University of Okoboji Marathon - Race Reviews

I have run this race many times because I have a place at the lakes. I knew it was going to be hot as the temps the day before were around 100 degrees. The morning was cooler and storms were in the forecast. The storms did not come until around 9:30 or 3 and half hours into the marathon, there were 70 mile an hour winds the rain was going sideways and the sky was pitch black. My husband picked me up at 23 miles and said they were pulling runners from the course. I took along two fellow runners. As we drove back to the start the radio said they were pulling runners, but there were still people running. There was no communication out on the course to let us know what was going on, so I did not get to finish the race and it was very disappointing to have been so close and not finish.

I wish I had more positive comments. I started around the front of the pack and there were two stops at the first half that had no water. No water at the start, no water at the half and they ran out of water at one of the later stops. The course is quite hilly on a cement bike path (I wondered why there was no elevation map). There were only bananas at the end. NO food on the course. Most of the sparse water stops were self serve. After the half the marathoners and half-marathoners separated and the marshalls did not know where to send the marathoners. I had to ask and the woman I asked said she 'thought' I took a right!!! The only markers were some paint on the road with no way to tell which markers were for halfers and which for the marathoners. The markers were on either the left or right of the road with no organization that I could figure so it was hard to know where to look. The only mile markers were painted on the road, either I missed some or they were non-existent. It was quite hot (I expected that) but to run out of water is ridiculous. The stops were very far apart at times (at one point more than five miles on a hot day (remember that two stops were un-stocked with surprised volunteers). The announcements at the end were great. The medals were very small and fairly generic. The awards consisted of another of the same small medal with engraving on the back. In sum, the few people were nice but this is by no means scenic and a runner can do so much better.

Coming off of running Grandma's Marathon a month earlier, this was a disappointment. It gets terribly hot this time of year, the course is difficult, there are limited areas for spectators, and the course is congested. You share the course with Marathoners, Half Marathoners, Triathletes, and 10K runners. The course was not marked sufficiently when these groups veered in different directions and I ended up running the wrong way onto a busy highway and only finished because a driver stopped and asked if I got injured and then offered to take me back to where I made the wrong turn. If you're looking for a PR and runners to push you, I wouldn't go here. If you're looking to be challenged in every imaginable way and possibly run 27.2 instead of 26.2 because you ran the wrong way...this is your course.

I won the womens 20-29 age group with a time of 3:47, so you can image how small of a race this thing is. This was my second marathon. I have done 2 since this one, but this one was my favorite. If you are the type of person who enjoys running alone, then this course is for you. I was alone or running with 1-2 people the majority of the race. It was nice that I didn't have to weave in and out of people... 1. The half marathoners start at the 13.1 point in the course, and they start 2 hours after the full starts. The first 1/2ers passed me around mile 16. I thought I would not like this, but I actually loved this. The first 20 or so people blew by me, but then around mile 19-22 I was surrounded by people who were running about the same pace as me! I LOVED it. It was awesome motivation and pacers to finish off the race! 2. There were not toliets or specators 3. There was not a lot of food 4. we did not run out of water :)

I enjoyed it and had a great time. Enjoyed the course around Okoboji. Had postcard beauty at sunrise on the lakes and cool gentle breezes in the morning. Enjoyed the weather very much Spectators were sparse but very supportive. It would be fun to have some music and festivities at the finish line. I would do it again.

As mentioned in previous reviews this is a small marathon (79 runners) with limited support. People are nice and the course is fairly flat and pleasant except for the portions of concrete bike trail. Weather was in the 70s. All water stops were well stocked but many were not manned by the time I came through. No porta johns along the route. Zero spectators except for the very end. No food at the end but there was a bottle of Gatorade. I know this sounds negative but I had a nice time during the race and over the weekend. I recommend the event but know what you are getting into

I went into this race thinking that it wouldn't be very scenic, but I was totally wrong! I really enjoyed running along the bike path as well as along the lake. I didn't enjoy running with the half marathoners as well as the 10Kers at mile 13 until the end. It got too congested. There were many aid stations which was wonderful. Not too many spectators, but I had my headphones in the whole time, so my mind was occupied. This is a great Iowa race!

This was my first marathon, and my only goal was to finish.  I did a lot of research and preparation, and I went in with the understanding that I would walk when necessary. The 'rolling hills' people refer to are no joke.  However, they didn't cause me any problems - remember my only goal!  We had an unseasonably cool morning, so that really helped.   My sister and I ran together (hence my back and forth I/we), and she convinced me to drive the course with her the night before.  I'm glad because we were able to eliminate any confusion (we had read that people often get lost), but those hills almost scared me off.  They ended up being not so bad, but I really don't have any other marathon times to compare it with.  If you're running to make a particular time, you could have trouble.  We also planted GU packets along the route. I really liked finishing on the same route we started with.  There was something comforting with knowing I had already conquered those miles; I just had to do it again. True, there were no frills, but we weren't expecting any.  I could see where people would get confused on the route.  Some vertical signs would really help. What made the experience for me were the few spectators and other runners.  Our pack consisted of people who were truly happy for us to be running our first marathon.  We also had a lot of fun banter with Okoboji residents who were just out and about.  Our families were unable to be there, but it would have been easy for them to follow along the route.  We saw several repeat spectators who encouraged and honked along the way. Like I said, pleasantly uneventful.  We read what we needed to provide for ourselves, and did just that.  Some of the pre-race correspondence was a little gruff (like we were being scolded in advance), but that was humorous to us.  Everyone was very fun on race day, and we appreciated it. Thanks to all fellow runners, spectators, volunteers, and officials!

A nice small town race with friendly fellow runners and a pleasant course. You don't get much bang for your buck in this one though. No food on the course and no food-that I saw anyway- after the race. Good shirt, and small, but nice, medal for the marathon finishers but no medal for the halfers. The threatened 90 degree heat with sunshine didn't meterialize, thanks to persistant clouds. I liked that the halfers joined us two hours after the full started, as it was energizing to run with some fresh faces through the second half. A good excuse to visit Iowa in the summer, but not a very memorable event.

This is typical of small marathons that I have ran however, this is the first marathon where there were no porta johns anywhere on the course and no water/sport drink at the start. At one point we were mixed with cars and triathletes on bikes. I did not like this at all. Cars were not slowing down or moving to the left lane. I had to run in the gravel/rocks along the side so I did not get hit buy a triathlete. As far as spectators, there were more than at most small marathons that I have ran. Bananas and powerade at the end. Nothing more. I would not pay $70 to run this marathon.

I could not agree more with KC's comments. This race was poorly organized, and the worst thing to me was the food at the finish. Bananas? That's it? Sort of a cruel joke after running 26.2 miles. Having a bunch of races at the same time sharing parts of the course is also not good, especially when you have to hear 'on your left,' about 100 times from triathletes on bikes passing you. Mentally that makes for a harder race. Having runners in the last mile or so running straight at you on a sidewalk was also not pleasant! I was fortunate enough to come in fourth overall, and to win my age group and the masters division, but I was dismayed to find that the award I received yesterday in the mail was the exact same finisher's medal I received at the finish! That is just very very lame. I would highly recommend any other marathon in Iowa for 50 staters, but at least for me, Iowa is done!!

Going into this race, I knew this was a small town, low budget race ran at the hottest time of the year. I didn't expect much and didn't get much. First of all, there should be water/Gatorade available at the start. There was not. Asked two volunteers from AllSports where the bathrooms were and they had no clue. Found one at Arnolds park. Later discovered there were some porta johns over by the tri area. If you have to go, make sure you go at the start, because you won't find any on the course. Course is challenging. I love how people like to boast about some races being flat, knowing that the course is not flat. Don't believe them. I wouldn't call it a 'hilly' race because all the hills were small and were not difficult. The challenging part was sheer number of little hills with so many turns. Some of the course is on roads, bike paths, sidewalks, through parking lots, side of a highway. One really needs to pay attention to the 'current' spray painted arrow signs. I did get lost, but thanks to some guy yelling from his balcony I was going the wrong way, I got back on course. Very lonely the first half, then you pick up the half runners, then 10k and tri. Busy at the end. Most aid stations were staffed by one or two volunteers and were self service. I 'expected' most of this based on prior reviews. What I did not expect was the total absence of course marshals. The last 4 miles were dangerous as we had to dodge vehicles who seemed to be getting frustrated. I'm telling you, somebody is going to get hurt. No excuse for this. Race has been going on for 35 years, so don't expect any changes.

This is a pretty expensive marathon for a small marathon. I think it is because it is in a 'tourist' town (by Iowa standards) during peak season. Also think that it is geared towards getting people into town. For $65 plus fees, you get a pretty course that goes around the lake, water/PowerAde stops about every two miles, a nice tech shirt, and a decent metal. You do not get water before the race or after, though they had PowerAde and Vitamin Water after. The only food they had after was bananas. You start and end at the (mini) amusement park by the lake, so I think the thought is that you can spend money at the local establishments down there. That is true, and I like that type of food, but I didn't bring money for the run and felt like I should have got more for $70 so I decided to skip and bought food outside of town. The course is very tough due to the potentially high heat in Iowa this time of year and because of the numerous rolling hills. I heard several people saying it was the toughest marathon they had ever run. I definitely put it up there as a tough one! The race was well organized, but I was a bit disappointed by the lack of communication by the race staff (even when I tried to contact them before the race) and the lame website for it. The course gets 4 stars because it is pretty, but very difficult. Organization gets 4 stars because it is organized, but I felt the communication could be better and there were some things, like the lack of water before and after the race, that I thought could be improved. Also, there are no course marshals on the course except at the water stops. There are people driving the course and the way they release races in waves helps. Spectators gets 4 because it is very spectator friendly with numerous good places for spectators to watch, but just not enough of them. I think it is neat how they start the marathon at 6 AM, then have the half marathon start at 8 AM at around the 13 mile mark and the 10K start at around 9 AM at about the 20 mile mark. This was fun because you get fresh people coming onto the course as you go.

I would recommend this marathon to anyone. Expect classic July Iowa heat, but also a beautiful scenic course and race participants from both the marathon and half that are happy to chat for miles. There is poweraide and water every two miles, and in the last six miles, there is water even more often, thanks to resident support. My advice is to take water or poweraide at every station. The last 6 miles were not well marked. I recall seeing two or three 24 mile markers on the pavement. The refreshments at the end of the race are a bit bare, but the finish at the lake makes up for it. This is a wonderful marathon.

I ended up running off course due to the lack of race marshals. It's not fun to run extra distance when the heat index reached 115 degrees.

There are many good things about this race. But I need to focus on the one negative not enough course marshals. There are plenty of turns on this course and the course has been changed over the years. There is spray paint on the road or paths to indicate where a turn is supposed to happen. However, it wasn't always clear if it was new paint or old paint. The first issue was between Mile 4 & 5. I was in the 2nd pack of runners (there were 4 runners running together and then about a 2 minute gap). We were supposed to turn after this bridge and head back to the start/finish area, but the paint on the ground only had a directional arrow for the original way out. So I went straight and brought everyone else with me (i.e., the other 102 marathoners). We added on an additional 1/16th to 1/12th of a mile due to that lack of marshaling. The second point was at the 1/2. Again I was running alone, about 2 minutes behind the lead four and 6 minutes ahead of the next runner. The 1/2 marathoners were congregating around their start area and I had to run through this group. Instead of taking a turn onto a path, which was being blocked by a truck, people and bikers, I took a turn onto Hwy 86. This also added distance to my race. There were a couple of other points where vertical directional signs would have been helpful, rather than spray painted on the ground (between mile 14 & 15; right after Mile 16 at the waterstop on Hwy 86; between mile 18 & 19). But like I said there are a number of great things about this race. The course by the lake is beautiful. The course itself is pretty flat. I'm not sure about the other comments saying the course is challenging, I didn't find it to be challenging, other than dealing with the heat. There was plenty of water & powerade at the aide stations and there were plenty of aide stations. The locals and volunteers were great and well trained (i.e., holding water/gatorade by the bottom of the cup). If they get more volunteers to marshal the turns, this will be a great race.

Pros: Small-town marathon Great landowner support around the lake Very nice people and inexpensive local economy Start line at "some dude's mailbox" Finish by the lake. I ran through the finish line, across the adjacent dock and jumped in the lake! Cons: Iowa is hot and humid in the summer. Expect heat in a July marathon. No finisher's medal for our half marathon brothers/sisters.

This was only my second marathon - and boy it was a challenge, to say the least! The morning wait consisted of moving faster than the skeeters in order to avoid giving an involutary pint of blood. It was very nice that the organizers passed around bug spray for the runners to use. The remote starting point was not organized in advance of the early morning time and appeared to be scrambled together just in time. In my opinion there weren't enough porta-johns along the route; however the humidity factor didn't allow for one to muster the need to use them. The area along Highway 86 needed to have at least one more aid station due to the constant exposure to the sun and probability of high humity and heat this time of year... maybe an earlier start would alleviate this issue. Water/Gatorade and minimal fruit at the finish??? Are you kidding me? Where was the food tent? I think we all earned a little more than a liquid diet. I can't say enough about the medical staff. Experiencing great dehydration, they cared and watched over me for 30 minutes before "allowing" me to leave - thank you for your compassion and professionalism!! The residents and spectators along the last 5 miles of the race were awesome!!! I truly enjoyed and took the opportunity of every offered sprinkler that was pointed in my direction!!! You guys were AWESOME!

A test of endurance, really. What else can you expect at a no-frills, summer marathon in the hottest part of the country?! The expo was fine but more of a shopping excursion than an expo... I'd call it more of a "t-shirt and chip pickup" than an expo. My family and I were vacationing in this cute lake community and I decided to run a marathon while we were there. It was just what I expected... except slightly warmer! I passed the ambulance at mile 20 as they were loading an unconscious runner onboard, and I started to realize that the conditions were become harsher than I had ever run in. (I overheard the paramedics state that eight runners had already been taken to the hospital. Considering that only 118 runners finished, the odds were crazy!) Running on blacktop from miles 8 to 18 was what really heated things up for me. There's not a lot they can do about it, though. The roads along the lake were so shaded that their hills weren't even noticeable. It was nice. All in all, it was a nice marathon. You probably shouldn't expect a PR but it was still fun and do-able. There was water and PowerAde at the finish, but that's it. (I had no appetite anyway!) A jump into West Okoboji Lake afterwards was such a nice reward!! Thank you for a solid event with plenty of medical personnel. I think I would run this again....

This was my second visit to Okoboji. Last time I did the half but this time I did the full marathon and I liked it. Challenging but still a thumbs up. First, I love going to the Three Sons store. Everyone at the store was friendly. I called the store a few days before the race when I was looking for information and they were both humorous and helpful. I looked forward to shopping there after I picked up my packet and I was not disappointed. They have a great selection of sportswear and a wonderful discount area on the second floor. But enough about the shopping; let's talk about the race. This year was tough. The biggest challenge was the heat. The temperature was 94 degrees at my noontime finish. The course has some rolling hills in the first 3-4 miles, which, since the course wraps around, are also the last 3-4 miles. You hit them when you are fresh and you hit them when you are beat. Since I run in New England, these hills were not overwhelming, but they are there. Many parts of the course are without shade and you need to be prepared for this. This year the water stops were ample and had both Gatorade and water. In addition, volunteers drove around the course towards the end, checking with runners to see if they needed water. There is no gel on the course; if you need it, you need to provide it. Another thing not on the course are porta-potties. There are some at the start and some are at the start of the half. If you are a runner likely to need a rest stop, check out the locations of campgrounds along the course. These will be your best bet for a bathroom. One welcome change to the course from my visit in 2007 is that less of the run is on Highway 86. A new walking path makes up part of the course, so you are away from the traffic. There are still some parts where you have to run on the shoulder of the road, but less than before. The course remains open, so you do have to deal with traffic, but the benefit is that, if you have a support crew, they have easy access to you. My friends drove along via motorcycle and provided me with ice at several points before the finish. This was very helpful. So, if you want a hot, summer marathon, this is a great option. The people are friendly, the city is fun, and you will have a ton of bragging rights afterwards.

Well, after reading all of last year's results I had a bad taste in my mouth, but I came here in 2010 to see what it was like. Here we go.... The packet pick up is all about making money, and that is the bottom line. I have to admit we spent money in the store and it was nice. They have everything and anything you will ever need. Yes, we spent some money in there. They really need to make the WEBSITE more user-friendly. Finding the start of the marathon without a GPS is very hard. One of the owners in the store actually asked me if I had a GPS. The morning of the marathon was great; we got parked and started without any bumps in the road. Now for the marathon. There were plenty of water stops both with Gatorade and water. The roads were well marked... not sure how anybody could have gotten lost. We had the marathon, half marathon, 10K, and tri all happening at the sametime and I never once encountered an issue. My wife was able to drive up to me take pictures, and hand me water and GU. They were able to pull over in several areas and give high-fives. No complaints. Now the 8.5/10 difficulty rating is TRUE. The course is very challenging and nothing but ups and downs. A suggestion would be to start the marathon at 0500 if possible. It gets HOT and HUMID fast, and there really is no reprieve from the sun. I hit the 1/2 marathon at 1:43 and then fell apart after mile 16. You have to run the hills twice and this really gets in your head. Not a lot of spectators, but enough. This is a low-key marathon in July, and there are not many of them. Now the finish line was a bit of a hiccup. Water and Gatorade, yes, but when looking for our finisher bags, all we were able to find were the 5K runners' stuff. Suggestion is to make markings for each race/runners so we know where to go. Overall, guys loved it... but I will not run it again because I will be doing the tri. THANKS!

The course is not spectacular but it has some pretty points near the water. The organization was also not that great - there were not a lot of details about the race on the website, especially for travelers from out of town. This is not a very easy place to get to if flying in - the nearest airport is at least 2 hours away in another state! Also, post-race stuff was a big let-down. No food or even drinks at the end! Also no photography along the course! However, the people who organize it are fairly friendly and helpful. The spectators are few and far between - mainly a few dozen at the end. It was nice to do a rather low-key race, but some aspects should be attended to better, to ensure a better race.

Having grown up in the area, I knew the Iowa lakes region well. It was exciting to come back and run around Lake Okoboji. Positives: * There were plenty of water stations with enthusiastic volunteers. * Scenic course around the lake with no major hills. * Six o'clock start and cool weather were perfect for running. * Nice medal and shirt - and very enthusiastic fans at the finish. * Staggered start for the marathon, triathlon, half-marathon and 10K was a unique and different experience. Negatives: * Running on Highway 86 was a bit scary - more for the bikers in the triathlon than the runners. It would be nice to have the road closed for an hour or so, but logistically it probably isn't feasible for a small race like this. Bring your own GU or equivalent, as they don't hand these out along the course. I definitely would run this marathon again.

This was my first full marathon. I did a large 1/2 (Lincoln) this year and can say that this small marathon is a wholly different - but wonderful - beast. I read the comments from previous years and was concerned, but my concerns were unfounded. They had PowerAde and water every 2 miles, the miles were all marked well, the organization was great, and there were support teams from local Red Cross, law enforcement, and fire/rescue teams if anyone needed assistance. People also had oranges and fruit along the way for us spontaneously, and the finish was good. The race is a bit hillier than the "rolling hills" I read about: in town there were a few more quick/short uphills, and outside of town there were rolling hills. Still, the course is not difficult. The quasi-valid grief I read about from previous races is the lack of large shoulder on the highways for running. That was not a problem for the marathon, but more so for the triathlon: at this point in the race (mile 13-18 in and out) there are bikers and half marathoners and marathoners all occupying the same space. The highway isn't traveled much, but I can understand how people used to having whole streets blocked off for their enjoyment would be concerned that you actually have to pay attention to where you're going. Personally, I had no fears, nor did anyone I spoke to, but if you really want 20 feet of space on either side at all times, then I understand your issue. All in all, a fantastic race, a great course, great (but small number of) supporters, and a fun, energetic atmosphere.

I grew up around the lakes area and really wanted to make Okoboji my Iowa marathon, and am glad I didn't get scared off from the complaints. Course: I loved the rolling hills; they made it a bit tough but interesting. The water/PowerAde stops were more than adequate for me. The biggest hassle in running with the traffic along the highway was getting rocks in my shoes from the shoulder. But I didn't think it was particularly dangerous; you just needed to pay attention. I would not run this with music. The reason for giving it 4 stars (as opposed to 5) is that I didn't like running through the parking lot on the way to the finish. Maybe they could have better signs to let the drivers know we're coming through? Also, it's true about the shortage of bathrooms. There were porta-johns at the half, but only two, so there was a bit of a wait. Organization: 4. I would make sure that the finish food and water are roped off for runners only. There were only 3 bottles of vita-water left when I finished and were several runners due in yet. Food was gone. They did upgrade the medal; there's now a great U of O emblem engraved on the back. Spectators: 5. Not many, but the ones that were there were enthusiastic and supportive. (Remember, this is a small race, with 90 finishers.) The volunteers were also fantastic. Fun day; my only regret is rushing off without stopping for a nutty bar. Yum!!

I ran this race in 1999 and 2009. The course has rolling hills in the first six miles and the last six miles. I think they did a good job. The traffic was not an issue for me. I never felt unsafe. I have two negative issues. For us out-of-towners, I had some trouble finding the start. Fortunately, I used free time on Friday to work out the logistics. I thought they needed many more Gatorade stops and fewer with just water. The number of stops was adequate, but most were just water. I also would move the packet pickup and start to Arnold's Park. It was easy to find and would be less of a hassle for those of us who live outside of the area.

I ran U. of O. to get Iowa crossed off the 50 States list. Two years and a cross-country move later, I had lost the finisher medal. The race organizers sent me one from '07 free when I called and asked to buy a replacement. I am most grateful. Thanks. This race is not fancy. So what? It is a solid event.

I thought the marathon was a nice experience and am grateful for this marathon being around in July. It is great in that there is a 6 a.m. start time, giving you time to get a shower in before checkout if you have to drive to the race. The finish area was also very nice and festive. The timing system is also excellent. I really didn't expect much going in based on previous years' comments, as it is truly a no-frills race. However, there were many aspects of this race that were unnecessarily frustrating (especially for someone not familiar with the area) that could have be solved easily with a better website such as: how to get to the start (use Google maps; you'll never find it with MapQuest), and when and where each type of fluid replacement was located (which mile markers different fluids were at). Also, if they could put up signs race morning to confirm you're going the right way; that would be nice, as it's a bit strange to be driving into a neighborhood to a race start. I had no idea where the Gatorade was located, so I brought my own packets. I was glad I did, as there really wasn't any logic in terms of the spacing of PowerAde. The one thing that did surprise me was that the PowerAde that was being served came straight out of a bottle. I think the directors could save a lot of money (and waste) by using Gatorade powder and having volunteers make it up. Additionally, they could invest the money into other areas of the race. There was still confusion around mile 11 as to where to go, with an arrow pointing in the wrong direction from a previous year's race. There were adequate bananas and post-race vitamin water at the end, although there was no water available at the start of the marathon. As mentioned, there were no port-o-johns on the course (fortunately, I didn't have to use one). However, considering it goes through neighborhoods and many open areas, I can see it being a major problem if you need to use one.

I like low-key, small marathons, so for the most part, I really liked this one. However, this was my 41st marathon and by far the most dangerous as far as vehicles. The part that runs along the main road had very heavy traffic. Combine that with runners running WITH traffic instead of against it, narrow road shoulder, bikers in the triathlon traveling in the same direction and lane as the bikers, and it is extremely dangerous. The rain made it even more so. I know one biker went down on the main road, but I don't know the cause. Except for this issue, this is a great marathon. Maybe the directors could re-route this part of it?

NOT A SINGLE BATHROOM ON THE COURSE. What do you think marathoners do for the week (AND ESPECIALLY THE NIGHT) before the race? We eat. A LOT. And that causes bowel movements over the course of 3-4 hours of running. Water breaks were enough, but some a half-mile apart, and some 3 miles apart. No food from start to finish (or past the finish, unless you buy something from the funnel cake stand at the finish line). Nice course to look at, but it's hard to run. ALL hills, up and back down every quarter mile; still, nothing ungodly. Very disappointed by the lack of organization; I won't run it again. Spectators get 5 stars because twice I had to use someone's private property bathroom. I would NOT want to have to deal with a soaking wet (it was storming) hooligan wanting to use my bathroom at 7:30 in the morning when I'm about to leave for work. Thank you to the people who were kind enough to give hospitality.

I thoroughly enjoyed running this race. The cool temperatures and rain on race day made the race much more enjoyable than it would have been had it been 80 degrees out. The rolling hills on the course were enjoyable rather than difficult, and this made the race quite lovely. There are a few things I would change though. 1. Add porta-johns on the course. I only saw one porta-john on the entire route and was forced to take a bathroom break that consisted of more than liquid waste in the woods along the road. 2. Close off the highway. With runners and bicyclists from the tri, and all the cars on the road, it is not only distracting but dangerous. 3. Make the aid stations spread out more evenly. 4. Offer XXL shirts, for the larger marathoners amongst us. Overall I would recommend this race if you like small-town races, with small crowds and small numbers of runners, and can handle doing without some of the amenities you would get at a larger marathon.

Also ran this race as a training run. A friend and I are doing a 50-miler in August. This was the 2nd time that I have done this race. It was humid at the start but not bad temperature-wise. For me, the rain and thunder started at the halfway point. It rained for about 6 miles. This is a low-key marathon without a lot of fluff. You get a small medal when you finish. You do finish right by the pier on West Okoboji, which is kind of neat! The people involved with the race are friendly. Allsport Central always does a good job with the timing. It is a low-cost race - 55 bucks!!! A person can always do Twin Cities or somewhere if they want the big marathon with all of the stuff!

Disclosure: ran it only as a training run; dropped out at start/parking area between miles 20-21. Essentials are covered, sometimes barely adequately. Enter it for a tour of a unexpectedly nice area and friendly people. Don't run it if you want or expect nice amenities, thorough and smooth race basics, or ideal conditions. Glad I didn't plan to run this as a goal marathon. The '08 edition of Okoboji had surprisingly cool weather, thanks to rain and some lightning. Unpredictability of aid frequency and contents was a little annoying - first aid station was past mile 3, some aid stations had energy drink, some did not, and some aid stations were close together. Most had fewer than four volunteers, so slowdowns or self-serve was part of the experience.

There is a lot of complaining going on about this race.... It is an Iowa marathon in July with a cheap entry fee. What do you people expect? Look around and see how many marathons are run in July in the Midwest.... Not very many, are there? Why do you think that is? If you are not hungry to do a marathon... maybe you should look somewhere else. If you are a marathoner who looks for flat and fast, a big finisher medal, tons of people cheering you on, and someone to hold your hand and fill it with sport drink every mile... go to Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, etc. Shell out $90-$125, buy the perfect outfit, put on some makeup, wait forever in line, pose for the pictures... and have the cliche marathon experience... but stay away from this race. Go back to the Y. We are fortunate this race happens. The organizers are doing what so many people do not: Put on a race for people who just want to do it. Thank you.

I love Okoboji - love it, love it. I even love saying Okoboji because I am familiar with the area. Confession - I ran the half, not the full marathon. I will start with the complaints: Not enough water stops for a hot race. That is my only real complaint. I would have rated the spectators higher but there weren't many of them. The ones that were out there did their best to cheer us on. Before the half marathon started I was a support person for a full marathon runner. Coming from Boston I appreciated how easy it was to move along the route and how easy it was to find parking (not something you will ever say about Boston). I really enjoyed seeing the Wisconsin crew come by with their cheers about the Packers. The number of runners was low and so it got a little lonely at times (I am not a particular fast half marathon runner) but it still was a beautiful simple course with rolling hills. The stretch where there were three dead raccoons on the road was a bit unusual, but hey, this is Iowa, where roadkill happens. The people were very nice and we found a lot of fun stuff to do during our visit. Other than adding more water stops and better mile markers, it was just about perfect for me.

This marathon could be so much more than it is if the race directors would put some money where it counted. I realize that the entry fee is $35 but I'd rather pay $10 more for a higher quality organization. To be fair, I would say the following are the pros and cons: Pros: - Pretty course, lined with beautiful houses, fields of corn and soybeans, and views of Lake Okoboji. - Volunteer staff at the water stations were really friendly. - The people that show up to run this are all awesome and I felt like I was on a group run with all of them. Most people were locals. - The finish line was adequately staffed with plenty of fanfare, and despite reviews from previous years, there were medical staff there. - There was PowerAde on the course this year. Cons: - The website sucked. I had to do massive research to find out information that most marathon websites make easily available... uhm, such as HOW TO GET TO THE START. - The medal was a complete POS. It was a generic cheap looking medal that was on par with what you give a 5th grader for winning a spelling bee. It has a light engraving on the back that says, "U of O Marathon Participant." I don't need a manhole cover but give me something that I actually am not embarrassed to show people. I think I would have rather gotten nothing. - The starts were timed so that everyone in each event finished in a smaller window. This resulted in several bikes whizzing past me at high speeds as I ran down a road that had no shoulder. So you have bikes dodging cars - by running runners off the road! A couple of people who I spoke to at the finish even mentioned that the race directors are basically millionaires and they put ZILCH into non-critical parts of this race. That is a shame. If this marathon was better organized I could see it being a great destination marathon because Okoboji is a beautiful place and I think I will go back - but not for the marathon.

I know it's only $30 for the entry fee; but, participants spend so much more to travel and participate in a marathon, the organizers should do just a little more to make it a first-class event, even if it is necessary to boost the price a few dollars. This is a terrific venue. Lake Okoboji is a beautiful setting. I was surprised at how nice a vacation community the lakes region of northern Iowa was. The weather this year also participated and gave us relatively cool temps and a nice breeze. Of my 25 marathons, this offered the absolute cheapest of all medals. There are no Gu stations, no bananas, oranges or any other food on the course. In the finish area, the half marathoners drank all the water and ate what little post-race food there was (there was still PowerAde left, thank goodness). The markings on the course were marginal. All signage was spray-painted on the road. I almost missed one turn (mile 11 or so) because I was running on the shoulder (gravel) and the arrow was painted in a very faint paint on the road a few feet to the left. There were no other runners near me (a common occurrence) and I almost went right past the turn. I did make it and did the approximately 2-mile loop that took us back farther down the highway. Toward the end of the loop, a marathoner was running in the opposite direction - obviously having missed the turn and was now running the loop in reverse to make up for his error. There was no expo, of course, but it's a small event that one would not expect to have an expo. I wouldn't even mention it except that the packet pick-up is at the organizer's store - way in the back. We were all encouraged to come back and shop after the marathon. It was just a little too self-interest motivated for my taste - and all the while several critical components of the marathon have been neglected. The volunteers were great. The course is particularly suited for family and friends to get to various points on the course to cheer their marathoner on. The venue, as I said, is terrific. I also think this course is suited to a potentially fast time (except, perhaps, for the many twists and turns the course takes). I must say - I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. I hope the organizers think hard about the potential of this event going into the future.