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Detroit International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Detroit International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 402 [displaying comments 181 to 191]
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Charlie Sams from Huron, Ohio
(10/21/2007)
"Nice race!" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It was a good race with great weather. Lots of water stations and a nice course. The race was well organized. There could have been more spectators. And the the course was bunched up at times. I liked the course, but that tunnel was like going through a sauna. But overall, I enjoyed the race and I would recommend it. | |
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s. f. from godfrey, il
(6/11/2007)
"Detroit is nicer than you would expect" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran Detroit in 2006 and loved it. I am attempting the 50 marathons in 50 states. Detroit was number 9. I stayed at the Atheneum, which was one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at. One huge complaint was the pasta dinner. By the time we found it in the huge towers of the GM building, there was a very large group and the dinner was held in a broom closet. out of all the places to have a dinner for a large crowd, I could not believe how small the area was for the dinner. Needless to say, my husband and I found a nice, quiet Italian restaurant close to the baseball stadium, which ended up being just perfect. Back to the hotel: We ran into the Detroit Tigers baseball coach as we were getting on to the elevator. We are Cardinal baseball fans so this was a big deal, especially since the Cards just beat the Tigers and won the World Series the night before. The hotel was within walking distance of the start/finish of the race. It was in Greektown, so we had lots of restaurants to walk to. We even found a Catholic church at which to go to mass on Saturday night. Detroit is a lot cleaner than I thought. The race course was very scenic. The island was tough because of the wind. But it was a great day for a marathon. Cool but not miserable. Sunny. Nice. Visit the Fr. Solanus Casey Shrine if you have time and have some prayer requests. Had a great time doing this marathon. Highly recommend it. | |
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J. P. from Naperville, Illinois
(5/24/2007)
"1st time was a great time!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Detroit was a great marathon and I couldn't have picked a better city to run it in. Organization was great, and the people were great, even though they had just lost the World Series, hah! Lots and lots of drink stops with plenty of Gatorade. Of course, no marathon is easy, and I thought it was a great course with not too many extra elements added that made it harder. The bridge on mile 3 heading into Canada was difficult, and the island from mile 16-20 was also difficult because it was really windy, but I think that's to be expected. It was great to run onto Ford Field at the end and get a nice ovation from an entire side of the stadium as we went in; the fans made it great! | |
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E. M. from MIchigan
(4/26/2007)
"Great race!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and I was so excited when I finished. Belle Isle was a beast but I enjoyed all of the scenery changes. Running by the water, through the city, on a bridge, through a tunnel.... The course was definately interesting. I enjoyed the downhill finish into Ford Field although that is where some of my complaints fall. The relay members all meet up at the finish and run into the chute together. A large male relay member cut me off as we were in the chute to Ford Field; I realize that the 26.1 miles I had already run made this event much more traumatic than it actually was, but at the time I wanted to cry. Watch out for relay teams!!! I wasn't ready for them to crowd me at the finish! Once through the finish line it took a little bit to find water. I understand water is probably not right by the finish to avoid crowds so that makes some sense. Overall I rate Detroit a fun marathon with great scenery of a fantastic city - just watch out for those relay teams!!! They aren't running the same race! | |
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R. O. from Macomb, Michigan
(4/10/2007)
"This is Michigan - please move the date up!!!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I really like the race itself. I think the start was the best yet. The aid stations were plentiful, thanks!!! I love this race. But this is Michigan; it is cold at the end of October. This year was awful. I really hated having cold water blown on me by the fire-boat. I mean, it was already below freezing (wind chill). We did not need to have water blown on us ar mile 18. Overall, I like the race, but if you can't move it to the end of Sept. or early Oct., I will run the Toronto Marathon, when the weather is nicer. | |
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N. H. from Jackson, MI
(3/3/2007)
"I guess nothing compares to Chicago though...." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The course was beautiful and I definitely thought that it was awesome to run an "international marathon"! I have to agree with most people - the food was very scarce! Actually, I don't remember even seeing any beverages and all I got was a bag of chips. Chips! I didn't even take any - why would you hand out chips??? My most important gripe is that the alphabetical corrals that were supposed to be at the end of the race were nowhere in sight. This is a very serious problem when we are talking about runners trying to reunite with family and other runners without cell phones - thousands of people! How are we ever supposed to find our groups if we were planning on meeting at the letter "L"? I asked many volunteers where I could find the corrals and no one even knew what I was talking about. That's crazy. I eventually saw a pickup truck on a side street and there were a bunch of the signs with letters on them thrown in the back of the truck. After limping around for awhile (in dire need of some liquids and nourishment), I eventually bumped into some of my family. Sorry to sound so negative - but if one thing needs to be right (let's forget about the food), it is the way in which we are supposed to reconnect with our groups. Sorry, but I'm heading back for the Chicago Marathon this year! | |
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T. S. from USA
(3/1/2007)
"GREAT EVENT!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run the marathon four times, and every time, it gets better and better. The organization of the race is awesome. Running the Free Press Marathon is something I value and treasure all my life. Thanks! Ps. See you at the starting line in 2007. | |
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B. C. from The D
(12/18/2006)
"Love it, but..." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon in 2003; since then, I've run it each year on a relay; this year I ran the first leg of the relay and kept going for the full (I was registered for both). It's a great course - downtown (I liked the new start arrangements this year (2006) but I never saw the platform where the ceremonies were going on. The bridge - awesome. The run along the river in Canada - great. The friendly Canadians, eh? The tunnel. Belle Isle. Terrific course. The organization for the relays is top-notch - I highly recommend that locals try putting together a relay if you're not running the full. Spectators are spotty, which is fine with me. I was surprised this year that the block parties didn't seem to be happening. No beer at mile 20? Whassup wi dat? I like the run in to the stadium, but as someone else commented, if you're going to kick it in, you need to do it at about 25.1; by the time you get close, it's crowded, and going down the ramp on to the field, it's a little hairy. My gripe - and this has been eating at me - pertains to the supplies at the end. As another four-hour finisher mentioned here, all that was waiting for me at the end was a bottle of water and a bag of chips. A bag of chips!!! I'd already missed the beer at mile 20; the bag of chips was really a low blow. I'm thinking that because participation in the half, the 10K, and the relays is up, the swarms of runners running shorter distances probably got my bagel and banana. But I'm hoping the folks at Whole Foods are reading this: I'm putting in my order for 2007 - save a bagel, a banana, and sports drink for me. Look for me at about 4:04:00. Thanks. | |
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Guy Beels from San Diego, CA
(12/15/2006)
"Overall, a fine race - recommend it" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed coming back home and running this one with my sister - her first! The course was interesting throughout, and flat, flat, flat. The neighborhoods, bridge (first hill), and tunnel (second and last hill) had me rubbernecking all the way. I've never seen my hometown like that before. If course support can be judged by its weakest link - how the race treats its tail-enders - then I was there, and Detroit passed with mostly flying colors. The Grim Reaper (6:30 pace lady in the red t-shirt) was wonderfully encouraging to everyone stuggling to finish before the cutoff time, and our thanks go out to her. The police support was fantastic and friendly to the last gaspers. And that beer shot at the tavern really hit the spot. To folks complaining about the ramp to the finish: it's called "running downhill." It's good. And the steps to the mezzanine were not a problem at all. But very disappointing was the single box of bananas left for the likes of us, and no liquids at all. Another poster said carbs were scarce, even for 4:00 finishers. That's shameful, if true. Stomping on that big, blue lion at midfield was cool. I felt just like Joey Harrington! | |
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R. F. from Toledo, Ohio
(12/13/2006)
"Unique course and great for middle-of-the-packers" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a unique course that is far better than you find at most marathons. As usual, most of the comments are from complainers who probably have not been involved in volunteering. This was a great race for the middle-of-the-packers who do not expect the "sun and the moon" in their treatment. I found all areas satisfactory. Perhaps I am from a by-gone age, but an interesting, safe course is the most important thing and you have done just that. Oh, race director, you could improve your marathon by taking 25 years off my age. |
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