One of the truly super organized marathons I've run and I have been in some of the famous ones. Great volunteers at aid stations and intersections controls, best post-race party anywhere (it's going in full blast when you finish the race). Two shirts (and the finisher's shirt is the best I've received at a race). Great medal.

The course is mostly flat, or at least it seemed that way to me. It had two long, gradual hills - not too bad. The section of the race through the residential area was a sight to see - large mansions.

Only negative was that there were not many spectators for a city marathon.

This year the weather was a perfect 48-55 degrees.

This was a great marathon! I didn't think I'd enjoy the double loop, but it wasn't bad at all. It was hilly, but not as tough as I expected, especially the first time around. The post-race party was fun and the medal and TWO shirts were a great incentive to run and finish. The race was well-organized, water stops were fully stocked, fans were excited... overall it was great and I highly recommend it!

I'm not a big fan of double loop courses, preferring to go somewhere new with each mile. But with more than two thirds of the entrants doing the half marathon over the full, I can understand the organizers logistical reasons, and quite frankly my ability to sight-see diminishes dramatically at 18 miles-plus. Weather was perfect this year. Still a pretty nice course starting downtown, passing historic sites, University of Alabama campus, Five Points and other upscale neighborhoods, with a couple of decent hills, times two of course. Great organization, and plenty of aid stations - some with gels, and all with porta-potties. Yummy pulled pork sandwich along with the usual water, electrolytes and fruit post-race. Technical finishing shirt and very shiny iconic finishing medal awaits you. Now I have to figure a way to weld it to the hood of my Pinto. Thanks, Birmingham.

Awesome!!! My new favorite. I was treated so incredibly by the locals. Met a gentleman in a coffee shop who invited me to have breakfast with him and his friends - a complete stranger, just because we were runners. GO TO BIRMINGHAM. RUN THIS MARATHON. YOU'LL LOVE IT.

This was my 7th Mercedes Marathon and it's still one of my favorites! GREAT race packets, easy to get through packet pickup, fantastic medals and THE best post-race party around! I didn't think I would like this year's double loop, but I did. Thanks again, Val, for another great race!

The race was very well planned and executed. Hills were not bad, although it was up and down most of the way. They were gradual and not too long. Weather turned out to be better than predicted and many came out to cheer on the runners. I really enjoyed the after party with free beer and BBQ. The band was good too. I would do this one again. The only problem was having the race on the day after Valentine's Day prevented us from getting into any decent restaurants for carb-loading. I imagine other marathoners ran into this problem across the country.

The Mercedes Marathon was all that was advertised: a challenging but fair course, great organization, super friendly volunteers, well-selected music at the start line, enthusiastic spectators and excellent give-aways, including a technical long-sleeve t-shirt for finishing the marathon. The double-loop course has a tasty series of hills that do not seem like much the first time around but pack quite a punch the second time (in the 20 - 22 mile range). One tip: a reviewer last year suggested staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Tutwiler. I took her advice and it could not have been more convenient to the expo, the start/finish line (one block away), and the half-marathon mark (for any friends or family who want to see you mid-race). I am glad I made the trip to Birmingham.

After years of running many half marathons and a couple of marathons, I've come to the conclusion that the most important thing about a race is organization, and this one had it - from the expo to the recycling containers at the end. Very well done. Great aid stations... great crowd support... great medal... great race!

My first full marathon: lots of fun, well-organized, tons of volunteers. The full marathon course was a 2-lap route, which was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I thought two laps was helpful as a first-timer to help me gauge how I was doing. From reading online, I think the course has been very hilly in previous years, but in 2009 the course only gained just over 100 feet in elevation from one gentle hill. I would definitely recommend this race for first-timers if they keep the hilliness of the course to a reasonable level.

Course - Two loops of the half marathon course. With one short exception, I thought the uphill grades were gradual, and I hardly noticed them. There was one long downhill at mile 9 and 22, and if you can take the brakes off your legs, and risk your quadriceps, you can make up some time in that mile.

Organization - Packet pick up was quick, organized, and efficient. Runners were not called to the corral until about 15 minutes for the race, so there was none of the energy-zapping waiting and standing in a corral that you get with the mega marathons. A nice, cotton, long-sleeve T-shirt comes the goody bag - plus a technical finisher's shirt at the finish line. And the finisher's medal is pretty good. Aid stations were plentiful, and many were handing out much needed snacks, such as orange and banana slices, GU, cookies and candy.

Spectators - This is not New York or Chicago, so I was not expecting a wall of people on the course, but the people out there were energetic and enthusiastic. I was surprised at how many were out.