This was my first Grandma’s Marathon. I was brought into it by a group of friends that have run it year after year and love the event. The expo was good, very crowded, but nice vendor variety. The bus ride to the start was super convenient and efficient.

The weather for the day was the biggest confusion of the whole event with rain and thunderstorms predicted for the day. The frustration was that we could find very little on the race website or in the packet information to tell us how they would handle it or announce it. The concern was lightening and how they might call the race and what we as runners should be prepared for.

I do not mind running in the rain, and it did! Pre-race was full on rain, that slowed to sprinkles and mist until about mile 15. The sun did peak out a few times, but otherwise the event was nice cool and crisp weather - and no lightening.

The course: While they call it a “flat course” and talk about one notable hill (Lemon Drop Hill), the other reviews I had read said to not be deceived by that description as there were “rolling hills” along the course. Reality: there were gentle rolling hills the entire course. Nothing steep or difficult, but continuous. And much of the time it felt like there was never a down hill to match the up hill you had just finished. The smell of pines, the beautiful scenery, the cabins and houses along the course were all wonderful. The second half of the course had more crowd support and once you were back in Duluth, the crowd was thick! Water stops were frequent and well run and well staffed. It's a big race so there were always lots of runners around you.

Overall this event was great! Definitely a destination event, and you must plan to spend two nights in Duluth so you can take in the party that night. Who knew my exhausted marathon legs could dance for three hours at the post-race party that night. Two cover bands played under the big tent. Music was great. So much fun. Several people I know who were there for the marathon made the drive home that afternoon...don’t do it! They missed out on half of the fun.

I will definitely run this event next year. Great organization, well run, even with lots of rolling gently hills, it is a great course.

Dam to Dam is an Iowa Legend, but 2014 was my first year running it. It is a point-to-point race with buses to the start. The race begins at Saylorville Lake, running across the dam and is all downhill for the first mile and then flat for about the next four. Mile 7 (Morningstar Hill) is a large, long hill, but the spectators and row of flags provide a nice distraction. Crowd support was pretty good from this point in the route to the finish. The overall course has a lot of variety in scenery and there are lots of runners on course. Finish is downtown Des Moines and was set up well.
- When you stop by the Expo for packet pick up - show up hungry! There was a lot of food! The Brooks running socks were a great perk. Race shirt was very nice quality.
- My prime complaint was the weather. (yes, I know that cannot be controlled). 2014's race was the warmest day yet that year and the humidity level was sky high. It made my run miserable, as my body was not prepared. Given that, I do plan to run it again this year, as I know that weather is always changing and not likely to be the same as 2014 (please no!) Dam to Dam is an Iowa tradition that all runners should have on their "must" list.
www.damtodam.com