This was my first marathon and I still have a smile on my face. I was initially intimidated by all of the apparent experience around me, but once the race started, I realized that everyone was pulling for everyone else. The camaraderie was amazing. Even while passing others on Denton Hill, there were nothing but words of encouragement. The thighs burned coming off of that hill!!! I met some super people. I have noticed others have complained about the "cheap medal." Who cares? The experience was priceless.

Great idea to get us off and running at 7 a.m. - hats off to Dave and Kim and all who make this race the best in the East. The volunteers along the way do not realize how much their support and cheers mean to us. It really felt great having energy this year to run the hill with ease and have plenty in the tank to sprint to the finish. Thank you all, and may God bless.

Hard? Yes! But a really nice, challenging course. Great volunteer support, including aid stations every mile! NICE!

But two issues: 1) no porta-potties at the start (for us guys, just a two-toilet bathroom!) and 2) really lame medal for finishers.

Old-school marathon, like time-travel back to the roots of our sport. I loved the bus ride; it reminded me of high school sports. I hope to run in '09.

Finishing this race is the best feeling ever! The heat this year was extreme. This is my second God's Country race, and my only regret was having my family at the finish line to take a photo (they were following me in the car). I didn't receive any photos at all from the race this year. Big disappointment!

This was only my second marathon; the other was Philly in November of '07. The course was very tough, especially with the heat and humidity near record temps for this race. My pre-race goal was not to walk any part of Denton Hill... yeah well... that didn't happen. I was just amazed and happy to finish. I had bad leg cramps during the last 7 miles in muscles I didn't even know I had, making the run that much more of a challenge. All of the people at the water stations were great. Special thanks to the free massage after the race at the finish line and the lunch in the hotel. Oh, and the lady who used her own mini-van to take us and several runners to the post-race showers. I will be back next year with even more training prior to the race. Great idea moving up the start time 1 hour.

I did 16 miles of this race in 2007 (turkey in '07 - just healing from a broken foot) and completed it in 2008. Both times, the heat was awful, and I will not be back as a participant unless the start time is moved back before 8 a.m. I am a distance race-walker, and I spend an average time on a marathon course of 6 hours. The heat added 75 minutes to my time. I love this course; the scenery and the volunteers/helpers are great. You do have a great marathon experience. I just can't take the heat with my asthma. I usually start my miles at 5-6 a.m. Thanks for this opportunity to "share."

I found the course to be extremely tough, but beautiful and enjoyable. I am used to running marathons where the crowds sometimes exceed 25,000 people. What a great feeling to turn around as I was running and see one or two lone runners in each direction. It was like going out on a group run instead of fighting your way through the crowds. Had it not been for the extreme heat, all of our finishing times would have probably been faster (mine was almost an hour off my regular pace). Even with the heat I was lucky enough to place in my age group (W50-59.) The folks who put on this race couldn't have done a better job and all their work was much appreciated. My only suggestion for a better race would be to start much earlier... even earlier than 7a.m., due to the possibility of really warm weather this time of year. The pasta dinner the night before was the best ever. I would really love to have that spaghetti sauce recipe!!! Thanks to all for a wonderful experience and I will be back next year for sure.

By far the most difficult marathon I have ever run and I'm already planning do it again next year. This course is as tough as its reputation. Be prepared. Fifteen-plus miles of a gradual but unrelenting upgrade, then two-plus miles of steep upgrade followed by one and a half miles of steep downgrade. The last six miles are a gradual downgrade but I was too tired fully to appreciate them. It was hot - mid 80's - but there were water stations close to every mile marker and five locations with water hoses spraying the runners. Everyone involved did a great job, from the pasta dinner, to the shuttle bus to the start, to the facilities, water stations and a free meal at the hotel right at the finish line. My ONLY disappointment was that there was no prayer offered at the start of the race. After all, this is "God's Country Marathon"; how about a moment for prayer at the start of the marathon? (Still, I am sure that others, like me, offered plenty of heartfelt prayers while climbing Denton Hill.) Overall, a truly great experience. I highly recommend this marathon, but also recommend that the training be taken seriously.

I heard how tough this course was, so I had to run it. It did not disappoint! If you want a challenging marathon, here it is. The hill is long. The weather was hot. I loved it and want to do it again. The people of Potter County were terrific - extremely nice and accommodating. There weren't a lot of spectators (this isn't Boston). But those who were on the course were very supportive. They make you want to return. Add this race to your calendar.