Montgomery County Marathon In The Parks - Race Reviews

This was my first marathon, and I thought I was prepared, but I didn't realize how severe the hills were. If I had known how hilly it was, I probably would have thrown more into my training. That said, I loved it, and would do it again. I was definitely back of the pack, but I didn't really mind - the support was fine. My favorite part was coming up a hill just before the run entered the rail trail around mile 23 - it felt great to gas up a steep hill and then coast to the finish. The shirt, by the way, is awesome - it is by far my favorite cold-weather running shirt.

Nice small race. The themed water stops helped keep your humor while pushing those hills. No spectators to speak of but really nice paved trail though the woods. The heated tent at the start was great and the traffic control well done. The pasta dinner was a waste of money. They ran out of food and it wasn't much to get excited about anyway: canned sauce, cookies from a box, lettuce salad; you get the picture. Save your money and find a good local Italian restaurant. Those cash awards can help with the travel expenses! Good food at the end.

I concur with the positive comments made in other posts. Having run several large marathons, I found the smallness of this one to be a refreshing change! Every aspect of the race is geared towards the runners - from the heated tent, the friendly volunteers, the themed water stops, and the sweets at mile 23 to the great food at the finish, the easy travel logistics, the fantastic shirt, and the placement of port-a-johns along the course. Although the hills were the most challenging I've had to face in a marathon, I would definitely do this race again... I'd just be a bit better prepared! The part of the course that runs in the park is beautiful! Thanks for such a professionally-run event!

I had a great time running this race. The organization was top-notch. There was a heated tent at the start which was a welcome sight given the brisk morning. The course was well marked as were the aid stations. Every aid station had Ultima and water in the same order with color-coded cups. It is not a huge marathon and much of it is run on a paved trail which limits the number of spectators, but those that were there were very enthusiastic. My family was able to see me at the start, 5 miles, halfway and finish, with some moderate walking. The finish-line amenities were more than enough. The course itself is an honest one. The profile provided does not adequately represent the severity of the hills from roughly 4.5-9 miles. From 9 to roughly 23.5 is relatively flat or downhill with the occasional incline until a decent hill at 24. The final 2 miles are at a very slight incline that is accentuated because of its location in the race. Overall I really enjoyed this race, got a BQ and would recommend it to anyone looking for a well organized, relatively small, moderately challenging marathon.

This was as challenging a course as I have run anywhere. The first 10 miles were rolling and next year when I do the event again I will take more time early and less on the flatter less rolling part of the course. The race staff and volunteers were absolutely excellent. The theme water/food stations were a hoot. I never really thought about crowd support as I focused more on the beauty of the parks we encountered. Great job!

If you read all the positive comments from other posts about this race I can attest that they are all true and then some. There is not a single detail about this race that clearly hasn't been thought through and made the best it can be. Expo, though small (it is a small race), had everything you could want. Pasta party had door prizes, there was a heated tent at start, Hendrix nat'l anthem, I could praise the organization, the water stops, the volunteers, the shirt, etc. for pages. However, the course - they say rolling hills but they left out the word 'constantly.' For maximum enjoyment - start out slower than natural through the early tough hills and pick up the pace in the park. It's a challenge.

This was my eighth marathon, and the first time I ran this race. Overall, my experience was marred by a pronation problem with my left foot, which slowed me down at least 20 minutes (but was not a fault of the race, per se). Also, one of the people I was running with had to drop out after mile 14 with knee pain. But she *probably* ran too soon after her last marathon. This race is very well organized, has great volunteers, a good pasta dinner, and good course support. Parks also always provides a nice windshirt in the goody bag. This year's edition was colored black. Perhaps that was appropriate, given the hill profile. None of the hills are that serious. But there are a lot of them. Half of the race is along a rolling bike trail beside Rock Creek. And the last three miles are uphill to Bethesda, mostly along a railroad grade. In my view, the hills in these last 16 miles were necessary and manageable. But the hills in miles 6-10 were, IMHO, gratuitous. They don't need to be there. The race is called 'Marathon in the Parks,' but it doesn't really hit the parks until mile 10. Miles 0-10 are really filler in between the start at the Shady Grove Metro station, and a long descent into the valley of Rock Creek. It would make an excellent half marathon course, but the extra 13.2 is neither the most scenic nor straightforward to run. Even the park section is not its best in November. Also, this really is not a race for any back-of-the-pack folks. Park really does have a firm 5 1/2 hour time limit. The water station folks were great, holding food and extra drinks on a table for back-of-the-packers, even after their formal closing time. And sidewalks and other routes were always available to anyone after roads reopened to traffic. But as a 12-13 minute miler, I got the distinct feeling that the course was closing down around me, every time I got to a road crossing or water station. There were several times that I worried if was still on the right course. I'm pretty self-sufficient on a race, and have mapped running routes before for my running club. But even so, feeling like the race is closing up around you can wear on you, psychologically. I'm glad I ran this race, but I can't recommend it to any of my pace group peers. It's a good race for someone who appreciates communing with nature, and solitude to think. But it definitely is geared toward faster runners.

The course is beautiful. At one point in the course there were deer watching runners go by just ten feet away from the trail. Unfortunately, it was 28F at the start and it's a very small marathon so spectators there were few. There were long stretches where there was not a single soul in sight. The volunteers were amazing as were the themed stations. One amazing guy had a table of chicken broth in the middle of nowhere around Mile 16. It was awesome. The pasta dinner left much to be desired, but overall the organization was OK, considering it was such a small marathon (just 740 people). It's a beautiful course, but it rolls like nothing else. This is not the marathon for beginners or for the recently injured. I was both, and by Mile 19 there were tears. I had to walk a lot of what was left, but I finished. I'd save this marathon for my second or third, not a good first one to run. NOT GOOD FOR FIRST-TIMERS! Overall, I had a great time! It was beautiful! Just painful.

This is a wonderfully beautiful course winding through suburban Maryland. It spends a lot of its time on trails and without significant crowd support. They don't mention much about the hills, but this is a rolling course, AND I MEAN ROLLING. Forget PR's and the clock, enjoy the trail running, the foliage and the crisp, comfortable marathon weather.

First off: I'm a member of the MCRRC, the sponsor of this race, and so knew what I was getting into. I was looking forward to running a small-field marathon in my backyard (almost literally). Training injuries kept me out of the 2002 race, but I was ready for the 4th running of Parks. Because I do a good deal of training on Rock Creek Trail, I knew [pretty much] what to expect. The marathon website is tremendously well-organized and provides runners and spectators with necessary details. The entry fee is reasonable, and the goodies--a nice windshirt and beautiful medal--are terrific. Because MCRRC is such a large club, there was plenty of course support, even for tail-end-of-the-pack folks like me. Several friends joined me at different points on the course. The special water stops were a riot--Funkytown and Mulletville are but two that come to mind. The expo is tiny, but one of my favorite expo vendors was there. The weather was perfect, the post-race food (chili!!!!) was delicious, and it was a tremendous experience!

The finish line crew did a job beyound words! The care, food, smooth flow of everything was tops in my book. Other cities should go and see how to put on a marathon like they do. My time may have not been what I wanted to do - but, it was nothing wrong with their part... just a tough course and very cold!

This was my first marathon and I plan to come back again. The organization was great. We were well taken care of (in spite of what Ms. Goff said). This was a nice-sized event - around 1,000 runners. The volunteers were great and so was the hot food at the end. Plenty of porta-potties and a heated tent at the start. The course was hilly the first 9 miles but that was well known ahead of time. It's a pretty course mainly through the woods. The weather was perfect, nice and cool. Fan support was a little sparse but those out there were great. Great medal and long-sleeve Coolmax type shirt with logo.

I had to respond to the poster who rated this marathon a 'one star' for organization. Her comments make no sense. First, although the course was supposed to be cut off at 5 1/2 hours, the results show finishers up to 6 1/2 hours. That's an hour more than what every entrant was promised when they registered. If a runner is so badly injured that they can't finish in an hour longer than expected, they are better off NOT finishing. In any case, I don't see how the race organizers can be faulted for her injury. Furthermore, her claim that the course was 'dismantled' after mile 25 makes no sense, because the course runs on a recreational rail/trail at that point. The trail does not 'close' at all, except for a tunnel at mile 25.9 that is closed at dark. The trail doesn't even cross any streets after mile 25. Like most rail/trails, it doesn't twist, bend, or fork, so I don't know how she managed to get lost. I will admit that I have reason to be prejudiced - I am an MCRRC club member. But from an organizational point of view, the race truly is a marathoner's dream. The things I appreciated most are that 1) the race staging area was well-organized. They had a warm tent and enough porta-potties. 2) the start of the race course was roomy: the first 10 miles are on roads so there's no need to 'bob & weave' to get into an appropriate pace 3) The very visible signs marking the miles, advising you that the water stops are coming, reminding you that its sports drink first, water second, etc. 4) the finish line food, bag pickup was great. The crowds, where they were, were very enthusiastic, although obviously you don't have cheering throngs the whole way like in Marine Corps, New York, or big races like that.

This is a great race, particularly if you don't like the mob scene at a large urban marathon. Spectators get a 5 for enthusiasm, a 3 for quantity. The course is quite pretty. The support from the race organization is flawless. The post-race scene is great -- no problem finding your fans. Contrary to other comments, I think it can be a PR race: the small size means you can get into your pace right away without weaving around anybody; the section from 9 to 23.5 is a slight downhill with a few little bumps. The early-morning November start has meant cool weather the last 3 years in a row. However, if you LIKE the camaraderie of a large pack or thousands of strangers screaming at you from the curbs, this isn't for you.

This was my 6th marathon & my favorite. I enjoyed every aspect of this race. Efficient baggage check, enthusiastic volunteers, excellent post-race food, clearly marked mile markers & aid station/porta-john signs. Lots of attention to detail by the race organizers. The scenery was great through the park. The twists, turns & rolling hills kept the race from becoming monotonous... miles seemed to roll by quickly in the park. Elevation profile was a bit deceiving - there were a few pretty good climbs thrown in especially in the first 10 miles (not terrible, just hilly enough to be challenging). A big thank you to the guy with warm chicken broth & oranges... & also the nice lady at about 23 miles with donut holes. You were life savers! I agree with some others about the 'Bonkville' aid station. The last thing I needed at mile 20 was to be reminded that I'm about ready to bonk :). I highly recommend this beautifully scenic & excellently organized race to everyone.

At least I think it was 25 miles, because even the mile markers were taken down. I understand that there was a 5 1/2 time limit, but I didn't get to finish after reaching 25 miles (started with injuries, ran with injuries, incurred more injuries), had my family and boyfriend at the finish line waiting for me, travel from Texas to Montgomery County to do the marathon, only to be cut off. Even had a policeman say to me: 'They just kind of leave you hanging out here, don't they?' Family and boyfriend at the finish line party told me that they announced last runner before the 5 1/2 time limit was up. Then apparently there was some confusion and someone told them that there were about 20 more runners out there. Just so happened that I was one of them. You have to understand the obstacles I had to overcome to make this race and actually reach 25 miles, and for what? So that I can't even finish. I put my name into the results and it doesn't even pull my name up. Why? Because I got caught in the confusion. From the time that I hit the 25 mile marker to the time that they figured out that there were still more runners out there, I had hit two dead ends and a closed gate that I now hear is where I should have gone. Disappointed? You can't imagine how little that word is now.

This was my second marathon, the first being RnR in San Diego this past June. I definitely liked the (much) smaller crowds at this race; they thinned out within the first half mile. The fans, when they were there, were enthusiastic despite the chilly morning. The finish was great -- a gauntlet of fans cheering for you (and, at most, only a few other folks since the field was so small). The food at the finish (pizza, chili, cookies, etc.) was fantastic and much appreciated. The only negative for me was that I was unaware how hilly the course would be -- particularly in the first 7-8 miles. The hills are rolling and, therefore, don't show up much on the elevation chart. But my legs certainly noticed them and I ended up running a very slow last few miles (which, by the way, also included a slight upgrade). Overall, though, I certainly recommend this race for someone who is looking for an intimate marathon on a pretty, albeit hilly, course.

Perfect weather, superb organization, splendid course --- a totally enjoyable experience, and extraordinarily cost-effective with low entry fees and great runner services. Highly recommended event.

Awesome run, with one exception... cold... lol... but it was a PR day. Florida boy here was in for a shock with 30 degrees Fahrenheit at the start (I was told it was much warmer just two days earlier); but it was a beautiful day and the race organizers and volunteers did a superb job!! There was plenty of parking and minimal traffic at the start (Rockville Metro station was right at the start line). The runners were divided in 4 corrals (providing a very nice/smooth start... even though I was in the back...lol) at the starting line (I am guessing based on estimated finish times as noted on race application). The aid stations were hilarious... they each had “themes”. I was going to blow through one without stopping (Mulletville - yep they all had mullet haircuts)... but all of the volunteers looked great and were having such a good time I had to stop and enjoy the effort. Note: I enjoyed all of the aid stations equally (I am just referencing Mulletville because I was planning on running through... as opposed to walking). Oranges were available late (somewhere around mile 22) in the course and the Clif Shot stations (approximately mile 14 and again at 20) were well stocked (with Clif Shots and volunteers). The finish line was awesome!! Three volunteers assisted me, one gave me my finisher’s medal, one handed me a bottle of water and one gave me the thermal foil blanket thing. The food was great, homemade chili (meat & vegetarian varieties available) the guys scooping out the chili very friendly and attentive (making sure everyone was served promptly), warm, crisp, cheese pizza and plenty of space. The course did have a gradual uphill for the 26th mile; but I was feeling good and running slightly uphill actually invigorated me (I am not a fast runner - 4:23). I sent a couple of emails to the race organizer and received prompt replies. The course winds through the Montgomery Park system and was very scenic. The race volunteers were awesome and were very enthusiastic!! This was a great weekend for me, visiting the National Mall in DC and finishing with a very well organized scenic marathon. This was my third marathon within the last seven weeks (North Country Trail Run, Manistee, MI and Lake Tahoe were the other two; I would recommend both of these as well).

My best friend and I ran the race together. Though it was a net downhill race, it was a pretty tough first half. After chatting with a local runner who had run the course before, we were told there was only one steep hill in the first half. I remember climbing quite a few STEEP hills. The volunteers and spectators were few but enthusiastic - words of encouragement were abundant. The trails were beautiful and provided a very relaxing long run. Too bad we didn't save enough energy to run the 2nd half as strong as the first. Chili and the DJ at the end were great. Though only 40 degrees and with aching legs, we danced in the streets of Bethesda and celebrated another memorable marathon!

I was impressed with the organization. In a pt-to-pt race, the bag transfer process was well done. The packet pickup the day before (not day of) was a hassle - live 24 miles away. The hills around Lake Needwood did not really come across in the elevation chart on the website. A surprise. Rest was fairly flat - some mud on the trails in spots but otherwise good conditions throughout. Spectators were great - but there were just very few of them. Down in the parks there was no easy access- they clustered where the course crossed roads. Two really cool things about the course. First the main part of the course winds by a narrow trail next to Rock Creek. Quiet stream - pretty forest. Then it is part of an old railway near the finish line - flat, straight, wooded. Few spectators. For runners who need to internalize to get through - it was great. Second - after the miles of nature running, you hit a tunnel around 26.0 m. At the end you burst out into a downtown milieu of cheering spectators, bands, color, noise. It is great. Hot chili for post-race food is wonderful. Support on the trail is tops. Good mileage markers - fun sponsored rest stops ('Mulletville' and 'Time Warp' were fun; 'Bonkville' I found negative and defeating - consider axing smug attitude at that one stop). Someone had warm chicken broth. I don't think anything could have tasted better. Weather this year was beautiful.

This is an extremely well run marathon over a beautiful, challenging course. I have run it 3 times and plan to do each year I can. The start is well organized, the water stops are well managed, and the finish is great. Good and plentiful food, good shirt, reasonable price, tasty pasta dinner, knowledgeable and not too many runners. Great volunteers.

This is one of the better organized small marathons you will find. It has the best signage ('port-a-john 100 ft') and quality control (Ultima always first in red cups, water always second in blue cups) you can imagine. A tent to keep us warm before the race - and it was COLD OUTSIDE. Baggage check. And chili and pizza after the race. Nice medal too. If you like scenic, natural settings and running on asphalt trails that twist and turn through parks and neighborhoods, you will love this race. However, if lots of twists and bends and rolling hills bug you, you'll get bugged by this race. Bugged a lot. It can be kinda claustrophobic in the trees, and the twists make it feel like it takes 'longer' to make progress (for some people like me). Also, pay attention to the comments from last year's race (2002) when the weather was bad. This year (2003), the sky was blue and aside from being cold, the weather was perfect. However, there were still a couple big puddles and muddy sections from a long-ago rain. I imagine that running this with real rain would be quite a feat. Finally, the hills were not nearly as bothersome to me as others make them out to be. there's only one gnarly one... it's early in the race, and not really THAT gnarly. I loved this race... I would run it every year if I lived closer.

This MitP was my first marathon in five years and it reminded me why I love running. After a five-mile road stretch to narrow the crowd, we took to the woods--paved paths through scenic parkland (check the name). Great, quiet scenery, volunteers popping up every now and then with water and Ultima and words of encouragement: it was like the perfect long run--on steroids. Volunteers everywhere, including the theme stations: Mullets, Funkytown and Hawaiian. The 'Bonktown' aid station at Mile 20 was neither fun nor diverting; instead, it reminded us that we were tired and hungry. No Champion Chips this year, but the race was very affordable, and we still got the trademark Coolmax marathon shirt. I hope more people run the MitP to experience this event and Montgomery County's parks. I'm already planning picnics after my training runs thru these parks next year. Joy to those who include hills in their training!

This was my 49th marathon in 43 states and DC. This race has a great reputation and deservedly so. The organizers were willing to work with me if I needed more than the 5 and a half hours the course is open. However, because the course is fast, I PRed with a time I didn't think I could do before. The volunteers were wonderful and had themed aid station almost every mile. The Montgomery County Road Runners have a winner of a marathon. Two thumbs way up on this one. Thank you again to your member who gave me a ride to my hotel after the race. If you are doing the 50 states and DC, then this is the one to do for Maryland.

Simply stated, this race was a blast! The course winds through an absolutely beautiful parks system and the change in elevation and terraine keeps it very interesting. The spectators, while there are few, are all very supportive and helpful. I am an experienced marathoner, and while my finish time was nothing to write home about, the experience more than made up for my performance. The only negative comment that I can make is that the marathon was advertised as being chip timed, and in reality it was gun timed. There was no reason, in my opinion, to misrepresent the timing system; it was a great race anyway. One more thing... the food at the finish line was amazing! Soup, pizza, fresh bread, fruits, bagels. Congratulations to the race directors and staff for a job well done!

True to their slogan, this race is put on by runners for runners. The organization was excellent - the course was clearly marked and well-staffed, the aid stations were abundant, well-marked and well-stocked, the post-race food was great (chili, bread, pizza, fruit, bagels), and all the many volunteers were very helpful and friendly. The weather was cold, especially for the 7:00 AM start, but it turned out to be a beautiful day. The course is net downhill, but there are plenty of hills for a good variation. About the last four miles are all uphill, which was pretty challenging. The first nine or so miles were on roads, then the rest is paved trails. There are some sharp turns on the trails, and there were about three spots where you were forced to choose between running through puddles or sloshing through the mud, but it wasn't that big of a deal. We were warned beforehand to watch out for some bad spots on the trail. My only complaint would be that there was a good deal of running on the right side of the road and several sections of the trail were sloped downward to the right. I found this to be uncomfortable, since I am used to running against traffic on the left side of the road, which is sloped the other way. The crowd support was surprisingly decent. Those who came out to watch were very enthusiastic and supportive - that goes for the volunteers too. Overall, it was a great experience.

I've had a week now to reminisce about my first marathon. And what a marathon it was. For the past year, I've read the comments from last year's runners and was very excited for this race. Race day did nothing to disappoint me! The hills that some people dreaded over, I didn't think were that bad at all. (After reading comments last year, I just used some hills in my training). The volunteers and specatators were phenomenal - especially so, given the weather. I do however wish there were more in the 15 -20 mile section when I needed it most - but given the weather I perfectly understand. The course was beautiful, I loved running along the stream in the park - should be better next year when earlier there may be some more leaves still on the course. Being my first marathon, I didn't know what to expect, but the organization was perfect and led to a very smooth race and finish. Aid stations were superb. Each person there made them that much better.(Special thanks to the MULLETS - a great station) The finish line was loads of fun with some great food (The chili was superb!). It took me two days to be able to walk normal again, but it was definitely worth it. I highly recommend this marathon to all. Thanks for making such a superb race. I don't know if I am going to continue running marathons - but if I do, I will definitely be back.

We just didn't have luck with the weather this year. Lots of mud and puddles that could not be avoided. My feet were soaked during the last half of the race. The race was well organized, the fans that we did see were great (though it's not easy for fans to access the course at most points), and the food at the finish line was fantastic (right in the heart of Bethesda). If the weather had been nice, it would have been a lot more fun, and I think that I would have enjoyed it. This time, it seemed more like a chore that I was determined to finish. I don't plan to run it again, but for someone looking for a starter marathon, it is probably a good choice; you just take your chances with the weather.

This was the third year that we ran this marathon and it was another awesome race and experience. I didn't think it could get any better, but it was more spectacular than the first and second times! It is a marathon for runners, by runners. The course was excellent, the EXPO was excellent, the organization and administration were excellent, the sponsors were excellent, excellent food, excellent medal and high quality wind-shirt, excellent price, excellent volunteers, etc.! The race director is a genius and he is dedicated to the sport of running and runners. I felt honored that the ratio of volunteers to runners was more than 1 to 1. It was a priviledge to have that much support!

Organization was top-notch, seamless and friendly. Volunteers knew what they were doing and supportive. Spectators were sparse but effective and fun (can't blame anyone for not coming out on such a dreary day). The course on most days would be wonderful, but the steady rain the day prior washed out numerous spots on the trails. To avoid ankle-deep puddles one would have to side-step parts of the trail and slosh through mud! Other puddles were unavoidable. I had a hard time running as my shoes and socks were waterlogged for the second half of the race. I would love to run again under better conditions. But everything about the race that could be controlled was exceptional. I would recommend MitP to anyone- especially if you try a course that is completely different than huge city maraton. I'm still sore and memories still a bit fuzzy, but was there a Mullet-themed aid station in the first half of the race? Classic.

The course elevation profile didn't reflect the steepness of the hills. I have run Boston, Quebec City, and San Francisco and Montgomery County had hills steeper then all of them. Thankfully they were all shorter. It was tough to stay motivated in the rain, damp, cold, muddy, and often washed over trail. The crowds who were there were crazier then the marathoners. A Big Thanks to all the volunteers who were there to help. Finsher's medal was nice, and the shirt was the BEST I have ever gotten. The finish area had wonderful warm soup, pizza, etc too bad I was too cold to stay around and enjoy it. Would think twice about running this one again, but would not tell anyone not to run it - just be ready for what the course, and Mother Nature, demands!

The MitP is a wonderful race. All the volunteers did a splendid job, as a friend of mine commented that out of the marathons he has experienced this one was notably the best organized. Race packet pickup was managed efficiently, and the low entry fee included a high-quality, cold-weather running shirt. Event day featured a comfy-warm tent before the start, a well-marked route, accurate mileposts, precise timing technology, and bountiful food and drink, both along the way and at the finish. Spectators were not numerous, but the ones who ventured out were enthusiastic. First aid stations were frequent and professionally run. Police protection was meticulous at major road crossings. The MitP course itself is beautiful. It starts on wide city streets, branches onto residential lanes, and then curves past Lake Needwood. At the 10 mile mark it turns to follow Rock Creek through forested parklands, leaving the water at intervals to venture over small hills, across meadows, and past fractured gray rock outcroppings. (I've often trained along these trails during the past year and have been pleasantly startled by deer, rabbits, and countless squirrels and birds.) Neat paths, in short, delightful to experience. I had a tough time in the 2002 MitP, but not because of any external factors. Mmainly, I set off too fast and hit The Wall too soon. See http://zhurnal.net/RockyRun for my mini-report. Overall, in spite of my personal struggles, the MitP was an overwhelmingly positive experience. I hope to run it many times again in years to come! - <b><i>^z</i></b> = Mark Zimmermann -

The organization did an excellent job putting on the marathon. This is about the only good thing I can say about the race. The majority of the course is in the woods on bike paths - you seen one tree you seen them all. There really isn't a whole lot to look at. It is also hard for spectators to view the race so most of the time it's just you and a few other runners.

The 2001 Marathon in the Parks was a marvelous experience! For just a small local race it surpassed many much larger events I have experienced (and some of those with hired staff!) with respect to race organization, race day conduct and finish-line management. This is a VERY, VERY runner friendly race. Each and EVERY runner is pampered with support and attention from start to finish. The chili and fresh baked (warm) bread at the finish was also a plus! This was my first marathon and EVERYTHING was just perfect. The weather couldn't have been better. The course was beautiful and the aid station support volunteers were very friendly. Superb event, I will definitely return.

I ran the second annual Marathon in the Parks in 2001 and would highly suggest the run for anyone looking for a small, well managed race over a very scenic course. The majority of the course is run through a large tract of woodsy park land. The gentle hills here are challenging, without being daunting; the crowd support is vocal and welcomed, if not overwhelmingly large; and the race organization is great and paid attention to detail. Water stations were well maned and offered water and sport drink, always in the same order. Additionally, Gel was given out at two spots, bagels at a third, and port-o-johns where frequent. Lastly, even though it is something of a club race, I, as an outsider, felt completely comfortable.

This was my second marathon and I really enjoyed myself-- took 21minutes off my time. The hills in the first half were not suprising, as I live in the area. Although there was a lack of spectators, the changing leaves and the squirrels made up for it. I loved the finish, emerging out of the tunnel under Wis. Ave, but I felt every single one of those rocks on the trail the last 2miles. I think the race logistics were well planned, and the metro start/finish was very convenient. I highly recommend this marathon to anyone who doesn't need constant crowd support and everyone who is tired of running on smoggy roads.