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Apr 28, 2024

Run4Troops Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Run4Troops Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.8

Organization 4.7

Spectators 3.8

Number of comments: 20 [displaying comments 11 to 20]

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R. V. from So.California (6/28/2015) "Well done!" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Thanks for putting on a great run. Super easy packet pick up. They also offer the ability to pick up on race morning. Great transportation to the start, nice to be able to sit on the bus (not a school bus) and keep warm and comfortable. The Hilton was an excellent choice. I appreciated the transportation back to the hotel, late check out option and it was great that they had snacks and water waiting in the lobby on return. Beautiful trail - green, mostly shady, and scenic. The surface is hard packed dirt/ crushed limestone. I personally prefer some small hills along the way (only reason for the 4 on the course) Great volunteers - thanks for the support and encouragement along the way. And thanks for the great Iowa hospitality. You will need to be fairly self sufficient between aid stations. Definitely bring your fuel belt and refill along the way. You will also want to be prepared to fuel up along the way.
G. P. from Sun Prairie, WI (7/21/2014) "Superb Experience !!!" (about: 2014) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Run 4 Troops race was a very pleasant, relaxing adventure and the Heritage Trail course surprisingly combines scenery from across the country. We started with a Kansas freight train rolling by, proceeded through a stretch of Iowa corn fields, encountered California mountain streams, rock formations from the South Carolina up country, forests reminiscent of Marine Corps training in Virginia, cattle from the Texas hill country, and Wisconsin deer grazing in the meadows. It is a small scale event where you can meet and talk with people at the start and then catch up with them after the run, making it a nice change from the larger races. If you are not worried about time, you can stop to read some of the historical signs, admire an 1872 replica railroad bridge, and also see the long ago railroad mileage markers noting the distance to Chicago from each point. Well organized, efficiently managed, smooth surface, water / gel stations along the way, and an inspirational cause as well. When your legs are questioning your judgment in the 20+ mile range, my first thought was the young Marine we met at the start who lost both in Afghanistan. Semper Fidelis !!! To paraphrase Field of Dreams, it is already built. You should come to Iowa.
M. H. from Cincinnati, OH (7/7/2014) "Nice smaller race, harder than you might expect" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I enjoyed this race as something a little different from a typical city marathon. The trail is lovely, very shady and scenic. While it is quite flat, the limestone surface provides an added level of difficultly if your training is mostly on hard roads. Because the aid stations are at the relay exchange points, you need to carry your own water if you want it more often. They did have jeeps going back and forth along the trail to hand out water and Gatorade, also, so some might be ok without carrying their own but I wouldn't risk it. My main critique is related to those jeepsI think they needed to slow down a bit, because it was quite unnerving to have to keep getting out of their way as they went zooming by, especially later in the race. The trail is not quite wide enough for that! My other issue is that the medal, modeled on a military dog tag, is rather small and less impressive than we are used to getting at most marathons. I don't mind so much but it would be nice if it at least had the year on it. Otherwise it is a very well-organized and friendly little race. And the cause of supporting military families is certainly something that all patriots should endorse!
B. C. from Taylorville, IL (3/30/2014) "Good race overall, but still room for improvement" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Course: I never thought I would see the day that I could use flat and fast to describe a trail race, but with this race it definitely applied. Only a couple of spots on the course could one notice that they were going uphill. Organization: Packet pick-up and buses to the start were a smooth process. Would have been nice for the runners checking in on Friday to be able to pick up their timing chip then. Also, would have been nice to have a timing system that does not require touching the chip to the box. Only other organization complaint was that it felt in many aspects of the race that the marathon was playing second fiddle to the relay (like splits and water stops only being at relay exchange points). Fans: As with most trail races, fan support was limited, but where there were fans, they did a great job of supporting the runners.
R. D. from Seattle,WA (6/25/2013) "This is what marathoning is all about" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race made me proud to be an American.Strong community spirit with good people working their butts off to host a quality race in order to raise money for our soldiers.Forget the weather,come prepared to suffer a little, and as you struggle,know that these good people will have your back all the way.
E. T. from Chicago, Illinois (6/24/2013) "Great Trail Run" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is really a nice race. The trail is awesome - other than the first 5-6 miles, it's a steady downhill. The race organizers and volunteers are very friendly and it's well-organized. The start was delayed by 2 hours due to a severe thunderstorm, so it was very hot and humid by the time we finished. There are 5 checkpoints for the marathon relay runners and those points are easy for spectators to reach by car. My family was able to see me at the start, finish and 5 points in between, which was great. If you are looking for a June marathon in the midwest, it's an excellent choice.
A. L. from Evansville, IN (6/24/2013) "Relaxing scenic trail run" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 22nd marathon and even with the 2 hour delay due to poor weather conditions, I truly enjoyed it. The race is completely on the Heritage Trail so there is very little crowd support but I loved it! The race was nicely organized and the race support staff was very helpful and supportive. With the rising tempertaures, there were coolers placed along the trail as well as numerous people driving on the trail with water and gatorade. Thanks to Connie for all the updates and coordination.
D. H. from St Louis, MO (6/23/2013) "Well organized and run on a great trail." (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 First and foremost, Connie Hodge is a credit to the title 'race director'. She and her extraordinary cadre of volunteers made this a fun, safe run, despite some decidedly unfavorable conditions. Communication leading up to the race was superb. Every question I had was answered before I asked it. The thunderstorm that led to a 2 hour rain delay was handled very well, and the race went on. There were dedicated water stations at the transition points for the relay and at the intersections of the trail and crossroads. No water at the mile markers, although the miles were well marked. They compensated for this by having support staff drive up and down the trail between points on ATV with water & Gatorade. The only negative is that since this was a crushed limestone surface, I kept getting rocks in my shoe. Likewise with the heat, but what do you expect out of Iowa in June? Yes, I know I'm whining.:) Not a lot of spectators, but that didn't matter to me. Great experience.
G. K. from Waukee, Iowa (6/22/2013) "Like running in a sauna, but a top-notch sauna" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Knew it would be brutally hot, but the two-hour delay because of the severe thunder storm was a surprise. Thanks to the Napa Auto Parts store for keeping 40 of us dry. My girlfriend saw a relay team take over the finish line as a solo marathon woman was finishing and thought the solo finisher deserved a little more respect. With all the weather concerns, the race staff still pulled off an excellent event. Having to tap my wrist timing chip on a box at every transition was awkward and old-fashioned. I don't care much about my splits but an official start line/mat would be a nice improvement for next year. If you are looking for a soft track to run, this is a good choice.
M. P. from Iowa (11/12/2012) "Fun, friendly, warm, great cause!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Run4Troops Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Mostly trail running through scenic rural Iowa country. Good organization, great cause, friendly and supportive participants, good aid stations. Race and medical staff using atv's were always checking on runners, sometimes making for challenging running.

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