Wisconsin Marathon - Race Reviews

This was a cheesy marathon! But that is not a bad thing. I have been trying to get down to Kenosha for this race for a few years. This year I made it. Preparing for the Milwaukee marathon, run four weeks ago, I challenged my marathon friend in Milwaukee that we run in Kenosha too. And so we did. We expected there to be a lot less people running in Kenosha, but they had the 5K, 1/2 marathoners, and the marathon runners all start at the same time, so it seemed a lot bigger - especially at the start and during the early part of the race. The race committee did a lot of up front work keeping runners informed during the weeks leading up to this event. And they had early registration in Milwaukee the weekend before - which I thought was a great idea. We had addresses for the Civil War Museum - where registration and check-in was held the day before, we had the road intersections where the start line was set up, and we had lots of detailed information on parking - which was most helpful. They even told up what streets we could legally park in, and between which cross-streets. They did a really good job on this stuff up front. Check-in was available before the start on Saturday, but it was discouraged. Especially since this race started at 7:00 a.m. There were just lots of people at the co-located start/finish line area. And there was a lot going on there too. They took drop bags, did check-in, and they had small cheese packets they were handing out before the race. Of course it was noisy there. When the National Anthem was playing, we could not hear - or see - what was going on, and it was half way through before many of the runners realized it and quieted down. But the P.A. system was too far away, and too low of volume. Sometimes that happens. They had a "cheese corral" for runners to start from for wearing something with cheese on it, or "something cheesy". I guess those folks got to start closer to the starting line. The marathoners and ½ marathoners were together the whole first half; the first half of the marathon course was the ½ marathon course. The course largely followed the Lake Michigan shore, but there was still a lot of the race through neighborhoods, where you could not see the lake. There were basically three "loops" or modified out-and-backs. The first loop going south, was shorter, then a longer loop to the north; those two together were the first 13.1. Then there was a longer second loop going south again, and it covered part of the route we already ran on. But it kept going south. I wondered if we were going to go into Illinois. Just past MP 19, we did a small loop that routed us back out by the lake with a spur at the end with the timing mat there. Crossing the mat, we made a U-turn and headed back. The second half of the course was in and out of neighborhoods, through wetlands and swamps, and though never off the road, there were sections further from town that were gravel. But nothing was unsafe. This entire course was on the roads, and probably 85% was paved/concrete. Since all the course was on closed roads, law enforcement had to keep wandering automobiles and distracted drivers from getting on the course. And those guys did a great job. It is interesting some of the neighbors who lived where the road was closed got personally involved, engaging with the runners and enjoying the day. Others - one guy in particular that I observed - was cross about the event that was going on, blocking him in. It was interesting that the finish line and the ½ way point were almost parallel courses set side-by-side. As I was approaching the 13.1 timing mat at about 2:40 into the race, the winner of the race was on his final approach to the finish line. Amazing! At the finish line, there was plenty to eat. Every runner got a brat and a beer (26.2 beer) with the tag attached to the bib. Closer to the finish line, another volunteer was handing out mini-bagels, and small discs of cheese - that fit almost perfectly on the bagel. There were chips, bottles of water, and rather green bananas. The gal there had lots of food, and she was passing out extras, if and as people asked. There was a guy finishing his 200th marathon, and one of the area running clubs was out to cheer him on. By chance, I was just slightly ahead of him, and all these folks - out in number, maybe 50 to 75 people - were lining both sides of the approach to the finish line. And I did not know about the guy doing his 200th until later, but all these people were there and they were all cheering me on as I passed by, slapping hands and doing high-fives as I finished. What a sensation. The weather was great. This year, winter and snow were trying to shorten our spring, so conditions could have been much different. But it was probably in the 40's overnight, and we were welcomed to a cloudless sky at daybreak. The sun was out early, and pretty much stayed out for the day. Maybe some high cirrus clouds factored in, and there were a few spots on shade on the course, but mid-60's is probably as warm as it got. And as close as we were to the lake, there was a cooling effect rolling in off the lake all day. It was near-perfect for running. Just needed a little sun-screen to keep exposed skin from being sun-burned. This was a great marathon, there were lots of volunteers, it had been well-planned and was well executed too. Well done!

I have run this 7 of the 10 and keep going back. Every runner is friendly and just out to run the best race possible. The course is pavement and gravel and the variation keeps legs fresh. Aid workers are superb as are the kids from Carthage college. Yes, it can be brutal weather along the lake, but then any race can be.

I have run all but 2 of these marathons. It is hard to train for a spring marathon with Chicago winters but this one is worth the effort. Everyone is all about the runners having a great experience. It was extremely windy and cold, but well worth it. The course was new this year and it was much better. The half runners were with us up to mile 13 so more runners to share the course with. I do not know how they can do such a great job at a cost of less than 80 dollars. Some big marathons do not provide anywhere near the level of support they do. So I will be back next year even in the wind and cold. A special thanks to the little girl at mile 18 who made her dad put out water for us and she handed it out herself!

Loved this race  mostly along/near the lake and even into the country, some through the town. Parking is minimum of .4 miles from start/finish. Need more portapotties at first aid station; 2400 starters and only 2 portapotties (20 people in line). Plenty of water/Gatorade; great volunteers. WINDY. Medal and shirt. Post-race had beer and brats and music.

This was my 7th marathon, and my first in Wisconsin. Packet pickup was small and easy. I liked that there was reasonably priced cheesehead gear at packet pickup. Overall the race was very well organized and I thought the start and finish were great. It was such a beautiful day and it was great to lay down in the grass and listen to the band. The course was a great half marathon, but once they split off, the 2nd part of the race had some desolate, not-so-pretty spots on gravel roads. I also didn't like all of the times I thought I was coming up to a turnaround point, only to turn right and continue onto another stretch. The parts through the beautiful neighborhoods were very nice, though. I wouldn't recommend this race to a newbie. Usually you need all the hoopla to keep you going, and this race is too small to offer that. The medals and shirts were also very nice.

I was looking for a course to PR and qualify for Boston. It delivered! Perks of this race are below: 1. Flat course with beautiful views of the lake. 2. Weather in 2015 wasn't bad. The start was in the low 50s and near the end, it was in the mid 60s. 3. Fun atmosphere. Runners were dressed in 'cheesy' garb from cheese hats to funny t-shirts. I saw some ladies running in drindls! The after race party was fun with beers and brats. I saw 2 bands - one on the course and one at the after party. Both were fantastic. 4. Really well organized with minimal stress on race day. I liked that you had to pick up your packet before race day. They either mailed you your packet or you could pick it up in various locations around Chicago or Wisconsin. Parking wasn't a problem. We arrived 30 min prior to the start and got a free spot on the street.

I have nothing but good things to say about this race. I'd definitely recommend it! Course: The first half of the course was a bit hilly but nothing too terrible and it was a bit crowded as the start was one mass start with the half marathon. As soon as the half split off (around mile 11.5), there was plenty of room and the course really flattened out after that as well. There were a few stretches on gravel with some larger rocks in the gravel that made for tricky footing a few times but it was definitely nothing treacherous. The course had stretches along the shores of Lake Michigan and through some nice lake neighborhoods then there were other areas that were several blocks or more off the lake. The breeze off the lake kept things cooler while near the lake (mid-50s to start and mid-60s at the finish) but the parts that were not along the lake got very warm (upper-70s) and they could have used 1-2 more water stations on miles 15-25. Organization: This is a small-town-type race with no expo (just a place to pick up your packet with two vendor booths in the room) and no big frills. Packet pickup went smoothly, the starting area was easy to navigate and the finishing area was decent as well. I love when a race realizes that women don't always want to wear big, boxy unisex shirts. This race had the option of a women's cut shirt. It was a short-sleeved technical shirt and true to size. The picture on the front wouldn't be my choice as there's a big wedge of cheese on it, but I'm not a fan of cheese. :) The finisher's medal was awesome! It looks high-end and is heavy with yellow stained glass in the middle (a piece of cheese) with a nice neck ribbon with the course map printed on it (&and more cheese). It also can double as a bottle opener! Fans: The fans were sparse but the ones that were there were great. There were very few people in the neighborhoods that came out to watch. So if you need huge crowds to cheer you on, this may not be the race for you. We stayed at the Radisson Harbourwalk Hotel in Racine, about 20 minutes away. I talked to a few people at the race that were staying at the host hotel (packet pickup) and they said their hotel was not allowing late checkout. We had no problems at our hotel in Racine in getting a 1pm checkout which allowed for a shower after the race and before driving 6 hours back home. Overall, it was a great course and a great race. I'd definitely recommend it!

I just ran the 2015 Half marathon. Positives: The course is both flat and a lot more scenic the I expected from Kenosha, WI. The views of the lake were beautiful and the neighborhoods we passed through were very very nice. Downsides: The parking. The race starts in downtown Kenosha and if you do not get there early you may be hard pressed to find a spot. I parked almost a mile from the starting line and had quite a walk. Overall, a very charming marathon

This was my second time running the marathon (1st was in 2012), and it's one of my favorite spring marathons. I enjoy the flat course, the great setup of the start / finish area, lots of parking and the views of Lake Michigan on the run in to the finish line. The two things that I wish were better, however, are the frequency of aid stations in the 2nd half of the marathon and the road conditions in the 1st half (specifically Simmons Island and JFK Parks). I would have preferred the aid stations closer to every mile rather than every other mile. And the roadways in the parks are just chewed up. I know the planners don't control the municipal budgets, but I'd have preferred better road conditions to the lakeside setting in the 1st half. Additionally, the 'loops' in the 2nd half are split between blacktop and gravel roads. The gravel roads are in good condition, but plan your racing shoes accordingly. I ran in adidas Boston 5, and I wished I ran in something with a bit more cushioning.

This was my first marathon ever and was very nervous going into it. Email correspondence was great. Was a beautiful and beginner friendly course. There was so much support from the sidelines. This is a great race and if you are looking for a first marathon. This is the one

I discovered this marathon for the first time back in 2012. It was my second marathon overall, and by the time I ran it for the third straight time in 2014, it was my 12th. I love this race and will gladly return every single year that I am able. What's not to like? For starters, the registration price is extremely reasonable in a world where race fees seem to be constantly on the rise. If you register early, it's $69 for the marathon and $49 for the half...and even if you decide to sign up the night before, the marathon is still under $100. For that, you get a beautiful, high quality medal (the 2014 edition is one of my all-time favorite pieces of bling), a very nice shirt, great on-course entertainment (gotta love the polka bands), and even brats at the finish (although I haven't been able to get one yet...more on that later). With all of that said, the Wisconsin Marathon is very small (a 4000-participant race cap, and they don't always sell out completely). In 2014, there were about 2070 half marathon finishers and only 847 marathon finishers. If I was going to make a recommendation, I'd say that the half marathon is probably the best way to go. We all run the first 12 miles together before the marathoners split off, and that first half is beautiful. You get to run through downtown Kenosha (which is a really pretty town), a gorgeous lakefront path (even better when the weather is nice and sunny), past Carthage College, etc... That's also where you see the most spectators and get to run with a larger crowd of people, so if you enjoy the half marathon distance and want a great experience, I would recommend doing that one. I've run the marathon for the past three years and will continue to as long as possible, because I love Wisconsin and am passionate about that race distance, but it does get a bit lonely in the second half, when we go through more secluded residential areas (although the beachfront houses are pretty awesome) and Pleasant Prairie. If you're a slower runner like me and end up near the back of the pack, those last miles can be rough, and the spectators naturally taper off, but the ones who do stick around are incredibly kind and supportive. I must say that Wisconsin has some of the nicest people who come out to cheer/organize the race, and that makes a huge difference. Even when the water stops started to get a little sparse after mile 20, there are people who stand in front of their houses and hand us their own water/Gatorade, which is awesome. And of course, once you get to about mile 25 and start sprinting to the finish, with the crowds/cheers picking up again, it makes the whole experience worth it. Overall, they do a fantastic job in Wisconsin, and I would bring up the name of this race to any friend who's looking for a new one to run. My only (small) gripe is that even though they have a 6.5-hour time limit, the brats are always gone by the time I get in at the 6-hour mark. I know that's a late time to be crossing the finish, and there's only so much they can do when it's a small-town race and most of the participants have finished. I've always wanted a brat, though, and I've never been quick enough to grab one at the end. Maybe this will be good incentive to work on my speedwork :) I hope you'll consider running the next Wisconsin Marathon with me in 2015...see you then!

I really enjoyed this race! It's a nice size; small enough to be very easy logistically and not too crowded, but large enough that I was never running by myself. Course is very pretty, especially the parts right by the lake. There was one small area with some cracked, uneven pavement, but otherwise, nice surfaces and no traffic. Also quite flat, with just a few small hills on the north end. The out-and-back loops didn't bother me; it was fun to see other runners going by, and it made it an easy one to spectate (my husband saw me four times without having to drive anywhere). Volunteers were very friendly and knew exactly where the runners were supposed to turn. All water/Gatorade stops were well manned. Post-race festivities were great. A polka band, local beer, brats, and cheese. The medal is great, too. It includes a bottle opener on the bottom! Overall, I was very impressed. Great job!

They do a great job with this race, except that they ran out of beer at the finish line. Aid stations were well stocked, and the first 1/2 is a very pretty course, but they ran out of beer at the finish line. This is a very nice small race that has been well organized in the past, and they never previously ran out of beer at the finish line. There was plenty of gels at the one aid station that it was available at, but there was no beer at the finish line.

Well organized race and great volunteers. I had a hard time with the numerous out and backs seeing a few checkpoints 3-4 times. The pavement near the lake was a little dangerous with many potholes and cracks. Parking was close and free. Very pleased with packet pick up the week before in Skokie.

This was a small to medium sized marathon with 900 finishers for 2013 but there are lots of people running the half marathon so there were maybe 3300 on the road. I chose to do the VIP Package which included a night at the host hotel and packet pickup at the front desk. The only problem with that is if you want an extra night you have to go through the Best Western reservation process and there is no real co-ordination. That said, the hotel managed to keep me in the same room for both nights. There is no expo or anything like that. The short sleeve tech shirt is high quality and well designed. The finisher's medal is bright, bold, and intriguing and doubles as a bottle opener. Just what you need! As an extra you get 1 free beer and a free brat at the end of the race. There are hotels close to the start / finish which make things convenient. I stayed at the Best Western Harborside and it was very good, very quiet and I would recommend it. They had a pool and hot tub but I forgot my swim suit. They provided an early breakfast if you wanted to grab a bagel before the run and it is only a short jog to the start. Internet is via a provided cable in the room and WiFi was not available in the room. Check out is 11 AM with no exceptions so if you are staying two nights it is not a big deal, otherwise plan accordingly. The course is basically a loop around the down town area and then an out and back to the north and an out and back to the south. The course is flat as a pancake with no hills but the roads are rough on your legs. Parts are concrete, other parts are alligator cracked asphalt with loose pieces, and then toward the end there is gravel which likes to get in your shoes. All this is manageable just be aware of your footing. If you like seeing other runners going in the opposite direction then you will like the course. There are plenty of opportunities to see Lake Michigan and there are a few stretches with some interesting houses to look at. The route is pretty much car free, light on spectators, with good water / gatorade stops every 2 miles. I think I would like to see a few more water stops toward the end. The ones they had were well staffed and if you are a back of the packer like me, they did not run out of anything. While the weather can't be controlled, be aware the wind off the lake can be quite chilly. I didn't find any great restaurants in the area but I am sure there are some. I would advise avoiding the Chinese restaurant across from the hotel. It was pretty pathetic. It looks like they are trying to revitalize the downtown area which consists of a few square blocks but there are lots of empty storefronts and a lack of shopping. If I had stayed longer perhaps I could have found some interesting things to do but overall it was a quiet weekend. So the pluses are: small race, no cars, unique medal, beer and brats at the end and Wisconsin scratched off your 50 state list. Enjoy and happy running!

I really enjoyed this race a lot. The course is fine...very flat and friendly. It was a bit crowded around the north end of the course on Carthage College campus but besides that it was fine. I don't think the concerns about the gravel portions of the course are well founded...I found them a nice relief from the asphalt and concrete. The views of the gracious homes were really amazing. Wowzers, what places to run by!! The race was well worth the trip from Indiana for me. I PRed and had a great time.

The Wisconsin Marathon is still young but has some aspects of marathons which are much larger. The swag is great. The tee- shirts are very well designed and high quality. The finishers medals are very cool and the volunteers were given t- shirts that made them all appear like they were in ' The Blues Brothers' with coat and ties. The coarse was kind of out and back loops that ran through downtown several times ( great for spectators). Despite the loops there was no confusion about where the coarse went. The volunteers knew just where the runners should go. The packet pickup was a breeze ( and you could buy 'Cheese Head' gear at great prices. ) The B-tag timing was high tech and conveniant. Downsides include a lack of corals or pacers that lead to a lot of traffic early in the race, a super small expo with limited emergency supplies, and no timing mats at key turnarounds to reduce the risk of cheating. Results took a long time to be posted online despite the electronic timing. The course itself had lots of great views of Lake Michigan and some nice breezes. The only tough part was a boring out and back around mile 19. There were some gravel roads (a plus for me). Nice and scenic overall. One thing that puzzled me was why the race didn't play up the 'Mittens Challenge'. This race is the first of a weekend double with the Kalamazoo marathon. There was almost no mention of the challenge at all, either before or during the race. That is too bad because Kenosha and Kalamazoo are both great races and the alliance is a worthy one that will definitely attract a lot of marathon crazed runners! Overall, a good experience. It's worth the trip!

This was a good small race, but could have been much better. Pros: -They let you use headphones -The shirts were nice. I like that they had ladies and mens shirt sizes. -The race hotel was close to the start and finish lines. They also had breakfast early for the runners. -The packet pickup was as easy as possible. There were actually several different places to pick up the packets (even in different cities), and if you stayed at the race hotel, you received your packet at check in. Very convenient. -Loved that all the post race food (bananas, bagels, etc) were in one place in a bag at the end. Post race party food (brats) was good too. Cons: -My biggest gripe is that I paid for a VIP package at the race hotel, and they didn't offer late checkouts. In fact, there were no options at all for late checkouts. Seriously? How am I supposed to check out at 11 when I will still be running then?!? -The water stations were not shown on the course map so you know where they will be and can plan for them -This was a small race, and it didn't have an expo. There were only three tables at the packet pickup. -There were no corrals or pacers, so people of all different speeds were all over the place. It was difficult to weed through the slower people at the beginning. -There are a lot of out and back places in this race, and there were no chip checks/mats at some of the turn arounds to make sure people went the full distance. How can this be a BQ if you can't be sure that people didn't skip some of the route? -There were not enough volunteers. I had to pick up my own water off at least one of the water tables. Suggestion: get water stations sponsored by churches or schools. Checked Wisconsin off my list, but won't run it again.

I really enjoyed this marathon. The course was nice and flat and the weather was cool. I ran a PR on this course and finally got the BQ time I have been shooting for. There was a head wind on the final 6 miles but there was a nice tail wind leading up to that. I do not think the road conditions were a problem. Thank you to the volunteers and race directors for putting on a great race!

I came to Kenosha to run my Wisconsin marathon and I was not disappointed. I came into Chicago and it was just a short dive up the interstate. I picked up my packet on Friday in Kenosha. The web site said there were also packet pick-ups in Chicago earlier in the week. It was super quick but there is no expo so I had to hunt down a sporting goods store to get some gel. I really liked the short sleeve tech shirt we got. It really reflected the sense of fun that this race seems to encourage. Race day we dodged a bullet weather wise. It was raining quite hard right up to almost race time. With the wind coming off the lake it was quite cold. The rain stopped before the gun and once I got running I felt pretty good. The north bound sections of the course we got a head wind and I felt a little cool there but otherwise the weather became a non factor. If you hate wind you may want to reconsider this race. I suspect running along Lake Michigan that wind is almost always a factor but I can't say for sure. The course is very flat. A few very short hills the first half and nothing but a pancake the second half. Lots of folks have commented on the conditions of the roads. There are a few short sections early on where the roads are the type where there have been dozens of filled pot holes. You do need to pay attention but it is early in the race and the sections don't go on for long. The limestone sections on the second half didn't bother me too much. There are a fair amount of potholes and you have to pay attention but I appreciated the easier surface on my legs. Volunteer support was great. Someone was at every intersection and most of them were cheering you on. They did what I feel like all races should do. Water was in the plain cups and Gatorade was in cups marked Gatorade. Race directors take note. This is a little thing but late in the race when you are tired it really helps. After the race folks who can handle heavy food (that is not me) were treated to brat sandwiches and beer. I took my great medal and headed to my car. There is ample parking near the race area so I didn't have to walk far or wait for a shuttle bus. I really feel like this race is an excellent, well organized small race.

This was my first time running this event and my comments do not relate to the race itself at all. The course was fine and the aid stations were great! Spectators were spectacular! This year's shirt and medal seemed geared toward a male demographic with a busty female on them. It also seemed strange to me that one of the sponsors was a cheese maker from Vermont...it would be great to find someone more local. I was desperately in need of ibuprofen at the end but could not locate an aid tent. (I had forgotten to add some to my bag.) Making the aid tent more visible would be my only suggestion for improvement and even that does not affect the race. I was a bit hesitant to sign up as I know the area very well, but found it to okay.

Loved the race, great organization, beautiful medal, great shirts, beautiful course. The weather was lousy but that can't be helped. The cold and wind was awful anytime I ran north. The course was very pretty going through some beautiful neighborhoods and parks. The hills could barely be considered hills, and yes the pavement was uneven in the first half, but just watch where you're going. The limestone road in the second half was no big deal. It was very smooth and well packed. I was glad when the half marathoners branched off, I finally had space to run. I never felt alone on the last half, there were always people in front and behind me. The spectators were aweome and very encouraging. Everyone was so friendly. Too bad it was so cold and windy, the post race party would have been much more fun. After people finished running it seemed everyone pretty much left to get warm. I will definitely run this one again. The medal is one of the best, most detailed and colorful I've ever gotten in running 28 marathons. Lining up at the start was easy, there weren't blocks of gates to find the one opening in as with so many marathons these days. I can't think of anything negative to say about this race!

This was my 41 marathon and second time running this marathon. It has improved. Getting rid of that Heed (or was it called 'Heet') sport drink was a major improvement. It also helped to take out that first loop. I did not care for the watery sport gel, but my friend did. Nice flat and really fast course. Running back into the wind starting at mile 19 was a beast, but fun  now that it is over. I liked that I had only a little over 6 miles to run at the hairpin turnaround around mile 19. That was a great felliing. Smart to design the course so that we did not have to run back through the wooded area. While I liked the wooded area, I did not have the mental energy to run back through it. Easy to park and walk to the start. No traffic issues. The race was smaller in size, especially after the half-marathoners left the course. Still, there were enough runners so that I always had other runners with me. Over all, this is simply a nice midwestern marathon, one that is well organized and enjoyable. Good price, also! I will run this race from time-to-time.

Flat but windy. I enjoyed running on the portion of the course on the gravel roads. Plenty of volunteers. Aid was good. Well organized pickup. Pasta dinner at the Masonic temple was great. I would recommend this marathon.

I ran the half marathon and could not be more pleased with the organization and treatment of runners. The race course is very scenic. The water stations were well manned & the volunteers were enthusiastic. The medal was outstanding and the finish area included a free brat & beer to each runner. The only negative was the lousy weather. Quite candidly, I have paid alot more for other better marketed runs and received alot less!

Today May 5th, 2012, couldn't ask for better weather. Temps were 50 degrees, winds were a non factor except southern half we got hit with headwind of 11mph. Hydration station was great and were every 2 miles. Volunteers were awesome, Crowd was small. Full Marathon felt I was all alone. The bad roads some have talked about were just a small patch nothing bad. The hills were hardly what I could consider hills. My only complaint was there is a gravel portion that if it was 100% crushed limestone wouldn't be bad but there were several big sized pieces that made painful when running over them with racing flats. Aside from that, what happened at Boston almost happened with Kenosha as just a few days prior to the race it was 85 degrees! I plan on running this one next year as well

I ran the half in 2010 and thought it was very organized and a lot of fun for a small race. Came back in 2011 to run the full and had the time of my life! Volunteers are wonderful. Course is good and not crowded, especially in the later miles after we split from the half marathoners. Just a few rolling hills. I don't like the gravel roads. Finished in a Boston qualifying time :)

This was my first Wisconsin Marathon. I did not train correctly for it. I'm from the Northwest, and we don't know what flat is, so I did very poorly. The course is a challenge as the pavement is broken in many parts - it's very easy to catch a toe in. The out-and-back is pretty boring, but the views of the lake were worth it. I wonder if there is someway to run the course through parts of the city. This is a very small event. You get there, check in your clothes, and they say, "Go!" There's no real celebration (which is not a bad thing). I missed most of the post-race party, but my family said the worst part was waiting at the end of the race with the band playing some wild music. (My family is all in their 50's, 60's, and 70's), I thought the band was entertaining for the 15 minutes I heard them, but I was too cold and sore to hang around. I like the medal, but the shirts were kind of boring.

The weather was in the 50's at the on time start for this race. There were a couple very minor hills in the first half of the marathon, however the second half proved to be as flat as can be. The only downside to the second half of the course in my eyes were the 3 sections of fire roads. I found myself looking down and dodging the larger stones at a time I wish I could be looking up and focusing on stride and breathing. There were very few spectators on the second half of the course, but I do remember some very motivated and enthusiastic volunteers singing and chanting very loudly. All in all though a very fast course. Add the fact that this race had little congestion at the start of the race like some of the larger marathons and what you have is a go go course. Post race was very well organized in my eyes in that there was plenty of water, energy drinks and bananas handy right after receiving my finishers medal (which by the way is a cheese theme and in my opinion one of the more eye catching and original finisher medals out there). Though I wasn't up for a beer, I did cash in my bib ticket for a very tasty brat. The volunteers were fantastic and appreciated.

First, the volunteers were by far the best of any race I've run. For the most part they were young military (Navy) personal, and kept us motivated and energized throughout the race. I'm sure they pulled a lot of people through with their constant encouragement. The overall organization was top notch. The course for the most part was top notch with the exception of broken/loose/missing concrete part of the route heading north along the lake. It wasn't horrible as long as you were paying attention. Other than that, it was clearly marked and it would have been hard to get lost if you tried. The post-race party looked fantastic, although it was very cold at the end when I finished. They did hand out blankets at the end, which you needed after you finished. The brat was great and the beer cold, and a nice covered area in which to eat and socialize. I finished with a PR 11 minutes better than my previous best. Overall I would recommend this marathon to anyone.

I have run many marathons and this one, for it's size, was well done. Easy access to the start with good parking, started right on time, course was well marshaled (thanks NAVY!), aid stations were sufficient and the spectators who were there were nice and friendly. The tech running shirt was very nice (not cluttered up with sponsor logos) as was the medal and a free brat and beer waiting at the finish is not bad either. 3/4 of the runners ran the half marathon which made the course a little crowded the first 11 miles or so. After that, it was a walk (run) in the park. The course was very scenic with numerous long sections run right along the lake. Yes, there was a small section of crushed gravel on the course, but it was actually a nice change of pace. If you are looking for a big time event, this is not your event. If you want a great small town marathon that is everything this one is advertised to be, check it out.

First thing that was good was that the course was flat and pretty along the lake. The bad thing was that there were gravel areas, and the the water stops were way too far apart if you were running the marathon. Not having any awards is just plain cheap. You can get some cheap medals, if nothing else. The after party was nice by the lake and the brats were good; I could have had more than one free beer.

Things I liked: -Flat course -Cool weather -PR'd by 11 minutes -Second half had some gravel sections, which I actually prefer to the roads -Navy support in the second half: they had a lot of enthusiasm and one cadet gave me a banana Suggestions for improvement: -More water stops -More checkpoints where you can see splits (only one was at the half) -More traffic control at the end. I found it confusing dodging through the crowd at the end. -Option to pay extra to have your packet mailed. There really wasn't an expo, so why not have this option?

Though I only ran the 1/2 this year, I feel it needs to be mentioned: Wisconsin, please, port-o-potties are, well, portable, so please move them around the course and not just at the start/finish line. I did the Madison Marathon and it had the same problem. I'm not sure if it is a state-wide problem or just on the south side. One can't always predict when a gastro problem will arise!

Really enjoyed this marathon. Well organized, post-race: delicious beer, brats and music, and for this year, perfect weather. Course follows the lake, then winds through neighborhoods and back to the lakefront again. Flat course with very minor hills. Aid stations were well-stocked with Gatorade and water; there were gels at 2 locations. Potties at start were empty 45 minutes before the race, but lines were longer 20 minutes before the race. Course passes public restrooms at mile 6 and 10 - a nice touch. Highly recommended as a small marathon that feels big.

I live in Kenosha, and often use parts of the course for training. So I'm a little biased. It is a generally flat and fast course. My complaints are that more port-a-potties are needed (although they definitely added a lot more from 2009 to 2010), and some of the terrain needs work. Around miles 5 and 6, there is a lakeside road that is a minefield of potholes. Then, around mile 17 - 20, the road turns to gravel. Ouch. I'd prefer to see the course include a little more of Kenosha, too. The second half runs through a small, very high-class village, but it's really flat and gets tedious. (A course turn into Kenosha might attract more spectators, too.) Despite that, I've run this race in '09, and I've seen many improvements in '10. I expect it to improve further and recommend this race.

The packet pickup with multiple locations was a good idea. Parking was easy; just remember the streets. After the race, my tired muscles did not appreciate the wandering around trying to find my car. Weather was great (temps of 55 to 70 F). The wind was a little stiff at times, but since the course had little going west, it was okay. Good course marshals kept runners on the right route. The course had several out-and-back legs, which I did not like. Good spectator support, including "GO NAVY" guys and gals along the way. The brat after the race hit the spot, though the beer did not. The course did keep me interested; it did not drag on. The start has less congested than many. More porta-johns are recommended. They had a midpoint timing clock, but formally clocked splits would have been nice at several points. Overall, I had a great time, qualified for Boston, and would come back again.