Marquette Marathon - Race Reviews

The bike trails isolate you from traffic but also from spectators. Spectators are almost all at road crossings or trail access points. The crossings are manned with volunteers to stop traffic, I saw no issues. The trails are mostly paved but for two sections totaling maybe 5 miles. These unpaved sections had finely crushed gravel and good footing, even where you pass under a rail trestle with iron pellets (think rabbit pellet size) littering the path. It was warm this year, and shade is less frequent on the flatter back half of the course. Plenty of aid stations help with that. Organizers might consider moving the mile 16 aid station a bit further east; proximity to hard right hand turn and spectators made this area a little difficult. A fellow runner and I ended up behind this aid station on the road in confusion. Next water stop was only a mile later so no harm done. Start area and bus to it were well organized. Race start was a little anticlimactic (Ready set go) but appropriate for a race this size. Do go back to the start line later in the day and visit the Cliff Shaft mining museum. Interesting stuff and thank you to them for letting us start there. Pace groups are provided but might not be your thing if you like to roll downhill. Back half of the race the pacers were looking rather lonely (there are a couple of out-and-back sections). Trails aren't terribly wide so if you don't want to be caught behind a group on the downhill pass them early on one of the early on-the-road sections.

This was by far one of our favorite surprises. First, we had never been to Upper Michigan, and probably never would have if not for this race. Second, we had no idea the history of Marquette and surrounding area, and third the town and people of Marquette are very welcoming. There are multiple good restaurants and the University of Northern Michigan provides the city a nice college vibe. They also have a Blues Festival every Labor Day weekend as well as the marathon. Marquette is worth the visit even without the race! The course is terrific, it's a point to point, net downhill with multiple surfaces. The first 16 miles are along the Iron Ore Trail. If you prefer running paths in natural settings as opposed to roads, you will love this. The final 10 are in and around Marquette with multiple views of Lake Superior. The net downhill is nice and gentle, I know because if it's too steep, my quads are trashed for days. Fan support is sparse, but I'll take the natural setting over race fans any day. Water stops are regular and reliable. The expo was hopping as they also have a half, 5k, and Kids Run. There are a good number of vendors so plenty to see. The finish area is at Blackrocks Brewery, which has a great atmosphere, although it does get a quite crowded. My wife and daughter ran the 5k which is definitely the red-headed stepchild of the races. It's a point-to- point, but with essentially no parking at the start, or anywhere near it. So you have pretty much walk 5k to get to the starting line, which is a line someone draws in the dirt about 5 minutes before the race begins. So if you are looking for a change of pace on your Labor Day weekend, we would absolutely encourage you to take a trip to Marquette and spend the weekend with the Yoopers! You can get a good feel for the race and city from our video on our YouTube channel Race The Nation.

This is a beautiful course, the town is very nice and friendly. The downhill running definitely worked on my quads so be prepared for that and although the grade never did feel severe it goes on for miles. There is a hill at mile 22 that is tough going up and coming back down. The race management is fantastic and the volunteers were awesome. I would definitely run this one again. The upper peninsula is beautiful at this time of year.

Cannot say enough good things about this event - great communication from race director, good support, beautiful course - some hills but doable - great city. Thoroughly recommend

Oh Marquette - you stole my heart this past Labor Day 2016 weekend - What a beautiful city and course to run through! Organization was wonderful from start to finish. We received many many informative emails prior to race day. I missed the expo, so I very much appreciated the Race Packet Pickup available at the start line on race morning. I also appreciated the 'Start List' online - it was great to have confirmation that my registration went through. Course: Gorgeous mix of U.P. scenery while running on bike trails with lakefront views while running through Marquette. Very shaded course in my opinion! (Some sunny stretches once you enter Marquette, but I almost always felt like shade wasn't too far away). Miles 11-17 appear to have a screaming downhill on the course elevation profile, and although I could definitely tell I was running downhill during those miles, it seemed to be more of a gradual downward slope than the elevation profile indicates. Beware of the hill up into Presque Isle State Park at Mile 22 - it is brutal at that stage in the race - it is also brutal on the quads running back DOWN it, haha - save your quads! Also, I was not prepared for the uphill right before the finish. I suggest saving a little gas in the tank for that last hill to finish strong, especially if you are trying to BQ! Cannot compliment the course support/spectators/volunteers enough! Do not hesitate to run this marathon - I thoroughly enjoyed it and would run it again! Just be prepared for the two final hills at the end. Be sure to check out some of the hikes/lakefront sites/views while in Marquette :) Lots of neat things to see/do!

Well there is so much to say about this marathon. I think I would like to point out a lot of stuff especially with out of staters coming into Marquette for the marathon. I am a college cross country/track and field coach and I am a site coordinator for a 5k race so I hope I can give some insight to improve the race. 1. Chicagoans - So my fiancee and I left right after the first collegiate cross country race of the year down in the Chicago area. We left around 8 pm. We got to Marquette around 3 am ish. Once you get past Green Bay then you will hit non interstate roads to get to Marquette. I would plan to fill up your gas again once you get to Green Bay because there are gas stations that close at a certain time plus its very rural so there are only a few gas stations on the way there. Also there is an airport not too far away from Marquette. Only problem is that a round trip air fare from Chicago and back is around 300 to 400 dollars. Also remember they are 1 hour ahead. Sprint users - FORGET ABOUT IT!! Sprint was not working well at all around Marquette or around it. The only time we had service was inside establishments or our hotel and switched to wifi. I was on extended 3G and I believe it was draining battery. Hotels - Since the marathon/half marathon/5k race is going along with the Blues Fest the hotels raised all their prices. You couldn't find one under 100 dollars. Even Econo Lodge was over 100 dollars. I used Groupon, Livingsocial, priceline to no success. I eventually had a good discount with trip advisor for at the Days Inn for 118.00. I would probably try to book early as possible to get a room. Days Inn was a very clean hotel and did a great job. Free breakfast too. 5k race - This is where things sort of came to a mess. My fiancee wanted to run the 5k and at least something for her to do while I ran my marathon. It starts at the Presque Isle and ends at the same place where the marathon/half marathon finishes. Problem is that there is no transportation (bus shuttles) to the start. That means you would have to walk back to the start from the finish line. To make it safe for my fiancee I told her to just go to the starting line and park there. She told me there was some unorganization there and people didn't know where the starting line was. Once the 5k racers finished they had to walk all the way to the starting line to pick up their cars. Wow. Absolute wow. She didn't feel comfortable going by herself so she just waited for me when I finished my marathon. Plus she was hurting since she did run a PR. What was really terrible was that once I finished my marathon I was in absolute pain and we had to walk ALL THE WAY TO THE 5K STARTING LINE TO PICK UP THE CAR!!! I was in pain and it was terrible. It didn't make any sense at all for the 5k racers to park their cars at the finish line and walk up to the starting line either. Something has to change here with that. As for the marathon it was brutally cold at the starting line but started warming up by 7:30 am. Maybe they should have at least a heated tent or something there. Not a lot of port a potties either so many of us went into the woods behind them. Once we started it was all great. There was a nice stretch of limestone which is only like 7 or 8 miles of it. It was beautiful and scenic. Mostly shaded. Once you hit town this is where you need to watch out. Chicagoans don't train on hills since we are flat. There were some minor hills up until you hit Presque Isle. This is where you will hit a major hill. Lots of walkers on this and people just couldn't do it. This was really the challenging part of the course and it destroyed my chance for a PR unfortunately. The only time I walked was on that hill since I knew if I even attempted to run it then I would not finish the race. After that I just wanted to finish and ran smart for the rest of it. Nice medal at the end. This was my 6th marathon and I was suprised there was no free beer at the end especially with Blackrocks being a sponsor for the 5k. Few suggestions to improve this race I hope the organizers can talk about.... 1. Have the finish line at the Berry Center where we drop off our cars. 2. 5k race starts at Berry Center and finishes at Berry Center. 3. Beer at the end. Really these were the issues I had with the race. The first one and second one seems critical especially since many runners had to walk all the way to the Berry Center which was a mile from the finish line. Aubree's was a great restaurant that was the only place that accepted groupon. Awesome pizza and they did have pizza. 12 dollars for a 20 dollar value. Take the lighthouse tour at the Maritime museum. Pretty cool as you learn about all the maritime events of Marquette. Blues Fest was going on the same weekend, but with a fare of 45.00 per ticket we passed up on this. Shout out to the Northern Michigan Swim and Dive team for volunteering at the aid stations!! Awesome!!

This race has a beautiful course, starting outside of Marquette and running into town mostly on paved or packed rock trails through a wooded, secluded area. Until mile 14 or 15, the course is cool and shaded from the sun, and the first several miles were beautiful with the fog lifting off the trees. At one point around mile 7, the trail curved around a marshy bend and we ran over a small bridge. There was a hill to one side lined with evergreens and a clearing on the other. The fog was in the treetops, and literally as I thought to myself how lucky I was to be running right in that place at that time to see this wonderful view, a bald eagle flew right over my head. Really a sight I won't ever forget. Once in town around mile 15, the course stays mostly on paved trail and runs along Lake Superior and through Presque Isle Park (stunning views of the lake) before finishing in the downtown area. Presque isle Park gives a welcome shield from the sun since you lose a lot of cover once you get in town and it got very hot. While spectators were quite sparse and I thought they would be a little more abundant in town along the lakeshore, the sights along the course were entertaining enough. There is a long, slow downhill for much of the middle part of the course, which is great, although I did get a little bit of a false confidence during this portion that I ended up paying for late in the race, especially because there is a decent hill going into Presque Isle Park near mile 21 or so that can sneak up on you, you've got the sun beating down on you most of the second half of the race as mentioned above, and finish is a gradual uphill. The race in 2015 was unseasonably hot with temperatures at the finish over 80 degrees, although overall your odds are pretty good at getting better running weather in this area in the Fall. The finish downtown was great, and not too much of a parking issue, either. Loved the post-race food. The overall organization of this race was good; a few issues that I'm sure the directors will address in years to come. Packet pick-up, for one, was one of the craziest I've seen, especially for a small race, and very inefficient. Luckily my kids were running in the kids' race (a very nice touch and well planned) so I could hang around awhile in order to get my bib. Expo otherwise was good for a smaller race. Medals were average. Course maps weren't available, so my husband and kids had a little bit of a hard time spectating, especially in the first half of the race where there were limited areas for me to see them. The race was delayed a few minutes due to inadequate amounts of porta potties, which was stressful. Overall, a beautiful town with a beautiful race, and a nice vacation to boot. I'd recommend!

This is a fantastic course for qualifying for Boston. Over 1,000 ft elevation drop, mostly in the first half of the race and then mostly flat afterwards. Very well organized, with great volunteers and fans. Marquette is a great town to enjoy as well. Weather can be an issue given the time of year it is run as it has the potential to be hotter than you'd like. It's a great place to combine a vacation with your running.

This was my first full marathon and I could not be more pleased. I initially chose the location for the cooler temps. (last minute try to qualify for Boston). It is a nice small race (278 finishers in full marathon) so I never felt like I was struggling to get around people. It did rain the entire race which stressed me out a little at the start but other than a little mud (the route runs on crushed trail for approx. 6 miles) and the rain, it was a great race. The course was VERY well marked with mile markers at every mile. Aid stations were plentiful and I was always able to get water when I needed it. The locals were very enthusiastic and excited to cheer the runners on even though the weather was less than ideal (I understand in years past the weather has been just perfect). The course itself has a nice gradual downhill section but you really need to be careful not to get carried away. My quads were COMPLETELY eaten up by the end of the race. Near the end there a couple of hills but nothing too bad. Also, GREAT race director and finish line festivities. Lots of good restaurants to choose from and the locals were so friendly and helpful. We made several friends who we plan to keep in touch with. GREAT race! I highly recommend for anyone looking to BQ and/or run their first marathon. I had a great experience.

This destination marathon has been upgraded to a stellar UP annual event with the new courses for 2014! In spite of rain it was a beautifully done event with huge community support. The organizers were able to draw lots of helpers from the campus community of NMU to make this truly a high class event. With nicer weather in years to come it will simply be an awesome UP event well worth for planning a weekend or vacation!

This was a really nice small town marathon. The expo was very easy to find and was a good in and out experience. The surrounding town has very convenient hotels, the cabs were plentiful and cheap, so was easy to get around. The course is good, though the two loops always detracts a little from the experience. They're changing the course next year to a point to point course, so I expect it will be a much better race. But the surrounding area is very nice and there was good weather for late August. The people in the city definitely come out to support the race, but it's so spread out (and there aren't a ton people there anyway) so certain parts can feel a bit lonely. Most of the people along the course directing the way were enthusiastic, though - so at least there were people every so often cheering along. The after party was nice (though could have used a little more sports drink - just had water and chocolate milk). But the 'beer tent' area was great, good food selection, etc. Overall, a fun race and definitely recommended for those looking for a summer marathon.

This community came together to put on a great marathon event. The online information was well done and registration was a breeze. The expo/registration was in the evening, and though there were lots of people there, it was a quick in and out, once I knew where to go. The race start/finish was on Presque Isle. It was easy to find, and getting dropped off got me very close to the staging area. The course was a double loop, being a combination of what appeared to be an old railroad bed, wooded trails, and then a long stretch along the shore of Lake Superior. This was not a huge marathon event, so as the race progressed, the runners got really spread out, and especially closer to the end  where I was running. There were an abundance of volunteers along the course, and even near the end, they all appeared to be staying at their posts. There were frequent water stops along the way. Gatorade and water were always available, and some stations had carb gels too. There were some hills, and the worst was on Presque Isle, closing in on the finish line. Nothing else seemed that significant, though the elevation profile on the webpage definitely showed hills. Marquette has a dock for freighters to be serviced, and the Mesabi Miner was in port, and appeared to be unloading coal. So we got to go past this enormous ship several times during the course. You dont realize how big these things are until you go by one at the dock! There was an adequate amount of food at the finish line. They had burgers and hot dogs for the runners, with chips and fruit. There were also bananas down by the finish line, but I had to ask, and then look for them. Also, the dairy people were handing out bottles of chocolate milk  a real treat  and these guys did not run out! Well done. The weather was perfect for running early on, with an overcast sky; by noon or so the sun was out and warmed things up a bit more  and I did sustain minor sun-burn on my exposed skin (I ran out of sunscreen lotion at the staging area). This race was very well staffed, stocked, and Marquette is a beautiful city to see and experience. I even signed up late and still got a T-shirt, though it was a rather plain design.

The course was very well marked. Plenty of aid stations and port a pots along the way. Beautiful scenery. The event was well organized. The city was so clean and beautiful. The people were so friendly. Easy packet pick up. Plenty of parking on race day. Loved to hear the waves lapping as we ran. This was my 4th mini marathon and my best time. It was a wonderful experience and I would recommend this event to anyone. I liked the cookout that was provided for the participants. I liked the size of the event.

Very good organization from packet pickup to picking up the shuttle buses. The course had a bit of everything in it. It was flat enough to get a good time and hilly enough to be interesting. Although there were few spectators the ones there were enthusiastic. Volunteers were terrific. PLENTY of toilets along the course (always a plus). One quibble: there could have been more varied food available at the end, maybe with more fruit.

I was rather surprised by the community involvement & energy of Marquette. Stayed at the Hampton Inn, on the waterfront, right on the course, walking distance to plenty of restaurants (and a post race Blues Festival!) Good overall race support; water/aid, traffic control, course markings etc. Nice weather with typical breeze off the lake. I am not a fan of loop courses but considering the terrain of the region, you have to respect that they kept the course as 'flat' as they could. Course is mostly on bike trail and is not closed for the race. If the race gets any bigger congestion could be a problem. Tech shirt and finish medal were 'OK' but I expect they could have put some more regional creativity into the frills. Post-race grill and soaking legs in the lake was nice.

This was my 24th marathon and my MI completions for the 50 States Club. I am normally very positive no matter what the circumstances, but this WAS NOT A GOOD RACE. Although well organized, the course was a bit of a nightmare. We were constantly turning corners, changing terrain, and sharing a well used bike and running path with pedestrians, half marathoners, and marathon relayers in BOTH DIRECTIONS. (And to the pink shirted half marathoner at mile 11 - as an obvious newbie to the sport - running etiquette is that slower runners stay to the right and faster runners pass on the LEFT!) I have loved 22 of my 24 marathons, unfortunately this was one of the 2 I didn't. If you need MI, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

It was my first time to Marquette and running their marathon. They are known for their mining. Well, they have a gem of a marathon. Very well organized. A challenging fast course, with a big hill at the 12 mile and 25 mile points. The fans couldn't have been more supportive, and I enjoyed every minute of the race.

I ran this marathon yesterday morning, and I am so pleased with it that I want to be sure to make comments ASAP because this race is deserving of really positive reviews. I was skeptical of the race going into it both because I have had less than good experiences with small marathons and also because the course was 2 13 mile loops. My skepticism was proven misplaced on both counts. The course itself is fun, with lots of different terrain (bike trail along the lake, crushed gravel trails among houses, sidewalks, roadway through forest). It changed up so much that doing it twice was a pleasure. Also, the race was *extremely* well organized, with plenty of volunteers at every turn cheering and directing runners. The signage was clear and consistent. I especially appreciated that at every place a person could possibly go off course (something that happened to me in another marathon very frustrating!) there was a 'Turn Back' sign immediately. There was plenty of water and gatorade throughout the course, GUs were distributed twice, and portajohns were place frequently on the course as well. The race directors and volunteers were incredibly friendly and congenial, as were all the people in the town. I wore my medal around town after while getting some lunch and multiple locals came to congratulation me! The Marquette Marathon directors have capitalized on some really great aspects of Marquette: it's natural beauty and the friendly and warm citizens, to make for a really exceptional 'marathon experience.' (The only possible negative is that there aren't many fans along the trail, besides the volunteers. Of course, this is the price of a small town marathon, and the MM organizers did their best to make up for it in every other way.)

I've always loved the larger marathons and have had my doubts of smaller marathons. So when I was looking for a last minute Boston Qualifier and Marquette looked to be my only choice with a 2 loop course on a bike path 7 hours away and 200 people I was having serious doubts. Then I ran it. Wow. Wow. Wow. Where have I been all this time. Stupendous job. From the race director sending personable emails with updates or tidbits; I felt alike I was part of the family. Marquette is a great town along the lake; great restaurants and places to walk around. I wasn't looking forward to the two loop course but it was so fun with a little bit of dirt path, heavily shaded bike path, the fast downhill chute into downtown, short up and downs in downtown, fast flats, the winding tree section at the shore (favorite section for me), the pain searing steep but very very short formidable uphill at twelve, I couldn't wait to run one more loop and then to finish in the park right next to the picturesque lakeshore park area was the whip cream on the top and a beautiful finishers medal as the cherry on top. Spectators were out and very vocally noticeable but there we also sections of with no spectators and that was ok as well because the course was almost meditative in its beauty. The kids races the night before was great to get the family involved. I am so extremely thankful for getting the opportunity to run this friendly, down to earth, small knit marathon. It's UPs hidden running gem.

I can add a positive spin to the HEED issue...because I've tried HEED in a few other events and know what it tastes like (for me anyway), I really, really appreciated the advance information. I carried my Gatorade on my hip belt, and all was well. This was a great marathon, from organization, the e-mails, volunteers, and an absolutely beautiful course. I personally liked the double loop. I think it helps with course familiarity which helps the run. And the city of Marquette was wonderful. I even contributed to the city treasury because of a parking ticket (which was all my fault). The only problem I have at all is I don't have a Donkers closer than 500 miles!

This is a very well organized marathon and the people who put it together are fantastic. I heard from a number of other runners who also praised the organizers. The scenery was very nice and the volunteers are great. I had no problems with traffic or getting as much water as I wanted. The majority of the race is on a bike path and you would be wise not to go out to fast (which I think the majority of us did that day). There are a couple of good sized hills at the beginning and end of the loops. The hill at mile 3 and 16 is gradual but it takes you up a 175 foot elevation. It was'nt bad the first time around but it was difficult for me the second time. The hill at mile 25 was too much for me. It is only about a 100 foot elevation but it is steep and I was running on fumes at this point. Overall it was a good experience and I would recommend it if you like small marathons. A special thanks to Nancy Bailey who did a great job putting this marathon together.

I have run a number of very large races where you are truly just a number. In this race, the organization and extras provided are better than bigger races and have the attention to detail and the perosnal interaction associated with a small race. Unlike the stress of a big race with needing to there hours early, lines for 'necessities' and unfriendly over-competitive people. This race offers comraderie, plenty of facilities, lots of extras with cookout and awards banquet, and lots of voluteers to help. I really enjoyed Marquette, the race, the course, but most importantly the race director and the organization and attention to detail. Also got to meet a Masters Champ while there! (so there is comepetition if you want it). The loop course is nice, but there is a killer hill at mile 12/25. You might get a PR, but I would not qualify this is fast and flat. That is the only minor drawback.

I'm glad I made the trip up to Marquette. It was a beautiful course, perfect weather, well organized. Thanks to all the volunteers!!

This was my first marathon. The overall experience was fantastic. The event was very well organized and the course was beautiful. I appreciated the updates that were emailed out the weeks before the race. They were very helpful and encouraging. The band members that were set up throughout the marathon was a nice touch, especially the drummers near mile 26. They actually helped me pick up the pace. I am already looking forward to next year. Thank you all who helped put this event together. You did an outstanding job!

I have ran in the Marquette marathon and half marathon in both of the two years (2010 and 2011) that it has been going. I must say, not only is this a well organized race, but truly a well organized weekend experience. I have been fortunate to see the event nearly double in size from 2010 to 2011 to include last minute Boston hopefuls from all over the country and even the world. The race course is a two lap course on a paved bike path that takes you through parks, through downtown Marquette and along Lake Superior. It is a fast yet slightly challenging course which is a key factor in the high 2011 Boston qualify rate of 19.6% and high level of competition the race attracts. As a local resident of Marquette I feel like I am on a vacation during the weekend of the race. It is great to see how many fans, and participants there are for such a small town. I also get the opportunity to show off the town and play 'tour guide' to runners from out of town. It's always great to see the positive feedback from the out of towners. I would recommend staying in town a day or two after the race. The post race awards ceremony/after party is a great time to celebrate with other runners, meet the friendly locals and spend a saturday night out on the town with the rest of the NMU locals. Use Sunday to recover, Immerse yourself in the active culture by exploring the natural beauty of the area.... if you have enough energy left try kayaking on superior, hiking one of the many mountains overlooking marquette, eating at one of the many local resturaunts or meet up with your new friends from the weekend. Believe it or not, by Monday you will begin to recognize many faces as you visit local establishments. The Marquette marathon weekend always reminds me of why I am proud and lucky to live in Marquette.

Nancy is one of the most kind race directors I have come across in 15 or so marathons so far. I arrived late Friday evening (I didn't realize packet pickup was only Friday evening until all the hotels were booked up in the area. I came to find out I could have picked up my packet Saturday morning :S) without a hotel and she made sure I would have a place to stay that night..FOR FREE!!! What a wonderful person! The only reason I give the course 4 stars is because of the double lap for the marathon but there is so much to see it really isn't that bad running it twice to see what you missed the first time. The volunteers were great, very enthusiastic and proud of the event. The fan support from the town could have been stronger but the volunteers almost made up for it. All in all, I believe this event is destined for substantial growth with the beautiful area, strong support of volunteers, and unparalleled race director.

The marathon was very well organized. The people involved were very friendly. The town of Marquette is beautiful, and I would recommend this marathon to any runner.

The committee that organized this race - now in its second year - gets two thumbs up!! Very friendly check in, great frequent e-mail updates, terrific volunteers. The course was a little more challenging than the 'flat and fast' they stated in their summary, but it was either a nice bike-path or a groomed trail (just a couple miles of trail in total) and the view of Lake Superior never got old. Lots of volunteers at the numerous water and aid stations. This two loop wasn't well-lined with spectators (I think I saw maybe a couple dozen in total) but the station and road crossing volunteers cheered you on as you passed by. The event shirts were great, the medal could use some design work, but since all profits went to the local high school you have to love the community support!! Overall a great local race that will only get bigger. One strong recommendation - the HEED was tough to drink ..recommend another sports drink for the runners next year!

This race weekend exceeded my expectations on all accounts, due to the welcoming town of Marquette and the dedication of the race director and her team. The two-loop certified course is a pretty good Boston qualifier: slight rises, but no major hills; frequent well-staffed aid stations; protection from wind and sun for the majority of it. Transportation around Marquette is cheap by cab, and free if you're up for walking a mile or two. I found a great value hotel for the three nights, within walking distance of downtown. The morning busses were prompt and friendly. Hardly any lines at the porta-potties before the race. There were people cheering and a few bands scattered throughout the entire course. More importantly though, is the attitude of the people in the town. The race director was kind enough to go out of her way to help me when she had much race prep to do. I had two separate locals offer to drive me from the airport to my hotel (there was no cab stand). I spent the remainder of the weekend with new friends from downtown. On Sunday night, 5pm-empty, don't miss Blackrock's fresh brewed beer and live music. I highly recommend it. (I also highly recommend drinking more than 1 small cup of water/electrolytes at each aid station.)

Marquette, MI first of all is beautiful and running through Presque Isle Park was mysterious; saw alot of squirrels. Alot of hills, some rolling/steady. I was hoping for the split clocks, but there were none. Perhaps that could be added in the 2012 race. Not alot of people were too happy with the 'Heed' energy drink along the course. It was way diluted and tasted like sugar water. Most people train with gatorade which seems to work very well. Last leg of race is a good stretch of down-hill to help with a strong finish. Hats off to the volunteers and the race director!

I wanted to pick an early fall marathon that was flat and fast. Marquette advertises the course is flat and fast. First of all, I'm learning flat is relative. If you are from Marquette, I'm sure this course if flat to you. Being from Chicago, this course is not flat. Several other runners made this same comment. The first 5 miles are challenging, with a one mile on a challenging dirt road. You will have a gradual 200 foot ascend up to mile 5. Starts to flatten out with a few rollers until you return back to the park, where you are greeted with a difficult hill around 11.5 miles. You have to do this twice. The course is mostly path with little to none spectators. Where work needs to be done is with the aid stations. First of all, small dixie cups are not ok. I'm a heavy sweater and I knew going into this race the temp+humidity would be a challenge to me. I had to make sure to hydrate well. When they give you water in a small 4 oz dixie cup, you are lucky to get 2 ounces. Second, they said aid stations at every mile. I think they meant there were opportunities to get water, which may have been a water fountain on the path. If you are racing, stopping at a water fountain is not acceptable. Their were plenty of aid stations, but not at every mile. I DNF'd because I got dehydrated. I would like to think if there were water stations at every mile or water in larger cups (8 oz), I would have hydrated better. If I slowed down and stopped at the water stations, I would have been fine, however, I was racing this event. Hard to give this race a bad review because the organization was top notch! The award dinner was a wonderful event! Please fix the aid stations and you'll have a wonderful marathon to brag about.

The course is tougher than advertised but if you run smart you'll be rewarded with a good time. Plenty of aid stations along the course although HEED tasted terrible. Nice shirts and finisher medal. People were as friendly as it gets. I will run this race again and I would suggest this marathon to anyone looking to qualify for Boston or just to cross Michigan off the 50 state list. You'll be glad you came!!

I flew to Marquette to get in an 'early fall' marathon- great change in temperature from DC. I trained in the 90's all summer, so 61 at race time was a plus. Good variety in the course, especially considering that we did the same loop twice. Scenic start in the park, a mile or two of unpaved road, then mostly paved bike trails through. Good change of scenery too, running along neighborhoods, through the small downtown and along the lakefront. What blew me away was the organization of this small race- lots of volunteers; water every 1-2 miles (but get rid of the HEED!) and gels. Seriously, did the whole town come out to volunteer to man water stations, stop traffic, etc? This is a fairly fast, flat course (but a nasty little hill in the park at the 12/25 mile mark). Didn't set a PR, but got a very respectable time given my limited summer training. This one is a perfect work up for fall races on my schedule. Oh, and hats off for a great little after party at the Waterfront Restaurant. If you're looking for a small race, but worried about lack of support, try this one.

The course of two laps takes the runners along Lake Superior, by the marina, ore loading facility, into heavily wooded areas and through downtown Marquette. The volunteers are great and I would estimate approximately one volunteer for each runner. Local fan support is good for a smaller race that has only been run two times. The race director is very active and micro manages every detail. She sends out daily Emails and you feel she is a personal friend before you meet her. The local sponsors are very generous There was plenty of water stations and rest facilities. I would highly recommend this event. The awards ceremony had live music, and advertised as a cash bar, but the sponsor picked up the bar tab.