The Phoenix Marathon is a beautiful and fast course with excellent event organization. I ran a PR and BQ (3:07) on this course and I highly recommend this marathon for anyone trying to qualify for Boston or seeking an enjoyable marathon experience. I loved the t-shirt design, the pre-race party, the course, and the spectators.

This is a gradual downhill course that finishes 883 ft below the start. I opted not to where sunglasses as the course runs east to west and never directly into the sun. The temperature was around 65 degrees when the race started.

Ran the half marathon and had a 4 minute pr.

Great shirt, fast course, really nice medal and tons of food and entertainment at the finish area. The route was not pretty but it was speedy. The race started very early but the temps were perfect as was running with the sun behind us the entire way. The buses worked very smoothly but there could have been more signage when driving into the parking area where we met the buses. There were not nearly enough portapotties at the half start area.

This is a race I would happily return to. Cannot same the same for the mega marathon in Arizona where I have done the half and the full. Never again.

This marathon was put together very nicely. I was leary having to ride the bus, but it went smoothly. Loved the fireworks and bagpipes at the start. Great course. Only complaint is I think there could have been a few more water stations. Also at one intersection the police officer was actually stopping runners to let traffic thru. Loved the cool washclothes at the end. Definately a life saver! Post race festivities were great.

PROS
1. Shuttles to the start were efficient, plenty of porta potties, bag drop-off well organized
2. Fun pre-race patter and plenty of room to warm up at the top of the mountain (although being asthmatic I could have done without all the fires-it wasn't that chilly of a morning)
3. Fireworks after the anthem and a bagpiper--classy touches
4. The 3:45 pace leader was encouraging and committed to helping the pace group achieve their finish time (wish I could have stayed with him longer!)
5. First half is nice. Be careful on the downhills, and the subsequent miles 4-6 which are almost all uphill. I tried to be careful but still ran the first 4 miles too fast and felt it later in the race.
6. Outstanding volunteers

CONS
1. Hotels near the marathon are overpiced, even if you book way ahead of time.
2. Traffic. I didn't enjoy the 2nd half of the course. Runners were coned off on the right side of the road, running with the traffic. I was almost hit by a car at an intersection just after mile 17. Made me paranoid during the rest of the race.
3. Bag pick-up should be inside the recovery zone, not on the other side of the parking lot. I was having breathing problems and cramping up the last 6 miles of the race, it was a warm day, and I really didn't enjoy having to track down my bag.

Hands down, this marathon was phenomenal. Even the little details were exceptional such as the fireworks after the National Anthem and the small, moist towels at the finish. Genius with the towels, guys!
The course if also fantastic. Look for a quick time with the decrease in elevation!
I'd recommend this race to anybody!

Of the more than thirty races I've done (including Boston three times), this was by far the best organized, plus was scenic, fun, mostly cool and fast.

This inaugural, sold-out Boston-qualifying marathon had so many amazing things: a charity purpose for children's Arizona Brain Food, on-time and ready buses, opening fireworks and bagpipes, a scenic desert sunrise start, mostly flat and gradual downhill course, many cheering fans along much of the course, friendly volunteers from start to finish, stocked aid stations, a nylon reuseable clothing drop bag, cool Finishers' Medal, finish area massage and stretching stations, kids' games and 1K Fun Run, and, importantly, fantastic food (the best I've ever seen, including having some for the fans). The race organizers obviously put a lot of creative thought and effort into this event to make it so great.

I already am preparing my nomination for the Phoenix Marathon to be named 'Best New Marathon.'

The only suggested improvements would be a less obtrusive timing chip, possibly rerouting around the hill at mile 5-6 and an earlier start time or date for cooler temps at the end. But overall a fantastic event.

Thanks for all the volunteers' efforts and sponsors' contributions toward such a great event supporting a worthy cause.

This was the most organized marathon I have ever run (been running marathons since 1982). Remarkably this was the first year for the full marathon course and I saw nothing but flawless execution. There was terrific support from race volunteers and police staff--awesome job!!!

Aid stations were numerous and had every thing you needed. The course has PR written all over it if you have patience and pace it correctly during the first 10 miles (see course elevation chart). Again, excellent job to the race director and to all the volunteers that made it a great race day--Thank you!

This is a well-organized race, with wonderful volunteers. (Tip: try to pick up your race packet early the day before because traffic on the freeway builds up quickly and the running store where the pickup was located was packed). Shuttles to the start on race morning went off without a hitch. Enjoyed the announcer's patter in the Usery Mountain Park at the waiting area, and the fireworks and bagpiper were a very classy touch. It was a warm day (low 55, high 84, not much shade on the course), so I'm not sure all the campfires were necessary this year, but I have asthma and smoke is one of my triggers.

The first half of the race through the Usery Mountain area is enjoyable. Miles 1-3 are fast downhill stretches, then miles 4-6 are almost entirely uphill, with another rise around mile 7 for good measure. Make sure to take it easy on the downhills-my quads were definitely feeling it by mile 15! There are issues with traffic control the 2nd half of the course, which is very much flat/downhill but travels through business/residential areas in Mesa. Runners are coned off to run on the right side of the road- running with the traffic-and I was not prepared for the rudeness of the drivers. I was almost sideswiped around the 12 mile mark by a car whose driver was arguing with a policeman controlling an intersection-the policeman yelled at me to 'go go' across the intersection and the driver still almost screeched into me.

Then just after mile 17 a car barrelled out of a business and nearly struck me. Unfortunately my asthma flared up and I never fully got it under control, so I ended up walking the last 6 miles (a big thanks again to the supportive volunteers who could tell I was having a rough day). I wish the city of Mesa itself were more behind this event and that there were spectators other than volunteers/family and friends of racers.

I'm wondering if the organizers could reroute the 2nd half next year so the course is more walker/runner friendly? Only other negative, which is also not under the race director's control: hotels in this area surge in price around the date of this race. The host hotel my husband and I stayed at was extremely convenient to the bussing area but overpriced-and we booked nearly a year ahead of time!

The race (and the half and 10K) all sold out early. By the way they do things, it will sell out going forwardeven if they increase capacity. This is a good event; plain and simple. Lost Dutchman and this race are THE races to run if you're considering an Arizona race.

Entry fee was very reasonable. Packet pick-up was a breeze and sorta a mini expo/festival. Race shirt is a Nike tech tee. You also get a nice nylon bagalso used for your drop bag. Volunteers are VERY friendly and helpful.

Race day parking and buses are VERY organized. Volunteers everywhere. At the race start, they have heaters, mini bonfires, music, water, Powerade, and last-minute essentials. The race starts on time.

The first half is almost all downhill (esp. the first 6) but there are some hilly stretches that actually help you by using different muscle groups and also keep you from flying through the early miles. The second half is almost pancake-flat with a nice downhill at 25 to the end. Water stops were a little scantespecially given the warm weather (in the 70s) but they were manned with very friendly folk.

Finish line is full of energy. The medal is substantial. Post-race food is VERY, VERY abundantincluding beverages, protein drinks, popsicles, breads, chips, etc. Once you leave the secured area, there's a whole other set of tents and vendors handing out other food, goodies, etc. Very much like a carnival. Bag retrieval is very quick. It's obvious that they staged this as a family event; mission accomplished.

There are few spectators on the course but the ones that were there plus the race staff and patrol officers were all clapping and encouraging runners. All of these elements are missing in the Rock 'n Roll marathons. It was refreshing to see that the race director and committee paid attention to all the little things and did so with a smile. Race results were up before I got home.

This was my 70th marathon so I've seen what works and who delivers the bare minimum. This race has a bright future and deservedly so.

This was only offered as a half marathon so my comments refer to that race. Flat to down hill most of the way. Very scenic. Excellent organization from the busses to the start, the MANY blazing fire pits to keep us warm and excellent post race party. Packet pickup was small and given the sprawling Phoenix area it would have been nice to get packets day of, rather than day before, to save an extra trip...especially since the bussing area was so organized with little congestion. It would have been easy to get your packet, run it back to your car then board the busses. I plan to do this every year.