Pro's:
- Rolling Hills the first 7-8 miles from Byron to Rochester.
- Once in the City you are primarily on bike trails.
- Crowd Support was great! For a smaller race I thought a lot of people turned out.
- Course is set up so spectators can see runners in a lot of different places.
- Good Post-Race food.

Cons:
- Course aid stations could have been better staffed in the last 5 miles.
- There were a few different places I almost missed a turn becasue there was no volunteer and I was relying on spray painted arrows on the ground.

Overall I thought the course was great, and is set up to produce fast times as long as you don't go crazy on the rolling hills in the first 8 miles.

I ran this race to check Minnesota off my state list. Very well organized. Transportation to start was smooth. Post-race BBQ and food was great, much better than a lot of bigger races I have ran in. Fans are friendly and cover a lot more of the course than I expected considering the size of the race. Not a big fan of the course. Up and down hills for the first 8 miles, and then constant turns throughout the last half -including one loop around a parking lot. The course is marked well - much better than say Sunburst - even with all the turns. Nice finisher shirt. Best Western hotel offered a great rate for marathoners, nice amenities, and a shuttle service.

Hats off to Wally and Peggy Arnold for keeping this marathon alive and making it better. Having completed all prior fifteen Med City Marathons, it was great to keep my steak alive today completing my sixteenth Med City marathon.

Pros:
>The bus to the start worked well, and we had the school to use if needed to stay warm and dry if needed. Plus they had coffee and some food available.
>This was my favorite course out of the prior fifteen Med City marathons.
>The volunteers were enthusiastic and very helpful. This was especially true of the young lady volunteer giving course direction just past the half-marathon mat.
>The water stations were adequate, and I was able to get Hammer Gel at two of the stations.
>There was plenty of food when I finished with chips, oranges, and choice of hot food for the runners which was wonderful.
>Nice to get a tech shirt at the finish that says 'finisher' on it with the date and year.
>Nice simple medal with date on it.
>Great marathon experience overall.

Cons:
>Minor changes to the course would help with less turns.
>Maybe consider having some music or cheerleader groups along the course at some of the sections where not a lot of the spectators are at.
I will be back next year for number seventeen.

The first half of the course is gradually downhill for the most part. If you have not trained for downhills lasting over a half hour, this course will kill you. Water stops are no more than adequate. Fans appear at the beginning, middle and end of the race, with few in between. No music along the route.

I have run 29 marathons and will say this is one of the best organized races I've run. It is a smaller race that has its advantages. Easy parking/transportation and picking up of packet/etc. The course has hills the first 7.5 miles but after that it is nearly pancake flat. The 7 a.m. start time helps in the case of warmer temps. Spectator support is great at relay exchanges and intersections but can be sparse on some areas of the course. Again, at a smaller marathon that is the norm. It is definitely a race I would do again.

This was my first time running the Med City Marathon. It is rather hilly for the first 8 or so miles. My overall impression was that it could have been better organized and the course (which I heard they changed for this year) wasn't particularly runner-friendly. Problems: Ran on a number of sidewalks in the city (they didn't close down any roads for the race). We were put out on a 4-lane highway for about a mile to roast in the sun. They start the half marathon, 20-miler and full marathon at the same time and the same starting location. The 20-miler ends out on a highway 6 miles short of the finish line (which caused some congestion). Water stops were well staffed, but the Gatorade was usually warm to hot, and the cups of water had only small amounts of water in them so you had to take multiple to get hydrated. It was in the 80s, so hydration was an issue. One water stop late in the race had only one volunteer at it. I had to stop to get water.
At the finish, the water and Gatorade had been sitting in the sun and were very hot. Fans/spectators were sparse, even in the city, but they were nice when they were there. I won't be going back to this one.

Thank you to the race director, Mark Bongers, and everyone else involved with the Med-City Marathon for your superb organization, welcoming attitude, enthusiasm, and your kindness. Here are specific highlights:
1. Packet pick-up was smooth and quick.
2. Spectators and volunteers cheered everyone, even the very back-of-the-packers.
3. Signage for the course was very clear.
4. Police provided excellent traffic control to keep us safe and yet were enthusiastic and encouraging to the runners.
5. Shuttle buses to the start were well organized.
6. The food available prior to the start was very much appreciated.
7. Superb water stops with both water and Gatorade available at all of them. Volunteers clearly announced what was available and where. Ice was even available at some of the stops, which was very welcome in the heat!
8. The water stops remained open until the very last runner passed by and this was so very much appreciated.
9. The finish line also remained open until the very last runner passed by. Thank you to the two gentlemen who provided a safe escort to the finish line for the end-of-the-packer.
10. The port-a-potties were adequate in number and placement. In fact, they were the best I have experienced in 3 marathons and 8 half-marathons.
11. The Best Western Soldiers Field Hotel was very close to the finish line and provided excellent accommodations at a very reasonable cost. The extended checkout was also greatly appreciated!
12. The only non-highlight was the heat, which took its toll on the runners. Fortunately the breeze helped some in that regard.
13. Again, a big thank you for a job done fabulously well!

My husband did the marathon, and I did the half. We were both glad we did this one. It was one of the best organized and produced of the 38 we've done so far.

The buses were on time and the drivers knew where they were going. The drop bags were handled efficiently, and were easy to find and pick up at the finish. Having the school building open for the runners while we waited in Byron was very nice.

The first 8 miles of the course are hilly, but the long downhills kind of make up for the climbing. We both really enjoyed the rural scenery (especially the lilacs in bloom), and the beautiful weather. Well marked course, plentiful of water and porta-potties on the course, and plentiful of water and food at the finish (even for us slow ones) were all greatly appreciated.

Lots of spectators, even out in the countryside, and they are encouraging, even to people they don't know! :-)

I can't say enough good things about the host hotel (Best Western Soldiers Field) or the town of Rochester. The hotel was only about two blocks from the bus pickup area/finish area, an easy walk. Everyone seemed glad that we came. Would definitely recommend this one over going to the "big city."

I ran this race for the 5th or 6th time, and even though my finishing time was my worst everd due to a left calf issue that seems to keep cropping up lately, I absolutely love this race and all of the Rochester people. I was especially touched to hear previous race director, Peg Arnold, along the course, saying to me, "Welcome Back." And that is how everyone at this race makes me feel - so I keep coming back. I love this race so much and hope I can come again, uninjured, and run again next year. Thanks, Peg - you are the best cheerleader and such a cool person! Thanks to everyone involved, and God bless you all!

I would really encourage people to do this race. The organization was first-rate. I actually had volunteer bike escort during the second half of the race to keep me company! The rider was a few yards ahead and would let the upcoming groups of fans know my name so that they could cheer for me by name, which was really cool. Fan support was better than you would expect for a smaller race like this. It was easy for spectators to move around the course to see runners multiple times. Weather was ideal, although being in MN, it may not always be that way. The scenery was very nice, in a bucolic sort of way, for most of the course - with a few miles in the middle and the end in the city. First-timers will like this race because of the friendliness, organization and relaxed atmosphere. If you have run a lot of marathons and are looking for a PR, the course is good for that - as long as the weather holds up. If you are competitive, but not world--class, you might find yourself near or at the front of the race, which is an unforgettable experience that I highly recommend at least once in life!