I thought everything went VERY well for an inaugral race like this, with one glaring exception:

I was one of those stuck in the long port-a-john lines at the race start. I started about 10 minutes after the gun. When I started they were already dismantling the start line. When I got to the first mile marker, I noticed that my GPS said I had only run half a mile. I thought they had just set it up incorrectly. But by the 3rd mile, I realized I must have missed part of the course. After the race, I was re-reading emails from the race director leading up to the race when I read about how they made a last-minute change to do an initial loop around the museums. That's where I missed a half-mile! This would have been prevented if they had had more port-a-johns at the start OR if they had better route markings.

This was my 50th marathon overall and I had one of my better times, both speed- and quality-wise, with the good folks of Kenosha. The course was pretty, mostly very flat with no significant hills at all (and I live on the coast of NC). While I won't be back until I finish the 50 states in a year or so, I would be very happy to return for the run again in a year or two. You couldn't ask for more friendly, supportive people along the course. The volunteers were outstanding! The HEED was not so good though.

Positives: Packet pickup was easy. There was ample and convenient parking. The weather was gorgeous, and starting right on the lake was awesome. It was a little cold at the start, but I appreciated the cool lake breeze as the race went on. The medal and the t-shirt are awesome (I think the medal might be one of my favorites). There were tons of post-race snacks, and I definitely enjoyed the free beer and brat! The people on the course were friendly and encouraging.

Negatives: The HEED drink was vile. The lack of porta-potties was horrible. Thank God the park district bathrooms were open on the northern end of the course. Really, the aid station spacing was questionable - I didn't feel that there were enough. I thought the course was kind of boring, and so full of potholes it was ridiculous! I also didn't like that the course map did not accurately reflect the course we ran - it made it impossible for my poor boyfriend to find me on the course. (Actually, I spotted him, standing on his tiptoes, looking confused around mile 11). Also, the line for the brats and beer was kind of long, and I would have thought there would be more volunteers.

Since it's only the first year, I am confident that it can only improve. While I did set a PR on this course, I think some improvements would need to be made before I go back. I did enjoy all of the little kids out cheering and high-fiving everyone out on the course - to them, we are Olympians. :)

The medal was great and I liked the shirt. The worst part was the start. Get rid of the loops through downtown. I got stuck behind several people and the loops really slowed everyone down at the start. I didn't see any gel at Mile 17. Luckily I had my own. I liked the Heed, but I had trained with it before. With a few small changes this could be a great race.

I thought this was a well organized event with a great location for a marathon. I think the organizers made some good choices and some bad, but all are things that can be improved.

Host hotel: I stayed at the Harborside Hotel (not the host), and it was a 10-minute walk to the start. Runners would prefer this.

Course: Another poster mentioned the loops, and I agree - there were too many, and they were a bit confusing. The north end of the course should loop through Carthage College. This would widen things up there. Going south, the course is nice, but desolate. I like running alone and didn't see this as a factor.

Aid stations: odd spacing. Some were too close together, some were way too far apart. I hated the HEED, but understand that sponsorship deals are what they are. More should have been done to promote this in advance.

Porta-potties at start: lines were crazy. I jogged to a local coffee shop with another runner prior to the start.

Start area: too narrow. Should have used entire road.

Timing: I would have like clocks on the course at every mile. It's a marathon, come on.

Packet pick-up in Chicago: Bonus, thanks.

Finish line: understated, but nice. I worried about the trolley, but it wasn't an issue.

I would run this again.

I thought the race organizers did a good job for a first race. The Wisconsin Marathon could become a destination race with a little more experience. The course is very scenic, but with all the turns at the beginning and the quick loop at the start, some kind of change will have to be made. On the north loop, running along the lake, one had to be very careful with the footing due to many filled potholes that made the surface extremely uneven. Some runners decided it would be safer to run on the hard sand next to the road! The volunteers were great, and Kenosha is a very pretty town.

Disappointing not to have any age-group awards. They even got my age group wrong, so I don't know if the posted age-group results are even accurate. No "as advertised" polka bands on the course, and only one at the finish. No "AA" sport gel on course. No cheese at the "AA" brat and cheese post-race party. Terrible pavement on the north segment of the course (traversed by both marathon and half-marathon runners). The goody bag had no goodies. Timing mats at 7.7 and 14 miles? I would skip this one for almost any other in the area.

I ran in the half-marathon. The course was well-marked and contained beautiful scenery. I read online that they were keeping it small due to it being the inaugural event, which I was fine with.

The only downsides I saw were that they didn't have enough bathrooms, and the spacing of the aid stations was poor. For the first few miles they had plenty of water stations, but eventually there would be long stretches without any. I believe this was between the 6th-9th mile.

I'd definitely recommend this for fellow Chicagoans that are looking to get away from the city without wanting to travel far.

This was a nice inaugural marathon. Good scenery along the lake, interspersed with neighborhoods and town segments. Great weather. OK crowd support considering the lack of tradition. Nice medal and shirt (but same for both marathon and half). Main complaints: no age group awards, no energy gel at mile 17 despite promises (mine was gone by then; I was counting on being replenished), advertised Gatorade was replaced by diluted Heed. But the positives greatly outweighed negatives.

The race was great - I was enjoying running it and definitely will run it again!

The only thing that I would recommend for them to address is the total absence of police in the southern tip of the course (miles 18-20). In this area the residents have started to drive on the road while the race was still on (in both directions)! I understand - there are no other roads in this area, so they had no choice. But several times I saw an older driver was driving her car just 2-3 feet behind an unsuspecting iPod-wearing runner - until other runners alerted the runner and she jumped in horror to the road's shoulder! It looked too me very dangerous.