The marathon was excellent. Thank you to those who put it on, including the friendly water/Gatorade volunteers. The course was beautiful and the spectators were great. It was nice to be able to see my family so many times along the course. The only thing that would have made it better is if there were portable bathrooms along the course. However, the entry fee is so low, there is really nothing I could complain about. Again, thanks to all who put the race on. Fantastic job!!

This was my first marathon and I loved it! I was very nervous after talking to some people in the beginning who told me how difficult it was. They weren't kidding! Easley Hill is amazing just to look at let alone run it.

I met some awesome people who were very positive about the race. Everyone wishes you the best and the spectators made it fun as well. There weren't that many, but the scenery is so great that I didn't care. The finish was very rewarding, with lots of people cheering and just knowing that it was done was great. I'll definitely be back next year!

If you need a crowd to urge you on or a flat course for a PR this is not the race for you. There are plenty of other races that you can go to for that. If you want a tough but fair course with good volunteer support and less than 200 runners go to this race. In the heat and humidity it would be a beast but it's Labor Day in Missouri. After dealing with big crowds at big races this was a breath of fresh air. It's everything the website said it was. I'll be back again. Thanks to all that put it on.

We lucked out with great overcast and cool weather. The volunteers and organizers made this beautiful and challenging course one of my best running experiences yet. You will need to watch out for impatient motorists at some junctures, but you'll never be in harm's way. When I finished, I asked a Mizzou professor for directions to my hotel. His wife -- Carmella, I think it was -- gave me a lift back, and saved me from a mile walk. There are very few spectators (VERY few), but the scenery is so breathtaking, you'll want this spiritual experience to go uninterrupted.

Grade B-

Marathon #26, state #20. This race was decent, but if you want big crowds and the frills that go with it stay away. The course is hard, however I don't feel it is all that. The race director stated add :15 minutes on to your normal time. I was only about :5 slower than what I was expecting, although the weather was nice (in the 60's and cloudy).

Positives:
-$25 fee, decent medal & shirt.
-Well marked challenging course, 6 hills over 200ft climbing.
-Early start 6:00 am to fight the heat.

Negatives:
-1st few miles in dark with no cones on roads. I found this rather dangerous.
-Aid stations very far apart and none until mile 5-6, luckily the heat was down this year.
-No spaghetti feed. Race has been around for 45 yrs - community should support this event more.

Labor Day wouldn't be complete without the Heart. Aid volunteers give you personal attention, the course gives you a feel for what marathons used to be about and Joe Duncan puts it all together year after year.

Here's the deal.

Everything in this race was exactly as advertised. If you're looking for a big race w/ lots of spectators & goodies and an easy course, then this is not for you.

The course was not closed to traffic, but this proved not to be a problem. All the cars I met gave the runners more than enough room. The course was extremely hilly, just as advertised, and it turned out to make it very interesting for this first-time marathoner. The course was clearly marked, with a lot of variety in scenery, surface, as well as elevation.

As for the organization, the race director (a 30 year veteran) has it down to a science. You get a simple t-shirt, water/Gatorade stops every couple miles, and a finish line w/ fresh fruit. The volunteers at every single stop were wonderfully supportive and vocal. As each runner approached the finish, his/her name and town were announced. This was a nice touch.

As for spectators, they far outnumbered the runners, but still were sporadic. They were however very vocal especially at the finish line. One of them even gave me a ride back to the hotel after the race.

I would gladly do this marathon again, and would recommend it highly.

The marathon hotel, The Campus Inn, on the other hand...
...was dirty (although I never saw any bugs).
...was robbed at gunpoint the night we were there. Yes, you read that correctly.
...had a pool with way too much floating debris to bother trying to swim in.

It only cost $42.00 bucks a night, but convinced me that it's worth the $80 to stay at the Holiday Inn.

I've run this marathon two other times; 2001 {really hot} and 2003 {really rainy and really hot}. It rocks! When you cross this finish line you really feel the rush of achievement, and enjoy the hospitality of Joe Duncan and his enthusiastic staff, They have the 'GETT ERR DONE!!' attitude and make you want to come back and attack 'Easley Hill' again and again.

I'm hooked and will be at the starting line on Labor Day again, and again... Well you get the point! Thanks, Joe, for keeping on, keeping on!!!

I didn't start running until I moved away from Columbia. Since then I have completed four marathons and this is one of the best. At the start of this race I thought 'no problem!', in the middle, as I met the hills I realized I might not finish. At the finish line I felt like dancing for surviving the challenge and I treasure the medal because it was hard-earned. I can't wait to return and improve my time.

I've run Heart of America a couple of times and intend to run it again. It's a great marathon to help prepare for the larger and flatter fall marathons. I don't understand the 'no medal' comments. I've gotten one both times. In '03 I got a magnet also. Maybe the number of entrants were higher than expected. I help organize a couple other races and it's very difficult to judge how many will participate - all the more so with one so small. An extra 10 entrants can mean an increase of 20%. Their budget probably doesn't allow for a lot of extra medals that might just go in the trash. The course is hilly, it is hot, but you're in central MO on Labor Day, so that's to be expected. Give it a try if you dare!