Marathon-to-Marathon - Race Reviews

It was a warm and windy send off for the 22nd and Final Marathon from Storm Lake to Marathon Iowa. It was a record turnout with runners from over 35 states and an estimated over 30 Marathon Maniacs for a festive atmosphere. The relatively flat road course with long straights was well marshalled by race officials and medical staff in vehicles. The few spectators which were the aid station volunteers were very supportive of the runners. There was plenty of ice during the second half when temperatures approached 90 degrees with winds at 20-40 mph. It was mostly a tail wind all the way to Marathon. It sounds like the race director, Al Pierce, did a masterful job over the 22 years in this small iconic race in rural Iowa. Thanks for a memorable day which served as my 29th state in my quest for 50 states.

I ran this to qualify for Marathon Maniacs, and working for my 50 States. Small race. The race started in Storm Lake IA, and runs to Marathon. Storm Lake is a great town. Amazing food, great people, lots of community support for the race. The course is all in the countryside. If you like running out in the county, this is perfect. The only down side, is that due to the fact you are running out in the country there are very few people along the way. It was hot, and humid this year, and the temp was in the 90's pretty quick after the start. The race officials were driving along the race with a water jug, making sure everyone had what they needed between the scheduled water stops.

This was my first full marathon. Temperatures were way above normal with the temp at start time 76 and four hours later 88-90. Race staff and volunteers did a wonderful job in keeping runners hydrated and safe with the extreme temperatures. Having showers available at the finish was a big plus. The lunch that was provided for participants was also much appreciated. I stayed at the Storm Lake Super 8 hotel and walked to the starting line, the hotel also started the breakfast service at 4am so runners could be ready for the 6am start. The course was extremely flat. Spectators were spread out due to the fact you are running in rural Iowa.

So I've done this marathon twice now, so I figure I would give my opinion on this race. There are several pro's and con's that I think come with running this race. As far as a small town marathon goes, this is about as good as it gets. There is a very friendly small town feel about this marathon and they make you feel very comfortable and create a create community atmosphere that will make you want to come back for more. Packet pickup is pretty simple; with the exception of it being in a different location last year due to some construction. The course is pretty boring due to the fact that you are running through rural Iowa highways with corn on all sides as well as very few spectators, but the few spectators are very enthusiastic and love cheering you on. This is a fantastic marathon to do if you are trying for all 50 states, or looking for a nice small marathon. It's a great course to BQ on as the course is flat throughout with only a couple of slight uphills that are basically irrelevant. The weather has been nearly perfect the 2 years I have done the marathon. Would absolutely recommend this marathon to beginners or veterans. Please feel free to ask my any questions if you have any about this marathon!

Ran Marathon to Marathon in 2014 and in 2015. Point to point course that is fairly fast with some rolling hills. Temps both years were in the 60s. 2014 had a strong cross and then tail wind the last 10 miles. 2015 had a slight cross/tail wind but was a bit humid. Great conditions though for a mid June race. The course was open to traffic but there were hardly any cars on the roads and the police/volunteers did a great job blocking traffic at all intersections. I ran mostly near the middle of the road to minimize the slightly canted road. You can park at the start and then be bused back from the finish. The finish offers good post race food and shower. This year I had a support crew that followed along the course so we drove back. There is not a lot of crowd support as it travels through farmland and the population of Marathon, Iowa probably doubles on race day. Overall, this race is a great, no frills marathon. About 250 full/half/relay runners. The cost is very reasonable. If you want to run a fast marathon and are good with the no frills race, this is for you. if you need raucous crowds, an obnoxious medal, and hundreds/thousands of other runners then this race is not for you. Ran it in 2014 for Iowa as a 50 state, ran this year to get a BQ but missed by a few minutes. I still highly recommend it.

I loved that this marathon went from point to point. The day of the marathon, it was forecasted to storm (severely with hail and possible tornado) so I was worried about the marathon canceling. However, it went on and there were dark clouds with strong winds. The race director warned us that the race may be canceled at any point there is a severe weather threat. The winds made parts of the course REALLY difficult. It would push me sideways and I was at times running against it. I had to completely forego running the pace I wanted, but there's nothing I could have done about that with the weather. It was scary at times seeing all of the dark clouds, but in a sense it made me run faster because I wanted to finish and accomplish a marathon in the state of Iowa. Fortunately, the race was called off shortly after I finished. I was relieved to have finished in time, but felt really bad to those who didn't. I hope everyone made it out ok! I was happy to be able to see my wife and son to be able to cheer me on at multiple points in the race! My only complaint would be the course directions for the spectators and runners. Other than that, I would recommend this marathon for anyone looking to complete a marathon in Iowa for their 50 states or just to run.

I'm just starting my quest for 50 states, this race was my 5th and so far my favorite. It's a small town race which makes packet pick up and parking easy, and the individual attention given to runners was wonderful. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming I felt like I was running among friends instead of complete strangers. Aid stations were plentiful and there was a lot of fruit on the course, including watermelon! The course was mostly flat with gently rolling hills and a good tailwind for most of the last 1/2. Not too many spectators as you are on rural roads but the ones that were there were enthusiastic and creative. My favorite sign on the course said 'Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa' which prompted my friends and I to visit The Field of Dreams on our way home which I also recommend. :)

This is a bare bones, logistically simple, friendly marathon. Very easy for your support team to follow along. The Super 8 in Storm Lake was very runner friendly including early morning breakfast, walk to the start line, and late check out. The race started on time, the aid stations were really well organized and the finish line area was great meaning efficient and welcoming. I cannot count the number of times I was thanked for coming to Iowa to run. Nice job!!

Storm Lake is a nice little town for a pre-race day. I think it's a constant grade with slightly ascending or descending but sometimes not even noticeable. IF it's windy or really hot and sunny this could be really tough. Nice omelet and pancakes after and good conversation. Pretty hardcore runners not elites but a small group of runners who are very passionate. My kind of marathon. BQ'd.

This is the perfect event for a no frills, well organized opportunity to qualify for Boston! The staffers and supporters are wonderful people. The course is clearly marked and well staffed. The atmosphere is peaceful throughout the run. The fees are reasonable without all the glitz. Plus I BQ'd.

There are numerous pros to this race and I concur with those that said this course is flat and fast. There was almost no traffic and Storm Lake is a nice little town to take your family to for a weekend mini vacation. The only cons are that the medal is plain and that the finishing area was disorganized. There was no chocolate milk or protein of any type at the finish. That is a small gripe and when compared to the wonderful aid stations and scenery of the course it seems petty.

This is my 2nd time running this race and I came away impressed again. Not many races have fruit or GU at so many aid stops or the great atmosphere as this one. This is a true runners race. Yes, it is through corn fields and yes if you are from FL you won't think it flat but having run many marathons around the midwest this is still one of my favorites. I will be back when my schedule allows.

Pros: Super nice people and well organized. Flat course. VERY little traffic. Maybe 10 cars even though you are on 'open' roads. Super good finisher stuff. Water/Gatoraide, banana's and stuff right at the finish area. Then off to a super nice lunch after taking a shower in the community center. Really great people. PRICE !!! I believe this is a fantastic value. 50 Staters can pick up S.D the next day (Swan Lake) Down Side: plain medal ... but so what!!!

This is a nice small town marathon that is very well organized. Just a couple hundred runners. The course is all open road through the Iowa country side with very small hills that aren't noticeable. However, there is no shade on the course, except when you pass a farmstead. 2012 was brutal year with full sun for the whole course and overall it affected a lot of people. The post race party is great also, with a coupon for a free breakfast or lunch in the community center. You can also grab a quick shower. This year, because of the hot temperatures, they also arranged for ice chips at several of the last aid stations which really helped. The do provide transportation back to the starting line, but you have to wait for a school bus to fill so depending on timing, it could be awhile. Overall nice event. The finishers award is a non dated medal, and the shirt was a nice tech shirt, but the screen printing on it is a little thick.

If you can make it to NW Iowa you must do this race. Organization was the best of any marathon or any size I have run. Great aid stations, GU at 10, 15, and 20 miles, Gatorade that was sufficiently watered down. Breakfast afterwards was great too. I'd recommend driving to Marathon and taking the bus to the start line in Storm Lake. Probably not a first timer's marathon as you are on your own running past cornfields. Race is pretty flat with a few small rolling hills. Wonderful small town atmosphere. My only complaint is that the finisher's medals were generic.

Was very impressed with this small town marathon. The course was fairly flat with rolling hills. The Richard Simmons water station made me laugh as did the jokes all the way up the hill preceding the station. I barely realized I was running uphill because I was so into the jokes on the signs! I ran by myself the entire way until I caught up to the half marathoners and enjoyed the encouragement from them! Other than wishing the wind was at my back, I wouldn't change a thing! I was able to get a PR and BQ time!

I ran this race strictly for the BQ potential with it's point to point and slightly flat course. We got lucky with the weather, 50 degrees, little wind and no sun which resulted in a PR/BQ. Con's- Update the website vs once a year and the map is a joke. The get me register wasn't open on the 9th of June as advertised. The fans were limited but very energetic.

This race is small but incredibly well organized. I was really impressed with the transportation, refreshments, and overall great attitude of everyone involved. All the aid station volunteers were wonderful and enthusiastic, and I loved the Richard Simmons themed aid station that was preceded by a mile or two of jokes posted along the roadside. (Since this coincided with one of the course's few hills, it made for good distraction!) This is NOT a race for anyone looking for cheering throngs (fans are few and VERY far between) or fine swag, and I found that the wide open fields and long vistas started to wear on me after a while, especially given the stiff headwind. BUT, the finish in Marathon made up for it, with a home-town carnival feel and fans in the stands to get you over the finish line. More impressive is that I finished past the 5 hour mark and there were still plenty of people there cheering!

Fantastic marathon. The weather was perfect - 50 degrees at the start and partly cloudy. A nice breeze kept me cool. The course had some gentle rollers but was pretty flat overall. The course is sparse, as others have noted, especially up front. I ran by myself for almost the entire race. I caught up to some of the half marathoners and that was a boost as I passed them along the way. Organization was great and all of the volunteers were very supportive. Pancakes at the end was a nice touch. The only real gripe was that the awards took a while. Otherwise I highly recommend this marathon. Of course, PR'ing by 10 minutes and improving my BQ time to the 10 minutes or more registration tier doesn't hurt, either.

Gentle rolling hills with pretty spectacular views throughout. Genuinely kind volunteers throughout. I PR'd and found my second BQ thanks to the weather and volunteers. Fantastic pre & post race meals.

If I were king for a day, I would have run this point-to-point marathon in the opposite direction. In this way, the sun and wind would have been at my back vice in my face and the course would have been mostly declining vice predominately inclining. I would call it Marathon-from-Marathon as there is already a Marathon-to-Marathon in Texas. Yes, I know there is history here. But, if we don't learn from history, we are bound to repeat it. Not me; not here again. And I would have at least put a date on an otherwise unimpressive finisher's medal. If you're running for quantity or wanting to combine with Swan Lake Marathon in Viborg, SD the next day to do a double, this race will work. However, I've got to believe that there are better marathons in Iowa than this.

This race is very well organized and the volunteers are among the friendliest you will find at any event. The course is through the cornfields of Iowa and there are not a great many spectators. The people who are there though are among the most friendly and genuine people you'll meet anywhere. I would recommend this race, especially for a first timer.

This was the friendliest most helpful group of volunteers ever!! The race director is a gem and this is a great small town race.

This is probably not a race for those seeking the big experience of a mega-marathon. It's a small, well-oiled, and fun race thru rural Iowa. Scenery is 90-odd percent farmland. Spectators are few but energetic. Plenty of aid stations, too. A great race for Maniacs and/or 50-staters. A freshly-cooked meal afterwards was pretty awesome. Medal is OK, nothing spectacular. Overall, a great value and a lot of fun.

This is best described, to me, as the little race that could. It started off with a delay due to severe weather, but the organizer kept everyone informed and handled the grumbling crowd very well (my favorite line: "Look, I'm getting paid just as much to do this as you are...." He was working to keep everyone safe and the mood light, and I feel he did a great job. There were very few spectators, but I was actually looking forward to that, to be honest - and I knew it going in. The volunteers were great, and the people that were out were extremely supportive. The course was fast and flat, and I feel I would have had a PR were it not for 8-9 miles of a SERIOUS headwind. Great experience. If you are looking for a simple, pure running/marathon experience, this is one to consider.

The marathon was a great and well organized event. It had all of the characteristics of what a marathon should be. If you don't need crowds and entertainment, then this is the race for you. The people, race organizers and volunteers were friendly, helpful and couldn't do enough for the runners. The marathon and half-marathon were delayed 1.5 hours due to a thunderstorm. However, the race director handled the delay and the associated questions superbly. It was obvious that the race director and the people helping him took the situation very seriously and did everything possible to accommodate the runners. The local high school was a very comfortable place to gather and wait for the start of the race. The end result was that all of the races took place with over seven hours allowed for runners to finish. All of the aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers at these stations were enthusiastic. The course was well marked. All of the busy intersections had several police officers to direct traffic (even though there wasn't much traffic). Post-race amenities were great. In summary, I will plan on doing this marathon again in the future.

Great small-town marathon mostly run by 50 staters and Maniacs, as it was the day before the Swan Lake Marathon. The race organizer did a VERY good job of maintaining order despite an hour-long storm delay. It was fun to sit in the lake before and after the run. The race was in Iowa in the summer: Hot, flat and, well, if you are acclimated, PR-worthy. Aid station support was awesome - every mile for the last six. Make sure you catch post-run grub at La Juanita, located in the old district. Almost worth flying in for that!

"Marathon to Marathon" in 2010 was delayed 1.5 hours due to a thunderstorm. The race director handled the delay and the associated questions superbly. The volunteers and spectators were great. Well stocked aid stations manned by enthusiastic volunteers (with some even in "theme" costumes) made this race a great event. Great post-race amenities, and showers were available. Only negative was that the pasta dinner ran out of pasta and the expo was not a big affair. I ran my 50th of the 50 states at this race and I could not have picked a better place to do so!

My wife and I decided to run this as our first marathon due to it being close and fitting into our schedule. It was an awesome, small-town experience. We have both done larger races before, and this one was as well organized as those. Even with the threat of rain, the RD kept everyone updated on status. Only negative is that for most the course it's just you and the cows (and not many of those either). The people you do see are very nice - there just aren't many of them. The race starts early in the morning to beat the heat, and if the wind is right, it can be a fast course. We would recommend this race and we're excited to do our next.

Rough start! Bad weather caused the race to be delayed, but the race director was great and the local high school was a wonderful place to find shelter. I have nothing bad to say about this race; volunteers and other race participants all made this a very enjoyable race. Thanks to Super 8 for giving us a very late check-out! If you like small races, this is a race I would recommend.

Major kudos to RD Al for this year's race. Thunder, lightning, rain, and the possibility of a tornado pushed the race start back an hour and a half, but everything still went beautifully once the show was on the road. The course is paved roads through the Iowa countryside. Cornfields, farms, and roadkill were the sights to be seen. If you need spectators, try another race. But, the volunteers at the aid stations, who'd been at their posts since at least 6 a.m. waiting to set up, were awesome! The Surfin' Iowa beach party aid station was awesome! Other stations had GU, bananas, watermelon (!), oranges, candy - all well stocked and super friendly. At the finish line the spectators cheered, the medal was nice, food and water/Gatorade were plentiful, and there was a good lunch for those of us arriving around noon (due to the late start). The course is flat and fast, RD Al proved his organizational skills this year, and since the only spectators were the volunteers, they get 5 stars. Highly recommended race!

No glitz, no glamor - just running through the cornfields. It is simplicity at its best. If you love running for the sake of running and don't need bands to drown out the pain, then this is the race for you. This is a special part of America; not many see it. The people and views are lovely. BYOS (bring your own spectators), if you need them. Tips for food: The carbs: Honeykissed Pizza all the way; they even give you honey to dip the crust into. Vegetarians: Unique Cuisine. It offers real-deal Thai and Lao food. Best breakfast and pie place: Lake Shore Cafe Best place to belly-up and watch the locals cry into their beer: Puffs. Best place to catch up on the farm report and the weather: Hy-Vee Deli.

I chose this race because of the 2008 comments and have to say that I was not disappointed at all. It was a very small race, and it had the spirit of running an ultra. I went to the pasta dinner the night before and met some really nice people - and for someone who traveled a long way alone, it was nice to make instant friends with some like-minded, down-to-earth folks. Turns out there were many there who were either "50 Staters" and/or "Marathon Maniacs." This race qualified me as a "Maniac'." The course was absolutely beautiful. I felt like I was running through the middle of a postcard. The view of the sunrise at the start was breathtaking and the weather was perfect. I can't say enough about the volunteers and their enthusiasm. There were funny signs along the road to read as you climbed a long hill, as well as dancing, costumes, music, freezer pops, fruit, and genuine happiness that we were running by their farm. I could have had a PR for this race, but I was having so much fun chatting with the volunteers (who all wanted to know where I was from) that I decided that it wasn't about my speed. It was about the joy of running and meeting people. The post-race festivities were way better than a big marathon. The townspeople cooked a feast and served everyone. Eating with other runners and listening to a local musician perform on a stage was unheard of. This is a top-notch race and everyone should try it out. I train alone, so running by myself was very peaceful out there in beautiful Iowa.

Since the website is infrequently updated (twice per year), I was a little worried about race organization, but my fears were completely unjustified. This race is very well run and organized. I liked the easy packet pick-up (with pre-race option available) and inexpensive pasta party ($5/person). Big-city marathons wish they could offer perks like this race - easy access to a shower facility at the finish area, and parking within spitting distance of the finish line. For such a small race, I was surprised by the excellent shuttle transportation options. Early start times (6 a.m., and 5:30 if desired) allow runners to avoid some of the potential heat and humidity that can occur in June in Iowa. The course is very flat and potentially fast, but it has very few spectators. Water stations are properly spaced, and they even hand out GU at two locations. Faster marathon runners will catch up to half-marathon participants, which helps break up the monotony of the landscape. Don't worry about difficulty getting around other runners; you would be surprised at just how quickly 180 runners can spread out on the race course. Depending on your finish time, an all-you-can-eat omelet and pancake breakfast (before 11 a.m.) or lunch is provided. Who should run this race? Inexperienced runners tend to benefit from large crowds of spectators and fellow runners, and thus I wouldn't recommend this race for first-time marathoners. For marathoners attempting to run a race in all 50 states, I would strongly consider this race for Iowa. It's held on a Saturday, allowing the opportunity to run two races in the same weekend; and most other Iowa marathons are held during prime fall marathon season. Finally, for experienced runners hoping for a small, well organized, fast race at a tremendous value, I wholeheartedly recommend the Marathon to Marathon.

This was a laid back, low-key marathon, and it was fun! It had rained pretty hard in the area on Friday, but by evening, the rain had ceased. Still, everything was wet. Friday night, the race organization hosted a spaghetti feed at the high school. It was where packet pickup was held too. The high school was easy to find, and the organization was good. After picking up the packet, you could eat for $5.00. The food was spaghetti, bread, and dessert (but no salad). Also, Al Pierce, the race director, was at the high school until evening. He coordinated a 30-minute early start for those who were interested. And runners who wanted a shower after the race were instructed to send clothes ahead - kind of like we do with warm-up clothes for races during the cooler months. The early starters gathered at the start line in front of the high school. Al briefed us, then sent us on our way at 5:30. We looped the high school grounds, then headed out to the east. Right then, the sun came over the horizon, and it was a spectacular sunrise. Wow. An interesting thing about the course was that the map on the website showed Storm Lake in the upper center, with Marathon (the destination) in the lower left, connected by course lines. If this was the only map you saw (like it was for me), you'd think Marathon was southwest of Storm Lake. But that is not the case. Marathon is actually northeast of Storm Lake. So when we kept running legs going east, then north, then east again - with the sun in front of us or on our right, it became apparent that the map was upside down. This was a country marathon - and a great event. Still, there were no spectators to speak of. The aid station workers were the biggest encouragement to the runners. Their service was great, and their encouragement was well received by the runners. The most difficult thing about this race was that from about mile 15 to mile 25 was a straight shot on Highway 50; lots of farms and cornfields, and a very straight road. At Marathon, the race ended in front of the community center. They had snacks and cold drinks for us there; then, in the community center, they were serving turkey BBQ sandwiches (with fixings), cold drinks, and dessert (marathon participants had a ticket for free food). Also, they had showers available adjacent to the gym. It was a well-coordinated event, and well supported by the community. And Al pierce was at the finish area, available to the runners, and coordinating bus rides for the runners back to Storm Lake. This was a small-town marathon, where the folks took care of the runners like you might expect for some of the bigger races. And it was a great way for a 50-stater to check off Iowa.

I thought the race was great. The after party was not as big as I had expected. Also, my watch had me two minutes faster. I am wondering why?!

A small, well-organized marathon. The course is mostly flat. It follows county highways through some lovely rural farmland in northwestern Iowa. Because it is flat, and because there are not too many runners, the race is conducive to running a personal best. The volunteers did a wonderful job at the aid stations. The party at the finish line was a lot of fun. Prior to entering the town of Marathon, there are not too many spectators; but the ones that are watching are quite enthusiastic. I had a great time and would recommend this race to anyone.