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Fargo Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Fargo Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 4.6
Number of comments: 391 [displaying comments 221 to 231]
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Mark Vyvyan from Minneapolis
(5/18/2008)
"Very Good, but not Great" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My first time running Fargo and I was generally impressed. Course is flat and fast. The only problem is the wind, which you sort of have to expect in NoDak. Fitness fair was pretty ho-hum. Not a lot of displays, running gear, etc. Scheel's really dominates. Why can't they have a regular finisher's shirt? They are for sale to the public at the fitness fair and you have to buy one. The whole idea of letting anybody off the street buy a finisher's shirt is ridiculous. Fans were really good. Very friendly and seemed genuinely thankful to have you in their town. Only complaint is that fans got a little sparse between 6 and 14 or so. I would definitely run it again. | |
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Dana Erickson from Fargo, ND
(5/18/2008)
"Fargo's new claim to FAME" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Fargo Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second 1/2 marathon run. The support I got from family, friends and from everyone giving me and my nephew encouragement on the course was second to none. To the volunteers at the bag pickup looking for bag number 5801: thanks for your efforts, and I appreciated how hard you looked for a bag that wasn't even there!! Thank you! As a runner, without the help of the community supporting us, handing out GU, giving us water, and cheering us down the home stretch, I probably wouldn't have finished with my running partner. A special thanks to Sara, Squish, and Dub! | |
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M. B. from Manitoba
(5/18/2008)
"Plan a course to avoid prevailing winds" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 OK, so it's not the organizers' fault that the '08 marathon gave us 40 kph (25 mph) headwinds from mile 10 to mile 23, but maybe a different route would minimize the struggle. On a positive, the course was beautiful (when I could look up and not worry about my hat blowing off), and the fans were energetic, loud and enthusiastic - as were the many, many volunteers. I STRENUOUSLY object to finisher's t-shirts being sold at the expo prior to the race as well as at the Scheel's store where anyone can buy one! I'm sorry, but I just ran my legs off against a wicked headwind to really finish the marathon. I don't want some poser buying a t-shirt to look cool. They said "finisher" on them, for crying out loud. Think again on that one for next year. | |
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K. P. from Minnesota
(5/18/2008)
"Awesome marathon!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Five stars!! I am not sure what the best part of the marathon was. The spectators are amazing. There are bowls of hard candy and people with water set up everywhere. The shirts are the nicest I have seen. The route is well marked and volunteers are everywhere. Full bands to individuals playing guitars and keyboards the entire way. AND I didn't know Fargo owned so many port-a-potties. I am not from the area but I suspect that it is always windy in Fargo. The course is flat and designed to run easily in the wind. It seems like a lot of people mention the wind, but because the course changes directions so many times, the wind is only a factor for short amounts of time (kind of like a short hill). | |
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Dotty Maddock from Phoenix, AZ
(5/17/2008)
"When they say, "WIND," they mean it!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great race that I would highly recommend. The comments from last year are still true. I was amazed how quickly I was able to get through packet pickup (no weaving between vendors to find it), and then ENJOY checking out the vendor booths. What impressed me most is the ease of the logistics. I stayed at the Homewood Suites, and would HIGHLY recommend it. It is right across the street from the Fargodome (expo and race start/finish), and only 2 miles from the airport. I actually WALKED from the airport to the hotel and didn't need a car or cab the whole time! There are a couple of other hotels nearby too, so be aware if you do it right everything is in walking distance. The use of the Fargodome pre-race and as the finish line is great! The long-sleeved technical shirt runs big, so if you're usually a "women's medium," you might want to ask for a small. Also, be aware that they do have beer at the finish, but you have to pay $5 for it at the concession stand. Well worth it, in my opinion, but come prepared! The race itself was OK... lots of turns and fairly flat... but the wind was a real factor, in my opinion. They actually issued a "wind warning" on the TV that morning, and by 10:00 a.m., the wind was at 30 mph (not GUSTING, but AT). I was hoping for a good finishing time here, but the wind really slowed me down the last half of the course. And, I know the race directors can't control the weather! Most of all, this is a FRIENDLY race! This is my 37th marathon, and I can't remember another one where everyone really went out of their way to make me feel welcome. This really is one you should do, but watch out for that wind! | |
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Jarrod Danuser from Fargo, ND
(5/2/2008)
"A good race, overall" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Considering I live in Fargo and know the city very well, the course is pretty good. I say that because unlike running in other marathons, through parks and scenic areas, most of Fargo's race is through residential areas. The weather is certainly a big thing here. The biggest challenge for me was the cold and the wind last year. This is a marathon where it is definitely important to keep moving so as not to cramp. It's not at the same level as the Twin Cities Marathon in terms of fans and scenery (not by any means), but then again, this is Fargo. Great race, decent scenery, and good fan support. | |
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M. A. from Pittsburgh, PA
(3/25/2008)
"Weather is a toss-up" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Fargo Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the Fargo Marathon in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The organizers have improved it every year. The course is a flat loop. Some of it goes through a park, but much of it is on residential streets. The real variable is weather. It can be very cold - low 30s at the start. It can also be fairly temperate - low 50s. Sometimes a little rain, sometimes sun. The wind is the real challenge. The organizers try to account for it in the course, but one inevitably ends up with a tough headwind for a good part of the race. Overall, it's not a bad marathon if you're ready for the weather. The crowd support is like the weather: sometimes great, sometimes sparse. | |
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M. P. from Manitoba, Canada
(11/23/2007)
"Fargo is a Favorite!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Fargo Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Look no further for the best darn marathon - you've found it. I have run over 20 marathons, and have run this marathon since it began in 2005, and it remains my favorite. From the first year, it was well organized and amazingly gets even better each year. The race director (Mark Knutson) responded to all my email questions and it is very apparent that the organizers do all they can to address runners' needs and strive to improve in any way they can (but they do such a great job it is a wonder they find ways to improve). As someone else noted - you can tell when a marathon is organized by a runner! Advance registration fee is very reasonably priced - especially considering all the extras. Last year we got a 1/4 zip long-sleeved technical shirt (with a really cool option of having your time printed on it - may try that with other marathon shirts) and a bag with registration. Great pasta fest and expo. Good course with lots of fan support along the way. Start and finish are staged at the Fargodome so you have a place to hide in case the weather is bad. Free shower and massage facilities are available after the race - along with an absolute feast of food. They even had ice cream in 2007 - as well as laptops with up-to-date results and nifty machines where you punched in your number and it printed out your time on a little piece of paper! Hotels are inexpensive and nothing is far in Fargo! Traffic is well routed so there is no problem driving to the start - or you can take their shuttles. Once you run this marathon, I guarantee you will want to GO back to Fargo! | |
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T. L. from Fargo, ND
(6/12/2007)
"First Half Marathon was Great!" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Great job, Fargo Marathon Committee!! You make Fargo proud. Loved my first half marathon!!! Good things: Fargodome finish, crowd support, technical shirt & bag, post-race food and ice-cold BEER (I earned it). Not so good things: 5K needs to be separate, too dark at the finish chute. Hang some more lights for better photo ops. Get the gymnasts out of the finish area so we have more room to sit down. As a Fargo native: What's up with the Fargo Theater not putting a welcome up on their marquee??? Welcome 10,000 runners on your sign, especially with all of the photographers taking pictures in front of your theater! Secondly, shame on Scheel's for charging to put "finisher" on your shirt. Oh, and SELLING finisher t-shirts. That is total baloney! Nice way to get your sponsorship money back and more. I hope you donated the proceeds to the Children's Hospital and Yunker Farm. | |
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M. O. from Madison, Wi
(6/4/2007)
"A job well done" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the Fargo Half Marathon for the first time this year. You should be proud of the event and its growth. Others have commented on some of the growing pains and I would agree with a couple of them. I used to live in Fargo for a long time and am very familiar with the city. I don't think you could do anything more to improve the route of the course. To do so would likely destroy all the good things about the course in addition to inconveniencing everyone who tries to get anywhere in the city during that time. The spectator turnout is amazing and was greatly appreciated. As a police officer in Madison, WI, I've seen how small races and very big races are organized (IronMan, most notably) and this race was as smooth as any of those. Not everyone will have a good time at any well-run event. I do think that a staggered start or a "wave style" start would be a good idea. I haven't seen an event this size get by well without one. I particularly appreciated the fan support in the 8th St. corridor.... If you could only be there again at the end of the race. Thanks for a great race. |
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