Marshall University Marathon - Race Reviews

I ran this marathon a couple of weeks ago (11/5/23) and really enjoyed it! I thought the people in the town were super friendly and supportive of the runners! It was a fun race and such a Great medal!!

I was excited to run this after viewing the movie We Are Marshall. I flew into a little airport, rented a car, attended the small expo and made my way to the hotel. There was no bag drop but I parked right at the stadium and kept my items in the car. The first loop was with the half marathoners and was awesome. We ran to a park, onto limestone, into Marshall University. The second loop was more sparsely populated with not many spectators. I couldn't wait to get my rose to place at the fountain. We were handed footballs to run with once we arrived at the stadium. The medal was a nice size and beautiful. It was a fun and very moving experience!

This was my 18th full marathon and 17th state completed. With that said, this event is near the best of the runs I've ever completed. I drove from Milwaukee and easily found the packet pickup on Saturday. Very small expo but pretty cool swag. I received a puffy/winter like jacket. I did not realize until I got back to the hotel that we were given a winter hat as well. Race morning was a breeze. Plenty of parking at the football stadium. Plenty of porto-potties as well. No gear checks and no corrals and that was fine with me. The race itself had only 183 full marathon runners and was mostly filled with half marathoners. While we all ran together until the mile 12 split, it never felt crowded. The course was AMAZING! Views running near the Ohio River, running on crushed gravel in beautiful Ritter Park, running through Marshall University, and the finish was on the football field while carrying a football the last .2 of a mile. The course was very well marked and there were plenty of volunteers to direct traffic. There were not many spectators, but I could care less about that. Please note there is NO Gu or food on the course. Carry your own like I always do. After finishing the event, I had my free beers while sitting in the football stadium watching all the other runners come in. It was 74 degrees, sunny, and a perfect postrace venue. If you are a 50 stater - DO THIS EVENT!!!!!

Very nice marathon in Huntington West Virginia. The course is two loops that takes you through Marshall University and parts of Huntington West Virginia including a beautiful park. The organization was good and the course was well marked. The expo was small, but easy to pick up your bib. The t-shirt was cotton and nice. The start/finish area had plenty of free parking within walking distance. As the weather was cold, it was nice to be able to sit in your car until almost gun time. There were plenty of water stops and port-a-pots. It should be noted there was no food/Gu shots on the course. Although this was announced, it was disappointing not to include food on the route. You finish in the Marshall University football stadium and they hand you a football that you can spike at the finish line. They also hand you a carnation on the marathon course that you can place at the memorial for the students/staff that died in a plane crash from the 1970's. The food at the finish included hamburgers and hot dogs, no vegetarian options. Awards were very nice, handmade glass vases that you got to pick from, although nothing about the race was on the glass. One downside was the published finish times were based on gun time, not chip. Chip times were on another site. There was a photographer at the finish line and the pictures were free. I enjoyed this race very much and would recommend it!

I loved this race! I picked it as my West Virginia race and am glad I did. The swag was awesome! We got a nice gender specific jacket, stocking cap and duffel bag. The medal is great too- with the Marshall University logo and stadium on it. The course is 2 loops that goes through Harris Riverfront Park, through Huntington, on the John Ritter Trail and through John Ritter Park, through campus and finishes on the football field in the Marshall University stadium. On your last loop through campus at the end you were given a flower to put on the Memorial Fountain in memory of the victims of the 1970 plane crash which was touching. Then when you finished you could carry a football across the finish line which I thought was unique and cool! The race was organized very well! Great volunteers, plenty of aid stations, good post race food and free beer at the finish. The one thing that could be improved was to put the miles on the course map. The stadium was open before the start so you could use the bathrooms in it. And you could park for free at the stadium and have your car very close to the start and finish. I highly recommend this race!

I drove to this race from the DC area, so I had the opportunity to see West Virginia in its late fall glory. I also saw many mountains and hills, so the relative flat course was a relief. This is double loop course for marathoners, but it is a really lovely run through a nice college town. The wonderful finish in the football stadium was a surprising treat, especially if you are a college football fan familiar with this school's program and history. Well organized, great volunteers, and spirited football / race fans cheering along the way ... all for a very reasonable price. I could not have been more pleased with this race. If you miss the pasta dinner, Fratelli's Italian restaurant was stupendous.

Very nice little race. Considering the terrain in the area, the RD managed to get a very flat (and fast) course. There were only a couple of 'hills' of note, and they were so short that it's hardly worth mentioning. I liked the double-loop course. In the late stages of a race when you're starting to tire it helps having knowledge of where you're going next. I enjoyed the few miles of crushed gravel trail...definitely breaks up the pounding on pavement a little. We were blessed with great running weather this year. The jacket and bag were very nice perks usually reserved for much bigger races. The start/finish at the Marshall University stadium meant plenty of parking for participants and spectators. I was able to park less than 100 yards from the start line, and after the race just had to walk out of the stadium to get to my car. I loved that the AG awards were handed out on the spot rather than needing to hang around for hours for an awards ceremony. Post race food seemed hard to come by for the marathoners anyway. I typically don't get anything at most races so it wasn't a huge deal to me. Huntington put on a great race - would highly recommend for those who are drawn to smaller races.

I loved the race route and the beauty of WV. The volunteers along the route were excellent. However I will probably not run the race again. It was a hassle for packet pick up I paid extra for this, I was treated poorly by the volunteer at the packet pick up table the day of the race. Also I was disappointed in the after race events. No direction, just crossed the finish line, then was confused of where to go and what to do. I was very disappointed in the recovery food. I would spend less on jackets and bags and more on food.

This is a great marathon on various levels. I signed up early and I got a running jacket, free pasta dinner, a Marshall University gym bag and free hot dog upon finishing the course! The double loop marathon had more than enough water stations and great volunteers. I drove in 13 hours from Ottawa and it was worth every second! I highly recommend this race. The host hotel also offered late check out (2 pm). The sites were great and I will do this again in the future. Good job to everyone! Free parking at start, easy packet pick up. West Huntington has a free car museum I recommend and it is close to Point Pleasant which was celebrating 50 years of Moth man. The museum is cheap ($3) and the staff are friendly. Watch the movie We are Marshall and Moth man chronicles as well. I forgot to mention - you get to cross the finish line with a football they give you 100 years prior to finish in their football field. How cool is that!!!!!

This race beat my expectations by far. The course is flat and fast. The double loop was easy to navigate. Very scenic. Ending on the football field was awesome. A very nice touch! I would recommend to anyone looking to knock WV off of the list for their quest of 50!

I picked this race because I needed to get WV off my list. A lot to say, might as well do it in a pro/con format. PROS 1. The course is pretty flat. Which is kind of remarkable when you consider what the elevation is in the area. 2. The course is essentially two 13-miles loops. At first I thought I would hate it, but I ended up loving it. It was nice to know exactly where I had to run during the second loop. it made the last 10 miles go by smoother. 3. Good amount of water/Gatorade stations. 4. Finish in the stadium was cool. CONS 1. There was no gear check. I traveled alone, which meant I had to run with my car keys. It was a pain in the butt, until my knee started hurting, and I was able to stop at my car at mile 14 to get a knee brace. I was suddenly thrilled that I was running with keys. 2. As is often the case in races this size, the half marathoners took all the goodies at the finish line. Maybe I didn't look hard enough, but by the time I finished there didn't seem to be anything to eat or drink besides water. So I just jogged to the car and left. 3. This could be a pro or con, depending on your preference: It was pretty quiet out there. Very little spectators on the course. I don't mind it, but some people like spectators. So overall... Go for it. If you're looking to run a West Virginia marathon, this is a great choice. The course is made for a PR.

Overall generally pleased with the event and will continue to participate. My only complaint is that due to work schedule and live 2 hours from event I was unable to pick up my packet early, only able to pick up bib morning of the race. After completing the race I asked if I could get my T shirt. I was told 'Yes for another $20.00' Felt this was petty, I had already paid for it once and they had stacks of them.

I ran this marathon on my quest to do all 50 states. The organization of this race and the swag were excellent. The course and the spectator support were OK. Pros: 1. Race director kept runners updated. Took me a bit to realize updates were via Facebook and not on web site or via email. 2. Course was relatively.flat with a nice finish in football stadium. 3. Swag included jacket, tech shirt, medal, wood carving, and hat. Some items required you to register early. 4. Excellent traffic control on a partially open course 5. Large number of volunteers 6. Frequent water stops (every 1 1/2 miles) Cons: 1. Double loop course for marathon. Only few hundred yards along Ohio River. Some long industrial stretches. 2. Many more half marathoners than marathoners. Second loop was lonely. 3. No expo. 4. Free spaghetti dinner included, but only offered from 2 to 5. Limited other options for food. 5. Post race food was more suited for picnics than for runners recovery Marathon began at 7 with temperature at 27 and stiff breeze. Cannot fault race for weather conditions. Suggest that a later start might bring Warner conditions. NYC was same day and started at 10. Overall a good race to do once. Even though it was well organized, I would need more to do in area to come back.

First time I ran this race and was looking forward to it after reading reviews here. Was not disappointed. Great course to run a PR or BQ. Flat and fast and an awesome finish in the stadium. People were very helpful and kind. Small field which is a nice change of pace. Water tables can get crowded, but the volunteers were awesome. Good food afterwards, especially the chocolate milk! Nice touch there! Not much for crowd support, but the people that were out there were super. All in all just a great marathon to run if you want a fast time and nice people. Would highly recommend it. Will probably keep getting better. Kudos to all the volunteers!!

Things I liked about this race: Lots of information shared leading up to the race and all runner input taken into consideration to help make improvements to the race, so very good organizers, very spectator-friendly, plenty of volunteers lining the course, overall pretty flat course with the exception of 2 or 3 hills that only lasted about 50-100 yards each. Great finish on the football field and great swag. Things I didn't like so much: Hardly any spectators out. No place to shower afterwards, but I wouldn't have this complaint if my motel would allow late check-outs...Do not stay at the Ramada Limited! Awful customer service!!!

I really enjoyed this marathon. I wasn't so sure about the 2 loops before the race, but I really liked knowing how far I had left. I loved the trail through the park. Very nice scenery and was very easy to run on (smooth, flat). There is not much in the way of crowd support, but water stations and volunteers were great. Loved the jacket. I would suggest mile markers on the spectator map so that trackers can find your more easily. My husband has been to many marathons and tries to see me at several places throughout the course and he said this was the toughest one to find me. This should be a very easy fix for next year. Great marathon. I would definitely recommend it.

This is a great little race that is organized, runs through scenic areas and offers top notch swag. I have run in the big production marathons where the crowd of runners prohibits passing for the first few miles. Not so with the Marshall race. There were enough participants so that I never ran alone but the lack of a packed field allowed me to concentrate on my time. And yes the course is pancake flat!

I found this event rather blah. I really expected more people and enthusiasm along the course. Maybe the home football game the day before had everyone worn out. I just didn't feel much energy from the town of Huntington like I've felt at other small marathons. The biggest downside for me, though, was the boring course. I would have preferred a single loop that showed off more of the residential areas of Huntington. The course is more like an out and back with a big loop at each end. That means as you cover the course twice you actually cover a good distance between the loops FOUR times. That wouldn't be so bad if only there was some interesting scenery. Some people seem to love the section of the course that went along a dirt path through the park. It really wasn't anything special, unless you enjoy running along a dried up creek bed. Fan support was minimal and mostly just near the start/finish area. I was especially surprised to see very few if any students along the course where it runs through the middle of the Marshal campus, not even for the second loop later in the morning. Where's the Marshall pride!? The water station volunteers were great. There was always someone ready to hand me water or Gatorade. I was impressed with how many of them actually knew how to hand off drinks on the run so it didn't spill all over. St. Mary's was supposed to be the main sponsor, but the only place I felt their presence was their name in large print on the race medal ribbon. I think they really missed a great opportunity to offer something like a health fair. The best part of this event was the finish. I liked being able to take and drop a flower at the memorial fountain in memory of the plane crash victims. The finish in the end zone of the football stadium, with football in hand, was very unique and fun. The hamburgers, hotdogs, and chocolate milk after the race was fantastic. Another plus about this event is the easy and close parking. In fact, if you wanted, you could strategically park your car at the edge of the parking lot along the course and have easy access to drop off or grab gear as you complete the first loop. If only the course were more interesting and there were more spectators along more of the course I'd rate this event much higher. Tip: Try to avoid staying at the Holiday Inn. Parking was a pain and the room I had was filthy.

This used to be an extremely well run small regional event. They did such a good job that it has grown and now the race administrators need to change to keep up with the number of participants. I am confident they will do so. 2 loop course is nice and flat. Getting off the pavement and hitting the packed trail in Ritter Park for a couple of miles each lap felt awesome on my feet. The stadium finish is well done and they try to call out names as you enter the field. Fans were minimal. Post race there was plenty of drink, although food was a little scarce unless you can fire down a burger or hot dog after running. It would be a huge improvement if they could keep the spectators away from the food area. A lot of the food was being taken by people other than runners.

I have run more than a few races advertised as 'flat and fast' that had significant elevation changes. This one delivers. It's a double loop and I doubt there is more than 50 feet of elevation change on each loop. Plus, the race is held the first or second weekend in November so temperatures are typically ideal. (There was a tough wind this year but that's very unusual for this area). You can essentially clip off mile after mile of dead even splits. Aid stations are there about every two miles so you don't need to carry anything if you don't want. I didn't. The course is marked very well and volunteers understand that you have to yell at a fatigued runner at Mile 24 to have something sink into his/her addled brain. Hamburgers and hotdogs grilled after the race are awesome. My only critique is the lack of a starting mat. If you are concerned about seconds, line up at the front. If not, line up anywhere as even those lining up in the very back should be across the start within 30 seconds after the gun.

I've run 45 marathons and I thought this was good to excellent, maybe an 8.0. This was my 42nd state. Good weather (if windy), easy to sign up and register -it only took me about 15 seconds to pick my bib from a very nice young woman. Pacers at the 'expo' were super friendly and answered my course questions and allowed me to store my backpack on the field at their booth - thanks guys. Nice map giveaways so you knew where you'd be running. There was a free pasta dinner that I never see with a good speaker (wish I had been there earlier to see Bart Yasso). Nice dry fit shirt and no flyers/garbage in our bag. The host hotel (Holiday Inn) was fine. Waiting in the stadium/ample bathrooms before the race was a nice touch/plenty of room at the start.I knew there was no starting mat from past reviews here so I moved up, and was running quickly from the start, with a long straight a way to sort out traffic. The course was good - loved running on that excellent DIRT path around the pretty park, you never get that, and no, there are no rocks that get into your shoes as I read here in the past - and the course is super flat with one or two minor hills. The volunteers and aid stations were all fine. The finish was the most unique one ever - I loved catching the football and 'sprinting' in and of course the memorial to the victims, very classy. The post-race celebration, including free massages, good food, instant timing results, parking out of the door, late checkout until 1:00 p.m., ease of getting back to the airport in Charleston. All in all, a wonderful experience that I'd recommend highly. I'd give the course another star but unfortunately about half is the typical industrial side of a city and I'd give the organization five stars except for a few minor snafus that the RD has already promised to fix for next year.

The packet pick up did not end up taking as long as it could have, but was extremely unorganized. After that, we did not feel the pasta dinner was a great idea so we looked for other options. There is not much in the area, especially on a game day. The race went on GUN TIME! I have not seen something like this outside of a backyard 5k in years. The director stated that he did not want to hold the race up 4 minutes in order to install the mat! This is unreal and caused many people a lot of heartache. The course is two loops which wasn't as bad as I expected, but you had to run back past the half marathoners as they were nearing the finish which was demoralizing enough in itself. To add to that miles 14-18 were up hill with a heavy wind in our faces. The mile markers were also not clearly marked in this area. The post race did have hot dogs, hamburgers, and chocolate milk. The post race did NOT have beer, which put a damper on my day. Finishing in the stadium was cool being an ex football player.

This was state #31 and it did not disappoint! If you are a 50-stater, sign up for this race for West Virginia. No hesitation, just sign up. I will go through the Pro's and then a very little Con. Pros: -We Are Marshall. You must watch the movie and research the history behind the football team. It will impact your trip to Huntington. Visit the sites, memorials, etc. -The course. Even though it was a 2 loop course, it's flat and fast. We had perfect temperatures but the wind picked up the 2nd half and there were some stretches that were difficult because of the wind, but other than that, the course is great. Especially for my wife who saw me at 5 different places throughout the race. -The finish! Where else can you catch a football, run 100 yards, score a touchdown at the finish, and then spike the football? Then you can stretch out on the turf, rehydrate, and soak in the other finishers. -The bonus Asics jacket. Extra swag is always a positive. -2 high-fives from Bart Yasso and I shook his hand before crossing the finish line. Cons: -Why is the medal ribbon blue? I know the answer is because St. Mary's is a sponsor and their colors are blue but come on, put their logo on there but have the ribbon Marshall Green! I know it is a small 'con' but I a medal snob and this one could be so much better with a better ribbon. The medal is great but have a green ribbon that says, 'We Are Marshall' and this race would score a 10.

Cons: -Disorganized packet pick-up -Not many spectators/no bands -5K starting the same time has half/full was annoying, kids were everywhere! -The two loops for the marathoners created problems -Not completely closed course - cars!! -Confused at where the race actually began, it was a good .2 miles off from when I started my counter Pros: -Flat course, fast course -Love Huntington, as a MU alum -The Medals were awesome -Chocolate milk post-race was a plus -The excitement of everyone there

Disappointing issues with organization (no starting mat, disorganized packet pick-up, chaos on the course splitting race distances, no post-race results). Course is adequate, though is a 2 loop race for marathoners-some nice areas with most of the route on the streets of the community. Few spectators. Adequate post-race food in the stadium which was fun. Nice Asics jacket for marathon runners but would like male/female sizing. Loved our time in West Virginia despite the imperfect race experience.

This race is by far top notch. The course was well marked, the volunteers were some of the friendliest that you will ever meet, and the organization of pre/post race was indescribable. The course took you through the great city of huntington, two amazing parks, and the Marshall University Campus. The best thing about this course is that it is all flat, you literally fly. This race is one of the best that I have ran and I hope to run it in the future. I highly recommend this race for anyone who wants to run their first marathon or for someone who has ran marathons in the past. This marathon is clearly a cut above and it won't disappoint.

All in all this was a great race. Two negatives for me. I registered very early and requested a small shirt. At pick up on Saturday they were out of smalls and they gave me a medium. I help organize a marathon every year and this should never happen. My shirt is WAY too big to wear and its a shame because it is very cute. Second, I could not find the food at the finish and two people I asked could not tell me where it was. No biggie, I got a pizza on the way back to the hotel. The positives are many! The volunteers were fabulous, water was plentiful, and the military and police traffic control was superb. I parked 50 yards from the start less than 30 minutes before the start. The lack of starting mat didn't bother me, I just got toward the front and only lost 5 seconds. I loved running under the gigantic American flag, nice touch!! The course and roads were well maintained and the area along the water was very pretty. It's a fast mostly flat course, in fact it was my second fastest time ever.In my opinion, gels are the runner's responsibility so I didn't notice a lack of them. The football finish was the best part and super fun! Watching 'We Are Marshall' before the race is a must. It makes the experience so much better. The medal and the jacket were both really nice and a big bang for the buck. If my shirt had been a small I would have rated this 5 stars. Really bummed about the shirt. I do think I was one of the few that stuck around Sunday night, I like to celebrate a great run. This town pretty much shuts down on Sundays, it was a bummer not to be able to find anything open that had a good steak and martini. I would definately recommend this race to 50 state members for West Virginia. It really was a great little race with great people!

Kudos to the people of Huntington WV and the Marshall University Marathon team. You've got a hidden gem here that will continue to grow as people catch on to the secret. The good: Amazing swag. Early entry netted a real nice Brooks jacket, a race shirt, and a finisher medal when you're done. The expo was miniscule but packet pickup was easy (race day pickup available too). The pasta dinner was included in entry and the lines were nonexistent. Multiple restroom options pre-race (athletic center, porta-johns, stadium bathrooms) and the ability to warm up inside the athletic center made for a comfortable pre-race experience. The support from the police, the US Army and the other course marshals was first rate. Finishing on the football field and carrying a football across the goal line was a highlight. My best finisher photo to date in any race...spiking a football! You made this Veteran's Day extra special for this veteran who dedicated each mile to a fellow warrior. The bad: The course wasn't exciting although the double loop was nice as you knew what you were getting into for the second half of the race. Crowd support could have been better on a gorgeous day. Really minor issues when it comes down to it. The ugly: No timing mat at the start and no organization. I don't mind gun time if I know it's going to be gun time but why have timing bibs and mats on the course? I was catching up with some friends at back of the start area when all of a sudden the race took off...I never heard a starter. Likely 2 minutes added to my time according to my Garmin. Put a timing mat at the start line, please! This race is a treasure and has the potential to be even better! I highly recommend it to anyone who needs to knock WV off their 50-states list or just wants to do a marathon.

I've run three of these marathons and have enjoyed each one, especially this year's as I ran with Mike Fremont, the 90-year-old, as he set a new American age record for the marathon. Fans and fellow runners showed respect for him and cheered him on from the chilly start to the warm finish at half past one. Kudos to the race directors for keeping police on the streets all that time to protect us. Very kind. You don't see a marathon record being set very often. Especially by a 90-year-old. In my 50+ marathons, I would rank the swag here in the top five: beautiful Brooks running jacket, green short-sleeved Brooks shirt with appealing design, and a first class medal. For the early registration fee of $55, this was the marathon bargain of the year! Oh, and don't forget the included pasta dinner with only a small charge for non-runners. The hills, if there are any, are imperceptible. It is the flattest marathon course Ive run and the double loop is great since you know whats in store in the last five miles. If you can't PR on this course, theres something wrong. Last year the Ramada hotel where I stayed offered a late check-out but it did not offer it this year. Maybe new ownership? I wish more Huntington residents would get involved and come out and cheer - or run. Maybe they will for the 10th running of this wonderful race - next year.

This was a well-run marathon that has potential to become great. First the negatives. There was some confusion with entry fee. HealthyHuntington advertised one price, but active.com showed a higher price. One had to dig further into registration to see the original, lower price. Also they had to bump the race date back a week, which might have caused headaches for some people. Some confusion where the start was located, and we couldn't hear the announcer (was there an announcer? starting mat?). Race course was fairly ugly - then again not much can be done about that without moving to another town, or climbing some grueling mountains. No gels offered. Very little crowd support, not even Marshall students. The positives included a no-frills, intimate expo that featured a couple inspiring speakers, including 90-year-old Mike Fremont, who set an American record next day. Free hearty pasta dinner. Rec area that held the expo looked brand-new. Ease of parking - a local cop told me they don't enforce university parking permits on weekends. Race course was two loops along the river, so it was flat almost the whole way. Volunteers were friendly, with liquid stops every two miles. The course included the campus, as well as a crushed gravel path part of the way. Really cool finish inside the Marshall stadium (probably the only time I'll carry a football downfield with crowd cheering). Grilled hamburgers/hot dogs, cookies - and green bananas! Nice tech T-shirt and medal. I ran this race for my 50 states. The negatives weren't enough to prevent me from coming back, since they obviously wanted everyone to have a good experience. I'll definitely return - if I ever finish my other states.

I was really impressed with this race. I was registered for NYC and was left scrambling for another race when it was cancelled. Was delighted to find this one and was even more impressed that they offered a discounted entry for NYC runners. Huntington was easy to get to and we found a hotel across the river in OH. Packet pickup was easy and straightforward. Nice tech race T. I wish they had women's sizes but oh well. Found a nice restaurant downtown for dinner. Race morning was very easily logistically. Easy parking, nice warm Rec center with indoor bathrooms (!!) one downside: there was no timing mat at the start so gun time only. Course was very fast and flat. I actually liked the double loop course, was helpful in the late miles to know where I was going! I also liked that portions of the course had runners going in both directions (1st loop in and 2nd loop out). Being able to see and cheer for other is a nice boost. Everyone was very nice. Great volunteers. I even had one chase me down and hand me watch after I botched a waterstop handoff. Finish was really fun, even if I was far to tired to take the football handoff. Nice to hang out in the stadium afterwards. Wish they had a small awards ceremony instead of just going to pick it up at the table...BUT...I was very impressed that instead of giving out trinkets the awards were donations made in your name to the Wounded Warrior Project. Very fitting for a Veteran's Day race. Overall a great small race. Limited spectator support in parts, but I expect that in a small race. Great volunteers, fast course, really glad I found this one

This is a marathon that has been transformed into an artform. Easy packet pick-up, plenty of parking, many aid stations, no-line porta-potties, friendly staff..etc. My 1st race with 2 loops and I liked it. It was motivating to see other runners. Plus, you get to know exact locations of aid stations and can fine-tune your fluid intake. Fans was ample for a race of this size, and those who were there were very supportive. There were many aid stations and the volunteers provided plenty of support. Loved the football at the end. One input to organizers: some of the food were gone for later runners. I saw many non-runners enjoying them as well. The burgers and dogs were plentiful! Highly recommended!!

THE GOOD. Great swag including the jacket, race shirt and medal. Park right next to the start line and the course. Finish on the famed football field in the endzone with a football. Flat course. Great course support. The finish line hamburgers were awesome. THE CHALLENGES. The starting line seemed to lack organization. There were no starting mats. The course could use gu, and the finish line could use gatorade, bananas and bagels?

Great little no-hassle marathon. Everything goes smoothly. Easy packet pickup, short line for the free pasta dinner, easy to park near the start. The entry fee is amazing and you get so much for it. The water tables are frequent and well-staffed. The spectators are few but enthusiastic. Its what marathoning used to be - all about the running, not the bands and cheerleaders and the picnics along the way. Take a few gels in your pocket and enjoy the run. If you need a 26-mile party or bananas along the way, this isn't the race for you but if you like a well-organized, friendly, simple race, give Marshall a try.

If you don't need the circus atmosphere of the big races, this one is for you. The course is well laid out and flat. Organization is a real plus here and the atmosphere is warm. Swag is first rate. Would change nothing.

This was first-class all the way. Easy packet pickup, free pasta dinner, nice course, frequent aid stations, the best traffic control anywhere, and enough food at the end for the very last runner. Friendly support from everyone!

Pros: 1. Nice course (two loops for marathon, so get to run through Ritter Park and the campus twice. 2. Traffic control was done extremely well (roads are not completely closed for the race). 3. Great bling (marathoners get jacket, tech shirt and finisher medal). 4. Nice stadium finish carrying football. 5. Easy packet pickup. 6. Showers available after race at rec center. 7. Rec center open before the race so you can stay warm and use bathrooms. 8. Many hotels within easy drive to race (a couple miles) and near I-64.