This was, without question, my best marathon experience (despite cramping up and needing to walk the last few miles - my own fault). The organization was incredible and the fans were great. Even the police directing traffic were cheering. Only thing I would change is to add a water stop or two. Otherwise, this was a top-notch race.

Seamlessly organized, meticulously managed race. More spectators than one would guess for a marathon of this size, and most were visibly enthusiastic. Dink and Suzanne put on a clinic in how to execute a small-city race, with one bizarre exception (below). Course is mostly flat, which is saying something for Huntsville. Three hills, but none too oppressive. Cops had intersections under control, so traffic was not too bothersome. Nike pacing teams were an added bonus for race of this size. Stay at race HQ (Holiday Inn), which is fairly priced, whose lobby is roughly 500' from starting line (stretch or warm up in privacy of your own room) and whose staff makes it a personal mission to cater to Rocket City participants. I usually don't care about post-race spread, but this was ridiculously above and beyond what I have seen in 100+ marathons - freshly baked bread loaves sliced in your presence to accompany hearty soups served from cauldrons by staff in bow ties (?), cool grapes hand-plucked from stems for you, PB bagels custom-spread with honey, jam or bananas, based on runner requests, etc.

Anyway, with this kind of attention to detail across the board, it's strange that Rocket City's one conspicuous flaw slipped through the cracks - and, no less, with multiple fails within the same race: AID/DRINK STATIONS. It shouldn't be that complicated a process, and I don't recall stations being an issue in all but a few other marathons (which, I should note, were ones held in impoverished, 3rd-world countries). In brief, Rocket City's website, up until and including starting time, showed contradictory counts and placements of aid stations on multiple pages. These maps, in turn, contradicted info in the printed brochure the directors sent out a week before the marathon. All of these advisories contradicted aid station info in hard-copy materials available at packet pickup. The most updated, well-designed course map section on the site had contradictory info even within its own 1-page map (claiming 10 aid stations in the text, but showing 11 on map). The separate elevation maps on the site, which also purport to show aid stations, contradict the other web pages and brochure, but these maps are ancient (Huntsville Hilton has been gone for a decade). Because of all of this confusion, it was then little surprise when stations showed up in places they previously had not been indicated, and vice-versa, in real life. Moreover, the stations varied greatly in which side of the street (or both) they served from, which flavor and/or concentration the sports drink was, which order the beverages (Gator/water) were, with the mile 15 one having no sports drink whatsoever. I was running at a 7-minute/mile pace at that point, so it's unlikely they ran out of sports drink an hour and change after the start (which would be unacceptable, anyway).

Rocket City was a great race, notwithstanding that one caveat. I'm guessing that the directors will get their ducks in a row eventually on aid station problem. Visit the Space Station, by the way.

I have mixed feelings about Rocket City. On the positive side, the organizers and fellow runners are top notch. You can check in the morning of (no wait), there's a small but efficient expo, NO HALF MARATHONERS, limited size, well marked course, good police support, the price is great, a free finisher's photo and many other good things.

On the other hand, there are a lot of zig-zag turns on the course, it's not very scenic, there's limited crowd support, and the finish line is in a parking lot. I like the December date; it makes for a great winter marathon with training starting in September.

I only wish the course and finish were a bit more inspiring. There are some great areas in Huntsville but none of them seemed to be on the course.

This is my first ever marathon in my 50 years of life. I felt great and excited. The weather was chilly, but thank Lord it had been changed from "snow" to "snow/sleet rain," and finally the sunny, windy day! I got my first PR of 4.15.59 gun-time and 4.15.05 chip-time. Thank Lord we had a great group riding a van from Hoover to have this run, and we have several first-marathon runners in the van. We all got cheered up by the experienced runners in the group. The course is nice to make your PR, and the Huntsville people are great to host the run every year and cheer you up at the roadside. I want to run it again! =D

....that's the slogan for this race and it fits. Easy check-in, and a nice, technical, long-sleeve shirt. Not really an expo, but great deals. The course is fast and the organization is first rate. This was my 14th marathon and first Rocket City. With my recent move to Florence, AL, it won't be my last. By the way, I got a "sort of" BQ - not good for 2010, but it works for 2011. A nice thing about getting older.

One of the best organized runs I have been to. The race directors (Dink and Suzanne) and guest speaker Bart Yasso (class act - must see!) are great. The volunteers are the cream of the crop. Spectators were fabulous, and the fellowship amongst the runners was like a reunion of long-time friends that I had never met.

The pasta party had great food and portions unlimited. It was a great, laid back, comfortable setting with probably the best bang for your buck that you are going to find anywhere.

Accommodations at race headquarters were another added value and everything was under one roof. Hats off to all the staff and their planning.

The course was fast with bursts of enthusiasm all over the course (except Bailey Cove Road). There were mile markers, and the water/Gatorade stations were well staffed (thanks to the Boy Scouts and all of the other fine organizations).

The post-race meal has by far the finest fare that any runner could ask for on a great WINTER day. Where else are you going to get great soup like the Rocket City folks provided?

Okay, now for the downer of the whole event:  The medal with the blue lettering on the black background makes it very hard to see where we were. With a great race such as this, I would be bragging about what Huntsville does for marathoners by awarding a great piece of IRON to show off to others.

This was my 39th marathon and the 4th time I have run Rocket City. For many reasons it is my favorite marathon. It is superbly organized, very friendly, and logistically a snap even if you are not staying at the host hotel. You can park within 100 feet of the starting line, get out of your car, and start running. The many volunteers take care of you. You can drop clothing at any aid station and whatever you drop gets returned to the finish area. The pasta dinner before the race is an excellent value and the post-race dinner the evening of the race is worth staying another day for.

I have said that this is a runner's race because it is ONLY a marathon. Anyone who is at the starting line is there to run 26.2 miles. That does not mean it is an elitist race though; it is very friendly. I beat Bart Yasso, too, although only by 2 seconds. Heck of a finisher photo with him just behind me!

Some flexibility regarding packet pickup for out-of-towners would have been nice. The volunteers on the course and traffic control folks were AWESOME!

This was my 15th marathon. It was an excellent race. Very good value. Great organization and people! I'll be back for sure. This is a flat, fast course with just a few small inclines. Many long declines! I was worried about all of the turns in the course, but they were no problem and did not slow the pace.

My second time running Rocket City and another great experience. This time a BQ! Very well organized event and great food at the finish. Course is very similar to the suburban streets I train on at home so it feels very comfortable. Very convenient start and finish at the hotel. Not a lot of spectators but all were very enthusiastic and supportive. Grissom High School kids were great!