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May 1, 2024

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 41 to 51]

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A. S. from Platteville, WI (9/22/2008) "Well Done, Fox Cities" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Cities Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For my second marathon, I could not have chosen a better venue. The course was great, the support staff was always around if a runner should have problems, and the fans were top-notch. I will be back to the Fox Cities Marathon in the future.
j. w. from Wisconsin, United States (9/21/2008) "Nice, fast course... problems at finish line" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Cities Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 The race itself was great: nice course (very fast), good crowd support, and I went sub-3 hours!! However, the directors decided to allow for the people who were walking the marathon to start 2 hours before the runners. The idea of this is nice, but as I was running miles 20-26, many of the walkers were blocking the course; some of them were lined up in groups six people-wide!!! As a runner who has trained for a sub-3-hour day, it was not fun dodging and maneuvering around the walking crowd during the last six miles. Many of them didn't even get out of the way when I yelled, "RUNNERS COMING UP!!" Needless to say, my day went well and I did get the sub-3-hour PR I had trained for all summer. In conclusion, great race, fast course, and a good Boston qualifier, but I would never run the race again if the walkers are continued to be allowed the early start!! Ps. The last 300 yards of the finishing chute were so congested with walkers that I literally had to fight through the crowd!!! That's not fun after running a 6:45 pace all day!!
M. K. from Fremont, Michigan (12/15/2007) "Good Midwestern Marathon" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Cities Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my sixth marathon start, fourth completion, and my first start with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Thanks to the early start opportunity, I went ahead and ran this race (thanks to the race staff for not kicking me out when I finished in less than six hours). What I was most impressed with was the crowd support for such a small marathon. The drink stops especially were inspiring. And I must give a special thanks to the medical staff at the finish who allowed me to get some prophylactic leg icing even while I was otherwise doing well. You guys are the best!
K. W. from Eau Claire, WI (11/19/2007) "Great first marathon" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Fox Cities Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For my first marathon, this course had everything I could ask for. There are fewer than 1000 people who ran the marathon, but you'd never know it. There are spectators everywhere for the entire race - very supportive. The start line was clearly marked, there were big signs at every mile, and there were water stops every mile or so. The course is quite flat. The weather was perfect for the day - not too warm, and some leaves were falling. All in all, it was a great course with great support, and I had a wonderful first-marathon experience.
j. t. from Melbourne, Australia (10/18/2007) "A nice run from start to finish" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Fox Cities Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I came to this marathon knowing nothing about the area and never been to Wisconsin before. I thought the race was a lovely one, with pretty scenery the whole way and good crowd support without the excesses you get at big city marathons. I did the marathon on very little training, having been injured and only just recovering in time, so I was delighted to run just over 4 hours. The good weather and plentiful aid stations helped me get through, as did the dressed up fairy with her 'magic water' and all the folk calling out my name. The only thing I didn't like, apart from them running out of free food before I finished, was the ugly black jacket we were handed at the finish. I thought last year's technical shirt was much nicer, and I'm afraid my jacket went straight to the rubbish bin. Since women pay the same entry fee as men I think organisers should come up with race clothing that suits and fits both sexes.
Bettie W. from Winter Park, FL (10/1/2007) "Well-planned and executed" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Cities Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a well-run event from beginning to end. I took the early start, and found that we were treated every bit as well as the "regular" starters. We were allowed inside before the start, the support on the course was excellent, and the finish was well-designed. This was a pleasure!
D. I. from Gainesville, FL (9/28/2007) "Great course, great support!" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A great marathon experience. The course support was great throughout, and I am a walker who finished in over 7 hours. Lots of aid stations, medical support, cheering and encouragement! The course was well marked, and there was traffic control throughout the entire event. I would definitely recommend this marathon to others. The crew even provided beautiful weather! Great experience!
T. W. from Central MN (9/25/2007) "One word: Organized!" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Cities Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first Fox Cities and it was a terrific experience. The expo was small. Packet pickup was easy and volunteers were very friendly, despite me picking up my bib in the last hour of the weekend. Motel rate was cheap. Late checkout on Sunday was a very nice touch. Shuttle bus to the start line was a piece of cake. Volunteers again very friendly at bag and tag drop-off point. Nice job of opening UW campus so we could wait inside even though the weather was beautiful. Sunny, no wind to start, and upper 50's. The course was gradually downhill to start and gradually uphill to finish. No real tough hills in my mind. If you live in the Dakotas or Florida, maybe you would think it is hilly, but this was a very easy course. Running through all of the towns that make up the Fox Cities is also a nice touch. It kind of felt like the first half of Boston as we ran through several of the downtowns on the route. Four gel pack stops is awesome! No need to carry any with me. Senior citizen volunteers handing out the first gel pack was inspiring! The crowds were pretty good for the first 15 miles but thinned out after that. It was pretty much up to the runner after that for inspiration. I would try to change miles 15-17, as it was a bit windy and you are out in the open. Great finishing area! Beautiful shaded park near the lake. Exciting finish line. Very well marked staging areas and great job of running shuttle buses back to our hotels! More water stops than I have ever seen! Most of the stops were very well organized. Later on, you need to make sure the volunteers holler out "water" or "Gatorade" to delirious runners. No need to complain about a lack of water. I understand logistically why they need all of the runners/walkers to end in one spot, but it is a bummer running around walkers (half and full) the final 10 miles. You are tired enough, but having to navigate around them can make you a bit cranky. To the walkers' credit, some of them were very supportive of me as I passed them. I cannot again stress enough how organized it was. Thanks to all of the volunteers! You made it a wonderful experience. Oh yeah, it was my 24th marathon and I PR'd!! It was fastest marathon in two and a half years (I run five a year). What a great feeling!!
L. S. from Wisconsin (9/25/2007) "2007 Relay" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 First time doing the relay here, and I would never do it again. I found race packet directions for a first-time team from out of town to be very confusing. It was not 'team' friendly at all for those of us trying to ride in a vehicle to each exchange. It was suggested that we ride a shuttle bus from the finish line to our exchange points. I was the 5th leg, and would have had to be by myself for over 4 hours waiting. No thank you. They ran out of medals before we reached the finish, as well as running out of food. I didn't need food, but the marathoners finishing behind us after the 5-hour mark deserved some. That's unacceptable in my book. The entertainment was breaking down along the course as well. Not cool.
K. C. from Milwaukee, WI (9/25/2007) "Great Race!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Fox Cities Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is the second time I have run Fox Cities and I must say I prefer the route this year to previous years. The weather was great, the organization was great, and 99 percent of the spectators were great. My only complaint is with some of the idiots driving in the area. Most of the intersections were patrolled by the local police and they did a great job! That being said, they could not be at every place there are cars. I saw two different instances were runners were almost hit by a car because the drivers were in too big of hurry to wait for runners to cross in front of them. Obviously this is something the race organizers can't do anything about. Another positive was the windbreaker you get as a finisher; I thought this was a nice change of pace compared with the normal t-shirt you get at a marathon. Overall, GREAT RACE, in a great area; I will run this again next year, but I just hope that the drivers in the area are a little more cautious next year.

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