To start off, I loved my time in Tucson. Everything about it made me feel at home. And on race day the conditions were perfect for a great race.

The only complaint I would really say I could have was that my bus missed the turn to the marathon start so we had to drive around for an extra 15 minutes or so until the driver got back on track. Oh and maybe that I missed my Boston qualifying time by about 3 minutes. But thats what I get for not wearing a watch. Oh well.

Other than that, on race day it was a little cool though just about right for me being from ND. (Someone asked me while I was standing in line if I was from Alaska or something while I was standing there in a shirt and shorts not shivering.) Once the race started, I fell into place and felt a little rough through the 1st 11 miles or so. But after that, it felt as if everything fell into place and I cruised in with a 2nd half split almost faster than my 1st half. I had trained for about a 3:30 finish and thought that I could do a 3:20 if I felt good. I actually finished in just under 3:14, which I am very happy with.

Thank you, Tucson.

I have run 50+ marathons and ultra-marathons with a 2:36 open division and a 2:59 senior division p.r. This is a perfectly organized marathon with great scenery, weather, and a downhill course. Having said this, it will not be a p.r. course unless you do downhill training for many weeks (I ran a 3:14, age 53). Most of the elevation loss comes in the first half when your muscles are fresh. However, by mile 15, the slight downhill grades begin to look and feel like uphills. The feet and quads begin to ache, and the hamstrings tighten. My pace dropped from sub-7:00 at mile 15 to 8:30's shortly thereafter. The struggle begins in earnest at mile 15. I do feel that with appropriate training for declines, this could be an awesome p.r. course. The Holiday Inn Express on Wetmore Ave., Tucson, was well worth the money. Perfect location for driving to all destinations. Beautiful parks to enjoy after. Great finisher's medal, nice T-shirt and post-race, and a scenic course (although it follows the highway and the desert tends to look the same from mile 1 to 26). I recommend that everyone run the Tucson Marathon at least once in their lifetime.

I ran two days ago and had a really great time. Beautiful scenery, great weather, good organization and a fast downhill course. This is definitely your Boston qualifier! I PR'd by 5 minutes after struggling to make my Boston qualifiying time two months ago in Portland. Only 3 negatives for me: Horrible T-shirt, green bananas at the finish, and NO BEER!!!

Waiting at the airport to leave to go home, after for the most part a positive marathon experience, a woman stated that according to 3 people that she knew, including her, their GPS watches calculated the course as too long... over 26.2 miles. Around the 13.1-mile mark something didn't seem right to me. I was shooting for 2 hours or under. According to my watch at 13 I was 1:55, and where our chips were recorded at 13.1 I was 2 hours and 3 minutes. There was no sign to indicate that was 13.1 and a spectator yelled at me, "Good work, you have less than half to go." Not to blame this on me not qualifying for Boston but... psychologically it had a negative effect on me.

The spectators that were out were great, just fewer than I'm used to. I am somewhat shocked that the community wasn't more informed. A hotel we stayed at only 5 miles from the host hotel didn't even know a marathon was going on! Having the balloon arch on the corner BEFORE the finish was also hard/deceiving.... Made us think that the race was ending at the balloons. Mile signs could have been higher in the air... but it was good that there were actually mile markers, if they were accurate.
If I would have qualified my comments would be the same! Propane warmers at the start would be nice as we were unable to stay on the bus up until close to the race start as drop bags had to be placed on them. Temperature was cold for those not used to it. DJ was a good idea. Porta-potties unstable. Food at end not really inviting since before the marathon I eat bagels and bananas. Not to appear ungrateful... but the only other marathon I have run is Portland, OR and it has water, carb drinks, ice cream, cookies, yogurt, candy, cheese, oranges, yogurt smoothies, grapes, Tao Tea and bananas and bagels waiting for you at the end. Thanks to all those that worked so hard to put this on. Thanks for the ability to comment.

I enjoyed the marathon, but would not do it again. The shirt is not a finisher's shirt (it was handed out with race packets) and it is cotton; but the medal is great!

Not enough toilets on the course - too far between is the main issue.

It was nice to be able to stay on the bus before the start, but I didn't understand the reason for shipping us there early, so we could sit around for more than an hour.

The front desk personnel were clueless and rude. Their motto of 'I want to be a 10' was a joke.

It was my first marathon and I found everything exceptionally well organized. Fans were very supportive and the course was great!

I was sure I was ready for this race, and had a PR for the first half of the race. I stumbled in on devastated quads, however. This is a very nice race. Well organized, scenic, great host hotel, a better-than-average expo, but one must be ready to be patient at the beginning of the race. It is too easy to get caught up in a faster pace than will allow one to finish.

Need to do away with the 2-mile stretch at Wilds Road. It breaks up a good flow pattern. I have run this race many times, and my friends and I agree that Wilds Road has to go!

The course is definitely all downhill for the first half, but the 2nd have has some long steady inclines that can be grueling. There are no clocks on the course so unless you have a watch there is no way for you to know how you are doing. They need a better system than busing everyone out to the start 1 1/2 hours before the start and having them sit on buses waiting for sunrise.

The reviewers' comments are a good guide to the downhill course. People at the race and expo were very friendly and helpful - they gave great advice about the course too. The desert surroundings are beautiful. I also really liked the half-marathoners being so far away (they start earlier and at the half...). The walkers (who I only ran into at the end) were often taking up a lot of room and it would have been nice if they were steered to one side and limited in the space they took up. But it's hard to find a complaint about this race; it was really outstanding. Well organized course, expo, finish and the perfect size!