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Detroit International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Detroit International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 406 [displaying comments 251 to 261]
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j. b. from Key West, FL
(11/7/2005)
"Awesome Finish But There Is Still A Price To Pay" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Lots has been written about the race course but all the negatives are made up for at the finish. Nothing beats finishing on the 50-yard line at Ford Field. Trust me, Detroit has never seen winners like that on the playing surface. However... climbing the stairs to the concourse area for food and eventual exit was the toughest part of the race. I didn't think I was going to make it... seriously! Now, if you had free beer at the top.... | |
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D. K. from Pa
(11/2/2005)
"Yup Yup Yup. Fun, Unique, Memorable." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My 20th venue. The Extraordinary: Finish ON the Detroit Lions indoor stadium plush grass carpet football field. Best finish place ever. Run into Canada and back. How they ORGANIZED that is beyond me. Heartiest congratulations and thanks. Run across Ambassador Bridge about sunrise? Wow. That's stellar planning there. Belle Isle, Detroit's Island answer to any big city's Central Park, is fantastic. The neighborhoods at 20-22 are pleasant and shady. Logistics on the morning of the race? I drove in from the suburbs, arriving one hour before race time, and parked a block and a half from the start and finish for maybe 5 bucks. Getting my bib? I parked free outside the convention center in a no parking zone where a policeman sat in his car, telling us it was a day of grace. Ummmmmm, (balance your comments, Kienz, else they won't believe you)... Downsides? Detroit is an old city with some old neighborhoods you've got to run through to get to the good stuff. That's just city reality. If you don't like putting up with city stuff, don't go, and certainly don't go and complain that it is a city. If the majority of the course was through nothing neighborhoods (I can think of one like that), say so. But Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Detroit have all done a nice job routing their courses. A solid 'A'. (That football field idea is a winner. The ramp down? According to my western states trail running friends, 'giggle... giggle... giggle'.) | |
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A. S. from Maryland
(10/30/2005)
"Thanks, Detroit!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I cannot believe the whining I'm reading in some of the 2005 comments. I am an out-of-towner, and I thought Detroit was FABULOUS. I parked right next to Comerica Park (and the finish) for $3. The stadiums were lovely in the pre-dawn light. The spectator cheers while coming out of the tunnel back into the US were as moving as any I've experienced, including NY. Belle Isle was STUNNING. I can see why this is the fastest growing marathon! Detroit should be very proud. | |
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M. H. from Michigan
(10/28/2005)
"Exciting and fun!" (about: 2005)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first half-marathon race. Previously I had only run 10K races in my homeland, the Netherlands. I liked the flat course and running across borders. A couple of negative points: walkers were slowing down the pace during the first two miles (let them start in the back!); mile markers were not visible (put them also higher up); start when it is light out (after 8:15 am); the finish in Ford field is not worth the steep decline and the 50-yard sprint (finish outside). All in all, it was a great experience and I will be back! | |
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Steve Delaney from St. John's, Newfoundland
(10/28/2005)
"Lived up to high expectations" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon, and Detroit came recommended for course, size of field, organization, and spectators. In all respects the event lived up to or exceeded my expectations. I have some minor comments for improvements, but otherwise this was an excellent event. The only two minor concerns I had were the spectators milling about in the start area which made it hard for us runners to get into position - perhaps they could be moved back somewhere. And there were a few potholes on the running surface to catch the unwary runner. On the brighter side I found registration easier than expected and very quick - basically seconds. The expo had some amazing deals! Our hotel (Holiday Inn Express) went out of their way to help by opening breakfast early on race-day and providing packages of sliced oranges. The view from the Ambassador Bridge was worth the minor hill we had to climb. Even on the more remote parts of the course there were a few fans and they really did take note of my 'rookie' status. I wondered if I could count on the Gu station but that went smooth. I didn't mind the slope down into the stadium, although some friends did. The finish on the turf was great! The food at the end was fine. I had more than enough to satisfy me. Overall I had a great experience and would definitely recommend Detroit to others. | |
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A. B. from Michigan
(10/28/2005)
"Not up to the hype" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 This was my first Detroit marathon, and I found it unorganized. The course was one of a kind, although we did have to run through several Detroit slums and some burned out areas, but running to Canada and back made up for that. The goodie bag contained incorrect information regarding the start; the expo was a maze and laden with street people. Walkers lined up with the 3-hour marathoners. It was alright. My husband got pan-handled as he tried to make his way around the course. It is just not up to the hype. I would try the Grand Rapids Marathon or the Niagra Marathon for one in the same area and time next year. | |
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K. M. from Cincinnati, OH
(10/27/2005)
"Highly recommended" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I have run this race 3 times and it keeps getting better. The international course is awesome. There are many interesting landmarks to keep your interest... Comerica Park, Ambassador Bridge, Detroit-Windsor tunnel, Belle Isle, Indian Village, and Ford Field. Yes, the entry to Ford Field is quite steep, but running onto the field is worth it. The crowd support was good right up to the entry to Ford Field, but by then it was not needed. The finisher's medal was among the best I have received. You do have to walk upstairs to exit the field, but that pain is minimal compared to running the race. Despite its positives, there are areas that could be improved that would truly make this race an elite event. 1. Pre-race information, i.e. baggage check, signage, water, etc. 2. Post-race food 3. Offer more and better quality race souvenirs at the expo. 4. Better organization at the start of the race. Walkers were lining up with the runners, rather than at the back of the pack. In all, I would highly recommend this race. | |
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E. W. from Holland, MI
(10/27/2005)
"Good course. Friendly people. Cool finish." (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The MLB all-star game and Superbowl XL preparations seem to have really helped the city. Everyone we dealt with was VERY helpful and friendly. The course goes through some ugly areas, but that is only because the city is still trying to rebuild itself. They are on the right track. The course is flat. The only hill is crossing the Ambassador Bridge. The medal is cool. I loved finishing on Ford Field. I would highly recommend this for runners who don't need Chicago's million spectators. | |
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D. S. from Heart of Dixie
(10/27/2005)
"Well heck I enjoyed it... including the descent..." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 ...onto Ford Field. I had already read about it, so my wife & I were prepared; thought it was non-event & that Ford Field was cool. Expo: didn't care for winding around through it, but understand it. My wife's shirt had a small hole in it, went back the next day & swapped it, no problem. Bag check was a little chaotic, but it's been that way at almost every race I've done.... Loved Ford Field; the finish; and yes the aid station @ 21 was understaffed, but that one volunteer was working his tail off! No biggie as there were PLENTY of aid stations before & after, no real room to gripe. Only complaint was the POOR (awful, lacking, cheap) post-race selection of food.... Walked a few blocks and had beer(s) and a burger; but the post-race 'spread' was awful. Is that the best Whole Foods has got to offer? If so, I hope they NEVER come to the South. Kudo's to the organizers.... We traveled to Detroit, stayed downtown, rode the People Mover, walked to the start - from the finish. We planned a little and had a great day.... Oh yeah, I'm glad your weathermen are as off base as ours. Great day and very good event! | |
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P. H. from Gaylord, MI
(10/27/2005)
"A Hidden Gem" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The Free Press Marathon continues to grow despite being sandwiched between Chicago and New York and Marine Corps. The course is unique and Doug Curtis continues to tweak it for the runners. I last ran it in 2002 and this course is even better. Although the race is growing rapidly the organization was very good. The only pre-race issues I had was there could have been more information regarding bag drop and parking around the start. The biggest post-race I had was the food, which the half-marathoners got first dibs on and was fairly picked over by the time the marathoners got through. That being said, Detroit is committed to improvement and nobody could argue that the course wasn't faaaaast, unique, and the weather was grrrreat. |
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