Scenic route. Diverse terrain. Local race with just as many folks from around the country as from the area. Good-looking Brooks tech shirts. Reasonable entry fee. Hometown tailgate post-race party. Definitely want to do it again and would recommend it for anyone looking for a challenging yet forgiving course with scenery that will make the time fly. Your legs are the only thing that will tell you that you have run a marathon - and that won't even happen until mile 23 or 24, and at that point it's all flat back to the finish.

The course was a little more difficult than I expected, but I really enjoyed the route, except for the final run along the highway, which was too close to the big rigs. The portion on the dirt path was great, as far as scenery, but some areas were pretty soft and sandy. It would be tough to get a PR on this course, but there is some great scenery to enjoy along the way.

If you need to race with crowds, this is not your race; however, you the folks that are out will cheer you on and the volunteers were great. A nice, small-town race.

I would run this race again; it made for a perfect start of my double. (The second race of the weekend was the Tri-Cities Marathon in Richlan.)

Course: Running across the McNary Dam was interesting. Unlike the previous comment, I enjoyed running on the gravel/dirt on the Lewis and Clark Commemorative Trail, with scenic views of the Columbia River. The weak point of the course was the roughly 5-mile stretch at the end on Highway 730: the roadside is narrow; 18-wheelers are speeding nearby; and tired runners could easily drift/stumble onto the road. The organizers should definitely consider re-routing this final segment.

Organization: Friendly, small-town folks; well-positioned aid stations; and clear mile markers. That's an "A" in my book.

Spectators: Few along the course, but I like it that way. Cheering at the finish; very nice.

Great views along the course. Pretty cool to run across the McNary Dam. Tough to run on the sand and rocks between miles 13 and 18. If that section gets paved, I'd love to return and run again.