This is an excellent race. I would recommend it to anyone looking to do a summer marathon.Specifically for out of towners because you can fly right in and catch the LRT to the host hotel, which is where the start of the race is!! The organization is superb.

The course is good however I wish they could change that hill coming out of Fort Snelling at mile 17. It was rough. Again I really enjoyed this race and even though I didn't perform the way I expected to I will probably be back again. Great job Team Ortho!!

The aid stations were well spaced. The spectators were awesome. The course left something to be desired. No reason to have an out and back course through Minneapolis. There is plenty of places to create loop course.
My biggest gripe with this race was the entry fee. Far too expensive for what you get in return. The entry fee should have included a finishers shirt.
It was a decent race however.

This is one of the most well organized races I've run. The Team Ortho staff was super helpful and supportive. Marathoners will enjoy a bevy of free stuff... finisher's jacket, hat, t-shirt (could use some improvement on the fabric and tight fit) and beautiful finisher's medal (one of my favorites). Additionally, the medical staff was fantastic. I've never experienced such a plentiful and helpful medical staff - especially the ones on bikes who were cruising all over the course and were very proactive about making sure all runners were healthy.

The course was mostly beautiful, giving runners a good tour of the city. The first half was great with ample shade and some nice downhill stretches. The second half was not as enjoyable. Around miles 15-16, a heavy rain the day before resulted in a muddy and slippery footpath around the lake followed by a monster hill at mile 17  so steep that neither I nor anyone around me could run up it. The next mile adjacent to a highway was pretty boring, sunny and hot. The combo really knocked the wind out of my sails. The last few miles felt like they were mostly uphill (the price for a fun fast downhill stretch out of the start). Changing the 2nd half of the course would really improve the overall experience.

All in all, this was a great marathon, but not a course that facilitates achieving a PR. The best part was the staff, which seems to have had a mission of making runners feel that they were the only thing of importance the whole weekend.

Let's get right to it:
Pros:
1. The best tech shirt I have ever received! They even give a nice jacket for finishing the marathon! Medal is cool!
2. Good course.
3. The best website out there.
4. Good post-race food.
5. Awesome work on the part of volunteers and those who put this race together.

Cons:
1. I enjoyed the course except for miles 16-19, when you run around a lake. Path is uneven, muddy, and doesn't really show the best of Minneapolis. I would like it if they changed the course to delete this part of the race and had runners go through the University of Minnesota and maybe parts of downtown Minneapolis. After running around the lake there is a killer hill coming up to the river bluff. Wow! If you can run up that, you are truly my idol.

I have truly been impressed with Team Ortho races and love running them. Sign up for this race. You won't be disappointed. :)

No sophmore jinx for Team Ortho's 2nd Minneapolis Marathon! The pros are easy to name...
* Best gear giveaways I have ever seen for that level of entry fee (or maybe for any level of entry fees)!!
* Very numerous and enthusiastic volunteers
* Solid website and use of Facebook, etc. for frequent communication
* Good logistics around expo, host hotel, start/finish line location
* A very nice medal

Only a very few minor "non-pros"...
* Post-race food and location thereof was not quite optimum
* While definitely scenic, the course changing to multiple surfaces in some areas and seemingly net uphill in last half was somewhat off-putting.

Overall, I was very pleased with the experience. Nice job, Team Ortho!

I ran the Minneapolis Marathon for the first time this year and Team Ortho does an outstanding job of promoting the event and the cause it supports. I generally enjoyed the event; however, the course and some of the organization both need work. Because the half and full start at the same time, and due to some of the roads being far too narrow, something needs to be done to avoid the congestion in various portions of the first 3-6 miles. The most disappointing aspect of the race is the lack of split timing at standard markings like 5K, 10, half and 20 miles. There was no runner tracking, which has become common in larger races. Overall though, it is an event worth running, but Team Ortho needs to make a few changes.

I ran the half, and as previous posts have mentioned, it is hard to say anything bad about this race. The organization is top-notch, with one of the most informative websites I've seen. The logistics are great, with the race start, finish and expo at the same location - ideal for out-of-towners. Also, you can take the light rail from the airport to downtown for only $1.75 - you can't beat that. Also, the finisher medal is fantastic - one of my favorites so far - and hats off the volunteers at the water stations for wearing rubber gloves. This is a small gesture that I'm sure gets overlooked all too often; but for me, that attention to detail goes a long way - thank you! The only negative comment I can make is that there was very little food or water at the finish. What little there was you had to walk a good distance in order to get to, and even then, there wasn't much at all. My only suggestion is at the very least to add some bottled water at the finish. Otherwise, this is one race I highly recommend. Great job to all of those involved.

I was very impressed with the overall quality and value of this marathon. There was plenty of water on the course, and many high-energy volunteers, spectators and happy runners. It was a nice touch having names on race bibs. Only negative comment: I did not find the food at the end.

This marathon was a great marathon that was easy for people traveling from out of state. Everything was well organized from the minute I registered, and the "perks" were outstanding! I was impressed to come home with a great finisher's jacket, technical tee, hat (for registering early, I believe), and nice medal. Normally I don't comment on medals, as they sit in one of many shoeboxes - however, this one was different with the stained glass features. It might have to find a spot outside of my shoeboxes. Everything was all in one urban environment and locations were well-organized. Fans were great. We ran along the bike path, but the community seems very active, and everyone shared the path when need be and views were lovely. Only thing I tend to not care for: the course was shared with the half marathon people, which made the first 9 miles crowded, but that could just be a personal thing. I prefer to have them on their own course, as there were many of them and they tended to run 3- or 4-wide. Plenty of water along course, and there seemed to be a great number of fans. A few tiny hills, but nothing major. This was a great marathon - I can't really say anything bad about it. I'd come back if I ever want to do another marathon in Minnesota!

Just got done not too long ago running my second Minneapolis Marathon, and they sure know how to put on a fun event. Easy to get to, and very encouraging volunteers. Your first name and home town are on your bib - nice touch. I know I'm a nitpicker, but why no dates on the medals or shirts? I LOVE my 1996 Grandma's Marathon shirt because that was an amazing summer and run for me. Having the date is cool for when you want to look back. Volunteers and crowds were great! The other runners were kind of snotty and had the elitist "Minneapolis attitude" ("don't talk to me; don't look at me"), which I don't care for, but I wasn't there for them. I'll see the crowds next year! I love this new way of welcoming summer!