I don't know why they were going to change the course. This is my second time at this race and I love the course. The start area is very convenient and I love the stretch along the river and through the parks. Yes, River Road is a bit boring and industrial, but it's only about 5 miles. This time, knowing the course and getting perfect weather, I qualified for Boston, so I would recommend it as a good qualifier. But, if you want big crowds, then this may not be your race.

This was my first marathon. Overall it was a great experience for me. Packet pickup the day before was a breeze and I got to try on my jacket to make sure it fit before I left (as opposed to just being handed a size and having to move on).

The weather was a little cold (30's) and my feet were numb by the time the race started. I did not like starting the race and then going straight into Cox Park on a narrow trail. I was forced off the asphalt trail and into the grass at times and could not pass people. Lost some time in the parks for about a mile or so. Also, be prepared for a little COLD wind off the river. The trail winds down into Shawnee Park and the scenery... what scenery? It's a trail through a wooded park. I was expecting a flat run and this had a few hills, especially on the run back. The long, long hill up to the flood wall before mile 21 almost did me in. Be prepared, there are switchbacks and a few steep hills along this course, but for the most part it is flat.

The water stations and volunteers were great! They had multiple things ready for you to choose from. I did carry my own gels, though. The volunteers deserve a huge thank you because I saw more than a few get slung with water, Heed, banana peels and who knows what else. There weren't many spectators on the marathon course and the volunteers clapped and yelled encouraging words.

The porta-pots really thinned out on the course after the half marathoners turned around. There were either lines or none around, so I had to go way off the trail for relief.

My biggest complaint was that coming out of the last loop in Shawnee Park, the trail split. There were no volunteers at the split and if there was a marker, it was gone or had fallen. Several of us went the wrong way and had to turn around. Lost time there!! (This was a small marathon, so at times I was running by myself - i.e., there was no one to follow).

There are no clocks except at the start, finish, and halfway point. It didn't bother me because I was running to finish, not for a time. The mile markers were big, bright and visible though so that helped.

iPods are allowed.

I had a slow marathon time, and when I finished there was still ample food and drink. Someone took off my chip, so I didn't have to hassle with that. A volunteer even put peanut butter on a bagel for me!

Great first marathon experience and I would run this again. There was a last-minute course change for 2008 (back to the old course???), so it may have a new course for 2009.

I absolutely love the Louisville Marathon, and I was thrilled to find out they had not changed the course. The course is very flat, and there are several areas where you can run on dirt/grass instead of concrete and pavement.

The pullovers and medals were awesome this year. Some of the best stuff I've gotten from a marathon this year.

I would run this marathon every year if I lived closer to Louisville.

The biggest disappointment was the last-minute course change that I didn't know anything about until the day of the expo. As an out-of-towner, I always try to book my hotel near the start/finish areas for ease in arriving and exiting the race. That would have been the case if the course had remained where it was said to be, and I find it hard that the details with the city had not been worked out long before the week of the race. Thus, for those of us who had long since booked our lodging for the downtown area, we had to catch a shuttle bus and stand out in the cold for nearly an hour prior to the start of the race, which was several minutes late beginning.

As for the course, that was another disappointment. The out-and-back creates too many runners on the same course going in opposite directions and the path was way too narrow for this. You practically had to run single-file, which severely cripples your time.

Once at the finish, it took way too long to hold the awards ceremony, especially since most of the early runners had long since crossed the finish line. They could have handed out the awards 45 minutes sooner than they did (for the half marathoners). And to top it all off, the return shuttles must have been invisible because I waited for nearly 45 minutes and one never showed up. Finally, I flagged down a car leaving the parking lot and asked if he was heading downtown and he graciously agreed to drop me off, even though it was out of his way. (Otha - if you see this, THANK YOU again!)

Overall, this race was a disappointment and I cannot recommend it to anyone. Obviously, some liked it better than others, but if you are a 50-stater like myself, I recommend waiting for the Derby race in late April. While it is much larger than this one, I think the organization is much better and the medal is as well (this medal is plain and could use some color). With all that said, the organizers are nice and I'm sure tried their best, but it was an overall disappointment to me.

My first time running this race was a pleasant one. Course was flat, and even though I am not a fan of out and back courses it was rather nice. Organization was good, spectators non-existent and weather perfect.

Agree with one of the other runners posting here: what was up with that horrible sports drink. Heed, was it? That stuff was nasty, and I will never touch it again.

I stayed at Ramada Inn, right next to the start/finish, but sadly can't recommend it to anyone. Horrible, is all I can say. Find another hotel.

Yes, the course is very flat and scenic if you want to see the river and nice parks. You won't see much of the city though. Being from out of town, this was somewhat of a letdown.

At the packet pick-up, I was told (by the race director himself) that there would be tent for a bag drop area at the start/finish. However, when we arrived by shuttle the morning of the race (since the course was changed at the last minute), I was then told by the race director that there was no bag drop. He said I could leave my bag by the table of food (that was the meager post-race party), and hopefully it would be there when I returned. Apparently I wasn't the only one fed this falsehood, since there were four other people standing there looking for this bag-drop tent.

I am all for smaller, home-grown races, but there has to be some level of organization that is met. I will not be traveling to this race ever again.

This was my first time running this, and it was really great. Very flat and fast. Good for beginners. I look forward to it next year.

This was my first Louisville Marathon and I loved it. The course was great, even though it was an out-and-back. The volunteers were great and the little bottles of water are perfect for having aid stations two miles apart. The weather couldn't have been any better. I don't know what the so-called new course is supposed to be like, but it must be something to be better than this. I would definitely recommend this one to friends. By the way, we stayed at the Galt House, which is right by the 6.5- and 22-mile mark, and only 4 miles from the finish. It's great for family viewing.

After reading last year's comments (and a last-minute course change this year), I was hesitant to run this marathon. I ran the Derby Marathon a number of years ago... which was OK.

This race just goes to prove that you CANNOT believe everything you hear or read. Maybe some runners expect too much... like spectators... but who needs 'em? (Go run a few trail events.) I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the course and all of the volunteers were attentive and cheerful. As a slower runner, often when I come by, the volunteers are just wanting to go home. Not the case here. Lots of smiles all around. The only thing mentioned I can agree on, is the Heed... but if it is donated who can knock it. Would be great to have some gels, but there is no crime in bringing your own. I have completed over 150 marathons (10 this year plus 5 ultras - ran this one with a friend who ran the FULL marathon in Indianapolis and FULL in Louisville, by the way). So feel I have a "few" events for comparison.

Great job, Louisville! Keep the same course! The Ramada Inn staff was also wonderful.

I'm glad it was changed back to the old route at the last minute. This was my first Louisville Half and I had been told how nice it was. And it was! If you want to change it to the new route next, that would be ok now.