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Bayshore Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Bayshore Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 247 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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M. B. from Hudsonville MI
(6/2/2011)
"Great Race" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Bayshore Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is great I and will do it every year if possible. Great course, great city. The only negitive i have is it would be nice to line up people by pace at the beginning to help keep people from tripping over one another. | |
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T. D. from Denver, CO
(6/1/2011)
"Good low key event." (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Bayshore Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my sixth marathon and based upon previous comments I decided to use this as a great excuse to get out of town for the long weekend. The course is beautiful but I do think it should be noted that it is not as fast and flat as I assumed it would be. I read all of the comments here at mg.com and other race reports and had this idea in my head that this was a wicked fast course. It does have rollers and my legs were trashed by the end. If I had to do it all over I would have trained on my hills before this race. Denver might be at higher altitude but it is pretty flat unless you hit the suburbs or foothills to train. The spectators and volunteers were really friendly. The aid stations seemed to be a tad off on spacing but they were well stocked and easy to navigate through. Staying at the Cambria Suites is the way to go as the race packet pickup and start was a quick walk from the hotel. Traverse City is also gorgeous and the locals were very friendly for the entire span of our trip. I'd definitely recommend this race to others but just keep in mind that this course isn't pancake flat. Miles 7-19 were the worst for me. I did BQ and PR but it was very hard fought. | |
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Kevin Machuga from Michigan
(5/31/2011)
"Good race overall, but a few caveats." (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Bayshore Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 The previous reviews are overflowing with positive comments about the race, most of which are true. Having done it the last 3 or 4 years, I will just mention a few things that you should be aware of, especially fellow penguins (4.5 hr plus runners) who are considering this race. 1- Weather is totally hit or miss this time of year and in this area. I've run it in perfect marathon conditions, extreme heat, and cold and rainy (thanks to 2011). Be prepared for anything, right up until the time the race starts. (also, my g/f did not get her dropped stuff from 2010, so don't wear anything too expensive). 2- There seems to be a lot of debate about whether it has hills. That's a tricky question. Hills in the traditional sense? Not really, just a few small ones. However, the whole course seems to be on one giant hill and titled to one side,which will absolutely take it's toll over 26 miles and is nearly impossible to train for. Fight for every inch of flat pavement you can find, your lower half will thank you. 3- My biggest complaint- things start shutting down too early. WAY too early. This race bills itself as beginner friendly, but every year, even you finish at much after 4.5 hrs (vast majority of runners are between 4hr and 5hr), the tented area looks like a ghost town, and the some of the stations were deserted too. That's lame. 4- This year, for whatever reason, they decided to close the roads and shuttle people to the spectator areas, which I heard was a disaster. And the shuttles stopped at 10:30 and left people stranded. Are you kidding? And what percentage of racers are done in 3:30 hours? Maybe 10-20 percent. Come on. 5- The crowd support you get from the locals is great, and there are few areas along the course where it's decent, but it's really barren in a few areas. It's a smaller race, which is one of the reasons I like it. I'm not really complaining, just relaying that this might not be the best course to get pumped up by the crowd or have large amounts of family. 6- It's technically not a closed course. Very little car traffic in the morning, but again.. if you're a 4.5+ runner, beware...you will do some car dodging and may end up running on a shoulder with cars zooming by at 45mph. Overall, I still recommend this race. Great city, beautiful course, great volunteers...but 2011 seemed like a leap backwards in terms of organization in too many ways to list. | |
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K. W. from Albuquerque, NM
(5/31/2011)
"The BEST hassle-free scenic marathon in the US" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bayshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The BEST marathon means different things to different people. I vote Bayshore as the BEST hassle free marathon in the country and one of the most scenic. Having run nearly 40 marathons competitively over 25 years (I won the 55-59 age group this year in 2:56) I think I know a thing or two about what makes a good marathon and enjoy sharing my thoughts afterwards with other serious runners deciding on a quality destination marathon. After all, when you train hard for two marathons a year you want your travel and race experience to be the most enjoyable it can be. Bayshore is a small community-run marathon with a BIG heart. Course is out and back, traffic-free and extremely scenic (one of the BEST) (not very hilly but not flat either), organization is wonderful, spectators are friendly and enthusiastic and the ease of getting to and from the packet pickup (in a HS gym) and start/finish (same place) is simple. No buses to take to the marathon start and no traffic to get stuck in (our hotel was 2 blocks from the start and finish with a sane 7am start). Ammenities and things to do and see before and after are plentiful. The area is beautiful. (Being from the desert, if I could afford a vacation home on the lake, this would be the place; its that pretty)...My only race criticism (and I wish race directors would address this issue) is the same for many marathons that have a companion half: While Bayshore has a commendable separate marathon start, you still crash into the throngs of pedestrian halfers (who start at the halfway out and back point) over the last 10 to 20K of the course. While I understand races need the half and the pedestrians to keep the numbers up and the event viable (and they certainly belong there), The truth is most of them don't understand running etiquette and make no attempt to get out of the way. I estimate I added 5 to 10 seconds per mile weaving in and out of the halfers over the last 10K. I had to come to a complete stop while in full sprint mode upon entering the track finish not to run into 3-4 halfers abreast. My advice is simple: 1) cone off a lane the last 10K for the marathoners to have clear unimpeded passage; 2) have a separate finish lane/chute for the marathoners (Bayshore could have the marathoners finish on one side of the track, the halfers on the other). Easy fix that many marathons could implement. Other than that, if you're looking for a relatively small, friendly, hassle-free scenic spring destination marathon, Bayshore is the BEST one I've found so far. | |
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M. C. from Michigan
(5/31/2011)
"Beautiful course...would do it again." (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Bayshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Overall this was a great event. The course is spectacular, flat, and cool as you run along East Grand Traverse Bay nearly the entire way. This was my first marathon and the only negative I have about this race is that the Pre-race communication is terrible and not at all motivating. I thought some of the comments in their email newsletter were even rude and they seemed unwilling to accommodate runners requests. While this was my first full marathon, I've done several half marathons and love races that inspire and motivate the runners before the event. In my opinion it's part of the entire experience that makes running marathons so special. With that said however, I have very little to say that's negative about the course. It was well marked and it is great to see the half marathoners and the fast full marathoners coming back in. I would do it again for sure. | |
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S. M. from Michigan
(5/30/2011)
"Money not going to the race." (about: 2011)
First Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 This marathon has gotten great reviews. I think the course and medal socks and shirt are what we pay for. Otherwise everything else is pretty bad. First off the expo was small. And all i got in my bag were 3 pins instead of 4. Then i just get a shirt and socks. The parking is a nightmare getting in and out for the race morning and after. There should be people directing cars to spots. And filling the parking lot out that way. There should be a police officer after the race letting traffic out because it was horrible sitting in a car after a marathon for that long. Next the race itself. Not enough bathrooms. I mean 5-10min wait for bathrooms is understandable. But 20mins, that's outrageous. And the worst of it all, the marathon starts without any call of 1min or 2mins left. It was 5mins until race time and a call was made but the bathroom line was so long, and then the gun goes off. Finishing up theres just too many half marathon walkers walking 5 or 6 abreast that makes it really hard weave in and out of traffic after much of the race is traffic free. Also getting done you expect good food, but really just salty baked goods, bananas, oranges and ice cream when its freezing out. I could only have a couple bites before i was too cold. I know it wouldve been great if weather cooperated, but maybe they could've sprang up some hot chocolate really quick since it was at the school. The course is somewhat flat, but pancake flat is far from it. The cambered roads kill the knees. | |
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Chris Burnside from Essexville, Mi
(5/30/2011)
"First time marathon" (about: 2011)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and it could not have been a better experience as far as the organization, the residents, and even the support of other runners. Aside from being under trained, I was able to finish. I didn't have to crawl across the line either. I actually sprinted. Thank you to all that make this marathon possible. You are all doing a great job. | |
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T. K. from Chicago, IL
(5/28/2011)
"Great small race" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bayshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a really great, small race on a beautiful out-and-back course. While the course in not pancake flat the small rollers pose no real problems (and I am from Chicago). It is a rural course, so if you are accustomed to constant crowd noise, you may notice the silence. This is a very nice, little town so stick around for a day if you have the time to spare. I stayed at the Cambria, which is a very nice, new hotel a whopping 3-minute walk from the start. | |
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M. R. from Oklahoma
(10/20/2010)
"The BEST small marathon, hands down!" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Bayshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Out-and-back course along the shore of Lake Michigan for all but a few miles. Gorgeous views, and a flat, excellent course. This race is put on basically by the track/running club with a big sponsor being the bank. The people are super friendly and accommodating. Pasta dinner was fun and easy to get to with very nice volunteers. The medals are big, beautiful, and abundant in that they awarded through 5th place in 5-year age groups. At the finish they had ICE CREAM and it was delicious. All in all, it was everything I had expected and more. The only possible downside is that there are not crowds of cheering people along the course. I didn't go there for that, so it was just a wonderful experience all the way. | |
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T. K. from Iowa
(7/3/2010)
"What Grandma's purports to be." (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bayshore Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Having run close to 30 marathons, this race is definitely in the top three. If you want a race where you can run fast, enjoy the scenery, and not break the bank, then this is it. If you need a large crowd, with a mega expo, and expensive hotels/restaurants, then go elsewhere. Read what Grandma's says about itself (which is an exaggeration) and you would think they are talking about Bayshore. Expo is small, but so is the race. They had everything I needed with very little hassle. The pasta dinner in the school cafeteria was OK, but it had the best homemade desserts I have ever eaten, and for the price it cannot be beat. The course truly has lake views and a few rolling hills, but just enough to stretch the legs. A PR is very possible. After-race food and drink were far above the standard. (I ran NYC in November and was handed a dry bagel and soft apple.) There's a lot of family entertainment in the area so bring them along as they will not be bored. Fifty-Staters and Maniacs, put this race on your list and you will not be disappointed. Race officials keep, the size limited and the hotels in check with the pricing, and you will be around for a long time. I will be coming back to do the half to take a crack at my personal record. |
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