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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 211 to 221]
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Mervyn Chin from Pickering, Ontario
(7/2/2008)
"A recommended race to do" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have now done 44 marathons in many cities and can tell you that this race is a very good race and highly recommended. Here are the reasons why you should do this race: 1. The Director is a prolific runner himself and he is not the swiftest, so he understands the velocity-challenged runner's needs, as well as all runners. 2. The Director is at the end to shake every finisher's hand. 3. There is an early start for slow runners. 4. The food at the end is good, with beer. 5. You get a wonderful DVD of the race, which no other race give you. This DVD will last a lifetime. 6. No-hassle start and finish. I certainly would like to see a bigger expo, if possible. Even so, I would certainly do this race again, but I live far and my times and energy are getting slow and scarce. If not this year, another year for sure. | |
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t. w. from grand rapids, mi
(5/14/2008)
"Thanks, Don!" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the GRM in 2007 but wanted to wait until I had experienced a big marathon (Boston 2008, qualified in GR 2007) to post comments. Now, you're not going to get the kind of crowds lining the sides of the road that you get in Boston, and you're not going to get a wide-open point-to-point course. But you are going to get unparalleled race organization, superb support from volunteers, and a flat, fast and scenic course. Those who have done Bayshore but not GR may be interested to know that road camber is not nearly the issue in GR that it is for Bayshore. My shins, ankles and hips noticed the difference. If you're not dependent upon a massive crowd for moral support (I'm not), I'm not sure you're going to find a better marathon. It's a great one for running a fast time, so those on the edge of a BQ definitely ought to give it a shot. | |
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K. P. from central Illinois
(5/7/2008)
"Refreshing consolation marathon after hot Chicago" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I had registered for the 2007 Chicago marathon, but ended up not running it due to the heat. Initially, I was going to forgo a fall marathon experience. However, not wanting to let good training go to waste, I came across GRM as an option. Although I love the excitement and spectators that come with a giant marathon like Chicago (which I had already run 4 times), I was becoming fed up with the hassles associated with it: difficult packet pick-up, overly crowded expo, hard to find a pasta joint not already stuffed with runners, megabucks for hotel and parking etc. Anyway, GRM was a refreshing scene as compared to Chicago, and I am not only referring to the 50 degree starting line temperature difference! GRM was first-class in every way, from the daily emails from Don leading up to race day to him greeting us at the finish line following the race. The only pitfall of GRM was the limited crowd support. However, viewership of the race is easily accessible to friends/family of racers. My husband was able to spot me at three different points on the course. Another pleasant surprise was the free finishers' DVD I received in the mail recently. I wonder if its delivery was purposely delayed, so as to remind us of the excitement of the race as we wrap up the spring marathon season and ponder which fall race to run? Well, if this is the case, it did the trick. I will proudly run GRM again and again, and encourage others to do the same! | |
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C. S. from Indiana
(5/7/2008)
"Delivered on what was promised! Great marathon!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Grand Rapids Marathon delivered what it promised: a race for runners by runners! After running in the Chicago meltdown two weekends ago, I was beginning to have doubts about making it to Boston, but my first GRM experience erased all of that on one wonderful Sunday morning. This race was first-class all the way. From race director Don sending out motivational emails leading up the race to the well organized expo at the coolest YMCA, to the theme pace group, to the volunteers and post race foods including free beer! Plus, the custom color technical Brooks long-sleeved shirt and the great finisher's medal were great. This is a fast and very scenic course! You start in downtown and head out to the pathways in Millennium Park before returning to downtown for a great finish. The majority of the course is on pathways in the park and along tree-covered banks of the Grand River with fall colors. A nice cool fog even rolled in between miles 3 and 7! The course at times seemed a little crowded in a few places due to the narrow, paved trails, but the trails were well marked and flat overall. Aid stations were well stocked with fluids and GU gel and staffed with enthusiastic volunteers. Race director Don was even there at the finish to give a congratulatory handshake to each runner! This race director and his staff seemed to have had great pride and fun in putting together this race and it showed on the race day. The other day, I got my complementary post-race DVD with race highlights including clips of each runner crossing the finish line. How awesome was that! Thank you, Don and staff for helping me get to Boston. | |
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B. J. from Ionia, MI
(4/3/2008)
"Great from pre-start to finish" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a great race! As others have mentioned in various areas, the course gets a bit bottlenecked because of the layout of the course. However, this was the only negative thing that I can say about the race. As far as the good: free parking at the YMCA, nice long-sleeve Grand Rapids Marathon shirt, relatively cheap registration fee compared to other marathons, ample water and Gu along the race course, and nice medals - and the best part was free beer after the race! I also ran in the Denver Marathon, and found the Grand Rapids Marathon to be more enjoyable from start to finish. I would recommend the Grand Rapids Marathon to everyone! | |
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T. S. from Indianapolis
(1/25/2008)
"NO PR, NO BQ, LOTS OF FUN" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I had high hopes for Boston qualifier, especially given the perfect weather, flat, pretty course and excellent, fun-loving pacers in Dubya's Running Mates. Alas, it wasn't to be, but it didn't take away from a wonderful experience. And qualifier or not, there was Don at the finish to give me (and everybody else) a congratulatory hug. Check out Grand Rapids. Beautiful downtown, convenient to plenty of dining options. Though not downtown, Sculpture Park is worth a look, too. Way cool. | |
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T. B. from Fowler, Michigan
(1/2/2008)
"Excellent Organization, Great Personal Touch" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Grand Rapids Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Don Kern is a world-class race organizer. The staff support on this course is first rate. Course is truly as flat as you will find anywhere in the country. Great course for a PR or BQ. Most of course is along river on wooded trail providing shelter from wind. Only negatives are some cone turnarounds that hurt late in the race and the river trail does not lend itself to spectator support. I've run this marathon in '06 and '07 and would highly recommend it to anyone. Great city! Great marathon! | |
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T. M. from Portage, MI
(12/8/2007)
"Great fall marathon experience!" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Fantastic organization from packet pickup to post-race amenities including FREE BEER. (Thanks, New Holland!! You're one of the things that kept me going from miles 24 to 26.2!) I only gave the course a four based on the somewhat narrow trails where you had oncoming runners - which sometimes affected when/where you could pass other runners. If this race gets much larger (which it most likely will) they may need to update the course. Organization is TOP NOTCH all the way and "Marathon Don" is there each step of the way from sending out periodic emails prior to the race, to shaking your hand at the finish line. Aid stations were plentiful and extremely well stocked and staffed. A great marathon experience that I would recommend to anyone looking for a fall race in Michigan | |
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M. H. from Holland, MI
(11/16/2007)
"Fantastic race!" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My first marathon! Not too big, not too small. Great course for the most part - beautiful running through foggy valleys and by the river. Easy water stations and lots of encouragement from the volunteers. I'll be back, even faster than the first time. | |
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B. W. from Louisville, KY
(11/11/2007)
"The Gold Standard" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 As one of the 10,000 who showed up for Chicago, but decided not to run, I was looking for another fall run to fill the void. After reading the reviews here, I decided to give Grand Rapids a try. From beginning to end, this event does not disappoint. The packet pickup at the expo, held at what has to be one of the most impressive YMCA facilities in the US, was quick and easy to navigate. Race-day parking is close and the weather, sunny and in the mid 30s, was just about perfect. The course is unique for a city marathon with very little "urban" running and lots of parkland. Every water stop is set up the same, making it easy to find what you need at the particular stop. Most were stocked with extras, such as gummy bears, Oreos and even one with pickle juice. The course could use a little tweaking, but still has to rate as one of the best I have done. Spectators were here and there, but were friendly and very supportive. The finish line was well managed, with plenty of food, a nice medal, and free use of the locker rooms at that great Y, just a few hundred yards away. I had never been to Grand Rapids, and wouldn't have visited but for this race. Such a well organized event gives the city great PR and is truly an asset. |
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