Wow, just wow I had no idea so many people came to this race for Olympic qualifiers. This race features almost a two hour pacer because there are so many elite, but every day female athletes who come to this race to try and make the OTQ.

There’s just something in the air at this race that screams runner city and man oh man, there are a lot of educated racers that partake in this race year after year and you can just feel the good running juju all around you, the whole entire race.

I was in a large group of runners. Everybody seemingly haven’t completed the proper training and was here to have a great time, but to completely send it and try for a personal best all while being extremely helpful and friendly to the runners around them.

The expo for this race is fantastic and there’s plenty of merch no matter what your area of interest or last-minute need for things that you left at home

This course definitely has its challenges, but it is super runner friendly, and if you strategize it correctly, it will pay off big time. My Garman watch did struggle a bit at times not exactly sure what that was all about, but got it together and time to finish exactly on my estimated time, and absolutely loved every minute of the race, with fantastic crowds, and plenty of cheering and neighborhood folks out along the course the entire way.

This race is a finally tuned machine, and it shows and everything from pre-race day activities all the way through the finish line festival and the great stocking cap that we got at the finish line it was just the right thing I needed on a cool day to keep me warm, along with the blanket and a warm slice of pizza and a beer.

Overall, this is a bucket list race and for sure high on the 50 state fulfillment list of races that you should pick to check that box. If you don’t have Indiana, this is for sure the full marathon option to do.

I have zero hesitations about recommending Rocket City Marathon and the hat trick if you like the extra races and swag. This is a moderately sized race with hometown race management and it shows.

The swag surpasses that of much larger events.

Aid stations are plentiful along with porta johns, not much to see along the course other than the Rocket Center.

The expo is small but checks all the boxes for pre race requirements. The elevation change on this years course is manageable but noticeable in places with a few not steep but steady inclines.

Parking is a little bit of a cluster unless you arrive well before 6 AM due to the early start option on race day. They due close down quite a bit of the access roads at that time.

Race management far exceeds that of a race this size. This husband and wife dynamic duo put a lot of love into the event from well before race day to long after it's over. Love love this race it will be listed as a repeat event.

Ok, this race used to be a hot mess. This year was the best one yet. This is a no frills hometown race but the medal was sweet and the course is so much better than years past.

Parking and packet pickup right at the start line. 5K starting first is so smart to get the faster runners out of the way.

Matt has done an amazing job on this race reorganization and the course is so much improved with minimal quick turnarounds and little elevation change.

If you need a KS half this one is fantastic and easily accessible.

Just a few things you need to know about this race. It's small, it's really fast moderate down hill run, it's one of the most beautiful road marathons in the USA, and it's really expensive even by todays standards.

If the title "ASPEN", doesn't alert you just know that your going to spend a great deal of money to enter and stay anywhere near to start / finish of this race including any and all meals and lodging.

If the above sounds good to you then this is an absolute must do race. The course is a beautifully scenic down hill run for about 18 miles before leveling out the 8.2 miles on some open but out of the way back country roads that makes for a really fast BQ worthy attempt. All of the road crossings are monitored by volunteers and there is ample amounts of support at aid stations as you won't be burning many calories on this race anyway with the easiness of the course. The after party at the finish is also quite wonderful and has ample amounts of libations and food of all types to satisfy the pickiest of runners.

The expo is literally a back room in the local community center where you go to get your old school polyester throw away shirt and bib. I appreciated the small well thought out finisher medal but the race shirt isn't fit to be used as a rag just you know that going in as well. ;)

Again, if the cost of this race doesn't bother you and you want to attempt a BQ along with maybe winning the whole thing this race is highly recommended for those reasons alone. I think there was maybe 200 people this year and nobody super speedy that I can recall.