This is my 3rd race here (2 full, 1 half) and this topped the others. Best change this year was telling people where to line up at the start. Fans were the best I've seen too! Organization is top-notch, especially when you consider it is a track club run event with a reasonable price! Great volunteers, great people reading out splits. I wish my performance had been as good as the race was. I still wish that they would get off the bike path, but the wider trail at 27th helps a ton!

Just had an awesome time at the Lincoln race. This was my first race ever, and my first half marathon. Everything was super. The water stops use cups with lids and straws. Didn't have to slow down to drink at all. Fan support was awesome too, throughout the entire 13.1 miles. The only complaint I had was the stretch on the narrow bike path. Too many runners for an enjoyable experience there, so I ran on the grass instead. Overall, a top-notch, awesome experience.

PLEASE REMIND WALKERS TO STAY TO THE RIGHT. Otherwise, everything was excellent!

I didn't really realize how much I enjoyed the Lincoln Marathon until I ran a few other races. The course is flat and fast and there are spectators everywhere! Usually there are some spots on a course where no one is there, but not in Lincoln! They have THE best setup afterwards, too! Tent after tent of bagels, fruit, H20, you name it! VERY well organized! Definitely one on my calendar each year.

I ran the half-marathon, planning on coming back for the full marathon in 2009. What a great city. The race was organized well, the people of Lincoln came out to cheer us on, and the weather couldn't have been better. I'll be back.

Being a Nebraskan, Lincoln was obviously the first place that came to mind when I decided to run my first marathon. I like running the Omaha Half-Marathon, but I'd never run the full - too boring. I chose Lincoln because I'd heard it ranks right up there with big-name marathons as far as spectators go, and now I believe it. It was SO encouraging to see so many people cheering us on throughout the full 26.2, instead of only supporting the first half of the course. One woman was even standing in her yard handing out donut holes!

I think the course itself was great, and for a flat, little Midwestern college town, I think it's pretty nice to look at too. The old neighborhoods in the early miles are gorgeous, and the Holmes Lake area at mile 20 is beautiful. Oh, and there are not "hills" in this course. There are "inclines." Big difference. It's pretty flat overall.

Lastly, this race really is as well organized as people say. Water stops were always well-manned, and you've got to love the lids and straws. (Great for avoiding splashing the whole thing in your face if you're running and not walking your water stops!) And wow, was there a ton of GU! It was like a giant GU piñata exploded GU packets all over the place by mile 17 or so. (Had they started handing it out earlier in the race, around mile 5 or so, I wouldn't have even brought any of my own!) The finish was pretty smooth - it's always fun hearing your name announced as you cross the finish line. And the post-race massages were handled extraordinarily well. Didn't have to wait too long.

The only thing that disappointed me was that it seems there were no finishers' shirts this year. If there were, I didn't see them anywhere. The "technical shirts" aren't great either, but I can forgive Lincoln for that, since the overall race experience is what matters.

Very inexpensive entry fee. Great, FREE pasta meal before the race. Great FREE pork dinner after the race. Lodging was inexpensive. Traffic and parking were handy. We also got free showers, massages and even free extra t-shirts when we bought some marathon garb. STRAWS and LIDS on the water cups!!! What more can I say?! OH!...and we threw our robe and long-sleeved shirt on the fence at the start, and they were still there when we finished. Wonderful people in Lincoln!

Lincoln: Where the runners are strong, the volunteers good looking and the marathon above average (sorry, Garrison).

Lovely little marathon. This was my 27th marathon and proved quite enjoyable. The course was mostly flat with the few hills providing a nice break for the muscles. Many nice neighborhoods with shade for the first half. The second half was a little more exposed to the sun, but it wasn't a problem with the great weather. The overall organization was pretty good, with plenty of water, Gatorade, oranges and Gu available along the course. Plentiful, friendly and supportive volunteers throughout. My only suggestion is to improve the packet pickup. With 5,000+ runners, a single long line for packets was inefficient and slow. Consider splitting the lines early for full/half runners and further splitting by alphabet to speed up the process. The spectators were not as plentiful as in the megathons, but made up for it in enthusiasm. My highlight was the trumpet player around mile 20. She played "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" as I ran past her, in honor of my Irish-themed shirt. It made my day.

So nice to be pleasantly surprised by all aspects of the Lincoln Marathon! The "red carpet" is rolled out for the runners. Expo is smooth, and all the extras are nice: free pasta dinner, free massages after the marathon, post-party, etc. You start and finish at the "famed" Husker Stadium, and wind through the Nebraska campus, through beautiful neighborhoods, and pass by the state capital and downtown - you'll never feel alone. However, even with 6,000 participants (2/3 half and 1/3 full), it doesn't feel too crowded either!
The people of Lincoln are very knowledgeable about the marathon, and turn out in droves to support runners.

New item: Lids/straws on cups - great idea! Found them to be less messy, and could keep moving with them in my hand instead of having to gulp down the fluid.

Lincoln is a great marathon, with a scenic route, great organization, and energetic spectators. I really enjoyed the marathon route (will always have a soft spot for it, since I got my BQ here this year!). After running a MUCH less well-organized race last fall, I really appreciate the professionalism and organization of this one. The Lincoln RD understands that marathoners spend a lot of time and energy preparing for the big event - and the organizers gave us a great race.

The positives:
1. Great course, fans, organization
2. Courtesy of all involved - spectators, staff, runners
3. Beautiful course
4. Organized hydration stops (LOVE the lids and straws!)

To be even better:
1. Different vendor for photos (still not available on Thursday after a Sunday race??)
2. Put out pace signs for the race start (just an oversight this year, per the pre-race announcement)
3. Save some carbs for the marathoners... there were just bananas and yogurt out when I finished

Overall: wonderful race, good time, fun place. Thanks, Lincoln!