Holland Haven Marathon Reviews

  Like a training run

By Anonymous about 2023

Review

You run on a sidewalk next to a busy road most of the time. Very few roads are blocked off for the runners. You never run through downtown holland. There are very few spectators and poor directions for the course. It felt like a training run on an ugly sidewalk and then you finish next to a junkyard and parking lot. It's a shame because holland is a beautiful town; if they closed off the downtown streets and made it a loop course to show off the city it could be much better.

  In my opinion, this race is not as advertised

By KJK about 2021

Review

The "course description" says "follow the coast of western Michigan" and "finish in downtown Holland." I never saw the water, and "downtown Holland" is a technicality at best. The last quarter of a mile finishes into a parking lot right on the outskirts of downtown, I didn't see anything worth seeing.

The "rolling hills" are very intense for someone traveling from a different area. I thought I did train on hills, apparently not significant enough hills for this. I'm not sure that "rolling hills" adequately describes many of these, especially from mile 9-14.

The course had very warm water that was hard to drink. They also put it in plastic cups which are for sure better for the environment but make ingestion quite difficult.

Running this race was no different than my training runs in terms of spectators. Races I've done in the past have done a REALLY good job of encouraging the runners by creating a party atmosphere around the race. The miles really dragged on without the community support I've been used to in the past.

Race Tips

Make sure you have a Garmin watch, or something else similar to a Garmin for multiple reasons:

1) no pacers
2) very challenging for your crew to track you and get ahead of you without your own means of tracking.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Stay in Grand Haven, navigation around this area can be challenging in my opinion

  Pulled off a successful race in covid times

By CCC about 2020

Review

Huge credit to the race director for pulling this off with covid restrictions. The marathon was capped at 300, split into 3 "events" of 100 separated by an hour, and each "event" was split into 3 equal waves 10 minutes apart. Runners were put into corrals based on estimated finish time to minimize passing on the course, plus several other restrictions (no touch aid stations, etc.) Very impressive to put this race on at all with the restrictions necessary to keep it safe.

The only negative I'd share is that the course markings were small, non-reflective-paint stencils on the asphalt path -- none of those 10-foot-tall "Mile 6" signs. With the pre-sunrise start, it was impossible to track mile splits, and still hard when the sun came out.

It's also a small, rural marathon (mostly run in between two nice little beach towns), so crowd support is sparse. But it is a pretty run along a woodsy, residential area with a few peaks at the lake here and there. If you're up for small but well-organized, I'd highly recommend it.

Race Tips

The elevation map doesn't really do justice to a few of the hills. The bike path follows alongside a road, but the path isn't leveled to the same standard of gentleness as the road itself. It rolls up and down, and around miles 9-11, there are few very intense grades. They're short but deadly.

The shade on the course is pretty strong except for the portion running west-to-east on James Street, which is straight into the blazing sunrise.

This year it started at 6:00 a.m. to accommodate extra waves required by covid restrictions. Twilight was at 6:50, and sunrise 7:20. Usually the race starts at 7:30, but if it starts before sunrise again, bring a headlamp. I know it's annoying but it really is that dark and the path rolls, bends, has dropped sticks and level changes, etc.

  

By KP about 2016

Review

It is the best race combination I've experienced, with hometown flare and big race professionalism—the friendliness of volunteers and road marshals, but the organization, aid stations, and usual perks of a big run. I believe this Lakeshore Half/Full Marathon will be an epic run that will be hard to secure a spot in the near future. I’m registering now for next year. Won’t miss it for anything. And one important additional note for first timers: the after party is not to be missed—there was food, like real food (bbq, cookies, fruit) and craft beer for the whole family, with a band and a climbing wall—my kids loved it! We stayed for an hour to celebrate. See you in 2017!

Race Tips

Bring a watch to pace yourself or run with a pacing buddy because there are not pacers on the course.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

I ran the half marathon and took the second bus up to Camp Geneva that left from Holland at 7am--it gave me more than enough time to get to the start.

  

By Rich about 2015

Review

Road construction all over and for an out of town person hard to navigate. This was pre-race. Packet pickup was at camp geneva as advertised camp was rather large and only one small sign to let you know where packet pick up was. All shirts said marathon even if you ran the half. All bibs were very generic. When I spend 80 dollars for a race I would hope the bib has a cool design on it or to let me remember the race. Finishers medals all say marathon even if you do the half, also there is no year on the medal.

Race Tips

Rolling hills!!!!! Not enough volunteers for traffic run this race and be prepared to watch for your own cars. Also half marathon you do not get to see the lake at all. Mile markers after mile 9 were screwed way up and way off. Finish line you must cross a busy street be careful.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Bus system from finish to start worked the best probably the best part of the race also the bag check crew did wonderful.

  Tough up hills in the last 2-4 miles

By Dorothy Sobolewski about 2014

Review

A small marathon, country roads. Not enough water stops and very little Gatorade. The last miles were poorly marked and manned, we had to cross a fairly busy road( traffic was not stopped) to get to the finish. Running on the sandy road upwind was tough the lake view was great. The runners were courteous.

Course was advertised as flat, not so watch for the tough up hills in the last 2-4 miles or so. I still managed to PR and BQ so thank you Holland Haven