My list of the highlights:

Well organized; you're well taken care of, especially for beginners. Everyone is genuine, kind, and helpful. No big attitudes to contend with anywhere. Elite runners cheesing it up for pics with the rest of the crowd prior to the start. Bags of water, GatorAde, and ice at every mile - great idea. (Need to stay hydrated - especially if you're on the course for more than 4 hours - and I was DEFINITELY on the course for more than that: 6:16:12.) Lots of port-a-potties along the way - enough said. Start in the early morning is a LOT of fun by torchlight. Sunrise over the mountains/hills is spectacular. Views of the shoreline are amazing. Talking to locals along the route is a joy. A simple "Good morning!" is always followed with a reply and a beautiful smile. Younger locals might even jog along for 50 yards or so. Course and event is friendly to walkers as well. (I did a fair share of walking in the heat of the day.)

Running in paradise. Recovering in the sun on the beach at Riu Tropical Bay. Highly recommend it. Would LOVE to do it again. (Now fighting WI winters.... ;-))

I ran this race in 2002 and it's growing fast through word of mouth. The Jamaican people know how to do it right!! Plenty of water, sports drink and NO SUN FOR TWO HOURS into the race!! NICE AND EARLY start. PERFECT. The spectators (although there are few) are up early cheering us on. Will I be back? YOU BET. I'll make it Jamaica again and again! God bless each and every one of you who put time and noticable effort into making this race one of THE BEST marathons I have ever partcipated in. And I've run PLENTY!!

Despite the limited resources, this marathon is very well organized, and in fact it is better than the Iceland Marathon. The course is flat. The only problem is sun, but again it is Negril. I would run it again in the near future.

I thought this was one a the best marathons I have ever run. The pasta party was a lot of fun the food was fantastic. Cold water bags were GREAT! The course has some hills. Everyone involved did a great job! Thank you for a wonderful experience; I look forward to this run again.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for such a great experience for my 50th marathon. I wanted it to be somewhere special, and that it sure was. I have never seen more joyful faces than that of the Jamaicans. This country is so very rich in the things that money cannot buy - you should just see the smiles on all those beautiful Jamaican faces!

This was a great course, and running in the dark for the first hour was awesome. I was almost sad to get to the end. Thank you so much to all race directors, volunteers, and spectators - my time on the clock was not my best, but the enjoyment of running a marathon has never been better. I LOVE YOU JAMAICA - I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!

I really liked the course. A road cut through a jungle with occasional views of the Caribbean. A little rolly between 9 and 22 but nothing you'd call a serious hill. The turnaround in town at mile 3 is the only thing that keeps it from being rated 5 stars - it was still dark here and the road was rough - they should consider some added lighting here. Organization was as good as many bigger marathons I 've run.

Absolutely the best pre-race pasta party ever. Fluid and aid are adequate - the water bags really work well there as you can spray yourself and it is a key to keeping the evaporative cooling going. The post-race awards party needs work. They duplicate awards which leaves some people out. They should take some of the pre-race food/drink budget and apply it to the post-race party. Very impressed with how they managed the traffic in the resort area - I was worried about this before because I'd had vacationed here before and knew there was no shoulder to this road. But 'no worries, mon'! Wasn't expecting much in way of spectators, but when we went through the small villages the people were out and supporting us - small in number but good enthusiasm. Some youngsters even ran or pedaled alongside me a couple times which was pretty neat. I had looked forward to this marathon for over a year and was not disappointed - it is one of the highlights of my running career.

Remember you are going to Jamaica - it is supposed to be hot and humid - train for it and plan on running slower than your best. I spent 5 weeks doing 5 to 8 milers indoors on a treadmill wearing a sweatsuit, and planned on adding 30-45 seconds per mile to my pace, and took probably 4 times my normal fluid intake during the race, and everything went just fine.

Congratulations, race organizers, for putting together such a great marathon! The pre-race party was amazing with great food and steel band! Out of the 7 marathons I have done, this had the most waterstops, with all the necessary hydration in innovative and handy bags! Along the course the volunteers were eager to support us runners! The reggae music along the course infused us with energy when it was needed! Adequate security, and medical personnel was present. It was nice to have volunteers on bikes checking on runners. We were welcomed at the finish with music, food, fresh coconut milk, and enthusiastic volunteers. They were there until the last runner finished. For the novice runner, beware: it's hot when the sun is out! Also the back half of the course is hilly. You might have to let go of a PR on this marathon and settle for having an excellent time instead! I'd do it again in a minute!

This was my first marathon and was done via the American Stroke Assocaition's Train to End Stroke Program. I trained for this in the fall and winter in Kansas City, and the average training temp was probably in the 50's, so I was NOT prepared for the weather.

The Good:
1) The 5:15 am start with large fire lit torches and drummers was awesome.
2) They use sealed baggies for the water which I have no doubt saved my life. I was able to take three or four at each station and put in in my singlet for later use...
3) The scenery was at times spectacular, with views of the ocean.
4) The pasta dinner was incredible. All of the local resort hotels had a contest for the best pasta dishes...


The Bad:
1) The weather... at the start it was 73 and humid... and the sun had not come up yet. By mile 13 it was in the upper 80's and 90% humidity. By mile 20 it was over 100 and 90% humidity. If you can run a sub 2:30 marathon, no problem, but for us mortals, the weather was horrible.
2) I heard from our TTES director that the police actually stopped a group of runners who were 100 yards from the finish line to let a bus get through.

3) This same person also witnessed a machete-wielding homeless person get into a fight with a security person right on the course.

4) When the scenery was good it was very good, when it was bad it was very bad. Outside of the resorts, Negril is very poverty stricken and it looked like it.

5) The spectators when there were any were very supportive. Unfortunately I found myself very late in the marathon with no one in sight running on blacktop in 100-degree heat and 90% humidity and no water stops in sight. If I had had any problems or needed medical attention, I would have been in trouble.

This race is outstanding! It was my 46th marathon and ranks among the best. I ran the second annual event and found the course to be mostly flat (very slight rolling hills between mile 9 and 22); scenic; well supported with plenty of cold water; Gatorade and volunteers at every mile; and the most friendly spectators and race supporters around. Honestly the crowd support is sparse in some areas but the cows and goats grazing along the side of the road and the scenic views of the ocean and the inland hills make for beautiful scenery to fill the gaps. Race organizers left no detail unattended to and the finish line stays open for the very last runner. Reggae music along the course will also motivate you. It is hot, I won't lie, so hydrate well and don't push for a PR if you aren't ready for the heat. Just enjoy the race and a fantastic getaway to Jamaica.

Participating in this marathon has been uplifting. Course was smooth, spectators enthusiastic. Plenty of water and assisstance.