This being my fourth marathon, I'm starting to understand what makes a marathon race runner-friendly. You want easy access to the expo for pre-race logistics; a quality pre-race meal to help mingle with other competitors; easy access to the starting line, ample parking and pre-race bathrooms; fantastic weather; level course terrain with manageable hills; an abundance of crowd support in local neighborhoods and plenty of police protection at intersections; sufficient drink stations stocked with water and Gatorade (they had STRAWS in cups! Brilliant!); a finish line environment that you're excited to cross; results that are timely and accurate; enough post-race activities to help ease the oncoming leg soreness; and a quality medal you'll be proud to wear around your neck. I can say the Lincoln Marathon and its organizers met and exceeded all these criteria superbly.

Areas where improvement could be made:
1. If the possibility of moving the finish line inside Memorial Stadium exists, it would make the race's end all the more dramatic and fulfilling.
2. As I was looking for post-race food near the finish line, all I could find was a box of bananas. Surely there had to be more, or did all the half runners gorge? Please save some food for us non-sub-3-hour people.
3. A band at the mile 17/23 mark would be great for motivation.
4. Cotton race T-shirts are great for washing cars. I'd pay a little extra for a better shirt.

Overall, this is a fabulous race with fewer than 1,000 finishers. Be prepared for how fast people run here - National Guard teams send their rabbits here to qualify for the national team, so there will be high percentage of Boston qualifiers to run with. Thank you Nebraska for a fabulous race!

I ran Lincoln barefoot and would rate the course highly as to barefoot friendliness. The only bad spot was a section of the bike path that was very bad chip seal but fortunately there was good grass alongside onto which one could run.

Organization in this race is top notch. The water stations were plentiful and the water cups even had lids with straws in them. Very nice!!

The course is incredibly flat with a good portion of it an out and back.

I had a great time and would consider returning for a PR.

This was my first Lincoln marathon and I was truly impressed from the organization, to the course and the fans everything was wonderful. All of the water stations were well stocked with drinks and support. The course was fair and challenging. I ran a PR. The roses at the finish were a very nice touch. If you want a well organized marathon in terrific city then Lincoln is for you. I will be back next year.

Great course - relatively flat. Great weather. Friendly people running it. I actually really liked the second half being out and back. It was a good change of pace to see runners coming toward you. Good aid stations (although a little far apart on the first half). Downtown close to start/finish so you can walk from your hotel. Plenty of post-race massage tables available. Only real negatives: 1) No food - only water - at the finish line (apparently food was on the other side of the stadium quite a ways away in the opposite direction from downtown). 2) The finish definitely needs to be on the football field like other marathons (Detroit, South Bend, Memphis, etc.)and not outside the stadium. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a smaller marathon.

My 9th marathon, in my hometown, and I (finally) qualified for Boston. Everything came together in Lincoln. Starting with Beardsley talking at the expo - inspiring, an awesome marathon (free) poster, perfect weather, and a course that was lined with hometown spectators, varied with beautiful neighborhoods, parks, and flat stretches as well as gentle rolling hills. The water and Gatorade with STRAWS and TOPS were brilliant and I wish all races provided them. The only downside was that they did not provide energy gel (luckily I brought my own) and there is not a topography map available. I suggest that you drive the course the day before to get a feel for where the hills are.

I ran Lincoln to check off State #25 and was truly impressed. Having 29 years of experience pays off... organization and volunteers were wonderful. Neighborhood residents were out in full force. Everyone was enthusiastic and supportive. Water stations were well manned and stocked. Post-race food was real food, and a real treat in a real dining room!

Coming from Florida, found easy hills challenging but doable. Thanks for a great race!

This was my second half-marathon. My first was in Omaha in 2004. I blew that time away. New PR. A lot of the reason has to do with the great course. It's nice and flat with only a few small hills thrown in for some variety. :)

My only negative would have to be the portions on the course that were on the bike trails. This race had way too many people to try to squeeze onto a 6 foot-wide bike trail. It got pretty crazy getting past the slower folks during those parts of the course. Otherwise, a fantastic race!

...I would have preferred a banana or some broth. I was a late sign up and am glad I came. The free pasta-thon, lunch/celebration, and massage were great. The start/finish were also handled very well. However, the course was a bit rough in that: a) there was too much concrete, b) the back half loop had very little crowd support, and c) I was forced to see the leaders cruise by me as they effortlessly passed Mile 23 while I was 8 miles behind them. Talk about demoralizing for us poor plodders! The expo is also kind of non-existent. The event is really geared toward the 1/2 crowd and they do a very good job at it. Not sure I'll be back, but as a new resident of the Cornhusker State I think it's the best there is. I'm certainly open to other opinions, but in the meantime I sure am going to miss Twin Cities.

This was my first marathon, and overall a good experience. Here's the good and the bad:

Pros:
- relatively flat course
- aid stations with cups that have lids and straws! (other race organizers take note)
- free post-race massages
- nice, early spring weather
- enthusiastic volunteers (THANKS!)

Cons:
- not a terribly scenic course
- not a great deal of crowd support (although the people that were watching were very enthusiastic)

We got nearly perfect weather (40's at start, upper 50's at finish) for this flat and fast course. The only problem with the course, in my opinion, is at the turn-around at mile 20 where I wish they would run it around the lake; instead it goes up a side road and then back. The volunteers were great and well organized and enthusiastic. Thanks, Lincoln, for a great experience.