There is a rule in road races that there should be a port-a-potty for every 60 people. This race fell far short of that. Also, I heard almost none of the pre-race instructions due to the poor quality loudspeaker. I would like to suggest having gels for sale at the expo, since the only running shop in town closed early. Also, someone needs to place runner etiquette instructions in the goody bags, since runners were three abreast at times and not yielding correctly to persons running uphill.

No marathon should ever start at 9am....they do this to keep you in Sedona to attend an awards ceremony that is also too late in the day and they do it at a shopping venue. Start this race no later than 7am and have the awards immediately following

Wow! It's a very challenging course, but the scenery is worth it! I've run a LOT of marathons, including Big Sur, and I have to credit this course as the most beautiful! The difficulty doesn't bother me...we see the course profile before we sign up and should be prepared. I was very impressed with the start line...what a view! Also impressive was the course support. Aid stations were plentiful and well stocked. In addition to the aid stations, there were course monitors, so we were never really out of sight of volunteers. That comforted me since I'm slow and there are no spectators for the majority of the course. Everyone (volunteers and the few spectators) was so friendly and supportive and I had an absolute blast running the race! I love the medal!

I offer the following suggestions:
1. start the marathon earlier
2. allow more time between the starts of the different races so runners aren't bumping into each other
3. Marathon medals should be different from the 5k, 10k and half. I definitely plan to run this marathon again and am already recommending it to my friends!

This is one of my all time favorite races!!!

When I signed up for this race, I knew it was going to be tough. Especially, for someone from the Chicago area. The significant hills, higher altitude, and the rock road made the race very tough. The scenery was awesome, and the race was well organized. Even though, it was my slowest time ever and I had to walk up the hills, I know I gave it my full effort.

The race is well organized overall. Packet pick up was easy and there were a few vendors there also. There were plenty of porta potties at race start and on the course. The race was really hot this year but that was not too much of an issue as there was plenty of fluids on the course. I didn't run with a pack or hand held bottle and did fine and I was on the course for 5 1/2 hours. There were frequent water stops that had clif shot gels and fruit and fluids! I was amazed at all the gels at most of the water stops and they didn't run out even when I was coming through late in the race. The course is absolutely beautiful as one would expect in Sedona! There are so many hills on this course you really need to do hill training. This was one of the toughest marathons I have done but the scenery made it bearable. Post race food was ok and could probably use some additions. There were clif bars, bagels, muscle milk and a few vendors with food for purchase. I didn't use the shuttle service but there was an area for runner drop off and pick up and that was easy going. The awards ceremony was not at the race site and it was late in the day which made for an even longer day. Wish the race started a little earlier like 8 am but guess they have their reasons for that. So overall this was a beautiful tough race and if you want a challenging run do this race!

This is a very small race. Although I started with approx 2,000 people, there were only about 175 full marathoners...which means that after the 6 mile point it got reallllly lonely.
The course was VERY VERY mountainous (hilly isn't even accurate!). The middle half of the course is also on a dirt forrest road.
The people and views were AWESOME!!! I really enjoyed Sedona. Did some day hikes the weekend following the race.

Overall it was a good race, not my favorite. I probably wouldn't do it again. I wish I had been better prepared for the incline.

The specifics: Tough course overall. Over 2000 ft total elevation gain. Run on paved and dirt roads. Traffic was at times troublesome especially on the dirt roads but mostly light. Course well marked.

Organization overall very good. Small expo/packet pick-up. Pre-race pasta meal was nice. Main concern is that the awards were not till 4PM. Long time to wait around if you traveled to event and already checked out of hotel.

Very few spectators for this race. Not a big concern for me. But aid stations were very enthusiastic.

Biggest gripe for me is that there should be separate shirts/finisher medals for marathoners, half, 10K, and 5K. Realize that this involves lots more logistical coordination but running a marathon is a LOT different than running a 5K. Something for race director to consider.

Sedona is a very scenic town. If you like the West, you'll love this place. I would come back here for a vacation.

Might return next three years to get the rest of pie sliced medals to make the whole pie.

Do not run this race if you are not prepared - I learned this lesson the hard way. I was not ready for the hills or the altitude, and my training was mediocre at best. The turnaround for the marathon was up a hill so high that by the time I turned around I was spent, and I had another half-marathon to go. This race was on a rocky dirt road for about nine miles, and spectators were virtually non-existent. On the other hand, the volunteers were enthusiastic, and the scenery was unbelievable. If you are going to run this race, do A LOT of hill training, and if possible get to Sedona several days ahead of time if you are not used to the altitude - don't worry, there is plenty to do, in a new-age, crystal-loving, vortex-seeking type of way.

I was attracted to this race due to my love of the beauty of the desert Southwest. I was not disappointed. Sedona's course is among the most scenic I have ever done - a route set in a spectacular amphitheater of red rock cathedrals, cliffs and spires. And if you focus on that beauty and soak it in, it will HELP you overcome the very real challenges of the course, which include elevation and hills - lots of them (including finishing the last mile with one!). There isn't much glitz or glamor here; the fans are sparse (although volunteers were great), the expo doesn't offer much, and the post-race food was mediocre, at best. But I have absolutely no regrets. It is a beautiful course and a race worth running. Lose yourself in its beauty and you will feel like you have accomplished and participated in something worthwhile, significant and uplifting when you finish. (My comments refer to the half-marathon.)

After three visits to the Sedona area for hiking, I finally decided to run the marathon. I knew the profile of the run and did not expect a better-than-average finish time. In fact, I finished above 4 hours, about 30 minutes worse than my average.

All of the suffering on the steep hills was rewarded by the beauty of the course. This is definitely one of the most challenging, and at the same time most beautiful races in the southwest USA. The worst part of the run was the longest uphill mile before the finish line.

Overall, the race was organized very well with sufficient supply of drinks and food before, during and after the run. The after-race massage brought me back to life.

I was slightly disappointed by the cheap plastic medal for my 3rd place in my age group.

Thank you, Sedona, for the excellent, long-distance event.