Most importantly, this race contributed to a worthy organization, L'Arche-Mobile. The course was great with different looks of the host city including neighborhoods, colleges, parks and downtown. Fan support was way above what I had expected. The finishers awards were most special since they were made by L'Arche-Mobile residents (assuming the previous comment is correct). L'Arche-Mobile and the City of Mobile should be proud. One note of possible improvement would be to increase the number of water stops.

Congrats on a great race!!

The course covered beautiful residential neighborhoods still decorated for the holidays, then went through both the University of South Alabama and Spring Hill College. It did prove that there are some hills in Mobile but they were necessary to cover the different areas. I think this marathon will become very popular due to the time of the year and the great spectators and organization.

The First Light Mobile, AL Marathon was a winner from start to finish. There was online confirmation of your registration (even for people who mailed in their registration). The course was very well marked with large chalk/flour arrows at every corner plus mile markers on sign posts as well as chalk/flour markings on the road. The course was also well coned where necessary to keep car traffic in their own lanes coupled with outstanding police suuport. The aid stations were good if a bit far apart (about every 2.5 miles). The crowds were wonderful and supportive, many staying out for six hours plus to cheer everyone toward the finish. The finisher's medallions were each individually hand made by the L'Arche Mobile Foundation students, the post-race celebration included a ton of food and plenty of seating, and the awards (again individually hand made by the L'Arche Mobile Foundation) went ten deep overall, ten deep for Masters, five deep for Grand Masters, and very deep for age-groupers. An outstanding race.

Mobile has a pretty nice size running community and I'm sure there will be a fairly large group of them running. I live in the midtown area and see lots of runners training on some of our oak covered streets... Mobile in late Dec. can be extreme in both directions... hot or cold... the run itself will be very nice. A long warmup of about 8 miles then up a half mile hill then rolling hills then back up another half mile hill at about 18 and about 8 miles downhill back into the downtown finishing area... it should be great...