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☰
Lakefront Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Lakefront Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 172 [displaying comments 61 to 71]
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Richfield Runner from Colgate, Wisconsin
(10/6/2009)
 "Excellent organization, fun event" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Lakefront Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon, and I was impressed with every phase of the event, from the website to pre-race communication, to race-day preparation for runners. The course was fun and relatively flat, the aid stations were overrun with volunteers, race marshals were everywhere, and race splits called out at each mile with a projected finish time. I will be back next year. | |
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R. C. from Wisconsin
(10/6/2009)
 "Fantastic race on a fast and scenic course" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Lakefront Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Badgerland Striders put on a first-class race that shouldn't be missed. It has a smaller feel, but with all of the big-race amenities. The course is slightly rolling and scenic, with a downhill to the lakefront where we were greeted by a tough headwind the last three miles to the finish. There were plenty of aid stations throughout the course, and lots of volunteers too. Crowds are on the smaller side, but they were very enthusiastic. This is a great PR and BQ course, where I took more than nine minutes off of my very first marathon (Flying Pig) time to clock a 3:17:35. | |
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T. M. from Chicago
(10/4/2009)
"great race" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Lakefront Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run Milwaukee four times and really like it. Good course, nice downhill at 23 miles, and a good crowd cheering. In 2005, I was able to use this race as my way to qualify for Boston. | |
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roy pIrRUNg from Sheboygan, WI
(5/11/2009)
"This is a race by runners for runners. 'Nuff said." (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Lakefront Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the first edition and have returned more than 20 times. With all of the marathon races out there, I could go elsewhere, but when there is a great course, great people helping and cheering, I choose to return often. Two years ago, when it was very hot, families came out of their homes with bottled water and offered them to us, although there was plenty on hand at the aid stations. When a race is put on by runners for runners, all of the things they expect from a race are the things you find in the race. There is no cause that you have to run for; just let yourself go and have a great race. | |
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M. M. from Indiana, USA
(4/21/2009)
"Great organization of race, wonderful people" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Lakefront Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Even though I ended up having a not-great race time (very hot that day!), this was my favorite marathon. The race organization and communication was great, the course was nice, and everyone involved was friendly and supportive. The other runners were friendly and fun to run with during the race. The bibs of first-time marathoners are labeled and it was nice to see so many people being extra supportive of the new runners. For the size of the race, there were a surprising number of spectators on the course, and when running through the residential areas, many homes had their hoses on for runners to cool down or grab a drink, which was great in the hot weather. Despite the heat, the aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were wonderful! | |
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J. B. from Chicago, Illinois
(4/6/2009)
"Great overall race! A nice change from Chicago." (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Lakefront Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 After running Chicago 3 times and Disney once, I was looking for a well organized, smaller marathon. I definitely found what I was looking for in Milwaukee. While Chicago has 10-deep crowd support, it also has so many runners that you are more focused on avoiding tripping over someone than on running a PR. This was more like a training run on a flat, fairly scenic course. You run on a combination of country roads, city streets and a lakefront path through many beautiful neighborhoods and parks before reaching sight of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. Not one complaint. I will be running Milwaukee for the second time in 2009, shooting for another PR. | |
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J. S. from Northern Illinois
(10/24/2008)
"A Great Smaller-Scale Race" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lakefront Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As you can tell from the previous comments, this is a great race. No race is better organized and has better volunteer support. While some might argue that the course is scenic or not (that depends on your sense of aesthetics and point of view), I thought it was a pretty good-looking course. But that is not really an important point for me, so I may not be the best judge. Either way it is a good serious marathoner's course. Not hilly, but not completely flat either - pretty continual inclines/declines (no big West Coast-style hills here and probably seems flat, if you come from a hilly/mountainous area), but for a flat-lander from Chicago like me, I felt the effects of the inclines and declines before mile 20 as did my running peers from Illinois. If you have prepared well in your marathon training, it is a PR kind of course. There are many reasons to run this race, but the main virtues from my perspective are: * Organization and volunteers - well stocked and frequent aid stations with Hammer Gel (my favorite!). Hats off to the volunteers who did an outstanding job. * Point-to-point course with neither flat nor hilly terrain through countryside, nice "leafy" (as the NY Times likes to call them) suburbs and cityscape. * Availability of the high school to wait in provided nice comfort (i.e., don't have to freeze your butt off waiting outside in the cold for the race to start). * Good-size field - you're never running alone (unless, perhaps you're a sub-3-hour type) and never too crowded to run your race. * Laid-back friendly people and town. * PR course. From a Chicago vs. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon point of view (I have run Chicago 3 times), my preference is Milwaukee because I find Chicago to be an annoying logistical challenge with waaaaaaaaaaay too many people (the number of runners and spectators spilling out on the course) from a runner's standpoint, since my objective in running a marathon at this point is to either PR or BQ (I was able to BQ at this year's Milwaukee). However, if you have never run Chicago, New York or Boston, Chicago (or one of the other races) is a great race to experience at least once with all of the crowds cheering you on throughout the race - especially for some new or relatively new to running a marathon. But if you have experienced that, or don't find you need or want to be running through the masses, I think you will find, as I have, that Milwaukee is the better race for you. One soap box point: All of you runners who refuse to use porta-potties and pee on people's property need to STOP IT! Your race time is not so important that it gives you the right to urinate on someone's property. I am pretty sure you would not like them to come to your house and pee on it. We don't need to turn the residents of the communities we run in against us because, like it or not, we marathoners are inconveniencing them anyway by running on their town's thoroughfares. We don't need to risk turning residents of the communities we race in against us by behaving rudely. We risk losing these great events. Peace. | |
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P. W. from East Peoria, IL
(10/23/2008)
 "Not bad to do once...." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Lakefront Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 There were good things about the marathon, and there were bad things. First, the best thing is the shirt. You get a long-sleeve, tech shirt by Race Ready. Best shirt I've gotten at any marathon (tied with Disney, worst is Nashville). The water stops were well manned, and there were sufficient numbers of them as well as portable bathrooms. The crowds were sparse, yet those who were there were very supportive and energetic despite the cold. The course isn't the best I've run; kinda hilly and bland at parts, yet other parts are very scenic and the last 8 to 10 miles are the best part. One huge drawback is the medal. It has to be the WORST medal ever. It has four holes in it, and is hung by one. Why four? Also it is not square; it looks like someone cut it with scissors. And the writing isn't even close to straight. The medal we get for our local 15K Steamboat Classic is better by far. This is the worst marathon medal in quality that I've seen, by far. Food was good at finish and bus transportation was good. If you are like me and love to display your medals, this isn't your race. If you want a nice shirt, you can't pick a better one. | |
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Robert ROSS from NW Pennsylvania
(10/17/2008)
"I LOVED MILWAUKEE!!!!!!!!!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lakefront Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a well-organized and awesome marathon experience!!! Lots of fluid stops, amazing volunteers and all those friendly Midwestern Wisconsinites who cheered you on by name for 26.2 miles. And as soon as you crossed the finish line, you had a blanket draped over you and a bottle of water in your hand. And of course, there was FREE BEER FOR EVERYONE at the finish line; my buddy drove down from Chicago to see me finish, and he just may make this an annual deal just for the beer (whether I run it again or not - which I will one day!!!!!!!!!!). | |
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J. s. from Chicago, IL
(10/13/2008)
"A Great Race" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Lakefront Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is one of the best marathons I have run. My wife ran this 2 years ago and we were impressed then, and it was better this year. The course is great, mostly downhill, but it has some nice rolls to keep you interested. The volunteers/water stops are well manned and stocked. Organizers seem to follow through on the little details to ensure the runners feel welcome. I could go on and on about this race, but if you are considering running, 3 things that seemed great to me: 1. Improved course maps for spectators to print (this shows that the race directors listened to comments) 2. Arrangements with local hotels (Hyatt) to have a 2 p.m. checkout for runners. This is just nice planning. 3. As always, a great long-sleeve Cool Max shirt. This is the petty side, but we all love a good shirt. Run this race! |
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