As a member of the 50 state club, i was anxious to run Idaho and collect my medal to commerate the event. I finished mid pack in around 4 1/2 hours and was told they ran out of medals because they handed them out to the relay runners. They told me not to worry as they wrote down my bib number and they would mail it to me when they had more. Well, no medal has showed up. I emailed the director 3 times to no response. Finally i received a response from someone else when they emailed me to sign up for this years event. They apologized and promised to mail my medal the very next day. Well, 2 more months have passed and no medal has arrived. My 50 state collection will have a hole where Idaho is suppose to go. So run Boise, or run somewhere where they deliver what they promise!

Make sure you register early or you will be cheated out of the shirt that you pay for. I registered 4 days prior to the event and was told 'Since you registered late, you'll have to get your shirt later.' I was told I would be emailed about getting it (never happened) and that a shirt had been mailed to me (twice). Never got the shirt and the director has quit responding to my inquires. Won't run this again. I hate to get cheated out of what I paid for.

When I picked up my packet the night before I was told I would get my shirt the next day. However, at the end of the race everything was in short supply. No more shirts, no more medals, very little food. An overwhelmed race director was taking names and email addresses from disappointed runners promising to send medals and shirts. I emailed the race 3 times providing my name and address asking to please at least to be sent a medal. It is now 3 months later and I still have not received any response. I'm not very pleased by the lack of response.

Community support is low, but volunteers were enthusiastic. As for the course, I'll say that after seeing 20 miles of potato fields, the last 6 miles of potato fields made me feel like I was running in place. And the last 9 miles felt like they were all uphill. So, mediocre course, bad ending, nice volunteers.

Great and wonderful marathon. The sponsor of the marathon was very active and seen throughout the race cheering and encouraging. Poor community turnout or support. My only complaint would be that when I came to get my packet I was told that 'since you registered so late you will have to wait to get your shirt'. I was then told that I would be emailed about the shirt and I never received an email. I was then told that I would receive a shirt in the mail by the race director and never received it. The Rexburg Community Affairs Department then told me that they would not mail me the shirt but that I could pick it up in Rexburg (I live in Pocatello). It was also inferred that I should have picked it up the day of the race. 2 months later I have still not received a shirt.

Nice day with overcast but a little warm. Gels were available this time, but I didn't take any until near the end, and there were NONE at mile 20 as promised, and then at mile 24 - they said 'we just gave the last one out'. How can that be when I was a top 5 finisher. OUT? How can that be? One aid station was out of cups, and holding the water jug up so thirsty runners could put their mouth under it. Awards were nice with engravings for the division 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Nice shirts too. The town hardly cares about this race, except for Sugar City, who places 100 American flags - Very Nice! The 30 or so home owners along the last 7 miles could get into it more, maybe play a boom box or ring a bell - anything. Race Director Michael and the staff have lots of enthusiasm and want to make this a community attraction. But this year, the town didn't seem too interested. Even my Rexburg family didn't watch, and the race goes near their house. Kind of sad. But the volunteers can sure cheer :) Keep it up Michael. I'll be back.

I arrived early for the bus trip, which drives you out to the start at historic Teton Dam which flooded in 1976. Safety pins needed to be included in the packet, as none were available until you were about to board these buses. Temps were very cool at the beginning, but it warmed up gradually. The course was run through several potato farms, on both pavement and gravel, in a primarily rural setting. Hills are common in the final 7 miles, where you really don't need them.

The minimal support along the way was good, but additional port-a-potties are necessary, as I saw three instances of female runners breaking off the public roadways and squatting wherever they saw fit.
At the finish, the Great Harvest bread was good. However, I was disappointed to hear the medals awarded to the marathoners were the same as those awarded to the half marathoners, relay teams, and 10Kers. Although they are nice, I would recommend that they be slightly different in size; if nothing else, as they should distinguish the respective distances run by each participant.

Kudos to Race Director Michael, who was just starting out but was very motivated and excited to undertake this event! As a patriot, I also enjoyed the line of flags as we ran through Sugar City. Nicely done!

Great new course - undulating with no hard hills, some running on dirt roads, and a fine finish with Great Harvest Bread and Jumbo Juice oatmeal (it was a cold day with a tailwind two-thirds of the time and a difficult headwind a third of the time). BUT: the run literature promised Hammer Gels; we got oranges and bananas instead. We got promised Hammer HEED about 4 times instead of what was promised. Support/spectator were admonished not to bother the runners, but drivers' perspectives were different: for the last two miles I broke free of those support vehicles driving alongside of their friends. IT was a wonderful rural run between two montain ranges. And bring your own coffee; this town is home to BYU-I.

I gave the course 4 stars because my husband ran the full marathon and said it was a brutal course. This was his second and toughest marathon. I ran the half (first half marathon for me) and thought it was perfect. There were a lot of rolling hills but I rather enjoyed them. The volunteers were exceptional, too, giving me the energetic push that I needed! A BIG "THANK YOU" to them! The weather couldn't have been better, either! It was overcast and very pleasant.

Overall, my husband and I both had a positive experience with this race. Thank you!

This was my first marathon so I have nothing to compare it to, but I had a great time. I ran the course in 4:22. It was very challenging, with a 4-mile hill starting at mile 17. The course was scenic and peaceful. Gel was available, and they had water/sports drink every 2 miles. Weather was wonderful - it was cool to start and didn't get too hot. Snacks, drinks and massages were available afterward.

On my quest to run a marathon in every state, I decided to run this one based solely on needing a race in Idaho. I am so glad I happened to find this one!

The organization was outstanding and the volunteers were awesome. (Thanks again to the volunteer who ran up the last hill with me at mile 24!)

If you don't like hilly courses, this race is not for you. Mile 16 to 21 is pretty brutal... but it's a downhill finish from there.

Rexburg is a wonderful town, and everyone is so friendly. From the expo, to the potato bake, to the shuttle to the start, and all during the race, we were greeted with smiles and enthusiasm.

I highly recommend this race if you are looking for a challenging race in a wonderful part of God's country.