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☰
Sunburst Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Sunburst Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.7 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 2.9
Number of comments: 197 [displaying comments 101 to 111]
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D. D. from Chicago, IL
(1/15/2008)
"Great Finish" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I actually only ran the half marathon. Being a somewhat new runner, I find this race to be OK. I was a little disappointed about running around cones and sad that we didn't run through the beautiful campus of Notre Dame. However, the course is relatively flat (except for that lovely hill at mile 11). I do have to say that the finish made it all worthwhile. They pump in music from the band and you finish right there in the middle of the football field... on the 50. | |
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J. D. from Wisconsin
(1/1/2008)
"Ridiculously bad course" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 The worst course I've ever run on... at any competitive level, including my high school and college days. Running around orange cones to burn up distance???? Honestly... that's ridiculous. This is a marathon, not a silly training exercise. In a few instances there were even cars ON the course. Nothing like sucking in fumes while trying to make moves. Poorly managed and poorly conceived in every way. Visiting a new city (and exploring Notre Dame, in this case) is always fun... but I can't, in good faith, recommend this to anyone I care about, which is most everyone I've ever met. Avoid at all costs. | |
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M. E. from South Bend, IN
(11/5/2007)
"HOT" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Be prepared for a hot day. I have run a race at the event every year for the past 11 years and it has been hot every time. This past year was my first marathon; be ready for little fan support, a rat maze for a course, and a memorable finish in Notre Dame stadium. You have to expect hot weather in June... just come prepared for it. All in all, though, it's a great event and well run. | |
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M. J. from Indianapolis
(9/27/2007)
"Poor" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I am a pretty easy going person... not hard to please. However, the town seemed very inconvenienced by having a marathon going on. There were very few spectators. The course was not enjoyable. We ran to the end of on parking lot and ran around a construction cone, then to the end of another parking lot just to run around another cone. It was also very hot. I do not recommend this marathon to anyone. Even at the end, the marathon organizers ran out of almost everything. The 5K racers ate almost all the food. | |
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F. J. from Indiana
(7/12/2007)
"Start earlier to better avoid the heat" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 We loved it but wish there could be a five o'clock early start, marathon at five thirty, etc. I liked having a race to run while my husband did the 26.2. | |
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S. C. from Indiana
(6/8/2007)
"Nice Event Overall; Weather Can Make It Tough" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Sunburst Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I liked most things about this marathon. The organizers plan for, or at least alert you to, most of what to expect. Things were well explained and marked. The start parking was a breeze, but I did have about a 25-minute wait for the post-race shuttle. A friend even got an age-group award (which run 5-deep) of a free Brightroom 5x7 photo. Post-race food and drink was fine, and on a hot day I was glad there weren't heavy foods and there were popsicles and cold towels. About the last mile-and-a-half got crowded, as we joined the midpack of the half-marathoners and some of the 5K Fun Walk participants (the only race in which strollers were allowed). That mass made it slightly tougher to keep my pace and focus. "RH from Northern Kentucky" shouldn't feel so victimized, as he seemed to come across in his review. There WERE walkers and slower runners from shorter races thickening the last part of the marathon course, and that aspect of the marathon experience should be noted. | |
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D. D. from Mishawaka, IN
(6/7/2007)
"Great experience for a first-timer" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course was laid out well, and I guess that for the most part there were other runners around me as I ran, but I never got lost along the way. It seemed as though there were volunteers holding signs whenever you needed to turn, so I'm not sure where the confusion came in for other runners that have commented on this race. There were plenty of aid stations, although it seemed like they were spaced out a little too much in some spots. As others have said, there weren't very many people out cheering on the runners, but those who did come out to cheer did a great job encouraging people. Also, several people had their sprinklers on, but they were mostly in the first half of the race; by about mile 20 I was dying and hoping that there would be a sprinkler to cool me down. The post-race food was adequate, but it seemed like they ran out of some items by the time I managed to drag my butt across the finish line. I really wanted a popsicle. :) The cold towels at the finish were great, especially since the weather was so hot and humid. This was my first marathon, and the heat and humidity really took their toll in the second half of the race, but overall I would recommend this race to anyone looking to run a smaller race. | |
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M. S. from Wisconsin
(6/5/2007)
"Early start, fast course" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race is well organized; the early start (6:00 a.m.) is unique but it was helpful in 2007 given the heat and humidity. The course has several events (marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K), which start at different times but end up having points on the course in which these events merge and then split - and signage could be better in these areas. Miles 14-24 are out and back, which some people may not enjoy. The course has good shade and many of the homes put on their sprinklers for the runners. This course is not flat like Chicago but it is still fast. The course does not have a lot of spectators. The finish in Notre Dame Stadium is terrific! Good food at the finish (popsicles, fresh fruit, etc.). | |
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R. M. from Pennsylvania
(6/5/2007)
"What a finish" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I'm trying to do all 50 states and I know there are other Indiana marathons to run. I also hate Notre Dame Football... but boy, what a rush to enter the stadium, run down that tunnel with the Notre Dame fight song music blasting.... I felt like I could run through a brick wall to finish at that 50 yard-line. I wonder what I would have felt if I just liked ND? Hot day... sponges, water, Gatorade, and bananas were all needed and welcome. You need to get different t-shirts for different races. My wife runs 5K and gets the same T? Doesn't seem right. | |
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R. H. from Northern Kentucky
(6/5/2007)
"Overeall a nice surprise for a smaller event." (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Sunburst Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a fun experience and too well-kept a secret. The finish is inspiring, the town is quaint, and the course is a little zig-zaggy. Now, my comment to other marathoners: All walkers are NOT just "family fun walkers." Most who walk a marathon or half marathon train longer and put in just as much work as the younger runners. Walking is an ideal way for older competitors to continue in these events. I wish this race was more "walker friendly" so others would try it. Quit belittling walkers!!! We're here, we're competitors and we love these events too! |
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