This marathon is for the type of person who likes to run alone and doesn't need the constant cheering from fans. From miles 3-26, I saw and passed only two other runners.

But I felt like royalty when I reached the aid stations because I was the only runner there! All the volunteers cheered and offered plenty of water and Gatorade, and sometimes fruit or Gu. And there were PLENTY of aid stations (maybe even too many?).

The course is virtually all downhill. This is not as easy as you might think. But, if you train properly (i.e., make sure some of your long runs are downhill continuously), then you'll have a great run!

Cool things: the awards were nice and I like the duffel bag and potato sack. The race shirt is a unique fit. The bread at the end was perfect nourishment. The free showers were soooo nice. (Can we get access to the pool for next time?) Also, we have FREE access to the race pics!!

Indifferent: The pre-race dinner was unimpressive, and I thought the post-race potato bar was kind of gross (good idea though, and the servers were VERY friendly).

Bad things: I got off course near the end. I followed traffic cones into a parking lot, but thankfully a helpful citizen directed me back to the course.

All in all, it was a great time!

This was going to be my fourth and last marathon, but the beauty of the scenery, the professionalism of the organizers, and the friendliness of the participants convinced me to keep running; I am already preparing for next year's race in Poky. Thanks to the half-marathoners who cheered for us as we reached the 13th mile. :-) It was exactly what we needed - thanks guys!!!

This is a very well-managed marathon, and there's definitely a sense that the community is behind it. The volunteers were absolutely wonderful. The pre-event dinner was great. The course is challenging because it is essentially continuously downhill for the first 12 miles, which led to me cramping up pretty badly. It was also warmer than I would have liked; it would be nice if this could be run a couple of weeks later in the season.

Pros:
The downhill at the start was nice but forced me to go out faster than I should have (my bad).
Nice view.
Beautiful weather (a little warm at the end).
Nice post-race setup.
Excellent pre-race meal at a great price.
Showers available after the race was very welcomed.
An official Idaho spud post-race meal.

Cons:
If you didn't have someone to give you a ride back to the host hotel, or didn't want to walk the 6 miles back to the Ramada, you were forced to wait until the awards ceremony was over to get a ride back to the Ramada. I didn't plan on winning a medal and would have preferred to get an earlier start on my drive back home. Since there were only about 10 people on the bus back to the hotel, maybe let one bus leave at 11:30 and one after the awards ceremony.

This was my first marathon, and I ran it at age 10. It's a great first-time marathon - I highly recommend it to any first-time marathoner.

I loved this marathon and only wish I could've been in better shape to withstand the beating my legs got through the first half. This flat-lander certainly needed a lot more downhill running practice. Everyone was so very nice. One of the crossing guards actually ran along with me for a bit when it appeared a car was not going to stop. I loved the entire experience!

- Marv Winters, OK

Kyle and I had a great time driving from Kansas to Pocatello for the marathon. We were amazed at the beauty that surrounded us during the entire race. The support from everything regarding Kyle (10 years-old) completing his first marathon was very nice and made the trip one we will NEVER forget.

This may have been the most fun I've ever had in a marathon. I ran past the 1/2 marathon starting line a few minutes before they started. They gave me such a big cheer that you would have thought I won the race. Thanks all you 1/2 marathoners. The photographers even put my picture in the newspaper. Thanks guys. The organizers did an excellent job from getting everyone to the start promptly to running a great post-race set-up. The volunteers must have more stamina than the runners. I saw many volunteers who stayed around for hours serving refreshments to the runners and then cleaned up afterwards for hours - that's dedication. They had baked potatoes with chili, cheese, onions, sour cream and more... and you could go through the line as much as you wanted. This race was better in every way than many more expensive marathons that I've done. I'll be back as often as I can.

Race Director Mike Calley (no relation) merits recognition as one of America's top ten marathon chiefs! Pocatello was a magnificent experience, starting with the $10 five-star pasta dinner & all the way to the post-race meal of an Idaho baked potato stuffed with hot chili. Traffic control was extraordinary: police were abundant and drivers were considerate. As we ran the first several miles downhill, the views of a glimmering sun peeking over the majestic mountains was just as motivating as hundreds of roadside cheering fans. Even saw a buffalo on the course! The temperature warmed from 40 at the start to low 70s at the finish, making the post-race celebration enjoyable. Yes, there weren't many fans, but the scenery more than compensated.

GU was handed out three or four times and, most strategically, it came about 100 yards before the water/Powerade stations, giving runners a chance to wash it down. Volunteers, townspeople, and race officials could not have been more sincere and helpful.

The long, gray technical shirt with yellow and black lettering was the nicest I've seen. But even better was the five-pound sack of potatoes that everyone received. The age bracket awards were impressive. One gentle suggestion: give the marathoners their awards first since many are from out of town and must arrange their travel.

We also visited Fort Hall Indian reservation and met several of the Shoshone-Bannock tribes - descendants of Sacajawea, the Native American who led Lewis and Clark through these same mountain passes two hundred years ago. On our way back to fly out of Salt Lake City, we stopped at Antelope Island state park and saw several herds of buffalo, Pronghorn antelope, and a coyote, along with thousands of shorebirds.

Give Pocatello five stars: you don't want to miss this one.

As has been reported from earlier years, the 13 downhill miles will play havoc with a flatlander's thighs. For me, seeing a moose on the side of a mountain during the first 10k made the ache worthwhile.

The number of aid stations is more than adequate. They are very well-stocked and the volunteers are the friendliest and most enthusiastic of any marathon I have run.

The finish line had the results posted promptly, there were plenty of refreshments, and everyone seemed to enjoy the baked potatoes. The awards were very nice.

Pocatello is not a destination marathon, but if a runner is looking for a race in Idaho, Pocatello's 'Running the Gap' is highly recommended.