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☰
Fox Cities Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Fox Cities Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 94 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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Shana Ss from Dane County, Wisconsin
(9/19/2011)
 "wonderful surprise - better than I'd even heard" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Fox Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I live in Wisconsin, heard this was a great race. I live only 2-ish hours away. My fifth marathon, and by FAR the best organized. Plentiful gatorade, water, gu, fruit, and portapotties very frequently. Spectators, volunteers and race organizers super-friendly! Showers offered post-race. Some beautiful houses to see, views along the lake too. Bands & DJs along the way. Will put this on my calendar for next year! | |
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Lucas Heart from Wausau, WI
(3/21/2011)
 "Better than many others." (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Fox Cities Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Lots of local people pan this race (the course layout is generally cited as the reason), but I can wholeheartedly recommend the Fox Cities Marathon. Expo: check. Nice t-shirt: check. Goody bag: by far the best bag I've ever received - there was a CD Toy Story read-along book, coupons, Kimberly Clark products, a nice bag and a stainless steel canteen water bottle. Course: winds through many residential areas, so not the best, but it wasn't a difficult course. The finish was a bear for me, but I PR'd by over 20 minutes, so who knows.... This was my 7th marathon. Post-race massage: great. Post race food: lots of it. I loved this run. I don't know how you fix the course, but frankly, everything else was super. | |
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L. M. from Chicago, IL
(11/27/2010)
"Great option for Midwest 26.2 & 13.1" (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Fox Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the half here in 2009 and came back for my first marathon in 2010. What an awesome race! Perfectly chilly weather at the start two years in a row (a better track record than the Chicago Marathon!), awesome support along the course, and VERY enthusiastic and supportive fans (though not as many as I would've liked). I planned to finish in over 6 hours, so I took advantage of the early start option for the marathon. There were some lonely spots near miles 16-19 that required mental toughness, but otherwise, I would highly recommend this race to anyone looking for something small and well-supported. | |
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R. B. from Marshfield,WI
(9/23/2010)
"My all-time favorite marathon!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Fox Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I fell in love with this marathon in 2005 when I walked it (5:28). I became a runner the next year and knew that I had to return to Fox Cities. For a smaller race, it is well organized and the crowd support is amazing. I have returned every year for either the full or half. The time passes quickly as you run through 7 cities. I think I was actually smiling the entire way. Weather was perfect this year. Only problem was that the expo/packet pick up was a bit disjointed compared to past years. I will continue to return. | |
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S. S. from Stoughton, WI
(9/20/2010)
"Great course for a first time marathoner." (about: 2010)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon so I wasn't sure what to expect. I loved the course and crowd support and appreciated that the race was so well organized. What a great idea to have our names on the bibs. Hearing my name from the crowd helped motivate me to keep on moving. I hope to do another Fox Cities Marathon in the future. | |
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LD Freeman from Milwaukee, WI
(11/1/2009)
 "Thanks to All of the Volunteers" (about: 2008)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon, so I don't have anything to compare it to. And I'm just an average runner, so I don't have any expert review of the course. But what I can say is the experience was great, especially for a first-time marathon runner. It's a small race, so if you're not running competitively (like me), you still feel comfortable. It was a well marked course. Plenty of water and food along the way. But the one thing I will always remember are the volunteers. Cheering you along every step of the way and encouraging you when you just want to quit! The only reason I gave it a four-star rating is I don't have anything to compare it or expectations (because like I said, this was my first). But I would highly recommend and run this course again. | |
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T. P. from Whitewater, WI
(10/8/2009)
"Run Event Without Equal" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the half-marathon here in preparation for my sixth marathon elsewhere. I must say that the event organizers for this Run Fest in the Fox Cities have done an awesome job! Whether it is your first time in a marathon or in any running event, you can't go wrong with this one! The elite level marathoners will also find this one challenging enough to make it all worthwhile! Its high ratings in running event surveys from across the country is well deserved. I am just so thrilled that the marathon event in my hometown is so well organized. | |
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T. C. from illinois
(9/23/2009)
"Great Event" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Fox Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I don't think I could have picked a better place to run my first marathon. Everywhere you went people offered you encouragement and did whatever they could to assist you. Many of the towns had themes as you ran through them, which helped to keep a smile on your face. There were plenty of water stations, and medical staff was always close by. A great experience. | |
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S. J. from Illinois
(9/22/2009)
"Great Small Race" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Fox Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race had the highest number of aid stations of any marathon or half that I have completed, including four stops in the last couple of miles. Fans are awesome. Lots of shade. GREAT race for spectators since there is so much spectator access to the course. Late hotel checkout is great, and access to start and finish is smooth. No lines at porta-potties pre-race; where else can you find that?? | |
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J. B. from Madison, WI
(9/21/2009)
 "It was alright." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Fox Cities Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 It was a pretty good race. Course: It was pretty flat and fast, but as pretty as the area is, there are some pretty boring parts of this race. Being in several small towns you ran through some completely asleep downtown areas, some nice riverside areas and a few neighborhoods but at other times there were stretches of boring roads and occasional strip malls. As far as the running surface goes, I remember much too much concrete. The roads, however, were wide. I started near the back and was able to easily pass from the beginning because of wide roads. It finishes in a park where I was able to jump into the river for a cold bath (something I consider a huge plus). Transportation from the start line to the finish line easy. Organization: They know what they are doing, can be contacted before the event, and have ample water on the course. On the downside, there is little parking at the start and I don't like being told to show up at 6:45 for an 8 a.m. start (sure for a big race but not for a marathon with 1,200 runners). There is a half that starts at 7 and closes down the roads. But they do open up the community college for a warm place to hang out. At the finish line there is no beer. No specially brewed micro-brew like at GB, no two free samples of Mich Ultra, no brat fest and beer tents like in Madison. To have a marathon in Wisconsin without beer just feels wrong. Spectators: There are some. Getting the various cheerleading squads out is fun. Having the marathon relay helps get the crowd there, but it is a small race, so don't expect big crowds. The water stops and relay stations were well maned, which translates to a group of people at least every mile. While this was a good race, I don't see it as a great race and am a little confused by its very high ratings. I find it utterly runnable and might do it again, but I wouldn't fly halfway across the country to run it. For Wisconsin runners (not living in greater Appleton), they don't tell you about morning packet pick-up, but it might still be available; they just don't encourage it. Had I known, I think I would have just driven up there that morning instead of booking a hotel room like I did. |
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