This was my second 50-mile race and it was no joke. The weather turned up unseasonably hot, with temperatures in the low 90s for much of the race; many of the ultra runners dropped out after the first of two 25-mile loops. Motivated by knocking another state off my 50+DC quest, I struggled through the second loop to finish.

The organizers go out of their way to provide special swag for those who register early and a distinctive medal for finishers, which is appreciated. The aid stations were well-stocked and well-staffed and the volunteers were awesome motivators (particular thanks are due to the young woman at Mile 38 who talked me out of DNFing).

The Michigan woods are lovely, but I wouldn't characterize the scenery or vistas as particularly distinctive. The trail itself is mostly single-track, has a lot of up-and-down and is often sandy (worth noting if all your training experience is on hard-packed trails). And don't forget your bug spray.

In terms of accommodations, many people camped near the start line. The nearest hotels/lodges are about 30-45 minutes from the course, in either Manistee or Cadillac.

This is a well-run smaller race for those who like a challenge and the dedicated trail runners among us. My recommendations (also emailed to the RD) would be to post a topo/elevation profile on the website, do a better job of publicizing how sandy the trail is in places and consider staggering the half-, full and ultramarathon starts differently to avoid congestion among runners on the trail. I know the race has grown significantly in recent years and my sense was that they would benefit from spacing runners a little better in future years if they're going to keep the field at its current size.

This is really a well put on race, i believe i paid $75 for my entry and recieved well more than that in value.

The good
Register early and get a free jacket, and shorts
The aid stations were well stocked
The food at the finish was awesome, only in these types of races do you get fed so well
The finisher medal was huge

The not so good...
Ran out of water at the second to last aid station.. with as much work as they put into this event i doubt it will ever happen again

This is a trail race. It has a lot of hills, about 2250' of both elevation ascent and descent per loop. It's a single track sand trail through the Manistee National Forest, with a lot of roots, but no rocks, mud, or stream crossings. The course is almost entirely tree covered so you are out of the direct sunlight. Good organization, 7 aid stations per loop, and they were well stocked. Great volunteers. Really only a couple of good spots for spectators though. It was a nice race, just too hot this year. The after race party is really great with a ton of food and drink including beer, hamburgers, chips, beans, pie, etc. Great swag for this race. The medal this year was about 7' in diameter and weighed about a pound, perhaps even too big for my taste, since it doesn't fit in with the rest of my medals, but it was 100% USA crafted so that's neat. Overall, this is a really nice race. Just know what you're getting into with the terrain.

This is a race with real potential. Some plusses and minuses.

Positive:
1. The course...this is the real draw. It's a varied and enjoyable track through the woods. Hills are challenging but do-able.

2. Aid stations...very enthusiastic and lots of varied treats (save one...see below). LOVED the blueberries!! Full of water and flavor.

Minuses: all relate to race organization.

1. Start the 50 milers and marathoners together. By having the 26.2 folks go first, we were steadily passed by the 50 milers who started 20 minutes after us. It was a full 10 miles before the field spaced out enough to have a normal trail run...over 2 hours. On the single track course, this detracted.

2. Long Lines at registration and post race food. No reason to wait 45-60 minutes to get a Tshirt at registration. The burger line after the race had over 80 people standing in it. I gave up and left. This is all fixable.

3. Emphasis on 'bling' over 'runner enjoyment'. Lots of focus on handouts, medals, early registration, food. The race would improve a lot by moving this focus to easing course congestion and...

4. No water at aid station. On the very hot day, which was 2012, I got to the last aid station, 2+ miles from the end and they had zero water. None. Inexcusable on a hot day. Truly detracted.

Attention to some organizational issues would move this from a good race to a great race. If the organizers would like further conversation, I would be happy to do so!

Wow! This was an amazing run. It was more of a battle with the ground. I tripped at least 12 times. This was my fourth trail marathon and it taught me not to look away from the ground.
I would like to note that the 1/2 marathoners should start 1 hour after the FULL marathoners. There were a couple instances when I was elbowed off the path while going downhill. FULL Marathoners have better etiquette than that. Passing is fine, but just please hold off on the steep downhill parts.
The aid stations were excellent and the volunteers were wonderful. I will do this again if the 1/2 Marathon is spaced out even longer, or they are taught some manners when running.
The post race refreshments and food were the best of any Marathon I have run. You can't beat 2 burgers and 2 beers. I love it! Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, and fellow runners who asked if I was OK when I fell those multiple times.

This has always been one of my favorite marathons but not so much in 2010. A few suggestions: Move the date back to September again (too hot in August), alleviate the crowded trail by dropping the half, sweep the course prior to the start, and forget the medals - the sweatshirts and gym bags were better awards for placing. I still love the course though.

The new organizers did a decent job for a first time running this race, but there were some issues. I ran the marathon and found some of the aid stations lacking - no GU at any when I went through, no lube at a couple. Most had an assortment of food and all had water and Gatorade, so it was basically OK. I had come to expect the level of performance of the former race organizers, so I did not carry my own GU or extra lube - mistake. The turns on the last mile of the course were kind of confusing. Food and drinks were running out when I finished so I wonder what they had left for the ultra people.

Anyway, it is a beautiful course. There are not a lot of spectators but they are all friendly. I hope they work out the kinks next time.

I ran the half marathon this year, and loved the trail, and thought the race was well-organized, but with one problem. First, the positives. The trail is beautiful, and for a first-timer on single track like me, challenging. There were plenty of aid stations, and the free beer and food at the finish line were great. Never did get the promised age-group award though.

Absolutely beautiful trail run - a 26-mile loop through the Manistee Forest. Easily navigable trails and well stocked aid stations approximately every 4 miles.

Highlights:
1. The trail - isn't that the main attraction?
2. Aid stations to assist runners evenly spread throughout the course.
3. Well organized and well marked course (with the exception of the first comment under "improvements" below).
4. Great group of volunteers during a long, warm day.

Improvements:
1. The very last turn off the "two track" road was incredibly difficult to find. After running 26 miles, I ended up running an additional mile or more after someone told me I was off course (I had followed some of the half marathoners and continued on the two track). Even after backtracking the turn was difficult to find (it didn't help that several cars were parked near the turn and blocked a clear view of the stakes).
2. Why not start the marathoners and 50-milers together? Very difficult to pass the 50M runners and I am sure they don't appreciate having to step aside so often.

Overall, terrific run on a beautiful course. Thanks to Chris and all of the volunteers for a really fun event.

This was my first marathon and it was a wonderful experience. The course is beautiful. There are a few hills to watch out for and the course is challenging. There are almost no spectators, which I liked, but if you want people to cheer you on, you may want to stick to road races. I would recommend this course.