I enjoyed the hilly course that thinned out the runners some. The out-and-back gave me a chance to see friends in front and back. All this helped me to have my second best time after running 100+ marathons.

It was an excellent overall marathon. I will recommend it to other 50-staters and friends. I will be back in 2006 probably. I am really looking forward to it.

The race was as much about community as it was about running. The entire town seemed to be dedicated to the same cause of raising money for two orphanages in Kenya. At each of the aid stations, enthusiastic volunteers welcomed each runner to Arkansas. The first half of the course was moderately hilly in a rural setting. The last half was downhill or flat. Runners are welcomed at the finish line with warm blankets and a ride back to the start for a warm meal. The volunteers and local citizens always made us feel at home in Mountain Home. We will definitely return and support the orphanages.

This was a low-key marathon with a very scenic course and a supportive, small-town feel. I enjoyed the whole experience, course support was adequate, aid stations (though every two miles) were well staffed and stocked, and I particularly like point-to-point runs.

This is the kind of run that I like to do over and over again.

This was my 92nd marathon and I truly found this one to be one of my favorites.

I rank the course as being the 4th prettiest. It was hilly the first half, but flattened the last half - even a bit downhill. Great fun!

The race director and her volunteers were great! Well organized and very appreciative of the opinions of those of us who run everywhere.

Lack of course support and different start/finish locations were the only somewhat negatives of the event. The aid station volunteers were GREAT, tho, and the beauty of the course would be compromised if either the start/finish were relocated so leave it alone!!

Hotel accommodations, cost and - most importantly - the cause of the marathon make it a winner!!!

I ran the 5k, but the layout of the course was really good.