This was only my second marathon and I almost didn't do it given the heavy rains... but I was glad I did. It is basically flat, a wonderful change from my first marathon in Omaha. The crowd support was pretty good, in spite of the constant rain. The drinks with lids and straws were great. The oranges were great! I was disappointed to not see anything going on at the finish line. No food, etc. I see from other runners comments that there was a post-race party somewhere, but no sign or person was offering instructions to it. This was a big letdown, but overall a well run event.

Lincoln should be proud of this event... it was a first-class marathon. I was very impressed with the people of Lincoln. The race is smaller in nature (only a thousand or so marathoners), but people still lined some streets, car windows were always down with positive comments coming out, etc. On one residential street, a church group was handing out water bottles. Aid stations had cups with lids (why don't all races do this?).
Course is flat for the most part, and the two halves are distinctly different. Thouroughly enjoyed this as my first marathon. I passed on my hometown Vancouver Marathon (a biggy) and have no regrets whatsoever.
Thank you Lincoln (and the National Guard and other volunteers... your efforts are appreciated!).

A good marathon with great people. I loved the city of Lincoln.

I have a little bit of a different perspective. I am a marathon walker, so I look at the full marathon from the back of the pack. This was my 5th marathon, and in spite of the bad weather, I loved Lincoln. The expo was good, in spite of needing more room, and I had absolutely no problem getting my packet. The pasta dinner was excellent. I liked the course. I can understand why some folks do not like the 2nd 1/2 (out and back), but I lived on Normal Blvd. 25 years ago, so it was fun to go by the old homestead a couple of times and say "hi" to the new owner on the way out. Taking so long to finish, I encountered sun, warmth and humidity during the last 6-7 miles. I want to thank the race directors for hanging in there with me as I attempt the 50 States goal. The finish line people waited for me and I especially want to thank the fine gentleman on his bike who followed me until I had 1/2 mile to go. He is an emergency radio fellow and had to get involved with tracking the severe weather that was coming in that late afternoon. I also want to thank my great friend Jim Ryan who kept me company the last 8 miles.

I would encourage you 50 Staters to have Lincoln be your Nebraska marathon. I do not believe you will be disappointed. For people who are doing a marathon 'cause you do marathons, I am also positive that you, too, will like the Lincoln Marathon

? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Splendid organization overall. Course has two or three elevation changes that constitute actual hills (tho still moderate), with enough other gentle grades up and down to shift muscle groups occasionally. Reasonably attractive for a city course with fairly scenic breaks along paved bike path (miles 6-8) and through Holmes Park (most of miles 19-21)
? EXCEPTIONAL volunteers at well-supplied aid stations?Get this: they take the time and trouble to put lids and straws in cups?and just about every one of them holds the cups out on an outstretched palm. (Not such a big deal for slowpokes like me, but this makes a MAJOR difference for faster runners.) Kudos to volunteer coordinators!
? Significant traffic comes out as the day goes on, but law enforcement manages it very well.
? Good crowd support. Probably light given the rainy morning in 2003, but the fact that as many came out as did under the circumstances indicates strong local support.
? Lincoln does the food right. Generous and ample free pasta feed before, delicious bbq'd pork steak sandwiches afterward. Ohhhh, BABY.

I ran the Lincoln AllSport Marathon yesterday (5/4/03) and I wanted to give some general feedback on the race for runner consideration.

The volunteers were outstanding. It was raining buckets and there was never a problem with getting fluids or fruit. Very, very good job.

The course was a little boring. The marathon runners ran the first half with the half-marathoners and then passed near the end in the middle of the race. The second half was an out and back that was mentally draining and was mostly along a road shared with cars. I would have liked to see more of Lincoln and not so much traffic. Also it is tough to see the finish line 1/2 way through a race.

The expo was poorly organized. The expo was held in a small conference room in the Embassy Suites hotel. I had to nudge my way into the room and all I wanted to do was get away from all those people standing on top of me. There were some genuine deals from the Lincoln Running Company and other vendors, but the participants did not have enough room to manuever the room.

The race graphics are awesome. Without a doubt this is my favorite race medal, which is a cast of a Lincoln Penny. I also love the poster which is Abraham Lincoln inspired and cleverly written.

Race organization was very good. I love the finish on the Nebraska campus and with the addition of having showers at the finish line. The organizers handled torrential rain very well.

The website could use a little more development. There should be a clearer link for results from the main site header. Also, you could sell all that old merchandise to us runners over the web.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this race, commend the race organizers for a job well done, and pray it doesn't rain again next year.

-Matt, #165

Pros - Fairly flat course, suprisingly scenic, mile markers easily seen, times called out at each miler marker, water and sports drinks at aid stations were given w/ straws, nice medal, and plenty of great and enthusiastic spectators (amazed at how many there were considering the weather was rainy and cold).
Cons - Weather was rainy & cold (not the organizers' faults but the race had to start 15 minutes late due to lightning concerns), small expo, not enough port-a-potties at the start, and the worst post-race party (only water, sports drinks, and one table serving bananas & apples).

I've walked the full marathon 3 times and the half once. The first loop is great. The second is a little dull and you do it twice. And the specatators have gone home. Two years ago the city took away their early start for walkers and slow runners. THIS IS NOT THE ORGANIZERS FAULT. Last year I did the half and that is a much better experience for walkers, though I think they shut down aid stations too soon. The strengths are the expo, the pastathon and victory party, nice people, friendly cooperative police, and the beautiful first loop. I'm doing the half again this year.

This is the third time that I have run this race and it was very good, again. I have a couple of suggestions for next year's race. First, the aid stations were nicely spaced out over the course, however, the sports drink, all sport was watered down way too much over the last 1/2 of the course and there was no ice in the cups. Drinking warm watered down sports drink made my stomach and most of my friends' stomachs feel heavy and unpleasant. Just add ice to the cups and don't water them down as much next year. Also, the t-shirts were way down in looks from year's past. The 20th anniv. t-shirt was very nice looking and this being the 25th, i expected more, and instead got a very, very plain one-sided t-shirt. Go back to the past year's designer. Also, the first half of the race is nice, then the dreaded loop where I see the same course again plus the fact that it is in the open with no trees and the heat takes a lot out of you. The last half of the course needs to be changed.

Thanks to Gary and Nancy. The Lincoln lived up to expectations again this year, the 25th. Great time of year. Good support and more porta potties this year, good. Lincoln finishers get a finishing 'prize'. This year's being the 25th anniversary I had expected more than a key fob with no mention of the 25th. I do like the long sleeve shirt. The Pre-race free Pasta Thon the night before really sets this race apart. I recommend that you try the Lincoln, plan to have a good race and fun weekend.