This was the fifth time I have run this marathon and I always enjoy it. It is a great and challenging course, especially when it is 70 degrees at the start and over 80 degrees at the finish. I love the start in the dark. The volunteers are great, the price is greatly appreciated, and I swear by the ice bath at the end. Again, I love that ice bath! The medals are good enough but I really wish they would bring back the old cotton tshirts. I don't like the special fabric and the color the last two years is dreadful. I haven't worn the 2011 and 2012 shirts but I still wear my 2001-2003 shirts all the time. The Hampton is a great hotel and so conveniently located. Shakespeare's Pizza is great - all you can eat pizza for free with a great seating area and plenty of opportunity to meet fellow runners and the volunteers. Bring a water bottle to run with at the start because the first aid station is around the 4 mile mark. And go out slow! Wait until the top of Easley hill (right at the half marathon mark)before you pick up the pace. Don't run this if you are trying for a PR and don't like hard courses. Slow down and savor this marathon.

I did enjoy this race, and would recommend it, but only if you are looking for a unique marathon experience. This one is not for 1st timers, or those looking for a more conventional medium/large sized marathon (and with the support that goes along with them).

Here were the positive aspects of this race:

1. Great small town feel, personality! Nice volunteers, packet pick up, no expo. The start feels more like a big running group doing a long training run. As long as you expect this, it is a nice change from the big-city marathons.

2. From about miles 8-20, I found the course scenery absolutely beautiful. That one mile (12) just before the challenging hill, that ran along the Missouri River was gorgeous. A true rave run moment.

3. Very nice pizza party at the end where the award ceremony was held. I enjoyed the pizza, and meeting some wonderful finishers, I really had a nice time getting to chat with the runners at my table, friendly, interesting people. I come across so many fascinating personalities and life stories at these races!

And, the improvement opportunities:

1. Put volunteers, or even just signs on the final 1.5 miles! This was my 31st marathon, and I have never come across such a desolate final mile; I was convinced through most of the last mile I had run off course, no sign, volunteer, nothing. I kept slowing down to make sure there was someone behind me (I had purposely run a slow 1st half, to do a fast finish, so I did pass people from mile 12 to the end, and wound up in an odd gap with no one in sight before me, and runners far behind me). I did FINALLY pass the volunteers at the Broadway turn, but then no one to direct me to the finish shoot - I started to turn down 9th ave, and some nice spectator corrected me. Overall I lost time on this stretch that should have been the fast finish I planned, and the stress of wondering whether I had run off course for the entire final miles of the race is an experience I do not want to repeat. Just stick a few signs along the course to reassure the runners they are on track.

2. No one can change this, it is part of the race, but this course and the conditions are very difficult; this is not a marathon for the faint of heart. Humidity, heat, hills, and rough terrain on many parts - this is one of the toughest I have run, my new PW. Just be prepared, and reset your expectations if you think this may be a PR course.

3. About the course - although 8-20 are beautiful, the preceeding and final 6 miles of the race are mostly on the rough shoulder of a busy highway, with the view being strip malls and office buildings - not pretty. Prepare yourself for a final 6 miles on a not-scenic course.

4. I hate when people complain about medals and shirts, but this medal is not the best.

Summing it up, set your expectations right, prepare for a charming small town, midwest, scenic course (from miles 8-20), do not require a ton of support, and you will have a great time at this race.

The hills were a challenge, but the scenery made it all worth while. Volunteers were so great. Thank you to Shakespear's Pizzeria - great recovery food!! The red blinky lights didn't want to stay on, I saw many that had fallen off of runners. I was glad I had my own. I really did appreciate the drivers on the narrow road where we were running. They gave us a brake and some even smiled and waved back! I was really worried after reading the description, but so glad I ran this race! I gave 4 stars because the course was a real challenge to me, but I'm one of the 60+ group! It's OK to chuckle here!

I agree with some other comments that reading the pre-race instructions the night before about the fast moving traffic and stay on the shoulder of the road made me very nervous. But when I got out there the next morning, the traffic didn't worry me at all. On the narrow winding roads cars slowed down and moved over. I always felt perfectly safe. The course was absolutely picturesque. Starting out in the dark, and watching the sunrise over the rolling hills and the river was a wonderful memory I will cherish. Yes the hills were tough but not impossible, there were plenty of downhills to make up for the uphills. Spectators were few but that's ok, they were awesome. Volunteers were awesome and truly excited to be there. The spectators cheering at the finish were amazing. I wish I could thank them all for being so motivating. A great running event without all the overextravegance of big city races, which also keeps the cost down - a good thing. Although I would have paid a little extra for a more substantial medal after all that hard work. But the shirts were great!! Loved the shirt. This was my 26th marathon, first Heart of America marathon, and I will be back next year!

This was my seventh marathon and my third HOA. Every year I am impressed with this race. The volunteers make me feel like a superstar. The chit chat over pizza is friendly, and accepting of all. This race is always my slowest time but by far the best race.

The race is truly beautiful. The course is lined with trees and even a spell by the Missouri river. The weather was perfect, a great day for a race. The volunteers were very nice, even if they were not every 2 miles. I was not with the pack and the road that we ran on made me nervous. I did not feel safe at any point at the race. I was out there by myself with cars blazing past me. There was absolutely no shoulder and no protection from the cars that are flying by at 50 miles an hour. I know most people who run this race adore it, and I guess it is safer when you are with the main group of runners. For those of us not in the group I was frightened.

This was marathon #6 for me. I absolutely loved the course, can't wait to tackle it again. The aid stations were a little far apart for me but, I loved the cold water sponges at the last few stations. It was difficult to run on the shoulder since both lanes were open to traffic. All in all it was a great experience and the weather was perfect. I will be running HOA again.

This was a very nicely organized smaller marathon, and one of the best 'little' ones that I have done. From the low entry fee, nice tech shirt, friendly race people, and good food, this is a race that everyone who runs for the love of running and not for the acclaim or to boost their ego should run.
This course is hilly, so it probably helps to be trained for hills, although I was not and I still had a good time. The only really bad one came at about the halfway point, but at least it didn't come at the end!
The weather may also be a factor, since it does get hot and humid at this time of year in MO. This year, however, it was almost perfect! Temps in the 50's throughout most of the race were definitely welcomed, and if not for the slight headwinds, it would have been ideal.
All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this race for anyone who loves the friendly vibe and atmosphere of small races. I am also a 50 stater, and I am glad I choose this race for MO. It was really an excellent race in all ways.

It was so encouraging to have all the great volunteers cheering for us and giving us water. That's what I like so much about this race, and the great orange slices at the water station!!! Thanks to all the people who cheered us on. I love this marathon.

After picking up my packet the night before the race, I came across some information I would have preferred to know prior to committing to the race.....'no ipods allowed', 'run in single file....no shoulder on road at times.... traffic fast and furious'. Being the marathon wimp that I am, this made me nervous. I can not run 26 miles without music as a distraction, so I began the race with a little nervousness and resentment to be honest, feeling like an outlaw with my headphones on. And then this wonderful marathon setting melted my resentment away. It helped a lot that the weather was absolutely perfect-50's to 60's with a little wind, perfectly sunny day. The hills are significant, but actually not as bad as other marathons I have run, like Nike Women's in San Francisco. The course is idyllic for someone who would enjoy a tree-filled country setting. I loved it and neither me nor any other outlaws were splattered on the road. You do have to run in single file during much of the race, so it would be difficult to run in a group. This is a great race for the person who likes to run solo.