Excellent race. I'd like to beat my last time of 2:56:56.

I would give the course 10 stars, but I can't. Everything else is perfect, too. This is the finest marathon I've seen and I can't wait to participate in it. It leaves a lot your satisfaction and I am glad to not only not be a volunteer, for once, but to finally get my feet wet. See you there.

The around-town course was interesting, but running on severely crowned city streets for about half the course was like running on the side of a hill. Very small field, so put yourself in long training run mode and virtually no spectators except Amarillo police, who were very professional and helpful. The best part of the race was how nice and friendly all the volunteers were and how well all the water stations were equipped. Overall a pretty good and enjoyable experience, especially for a small marathon.

What excellent weather in which to marathon! This years course (a new path) was well conceived and fair. The water/aid stations were well staffed and strategically placed along the course. The course is a mixture of surfaces: Asphalt 65%, Concrete 30% & Brick 5%. There are only 4 rises of any consequence and do not really factor. Several parks dot the mostly urban/suburban course allowing for some scenic distraction. About 40% of the course has shade available.
DEFINITE POSITIVES:
1) Organization excellent
2) Saturday race
3) Price ($25)
4) Course well laid out
5) Superior after race cook-out

TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS:
1) Train for the altitude--> 3,685 ft.
2) Get to bed early--> 6:30 am start
3) Small field and crowd--> Get in 'Training run' mode

BOTTOM LINE ON THE LONE STAR PAPER CHASE: Under attended, unappreciated race that serves as an excellent challenge to what you think you can do.
SMALL MARATHONS ARE FUN!!

If a person were to drive around Amarillo and try to map out the most boring run they could find, they would come up w/ the first 17miles of the Marathon Course. Out and back along a major 4 lane road, then out and back along a highway, then around the park? We did spend 3 miles cruising through an interesting part of the town. Then the Park finish was nice. The marathon needs to be a part of Amarillo. See the points of interest. Not hide on the outskirts of town.

The Lone Star Paperchase Half-Marathon has always served as a personal 'warm-up' for the summer marathons, however this year the powers that be have decided to can it for unknown reasons. Bad idea. To foster a local interest in marathon running, Amarillo must offer more than a 5K and a full marathon. Please encourage the race organizers to bring back the half-marathon.

The Lone Star Amarillo Marathon is a smaller race that is well organized, well run, and a jewel in the Texas Panhandle. The course design does a good job of mixing up the flat terrain with some rolling hills through the middle. The race finishes in Wonderland Park where there was an ample feast afterward. The aid stations are staffed by friendly people and the mile-markers were large and easy to read. While the weather can make for an interesting race, in 2001 we were treated to a beautiful day in the lower-60's with a slight breeze.

The Lone Star is a somewhat small but well organized race, kudos to the organizers and volunteers. I f you are looking to run a 'thon in all fifty states, you may want to look for another one in TX. The weather can be brutal in that this is basically an out and back course and if the wind is blowing ( it always is! ) you will either have 13 miles of of headwinds at the front half or the back. 96 was when I ran it and I believe it was the windiest I've seen! Gotta admire those Texans and their tenacity though. Again thanks to the volunteers, those M&Ms are the best!!! Nice hardware for the finishers too!