Awesome race!!! This was my second marathon and I couldn't have asked for a better course. It was extremely flat, and with the 6 a.m. start, you missed most of the heat. The course was set up for three 8.66-mile laps, with you running the .2 miles at the start. The spectators are mainly at the start, but you can have friends or family follow you easily on a bike. Water stations were well stocked, with water and Gatorade every 2 miles or so. The race director did a fantastic job. Recommended for anyone looking for a MI marathon.

Overall, a wonderful race. First, the pros: The 3-loop course is extremely flat, with hardly any elevation and/or rollers. It lends itself well to rhythm running. Also, the course is well marked. Another great thing were the volunteers; all were very warm, knowledgeable about the course, and encouraging of runners. I would say another good thing is the small field. Although this means fewer bells and whistles, it had a very intimate feeling throughout race-day.

The cons: While the volunteers were great, there were not that many of them, so at aid stations, you really only got one chance to run through and get a drink (e.g., you couldn't get multiple cups because there were only half people handing them out). Also, Gatorade was only on the course twice for each loop, and maybe next year, they could be on the course at all aid stations (versus just water at most). Finally, when you enter, know that this IS a mid-summer marathon, so expect heat and humidity, even with the 6 a.m. start. Now, I do not want the cons to outweigh the pros. Like I said, this was a great race, and for such a small organization, it was wonderfully executed. For those of you looking to run fast, I think the flatness of the course cancels out the summer heat (especially if you like to dial into a pace and hold it).

This race offers race-day registration and packet pickup. Starts at a high school with plenty of parking close to the start and finish, and with use of restrooms and shower in the school. The course is on well-surfaced, flat roads with a section of a nice, winding bike path. Water stops were well placed. The race director, Craig Douglas, gives this race a personal touch and does a great job.

This was the smallest race I had run in my short history of marathons. It was a personal best for me by over 4 minutes.

I had never run a loop course before, and this was pretty well done. I would have liked to see more port-a-potties on the course. The one on the course was located at an intersection where runners were going both ways, and someone jumped into it just as I was approaching, and I was held up 4-5 minutes while I waited.

The stretch of the loop where you ran under I-75 for the second time was really long, and seemed like a long distance without an aid station.

Overall, a good, small race, with good volunteers.

The new marathon course was adequate - pretty flat, with a few scenic spots here and there. The waterways and bridges, trails near gardens and flowers, and streets near the houses were all pretty enjoyable. I liked that they had people along it to take pics at cool spots, and that the course support was super and very supportive!

I think race organization overall was a bit lacking; there were no details on the website, although there were emails a few weeks before the race. Also, the RD and staff were very nice. Getting two shirts was cool and the medal was fine. Post-race support was good, with lots of goodies, and pre-race pick-up went smoothly.

It's a fine race, with nice people overall. They are really caring for all of the participants, and made sure that each of us - no matter how sloooooow - was well taken care of. :)

I definitely want to do this one again. There is nothing like the charm of "small-town style." The race director, Craig Douglas, really cares about his runners - even enough to share his cell phone number with out-of-towners just in case of trouble. Special touches like that are part of what make this marathon great. The course is GREAT with the three loops - it's easy to plant your energy gel and such just about wherever you want it along the route for easy access when you need it. And the course is flat. The people here were extremely friendly and there were plenty of water stations. It was just plain FUN! Yup, I'd do this one again, for sure! Thanks for such a great event!

This was my first marathon, and although I have no other courses to compare it to, this one seemed ideal for first-timers. I really liked the three-lap format (three laps at 8.66 miles each). Naturally the layout allowed you to know what was ahead, and best of all, it allowed my family to travel within the race course to cheer me on at multiple points (four points each lap!). The course's layout also allowed me to see/be encouraged by fellow runners, which I really appreciated. It's extremely flat (which I loved!), and has well-spaced drink stations. There were two bathrooms - one of which I didn't see until after the the first lap, but it was there. I was surprised at the lack of fans, but I was just more grateful for my family being there, as they were literally about the only ones out there. Everyone was super friendly and I liked the small-town, un-intimidating feel. Overall, I was very content with it! Nice job, Craig!

This was a very well-run marathon. Nice, new, flat, well-marked course - a total of three loops in a small community with good community support. For summer, you couldn't beat the weather (60 degrees and cloudy). Craig Douglas and his crew really care about the runners in a personal way, and it shows, from the multiple e-mail updates before the race, to the spirit of the aid station people and police blocking the streets, to the personal greetings for each of us before and after. Come join us in 2010!

It was a good course, but unfortunately I cramped and somehow injured my lateral collateral ligament on mile 20, which caused me to walk the last six miles. I always knew where I was on the course, though.

For a small race, this one was well done. It's on a very flat/fast course, so it should be a PR for most. The downside: it is made up of three loops, and the scenery is mundane. Great running weather in '09. Course needed more port-a-johns; having two on the course was not sufficient. The finisher's medal and awards were not well done. Few spectators. Overall, a good race for a small field and small town.