WOW! The course is challenging, but that is in part due to a Florida girl facing the altitude! Even though I found this marathon very challenging, I would recommend it. It was very well organized. The race director, staff, and volunteers were all very friendly and helpful. There weren't a lot of spectators, but that was understandable because of the isolation of some areas of the course. The scenery is beautiful, and the weather was perfect! Park City is also close to great national parks! I really enjoyed my time in Utah. Thanks to all who made it happen!

All I can say is that I had a ball! This is one of the best marathons in the world to challenge your running ability.

It was great to see so many familiar faces and meet up with a few of the new Forum Flyers. Don't get bent if I forget your name here, Teresa, Canyon, Lark, Hawkeye, JRTerrier, Jenifer, Smooth, Maynard, B'sMom, SweetiePie, and so many others that I've gotten to know over the years running in these races.

My race was rather unremarkable. I remember starting out my race somewhere around Lark, Hawkeye and Smooth near the starting line! As I started running and I was headed east just a few blocks into the race, right out of the blue, "Canyon" caught up to me and she let me run with her. Every time she lets me run with her I seem to have a great day. I can't remember what mile it was she decided to run at her own pace and sent me away to fend for myself. I think she gets tired of listening to me chip my teeth. Thanks Sis, you always amp up my runs!

Okay, I took off and kept chanting Smooths' mantra (smooth, strong and faster)over and over again. I think the difficulty of this race ranks up there with the hardest I've ever done. This year the organizers switched up and were running this one backwards from last year, with about 18 miles of it running uphill at some serious altitude. And let me tell you this: altitude is a real kick in the shorts and a major drain on anybody's stamina, and the last 10 miles downhill was difficult. But as bad as it was, I feel as though I ran one of my best technical races of all time.

Everything I did to prepare worked for me on this race right down to the corn story! Now would I recommend this race? Yes, I would! As a matter of fact, this was my fourth shot at it and I love it and I'll be back in '08. But you better be ready for the altitude or your going to be in for a rude awakening.

When it was all said and done, I managed to capture my dream goal to grab a 1st place in my age division (55-59) at a pitiful pace of 8.3 Min Per Mile and a finish time of 3:43:35.

Next run in 21 days at TOU with my gang of 4! See you all there. Take care, and be careful out there!

I didn't get a PR on this course and I was warned not to expect one. It challenged me like no other course has. I thoroughly enjoyed the views and the back trails that the course offered. I saw a few runners stop and take pictures of the beautiful views. I would recommend getting in town a few days early to acclimate to the altitude. Great time! Great race!

To quote the race organizers: "The course is not deliberately tortuous - but hey, it is what it is." The altitude is a killer if you don't live there, but the scenery is spectacular, and it's a real joy to run most of the race on trails and uncrowded roads. My boyfriend mountain-biked the entire course and enjoyed himself immensely, so he's given the course five stars from a support crew perspective as well.

If you're looking for a PR, this isn't the race for you; but if you want to enjoy an uncrowded, well-supported race in a beautiful setting with wonderful organizers, challenge yourself to run Park City!

This was my first marathon and I knew it was going to be hard. And it was. My goal was to run the entire race and I did. The hills were tough, but the other racers were supportive. It was a small raceonly about 500 runners in the marathon. The scenery was beautiful. We saw hot air balloons and cows. It was a rewarding, difficult accomplishment. Very well organized!

The only thing, they actually ordered women's sizes in the t-shirts and they ran very small. I'm disappointed that my first marathon shirt I can't even wear!

The race was fantastic. I would recommend this marathon to everyone. The hills are, for the most part, easy enough, but the altitude will kill you if you are from the Midwest like me.

The views are beyond anything I could ever try to explain. The aid stations were well stocked with water, Gatorade, and fantastic crews.

The course is nearly half hard-packed gravel so be aware!

They changed the course from 2006 to 2007. They made it harder. I suspect they changed to course to eliminate crossing over US 40 (2X). Now you go under US 40 through a box culvert. It was was kind-of creepy. I think the course would better (and faster) the opposite direction (CCW). Then they could start the the 1/2 marathon and marathon at the same time, and clean-up those early aid stations sooner. The course is definitely pretty, but from about mile 4 to mile 16 it is pretty much all uphill. It's not all that steep uphill, but it is relentless. By the time you get to Park City, and realize you still have a mile or two to go to Deer Valley, you are very much ready for the downhill section. Unfortunately the downhill section is much shorter that the incline. Then you get to Park City again and have to slog up to Empire Avenue, and that is very steep. Overall I had fun. It's a good race; well organized, with a nice shirt and medallion (artsy glass thing). You may want to run it in trail shoes. I had regular road shoes and I stepped on a few rocks that hurt my feet. I'd recommend it, but don't expect a PR.

The PCM allowed an early start for slower runners/walkers. However, they used their intelligence (lacking in many other marathons] to set it up. Entrants had their bibs marked, and then on Saturday morning, went to the timing line, waved their chip over the sensor and took off. (In other words, you could start more or less when you wanted; the timing chip and finish mat took care of the rest.) The results listed everybody. Congratulations to the timers/organizers of the race. I hope other marathons will "grow up." The course was very scenic, and though it is somewhat hilly, it is to be recommended.

Park City chose a new route for the 2007 marathon, which took runners through several scenic parts of this trendy ski resort area. My favorite, though, was the rustic trail, a remnant of an old railroad line, bordered by fields of greenish-brown sagebrush on each side. I felt as if I really were in the West!

The volunteers cheered us on at each aid stop and handed out water, Gatorade, and Hammer Gels (which I found to be just fine). Some gave us cold, wet washcloths An added touch, but not too necessary since the temperature was not particularly warm (mid-60s at the end). Post-race food was fine and the medal, a glass maple leaf, was different enough to be a nice memento of this experience.

But there are a few things runners should be aware of before attempting this one. It is not easy. Being from the Midwest, my friend and I had trouble breathing, due to the high elevations (runners rise to about 7,500 feet). I thought I could make up for a slow half by running faster, downhill, after mile 16, but my body wouldn't respond. I had just completed Newport (OR), at sea level, a few months earlier in 3:37, but couldn't break four hours in this one (4:03). The winner couldn't break 2:45.

The last 10 miles are not all downhill, even excepting the steep two-block climb at mile 18. There are hills to climb in these closing miles!

Also, the course has enough gravel trails that this can be accurately labeled a semi-trail marathon. It seemed as if at least 10 miles came on these gravel paths, which also make it harder to run, unless you have trail shoes, which my friend and I did not.

We ran the famous Grandfather Mountain marathon (one of Americas ten toughest) last year and, while Park City doesn't have such severe hills, its lack of oxygen makes it nearly as difficult.

However, I like small marathons and I must say that I enjoyed Park City a lot more than the 2007 Boston. The people in Utah are very hospitable and treated us well, and the Holiday Inn host hotel was magnificent: an early breakfast and a late checkout.

Just remember that this is not a marathon for the novice.

Organizers and volunteers were cheerful, helpful and extremely well organized. Lots of nice touches throughout the race: warm convenient field house before the race, several hot air balloons along the rail trail, varied terrain, Gatorade at all stops and hot showers after the race. It would be helpful if you could spend several days in Park City or nearby getting used to the altitude. Many thanks to all.