Nice day first half nice last half hills tough water stops freindly need a few more in that sun. I no they worked hard on medals but would like to see them made of metal. Pasta party great you did great guys thank you! I will be back.

If you come to this marathon expecting huge crowds of spectators, stay home. But if you enjoy a small marathon with a running start (no packed starting line), a relaxed run and some beautiful southern scenery this is for you. I ran the inagural run last year also and plan on making this marathon a yearly event. The course does wind around some and a few parts are boring, but the moss draped oaks, parks, and neighborhoods make up for them. There are only a couple 'bad' hills otherwise the course is fairly flat.

I had a real laugh when a group of a couple dozen geese crossed in front front of me while going through one of the parks. After the race I heard a few other people mentioning them and everyone thought it was a real highlight.

It seemed there were fewer spectators this year than last, but everyone was friendly and cheered. The water stops were OK, but only one had any gel and they were all out when I passed. I thought the registration fee was a little high (unless you register early) for not having more things such as gel, etc. along the course. There were several stops that had fruit, though which was nice.

As last year the finisher medallions were made by the L'Arche Foundation and are not very impressive, but I know their clients put a lot of effort and pride into making them. All in all a great job and a marathon I expect to see growing more and more as the years pass.

We drove from Chicago for a warm weather winter race. I was ill and almost did not make this race, however the race director offered to refund my entry fee, which does not happen at big events.
The course was scenic and challenging with few spectators.
The only down side was the course map did not state 'not completely driveable' and during a review of the course we ended up getting lost.
Great event which benefits awesome cause.
So if you're pursuing all 50 states mark this one for AL or if you want a smaller race which you get a good return for your dollar go to this race. The host hotel was only $55/night for downtown Radisson.

This is a well organized race with a great course through the historic district, colleges, parks and downtown. It is a friendly event to walkers and also includes a half marathon course. It contributes to a great cause, the L'Arche-Mobile Foundation. After finishing you receive a nice medallion hand made by the students of the Foundation. The only weak point is the spectators lining the course. They were very very sparce. A suggestion for next year.... advertise more the event. It is worth, and you could get a lot of more people running for a great cause and looking for a PR.

Pre-race pasta dinner was great, with a live band and good food. Course contained amazingly beautiful homes set against magnificent oaks. Weather was perfect, and the spectators along the way were very warm/friendly. Some portions of the course were not traffic controlled, but markings on the road (using flour) were clear. Handicapped folks at the finish line handed out the home-made medals, and helped me appreciate the goal of the event. Unmanned self-serve beer station at the finish line was unique, but otherwise this was a very well run event. Needs more local media support.

Marathon course is good for 10 miles and then it turned odd. We were looping around parks, running on uneven streets and dodging potholes in the road. The mile markers were not well placed and no one seemed to know where we were on the course. There were four time clocks on the course which included the end. Spectators were scarce. I went two miles without seeing one spectator and when you did see them, they had no idea if they were supposed to stare at you or cheer for you. On the upside, the host hotel was great.

Too few water stops. Sparce spectator support for most sections of the race. The packet pickup was changed at the last moment (about 6 blocks) and not all runners were notified in time. No beer at the finish line for the slow runners.

Great job in their first year. Fun city, with plenty of great restaurants. Great course layout through historic district.

2002 was a fantastic debut for the First Light Marathon. The course is interesting, very well-marked with enough hills to be 'challenging' without being overly so.
Crowds were enthusiastic, although there were a number of fan-free stretches.
With an 8-hour time limit and racewalk awards, Mobile is as friendly to walkers as it is to runners.

The course was well marked, yet the hill at the 18 mile marker was a bear. Not very many stations and fruit was no where to be found. Spectators very sparce the last ten miles. The food was four blocks from the finish line. Beer was available at the finish. Great cause, organizers were very open to suggestions and helpful hints. Should be much better in 2002!