I've run Lincoln twice, in 98 and 99. I plan to go back this year. If the weather is good, I can't imagine a faster non point to point course. Just enough 'hills' to loosen up the legs a little. Also the second half is out and back, so you have runners going the other way to look at. Volunteer support is excellent, and spectators good for a race this size.

I have only run 7 marathons in the past 2 years. The Lincoln Marathon was very well organized and I never had long to wait to get fluids...and the Nebraska fans were unreal. I will be running this marathon again this year and I'm looking forward to it!!!!! Keep up the great work Lincoln and I hope to get at least a few more minutes closer to qualifying for Boston!!!!!!

I walked the 1/2 marathon with my mom and niece (2001). At mile 6 and beyond water was sporadic. At one point I ran over to a gas station to beg a couple glasses of water. At mile 8 (?) there were still a couple volunteers, but no water. At mile 10 everyone had left the water station. There was a box with 4 or 5 cups of water sitting on it. We split one, knowing there were still others behind us. I've run the 1/2 before. The course is great, the fans are great, and apparently if you are in the main 'group' of runners, the organization appears fine. But the way the slower participants were ignored and left to fend for themselves really left a sour taste in my mouth. Last year 9 members of my family either ran or walked the 1/2 marathon. My dad would like me to come back and participate again this year, but I don't know...

This was easily the most enjoyable marathon I have run, and was also the most enjoyable race I have ever entered. The course is flat (I was told it was 'rolling' - compared to a salt flat, perhaps), although there was a bit of a headwind (and a very slight uphill) from mile 13-20. The last 6 was slightly down with a nice tailwind, except for a couple blocks of uphill around mile 25 (which my legs were actually thankful for - a chance to use some new muscles). The course was actually too flat for my liking, and my hamstrings were a bit tight by the end from the 'consistent' muscle use. The spectators were wonderful. No, they weren't 10 deep everywhere, but I cannot recall any place where someone wasn't cheering. The whole event had a great small-town feel. I trained through this race and easily qualified for Boston, so I was as jazzed at the finish as I was during the race. Nice size field as well (~2000) so there is always someone to pace with, and good sized age group fields so a high place is earned, rather than a product of a small field. Nice time of year to run in Nebraska! They didn't loose my bag, the water stops had some nice extras (vaseline smeared on cardboard so you could grab a finger full to help out those warm spots). I'll do it next year as well.

Organized and well supported in every way! Great pre-race pasta feed the night before, great fast course ,and the fans support is awesome for a city of Lincoln's size. The National Guard support was second to none. The huge rows of American flags lining the street at the start and finish line gave this race even a more special meaning. The only complaint I would have was that in other marathons I have run in, the announcers have always stated every finisher's name as they crossed the finish line and their hometown. I believe finishing is a huge accomplishment whether you are a top finisher or not, although my time is average and my name was called, I noticed that hardly any of the slower finishers (in both the marathon and the half marathon)names and hometowns were announced...I think that every runner should have been recognized....

I really enjoyed this one. The course was relatively flat the first 16-17 miles. What few hills there were, were either so gradual or so short that I didn't consider them a factor. There were a few more hills the last 10 miles, but I didn't consider any of them significant, except for the 4-block-long hill at the 25-mile marker. But I negotiated it without too much difficulty. Traffic control was very good. There were a couple of places along the route where my personal preference would have liked to see a few more officers, but even in those places, the local traffic was very courteous and very yielding to the runners. The fans may not have been many over the last half of the course, but the ones that were there made it a point to cheer for every runner that went by. They weren't there just to look for their favorite runner. Even the officers on duty offered words of cheer when their traffic control duties didn't preoccupy their attention. I would recommend this marathon to anyone. The National Guard band playing the National Anthem prior to the start of the race added a very classy touch to the whole event. It did get a little warm and humid for me in the last mile (the temp was in the low 70's), but human beings just can't control the weather.

This race is one of the best that you can go to because it is well supported. The Army National Guard uses this run as a qualifying run for all of its teams. They always get an excellent speaker, Bill Rodgers, and Frank Shorter the last two years. Class act all the way. The people of Lincoln are the finest anywhere.

I have run over 20 marathons, and I always look forward to this one. I'm not much of a spring-time marathoner, but if I'm in shape, this is the only one I will go to. This is the only marathon where the water cups have lids and straws so you can get a good drink instead of spilling it all over...Great course, nice to head back from Holmes Lake.

Few marathons tempt me to return, but this is one. Twice, in '95 and '97, I've traveled halfway across the country for this race (and expect I will again). Liked layout and concept of course, so hope (and think) recent changes have been minor. I'm not one who needs screaming crowds every step, anyway, so having local friends at a couple spots on the course has been just right. Overall, a solid, nice-size marathon, and a personal favorite.

Everything was better than I expected. I'm a 48 yr old male that only recently started to run. I found out what 'the wall' is. For a day or two I said never again. Then I signed up for the twin cities marathon october 8th. Here we go again.