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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 201 to 211]
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K. K. from Oklahoma
(11/3/2006)
"So many things right, but one MAJOR thing wrong!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 With so many wonderful things about this marathon, it's a shame that one of the most critical was a total mess. Mile markers!! Some weren't marked at all (although one was "manned"), but several of them that were marked were just flat WRONG. If you're just trying to finish, this issue would be but a minor inconvenience. When you're trying to set a PR or run a qualifying time, this inaccurate, BAD feedback is worse than none at all. Sometimes the markers were only off a little, like maybe 50 yards (you could tell because the markers were sometimes set up on old, faded white #'s on the street, and sometimes on newer white #'s, and sometimes on green #'s - which I think were probably the correct ones). Other times, however, they were so far off it was ridiculous. Here are my personal splits for miles 6 and 7, as marked: 3:59 and 8:20. Then, if the tunnel marks were correct, I ran a 6:50 there, followed by a 9:34. Now come on. I've got 18 marathons run and I know I can pace better than that. Incidentally, right after that, I fell in to a 7:15 to 7:20 pace for several miles, which was probably right on during that stretch for me. What a shame that a race with this much experience would have blunders this bad. As for the volunteers, expo, finish line, etc., everything else was fabulous. | |
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Nacho Libre from Indiana
(11/2/2006)
"Great course! Show me the food!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This a great race for anybody looking to run a marathon in a big city without having to contend with crowds over 10,000. The limit on the field makes it small enough to be able to cross the start line within five minutes, if you're at the back. Going to Canada and coming back to the US makes this marathon unique. The time in Canada was short (about four miles) but there was great crowd support. Overall this was an excellent marathon. Only two things I wish were different: 1. No food at the finish. Chips and candy are not enough. At least some Coke would have been nice. 2. Not much to do about this if you want to finish at Ford Field, but the ramp down to the field was soooo steep (downward). That was the hardest part of the race. I would definitely recommend this race to anyone. | |
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H. E. from Detroit
(11/2/2006)
"To the person(s) who organized this race:" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 This race had real potential to be one of the best. Could have and should have been, with much better organization. My criticism may seem harsh, but I need to make my point. I will put these in the order of seriousness: 1. Spend the money you made on all of us by doing whatever needs to be done. Period. And yes, at least to me and my friend, it showed that you really did not. 2. The inside of the stadium was way, way, way too sterile and boring. You guys missed the best opportunity here to create some memories. This was suppose to be a CELEBRATION!! Get some cool running music, maybe a hype-man, the Lion's Mascot - make it live and fun, not just, "Here's your medal, over here for your chip, get outta the way, please move on, people...." 3. We need to spend at least another four miles minimum in Canada, folks. Seriously. We came back way too fast. You missed yet another excellent opportunity, at least for out-of-towners. If you let them, the Canadians might surprise you. I know I was when I did Toronto about 1 1/2 months ago, but the many different type people there made it very, very interesting.... 4. That course was too industrial, and a bit too residential. By the way, Michigan Avenue and the old Tiger Stadium might be historic, and they might seem nice DRIVING in a nice warm car with a soft suspension, but the street itself was a bit too harsh and un-professional for a marathon because of the condition and the old age. 5. NOT ENOUGH PORTA-POTTIES ON THE COURSE. Everyone kept peeing all over the place - just ask the cops if you don't believe me, and to be fair, this race isn't alone in this. I had the same problem with another race 2 weeks ago. 6. I know security in this day and age is a given and it's better to be safe than sorry, BUT, the militant protocols in the stadium pissed off a lot of finished runners. Try foreseeing potential problems and CREATE a setup to help someone - not just, "No, you can't go back." You had more than enough guards and military people there; they could have checked us for bad things first or chaperoned the person with a time limit or something. It would had been nice and appreciated more than you could know. 7. Create a setup for anyone looking for a runner still running to find out where that person might be, be it a chip checkpoint or a medical one. this becomes more and more important towards the end of the race when slow racers struggle and co-runners and family begin to become concerned. When I ran Akron this year, I saw them at the finish line help a lady using a simple laptop and they told her that person had just past the last chip checkpoint at the 20th mile. She was very relieved and to them it was no big deal. Very, very nice. 8. For the life of me, if this were my race and I were in charge, I would take one worker and a laptop, create one line with a 20-second time-limit for non-emergencies, and make it the last thing to be shut down at the end. 9. Patch up the course, even just a little. I can tell that races everywhere are becoming bigger and bigger, and this was no different. I see some places doing things that cities of the same size do not, making a huge difference in the race experience. Very careful attention should be paid here. This stuff is starting to get more serious. This race could easily become a top-rated race on par with at least Chicago if enough attention is paid to every little easily-overlooked detail. I hope someone is listening.... | |
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d. g. from toronto, ontario
(11/2/2006)
"Very Good Race" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I had written my comments the day of the race, but I must not have hit submit, since they aren't here. That's okay, I'll use my space to comment on others' comments.... Everything I've read in the preceding comments are true, but it seems like some people are over-emphasizing the relatively few negatives. Maybe it's because the weather this year was a bit gloomy. Cheer up folks! Yes, there was one stretch of road (which you run twice) that had more potholes than one might hope for on a racecourse. But we're not talking craters on the surface of the moon here. Yes, you had to climb stairs to exit the stadium. But are you really going to define a 13.1- or 26.2-mile race by a 45-second climb up stairs? If that's the price I pay for finishing inside Ford Field, it's worth it to me. Heck, they even had a volunteer cheering the stairclimbers to the top. Yes, the post-race food was pretty bad, and should be improved. But again, I registered for a roadrace, not a trip to the grocery store. My overwhelming memories of this race day are of a very unique and interesting racecourse, a well-organized start area, a very cool NFL stadium finish, plentiful aid stations with friendly volunteers, a nice technical shirt, a nice medal.... I applaud the race organizers for trying to put Detroit on the running map with a big event, which takes guts. I think they got FAR more things right than wrong. | |
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D. T. from Columbus, Ohio
(11/2/2006)
"Great race but needs some improvement" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Overall, I loved the race and will probably run it again. The route was very scenic. The bridge and tunnel were exciting. For a race this size, you would think there would be clocks at every mile. I'm still trying to figure out how the aid station at mile five ran out of Gatorade. If you wanted water, you had to stand in line to get it. Like everyone else has said, the lack of finish-line refreshments was a major disappointment. Also, the expo could've been a bit more organized. I had to fight through the crowd just to get to the packet pick-up area. With a few improvements, this could be a top-notch race. | |
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David Saperstein from Huntington Woods, MI
(11/2/2006)
"Hungry" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The course was fantastic and interesting. It was wonderful running along the river in Windsor. Once the riverwalk in Detroit opens up, this course will get even better. I enjoyed the jaunt at the end through Indian Village as well. It's a shame, though, that there was no food at the end (except for a Trail Bar and potato chips). The fluid stops every mile partially make up for that, but after running that long, I would expect more. I would have gladly traded my medal for a banana and some yogurt. Staffer on Belle Isle Bridge was priceless telling first-timers like me, "You're a marathoner tonight." | |
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J. M. from Springfield, MO
(11/1/2006)
"Great Marathon, Great City" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Detroit Marathon is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Kudos to the organizers, as well as the people of Detroit. Here's a brief comment on each of the three categories: As others have indicated, the course is mainly flat, except for the bridge - and that's early in the race. Also, the wind on Belle Isle can be tough. But the course overall is great, offering a fine sample of Detroit. The fan support is excellent. The students at Martin Luther King High School, as well as the crowds in Greektown, did an especially good job of cheering us in. The organization is top-notch, from the expo to the finish line. One item worth noting: There wasn't a lot of finish-line food. I could have used some sports drink on Ford Field while stretching and waiting for others to come in. And there wasn't much for marathon food up on the concourse.... Bagels and fruit would be helpful. Overall, though, this is a fantastic marathon. Extra thanks, as well, to the folks from Marathon Mission, for giving us a special reason to run. | |
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S. S. from New York
(11/1/2006)
"Great non-major marathon" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is a really fun marathon. The course was very beautiful and varied throughout. The run along the river in Canada was spectacular. The number and vigor of the fans surprised me: they were wonderful. Water and Gatorade were plentiful, as were porta-johns. My only complaint was the finish line. Volunteers seemed more confused than me as to where I was supposed to go. There is no clear path as you finish, but eventually you learn that you must climb some steps only to receive a paltry bag of food. Other than those few moments of wondering if I was going to make it up the steps, I loved every bit of this marathon. Even the other runners were wonderfully encouraging. | |
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D. P. from Illinois
(11/1/2006)
"Memorable Marathon" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I agree with everything others have complained about, including potholes, no food at the finish, etc., but overall this was a race to remember. The run into Canada was unique, the scenery on the bridge and along the river in Windsor was great and the underwater mile fun. There were plenty of water/Gatorade stations (almost too many) and all were manned by very enthusiastic volunteers. My thanks to all of you who stood out in the cold and wind to "wait on us runners." | |
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A. S. from Oakville, ON
(11/1/2006)
"Interesting course. Bridge and tunnel cool." (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Reasonably good organization, but some complaints: 1) Porta-johns were in a muddy field. 2) No decent food at the finish. 3) Branded merchandise was very limited at the expo. 4) Bit of confusion at the start. Clearer instructions needed and earlier start for hand-cycles - runners were tripping over cycles on the bridge and almost run over in the tunnel. Otherwise a great race, with great volunteers and crowd support. Excellent aid stations and great finish in Ford Field. Good course, but too much concrete/poor paving - makes for sore legs the next day. Reasonably flat; see if you can do something about the wind next year!!! |
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