Great race in a scenic Olympic village setting!! The race course was well planned with ample aid stations along the route. This is an event that should be an annual ritual for those that enjoy one of the finest destination courses in the country.

The course was challenging (it has its own Heartbreak Hill at the finish) but incredibly beautiful. It is a peaceful, scenic marathon (a nice break from the massive urban marathons). Last year was tough because it was unseasonably warm but I think given a "normal" year, the weather would be perfect. Aid stations were well stocked and frequent. The fans at the start, 13-mile point, and finish were terrific. I found the race organizers and volunteers super helpful.

As runners, most of us can admit to more than a few race jitters... will there be frequent aid stations, will I find my way on the course, can I keep focused, what will the course be like? A runner-friendly race can do a lot to ease the mind and keep the body moving. This was a well-marked route with abundantly stocked aid stations just where they were needed. There were voices to cheer me along the way and folks to guide me to parking, the start and through the course. True enough there were hills, but could I have expected anything else in this charming mountainous area? Lake Placid is, after all, an Olympic village. I certainly didn't get bored, and perhaps those hills kept me focused. The finish couldn't have been better! It was truly inspiring to cross the finish line to a cheering crowd in the historic Olympic oval. See you in 2006!

Had this been my first marathon, it would have been my last! The townsfolk acted as if it were a nuisance, there was a fire-truck parade going on at the same time which made getting out a pain, the post-race food was the worst, and the course... even while running it I came up with a better way to finish it. The only positive aspect of the whole thing was the group of folks providing support along the way and the guy on the mic at the end giving you that last little bit of encouragement.

As I looked at the comments from other runners I felt compelled to write. This is one of the most beautiful areas on the world, and the marathon route is one of the most stunning there is. I feel sorry for the guy who thinks that the running route was boring and "in the trees." Where, exactly, was that part of the course? I have to wonder where he lives as well, since he thinks Lake Placid is a "dreary town with bad restaurants," (I think it might be close to Oz). The organization was terrific, especially considering the temps were way above normal for this area that time of year. The aid stations were well stocked and had plenty of volunteers. I will run this marathon again and again and encourage anyone who would like to run a challenging, scenic, well-run event to run in this race. Thanks to all of the organizers! See you in 2006!

If you're going to run the half marathon expect to be disappointed with no finisher's medals - sorry, only for the marathon. Packet pick-up was in the basement of the hotel and the long line was in a stairwell with no A/C. Expect to lose 5 pounds during your wait. Bring money for the post-race; the food is bad and you need to buy your own shirt if you want one.

I'm glad I picked this one. As far as the course, yes it was a 2-loop course with a giant hill at the end but the scenery of the Adirondocks certainly made those 2 loops worthwhile and if you're going to complain about the hill at the end, well, it is the Adirondocks and if it's that strenuous, I suggest going somewhere flatter. (It is an Ironman course afterall and meant to be a bit challenging - that's part of the fun.) The registration could have been a bit better but for a 1st-time marathon, I have got to say they did an excellent job. Volunteers and post-race food were great, and I am looking forward to returning in 2006.

How can anyone NOT like Lake Placid? It is a beautiful little Swiss village setting with a nice downtown, lots of great shops and restaurants surrounded by spectacular mountain views. It was safe, clean, and they have done a nice job of maintaining an Olympic Village feel.

This was a well organized race. Yes, it was hot on race day, but the aid stations were well stocked. The course was challenging, but hey, this is an Ironman course, how cool is that?! The organizers could do a better job of letting athletes know where the post-race food was located (tent near the finish line). I found it but others obviously did not. That being said, it was very impressive - tons of quality food and volunteers to serve you.

I was impressed with the fact that the announcer called out the names of ALL runners as they came around the Olympic oval to the finish line. The finish area and the oval had a rock and roll feel to it (you could hear the music about a mile out on the course).

All in all, it was a great event and I can only imagine it getting more popular each year.

There is nothing good about this race. Horrible reception/registration area in a tiny basement room in some hotel. The course was the same route 4 times, so boring with no views stuck in the trees. June is the wrong month to run a marathon in NY; it is way too hot and humid. Further, I never recieved the results by mail or email of the finishers and or times. Lackluster post race food and recovery. Lack of restroom facilities. Lake Placid seemed to me a dreary little town with bad restaurants. All around a horrible experience and worst marathon time I have ever had. Avoid this one at all costs!!!!

Kudos to the race organizers for a great effort. Throughout the claustrophobic packet pick-up they kept a cheerful, positive attitude and went out of their way to solve problems. The hill up to the non-ice rink WAS a MFer and, like most others, brought me to a slow walk. But that's the beauty of marathon running. It's 26.2 miles. No promises after that. And you gotta admit the section along the river was absolutely gorgeous. Regarding spectators- few and far between but that's no big deal.

I got the impression that this marathon event was an intrusion in the collective mind of the village of Lake Placid. There seemed to be enough $$$ walking the village that whatever the marathon could bring wasn't needed- or wanted. It doesn't seem like the type of place that would shut down the main road for a marathon; therefore we were shunted to the outskirts and probably made to feel thankful we could get Mirror Lake Drive for the start for 30 minutes in the morning.
Notes to the organizers:
1. Give it a shot next year. It fills a void in the calendar and region.
2. Please do try to publish a less confusing, more accurate course map.
3. Start at 0700 instead of 0800. It's cooler and traffic control should be easier.
4. If LP is a hassle, look for a different host village in the region. There are miles and miles of beautiful roads up there.
5. Give me my chip at packet pick-up, not the next morning. If I'm careless enough to lose it, I deserve to cough up the $$$.