It is clear that the Grand Rapids Marathon is put on by runners who care about putting on a great race. It's a medium-sized race with a lot of personal attention. It is this focus on the details that made this race an enjoyable experience for me.

The energy and encouragement of the volunteers at the water stops was fabulous and the spectators along the way were wonderful. The high-energy music made a difference, especially at the last few water stops near the end of the race. To be sure, much of this marathon is run away from the city and away from large crowds. The landscape is "interesting," a combination of rural, urban, and industrial.

The out-and-back portion of the race gave me a sense of perspective of where I stood in the flow of runners .

Overall, Grand Rapids is a fun, well-done marathon with a slightly off-beat feel to it. It is definitely worth traveling to. Oh yeah, I ran a PR too. That always helps.

I just ran this one for the second time (2009) and was again very impressed and very happy that I chose it over Chicago (although I live in the Chicagoland). This is a well-organized, well-communicated, and well-executed marathon for first-timers as well as veterans. As they say, this really is a marathon organized by runners for runners. Some perks of this marathon are: beautiful, scenic course (quite flat and paved); big enough for good energy and a good number of pacers, but small enough for short distance to the bathroom and parking; a short wait before the race; it's easy to find your family cheering you on and after the race; a nice, hot post-race shower available at the Y; first GU at Mile 8 and aid/food stations throughout (at least every 2 miles); great food after the race (warm chili, hot dogs, ice cream and beer on top of usual post-race foods like bananas, apples, bread, etc.); and great e-mails from the director who personally greets everyone at the finish line. This is a highly recommended marathon if you're trying to choose one for next year.

What more is there to say? This was my first of what is now four marathons, and hands down, I would have to say that this is the best organized of the bunch. Everything from the positive e-mails to the on-course support says, "Runner-friendly." If you are looking for a first-time race or an alternative to the big events on the fall schedule, this is the race for you.

The race was well organized. The volunteers were great. The t-shirt and socks were great! The finishing medals along with the soft ribbon were a nice touch. However, for a race that size, the overall awards were rather chintzy. They look like dollar store glass frames with the logo engraved. Come on, Don, those runners deserve better for their effort and high entry fee.

The 2009 version of this race was an excellent effort on the part of many volunteers. Food and drink were abundant during the entire marathon. The course was beautiful as well as flat. The medals and food at the end were without equal - not to mention the many breweries in the city. For me, the most important bonu was the three-minute walk from the hotel to the marathon and back.

This was my 19th half-marathon and possibly the best I've ever run in terms of organization and the course itself.

Starting weeks before, the RD contacted registered runners with e-mails about the details of race day. The information was great and helped me feel really "pumped" for the event. Race day was superb - kit pick-up was executed without a hitch. Waiting in the YMCA to start was wonderful and warm (it was very cool on Sunday) and the race started right on time. The course is gorgeous, winding its way first around city streets and then a fabulous string of miles on a paved trail - for the first time in a race, I actually took in the beauty of the setting because it was hard to ignore. The aid stations were very organized and the volunteers were top-notch.

Finishing at the Y, receiving a beauty of a medal and having a hot shower was the cherry on top of a great day.

What a wonderful race - I hope to tell as many of my running buddies about it as possible.

The course was changed to include downtown, and it was a big improvement over the trip past the water treatment plant. My three fastest times were achieved in Grand Rapids because you can run here, not just shuffle along like in larger races. Don gives the race a personal touch in everything about this race.

What a great day in Grand Rapids. The race director, the staff, and all volunteers are to be thanked and congratulated. You guys made it possible for all of us to have fun. I will always treasure my medal and time well spent. Everyone is treated as a winner, and the race director greets all runners at the finish. Hugs, sweat and smiles - that's the way to finish. Number 101 for me, and I highly recommend this event.

I ran in GR this year. I participated in the half-marathon. The race committee offers an early start for the "velocity challenged" penguin runners. A great offering. Usually, I am one of the last runners to finish a marathon, but running the half, and having the opportunity to start early I was able to watch the marathoners finish. Rest assured, each one was greeted by the race director, and each one was treated like royalty. There were no big money names or times at this race. Truly, more than any race I have participated in... this was a "people's" race.

This is a great race for anyone looking for a fall marathon.

Pros include:
- It was well organized. All of the necessities were covered. There were also some nice extras at the water stops (e.g. GU, oranges, gummy bears, and in one case, pickle juice).
- The director and race crew/volunteers were friendly, enthusiastic, and helpful. They're among the best I've seen at any race I've run.
- This is a PR or Boston qualifying course. It's mostly flat and the second half is fairly scenic.
- The race field is small, but not too small (under 2,000 for the full marathon). It's easy to get on pace and to find someone to run with.
- Grand Rapids has a compact downtown with hotels, restaurants, museums, and the expo/race all within a short walk.

No real cons, but some potential drawbacks:
- This is a small race with a small expo and few spectators. Bring what you need with you. Spectators are limited by logistics/parking to a few areas of the course.
- There are two out-and-back sections on the course, one fairly long.
- The pace teams are intentionally a bit odd. I didn't use them because my target fell between the 3:29:24 pace team and the 3:44:52 pace team. They won't be much help if you're looking for help with a Boston qualifying pace.
- The pre-race pasta dinner was nice, but poorly attended. The addition of a speaker might help draw a bigger crowd.