Madison Marathon organizers learned from past mistakes
Whether fair or not, the Madison Marathon has gained a reputation in recent years for poor organization and mistakes that compounded the struggles of the runners, particularly those in back of the pack.
Hot weather, something far beyond the organizers' control, has been a significant factor. Runners suffered heat distress and hyponatremia in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
This year, the staff from Madison Festivals Inc. is assuring the roughly 7,700 participants expected Sunday that they have learned their lessons.
According to this story in the Wisconsin State Journal, the 2011 edition will have an altered course lay out to avoid overlapping marathon and half-marathon runners, a new timing company, better-trained volunteers and more water stops and portable bathrooms.
This year, the marathon starts and finishes on the Capitol Square.
5 Comments for "Madison Marathon organizers learned from past mistakes"
wisconsiniteinfl May 26, 2011 3:26 PM
Good luck to all marathon participants, watch out for those Maple Bluff Hills.
ThatGuy May 26, 2011 3:40 PM
Does that not sound like disaster waiting to happen as the fastest of the full merge into the slowest of the 1/2? I'm not familiar with that course, but this just doesn't seem to make sense to me.
MikeTWI May 26, 2011 3:41 PM
I ran it last year. My only issue with the race was the overlap so early
on. Having to weave through walkers and slow runners 7 1/2 miles into
the race was ridiculous. It felt like some of the walkers were in a line
across the street and wouldn't stay over to the right as runners were
coming through. By having the overlap later in the race, almost all of the
1/2 marathoners (even the slower ones) will be off the course. The very
fastest marathoners will be spread out at the front and the slow 1/2
marathoners should be thinned out enough that the merger over the last
6 miles shouldn't be too much of a problem. I enjoyed my experience
overall and wish the organizers well this year.
FromThe Left May 26, 2011 4:33 PM
made work. My brother is running it this year (I'll let him be the guinea
pig). Last year was way too crowded at the merge point almost to the
point of being unsafe.
I do have to say that Madison is a great place for a marathon and
staying on the square with my family was fun and easy...so I hope the
changes work
mikete96 May 26, 2011 10:17 PM