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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 301 to 311]
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David Hunter Jr from Stockbridge,GA
(11/1/2004)
"Superb race, well organized" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I selected this marathon from reading the comments participants sent forth to this site. It was an enjoyable first marathon experiance. Detroit and Windsor were great hosts! I would recommend this marathon to anyone. Excellent crowd support! I also finished! Glory to God!! | |
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Leon Niebrzydowski from Sterling Heights, MI
(10/29/2004)
"Best Detroit Course Layout" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 6+ Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my sixth Detroit Marathon and I found this course the best yet. Still a few rough roads as other had commented, and the start was a bit overcrowded, but I really enjoyed the route. Crowds were a little sparse at times, but were very supportive. The aid stations and spirit stations were great. Liked having the half since it made it a family event for me. This is becoming quite an event and I highly recommend it. | |
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D. M. from Southeast US
(10/29/2004)
"Average race with an interesting course" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 This was the first Detroit Free Press Marathon I've run and I have mixed reviews on this race. The 45-degree F temp at the start of this race a little cold - rainy and cloudy the day prior (although, this is par for Michigan in late October). Most of my experience is with much larger races out west - 25,000+ marathon participants - therefore, I found the ~4,500 marathon participants at this race to be a small field. On the positive side, the course was an interesting trip through Detroit: running in the downtown, crossing the Ambassador Bridge into Canada (by the way the Canadian authorities are very friendly and added to the overall 'good spirit' of the race) and finishing indoors on Ford Field. Detroit Police support was outstanding - police were everywhere along the course. Other critiques: Carb dinner was a huge disappointment - caterer ran out of food, venue was a tiny art gallery? Poorly organized and managed. Half marathon running at the same time as the marathon was not a good idea - too much confusion at the halfway point. Overall, an average marathon for this having been the 27th running. | |
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E. I. from Chicago
(10/28/2004)
"Good marathon first 13 miles, rest needs to improv" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I've run several marathons previous to Detroit, and I thought the first half (over the bridge to Windsor, tunnel back to Detroit) was awesome. But the course really waned after that. After you run through downtown, there just isn't much to see. Almost no crowd support (except at tunnel and Mile 22... 'Beer & Smokes for the Running Folks' display; people passing out beer to the runners was cool)during the whole race. Not much in the form of goodies and drinks after either. This was my second marathon in 2 weeks, so my time wasn't great. Would do again, but more refreshed... this is a great half-marathon and relay marathon. | |
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C. W. from Wilmington, DE
(10/27/2004)
"YOU SHOULD DO THIS!!!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've completed 27 marathons. This was my first Detroit marathon. This race rates as one of my favorites! The course is incredible from start to the finish at Ford Stadium...which is a memorable experience and worth running the 26.2 miles. The race committee and volunteers did a great job in taking care of the runners and their families. I stayed at the Renaissance Hotel which was outstanding, allowing for a 3pm checkout on marathon day. I highly recommend this marathon...you won't be disappointed. | |
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G. W. from Novi, MI
(10/27/2004)
"Great Race!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My third Detroit Marathon and they keep getting better. The course was great. The sun was rising as we crossed the Ambassador Bridge into Canada. Great course, great organization, and the spectators get more numerous and vocal every year. I saw the Governor at three points along the course and she was very enthusiastic and encouraging. Congratulations to the organizers and volunteers. Their efforts help people see Detroit in a very positive light! | |
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Tim Chesko from Lockport, NY
(10/27/2004)
"Great Support and Fans" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 6th marathon this year and I thought it was one of the best I?ve experienced. The expo was easy to get to via the People Mover and subsequently the use of it the next morning was great. It dropped me off one block away from the start line. I thought the water/gator stops and support were top notch. The Ambassador Bridge and Windsor Tunnel inclines were longer and steeper than I expected. However, the view from the bridge and the run in Canada were really nice. The only improvement I can suggest is to widen the course near the end. The course directly in front of Ford Field leading to the tunnel was very narrow and the fans and spectators were jammed too close together. They formed a narrow path that could only handle two runners abreast. This was also the area the relay teams met their anchor and they all jumped on the course together. This happened to me as I was kicking to the finish and I was knocked over by two relay team members. After I got back up, another relay team ran by holding hands and it made it almost impossible to pass. This all happed with more than .2 of the course left to run. I think if it was a little wider, the relay teams could continue to enjoy finishing together and PR hopefuls could push it to the max. I would recommend this course if you are a first timer or you enjoy huge crowds. It?s not a great PR course because of the number of people and the popularity of the half and Relay teams. | |
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D. M. from Chicago, IL
(10/27/2004)
"Big City, Small Town Run!" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Having only run Chicago as a comparison, this race stacked up nicely. Though the crowd support was very sparse, the race had a nice, small town feel and the runners supported each other very nicely. I expected to have lots of room to run, but because the roads and paths were much more narrow, it didn't feel very different from running a race with 40,000 people. At times (like along the lake in Canada) it felt a little TOO crowded and I was anxious for the half marathoners to finish. All in all though, it was a great race. I think they fixed the problems with the bathrooms as there seemed like there were a lot of them. The finishing area was, unfortunately, devoid of water save for one person handing it out that I couldn't find. Then there were the stairs to the refreshment area which weren't as bad as I thought they'd be. (They were short stairs.) The worst part was the decline into Ford Field. I was pushing for a sub-four and was very close but couldn't push too hard on the decline for fear of falling ass over teakettle down the ramp. I made it though... just barely. The best part was the Ambassador bridge through a hazy morning sunrise. The sight of all those runners ahead of me running across the bridge was awesome. Running through the check points was fun too. The inclines are a little rough, but they are mostly done at the beginning and there's always the downhill to go along with them! Massage afterwards was great too.. but not long enough :) | |
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d. a. from united states of america
(10/26/2004)
"great finish line" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Very well organized and much better starting positioning this year. Fans were great in the U.S. and Canada. The elevations are not bad at the ambassidor bridge and tunnel and the rest of the course is flat. I think this would be a great first timer marathon with the fan support, runners and finish on the Lions football field. I enjoyed all of the 26. 2miles of the course. Volunteers were all outstanding - thank you very much for the support!!! | |
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tom wolf from Orangeville, ILL
(10/26/2004)
"It was a great race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 It was a wonderful race. The course was fabulous. Going across the ambassador bridge into Canada and back through the tunnel was great. The finish into Ford Field was awesome. The spectators along the way encourge you all the time to keep going. You need to run this marathon a least once. |
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