Best first experience for a marathon I could have hoped for. I paid a little extra for the VIP parking/pre and post race massage and food in a heated building. Well worth it. The course was well marked, with plenty of Goo/water/sports drink. The run is along River Road, which is scenic. This is a small race, out in the hill country, so it is relaxed and there are few spectators (except for the fantastic aid station volunteers!)
I will be doing this again!

Most perfect organization and level of attention for runners, impressive! Loved the coffee at the start, and how easy it was to find people beginning and end. My kids also really enjoyed the bounce houses and balloons while waiting for me to finish.

Beautiful course through country neighborhoods and rural rolling hills and the river valley. It felt magical at moments, particularly with the mist floating across the road.

Perfect weather with a cool start, cool by the river and easy to stand around and bask in the sun at the finish later.

Wonderful race. Very well organized with plenty of water stops along the way. The course is just awesome. My only complaint is that it was difficult for spectators to follow the course through the first halfStill, after the first half, there was plenty of spectator support. I will do this one again and again.

This is the most beautiful marathon in Texas. The race is along River Road, which winds along the Guadalupe River as it cuts through sheer limestone cliffs in the Texas Hill Country. There are sections of the course where you would swear you were in Colorado, not halfway between Austin and San Antonio. While not extremely difficult, the out and back course is hilly enough to be a challenge. You probably will not set a PR on this course. However, if you enjoy running along country roads through incredible scenery, this is a race for you.

Although officially called the Marathon for Adoption, the vast majority of participants run the half marathon. Once past the turn around for the half, it feels more like an early morning run through the peaceful countryside than a race. As the runners spread out along the full marathon course, you are as likely to come upon a deer as another runner. Perhaps because of this, the extremely enthusiastic volunteers at the aid stations treat your arrival as if they were greeting a long, lost, relative. The road itself is smooth asphalt without a pothole anywhere. The course has very little traffic, and because it runs along the river, there are very few intersections, all of which were attended by sheriff's deputies. There were also a number of volunteers patrolling the course on bicycle. I felt safer on this course than most of the big city races I have done.

The race started precisely on time, which is a big deal for me. Prior to the start, there was free coffee, and a reasonable number of port-o-potties. This is a small-town race so the huge backup at the starting line was largely missing. Race day weather was perfect; low 40s at the start, it was probably low to mid 60s by the time I finished. I barely broke a sweat. In fact, my biggest mistake was forgetting my gloves, which left my hands cold for most of the race. October weather can be unpredictable in Texas; however the entire course is shaded by huge trees, so I would not hesitate to run it in warmer weather.

The race packet includes a nice tech shirt. There is no finisher's medal, but the race is less expensive than many. Post race food was basic bananas and oranges with some turkey soft tacos. After a chance to stretch and recover, the turkey was actually very good.

The race begins in Gruene, a historic town with quaint little shops, unique restaurants, and plenty of bed and breakfast type places to stay. It makes for a nice little weekend getaway. We stayed in a bed and breakfast less than a mile from the starting line. My wife, a non-runner, enjoyed the weekend so much she has already decided that I am running this race again next year.

I enjoyed this race a great deal and the volunteers do a terrific job putting it on. It's obvious from the little things that the people in charge are serious runners, putting on a top quality race at a very reasonable price, for a very good cause. However, this race is not for everyone. If you are looking to run your first marathon, you may want to choose an easier course. The course is not incredibly hard, but there is a reason the area is known as the hill country. If you are one of those people that judge a marathon by the size of the crowd, and the number of bands along the course, you would probably be better off waiting for the Dallas White Rock in December. You will not hear the sound of rock bands playing along the route. Instead you will hear the sound of water flowing along the rocky river bottom.

If you are looking for a great, small town race, along a wonderfully scenic, rural course, supported by a passionate group of volunteers, you will have a great time at this race.

The course was perfect, running along the Guadalupe River through hill country. The traffic management and course support were flawless. The food after (by Rudy's) and the coffee before were lovely. Also, the ladies' shirt is beautiful and flattering.

But I was most touched by the volunteers at the aid stations, at least half of whom were extremely adorable and enthusiastic children. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time.

Thank you for a wonderful Saturday morning.