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Des Moines Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Des Moines Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 295 [displaying comments 171 to 181]
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F. H. from Chicago
(11/15/2005)
 "Des Moines is worth doing!" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I would like to comment on what I thought was an example of how well run this race was. The volunteers and bike monitors were outstanding! We all know it was very HOT and HILLY! Yet I saw numerous bike monitors tirelessly traversing the course to check on the welfare of the participants...some with pitchers of ice-water!! One bike monitor would not leave one older runner I saw who was clearly struggling. He offered encouragement and companionship to the runner who otherwise would probably have given up. Thank you to the race director/organizers for communicating to these race-angels the importance of watching out for the wellbeing of the participants. If you're thinking about doing Des Moines...DO IT, it's not the easiest course but well worth doing for because of the hospitality of the people of Iowa. | |
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Greg Herrold from Emmetsburg, IA
(10/11/2005)
 "Huge improvement over 2004! Great job guys!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Des Moines Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 3rd full marathon, and my first marathon experience was DSM 2004. Let me just say a huge thank you to all the people who helped make this marathon a success over last year. The ONLY thing last year had over this year was the weather, and only God has a hand in that. :-) Course was more challenging than in '04. More hills, and more heat. Great race overall. Des Moines is a great city with lots to offer. | |
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A. P. from Lincoln, NE
(10/3/2005)
"Solid experience..." (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I thought the course was excellent. B/c there are a lot of marathoners, you are always running with someone, which is nice. The beer and bands after the race were nice, but the massage wait times were superb! 5 minutes for a nice massage - hats off! Couple of things that need improvement. 1) The shirt colors were absolutely horrible. 2) The water/sports drinks need to be spaced out better at aid stations. The tables need to be farther apart so you don't get a traffic jam. 3) No oranges??? Come on. The fans were great, even the old people selling tomatoes on the course! Overall a great experience and I'll be back! Love this city!!! | |
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L. F. from Canada
(10/1/2005)
 "Great Race, People and Place" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Hats off to the race directors, volunteers, spectators and the City of Des Moines for putting on a great race. I have run all over the world and found this course to be right up there for scenery. The volunteers were great and always ready and helpful; nice to see kids involved! I loved the mile markers, they were easy to spot from far away so you knew what was coming up. The 'beverage' tent at the finish line was a nice touch on such a hot day. Great job! | |
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J. E. from New York
(9/30/2005)
"Nice Little Race That Needs A Little Improvement" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Mostly well organized. Race director and entire staff is very responsive and helpful. Not the most exciting course but it works with what the city has to offer. Very friendly staff and city. First few miles a bit hilly, but mostly flat after that. Host hotel was across the street and offered a 3 p.m. checkout, which saves you a lot of hassle and a possible extra day's hotel stay. A few things that need improvement for next year: 1) There were no digital clocks at all along the course and no one calling out splits anywhere. At the very least, they should place digital clocks at the 5k, 10k, halfway and 20-mile marks. Also the clock at the finish line was so small that I couldn't even see the time as I approached the finish line. They should have a much bigger finish clock and above the finish line in order that it is visible from afar and also appears in race photos. 2) I didn't have this problem but 2 of my slower friends who were running at around 10:30 pace told me that the water stop at mile 3 had run out of cups by the time they got there! That is pretty inexcusable. 3) They probably should get rid of the "early bird" start. I caught up to the walkers by mile 4 and there were many instances of having to weave in and out due to the walkers creating congestion by walking 2-4 abreast. Why don't they just start everyone at the early bird start and have the walkers line up in the back? It is a nice, little marathon that can be made better, especially when it will be moved back to October and therefore much better weather conditions. Personally, for a small-town marathon, I don't agree with the other comments about lack of spectator support. It got a heck of a lot more crowd support than I expected. It's not exactly a big-city marathon and I'm not sure what these people were expecting. | |
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Pascal Renault from Omaha, NE
(9/28/2005)
"Very good for a small city" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The scenery is very cool. First half is hilly and second is OK. The weather was a bit too warm for me (70 at the start and 80 at the finish). The crowd is supportive but there is not a lot in the way of crowds. The organization is OK, but the marks and timing could be improved still. Nice overall marathon - better than Omaha, which I ran the very next weekend. | |
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T. P. from Indiana
(9/27/2005)
 "Walker-Friendly Marathon?" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I guess I'll never understand the marathons that advertise they are 'walker friendly,' yet all the fruit, pizza, cold bottled water, towels, heat sheets, massages, etc. are gone if you come in after 5.5 hours. I know coordinating a marathon is a huge effort. The volunteers were wonderful, especially at the Parrothead stop. There were also plenty of cyclists monitoring the course for the wounded and weary. The course was very nice. Des Moines is a beautiful city! It was just so disappointing to come in within the alotted time, but the party was well over. I've said it before: if the race can't accommodate the slow finishers as well as the faster ones, shorten the allowed time to finish. My registration fee doesn't decrease because I'm slow. | |
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R. S. from Williamsburg, Iowa
(9/24/2005)
"Happy to have my first experience in Des Moines!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Des Moines was my first marathon experience and I am so glad that I did it in my home state! I had a great time! The hills were more than I had expected but the scenery was beautiful in those areas! The loops were harder because it was getting warm and there was little shade, BUT the volunteers, the water stations and the supporters were FABULOUS! The medal was wonderful! The people at the finish line made you feel like a true winner no matter what place you came in! Please keep the early bird start!!! I will be back!!!! | |
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Ann Singer from Suffern, NY
(9/22/2005)
"Thanks for such efficient treatment" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Early start 6 am to sound of horse track trumpet..circle around and hear Star Spangle Banner for 7:10 marathon start. Pass Capitol and we were on our way. Met up with two great ladies, Rynthia and Molly and this 50 state marathoner was on her way to her 38th marathon. Nice expo, great speakers at excellent dinner..good expo day before. Day was hot in high 80's..plenty of water..powerade and super volunteer help..all the way.. Could use clocks at each mile but with early start..half marathon and such might be difficult..Wet cold towels and cold wet sheets at end..excellent Much effort went into this race by many and it showed. Des Moines is a wonderful young growing metro area. Stayed at Quality Inn..could walk to race..hotel fair but convenient. About 3,000 entries for walkers and runners. Only suggestion..Last 10 miles through three parks long and boring..need bands or something for those stretches. | |
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C. C. from Springfield, Missouri
(9/22/2005)
"Hard Route" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The people there were great. Everyone was friendly and more than willing to help. They changed the route, that was my understanding, and it was really hard this year. I recommend putting in some hill training if they keep the same route next year |
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