Back to Green Bay Marathon Information & Reviews
z. w. from Indiana
(5/19/2008)
"Overall, Nice (Small) Marathon" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Kudos to the City of Green Bay! This was my 5th marathon and it had a lot of crowd support for a small/medium marathon. If you want to run a PR, then run Green Bay. The only negatives that I have are the post-race food and the lack of bathrooms. I ran a 2:53 but got stuck starting with the 4:20 pace group because I was waiting on a bathroom. | |
D. L. from Traer, Iowa
(5/18/2008)
"Very nice, medium-sized marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Green Bay Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Green Bay is not a large marathon, but it has some "feel" to it, thanks in large part to the fact it has the storied Lambeau Field as a staging area. Director Sean Ryan does a nice job making the marathon a participant-focused event by making it a reasonably-priced marathon with solid organization. The course is varied enough, with the first half more interesting than the second half. It is a relatively flat and fast course with only one sizable incline that happens to be a bridge. The city has not embraced the marathon the way some others have in regards to spectators. Most neighborhoods were empty, but the ones that were out were festive and welcoming. Organization was very good, as were the volunteers. Water stations were excellent and well stocked. I wish they would have kept the post-race goodies - like beer and brats - near where runners finished, like they did in 2006, but that is a small complaint. The medals were nice and they were gender-specific - kind of cool. The T-shirt will stay in my drawer, however, and expo merchandise could be expanded. Running in Lambeau Field is a near religious experience for any Packer fan (like me) and a real rush! Overall, it is one of my favorites and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good marathon. | |
L. S. from Iowa City, IA
(5/18/2008)
"Green Bay 2008" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my second full marathon (have also done 5 half-marathons at major marathon events). Overall I thought it was a good experience. The course was scenic and mostly flat, perfect weather (cool and sunny), well organized, and aid stations were fully stocked and had great volunteers. I only have two complaints - first, I felt like once the 1/2 marathoners and marathoners split, it got kind of lonely out there for the marathoners.... I wish more people were out on the course. Secondly, at mile 22, a group of maybe 200 of us got stopped by a train!! I was stopped for at least 3 minutes, and others were there longer. I know this is not the race organization's fault, but it was very discouraging that late in the race, especially if you were on pace to run a certain goal time (which I was). I wish there was a way they could adjust the times, but I realize there would be no way to do that fairly. So naturally, I am a little upset with my finish time... but that was out of my control, and I still had a good time! | |
M. L. from Minneapolis, MN
(9/11/2007)
"Excellent..." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Green Bay Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great job, GB organizers! If you're looking for a flat, fast race, this is it. After 23 years of marathoning, I set a PR - hard to believe it can still happen. Well organized with timely handouts of fluid and GU packets on the course, and the expo, pre-race pasta dinner and post-race celebration were all well done. I'll be back! | |
E. M. from Chicago
(8/27/2007)
"If you're ready, this is the course" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I was tired of trying to qualify for Boston. On two previous occasions I returned home ashamed of having missed the required time (3:30) by 18 and 11 minutes respectively. However, I decided to try my last attempt at the Green Bay Marathon. It rained at night. It was suddenly cold. There was a strong wind at 4:00 a.m., as I ate my bagel and drank my drink. I went back to sleep and, at 6, I woke up mad. I had not trained as hard as before. But the rain had stopped, there was a 40-degree temperature, no sun to bother me, and an enthusiastic crowd waiting for the shot. This is it, I said, and joined the 3:20 pacing leader, with a suicidal attitude. My idea was to stay with him as long as I could - 5 or 10 miles, at the most. Then I would maintain an 8-minute-per-mile pace so as not to be caught by the 3:30 group. Since I am a short guy, I fought the wind by running behind tall, heavy-set runners. I was surprised to go faster that the group at the halfway mark. The leader caught me at the final miles and said, "Hi, you've got it." I had run 20 miles in 2 and a half hours! Runners know that in the remaining miles one pays the price. And those were difficult miles, but I was mad, and that madness kept me running to the finish line. I finished 5 minutes behind the 3:20 pacer and 5 minutes ahead of the group I was trying to avoid. Green Bay has a flat course, the weather conditions were perfect, and I was grumpy and that helped. Thanks to all the organizers and spectators. It was very encouraging to receive a water cup form a disabled volunteer. How can I forget Green Bay? | |
C. D. from Clarkston, Michigan
(8/2/2007)
"Great party race, and for good runners too." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great setup - running in Lambeau Field is really cool for a person from the Midwest. Finish line beer and brats - EXCELLENT; pasta dinner - cool, at Lambeau Field; and the Titletown Brewery? Not to miss. Course was easy to run - enough changes to work some different muscles. Lots of company through the 1/2 marathon turn. Enthusiastic spectators even along the bike path. Temps this year were great, and even though it was windy, you only noticed it going across the bridge at mile 16. If it was hotter, more water would be nice, but it was fine this year. I would and have recommended this race to others as the one to do in Wisconsin. I set a PR on the course, so of course I love it (3:38). My husband also set a PR of 3:15 - and I think it was the Titletown Brewery stops that helped!! | |
S. D. from Canada
(6/17/2007)
"runner-a-go!!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 + Stuff: 1) Post-race beer and brats were fantastic; 2) water stations were well supplied; 3) hotel shuttles were prompt and very welcome - no other venue does this that I know of; 4) course's elevation changes are early on, so no sucker punches in the last few miles, even though it does not stand out as scenic. What might be changed: 1) re: train track crossing... what would happen if one came along? 2) T's could be improved to a long-sleeve tech fabric. | |
J. O. from Milwaukee, WI
(6/12/2007)
"Adequate Spring Marathon" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The only thing I have to add that may be different from posts below is that the crowd was quite marginal. I realize it was a cold day to be a spectator, but even the ones that braved the elements were rather docile. If the weather had been better, I would have rated the spectators two stars. The run through Lambeau pushed that rating up to four stars. I do agree that the course is PR material, and that the hills they speak of are quite nominal. | |
S. W. from Springfield, IL
(6/5/2007)
"I'll be back" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 37th marathon and definitely one of the better experiences. Although the crowds were very sparse, probably due to 39-degree weather, they were cheerful. Course was good and because it was mostly in neighborhoods, the 20 mph wind was not a factor. I was looking forward to the mile timing mats and was disappointed they were now every 5 miles. I was very pleased with the number of water stops and GU stations. Other marathons should be so good! And thanks for the "Live Updates" e-mails - my parents were most appreciative. I loved running through Lambeau!!!! Great place to start and finish. The shirts should be better and different for the 5K, half, and marathon. I never thought a brat and beer would taste so good at the finish. | |
D. S. from Dixon, IL
(6/2/2007)
"A very fast course and extremely well organized." (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Green Bay Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my eighth marathon and the first time I qualified for Boston, mainly due to a great pace leader of the 3:30 group. Being able to go into the stadium before and after the race was a huge benefit. Put Green Bay on your list. |
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