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Latest reviews by Megan
Megan recommends this race
(2016)
"First Marathon"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Race director did a great job of communicating via social media, email, and website prior to the event. Answered all questions.
Even though we only live an hour away, we stayed at the Ramada in Toledo. It's okay. Not great, especially for the price. Might stay somewhere else next time, but this was the closest to the starting line. However, considering the fact that you still have to drive to the starting line and restaurants to eat and grocery stores, it doesn't really matter.
Nice little college part of the city to do a shakeout run in. We drove to the starting line and ran the first couple of miles of the course.
Expo was great. 4/5 because I've been to some awesome expos. The race shirts they give you are awesome, and I already had an in training shirt, so I didn't need to buy more.
Swag bag was awesome. This was the 40th anniversary of the marathon, so it may have been different than usual. Marathoners got a race tech shirt AND a race cotton t shirt, race socks, and a race magnet! First time marathoners got a REALLY solid, first-timer race zipper pull! My husband ran the half marathon and got the standard bag. Nice race tech shirt for 13.1, too.
Great race deals at local restaurants. I think we got 20% off dinner the night before because we said we were with the race. This applied at a lot of local restaurants.
THE RACE
Parking was atrocious, and we got there early. Post-race communication says they're aware and apologized and they're going to fix it. At least it was pretty close to the starting line.
Not enough porta potties, but that's always the case. Still, it made for a really hectic start.
Very sweet starting line. Nice national anthem singer, and a fly-over! Not too crowded.
The course is mostly beautiful. College areas, cute neighborhoods, a big park, and some more urban areas. It gets boring at the worst part, though. The last 6 miles or so are on a bike path (?) that parallels a road. Pretty desolate at the worst time mentally. But awesome finish chute with lots of energy. Key point here: The course is NOT flat. It's mostly flat, but every person I know who ran did NOT think it was flat. When you've got a course marshall yelling, "Last hill!" when you're headed to the finish chute, you know it's not flat.
TONS of crowd support along the way. I mean TONS. They REALLY are proud of this race and they get the whole town out there to support their runners. Great aid stations. NO ONE sitting on their butts. Everyone was cheering, calling your name, handing you whatever you needed. I had at least one guy make very sure I was doing okay when I looked pretty ragged towards the end. His encouragement was definitely needed.
They do a post-race party RIGHT! Awesome food. Great variety and quantity. I heard the beer was good. The medals are SOLID. Both 26.2 and 13.1. And you get a finisher mug because Toledo is GLASS CITY (http://glasscitymarathon.org/glass-city-marathon-race-info/). They send a really awesome finisher book in July, too.
Medical tent was top notch. My legs were trashed to the point I was in tears. I just needed to lay down and get ice on them. They did a great job with vitals and supervision, but also just gave me the space I needed and let my husband and a few friends stay with me.
I definitely recommend!
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Megan recommends this race
(2016)
"Awesome smaller half marathon"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
An extremely well-executed race. Easy to pick up packets locally. Expo, but I've never gone. Race starf communicates ALL details through emails, the website, and social media in a timely manner. Parking is VERY organized, as long as you read the emails or website or social media. Because the race is on an island, you have to cross a bridge. Bring money for the toll, although you only have to pay the toll on one side (North, I think). Excellent parking and shuttles. Beautiful, scenic course, not crowded, great crowd support. You get to run through an airport hanger! Nice weather, especially for Michigan in mid-March. It's cold, but not too cold. Awesome race shirts, medals, and gloves and a sweet division win Pewabic Tile and RUNdetroit (local running store) gift certificate! DELICIOUS cookies and other great food at the end, and everything supports the Rock CF Foundation.
Megan recommends this race
(2015)
"This race makes it hard to consider other fall races"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
The Freep International 13.1 course has always impressed me.
Mile 1 – The excitement of the start. “Lose Yourself” (Eminem) always plays plays on the PA system at some point. “If you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment, would you capture it, or just let it slip?” The gun goes off. Nice run down Fort Street, and you see the Ambassador Bridge before you know it.
Mile 2 – Heading up the ramp onto the bridge, going through customs. It’s a hill, but it’s fun! (And I don’t love hills)
Mile 3-4 – Ambassador bridge into Canada! Watch the sunrise on the bridge. Run through Canadian customs. Canadian customs agents dancing. If you don’t like bridges or heights, you might want to reconsider this race. Also, watch out for runners who stop, and I mean STOP, in the middle of the bridge to take pictures.
Mile 5 – Exiting the bridge/customs area, running towards the Windsor river front.
Mile 6 – Windsor river walk. Beautiful. Fun to see the Windsor view if you’re used to running the Detroit River Walk.
Mile 7 – Windsor River Walk and some turns to get you to the Windsor tunnel.
Mile 8 – The Windsor tunnel! Some people don’t love confined spaces. I’ve always loved the tunnel because it’s different. Yes, you get hot. My husband’s contacts fogged up last year. He’s also noticed that the temperature change from the hot tunnel back into the cold, outside air can hit your stomach. Yes, it can get congested. Yes, there’s a hill out of the tunnel. But it’s an underwater mile! The only underwater mile in North American distance racing!
Mile 9-10 – You get to run on the Lodge for a bit. Lafayette. Kind of fun to see spectators on the overpasses. A good place to suggest spectators go to cheer.
Miles 11-12 – Mexican Village and Cork Town! Sometimes I get a little bored around mile 12, but I think it’s because I’m actually feeling “it.” Bourbon and bacon “aid station” at Mile 12 over the last two years!
Mile 13 – You can see Campus Martius in the distance as you run down Michigan Ave. If you’re running 13.1, you know Griswold and the finish line are close. Just watch out for holes in the brick road.
.1 – Two blocks to the finish line on Fort Street! Kick it in as you round Griswold and give it all you’ve got. Pass that runner in front of you. Leave it all on the course. Fall over that finish line. Rock that wheel chair (or just the heat blanket and the banana). Savor what you just did. Then go online on New Years Eve and sign up to do it all over again because wow, that rocked.