This was my 9th marathon, 4th in Colorado and 3rd in Denver and I think that Denver has one that will stick around. The organizers did an excellent job. The volunteers were great and the aid stations were spread out perfectly (every 2 miles until the last 6 and then every mile). This was an unusually hot May day; however you need to be ready to expect the unexpected for this time of year in Colorado.

I was 20 minutes off my PR; I attribute some of this to the heat, as you are running on the street with little or no shade cover and the last 8 miles are up hill. All that aside, what an experience to run all the way through the Denver Metro on what use to be the life blood of the city before the interstate system. You get to experience every walk of life on this street. The crowds could have been bigger, but I think that will come with time. Again, job well done and I would recommend this race to anyone!

Denver was my 25th marathon and state. For an innaugural event the organization was fantastic. Everybody involved seemed to be "in-tune" with what was going on and worked hard to make this first-time event go off without a problem. The goodie bag actually had something in it besides race flyers. Bib numbers were well designed and if you registered early your name was printed on them. Wish the medal had said "2006 Inaugural Marathon" but that's OK it still looked better than most I've gotten. The race staff emailed me back quickly with responses to my inquiries.

The Hilton host hotel was most accommodating and everyone there was very helpful for this out-of-towner. Special thanks to everybody at the Hilton. What super rooms they have there at this new location.

While the elevation gain was less than 300 feet, the grade climbs especially after the 18 mile-mark took their toll on this flat-lander. But we had a great time. The spectators that came out were fun dressing up in costumes, pajamas and just about everything else under the hot, humid thin Denver air that left me out of O2. The only knock on this race and it's only a disappointment is that the half marathoners start at mid-race point, so you basically are running only with other marathoners and relay marathoners the whole day. Makes for a thin race group and it get lonely at times. Hopefully, the race will grow and take care of this. Spectators, volunteers and traffic control was just great. Way to go Denver. Thanks so much.

The race was great, but to use the port-a-potty was a time-killer. It added 10 minutes to my "official" time... I timed it on my watch. And it wasn't the actual act of going - IT WAS the line for two port-a-potties.

Loved running toward the mountains; a great day for running and the finish was SPECTACULAR!!! Loved all the tents and cheers.

Congratulations to the organizers of this race! Overall the event went smoothly and kudos to the volunteers and officers who manned every corner so no traffic cut through the runners.

A couple of things I wanted to suggest: more entertainment along the course since not very many people came out to cheer the runners and more advertisement for the public to know that there is a race in their community. I stayed in a hotel a few blocks from Colfax and the employees don't know what's going on.

This is the most difficult race I've been to because of the heat and the elevation at the latter part of the course but I considered it as another race experience.

I ran only the half marathon, but the whole experience was great. My only qualm was that there were too few porta-johns; lines in the middle of a race are no fun. Still, it was a great time overall.

Nice course with a tough, uphill, hot finish the last 8 miles. All volunteers did a great job, both at water stops and after the finish line. You need much better info on the website (see other marathon sites) beforehand. Nice shirt. Too much money for the poster (most are free). Keep up the good work and you will have a great marathon in years to come.

Inaugural marathons can be very good (i.e., Mercedes Marathon in 2002 in Birmingham, Alabama) or complete disasters (i.e., San Diego Rock 'n Roll in 1998). The inaugural Colorado Colfax Marathon was a great success!!!

With outstanding preparation and planning, Creigh Kelly and his team of volunteers overcame a record high of 91 degrees (beating the previous record of 90 degrees set in 1925). There were water and aid stations at least every two miles and some places every mile. The course was fully closed and the finish also well supported with various snacks and drinks. There were multiple bands, a java fest, sponge and spray stations along the course. The medal was beautiful and well designed. The bibs had our names on them and the marathon design painting.

I was one was one of the first to sign up for the Trailblazer offer, which freezes my entry fee at the early bird fee that I paid this year - a unique feature that I have not seen at any of the other 76 marathons I have run. As such, I look forward to future runnings of the Colorado Colfax Marathon and encourage others to run this well organized and supported event.

This is sure to be a destination marathon that will grow in coming years and become a top tier running event.

I had ran a few marathons and several half marathons. I thought that I would not enjoyed running the whole Colfax but I have to admit that it was a very pleasant race for their first effort. There were plenty of fluid stations as well as porta potties. Volunteers were friendly and helpful. The post race food was generous both in quantity and quality!! Best of all, the medallion was a first class beauty! If those things I mentioned are important to you as a runner, then this is the race for you! Thank you for making this a great and safe race for all of us. Way to go Aurora, Denver, and Lakewood city!!

The unexpected treat for me was Colfax Avenue itself - thelongest commercial street in the US. It was once Hwy 40 (main highway before I-70 was built) and ended it's hay day. This race takes you back in time to an era before the franchise explosion (where all new areas looks exactly the same . . . a fun franchise exception was a 60's era McDonalds with those giant original 'golden arches'. The whole course is mile after mile of unique, one-of a kind businesess . . . like Davie's Chuckwagon Diner (40's era with shiny aluminum and red trim), 100 little motels complete with 'roadside' architecture and names like 'Buggs Bunny' and 'Trails End'. Colfax Avenue (especially the East half) is not without some local character . . . many financial establishments (money orders, pawn and pay-day loan shops), some exotic entertainment (adults only, please) and lots of small, sketchy used car lots. At 6:00 a. m. Colfax Avenue is very tame . . . it's supposed to be pretty lively at night.

Quite a few businesses pitched in to possibly double the number of official aid stations on the last half. Enough fans provided hose showers (a welcome treat on the day approaching an unusual 90 degrees). I've run lots of scenic courses . . . but, for me this one was the most interesting and entertaining . . . running on a closed street being the only way to be able to appreciate it and have time to reflect on a past Americana era.

The race organizers have a goal to renew Colfax Avenue . . . I wish them well . . . but, it's already great - run the race before any of the old Americana charm is lost.

I was very impressed with how friendly and well-organized the expo was. The coordinators remembered the little things, like reminding runners to grab some safety pins out of the bowl, and kindly indicating that your bib number must first be located before going over to the packet table. (I've been at other expos where the staff looks at you rudely just because you're not sure how the system works.) I ran the half. Both the half and full marathoners finished at the same location. Using my GPS watch, however, I noticed something interesting. My watch was alerting me of a mile--at the marathoners' mile signs. By the time I crossed the half-marathon mile signs--my watch was already reading .1 mile more. My final distance showed up as 13.2 miles, not 13.1. GPS isn't 100% accurate, but it is probable that the half marathon mile markers should have been where the marathon mile markers were, and the marathon mile markers should have been .1 further back.

This isn't a big deal to me either way, but I was curious if other runners observed the same.