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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 221 to 231]
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D. K. from Overland Park, KS
(10/18/2004)
 "Get the Mile Markers Right" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 We traveled to Des Moines from Kansas to run a well-rated local marathon. My wife and I were disappointed with what we found. Three mile markers were missing. Others were obviously in the wrong place...for example, I ran a 5:35 and 4:40 mile back to back! I'm not Olympic quality! Also, if the marathon expects to grow, they will need more people working the water stops...if running through the stop, it was possible to miss getting any fluids at all if other runners were near. The course was fast, and the first 3/4 scenic, but please change miles 22-25, with concrete road surface and frequent hairpin turns. Kudos to the vocal crowds, many of whom traveled to several different spots on the course to cheer the runners. | |
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Doug Widowski from Belvidere, Il
(10/18/2004)
 "Great little race." (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 As others have mentioned, this course was great and Des Moines is a beautiful town. The people were great and so is the the shirt and medal. On of the best in the midwest. A fun marathon and the high school drummers and cheerleaders at the end were awesome! Thanks to the twins (Debbie and DiDi) and Dave. | |
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j. s. from Illinois
(10/17/2004)
 "Good job but the race still needs work" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I will begin the positives: - With today's ever-growing fees, this event is a great value for your dollar. - The race shirt, poster and medal were great. - Course is very scenic, and the hills are all in the 10 miles after the course is basically flat. - Course control was great by police and volunteers - never had to worry about traffic - The pre-race meal was excellent. - Crowd support from the neighborhoods was minimal, however very vocal; get the city more involved. Negatives: - MAJOR PROBLEM! During the 2nd half, the mile markers were way off. I was keeping a 7:20-7:40 pace and some miles were about :10 and my fastest was 4:55. I cannot run a 4:55 fresh; this was a TOTALLY unacceptable rookie mistake on the course marshal's part. - In addition, my watch time was 3:20:55 and the clock at the finish read 3:23, what is up with that? Although the results on the net read 3:21... Overall B-; however this race has great potential. Directors should look at other area races and how to improve i.e. Detroit, Twin Cities. | |
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T. M. from Kansas City, MO
(10/17/2004)
 "Huge disappointment" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Des Moines Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I had heard good things about this marathon and therefore had looked forward to it. I was very disappointed. The packet pick-up was horribly disorganized. It was very confusing trying to figure out which line to stand in as they didn't correspond with the signs. We had to then go upstairs to pick up the shirt and gloves (of which no gloves made it in my packet) after once again standing in line at the door while a man opened a bag, one person at a time, to carry the two pieces of information we received. There were no race instructions in the packet. Luckily, I had printed off a few of the web pages and had them with me. They offered an early start, but had little information regarding it (only one line on the website.) The early start option was great, but there was almost no support during that first hour and NO traffic control at all. Traffic control in general was almost non-existent. I had to constantly watch for cars in intersections and coming up behind me. At one point I had to stop and wait for traffic because the police officer had his back to the oncoming runners and was letting traffic through. The first half of the course was interesting, though very hilly. The second half of the course, while flat, was mind-numbingly boring. The zig-zagging of the last four miles was AWFUL. The mile markers were inaccurate, which may not seem like a big deal to a non-runner, but are pretty darn important to those of us doing the race. The course markers in general were hard to see and at times all of the converging/diverging with the half marathoners was confusing. The medal was pretty cheesy--very thin and used a sticker (!) as its design. The sticker on mine had started to lift by the time I got home. Lastly, there was no food at the end. Bananas and whole oranges don't really count. Was there anything I liked? Yes. I did really like the race shirt. It was clever and well done--one of the best ones I've gotten. The volunteers at the aid stations on on the course, as well as the few spectators that were out, were very nice. There were lots of aid stations and porta-potties. The early start was a nice bonus. All these things were a plus. I think this race has a lot of potential, but it still needs a lot of tweaks. | |
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T. C. from Illinois
(2/15/2004)
"Excellent smaller race" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed this course; after the first 5-6 miles it often shaded and gradually down hill. The pockets of spectators were very enthusiastic. the water stops were not crowded and well organized. I would recommend it for a Boston qualifier with its gentle hills and ideal weather, not to mention that you will not be caught up in the pack like Chicago, but it is large enough that you are not running in isolation. It is also easy for family to get to 4-5 spots on the course and still be at the finish. | |
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R. W. from St. Paul, Minnesota
(11/15/2003)
 "The Des Moines Marathon is Awesome" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I live in the Twin Cities but prefer to travel to the Des Moines Marathon for my fall marathon. It's the perfect size and is a very fast course. The logistics are great. I walk from our hotel to the start line and then back to the hotel at the finish. No Godzilla crowds or busses. You don't have to be a Kenyan to feel like one. I like the gradual downhill finish next to the river. I also love the wooded run through the bike trail. At 17 miles in other marathons I have over-heated and fallen apart. At Des Moines it's a gradual downhill and it's shaded. Instead of falling apart, I ran a negative split both years. It was also great to see my family during the race and it wasn't so big that they couldn't find me. The water stops are the best of any marathon I have run including marathons that are 9 times larger. I ran over 30 minutes faster than my previous 2 marathons, set a PR and qualified for Boston for the first time. The director, Helene Neville, received the Runners World Golden Shoe award for the inaugural event and it was well deserved. My sincere thanks go to the race organizers and the people of Des Moines for making October 5, 2003 a great running experience I will always treasure. I will definitely be back and look forward to running my third Des Moines Marathon in 2004! | |
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A. B. from Prairie Village, KS
(11/11/2003)
"Great Mid-Size Marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I had a great time running this marathon. Pasta dinner and speakers were excellent, expo was adequate, course was scenic and not too difficult (I set a 2 minute PR), good spectator turnout, terrific aid stations, and great post-race food & drink. Also, it was great that the host hotel was so accommodating. They automatically signed you up for a 3:00 pm late checkout when you register - don't even have to ask. Not many things to fault with this race at all. I enjoyed the 5 miles or so of running on the bike path during the second half of the race. It was beginning to get hot and the shade on that section was much needed. However they could have used more porta-potties in that section as I believe there was just one during that entire stretch. The expo was a little on the small side and the booth selling Des Moines Marathon apparel ran out of most items. Also, a dry-release finisher's shirt is always nice. Last, I did agree with another review that the last mile could be changed as it was probably the least scenic on the course - perhaps finishing in the stadium might be better. This marathon is definitely worth the price of admission. I recommend this as one of the better marathon events in the Midwest. | |
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N. P. from Olathe,KS
(10/21/2003)
"This will be a great one!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Overall, this race is very well organized with a fun atomosphere. The first part of the course is great, running through downtown and scenic neighborhooods on Grand. However, the second half of the course is lonely and secluded. If I were designing the course, I would cut out some of the running trails. I would also move the finish line to the middle of downtown. It was hard mentally to hear the finish line announcer without seeing him. Now, a little about the freebies! The massage tents are great. Good food and drink selection at the finish. T-shirts are original, but there wasn't a poster! You've got to have a race poster. | |
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C. L. from New Jersey
(10/19/2003)
 "Half-Marathon was a great event!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I came from NJ to run the half as a tune up for the NYC Marathon! The half course really rocked. Just the right amount of hills and fast, flat areas to be the perfect race. The fluid stations were more than abundant. In fact I don't think I have ever run a race with that many stations, in addition to Powerade at each. And believe me, I have run races all over the East Coast. The fans that were out on the course were wonderful as well as the 'entertainment'. I can only imagine that the fan support would have been even greater had the city as well as local newspapers embraced this event from the very beginning instead of just a few days before. Nonetheless this event in only its second year was well worth it and offers numerous amenities that I have seen only in races that have been in existence for 10+ years! This event will only continue to get better and better! 'The Des Moines Marathon and Half-Marathon - not just for the locals in Iowa!' Completely satisfied from the state of New Jersey! | |
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Jonathan Wendel from Ames, Iowa
(10/18/2003)
"A great fall marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 For those looking for a great fall marathon, they need look no further than Des Moines, Iowa. Fast course, filled with diversity, including forests, lakes, streams, city streets and neighborhoods, the state capitol, and smiling, cheering Midwesterners. Add to that a seamless, top-flight organization, and... well... what more could you ask for? Although the race is only two-years old, it shows every promise of becoming a top event. |
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