This race is well done. Everything from packet pick-up to the finish line is first class. The course has just enough variation to keep your mind off of the miles run. The food and beer in this town are also first-class.

I'm sure that this race will grow over time.

Pros:
1) Course is mostly flat, scenic, very quiet, and cold - perfect!
2) Beach sunset so beautiful just prior the gun time
3) Volunteers where wonderful
4) Nice after-race party and food
5) Nice place to stay prior to and after the event (family-friendly event)

Cons:
1) Not a lot of spectators (don't mind personally, but if you need cheering, this is not the best place for you)
2) Pre-race dinner was problematic: too many people for the small restaurant and I have to wait 15 minutes (but the food was great)
3) Expensive: $120 - much more than some bigger events
4) Short sleeve T-shirt in December - not the better idea

Running thought a lot of scenic tracks next to the culture field, parks, and woods is simply great.

Great race - starting with the ocean sunrise at the start, to the FLAT course that follows nice trails, quiet roads, and scenic state parks. Well organized with great food tent at the end. The only negative is that they limit the spectators on most of the course, so there's not a lot of cheering. Highly recommend this race!

This is a runner's race. Small field (600), beautiful and flat course, sunrise start, and an old-school finish line. This is a great course for a PR, or if you're looking to squeak in one more race before the winter. The $120 fee was a little steep for a small race, but definitely one of the most beautiful on the East Coast.

For starters: The packet pick-up was quick, easy and conveniently located in the main part of town. If you're staying overnight, consider the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, which is a short, 3-minute walk along the boardwalk to the start line. A slightly longer walk from the finish line, but that's when you'll need it.

The marathon course was picturesque, well marked and supported by friendly volunteers. The section on the breakwater trail was very pleasant and the footing was fine. No traffic issues at any point along the course. Water stops were as posted on the website. The small "hills" in Cape Henlopen State Park were equivalent to paved sand dunes, although I suppose that's all relative to where you live.

I don't rate marathons based on the post-race food, because I never have much of an appetite after running 26.2 miles, but if that's important to you, the post-race party had plenty of food and beer. I didn't partake, so I can't comment on the quality. I'd prefer to have light fare with fruit or crackers, but that's just my preference.

I was a bit hesitant to register for this race because of the distance from my home - and to be honest, it was a bit more expensive than most small marathons (as this was not a targeted race for me), but it was definitely worth the trip. In summary, if you're looking for a late fall/early winter marathon, consider Rehoboth Beach.

WOW! What a fantastic course! Rehoboth Beach is pancake-flat, extremely fast, and fun. Starting with a tremendous visual - the color guard marching up to the town's gazebo for the singing of the national anthem as we all faced the colors of the mornings first light over the Atlantic - to the sunrise as we ran the shoreline, to the magnificent parks we ran all the way up to Lewes, it was perfect. The cool weather made it a much easier to run that course than it would be in the warmer months. The trail sections were a good rest for my legs and made a fast finish possible.

And as far as post-race parties go, Rehoboth Beach cannot be beat! Talk about carb/protein replacement! The pulled pork sandwiches were so good that I never made it over to try the pancakes and sausages or the local brews.

The excellent post-race massage by Elisza and standing a few minutes in the oversized ice bath they had waiting for us just down the street made my legs feel so good that we took a hike on the AT on our drive back to Cleveland the next morning.

The Atlantic Sands Hotel was a good and inexpensive place to stay on the beach, and a 100 yards from the start with a late checkout so we could party. And the pre-race seafood was outstanding at The Big Fish.

I cannot possibly say enough good things about this race - Mary Beth, and people of Rehoboth Beach, you pulled off an incredible event.

Course: beautiful - how can you go wrong when you start with a gorgeous sunrise over the Atlantic? Just about every part of the course offered an interesting view. I loved the residential neighborhoods with Victorian houses, and the trail portions of the race - I was never bored. And the course is reasonably flat. The temps start cold, but I believe all of the conditions for a PR are here. I was very pleased with my race time, and even managed to pick up an age-group award.

Organization: great job; no complaints whatsoever. I ran NYC 5 weeks earlier, and the easier logistics of this race made me vow I will never run another big-city marathon again! I was able to walk to the start line from my hotel just 20 minutes before race start, so I did not have to stand around freezing (like the miserable 4.5 hours in NYC pre-race). The finish was right in front of my hotel, so I went directly into a hot shower within about 10 minutes of completing the race. That alone made this the perfect marathon!

Spectators: just enough - I was not overwhelmed by people telling me how good I looked (when I knew I did not!) and everyone was so cheerful.

Overall this was a wonderful race experience, and I so enjoyed visiting beautiful Rehoboth Beach. Knocks Delaware off of my 50-states list, and RB is one of my favorite marathons. I would highly recommend this terrific race!

I didn't know what to expect from a December marathon in Delaware, but it was fantastic. Event organization was excellent, and the race staging area was beautiful. The sunrise looking out over the ocean was amazing. It was a flat and fast course, with good water stops, lots of volunteers, and good traffic control. Plus, there were about 6 or so miles on a nice, packed trail that was easy on the legs. Unfortunately I didn't get to stick around afterward for the post-race party, but everything was top-notch. There weren't a whole lot of spectators, but that is fine with me. After running NYC last month, the size of this race was ideal. It was big enough to have a few people around you, but I never felt like I was having to watch my feet after the first half mile.

Overall, a very well done race.

This race was wonderfully low-key but the organization was good. There were decent aid stations and traffic control. The course - particularly the section that ran through Cape Henlopen State Park - was gorgeous!

It was a very cold day. That is the only "negative" I have. Beautiful sunrise over the ocean at the start. The course was interesting and took you through a variety of typical mid-East Coast settings (salt marsh, goose-filled fields, ocean views, woods). Food and beer afterward were awesome. All hot and energy replacing. The town was very welcoming to the runners all weekend. I recommend the Atlantic Sands Hotel if staying in town. A suggestion for improvement would be to have a bag drop at the finish. Would have been nice to have warmer clothes to put on for the walk back to the hotel. Good job, RBRC!