Marathon Details - Germany to France Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > IN > French Lick > Germany to France Marathon

French Lick West Baden Chamber of Commerce Germany to France Marathon & Mini Marathon

French Lick, IN USA

~~April 15, 2007~~ - CANCELLED

http://www.flwbcc.com/gm_index.asp

Results:

2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact

Name:	Teresa Richardson
Address:	P.O. Box 347 French Lick, IN 47462
Phone Number:	812-936-2405
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 3.4

Organization 4.2

Spectators 2.5

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Number of comments: 19 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

S. P. from SW Ohio (4/29/2006) "Friendly but challenging race" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Small race but those running the show were top-notch, and the whole group of runners was the friendliest that I have yet encountered. The expo was relocated with no notice, but the folks at the senior center pointed us in the right direction. We arrived about 20 minutes before the two-hour dinner was scheduled to be over and they were out of pasta already, so we had to go find a restaurant in the small town. The course was really rough between mile 14 and 17, as it was almost continually uphill. There were almost no spectators and the course really wasn't that scenic for someone who already lives in the country. There were several miles of running alone, so an active imagination or a radio are beneficial! The race seemed to be popular among the "50 States" crowd. I have no regrets with having done this race, but it isn't one I plan to do again.
J. K. from Madison, WI (4/28/2006) "Well run, pretty course." (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I did this race sort of on the spur of the moment. I had the training in, but I wasn't planning on this race. But I was driving home from Atlanta and it was on the way, so what the heck, why not tick Indiana off the list?? The race was well organized and overall a fun time. It is very small, and that can be a bonus if it's well done, and this was. My one concern was that I'd lose the course if I got too far from the closest other runner. That did not happen; I found the road markings easy to see and follow. Mile markers seemed accurate and I only missed seeing one. Two other runners that I heard of did go off course; all I can say is that I had no problem. There were no spectators to speak of, but volunteers were very friendly. It is a very scenic course and even the miles along the highway were pretty. At one point 2 horses ran next to me for a little bit - it was cool to hear their hooves thumping along with me. There was one long hill (1.75 miles?) around mile 14 but it wasn't too bad really. The bad hills were the shorter, steeper ones shortly thereafter. They really sapped my strength - especially the super steep decline that takes you back to flatter land to cruise back into French Lick. So, like I said, it was a pretty and well-run race. I wont do it again because it isn't a convenient location for me, but I would recommend it to others. They say next year that renovations will be done on the big resort hotel in French Lick and it'll be awesome - you'll have to tell me....
S. R. from Tennessee (4/26/2006) "Wonderful small marathon with a hill" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Wow, this was a tiny marathon with fewer than 70 preregistered runners, run through the grounds of a beautiful old hotel, a quaint town and lots of rolling farmlands. The organization was great, the swag nice (including a great embroidered cotton shirt), the fluid stations well stocked and the directors very personable. There has been a lot of talk about the "big hill" on this course. The hill starts at around mile 14 and change. The hill then raises about 200 feet over just shy of 2 miles, without wavering. At the mile 16 water stop, you get a brief break, then have a bunch of abrupt rolling hills that climb a total of about 100 feet more over the next mile. Following this, you quickly drop the entire distance in under a half-mile. All other hills on the course are small, barely noticeable by comparison. I run a lot of big hills around my home. This one did stack up well against the ones on the French Lick course. The French Lick hills were memorable, and could probably cut 5-10 minutes off your time, especially if you take 'em too hard. I did, and my legs were somewhat weak, especially after the down. The weather was a bit cooler this year than in past years, although it still did get warm by the end - mid-70s with bright sun out on open roads. There were very few spectators along the course. That was just fine by me. You would go up to two miles without seeing people, especially on the back roads. That gave me plenty of time for self-talk. Navigation on these long stretches was no problem since the course was well marked. If you want big crowds, bands, cheerleading squads, etc., this is not the run for you. I loved it. I got a 27-minute PR on this course. Hooray!
C. T. from upstate New York (4/24/2006) "If you like small marathons, do this one." (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I gave the course a four-star rating as the areas away from the main highway were beautiful - and even the highway had some scenic spots. I gave the organization a four-star rating as there appeared to be no glitches. Every aid station had volunteers through the progressive official cut-off time; and there were trophies even for the walker division. Great post-race meal. I gave the spectators a four-star rating because even though human spectators were absent, there were an abundance of butterflies, birds, and even a bald eagle.
M. H. from Highland Heights, KY (4/24/2006) "Teeny tiny marathon, average race" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 My general thoughts about this race are that I liked it, even though it is very, very small and a lot of it is run on the highway. We were lucky and got some shade for part of the race. It really was a gorgeous day, but the sun was in my face for a lot of it and that was tough. Of course, that has nothing to do with the race itself. The course is pretty nice in places. Lots of horses roaming and beautiful trees. I also had some butterflies lead my way for a bit at mile 18 or so. I didn't care for the dog that came out in the road showing his teeth, though. I found miles 15-18 tough. Mile 15 is uphill almost the whole way. Also, 16-17 are definitely rolling, and mile 18 was a big decline. There are virtually no spectators. I realize this is likely due to the size of the town. I was ok with this, for the most part. There is something to be said about smaller marathons sometimes. At the first mile, they ran out of water. After that, they had water and PowerAde approximately every 2 miles (after about 18 they had them more frequently). At a few of the the aid stations they also had fruit (oranges, yum) and other goodies. That was unexpected and great! I also did not see the first mile marker (which is easy to do, as they are marked on the road in paint). My suggestion is that since they put those "Warning - runners on the road" signs out, they should put them as close to the mile markers as possible. Otherwise, you are constantly looking at the ground, trying to find the markers. I think that it is a bit pricey for this marathon, as others have mentioned. If the pre-race meal was included I could see that. Also, the website needs improvement. It was hard to figure out where to stay, and it didn't give a good indication of what the course is actually like. Overall, I think this is an average (or just above) marathon, and pretty darn good for how small it is (I've done worse)! I would run it again. And I would recommend it if you like small, low-key races.
R. Z. from St. Louis, MO (4/27/2005) "Small race, GREAT organization" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Terrific planning for such an intimate event. One of the most sparsely attended marathons that I have ever run, yet they thought of everything - pre-race carbs, REALLY nice event t-shirts, LOTS of water stations and port-a-potties, fun goodie bags, mile-markers, (and although there were no spectators to speak of,) all the volunteers were so nice and encouraging! I loved this race, even though I had my slowest marathon time of all. I will tell all my running buddies to go to French Lick next year. Even though I try not to run repeats, they might even see me return next year! All I can say to the race organizers and volunteers is - Thank You and a big congratulations on a super event!
M. K. from Indianapolis area (4/21/2005) "Challenging course. Pretty scenery." (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 The course is tough. They say it is a 2 class. I have never run more than a 1, but this course is a whole lot tougher than typical Midwestern, fast, flat courses. There is a long steady climb, I think about 2 - 2 1/2 miles starting at about mile 14 on a highway. After that there are several quick updowns through 18 or 19. The last five or six are not so hilly. I don't know if they can (or should) make this marathon flatter. Given some of the hills of southern Indiana, they took it easy on us. I don't think the course is all that dangerous. You always have to be careful running. This is small race so everyone got pretty spread out. There is a lot of highway shoulder running. The race organizers put out signs to advise traffic of the race. The biggest downstroke of the highway portion is that the shoulder is banked. I don't like that more than I don't like hills. It was hot too. It was close to 80. Supposedly the previous year was even hotter. I suggest that moving the race up two weeks might lead to cooler conditions. Some of the station had tepid Gatorade and water. Yuck. Need to have the course marked better. I missed the last turn. It was marked with orange paint but delirious as I was and without anyone pointing me in the right direction I missed it. I also missed another turn at one point. How about uniform brightly colored signs? Maybe put a logo on the signs so they are easy to pick up. I think $50 is a little steep for this race. The organization gets a four mostly for how nice the people are. They probably would have given me the shirts off their backs if I had asked. There is a nice resort and grounds which can occupy a few hours for those who stay overnight. The spectators get three stars for the three fans I noticed. Also included are the volunteers who are very encouraging and nice at each water stop. If the timing works out out I would do this race again. Main reason I ran it this year was that the timing was good. It is a good spring marathon and if you like hills this is a good race. You're not likely to set a personal record though.
l. m. from algonquin, il (4/19/2005) "just a great time, warm and friendly marathon" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I loved this marathon. Ok, it was a bit hot, but can't blame the race for that, huh? If you are looking for a big crowd and lots of spectators, stay away, but if you just want to go out and run 26.2 lovely scenic miles, and feel like you know all of the volunteers and most of the participants, this is your race. The water stops were frequent, well run and terrific, with plenty of water and Gatorade, plus orange slices, grapes HOMEMADE cookies and brownies ~ every 5 or 6 miles to boot. The course was flat to rolling in the first half, and the second half had one BIG hill around mile 14, then nice, fun rolling stuff for quite awhile, downhill to flat last 3-4 miles. But then, I'm originally from PGH, PA, so I think hills are fun!! Some highway miles were a little boring, but the majority of the course was very pretty. Not a lot of shade though, so if it is hot (like this year), be prepared... No spectators to speak of, but by the end of the race, the volunteers were so great, I felt like my family had come out to watch. Good runner support for runners with problems too. The post race food was all homemade, and I got to meet almost all of the other runners, continuing that family feeling. Carrot cake was just yummy; I had two pieces. And the senior citizen spaghetti dinner, pre-race was well worth the $6, complete with lovely piano music supplied by the local senior talent! If you are looking for a fun, small, challenging but not killer, well run marathon, I can recommend this one with enthusiasm.
M. P. from Mount Prospect, Illinois (4/18/2005) "Scenic, challenging and HOT!" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 First time running this race. The race crew and volunteers are the nicest people in the world. Be nice to them since there isn't much crowd support, which was okay (hence the 3 stars). If there was someone sitting on a lawn chair cheering, I would have given them 5. The town reminds me of Petticoat Junction. The course is challenging, no shade mostly flat highway until mile 14 where it gradually goes up for a mile. Rolling hills through mile 18. Temps were in the 80's which makes it difficult when you train in the colder climates. It was hard for me to get acclimated to the heat this fast. Ice at all of the later waterstops would be my recommendation. I had my own issues (allergy and asthsma related) so my running time was really slow. The volunteers were great. The support truck stayed with me for the next several miles. The Senior Citizens put on one heck of a spaghetti dinner Saturday night. Going to recommend to my running club to put this marathon on the bus trip list for next year. I also liked the train horn sounding at the start of the race. That was awesome! Looking forward to next year's race!
M. R. from San Antonio, Texas, USA (4/18/2005) "Never again" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 The scenery was beautiful but I don't think the course was marked well enough, too much over-lapping and confusion. I'm active duty military and I chose to walk the marathon with a friend and we carried 35 pound back packs. After about 4 1/2 hours all the water points were shut down and the organizers took off before we both finished leaving us feeling dehydrated, abandoned, and angry. No one was there at the finish and no finish line was visible so we kept walking... back to the parking lot.

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S. P. from SW Ohio (4/29/2006) "Friendly but challenging race" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Small race but those running the show were top-notch, and the whole group of runners was the friendliest that I have yet encountered. The expo was relocated with no notice, but the folks at the senior center pointed us in the right direction. We arrived about 20 minutes before the two-hour dinner was scheduled to be over and they were out of pasta already, so we had to go find a restaurant in the small town. The course was really rough between mile 14 and 17, as it was almost continually uphill. There were almost no spectators and the course really wasn't that scenic for someone who already lives in the country. There were several miles of running alone, so an active imagination or a radio are beneficial! The race seemed to be popular among the "50 States" crowd. I have no regrets with having done this race, but it isn't one I plan to do again.
J. K. from Madison, WI (4/28/2006) "Well run, pretty course." (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I did this race sort of on the spur of the moment. I had the training in, but I wasn't planning on this race. But I was driving home from Atlanta and it was on the way, so what the heck, why not tick Indiana off the list?? The race was well organized and overall a fun time. It is very small, and that can be a bonus if it's well done, and this was. My one concern was that I'd lose the course if I got too far from the closest other runner. That did not happen; I found the road markings easy to see and follow. Mile markers seemed accurate and I only missed seeing one. Two other runners that I heard of did go off course; all I can say is that I had no problem. There were no spectators to speak of, but volunteers were very friendly. It is a very scenic course and even the miles along the highway were pretty. At one point 2 horses ran next to me for a little bit - it was cool to hear their hooves thumping along with me. There was one long hill (1.75 miles?) around mile 14 but it wasn't too bad really. The bad hills were the shorter, steeper ones shortly thereafter. They really sapped my strength - especially the super steep decline that takes you back to flatter land to cruise back into French Lick. So, like I said, it was a pretty and well-run race. I wont do it again because it isn't a convenient location for me, but I would recommend it to others. They say next year that renovations will be done on the big resort hotel in French Lick and it'll be awesome - you'll have to tell me....
S. R. from Tennessee (4/26/2006) "Wonderful small marathon with a hill" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Wow, this was a tiny marathon with fewer than 70 preregistered runners, run through the grounds of a beautiful old hotel, a quaint town and lots of rolling farmlands. The organization was great, the swag nice (including a great embroidered cotton shirt), the fluid stations well stocked and the directors very personable. There has been a lot of talk about the "big hill" on this course. The hill starts at around mile 14 and change. The hill then raises about 200 feet over just shy of 2 miles, without wavering. At the mile 16 water stop, you get a brief break, then have a bunch of abrupt rolling hills that climb a total of about 100 feet more over the next mile. Following this, you quickly drop the entire distance in under a half-mile. All other hills on the course are small, barely noticeable by comparison. I run a lot of big hills around my home. This one did stack up well against the ones on the French Lick course. The French Lick hills were memorable, and could probably cut 5-10 minutes off your time, especially if you take 'em too hard. I did, and my legs were somewhat weak, especially after the down. The weather was a bit cooler this year than in past years, although it still did get warm by the end - mid-70s with bright sun out on open roads. There were very few spectators along the course. That was just fine by me. You would go up to two miles without seeing people, especially on the back roads. That gave me plenty of time for self-talk. Navigation on these long stretches was no problem since the course was well marked. If you want big crowds, bands, cheerleading squads, etc., this is not the run for you. I loved it. I got a 27-minute PR on this course. Hooray!
C. T. from upstate New York (4/24/2006) "If you like small marathons, do this one." (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I gave the course a four-star rating as the areas away from the main highway were beautiful - and even the highway had some scenic spots. I gave the organization a four-star rating as there appeared to be no glitches. Every aid station had volunteers through the progressive official cut-off time; and there were trophies even for the walker division. Great post-race meal. I gave the spectators a four-star rating because even though human spectators were absent, there were an abundance of butterflies, birds, and even a bald eagle.
M. H. from Highland Heights, KY (4/24/2006) "Teeny tiny marathon, average race" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 My general thoughts about this race are that I liked it, even though it is very, very small and a lot of it is run on the highway. We were lucky and got some shade for part of the race. It really was a gorgeous day, but the sun was in my face for a lot of it and that was tough. Of course, that has nothing to do with the race itself. The course is pretty nice in places. Lots of horses roaming and beautiful trees. I also had some butterflies lead my way for a bit at mile 18 or so. I didn't care for the dog that came out in the road showing his teeth, though. I found miles 15-18 tough. Mile 15 is uphill almost the whole way. Also, 16-17 are definitely rolling, and mile 18 was a big decline. There are virtually no spectators. I realize this is likely due to the size of the town. I was ok with this, for the most part. There is something to be said about smaller marathons sometimes. At the first mile, they ran out of water. After that, they had water and PowerAde approximately every 2 miles (after about 18 they had them more frequently). At a few of the the aid stations they also had fruit (oranges, yum) and other goodies. That was unexpected and great! I also did not see the first mile marker (which is easy to do, as they are marked on the road in paint). My suggestion is that since they put those "Warning - runners on the road" signs out, they should put them as close to the mile markers as possible. Otherwise, you are constantly looking at the ground, trying to find the markers. I think that it is a bit pricey for this marathon, as others have mentioned. If the pre-race meal was included I could see that. Also, the website needs improvement. It was hard to figure out where to stay, and it didn't give a good indication of what the course is actually like. Overall, I think this is an average (or just above) marathon, and pretty darn good for how small it is (I've done worse)! I would run it again. And I would recommend it if you like small, low-key races.
R. Z. from St. Louis, MO (4/27/2005) "Small race, GREAT organization" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Terrific planning for such an intimate event. One of the most sparsely attended marathons that I have ever run, yet they thought of everything - pre-race carbs, REALLY nice event t-shirts, LOTS of water stations and port-a-potties, fun goodie bags, mile-markers, (and although there were no spectators to speak of,) all the volunteers were so nice and encouraging! I loved this race, even though I had my slowest marathon time of all. I will tell all my running buddies to go to French Lick next year. Even though I try not to run repeats, they might even see me return next year! All I can say to the race organizers and volunteers is - Thank You and a big congratulations on a super event!
M. K. from Indianapolis area (4/21/2005) "Challenging course. Pretty scenery." (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 The course is tough. They say it is a 2 class. I have never run more than a 1, but this course is a whole lot tougher than typical Midwestern, fast, flat courses. There is a long steady climb, I think about 2 - 2 1/2 miles starting at about mile 14 on a highway. After that there are several quick updowns through 18 or 19. The last five or six are not so hilly. I don't know if they can (or should) make this marathon flatter. Given some of the hills of southern Indiana, they took it easy on us. I don't think the course is all that dangerous. You always have to be careful running. This is small race so everyone got pretty spread out. There is a lot of highway shoulder running. The race organizers put out signs to advise traffic of the race. The biggest downstroke of the highway portion is that the shoulder is banked. I don't like that more than I don't like hills. It was hot too. It was close to 80. Supposedly the previous year was even hotter. I suggest that moving the race up two weeks might lead to cooler conditions. Some of the station had tepid Gatorade and water. Yuck. Need to have the course marked better. I missed the last turn. It was marked with orange paint but delirious as I was and without anyone pointing me in the right direction I missed it. I also missed another turn at one point. How about uniform brightly colored signs? Maybe put a logo on the signs so they are easy to pick up. I think $50 is a little steep for this race. The organization gets a four mostly for how nice the people are. They probably would have given me the shirts off their backs if I had asked. There is a nice resort and grounds which can occupy a few hours for those who stay overnight. The spectators get three stars for the three fans I noticed. Also included are the volunteers who are very encouraging and nice at each water stop. If the timing works out out I would do this race again. Main reason I ran it this year was that the timing was good. It is a good spring marathon and if you like hills this is a good race. You're not likely to set a personal record though.
l. m. from algonquin, il (4/19/2005) "just a great time, warm and friendly marathon" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I loved this marathon. Ok, it was a bit hot, but can't blame the race for that, huh? If you are looking for a big crowd and lots of spectators, stay away, but if you just want to go out and run 26.2 lovely scenic miles, and feel like you know all of the volunteers and most of the participants, this is your race. The water stops were frequent, well run and terrific, with plenty of water and Gatorade, plus orange slices, grapes HOMEMADE cookies and brownies ~ every 5 or 6 miles to boot. The course was flat to rolling in the first half, and the second half had one BIG hill around mile 14, then nice, fun rolling stuff for quite awhile, downhill to flat last 3-4 miles. But then, I'm originally from PGH, PA, so I think hills are fun!! Some highway miles were a little boring, but the majority of the course was very pretty. Not a lot of shade though, so if it is hot (like this year), be prepared... No spectators to speak of, but by the end of the race, the volunteers were so great, I felt like my family had come out to watch. Good runner support for runners with problems too. The post race food was all homemade, and I got to meet almost all of the other runners, continuing that family feeling. Carrot cake was just yummy; I had two pieces. And the senior citizen spaghetti dinner, pre-race was well worth the $6, complete with lovely piano music supplied by the local senior talent! If you are looking for a fun, small, challenging but not killer, well run marathon, I can recommend this one with enthusiasm.
M. P. from Mount Prospect, Illinois (4/18/2005) "Scenic, challenging and HOT!" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 First time running this race. The race crew and volunteers are the nicest people in the world. Be nice to them since there isn't much crowd support, which was okay (hence the 3 stars). If there was someone sitting on a lawn chair cheering, I would have given them 5. The town reminds me of Petticoat Junction. The course is challenging, no shade mostly flat highway until mile 14 where it gradually goes up for a mile. Rolling hills through mile 18. Temps were in the 80's which makes it difficult when you train in the colder climates. It was hard for me to get acclimated to the heat this fast. Ice at all of the later waterstops would be my recommendation. I had my own issues (allergy and asthsma related) so my running time was really slow. The volunteers were great. The support truck stayed with me for the next several miles. The Senior Citizens put on one heck of a spaghetti dinner Saturday night. Going to recommend to my running club to put this marathon on the bus trip list for next year. I also liked the train horn sounding at the start of the race. That was awesome! Looking forward to next year's race!
M. R. from San Antonio, Texas, USA (4/18/2005) "Never again" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Germany to France Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 The scenery was beautiful but I don't think the course was marked well enough, too much over-lapping and confusion. I'm active duty military and I chose to walk the marathon with a friend and we carried 35 pound back packs. After about 4 1/2 hours all the water points were shut down and the organizers took off before we both finished leaving us feeling dehydrated, abandoned, and angry. No one was there at the finish and no finish line was visible so we kept walking... back to the parking lot.

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Marathon Details - Germany to France Marathon