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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 201 to 211]
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R. W. from St. Paul, MN
(11/5/2004)
 "Why I like the Des Moines Marathon" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Des Moines Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Things I like about the Des Moines Marathon: 1. The race director, fans and volunteers are awesome. The director received the Runner?s World Golden Shoe award after the inaugural event that was well deserved. Another marathon cancelled just prior to this year?s event. The Des Moines director honored their entries. A volunteer told me they were receiving 16 calls a minute on the final days before the event. The local Hy-Vee grocery store gave us a meal in the finish area including BBQ beef, potato salad, chips, fruit, bakery items, pop and sports drinks. I thought I was at a picnic. 2. The course is fast and scenic. A great experience at the first Des Moines Marathon has brought me back every year since. I have run 8 marathons to date on some of the fastest courses (Chicago, Twin Cities, Grandmas, Pacific Coast) but my three fastest times were each of the three marathons I ran at Des Moines. This is a great course to run a PR or qualify for Boston. 3. Great experience. I met a young girl during the race who was completing the course in her wheelchair with assistance from friends or relatives who were all registered in the race. She was not in a wheeler but a standard wheelchair you?d see around town. Many runners ran alongside to encourage her but she was encouraging us. What an inspiration and kudos to Des Moines for supporting efforts like this. | |
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J. S. from MO, formerly an Iowan
(10/28/2004)
 "Things will be better... maybe next year" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Des Moines Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 PLEASE, ditch the 'this ain't no cornfield.' That is so embarassing for other Iowans, former Iowans and our awesome educational system found here. I realize you want to find that unique catch-phrase, but either update it to 'isn't' or come up with another. The event is coming around and will become a good one if they listen to us runners and fix some of the problems. Two step forward and one step back, but moving in the right direction. Please, fix the mile markers and move the event to a different date. If it is a couple weeks before Chicago, I'd be able to do both instead of having to pick one over the other. Thanks for your hard work! We will continue to support the event because we love Iowa! | |
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b. m. from US
(10/27/2004)
"Glad I ran in Des Moines" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The draw for me to this race was the friendly attitude of the marathon staff as well as the volunteers. There was a pretty good turnout of people watching the race even though the day was a little cool. The course was varied regarding hills and flatland, which I like. Lots of runner support..from well supplied water/powerade stations, porta potties,and easy parking at the race site. We even got DSM gloves in our bags, which I wore that day and very much appreciated. I would recommend this race because of the good support provided by the RD and staff, friendly people in DSM, and of course a truly beautiful route that ranged from mansions on large lots...to scenic parks with a river or lake near by. I had a really good time...and look forward to returning in 2005. | |
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d. j. from Iowa
(10/27/2004)
"Great event" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a very scenic run. I loved the way that the race went from downtown to the beautiful neighborhoods and then into a park area with a river view. I thought it was well organized, good crowd participation, lots of water stations and bathrooms along the way. The expo and pasta dinner were really special. I thought there was a real personal touch with the website info from the RD. She was very accessible to the participants. I would return for this event. | |
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E. N. from Palatine, IL
(10/24/2004)
 "Great Race!" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a great race from start to finish. The goody bag included gloves and a well designed shirt. The expo was pretty big for the size of the race. There was plenty of free parking a few blocks from the finish. The porta potty lines at the start were pretty much nonexistant. The course started out hilly, but the hills ended around mile 8. The course was scenic except the last few miles. The fans cheered for us by name because our names were on our bibs. The volunteers were very freindly. The water stops were plentiful. Nice variety of food at the end. A few of the mile markers were off, but they were off by so much that it was obvious. The medal could be upgraded because after all it's all about the medal. This was my 25th marathon. This race was the best value of any marathon I have run. And quite simply a great race. | |
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Jean M. from Rochester, MN
(10/23/2004)
 "Nice Job, Des Moines!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Despite some glitches, it's a good marathon & sure to improve as it grows. Special kudos to aid stations - particularly the Las Vegas group. | |
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J. B. from Iowa
(10/21/2004)
"Good Run - Needs Org. work" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I like the course overall. The hills were over after ~8, not sure because the elevation map was off by at least one mile. I thought it was vey scenic and the people who were out were very supportive. I had no trouble with traffic and often thanked the officers as I passed, but I was in the 4:15 range. The big drawback to the course was a bleak, straight back and forth section from mi. ~21-25. At that point in the run it was mentally very exhusting to deal with, this could be eliminated by repeating/looping an earlier section. The mile markers were off. This did not affect me much since I was not concerned about splits or time, however I completely understand those who were upset. It may very well have cost someone a trip to Boston. The shirts were very, very cool. I thought the medals were cool too, although it is a sticker on metal (I'll simply seal protect mine). The major problem was packet pickup. Up until a few days before the website said 'No race day pickup' Then it changed. Not wanting to chance things or rush on race day I drove 2 hours (each way) and got there for the begining of the Expo. Long story short: Multiple lines not only for each run but also for Bib, Chip, and shirt pickup. Once in the chip line we were told the chips were not there! They wanted us to come back Sat. luckily we were able to get the chips before the race without too much trouble, but not having chips available for pickup is BAD. Suggestions: get a bigger room for pickup. Clearly ID which line is for what. Make Darn sure that everything CRITICAL - like chips - is there days in advance. Hand out the entire packet all at once. | |
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m. b. from U.S.
(10/21/2004)
"Great experience for a first timer!!!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Beautiful scenic course with rolling hills and beautiful Midwestern views. Good course support. Well organized water stations. Well marked streets with directional arrows. Good expo and pasta dinner/speakers. Very impressive start and finish. Feel that the course was just perfect. I thought it was a good turn out re: the crowds/neighborhoods based on the cool day. Very courteous and customer oriented volunteers and staff. Race director was very accessible. Kudos to the organizers of this marathon. | |
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J. Y. from United States
(10/21/2004)
"Many mile markers way off" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Des Moines Marathons
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It gets better every year. The only problem was the mile markers. Some of them were off by as much as 1/2 mile. I ran with the 3:45 pace group. The leader would yell out to us how far they were off. Correct this and it gets 5 stars. | |
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T. K. from KC, MO
(10/21/2004)
"It was a good day" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The course was a good mix of downtown, residential, and wooded parks. No hills after mile 9. I was told that it was because of construction that we were weaving back and forth on MLK Dr. I didn't think it was that bad. Volunteers were plentiful, polite and helpful. This confirms my belief that no one is nicer than an Iowan. My only complaint was that the mile markers throughout the parks (miles 12-20) were horribly inconsistent. I didn't really pass anybody, and didn't really get passed and somehow I ran a 12:30 and a 6:15 on miles 12 and 13. Not right... |
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