I loved the combination of challenges that this course provides. This is not a flat course, nor a fast course. But if you're looking for beautiful scenery, lovely people, and some interesting challenges, this race will not disappoint. The spectacular sunrise I saw as I crossed over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada was just one of the memorable highlights of the race. I'm happy that my first marathon was in Detroit.

I live in Detroit and ran the half (and I have done the half twice before). Liked the "new" course for '09, as well as being able to come to the expo Friday night. Did not like the shirt AT ALL - even though it is the right size for once! No food at the expo, and the finisher's food bag was pretty small if one did not have time to go to the party (and I opted not to so I could get home and support runners from my front yard during the full). Parking that morning was a mess. The Cobo ramp wasn't even open when we got there, and long lines of cars waited and waited and waited, but got in after 25 minutes. (Because we were in a one-way ramp situation, it wasn't like you could do a U-turn or back out.) The registration process is seamless, and the volunteers at the expo and on the course were just great. I also love that the Free Press keeps us motivated right up until race day!!

Positive: Beautiful fall day, and the gorgeous bridge view.

Negative: Although arriving downtown at 6 a.m., we sat on the freeway and couldn't move for almost one hour, having to bail and run for the starting line at the last minute with dozens of others. Nightmarish. Race start was a zig-zag mess. Unfortunately, even the most scenic points of Detroit are fairly depressing. Finally, the website charged my Visa for a membership plus a full magazine subscription without authorization.

Overall, probably a great race, but a couple of negative points.

Pros
1. The course: They did a nice job of showing off the city. While highlighting the best parts of town, runners were also able to see parts that were not so nice, although I never once felt unsafe. So many cities try so hard to avoid any bad parts of town and never give you a feel for the real town.
2. Crowd support was great! While not on the entire course, it was very adequate.
3. Plenty of water stops. More gel stops would have been nice, but this was well advertised.
4. Start was very smooth.

Cons
1. Race-day parking was miserable. I was constantly told that there was plenty of parking, but I was stopped on the freeway exit ramp for 20 minutes.
2. I finished in under 4 hours, and was given a bag of chips and a glass of water for my post-race meal. Was this all they had or were they out?
3. Expo was adequate, but didn't like having to walk by everything in a maze layout to get my registration and t-shirt.

Overall, a good race I would definitely come back to.

The good: the course was well laid out and planned, without a lot of out-and-backs to make up mileage. Excellent use of Belle Isle. I liked the bridge and tunnel, and the run along Windsor's waterfront and the finishing miles along the river were nice. Plenty of water on the course, and we could not have asked for better weather. Start went well.

The bad: difficult to figure out where to go right after the half and full split. We were not sure we were on the right road for a little while. The GU station was out of gels, which was no problem, but the finish line was out of full marathon medals (how does that happen when some full registrants must have dropped to the half?). The most disappointing part: not one race photo of me or the buddy I ran with the whole way (who was running her first marathon). Not during the first half, and not in the second half - even though we were ahead of the last-chance pacer - and not even at the finish line. That was unexpected and disheartening. Keep the photographers until the finish line closes!

Well organized, and I will consider doing this again if budget permits.

The Freep was my first full, although I've run the Freep Half twice.

POSITIVES:
I found the organization impressive, and extend my gratitude to the race organizers for a job well done. In addition, the volunteer support was outstanding.

The wave start was better than previous starts and the congestion wasn't a big deal.

The course held everything I expected from an downtown, urban route. Belle Isle was great. I expected it to be barren and lonely with no one there but the runners; however, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of fan support. At no time did I feel abandoned.

The website is outstanding, with enough info to point every runner in the right direction.

Parking wasn't an issue at all. I parked far enough away from the race, took the People Mover into town, rode the People Move out of town afterward and drove home without any problem.

The finisher's medal is outstanding.

Of course, I have to mention the Ambassador Bridge, the tunnel, and the Riverfront, but this has been covered in previous posts.

NEGATIVES:
The post-race food bag could use a few more products.

Gear check was two to three blocks away from the finish.

With about 20,000 participants, Detroit gives you the feeling of a big-city marathon (NY, Chicago, MCM), on a slightly smaller scale.

This is my fourth Detroit Marathon. I did not like the wave start. I thought it was more congested during the first five miles than it ever was. I could not break free of the pack until I entered Canada. Also, I missed having bands playing music every mile or so as in the past. Other than that, the changes to the course were nice, the aid stations were good, etc.

This is my fourth time running the Detroit Marathon and it keeps getting better and better.

1) Course: Tough not to love running on a suspension bridge at sunrise over a big river connecting the Great Lakes, with a freighter underneath you blowing its horn! The tunnel back is equally as impressive, but the best part are the throngs of people awaiting you as you reach sunlight back in the good old the U.S.A.! Also, really like the back half marathon being flipped around as well so your homestretch miles are along the scenic river.

2) Organization: Great idea having the delayed and staggered start to reduce early congestion. More than enough water, Gatorade, etc.

3) Expo: As they say, perspective is reality and I wonder how some posters can say that the expo was too small. It's plenty big enough with enough charities and vendors to keep you busy for an hour if you'd like (as I did).

4) Shirt: Great long-sleeve technical shirt

5) Medal: AWESOME Medal and great new logo!

Other than the bridge and tunnel, which aren't that bad and are done by mile 8, the course is pretty darned flat and so I plan on qualifying for Boston there in 2010. On, on!

The good:
-Wide start area; it was easy to line up in assigned area for wave start.
-Road on to the bridge was not as congested this year. The whole bridge/Canada/tunnel section is fun to run.
-Plenty of water and cheering sections. I liked the marching band, the mariachi band, and the hula hoop girls.
-Loved how the Riverwalk section is towards the last couple of miles now. Very scenic.
-Nice, large finisher's medal.
-The whole course makes Detroit look very nice.

Could use some work:
-Expo was fine. But shirts don't fit that well. And how about an expo speaker one of these years?
-Parking. Tried to park in one of the designated lots, the old MGM garage, and traffic was lined up off of the Lodge for a long ways and not moving at all. Finally gave up and drove around until I found another lot.
-Still could use some better food at the finish. How about some bagels?

But overall, very well done, and I would recommend this marathon to everyone.

Glad I returned to my home town for my first-ever marathon! A thrill to run over the Ambassador Bridge (yes, a report was released just prior to race stating that the bridge is fine). Excited to run back through the tunnel from Windsor, Ontario - not too warm nor humid, as suggested. These early thrills ironically served to settle me down into a rhythm. Got pumped up again when I saw Doug Kurtis at the halfway point. Fan support was great throughout the course. Almost brought a tear to my eye to see a family cheer their loved one participating. I loved that marching band with the Stomp performers around mile 16 or so. Belle Isle was anything but desolate - heard people cheer there just the right encouragements regarding pace (being a critical point in the race - with about 10K to go). The downtown finish is great with the largest concentration of support. Excellent post-race massage. Wow, what a sizable medallion! The after-race party sounded very good. Killer Flamingos rocked!