Can not say enough wonderful things about this race. This was the smallest race I have ever ran, BUT it has been by far one of the BEST! LOVED this race. The packet pick-up was very easy and quick. LOVED all the swag we received: NICE duffle bag, socks, gloves, tech shirt. Plus, FREE food, sodas, water, beer at the EXPO! Probably some of the friendliest folks at a race!

The race was a loop course which can be tough mentally. You do have to watch the arrows spray painted on the road to know which way to go because once the halfers finish, the runners are far and few. HOWEVER, in the second half is when I was really able to meet other runners and LOVED it! Met so many Marathon Maniacs and 50 staters! Great folks who were all really supportive and cheered one another on.

Can not say enough about the Finish line area! FOOD, FOOD, FOOD and I was near the end of the race! Free food, sodas, water, powerade, beer. UNREAL! Never knew I liked Diet Coke so much until after this race! I have always been served water or sports drinks post races and let me tell ya, after running 26.2 miles, that's the last thing I want to drink! THANK YOU FOR THE FANTASTIC POST RACE FOOD AND DRINK!

This was my 10th marathon, qualified me for Maniacs, and after I finish the 50 states... I WILL RETURN TO THIS RACE! Just hope it is still small by that time. :) Thanks, Baton Rouge for a wonderful event!

This is a no stress small marathon that is great if you're looking for some relief from the mega marathons. The Marriott host hotel was great and very accommodating. Great job on their part. The packet pick-up was a little disorganized. The food was late so we ended up eating at a restaurant. The shirt size I ordered wasn't there either. I was at the packet pickup when it opened so it's not like others got there before me.

They just hadn't ordered or received them. We did receive a small gym bag with throw away gloves and socks with our packet. The race is a double loop so you pass the start/finish once and you see it from the other side of the lake twice before actually finishing. Course is not flat but not difficult. Traffic control was good at major intersections but non-existant at secondary ones and we encountered some grouchy drivers.

On the second loop you're forced at one point to hop on a narrow sidewalk and climb a steep overpass making it virtually impossible to pass because there's traffic. Water stops were well stocked and manned except on the second loop when they're abandoned and become self serving which is OK. There aren't that many marathoners doing this race. Spectator rating is low because few people come out of their homes on race day. The race runs partly on the LSU campus and it was a ghost town during the race.

I guess everybody had left town to go to the game in Georgia. The race hits all the needed marks just some small technical gaffs that would be easily corrected. Excellent transportation to and from the race as parking is very limited. Would definitely recommend if you want to avoid New Orleans and get this race in for your 50 states.

Ran NYCM 4 weeks before and was looking for a bit different experience and sure got it in Baton Rouge. It was a no-hassle, friendly and intimate race. Very popular amoungst the 50 staters and Maniacs.

Packet Pickup is right in the lobby of the host hotel which took less than a minute. Got great swag of an awesome travel/duffel bag, short sleeve tech shirt, gloves and a pair of running socks with the chickens on them!!! The feed (free) at packet pickup was delicious jambalaya and pizza. Your choice of water, beer or soda. Delicious!!!

The race consists of 2 13.1 mile loops around the LSU campus and lake. It's not as boring as it sounds and many parts were actually quite enjoyable. Some of the pavement is in disrepair so it's critical that you watch your footing. After the first loop, I was worried that I might get lost on the course but the excellent markings as well as perfectly positioned police and volunteer traffic directors made it really easy to make your way around the course. A lot of the course is pretty hard pavement (asphalt with crushed rocks) in many places. This is definitely not a race for someone who has to run with an iPod as you really need to be very aware at all times, especially during the second loop as many parts of the course are not closed to traffic and you will be running on shoulders or making turns onto traffic. The course itself is fast with only one hill that I noticed. After reading previous years reviews, I was nervous about water stations being abandoned during the second loop. That never happened. All the water stops had wonderful volunteers giving out either water or Powerade. One stop also had the dancing chicken! The water station people were the best spectators!

Finishing the race was a thrill but the post race feed was even better!!! They were cooking huge vats of jambalaya, alligator tail as well as other Southern specialties. Coolers full of soda, beer, water, powerade. With a free prerace and postrace meal, low registration fee and the great swag, how the heck do they turn a profit?

Race was well organized. Very friendly locals. No hassle and easly logistics with a shuttle bus taking you to and from the host hotel to the start/finish. Not a race for people looking for bands, spectator support, etc. True runners' race put on by runners. Definitely 2 thumbs up to the race director, volunteers and locals!!!

The only suggestions I have for the RD
1) Have bigger cups at the water stations. Some of the stations used very small cups (like dixie cups)
2) Perhaps a few more porta potties at the start

A nice course with a variety of scenery: lakes, LSU campus, residential neighborhoods, plenty of shade. Volunteers at aid stations were GREAT; different 'themes' and cheered us on! Post-race was good; but give us the water/PowerAde as we finish (I had to go look for it). Lots of great food: jambalaya, beer, etc. Nice setting on the lake/beach to relax after the race. Great 'goody bag' with more than just a tech shirt; also a BR Beach Marathon duffel bag, gloves, BRBM socks. All the race people were friendly and helpful. A great small race.

BRBM hooked me with the humor on the website. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality/quantity of race organization & schwag. Overall the race was well-communicated & managed (a more detailed course map on website would help with course preview drive); expectations set, were met.

Many extras made it personable, unique & nice; regional food (more dishes for vegetarians, please) at packet pick-up & post race was plentiful and at which participants felt in no rush: strangers/folks sat & socialized, ICE COLD soda/beer at the Finish Line on a warm day was GREAT!!, Nice/funny medal, good shirt, tote bag, gloves (not needed) and great running socks. BRBM is a good value, friendly, easy-going, manageable, flat race along pleasant neighborhoods & waterways. Highly recommended.

I LOVED this race from beginning to end! Popular among 50 Staters and Marathon Maniacs, with good reason!! Easy packet pickup, great tech shirt and socks, and yummy pasta feed gave everyone a chance to catch up at the end of the year, and make plans for 2011. The RD was extremely accommodating of those with flight constraints, and allowed an early start. Pretty flat, two-loop course, wound through the LSU campus, along the lake, and through some pretty neighborhoods. Streets were well policed, and with the exception of one water stop on the second loop (completely deserted), the volunteers were incredible!! I can't say enough about the food at the finish - jambalaya, alligator, chicken, soda, BBQ - you name it, they had it!!! A great bang for your buck, easily spectated for your non-running friends, and really cool finisher medal. Make this your LA marathon destination - you can always visit The Big Easy post-race!!

This race was far better than I expected. Craig and Crew did a great job keeping this race optimal. BR Police were wonderful with traffic (minimal on the course) One water stop was empty at about mile 20. But let me tell you: the food and fluids at race-end were unequalled in any of my previous 20 marathons! I actually liked the double loop. I knew what to expect for the last half of my marathon. I'm trying not to repeat states yet, but if I were going to repeat Louisiana, this race would be it!

I chose to run this race because it fit the calendar en route to doing all 50 states. I have to say, though, that of all the races I've done over the years, this one stands out as one of the best. The registration area was well organized and efficient. Good assortment of race amenities like socks, gloves and tech shirt. The pre-race meal was really a nice thing for the racers, especially the Jambalaya!

The course itself was situated on and near the LSU campus. It's a beautiful campus to run through. Yeah, it's a two-loop course, but it's still scenic and far from mundane.

The finish area was not typical. Like I've read in many other reviews, there were tons of coolers with a wide variety of pop, beer and water. The post-race food was incredible. There were lots of choices, including some alligator dish. If I had four thumbs, I'd give the race four thumbs up. I would highly recommend the race for the 50-stater crowd for sure. The finisher's medals were colorful and of good weight. The age group awards were unique and topped off an outstanding race.

What a fabulous marathon! The expo was quite a surprise: great food and drinks as well as various products. The race was well organized. The course was well supported, with good traffic control. The food post-race was incredible. I have never seen so much food - and such a variety - at the end of a race! Also, endless coolers of various beverages - all icy cold! That was appreciated because the weather was so warm. The race director was the best! I LOVED the green tech shirt and the medal. I would do this one again! Thanks to Craig and all of the volunteers!

This was my 20th marathon. I've run all over the country, on all kinds of courses. They have a great course here, the organization is pretty good (up to a point), and the traffic control was great. However, this race really caters to the halfers.

It's a two-loop course, and everyone starts together. But during the second loop of the marathon more than one water station had packed up and left before I got there. One (17 mile) was gone before the 3-hour mark. The course is not flat but there are not really any major hills. There were several residents out at the side of the road cheering for the runners during my first loop, and some even stayed out through the time it took me to get through the second loop. The shuttle to and from the hotel really was welcome, since there is very little parking at the start/finish area.