My running group has competed in the relay this and last year. It is a small-town marathon, but Chicago Events manages it well. The weather has been perfect both years. The first leg has some rolling hills, and the second leg is flat and scenic along the Rock River. The new course has flattened out the last two legs, but it remains the most challenging part of the course. This is the only marathon relay I've done, and both times I have had a great time and ended up running the entire first half-marathon; since we had such perfect weather, why bus back to the start?

I commend Rockford for bringing back their marathon after a long hiatus, and highly recommend the relay or half-marathon.

I thought today's race was organized extremely well! Everyone who worked this event should feel really proud of making this marathon exceptional. In terms of the course, I enjoyed all of it but miles 23-24 - it was so very lonely when I needed some of the crowd's energy. Overall, though, fantastic!

I have run marathons and half-marathons over the last 18 years, and this course was one of the better ones. There were plenty of water stops, and fans were great. However, this is the first half and full marathon race I have ever attended where half-marathoners never received a finishing medal for the cost of the entrance fee, and the little amount given out in the packet. I don't understand why. Champaign had their inaugural in April for smaller fees, and everyone received a medal - even the 5K event. If you want this event to grow - and I believe it would be GREAT races for everyone - make it worth while for those who travel, like the lady who is only a few half-marathons short of having done one in each state.

In 2008, it was flat on the first half, but a little hilly on the second half. The crowds and runners were scarce, especially in the second half, as most only did the half-marathon. Organization was done very well for a first marathon in a decade. I was able to get a PR and a BQ. I was thinking that after running Boston I would not run another marathon; then I ran 2009 Boston. I am now going to attempt to get another BQ at Rockford. The 2009 course looks like it was changed to eliminate the hills of the second half from the 2008 course. I am very excited to return to this race three and a half weeks after Boston, knowing that this course will be easier than in 2008. If you would like to be able to run your own pace without the thousands of runners at the larger events, then this should be the marathon you enter to get your PR.