Event and Race Reviews This is a growing collection of Race and Event Reviews. All of these reviews were written by our members and represent each author's experiences and opinions only. Back to Events Listing
Manitoba Marathon
(Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Author: gamma j
Date: 2005-11-08
I have no other major events to compare to, but my own experience at the Manitoba Marathon was a positive one. Maybe it was the euphoria of completing my first 1/2 marathon there...
I didn't use the Park & Ride, so can't comment. It was very easy to get to parking inside the University property, having to leave early enough, that is.
I had no problem with the spacing of the water stations (I passed on the beer stop this time... tried it last year..oy!!), although it did appear that some were packing up when there were still many runners out on the course... I don't think this was very good if that was the case, considering the heat.
It is great running into the stadium for the finish. You can hear the music blaring as you approach & once my feet hit the track, it felt like I was flying... it was very emotional for me.
It was the congestion while waiting in line for the food that I didn't like. People were trying to barge through. The side I was on had several people blocking the entrance for safety personnel & stretchers... yes, there were a few of them.
The heat of the day definitely took its toll & it was very unnerving to run past people lying on the ground. The quick temperature change from even a week prior was very unexpected. Those temperatures have not been the norm in Manitoba at that time of the year.
Would I sign up again? You bet... 2006 will be my 1st attempt at the full marathon. It would be great if I had more opportunities to travel to other events, but alas, not for me... yet. Author: Agent Provocateur
Date: 2005-11-08
I found the water stations a little too far apart for my own personal liking, but that's why I carry my own water. And I don't care if the water came from a hose... it's clean water in Winnipeg. (Not that others can't have a different opinion - I just know that I have drank hose water before and never had a problem. It takes a pound of dirt to kill you)
I think there were people passing out all over the course primarily because of the extreme heat and humidity. For all of us local people, we were training in near freezing conditions and the week before the MM it was like running in a different country!
I also feel that many people run half marathons unprepared (I am guilty of that) and don't realize when they are pushing too hard (therefore passing out in extreme weather).
I used the Park and Ride. It was better than last year, but they still have a lot of work to do.
At the finish, I was too tired to wait in line for food so I got none. NONE! That part sucked.
But I'll do it again, for sure. I like my local race. I just wish they gave out technical T's rather than cotton. Author: kzod
Date: 2005-11-07
I was in Winnipeg for a friends wedding which coincided with this years Manitoba Marathon. Sticking with my philosophy of I don't fly anyhwhere without getting a medal, I registered for the half-marathon.
Getting to the start: It was highly recommended to park and take shuttle buses from the start. I was directed to a Safeway on ______ st. (Don't remember). In anycase, I found Safeway, and saw a bunch of runners waiting around. Figured this must be the place, especially when I confirmed that these guys were locals and were running the race. Took 20 minutes and a good 50 misplaced runners until we realized this was the wrong Safeway! Drove down a little further and discovered huge lines and a couple of buses. This must be the place. The problem was that the buses were taking everyone on a first come basis. Meaning that many 5k'ers who start 30 minutes after the marathon and half were getting on the buses with family and spectators. We were there 45 minutes before race time (and only a 5 minute drive away), but Many of us got to the start 10 minutes late. And there was still a lineup after my bus left. GRADE: F
The Course: Despite the early hour (7:00 or 8 am start if I remember correctly), it was warm at the start, and was soon to reach the boiling point. The course was well marked with volunteers stationed at the turn points, which I needed to catch up to everyone else. I don't know the area or Winnipeg at all, but we started at the university, ran on some highways and through a couple of neighborhoods. Decent spectator support, and lots of supportive honking (not the annoyed honking you get in Toronto). My only sore point was with the water stations. Compared with every other race I've done, this was the saddest crowd support I've ever witnessed. The early stations were a reported 4.4k apart, and appeared to be much longer in reality. Moreover, this was at the start when hydrating yourself is the most important. It was reaching 40 c, and we needed to drink. When we were treated to a water stop, the water we received was served through garden hoses into old looking garbage cans. That can't be sanitary. But beggars can't be choosers. I even saw one water station that was apparently set up exclusively for relay runners before they started. But it was far off course, and I was well past the station when I caught a glimpse. By the end of the race the last few miles of roadway was littered with the dehydrated bodies of runners who didn't even have the strength to stand anymore. Granted it was unusually hot that day, but I blame the lack of water on the course as the culprit. Grade: F, but a C+ if they improved the water stations
Finish Line: Stadium finish's perk up the deadest of legs. That was really nice, lots of crowd support here. The finish line was televised on cable, which is a great perk. After the finish line, you're stuck in a big herd with other runners where you are given your medal, a water, a bagel and fruit. 50m later you are out on the field, but no more freebies or food. So, the lack of love there was definitely disapointing. It was sufficient, but can't compare to most fun runs even in the food department. It didn't bother me that much though, so I won't penalize it: Grade: B+
Overall: Good crowd support. One family set up a beer station on their yard near the 17k mark, which was great. I would like to add that their were sponges and a couple of stations were giving out Ice, which I gladly threw into my hat to cool down. That was a well needed boost. The most impressive world class part of the event was the next day, when The Winnipeg paper had an entire section devoted to the marathon, with pictures, stories, and everyones times. There was a guy in a santa clause outfit running the course (hope he had his own water!). Nothing special about the course, but I liked it. The only downsides were due to poor organzation or lack of volunteer suport. If they had water & Gatorade every 2 miles, and the water wasn't served from the trash it would be a great race. As it stands I give it a Grade of C-
|
