Overall I had a very positive experience at the Austin Marathon (other than my sore legs as I write this review). The course was very challenging. They are not lying when they say the course is hilly. Even the flats seem to have an uphill grade. Spectators in Austin love to joke that this is your last hill. Sufficient water and fan support was available on the course. I loved the medals and finisher's tech shirt. The course did a good job of providing a preview of the city. I would recommend this race to others looking for a challenging marathon.

Great weather, great race, very good spectator support through neighborhoods. EXTREMELY hilly, but that was a given since this is an Austin race. Ran the half. One complaint: Port-a-pots were few and far between at the five- to ten-mile points, where they would have been most useful. I know this is a difficult issue to weigh for the organizers, but adding 11 minutes to my time for one bathroom break is... tough....

This marathon has steadily gone downhill for the last 8 years. Austin is a great city and they deserve a better marathon. It has become way too expensive for what you get in return. The expo is one of the worst for a so-called "big" marathon. The White Rock Marathon is way better in all respects.

I thought the race was great! You did a super job, especially considering lack the of sponsorship. Ignore the whiners.

I'm a 15-year-old kid who ran the 2009 Austin Marathon, and it was great. Spectators were at each mile or so. I do recommend that they have more porta-potties because there weren't very many. Also, they should have better medical equipment because my leg cramped up and they had no Icy Hot. Otherwise, it was a fantastic race.

You all sure missed a spectacular Austin Marathon. Perfect weather and a great course. Well worth the cost just by the locals stepping up this year and truly being outstanding. Finisher's medal is pretty nice too. This needs to be a marathon destination for you and your family in 2010.

On more than one occasion my race partner and I had to POUR OUR OWN WATER because the volunteers manning several of the water stops were not ready with water as the runners came around. We run through water stops - always have - and we had to stop and wait for water several times. We missed a PR by 9 seconds in this race and if it had been because we hadn't trained or prepared, it would be so much easier to swallow than being because we lost more than a minute waiting for water.

Get rid of the Krebs Road part; it's not pleasant there (too tight). They need more clocks at mile markers, and fewer for KM markers.

This was my first half, and it was a challenging one. There were A LOT OF BIG HILLS, but the course was all the more rewarding to conquer! I thought the organization needed help - more bathrooms, correct t-shirt sizes and better access to food and drinks after the finish line. But I had a great time, and will do this again!

The cost of this marathon is now far too expensive. Back when Motorola sponsored it and it was a FAST course, they might have been able to justify $110 entry fees. But $75 for the half? Now that it's a loop with a lot of hills, and runners are back to turning in normal times, there is nothing that sets it apart from any of the hundreds of marathons in the world. Races like Chicago, Boston, and NY can ask for $100+ and get it because they are either very fast, very large, have a lot of history, go by historic landmarks, etc.... These are huge events.

What's so special about Austin's course that sets it apart from any other in the world? Not much, mi amigos. There's not even much that sets it apart from most other races in Austin. I'll be looking elsewhere for this year's marathon.