This is my first small marathon, but it was wonderful. Steve and Paula, who host it, did a fantastic job. The goody bag was filled with neat stuff - great gloves, T-shirt, cups, protein food, etc. They had pizza afterward, cookies and all the fixin's. You won't be disappointed. The temp was 41 degrees, and the runners were all nice, with some real veterans there. The course was on a trail that led through the woods and along Lake Houston. It was very pretty. I will be there next year again, and so will my wife, who volunteered.

Steve and Paula put on an absolutely stellar race down in Kingwood. The course is a four-loop course through the woods on the Greenbelt trail in Kingwood. There were only 400 runners between the half and full marathon and it never felt crowded at all. There are not tons of fans but the ones that are present are extremely supportive.

Organizationally, this race is the best I have ever run (better than NYC, White Rock, Austin, and Houston). Everything is so personalized and custom, including the incredible two and a half-pound finisher medals we got at the end.

All in all, awesome race!

Great show for 2009! I've lived in Kingwood for 15 years but, until now, I have not run this marathon. Well organized, and the best goody bag ever! (Two coffee cups, long-sleeve shirt, technical hat, and a 32 ounce water bottle.) Although there were only 3 aid stations, they were spaced out so that you would hit each one twice during the 6.55-mile loop: perfect. The volunteers were magnificent! Post-race food - pizza, cookies, soft drinks - really hit the spot. Post-race socializing was great; complete strangers talked to each other like long-lost friends.

I have one complaint, though; I rode my bike to the race. Riding back home, I nearly broke my back trying to carry that 3-pound medal! Jiminy Crickets, that was a big medal!

Steve and Paula, your marathon is always great. Your support people are great. Thanks for waiting on me.

Steve and Paula Boone know how to put on a race and then some! These 2 magnificent people think of everything from registration to finish line, where hot pizza and warm, friendly greetings awaited even the very last finisher at about 8 hours. A flat, scenic loop run along a pine tree-lined lake and through a park setting began with a stuffed goody bag at package pick-up and continued with personalized racer signs throughout the course, along with well-stocked and enthusiastically staffed aid stations. At the end of the race, marathon finishers were delighted with a special surprise gift, a good finisher's medal, and tons of food. Then, to top it off, a wonderful marathon hat came in the mail, courtesy of the best-run marathon around. Thank you, Steve and Paula Boone. I look forward to seeing you there again in 2009.

I expected a four-loop course might get a bit boring, but the conditions were great... about 42 F at the start but clear and sunny, with nice views of Lake Houston and Kingwood's residential lakes.
Very pleasant way to start the new year.

This was a perfect, small-scale, friendly race - well-organized, with very personal touches like the individual message for each runner pinned to the trees. The 4-loop course is really beautiful - trees, lakes, wooden bridges. The paved trail is flat and fast. Volunteers were outstanding. Well-stocked aid stations, and loads of pizza and cookies at the end. As well as the above-average shirt, medal and hat, each finisher also gets a small soft toy labeled with their finishing position. Few spectators, but the other runners/walkers provided all the support you need. There can be no better way of celebrating the beginning of a new year. I intend to return.

This was an outstanding race. It was well organized, yet small and friendly. The Boone's did a fantstic job on this marathon - Steve Boone even ran the race with us. It was cool at the start, but warmed up, as did the runners. This neighborhood, north of Houston, is carved out of a for. The marathon was a run through the paved forest trails, along part of Lake Houston, and through spectacular neighborhoods. It was a 4-loop course, but was not boring. The water/refreshment stops were appropriately spaced. At the start/finish line there was an abundance and variety of carb snacks - and people. Spectator/fan support was good, though not abundant. Timing was done manually. I highly recommend this race for starting the new year in 2009.

Everyone is so nice. I am used to the larger marathons, so I was a bit worried knowing that there were only about 300 runners. It was one of the BEST that I've run. The course was flat and fast and I personally liked the 4 loops; it almost made it easier psychologically. Ran a PR. Not many spectators but there was one woman out on the course who was such a great cheerleader; I looked forward to hearing her cheer me on. The other runners are also very supportive of each other, so you have a field of supporters. Thanks to everyone involved, and the volunteers ROCK! Steve and Paula are so kind and helpful.

Fast, flat, well-planned, well-stocked, out-and-back course on a concrete running trail along Lake Houston. The goodies (t-shirt, hat, medal, and finisher's monkey) are fantastic. That's right. You heard me. Finisher's monkey. All-you-can-eat pizza and soda after the race. Staffed by passionate runners who are totally into it. If you want to qualify for Boston, this is the one!