This is a race that just keeps getting better. I ran it last year and loved it; came back and was not disappointed. The course is on soft track, very beautiful, the course markings are excellent (and I have gotten lost on more than one occasion in other marathons!), volunteers spirited and encouraging (thank you, lovely lady somewhere in the 20+ mile vicinity who said: 'you are making such good time!' This was a great boost, and so much more useful than the ubiquitous 'you're looking good.')
Details are lovingly attended to, from the dinner to the post race food and drink. Certificates at the finish and a beautiful medal make this a great run for first timers. This is a rare gem; get yourself here and see what a small marathon can offer!

This is the 2nd year on this course. The race was marked to perfection in it's first year. I thought that would be the best part of this years race. Boy, was I wrong! I ran the course as a spectator and the mile markers were off at just about every mile. I'm not taling 10-20 feet. More like a 1/4 of a mile short and long. It was very dissapointing. I spoke with the runners afterward and some said that ruined there entire races. For something that's so simple to plan, it's terrible to ruin other peoples hard training. Too bad.

This years race followed the same course as last year. Last year, it was marked perfectly. This year, the mile markers were inaccurate for 18 of the 26.2 miles. Some sections were up to 1/4 of a mile short. Others were equally as long. We went out on mountain bikes afterward and used a GPS to see if it was just me. They were in fact way off. How did this happen with the course being thae same as before?!!! The markings look like they were done on foot!! It made it impossible to tell what I was actually doing. I never knew if I was pushing too hard or too slow. My time was horrible as a result. Terrible leadership.

I ran this marathon (9/2004) and thought it was great! Very organized, awesome awards and unlimited beer at the finish, which my husband partook of! The course was beautiful! I agree there could've been a few more porta-potties on the course, but other than that, it was the best!

Nice job, PPRR!!

A very enjoyable run along Monument and Fountain Creeks. There was a nice variety in the course ? sometimes you were isolated from everyone except a runner or two around you, and at other spots there were fans and other trail users.

Because of heavy summer rains, there were some small washouts in the gravel portion of the trail. But for a plodder like myself, it was not a problem.

The organization was topnotch, including e-mail updates prior to the race and a fine hotel located near the race start. My only recommendation would be to place another aid station in the northern stretch of route.

But I found no bottlenecks and it was a nice crowd. Enough to have company on the run, but never enough to feel crowded. Definitely a race to consider when planning an early fall marathon.

AMD is a marathon worth doing. The course is interesting and challenging and a nice change from the urban road race. All aspects of the race are well managed and the experience was positive. A very small town feeling surrounds this race which adds to its appeal if you are looking for something different.

However, aid stations could use a little work. The first couple of stations squeezed the trail and caused a bottleneck. Move 'em back off the trail a bit. Also, Gu was to be available at 4 aid stations. I found it only at miles 10 and 20. The packs were set out on a table that you were to grab on the fly while water was available before the Gu table. Just not ideal. Gu needs to be handed out prior to hitting the water stop.

Volunteers were courteous and enjoying themselves and there were plenty of volunteers for each station.

I am a half-marathoner who did NOT run this race due to a personal injury, but my wife did, and the day before we biked the course trail so I have familiarity with it. There were a few rough spots, but it was a fun trail to be on. I was very impressed with the organization: 5 stars and more. This was clearly a race by runners for runners, and it showed. The details why are too numerous to list, but here are a few: an excellent but inexpensive official hotel; same for the pasta dinner; very well-marked trail; nice prizes; well-timed awards ceremony -- I could go on and on. And did I mention that C/S is a great place to visit?

One final thought: I encourage the organizers to keep the current out-and-back format. My wife loved the out/back course because it avoided the dreaded 26-mile bus ride needed in a point-top-point run. It is also an inherently simpler arrangement. More importantly, the prior course dropped 1300 feet over 26 miles, a steady downhill that, I understand, may look attractive on paper and to the uninitiated, but can be a killer on your quads and your legs in general. This course had nice variety, an aspect that would be lost by a reversion to the old path. This race is a gem the way it is; going back to the old PTP would diminish some of that luster.

Excellent job, Bob & Co.!

I ran this race in 2003, and except for the effect the altitude had on me, I had a wonderful time. The aid stations were superb and plentiful. Great volunteers as well. Only wish I'd had more time to get accustomed to the mountains. I drove from Kansas City and only spent two days before the run, so was no way prepared for the lack of oxygen. It really sneaks up on you. But the race itself was one of the most well organized and fun marathons I've run.

I ran this marathon on Monday (2003) and it was my first marathon. I was very impressed with the organization of the course/aid stations/registration/etc. The volunteers were amazing - I was impressed by their enthusiasm and encouragement for each runner who passed them. The aid stations were stocked with all that we needed. The scenery (once the fog cleared) was lovely. There were parts of the trail that were muddy and slippery, but other than that, it was a great course. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will try and train for it again next year.
Congrats to all who volunteered and who were involved.

Thanks to all the volunteers and race officals who made this a super event!