This was a very nice race - highly recommended. The course was scenic and varied (downtown, posh neighborhood, etc.). Although there were not any signature hills, just about the entire course was composed of slight uphills and downhills. Very little was level. Courses like these are attractive because they don't put much stress on either the quads or hamstrings for long periods. Very good crowd support - very supportive. Water stops were about every 2 miles, which was good because many cups were only 1/3 or 1/4 full, necessitating taking 2 cups or getting water every 2 miles, instead of every 4 miles or so.

It was nice to have at least two large hotels within 5 minutes walk from the start and finish. Packet pick-up was easy, but it couldn't hurt for the race sponsors to put a sign outside of the building so that us out-of-towners won't have to guess where to enter. Also, my hotel didn't plan on a pasta buffet; but, after I raised the possibility, it agreed to do so. Another nearby restaurant also had a pasta buffet. Strangely, neither advertised the fact. So, if you are planning on running the race next year, ask the eateries whether they plan to have a buffet.

It was great to be in the Midwest again, where everyone from the race volunteers to the hotel staff to the the town folk are friendly and helpful. Great job, Kansas City.

When they say this course is hilly, believe it. In my opinion, this is not the course you want to try to qualify for Boston on for the first time. It was a nice course in that you get to see the area. Host hotel was nice. Expo workers weren't 100% informed about the events of the weekend. It took a lot of asking to find someone that knew about the pasta dinner. Everyone was very friendly. Pace group leaders were great. Two shirts and a medal for finishers was cool.

This was an awesome marathon! Some pretty challenging stretches. If you got to mile 23, it was downhill from there. The crowd was really into it! That being said, there were stretches where there was no music and no one to be seen. No fault to the spectators as far as I can see, but that's why the 4 instead of the 5. I think there were aspects of the course that made it hard to access certain parts, which is why I rated it a 4. The other reason was only due to the fact that there were no periodic clocks for checking your time. I don't like to wear a watch when I race. This made it tough. The pacers were absolutely awesome, so if you stuck to them, you were gold. Expo was awesome. Highly recommend attending informative seminars. They made a big difference. Huge bang for your buck: $80 gets you a t-shirt, a tech-shirt, an awesome medal, and a pretty decent goody bag. Very scenic. Do it. You won't regret it.

They ran out of half marathon medals for hundreds of finishers. Nice course and good support, but not receiving a medal is not the last thing you want runners to remember, especially for those completing their first half, or those from out of town.

This was my first marathon, and it was a life-changing experience.

A very nice urban marathon. KC is a lovely city and the course (while very hilly) showcased all the best areas. Very challenging, but fair and never boring. Glorious fall weather. Enthusiastic spectators. Organization was excellent, except for having to weave in and out of the half marathon walkers the last five miles. Had to dodge numbers of them coming down the final quarter mile straight to the finish line. I won the masters division and the announcer didn't even notice I crossed the line. Small point, but it would have been nice to be acknowledged. Would suggest coning the road off the last five miles to let marathoners pass unimpeded and perhaps have a separate finishing chute. Otherwise a great fall marathon to put on anyone's to-do list.

I've only done two marathons, both of them in Kansas City (2009 & 2010). The route is scenic and a bit hilly. The last incline from mile 21 to 23 is a bear.

My only gripe concerns the start. The race is getting big enough now that they need to stagger the marathon, half and 5K starts. There's too much jostling for position and wide turns at the start. The extra distance adds up. My Garmin read nearly 26.5 miles at the finish.

This is my 8th marathon and my first in Kansas City. Initially, it started out a little rocky. Their packet pick-up was not marked at all. It was in the middle of a hotel (in a ballroom) and neither the hotel nor the ballroom were marked. There were several other events at this time, so locating packet pick-up wasn't the easiest for out of state-ers.

The course was good- honest and tough, with good, long, hills.

The post-race left much to be desired. As I finished, I received a bottle of water and the only food they had were your typical bananas and apples.

Overall, I say it was an average marathon. When you finished, you received a finisher t-shirt. The spectators and volunteers were great, but the overall marathon was so-so.

A good event. My first and now favorite marathon. I would have liked to have more volunteers at the aid stations; getting in fluids was a challenge and it turned warm late in the race. The post-race food was minimal at best but the volunteers were awesome. Thanks to the kind army lady who assisted my cramping calve. I'll be back.

This was my second marathon. The volunteers were first-rate. The pace leaders did a great job. I can't say enough good things about them. This is a hilly course, especially miles 22 and 23, but the pace leaders did a great job preparing us for getting through it. Overall, this was a great marathon experience.