This was my first marathon, and overall, I really enjoyed it - with these few exceptions.

1. I agree with M.M.; the slope on the freeway was very painful. five days after the marathon, I'm still injured from that.

2. They need to really enforce corral entry. From the very start of the race, I found myself stuck behind walkers as I was trying to run. It definitely slowed me down. These folks need to enter the corrals in the back so that they don't slow down the people who intend to get out there and hit the course with a moderately brisk pace.

This was my first time doing a relay. I felt guilty, at first, among the 26 milers, because we weren't running the full. But three of us were able to get a different perspective and see the elite cross the finish line and also be there to cheer our teammate across the finish. Lots of fun! Getting to the start line is still a drag if you are parking at the finish. While it is cool to run on the 163 through Balboa Park, you have to run very carefully to avoid injury on the slanted and hilly road. They need to have more info regarding the relay zones before the race. I would do it again!

I thought this was a wonderful race! The slanted part of the road could be better, but I have run worse. The expo was fantastic - the shirts were awesome and the people of San Diego couldn't have been more helpful or friendly! The trolley system is definitely the way to go!

My only wish for the finish line food: have some bagels or bread of some kind, and if you are going to run out of chocolate milk, then bring in some yogurt or ice cream! I couldn't believe they ran out! The walking to the trolley at the end was long, but that is GOOD for you - it makes it easier to move later, so in a way, I am glad for the long walk!

The weather was perfect; I couldn't ask for more. Thanks, San Diego!

The course was kind of bland - a bit bumpy, but mostly flat or downhill (especially the last few miles!). There were a few pretty spots close to the shoreline, although the stretches on the slanted freeway were a significant downside to the course. The entire day was mostly overcast, so the weather was quite favorable to running. The organization was well done (as always for RnR) - packet pick-up was easy, as was pre-race arrival, lining up at the start line, and post-race celebration. The post-race was pretty awesome here, since it ended on the Marine base where we could see all of the Marines and their toys (i.e. missiles, choppers, and tanks!) as well as meet Ryan Hall and get some goodies. Also, it was a fun after-party for the concert and free beer. Spectators were pretty awesome during the race, lining up at many miles for long stretches to cheer. Aid stations were also well stocked and effective in their distribution of supplies, thanks to those who manned them.

First off, let me thank the people of San Diego (you guys ROCK!!!). Thank GOD they are moving the finish line off of the military base; friends and family were not able to see me finish (isn't that the most important part???). I understand the ramifications of the military base, but the long security lines stopped quite a few people from being at the finish line.

As for the course, running downhill may seem like it's better than uphill, but it's really just another evil, and the slanted highway really took a toll on the biomechanics of your legs. I'm sorry for being so hard on the race; after all, it is a marathon, not a 5K. But these are just some things that I would have liked to be prepared for. Maybe my comments will help the next person reading this.

Overall, good experience, great crowd support, beautiful city!!!!

The race was very well organized. Freeway 163, which people are complaining about, was not that bad to run on, though perhaps that's because I'm used to running on trails. The course was good in some places and dull on other. There were bands at almost every mile, and I liked most of them (by the way, they didn't promise bands on "every half-mile," as someone said here). The finish area was very well organized. For people with sub-5-hour times, there was plenty of space to lie in the grass area, which I personally liked most. And spectators were great!

San Diego is a great place to go for a long weekend and to take in a marathon.

This is a fairly large event, but not on the scale of NYC or Chicago, and the size of the field is not overwhelming. Overall, it was very well organized. The start was well equipped, with coffee, water, bagels, and fruit. The finish logistics are the weak point of the event. The organizers do a great job, but it was 90 minutes clear the finish, stand in line for the shuttles, walk to the trolley, and get back to the hotel. There is talk of moving the finish next year because of construction on the Marine base - moving to the stadium. Perhaps proximity to the trolley will help to get out faster. Part of the issue was that participants' families could get on the base to see the finish (understand), and the shuttles were taken by families and not just runners. Having said that, the Marines were gracious hosts at the finish.

The course is good, with the best part being around Mission Bay. It would have been nice to get closer to the beach area. Balboa Park is nice, but featuring 3 passes through there was enough, and perhaps some of that could have been traded in for a run along Mission Beach. The spectators were great when we passed through the residential areas. There were some comments on previous posts about the slant on Route 163, but you could move to either side and it was not so bad.

Great course, except on the 163 Highway. It has a very, very badly inclined plane (higher on the right). It was my first marathon, and I didn't know what to expect. I got hurt on this sloped highway at about mile 8. I ended up walking the last 6 miles after running on the hurt knee from mile 9 to mile 20. I think they should move this part of the race to city streets. Lots of people were complaining about it.

Overall, this is a great race for a first marathon. It is a big race, with sufficient spectators, bands and support - but not so big that you have to plow your way through thousands of runners before you can run at your own pace. The organization is flawless.

My wife and two kids (toddlers) cheered for me during the race. The suggested trolley system for spectators worked perfect, and the number of spectators is manageable so that they were on the front line for cheering (which would be impossible for (e.g.) a NY Marathon).

One of the great things about this marathon is the pace runners. I ran most of the second half close to the 3:40 pace runner, who did an excellent job! The pace runners really helped me a big deal finishing my first marathon in 3:35 (way better than my target of 4:00).

One slight point for improvement: divide the parking lot in blocks (A, B, C, etc.). It makes it easier to find your car.

A big "thank you" for the organizers. Job well done.

Overall, this seemed a pretty good event. Like most marathons, one has to attend the expo, which can be a nuisance. On the other hand, it was located in the downtown area, which is very nice. Also it was near both the Greyhound and Amtrak stations, so if you come in by bus or train, you won't have to make much of a detour to get there.

Getting to the start was fairly easy, as San Diego is well served by its metro system. I could see long queues on the freeways, probably of people who had not taken the advice on the website and were trying to drive to the start.

There seemed to be plenty of drink stops on the course, and the cups were color-coded according to whether they contained energy drink or water. Unfortunately, I did not realize this until some time into the race. Good idea, but they should have put up some signs to let people know about the system. They should also mark the Vaseline better - someone I know mistook it for energy gel and ate it.

While the course did have some moderate ups and downs, much of it was fairly flat. The only hills in the later parts were only minor, though of course by that stage they can feel much worse. There is a big drop in the 11th mile; I was with the three-hour pace group, and the leader took us through that mile in under 6 minutes. This sort of thing can really make your quads object later on, particularly if you are not used to downhill running.

The police were out trying to keep cyclists off of the course, even in places where there was plenty of space to share with runners. On the other hand, at one place I did see a couple of police motorcylists weaving through the runners - this was right by a drinks station, where runners are likely to change direction.