Beautiful course-the best scenery is on the marathon route after the half marathoners turn around. Loved the course, loved the 'morning of' packet pick up. Parking was easy.

Logistically this race needs improvement....it was amateur hour.
-The bag drop was non-existent, which wouldn't have been a problem had a race volunteer not pointed to an area and told me it WAS the bag drop. Glad I didn't use it, my car keys would have been gone.
-They also released over a thousand half marathoners in to mile 3 of the marathon....so just when folks are hitting their pace, you merge with a few hundred runners/walkers. It took a few miles to spread the group out afterwards.
-Finish line, even though it was small, it had more vendors selling homemade crafts than post-race support and was really disorganized.
-Nevermind the lack of medical support - 10 bucks worth of sunscreen, vaseline, and motrin at a few aid stations (I only saw it at the marathon turn around) would have sufficed.

Overall, great race. If I make it back to Idaho, I'd probably run this one again.

Positives:
1) Most logistics (see below): Expo (small, but efficient), race day organization, parking, water stops, etc.
2) On-course directions: There were lots of turns, but I never once got confused or lost.
3) On course volunteers: at times, there were so many, the near complete lack of 'crowd' was not noticeable.
4) aid stops: lots of sports drink and gel;
5) Post race food: Still plenty left when I finished my marathon, after most after most half-marathoners.
6) Matching finisher hat: Very nice touch. It would have been fantastic if it said 'Finisher,' but pretty awesome nonetheless.
7) Scenery: Out of control of the organizers other than choosing to do a race here, but this was one of the most beautiful races I've run.

Issues/Needs improvement:
1) Mile markers: similar to the 2011 feedback, mile markers came up early until the last 'mile,' which I clocked at 1.2 miles. I know GPS watches aren't perfect, but it really seems like there is a legitimate issue here.
2) Start time/overlap with half: The marathoners start 30 minutes ahead of the half (which has over 1000 folks) and run a 3-mile loop back to the starting area, then join the half course for the next 6 or so miles. I am a 4-hour marathoner (9 min/mile) and I calculated this into my start, thinking I would avoid the throng. Unfortunately, the marathon started 6 minutes late, which deposited me (and almost every other marathoner) in the sea of humanity that was the start of the half. The organizers could have recognized this and considered starting the half a little later as well. My issue was probably a one-time thing, but slower marathoners will want to consider this.
3) Pre-race audio: I was about 50 feet behind the start line, but could not hear any pre-race announcements, national anthem, etc.
4) On-course medical support: Maybe it was there, but I didn't see any. I didn't need it, but wondered what would happen if I did.

Neutral feedback:
1) Gels: The pre-race email stated gels would be at particular water stops, but they weren't at all stops identified. There were a ton of stops with gel, and I always carry all I need just in case, so there was plenty, but I met one guy who was particularly annoyed at this.
2) Medals: I'm not into fancy medals, and this one wasn't.
3) Shirts: I don't like white tech tees, but the long sleeve and color stripe was nice.
4) Hills: these weren't as hard as I figured with all the feedback below and the profile, but they weren't a cakewalk either. Get in some hill workouts folks.
5) There were only a couple pockets of spectators during the long out and back after mile 6, so if you need crowd support, consider another race. It's a small race in a small town.
6) Don't think the big hills at mi 12/13 and 16/17 are the only ones. There is a short, steep hill in mi 23 and one right at the end.

Traveled across the country with my fiance to run the Coeur d'Alene Marathon (my 31st and her 10th overall marathons). Made a weekend of it by staying at the Coeur d'Alene Resort (HIGHLY recommend). The people (volunteers, specatotrs and runners) could not be more friendly and welcoming. The course is breath-taking along the lake from miles 12-19! Don't be intimidated by the elevation map: double hills at miles 12/16 (out and back) look daunting but are not! Not much crowd support to speak of but the vistas cover for that. Overall an awesome experience!

This was my 65th marathon. I headed north for cooler weather and I got it: about 48 at the start and upper 50's at the end. The course is nice but it is NOT a flat course, it hits a long hill at miles 10-15 and then you go down the other side and come back at miles 17-21. The only thing I truly did not like was the cant of the road going up/down that hill. I kept trying to find a level spot on the shoulder of the road. Also, not all roads are closed to traffic, so you must pay attention because in most of the race you are running with your back to the traffic which is not how I normally would run.

I registered the day before the race and I must say packet pickup was quite simple. Race day had plenty of parking almost at the start line. You could stay inside until the race start if the weather was really cold. Ample porta potties at the start and throughout the course. Also, well managed aid stations consistently placed throughout the course.

This is not a big race, it had around 300 finishers and I think maybe 500-600 entrants. For whatever reason, there were a fair number of peoppl who signed up but did not run.

We stayed at the Roosevelt Inn which is a B&B that was a former school. Cool place. If you are out-of-state like we were, it is easy to fly into Spokane, WA and then just drive 30 minutes over to Coeur d'Alene, ID.

Nice finishers medal. Finish line food was sufficient.

'mostly flat' in the course description is funny. We did get to run up and down a mountain or two. But it was still beautiful. I wish the halfers could start earlier so they could be out of the way. Running 10-minute miles was a drag because they were right with us for too long. At two water stations, too many children were working and couldn't keep up. Cute kids, but lots of feet getting stepped on and tripping to get to the water. Love the shirt color.

this is a nice little race in a beautiful little city - a great choice for idaho if you are looking for 50 states.
very nice scenery and a changing view
aid stations were well placed and staffed

PROS:
separate start times for full/half
no traffic issues
plenty of food - even after the half marathoners finished
tech fabric hat at finish was very nice
course is fairly fast - not PR quick, but still a faster course

CONS
that hill that you go up, then down, then turaround at mile 15 was brutal to do twice
start gets you on teh path too quickly, its a bit crowded
not much of an expo - just so you know what to expect
not much crowd support - not something i am looking for, but jsut so you know
ugly lime green shirt this year
did not see medical tent on course - i needed some vaseline for a developing blister and had to do without
litle shade on majority of course, if it were a warm day, this race could get hot quick, wtih little relief

There really wasn't an expo, just packet pickup in an empty retail building. No music or sendoff for the walkers at 5:30. But great volunteers, and lots of water and bathrooms along the course. It could be a great race, but didn't seem to have any support from the city.

I loved the fact that there were only 2500 runners because I don't really like large crowds. The course was lovely and the weather perfect. The porta potties and water stations were plentiful and well-manned. The packet pick-up was a disappointment with no freebies except a chapstick and a chip clip, and the vendors outside were minimal and left early. There was no course map to look at except a size 6 font map that was ridiculous.

The website marked the start and finish in one place and I found out at the packet pick-up that it was right there. Very confusing for someone out of state who doesn't know what 'Riverstone' is. The directions just said 2129 Main Street in Riverstone. Also, the tshirts were ugly and all oversized with no mention at registration that they were all men's sizes.

When I requested to switch my small for an extra small, I was told that I would have to wait until after the race. When I finished, the extra small were all gone. Now I have an ugly shirt that is so big I have to give it away. When you pay $70 for registration, you should be sure to get a shirt that fits. Downtown was fairly empty of supporters...in fact the whole way was pretty un-festive. I was surprised because I was used to how festive Bloomsday always is, with all the vendors set up at packet pick-up and all the spectators along the course. There should have been some kind of spaghetti feed the night before that runners could pay for and tips on where to shower afterwards, etc.

It just seemed like little effort went into the race on behalf of the runners. I had a free drink ticket on my bib, and when I went to redeem it, the guy told me that they weren't doing that this year since their company wasn't chosen as a sponsor. Check out the effort that they put out for the Missoula Marathon, and compare w/this one. It just lacked in a lot of areas except for scenery.

Being the first Marathon at age of 54, I started at 0530 and the crowd was great at that time of morning. Over all they did a great job.The weather for me was great..One thing I would like to see is more Emergence personal along the way..the person whom measured the course was a little bit long..sorry to say..thank you for making this a great experience . for my husband and my self this was one of 100 things to do.Thank you again .

Nice mini vacation overall. CDA is a beautiful area with lots of outdoor activities. Scenic course, fairly flat but poorly organized. Minimal expo, inaccurate measurement cost me a PR. The last 1.1 miles of the half were measured at 1.35 and the RD admitted the half course to be 'indeed a bit long'