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Jun 2, 2024

Gobbler Grind Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Gobbler Grind Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.5

Organization 3.2

Spectators 2.5

Number of comments: 100 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

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N. W. from Kansas City, MO (11/23/2010) "An otherwise forgettable marathon" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This is definitely not a marathon one will seek out to run. It is a sanctioned Boston Qualifier on a seemingly quick course. The marathon itself will top out at maybe 300 runners. The pros are simple. It is a great bargain and the course is relatively flat. No vehicle traffic and friendly people. The fans who are out are incredibly friendly and eager to cheer. The cons are just that. No glaring mistakes; it's what you expect out of a marathon of this size. Fan support is minimal. The course is poorly marked in areas. I found that between miles 19 and 21 the trails that the course was set on had several offshoots; it is only by sheer luck that I stayed on the right course. All in all, it was a decent experience. Not a marathon that will ever garner any great memories but it was a successful event. If the origins of this race are understood, that it was just a group of people wanting to run a marathon around Thanksgiving, then the event is a huge success. I simply used the race a long training run and to check Kansas off of the 50 state list. For that it was perfect. I read so many reviews and runners today believe that they are entitled to something better. If you want a supreme marathon experience, use a race like this to qualify for, say, BOSTON.
G. R. from Smyrna, GA (11/22/2010) "No frills... but just right" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a simple, low-key, serene/very quiet race (under 250 marathoners) - especially once you split off from the half marathoners. If you need a zoo-like spectacle atmosphere, you may want to pass this one up. Otherwise, it's a good value for the money with great volunteers and a responsive race director who actually emails you back! As a 50-state marathoner (state #35), this was exactly what I wanted.
Jay Raupp from Lenexa, Kansas (8/17/2010) "Reply to those guys who missed the turn" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I am a local runner and want you guys who missed your marathon turn to know that, as of now, August 2010, 9 months later, the yellow painted signs on the pavement at the half marathon/marathon split are still legible, plain as day - "half marathon" with a straight arrow, and "marathon" turn. You missed the signs on race day, but they were there, and still are. Course was not so badly marked as you say, and, course maps were available on the website for preview.
D. B. from 29 Palms, California (11/25/2009) "ENJOYABLE" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This marathon was as good as you could expect for the affordable entry fee, and for the time of year in the Midwest. I don't like it when races combine full, half marathon, and 5K participants in one mass start. They should have staggered the start, or at least provided different colored t-shirts or bibs for the different distances. It's too easy for marathon runners to get pulled along at a half-marathon pace. Not nearly enough port-a-johns, either at the start or along the course. Recommend putting port-a-johns at about the four-mile mark. This is when most people need to drain their bladders, and then they are good for the rest of the race. The number of aid stations was adequate for the weather. It was really nice having Teddy Grahams and GU at stops early, midway, and late in the race. The course was .46 miles too long, according to my Garmin GPS watch. No big deal, but 26.2 is supposed to mean 26.2. It's better than having the course too short, so no issues. The best thing about this marathon had nothing to do with the race organizers. I'd like to personally extend my most heartfelt thanks to the dude standing at mile seven with a cardboard box full of pancakes. That really hit the spot! Thanks!!! Great having chocolate milk at the finish... somebody has been reading Runner's World. Don't cut the bananas in half; it's cheap and it makes them slimy and un-appetizing. Packet pickup was a breeze because there were no hucksters there pushing their wares. Too bad... I love those kind of packet pick-up events. Overall, a great marathon. It was cheap and I personally don't like the big marathons with thousands of people.
B. F. from Flat lands of So. IL. (11/23/2009) "Worth a 7-Hour Drive" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Weather was favorable. We ran on paved bike paths, on a mostly wooded course, with no real hills. R.D. represented the course fairly, and responded to emails. Plentiful aid stations. Could have offered GU, nutrition, Vaseline, and porta-potties more often. Course was marked well. Plenty of fruit and milk at the finish line. Pizza and soup would have been nice, also. Good course for first-timer or for a PR. Fairly priced. Attractive shirt. Thanks too all who helped, especially the cheerful lady volunteer who kept getting prettier every time we passed her station while getting closer to finish line.
J. B. from Madison, WI (11/23/2009) "POORLY MARKED COURSE! BEWARE!" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 OK, this is a small marathon, but the event feels a little bigger at the start since everyone (5K, half-marathon, and marathon) starts at the same time. I think they should change that. It's just lazy preparation by the race organizers. However, my biggest problem is that the course is POORLY marked. And I mean POORLY MARKED. At mile 23-24ish, I was alone and didn't know where to go. I had to ask some local bikers if they saw some runners go by. Luckily, they pointed me in the right direction. When I turned around, two other runners were doing the same thing I did. I lost 30-45 seconds because of this. It was really upsetting. The course is only marked with yellow, spray-painted arrows that are hard to see most of the time. And since there were only 233 full marathoners, you are alone most of the race if you run faster than the pack. I don't recommend this marathon for anyone but locals. It's not worth the trip. I don't think it would have been too difficult to put up signs pointing runners in the right direction. The race just seemed to be slapped together at the last minute. You would think the race organizers could do a better job. It's not like they're organizing a race of 43,000, like NYC. The course was scenic, though. All in all, this race makes for nothing more than a training run in preparation for one that is better organized.
N. P. from St Charles County MO (11/23/2009) "Not a pleasant experience for my 24th marathon" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I have never written a negative comment about a marathon before - but I must for this one. Positives include the well organized packet pickup, perfect weather, friendly runners, and some friendly volunteers. My BIG gripe is that I unknowingly missed the turning point where the marathon split from the half, so I finished the half - and asked where it was and how could I finish. I was told it was around the six-mile-mark and was well marked and volunteers were guiding. NO ONE was guiding - I would not have missed it. I had a family member drop me off near the half marathon point of the marathon course so I was able to finish, and the timing guy graciously changed my finish time to my watch time - not the 2:37 that it showed when I crossed after 13.1 miles. On the back half of the course, I saw some markings on the ground where the turn off was, but since they were right at a water station at a point where there were still a lot of runners near me, and I was looking for water and Gatorade, not yellow arrows on the street (and, to repeat, NO ONE was yelling where to turn), I can easily see how I (and others according to the timing guy) missed it. Another big gripe: two of the later water stations had no volunteers there. They did leave water and Gatorade in cups - once on some big rocks along the trail, and once on a table - but there was no warm body to say, "Good job" and make sure no one came along to tamper with the drinks. Even the 1 person at the 15.1- and 17-mile stations meant so much more. My family said I should complain to the race director and demand free entry to next year's event (though I live 3 and a half hours away and am working on my states), but I honestly would never do this race again. The map was very hard to read for my family as they tried to follow me at certain points. While I was able to knock Kansas off of my list of states to run a marathon in, overall it was the worst marathon I have ever been to.
V. D. from Elkhorn, NE (11/22/2009) "Nice Course; Love the Turkeys on the Medals/Shirts" (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This seemed like a really nice course, although it was a little hilly (nothing extreme though). Great water stop support along the course, but not many spectators - mostly just family of competing runners. The marathon field is pretty small: 233 runners this year, but there are 1,700 other half/5K runners with you early on. Could have used a lot more porta-potties at the start line though. Everyone gets the same shirt and medal, although there is engraving on the back on the medal to show your race, and the ribbons were different colors. I got a PR on this course, so I'm happy. Weather in late November in the Midwest can range across the full spectrum, but we had dry conditions and temps in the 50s this year. Perfect.
c. b. from k.s. (12/1/2008) "Great race before the holiday." (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the full marathon at this race and I was very pleased. The course was well marked and the aid stations were well staffed. The course is primarily on paved trails in the woods, so spectators are far and few between. If you like small marathons, then you will love this race. The shirt is a lot nicer than last year's.
J. G. from Nebraska (11/24/2008) "2008 Good experience with Gobbler Grind" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Gobbler Grind Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I read the previous comments before deciding to run this marathon as my first marathon. "Negatives." These are nit-picky. It was a good race and a good experience. * The pre-race information was sparse. The map was emailed to me by request and was impossible to follow. * There was no pre-race expo - just a packet pickup, which was well-organized, easy, fast, efficient. * The shirts are not attractive and are way too big. I got the smallest size and will never be able to wear it. * The course was well marked and easy to follow. It is a nice course on a bike path, mainly. No traffic to worry about. * The people were friendly. One water station was not prepared and we had to get our own water (mile 4). The PowerAde was more like blue water - no flavor. It was nice to have animal crackers at one stop, and GU at one stop. Only one port-a-potty along the way. The end was uneventful. Nothing going on, but plenty to drink and there was fruit available. Would have been nice to have a bit more available to eat. "Positives." Overall, a very nice course, nice people and spectators (few), and a good experience. Easy to follow the course - well marked. Plenty of water stations. Good weather. I recommend this for people who are running for the first time, who don't need the expo or event-type atmosphere, or who just want a nice path to run.

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