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Lakeshore Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Lakeshore Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.5 
Organization 1.8 
Spectators 2.7
Number of comments: 209 [displaying comments 121 to 131]
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K. L. from Denver, CO
(6/3/2004)
"Disorganized, few volunteers; beautiful setting" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 (I ran the 1/2 marathon but I think my comments represent both races.) I have never seen a less organized race in my life. The evening before the race I asked a staff person how the waves would be organized. He indicated, 'Don't worry, it will be very clear at the starting line.' It wasn't - there were no signs, no corrals, no instructions. There were no event staff in the starting area to assist. Fast runners were fighting through slow runners - a danger to both. More importantly, the signage on the course was very lacking. Many people got lost - at one point I saw runners coming at me from three directions on the return! Given the very circuitous route, good signage with volunteers at intersections was necessary but lacking. Most seriously, there we no medical stations, and water stations were understaffed or completely unstaffed. (Note I used the term 'water stations' - few if any had anything but water). Many of the stations ran out of water very early on, which is inexcusable for such a small race. (When you're the 35,000th runner at the Chicago Marathon, that's more understandable). The disorganization made for both a disappointing race and a very hazardous situation. I hope they get their act together, learn from other races, and also recruit more volunteers. Until then, skip this race - the beautiful course is not worth the danger of a poorly organized event. | |
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K. L. from Iowa
(6/3/2004)
"Still has issues, but hot, horrible" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This race has a long way to go before being a premier race. It was disorganized compared to a lot of other races I've been to. People got lost on the course. About half the water stations were either out of water, cups and one station had cups and water but no volunteers. Runners were filling cups themselves. The corrals don't really exist and, as other comments have mentioned, the course is confusing enough where people got lost. Having only one person guide traffic as the marathoners and half-marathoners split is just a bad idea. The biggest problem overall was there wasn?t enough volunteers. The ones they did have were working their butts off though. This is its third year and they don't have that right yet. Several miles were not marked, or the markers where gone before I got there. No medical help on the course as I needed it in miles 23?25. I would have dropped out from dehydration had there been someone there who knew how to help me. It?s an okay race if you want it to be like a long training session but when I?m paying money, I want the details done right. I should not have to be using water fountains, in order to make it back to the finish. The course isn?t as good as I thought it would be either. I?m going to stick with the Chicago Marathon and I?ll do Grandma?s in the spring instead. | |
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T. G. from Scott Depot, WV
(6/3/2004)
"Could be better" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I just finished the Lakeshore Marathon 2004 a couple of days ago, and I must say that the course was pretty good. It was my first Lakeshore Marathon after running two other marathons. The number of entrants, from what I've been told is getting bigger and bigger, but I did not see a problem. Running the race in waves is a prett smart idea. There were bicyclists and other runners toward the end, but I never felt they hindered my speed. The cops who were controlling traffic were great -- they always stopped traffic for a runner to get through. They had power gel at 12 mile, but I didn't see any at 20 mile as there was supposed to be. I felt there were not many water stops (about ten) and the porta-potties were non-existent on the course. The last water stop that I could remember was mile 20. Also, the course was at times confusing but they did not have all the mile markers up. After running it, if you feel you need plenty of water, I would bring some on the race, I noticed more than usual did that during this race. The course is worth it but you should know what you are getting into. | |
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John Coleman from LaGrange, IL
(6/2/2004)
"Nice race, but still need to work things out" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This event has come a long way from what is described in the first year. I enjoyed the event and would run again (it is a beautiful course and everyone is very nice), but there is plenty of room for improvement. Most of these comments come down to better organization and more volunteers. From a runners view: Clear mile markers at every mile and times at every mile are still lacking. Not all water stations are manned. If you say there will be gel at 20M, you should have it. Mark the course better and have people guide you (especially when there are detours for rain). Do something about the bicycles (they had LSD all to themselves the day before). Maybe cut back, get the marathon right before complicating things with the 1/2 and 5k. Measure the course... anyone else think the first half was longer than the second? From a fan's view: Provide maps with mile markers and parking options. Organize the race start so fans know what's going on. If you are going to charge $14 to park in Lot C, at least allow for in/out privileges and have attendants present to direct you to where the race start is located. Get a faster server, and have all this information easily accessable on the internet. Also, put all this stuff in the packet, you shouldn't have to ask for a map and directions to the start. Nice idea with the voicelink, but it didn't work. From a hotel guest's view: $23 to park and no in/out privileges is a lousy deal. Provide information about where you can eat race morning in the packet (the restaurant and coffee shop were scheduled to open after the race started). Provide a map (show the path) to show how to get from the hotel to the start of the race. | |
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J. T. from Chicago, Ilinois
(6/2/2004)
"My First Marathon... A Good One!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Chicago's Lake Michigan paths and lakefront parks make this course a beautiful mix of cityscape, lake, trees, and shoreline. I'm sorry that others seemed to have had a bad time of it with course misdirections and so on, but as far as the marathon went, it seemed well-marked. The massages at race's end were very very odd... and it turns out it was the Church of Scientology doing them. I don't want someone tuning my aura or whatever; I want a deep muscle massage or I wanna be left alone! But other than that, I give the Lakeshore a thumbs-up and hope to return again next year. | |
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R. R. from Kansas
(6/2/2004)
"If you are slower it was awful" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This was my 3rd marathon. I don't know what the people that ran in 3 or 4 hours had, but us 5-hour people had hardly nothing. We found drinking fountains or we would have been in trouble. I'm sure Chicago appreciated 1500 people using their park as a bathroom due to no porta-potties or well marked public bathrooms. We came from out of town and paid more for this than the Chicago Marathon, and really got less than adequate support. Also we stored our gear and couldn't get it back. And there was absolutely no food at the end so we walked the 3/4 miles to our room to get money (it was with our gear) so we could eat something. The only thing this marathon has going for it is the absolutly stunning route. Everything else was a bust. It could have been very dangerous had the temp been 10 degrees warmer.The only thing this marathon has going for it is the absolutly stunning route. Everything else was a bust. It could have been very dangerous had the temp been 10 degrees warmer. | |
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A. H. from Somerville, MA
(6/2/2004)
"Organization was Lacking" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 The race organization was poor. There was no sports drink (we were promised Amino-Vital) and no restroom facilities of any kind in the first several miles of the race. I even passed an unmanned water station. Another reviewer commented on race volunteers sending runners the wrong way; I observed this as well. And there was confusion at the start due to poor amplification; most runners were too far back to hear the announcements telling those with seeded bib numbers to come to the front. For me, the lack of any restroom was decisive, and I was forced to drop out after 7 miles or so. Thus, I don't know if either sports drink or port-a-johns appeared later on. But I don't think it matters much. Services need to be available where runners need them. This is all a real shame, because the course is beautiful. And the growth in entries from year to year suggests strong interest in a lakefront marathon in late May. This marathon is a good concept, but it charges a big marathon price, and it needs to deliver the goods in terms of organization and runner support. | |
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K. M. from Massachusetts
(6/2/2004)
"Beautiful Run with Limited Support/Supplies" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon and although the run was extremely scenic, the organization was not what I would have expected. I was in the last third of the entire 'pack' of runners. I ran alone most of the time and almost got lost several times. The water stations ran out of cups in many places, so guzzling out of jugs was the way to rehydrate. Then about 3-4 miles from the finish, they had NO WATER & I was told to 'find the water fountain on the other side of the river'... doesn't make my spirit soar knowing that there isn't even water ready for me when I need it - especially when it's at mile 22!! I feel as though I should have brought more supplies but after doing a half marathon in Boston I felt the support would be just as good - boy was I wrong! The spectators I saw along the route really helped, but they were minimal. The police were great with the traffic. I heard of many stories of people getting lost and not having enough supplies. I didn't get any 'Carb Boom' until mile 9ish - markers were not easy to find - especially after mile 8 so who knows where I was. My husband signed up to get calls on the cell to track me & come find me to cheer me on...but that didn't work since the 1st call was an hour AFTER I passed that point (6 miles?) - so how's he supposed to know where I am if it takes that long to contact him!? According to that system I'm still running the marathon! But - I did it! :) | |
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J. E. from Central Illinois
(6/2/2004)
"Fun course and race with a few kinks" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Lakeshore Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my 11th marathon and I really enjoyed the course and the whole experience. The skyline is amazing, the parks are beautiful, and the Lake Michigan is a nice diversion. There were not a lot of spectators but those present were great. The other runners and cyclists never got in my way but you need to pay attention. Some suggestions would be better organization/directions on the course particularly for the half marathoners, a pre-event map with mile markers and aid stations clearly marked so runners can plan ahead, better mile markers, different sport drink (was not impressed with Amino Vital) and actual corrals for the start or at least estimated finish-time signs as markers where to line up at at the start. Overall, this marathon felt more like a long training run (which is not a bad thing). I'd recommend this marathon with the understanding that you may get off course and you will be running with other non-event runners and cyclists. | |
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K. R. from chicago
(6/2/2004)
"Poorly Managed Race" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 As a seasoned runner who has run several marathons and numerous road races, I was completely shocked by the Lakeshore Marathon (Half-Marathon) debacle. As a spectator, I was watching my sister compete in the half-marathon and saw the whole ordeal unfold at North Avenue where there were very few race officials directing runners. The volunteers who were there had a hard time differentiating and directing half versus full-marathon participants. The half-marathoners were sent off-course to follow along the full marathon path. This resulted in many lead runners running several miles longer than intended. There was mass chaos and it was a ridiculous mess! The course staff support was very poorly managed leading to many race disappointments. |
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