The Mankato Marathon offers a great set of events in a beautiful small Minnesota city. I ran the half and was very pleased with the organization, the race day experience, … MORE
The Mankato Marathon offers a great set of events in a beautiful small Minnesota city. I ran the half and was very pleased with the organization, the race day experience, the swag and most of the course. From the day before packet pickup to the finish line party, this was a quality event.
Packet pickup is out at the mall the day before, though there is morning pickup available. It was well organized and Scheels offered all registrants 25 percent off all athletic apparel. The race shirt was a very nice quarter zip long sleeve.
Race morning was chilly, but they did have a bag drop at the start line. Pacers available for both half and full marathon, including a 1:55 half which was great for me. The course is on both paved trails and roads. Much was through city park land, but there was a significant portion leading up to and after the major hill on the course that was right next to the road. Another issue was that almost immediately after the start the course turned to a relatively narrow trail near the river with little opportunity to get around other runners. Still, didn’t seem to keep me from a PR! Post race festival was nice with a free beer from Mankato Brewery.
Overall, this was a fun race and one that I would definitely sign up for again.
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Great Fall Run
The Mankato Marathon offers a great set of events in a beautiful small Minnesota city. I ran the half and was very pleased with the organization, the race day experience, … MORE
The Mankato Marathon offers a great set of events in a beautiful small Minnesota city. I ran the half and was very pleased with the organization, the race day experience, the swag and most of the course. From the day before packet pickup to the finish line party, this was a quality event.
Packet pickup is out at the mall the day before, though there is morning pickup available. It was well organized and Scheels offered all registrants 25 percent off all athletic apparel. The race shirt was a very nice quarter zip long sleeve.
Race morning was chilly, but they did have a bag drop at the start line. Pacers available for both half and full marathon, including a 1:55 half which was great for me. The course is on both paved trails and roads. Much was through city park land, but there was a significant portion leading up to and after the major hill on the course that was right next to the road. Another issue was that almost immediately after the start the course turned to a relatively narrow trail near the river with little opportunity to get around other runners. Still, didn’t seem to keep me from a PR! Post race festival was nice with a free beer from Mankato Brewery.
Overall, this was a fun race and one that I would definitely sign up for again.
Mankato Marathon
Love this race, easy logistics, good volunteer support. They changed the course this year, loved it. Helped that the weather was perfect for running. A nice mix of running through … MORE
Love this race, easy logistics, good volunteer support. They changed the course this year, loved it. Helped that the weather was perfect for running. A nice mix of running through neighborhoods, downtown Mankato, countryside.
It’s low key event and not expensive, they provided this year a nice lightweight jacket, in past years they have had long sleeve tech shirts. Nice medal and a cold beer at the finish.
Set a PR - Race was Ok
I set my PR with this race and broke the 2 hour mark, so it was a great race in that regard; but I was a little disappointed in the … MORE
I set my PR with this race and broke the 2 hour mark, so it was a great race in that regard; but I was a little disappointed in the scenery. I was expecting better, more scenic views. Several miles of the race were ran along a major highway that had a significant amount of traffic. There were a couple significant hills and there were also some miles through a park or on a trail, but for the most part, it was along the road. The expo the day before was really good, race swag was a nice LS athletic shirt. This is the first and only race I’ve ever done following a pacer, I am not sure I would have hit the sub 2 without him. He was great; visited the whole time, and keep me on track for my goal. Mankato is a nice town, some restaurant options for after the race that are near the finish line. Our hotel was within walking distance of the finish so that was also a major bonus.
beautiful fall Race
The scenery is beautiful in Minnesota in October! Stayed at the hotel just across from the start line (which made the morning very easy) and only a short walk to … MORE
The scenery is beautiful in Minnesota in October! Stayed at the hotel just across from the start line (which made the morning very easy) and only a short walk to the expo. I really enjoyed the long downhill @ mile 5 and the trail through the trees right after the downhill was so beautiful. The after party was great too. And only $6 uber back to the hotel when all said and done.
Minnesota-nice marathon
I was glad that this marathon was held on Sunday, rather than the day before, because Saturday was wet and windy. The weather on race day was about perfect though. … MORE
I was glad that this marathon was held on Sunday, rather than the day before, because Saturday was wet and windy. The weather on race day was about perfect though. It was dry with little wind and the fall colors were still at their prime. There were a couple hills in the first half of the marathon that were long enough to slow you down, otherwise it was pretty flat with a long downhill in the second half. We had to take a shuttle to the start from the finish area, apparently so there would be enough parking and to allow for a downhill finish, but the shuttles were on time and plentiful for the short ride. It was a long wait at the start, but I had planned ahead and brought a credit card so I could walk across the street and drink a cup of coffee in the warm environment of the Caribou Coffee shop. I started out behind the 5 hour pacer, but very quickly caught up and moved ahead to just behind the 4:30 pacer. I stayed within view of the 4:30 pacer until just before the half mark, and then gradually slowed to a 4:56:25 finish. There were about the number of spectators that I would expect for a medium size marathon, and the post race amenities were above average. Plenty of food, free massages courtesy of the Mayo Clinic, free beer (if I hadn’t lost my ticket attached to my bib), and live music. It was well worth the short drive and registration cost of this fall marathon.
Mankato HALF Marathon
I would imagine that this race experience all depends on the weather. Signing up in June (over 4 months in advance, with Fargo Marathon discount code), we knew that we … MORE
I would imagine that this race experience all depends on the weather. Signing up in June (over 4 months in advance, with Fargo Marathon discount code), we knew that we could be running in snow or, at the very least, very cold weather. However, for 2017, the weather was perfect. Start temp was 44 degrees, but finish temp was probably around 50 degrees.
The course is beautiful during the fall. Basic straight-away course for the first 2-3 miles, but after that, you get onto a running path (asphalt) that is surrounded by trees showing off their various autumn leaf colors. A few rolling uphills scattered through out the course, there is one big long downhill right about Mile 6, which is a great relief.
Overall, it is worth the travel. Fly to Minneapolis, stay a night or two, enjoy the drive down to Mankato remembering to stop at Minneapolis’ largest candy shop, and enjoy a great half or full marathon.
Side note: Maybe it is a personal problem, but I don’t like when events just call themselves “Marathon”, like Mankato Marathon, and not “Half Marathon”. I don’t like having a medal that says Mankato Marathon when I only ran the half. Yes, I know the ribbon says “Half”, but that is not good enough IMO.
Great Race!
This is a great race that meanders thru Mankato MN from parks to country side to running along the river. The volunteers are awesome and the after party is epic!! MORE
This is a great race that meanders thru Mankato MN from parks to country side to running along the river. The volunteers are awesome and the after party is epic!!
Mankato 10K 2015 (12y/o Groupies)
Sure enough, around the half mile mark or just over, I passed my friends. They all cheered, I waved, and then I carried on. From there, I made it a … MORE
Sure enough, around the half mile mark or just over, I passed my friends. They all cheered, I waved, and then I carried on. From there, I made it a fair distance down the road until I finally decided to throw in the towel and take my first walk break. I think that was around 0.65-0.75 miles. Basically, I slowed to walk at just a bit before the course takes us off the main road and turns right into the local neighborhood development.
Which, by the way, was absolutely perfect for me to run through. Tons of young families were out in their front yards spectating. And every little girl under the age of 12 that saw me, once they realized my shirt had a unicorn on it, gave me a look that resembled something like…
Really well supported race
This race was a big surprise. I hadn't planned to run as this was just a couple weeks after TC, but at the EXPO (my wife was running the half) … MORE
This race was a big surprise. I hadn’t planned to run as this was just a couple weeks after TC, but at the EXPO (my wife was running the half) I just decided to go for it. I did not regret that. I got to run most of the first half with my wife, and the 2nd half of the race was really well supported, particularly by the college in town. Finishers medal is pretty cool.
Big Race Amenities, Small Town Feel
If you like the feeling of a big race, with the accompanying amenities like post race party and nice finisher's medal ... but have ever wished there was more involvement … MORE
If you like the feeling of a big race, with the accompanying amenities like post race party and nice finisher’s medal … but have ever wished there was more involvement by race directors to make the big race feel more personal and fun … well, look no further, because this race is what you’ve been looking for.
Mankato offers the best of both race worlds – it’s big enough to have good amenities, but in a small enough town to make it feel like you matter as a racer. Add in the fact that it’s a slightly rolling course with a big downhill finish during the fall leave splendor … what more could you ask for?
Nice course, great for my first half.
Course is really pretty in the fall, a couple of small hills. Nice finish area and a finisher's shirt I actually wear. Medal was nice although a bit boring. MORE
Course is really pretty in the fall, a couple of small hills. Nice finish area and a finisher’s shirt I actually wear. Medal was nice although a bit boring.
Big Race Amenities, Small Town Feel
If you like the feeling of a big race, with the accompanying amenities like post race party and nice finisher's medal ... but have ever wished there was more involvement … MORE
If you like the feeling of a big race, with the accompanying amenities like post race party and nice finisher’s medal … but have ever wished there was more involvement by race directors to make the big race feel more personal and fun … well, look no further, because this race is what you’ve been looking for.
Love the Psychologists on Bicycles!
Awesome scenery, nice hill from about 14-20 miles that takes you from North Mankato downtown. The year I did it they had students from the college's sport psychology department on … MORE
Awesome scenery, nice hill from about 14-20 miles that takes you from North Mankato downtown. The year I did it they had students from the college’s sport psychology department on bicycles to quiz us on what we’d like them to tell us to motivate us! Fun!