OK, so I was one of those people who got stuck in the security line for over an hour. The race started before I could reach the corrals. That killed my chance at the time I was hoping for, because I was weaving through packs of slower runners for the first six miles or so. However, everything after that fiasco was impecably well-organized, as you'd expect from the Marines (the security snafu was apparently caused by metal detectors malfunctioning in the rain). Packet pickup was a breeze. Aparently people were waiting in line for up to 2 hours to purchase items at the expo, but that's what happens when you get 25,000 people running a race. The bag drop was pefect and every water stop was well organized.

I live in town and this was my second time running this race. The course is wonderful, especially running past the monuments. The crowds are incredible, especially along the National Mall. The Blue Mile and the finish, lined with Marines leading up to the Marine Corps War Memorial, give me chills.

A couple of notes, also included in my 2012 review: This is a tough race to PR; not because of the course, which is fast and fairly flat after you cross Key Bridge into DC at around mile 5, but because there are 25,000 runners and the race allows self-seeding at the start. That means people who vastly over-estimate their abilities and those who want a few extra minutes to beat the bridge will place themselves too far forward in the start corrals. You'll be dodging them for the first few miles. Also, while the crowds are amazing, if you're a runner who needs the constant motivation of cheering crowds, be prepared for some crowd-free stretches: Hains Point (roughly miles 11-15) is four miles of very thin crowds (although the Blue Mile is here - the most moving, emotional, and inspirational stretch of any race I've ever seen), and the 14th Street Bridge (roughly miles 20-22) is spectator-free. Also, when you leave Crystal City and run around the back of the Pentagon, the spectators are sparse until you reach the roaring crowd at the finish line.

I love this race.

MM#8012

Great race! I may be biased, because I have family in Madison (my nieces came out with signs and high fives), but this race was one of my favorites. The expo is small, but well organized. Packet pickup was a breeze. Temps were a little cool at the start, but a throwaway long-sleeve shirt took care of that -- once we got moving, I felt perfectly comfortable in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. There were only about 1500 runners, so the start line wasn't overly crowded and you could seed yourself properly. I ran with a pace group and our pacer (from a local running store) was outstanding, ticking off the miles at a very even pace.

The course starts in the middle of town, at the capitol building, loops out through a park and various neighborhoods, back through the university campus, out again through more neighborhoods, back through town, and finally around to the finish at the capitol. Most of the course is very nice. Make sure you train on hills, though! There are some rollers early, but when you hit the campus there's a pair of tough climbs around mile 9 and another out at mile 17 or so. The spectators were great, especially when you loop back from the outer neighborhoods and pass through campus and closer to the center of town. The aid stations were well-spaced and well-organized -- though I knocked them down in my rating because they used plastic cups, which makes it really tough to drink on the run. The last half mile or so to the finish line was uphill, but it's worth the effort. The crowds at the finish were super enthusiastic and the finish chute is outstanding -- mylar, medals, then a TON of food options. [EDIT: It looks like they've changed the course a bit and eliminated the uphill finish, but added some hills in the Maple Bluff area.]

Overall, one of my favorite races, and Madison is a great city to explore. Highly recommended!

I was registered to run another race in NE Ohio that weekend, but it was in a national park and the government shutdown meant that all park permits were pulled. The Northern Ohio Marathon heard about the problem and re-opened its registration to stranded runners. I could not have been more grateful. They rescued so many of us from having our race weekend ruined.

The race was well organized. Parking was super convenient and packet pickup (day of race) was smooth. The course was just OK. It was relatively flat with a couple of hills, but nothing major. The first several miles were on roads which were not scenic and not closed to traffic. We ran through several miles through a nice park area along the Lake Erie coast, before hitting the very non-scenic roads again back into Fairport Harbor. NOTE: It appears that they've made big changes to the course since I ran this race, putting the start and finish in the Headlands park and running much of the last ten miles along the lake shore -- makes me want to run it again to see the new layout!

2013 was the inaugural marathon and it didn't appear that many of the locals were aware that a race was scheduled. The spectator support was very spotty. We saw no one for long stretches and in the spots where there were spectators, there weren't many. However, there were a couple of awesome people who set up unofficial aid stations along the route, and the people who did come out were very enthusiastic. With the new course the race will pass through more populated areas, so I'd expect a little more crowd support.

Overall, a fun race and really great organizers.

Rochester is a great race. The expo is small and there isn't a lot of swag, if that's what you're into. Packet pickup was quick and efficient. The race starts on a bridge in the middle of downtown, walking distance from a number of hotels, which was very convenient for us visitors.

The first few miles of the course are run east from the city on streets which have several small, gently rolling hills. You then turn back toward the city on the pancake-flat Erie Canal towpath, which is hard-packed dirt, not paved. The towpath is lovely, and very runnable, but large puddles can form if it rains in the days before the race (as in 2013). I imagine it could get muddy if it rained during the race, but I ran it in regular road racing shoes and had no trouble. The last couple of miles are back on city streets, which are flat. The leaves were turning when I ran the race in 2013, and the air was crisp and cool, which made for a beautiful run.

This is not the race to run if you need the motivation of large crowds. There were a families that came out to cheer as we passed through their neighborhoods, and there were big cheers at the relay transitions and the finish line, but other than that, it was fairly quiet.

I marked them down slightly on the aid stations, because at least twice that I recall people were shouting that they had Gatoraid, when it was really another (bad tasting) sports drink mix. Donuts and chocolate milk at the finish were heaven. Overall, this was a really well-run small marathon.

MM#8012

This was my first marathon and it was epic. The expo was a little too mobbed for my taste, but that's what happens when you get 25,000 people running a race. The Marines did an amazing job with the race day logistics - the bag drop, start line, and every water stop were perfectly organized. The course was wonderful, especially running past the monuments of DC. The crowds are incredible, especially the ones standing 4 and 5 deep on the National Mall. The finish of this race is something no other marathon since then (I've run 17 others) has come close to matching: you run uphill to the Marine Corps War Memorial (aka, the Iwo Jima Statue), the entire hill is lined with Marines cheering you on, a Marine officer places your medal around your neck, and then you get photos taken in front of the monument.

A couple of notes: This is a tough race to PR; not because of the course, which is fast and fairly flat after you cross Key Bridge into DC at around mile 5, but because there are 25,000 runners and the race allows self-seeding at the start. That means people who vastly over-estimate their abilities and those who want a few extra minutes to beat the bridge will place themselves too far forward in the start corrals. You'll be dodging them for the first few miles. Also, while the crowds are amazing, if you're a runner who needs the constant motivation of cheering crowds, be prepared for some crowd-free stretches: Hains Point (roughly miles 11-15) is four miles of very thin crowds (although the Blue Mile is here - the most moving, emotional, and inspirational stretch of any race I've ever seen), and the 14th Street Bridge (roughly miles 20-22) is spectator-free. Also, when you leave Crystal City and run around the back of the Pentagon, the spectators are sparse until you reach the roaring crowd at the finish line.

This is far and away the most inspirational race I've done. It's awesome to be able to run to honor men and women who defend our country.

MM#8012