Where: Depot Pavilion, 6th Avenue and 10th Street, Marion, IA 52302
Description: Race course starts in downtown Marion behind the Depot Pavilion on 6th Avenue. This year’s course will go through Oak Shade Cemetery first, then onto 1st Avenue to 31st St., and back on 5th Avenue winding its way back to the finish on 6th Avenue.
Registration and packet pick-up is at the caboose in Marion Square Park near the Depot Pavilion on Friday, September 9th from 4:30-7:00pm and on Saturday September 10th from 6:45-7:45am.
Awards will be presented to the first overall male and female finishers. Age group awards for the top 3 finishers in each age group. Chip Timing will be used.
*The Swamp Fox 5K is the participating race for the CVRA “Couch to 5K” running program. For more information visit www.cvra.net/couch-to-5K
Website: http://cvra.net/races-swamp-fox
Contact: gretchenlawyer@gmail.com
Registration: Swamp Fox 2011 Entry
Results: 2011, 2010 Overall, 2010 Division, 2009, 2008, 2007
I ran this race this last summer, i liked the rout and always loved running in my home town. The biggest disapoinment to me was the shirts, the main logo was small and placed on left chest, it was a plaine white shirt, I hope they have better shirts next year
have to agree with Mike below. great run, well organized. Only suggestion is what he had already mentioned. The drinks were not with the food, which was a little confusing. move the drinks up with the food to keep some of the congestion down at the finish line.
Just an initial note. The route this year was the same as the Marion Arts 5K, so it was quite interesting to run the same route twice in one year. I beat my time from May by almost a minute, which was personally quite exciting and I had a 1-to-1 comparison.
Cost – This doesn’t really matter to me too much. I think it was $20 with a shirt. There wasn’t really any swag, but that’s ok.
Race Route – If you like a 95% flat race course, this is the route for you. About 3/4 of a mile in you go through the graveyard which is a large hill down and then up. That’s really the only significant incline of the whole race. Personally, I would enjoy a little more variety, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great route. A note on the finish line: It was very closed off and there was hardly any room to slow down. I didn’t want to hurt myself by abruptly stopping, so I kind of flew through the finish area and I did almost run into someone (sorry!). It would have been nice if they had it go a little farther and have it a little wider after you crossed the timing mats.
Organization – Very well done. The announcements were very clear and they didn’t have the ungodly loud generator like there was for the Marion Arts 5K.
Chip Timing – There was overall chip timing. They didn’t have slips after the race, but they did start putting up the overall sheets almost immediately after the first people started coming in. They also posted the final results the same day on the website!
Post Race Festivities – The food was standard: bananas, bagels, and cookies. The drinks were not where the food was, though, which was a bit odd. I was not able to stick around for the prizes and awards, so I can not speak to that.
Overall – Highly Recommended! I will for sure be participating next year.
I enjoy this route (Marion Arts and Swamp Fox) and it is one of my favorites. The location of the start and finish allow for plenty of room for post race festivities and spectators to watch. Water stops are in great locations and awards are timely at the end.
I agree that this route was more challenging than the Marion Arts Festival one with the hills at the end. My daughter and I enjoyed the bagels and treats after the race. The chip system is so nice so that you know the results almost instantaneously. My daughter earned a medal and it was a beautiful keepsake. i would reccommend this race for people who like a good challenge. We were very happy it didn’t get rained out today. Thanks to Gretchen Lawayer for her great organization of the race. It was very nice.
It’s the same route as the Marion Arts Fest 5k, but in reverse. The hill that was about 1/2 mile in with the Arts Fest Race is about 2 1/2 miles in in the Swamp Fox 5k. I found this reverse route a little more challenging, only because of the hill at the very end, instead of the beginning. Overall it’s a great 5k to run, and the people of Marion are wonderful! Very organized – Gretchen Lawyer, who was in charge of the race when I ran it last year (2009) was very organized and easy to work with. Highly recommend this 5k to anyone and everyone!