I am attempting to run 12 marathons in 12 months. Twin Cities was my September marathon, 9th this year, and 15th overall.

My overall experience with this marathon was excellent. The expo was very good; comparable to other big city marathons that I have been to.

On race day, the Metrodome was open which was great from both a bathroom standpoint, as well as from the standpoint of unpredictable MN weather this time of year.

The course was very pretty: through the lakes, winding through some nice residential areas, and finishing up at the state capitol. Support along the course was excellent; water stations were well-staffed. It is not a 'flat' course (I'm from Chicago-area; Chicago's marathon course is truly 'flat'). The last 4 miles or so are a gradual uphill. The crowd support was excellent--2nd only to Chicago. People all over the city actually knew there was a marathon going on that weekend.

One small area for improvement: I finished in about 4 1/2 hours, and there wasn't much food left at the finish. The broth was being made and was luke-cold when I finally got some. Unless I missed another area where there was food available, this is one area for improvement. One small bump on the road, however, and again my overall expericence was very positive.

One word of advice: if you plan to run this, REGISTER EARLY! I registered online on the day it opened, and I believe overall registration closed in something like 12 days.

I would highly recommend this race for a fall marathon. The fact that it is in late September still allows you to run an October or November marathon if you choose to.

P.S. The other great MN marathon is Grandma's in Duluth in June.

Last month's (August) marathon: Paavo Nurmi (WI)

Next up (October): Marine Corps. Marathon

The Twin Cities was my 4th marathon to date and it was the greatest experience for me. The scenic course, the organizational details and or course, the supportive and cheerful Minnesotans made it an unbelievably, positive experience for me. I ran my PR by 4 seconds and struggled a bit during the mile 20-23 stretch, but enjoyed the downhill finish near the state capital in St. Paul. I especially enjoyed the proximity of the supporters throughout the course, because they pulled me along during the last 10K and wouldn't let me quit!

The post-race refreshments and support from the volunteers were the best and much appreciated by this wearing marathoner. I would strongly recommend this event to anyone who enjoys a positive, beautiful setting and upbeat, smiling spectators at every juncture. Thanks again for letting ME run in your race.

It was one of the best marathonsI have ever been to! They organize it so well and the fans are awesome, if it weren't for them, a lot of people couldn't finish the race! This race gives an opportunity to see new people, and the beautiful sights and sounds of downtown Minnesota, a quality most places don't have! I would recommend this race to dedicated runner's who want a 'day' on the town!

This was my 6th trip from Minneapolis to St Paul. In past years I remember the crisp fall day with bright sun and low humidity and changing leaves. It was different this year in all aspects but just as good as always. The crowds are so loud that after a while you want some peace and quiet. I come back because it is well organized, supported by the community and you have to finish to get a medal and shirt. I didn't have my best time this year but enjoyed the weekend just as much. Thanks to the organizers and supporters along the way.

As a proud Minneapolis resident my opinion about this race may be biased but I love it! But come on people. 'Fast Course' 'Good for setting a PR' I don't think so. Unless you have a car waiting for you at mile 19 to get you up the big hills through 21 and then the steady climb to 25 you're going to have a heck of a time getting a PR. Don't get me wrong I'll be back next year but if I was on the bubble for qualifying for Boston or really wanted a PR I'd be in Chicago!

This was my fifth marathon. I was hoping to set a PR on this course and ended up doing so by over 30 minutes! What a thrill!
The course was flat and fast (except for the 'hill' around mile 21), the weather was cool with that early morning mist coming off the lakes (although a week or two later and the fall colors would've been more vibrant) and most importantly, the best crowd support I've experienced to date in the marathons I've done.
It's not Big Sur, but what is?

What a great sense of community they have there in the Twin Cities area!

I ran this as my first marathon with one of my children, who also was a first-timer. It was better than either of us could ever have imagined. The volunteer help was amazing-- so many gladly taking time away from other things to truly help the runners! The crowd was close to the runners, which made their excitement and encouragement infectous. The course made it easy to complete, in part just wanting to see what was around the next corner. We were fortunate to have this opportunity-- don't miss it if you have the chance to participate! Smiling faces were everywhere!

I have heard great things about this marathon...flat fast, etc. I have to say, being from Houston, I dont' consider this course to be 'flat'. The rolling course took a toll on us Houstonians! The crowd was great, though!

This was my first marathon. The fans were awesome. Like any race, they make it fun. The course is as advertised, very scenic. Mostly flat but the hills after twenty will definitely wear you down and the road has a general upgrade. Save something in the tank. If you're not a camel, take your own drink too. Glad I did. I had heard reports before regarding the water stops. They still have problems in this area. There were no cups at the 13 mile mark. This meant you had to travel from mile 11 to 15 or drink from the open jugs they were giving people at 13. YUCK!! There's no excuse for this type of organizational mistake. If you finish over 4:30 don't expect much at the end but your medal. The post race food area left alot to be desired. Actually, IMHO it was pretty awful. I stayed at one of the two host hotels. For a first timer who needed some guidance and assistance knowing the logistics of the weekend they didn't help much. In fact, there was nothing there (signs, banners, promotional info., etc.) to let me know that they were even associated with the race. The race folks really needs to put someone in the hotel to help coordinate. Stay somewhere else and save the money. Bottom Line-If they would fix a couple of these little issues, this race would be a '10' from top to bottom.

The 10 mile race was an awesome experience for me. In any race I've ever done I've never been so impressed more by the volunteers. They were truly wonderful right down to the people who took off the race chips. I appologized to the man thinking my feet may be smelly and he laughed. He really seemed to be liking his job and meeting the people he came in contact with. I hope you keep me on the mailing list for next year. Thanks for a great morning!!!!