My third running of this course. This year, the porta-potty situation at the start line was better. I arrived just after 5 a.m. and had no problem getting parking or on a shuttle bus.

As others have said, I highly recommend that the race organizers have a separate start for the marathoners. Certain spots got too crowded.

I didn't see any electrolytes after mile 3 till after mile 10. Did I miss it? That was really my only complaint. Otherwise, organization was good and calm weather really helped make this a good race.

Post race, the medal was very nice, but I'm wondering how much more it would cost to put the year on it. Food was adequate, but with so many halfers, some items were already gone for the marathoners even for us sub-4 finishers.

Overall, I am satisfied with this race and will do it again next year.

The web page could be more informative. Knowing the sports drink and gels given out on the course well in advance is important. The expo was well organized and not too crowded when I visited (Saturday at 11 a.m.). I was in and out within 20 minutes. The starting line could be improved, with staggered starts for the half and the full. I got into position about 15 minutes prior to the race and was able to get within 50 feet of the starting line. The first half of the course is very scenic, but the second is much less interesting. I don't find this to be a big problem, as I usually just focus on running and don't really take in the sights along the way. I did appreciate the straightness of the course in many sections, which I think makes running on tired legs a little easier. The finish line was well organized, but most of the half marathon runners were already finished before the first marathoners started coming in. Again, a staggered start would seem to help. Spectators are thin, and there are times when you are running on sidewalks and surprising a few locals. Overall, a good race, which I would consider doing again.

My biggest problem is that there is not a single clock on the course.

The OC Marathon needs some tweaking to make it a much better experience.
1. Start the marathon 30-45 minutes ahead of the half marathon so the narrow areas within the first 6 miles before the Back Bay are open for running and less crowded aid stations.
2. Add a lot of disposable trash containers along the start area and add more portables.
3. Get two different-colored cups to distinguish between water and electrolyte drink, where applicable.
4. Have volunteers at every Mile Marker so the signs stay there since some were missing.
5. Have two gel stations instead of only one at mile 20.
6. Try to get another route for the 20-25-mile section, which is on a crowded bikeway and a dirt section.

Thanks for keeping this marathon going and keep improving the experience.

Please consider staggering the start times for the full and half marathons. Starting both at the same time makes no sense, especially considering that there are many narrow sections on this route.

There are few spectators, but they are enthusiastic!

Having no gels until mile 18 seems odd to me, and there was no info on the course website until almost race day regarding the brand of gel that would be available. This information is crucial, as runners can train using the same gel. I brought my own gels, as running for 18 miles without nutrition is not recommended.

This was my sixth time running the OC Marathon, and I think it has gotten better each year. For the first time since its inception, the course did not change from the previous year (some may like that, others may not). Although I don't want to focus on only the negatives, I'll get them out of the way first;

- No on-course timing
- Little entertainment on the course (I only saw 1 band)
- No Vaseline boards on the course
- Limited "goodie bag" at the expo
- No wave start (much needed!)
- Very crowded at Mile 5 when you cut under PCH
- Miles 20-23 on the riverbed are very lonely and "unscenic"

The positive aspects of the race are:

- The parking at the OC Fairgrounds was ample and relatively hassle-free (at least when I got there)
- The buses to the start line were very organized, numerous and timely
- The water stops were well stocked and the volunteers very helpful and nice
- I personally enjoyed the small "off-road" portion of the course around Mile 24
- The finish line was well organized and efficient, as was the first-aid tent (I needed some ice in the worst possible way!)

All in all, I think OC has gotten better every year, and although I'm still not a fan of point-to-point courses, this one is at least acceptable in its current configuration (although with the size of the race this year, a wave start is really getting to be a necessity). I hope the race directors can continue to improve this race each year as they recently have done, and I'll continue to reserve the beginning of May for the OC Marathon.

P.S. Thanks again to all of the volunteers who did a great job and are very much appreciated.

Good organization and communication prior to the race. The last half of course is dull, including a section of unpaved path. Few spectators, even at the finish.

This was my first stan- alone marathon in about 18 months. I chose it because the profile looks flat, but the first 3 miles do not bear that out. There are lots of rolling hills in those opening miles. The first half of the course is very nice - more by the water would be nice, and the parts on the reserve were quite and pleasant. However, the second half, save the short run by the arts area, was boring. Fan support was lackluster at best. The mile markers were way off at times. The second half on the bike trail was a joke. The trail was open and we had to dodge cyclists. Not at all that I had in mind when I signed up.

I chose this race as a Boston qualifier (didn't work out) and upgraded to the "VIP package." What a waste of $80. There was no special shuttle to the start as promised, no special corral as promised, and the VIP porta-potties were not manned (so anyone and everyone was using them). Finally, the food was taken away at the 5-hour mark (I got my massage, and looked up, hoping to get another omelette, and it was gone!). There were people finishing who would enter an omelette bar with no omelettes!!!

I can't say it was a terrible race; for a small race it was ok, and I may run it again next year to prove myself on the course. However, I'd never again invest the money for their upgraded package, and I think it could be made better, especially the course in the second half.

There were so many positives and hardly any negatives that I don't know where to start. Let's do it this way:

Positives:
1. 95% of the course. The terrain was varied and the scenery was mixed. From the ocean to the nature preserve to industrial areas to residential areas to a shopping mall to the fairgrounds, this was one of the most diverse courses I have run. There were a few hills and most of them were just blips on the radar.
2. Plenty of porta-potties. Unless you are one of the runners who likes to show up at the last minute and then expects a short line, porta-potties were plentiful and waits were short 45 minutes before the race. Porta-potties were adequately provided along the course. I darted into them twice along the course with no wait whatsoever.
3. Volunteers. From the expo to the water stops, the volunteers were friendly and helpful. How could a marathon ever be successful without them?
4. Spectators. Sure they were limited in some of the more remote stretches, but they cheered whenever I passed them. On several occasions, even the motorcycle police officers cheered as runners passed by them. All of the spectators were enthusiastic and provided plenty of energy.
5. The Hilton Hotel. Although we had to pay $15, they provided a shuttle from the hotel to the starting line. It was one fewer thing that I had to worry about and it allowed me to sleep an extra half an hour. The room was reasonably priced and the staff was professional and helpful.
6. Gear drop off/pickup. No problems whatsoever. For once I decided to keep my sweats instead of throwing them away and I had no issues dropping them off and retrieving them after the marathon.

Negatives:
1. The 5% of the course that wasn't positive. We were packed in pretty tight near the 5-mile mark when we looped under the road and came out on the other side. We were also packed in pretty tight in some areas as we ran through the nature preserve.
2. Combining the marathoners with the half-marathoners. The marathoners should start 30 minutes before the half-marathoners. After all, we are running 26.2 miles and should be entitled to special treatment. Perhaps the mile-5 bottleneck might be reduced with a staggered start.

I would strongly consider running this marathon again and would definitely do it again if the marathoners and half-marathoners did not start together. Great job to the Orange County Marathon organizers, volunteers, spectators and marathoners.

Three stars for the course: the first half is beautiful, but the second half is awful. There's nothing to see, and no crowd support, so you're just trying to get through the miles. Running three miles on the riverbed was bad too.

Four stars for organization: well, the expo was tiny; it maybe had about what seemed like 15 vendors. For a race that claims 13,000 people, they should have a bigger expo.

Two stars for spectators: there simply were none, which is fine, but again, being that its OC, there should be a lot more people.

Other than that: the weather was perfect, the start time is great, and it's not too crowded up front. The pacer was perfect through our finish time of 3:20.