This is my fifth and best marathon (PR/BQ). There is one narrow spot on the course but is not a problem for faster runners - otherwise it could bunch up a little. The crowd is very minimal but the people are very nice! The wind factor was 12-15 mph but the overall times were still outstanding (very high % of BQ times). I went out in the early pack which was very helpful because of a 7-hour drive to return home that day. I met so many runners on the return leg who mentioned my name and gave great encouragement. For those of you who can remember encouraging Mike - it made a real difference (BQ by 22 seconds)! Thanks so much - Lousiville and fellow runners! Thanks to Steve for getting up and tracking all of the early starters.

Extra nickels - If the Ramada is booked, the Marriot downtown is very nice. Also, the gas station just across River Road from the start/finish line let me use the restroom at 6:20 a.m. (very clean)! Of note, at check-in (very organized), the Ramada had a sign saying no restroom use for the public. This is unfortunate because they were fully booked due to the race and there are limited restroom options until you get on the course. The start line is about three miles outside of the city, and gas is a little more expensive, but this guy really supports the runners. Please stop in and give him some business (coffee and M&M's after the race were excellent).

This was a nice first marathon for me. The course was mostly flat and scenic, the marathon was inexpensive and the workers/volunteers were encouraging. (And, believe me, by the time I got to the end, they had been out there awhile.) I hope to do this one again someday with a better time.

This Louisville Marathon was my first one and I had a great experience. I thought there were plenty of water stops with helpful and cheerful volunteers who stayed that way even when the temperatures started dropping. Miles 22-26 are a long stretch with hardly any people around which makes it tough (it probably would have been tough no matter what), but I do like the 'small race' atmosphere. The family members who come out to cheer show up at different stops and do a great job cheering on! Great volunteers!

As stated previously, this is a no frills race on a very flat course. We had a cold and windy day (although they had predicted rain, so we were glad it stayed dry). The volunteers were friendly and there were water stops at least every other mile.

This was my 5th marathon this year and I prefer smaller races like this one. My suggestions (not necessarily criticisms) are few. The t-shirts were nice, cool-max type, long sleeved, but there was no mention of finisher on it and the half marathoners got the same shirt that only said 'marathon' on it. The start/finish area was definitely no frills with bananas and bagels with peanut butter and jelly available. Again, to be expected at a smaller type of race. There was no area to put a bag with your warm up clothes, so people were leaving their stuff lying on the groud (again, glad it didn't rain). To be fair the hotel/parking is just across the street, but this seems like a no or low cost 'perk' that would seem in order for a marathon. Maybe with normal temps this is not an issue. I heard rumors that there was a pasta dinner but there was no information in the packet.

All in all this is a good race and decent value for the money.

This was my first of probably many distances events. It is a very good route for a first marathon. It is very scenic, along the Ohio River, and through several very beautiful parks. The temperature was cool, especially on the stretches by the river, but not too bad. The volunteers were the only spectators, and were all very friendly, encouraging and supportive. There were plenty of fluid and gel stations to keep me headed down the route. The packet pickup was simple, as was the technical shirt. Simple was nice in both cases. Overall, a very enjoyable marathon experience.

A cold front had just moved through. Temperature at the start was about 53 and slid into the upper 40's. Perfect! Only drawback was the 10-15 mph winds. Gatorade, water and some gels were at every aid station as promised. Restrooms were plentiful.

It was a little crowded at the start. If time is very important, try to get at the front of the pack at the starting line. This course is flat. Some of the other runners have talked about a few hills. I would not call them hills. There is a concrete switchback that rises from the river. It slows you down just a little. I read from previous comments about the concrete. Yes, there is some concrete, but it is not too bad. The run along the river and into the wooded parks was scenic. The view of downtown Louisville gave you an idea of where you were on the course.

I missed my target time by seconds, but I can not complain. I made both my PR and BQ on this course. This is a good alternative to the too-big race in the Windy City. Keep it small and inexpensive. The host Ramada Inn was just across the street from the start/finish line. They gave marathoners a late check-out time. I would recommend them.

i know the day for the race didn't help, considering there were horrible, chilly winds to contend with for the better part of the race, but aside from that, there was just nothing to bring me back to this race aside from the flat course and the peanut butter bagels. the portion of the course where all of the runners are trying to squeeze through a 3 foot across path was ridiculous, there were not nearly enough water/gatorade stops, no spectators, no music, entertainment, fanfare of any sort. i just grabbed my trophy off the table and left at the end. i have never even been to a little local 5K that had so little excitement surrounding it. makes me a bit embarrassed considering this is my home town.

The day was perfectly picturesque! It was sunny and slightly brisk at the start. By the time I crossed the finish line it was in the low 60's. The day could not have been better if they planned it.

The course is a beautiful scenic route that follows the Ohio River. The course is flat and fast with just enough of a change in grade to keep it interesting. If my family knew the area better they would have been able to get to various spots in the course. But, just by staying in one spot they saw me start, run by at mile 3 and finish. There are few spectators on the course, but most of the time I run alone anyway... so that didn't bother me.

The running shirt was terrific in a pragmatic sense, however aesthetically I thought it left some to be desired (however the appeal of a running shirt is next to last on my level of importance).

Volunteers were terrific and energetic, even if there were few of them. Gels, water and Gatorade were plentiful at all existing stops.

Here is my one complaint. There is a four-mile stretch that has no fluid stop. Since this is an out-and-back style course, that means this four-mile stretch was covered twice. Therefore from mile 9-13 out and mile 16-20 back there were no fluid stops. I realize that is the most scenic portion of the course, and it would not be simple to set up a station there. However, just one in the middle would do wonders for replenishment.

I agree with the comments for this year - flat, fast, scenic course, perfect weather, great technical t-shirt, great value for the money. Great staff, and they were upbeat. Very few spectators, but I didn't expect much for a smaller race. My only complaints: The volunteers on the course were helpful except for the one woman at 21 miles near the river boat (she failed to direct the runner in front of me until she went the wrong way!). I agree a finish photo would have been a nice option for us out-of-towners.

My biggest problem was the host hotel - it has a perfect location to the race, the staff was helpful and polite, the free breakfasts ample and fine, BUT the rooms were filthy, smelly, and rundown. The housekeeping could do little to improve the conditions - the rooms were just too rundown and the air-conditioning units did little to clean the air. ALL of my party got upper-respiratory sick after leaving.

There are things about this race I could criticize but the truth is, I won it, so I'm feeling pretty charitable. This is a small marathon and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. If you are the kind of person who needs crowds, expos, stuffed packets and lots of bells and whistles, run Chicago, New York, etc. That's not what I was looking for and it's not what this race is about. I absolutely loved the course. It goes along the Ohio River, through several parks and a neighborhood. Others have mentioned that it feels like a training run and it really does. Most people would consider it flat. Those of us from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan might quibble about that a little bit. The first 7 miles and the last 5 miles are pancake flat. The middle 14 has a few rolling hills here and there. Only two of them struck me as noteworthy. The weather was perfect. The trophies were impressive. Another water station here or there wouldn't have hurt but they gave out nice big bottles of water, which helped to make up for it. I would have liked a finish line photo - that's my only major criticism.