Nov 21, 2024
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Bismarck Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Bismarck Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 61 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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N. S. from FL
(11/18/2024)
"Good Organization & Nice Town!" (about: 2024)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you are a 50 stater and you need ND, then this is the one to do. Decent flatter course although sections get a little cramped (on concrete sidewalks), the rest is better laid out. Nice start and finish at the capitol, which you must visit while there, and particularly do not miss the adjacent state museum. It is top notch. Good packet pick up, course marking, timing water stations, etc., no issues. LOVE my AG award, a blanket with the capitol building on it!!! The hoodie, instead of a shirt - FABULOUS too!! | |
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C. N. from NH
(9/30/2022)
"What was true in 2018 is still true in 2022" (about: 2022)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My experience was similar to what was described for 2018 in other comments, although I don't recall any unpaved sections. Most of this course is on local, paved trails with connections made on quiet streets or on sidewalks. Traffic was not an issue except for in one local neighborhood where I witnessed a Corvette driver cut off the runner in front of me. The race director can't direct the weather, and it was wet. Pouring rain in the first half. The course itself is level but I think most suffered a slowdown due to sloshy shoes. Temps were mild (low 60's?) and winds were minimal so no chilling. Prizes in the top 3 for each age group were commemorative blankets. Unique and useful prizes are always nice! Bonus points for two separate announcers who pronounced my name correctly and with no pause beforehand. Crowds were sparse, partly a function of the course being on trails, but special thanks for those folks out in the pouring rain who cheered us on. | |
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m. b. from NC, USA
(10/8/2018)
"Well Organized" (about: 2018)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Outside of the majors and Disney races, this was one of the best organized marathons I've run anywhere. 1) Road and mile markers well marked 2) Traffic managed well, never was threatened by autos on the course 3) Aid stations throughout with water and Gatorade and full of friendly, encouraging volunteers 4) Volunteers to help you park and quickly get you to the start 5) Offered to hold my swag at the race tent until I finished the race All of this happened and I was 25 minutes late to the start. The 1st aid station was still there with volunteers. The road signs were still there. The traffic monitors were still there. I wouldn't recommend showing up late, but these folks have a 'leave no one behind' type of attitude. Never experienced anything like it in a relatively small marathon field. Other items: 1) Mostly paved course with a bit of nice park and river scenery and is not technically difficult. Some short hills, the bridges being the toughest. The couple of out and backs (blah) don't last too long. 2) Nice swag - pullover, shoulder bag, and poof ball knit hat (my favorite). 3) Friendliest race staff I've ever met next to the Marines Corps Marathon volunteers 4) Couple of hours drive on 94 to Teddy Roosevelt park | |
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C. Y. from Allen, TX
(9/21/2018)
"Well organized, nice swag, plentiful aid stations" (about: 2018)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my ND race and it was great choice. Easy packet pickup, plentiful parking, more than adequate aid stations and portos. No one goes to Bismarck for the scenery, but the course was pleasant and the volunteers super friendly. For the modest entry fee we received a pullover, a hat and a nice bag. AG awards were an attractive fleece. Adequate post race goodies, including chocolate milk. I recommend highly for 50 staters! | |
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J. E. from Pennsylvania USA
(9/17/2017)
"Flat, friendly" (about: 2017)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Website was thorough. Stayed at host hotel & found it $10 cheaper on hotels.com. Free hot breakfast & shuttle to airport & race. I rented a car even though hotel had a shuttle. Glad I did so I could freely go to expo, eat in town & had a warm place to wait pre race and didn't have to wait postrace. It was rainy & 46 degrees. Expo was really small but a bargain to buy or get free jackets, shirts, hats from previous years. All runners got a very nice quality drawstring bag, gloves & hooded zip up. Race was flat & on bike paths that were surprisingly in good shape, considering their winters. It passed beautiful homes on the river canals & thru parks. Frequent aid stations with very friendly volunteers (probably 20 in all). Gel at mile 17 & same aid station at 19. As you ran thru finish, they announced your name & where you were from. There were snacks postrace ie granola bar, fruit, pretzels. Results were printed out immediately. Age group awards were so nice. You stood on a podium for photos & received an embroidered running jacket. I really enjoyed this race even though the weather was cold & windy with drizzle & I didn't feel well the last 10 miles. Anything the RD was involved with was exceptional. I also appreciate all the volunteers. It's not possible without you. Definitely a bargain & perfect race for north Dakota if you're in pursuit of 50 states like me. | |
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H. M. from NW Arkansas
(9/23/2016)
"Awesome Race" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a race that attracts a lot of 50-state marathon candidates, and it is well worth the trip. (Probably half of the passengers on my plane from Chicago were coming for the race.) While the race field is small (fewer than 150 marathoners in 2016), the support is top notch. Most of the course runs along hike & bike trails through city parks, and there were volunteers at almost every street and parking lot to keep cars from cutting us off. Everyone was so darn friendly, too. One word of warning - the half-marathon starts at the same time & shares the first 5 miles of the course, so you may be pacing off a half-marathoner if you don't check their bib! Weather for the race was perfect - low 40s at the start, warming to mid-60s at the end. Race shirts were nice 1/4 zip long-sleeve shirts, and age group winners got cool wind-jackets. There was even a modest cash prize for top overall and top master's (male & female). | |
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K. C. from Kansas
(9/18/2016)
"Would do it again" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great weather, amazing organization (support, volunteers, course markings, FRIENDLY PEOPLE) - if you're thinking about running this, just sign up already. | |
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M. N. from California
(9/18/2016)
"2016 Run Mostly Awesome, Some Good" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I just ran the race on Sep 17th. Overall experience was great. Small field (144 marathoners). Very scenic (mostly flat) but enough turns and scenery that it is never dull. The route also goes through farms, neighborhoods, next to a river, golf course, running trail, side walk...you get the idea...Volunteers were awesome. Water and Gatorade at every mile. Improvements : It would have been great to have GU Gels at least at some points on the course. There was hardly any fruit during or after the race. Bismarck is a very small town so the start was not hard to get to, but running a shuttle from the area hotels would have been great. Overall Awesome with some areas to improve. | |
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Diana Hughes from Milwaukee, WI
(9/20/2015)
"Definite race to add to your calendar" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bismarck Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 25th state in my quest for the 50 states. Small race that is well organized. Course is flat with two bridges that create small hills. Weather was great 48 at the start 68 at the finish. Love the jackets given as awards. | |
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Pam Fourie from Texas
(10/7/2014)
"A MUST DO FOR 50 STATERS" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Great course, a couple of bridges, and small rollers, but mostly flat on their bike & trail route and some neighborhoods. Didn't care for the mass start, they should allow the marathoners to start at 7 instead of 7:30 with everyone else. The road was too congested and only opened up after we separated from the rest at mile 5. If you do this race I recommend lining up at the very front and not by time corral. Last 3 miles were not fun or pretty, you are in the open with no protection against wind or sun. Other than that I really enjoyed the rest of the course. There was plenty of pretty sights and colorful trees. There's plenty to do in Bismark and glad I stayed an extra day. |
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