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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 251 to 261]
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S. R. from Wilmette, Illinois
(10/30/2007)
"Simply a Great Marathon" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My first marathon began in Chicago and ended three weeks later in Grand Rapids. OK, so it was two marathons, but it still felt like one long journey. The GRM still has me smiling, as everyone associated with this race "gets it." Beautiful course; great organization. Maybe the Chicago race was meant to show me the way to Grand Rapids. See you next year! | |
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P. M. from Traverse City, MI
(10/29/2007)
"2007 GR lowdown" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Bear in mind that this was only my second marathon.... That said: Volunteer support was unbeatable. Well staffed and equally spaced aid stations with lots of GU's, water, Gatorade, etc..., excellent mileage markers, course directing, and free showers at the beautiful YMCA afterwards. They even made room for 400 extra runners the month before the race (really impressive). Again, only 2 marathons but I can't imagine the race services getting any better than Grand Rapids! And now for the not-so-great: There were several out-and-back spurs on bike paths. While they were nice paths, they were not ideal for 1,517 runners worth of 2-way traffic. I felt like I wasted a lot of energy waiting for a chance to pass and accelerating to pass. Even if they could've, somehow, got it down to one-way traffic on the bike paths, I wouldn't have a complaint. Bottom line: I'd run it again. | |
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C. G. from London, Ontario
(10/29/2007)
"Excellent Marathon" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Don and his amazing volunteer staff run a first-rate marathon. The course is flat and scenic, the aid stations have everything you could need and more, the spectators are very enthusiastic and the beer at the finish line tops it all off. I would do this one again. | |
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Derek Opperman from Granger, IN
(10/29/2007)
"Grand Rapids Marathon continues to impress" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Grand Rapids Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Grand Rapids Marathon is the best race I have ever taken part in. It is such a well put on event with great people, a great course and a great city. Race Director "Marathon" Don Kern continues to impress and set the standard for all other races to be compared to. This is a first-class event through and through. They really know how to do it in Grand Rapids. The course is great - well laid out and featuring great fall colors along the Grand River. Aid stations are plentiful and staffed with wonderful volunteers. Runner amenities are first-rate: technical long-sleeved shirt, great finisher's medal, mylar blanket, on-course food and post-race recovery area are all excellent... not to mention a handshake at the finish from the race director. The course is fast and flat and will keep me coming back every year. Check this race out if you are looking for a great fall marathon. Thanks, Don, for putting on such an awesome race. See you in 2008! | |
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B. W. from Winter Park, FL
(10/29/2007)
"Well-done event!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a great event from start to finish - actually starting before the start. Packet pick-up and pasta dinner were great. Early starters were treated well. Great finish! What a great YMCA! Love the humor. Course is a little crowded in places, but overall nice. | |
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G. H. from Memphis, TN
(10/29/2007)
"super" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 When I realized that the package pick-up, expo and pasta dinner were at a YMCA, I thought this is going to be quaint. Well, that is the nicest and biggest YMCA, I've ever seen and I've been to many Y's. The staff was very accommodating of the runners. I stayed at Courtyard by Marriott, and it was .6 mile from S/F and they were willing to give a super-late check out. In fact, for the most part, the residents of this mid-sized city were very friendly, hospitable and interested. Everything regarding the package pick up was easy and well organized. The size of the expo was big enough to find anything you needed. The pasta dinner was one of the better ones I've been to. I liked the beauty of the mostly park setting, the changing trees and the river. It is flat and fast. I PR'ed by 21 minutes. The weather was perfect. Great organization with a personal touch. | |
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S. T. from WISCONSIN, USA
(10/29/2007)
"Excellent Marathon, Great Host City" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first full marathon after having run several half marathons. I was originally scheduled to run the Milwaukee Lakefront in September, but decided against it at the last minute, due to the hot weather. Fortunately, it was a great day for a race in Grand Rapids!! Having read previous reviews for this marathon, I expected a well-organized affair, and it certainly was, top to bottom. All aid stations were full of friendly volunteers and were well-stocked with water and Gatorade. Crowd support was fairly sparse, as you might expect, but the fans who showed up in support were great. The course itself consisted of mainly paved asphalt trails with a significant camber - my IT bands paid for it. However, the course was fairly fast and flat, with a few rolling hills, but nothing major. The city of Grand Rapids is quite attractive and the people very hospitable. All in all a great race where I acheived a BQ time. | |
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C. D. from Chicago
(10/29/2007)
"Great, flat marathon!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this marathon yesterday - it was my "first," aside from the 2007 Chicago Marathon, which I didn't get to finish. I thought this race was great for a first-timer! I am a slow runner so I was really glad that I was able to start an hour earlier (at 7 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.). The aid stations were a lot more generous than in Chicago - Gu, bananas, chocolate, pretzels, oranges, you name it. And of course, tons of water and Gatorade. I thought the course had the perfect level of spectator support - they were there every couple of miles, which is fine for me. The course itself is very scenic, and I didn't even mind the waste water treatment plant - it didn't smell and it was interesting to see. Aside from one or two very small hills at the beginning (more like bumps really), the course is flat. The race director is fantastic. All in all, a perfect first-marathon experience! | |
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Tung Tran from South Bend, Indiana
(10/29/2007)
"Grand Rapids Marathon is the best" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There is nothing to talk about. It's the best. Flat course with very few hills, plenty of water stations with food, fruit and Gatorade, power gel, friendly and helpful volunteers, fantastic spectators, beautiful scenic route, and plenty of free beer at the finish line. What else you want to know? Try it and you won't be disappointed. Big thanks to all volunteers and everyone else who made it happen. | |
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E. R. from Illinois
(10/29/2007)
"Great course, great race" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thanks to everyone involved in the race yesterday! The course is fantastic, very similar to what I run on at home but more scenic. This is a race that I'd recommend to anyone who prefers running on a paved trail through parks and wooded areas to running amongst skyscrapers. The 4th different marathon that I've done, and the rest pale in comparison. |
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