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☰
Grand Rapids Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Grand Rapids Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.9 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 329 [displaying comments 181 to 191]
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J. S. from Brookfield, WI
(10/22/2008)
"Fabulous course and gorgeous day for a PR!" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This marathon was top-notch from start to finish! The course is beautiful, as it winds its way through the park and next to the river, with the fall colors in full bloom. The out-and-back portions of the race was great for runner-to-runner support. The RD kept us motivated to get to the start, with daily newsletters and bits of encouragement. And those medals... just gorgeous! Congrats to Marcy from MI for the sub 3:30 PR - it was great running with you! | |
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CJ Wren from Florida
(10/22/2008)
"Awesome race from start to finish!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Grand Rapids Marathon was perfect. Great crowd/volunteer support, friendly staff, challenging course, well stocked aid stations, and a great race director made for an awesome race day. It was my first marathon (though I have run several half marathons), and I enjoyed every second. It doesn't hurt that I BQ'd! Any runner, from first-timer to seasoned vet, will appreciate how well run this race is. I will be making this a yearly tradition. Thanks again! | |
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K. J. from Wheeler, MI
(10/22/2008)
"Exceptional Experience" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the best race of any distance that I have ever been a part of. The organization was second to none. Course - The course was conducive to running a PR and was very scenic running along the Grand River. The Industrial Park at miles 16-19 was rather bland; it's hard to stay focused in there. Also, if the race continues to grow at the rate it has over the past 5 years, certain sections of the course may need to be wider in order to accommodate the extra people. As it was, I thought the course was about a 9 out of 10. Fans - For a mid-sized marathon, the fans were a plentiful. It was awesome to see the race guide give the fans directions on how to get to certain "spectator friendly" areas along the course. Some great signs along the course, and very interesting slogans in chalk at certain points. Aid Stations - Best I have ever encountered. Very well manned, plenty of enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. Very well stocked with Gatorade, water, GU, etc. Bathrooms were everywhere out there also. Organization - It was obvious that this marathon was a major deal to the City of Grand Rapids. Billboards, signs, etc. No issues with traffic on the course whatsoever. Very friendly and helpful volunteers along the entire course. My only suggestion is a personal and selfish one. Try to find a date that is different from Detroit. As someone who is trying to run every marathon in Michigan, it makes it tough to choose. In my heart I really want to be back in GR next year, but at some point I need to check Detroit off of the list. | |
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bill kohl from bolingbrook il
(10/22/2008)
"really enjoyable" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The lady who escorted me (the last person on the course) from mile 13 to mile 23 and told me where to turn and to drink water was sent from heaven. | |
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B. W. from Holland, MI
(10/22/2008)
"Eighth Time was a Charm for Me" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Grand Rapids Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Don Kern, the race director, knows how to organize a race! His e-mails were consistently funny and helpful. I really appreciated knowing that he ran the course with his crew in the weeks prior to the race. It is that sort of attention to detail that makes this race so comfortable to run. The short out-and-backs on the course can be mentally challenging, but runners never need to worry about anything else at this race. The sections along the river were beautiful and interesting. The size of this marathon is perfect. My cheering crew was able to see me three or four times. The aid stations were perfectly spaced, stocked, and organized. Best of all, I finally qualified for Boston! | |
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G. K. from Naperville, Illinois
(10/22/2008)
"Well-Organized Race" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My congratulations to Don and the rest of the organizing and support crew. They put on a fantastic marathon. They even arranged for beautiful weather!! The course is pretty for most of the race. The support was great, and places where there were spectators, they were very supportive and cheering loudly. The start and finish lines are well arranged. Nice food at the finish. Lots of GU on the course. A great course for those trying to qualify for Boston. Grand Rapids is a very friendly and easily accessible city. The hotels are very convenient to the start and finish. I would recommend this marathon for anyone looking for a small, well-run, fall race. | |
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T. K. from Michigan
(10/22/2008)
"Best Fall Marathon in the Midwest" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Grand Rapids Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If this is your first or you've run many marathons, you need to run the GR Marathon. It's a marathon put on by runners that want you to enjoy your marathon as much as they do. Great course - it's flat, scenic, and much of it along the Grand River. Great fall venue, and lots of support, aid stations, and volunteers to encourage you. You'll enjoy the race director's email messages, words of encouragement and wise marathon advice. | |
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Michael Hempstead from Petoskey, MI
(10/22/2008)
"First-class organization and a fast course." (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my fourth marathon but first in Grand Rapids. Without a doubt this was the best organized, and best overall marathon experience I've had. And it starts months before race day with entertaining and motivational emails from the race director to all registrants. The course is often scenic, almost entirely flat, and very well supported with aid stations stocked with plenty of water, sports drink and goodies. Only criticism would be a couple narrow spots on an out-and-back portion get a bit congested, but not so much that runners are bumping or having to walk. I'd run it again and hope I do! | |
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K. T. from Indiana
(10/21/2008)
"Constructive Thoughts" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 First off, my hat goes off to Don and his crew. It is an excellent organized race down to the very last detail. I did PR and qualify for Boston, which is just amazing! As far as the course goes, it is a nice course with some great scenery, but I wasn't really focused on that. It is not as flat as I thought it would be, but I would not describe it as especially hilly. But if you want to run it, it is not flat. For the most part there is plenty of room considering the number of participants; however, running through the bike trails (I think that is what they were) was VERY crowded. I know that depends on your pace and where you were, but for me it was not pleasant. I did almost run into a couple of posts because I couldn't see past the person in front of me. My GPS didn't work very well in the trees (not the race's fault). The crowds were AWESOME! I wished there were a few more aid stations towards the end... but if there would have been one more, I might have stopped and not qualified for Boston. Who knows? | |
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P. R. from NW Ohio
(10/21/2008)
"GRM is well organized and personal..." (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My husband and I ran the half-marathon associated with this race. We both commented on the good organization, the personal commitment of the RD, Don Kern, the good expo (considering the size of the marathon) and the excellent course. Every volunteer knew their job and did it well, from water stops, to course direction, to cheering in less populated areas of the course and in the food tent. The course had a few hills that are minor in comparison to most marathons I have run. I liked the fact that this is a small marathon/half-marathon, making it less crowded and easy to navigate the course. The course itself is without traffic and run mainly on asphalt trails. There's added beauty because it occurs near the peak of the fall foliage change, with orange, yellow, red and crimson canopy throughout the course. There are many wonderful Italian restaurants for pasta loading, many hotel/motel accommodations and access to ample parking across the street from the start and finish of the race. You just can't get that in big-city races. You won't be disappointed with this race and have a good chance at coming away with a nice PR. |
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