I was coming into this race with high hopes and expecting to have a good time. The predicted heat was expected, but I didn't expect it to affect my time so badly. I gained an hour on my marathon time. The heat was one of the problems, but the main lack of foresight was in the hydration aspect (explanation was that the PowerAde got ordered but lost in transit). Water on a day that by 12:30 hit 81 deg. F was not enough. Electrolyte replacement was scarce. Fear of hyponatremia was real. In 20 miles, there were only 2 PowerAde stations, and as others mentioned, plenty of signs for them. Early on, I think it is important to not have water every 2 miles or so but to have them more frequently. Because of a missing water station between miles 3 and 8, we didn't have water for nearly 5 miles and by this time, the sun was coming out to greet all of us.

BIG props for Team in Training for going out of their way to provide salt packets and Gatorade (not the official sponsor of the marathon, by the way). Also, I have to thank the citizens of ATL for coming out with hoses of water, orange slices and bananas, and one home with Gatorade. I would probably be in pretty bad shape if it wasn't for the extra bits of sugar/electrolytes.

A real big safety concern was the scarcity of aid stations. I think I counted 1 medical tent on course and 1 EMT vehicle. I had contemplated getting off the course because of heat-related cramping issues, but feared no one will pick me up and take me back to the start. I kept going.

More signage is needed at the start. Race crews misdirected me a few times and I found myself in a bad part of Five Points Station. Can't complain about the Port-o-Johns. I got in line twice in 30 minutes!!!

The expo was excellent! Vendors were varied and substantial. Nice touch with giving coffee out while waiting in line to get into the expo. There need to be more safety pins in the bags or sitting around by the number pickup. I had only 2 in my bag.

The choice of speakers was amazing, especially Billy Mills and Dick Beardsley. Great inspirational speakers. And handy enough, there was a mini-Barnes and Noble for book signing. Nice touch.

Hills were a problem, but they didn't need to be. Never in a marathon - and I've done 4 others before this one - have I seen so many walkers among a strong group of runners. It was most obvious between miles 18 and 20. People just gave up and walked up 18 to 19, and because of the heat and lack of proper hydration, walked down to 20. Unheard of!

It was probably my mistake to run this race as my first full marathon. I'm used to the flat lands of southeast Texas and the course is extremely hilly. I would not recommend this marathon for first-timers.

It was also the hottest day of the year, which made the lack of PowerAde stations that much more problematic. Next year, the mile markers need to be improved on both courses. When I ran the 26.2, many of the markers were hard to see because of all the runners. The markers needed to be taller and wider. My wife walked the 1/2 and they had no separate markers for those folks - that needs to be remedied as well.

No organized pasta dinner at the host hotel, and no real post-race organization to speak of. Expo was well done, but the 1/2 marathoners had quite a wait to get in the door while the marathoners were able to get their packets immediately.

This was the inaugral marathon and I'm sure most of this will get worked out. The crowds were very good and very encouraging, especially on the last half of the course. The scenery was beautiful, great visual route, and it was fun to go through the different neighborhoods. This marathon event will only continue to improve.

Living in Atlanta, I think they did a great job with the course. It really showcased the city and managed to skew the really nasty hills. The water stops for the first few miles were either missing or chaotic, but they got their act together by mile 10, except for not having PowerAde. Thank goodness I had plenty of gels on me! Unanticipated problems arise during any inaugural race and I'm sure this will be fixed for next year. I really like the non-cotton shirts. The expo was big and well organized. My suggestion to anyone doing this next year would be to try and get to the expo on Friday instead of Saturday since it got very crowded on Saturday. Having the expo open a little later on Friday night might be helpful to locals who want to try and come after work. Thanks for a great race; I look forward to having this become part of Atlanta running tradition.

I think the ING Georgia Marathon was a good event considering it was the first time it was held.

The major gripe I had was no PowerAde anywhere on the marathon course except at one stop. That stop was very watered down as well.

The course has many rolling hills, that will take their toll on you. The area in Piedmont Park was basically an oven, and that really effected runners since there was no shade.

The weather can't be controlled, but if you run this race in 2008, you have been warned! I have never seen so many people walking with 3:30, 3:40, 3:50 pace bibs on their backs. The heat got to me in Piedmont Park area.

An earlier start might be wise for race management to consider.

I knew this was an inaugural event, but I guess I gave ING too much credit and thought they would have it together. Simply, runners need hydration! There was almost no PowerAde (none until mile 16 and scarce after that) and missing water stops. Water stops were too small. This should be the biggest concern of a race director.

The spectators were FABULOUS!! I wouldn't have survivived without them. The course was beautiful. But, I will say, too hilly.

ING GA is going to get slammed for organization due to something going very wrong with aid stations. I saw no pre-race water and aid stations were under-supplied or just not there for the first 9 miles or so. Very few stations had PowerAde throughout course and runners sometimes had to self-serve to get anything. Not good for an Atlanta spring day with record high temps reaching ~80 by noon. Instead of PowerAde at end of race, runners were presented with water and warm soda. Minor complaint of few porta-potties in end stretch (first half & start/finish seemed sufficient). Volunteers were working hard and much appreciated, as was strong fan support. Course gave runners a nice tour of Atlanta, although it is a bit too hilly to expect record times (observation vs. complaint). I'm confident steps will be taken next year to correct the aid station problems, but runners needlessly suffered this first year.

I ran the half and finished #1,220 in 1:55:58.

1) The course had way too many turns.

2) Ditto what everyone else has said about the lack of water/PowerAde.

3) Organizers allowed anyone & everyone in the finish area, where Atlanta's homeless used the oportunity to line their pockets with bagels and bananas.

4) Ditto on the lack of mile markers.

5) Fan support didn't approach that of the Nashville Country Music Marathon, but this was the inaugural event.

Just wanted to let you know how disappointed we were with the marathon.

1. Failure to have enough bags for runners. How do you run out? You know how many racers you have. We got to the expo on Sat. by 3 p.m. and our goody bag was missing the nice bag that others got.

2. Water and PowerAde. How do you not have PowerAde for the first 15 miles? Many water only stations were out of cups and people were drinking out of jugs. Also, many cups were poured nearly empty, forcing runners to wait and request a manual refill.

How do you go 6 miles without any water at all?????? Why do you have PowerAde at mile 24 and not throughout the course?

3. How could you not have mile markets for the 1/2 marathoners? Really?

You guys apparently have NO idea how much damage you did to the ING name.

IMHO, you need to send letters to all participant apologizing for the poor execution and false advertising. In fact, the registration fee should be refunded.

All I can say is... OOPS! What a beautiful marathon course with the worst course support I have ever encountered. By mile 4, the water stops were out of water. Two other times water and PowerAde signs were posted with no water stop to be found. Given the record temperatures forecasted for race day, the water stops werely very poorly planned. I stopped in a gas station and bought my own Gatorade and water after mile 4 and was glad I did. I won't be back. :(

Always carry cash on you for this race so you can duck into a drug store to buy your own PowerAde. Nothing on the marathon course except water - and none of that from mile 4-8! Although multiple signs (and volunteers) kept saying that PowerAde was "around the corner," there was none. One volunteer reminded me that I was lucky she was there. Some of the water stations were out of cups; at some you had to pour your own.

By mile 15, electrolyte stores were depleted, with nothing in site. For a hot, hilly race this was not the race at which to have this happen. No apologies made by the race, sponsors, etc... which makes the high entry fee hard to swallow.