This was my first time to run the full marathon after running the half last year and all I can say is, "Great!!!"
I have NO complaints. Course was great! Fans the best. I even got blessed with holy water at mile 10. Plenty of fluids and the workers were super. If you want first-class service, run Houston. I ran a PB (3:28), and qualified for Boston. Thank you, Houston.

I have marathoned 68 times, including Boston, NY, and Chicago - each several times. This was my first Houston race, and it is very obvious that these guys know how to put on a marathon. All other marathons could learn from this organization, as it was "over the top" first-class for the runners. So many little extras: food was outstanding, finisher's T-shirt terrific, President George Bush at mile 19, plenty of toilets, good water stations, outstanding volunteers... on and on. If you want to see how marathons should all be run... this is it! I have been marathoning many years, but I wish I would have raced here sooner. I'll be back next year.

Enter early, as this one fills quickly... usually the day it opens. I now can understand why!

Year after year, Houston puts on a race that is well organized and lots of fun; 2010 was no exception.

First the bad (because no one is perfect): If you were in the back, the first few water stops had been completely overwhelmed - few fluids left, and no Gatorade available until mile 12. Also, the expanded field meant more congestion until the half-marathon broke off at mile 9.

The good: The gates around the starting corrals have been removed, so there was super easy corral access. The course was very well marked, with clocks at every point. Even with overwhelmed water stops, fluids were still available. The crowd seemed a bit smaller this year, but was still plentiful and loud! Houston still has the best finisher's premiums out of any race I've done, a medal, a beer mug, and a really nice Under Armour finisher's shirt. The absolute best item though: 2 beer stops on the course! Woo hoo!

Houston puts on a world-class event!

For starters, Mother Nature was in good spirits on race day. She gave us ideal racing weather (upper 40's at the start climbing to mid 50's shortly afterwards).

I've run my share of marathons and when it comes to organization, Houston is second to NONE! Half marathoners keep separate from full marathoners... real nice! Mile markers were all conspicuous while providing digital time display.

I established a PB, so the course is definitely fast. Some short inclines, but nothing crazy.

I don't recall how much I paid for my entry, but man do you get showered with stuff. In addition to the traditional stuff (finisher's medal and tech shirt), you get a nice beer mug and a regular cotton t-shirt. I like the fact that they provide the "finisher's" tech shirt only to those who actually finish.

The spectators were great. Nothing like NYC or Chicago, but enough to keep you going...and the volunteers were great. Thanks to all of the volunteers; these events couldn't happen without your help.

Plenty of lodging options all within walking distance of the start/finish. A nice treat not having to deal with transportation logistics before or after the race. Also, Houston has an unfair advantage with a convention center at their disposition. It serves as the expo and on race day as ground control for all actives (baggage check the morning of the race and a warm place to hang before walking to the start-line). After the race you get funneled back into the convention to pick up your medal, shirt and food. They even provide dining tables where you can sit to eat your post-marathon food. Wow!

It all makes a lot of sense; now I understand why this race sells out in just a couple of days!

The 2010 Houston Marathon is another success.

Having participated in this marathon for the past 9 years, I have seen this event evolve from an excellent race to a premier running event in US. I have run multiple marathons throughout US, and I have not seen any race better planned and executed than Houston Marathon.

The expo again is nice. The packet pickup was a breeze, and with the throw-away timing band, there is no worry about any problem. With the new hotels and restaurant in downtown near the Convention Center, travelers can get to the event much easier.

The race day was beautiful, started in mid 40's and ended up in upper 50's and sunny, resulted in several records broken. With the construction of Discovery Green Park, there is no longer annoying fencing that hampered the runners like a few years ago. The corral system was ok, either faster or slower, but it worked out fine, since the streets were plenty wide. Lots of porta-potties - I counted at least 300 throughout the race, some 2 miles apart. Also, lots of fluid stations between mile 2 to mile 25.

The post-race event makes the Houston Marathon a standout. With a large medal; free finisher shirt; free finisher mug; warm breakfast with an egg and sausage, biscuit and salsa; and bananas, cake, bagels, cookies, and ice cream - courtesy of good people from HEB Grocer - I was able to sit and recover and mingle with other runners. Several commented that we treat late finishers at this marathon better than many races treating their winners. Good for the Houston Marathon. All other race organizers should take notes from this event from our city.

My sole complaint is that the race was full within 1 week of open registration. As a result, several of my veteran runner friends missed out this year. My suggestion to our organizers is to all the returning runners to register first before opening the registration to everyone else. After all, those of us who run every year will continue to support this event and make it great.

Thanks to all organizers and volunteers. I will see you next year!

Since I relied on the comments made by previous runners to determine my next race, it is also fitting that I voice my opinion for my Jan. 18, 2009 Houston Marathon experience.

I have run the 2007 Chicago, 2008 ING Georgia, 2008 Twin Cities, 2009 Music City, and the 2009 St. George and nothing equaled the Chevron Houston Marathon and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Houston has relatively flat course (with some long but slight inclines on the last miles), ideal weather conditions, split times announced every mile, superb organization, and lots of "extras" you can get in a race that is worth your money.

Runners got a souvenir ChampionChip, two t-shirts, a beer mug, and a flamboyant finisher's medal. There were two kinds of church services prior to the start and a full breakfast indoors with a table to sit at and chair to sit on at the finish line.

The crowded restrooms in the building prior to the race made for a minor problem.

Overall, I highly recommend this marathon for anyone who is serious about setting a PR, or who's serious about running in general.

I have run the Houston Marathon four times, and it is always amazing. This was my tenth marathon and would highly recommend it to all runners.

What do you get when you combine a PR-setting course with topnotch organization and terrific crowd support? The Houston Marathon! These folks know how to do it right and it keeps getting better.

This was my 9th consecutive Houston Marathon, and after going to a few others, Houston has me spoiled. You get a lot for your money at Houston, and the organization gets better each year. I can't say that it gets easier for me to run them each year, but I still return. The fans are always amazing and are everywhere.

And of course, how can I forget the BEER - yes, beer at mile 22, in Memorial Park!! That's my favorite part, other than the finish line.

I was disappointed in my overall time, but I am so proud of our awesome marathon. It gets better every year, and I am spoiled by having the GRB convention center for before/after the race. Great spectators, the best volunteers, and really good tech t's - thanks for the ladies' sizes this year. Maybe instead of the mugs, how about a baseball hat or a visor? My only complaint is that Houston has gotten so huge that I think the race has outgrown the start. Getting out and across the Elysian viaduct is like a cattle drive. Trying not to trip over people slows down most runners by at least 1-2 minutes. There has to be a more efficient way to start the full and half-marathoners so that we can avoid stomping on each other. Maybe out Memorial?