Latest reviews by Eric

(2016)
"Nice race along Lake Michigan"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

The Wisconsin Marathon is a mostly flat course essentially consisting of an out and back to the north of the start/finish area and then another out and back to the south. With the right weather, I think you'd have a good chance of a PR. That wasn't the case this year. The temperature was mid-50's, but we had sustained 20+ mph from the north throughout the race, which made for a fun middle stretch, but a VERY tough final 7 miles.

Pros -- Opportunities to pick up your bib in either Chicago or Milwaukee on specified days in advance of race weekend. This didn't help me, but the expo was very efficient and had plenty of parking on site. A scenic course through some nice neighborhoods and along Lake Michigan. Volunteers were very helpful and plentiful. I felt sorry for the ones trying to clean up all of the cups as the wind blew them everywhere! A nice finish area. The wind made things pretty cold if you just sat around and the Half runners had long left by the time I got there, so it wasn't very busy. They had a band playing and a covered area to get food and sit in. Just past the finish line we could get water, bananas, cheese, and bagels. A brat, beer and chocolate milk were also available. I didn't leave hungry. We arrived at the race about 50 minutes before the start and found parking within 6 blocks of the start. Plenty of porta-potties, but a few more garbage cans and a water station would have been good.

Cons -- as mentioned by others, once the Half runners head for home at mile 12, the course gets a little lonely. We did have some fans out during the back half,but not nearly as many. Since the weather was good, the number of aid stations, 13, was plenty. But on a warm day a few more would have been good. There might have been a chance to take advantage of the out and back nature of the course to have more aid stations perform double duty. The medal we received for the Full was fine, but those running the Half got the same medal. Only the ribbon was different. I think the Full deserves a bigger medal.

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(2016)
"Great Course!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Full disclosure -- I was able to run this as part of Team TCS, so race-day logistics were greatly simplified for me. Bag check, getting to the start, and leaving the finish area were all expedited. Expo was surprisingly small. I expected more vendors and some race booths. The flight attendant-themed greeting was fun though and everything was well-organized.

The course was amazing. Running a lap through Central Park was fun, but a bit crowded. The hills were a bit challenging, but added some nice variety. Things spread out some once we hit 7th Avenue and running through Times Square was a real treat. I enjoyed watching the Freedom Tower get closer and closer as we went down the West Highway and I thought going through the tunnel was a nice treat too. Well worth running if you get a chance.

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(2016)
"Fun Race and Post-Race"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

My group stayed at downtown hotel, so the expo and start/finish area were both in walking distance. Expo was very well-organized, with lots of vendors and race booths. However it would have been nice if it had stayed open later than 7 PM on Friday. Although no issue for my group, out-of-towners running on Saturday might have had trouble getting there in time.

I hope they add pacing signs at the starting line for the 5K/Quarter. As others have mentioned, it was a bit of a free-for-all and getting loose from the crowds was tough for the first half mile. Not as much of an issue for the Half/Full, since the pacers gave everyone a good idea where to line up. The course was very nice -- going through the LSU campus and the surrounding lakes was fun, although the back half wasn't quite as interesting. Plenty of aid stations and in some neighborhoods there were people out with bananas and water, which was nice. Lots of characters out on the course. Grandmas offered us doughnuts and I saw Elvis on a Cadillac.

Great post-race both days. Probably the best I've attended. We received a punch bracelet, but few of the food vendors actually punched them! If Cajun food didn't agree with your stomach, they had plenty of bananas and other gentle items. Great bands too.

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(2015)
"Great mid-sized race, mostly downhill"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This is a very well-run race. The race director provides very detailed, VERY funny emails to keep everyone informed. Expo was well-run and easy to get to. Free race posters and and several vendors.

Race day was perfectly executed. this is a point-to-point race, with buses provided from finish to start. Plenty of volunteers to guide us to the buses and we had essentially no wait. Once at the start, we had plenty of porta-potties and we could hang out in the high school gym to stay warm until just before the start. Volunteers held up paces to help us get lined up properly. Very little early congestion and then smooth sailing the rest of the way. The route passes through many small towns and all of them came out to cheer us on. We even got to run under a fire truck arch! It was easy for spectators to follow their runners. I know I saw the same fans several times.

Course was very nice.Fall colors were full ablaze and the first 20 miles were essentially all downhill. Last 10K had 3 significant hills though. My quads were BURNING - just like the race director warned! Very supportive crowd through that part! Some of the second Half was on a new rail trail along a river. Some dirt trail -- maybe a mile.

Post race spread was great. Home-made soups and pasta. Cookies, chocolate milk, pizza, fruit. Lots of space to hang out on the courthouse square. Great race. highly recommend it.

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