This was my first full marathon and not a bad choice due to the flat course and small size. Running on the seafront and seeing the ocean views was great, but the stiff breeze was a challenge at times.

My major complaint was the repetition of the course - parts of it you run multiple times, which gets a tad dull.

Positives include very helpful and friendly volunteers, and encouraging fellow runners.

Overall, I'm glad I ran AC, but I'm probably not going to rush back to do it again, partly due to the course and partly the high cost of staying overnight.

This was the 50th running of the AC Marathon, and by now you would think that the race organization would have everything down pat. I was disheartened by their misleading advertising for the event.

Several things they promised never came about. They said that Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter would be there, but they weren't; they stated that there would be 50's-style band's at all of the water stops, but there wasn't a single one to be found (however, they did have 50's recorded music playing at the start/finish); they promised a FREE pasta dinner on Saturday, but not only wasn't it free, but there wasn't even a dinner to be had. They said the race would start promptly at 8:30 a.m., but we didn't get off till closer to 9:00. They had so many people making speeches that it was pathetic. The runners were getting a wee bit upset with it all. It was a wonder they didn't ask all the passers-by to add their two cents. It was not exactly a warm day to be waiting around for that long.

After sending in the application way ahead of time, you would have thought that you had a good chance of getting the proper size shirt at check-in; but that was not to be, and the staff couldn't have cared less.

All of the above could have been avoided if the organizers would have been more straightforward with applicants and checked on their resources before making such statements. This does not bode well for the race and its director.

One item of note that they couldn't have foreseen was the major foul-up with the timing and results posting at the finish line. They couldn't give results or awards for the 5K, 10K, or 1/2, and it took hours to get results/awards for the marathon. Most everyone left.

On the brighter side: the water stop personnel and the course marshals did a fantastic job and were very helpful and cheery. And the course was FLAT.

Suggestions: Keep the 5-year age brackets. Instead of PowerBar chunks at the water stops (difficult to eat while running), try having something more liquid, i.e. power gels or GU. Also, change the course so that there aren't so many loops within loops. Maybe send it over to the boardwalk in Ocean City, and then turn around?

Nice event. Will certainly do this race again. The boardwalk makes for an interesting time, looking at the ocean, the buildings and the strollers. Of course it's windy; you're at the seashore. Plenty of water stations, mile markers and clocks. Friendly, helpful volunteers, and decent race organization.

I wasted a trip to Atlantic City on Saturday to pick up my race packet only to have to return Sunday morning early enough to pick up the chip. It is a three-hour drive from Baltimore. I guess I should have read the fine print. Once I started running, all of the negatives went away. When are the half marathon official times to be posted on the website? If not, why not?

I like the format used by one last year, so I'll go with it:
+ scenery
- weather conditions
- emails sent months prior to coordinators went unanswered
+ friendly volunteers
- would like to see more than water/power drink along the half
+ flat course, but you have to watch the boards
- organizers really need to get more computer savvy; the photographer wasn't provided emails to send race pics, and the website was real out of date and not kept current
- race bag needs some work; we look forward to the giveaways from the locals

Overall, a good experience; however, I give them an NI (needs improvement). In comparison to other marathons I've run, this one can easily improve with a handful of changes. Hope they do it!

Not to have safety pins for the ribbons and the numbers was ridiculous, and what ever happened to the guest of honor who was supposed to be there? Chips were not working, so people were writing down the times. How bizarre, and for those who were running to qualify for the Boston Marathon, that was not very nice. It was very disappointing to say the least; I hope next year is little better.

This was my first marathon and I really enjoyed it. The hotel/casinos are pricey, but you can't beat waking up and walking a few yards to the starting line - no hassles at all! I picked this marathon because I love running by the ocean, and the course runs along the ocean the entire way. The last five miles were directly into a strong headwind, which made it quite challenging to maintain my pace, but wind is part of the experience of beach running. The boardwalk is quite bouncy and easy on the legs. The event is pretty low-key - it has the feel of a small community race. I don't like big crowds, so the size was fine with me. The other runners were very friendly and supportive.

This year's A.C. Marathon was well organized and nicely done. The volunteers are very friendly and helpful. It was smart to move the start and finish farther down the boardwalk this year, to minimize pedestrian traffic. The setting is spectacular, even though the heavy headwinds had me spitting sand out of my mouth.

2008 half marathon:

Upon arrival at packet pickup on the morning of the race, there were 4 separate lines for bib pickup for each the 5K, 10K, 1/2 and full marathon, but no signs indicating which line was for what. Same for chip pickup. Baggage check required a payment of $1. Normally I don't carry money, but luckily I did for this run. Ran out of pins.

The course was mainly on the boardwalk, and it's well manned and policed with timed mile markers at each mile. The course was a flat out-and-back to the north and then it goes out and back to the south, mostly on the boardwalk.

After the race, runners were given a finisher's medal, water and a bag with only a banana and bagel. No other food was available. Disgusting!

Give yourself plenty of time to pick up your number. The lines for which of the various races they offer going off at the same time are not clearly marked. You spend a good 10 minutes looking for the right line to be in. I signed up for two races online. They only had a race number for me for one race. I had to wait another 30 minutes in the trouble line to get the other number.

The water stops were few and far between. The volunteers, though few, were giving it their all. There was a headwind for the first few miles. And then, after mile 9 for the half marathoners, it was headwind all the way to finish. I didn't see a place to have my chip untied from my laces, so I guess I'll have to mail it in to them. Didn't see an area to get post-race refreshments.

I didn't run the marathon because I didn't have time to get the chip for the race. It was in a different area from that for the race numbers. My boyfriend got the chip for my half-marathon and I had to wait to get a marathon number in order to get the chip. I was going to run both the half and the whole. The year I did it in the past, the half and full marathoners ran the same course. I was going to run through the chute to finish the half and then keep going to finish the whole. As I had to make a choice this year, I only had time to get the half-marathon chip.

I didn't see any port-o-potties along the course. The only bathroom I saw was at the end of the table to collect your race numbers, and that area was mobbed. I had to wait until the area cleared to get to the bathroom. There was no expo and no place close to the convention hall to buy carbs before the race took off. I forgot my GU at home and was hoping there would be an expo or close convenience store to buy carbs. Be prepared and don't forget to potty before heading to the convention hall.