Coeur d' Alene Marathon - Race Reviews

This was my first marathon in Idaho, my 2nd 26.2 overall. Weather was cool with slight overcast that allowed for an overall cool race. Packet Pick Up Packet pick up was re scheduled to start an hour later than website advertises which was fine. My kids had plenty of time to play at the park while we waited. Was able to purchase a few items for memorabilia. (Had my size available in the styles I wanted). Race Day We stayed at an Air bnb .5 miles from the start line so my wife had plenty of time to drop me off. There was a few dozen porta potties on site and that gave me around a 5 minute wait for restroom. I pack my own fuel so I may not be the best judge on aid stations however there seemed to be plenty! I did stop twice for extra water to ensure I didn't run out. The course itself is beautiful. Running along the lake was pretty and there seemed to be quite a bit of spectators from locals. Although not as much as in the Ogden Marathon. (my only other experience in 26.2 events) The only con is that the course runs you right by the water plant so that was a smelly section! 'Motivation to run faster' lol! The course itself was beautiful.

This just was not a good race. The organization of the run stands out. 1st. They ran out of shirts. So even though i went to packet pick up hours before those closed they said they had been out of shirts and could contact us to ship us our size in mens. That was 4 weeks ago and no response from them (i have tried contacting them). 2nd. It is a loop marathon, you run the same route multiuplue times. When i was finishing they had teenagers volunteering. At about mile 22 about 3 hours into the marathon they started picking up the mile markers!!! I think they meant to pick up the markers (mile 1,3 5 etc) from the 1st loop but they made a mistake and pulled up the last 4. Nothing like running a marathon with no mile markers. 3rd, there was no water. They appeared to only have staff and volunteers for the half marathon. Once that was done, they were done and left. Just not a good race, don't run this one. Pick Boise, much better ran marathon. STRONGLY SUGGEST Running a different race.

We drove down from Canada to try the half marathon. It was well organized from packet pick up to awards ceremony. The weather was perfect too. We'll be back next year.

They need more food on the course, as at the end of the race. i.e., Bananas, oranges, etc. We pokies need more than just drink! Thanks for your time!

Things to like about the CDA marathon: - Small race so you could park 3 blocks from the start/finish area a half an hour before the start, and the portapotty line was short compared to most races. - SWAG - the long-sleeve pullover and pint glass included at packet pickup were nice. The medal was also nice, if that matters. - Scenery was beautiful (but in my experience it doesn't matter how awesome the scenery is for the last hour, if you're racing a marathon.) - The volunteers were enthusiastic and aid stations were well staffed. - The course was well marked, and mile markers seemed pretty accurate up to mile 10 which was way long, then pretty consistent from there to the end of the race. Things not to like: - Small race (243 finishers) so not much company - During the last 15 miles, I passed 5 or 6 people and was passed by one person, and had no one with 300 meters at the end. Same story for my daughter. It's a lot like a solitary training run. - The course - four trips over the same piece of pavement is about 2 too many. I realize it's all about the half-marathon, but making the marathoners run 4 repeats over a significant hill was a bad idea. - Start time: Starting at 5:30 or 6:00 instead of 7:00 would've meant cooler temps and lots more shade. With temps over 70 and bright sun like this year, the last half of the race was a lot harder than it needed to be. - Aid stations should use bigger cups - Dixie cups that hold maybe 4 ounces before spillage during hand-off and drinking aren't very useful. It would also be helpful to have water and sports drink in the same order from station to station, or not intermingled at the same station. (I realize this is a universal problem but wanted to make future entrants aware that CDA is no exception). - Post-race foodstuffs were nothing to get excited about - oranges, bananas, and 1 free beer if you were so inclined and had time to wait in line. We had to head to the airport so didn't mind that the post-race stuff wasn't anything special. All in all we enjoyed the race and our visit to CDA, and would recommend it especially if you have time to enjoy the lake afterwards.

I entered the full marathon given that I had some other commitments for my goal race which was the weekend after. The course is scenic and the event is well organized for a small city marathon however it really is a half marathon. The double out and back on the marathon course got old really quickly the second time through. I understand that it is a small location but even a small 10k somewhere else for the marathon runners would have made it a little more bearable. Finally I thought the course was long. My Garmin, which is normally pretty accurate, had an extra 500 metres which messed with me at the end. On the plus side the shirt and medal were excellent and Coeur d'Alene is beautiful. I would definitely visit that part of the country again but I wouldn't go just for the marathon unless there was an effort to make it a proper marathon rather than just running two half marathons (and some) back to back.

This was a nice smaller race, ~200 in the full marathon. There was also a 5K and half marathon. The double out-and-back course would have been horrible, if not for the gorgeous scenery. The fourth time through the same ~6.5 mile stretch got a bit old, though. PLenty of water stops with gels, HEED, and water. Expo was small but adequate if you forgot some essentials. It was a very nice ,well organized small run. Would I make another trip to Idaho just to run it? Probably not.

Beautiful course-the best scenery is on the marathon route after the half marathoners turn around. Loved the course, loved the 'morning of' packet pick up. Parking was easy. Logistically this race needs improvement....it was amateur hour. -The bag drop was non-existent, which wouldn't have been a problem had a race volunteer not pointed to an area and told me it WAS the bag drop. Glad I didn't use it, my car keys would have been gone. -They also released over a thousand half marathoners in to mile 3 of the marathon....so just when folks are hitting their pace, you merge with a few hundred runners/walkers. It took a few miles to spread the group out afterwards. -Finish line, even though it was small, it had more vendors selling homemade crafts than post-race support and was really disorganized. -Nevermind the lack of medical support - 10 bucks worth of sunscreen, vaseline, and motrin at a few aid stations (I only saw it at the marathon turn around) would have sufficed.

Overall, great race. If I make it back to Idaho, I'd probably run this one again. Positives: 1) Most logistics (see below): Expo (small, but efficient), race day organization, parking, water stops, etc. 2) On-course directions: There were lots of turns, but I never once got confused or lost. 3) On course volunteers: at times, there were so many, the near complete lack of 'crowd' was not noticeable. 4) aid stops: lots of sports drink and gel; 5) Post race food: Still plenty left when I finished my marathon, after most after most half-marathoners. 6) Matching finisher hat: Very nice touch. It would have been fantastic if it said 'Finisher,' but pretty awesome nonetheless. 7) Scenery: Out of control of the organizers other than choosing to do a race here, but this was one of the most beautiful races I've run. Issues/Needs improvement: 1) Mile markers: similar to the 2011 feedback, mile markers came up early until the last 'mile,' which I clocked at 1.2 miles. I know GPS watches aren't perfect, but it really seems like there is a legitimate issue here. 2) Start time/overlap with half: The marathoners start 30 minutes ahead of the half (which has over 1000 folks) and run a 3-mile loop back to the starting area, then join the half course for the next 6 or so miles. I am a 4-hour marathoner (9 min/mile) and I calculated this into my start, thinking I would avoid the throng. Unfortunately, the marathon started 6 minutes late, which deposited me (and almost every other marathoner) in the sea of humanity that was the start of the half. The organizers could have recognized this and considered starting the half a little later as well. My issue was probably a one-time thing, but slower marathoners will want to consider this. 3) Pre-race audio: I was about 50 feet behind the start line, but could not hear any pre-race announcements, national anthem, etc. 4) On-course medical support: Maybe it was there, but I didn't see any. I didn't need it, but wondered what would happen if I did. Neutral feedback: 1) Gels: The pre-race email stated gels would be at particular water stops, but they weren't at all stops identified. There were a ton of stops with gel, and I always carry all I need just in case, so there was plenty, but I met one guy who was particularly annoyed at this. 2) Medals: I'm not into fancy medals, and this one wasn't. 3) Shirts: I don't like white tech tees, but the long sleeve and color stripe was nice. 4) Hills: these weren't as hard as I figured with all the feedback below and the profile, but they weren't a cakewalk either. Get in some hill workouts folks. 5) There were only a couple pockets of spectators during the long out and back after mile 6, so if you need crowd support, consider another race. It's a small race in a small town. 6) Don't think the big hills at mi 12/13 and 16/17 are the only ones. There is a short, steep hill in mi 23 and one right at the end.

Traveled across the country with my fiance to run the Coeur d'Alene Marathon (my 31st and her 10th overall marathons). Made a weekend of it by staying at the Coeur d'Alene Resort (HIGHLY recommend). The people (volunteers, specatotrs and runners) could not be more friendly and welcoming. The course is breath-taking along the lake from miles 12-19! Don't be intimidated by the elevation map: double hills at miles 12/16 (out and back) look daunting but are not! Not much crowd support to speak of but the vistas cover for that. Overall an awesome experience!

This was my 65th marathon. I headed north for cooler weather and I got it: about 48 at the start and upper 50's at the end. The course is nice but it is NOT a flat course, it hits a long hill at miles 10-15 and then you go down the other side and come back at miles 17-21. The only thing I truly did not like was the cant of the road going up/down that hill. I kept trying to find a level spot on the shoulder of the road. Also, not all roads are closed to traffic, so you must pay attention because in most of the race you are running with your back to the traffic which is not how I normally would run. I registered the day before the race and I must say packet pickup was quite simple. Race day had plenty of parking almost at the start line. You could stay inside until the race start if the weather was really cold. Ample porta potties at the start and throughout the course. Also, well managed aid stations consistently placed throughout the course. This is not a big race, it had around 300 finishers and I think maybe 500-600 entrants. For whatever reason, there were a fair number of peoppl who signed up but did not run. We stayed at the Roosevelt Inn which is a B&B that was a former school. Cool place. If you are out-of-state like we were, it is easy to fly into Spokane, WA and then just drive 30 minutes over to Coeur d'Alene, ID. Nice finishers medal. Finish line food was sufficient.

'mostly flat' in the course description is funny. We did get to run up and down a mountain or two. But it was still beautiful. I wish the halfers could start earlier so they could be out of the way. Running 10-minute miles was a drag because they were right with us for too long. At two water stations, too many children were working and couldn't keep up. Cute kids, but lots of feet getting stepped on and tripping to get to the water. Love the shirt color.

this is a nice little race in a beautiful little city - a great choice for idaho if you are looking for 50 states. very nice scenery and a changing view aid stations were well placed and staffed PROS: separate start times for full/half no traffic issues plenty of food - even after the half marathoners finished tech fabric hat at finish was very nice course is fairly fast - not PR quick, but still a faster course CONS that hill that you go up, then down, then turaround at mile 15 was brutal to do twice start gets you on teh path too quickly, its a bit crowded not much of an expo - just so you know what to expect not much crowd support - not something i am looking for, but jsut so you know ugly lime green shirt this year did not see medical tent on course - i needed some vaseline for a developing blister and had to do without litle shade on majority of course, if it were a warm day, this race could get hot quick, wtih little relief

There really wasn't an expo, just packet pickup in an empty retail building. No music or sendoff for the walkers at 5:30. But great volunteers, and lots of water and bathrooms along the course. It could be a great race, but didn't seem to have any support from the city.

I loved the fact that there were only 2500 runners because I don't really like large crowds. The course was lovely and the weather perfect. The porta potties and water stations were plentiful and well-manned. The packet pick-up was a disappointment with no freebies except a chapstick and a chip clip, and the vendors outside were minimal and left early. There was no course map to look at except a size 6 font map that was ridiculous. The website marked the start and finish in one place and I found out at the packet pick-up that it was right there. Very confusing for someone out of state who doesn't know what 'Riverstone' is. The directions just said 2129 Main Street in Riverstone. Also, the tshirts were ugly and all oversized with no mention at registration that they were all men's sizes. When I requested to switch my small for an extra small, I was told that I would have to wait until after the race. When I finished, the extra small were all gone. Now I have an ugly shirt that is so big I have to give it away. When you pay $70 for registration, you should be sure to get a shirt that fits. Downtown was fairly empty of supporters...in fact the whole way was pretty un-festive. I was surprised because I was used to how festive Bloomsday always is, with all the vendors set up at packet pick-up and all the spectators along the course. There should have been some kind of spaghetti feed the night before that runners could pay for and tips on where to shower afterwards, etc. It just seemed like little effort went into the race on behalf of the runners. I had a free drink ticket on my bib, and when I went to redeem it, the guy told me that they weren't doing that this year since their company wasn't chosen as a sponsor. Check out the effort that they put out for the Missoula Marathon, and compare w/this one. It just lacked in a lot of areas except for scenery.

Being the first Marathon at age of 54, I started at 0530 and the crowd was great at that time of morning. Over all they did a great job.The weather for me was great..One thing I would like to see is more Emergence personal along the way..the person whom measured the course was a little bit long..sorry to say..thank you for making this a great experience . for my husband and my self this was one of 100 things to do.Thank you again .

Nice mini vacation overall. CDA is a beautiful area with lots of outdoor activities. Scenic course, fairly flat but poorly organized. Minimal expo, inaccurate measurement cost me a PR. The last 1.1 miles of the half were measured at 1.35 and the RD admitted the half course to be 'indeed a bit long'

This was my fourth marathon and the prettiest one I have run so far. At first I was disappointed because it was a small race...I've found them to be unorganized and disappointing. NOT the case with this race. It was amazing and I plan on running it every year that I can. Well done!!

Seconding the comment below about the paucity of the 'expo.' This is the first marathon I've ever run where you could not look at a course map before the race. Not only was there no map in the official program, but there wasn't even a poster of the course posted at the packet pick-up. Also, I'm not sure the course was measured accurately. As another commenter mentioned, the mile markers came up long before my watch (and everyone else's) beeped.

This is my favorite marathon thus far! I love the course, the spectactors, the massive amounts of kind volunteers and cheering crowds, and the lesser-participant feel. Thank you for taking so much time and effort into making this marathon a special memory. I look forward to running it again!

Great race today, beautiful weather, run around the lake was awesome. My only concern is that the mile markers were not accurate, especially during the first half of the race, and the last mile was too long. Also, if you could serve any other electrolyte drink, that would be great. But other than that a well-organized, fun event! I would love to run it again!

This is a well organized event. There were plenty of port-a-potties at the start. Also there is plenty of parking within a few minutes of the start/finish line. There are amble aid stations with volunteers who do a good job of handing off beverages if you announce what you want. The course is basically an out and back. It has quite a few turns during the first and last quarters of the race, but it's well marked. The race had a strong local field. FYI if you are fast you'll have to dodge a lot of the slower 1/2 marathoners, which start 30 min at the full. But this is pretty typical for most races.

I ran this marathon about 10 years ago and a friend asked me to run it again with him. Well, he ended up not running it for family reasons and I was left to run it alone. The course is beautiful, the race director and volunteers were great, the weather was cool and breezey, and there were plenty of aid stations, a good finish, and a nice post-race party (with beer). The only negative about this entire experience was the pre-race expo. I travel around the country running marathons, so I travel light. I look forward to the expo to buy shoes, GU, socks or whatever I need for that marathon. The pre-race expo had none of these things, and I had to head into town to get what I needed. Not a big deal, but make sure you bring whatever you may need.

I did this marathon as one of my 50 states and highly recommend it for a race in Idaho. It is a well run small marathon. The course is beautiful with a few mild inclines and declines. This is one place I did not mind a long out-and-back stretch, since the course follows a trail along the lake and is very scenic. There were plenty of volunteers along the way. The tech shirt is nice and I was very happy to receive a matching hat at the finish! The aid stations were well stocked with gels, fruit, and bagels. It was also very convenient for an out-of-stater, with the start and finish in the same place and the location across the street from the host hotel. My only suggestion for improvement is to add at least 2 more aid stations and get rid of the Styrofoam cups. Overall, a very enjoyable, small marathon in a beuatiful town!

We didn't get too hot this year. It rained hard the day before and the day after, but the race day only had a strong wind to contend with. The scenery is great. The out-and-back course is not an issue since your scenery actually changes on the way back. The support couldn't have been better. Nice people, and food and drink every 2 miles. My only negative would be about a boring circle we had to do at around mile 23, which was a drag when you're already dragging. Fix that part of the course and this is a 5.

I first saw this race early in the year on MarathonGuide.com, and I thought about running it, as I knew I would be moving to the Pacific Northwest. As I relocated from NYC to Seattle, I drove through CDA, and I then knew I had to run it. With that said, I had a great weekend in CDA, but it was much warmer than I think we all anticipated. While I have never been one to need excessive amounts of water or sports drink, I needed it that day, and the stops were way too spread out - especially toward the end. I have never been so happy to drink water around mile 25 in my life. The stretch between 23-25 (approximately) was a LONG one for me. I did enjoy the race, and while I didn't stick around for the aftermath, I imagine it was typical of a small event. I would recommend the race to a fellow runner. Thanks for great parking, organization and friendliness.

Perhaps the broken toe of a couple of weeks back dampened the experience a bit, but the beautiful weather and surroundings did not. I normally do not prefer out-and-back courses, but this was OK due to the lovely area. It was relatively flat, with two long hills with mild grading. The long-sleeve, modern-fabric T-shirt featured a great design, but the medal is a bit sub-standard. There was plenty of parking, porta-johns and refreshments for the start. Package pickup and the race start were well organized. The water stops were a little too far apart for the heat of this particular race, and for awhile the sports drink came in little, shot-sized cups, so you had to stop and get more liquids. There were few spectators, and not much food at the end (but enough). Great race to combine with the whitewater rafting, biking and hiking in the area. It's not necessary to stay at the host hotel, as there are many alternatives fewer than five minutes away, in areas with more local amenities. The fact that it's only a half-hour from the Spokane airport made for easy travel.

This is a race for those who love views and don't like big crowds. Very laid back and scenic. Weather was great with perhaps 200-300 marathon runners. I'm a waddler who should have done the early start. I recommend that if you finish in 5 hours or longer. It can be lonely otherwise. There is one big hill at mile 12, and coming back at it at mile 15+. It can take a lot out of you if you're not well trained. Water stops also could have been a bit more frequent, but that was probably noticeable only because it was a warm day. Few spectators, but the volunteers were friendly and helpful. It's a nice city to hang in for the Memorial Day Weekend. I would recommend this race to anyone looking for a nice race vacation.

Great area, wtih top-notch scenery. It would be hard to find a prettier run. I had a few long inclines/declines on essentially an out-and-back course, but it's worth it to keep close to the lake. The elevation didn't seem to be enough to impact performance. Weather was about perfect for non-running, and okay for a marathon. * Very well marked and guided course. * Plenty of well-stocked, well-manned water stops. * Nice folks. * As this was a smaller run in a less-populated area, there were not as many fans, but they kept moving ahead of their runners at small distances on bikes and in cars to cheer them along the course. * As the host/registration site, the Hampton Inn wasn't very inviting with their "KEEP OUT OF OUR BATHROOMS!" and "KEEP OUT OF OUR EATING AREA!" signs. * When I asked about a bag check, I was told that no one had asked about that before. She offered to keep my stuff in her van for me. * Medals were a bit small; no finisher's shirt; no beer. The first two I'll write off as it being a smaller race, but no beer? Did I say that this is a beautiful area?

This was another well done marathon in a great location. I enjoyed seeing all the triathletes training during my trip. I had some decent food and met some very nice people. Just what you'd expect from a good, smaller race. The new course (I have never run the old course) is a nice route. The course was well marked and there were tons of volunteers. I'd have expected more spectators, this being such an outdoor recreational area, but I don't need them. There was not much food after the race, but there was a great host hotel. They had a band at the finish. The medal is so-so. The race shirt was a nice, high-tech, long-sleeve shirt. A very small, simple expo... there was Hammer Gel given out at just about all of the rest stops, and HEED was the drink. They also had lots of fruit and very good rest stops, especially for a smaller race. I'd recommend this race to any real runner. It's not a big event, but it's a nice run on a good course. There were only a couple of bumps on the course, so it was a course on which you can run a decent time and enjoy yourself.

The course was beautiful in this race.

Okay, well I know that I am posting my review of the race late, but after doing several other marathons and reading all the other comments, I want to clear up the experience for those thinking of the 2009 race. First of all, it is not a twice-out-and-back course; it is an out-and-back course (13.1 miles there and 13.1 back). I think that is misleading in the other comments. Second of all, I train on this course all year since I live here, and there are two average hills on the way there; however, then you go downhill into a flat stretch on the way back. No biggie. The area is beautiful, and most courses you find will be either some form of out-and-back or some sort of back-tracking (the old course I thought was very similar). I thought the overall course was a great place to set a PR. The latest news is that the course will be different next year: you will not have to do that one and a half miles around at the finish that everyone is complaining about. There are new paved trails extending through Riverstone that they are going to add into the beginning of the race so that when you enter Riverstone at the end, you finish. I think that will be nice. There was GU every two miles after the halfway point; I have yet to do a marathon that offers it that much. I love this course, the weather was good, and there are nice, long-sleeve, Dri-Fit shirts, medals, and hats for the marathon finishers. Also, I think the Riverstone start is a great place for afterward, with the new restaurants, shopping, and scenery. A lot has been completed down there since last year. I will be there next year for sure. Hope to see you there!!!!

I liked the out-and-back course, most of which was along the water. True, it also curved through some neighborhoods, but I liked the variety. The only real hill is 1/2 a mile long on the upside, and 1 and 1/2 miles down, but then you turn around and run it in the other direction. It wasn't too bad. Perfect weather, almost no spectator support, but plenty of aid stations. The course wasn't certified this year, which was really frustrating. If the one hill (run twice) doesn't bother you, this is a fairly fast course.

Beautiful scenery, friendly folks, good organization! You can't go wrong with this marathon. I have already recommended it to friends. The course was well marked... lots of little turns and turnarounds, but you can't get lost! There were marks on the course and volunteers at every turn. There is a hill around the midpoint, but it's doable! The town is beautiful, with good food to be had! I enjoyed this marathon experience! Thanks!

This was my first half marathon. It was a great experience! The weather was great, and the course was really good too. The scenery is beautiful! It was nice that they announce your name and city when you cross the finish line. The water/Gatorade stations were good. At the end of the race, there were cut-up oranges and bananas, and for fluids, water and Gatorade. I also liked that the course was pretty flat.

I have run this course 3 times prior, and this new course was very confusing, winding around neighborhoods, with foot traffic coming and going. The support didn't seem to know which way to point the runners either, and several people were directed to the finish 1 1/2 miles too soon. The course was "ugly" compared to years past; there was little support; and the many advertisements for the new condos at the finish were distasteful. Never again, if the course stays the same.

I have run this race 3 years in a row and each year has been on a different course. This year had a lot of changes, mostly for the better. Let me start off by saying my family LOVES to come to this marathon. Held on Memorial Day weekend, it is an excellent get-away to a great town with gorgeous scenery and plenty for everyone to see and do. A great course for spectators to get around and see their runner multiple times (I think we lost count after a dozen). Well organized every year, so no complaints there (although I do have to say the Brooks podium shirts from the last 2 years are some of the most well worn in my collection, and I was disappointed to see a new brand with a different fit). This year's course was mostly flat; there is a hill, but compared to other hills in other marathons, it does not rate as challenging. The course had many twists and turns and I was a little apprehensive about getting lost. But thankfully, there was a volunteer at every turn and I never once had to slow down my pace wondering where to go. The aid stations were well stocked, with lots of gels handed out, which was great for this size race. I thought there was an appropriate number of aid stations along the course and the volunteers manning them were wonderful. My only real complaint, and I'm sure I'm not the only one, is the fact that you pass by the finish line and still have a mile and a half loop left to run. When you are running a marathon and you've run almost 25 miles and in your head you know you've got over a mile to go, it is still disheartening to run right next to the finish line and not be finished. Even though I knew from the course map, the pre-race instructions, and my Garmin GPS, when you've run that far and you're that close to the finish line, the bottom line is: you are ready to be done. The finish area was great - a nice park, good parking, easy to get to, etc. They just need to tweak the course somewhere to be able to finish the race the first time you get to the finish line. Overall, I would recommend this race to anyone looking for a nice destination race. The course is relatively easy; it's well supported and well-organized. Coeur d'Alene is a fun town, and the race is just part of a great weekend everyone will enjoy.