This by far is the worst distance event I have done. The expo was entirely too small and unorganized for a major city event. The starting area was entirely too narrow for the number of racers. More water stops were needed for a hot day - starting at mile 3 and then every 2 miles was not enough. Although advertised as a flat course, it wasn't in the first half. I was dodging traffic for the second half of the race. Cars were being allowed to pass everywhere, with Buffalo PD being more concerned with getting traffic moving rather than the safety of the runners. Maybe next year move the course so that there is not a 3-4 minute hold-up for a train. At the end, more nourishment than just bananas and oranges that have been sitting in the hot sun all day would be nice.

I did appreciate the few residents who actually did come out and cheer, and especially the people who cooled us off with their sprinklers/hoses.

Very pleased to see the organizational improvements. Well run, especially considering the huge growth in participation. Unfortunately I'm beginning to feel like a marathon weed in a half-marathon lawn in Buffalo. Getting a little too big and too expensive for my taste.

Pros:
+ The convention center registration was a nice step up from the Hyatt
+ Great neighborhood/spectator support
Cons:
- Getting pricey and crowded
- Can't you control the temp and the trains? :)

What a great race this was this year! The weather was very hot after the half point, but not humid, and the start was early at 7 a.m. The course is new and much nicer than it has been for the last 4 years; and the volunteers and spectators were enthusiastic (not as numerous as in, say, NYC, but many more than in prior years and many more than similarly-sized races like Wineglass and Mohawk Hudson). It ran through some beautiful areas of the city, including the waterfront, Delaware Park, and Mansion Row. This race has truly come a long way since 2005 when I first ran it. About 850 runners finished this year - more than ever before - and it was much better organized than in the past. The volunteers were plentiful and very enthusiastic!

Packet pick-up was efficient and easy, and the expo was quite impressive this year compared to in years past. It was larger with more vendors. This marathon has come a long way, baby!

Finally, I witnessed the most amazing thing I ever have in a marathon, and I've run 18 of them. Some jackass in a white BMW convertible plowed through a stopping point at a traffic circle, where runners were entering. A volunteer ran in front of the car screaming STOP, and the driver started hassling him: "Who the hell are you to stop me..." And at that exact moment when the driver was hassling him, two cops in uniform who were on the other side of the circle (so the BMW guy didn't see them) started sprinting toward the car! All of the runners, myself included, started cheering and clapping. I think that volunteer who stopped the guy should get a medal. He wasn't getting paid for his time, he didn't even look like he ran, and he could have been seriously hurt if the driver had not stopped. My hat is off to that volunteer. This was one time where there was a cop (two, actually) when I needed one!

I will be back next year!

Having traveled to participate in this race (half-marathon), I was disappointed. It would be a good "local" race, but not worth making a trip.

PROS:
-affordable
-nice size - not crowded, so you could spread out

CONS:
-a freight train runs through the course around mile 10. It interrupted the race (especially for the 8:30/mile pace). It lasted a few minutes (which is equivalent to a half-mile or more). Runners had to wait for it to pass.
-the finish line was way too narrow
-the finish area had half-bananas and quartered-oranges; no other nourishment
- for a hot day, needed more water stations

Ran the half in 2010. Noticed that the race has really grown in size, showing the popularity of the half marathon. Lined up (as I always do) at the recommended start point for my expected finish and passed runners the entire way. Ran my exact expected time, which means everyone I passed lined up ahead of where they should have been. The first mile and the out-and-back loop by the marina were very congested. Many groups of runners were running 3-5 abreast at slower paces. Not enough water stops in the first half of the course for the hot temp of the day. Very cool medal. I'm sure they can alter the course to allow for the popularity the race seems to be gaining. I heard runners had to wait for a train to cross the course at one point. Not good. As always, I met a lot of nice runners at the race and enjoyed Buffalo.

What a great run. The Buffalo Marathon was well staffed and the route was well controlled, as far as traffic goes. I only wish they could have held up the train that cost me 2 minutes.

The race really shows you a full range view of the City of Good Neighbors, traveling through poorer, working-class and rather upscale neighborhoods. The fans were awesome and the final hundred meters to the finish line were surrounded by great spectators. I couldn't have asked for more (other than those 2 minutes back).

Well organized run. The pacers were a great feature! One negative: it was advertised as a FLAT COURSE. The first 13 miles had about 6 or 7 uphill climbs that were not expected. However, the last 13 miles were flat and fast. Overall, a much better marathon since my last time running Buffalo.

There is a lot about the Buffalo Marathon that has improved. However, Buffalo needs to decide what kind of a marathon they want. If they want to attract more people, more needs to be done in terms of the course. The course route needs improvement as well as adding timers to the route. Designated parking and organization thereof were lacking. Spectators were limited in support, but volunteers were great. Water stations were good, but porta-johns along the route are needed. Fruit was also nice at the end of the race; possibly include it along the route as well. Know the train schedule so that runners don't have to wait while a train added to their time. That was an important oversight. Most disappointing was that this was not a walker-friendly event. The police were quite abrasive in cutting off the walkers and directing them street-side within a block of the start. I am a native and I do love this area, so I would really like to see this marathon improve and become an event for all participants.

This was only my second marathon, so I don't have much to base my comments on. But I was disappointed with several aspects of this race:

#1 - Where were the mile markers? It's possible that I missed a few, but I didn't spot my first mile marker until mile #7.
#2 - Why couldn't water/Gatorade be provided at every mile? It was given out on mile #3 and then every two miles after that. For such a hot day, this was a terrible oversight.
#3 - How many pacers were there? And where were they? I saw one for 3:55, and that was it. And trust me: I was all over the place. If they were on the course, they weren't very visible.
#4 - What kind of course was this? We saw Buffalo's worst. We passed through bridges, and bad parts of town, and even across railroad tracks. Of course, a TRAIN came, delaying many folks by more than three minutes.
#5 - There was poor communication between marathon planners and the city. Saw many unsafe occurrences, with cars coming onto the course and not knowing what's going on. This marathon seemed to catch much of the city by surprise.
#6 - Why were we running in such tight spaces? I was getting claustrophobic out there.
#7 - Where were the bathrooms? Took me three miles to find one at one point.
#8 - I don't think it would have been too much trouble to have fruit provided earlier than the 14th mile.

Other than that, this was a great marathon!!

I have run Buffalo 3 times and this one was not good. The water at all of the later stops was warm and not much good for helping to keep core body temp down. The medical tent was closed up at 6 hours while the people most likely to need help had just come in or were just coming in. The course closing does not mean that the medical tent should fold up. Many times, heat issues are delayed and don't arise immediately after finishing. They ran out of ice at the finish, and the drinks again were not kept cold. For those who were running between 8- and 9-minute pace and got caught and delayed by the train crossing the course, I hope that you were not cheated out of reaching your goal or qualifying for Boston by such poor planning. The organizers were quoted as saying that the people who were held up were on a 9:30- or 10-minute pace. That is bunk. Check the schedule of trains; don't try to blow off a real problem. People work too hard to prepare for a marathon to have their day ruined by a lack of forethought on the part of the organizers.

Buffalo could be a good race and there were many kind spectators along the way who made the day bearable, but they need to make some serious adjustments in the organization.