Positive: The race committee and volunteers were great. They were working early morning and after the runners had left the scene. The jacket - or I would call it a shirt with zipper front - was top-class. Post-race food was good. At least pizza was saved for marathon runners.

Negative: I was disappointed in the low-functioning air conditioning at the host hotel. My room was in the 80s the evening before and the day and evening after the marathon. I feel that my time would have been much better if I had been able to sleep. The air conditioning issue has been a long-time problem at the hotel. I wish we had been told about this before traveling all the way across the country. Some people who were running the marathon for the first time may have been disappointed that medals were not given. You would think that after running more than 50 marathons that I would skip the pasta dinner the evening before the race. I wish I had....

If I had the opportunity, I would run the marathon again; however, I would not trust the host hotel.

First, positive comments:
* The host hotel was just in front of the start/finish line.
* The course was between trees, which helped with the heat.
* Getting my number (etc.) was fast.
Great jacket.
* Fans were scarce during the race, but the ones that were there were great. Thanks to the family at mile 20 for the wonderful oranges.

Things to improve:
* It looked like the course had more hills than advertised.
* After I finished the race, I did not know where to go to get some food. It would be helpful to have better communication.
* Finally, you always deal with weather, hills, and fans, but at the end, you can always looked forward to the medal. You work hard to earn it. I praise the organizers for trying to improve, but not having medals just is not the way to get more runners. I drove 7 hours to get there and drove back after the race. I told my family members and friends about the race, and they were willing to go next year, but as soon as I told them about the medals, they changed their minds. If I would have known about the lack of medals, I would not have raced this one.

For those who are thinking about next year, train hard on hills and train with temps over 60's. Over all, it has the potential to be a nice race, though.

What a top-notch small marathon experience! Rolling hills throughout make this a tough one, but bee-u-ti-ful! WONDERFUL organization in every way and the BEST post-race I have EVER experienced! FREE MASSAGES AND PIZZA FOR ALL! And they didn't give away shirts. We got Asics warm-up pants and really cool mesh bags too! I have done many races, but this one was a feel-good experience from beginning to end.

As a local resident, scenic beauty in races is expected. However, this course exceeds most other Pacific Northwest races. Maybe it was the unseasonably warm, sunny weather, but I thoroughly enjoyed the sights and sounds of this race.

This race is very well organized, with aid stations and porta-potties every two miles. Volunteers were cheerful and helpful. Spectators during the residential last-half of the run were great with the water hoses (and two little girls with squirt guns!).

The food at the end was fantastic! Besides the usual bananas and bagels, there were mini-donuts, danish pastries, PB&J sandwiches, and other non-race type food. Best of all was the pizza (for marathon runners only).

I had a great time, and will do it again next year. I don't expect that it will be warm and sunny, though.

Difficult course with numerous rolling hills and a late climb at mile 23. The organization was flawless. Spectators were sparse in the early stages but those out were enthusiastic. Later in the race, more spectators were there when you needed them most. A big shout out to the folks with sprinklers and hoses in the last few miles... I was cooking in the abnormally warm weather and needed the dousing. Not the fastest marathon out there but one of the most satisfying and fun. Plus, the pizza afterwards was fantastic!

I started running this marathon 3 years ago when they changed the course. It quickly became one of my favorites. This year, however, they went a step beyond. Instead of race shirts they gave us running pants. I was skeptical at first, but they are really nice. We also got backpacks for our packets and nice water bottles at the finish. The spectators really helped with water hoses and a little music. This really is the best small marathon out there.

I live in Washington, so the scenic part of the course is natural to me, but I very much enjoy the residential neighborhoods, as crowd participation is great! I had ladies spraying me with water hoses, as it was a bit warm towards the end. I liked their 2002 flat course a bit more, but most would enjoy this course, as it is a good mix of city and scenic, and a challenging course. Their medals change year to year, and this one was o.k., but I liked the 2007 medal better. Overall, though, a great, well-run marathon you will enjoy - but be trained!!

The 2008 Capital City Marathon is one of the best marathons I've run in 10 years! A beautiful run through urban and rural areas that was heighten by gorgeous weather. Top-notch organization. Fantastic course support for a small marathon. Friendly spectators when they appeared. The finish area was just great. I wanted to linger around, eat and savor the day.

I've been running marathons for almost 20 years. I'll remember Capital City for a long, long time.

The course is wonderfully scenic, the aid stations were well provisioned with fluids and energy gels, and at the end, you even got as much fresh baked pizza as you could eat. This is simply AMAZING, and I don't know why other races can't be this well organized (Bellevue "Seafair Marathon," please take note).

The final stretch past the capital city buildings was superb; there's not one ugly section of this course. Spectators were a little thin on the ground, but this isn't a real problem.

I'll definitely do this run again.

In preparing for my first marathon, I was not sure what to expect. One of my worries concerned the logistics pre- and post-race. In restrospect, I should have worried about pacing, nutrition, etc. as that proved to have been the most difficult obstacle for me that day. But despite struggling mightily during most of the last 12 miles, I did finish and the experience as a whole could not have been more positive.

There were no hordes of cheering fans, but the locals were out all along the course, all tremendously supportive. What really made a difference was the enthusiasm and organization of the volunteers. The water stops were all well stocked and well staffed. (I later felt really dumb for not having taken a much needed energy gel at the mile 18 station.) The finish area was more of the same; well-organized, friendly, and efficient. The post-race food and free massages provided for a great finish to a tough morning.

The course is scenic, if a little monotonous at times. It was drizzling on and off for the entire time I was out on the course, and one can't help but wonder what it would have been like if the sun had been out. The latter is not terribly likely during this time of year in this area, however.

In all, this is a great race to run, whether you are a local or live on the opposite coast like the author of this review.