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Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers
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Bayshore Marathon Reviews
Bayshore Marathon
4.9 Stars from
12 Runners
Lovely race in a beautiful place
By DS about 2024
Review
What a great race- so well run but not too crowded. The logistics are easy and lots of crowd support on the out and back course. Beautiful run right by the Bay and provides a cooling breeze. This year Des Linden was everywhere- podcast taping on Thur night, free shakeout on Fri night and handing out medals at the finish (to regular runners like me!) at the finish. Gave the small town race a big time feel.
Highly recommend- reminded me a lot of a smaller Grandma's which is a high compliment.
Race Tips
The course gets cooler in the middle as you leave town and are near the water so make sure to start slow and save some for the finish which will heat up a bit.
It's flat but there are two short hills around 11/12 and 14/15. Use these as shakeouts for your legs.
People are friendly and running every pace so latch onto someone. You'll be passing the half marathon runners (if you're running the marathon) for an extra energy boost.
Park in the surrounding neighborhood- easier than fighting for a lot spot Get there early- there are seats under tents setup for runners HIt one of Traverse City's great brewpubs for a burger or beer after the race
5 /
5 Stars
2023 Flat, Out and Back, well organized
By RW about 2023
Review
Marathon starts at 7:15 and is heading out, Half Marathon starts at the turn around and heads in about 7:30 - fun to see them come by. Lots of water/gu/gatorade on the course - maybe 8 stations with 4 having GU. There is a good mix of shade and shade - be prepared!
Race Tips
Bring clothing options - can be cold - 40-45F start and then warms to 70-75F. There is a mild slope to the road. Definitely start slow ... you will be happier at the end. :) Moomer's Ice Cream at the end brings me back every year.
I liked that the event had a lot of convenience. I was coming from out of state, so it was great that they kept packet pickup open until 8p. Another convenience was having separate starting lines for 1/2 and full marathoners. I also liked how the event announcer called out again and again for only those with yellow marathon BIBS to be on the start area. These things helped keep the start like from being more congested than it was. The pacers were all pointed out and colored well enough to stand out from the rest of the crowd. The tables along the course were very well manned. The crowd support was great as well. There was plenty to see along the course as the beach and Bay was on your right with many beautiful homes on your left. On the way back to the finish, the course was mostly shaded as the sun began to climb higher in the sky. My one criticism is the lack of toilet paper in the initial finish line porta potties. There were like 40 of them, and it was just under 4 hours into the race and they no or very low on tp. In regard to food, at the 4 hour mark, there was still plenty free chocolate milk, fruit, ice cream, and other drinks and also foods like Chic-fil-a that one could purchase. Another fun aspect was the personal record bell one could ring. I had a great time at my very first marathon.
Race Tips
This was the first marathon that I ran. If it's your first as well, I suggest that one use the pacers to one's advantage. They have experience and stories to share. The conversation helps the time go by more pleasantly as you pace. My goal was to finish in under 4 hours but in 3:30 best case scenario. I finished in 3:57. I started with the 3:30 hour pacers. Then used a porta potty and fell back to the 3:45 pace group. Sadly, I had to use a porta potty again and didn't have the legs to try and catch back up to the 3:45 pacers. So instead, I tried to keep ahead of the 4 hour pacers. I knew they were coming. So that kept me motivated to maintain my pace and finish just a few minutes ahead of them. The hills were just lazy rollers. I would increase my cadence going down them. On the gentle inclines, I would just run upright and lean a bit into them and push a little. If you pace yourself well, it's an easy course to manage. It's so pretty as well. On the way back, the sun was fully up and the water beautiful. It was so clear and tempting that I just wanted to slip off the course and into it for a quick swim. Even though I was as close to a last minute sign up as one could get, I still checked out many of details regarding race day. The area around the event was jam packed with traffic that morning. However, this was to be expected. The event's times, locations, and logistics seemed to be plainly laid out to me. I compensated by finding a place to stay nearby within 15 minutes walking distance to the start line. If one makes the effort, there should be little confusion on race day. I had no issues with how this aspect of the event was run. The finish event area was pretty well organized and spread out. I suppose more shaded areas would have been helpful. But, I truly enjoyed this first marathon experience.
This race was convenient. I signed up only three days before the race and had to do a lot of on the fly planning. All the important things were centrally located. Packet pickup was right near the course and close by to many of the hotels and state parks. Thankfully, packet pickup was open until 8p and just barely made it. Once I had my packet, we focused on finding a place to spend the night. We found numerous places still available within an easy 1-mile walking distance of the start line. The place we found was nearly $170 for a night even with my wife's medical personnel discount. After the race, there was a beach very close by to go stand and chill my sore muscles in the cold mid spring bay water for a bit. Then we looked up the state parks to see which one had showers. There was one nearby for $5 a person to shower. It was clean and had very nice hot water for a long time. After that, there were plenty of restaurants to dine in like Smoke and Porter which just added to the good overall first experience and thus provided a great meal before making the 13 hour journey back to Springfield, Missouri.
5 /
5 Stars
Beautiful Michigan Marathon!
By Dena about 2022
Review
The best thing about this marathon was the view and the volunteers. Sometimes marathons advertise views of the water and you see it a few times but this one was mostly beautiful views of the water. Also beautiful shoreline homes and trees. Plenty of shade.
Race Tips
There is a 10k, half marathon and marathon. By the time I got to the finish line all that was left was cookies and water. They should portion out the food better. All the 10kers had plenty of chocolate milk and ice cream!!!! Shuttle bus schedule could have been more clear for full marathoners since there were so many half marathoners they had to get there earlier to catch the bus to their separate startline. I loved that marathoners had their own start line. It was not hilly, some rollers, the course was just beautiful all the way and volunteers everywhere. The town really gets into it!!!
I stayed at the Hampton Inn and it was fine but I wish I would have stayed closer--it just seemed nicer further west. There was a close shuttle pickup but I was lucky enough to get a ride with a nice couple to the race and a ride back to the hotel from one of the volunteers. Everyone was so nice!!!
5 /
5 Stars
Run this race, you must!
By Brandon about 2019
Review
This was my very first marathon (2018) and I have to say I loved the entire experience. Well mostly. All the things that I didn't enjoy were my own mistakes that lead to my demise as I had to retire at mile 20. But I could tell this was a great race. It was INSANELY hot, race temps were in the mid 70's with over 80% humidity at race start, and that got worse as the day went on. But the course is flat, beautiful and fast. Fan support is fantastic, aid stations great and the medical tent after was great, and needed. I've been admittedly obsessed with it and I am running it again. Can't wait.
Race Tips
Bring clothing for every type of situation. Weather in Michigan changes so you need to be prepared. It was hot and muggy but may be cool and dry. So bring anything and everything you may need. Leave nothing to chance especially if your a ways away.
Bayshore has a full, 1/2 and 10k. Registration opens up in early December, the 1/2 fills up in less than 4-5 hours so if you want to run that race be by a computer. As well this is on Memorial Day weekend the start of the tourist season. Book your hotel EARLY! I had to drive 3 hours the morning of my race because plans fell thru. You don't want to run a marathon without rest, TRUST ME!
5 /
5 Stars
Great Side line support
By KS about 2017
Review
I liked how the home owners contributed to the event. They made the experience great. I did not enjoy the curve of the road as my ankles did hurt after a while. I will run this again!
Race Tips
It is almost impossible for family/friends to come cheer you on as the road is blocked off to traffic, and that is why the home owners are a vital role in the motivation of runners. I was impressed. I would have family and friends see you off and welcome you back to the finish.
5 /
5 Stars
By RAB about 2017
Review
Everything about the race was good. Not too hot, not too cold, and this is coming from someone who struggles with overheating issues. One thing that would be nice would be actual pacers, its gotten big enough that the event coordinators should consider getting some.
Race Tips
They have orange and Gu stations along the trail, but only towards the middle/end.
Book hotels early, I ended up having to stay in Cadillac an hour away.
4 /
5 Stars
Northern MI running at it's best
By Alice about 2016
Review
Very organized. Plenty of aid stations. Liked the out & back (saw 13.1 runners on the way out, saw marathoners on the way back). The course is beautiful! Crowd support for a smaller marathon was great.
Race Tips
I ran the race in 2016. This year was really hot and humid. Bring clothing options. On the way back, we were in the sun, plan for this as well. The road has a slope to it and hurt my back. Staying toward the middle of the road helped.
2016 was wicked hot but that didn't matter- this is an absolutely beautiful course that always draws an awesome group of runners and awesome spectators. You will definitely have spectators offering out candy and beer if you're there to have fun but there's awesome aid stations and a view almost the entire course that can't be beat. The elevation profile is a little deceiving, there are a few "rolling" hills which aren't terrible as long as you know it's not a pancake flat course. I love this marathon!!
Race Tips
My only complaint about this marathon is that there are no pacers.
Limited size (2500) marathon with beautiful water views along Grand Traverse Bay, great local support. Finish is on a high school track at the base of the Mission Peninsula, which runs between the two arms of Grand Traverse Bay. Pre-race Pasta dinner is a bit basic - but good. If you like fine dining, Poppycock and Cafe Amical, among others, set a good table.
Race Tips
Even though it\'s a mostly flat course, starting a little slower than you think necessary pays off. Bring warm post-race clothes, so you can enjoy the local Moomer's ice cream without getting hypothermic.
TC is a resort town, and there is a wide range of accommodations, but the places near the Mission Peninsula tend to fill up if the weather is warm. Check to see if your hotel is on the shuttle route to the start.
5 /
5 Stars
By EC about 2010
Review
Well coordinated with great and frequent aid stations. Very flat. Beautifully scenic. Awesome medal and food/drink at the finish line.
