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Apr 27, 2024

WhistleStop Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.1

Organization 4.7

Spectators 3.7

Number of comments: 77 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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Stephanie Bagniewski from Rochester, MN (4/15/2007) "This is an awesome run if you want to PR" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 WhistleStop Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is just a great race. Well organized, awesome course, and beautiful scenery. It is a pretty small race (under 1000 runners), and not well spectated. But there are places that people can spectate from if you want to bring family. It is just great!
Evelyn Scott from Hobart, Indiana (10/18/2006) "Wonderful first-time marathon experience!!" (about: 2006) 1 previous marathon \| 1 WhistleStop Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Beautiful course with packed limestone surface to run on - heaven for your joints!! Trail lined by birch trees with sunny yellow leaves and dark green pines for contrast. Run past log cabins, old red Wisconsin barns and streams. Weather is unpredictable, so pack for all circumstances. Our friends who ran it in 2003 ran in 75-degree weather; we ran it last weekend in the low 30's. I would recommend running this race with a buddy (or as our group did with five people) in order to give yourself some entertainment, because you're out there on your own!! There are only 400 runners, spread out over a long, straight, gorgeous trail. Had a blast. Was totally (pleasantly) surprised by the selection of clothes/shoes/products at the expo, for such a small race. Eat dinner at the hotel restaurant overlooking Lake Superior the night before - it's a treat. Spectators were few, but mighty! And the cookies, bananas, crackers and cheese they had available starting at the mile 13 water stop were fantastic!! Just what the doctor ordered. Overall, this was just perfect for my first marathon - fun, beautiful and low-key, so I didn't get nervous. If you prefer a quiet course with scenery and don't need fans to keep your feet moving, this is for you. It's completely flat - great place for beginners or to PR. Would do it again in a heartbeat (after my legs recover). :)
G. O. from St. Paul, MN (10/17/2006) "Great pr or boston qualifier" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 WhistleStop Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Excellent course for a pr or Boston qualifier. I just started running marathons 3 years ago at age 50 and my previous pr was 3:52. This year I ran 3:39! 1st time the starters had to pick up chip at the start line but it went very smoothly. Course is flat as a pancake and mostly all downhill. Over 20 miles on limestone gravel which was nice to run on. Loved the smell of pine trees along the route. I ran this 2 years ago and had to stop a couple times to get small rocks out of shoe so I wore short gaitors this year which worked beautifully. Water stops were staffed well and efficient with plenty of toilets if you needed one. Great finisher shirt, high quality cool max! Small crowds scattered along the way were very supportive and motivating. Overall, super friendly town and people. Will definitely run this one again.
J. M. from White Bear lake, MN (10/16/2006) "Great marathon!! Bad for a pavement runner." (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 WhistleStop Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This truly was a great marathon, but be warned that if you haven't trained on dirt roads or this type of course, then your legs will not make it. This was my second marathon this year and I trained hard to try to qualify for Boston with no problems with my legs. Halfway through my knees were killing me and I knew right away it was because the course was way too soft. I ran into others having the exact problem I was. I did finish the race with a 4:01 time. Thanks to all you runners and spectators that talked me into finishing the race.
K. M. from Wisconsin (6/7/2006) "disappointing" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 WhistleStop Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I was so excited to run my second marathon up in ashland after reading all the posts here. I was very disappointed. The organization was great. The course is beautiful, but there is no variation - NONE ! It was a tough mental race, spectators were great, it is just a small race and so there were not enough spectators to keep me pumped up - we did 4:25, better than my first, but mentally draining - good beer at the end, I will do the half next time
Bruce Sutor from Rochester, MN (5/30/2006) "Fun race for a first-timer" (about: 2005) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and it was a great experience. The sparse crowd was enthusiastic, and the volunteers and other runners were friendly and supportive. My wife did the 1/2 marathon and also had a good experience. The "packed limestone" wasn't very packed for most of the race (huge rains the week before), but it was clear the staff had worked hard to get the surface as best as it could be. Two suggestions; 1) Serve Gatorade, not that other stuff. 2) By the time many of the marathoners got in, the 1/2 marathoners had eaten most of the food - would have been a little nicer if it could have been put out in shifts.
Andrew Straka from Cleveland, OH (5/22/2006) "A great race and perfect course for a PR!" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 WhistleStop Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is the perfect course to qualify for Boston: a crushed limestone course almost entirely downhill in cool, fall weather. The northwoods scenery just adds to the splendor. The first mile is uphill, but the remainder of the race is flat or downhill on a forgiving trail. This race is becoming increasingly popular because the organizers are making it a destination race. I drove all the way from Cleveland to enjoy this experience even though our own Towpath Marathon is similar. The town really embraces this race and the finish in the middle of Ashland is exciting. (The PA announcer calls out the name and hometown of most finishers, a nice touch.) The attraction of this event is that it provides some of the big race amenities with the small town environment. I ignored the complaints about the lack of hot showers--most races don't have them, and who would go to a race because of shower facilities? I plan my racing schedule around Whistlestop because I believe it gives me the best chance to PR and improve my qualifying time for Boston.
Robert gustafson from Chattanooga, TN (10/19/2005) "Did not live up to expectations." (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 WhistleStop Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Needless to say, I was disappointed. I did not like the course. Hey, to each his own, I guess. I would describe the surface as loose 'chip and seal.' The scenery? If you like staring at gravel and covered in trees, I guess it's ok. When I run a marathon such as this, I anticipate seeing a little of nature or perhaps the lake. The only nature I saw was a dead dear's carcas. I would definitely not suggest to people that this is a PR course. I suspect I could have run around 3:15 (PR is 3:05). Taking into consideration I ran another marathon the week before. I was pacing a friend to qualify for Boston (3:45). I ended up running a 3:43 with little problems, but still - this is not a PR course - in my limited marathon experience (12, I think). As for organization - it was adequate. The only problem was there was considerable confusion on (or maybe a shortage of) race shirts. Volunteers were friendly enough - pasta dinner was a nice plus. Refreshments after the race were ok - although I score it less than average on food. Lots of junk food (i.e. donuts, cookies, etc.). Not much along the lines of fruits - other than some cut up bananas. Spectators were somewhat few and far between - but the ones that were there were supportive. Aid stations - adequate, although I don't particularly care for All Sport. I didn't even know they made that stuff anymore. Not complaining about this, though. I don't even drink sports drinks during marathons. I'm just glad I got this in to get my 'Wisconsin' state in for the 50. Overall experience: 2, maybe 2.5.
J. C. from Kalispell, MT (10/16/2005) "What a great experience in a scenic place!" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 WhistleStop Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 'Pleasantly surprised' is the best way to describe my reaction to this excellent event. I was cautiously optimistic about the race based on what I had read, and I wasn't disappointed in the least. If you are in the market for a smaller race but still want a well-organized event, consider Ashland next year. Some reasons: PR course - I shaved 15+ minutes off my previous 4:10 best. The gravel trails were much kinder on my knees and joints, too. Very flat and scenic. Good value - $50 was quite reasonable considering it included dinner on Friday, a long-sleeve Cool-Max type running shirt and a quality finisher's medallion. Great volunteers - aid stations seemed to be at just the right locations and well-staffed. The cheerful spectators were much appreciated. Saturday Marathon - If you work most Sunday's like I do and can't make it to 90% of all marathons, you'll appreciate this off-day marathon. My only minor complaint of the day was the shower facilities post-race: I only saw three showers in the men's locker room for every guy in the race (700-800 men?). Needless to say, most of us got cold showers. It might have been therapeutic, but it wasn't what most of us were hoping for after a long race! Maybe the organizers should not mention showers unless they can find a place better suited to handle a lot of people. Still, not a big deal. The temps were perfect for running, not that the race director could take credit for that; just to mention that fall in Northern WI tends to be cool, and in my opinion, ideal running weather. I'm told they have had rain in past year's races, but this year's skies were clear. If you do get a gem of a day like 2005, you'll find yourself thanking whatever deity you subscribe to, as you cruise among birches and poplars and along idyllic stretches of green fields framed by the luminescent red and yellow hues of autumn's colors. Thanks, Ashland, for hosting such a first-rate event. I plan on returning.
T. R. from Saint Paul, Minnesota (7/28/2005) "Simple, fast & beautiful" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 WhistleStop Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Fall temperatures, wide former railroad bed of crushed limestone, changing scenery, appreciative people... the antithesis of the urban marathon experience! We took a crew up last year and we're doing it again this year! Personally, I'm looking to PR by 15 minutes, and can't wait for my finisher t-shirt (technical material)! Affectionately, MN RED member from Saint Paul.

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