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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 61 to 71]
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Ed Robins from Philadelphia, PA
(5/23/2013)
"Fun, flat marathon" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a fun well run marathon. It is very flat so if you want (or need) to avoid hills this is a course for you. They use the Fargodome as the hub for the race and it works very well. The expo is held there so you have plenty of room for this good sized expo. You can warm-up pre-race inside and use real bathrooms. The finish line is actually inside the arena and makes the finish push feel special. The course as already stated is super flat. With cool weather (we did not get that in 2013) a PR could be set here. There are numerous turns and a crowded out and back section on a paved bike path (miles 10-13) that may slow you down but still its a fast course. The course isn't scentic but its pleasant as runners run through neighborhoods and parks. There is a nice, short section (run twice) where we run through the Fargo downtown area. Traffic for this race can be an issue. If you're from out of town (that's me) and arrive on Friday afternoon getting to the Fargodome for packet pick-up can be tough. There's a big 5K (7500) run on Friday so that caused some traffic and parking issues. Also expect traffic on race day. I tried to arrive 5:45 (2.5 hours before the marathon start) and still hit traffic. There's a 10 K (1600 runners) that begins 7:00 and the Half (5500 runners) begins 7:30. So if you're running the full even an early arrival means traffic. They offer a shuttle service on race morning and if I run this race again I will take advantage of that. I'm sure there's a good logistical reason for starting the longest race last but I wasn't fond of this. It was humid and fairly warm this year and an earlier start would've helped with that. Also as a race that markets itself as a destination race the late start time makes it harder arranging flights back home (and my hotel did not offer late check out). The staggered start times did eliminate any race crowding. I had settled into a steady pace by the half mile mark. There were abundant aid stops and more later in the race when runners really need them. Unfortunately they were all set up differently. Sometimes water first, sometimes sportsdrink (poweraid this year), some stations had cups that said poweraid but usually they all said coke. They did have signs at each stop that really helped but I find it so helpful when every stop is set up the same every time. Fargo did something that I've never seen before that seemed to work very well. Instead of grouping 2-5 port-a-potties at every water stop they spread single ones out all along the course. Early on it seemed like 3-5 every mile. I never saw any lines. I used one just 1.5 miles into the race and had no wait. Usually early in a race you lose several minutes answering a call of nature. Race directors for other races should look into this innovative approach! One of the best things about this race is how the city seems to embrace the event. Everywhere you go businesses, resturants, etc all knew the race was going on and if they could they made special arrangements for the runners. Too often when I travel for a race I mention I'm running the marathon and clerks look at me with a blank face. Not in Fargo! The fan support on the course was thin but constant. There was a ton of music on the course and not just rock bands and the obligatory Elvis impersonator but also marching bands, a blues bands, a group of bagpippers and yes an accordian band! Finally the swag is excellent. You get an excellent gear bag and medal and the best shirt ever! | |
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Teresa Reller from Madison, WI
(5/21/2013)
"Excellent race" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is flat, fast, well organized and the spectators are the gems of this race. Overall, no complains other than the full was started 45 minutes after the half(not until 8:15). It was a hot day and although the lovely spectators made the race doable by suppling ice and water hose baths. If the full was started at 7 am most of the runners would have had a much more pleasant finish. Yes, including me. That said I highly recommend this race | |
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Jeff Newcorn from Chicago
(5/21/2013)
"VERY well done for a mid-size event" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Having been a participant at Boston, New York, Chicago and other major marathons, I was delighted at how well this event went. Attention to details, like lots of porta-potties along the course, to plenty of water stations and very vocal fans, made this event a real delight. The Expo was also very good for this size of race. Fargo should be very proud. Course is flat and gives a nice taste of the town and the neighborhoods. Great bands playing along the course. We got lucky with weather; predicted t-storms and rain never appeared. | |
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K. M. from Dallas, TX
(5/20/2013)
"Fargo Rocks - the perfect slogan" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a fabulous event. They do everything first class and the whole city is behind it 110%. The Fargodome is the perfect venue - expo, start, finish, post race - all are there. The course is fast and scenic - you see parks, neighborhoods and downtown. Large expo with lots of variety. Spectators and volunteers were great. I'd be hard pressed to find anything negative to say. One comment -being that it was warm and humid, I think fluids every 2mi instead of 3mi in the first half would have been welcomed by all. I'd recommend a trip to Fargo (even if you are not a 50 stater or maniac) to run this event. | |
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T. M. from GA
(5/20/2013)
"Fantastic Community Support" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Having read the posts from previous years, I thought this was going to be a very well run race and it certainly was again in 2013. Being a back of the pack runner, I have some different likes/dislikes than commonly posted. While the route is not very scenic, I was blown away by the number of people cheering on the runners/walkers 5+ hours after the start. Never have I experienced a community that sincerely viewed the race as a community event and had fun with it. Many broke out garden hoses to help keep us cool after the sun broke through the clouds. Some were offering their own bottled water, Powerade and even beer. They knew that those around me and I were struggling to finish and their support meant a lot. Port a johns seemed to be at every other corner and entertainment was about every mile. The finish is unique in the Fargodome and it was a relief to see plenty of food and drink still available with only a 100-200 racers still on the course. The only room for improvement was the aid stations during the last 5-6 miles were too far apart. I would have liked to have them every mile. It got very hot at the end. The locals that offered their own aid, were heroes to me. This was my favorite mid-sized marathon yet. Bravo, Fargo! Yah, You betcha! | |
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Geoff Martin from Winnipeg,Canada.
(5/20/2013)
"Great" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Fargo Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Thanks for a wonderful and fun day considering the humidity.Organization is wonderful throughout all the events.Ran the half with that great pacer Jim.Capt Castro the blind Green Beret runner was an inspiration to our group.Was I the only one who had a lump in their throat as Imagine was played?Any race that starts with Eye of the Tiger is in my book great.Thanks to Mark Knudson and the crew for another wonderful event.All Manitoba runners should run Fargo to see how an event should be run. | |
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T. H. from Fort Collins, CO
(5/20/2013)
"Marathon Starts Too Late in the Morning" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 The race was good, but was the last race to start in the morning. The race would be great if they started it first thing in the morning. Starting the race late in the morning causes the race to be warm leading to slower times. I won't run this race again until the change the start time. | |
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L. E. from Saint Cloud, MN
(5/19/2013)
"Nice race" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Overall I had a good experience in Fargo. I ran the half this time around. The course is not majorly exciting, but it is pretty and I loved the tree lined streets and running through downtown. The course is mostly flat with a few small hills. What really makes is spectacular though are the fans, I was really impressed! There was never a quiet moment the entire race, and considering this is a 'smaller' marathon event, that speaks volumes. I have run many other races where the runners are really alone for long stretches. Luckily the rain held off, but it was HUMID, making the last few miles really hot... but that is out of the race directors control. I felt like there were plenty of water stops though, so it was manageable. In fact I think they maybe added additional stops? It seemed like there were more than the race guide said there would be. I also liked that there were porta potties along the course the entire time, I didn't have to use them but I thought it was a nice gesture that they were not only at aid stations... helped to prevent long lines (and the fact that you may not always be able to time when you have to go with a water stop!) The expo was smaller but well organized and easy to get through quickly. All and all, a good race and a nice weekend trip for us. | |
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K. F. from Minneapolis, MN
(5/19/2013)
"Much improved since 2011" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Fargo Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I posted some harsh comments about this event in 2011. The marathon has adjusted the start time of the Half Marathon to be 45 minutes before the start of the marathon. In 2011 the Half Marathon started 30 minutes after the Full Marathon and when the two courses merged for the last six miles full marathoners were now is a sea of people that were running about 2 minutes per mile slower (just given the time offset). That was a real disaster from my perspective. Anyway nice adjustments. | |
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M. D. from Georgia USA
(5/19/2013)
"A great small town race" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Fargo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race gets excellent reviews and they are correct. The organization and volunteers are great. Fargo is a college town and it seems like a football weekend. The town is very supportive. The logistics are great. The Expo start and finish are less than 3 miles from the airport. If necessary you could walk or run. The course is a little bland and repetitious as it meanders though the university, city business section, parks, and well maintain neighborhoods. It is a very flat course It is very neat coming into the Fargo Dome, at the finish, and seeing your image on the huge screen. I give my highest recommendation. I suggest staying at the dormitory at NDSU. It is cheap, very covenant, clean, and friendly. I will say it is a Spartan situation. You make your own beds, share the bathroom, and the TV is in the lobby. I had a great time sharing race stories until almost midnight with other runners in the TV lobby. |
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