Excellent marathon; it has a very small-town/small-race feel, which was nice.

Expo was small, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I had a PR here, but I almost blew it because of needing a restroom and not being able to find one. It was shocking how few port-a-potties there were. Probably a dozen were available at the start and seemingly fewer than half a dozen along the course.

Overall, I would definitely run it again. Wonderful race, but please add more toilets!

This race was very well-run and organization was top notch. The course was fairly flat, with just a few small inclines that are all followed by longer declines. The weather was almost perfect: cloudy, dry, and 45 degrees. There was a little headwind at times, but nothing too taxing. My only two complaints are: 1) there were LOTS of turns 2) and the use of headphones is absolutely prohibited.

If you race from out of town: stay at the host hotel (Holiday Inn) or the Embassy Suites right across the street - nice hotel, but no late checkout.

The Rocket City Marathon is a good runner's race. It is a nice, small-sized marathon put on by folks who know how to put together a race. I liked that it seemed like a more "serious" race than a lot of marathons out there. There are no bands or costumed runners - just people out there to run a good race. The course for the most part is good with a mix of scenery. The organizers did a good job of keeping the course relatively flat, considering how hilly Huntsville is. The toughest part was Bailey Cove Road (about a 4-5-mile stretch of straight road). The Nike, tech, long-sleeve shirts were great as was the finisher's tech hat. The medals were OK but the post-race food was great! It is nice to have the host hotel that is so runner friendly. A great touch to have tables and chairs set up for the post-race food afterward inside the hotel. It would be nice if there were a gear drop for next year. Plenty of water stops along the course and good volunteers manning the stations. Crowd support was little, but those who where out did an awesome job cheering! Overall, a good race to run.

PRO:
All of the others' comments are true about how well organized this event is.

The course is fast and flat. There were great pace teams so time-goal runners could concentrate on their run and not on their watches. I was able to set a PR.

It was very easy for day-trippers like myself to drive up, check-in, run, and get home with zero hassles.

CON:
The course is boring: Residential neighborhoods and strip mall roads. I was hoping to run by a spacecraft or two.

The no-headphones thing gets taken to an extreme that throws a big wet blanket on the event. Lighten up already, if not on your policy then at least on the tone and volume with which you communicate it.

An unremarkable course in terms of scenery - mostly urban. Excellent, mostly flat course for those "Boston inclined" - and many did qualify. Definitely could have used more porta-johns. There was one stretch without portable toilets for more than 6 miles - and we were running through housing developments, with no trees to duck behind. Water and Gatorade almost every mile, and energy gels closer to the second half. An abundance of great food at the finish: sweets, peanut butter bagels, bananas, fruit pieces, "Moon Pies," hot soup, etc. Nice finisher's medal with details on the back, and naturally a "space blanket." Even a "finisher's hat." Long-sleeve tech shirt with a super small logo on the front (unreadable from a distance) with a billboard of advertising on the back: as an out-of-towner I would have preferred a big "Rocket City Marathon, Hunstville, Alabama" on the front. Very reasonable, low entry fee. Pre- and post-event dinners: HTC put a lot of work into the logistics - it's their 2nd biggest event of the year behind the Cotton Row 10KM, so they work all year to get it right.

I really enjoyed the course. It was fairly flat. There was a hill around mile 7 but it was just a small hill. We had GREAT weather. The only complaint I have is that they ABSOLUTELY do not allow headphones. I know a lot of people run without them, but it was pretty hard for me. If they are that strict about the no-headphone policy, they should make it clear when you register. I wouldn't have registered if I had known. I won't run it again unless they change their policy on headphones.

This was my second year running Rocket City, and it is the most serious race I have run for the second year in a row (I ran 14 marathons this year and 16 in 2009). This race is a no-frills, old-fashioned footrace put on by runners for runners. The people here are dead serious about putting down fast times and the vast majority of participants do just that. The course is not all that scenic (although I wouldn't describe it as ugly either - mostly just suburban neighborhoods and a little downtown Huntsville). There are no bands. Headphones are not allowed (and they are serious about it - wear them at the risk of getting a DQ). Nobody is dressed like a hot dog or a super-hero or a beer can. There is no attached half marathon or 5K or 1-mile fun run.

What Rocket City does have is a course planned to minimize (but not eliminate) hills, tremendous course support with split times at each mile, and an abundance of aid stations - all with water and PowerAde. It has the "B-chip" built into your bib (a great improvement over the shoe-mounted "D- Chips" used by so many others) despite a modest 1,500-participant cap. This year they added pacer groups for all of the various BQ times, which I felt was a much needed upgrade from last year.

The swag includes a nice tech shirt and a finisher's hat, both of which are first-rate; but for some reason they insist on keeping the same small, dark, and (in my opinion) uninspired finisher's medal used last year. Considering that this is a race where so many runners get PR's, I think a good keepsake like a first-class medal would be well received.

Anyway, running Rocket City is all about speed. Come here to get a PR or a BQ and there is a good chance that you won't be disappointed. If you need bands and fireworks, and guys dressed like Elvis, then remember Disney is run the next month in January.

A marathon for marathoners: Some good-value elements and a great chance to pick off a final marathon in the year. Wish the locals/businesses would embrace it more.

The HTC (Huntsville Track Club) gets it. I have run 42 marathons since 2005 and this one was the best organized of them all. Very strict on wearing headphones. I saw only two runners with them on. Way to go, HTC!

Stayed in the Holiday Inn: extremely convenient and site of the expo and pasta dinner. Late checkout.

They mail a wonderful informational booklet about a week before the race, which answers all questions. GU was handed out at miles 13 and 18  - the perfect spots. Water stops positioned well and with cheerful helpers.

Great pacer, Eric, of the HTC. Thanks.

Course is pancake-flat, but with vegetation being dormant, expect the bleak and the bland. After all, it's winter. PR weather this year: 46 to start, 50 to finish.

Great deals at the expo. Shirt color a little lame but nice hat for finishers and wonderful selection of post-race food. Other race directors could learn a lot from this one.

Even though it's a long drive, I shall return!!

This was my third Rocket City in a row, and it remains my favorite overall marathon. Runners are treated like royalty. The course is interesting, with only one long stretch on the same road (around 4 miles). Because there is so much variety elsewhere, that stretch can be a great time to pick up some speed, to strike up conversations with the leap-froggers, or to get into your best rhythm. Spirit squads in the neighborhoods help keep your mind off tiring muscles. Two or three members of one of the squads (in this case, a cross-country team) ran along with me for a block or more, which is great motivation late in a race. The speaker at the pasta feed was Sarah Reinertsen, who was both entertaining and inspirational. The dinner the evening after the race is also a positive experience. The crowd there is a lot more intimate, and there is opportunity to meet other runners, as well as the organizers and volunteers. After three years, it feels sort of like family.