This was my second year doing the Vermont City Marathon and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The race is well organized from start to finish and the crowds are enthusiastic and supportive.

Expo/Packet Pick Up: The packet pick up process was very easy; they let you get your bib Friday, Saturday or even Sunday morning (somewhat unusual but appreciated). Plenty of parking, which it was very easy to get in and out of. The expo itself wasn't fantastic, but had all of the basics and was well organized.

Start: The race is self-seeding, so you can line up wherever you want. There is a half marathon and a five-person relay, and all of those runners are mixed in with the marathoners. I really didn't have an issue with it. Everyone was respectful and having more people on the course seemed to pump up the spectators and added to the liveliness of the event. I heard a few people complain about having others on the course, saying that it messed up their pacing. I would say this: after the first mile there is plenty of room on the course and it is not at all congested. If you don't have enough confidence in yourself to settle into an appropriate pace, that's your problem, not the race organizer's fault. Stop complaining.

The Course: I loved it. You get to see a lot of different parts of Burlington and even run down Church Street (a pedestrian mall). There are some rolling hills, enough to add some challenge and keep you honest, but nothing too terrible. The biggest hill (at mile 15) has tons of spectators, and even some very loud drummers to help you up. The second half of the course is pretty flat with no notable hills, so that helped. The final portion is along the lake, which I've heard can be windy, but I found there was enough tree cover to prevent this from being much of an issue. The only non-scenic part was an out-and-back part, but it was early in the race, so it was fun to see everyone ahead of and behind you.

Post-Race: Again, very solid. A good selection of food, and plenty of water, bathrooms, and helpful volunteers. All of the essentials in an easily accessible layout. The park where the race finished can be tough to get out of, but that is a minor complaint.

Overall, a great mid-sized race, with a very friendly atmosphere - highly recommended.

Prior to this one, I did 56 major national and international marathons. And I didn't expect to be pleasantly surprised anymore.

The organization of the 2009 Vermont City Marathon was simply perfect, starting from the expo and ending with an outstanding food service for the finishers. And in between, there was a very beautiful course, with lots of very enthusiastic and kind spectators offering more water and food (oranges, bagels, bananas, apples) than any runner could possibly consume. And that was in addition to a lot of official water and gel stations with extremely efficient volunteers. Even the weather was perfect - cool and cloudy with a light drizzle for the first three hours, and then cheerfully sunny for the last beautifully shaded miles through the forest. I assume that the organizers took care of the weather as well with a call Upstairs.

The course elevation chart indicates a hilly marathon, but it certainly didn't feel tougher at all than an average marathon. I would definitely recommend it both to a novice and to an experienced marathon runner.

Of my 25, this is the best. Best city, best crowd, best course design (I love the figure-8 style), best traffic control (very few cars!!), my best time. PR's are common. The fishhook turn at M26 is outstanding.

Two possible improvements: an earlier start for all, and a staggered start for each group (wheels/marathon/half/relay).

1. Course: As a result of this marathon course, I have confirmed my love of short, intense climbs and rolling hills. Everyone who I talked to about running Burlington said that I had better do my hill repeats, but I found the course to have the hilly sections well spaced, and most every climb had either many spectators along the way to encourage us or was rewarded by a flattening out or an immediate down.
2. Organization: Food tent had food specifically set aside for those doing the full distance... 'nough said.
3. Spectators: Even the section that another runner warned me would be ill-attended had a great deal of crowd support in comparison to my past races (Rochester, NY; Hamilton, Ontario; Buffalo, NY). The drummers from Boston and the various bands along the course also helped to liven up the areas with fewer spectators.

Great experience. It was beautiful, but the course is tougher than you expect. There were nice people all around (many people congratulate you afterward when you wear your medal - yes, a praise hog I be ;)). There is excellent organization, and a great city. The weather was tough - cold rains, then warm sun - and the course has more hills (Battery Park being one you have to look forward to) and elevation changes than you might expect.

The one concern I had was that I finished around the 4-hour mark, and the finish area was way too small for the number of people crowded into it, and the free food area had a very long line. Maybe it would be possible to make this area bigger so people can spread out a bit more. The bus pick-up at area hotels are a huge help, and I wish more runs would do this. If you happen to stay at one of the exit 16 cheaper hotels (like me ;)), you may have to wait about 30 - 40 minutes for a return bus, but they pick you up on time in the morning, so no complaints. Everyone was very friendly, and there is much to do other than the marathon in Burlington, so take some time and enjoy.

I did make one mistake = I drove 6 hours on Saturday and attempted to get enough rest, but it must have not been enough because my leg was very, very sore around mile 18, so it messed up my time. In other words - give yourself some time if you are traveling. ;)

I have heard great things about this event and this area. I sure was not disappointed! The race name always struck me as kind of funny, though; I mean, are their actually cities in Vermont? The answer is YES! The Vermont City Marathon has both big-city excitement and small-town charm. As for the organizational skills of the Run Vt team, they're top-notch from top to bottom, including hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers and all of the needed details that separate a great race from a good one. My advice to all marathoners is to add this to your "must do" lists and go see for yourself.

- Gary Allen

I noticed at 3 water spots that the amount of water in cups was less than 1/3. Sometimes less-experienced runners may grab a cup and feel they had enough water from drinking what they are given. Here, they would have had to grab 3 glasses to get what they need. This makes for more congestion, trying to grab more then two glass. Other then that, thank you so much for the wonderful experience. I've run at least 8 Vermont City Marathons, and 50 others throughout the U.S. You surpass them all. Thank you again.

- Yvon Lamarche

I was very pleased with this marathon and course. The expo was well run and efficient. The course was well marked and challenging (in a good way), the hills were reasonable, and the aid stations were well stocked. Minor improvement suggestions: Add two more water stations (we could have used just a couple of more), Also, try to include better views of the lake, if possible; it was just out of sight more than I expected. Additionally, a larger expo space would help, as would the timing technology were your place/time/expected finished are texted to the cell phones of your family/friends that are with you. They had it at Pittsburgh and it was very cool and appreciated by the family. Overall, I was very pleased with the experience.

This was my first time at Burlington and I really enjoyed both the race and the city. The course was scenic and well organized; the performers along the course around miles 12-15 were particularly fun. I only wish there were a few of them at miles 22-24.

From the organization, to the course, to the fan support, this was a great marathon. The starting area was easy to navigate; fluid stations were well organized; volunteers and marshals were all over; and the course was terrific. It was a nice mix of rolling hills, flats, and two pretty good uphills (although nothing earth-shattering). The last 5 miles of the course on the bike path were amazing. Crowds cheered, the mountains were to the west, and it was flat. The finish was great too, with tons of people cheering. I would highly recommend this marathon and city for a weekend getaway. I PR'ed by almost 4 minutes, and qualifying for Boston made it extra special for me!