Charlevoix Marathon - Race Reviews

Nice job guys, and gals... thank you... as a slow runner, I know its hard for people to hang at the aide stations, but please tell the helpers the slower people have a very hard time and need the help the most... through the race and at the finish.

We drove up and across the UP from Milwaukee and had a nice time in Charlevoix. Packet pickup was very easy and the free (with donation) spaghetti dinner held at the Methodist church was awesome! The day of the event came early as the race started at 6:30. Parking was a breeze downtown. Plenty of bathrooms available as well. The start of the race went off in time and away we went. The course was flat with some small rollers here and there. Most of the course is run on a path near Lake Michigan so it was nice/shaded scenery. No issues with course markings and no lack of support at aid stations. Spectators were very sparse which is why I gave it two stars on that. Finish line was strange. I received an awesome medal and a few bottles of water. At first I thought that was it and started hiking back to my car. I then found the post race food near where the original packet pickup was. All summed up - it was an above average marathon event for me. I would recommend this for your Michigan event. This marks my 13th state completed.

It's a bit out of the way but worth the trip for a small-town marathon. I can see why Runner's World named it a top 10 small town marathon - that's how I found out about it. Course is very scenic, largely an out-and-back trail along the shore of a lake so you have the opportunity to see those ahead of you and behind you after the turn-around. A few small hills here and there but nothing too unmanageable. Half-marathon course parallels the marathon but starts 30 minutes later so that you don't suddenly find out you've been pacing yourself for the first 6 miles against a half-marathoner. Weather was good this year - mid 50's at the start (pretty good for a late-June race). Fans along the course were a bit sparse, but most of them cheered enthusiastically for anyone who ran past (and thanks to the lady with the 'Punch here for Power' sign who showed up mid-way and again in the last couple of miles when I really needed it!). Some of the age group awards were stolen the night before the race, which is a bummer, but they race team said they'd be shipping out replacements.

I picked this race due to the comments I read about a lot of people BQ-ing (I unfortunately didn't). The course was pretty flat, aside from one big hill around mile 10 and a slight incline at the end (around mile 25, last thing I needed at that point). There were some nice water views after the half-marathon turnaround point but when you weren't covered by trees it was HOT. The temperature probably was around 70+ after 9am, in the shade... so hotter in the direct sun. Can't control the weather but it was miserable in that sun. There were a couple of houses who had sprinklers out (thank you!)but not a ton of crowd support. If you need a lot of spectators for support then this is not the race for you. A lot of the course followed a highway, so sort of not as scenic as I was hoping for. All in all it was great for a small race, pretty well organized and very straight forward. Great to have real bathrooms as an option and showers afterwards. Pizza and fudge afterwards was great too! The main complaint I had was it wasn't obvious where the food tent was afterwards and there was no gatorade...

I ran the 2016 Charlevoix Marathon and had a blast. The course was pretty much as flat as one could expect for a marathon and had spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Weather this year was the hottest on record with 59 at the start and about 75 at 10 am. It did get hot, but what can you expect from a summer marathon? Organization was top notch: packet pick-up was fast and convenient and aid stations were well stocked and managed well and lots of emails went out before the race with directions for runners. I loved the medal and the race shirt. If you are traveling to the area, there are some great hotels near the start line which are very convenient including the Weathervane Terrace, Edgewater Inn and Pointes North Inn. Overall this was a great summer marathon.

What a beautiful city! Charlevoix was very pretty. They weren't joking about the scenery, along the water. Gorgeous! Positives: 1. It is a mainly flat course. The huge hill at mile 25 is just mean though. Why a huge hill at that point in the run? 2. Easy packet pick up. 3. Easy to park on race morning. 4. Screen at the finish line displaying results. 5. Washrooms available before the race. 6. Boston qualifier. 7. They gave a free race entry, for 2017, to the runner who volunteered to sing the national anthem. Cute. Negatives: 1. Race was supposed to start, early, at 06:00h. We received an email about the 06:00h start about a week ahead of the race. Race morning we find out it's not starting until 06:30h. Not cool. No, really. Not cool. The temperatures were forecasted to be very high near the average finishing time. The race should have started at 05:00h or 05:30h, as there were runners collapsing by the time it was 90++ degrees at 09:00h, 10:00h, 11:00h. I saw at least three ambulances during the run, helping runners. There were two other times that I could hear sirens in the distance. I was just praying it wasn't a fellow racer in heat distress. It's so dangerous. I took two waters and one energy drink at every water stop + had my own energy with electrolytes for the race + was well-hydrated pre-race. Even still, I was very dehydrated by the end. It scares me to think of what could've happened if I didn't have the experience and knowledge related to what my body needed, for hydration, in that heat. Seriously - if you're going to hold a race at this time of year, think about the safety aspect of the heat. The heat was nothing short crippling. It was my worst marathon time ever at +42minutes off of my average time. You know it's bad when the two guys in the medical tent are heard discussing the safety of racing in the heat. 2. The water stops were sort of adequately manned. (I know they're volunteers. I always thank them up and down, regardless). At at least one stop I had to wait. At that point though, it didn't matter to me since my pace was way off (because of the heat). Getting water was a safety issue. So, wait I did. Man oh man, would I have been furious about waiting for water if I had been on-pace for a Boston qualifying time though. 3. On such a hot race day, there should have been more effort made to have COLD WATER at the water stops. A lukewarm cup of water or Gatorade does nothing to quench thirst. 4. Have some consistency with your water stops, PLEASE. One stop the water is all on the right-hand side. The next stop they're all mixed on the tables and you don't know what you're grabbing. Just have some consistency so the RACERs can grab and go. Thanks. 5. Maybe have your announcer refrain from mentioning 'I think this is the last of the marathoners coming through.' Geezus, as if anyone wants it annouced that they were dead last. 6. Let racers know that there are food and snacks at the packet pick up tent for after the race. It wasn't until over an hour and a half later (already had eaten and showered and was walking around the finish line) that I discovered I could've had a snack after the race. 7. See comment #1. I am just so disappointed with how they managed the start time and the weather forecast. It turned my marathon from a Boston qualifier (was hoping to qualify) to barely finisher. I travelled quite a ways to race this past weekend. I'm glad I got to see Charlevoix and surrounding area. Other than that it was a waste of my time though. No Boston qualification and a lot of money spent. The race website boasts that 18% of their field qualify, on average. I'm curious to see how many actually qualified this year. 8. Again, the heat was crippling and the water stops were not conducive to cooling ourselves/ properly hydrating. 9. I know this point is a matter of taste and preference, but, the race medal was really ugly. A gigantic '10' to signify their 10th anniversary. A cute touch with some rock from the area incorporated, but, just ugly. It looks like a I ran a 10 mile run, not a marathon. I really, really, REALLY want to give this race another 'go'. I wouldn't ever consider it unless improvements are made. Please, step-it-up, Charlevoix. You have the potential to be AH-MAZING!

Although I did not run this year, I was spectating for my husband. This is hands down, the BEST marathon for spectators! The race is great, the vibe is great, the race director is great...just all around recommended. I loved it to much that I'm forgoing my original 'comeback marathon after having babies' from Bayshore to this one. Excellent job and huge shout out to Ron and the gang!

This was my fourth time running Charlevoix and it gets worse each year for the people finishing near the top of the pack. Let me start off by saying I love the course and will probably do it again but it gets harder to convince myself to sign up. THE BAD: the course is tight in certain areas meaning that when the leaders of the marathon are coming in, the end of the half and 5/10 k's are also finishing. This leads to a whole lot of congestion and trying to dodge around people; some get out of your way, others don't. Jumping around people is not something I want to be doing after running 24 miles. The course really could be sectioned off. The age group awards used to be awesome mugs but they switched to dinky little pint glasses. With how much they charge for an entrance fee, I'd expect better. THE GOOD: It's absolutely gorgeous in the morning. Especially when you see the lake. The overall awards are awesome stone carved Michigans. The year I won, I got a dumb little jacket from the store and the next year, they started giving these out. I've been coming back each year to try and get me one of them but the competition is getting steeper so I'll really have to step up my training. All in All, it's not bad but it's been packed in recent years, course is a gentle up slope halfway followed by a gentle downslope on the way back so it should be great if you're just looking to finish; not so much if you're trying to win.

I ran this race in June 2015, great small town race. I narrowly missed qualifying for Boston on this course. It is a fair out & back course with an uphill stretch somewhere around mile 9, it's not a severe incline and should be manageable for anyone who trained a bit on gentle rolling hills. Weather was perfect, 55 & sunny, very well-shaded & scenic course (though I didn't pay much attention to scenery while focused on keeping pace). Well marked route, good pace groups, well run aid stations, adequate crowd support (but nothing like a big city marathon), all-in-all a very good choice for a late June race. Glad I ran it, might travel back to do it again.

In summary: do this awesome small marathon! It was my third. I PR'd by 34 minutes, BQ'd with a 6.5-minute cushion, and even won my age group (I never thought that I could do that in a marathon)! I attribute my time to the cool temperatureabout 55 degrees at the start, low elevation, and mostly flat course. I train at 4,000 feet on hills, so this course felt relatively 'easy,' although it's still 26.2 miles and difficult for that reason, of course. There are a few small hills, which broke up the flats nicely in my opinion. There were about 400 people in the marathon and 2,000 in the whole event. I rated the organization of the race 4 stars, but I wanted to give it 4.5 stars. I felt that it didn't deserve 5 stars only because I didn't like my experience at packet pickup. Do not expect good SWAG or even a bag at packet pickup! An unfriendly woman handed me my bib and my shirt without saying much. I took a sticker from the pile on the table. That was the extent of packet pickup. The long-sleeve tech shirt had a cool logo of the state of Michigan with a runner over it, but I wished it also said Charlevoix Marathon on the front. Besides packet pickup, the organization of the race was really great! We started on time. The course was clearly marked with directional arrows on the ground and mile markers. Well-stocked aid stations were about 1.5 miles apart, and the volunteers were nice and cheered for us. They had water and gatorade at every station and gels and candy at many of them. The post-race food was goodbananas, chips, pizza, chocolate milk, and maybe one or two other things. The awards ceremony was a little delayed but not terribly. The announcer was funny but not long winded. The finisher's medal was awesome with a moving drawbridge, and I got a pint glass with the marathon logo for winning my age group. The pint glass was ok, but it'd be nice to also have a ribbon or a medal that actually says '1st place' because I probably don't have too many marathon age group wins in my future! The course is an out and back. It starts near the draw bridge and winds through a neighborhood on closed roads before turning on to an asphalt trail. There is a section on a wooden boardwalk that's about a mile long and very nice. Most of the course is in the woods with a few places near Lake Michigan with a fabulous view! There was decent shade along much of the course. There were pacers this year, and I ran with a pace group. I loved it! The pacers were friendly, encouraging, and helpful, alerting us to aid stations and giving useful reminders about form and stuff. There were only two of us left with the pacers at the end, partly because they ended up running it fast, a little more than 3 minutes faster than the goal finish time. This upset at least one runner who started with the group, but I thought it was great! I did way better than I thought I could because I pushed myself to stay with them. They even gave me the sign to carry across the finish line and keep! Charlevoix is a small town, and traffic and parking are tough. When the drawbridge is up, traffic gets pretty backed up. It took about an hour for my ride to find a parking spot on marathon morning. Get a hotel close to the start/finish and walk. It's a cute town. The restaurants and shops are decent. There's a nice beach on Lake Michigan and great views of the harbor. I did not get the sense that the community was super supportive of the race. No one was out watching in the neighborhoods that we ran through. One notable exception was a man who had a sprinkler up on a tall ladder for us to run through. He was a hero. It seemed like the only spectators were friends/family of the runners. The small number of spectators that did watch were so much fun thoughvery energetic and encouraging! This marathon has everything that matters: a very nice course, cool temperatures in June (at least this year), good hydration and nutrition, and a fun medal. Plus, now it's Boston 2016 for me!!

This was my second marathon. The area is beautiful. The specatators were few, but friendly and encouraging, there were even a few privately orgainzed cooling stations. The organization and support was very good. After a disappointing first marathon where I injured myself on a hilly course at Sleeping Bear in 2013, I was pleased with the course and the people I met. I will consider returning next year.

One of my favorite races,4th time running it. I really like the small town feel. Can be a little warm because of the time of the year but there is plenty of water on the course. Great medal and shirts, they change them every year. Good food at the finish line and awards handed out right away.

I qualified for Boston on this course so naturally I don't have a bad thing to say about it. :) I came here from the northeast, where all the courses seem to have significant and frequent hills. This is by far the flattest course I've encountered. It's simple too, running alongside US31 on a shaded bike path. Whether you can qualify here will largely depend on weather. The weather on the morning of 2014's race was relatively mild and dry. The race director further enhanced our chances by moving the race back a half hour, to 6:30 am. Frankly, with the early sunrises in northern MI at this point in the year, a 6 am start would be even better. I'm trying to do the 50 state thing, but of the 8 marathons I've completed so far this is the first I'd be tempted to return to, especially if I needed a BQ for the following year. Good race!

I am fascinated by everything about the race. Outstanding support by everyone, organization, community and other runners. The mood is festive and contageous. I said, EVERY year, and we (my wife and I) are looking forward to the early registration.

I ran the Charlevoix Marathon on June 21, 2014. This was my second marathon. My first marathon was Bay Shore in Traverse City Michigan. I am not an elite runner. My pace is between 9:30 and 10:00 min. I do not want to offend anyone in Charlevoix. I would recommend Bayshore over Charlevox if it is your first time. The inclines on this course were down played...not good..my fault on that one. At mile 9 to 13 there are inclines that WILL affect your race. I would not call this course FLAT. Bayshore IS FLAT. The heat did play a factor in the race too. Bayshore is 4 weeks earlier so cooler. I will say the water points every 1 1/2 were great. If you do run Charlevoix bring your own cheerers. The Charlevoix community really has no interest in the race. The were few spectators. Thank god my wife and sister in law were there!!!! Not the same for Bayshore..the community really embraces the run and come out to support the runners. The tech shirt I got was a large but the arms were short. My arms are normal length. The medal for Charlevoix was GREAT. It was way better then Bayshore. If you run Charlevoix train HILLS, train in warmer weather, make sure you are taking in lots of water, bring some supporters with you, secure a place to stay early, turn the other cheek when you hear the locals complaining about the runners because they have to wait a little longer to be seated at THEIR restaurant. It's a young race and if it is going to grow Charlevoix must get the community involved and embrace the runners. We bring in a lot of money to that community...with million dollar boats in the marina...maybe they could care less.

I enjoyed the race, but agree w/ others as I'm not a fan of the repeat course (for full, it was there and back, then repeated). My only other complaint is that it didn't have a lot of spectators, which you really need support throughout the race. Hopefully, as the race gains more publicity that will help. Great scenery though! Need more port-potties too!

Well, it wasn't really that bad. But there was a low overcast throughout the marathon, and there was some misty precipitation. But it was great weather for a Summer marathon! Especially when they forecast 77 degrees and isolated thunder-showers. Never saw the sun for this race though. This marathon event was easy to get to. They gave an intersection for the start-line - right on U.S. 31 - and GPS took me right there. There is a draw-bridge across the channel, and the check-in was on one side of the bridge, and the start line on the other. They only allowed race-day check-in from 5:00 until 6:30 a.m. At 5:40 or so, they were still scrambling to get going. The marathon started on time. There were said to be just over 400 marathon runners for the event. The course - an out & back - started on U.S. 31 and immediately exited into a neighborhood. The first few miles were through nice neighborhoods, and the course was well marked - throughout the course. There were plenty of aid stations, and porta-potties too. I did not see any fruit on this course. They had gel from early on, and lots of it. And they had red licorice; Gatorade and water too. After a few miles in residential, the course entered a bike & foot path, and continued along Lake Michigan and the highway, weaving in and out of heavly treed areas. It was quite pretty. The course went over a very long wodden bridge - it seemed like a mile or more. After mile marker 9, the course made a significant rise, then crossed over an old railroad bed. When we reached the 13.1 mile point - most of the way to Petosky by then - we did a U-turn and headed back. There were very few spectators; mostly family and friends tracking their runners, and moving along the course to strategic positions to cheer them on. Coming back, at about 18.5 miles - with woods there on both sides of the trail, I saw a deer cross the path. That was cool. This race advertised a 7 a.m. start and that the finish line would be removed from the road at 1:00 p.m. but that you could still finish on the sidewalk. Still, that you only had 5.5 hours for the event. That was confusing, and they never went back and made the numbers match (that I could see). The finish line was across the bridge, and by the time I got to the bridge, it was opening to allow a sail boat to pass. The food was pizza, sub sandwiches, Great Lakes potato chips, and water. Overall, they did a really good job and the town is very scenic. Some of the houses reminded me of Candyland. A smaller sized race well worth running.

This was my first marathon and as recommended for first timers, I took water from every aid station. While I initally thought there were too many aid stations during the first 4 miles, those same stations turned out to be heaven the last 4 miles as the temperatures climbed. The volunteers were friendly and supportive. There were not a ton of people on the course which is to be expected due to the layout. Those that were however, were engaging and enthusiastic. There was a young lady sitting in her front yard with a garden hose around mile 24 who had a sign that read, 'Say yes if you want to get wet.' As I got closer to her I said, 'Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh God yes!' This was a well organized event, which honestly is the highest compliment a runner can give. I would recommend it to first timers and marathon veterans alike. Kudos to Ron & Sharon Suffolk, and the people of Charlevoix!

The course is beautiful, through woods and by the shore of Lake Michigan. The small field means runners can be very spread out, especially toward the end but if you miss being around a lot of people the setting makes up for it. The course is basically flat with some gentle rises here and there. The spectators are few but enthusiastic. Enough porta-potties. Good variety of food and drink at the end and a beautiful medal.

If you're looking for a small, no-frills race the Charlevoix Marathon will be hard to beat. Pros: 1) The race directors did a great job with communication, organization, and support on the course. 2) I generally don't like out-and-back courses and was nervous about running next to US-31. I found the course to be very enjoyable, with a nice mixture of lake views and shady pine trees. 3) If you're from someplace as flat as me (Indiana), prepare for one good hill at mile 9-10 and another from 24-25. Otherwise the course was pretty flat...definitely PR / BQ-friendly! 4) Plenty of aid stations, cold drinks, overly eager volunteers and lots of porta-potties with no lines. 5) Great t-shirt and very hefty medals. Con: 1) No accurate clocks on the course. Not a big deal but would have liked to know my half split at the turnaround. One tip is to book your hotel early as lodging in CVX is limited. We stayed at The Lodge of Charlevoix, and the start / finish line was right outside the hotel. Can't beat it for convenience.

LOVED this marathon. Just ran it TODAY and I was so excited I wanted to write about it! Beautiful small town atmosphere. The people (lots of teenagers!) handing out gu, water and gatorade were soo kind and friendly! The race organizers were really on top of things and answered emails really quickly! The course was really pretty:)My only regret-wish we had made reservations for MORE days to spend here! I'll come back FOR SURE:)

Overall, really nice race. Beautiful, relatively flat course, great for beginners like myself. Very small race with small town feel (good for me but might be too small for people used to running the 'big races'. Organizers and helpers were very friendly and helpful (particularly to first timers like myself and my wife). Our biggest issue was with the bathroom situation. Maybe this is normal but we found it very odd that there was one stretch of nearly 13 miles without so much as a porta potty (from about mile 6.5 to 19 or so). Most everyone we talked to said this was way too far and there should have been at least a couple more. Definitely a great course and we would highly recommend as long as they solve the bathroom thing...

A buddy and I drove 600 miles to this race and it was worth it.I'm not a big fan of out and back course's but this one was nice.I train on the hills 1 day a week and I can only remember 1 little hill and 1 incline near the finish in my opinion this race is flat as a pancake. I ran the Derby marathon in Louisville on April 30th and admit my training didn't go as I had hoped.So I signed up for Charlevoix then things started to click.I beat my Louisville time by 52 min.Needless to say I was PUMPED UP They had plenty of water stops with Gatoraid. They had a good idea of starting the marathon at 7 and the half at 7:30. To my surprise the bike path didn't get crowded.Next year I'm taking my wife and make it a four day weekend.600 miles was a long trip home right after a marathon at least we got a late check out at the motel we stayed at. They needed more porta johns on the course thank God for the bushes. Overall a great race. See Ya next year!!!!!

The course was smooth and had some nice sights of the water. Great small town, beautiful downtown area. One area that could use some improvement is the 1/2 marathon walking. Our race started at 6:00am yet the water stations didn't open until 7:00am. If the race has started, the stations should be open. Also, it would be great if the volunteers running the stations could hand the athletes the cups as opposed to some stations had us go over to the table and pick them up ourselves-in a race time matters. Would recommend this race to a friend.

This was a wonderful small town marathon. The course was well marked and had aide stations that were adequate for the number of people running the race. The course goes through thick forest on a bike path that breaks through to views of Lake Michigan on occasion. I thought the course was beautiful, cool and well planned out. After the race there was more than enough food for everyone , they brought in more sandwiches when they ran out. I am glad I chose this as my Michigan marathon. Kudus to the race director.

The place was beautiful and the race was pretty well run except that some of the water stops were highly disorganized and several had really little cups. Way too hot for me to PR or even put up credible showing as I baked in the limited shade available for most of the last few miles. Obviously that's not the races fault but I would have loved the day before when it was cloudy, slightly rainy and much, much cooler. It looked like a great little vacation town and in retrospect I wished I'd booked a longer stay. The drawbridge separating the finish from the post race area made for some nice pictures. The race was small and actually felt even smaller as it definitely had a bit of a locals vibe. The staggered start made the mostly bike trail course surprisingly uncongested (the half starts 30 minutes after the full goes off). Not sure what the first reviewer was talking about on the food; I limped in a smidge over 4 hours and there was still some food to be had. Didn't think about the water since I grabbed one on the finish line side of the drawbridge but water on both sides probably would be an improvement. Agree on the parking though, that was easy, close and free. I will definitely recommend this race.

The Charlevoix Marathon was my first. I could not have had a more positive and memorable experience from beginning to end. From our accommodations just steps from the start and finish lines, to the great weather, beautiful sights, fantastic aid stations and downhill finish, this well organized event just may have me hooked. Although few in number, the spectators were great. I loved the small town feeling to the event and the opportunity my family had to cheer me on in numerous locations along the course. While I wish this event continued success and growth... For me... I like the size just the way it is!! I look forward to the opportunity to return again next year.

What a beautiful course following along the lake, love the small town. I have run some big races and will choose the smaller ones every time. They pay a lot of attention to detail and afterword keep it really personal. I would recommend this race every time

As a first-time marathon runner, I had read all the comments for this marathon, most were very favorable so I had a good feeling going into it. From the time I arrived to the time I left Bridge Park, I was more than satisfied with the whole experience. Parking was the easiest I've ever experienced for a race. We just pulled up and parked in the street. Aside from porta johns, public restrooms were also available with hardly a line. The race itself was outstanding. Water/aid stations were well equipped with sports drinks, water, gels and candy, the course was beautiful and mostly shady and made the run as enjoyable as it could be. The after party was also very nice with sandwiches and many other snacks. Results could be retrieved immediately after the race by the runners which was nice since it was a Boston Qualifier. Overall, it was the most enjoyable race I have ever ran. I entered because I wanted a BQ and felt it was my best chance given the small size of the race and the course being mostly flat with only a few hills to speak of. I'm happy to say I achieved my goal with over 10 minutes to spare. I plan on running again next year.

This was my first marathon and I truly enjoyed it. The course was beautiful and the aid stations were in abundance and well supplied. I however wish I had known that there would be no port-a-potties after the 6 mile mark and at the turn around (mile 13) was very concerned because I realized I would have to run another 7 miles before being able to use the bathroom. There fortunately was a gas station across the highway (around mile 15) that I ran over to and had to wait in a line to use. The gas station attendant actually reminded me that paying customers were in front of me. Fortunately, two girls who were also waiting in front of me allowed me to go in before them. This of course added to my time and I really felt that there should have been at least one port-a-pottie at the 13 mile turn around. Aside from this, I thought the run was well organized and over all a great experience. I would like to consider this run again next year but would want to be sure there were potties available after the 6 mile mark. :)

This was my first marathon ever (I've done 2 halfs) and I'm glad I picked Charlevoix! Charlevoix is absolutely charming! I loved walking around after the race with my husband. To be honest, perhaps because I train on the lakefront path in Chicago, I am always left wanting for scenery when I run a race somewhere else. I had high expectations for CVX based on reviews, but the views of Lake Michigan were few on the course, and no boats or anything. It was more scenic walking around downtown than running the race. I suppose I'm just spoiled. The course was definitely pretty flat and the weather was FANTASTIC! (50s-60s) A great combination for my first marathon. It's a small race, only about 400 marathoners, but I was never really alone. And I liked the out and back course because that's how I train and I enjoyed seeing the super fast runners coming back. One thing that was superb for me was that my husband was able to see me every 2-3 miles on the course and I would like to nominate him as most supportive spectator ever! I was happy with the shirt (although oddly short) and the awesome medal. But I was disappointed to not receive any other 'goody-bag' items associated with running or Charlevoix. It would be good for local merchants to advertise with coupons, etc. Also, the finish line food was sub par. Only greasy chips and dried-out sandwhiches with a few tiny banana pieces. Overall I think the race is a tad overpriced for what you got. For the most part, the aid stations were nice. But I've always run with my own water and food (a habit I will hopefully break soon). Overall, I would definitely recommend Charlevoix: the marathon, the people, Cherry Republic, and the feuding family fudge shops on Bridge Street (although the Weathervane I think is overrated).

I do not think I can put into words how wonderful this race is. From the registration - packet pick up - the information thru out the weekend. The race director and his wife are the best. I do need to say to the previous runner - A.D from Canton - I ran slower than you and they had TONS of food - and TONS of water and gatorade at the finish and at the food station. The aide stations were FULLY stocked with people and cold drinks! and pretzels and GU etc etc...I will for SURE do this race again and again!!!!

This is a very easy out and back course. There are a few gentle rolling hills and wonderful scenery through a lovely shaded neighborhood and along a park-like paved path along the lake. I highly recommend staying at the Bridge Street Inn as the start/finish is right out the front door. Dave and Elizabeth had a wine and cheese reception for us, homemade cookies in our rooms, and a perfect runners' breakfast. I finished in 3 hrs and 42 minutes and though I did not seek out the food right away, there was plenty! Three kinds of sandwiches, a variety of chips, bananas, chewey bars and it was available throughout the awards ceremony. There was a glitch with the posting of ages, but the crew was on it right away and very apologetic. Absolutely wonderful experience and inviting temps (52-68) especially as I had come from Texas (80-104)!

Simply a great marathon experience. I did this marathon before and enjoyed it. BUT...it was even better this time around! The RD has made impressive improvements in a race that I thought was well done the first time that I did it! The course is scenic, well marked, and in excellent repair. Running on a bike path and over a wooden bridge in a beautiful nature setting...very nice because no worries about traffic. The volunteers were WONDERFUL...there was even a trumpet player saluting me at one aid station! I am a walker and started early, and the volunteers were out there supporting me even though the race didn't start for another hour! The water was cold...and they provided ice! (I saw a comment about well water??? I only saw bottled water at the aid stations.) A good variety of sweet and salty snacks at every aid station! Post race food available...the RD and staff were calling local vendors to make sure that food was available for slower folks like me. GREAT medal as well as a great tech shirt. Lots of medical and police support. Strong presence from the local firefighters. I have nothing negative to say. Keep up the good work!!!! Don't miss this marathon experience!

This marathon was great-from packet pickup to the finish. It's a small race and the course is an out and back. The course was mostly flat on a nice paved trail along Lake Michigan. Being a small race there weren't many spectators, which is fine with me. My favorite type of marathon is scenic and quiet, which this was. There were plenty of friendly volunteers at each table handing out water/gatorade and the water tasted fine. No bad taste to me. Several aid tables also had pretzels and licorice. The medal was put around my neck by the race director. It's a very cool medal! And marathon specific. Do this marathon. You won't regret it!

The aid stations are each run by a local organization and are all unique. They all had volunteers waiting eagerly with water and gatorade. There were gu packets and snacks available at some as well. They were spread apart at good intervals, there was even a pep band at one area! Everything was well organized and moved quickly and smoothly. The organizers are so kind and helpful....this is an awesome race.

The place was beautiful and the race was pretty well run except that some of the water stops were highly disorganized and several had really little cups. Way too hot for me to PR or even put up credible showing as I baked in the limited shade available for most of the last few miles. Obviously that's not the race's fault but I would have loved the day before when it was cloudy, slightly rainy and much, much cooler. It looked like a great little vacation town and in retrospect I wished I'd booked a longer stay. The drawbridge separating the finish from the post race area made for some nice pictures. The race was small and actually felt even smaller as it definitely had a bit of a locals vibe. The staggered start made the mostly bike trail course surprisingly uncongested (the half starts 30 minutes after the full goes off). Not sure what the first reviewer was talking about on the food; I limped in a smidge over 4 hours and there was still some food to be had. Didn't think about the water since I grabbed one on the finish line side of the drawbridge but water on both sides probably would be an improvement. Agree on the parking though, that was easy, close and free. I will definitely recommend this race.