After reading last year's comments, I was pleasantly surprised. The start was well organized. I have never seen shorter lines for the port-a-lets. I started in wave 12 and crossed the start line 15 minutes after the gun. The first mile was the least scenic. The 1/2 and full stayed together for the first 5 miles, which was good for keeping early speed in check. Then they split and were never together again - although we were often running down the same street with a median in between. I think this is a good race at which to run fast. I enjoyed the tour of the city. We had taken a van tour the day before so I knew what I was looking at. Water stops were plentiful and organized. Great volunteers. The miles fron 20-22ish were not terribly scenic but the lovely view of Lake Ponchartrain made it worthwhile. My only suggestion would be for signs at the finish to help locate the family meeting area and shuttle buses.

I did the half last year and full this year. Beautiful weather both years. There are many hotels near the start to choose from. Stay at the Monteleone, and you are only a mile from the expo and start and one block from Bourbon St. Loved the scenic course - even the run out to Lake Ponchartrain near the end. A few more volunteers at the expo would have been good but overall it was well organized. Fun city, and while the restaurant lines are always going to be long, they're worth waiting for.

I have run a number of marathons and thought the start and finish were extremely well planned to manage the numbers of runners and spectators. Loved the fact that they broke the half marathoners away from the marathoners so early in the race. As a marathoner it definitely made it more pleasant to have space to run. Loved the bands along the way and the band at the finish area was terrific. Would recommend this fast, flat, well organized marathon!!

What a great city for a marathon. R&R folks know how to organize. They make things run smoothly. Lots of support along the route with tons of volunteers at the tables. In fact, at about mile 8, I thought this was a world-class event. But then comes the back half. Routed out of town into a dull and lifeless city park for almost 10 miles! Could have been anywhere. No need to travel to NOLA to run on a municipal bike path. Bottom line, it seems like a great half that was overstretched into a full.

This was my first marathon and I loved it! I have done at least a dozen halfs in various big cities and big races, but this one was by far my favorite! It was very well organized and a lot of fun! For the most part it was a very pretty course too. The first mile or 2 weren't, but everything else was beautiful. Plenty of aid stations and NOT ONE HILL on the entire course. Good crowd and cheerleaders too! Weather was perfect for running. Only negative would be that the roads were a little torn up, but they were not horrible either. I would definitely do it again!

If you want to run a flat course, come to NOLA! I've run it since 2005, there have been changes, and last year RNR took over. RNR puts on a quality event, and although there is a lack of spectator support during some portions, you can't beat running most of the length of St. Charles Ave., Decatur (right in front of the cathedral), and later Esplanade Ave.

And for out-of-towners, get here a few days before (or stay after) to soak up some of NOLA's good times (stay in the French Quarter or CBD at least, not in the suburbs).

I live in New Orleans. I don't know what possessed R'n'R to make them choose a course that is not especially outstanding and shuts down all of the major roads in New Orleans. The old course (when the NOTC ran the race) was much better. I didn't love that the waves started so far apart - I started half an hour after the gun, and I didn't like that around miles 20-23 the course wandered off into flooded no-man's land with not a spectator to be seen. But otherwise, it's flat, it's well-organized, and it's in the best city on earth.

This was my first R&R marathon and I will never do another. I have run several other marathons (not R&R) with much better and more talented musical support. NOLA was completely unprepared for the number of people coming to town for the race. The average wait anywhere in town to eat the night before the race was 2.5 hours or more. The course was horrible. Barely a mile of it was downtown and in in the French Quarter area. The last third of the course is in the middle of nowhere - levee on one side, park on the other, and no fan support to speak of. I love NOLA and have family there; however, I will never ever run another marathon there... at least as long as R&R organizes it.

I ran the half-marathon; my mom ran the full. We both enjoyed the races VERY much. The half-marathoners and full-marathoners were only together at the beginning. Pretty course. Broken roads made it a little tricky, but nothing a real trooper can't get through! :) I heard the full-marathoners got martinis around mile 17!

Great after party. I stayed for a few hours waiting on my mom in the full marathon to finish. The huge grassy field was a plus, they load you up with snacks at the end (note: could have used a bag to put the goodies in!), and who doesn't love free beer after a race!?

Looking forward to running the full next time.

(NOTE: I have run the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon do not let THAT marathon shy you away from this one.)

The flattest course that I have run. The roads may not be the best, but there are not many runners on them either. A smaller marathon - after the half marathon splits off at about mile 4, you never run with them again. I know there are many comments about the rough surface, but it's not that bad. Weather was great, organization was good, and New Orleans is a beautiful city. Don't party too hard the night before and you will be OK! I am definitely going back to NOLA.