This is a fantastic, scenic course. Steamboat is a great place to spend the weekend, and the race is very well organized and well run. The mile markers were accurate and the aid station workers and all volunteers were amazing. Thank you to all volunteers! This year the weather was pretty hot, so my warning to others is to prepare yourself. With only 10 aid stations, I chose to carry my own water bottle through the first half - and I'm glad I did. Also, you simply cannot train enough on hills to prep for this course. It is very challenging, so practice your hills. I was finishing the marathon while the half marathoners were still on the course and they were awesome about cheering me on. The spectators at the end were great and I had the time of my life. This is a top-notch event on a great course. Just be ready to make some adjustments depending on the weather.

First time at Steamboat. Most scenic course I've run, for sure. Helped me forget about the altitude, heat, and downhill slant. The only negatives: 1) The bus ride to Hahn's Peak was on a schoolbus. 2) No sliced fruit or sports drink at the end. 3) No race medals for the half runners. My wife and buddy were disappointed they didn't get medals. Let's not forget who finances our marathon... the 1,100 half runners.

Beautiful town, with great scenery.

To those who want more schwag, or who complain because the full fanfare is not available after 5 hours, I would suggest either sticking with the "big box" marathons and stepping up your training. This is a top-notch event - best scenery ever, accurate mile markers, well stocked aid stations with enthusiastic and helpful volunteers, EMT's sprinkled throughout the course, and this year, perfect running weather. If you are a marathoner, you will love this race. I am not a "big road" marathon fan generally, but of the 4 road courses I have run, this one is the best, hands down.

Steamboat is a beautiful run down a mountain valley. The majority of the course is run on a country road beside a rolling river and through mountain ranches with beautiful views. There is not much crowd support along the course, so if you need the support of a crowd then choose another marathon. If you want to run with a few other runners and enjoy the scenery along the way, you will not find to many marathons better than Steamboat. The course is mostly a long downhill with some late-mile climbing. Besides the light drizzle throughout the first half of the marathon, and a strong headwind along the finishing stretch, the running conditions were ideal.

This is my 3rd time running Steamboat and I deliberately ran without a watch to soak in the surroundings. The experience was my most rewarding marathon to date. I beat my goal time by a minute and would strongly encourage such an approach for most runners. Marathons are so tough physically, mentally and emotionally that removing the persistent need to stay on pace was refreshing. Steamboat was the ideal backdrop to clear the mind and enjoy the whole run. Okay, running the last 1.5 miles into the cold headwind was pretty draining, but I'll take that on my way to Boston in April.

Love LIFE,
Tim

We all know it's a beautiful town and a beautiful course. Overall I had a very good time. Nice restaurants + nice town + good people = a fine experience. But being asked to leave a comment here invariably leads to the discussions of what could be better - it's the nature of the beast. And mine involve the trials and tribulations of the back-of-the-pack runner.

I've been coming up for the Steamboat HALF Marathon since 1998, but this year was my first attempt at the FULL. It took me that long because of their intimidating 5 1/2 hour finish time requirement - I didn't want to get thrown off of the course....

So, after training enough to finally finish in the required time, I approached the finish line this year in 5:16. My 5-year-old son jumped off of the curb, joined me for the last 50 yards, and we crossed the finish line together, smiling and holding hands.

But the official Brightroom race photographer was nowhere to be found, so I get no finish line picture of this special day? I was told that he had left 15 minutes earlier because he was "wet." (?)

So was I.

What a disappointment.

Can we not assume that if we MUST finish within 5 1/2 hours, the support staff will stay AT LEAST that long as well? Last time I checked, I didn't get a discounted fee for alternate accommodations...

Perhaps these notes should also go directly to this professional photographer. Since I was certainly not last to finish, I can safely say there's many of us who would gladly chip in to buy him a sturdier poncho so we, too, could have the irreplaceable memories that the faster runners take for granted.

A quick note about the aid stations, too: I realize the weather got bad. This year, we slower runners really took some extra abuse from Mother Nature. Anyway, as my faster friend waited at the finish area for me in his warm hoodie, I was slogging up the notorious mile 22/23 hill in blinding rain, sleet and hail. Watching an aid station fold up its tent and scurry out of the elements as I trudged by was very deflating. I needed water (and more) in the worst way.

Changing gears, though: A BIG "thank you" to the one kind soul (I believe part of the race crew) who drove up and offered me a poncho - he might have saved me from a DNF. So yes, there were angels out there, too.

Just some honest comments - about real experiences - in case anyone wanted to read them. I sent them directly to the race director, too, but so far no reply.

I'll definitely be back - there's always next year....

It would seem that this race is one where you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Last time I ran it, it was a nice, warm day - but with one no-show aid station, which led to dehydration. This year featured some unexpected bad weather (rain, hail, strong headwinds). It is in the mountains, so the weather "forecast" is somewhat less accurate. (If there is any rain in the forecast, tuck a folded garbage bag into the back of your shorts for an emergency "hail/raincoat.")

The traffic management is unfathomable on this race (my opinion). Mostly very good; for most of the race, they had one lane blocked, and what little traffic there was had a lead vehicle to escort these cars through at a safe speed. Then all heck broke loose. For awhile, there was two-way traffic (I hoped to hell that they could see me through the rain?), no shoulder to run on, and no safety cones to provide a running lane. You had to hope that the cars swerved into the other lane to get around you, which they did unless there was traffic coming the other way (in which case they tended to cut it pretty close). The last miles had a wide running lane with safety cones, but lots of traffic and road noise.

Subway came through again with delicious turkey or vegetarian subs for finishers.

This is a great town and great race; they just need to be a little extra prepared for the unexpected.

This was my first marathon. I was expecting more out of the packet pickup area. The race organization was great. The course was great. Plenty of water stops with plenty of food. I was expecting a little more at the end, such as refreshments. With this race being the 25th anniversary, it was a little bit of a letdown.

This was the 1st race I ran during a "3 marathons in 3 weeks" road trip that I took in June. The course is scenic and provides views to take your mind off of the fatigue you might feel at certain miles. It was in the low 40's at the start, but quickly warmed up after about an hour, and by the time I finished (4:23 later), it was in the mid 80's, with no clouds in the sky, and with the sun beating down - wear sunscreen for sure!!! I had no trouble with the spacing of water stations, but I could see how it could affect some people. It was really relaxing running along the river at certain points - the sound of running water is always soothing! I also enjoyed the cows as they watched us runners run past their fields. Although there are some hills, there are only 2 big ones that did any damage that I could remember - one at about mile 3, which was about a half-mile long, and another at about mile 22, which was about a mile long. My goal was just to break 5 hours, since I come from Chicago and am not used to the elevation (8,100 feet at the start, 7,000 at the finish) or the hills. I still ran a 4:23, and felt fairly decent afterward. Compare that to a flat course at sea level in Port Angeles, Washington, on which I ran a 4:12. But, maybe since it was my first race at Steamboat, I was more prepared for it. If you haven't run it, I think you will enjoy this scenic mountain course to put on your resume!!

I thought this race was great for the scenery; the weather was good; and it was in a cool location. The hills are a little brutal at halfway and mile 22. Water stations could have been closer together. All in all, I had an awesome time. Spectators are plentiful near the finish. I would do it again. Do not expect a PR here.