Eric Smith's Staging Area

I was looking for a spring marathon close to home, and I had heard good things about Fargo. I can now confirm that they do a great job putting on this race! There was ample water stops, Gu at the right spots, and friendly race marshals. Starting and ending the race in the Fargodome means lots of convenience. There were no lines for the bathroom and plenty of time to stretch out afterwards. The pre- and post-race shuttles were easy and convenient. I will admit, I wasn’t expecting much as far as scenery, but the course goes through some nice neighborhoods, and running through the college campuses was a lot of fun. It was a hot day for running a marathon, but there were plenty of mist-ers and kids with Super Soakers. Finally, the spectators, volunteers, and just about everyone else I met were very friendly and supportive. This really is a well-run marathon and worth the trip. Nice job, Fargo/Moorhead, and thanks for a great experience!

When I first heard of the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon, I thought, ‘The folks who came up with this race must be nuts!’ Turns out I was right, but that’s a good thing! I could not stop smiling all race weekend, from Dan’s hilarious weather forecast during the pre-race meal (incredible food, by the way) to sharing stories with fellow runners at the post-race pub gathering downtown. Never have I experienced such camaraderie! Each runner has his or her own personal timer/lap counter, which collectively make up a very enthusiastic cheer zone and keeps you motivated throughout the race. And when you finish, you get a great shirt, medal, and race certificate. The race directors, Dick and Dennis, thought of everything and have truly created a race worth repeating. Most of all, it was a joy to run with and cheer on such a fun and friendly group of runners! When I first heard of the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon, I thought, ‘The folks who came up with this race must be nuts!’ Turns out I was right, but that’s a good thing! I could not stop smiling all race weekend, from Dan’s hilarious weather forecast during the pre-race meal (incredible food, by the way) to sharing stories with fellow runners at the post-race pub gathering downtowh. Never have I experienced such camaraderie! Each runner has his or her own personal timer/lap counter, which collectively make up a very enthusiastic cheer zone and keeps you motivated throughout the race. And when you finish, you get a great shirt, medal, and race certificate. The race directors, Dick and Dennis, thought of everything and have truly created a race worth repeating. Most of all, it was a joy to run with and cheer on such a fun and friendly group of runners! I will definitely be back!