Thought the organizers did a great job for a first time with so many runners and very windy conditions. Appreciated the 2 e-mails updating changes and clearly giving important information. I'm partial because I live here, but, what a beautiful route with bay & island views, the great forested interurban trail and historic Fairhaven. Would have been nice to add some of the downtown Bellingham area. This also could have spread out more runners during the first few miles. A bit of a bottle neck and crowd on Boulevard Trail. Volunteers & fans were great support. Free massage & chiro a great bonus. Too bad the weather was so crummy for the post party. B'ham is a great running spot. Hope this becomes a NW Classic!

The course was as scenic as I can imagine any course could be. The hills were a bit unexpected. It was a great place to run a first marathon. However, they said they would have gel every 4 miles or so, and I failed to see that until the last half. They definitely need more fuel along the route, or should at least warn participants to bring their own. The mood was great among the runners despite the winds. I would recommend the race to everyone (with a caveat about the fuel stops).

They had a ton of volunteers, far more than I expected. Parking was easy (the marathoners were parked in the garage). The course was as well marked as they could make, considering that any cones or signs they might put down would have blown away. This is certainly not a race to run hard with the battles to get by the half marathoners and walkers along with the huge hills in Edgemoor. I was really surprised that they didn't just head us up towards Cornwall Park instead of the silliness of going through Edgemoor and doing a loop of Zuanich at the end. Still a good training run for a faster course later in the fall. It's too bad that it was the same weekend as Baker Lake, Victoria, and Portland - not great planning when they picked an event date.

It was a fun race. The scenery was great. More porta-potties are needed. I almost missed the start of the race because I had to wait 25 minutes in line to use the toilet. A shuttle to the different parking lots would also be a good idea. But, overall it was a lot of fun and a great course. I will run this one again.

Did the 1/2M in training for the CIM. Most of the 1/2 course was run by the full particpants. Did not scope out the course and arrived that am. Overall much hillier that I imagined ... according to my new garmin forerunner) I had a total elevation gain of 1500ft with one hill at mile 5 being at a 17% incline! The wind was brutal in some spots slowed me down (again according to my garmin) by approx. 30sec/mi. But the rain never arrived at least in the 90min I ran and the temp was a perfect 57F. Overall H20/Gu/Lyte drink stations were at appropriate places and well advertised. I could see how without a gps watch telling mileage would have been difficult as there were few mile markers. Nice switch up between pavement and trail (ran at least 2.5mi on trail). Only one small section of the trail could have been sketchy if it had rained. Full and 1/2 runners passed the walkers soon into it and on the trails this became a mini (not too bad) obstcl. course as they have a tendency to walk side by side. Fans were great as were the vols. Overall great event, but glad that my first full will be on the much less hilly (and net neg elevation) CIM.

Ran the inaugural marathon this year (2007). My thoughts at the finish line were: thank goodness I am done! It was very hilly with steep hills and very windy (made for tough strength training). Just to warn: my legs and gluts are extremely sore and I've been doing my training. Hopefully in subsequent years the head winds won't be as strong. At about mile eight or so the marathon turns into a trail run and it was beautiful; the autumn leaves were starting to turn and there were a number of views of the tumultuous blue green sea. My only complaint is that it would have been nice to start a 1/2 hour earlier than the halfers. I spent the first four miles dodging through the half marathon crowd trying to settle into my race pace.

Fun race with lots of variety. Miles 24-26 needed some more spectators; it was hard not to see the finish line and to be running alone until you trip over it.

The incredibly beautiful trails and paths were clearly marked by a multitude of volunteers. There was plenty of water, Heed, and food gel passed out to the runners by kids and adults. The wind was not kind, but that is not under the control of the organizers. At the finish line there was lots of food and drink. Next time a shuttle service to the downtown parking garage would be a good idea.