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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 51 to 61]
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P. H. from Metamora, MI
(10/19/2011)
"Get me out of this tunnel" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon so I have nothing to compare it to but I know for certain that two of the mile markers were incorrect. That's pretty frustrating. The pacers were a joke. I finished in 4:44 ahead of the 'pacer' whose pace was to finish at 4:30! The spectators were enthusiatic in parts of the course but completely absent on many areas of it. The medal and jersey are both nice enough. The course was super easy, no hills to speak of, a good first time course. The run over the bridge was great but it was hot and claustrophobic through the tunnel. And people on their cell phones...that was hilarious. You can't be away from your phone for 4 hours...pretty pitiful!! All in all it was nice run, the weather held out which made for a great day. | |
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Steve King from New Albany, IN
(10/17/2011)
"Great run!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course, packet pickup, and medal couldn't have been better. The organization only got 4 out of 5 stars because I was sent to Canadian Immigrations due to a question about my name. (There are only a billion-gazillion of us - Steve Kings in the world!) Even though they had a table reserved for Canadian Immigration - The Canadians didn't show up! That meant I had to go back to the hotel, get my car, pay a $4 toll to go across the river to the immigrations office, sit while the bureaucracy ran its course, then get a one-line letter clearing me to run. After paying another $4 toll to get back into the US, I made it to the packet pick-up line with just minutes to spare. I felt like I had already ran a race before the race began. I'm sure it wasn't the fault of the organizers that the Canadian Immigrations officials didn't man their own table, but what a waste of time, and a lot of needless stress was expended because of the Canada no-show. There were a few spectators, but enough to make you feel welcome. And with the name printed on the bib, it was great to have the spectators shout encouragement personally to you. Signs of the economies affect on Detroit were evident, but the city cleaned up nicely and put on a 'good face.' The finishers medal was worth the effort. Wow, what a beautiful piece that I love to show off! The volunteers were friendly and hard workers. They showed a real pride in what they were doing, and presented Detroit in a wonderful manner. | |
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P. B. from Ann Arbor, Michigan
(10/17/2011)
"Amazing race!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Detroit Marathon is an amazing race. It's been 7 years since I've run a marathon and 12 years since I've run Detroit. Wow is all I can say. The course is fabulous and weaves through many different neighborhoods. Spectators, while probably not as great as three other larger US events, was really great for Detroit and getting better. Keep it up, D-troit. | |
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B. J. from Chicago, IL
(10/17/2011)
"Pleasant Surprise!!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have heard many comment about the city of Detroit; say what you will but they put on a good marathon. The course was pretty fast; (ran a PR), the race was well organized and the fans that came out were great. The fans were a little thin but the Lions were playing (5-0 record this year). I did not care for the tunnel coming back from Windsor as it got pretty hot. But the weather was perfect; overcast, 50 degrees and a couple of sprinkles. Could not have asked for a better day. If you have not done a MI marathon, give Detroit a try. | |
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J. L. from Duluth, Minnesota 55803
(10/16/2011)
"Detroit is tops." (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my 3rd Detroit, and I've never looked back. I love the variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds the participants bring to the race. Despite Detroit's size, this feels like a smaller city race like Duluth, where the locals know each other. We see all of what Detroit-Windsor has to offer, from the upscale Indian Village to the vacant houses. The medals and shirts are great, I'm just disappointed we can't order 1-2 extra shirts so we can use one for working out, and one for memories. I'll be back in 2012! | |
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P. H. from Metamora, MI
(10/16/2011)
"Mile markers mismarked" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon. Although I had read many negative reviews I decided to run my first close to home. The most amazing part was the mismarked mile markers. I also thought it was weird that there were no posted split times. Lastly, the pace leaders were a joke. I passed the 4 hour 30 minute pacer at about mile 20 and I finished at 4 hours 44 minutes and she finished well after me. Isn't a pace team supposed to help runners stay on pace??? I followed the pace leader for my team for the first 13 miles and realized there was no way I would finish at my projected pace if I continued to follow her and I was correct. I suggest to the organizers to ditch the idea of pace leaders since these runners are not experienced enough. Spectators were great in Canada, Cork Town, Indian Village and sporadically throughout the course. | |
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A. M. from Michigan
(12/30/2010)
"Too crowded" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my fifth year running this race (half marathon), and likely my last. Every year there has been a cluster at the bridge. Even with the wave start there are too many people for this tight point in the course. The post-race food is pathetic - and has been every year. Everyone had a bruised banana and there was no other real food. The people in the finish area were very rude about pushing you to the back of the very large finisher's corral. Shirts: I was fortunate to be able to get my shirt. But they ran out of shirts, many people did not get one, and they won't reorder. | |
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D. W. from Longview Texas
(12/24/2010)
"Border Blues Not Cool" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My favorites on the course were running over the international bridge (though it was crowded), running under the river, and running around the cool island. I had a great experience. Not a LOT of spectators, but there were some. And those who were there were great. I had a good time. Thanks, Detroit. Aside from the extra $200 I had to pay to enter Canada (because of a past DUI), I had a great experience. | |
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M. M. from Mantua, OH
(11/22/2010)
"Choose another race for this weekend" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Detroit International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Pros: * Running into Canada through tunnel and Ambassador Bridge - truly good experiences. * Staggered start based on estimated times. CONS: * No timing on the course - hard to know your mile splits without a watch. * Dirty city. * Parking was difficult. * Fan support was sparse in places. If you want to run this, do it once for the Canadian crossings. | |
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K. R. from Chicago
(11/18/2010)
"fun course; un-intimidating, big-city marathon" (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Detroit International Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Pros: * medal * shirt * expo * great gear * running over the bridge and back through the tunnel * waterfront course * crossing into Canada is fun for some reason * couple of houses in Indian Village had beer stops... awesome! * the 1/2 marathon runs entirely with with the full course, which is great if you're running the full and your friend is running the half or vice versa Cons: * Inconsistant mile markers - this is pretty maddening even if you're with the pacer. I'd say only about half the course had mile markers. * Crowd support is overall kind of weak considering this is a major city marathon. Many of the bands weren't even set up by the time I went by, and I only ran a 3:29! * Couple of the toughest (albeit brief) uphill climbs were within view of the finish line, which is kind of a buzzkill. Recommendations: * run the course by the stadiums and not through the lifeless, downtrodden area. * mile markers!!!!! |
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