Great for a first-time marathoner who doesn't want to worry about a course time limit. The race is not so overwhelming that you get lost in the shuffle. It is also not so small that even in the back that you are alone. The half and full courses are together until mile 12.

Course: It has a mix of hills and flats. If you train in a hilly area you will enjoy this course as a nice change from always climbing and sometimes not going back down. You get a nice tour of Little Rock and the major attractions.

T-shirt/Swag: The marathon medal is so big that if you fly in you need to account for the weight in your luggage! They are very nice and match the theme of the year. The bibs were sturdy and looked like new even at the end of the race. For those of us who save race bibs, it was nice to have one that didn't get all crumpled even after 26 miles and loads of sweat. The t-shirts were nice tech shirt but ran a little large.

Aid station: Along the course, there were plenty of water stops with very happy and cheerful volunteers. The aid stations were a mix of medical aid stations and water/Gatorade stations. Along the way, there were also beer stations if you are into that kind of aid station.

Expo: It was a nice sized expo with a lot of vendors. The bib pickup process was quick and easy. Also, I liked that there were several different photo opportunities. If you want it to be a quick stop or a shopping adventure, you could do either easily.

Race Management: The race weekend was well managed. It was nice to see the race directors along the way. As a back of the packer, it was nice to see them out even at the end of the race. The communication between the teams and the progress of the BOP racers was great. They made sure that the aid stations were still stocked. They made sure to check on us without making us feel rushed!

Overall, I recommend this race to anyone wanting to do a marathon. First timers and veterans alike will like the atmosphere. The theme changes each year and the medals are ginormous. Great race weekend!