If you want to run a fun and charming small-town race with the most beautiful fall leaves one could wish, then Whistlestop is your race. If you want to run a Boston qualifier, I found the soft ground gradually wore down my legs, much like running on a beach, and my hope for a good time disappeared around mile 16. Even so, this was a fun race, and it was very well organized.

We're doing 50 marathons in 50 states, and we'll be back to do this a second time - that's how good it is!! Course is a straight-shot on wide trail, completely tree-lined. The fall colors were at their peak while we were there, which was nothing short of awesome. Not a lot of room for fans, but the ones who are out are great! Some were handing out homemade chocolate chip cookies!! Post-marathon Blues and Brews was a lot of fun... who doesn't like microbrews?!?! Can't ask for a better town.

I fell in love with this race three years ago and keep coming back. It's a fast course, easy on the body, offering a chance to get lost in nature. I wish that you would have more aid stations in the first half of the race, like every two miles. It is easy to NOT get enough fluids on this course. Two aid station had at best 2 ounces in the cups only, and a third had no one handing out the PowerAde. Get the aid station problem fixed, and you have a GREAT RACE, as the party, medals, people, food, and everything else are EXCELLENT! I set a PR: 3:18.

This was by far the most beautiful course (5K to marathon) that I have ever run on. You can't beat the enthusiasm of the organizers, aid stations, and townsfolk. If you're old enough and from a small enough community, think back to your first road race and this setting will restore the moment. I was hoping for a PR, but my impression is that the rain earlier in the week wasn't kind to the course. A lot of energy was expended that didn't result in me moving forward. Nonetheless, I wouldn't trade it for Chicago. Great event, great people, great setting.

This entire event is well orchestrated! Add in the perfect course and there is nothing that compares! I love the straight line course - being able to tell friends to check their Wisconsin map and see how far I traveled is quite an ego boost. All the people at the Ashland Chamber of Commerce were enormously helpful with all of my travel related questions. Just loved the entire experience. Bravo to the entire Ashland area! Well done!

I thought this was a good race. Overall it was well organized. There were a couple of aid stations that didn't have very many people manning them, but I didn't have any problems. The course was fast and easy. There were a couple of soft spots, but on the whole it was pretty fast. I was going to use this course as a BQ, but I missed my time due to cramping at mile 23. The weather was a little warmer than I am used to, which could have played a role at the end. I would definitely recommend the race to anyone.

My one major complaint is that the map that is handed out to show the course and where to go for the spectators needs some work. My wife spent the better part of an hour trying to find one of the spectator places to see me run by. Next year place a few more signs and revamp the map so people from out of town can find their way to spectate the race.

The fall colors were awesome, and for the most part this is a well organized race. However, I would agree that this is not a course for a PR, despite the gradual drop in elevation. The first half of the course was very soft, with lots of loose gravel and sand. My calves were pretty worked by mile 15, despite running numerous 18's and two 21-milers on dirt in training. There was also the occasional 2-4 inch diameter rock ankle-breakers on the course that you had to look out for. I'm guessing they recently graded or added dirt because of the recent rains, but still, the course was too soft. The local crowd was sparse but very enthusiastic. The aid stations were ok, but the first couple were understaffed and a little inattentive. I got two cups at the first couple of aid stations that only had about two ounces of fluid in them. This is a great course if you are not looking to run for time and just want a small-town charmer.

This is an awesome setting for a marathon and a very fast course. The fall colors were beautiful and the weather was perfect. This is an extremely well-run, small marathon - one of the best. Finisher's jackets were awesome, and the finisher's medals were nice. Small, but enthusiastic crowds; well-placed and well-manned aid stations. Plenty of fuel and hydration along the route, and a lot of after-race food and activities. Ashland, Wisconsin is a long way from anywhere, but well worth the trip.

This was my first marathon, and if they are all like this, I'm going to be an addict! It wasn't too crowded, there was plenty of camaraderie on the trail, the scenery is beautiful and the temp. was perfect for an Alaskan (52 degree avg.). I'll be back next year and have some other marathons to compare it to. The only thing I would change is to make sure the announcer at the end of the race needs to remember that "AK" does not stand for Arkansas. :)

I normally don't write comments on races, good or bad. But being my 4th marathon (Grandmas (1), Twin Cities (2)), I absolutely loved the small-town feel. It was soooo nice not having to fight my way through the first 2+ miles.

The course was flat to downhill, which worked in my favor for a PR, by 19 minutes. However, one bit of advice to those thinking about running this race. Do at least one long run on a softer surface, with a downhill grade if possible. My quads were killing me by the end.

Looking forward to returning next year, and keeping my race selection in the future to smaller races.