The course has changed significantly and this information was not available to runners from out of the area. Very hilly in the first half (and at altitude). This event should not be advertised as fast and downhill - most people I talked to were very unhappy with their results. Most ran slower than usual. No good map available at the expo identifying the shuttle bus location. Plenty of hydration stations. Not many spectators, but that didn't bother me. They shut down the line after about 4:30 finishers, so I couldn't get a massage. Meager food offerings at the end. Same medal but different ribbon for the full, half and relay. I wouldn't waste my time again. I should have gone to Vegas.

I have a lot of complaints with this marathon. There are too many to list so I'll hit the major ones. First, and most important, is the deceptive graph they show on their website and literature. They make it appear that this is a gentle downhill course the entire way. That's not the case at all. The first four miles have a lot of hills, as do miles 10 through 14. Two of these are pretty significant. Also, once you get past mile 20, there is a steady uphill climb almost to 24. The last two miles also have have some significant uphill portions.

My next complaint is with the roads the marathon is run on. We ran down the shoulder of a busy highway with cars zooming by at 65 mph. Then when we left the highway the last two miles there wasn't adequate traffic control and I almost was hit by a car at an intersection that didn't have anyone monitoring the traffic. There were times at the aid stations when there were traffic jams with runners because someone would stop to get a drink and the shoulder wasn't wide enough for other runners to get around.

They also need to get some Gatorade. I don't know what that drink was at the aid stations, but it tasted like crap. Runners need electrolyte replacement and it shouldn't make our stomachs sick. The food and drink at the finish line were almost non-existent. the finish area had about a hundred spectators and they took you into a dirt field with very little shade. There was no one there assisting struggling runners across the finish line and I had to track someone down to take my chip.

These are just a few of my criticisms of the race. I'm glad I ran it but I don't plan on returning without some major improvements. It seems as though the organizers are content with having a small-town event.

My wife and I ran the half-marathon (2007). As far as courses go, it's a simple, downhill course (interesting feeling in the legs the next morning) with some manageable hills near the end. You're shuttled into an empty desert and huddle under heating lamps until the race begins. Only 24 hours earlier and we would've been running in the rain into a stiff wind but the race gods were kind and the race was clear, dry, calm and cool. The weirdest thing is herding the runners about: you drive to a designated area that you cannot walk to, you're shuttled to the start of the race, and you're shuttled back to the parking area from the finish line. There's an easier way buried in there somewhere. The Best Western Catalina is not a race sponsor, but it was a reasonably priced motel about five minutes from the pick-up area.

This was my second time running the full marathon. I have done the half twice as well. I agree with the previous poster... the course has changed and the elevation chart is misleading. It definitely has some MAJOR declines but with that come some major rolling inclines, including the lovely little set of hills in the last few miles.

There was some confusion with the host hotel transportation. My friend did the half marathon and the host hotel shuttle provided by the city or race dropped her off about 1/2 a mile away from the start. They were told to walk and had to wait in the cold even though the expo said she could stay on the bus. Also, the shuttle buses back to the hotel were confusing and only wanted to accommodate the Hilton.

Other than that it was the same as every other year. It is a small-town race with no frills. The expo is very small. The course runs next to the Catalina Mountains. The post-race meal is minimal. It was as expected so I wasn't disappointed but I knew what I was getting into.

The medal was nice and they gave you the option online to upgrade to a nice race shirt for $5. The parking was easier than the old finish for spectators.

The backdrop for this marathon is beautiful - the run is point to point, through a broad valley with desert mountain vistas on all sides. It didn't hurt that the weather this year was nearly perfect - clear and cool. However, most of the time you are running along a fairly major state road with a good deal of (well controlled) traffic. If you need cheering, this isn't your race: there weren't many spectators until the very end.

There are a few "gotcha" inclines between miles 10 and 14 that take their toll after the fast downhill start. There is a slight incline from about mile 21 to 23 or so, but it has a lot of declines. My quads really hurt at the end.

Water stops were reasonably spaced (every 2 miles or so) and well staffed. I forgot my gels and they weren't handing them out until about mile 18 (unless I missed them). It ended at a middle school with a nice field to walk around and stretch out on. The food choices at the end were limited and disappointing. The buses were plentiful and got you where you were going. The shirts and medals are average at best.

Overall, a good race and one I would do again.

I have run this race in 2006 and 2007 and really enjoy it. The course is pretty good; the only complaint is that it is along a road where they don't shut down traffic. That's generally one of the exciting parts of a race - having a road shut down for you. But other than that, it's downhill with a few minor inclines (I didn't think they were that bad at all and barely noticed them). Organization is great, and I LOVE that both years I was able to stay on a warm bus until the start. Major plus! There could be more porta-potties at the start, but as long as you get there early enough, you'll be ok. Not many spectators, but that is fine for me; I actually enjoyed knowing that I would be able to see my husband during the race - the other races he has been able to come to were huge marathons and I didn't get to see him. :( Props for the Tucson Marathon; I find it to be the perfect weather and a pretty course with desert scenery and mountains. Will definitely come back again. I have PRed both years! :) Be prepared to be sore after the race, though from the declines, if you haven't trained for them. I made it fine through the race, but the day after, I can definitely tell.

This was an interesting experience. The course was fast, but not easy - I ran a Boston qualifying PR, but the hills, particularly the rolling hills from miles 10-14, gave my legs a pretty trashing. But it's generally downhill for long stretches and you can log some very fast miles in from 1 to 10 and 14 to 19.

The course runs along scenic Mt. Lemmon, although the haze on race day took away some of the view. Unfortunately, most of the course runs along the shoulder of a highway, so there was a constant stream of steady traffic coming at us for most of the race. There was ample space for runners so it wasn't a hazard, but hardly pleasant. The volunteers were great, had ample supplies at water stations, and though they were stationed only every 2 miles (on average), that was plenty on the cool morning of the race.

Other aspects of the race were perfunctory. The t-shirt was cheap. Post-race food was fruit and tortillas with a jar of peanut butter - no joke. The expo was small and unremarkable, with virtually no giveaways. Spectators were sparse in some spots, and non-existent in most others.

Really, this is a good race if you want to go someplace to run fast. But if you are looking for an "experience," this is probably not the best race for it.

I ran this race in 2000 and again in 2007. The course changed in 2007 and is a little worse (more hills). The elevation chart is a little misleading and even incorrect in places. While dropping about 2000 feet overall (a good feature), there are some very significant hills from Mile 1 to 5 and 10 to 14. Then the chart doesn't show you the long gradual uphill around 20-23. We all need race directors to be very honest and very accurate with elevation charts, but most aren't. Overall, this is a good marathon with very good organization in 2007. As usual, the locals have the greatest advantage of actually training on miles and miles of decline, conditioning their quads for the pounding, but the rest of us must suffer. It would be better if there were some reasonably-priced hotels near the finish.

I ran the mini marathon in both 2004 and 2005. Although the Expo was nothing but a fest tent with vendors, the course itself is mostly downhill.

The first hour is the coldest as the sun doesn't rise until 7am and the race starts at 6am. That means runners will be chilled until their warm up. The weather that time of year in southern Arizona is unpredictable. In 2004 the skies threatened with rain, in 2005 it was chilly with a sunny finish.

Runners park their vehicles behind the local hospital and are bussed to the start lines. This means people must be on time! Parking is limited, so don't panic in the end when you're driving around a crowded parking lot looking for a place to squeeze your vehicle into.

Spectators are few since this course runs outside of any towns. People are not allowed to park off the Catalina State Park property. The last three miles is where runners will be cheered on by residents.

I have no negative comments about the organization of this race. Marilyn was fantastic the morning of, making sure everyone got on their "coaches" and made it to the start of the race on time. Being able to stay on a nice warm bus with a bathroom was a huge bonus, especially when I saw how few porta-potties there were at the starting line.

A word of caution to beginners: I did hills in my training, but none of them were long runs. I was in great shape for a marathon, and had it been flat, I am sure I would have BQ'd, but this course was NOT fast for me, and though others keep talking of an all-downhill course, there were plenty of inclines. I have never, ever been so sore after a race in my life!! I take full responsibility, but I feel incredibly lucky that I did not get injured.

I guess I can say the one downside (aside from not having yummy food after, but I prefer to eat my own stuff anyway) was the line of cars during some points of the course, all idling at red lights. Ugh. Breathing in exhaust is not exactly what you want at the 18th + mile. I really wish this were a closed course, or at least only one lane of traffic.

The people were really nice though, so thank you to all of the volunteers!