Not to be argumentative with anyone else that has posted comments here about the Baton Rouge Beach Marathon, but there are a few comments that have been made that could be looked at from a different perspective:

The singlets: I didn't feel that the singlets were cheap. They were short-sleeved technical shirts made by Brooks. They only had the Baton Rouge Beach Chicken logo on them. I liked them much better than shirts I've received in other events (including the Chicago Marathon) because they were technical shirts (not cotton) and they weren't plastered with any logos from the sponsors. Kind of refreshing and something that I will wear long afterwards.

Gu or other energy supplements: Like most runners that I know, I am kind of finicky and made certain to bring my own so I could use the same supplements during the run that I trained with and so I wouldn't be reliant on anyone else. Also, occasionally during the course there were spectators that were handing out candy canes and other sugar items to help pump up your sugar levels if you wanted to go that route.

Sparse crowds: It has been pretty well documented in this forum that this isn't the kind of marathon that has a high level of spectator energy throughout the entire course. The finish line did lack a little of that energy/climax that a runner would hope for. That being said, the post-race food, drinks and camaraderie were a lot of fun. The event wasn't so big that it became unmanageable and wasn't so small that it was forgettable. It was a nice balance.

I ran this marathon because it was a local Louisiana race. I knew the field would be small but I wanted to try it. The course itself was challenging. It had lots of long, gradual inclines that really took their toll on me. That, however, was where the good points stopped. The singlets were extremely cheap for a marathon. The weather was unusually warm, however, the organizers gave not help to the runners at the aid stations. No fruit, Gu, salty items, etc. were given at the aid stations; only water and Gatorade. The course was a little confusing at the half marathon point, and if you are not careful, you will end up running through the half marathon finish. The finish line was poor for photo ops because the finish sign was facing the wrong way and the clock was barely readable. There were very few spectators, especially on the last 13 miles. Be prepared for a lot of miles of running alone. If you are a Baton Rouge local, this is an ok race. But if you are looking for a real marathon experience, you are better off running New Orleans.

The Baton Rouge Beach Marathon was a great experience. As many others have previously indicated, the event is well organized and there are a lot of little extra things the organizers do that add to the fun.

I'm from Chicago and came to Baton Rouge earlier in the week to make certain that I would be acclimated to the area. I wanted to do a practice run on a section of the course on Wednesday and the great news was that the course was already marked out several days ahead of time.

The course itself ran through the heart of LSU's campus and through some of the local neighborhoods. It was very attractive and, although the weather was ideal, it was laid out mainly in areas that kept the runners out of the direct sun and in shady tree-lined streets. All major intersections were covered throughout both legs of the double-loop course by police, so traffic was never a problem, and the water stops and bathrooms were ideally located. Never had a problem with any part of the course. I felt that the course ran fast, too.

Although the crowd wasn't very big throughout the course, it didn't detract from the run in any way. The people that were out were all friendly and the water station volunteers were all helpful and added to the fun by dressing in costumes like bananas and cheerleaders.

The packet pickup was pretty busy but the lines moved quickly and there was a great array of free food and drinks available. The after-race event was pretty elaborate, too - several different kinds of foods ranging from jambalaya to hot dogs, and there were plenty of different kinds of drinks, too, ranging from water to pop to energy drinks and beer.

It was a great event and I couldn't have had a better time. My thanks go out to all of the people who organized this event to make it a great time!

This may not be a great event for a first-timer, but for anyone else, this is the best marathon event in LA, hands down! Baton Rouge is a beautiful city and the course travels through the most scenic parts of town. Views include LSU, Tiger Stadium, historic mansions, scenic waterfronts, and tons of huge oaks and Spanish moss. This is the premiere, down-south race! There are no expo, no elite Kenyan teams, no prize money, and an extremely small field, but very, very well organized and beautiful course. I will be back next year. Thank you, BRBM!!!

This race just gets better every year. I enjoy this event so much. The weather gods smile on this race and this edition was sunny with an occasional breeze. Warm, but could have been much worse.

A two-loop marathon has its own challenges, but I for one enjoy the contrast between the first lap and the second. There's a big old half-marathon composed mostly of local people, with a very impressive contingent of LSU students and staff thrown in. No other SEC town could have better town-gown relations or participation. There was noticeably less traffic than usual - perhaps because of the road trip to the SEC Championship football game in Atlanta. The second lap was more fun after teaming up with a first-timer who needed a bit of encouragement.

Because I lived here years ago, the course makes me feel nostalgic. I caught my first fish in University Lake. I remember when the Lake froze in '62....

How they manage to keep that wonderful alligator avec sauce piquant for the slower boys is beyond me. There may be 4 or 5 demi-marathoners these days for every two-lapper, but the food and drinks are there big-time no matter how long it takes. On a fair weather day, the runners are joined in the late morning by hordes of recreational runners and walkers enjoying the lake area, but that only adds to the ambiance of the event in its latter stages.

The race is graced by one of the nation's finest race photographers. Her photos are generally first-rate.

A word to the wise - come early if you want finish line parking. When they say the parking is limited these days, they ain't just woofing. Finally, all that online diatribe couched in feudal parlance about knights and such - it's absolutely metaphysically true! The vassals are loyal to the benevolent but tyrannical lord of this manor who insists on universal kindness and civility.

Well, come race day I wasn't as prepared for this marathon as I would have liked, but I finished, and only a little slower than the average finishing time, which is fine by me. The second half of the race was a little lonely, as others have said previously, but the course is nice and interesting, and everything seemed very well organized. The one question I have is related to the very professional-looking photographer taking pictures of passing runners.... Where can we get a look at those photos???

Other posters have adequately described the course, delicious food, goodies (shirts, etc). This is a great training run for bigger events (will certainly check your mental strength) in that there is low (but good) crowd support. Your determination is especially checked once passing the half (you will run most of the 2nd half by yourself). Hats off to this running club for a spectacular job. Good Cajun folks passing a good time. Planning to run again in 2007.

Although I didn't do so well due to numerous factors, I enjoyed myself. The weather was perfect: mid thirties at start, low fifties at the finish. The course was relatively flat, run on LSU campus and nearby neighborhoods decorated for Christmas. This is a small, running club affair. I couldn't find any mention of the race in the local papers the day before or the day after. Most people were running the half. There were plenty of water/aid tables and people staffing them on my first loop, but the second time around, there were some stations unstaffed (though they still had abundant fluids out). I had plenty of company on my first loop, but the second one was rather lonely. There was one scary place on the second loop where we had to cross the street and I had to stop and let cars pass first, then cross and run on the sidewalk of a railroad overpass; this point had traffic control on my first loop. I'd never done a double loop course before, and with its numerous twists and turns, this one drained me.

Still, I would recommend this race to someone who's done a few marathons. There were all sorts of nice things not mentioned on website or flyer. Enough food served at packet pickup (gumbo, jambalaya, salad, pastries) to qualify as dinner. In addition to nice short-sleeve technical shirt, packets included Defeet Socks with the BRB Marathon design. At the end of the race, there was a finisher's technical LS shirt, a pair of Spenco sandals (neither mentioned anywhere), and a very nice medal. Post-race refreshments included an abundance of fresh fruit, water, sodas, "alligator piquant," gumbo, jambalaya, hot dogs, and pastries, served up by some very friendly folks. Shuttles to and from the host hotel were there when they said they'd be. Host hotel was great for the price, and close to the start/finish. There were lots of fun holiday things going on; I went to Nachidoches for their Holiday Lights Festival after the race.

This was my 3rd marathon and I had been a 5-hour marathoner for a while. I was so surprised to have knocked of half an hour from my time. Though it started out at 29 deg. F, it turned out to be perfect weather to run the perfect race. The sun being out helped warm things up a bit.

Packet pickup was well organized and was surprised to find yummy food to top off the evening. Really enjoyed the friendly volunteers and the light atmosphere. Bonus: the socks with chickens and the short-sleeve tech shirt. Extra bonus: long-sleeve finisher's tech shirt. Was not expecting that last bit.

The second half of the course was a bit lonely in terms of spectators, but was I was actually okay with that. There were two unmanned water tables, but no biggie. At least there were cups filled with water and PowerAde. Found that a few simple mantras helped to get over minor hills/bumps in the road. Nothing serious, minus the overpass.

Post-race food was great! Hot gumbo after a long race hit the spot. People were once again very supportive and friendly.

Of course, double-loop courses are never great, but this one really wasn't bad. Not quite as flat as I expected, but still a reasonably fast course. If you aren't from the area, running through these neighborhoods was a lot of fun. Loved the southern architecture. LSU was kinda ugly, but otherwise a fairly scenic course. The thing this race has going for it is the organization. Seemed perfect to me. Started on the dot, everything was marked well, shuttle system was flawless and not backed up at all, and lots of freebies. The slip-on 'shower shoes' at the end were ingenious!! Perfect answer for those swollen and tired marathon feet. And of course, the post-race food and beverages are totally unmatched anywhere. Great job folks!!