Manitoba Marathon 2023 - Race Reviews

Organization & volunteers were great. The course was fast & very very flat. The finish is inside the Blue Bomber (football) stadium and was well stocked even for those arriving in the last hours. As you exit the stadium, there were refreshment stations along the way to the exit. Then on top of all this, I came in 2nd in my category and they mailed me the category winner medal.

I enjoyed my time at the Manitoba Marathon. The good: Organization & volunteers were great. The course was fast & flat and went through many scenic areas. Medal is beautiful. The finish in the Blue Bomber stadium (a very nice touch) and was well stocked. As an additional touch, as you left the stadium, there were refreshment stations along the path you took to leave. No excuse to not have gotten food after the race. The bad: Nothing about the race. But if I remember a negative about the overall experience, it's that, it took FOREVER to get to Winnipeg and back again from Atlanta, GA. The neutral: Not the most inspired shirt. This does not matter to me, but I know it does to others.

There is a first time for everything& This marathon was put on by the University of Manitoba or was put on in conjunction with the University. Check-in was on campus, and check-in was a breeze. They had a nice expo too, and there were free samples of different food and drink options that would be of interest to runners. That was a nice choice to have, and it saved money from getting a hotel room, you could park on campus, walk to the start line, and not have to fuss with shuttles. It worked great; it was like being in college again for a day. The event started and finished on the University Of Manitoba campus. The course was basically a closed loop, except the start and finish line were not exactly at the same point - but very close. This event had the 10K, ½ marathon and full marathon people all start at the same time, but they were segregated into different lanes in the (closed) road, then joined up a mile or so down the road, only to be separated again at prescribed point along the course, as the course meandered through the community. The course was on concrete or asphalt. There were about 650 marathon runners, so after the ½ marathoners separated, the runners were really thinned out. The weather was decent. There was a thunder shower during the middle of the night, so there were puddles, and everything was wet. And the humidity was high, but the sun was obscured by clouds almost until noon. So it never got really hot. Still, the humidity kept the runners pretty soaked. From early in the race, I never had a mental picture of where I was in the town. A lot of that was because I was from out of town and I did not recognize anything. But the course was extremely well marked, and there were volunteers all along the course guiding the runners. The course was flat. It would have been a good race for getting a PR on (though I was not that fortunate). The course was very green, and pleasant. There were adequate water stations, and they were staffed with friendly & helpful workers. There were no gels available on the course and there were no other carb snacks either. So you brought your own gels or you had to make do with Gatorade and water. There was quite a mess of cups along the course, near water stations, but there were always volunteers helping to pick stuff up too. Law enforcement did a great job of controlling the traffic and keeping the runners safe. The post-race was on the Universitys track field, and the course organizers did a good job of keeping the non-runners out of the recovery area where they had food and drink refreshments  even popsicles! Also, bagels, chips, protein drinks, bananas and chocolate milk come to mind as I write this. The finishers medal was nice; it was robust and solid too. There are a few unique things I would like to point out. They gave the runners a small bagel in a sealed bag. This was a very good idea. Single serving, it was clean, and fresh. So many races cut up larger bagels and just have them all sitting out in the open air. I have never seen it done like this before, but I liked it. Another thing is that the event T-shirt had the logo in the lower left part of the shirt, almost on the side. I asked one of the officials about it. They chose this option, because some runners, she told me, dont like the logo across the front. This was also something I had never seen before. And this course had a mandatory 6-hour time limit. They had two milestones, or geographical points, that you had to reach by a published time, or you would be removed from the course and taken to the finish-line for re-hydration and refreshments (and receive a DNF!). In having run the course, I can see why they do this. There are lots of road crossings and road closures and law enforcement support only last for 6-hours; it would not be safe to leave anyone out there after the support people leave their positions on the course. When I asked about an early start a year ago, the declined and said, Just train harder and get your time below 6 hours. That is not very accommodating, but that is the way it has to be on this big city course. The other interesting thing is that Canada is all metric now, but this race continues with the mile markers (vs. kilometers). Both Maritime Provinces I have run marathons in used kilometers  so for those races we had to have some idea of unit conversion. I am glad I made the drive from the States and ran North of the Border. They have a beautiful community, the race is well organized, the University is very accommodating, and the course is runner-friendly. Just be sure to bring your own gels and carb snacks.

While this is not the most glamorous of marathons I've ran, if you're looking to run a BQ, it's a perfect choice! The traditional Father's Day race has the potential to be quite warm (like this year) but there is adequate liquids in large cups to keep you hydrated! Finishing on the University Stadium track is always a thrill, and the start in front of the beautiful Investor's Group Field is an added touch. Definitely take advantage of the park-and-ride shuttles, as parking near the start/finish can be tough.

Well organized with great volunteers. VIP package over rated. Food was excellent, support on course. Would only change they need electrolytes at all aid stations. km were off but mile markers were spot on.

Ran the half this year. Expo was good. Race day was simple, using the remote parking areas and bussing into the university. Scenic, shady, flat course. Really nice medal and shirt was nice looking but the women's was very short. Men's was perfect. Not sure why a race in Canada would use miles. That was a bit odd. The only real negative I have is that the distance from finish line to any sort of refreshment was far too great. Especially on a warm day. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend this race with a big event feel.

I really enjoyed the Winnipeg marathon. The shuttle buses to the start ran smoothly and I got there in plenty of time. Despite having many race options at the start (relay, full marathon, half marathon, fun run), the organization was excellent, with very clear, precise announcements getting runners in the right chutes at the right start times (starts were staggered according to race type and finishing times). This is the first time in 16 marathons (including bigger ones like Honolulu and New York) that I could actually hear and understand the announcements beforehand! There were numerous water and aid stations, and the many sponge stations and vaseline were a blessing given the warm weather. Nice volunteers and lots of young people along the course handing out licorice, freezie pops, and ju jubes, or just holding out a hand for you to high five as you ran by. I had many good photos taken along the course as well. The course was flat and fast. I did not mind the numerous relay runners as they did not impede my race, and in fact provided welcome company. My only criticism of this race might be that I did not see regular mile or kilometer markings along the course, but perhaps I just missed them. Thanks for a great race, Winnipeg!

It was nice to run in my home city again. Manitoba marathon 2006 was my first full. The volunteers & spectators were awesome! A joy to know so many of them. It's a beautiful flat course. Much of the first half is shaded. Running through two of the cities parks, along some lovely older treed streets & past a few historical sites. The finish at the U of M had lots of room for us to walk, get food & cool down. The bus shuttle service worked well for getting us back to our cars. Great job organizers!

I was quite impressed with this event-having read previous years' comments and also spoken to people who had previously run I wasn't sure what to expect. The plusses for me are that they really emphasize the marathon (unlike some races where the half and other races are given all the attention and the full is left to its own devices). There was a separate gear check tent for marathoners, so no line ups, and there was a separate start lane for marathon runners. That was terrific as there was no fighting with halfers to get to the start line, etc. Another plus is that there were race officials on bikes riding up and down the course the whole race. I think I saw the same person a dozen times, so I always felt that if something went wrong I would be taken care of quickly. There was also an ambulance that rode along more or less on my paceuntil they were dispatched to help someone elsewhere. Great medical support overall. The cooldown tent, with ice-cube cooled chairs was great too. Water stations were ample and all of them had plenty of water, Gatorade, and sponges (yeah, sponges!), and the volunteers were terrific. There were also 4-5 shower stations around the course. It was warm, but not hot, but it was easy to stay cool on race day. They were prepared for much worse, which was nice. I really liked the course, especially the stretches in the more beautiful parts of the city. On the cons side: there were three stretches where we ran in one lane and cars drove on the other (well separated by pilons). As an asthmatic, the exhaust caught up to me by mile 22 and I had to slow up and walk quite a bit to avoid a full on asthma attack. As an asthmatic, I am very sensitive to these kinds of things and I don't think I would have cared at all about the cars were I not an asthmatic, so it shouldn't dissuade people from choosing this fine race. It's just an issue specific to me and others who might have breathing-related issues. I wasn't at all sore for the days following the race, so I know I had lots more to give... Food choices were a bit spartan at the finish. One other negative is that though the shuttle bus from the parking areas worked for me (the race operates continuous shuttles from 4-5 parking spots around the city to avoid race area congestion), I spoke to a few people who missed the start due to there not being enough buses. My own observation was that though there were two buses waiting to pick up, and hundreds of people waiting, the dispatcher on the ground refused to load more than one bus at a time. Our bus driver implored the dispatcher to load the other bus, and even told him that he had been told to tell the dispatcher to load all the buses at the same time, yet it didn't happen. I'm not sure what can be done to fix this issue as clearly the race organizers have worked really hard to respond to the criticism of their race to put on a great event. It's possible that all the other shuttle locations operated much better. Overall, then, this is a terrific race for a marathon, with a nice flat and fast course. I'll run it again despite my concerns about exhaust, though maybe just as a training run.

I thought I'd try a Canada race, for a change. While overall, it was a decent experience, I don't think I'll go back. CONS: Mostly relayers run the race - out of 14000 advertised participants, only 659 ran the full marathon. I got pretty tired of relay runners zipping by me by mile 20. I know I'm in the back of the pack, but the spectators seemed few and often quiet (calm Canadians?) This felt more like a small town race, rather than a big city race. Yes to KM's comments earlier - the volunteers did appear to re-use the sponges! I avoided them. I did not like sharing the streets with cars the last 3 miles, with just orange cones separating me from errant drivers (yes, one drove outside the cones toward runners). I also did not like being funneled through a maze at the end to get to the recovery tent. PROS: It is a flat course, as advertised. The volunteers were AWESOME!! They were enthusiastic and supportive throughout. Volunteers and law enforcement did manage traffic well (except at the near end). Plenty of water stops and porta-potties. I did enjoy the course as it wound through Assiniboine Park and lovely neighborhoods. In summary, if you want a calm, flat course, this is for you. If you want the comaraderie of other marathoners or more spectators, this is not for you.

Years ago, the pasta fest was a good time. In more recent years, the food, music, entertainment, cash bar, etc. has been dropped. The same has happened with the marathon course. Sadly, cup sizes of water have gone down, warning signs about high heat have disappeared. A guy even died in '09 shortly after running the marathon. I was dehydrated to the point that I should have been pulled from the course in '09. Medics were not around. The most recent 2011 course did not allow the full marathon finishers to relax on the grass in the track area at the finish line. We had to walk into a gravel parking lot where nobody could sit down in a comfortable area. Unlike in previous years, we could no longer watch others finish the course or look for people in the stands. Sadly, conditions of this marathon and the treatment of full marathoners has been getting worse every year. I have run this marathon over 20 times.

The race was great but I have one piece of advice.... Be sure you can finish in the time allowed! I was told at about mile 18 to walk, not run, because it was getting 'hot'. The temperature was 26 C - which is less than 80 F. I live in Texas and grew up in Louisiana so I know what 'hot' is - and less than 80 is not hot. Race officials were starting to close the course but I was assured of being able to finish the race. Imagine my surprise when I was told to stop half way between mile 24 and 25. I was instructed to get on a bus that was picking up runners who had gone pass the time allowed. I was told if I refused to get on the bus I wouldn't be able to run the race next year. (In my opinion, that is just bad PR.) But having travelled so far I was determined to finish. And that's exactly what I told the policeman and race official who stopped me. After I told them where I was from they let me continue. I had a police escort to the finish line complete with lights and sirens as we approached the finish line. I came in dead last. I understand the safety aspect, etc. of having to close the course after a certain amount of time but come on... when a runner is so close to end - let them finish! Yes, I have a great story to tell people about my marathon in Manitoba but I feel very bad for those who didn't make it to the finish line.

I ran the half marathon this year. I realize most of the comments on this site relate to the marathon, but I thought it was important that I tell of my experience running the half marathon. This was my 5th half marathon, and I have run 5 marathons as well. My husband and I were extremely disappointed with the organization of this event. We used the park and ride system, and despite getting to the lot by 6 am, we waited over 30 min for a bus to come. By then, the line-up was so long, the 2 buses that came could not fit all the runners on it, so there were at least 50 runners left in the lot. Once we arrived at the drop-off we had very little time to get to the start line. We were assigned to Wave 2, however, we both had qualifying times that put us in the 1:50 or faster category, which was what Wave 1 of this race was said to be. To our surprise, on race morning, we saw pace groups of 2:00h half marathoners going out in Wave 1 as well as walkers. We also saw several Wave 2 runners in Wave 1. I had emailed the race director prior to the event to ask for clarification on the wave starts, but I did not hear back from him/her. We started with Wave 2 because we didn't want to risk being disqualified. The majority of this race was spent passing people. This is not usually a problem in most races, however during this race we had to pass people that were walking 10 across the course, or groups of 5 people lined up running on the course. I have run in the Boston marathon and other races that are crowded at the start and along the course, so I don't consider myself to be inexperienced or overwhelmed running in crowds. In other races I have found that most people running have a sense that there are others around them. I did not find that to be the case with this event. The relay runner exchange was chaotic to pass through. We were crowded in on either side by runners waiting for their team-mate, creating a bottleneck on the course. Furthermore, relay runners who couldn't find the person they were supposed to hand off to suddenly stopped in mid-course, or in some cases were actually back-tracking along the course and running into us. I almost ran into 2 women as they were exchanging their relay belt in the middle of the course. In other races I have run where they have a relay as part of the event, there is usually a cap on the number of relay teams. However, it does not appear that this race has a cap on any runner numbers. I have given the course 3 stars because, while scenic and flat, I found that there was a significant lack of aid stations and lack of volunteers at aid stations. I missed getting water twice because the course was crowded and the aid stations were not long enough/stocked enough to aid the number of runners coming through. I gave the organization one star for the reasons mentioned above. They absolutely need to provide a better bus system to the start, and they need to consider capping the number of runners, because they are over capacity for what their organization can accommodate. The spectators were great, and more numerous than what I expected. In my opinion, they are the best part about this event. As with any race, the volunteers are also great, although for the size of this event, they need more volunteers, especially at the aid stations.

I don't know why more out-of-towners don't run this race. Winnipeg is no harder to reach from the U.S. East Coast or Midwest than races in the U.S. Mountain or Pacific Time zones, and is an interesting enough place to spend a weekend. The people are friendly, and the course is not challenging (though maybe not as pancake-flat at the website makes it out to be; and the price for that flatness is a lot of time along boring commercial strips). So overall, I recommend it. But there are things they need to improve: 1. DO NOT STAY AT THE RACE HOTEL. I second what the prior commenter said. I could add more details of the dysfunction regarding the hotel shuttle, but you get the idea. You're better off staying at an unaffiliated hotel close to one of the public shuttle pick-up points. 2. No gel on the course. Maybe 30 years ago runners didn't fuel midrace, but it's the 21st century, and we know better now. If they can manage to have sponges and misters on the course (helpful in surprisingly humid Winnipeg), providing gel shouldn't be difficult. 3. The shirt and medal are among the least attractive in my collection.

Nice course, much of it tree lined. Spectators were sparse but the ones that were there, were very enthusiastic. Host hotel program was dysfunctional. Race warns of limited access to start line, strongly suggest you shuttle in. As an out-of-towner, I decided the safest route to getting to the couse on time was to book a room at the host hotel which has a shuttle to the race. The hotel was very nice. Marathon material said shuttle would leave host hotel at 5:40 AM, need to sign up for a seat. When checking in, asked about shuttle and they said 'no sign in, just show up'. I asked how do I know there will be enough seats? They said, 'don't worry, just be in the lobby at 5:40 AM for only shuttle from host hotel'. Then I asked for late checkout on race day from the hotel. They said Noon was the latest I could have. I replied 'the first return shuttle doesn't leave finish area until Noon so I can't get here until 12:20'. They were unaware of any return shuttle to the hotel after the race. The night before race, there was a sign in hotel lobby that said race shuttle would be leaving at 5:20 AM. My confidence in getting a ride to the race start on time was gone. Decided not to rely on host hotel shuttle as it appeared there was very little planning or oversight. (I had driven 11 hours to get here, I was going to get to the start line on time one way or another). On day of race, local newspaper had an article on the race and noted that few out of towners came for race. This may be part of the problem.

An excellent course on which to qualify for the Boston Marathon; VERY flat, with supportive crowds, and well-stocked and spaced aid stations. If you are looking to BQ, yes, the heat can get up there, but you'll probably be finishing by the time the heat kicks in (like others have said, somewhere around 3:15/3:30 into the marathon race).

I can't say enough good things about this marathon. The Manitoba Marathon was not only a great race, but a fabulous Canadian experience for me, as I've never been to Canada before. Winnipeg is a lovely, historical city and the marathon course reflects that. For a summer marathon, this race has several advantages - generally cooler temperatures (cooler than the Midwest U.S. for June anyway), lots of shade, and volunteers handing out sponges! I've seen a few scattered sponges before at previous races, but here the sponge stations are almost as frequent as the water stations. Plus the sponges are the larger, brick-shaped ones - perfect to cool you off for when the temperature began rising later in the race. Also, a number of the local residents had makeshift showers set out along the course. Nice. The spectators are enthusiastic and obviously proud of their city and the race. Some commented that the actual numbers of spectators are not at the level of, say, New York or Chicago. That doesn't matter; Winnipeg is much smaller city, and the spectators who were out were pumped for the runners. Plus, the marathon has a huge relay contingent; when you run though the relay points, the relay runners waiting to start their relay legs are cheering you on in a wall of sound... and there is a long line of relayers on both sides of the course. The volunteers were well organized - from the expo to the water stations to the finish areas. I thanked every one of them who I came in contact with. For a good majority of the race, the marathoners and half marathoners are split up. Near the last few miles, they converge, but it was a good idea to split the marathoners and the half-marathoners to separate, adjacent paths about a mile before the finish to keep things going smoothly. I loved finishing in the university stadium outdoor track of the University of Manitoba - you run into the cheers of the crowd from the bleachers for your finish. Run this marathon - you will love it! Take care and God bless, - Dan

This was my first marathon. I chose it because it is my home town and it is flat. I loved the course and it is indeed very scenic. Beautiful Wellington Cres., through Assiniboine Park, over the footbridge, downtown past the Golden Boy, and along the river with a stadium finish! The race can be HOT and HUMID so be prepared - 2010 was getting up there at the 3-hour mark. Mosquitos welcomed the first 3 or 4 miles. The spectators were fantastic - not deep, but plentiful and very encouraging. Cons were the relay participants who followed the marathon route. Lots of high school students flying past, but not a big deal. Brings up the enthusiasm. I would recommend it to anyone. It can be hot, but the course is scenic and flat, the people are great, and who doesn't like a stadium finish?

This is the second time in 2 years that I have run this race. I had a great time last year and looked forward to doing this race again. This year as well as last, I found that the speaker system at the start line was facing the wrong direction. It was loud and clear after the start line but impossible to hear in the starting gates. The wave start for the half marathon definitely needs some work, but due to the fact that people couldn't hear the announcer, it was understandable. As for the actual course, I enjoyed it every bit as much as last year. The volunteers are so supportive as well as being the best spectators around. Overall, a great race and I'm looking forward to next year already.

I ran my first half marathon in Calgary only 3 weeks earlier. Hoping to beat my race time at MB, the heat was not on my side. I was disappointed when the race didn't start until twenty minutes past 7 a.m. (I am not a morning person), as the day was just going to get hotter. Volunteers were great, except for the part where I am pretty sure I saw them picking sponges up off the ground and soaking them to hand them out again - but I am really hoping I imagined that. Near the end of the race the course had much less shade. There were many people being attended to medically because of the heat along the course, which was a good reminder for me to slow down and just finish the race. Popsicles were great after the race; I passed on the plain bagels. Chocolate milk would have been a nice touch.

The hottest day all freakin' summer in Winnipeg turned out to be race day, but volunteers/organizers dealt with it exceptionally well. Ample fluids, sponges, showers, and even Popsicles were available on the course. I ran the half last year and the full this year, and both were very positive experiences. There is a separate recovery area for runners who complete the full, which is a fantastic idea considering that the bulk of the participants are running shorter distances. I was well taken care of throughout the course, including after crossing the finish line, where several volunteers checked up on me (and all of the runners), making sure everyone got water and food and shade. Spectators are very supportive. The heat was intense this year, and many people had hoses and sprinklers set up (and kids with Super Soakers). This event may not draw elite athletes, and yes, the majority of people participating don't actually run the full, but as a 4-hour-plus finisher, I don't really care about the former, and the latter just means more breathing room on the course once the half splits off at mile 6. :-)

This is a marvelous event from start to finish. I've run in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and New York and can compare the Manitoba Marathon very positively. It is extremely well-organized, with thoughtful volunteers, plentiful water stations (the BEST sponges I've ever seen), a beautiful course and great food (Popsicles!!) at the finish. The spectators were great, too - I loved the extra sprinklers they put out to help us runners beat the heat. The only thing I would ask for is kilometer markers.

On a hot and humid day, the flat course seemed more difficult then it should have been. The volunteers at the water stations were great, offering plenty of water and Gatorade. It was the spectators along the course that really kept me pushing though. Complete strangers sitting in their front yards with their sprinklers on, clapping and yelling encouraging words. A little really does go along way. Winnipeg really does have the best spectators!!

This is the 2nd time I have run the Manitoba Marathon, and loved it - despite the heat. It has potential to be a great Boston qualifier while taking you on a flat route throughout some of the loveliest neighborhoods. Incorporating the marathon relay was great because there were always huge groups of spectators at the exchange points. Several aid stations kept me hydrated, and a big thanks to the residents who turned on the sprinklers in the heat to cool me off. Two suggestions for organizers: 1. There are no gel stations at all; two spots would be very useful to add to the three that I carry. 2. CHANGE the package pick-up to a spot near the marathon-sponsored hotel. In 2006, it was at the convention center downtown. As an out-of-towner, it was a nightmare to take the bus from the airport to the Fairmont Hotel, then take the 45-minute bus ride to the U of M, and then turn around and head back. I spent my entire Saturday afternoon on the bus. A cab would have cost $80. I like this marathon, but will not return unless race package pickup changes.

I was impressed by how well organized this race was for a smaller (<1000) marathon. A lot more people do the half instead of the full, but there are still quite a few spectators to cheer you on throughout the marathon course, which goes through beautiful neighborhoods, parks and the city center. The event was well-organized and went off with out a hitch. I especially loved the special full marathoner's finish area, where the runners are treated with many goodies and have their bags ready and waiting for them. My only criticism is that the half-marathon split was inaccurate. Good job, Winnipeg! I hope to do this race again!

Given the late June race day, I had anticipated at hot and humid marathon, and was a bit unsure as to what to expect based on mixed comments/reviews read prior to this race. What I found while in Winnipeg was a very well organized, well supported, FLAT (thank you!!!), tree-lined marathon route through many of the nicer areas of Winnipeg with ideal, sunny weather conditions (~40's-60's F/ ~9-16 C). This year race conditions were nearly perfect, and I appreciated the organized, friendly event and overall positive race experience in Manitoba. Finisher's medals were nice, as was the opportunity to finish on the track at the University of Manitoba. One suggested improvement, however, would be to stagger the start times for the marathon, marathon relay and half to reduce congestion during the first few kilometers. Overall, I highly recommend this race and would run it again.

I had mixed feelings about running this marathon after reading all of the prior years' comments, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The course was flat, but interesting; the aid stations were many and peopled with enthusiastic supporters, and the weather was ideal. Race day involved 13,000 runners/walkers, but fewer than 800 marathoners. Usually that means when you finish running 26.2 miles, there's no one to cheer you in and no refreshments. Not here, though. Marathoners had their own food area with plenty of options to replenish. Another neat detail: upon finishing the marathon, each runner was greeted by a volunteer who checked on your condition and walked with you to get your medal. Then another volunteer walked you to the refreshment area. This marathon does everything right, without a lot of pizazz. I've run many bigger-city marathons - Cleveland, Chicago, Twin Cities, Detroit, Marine Corp, Louisville, Milwaukee - but this is one I would return to do again. Thank you to all of your Winnipegers for an enjoyable run through your beautiful city.

I don't understand the negative comments, either. I have run over 40 marathons - close to 20 different ones - and the Manitoba Marathon ranks right up there with Chicago and Twin Cities in my book. The course is interesting and fast, the spectators are fun and encouraging and the finish line atmosphere can't be beat. You get to finish on a track in a stadium in front of hundreds (thousands?) of cheering people. It's great. I would also like to compliment the marathon's friendly and helpful staff. I panicked when I read that there was no race-day packet pick up. I couldn't arrive in Winnipeg until race-day morning, but Shannon made sure my number and chip were waiting for me at the start line. Thanks to Shannon and Winnipeg for hosting such a great event. I hope to make it an annual visit.

I don't understand all of the negative comments about this not being a "real" marathon. What's wrong with having an event that the whole family can enjoy? How do young runners get the "bug"? This event is fun and friendly, and isn't that Manitoba's claim to fame? Maybe the serious marathoners should just avoid it and make more room for those who truly enjoy that type of atmosphere. Keep up the good work, Manitoba.

A wonderful event on a flat course through beautiful parks and neighborhoods with short segments shared with traffic. Great aid stations (but no gels), well marked mile posts, perfect weather (cool, overcast, slight breeze), good post-race snacks, and excellent organization. Enjoyed frequent entertainment - bagpipes and oriental drummers. Nice medal, technical shirt and souvenir chip. Good expo and a well-organized start - in 30 years they have learned to do everything right! Highly recommended... worth the drive up there from the states. Wish the free pasta dinner was on Saturday instead of Friday and would like a true half (13.1) split time. I'd run this one again.

I can't understand the negative comments. This is nice event, smoothly organized with no problems that I've ever seen, tons of people, nice flat course.... I've never been on a stretch of road where there were no spectators, and it sure seems to me that the community is there in full force. Of course I'm biased because Winnipeg is my home town, But honestly. Nice course, lots of people, plenty of aid stations, food at the end, no organizational nightmares.... What else could you ask for? I will run this every year.

Okay, I did NOT run the MB Marathon this year, but I have run it several times, previously as either the 3:30 or 3:20 pace bunny. This year I was the "beer bunny" at mile 21 - 22. For the edification of M.B. from Gimli: I had over 120 takers. The responses I got were terrific - even had two people run BACKWARDS for beer shots after they got to River Road. It was a fun thing to do; I got lots of grateful smiles (even laughs), and handing out beer helped ease the sting of being out of the race this year due to injury. On a serious note, I do agree that we need to invest more in the full marathon. The Fargo Marathon has, in a very short time, morphed into an excellent marathon, and has surpassed MB in terms of numbers and spectators. I fear more Manitoba runners doing the full marathon will choose Fargo over Manitoba, owing to better to better medals, better support for participants, etc. Additionally, if the Investor's Full Marathon takes off next year, as is rumored, it will make the numbers for the the MB Marathon decline even further. That would be a shame. It is Manitoba's premiere sports event, at least in terms of overall numbers, but as a full marathon, improvements need to be made. Much, much more could/should be done to promote the marathon. Light standard posters, more media hype, better all-round promotion could also make the full marathon component far better with respect to number of spectators and full participants. My hat is off to the many volunteers: you do great work, and know that the complaints above are not leveled at you. They are matters for the marathon board and its leadership to consider. Cheers.

I agree with KV from Winnipeg regarding the marathon. The whole thing is being diluted into a series of nothing events. Pasta party, great. Heavens, we actually had bottled water on the course. Medal for the full and half stank. Must have got them from Cheap Medals.com. I only did the half but loved the volunteers at all the water stops. As usual, the spectators were very sparse. We need music on the course. Also, the food was a fiasco at the end. Don't need to wait for a long time to get not much. I was embarrassed at just how bad the medals were for the finishers in the full. Next year is, if I am correct, the 30th running of the event. In the early days we had race directors who cared about the race and brought in runners from out the country to give it a bit of class. If this race is to go anywhere, the committee should go to Fargo and see how to put on an event. Even see the WPS Half. Much more fun. Also, I feel this marathon is destined to be the same old Mickey Mouse affair that it is until we get a change of leadership, i.e. a runner heading it up. I have participated in this event since '83 and it is going nowhere except down. This race is an embarrassment to Winnipeg and Manitoba. Fewer than 900 full marathoners year in and year out just does not cut it. Please take some of the money you get from the runners and go to the States to see how to put one on. Only the Vegas Marathon is as bad.

The Manitoba Marathon is sacrificing quality for quantity. It has a lot of participation in a variety of categories, but no longer draws any elite runners. The course is flat and attractive for the most part. Crowd and volunteer support is quite good. A few quibbles: they now herd the runners past the food pickup area behind the university stadium; if you want to sit in the stands to watch the other finishers (or just sit on something other than grass after the race) or get a dry t-shirt from your drop-off bag, they won't let you back into the food area, where there is no place to sit; and with all of the participants running every distance imaginable, the course gets quite congested. Overall, I would say it is still a good event, but not as good as it was or should be. I ran both the Manitoba 1/2 Marathon and the Winnipeg Police Services (WPS) 1/2 Marathon a month earlier, and the WPS was by far the superior event. Nicer setting, better food, medal and t-shirt, and less of a mob scene. The Manitoba Marathon is definitely worth doing, but is no longer a serious competition or "destination" event. The organizers should stop diluting the marathon with relays and family fun races - there are lots of those events around already.

I have now completed 10 MB Half Marathons and really take my hat off to all of the volunteers, spectators, organizers. You have no idea how much it helps to see a smiling face on the sidelines! Keep up the good work! One small hitch - I would like to see your food tables spread out a little more to help cut down the long waiting lines.

This was my first marathon and really don't have much to compare it to. The course is a wonderful course, although past experience in the 1/2 marathon and relay has shown me that the last 8 or 9 kilometers can be a problem if the weather is not cool and cloudy, as there is no shade. The volunteers were great, and having the separate finishing area for marathon runners on the field is a nice touch. Registration was no problem online. Volunteer support was great along the course. I was pleased to see that volunteers waited for the last runners to encourage them in and to give them their medals, even though the course had shutdown before the last runners came in. It's unfortunate that there aren't more spectators. I ran the relay in the Fargo Marathon in May and there was huge community support everywhere along the course. I spoke with a run organizer there and was told they send leaflets to everyone living along the route encouraging them to support the runners. Perhaps Manitoba could do something like this. I would do the run again. Thanks for making my first full marathon a memorable one.

I ran this race for the first time in 2007 and was very impressed. It is remarkably well supported by the community - the fact that many thousands of high school students participate in the relay seems to bring out the parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors. The course was clearly marked and expertly marshaled. And 25 of the 26 aid stations were well staffed by enthusiastic and helpful volunteers. The course is flat - really flat. In fact, it's really, really flat. The organizers say that there are 3 places with an elevation rise of about 10 feet. I will take their word for it but I only noticed one place (at about 7 miles) where I think there might have been that much of an elevation change. Much of the course is run on tree-lined residential streets but the first couple of miles and the last few (in and out of the university) are run on busy through roads with only the curb lane closed to traffic. There is virtually no crown to the roads so even running in the curb lane was not off-camber. The running track at the finish line is world-class and it is a real treat to run the last 200 meters on it.