This was my first Marathon. I have run a lot of 10k runs. I was not impressed when I had to purchase water (500ml bottle) at $2.50 per bottle. There was no real 'Festival' atmosphere at the event pre or post race. The Running Room was selling various items ALL at FULL price (Ask the Forzani Group how to market and promote a running event!)
The water stations were unprepared for the demand of water at the start of the race. And volunteers were handing out Power Gells with 3.5 k left in the race. Power Gells should have been handed out after 10K or so. The end of my first marathon went like this... I was handed a 500ml bottle of water (the same water I payed $2.50 for at the breakfast earlier that day)...(felt like organizers were making up for the lack of water on the begining of the course), my timing tag was cut off, someone handed me a metal and then a T-shirt and I was then pushed out past the finishing area fence. There were NO post race drinks or food (BOOST drinks fruit etc.) The post race area was not that festive. However the fire works were nice. Over all I had fun in the run, and the fans were great with all the water they sprayed on us (thank you so much). This race can be done a lot better than it was.

The home owners were nice enough to provide the runners with the use of their sprinklers to keep us cool and the volunteers were very supportive of all the athletes. The course was flat and fast. We will be back for next year's event for sure. Hopefully it cools down a bit though for next year. My fiance and I both ran in the half marathon. Thank you to everyone that helped out and congrats to all the athletes. I hope that everyone got their own personal best times.

This was my first marathon, and I was thankful for the primarily fast course. I was disappointed with the anti-climactic ending at Commonwealth Stadium -- no bands, not much in terms of a celebration that I've experienced with half-marathons in other cities. This may be because of funding or planning conflicts with the International Track and Field Games held in August/01.

The volunteers and organization of this marathon were great. It was my first marathon so I have nothing to compare it to but everything went very smoothly and the support along the way was fantastic.
Pity about the wind.

The new course in 2001 was designed for the World Track and Field Championships in August 2001 and they wanted to make it fast. They have succeeded. It's also quite a scenic course and the start/finish in Commonwealth Stadium is nice - however, it can take a while to get out of the stadium if you start nearer the back of the pack. It was also very windy in May 2001. Marathon will return to August in 2002.

This was my second marathon and what a great choice. It is the course to be run by the worlds' best marathoners in the upcoming World Track & Field Championships in August, 2001. It is an extremely flat course (not one elevation gain in the first 1/2 marathon) and there is only one hill after that. You start and finish the course in Commonwealth Stadium and your image as you enter the track for the last 300 metres is projected on a 90 foot Jumbotron! What a way to finish 42.2 km! This race is normally run in August, but due to the Worlds' was run this year in May. I understand the crowds are bigger during the summer, but their support all along the way on a cold (2 degrees celsius) morning was tremendous. I highly recommend this race to anyone!

Edmonton may not be the most exciting city, but the organizers know how to put on a good little race. Starting and ending in Commonwealth Stadium, this is the course that will be used in the 2001 World Championships. The organization showed they are ready for a world class marathon: plenty of water and enthusiastic volunteers. The course is basically flat except for a long dip, then rise around 25km. There is a good mix of residential, park, and downtown running. You can't expect Chicago style crowds in a city the size of Edmonton, but people were out, cheering on the local runners. All in all, a well done small marathon. Next time I hope they get rid of the 30 mph winds, though.