This was my second marathon and a very different experience from my first. I ran KC in 2008, and the crowd was only about 8,000 (2,000 marathoners) compared to 35,000 in Chicago. The spectators were unlike anything I have ever seen. If I could have them in every city, I would be thrilled. The compromise there is that it was very difficult to find my friends and family. They had to work hard to get to the front to see me. My biggest frustration was at the start. Because of the crowd on Columbus, I could not get to my pace group to start the race, and therefore I had to spend the entire 26.2 miles running around people who were slower than me. I was trying to finish under 4 hours and finished at 4:05:01. That was frustrating, as I believe dodging all the people (and getting knocked over at mile three in the crowd) contributed to that. If I do it again, I will either run a half or a full under 4 hours to get into a start corral. Otherwise, for the organization, the course and the great Chicagoans who cheered... I give it an A+.

It was an unusual year. Hot as hell. The organization was in full panic mode. The course is too flat for my taste, but Chicago is a wonderful city. This is the prototypical, big, urban marathon.

I waited more than four years trying to train and to do my first 26.2 marathon and finally I decided to run Chicago. I made the perfect choice because of the great city, the constantly cheering fans, the organization , and because of the other runners (I was never running alone). Just two things were difficult: First, it was too cold for me, starting in the 30's. (In Puerto Rico, I was training in the 80's.) I never got warm... but I ran a great time, and I found everything that I needed at the expo. Second, you need to have an strategic plan for your family and friends, so they can see you during the race, because there are so many, many people, that it can be difficult. My family never got to see me.

My goal was to finish in four hours, and I did it in 3:42. This was the best gift for my first marathon!!! Great race!!

The start was too crowded, but once you got into the early miles, it opened up. Fast course. Only downside was after the finish: the crowds would not let runners back to the hotels. There needs to be an exit for the runners to recover with safe access back to the hotels.

Really a great race with awesome organization. The day was very cold but I can only say thanks for the wonderful course (extremely flat). Chicago is a great city, elegant, European-tyle. I enjoyed seeing the list of all the runners in Niketown. Well done, Chicago. And thanks for my PR. (4:03.21) A must-do course....

I am from Boston and I've run the Boston Marathon twice. Boston is known as "the" marathon. I will refrain from ever saying this out loud with my Boston running buddies, but Chicago takes the cake, in comparison to Boston! Despite the very chilly start that I wasn't prepared for (this, of course, was just pure bad luck!), I loved everything about the race from the expo to the organization race morning and post-race. Excellent job, Chicago!

This was my most enjoyable of five marathons. What a great event! This race showcases the neighborhoods of Chicago - north, west and south. If you aren't from Chicago, you will feel like you are when you cross the finish line.

First let me commend and congratulate Chicago on an amazing and successful race. I can only imagine the logistical nightmares they have. Having run 15 other marathons, including Boston, the course is truly one of my favorites (sorry, there is something just amazing about Pike's Peak!) and is definitely one of the best run. Unlike Boston, which a lot of people compare it to, you have the start and finish close together so we get that welcome extra hour or so in bed! Also, I think they really showed off the city well, and the spectators were AMAZING and were the loudest I have EVER experienced.

Saying all of that, the pacers were terrible, which is a shame if you were trying to qualify. I heard from SEVERAL friends and family and other runners the same complaint. They were CONSTANTLY off and inconsistent. Let me state that personally I didn't really care what my time was, as I had just come off Pike's Peak Marathon and had run very little if any in preparation for Chicago. I just used them as a guide (3:10 group) and noticed early on that they were all over the place (7:23, 7:02, 7:04 7:20+). I am a veteran runner, and I understand that early on it's tough to get into a rhythm, especially with the crowds, but this CONTINUED throughout the race. In fact, I ran 3:08-something and I was PASSED with about a mile and a half to two miles to go!! They have one of the flattest courses, and after awhile these guys should be able to figure out the pace if that is what they signed up for. How they can be so inconsistent blew my mind, and several others who I talked to on the route - ESPECIALLY as there were FOUR of them per pace group!!! I talked to several of my friends who were trying to hit their various goals (3:45, 4 hours, etc.), and they had the same problems!

Last year I was at the Clif Bar Pace team booth at St. George's Marathon when I overheard these two women asking if the pacers were going to hit the times. And they asked some other questions in a rude manner. I walked away thinking how rude those women were, especially since I later found out that the pacers on that team only get flight, some equipment and NO PAY. They are also held to a standard that they have to be within a minute either way at the half way point and some other checkpoints; otherwise they lose they spot on the team! I now see what those two women were complaining about. Some people rely on pacers (right or wrong) to get them their times (especially Boston). I'm not sure what the qualifications are for "hiring" the pace team, but they may want to pay some attention to who you are hiring, or maybe even take a look at a different team (e.g., Clif Bar Team) as people hitting their goals is a BIG thing.

Overall, though, a MUST race to do!

This was my marathon comeback, my first full 26.2-miler after dropping out of NYC Marathon in 2007. I had run Chicago twice before. I could not have picked a better race. The organization was excellent. My only gripe is that the expo is a bit far from public transport. You can take a bus, but there is a long line for it. Still that was a minor complaint.

The whole city turns out in force for this race. Local media coverage is extensive. You really feel like all of Chicago is on your side. I am a slower marathoner, and the crowds were still crazy when I got there after five hours. There is plenty of water and Gatorade along the course too.

The only thing is that it's a huge race, so you will be in an enormous crowd. Also a lot of first-timers run this race, so if you are fast, you will spend some time weaving through the crowd. This year was a bit chilly at the start too.

All in all, this is the US marathon you need to run. Lace up and do it! You won't regret it.

This was my seventh, and first time running Chicago. It was truly an amazing event that I wish I had run earlier!

I have run other big cities - NYC, Marine Corps, Disney - and Chicago's organization is in a league of its own. They are the ones that everyone else should follow when it comes to putting together a successful marathon for 35,000+ runners.

PROS: Organization!!! Everything was perfect! The expo shuttle service was great; there was a girl with a sign at our hotel directing us to the bus; the gear check and retrieval of my bag after the race was excellent... the start corrals (we were in the open corral), the water stations (they were huge, went on forever!!!), the porta-potties (most I have ever seen at any run - they were everywhere!), the encouraging volunteers, the loud, friendly fans, fast, flat course, the medal, the tech t-shirt, the post-party, and the free massage - all excellent. Everything was so well organized and efficient considering you have all of the runners and their families gathered in one area!!

CONS: The only negative thing I can say is the start was a bit dull. No fireworks, and no DJ/music getting you ready. It was very relaxed, and quiet, which is not a bad thing. There really wasn't anything negative to say about this run.

Overall, this was one of my favorites; the ease of walking to the start and walking back to my hotel was so enjoyable. Thank you to all who put in the months/years of planning and organizing. Keep up the great work - it really paid off!!!!