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Madison Marathon (MT) Runner Comments
Back to Madison Marathon (MT) Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 2.3
Number of comments: 24 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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A. F. from Granbury, TX
(9/3/2012)
"hardest but very rewarding Marathon" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Course was beautiful Organization was top notch Spectators very minimal but for me that was okay, the few that were there were great That was the toughest marathon I ever done but I would not of trade the experience for anything. Great people, scenery and what a great experience. Camping out all by myself at the National Forest near Black Butte Mountain Friday night was awesome and peaceful, Yellowstone was nice but that was the icing on the cake! I did this as a training run after doing a marathon 6 weeks prior( first time that close generally 16-18 weeks) and to embark on my first streak of 3 marathons in 85 days. I got my PW like the director forewarned us. To read my report go to runrunrace.com | |
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James Snell from Dallas, Texas
(8/6/2012)
"This event was everything Sam promised!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This was, by far, the hardest physical undertaking of my life. At the 19.5 mile turnaround, I felt like I did at the Iwo Jima hill at Mile 26 of the Marine Corp Marathon (you can keep the hill, just get me to the Finish :)), only I had 6.5 miles to go - and they were the hardest miles on the course. I got the PW Sam promised me, I almost passed out at the Finish, but I also got the views and the sense of accomplishment. I was a tourist in a sea of crazy runners (50-staters, ultramarathoners), but I think I'll visit them again next year! | |
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T. B. from Columbus, IN
(8/1/2012)
"If you wanna challenge yourself...sign up!" (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Can't add a whole lot to others comments about the course: breath-taking (trying to sing 'Then sings my soul...' on Sunday at 9,500 feet not quite like it sounds in church :-)and butt-kicking. Practice taking downhills in you're training, cuz you can hurt yourself trying to make up time for all the uphill climbs. I'd estimate about 3-4 miles of 'relatively' flat. One thought: no cell phone service. NO WAY to let anybody at Ennis know you're done, what bus you may be on, and when to try to rendezvous with you. Could they offer a radio at Clover Meadows to connect with someone in Ennis to keep family who stayed at 5600 feet abreast of your progress? Ditto on the aid: it is what he offered - limited, but a cooler at 16.5 (and again at 22.5) that was empty was rough to see. The race monitor on his mountain bike was quick to respond when I pointed it out,thoughTHANK YOU! The APPLE at 19.3 turn aroundOMGcold on the lips was SO refreshing. Thank you to the angel who offered the fruit! Logistics are monstrous for this event, but having seen what Sam has pulled off, dunno how else I'd do it. IF you want the scenery, the workout, the opportunity to run at 9500 feet, there's gonna be some hurdles to jump. All in all a once in a lifetime workout (unless you come back for more)! | |
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nina corelli from Missoula, MT
(7/27/2012)
"The Madison marathon is remarkable!!" (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran the half marathon in Ennis MT on July 22nd of 2012. It was amazing! It was hard!! I would recommend this run to anyone who wants to push themselves and prove they can do just about anything they put their mind to! almost all uphill, starting at about 9,200 feet, this course is breathtaking and gorgeous! A well groomed dirt road in the Gravelly Mountain Range....that's all that needs to be said. It was Montana at it's best! The small of Ennis comes alive in the summertime with fly fishing fanatics, mostly... but the runners that flock to the town for this race are something else. They really do make everyone come together, local or not. The pre-race dinner is well worth your time, the breakfast that Pic-A-Nic holds at about 5am for runners is BEYOND kind! The race director is one of the friendliest, down to earth people I have ever seen organizing this 5th annual event. CONGRATS for such a success!! I will be back in 2013 for sure! | |
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David Weiss from Middleburg Heights, OH
(7/27/2012)
"Incredibly tough! Incredible scenery!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Decided to use this marathon as a foundation of a vacation out west; had a great vacation.....the scenic value of the course was certainly a memorable part of the trip! My review of the race... The Good... Scenery...absolutely breathtaking! Mountain setting was stunning! Race director's frequent messages and enthusiasm... Got me pumped for the race! ...being able to pick up race number, pack morning of race...that is a huge plus for me ...love small races like this...there is a great sense of runner ... Impressed w dedication of those that put this race on; the logistics of wilderness setting up in the mountains must b very difficult! -1/2 marathon runner who gave me one of her water bottles for the second half, a life saver! -having host hotel, fan mountain inn, b a short walk to the shuttles to the start line, loved that! -bug spray provided at start line, bugs weren't as bad as I thought they'd b after reading other reviews, they were not really a problem for me ...did I mention the scenery??!! ...loved the granola bars at a couple of the aid stations The bad...it is a loooong bus ride to the start line.... And the bus rattling on the uneven gravel roads was jaw rattling Need more water stops! Race director very upfront about minimal support race; but w heat, altitude, frequent hydration is a must!.... And if there is only going to b a station every 3-3.5 miles, however it has to happen; there MUST b cold water there for the slower runners! (empty cooler 16.5 miles in when I was struggling was nearly spirit crushing....thank goodness an older gentleman in a pickup stopped shortly after that and asked if I needed water... Boy did I! He had coolers full of ice and cold water in his truck... The water was like an adrenaline shot! The altitude.... I knew as a midwesterner, I'd have no way to truly prepare for it... But man, did it kick my butt, especially the second half! The ugly.... My time; the combination of the altitude; constant steep hills ( up/down, up/down) uneven gravel roads as I foolishly ran this race w a foot injury, all led to my slowest time in a Marathon by a LONG way, but I am quite proud of finishing! Directions to the finish line.... I attempted to provide my fiance w written directions, a drawn map... And she had a devil of a time getting to the finish line.... More road signs? More Madison marathon signs? A shuttle for spectators from ennis? I don't know what the answer is... The late start.... Thank goodness clouds came out late morning/early afternoon; cause otherwise the heat, added to altitude and minimal water stations woulda been brutal... 830 is a pretty late start; and it was delayed even later than that, closer to 845... I know logistics make it difficult, but even 730 or 8 start would help Overall, even though I was very slow, injured, and physically beaten down by this race... It was a once in a lifetime experience...not many can say 'hey, I did a road marathon at 9000 plus feet'. So while there were inperfections( the one most needing addressing is increasing hydration opportunities, in my opinion).....this one was unforgettable! | |
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David Zajic from Alabama
(7/26/2012)
"What a unique challenge" (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Sam (RD) was great - probably the best communications prior to a marathon I've seen. Pasta dinner the night before is well worth the $$. It is a remote marathon and if you need fans to cheer you on this one is not for you. But if you want a challenge this is it. The course is all gravel road but I run those for my long runs so I had no problems with them. I took the previous write up seriously but did not have problems with bugs and my wife had extra water and gatorade for me (and others) on the course. I did use SPF 50 and it kept me from burning. I recommend combining this race with a Yellowstone vacation - we really had a great time. Also get reservations early - we stayed at the B&B and it was wonderful. But we know some folks had to drive in from Bozeman because they could not stay in Ennis. In summary.... if you are a serious marathoner this is a must do but don't expect a PR (you might even have a PW). RD is great and it is a beautiful location! | |
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z. z. from san diego, ca
(7/25/2012)
"Highest Road Marathon - Hardest?" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I've run Mt. Lemmon and Blue Ridge Marathons. Both claim to be 'the hardest road marathons'. After running Madison, I know which marathon is hardest. But I won't tell you - run it for yourself. This is a memorable event. The views are amazing at every point. Up, down, up down. I saw dear and antelope. The cow crossing was a marathon first. The lack of oxygen adds the extra kick. Event is well done. It takes an hour to get up to that remote location at high elevation. Can't thank the volunteers enough for taking the time to put on a great show. Sam's pre-event e-mails got me fired up for the start. Great memories! The only thing I would change is my reservations to stay in Ennis a few more days. What a great place. Super friendly people. Hope to come back again soon. Wimpy runners should avoid this marathon. | |
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B. S. from Baltimore
(9/27/2011)
"2nd most beautiful marathon" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This was the 2nd most beautiful marathon coming in second to Mongolia. It was phenomenal. We were lucky with no thunderstorms....an earlier start would much better even if logistics make much of it before dawn. | |
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S. R. from Montana
(8/10/2011)
"Beyond beautiful; safety issues" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This run joins Catalina, BigSur, and Choteau as the most beautiful of my rural runs: high on a ridge paralleling the Continental Divide. That said, altitude and sun exposure make for dehydrating/exposure issues that, I think, need and can be attended to. I don't think it's possible to carry enough water to compensate for what's not offered (my Camelback lasted me 6 miles, and there was sufficient drink at the 5 stations only for a drink, not to replenish bottles); if each runner has a swag team it would create a car/bike/dust nightmare. Suggestions: Aid stations every 3 miles, with water, sports drink, sun lotion, and effective killer horse fly repellant. Water to both drink and pour over us; sports drink for the electrolytes lost at high altitude. This year we were promised 5 aid stops with water and sportsdrink; one had both, two had sports drink only, two had water only. Providing more stops would be as easy as the drive up the ridge, which can be done in any vehicle. And there are a host of areas to set up on this broad bare ridge. Choteau's marathon, for example, has sponsors for each stop, with prizes awarded for the most appreciated. The literature about the run notes the difficulty of the final out and back: I think it's bec. we're dehydrated and overly sun exposed by then. So, bec. of the sun exposure, start the race early. Currently it's a 9am start that this year was 9:20. Same day registration could be 1/2 hour, and EARLY to facilitate, say, a 7 or 8am start. That sun stays brutal by 10am... Third, ALL of the road offshots/junctions need to be CLEARLY marked. The organizers know the route: especially the one junction where the main road goes west and we go north, it's not clear until it's miles too late. Finally, the course is gorgeous, but it's run on the main route from town. Once we started, all of the buses and cars dropping starters off passed the runners: dust and competition for the narrow dirt road. For the marathoners on the final up and back leg, we contended with all of the halfmarathoners and faster marathoners driving past us to get home. Dust, dust, dust. And frankly, it felt like just another weekend trying to enjoy my foot sport against weekend traffic. I do that all the time. I'd love to run this again, but I won't until 1. I can run it early in the day; 2. water and sportsdrink are provided at least every 5 miles, preferably 3; I share the road with other runners and EMT only (why not use the offshoot roads for the run, instead of the main ridge drag?). In sum, gorgeous area, great spirit, please provide more safety and health assist. | |
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J. B. from United States
(7/30/2011)
"fantastically unique course" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Madison Marathon (MT)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I specifically did this marathon to see if I could do it. This is not a race for people needing a lot of support, spectators, etc. It is one of the toughest there is. The only thing I could add to others' comments is, bring a wilderness or deep woods sportsmen grade bug spray - that may work on the horseflies. The bug spray they provided on the course and that I brought myself did not work, and in fact seem to attract the horseflies even more. I have about 20 huge bite marks/welts from these humongous horseflies that surrounded me in a tornado of bites throughout the course. |
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