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☰
Monument Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Monument Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 5.0 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 64 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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Thomas Gaudette from Palos Hills, IL
(9/29/2020)
"An athletic ordeal in natural beauty" (about: 2020)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Monument Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 As a senior runner, I knew that this marathon would require as much training as possible which the pandemic work from home schedule did allow. So I was fit, unraced of course and not naturally powerful athletically. This should have been adequate. The simple first twelve miles or so were sharply downhill early then flat. Near mile twelve, we made a left turn onto the Old Oregon Trail Road. This was the beginning of a 380 foot incline. Fine. We turned into a 30 mph headwind. I was not prepared for this at all. The runner in front of me walked. I shuffled and considered the situation. My race pace was stuffed here. So I shuffled and walked to mile 14.4, the crest of the hill. This felt like a prolonged mugging. From mile fourteen to the finish, I saw no one running on the course. Alone in Scottsbluff Park beyond mile seventeen, I shuffled or strode or walked on utterly alone except for the hydration stations. The wonder of this wilderness and the constantly winding, dirt road held my attention completely. We met another long uphill along with the same heavy headwind beyond the park. The sight and feeling of this made me laugh out loud. I had nothing to offer it athletically. The finish was like completing a personal tour rather than a marathon. I enjoyed the whole experience including being humiliated by the wind. The point of athletics is to learn what you are capable of and what strength you are willing to invest under duress. This is so for any age or personal disposition | |
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M. B. from Hudsonville MI
(9/29/2020)
"Beautiful course" (about: 2020)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Monument Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Wow, That wind though? Course is point to point so you get bussed to the start line. The course is down hill the first 8 miles, we started heading into the wind at 10 and at 11 start up a hill. I think the course can be fast but the wind about killed me. Aid stations are about 3 miles apart, well stocked with great volunteers. Shirt and medal are great if that helps you decide on where to run... and it's in a part of Nebraska that is not all corn fields. | |
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S. J. from Seattle, WA
(10/1/2019)
"Stunning race in the Panhandle of Nebraska" (about: 2019)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Monument Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I enjoy smaller races and Monument Marathon was an excellent choice for Nebraska. I came to the start line injured and under trained. I knew I needed to take my time and ran nearly an hour slower than my usual marathon time. No need to worry; there was plenty of water, Gatorade, gels, and fruit available on the course. In addition, there were several people on bikes checking on the runners. When I finished, there was a lot of food available. I've run several races where the back of the pack doesn't get as much support. Not the case with the Monument Marathon! | |
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L. H. from CO
(9/30/2018)
"small town race with the most friendly volunteers" (about: 2018)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Monument Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you need crowds of spectators cheering, this race is not for you. But if you are okay with small pockets of overly enthusiastic people and the best volunteers in the world, this is the race for you. I must admit my bias: I grew up in Nebraska. However, I have lived out of state for nearly 20 years but I keep going back to Nebraska for marathons. Why? The people. They are simply the nicest, most helpful, most friendly, etc. My every need was taken care of. Case in point: I tossed a shirt at a mile marker and didn't expect to get it back, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to look in the lost and found to see if it showed up. A volunteer took down my name and address and said they would mail it to me. How many races do that? The course has great variety. My favorite part is running through the Scotts Bluff National Monument--you get to run right on the Oregon Trail. Then you get to run through the 'back' side of the monument that is not open to the public. The NPS rangers were out cheering and running an aid station. The start line is often a cold place, but it starts at the Wild Cat Hills, so there is a warm building to duct inside immediately after getting off the bus to the start line. Skip the big city marathons and try some small town Nebraska charm! | |
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J. J. from WI
(9/29/2018)
"Beautiful small marathon with great scenery" (about: 2018)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Monument Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Great race. Organization second to none. Packet pick up easy and good pasta feed. Good pre-race communications. All volunteers were very helpful and polite. Wildcat Hills Nature Center was great place to stay warm at the start. Don't let the downhill start fool you. There are plenty of hills to come. Scottsbluff Monument is worth seeing--spend some time before or after race to explore. Only complaint is the Hampton Inn; supposedly a race sponsor but would not allow a late check out even for a Hilton Diamond member. Stay somewhere else. Overall an excellent race and a nice break from the flat boring out and backs. | |
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S. B. from New Hampshire
(10/6/2017)
"Top Notch Race, Highly Recommend" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was one of the most amazing races I've ever ran. It was scenic from beginning to end, it was very well organized, there were several volunteers at every turn on the course, each were very enthusiastic, aid stations were fully stocked with fruit, gels, water, and Gatorade by very helpful people who were extremely encouraging. Even though I was by myself the majority of the race, I never felt alone because there were so many volunteers and course marshalls on bicycles checking in on me. I was a back-of-the-pack runner for quite some time until I fell into last place in the final couple of miles. Due to a sprained ankle, plus lack of training because of the sprained ankle, I was in agony and moving much slower than usual, but I traveled two-thirds of the way across the country to do this marathon and I was determined to keep going for as long as I could. I can't believe how amazing the course marshalls and volunteers were! Even though I was last, and still going quite slow, they made me feel welcomed to be there and fine about taking my time. The finish line blew me away. I'm the absolute last person to cross and I received a reception of several cheering people holding finish tape beneath the inflated finish line arch. If that weren't good enough, there was still a full box of pizza, plenty of water, and many other people still at the finish line cheering when I crossed. This is the first time I ever came in last place, and it felt like I finished first place! I can't say how grateful I am for the caliber of volunteers and the incredible coordination of the race director at this marathon. It didn't matter if I was in the lead or in the back, I felt valued and appreciated for being there and I was cheered on every step of the way as if every person there knew me first hand. Not to mention, the stunning beauty of the course, which highlights the specular bluffs that are iconic to the Oregon Trail and settlement of the west. This marathon will forever stand out in my mind as one of the best I have ever ran. | |
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P. B. from DeSoto, TX
(10/4/2017)
"Well-organized and scenic marathon" (about: 2017)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Monument Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I chose this race as my Nebraska marathon and I don't think I could have made a better choice. It's obvious that the organizers are focused on making this an excellent experience for the runners. The course is challenging - definitely not a PR course. With this being a small marathon, there were a few stretches where there were no spectators or volunteers. Having said that though, the spectators and volunteers that were on the course were great. I would definitely recommend this race. | |
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T. D. from Alliance, NE
(10/4/2017)
"Great Marathon & Half" (about: 2017)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Monument Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great race. Well organized, great volunteers/spectators, scenic but challenging course, great finish line. | |
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Brian Nash from Ohio
(10/2/2017)
"A perfect fit." (about: 2017)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Monument Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I picked this race because it is relatively close to the highest point in Nebraska and I am both a 50 state marathoner and a high pointer. When I read the glowing reviews on this site I was sold. My wife, who ran the half, and I both had a wonderful experience with the race, the support, and our fellow runners. I would run this race every year if I lived west of the Mississippi. | |
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T. V. from Rapid CIty, SD
(10/1/2017)
"Incredible experience for a small town marathon" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Monument Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I can't add much more to the previous comments, and can't think of anything to criticize. The organization and support was beyond what I had expected for a small marathon. Having run small marathons and ultras, I came prepared to deal with necessities that might be missing. Not so with this race. There is ample support, aid stations, medical, porta potties, crossing guards, directional support, and bike riders checking on runners all along the course. Race morning found the busses at the wrong pickup spot, and I was amazed at how fast the race director dealt with it by rounding up drivers to shuttle runners to the start, even offering free parking passes and getting the runner's vehicles back to the finish area. The course was beautiful and offered a nice mix of scenery and terrain. If you are looking to mark Nebraska off your list, this is the one to run!! |
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