This was my first marathon ever. A great friend had recommended it to me and were scheduled to run it together. Unfortunately he had an injury and I ran it without my friend. The course was flat as advertised, but the crowd support was good - especially fo a small race.

The shirt was good, as were the medal and hat for finishers. A picture of me crossing the finish line with the clock at the top arrived today in the mail. It was fantastic. I would definitely recommend it to others.

I have run this marathon 3 times, and I would like to tell everyone that it is a top-notch effort by all involved! Nice course! Nice people! Nice weather! Great organization! Great post-race food! I will try and run it next year as well!

This was my 3rd marathon. I previously ran Disney and Chicago. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy a smaller marathon. We arrived the night before and I got by packet. We then drove 2 minutes to the mall and ate pasta at Sbarro while the kids ate pizza.

The course was flat, the weather perfect, volunteers courteous and helpful; and the post-race food was exceptional. We stayed across the street from the start at the Embassy Suites. Being a suite, my wife and kids didn't wake up during my pre-race regimen. The hotel had a free Shoney's style breakfast for the whole family. The wife and kids swam in the heated indoor pool while I ran. They showed up 20 minutes before I finished. I will definitely do this next year! I have nothing negative to say about this race! The only request might be to have pace runners. That could be neat. Rocket City rocks!

I didn't come in expecting much, but after running this one I might even call it my most enjoyable marathon yet! It is very well organized and good crowd support for such a small race. The course was surprisingly pretty, flat and fast. I actually had a PR (unintentionally). I would definitely do this race again.

This was my first full after running several half marathons in Little Rock, AR and Springfield, MO. What a great, flat course. I felt like I was running on a slight downhill slope for the whole first half. The Boy Scouts manned many of the aid stations and were great, and there was even a family-run aid station, which I appreciated. You get so much more for your money in this race: free race pics, nice shirt, etc. My ONLY partially negative comment of the shirt was that the design didn't allow for very large print of the word "marathon." That race was a big deal (especially since it was my first full), and I would have loved a shirt that had the word "marathon" in a little larger print. Guess they're keeping me humble.

I first ran the Rocket City Marathon in 2001 and I returned this year because it is a high quality race! It is very organized, on a fast, flat course that becomes a PR for many (me as well), and is run by dedicated, friendly people. The weather is usually good and it can be used as a qualifier for two Bostons. While Boston is the one by which all others are measured, Rocket City is the gold standard for smaller marathons. For its size, it has an exceptional race expo. I love the scenic course with its many landmarks (the tunnel, the school cheering sections, Boy Scout troops handing out drinks, supportive neighborhood groups, and the finish). The pre-race pasta dinner is well prepared and the post-race food is better than any I've had - and I've run many marathons. It is a great marathon by any standard, but especially for people who are dedicated to the sport. I can't imagine what complaints anyone would have. I hope when I'm old and gray(er) it will still be around. KUDOS, Rocket City!

Pleasant marathon from start to finish! Having the hotel just steps away from the start was ideal (and you finish in the same area). The course was EXTREMELY well marked. Pleasant volunteers at each turn allowed for no confusion. Extra perks were: a finisher's cap as well as hearing your name called coming down the finish, with spectators cheering you on at the home stretch. (I needed it too!) Then a delicious bowl of warm soup!! Great Nike tech shirt; however, I did miss the long-sleeve.

Congratulations to Suzanne and Dink Taylor! Any chance of adding a 1/2 to it?

My friend and I started at the back as instructed, but were on a 6-hour pace when a police officer told us to get on the sidewalk by 1/2 a mile out. I guess she was using gun time. I did, but it was dangerous: uneven pavement, wet and slick. I nearly fell so I got back on the edge of the street. My friend didn't because she had knee surgery earlier this year and could not hop on and off curbs for 20+ miles. The police office followed us for 5 miles about 3 feet behind. I spent all my energy wondering if she was going to run over us. I finally stopped and asked if she was just trying to intimidate us or planned to pull my race number. We stayed on the 6-hour pace until the half. I don't remember when she finally pulled around, but it was miles down the road. I understood that we would have to get on the curb at 6 hours, not at a 6-hour pace. That's a huge difference. Everything but water and Gatorade (and a few great volunteers) was gone just a few minutes behind the 6-hour pace. We had some difficulty keeping track of the marks on the pavement so we did not get lost. That sucked up time because we backtracked some. Bah humbug!!!

Very friendly (both runners and organizers), and a good course (a bit lonely at times). Really nice shirt, medal, and hat. Good parking near the start made it easy and stress-free. Overall, well done.

I highly recommend this race to anyone. The organization was superb - check in took just minutes, the start of the race was orderly and smooth, and with the smaller numbers, it was easy to get into a rhythm. Water stations were well staffed and stocked with sports drink and water. The fans, while sparse, were enthusiastic and supportive. The mile flags were all there and easy to see. The course is flat and fast - I barely noticed the few slight inclines. My family was able to move around easily and greet me several times and still be back for the finish. At the finish, having a personal volunteer give you a hat and medal and walk you inside to the food/drink/aid station was a welcome relief from the chaos of larger races. With two hotels nearby, you can stay just steps from the start/finish. The expo was small but included some great deals on gear. Many thanks to the organizers and volunteers who made this a great experience.