Runner Comments

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Course 4.5

Organization 4.6

Spectators 4.2

Number of comments: 62 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

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M. S. from Minneapolis, MN (8/11/2008) "You gotta love the Paavo" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA)s COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This year was the 40th running of the Paavo Nurmi Marathon. Hurley put on a great show. The pasta dinner was delicious. The torch-lighting ceremony was inspiring. The course was scenic, through rural northern Wisconsin. It was hilly. Don't expect a PR. Just expect great fun.
Dotty Maddock from Phoenix, AZ (8/10/2008) "Not Especially Memorable" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA) COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my 41st marathon, and first Paavo Nurmi. Things to like about this race: check off Wisconsin in your 50 states marathon journey, easy parking/bus to the start, sponges and ICE at the water stations, the firemen with hoses at several points on the course, some cloud cover this year for a good part of the race, and post-race showers available at the K-12 school nearby. Things to be aware of: the Days Inn (sponsor hotel) allows NO late checkouts and is pretty expensive for being in the middle of "nowhere" ($119 plus taxes); you get your ankle (Velcro) timing chip at the starting location, the course is mostly tree-lined on two-lane roads that are not closed to traffic (expect 26.2 miles of the same thing while dodging traffic); you get a 2'x3' "coupon" at the finish line that must be taken to the Chamber of Commerce to exchange for a finisher's medal and shirt (kind of awkward); the closest airport that I could find is Duluth, which is a 2-hour-and-15-minute drive away from Hurley. Suggestions for improvement: start the race at 6:00 or 6:30 (to help with the heat and lack of late hotel checkout), give the finisher's medal at the finish line, and have the volunteers at the finish help to take the ankle timing chips off (versus a "do-it-yourself" process for the runners to bend down and do this). Overall, this isn't a bad race, but I have no desire to do it again. There are just so many races (small and large) that don't have these drawbacks (travel logistics, no late checkout, anti-climatic "coupon" at the finish, boring course, etc.).
K. P. from Ironwood, Mi and Duluth, Mn. (11/16/2007) "You'll feel like a local running in this community" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Paavo was my first marathon relay race and my first full marathon (2007) and the best thing about the Paavo is that you don't have to be a marathoner to run it. I started with a 5-man relay, and it was great because everyone on my team liked to run but didn't want to do a whole marathon or even half a marathon. We were good with the 5-mile sections of the relay and it worked great for us. And most people I talked to who were from out of the area had been coming to the Paavo for years and a lot tried to bring people with them who had never done it before. The volunteers who work the race are awesome - esp. the water stand at mile 18 has some great homemade treats! And everyone is just so encouraging, it's like a parade; people from all the small towns along the way set up chairs on their lawns along the course to cheer you on, and they stay there till the last person goes to by and they are there year after year encouraging hundreds of strangers they've never met, but it doesn't matter 'cause when you are running the Paavo, you are one of us.
Lindi Kopecko from Shoreview, MN (9/11/2007) "Great race, awesome community" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second Paavo and 7th marathon, and it is my favorite marathon of all. You are not crowded on the run and you run through beautiful country. The spectators and aid people are wonderful! I am a Bessemer native, and love coming back to the area to run this race.
D. S. from Columbus, Ohio (8/27/2007) "Great Race" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I plan my vacation around this race every year. It has become my favorite race of all time. The volunteers and community do a great job. My only suggestion is to have a few port-o-potties away from the relay points of the race as there is always a long line of relay runners using the toilets.
T. B. from Eagan, MN (8/19/2007) "Challenging course but outstanding spectators" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my 10th marathon and my first Paavo. I chose to run a marathon about every 8 weeks this years and Paavo filled out the August date. I was warned about the hills, so they were expected and I assumed it would be hot, and it was. But what really impressed me was the participation of the community, the terrific events - the torch lighting was very cool. I was greeted by name along the way, both by spectators and by water station volunteers, as the participant list is printed in the local newspaper and included in our race packets. It created a unique and very interactive event for me. I did well despite the heat and hills and experienced a division award for the first time, so the post-race event became very personal for me, but would have been enjoyable regardless. Next year my wife would like to participate in the two-person relay, which allows me to run the full as both a marathon and relay participant and for her, a half marathon. We look forward to next year and expect another wonderful experience despite those hills and the potential for heat.
A. K. from Naperville, IL (8/19/2007) "A perfectly organized small race" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race was just as perfectly organized as the previous year - in my opinion better than the huge event in Chicago. All the volunteers were extremely friendly. Clearly it was hot, but that is not the race organizers' fault. I will definitely be back. Before the race we visited Apostle Islands, one of the most beautiful placed in the Midwest, and less than two hours' drive from Hurley.
K. C. from Milwaukee, WI (8/18/2007) "Great Race, Bad Day." (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my 7th marathon, and my worst to date. I felt horrible from the beginning and the heat didn't help. I ran 5 1/2 hours and ended up in the hospital to get fluids. That being said, I'll be back to run this race again. I can't say enough about the people involved with the race (especially those at the nurse's station), and the people of Hurley and surrounding areas (especially the health care staff at the hospital in Bessemer). If you expect this race to be Chicago, you will be greatly disappointed. However, if you make a trip to the north woods, expecting a nice weekend running through nice little towns, with a bunch of nice people, you will be extremely satisfied. In addition, the scenery in the area is amazing. As for the aid stations, I thought they were all well staffed and well supplied. Perhaps a few more in the first 18 miles would be nice, but there are only so many people in Hurley to man stations. I have run marathons with far fewer aid stations. Basically, if you are looking to run in a beautiful area in a race run and supported by some genuinely nice people this race is for you.
T. C. from Eagle, Wisconsin (8/17/2007) "Warm Day" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my 5th Paavo Nurmi and the hot weather made it very difficult, compared to past years. I did not see much of a difference in terms of the organization of the race. More aid stations with water and Gatorade would have been good, but I also understand the logistics involved in planning such an event. I have run in each of the marathons in Wisconsin and Paavo Nurmi remains one of the better ones. The course is quite challenging. The only real difference that I saw in the 2007 Paavo Nurmi was the heat and there is obviously no way to control that.
C. S. from Minnesota (8/16/2007) "MY FAVORITE MARATHON" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 3 Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd running of the Paavo. It was my first ever marathon 3 years ago. I love the course; I love the volunteers and think they do an excellent job; and the spectators are awesome too - they make the marathon worth running. Ricky rocks!! I disagree with the comment made about the slow runners and there not being enough Gatorade or ice. It took me almost 5 hours this year and all aid stations were very well stocked and I didn't see anyone taking down mile markers of any type. In fact I was on Silver Street when the last person came through at over 6 hours and the clock was still running and there were people at the finish line. I will continue to run this race. I LOVE IT.

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