On the Road for Education - Race Reviews

This was a great race. The only negative is that they are billing this as the final year they are doing the race... If you like small races, this race was perfect. The people were so friendly and went out of their way to welcome you. the pasta party was very simple (school cafeteria) but the food was some of the best I have ever had at a pasta party. The race was small. But there were two of us running together and we wound up picking up three other runners during the race and all finished together. Which was good because that was just about all the people we saw on the race course. There were plenty of water stops and the marshals did a great job (at times we felt bad that they stopped the cars for us. But the drives were very cool about it. It will go down as one of my favorites

Neat town, absolutely stunning course, impeccable organization, great accommodations, wonderful spectators, and friendly runners. I was so sad to hear that this was the final year for this race. It was truly a gem! So glad I was able to experience it! One of my favorites!

This was a well organized race. The volunteers and runner support along the course were excellent. I loved the course with its variety of paved and unpaved trails. The goody bags were awesome! If you are looking for a fun, low-key, no frills race, this is it. I would definitely go back!!

A great course, especially the wooded trail section. I expected few spectators in this smaller town, but was touched when people got out of their cars to cheer us on! This was like an excellent training run with tactical support: water/powerade every two miles and gu as advertised. And everyone was downright nice, and the amenities (showers available after) and swag (a beef log!) were fun and fab. But really, it was about the peopleboth the townsfolk and the runners who come to this race are great. Thanks so much to the guys who let me draft behind them in the wind!

Despite the wet and blustery weather, this is a sweet marathon. A very accommodating start with 6, 7 & 8am starts to help slow guys like me. Locals at every water stop were very friendly. The park and river trails are beautiful! And the hot shower and towel at the finish, which was included, was very welcome. If you have not run Iowa, make this your destination next fall.

The best part of this marathon is the organization and volunteer support. All aid stations were well stocked and manned with motivated and cheerful parents and children of the school. They were awesome. The course was more trail than I expected. They actually painted all the exposed roots and rocks for 4 miles of trail with white paint -very helpful. With only 88 marathoners it was nice to not see miles of open road ahead. While the spectators that were on the course were energetic and a mental boost to this runner, many runners might find spectator support lacking.

Great course and support!

If you're looking to race on a variety of surfaces- streets, highways, gravel, crushed rock and trail- you should try Mason City. The spaghetti dinner was fine and we got a nice long-sleeved technical shirt and Fox River running socks, which are made nearby. They're great socks. The course is pretty flat, but the three or four miles of trails required me to concentrate on my footing, so I couldn't zone out. Not a lot of runners or crowd support, but the volunteers were enthusiastic and they had plenty of gel and drinks. This is a hidden gem. It's an easy drive from the Twin Cities or the Omaha area.

I loved this race. I wanted to do a small race not all on pavement and this one sprang up in my search. My aged legs don't do well on all pavement so this race offered many surfaces from gravel roads to dirt paths with roots and rocks, to bike paths to town streets. Mason City is a wonderful town with great support and friendly spectators. I actually tossed my jacket to someone at mile 10 and it was waiting for me at the finish line! It was nice that the different races (half marathon, 10K, 5K) had different starts. And with the Music Man Square open we could sit around, use a real bathroom and converse with other racers. No crowds, super weather and lots to do in the town on my days of vacation. With a $6 spaghetti feed the night before and a great goodie bag with a nice long sleeved shirt, I would do this again if I am ever in the area.

This marathon is entirely underated and once more people discover it, it will become a much bigger event. Mason City has all the small town charm you could want. The run is in October with cooler temps, and fall foliage at it's peak. The course is very flat with a net elevation gain of 100 ft. With only 100 marathoners, and a wide open street to start the race on there are no crowds to get in your way and it is a certified Boston Qualifier. I don't know what else you could want! The course varies from asphalt on the street to a gravel road to scenic trails, and while the gravel is a bit of a bummer, it passes pretty quickly and is at the beginning of the marathon and not at the end. As a small marathon there is not a lot of crowd support, but I had several out there cheering for me, and is was very easy for them to get from place to place so I saw them in at least 6 different locations along the route. The race director does a great job, and as an added perk, just in case it is a rainy day, the Music Man Museum across from the start is open so you can use real bathrooms and stay out of the cooler weather until just before the start. Again, as someone who has run 78 marathons, I really don't believe you could ask for too much more. I plan to come back when I am in BQ shape and go for it in Mason City!

I loved the attention to detail the race director had for this race. Pins were already attached to the race bibs and names and numbers were already written on the drop bags. There was GU at three spots and water and Poweraid every two miles. We were able to wait for the start inside with real toilets. All key intersections were staffed to ensure safe crossing and all other spots were well marked. The half marathon started an hour later, so we didn't run into walls of slower runners near the finish. What a treat. This is a very small race, so the specators were sparse, but the scenery was wonderful. You run on paved and gravel country roads in the early miles and then on to dirt trails. It seems like you're the only one out there at times. The last part is through town, but mostly along the river on roads and trails. The waterstops were well organized and the course was difficult but fair. The gravel roads and the dirt trails got to me, but I still had a blast.

This was my 10th marathon. My first in Iowa. I knew it was going to be small and worried that I would have to use my MP3 player and run most of it alone but the smallness of the race was also part of the charm. The goodie bags were full of great surprises, the tshirts were very nice, and the medal was nice too. Don't kid yourself - it wasn't a boring IOWA road full of corn - there were trails, gravel, roots, roads, etc. Lots of variety. I think the race was so small that I was able to meet other runners. Loved the start aread - indoors, warm and no porta potties. REAL bathrooms. Loved stretching and visiting beforehand. Not many spectators but I do not really need them. Great awards ceremony afterwards because I got an age group award! nice finish line and showers.

First of all, let me say that the volunteers and organizers of this event really did a great job of putting this marathon together. I imagine it takes a lot of heart to pull something like this off, so kudos to the people of Mason City and Newman Catholic High School for doing so. Cons: Not that many runners for the full marathon (but that could be a pro, too!), infrequent water stops at the end (every two miles or so), trails made for some tricky running, gravel roads also somewhat challenging (be prepared if you're not used to this surface) Pros: GU packs made available, charming cheerleaders and volunteers, somewhat flat course (especially at the end), easy packet pick-up and easy-to-find start/finish lines, caring medical staff patrolling the course, early start times available, marathon fee goes to a GREAT cause! Best of luck to the organizers next year!

The marathon race was a great one to run with great volunteers. One benefit was that there were not many entrants so there were no crowds to contend with. The start at Music Man Square was very unique and a great way to start the event. Mason City is truly River City! The course had great variety in that it went through the city, out on bike travels, past Iowa corn fields on a few gravel roads, a great nature trail (especially in the fall with the leaves turning color) and then back again into the city for the end of the race at the Newman school. Great day!

Support along the course was fine and we were glad to support the local school system, but I think there should be some reciprocity.

I walked this course and it's the most beautiful one I have walked. From packet pick-up to finish line food, this was a very well organized event and I highly recommend it. Many 50-State Club members were here as well.

I've never been to Mason City. What a darling town. It was fun to start at such a famous landmark, "The Music Man" composer's hometown. The race was well organized, and the enthusiastic volunteers were amazing and so helpful. The spectators were so fun, especially the "pinata" that followed us along the course. The course was breathtaking and very diverse. You never knew what kind of surface or scenery was coming up next. I loved running through the serenity of the trails. Even though we were a small "marathon" group, everyone was friendly and encouraging. The towns were so quaint and the homes on wooded lots were so fun to admire. I'd come back to visit. Thanks for putting on such a fun marathon. I love the little home-town races.

I am originally from Iowa and I returned for this race fully expecting a boring run through cornfields. Yes, there was a good portion in the corn fields, but more than half of the race was on trails along the river. With the changing leaves it was absolutely beautiful! The race organization was superb and very accommodating. I have nothing negative to say about this race.

This was my fourth marathon, and I truly appreciate a lot of the little details that showed how much the organizers were focused on making it a great day for runners: * Indoor place to wait for the start - fantastic! * Lots of aid stations, with GU and fruit (though I don't use either during the race, it was a great touch for those who do). * Well-marked course with great volunteers at nearly every corner. I truly appreciated the time that went into marking the rocks and roots in the Lime Creek nature area - by that point my legs weren't always as nimble as they should be, and I'm sure that seeing the obstacles ahead of time saved me a fall. * Making changes to the half course at the last minute so those of us running the full would be the only ones through the wet dirt trails in Lime Creek. I know that had to be a huge undertaking! * Variety of food at the finish, and having showers available was wonderful. Though the event is small, they really do have the runners in mind when they make decisions.

Great race!! Here's why: * Low cost * $6 yummy pasta feed * Well organized * Great race director and volunteers * Fun course with variety * Pretty scenery * Excellent course marshals * Friendly and encouraging spectators * Excellent, locally-made Fox River socks as swag * Great post-race food * Hot showers! * Cheap enough to donate an extra $20 when you register * All in all, a great race and a great value!

Tiny but fun! Unlike others in previous years, I had no problem following the course. Though few and sometimes far between, the spectators were very friendly, and given the size of the race, the number of volunteers and aid stations was impressive.

This marathon is a well run, small marathon supporting a good local cause. Course was well marked, with helpful people at critical turning point along the route. This helped with not getting lost. Aid stations were well stocked with water and PowerAde, cut fruit, and GU, and it felt like you had your own personnel crew support at each stop. One stop even had the GU's already cut open. The finish line had an excellent recovery tent, staffed with plenty of people and wide variety of goodies. Bus to starting line was great, and gear check at the starting line awesome. Being able to sit in a nice convention center a short walk to the starting after being dropped off by the bus was great. I walked out to the starting line 10 minutes before the start, took off my sweats, checked my bag, and still had time to do whatever. While looking for my gear bag in the school gym after the race, a young lady handed me my bag as I walked in. If you like small, no-hassle races, this is the race for you. Few fans on the course were cheering you on, but the ones that were there were very supportive. There were several race chaser groups, which was fun; it was great to see the same person cheering for you at various points along the route. If you must have a big-time race with all the bells and whistles, you should give this race a try. I loved it. But I love every thing about Iowa, being a resident. I ran this race by myself, but would love to get a group of friends to run the course with. Not really a good PR course, with trails and gravel road surfaces at times, but I did get at PR of 4:12. This was my fourth marathon.

Packet pick0up is available Saturday evening or on the morning of the race, which is a great option for people who have to work on Saturdays. There isn't an expo, but you get a cotton long-sleeve shirt (I don't need every marathon shirt to be a technical tee), a nice pair of Fox River Mills socks, the usual assortment of free samples, and yes - a beef summer sausage! The pasta dinner is way too cheap and yet it's still delicious. We had interesting weather - 30 to 40 mph wind gusting to 58 mph and snow! Still a great experience - the weather made it quite interesting but it's kind of like a badge of honor to finish with the extra challenge. The course includes a fair number of bike trails and some city streets and a few miles of country blacktop (where the wind was reaaaaally killer). There are some gravel roads, but they were hard-packed. About 5 miles of the course are on a horse trail that's not really designed for running, but it was doable. There were a lot of rocks and roots jutting up out of the ground, but they had marked them well with white spray paint. The course had the perfect balance of uphills and downhills. The volunteers were top-notch. Aid stations were about every 2 miles as promised. One recommendation for next year would be to have the bike support guys check on the people behind the main pack at least once or twice. I never saw them after mile 10 because we were about 1/4 mile behind the pack at that point. I only gave 2 stars for spectators because of the quantity, not the quality. The few fans that I saw (less than a dozen total, not counting the aid station volunteers) were great - they moved around the course, so we saw them 2 or 3 times each. Overall, a great marathon as long as you don't need a bunch of adoring fans (I don't) or a huge expo (I don't). With not many runners, this race could be very lonely. My wife had agreed to go slower and run with me so I always had a running partner but otherwise it could have been a much more solitary experience. My finishing time was terrible but that was the fault of the weather and myself, not the course.

This was my first marathon, and it was memorable, even if for no reason other than the weather. Brutal wind on the first half; snow on the back half. Enjoyed the various terrain, and the volunteers were great. Very encouraging, even for us who ran near the back of the pack.

Plenty of variety of surfaces on the course, from paved roads to unpaved roads to gravel and wooded trails - with nice scenery. Organizers do everything they can for you. Start and finish facilities were great, with showers, shelter from weather, etc. The pasta dinner was like a family event. Certainly the wind and snow showers (along with the falling trees in the woods) added to the "excitement." The folks marshaling the course and water aid stops deserve a big "thank you" given the weather. No problems for me with directions - seemed there was always somebody guiding us, and the surface markings were very clear. A small event with a big heart.

Yes, the weather was challenging this year - 40 mph winds and snow during the second half - but we're troopers. The goody bag was surprising for such a small race - summer sausage, socks, deodorant, etc. The complimentary shuttle to the start was nice. A couple of suggestions for next year: 1) Fix the online map (it is still the incorrect route). 2) Volunteers need to be stationed at EVERY intersection or where there's a fork in the road. Plus, the volunteers need to be shouting which way to go (when they are visible) and not just stand there. Unfortunately, most of the high school volunteers just sat in their chairs and did nothing. I had to ask a spectator which way to go. Also, there needs to be someone stopping traffic for the runners. There was actually a guy that got "bumped" by a car when he was crossing the street towards the finish line because no one was stopping traffic. That's just inexcusable! 3) The race needs to be advertised more and supported by the community. Did Mason City even know that a marathon was going through their town? 4) Also, since the 5K and 10K usually don't have a good turnout, perhaps hold the shorter races in the spring or summer and the longer races in the fall. On a positive note, the course is quite scenic, going through many trails (which blocked the wind).

I have run 20 marathons so far and 5 of them have been Mason City, Iowa's "On The Road For Education Marathon." Yes, there are several reasons why I run this race, 1) I grew up in North Iowa; 2) Lime Creek is one of the best trail systems I have run on anywhere; 3) it has a great, fast course (I hold the record for females); 4) the people on the race planning committee are wonderful and work very hard (I have also been on the planning committee); and 5) I graduated from Newman in 1998. But even if I had no ties to this race, I would still recommend running it. It is well organized and well marked. There are not many fans, but when they are there, they are great!! Be prepared for any type of weather. I've seen anything from rain, to heat, to snow!! If you are looking for a fantastic marathon experience, check out On The Road. I now live in Oklahoma City, but that does not stop me from making the 10-hour trip back home to Iowa every year for this race. I could not miss this one!!

The course was interesting with all the different surface types offered, however they did not seem prepared for the weather which made the muddy areas a challenge. Also the water stations were not adequately attended; when I tried to contact the organizers via email I never received a reply; and the website is still not updated with photos.

All and all this is a pretty well run event that could use some tweaking. The weather played havoc with the course on the unpaved roads to find firm footing and also on the nature preserve hiking trail where pools of water formed overnight and at times it was treacherous to find a place where you may not slide into the ground. The other surfaces were fine, except after about mile 20 or so we had to run on the sidewalk through a downtown area which at that point in a race hopping the curbs and all that is not what you really want to do. As mentioned by others the signage was a little confusing at times. I ran the race nearly alone for 20 miles and guessed the correct turns several times. The volunteers directing at some of the junctures could have been more helpful verbalizing where to run rather than pointing in a direction for those running alone. It is hard to rate the spectators since there were very few(given the drizzly rain I suppose)except those at the water stops and at the finish line. I liked the shower at the finish and waiting indoors prior to the race start. It is a relatively flat course except a few hills early on. I ran this instead of the TCM the week before and did a PR. I would do this race again assuming the course was dry. This was my first small town marathon and was a very good experience on a challenging day!

I ran the 1/2 marathon race (started at the halfway point of the marathon course). Even though it was rainy and in the low 50s, I didn't think we had horrible running conditions at all. The course was very scenic and utilized many local trails (some were paved, others were gravel or dirt/mud). The first part of the 1/2 marathon went through the Lime Creek area. Since it was raining, the trails were super muddy, and it was hard to keep your traction. As a result, people had slower times. The course map that was available online was incorrect - the real route varied by a block or two or three in some parts. When you come off of Pierce Ave. and the last mile is off (that was frustrating because I ran the online-version of the course the week before to get a feel for it mentally and physically, but that was the wrong course - that needs to be fixed for next year). There was one spot in the Big Blue area where the path forked. However, there were no signs or volunteers pointing you in the right direction. Thankfully, I chose the right path. All finishers in the marathon and 1/2 marathon got finisher medals. However, only the top finisher in each division got "rewarded." It would be nice if the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places got medals. Spectators were far and few between. The volunteers at the water stations were great - and very encouraging! I liked how there was rock music playing at the finish line. Is there any way there can be music at other points in the race for next year? Overall, I would recommend the 1/2 marathon. I thought it went by pretty quickly and did not get bored at all.

I ran the half marathon in 2007. Overall, a very good, small-town event. The volunteers were fantastic and the goody bag was better than what I've received in big-city marathons. I've never had a tube of summer sausage in a goody bag before. There just a few items I'd like to suggest to make the event even better: 1. The map in the brochure and website wasn't the actual course; specifically, we did not run on 15th St. SW nor did we enter the finish area on Taft. 2. In the Big Blue area (after mile 11 half/mile 24 full) there was a fork in the bike trail. There were old markings on the trail indicating a left turn but there was not a clear indication of which way to go. Again with the map not matching the course, I started the wrong way but when I didn't see any markings, I reversed course and then noticed arrows directing the runners. I suggest better markings at that fork of both painted markings as well as posted directions or perhaps volunteers at the fork. 3. Would like to see the results posted a bit faster. This is a fantastic event and you show off the best of Mason City. It's really too bad there isn't much support from the community. It seems the only support comes from families and friends of other runners. Maybe you could get neighborhoods to organize and provide some support and encouragement.

Considering what it was like the week before at Twin Cities and Chicago, the cooler weather and rain wasn't too bad. Rain quit just before the start and then there was only a mist a bit after that. The rain the night before left the Lime Creek Trail a real challenge. More than one runner commented on how their times fell off because of the wet, slick conditions. Still it was an enjoyable race. I would concur that a few more direction markers in the woods would have been nice. With 10-year age groups, I would recommend medals 3-deep instead of just 1st place. I will come back and do this one again some day.

I really enjoyed the challenging course due to the weather. The course was in town, in the county on gravel roads, and on the bike path and on trails that were muddy and slippery. I loved the scenic views! Even though my time was not my best, I thought the race was very organized and I would definitely run it again! This is a very small race with great support!

This was my second OTR4E Marathon. In my previous 85 marathons I have never taken a wrong turn or gotten off course, until this marathon in 2007. When running in a trail laden nature area, the course almost has to be "over marked" to avoid what happened to our 15-runner pack. There were plenty of signs, arrows and volunteers at most areas. However, this was a critical juncture without any sign, arrow or person manning this point. On other areas of the course I could not see a single runner in front or in back of me and I found some other areas suspect. There were arrows on the ground, but then they switched to the other side of the road, making me wonder at a few points (in the latter miles) if I was actually on the course. I'm not the brightest guy in the world, but I haven't been lost at any of these past 85 marathons. I felt bad for the one young lady running her first marathon. Otherwise, everything was fine; it's just too bad that one course-marking problem really soured me.

Delicious spaghetti dinner the night before the race. Goody bag included nice running socks and a beef summer sausage (I'm not sure what that was all about). Morning buses drop you off at an indoor mall so you can stay warm and use the very nice restrooms before the short walk to the start line. You come across some Frank Lloyd Wright homes early on in the race. The course has all surfaces: cement and asphalt streets, bike trails, gravel roads, and a significant portion of trail running. On the boring straight-away sections they had little "Burma Shave" signs posted to keep things interesting. This race had everything but hills, and the variety kept it interesting. Post-race offered hot showers at the high school - they even provided towels, soap and shampoo! Here's why I didn't give all 5 stars: Course: Lime Creek Nature Center could use some serious wood-chipping on loop portion (miles 16 and 17) - this was actually sloppier than any of the ultras I've run on. I know of one woman who face-planted (unhurt, other than pride), and another guy who just gave up and walked the whole section. Organization: [Already addressed with race director - expect this to be corrected] Calmus Creek didn't have a sign pointing across the bridge. I wound up adding 6-7 minutes to my time by following a group that took a wrong turn along the river. Also, around mile 24.5 there was a split in the bike trail without signs and I lost another 2 minutes. The volunteers surfaced with signs for the guy behind me, and fortunately they called me back. Two wrong turns in one marathon - both preventable.

I ran the half for the first time in '06 and loved it! The course is great - flat, fast, and shows all of the best parts of Mason City (the miles through Lime Creek Nature Preserve were especially beautiful). Organization was great - buses to the starting lines, course was well marked, showers at the finish line. The fans were also energetic, despite the cold weather. I can't wait to run the race again in 2007!

I ran this in 2005 and I will admit I am a slow marathon runner, but the organizers of this event screwed up royally. The said the course would be open for six hours - it wasn't; they said that they would have water at certain places - they didn't; and the course was not marked well and me and my partner ended up running four extra miles!!!! They didn't even know we were still on the course and only figured it out when my two other running partners told them we were still out there (they had already finished). When we did finally make it to the end, they had taken down all the finish line stuff and were not sympathetic about it at all. This was my first marathon and almost ruined me on doing more, but I did Chicago and Des Moines and really enjoyed those. I would not do this event again ever.