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.

Very impressed by all the details.

For a first time marathon, I compare the organization to the likes of Boston and New York. BRAVO!!! From the Expo to the course set up, top class! After seeing the winning time, I don't feel so bad with a 3:57. A cool start in Aurora turned into a heat wave by the half-way point. I believe it was even a new temp record for Denver. The last 10k were brutal as I was not well hill-trained. It was like being on a step master! Even the finish at the mall was a huge hill.

Needed for next year: Better instructions on Drop off at Aurora, better instructions for return busses to the Hyatt. Also, maybe some more waterstops downtown before the hills (otherwise there were PLENTY of water stops).

Oh.....one final THANK YOU to the guy handing out the ICE COLD sponges at mile 22 or 23. Thank you, thank you, thank you.....you saved me from possibly having to stop.

-JRD

Race organization was great. The volunteers on the course appeared to be well trained and handled the water stops traffic control and runner support very well.

Could improve a bit on making race day instructions a bit more intuitive including where family should meet at the end.

I've run 21 marathons before Colorado, so speak from a bit of experience.

Coming from Houston (but grew up in Denver) it was a bit difficult to get some of the information I was seeking. Perhaps if you lived in Denver or could constantly monitor emails I might have been ok, but as an out of stater would suggest a bit more obvious info including start and ending detail maps (I have since learned I could see more detail on the 'Certification Link', not very intuitive to me.

Great job overall, a bit more hand holding for out of towners.

My first marathon so nothing to compare to. However, this race was a lot of fun, running through 3 cities towards the mountains was a blast. The last 10k was brutal, up hill and hot with few spectators to give you the boost.