Back to Twin Cities Marathon Information & Reviews
J. L. from San Angelo, Texas
(10/3/2005)
"Great event!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my sixth marathon, and the best of them all. I PR'd by 21 minutes on the generally fast, flat course. The hill at mile 21 was tough (thus 4 rather than 5 stars for the course). Volunteers were plentiful - I'm told there was 1 volunteer for every 2 runners! Scenic, fast, and well run. Water stops were long, with multiple tables of Powerade and water. Weather was a little warm, but the cloud cover and moderate wind made it a great race. | |
A. B. from Ann Arbor, Michigan
(7/3/2005)
"Super course and super experience!" (General Comments)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the Twin Cities Marathon in 1984 and 1992 ... highly enjoyable both times. An absolutely gorgeous course, with friendly and helpful volunteers! | |
M. M. from Minneapolis, MN (just moved from Chicago)
(5/30/2005)
"The Perfect Marathon Experience" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I adore this marathon. It helps that it's in my hometown, but nevertheless, it's the best urban marathon you'll ever find. Entry is limited to low numbers, making it smaller and more fun than Chicago's. There are trees, and lakes, and rivers, and PEOPLE. Lots and lots of people spectating, cheering, handing out orange slices, playing music, making noise, and providing support for the runners. Volunteers help with water and Powerade, hand out Vaseline every 5 miles or so, and know exactly where they are in the course. Mile markers are clear and obvious and at each and every mile, 1-26. You can see your time at the half and in at least one other place along the way (but I can't quite remember where). Anyone who loves marathoning NEEDS to run TCM. | |
J. S. from Chicago
(4/5/2005)
"Absolutely fantastic, highly recommended!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ok, my biggest fear is that all the rave reviews of this fantastic marathon will make the TCM a victim of its own success (kind of like the Chicago Marathon). Not to slam Chicago, I live there, love it and cheer the runners every year, all 40,000. TCM's course is beautiful, and the fans are absolutely second to none. They support the runners and make a real party of it. In the last miles up Summit, the crowds truly provide you much needed energy. In fact, my wife ran at the 5+ hour mark and as such the water stations were being dismantled. In her last miles she was gasping for water and a spectator came to her aid and offered her own personal bottle of water. Truly inspiring. Overall, the race is extremely well organized, the course is scenic, the people are friendly. I only hope that the race organizers keep a lid on the numbers of entrants - 10,000 was a good max. | |
J. N. from Jamestown, North Dakota
(2/11/2005)
"Awesome!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and it was so much fun. There were fans the entire way and their enthusiasm was almost intoxicating! I have no complaints! It was the most enjoyable challenge I have ever had :) | |
K. F. from Minneapolis MN
(1/25/2005)
"A great all-around experience" (General Comments)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Here's another endorsement by a 'hometown' runner. But... I've also run Grandma's in Duluth, MN and Des Moines, IA and this is my favorite cause it has it all: well organized, a scenic and varied course (downtown, lakes, residential neighborhoods, historic streets), lots of spectators, great food at the finish. And... I can still be home for lunch in my own home! I'll be running it again this year. See you there! | |
Mike Mackett from Thunder Bay Ontario Canada
(12/22/2004)
"The Greatest Thrill of All" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a great place and what a fantastic race; my PB of 4:11 on this course was just a small part of how proud I felt to finish this run (for the 2nd of many, many more years to come). The people are superb and the scenery is spectacular... everyone who dreams of running a marathon should do it here in the TCM. See you in 2005! | |
G. M. from Minneapolis, MN
(11/22/2004)
"Simply gorgeous!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 What an amazing experience! Great course with something to look at every mile of the way ? from the stadium downtown to the cool neighborhoods with great houses, to three lakes further along the river and across to the capital city. When the course does enter St. Paul at about mile 20, things get tough ? a series of gradual inclines and a hill or two. Only the great crowd support carried me through as we were running Summit Avenue ? a boulevard really and not a regular street. The finish is all worth it though. First you take a turn by the St. Paul Cathedral and all of a sudden, you see it. Just a quarter of a mile away, downhill (!!!), is the state capitol with a GIANT flag waving above the finish line. My time was close to 5 hours but the crowd was still huge and loud when I crossed that line ? it felt like I was in the Olympics :-) Unlike other cities, where a marathon might go unnoticed to the general public, people really made a day out of it and came out to cheer runners on and to party in their front yards. No complaints about the organizers ? I got all the water and Powerade I needed even at my pace. They might have ran out of the Clif Shots when I was passing by but I had all my carbs with me, so I did not even notice. And the runners can always feast of oranges/Jolly Ranchers/cookies/candy canes/beer and even champagne offered by the very enthusiastic and numerous fans. Packet pick-up and drop-off was well organized ? they were all sorted by your number and volunteers were ready to get your bag to you when you were done. There were lines at the porta-potties but I think that one is an inevitable evil of any organized race. I am a thrill-seeker and don?t want to run any marathon twice but this was so special, that the rule might have to be broken. Highly recommended. | |
M. D. from Alexandria, Virginia
(11/20/2004)
"Good size, good course and good support" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Twin Cities Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Lives up to its billing as a beautiful urban course, wrapping around lakes and along the river. Split start was a nice touch, but the preferred start was still too big. Course is relatively flat, but the last couple miles were a slight incline to the finish. All in all, I would highly recommend it. | |
M. S. from minneapolis
(11/11/2004)
"It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Twin Cities Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Great course, great weather, great organization, great crowd support! One of the best marathons I've done. The spectators, everywhere, but especially on Lake Harriet were incredible. The 2-wave start this year was great, however I found it a bit confusing at the start to get into the 1st-wave starting area - more signs would have been nice. |
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