The Sedona Marathon - Race Reviews

This was my 34ths state and first time ever in Arizona (2 hour drive from Phoenix airport). I stayed in an AirBNB with a very nice lady near one of the shuttle stops. Small but well stocked packet pickup with friendly volunteers and every question answered. Pros: Race morning-Walked to the shuttle and got on within 10 minutes. Course: VERY HILLY! Beautiful scenery 100% of the race. Plenty of well stocked water stations and toilets along course. Plenty of message therapists and water at the finish. Cons: - 'Food' was for purchase from a whole foods tent. It would have been nice to have something other than water and bananas, cookies that was offered to runners (like a sandwich or pizza). - Course signage was small and several mile markers were either missing or had been removed (I was a pacer and was relying on MM signs!) - A section of the last mile was on the main highway and was NOT marked. Luckily it was an out&back course and I knew which way to go. The highway was very busy by that time so we had to run on the sidewalk. POLICE & VOLUNTEERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE! (As I was walking back post-race, I directed several runners where to go when they approached that intersection and then told a spectator to stand there and continue.) - SHUTTLES: The shuttles were supposed to run until 4pm. But post race it appeared only 1 bus was running. We got a ride from a local good Samaritan because we had been waiting for over 30 minutes. Overall I loved the race! Very hilly and this year it was pretty warm as well. WOULD I RETURN: Yes!

The 2016 Sedona Marathon events were definitely improved - taking a chance to participate turned out to be well worth it. Its not a PR course, but probably the most gorgeous and gratifying I've ever run. Wonderful town, great organization, one for the bucket list!

This is my 5th year running the Sedona half marathon. Yet I feel I need to comment on the marathon, as I empathize with the full marathoners who were not given an alternative route due to the trail conditions..in fact I was shocked that the race committee had nothing prepared for them. I monitored the weather everyday from 10 days before race day and I am sure the committee did as well. As for the half marathon race itself, once again the volunteers were amazing and there was plenty of water and gatorade along the course. The scenery was breathtaking and the best part of the race. The weather was amazing - 45-50 degrees and no rain or wind! The start this year was very odd, no loudspeaker to announce the start. Past years it was a party atmosphere with music, the star spangled banner, and an announcer keeping tabs on the time. This year it was silent and everyone around me kept asking 'what is going on?' No mention of the marathon cancellation, and to top it off, I received a thank you email sent to all participants, and in reading the summary, the race director offers no comment or apology to the marathoners for this year's problem. Overall I enjoyed the race, but was disappointed at the organization's lack of effort to offer a solution to the marathoners. I am not sure I will be back next year.

Bad weather cancelled the 2015 marathon. The organizers had no back up plan. They didn't even have the marathoners run the half marathon twice. They offered no refund, but only a $15 credit to next year. Seriously, $15. Never mind that it cost me travel expenses, hotel, meals, etc. I understand bad weather is beyond anyone's control, but if you are going to plan a marathon at elevation in January, you should probably have a contingency plan in place in the event of bad weather. Other marathons do. I will be finding a different marathon for AZ. Sedona won't be getting any more of my money; they already kept the entry fee.

I do not recommend this race. It is not organized and very poor communication. I registered marathon and then they decided to change to half marathon the day before the race when I went to the expo for my bib. No refunds. So I just went back home disappointed and mad. Sedona is beautiful, but this race is terrible. I have run many marathons and never seen such a incompetent attempt to put on a race. I won't go back, even though Sedona is awesome.

This race is so poorly organized, I am quite certain the race director(s) are not runners. I would not recommend this race to any marathon runner. It is okay for someone who just wants to jog the half to enjoy the scenery with no time goal. The course is tough, and that's okay, but the race organizers have no clue what they are doing. I was greeted at the packet pickup and simply told, 'you are running the half,' even though I had registered and paid for the full? No explanation provided, only, 'you need to talk to the race director and she is not here right now.' It turned out that due to rain the previous evening, there was concern about the mud on the full marathon course. Some runners suggested that the full marathon runners could simply do a double-loop of the half course, but that was met with some lame excuse about 'timing'?? Race organizers, please consider the following: (1) Have a contingency plan in place in the event of rainy weather - in this case the weather forecast was calling for rain all week - how did you not know this? (2) How about an earlier start time than 9:00 AM if timing and road closures are an issue? (3) The course is and out-and-back and faster runners on the way back had to 'dodge' the herd of runners still on the way out - why no instructions or cones set up to steer runner out of each other's way? (4) I understand 'no refund' policy, but when I pay and show up for the full, only to be told I cannot and instead I must run the half, then you should offer a refund instead of '$15 discount on next year's race' - that is really weak and unfair. So, in summary, the PROS: (1) course beauty; (2) tough course with hills; (3) nice folks at the aid stations; (4) friendly police/security at the intersections. The CONS: (1) Race organization; (2) Race planning; (3) Ability of race committee to make good decisions; (4) Inflexibility and lack of creative solutions by race director; (5) Lack of communication from race committee when full was canceled. Suggestion: Hire a knowledgeable race director with running experience. Rant over. And, by the way, I joined a group of runners who started running at 7:00 AM from our uptown Sedona hotel. We mapped out a 13.1 mile course around uptown and West Sedona that brought us to the start line at 9:05 AM - just in time to start with the half marathon, so, we were able to run an unofficial marathon on our own. Another group of marathoners finished the half race and then continued on for another loop of the half course to get their 26.2 miles in. '26.2 OR ELSE!'

The best thing about this marathon was the scenery. The course is extremely difficult. It is very hilly and there is a very rough dirt road for half of the marathon. The volunteers were very good. There was plenty of water, Gatorade, etc, along the course. Unfortunately there were very few refreshments at the end (mini clif bars and some orange slices). Perhaps the half marathoners ate everything before all of us marathoners finished? The worst thing was that the announcements at the finish line stopped at about 4 hours! There were many of us that finished in over 4 hours. It was like we didn't even matter. And you couldn't tell where the finish line was. No cheering, nothing at the finish. Seems like the officials packed up and went home. I would not run this again for that reason. Sedona is gorgeous, however.

This was my 4th finish of the 50 states and, except for the scenery, maybe wish I had finished at the Desert Classic, which was run the same day in Phoenix. Communication with 'info' at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce was with a different person every time and nobody knew what the others had said. This event is 5k, 10k and half marathon races with a marathon apparently thrown in as an afterthought. The aid stations were enthusiastic, but the small 'rinse your mouth out at the dentist's office' minimally-filled cups were bad. Every runner I saw the last two hours was fighting leg cramps. The organizers also committed the unforgivablethe finish area was being dismantled with the course open for another 1.5 hours. When I finished at 5:25, there was no food, the medical tent was empty, no one appeared in charge and the only water was being poured from a jug into 'rinse your mouth' cups. The participant's medal was very good, but the age group awards were identical, unengraved, light, generic, off-the-shelf, toy store quality medals that were picked up the next day from a pile on a table at a local running store. If the Sedona Chamber of Commerce knew what it was doing, it would be embarrassed to give them as 'awards'; they are throwaways. I like Sedona and everyone connected with the race is very friendly, but the Sedona Marathon is an AVOID marathon.

Pros: "Extremely scenic marathon "Good water stops, each had gel, oranges, bananas, Gatorade, water, and first aid stuff "Day of pocket pick-up "Great weather in 2014  start in high 30s, end in 50s "Lots of bars/restaurants close to the finish line *Good traffic control Cons: "Very challenging course "Same medal and T-shirt for all distances (5k- - really???) "Wind can be a factor in some places "Lonely at times, not many full marathoners All in all, I'm glad I picked Sedona as my AZ race and not Rock'n'Roll event. It was unique and well organized.

I cannot recommend this marathon more highly for someone who is looking for a smaller event in a beautiful setting. Do not run this marathon if your goal is running a Boston qualifier, or if you don't like hills, or if you expect throngs of fans lining the course - there are plenty of others - hundreds - that can provide that experience. Do consider running here is you enjoy gorgeous Arizona red rock scenery, beautiful winter Arizona weather with clear blue skies and high temps of maybe 50, gorgeous piñon/juniper forest, and friendly, happy, enthusiastic volunteers. The marathon is run out and back and is very hilly. My gps indicated a total of 1900 feet of elevation gain over the whole course. Take a look at the elevation profile before you sign up - I personally enjoy the challenge of running all the hills, so it was wonderful for me. Approximately half of the marathon is run on pavement, and the second half is on a somewhat rocky dirt road. It is slightly easier to run on the pavement, as you don't have to watch your footing, but I found the dirt surface to be easy on my joints and had no trouble avoiding the rocks. The overall surface was smooth and there were no big ruts or washboards present. There is very little traffic, and what little there is on the road was moving very slowly and all the drivers and occupants were waving - very very friendly. There are aid stations along the whole course with enthusiastic, cheering, costumed volunteers. Wonderful, happy atmosphere. In addition, there are a lot of spotters sitting along the whole course, keeping an eye on everyone. Very very well supported run. There was gatorade, water and usually snacks, energy gels at most of the tables. The race starts at 9 am, which seemed a bit late, but turned out to be fine - Sedona is at over 4000 feet of elevation, and prior to 9, it was very chilly - I was glad they let it warm up a little in the sunlight before we started out. I was able to shed lavers right before the start and felt great in just shorts and a tee shirt after a couple of miles. The only negative I can think of is that there was not much food at the end - water was being handed out, small Clif bars, and apples and orange slices. There was actually more food at most of the aid stations, but I didn't want to eat it during the race. Would have been nice to have some bananas. Not really a big deal, though - I had a great lunch afterwards. I will be signing up to run this one again next year. My favorite run.

Sedona is one of the most beautiful places you can find, and I visit often. Decided to run the marathon on a whim. I knew it would be hilly, but it was brutal. The dirt portion is hard packed, so you don't have to worry about traction, although you may have to keep an eye on the ground to avoid twisting an ankle. The start time worked out OK because the temperatures were below normal this year, but if that weren't the case, it might be a little uncomfortable for people finishing around one o'clock (which is most runners in this race). Besides making it start an hour and a half earlier, the only thing I would change is the cups. They need to use paper instead of plastic so you can actually drink the gatorade while moving.

There is a rule in road races that there should be a port-a-potty for every 60 people. This race fell far short of that. Also, I heard almost none of the pre-race instructions due to the poor quality loudspeaker. I would like to suggest having gels for sale at the expo, since the only running shop in town closed early. Also, someone needs to place runner etiquette instructions in the goody bags, since runners were three abreast at times and not yielding correctly to persons running uphill.

No marathon should ever start at 9am....they do this to keep you in Sedona to attend an awards ceremony that is also too late in the day and they do it at a shopping venue. Start this race no later than 7am and have the awards immediately following

Wow! It's a very challenging course, but the scenery is worth it! I've run a LOT of marathons, including Big Sur, and I have to credit this course as the most beautiful! The difficulty doesn't bother me...we see the course profile before we sign up and should be prepared. I was very impressed with the start line...what a view! Also impressive was the course support. Aid stations were plentiful and well stocked. In addition to the aid stations, there were course monitors, so we were never really out of sight of volunteers. That comforted me since I'm slow and there are no spectators for the majority of the course. Everyone (volunteers and the few spectators) was so friendly and supportive and I had an absolute blast running the race! I love the medal! I offer the following suggestions: 1. start the marathon earlier 2. allow more time between the starts of the different races so runners aren't bumping into each other 3. Marathon medals should be different from the 5k, 10k and half. I definitely plan to run this marathon again and am already recommending it to my friends! This is one of my all time favorite races!!!

When I signed up for this race, I knew it was going to be tough. Especially, for someone from the Chicago area. The significant hills, higher altitude, and the rock road made the race very tough. The scenery was awesome, and the race was well organized. Even though, it was my slowest time ever and I had to walk up the hills, I know I gave it my full effort.

The race is well organized overall. Packet pick up was easy and there were a few vendors there also. There were plenty of porta potties at race start and on the course. The race was really hot this year but that was not too much of an issue as there was plenty of fluids on the course. I didn't run with a pack or hand held bottle and did fine and I was on the course for 5 1/2 hours. There were frequent water stops that had clif shot gels and fruit and fluids! I was amazed at all the gels at most of the water stops and they didn't run out even when I was coming through late in the race. The course is absolutely beautiful as one would expect in Sedona! There are so many hills on this course you really need to do hill training. This was one of the toughest marathons I have done but the scenery made it bearable. Post race food was ok and could probably use some additions. There were clif bars, bagels, muscle milk and a few vendors with food for purchase. I didn't use the shuttle service but there was an area for runner drop off and pick up and that was easy going. The awards ceremony was not at the race site and it was late in the day which made for an even longer day. Wish the race started a little earlier like 8 am but guess they have their reasons for that. So overall this was a beautiful tough race and if you want a challenging run do this race!

This is a very small race. Although I started with approx 2,000 people, there were only about 175 full marathoners...which means that after the 6 mile point it got reallllly lonely. The course was VERY VERY mountainous (hilly isn't even accurate!). The middle half of the course is also on a dirt forrest road. The people and views were AWESOME!!! I really enjoyed Sedona. Did some day hikes the weekend following the race. Overall it was a good race, not my favorite. I probably wouldn't do it again. I wish I had been better prepared for the incline.

The specifics: Tough course overall. Over 2000 ft total elevation gain. Run on paved and dirt roads. Traffic was at times troublesome especially on the dirt roads but mostly light. Course well marked. Organization overall very good. Small expo/packet pick-up. Pre-race pasta meal was nice. Main concern is that the awards were not till 4PM. Long time to wait around if you traveled to event and already checked out of hotel. Very few spectators for this race. Not a big concern for me. But aid stations were very enthusiastic. Biggest gripe for me is that there should be separate shirts/finisher medals for marathoners, half, 10K, and 5K. Realize that this involves lots more logistical coordination but running a marathon is a LOT different than running a 5K. Something for race director to consider. Sedona is a very scenic town. If you like the West, you'll love this place. I would come back here for a vacation. Might return next three years to get the rest of pie sliced medals to make the whole pie.

Do not run this race if you are not prepared - I learned this lesson the hard way. I was not ready for the hills or the altitude, and my training was mediocre at best. The turnaround for the marathon was up a hill so high that by the time I turned around I was spent, and I had another half-marathon to go. This race was on a rocky dirt road for about nine miles, and spectators were virtually non-existent. On the other hand, the volunteers were enthusiastic, and the scenery was unbelievable. If you are going to run this race, do A LOT of hill training, and if possible get to Sedona several days ahead of time if you are not used to the altitude - don't worry, there is plenty to do, in a new-age, crystal-loving, vortex-seeking type of way.

I was attracted to this race due to my love of the beauty of the desert Southwest. I was not disappointed. Sedona's course is among the most scenic I have ever done - a route set in a spectacular amphitheater of red rock cathedrals, cliffs and spires. And if you focus on that beauty and soak it in, it will HELP you overcome the very real challenges of the course, which include elevation and hills - lots of them (including finishing the last mile with one!). There isn't much glitz or glamor here; the fans are sparse (although volunteers were great), the expo doesn't offer much, and the post-race food was mediocre, at best. But I have absolutely no regrets. It is a beautiful course and a race worth running. Lose yourself in its beauty and you will feel like you have accomplished and participated in something worthwhile, significant and uplifting when you finish. (My comments refer to the half-marathon.)

After three visits to the Sedona area for hiking, I finally decided to run the marathon. I knew the profile of the run and did not expect a better-than-average finish time. In fact, I finished above 4 hours, about 30 minutes worse than my average. All of the suffering on the steep hills was rewarded by the beauty of the course. This is definitely one of the most challenging, and at the same time most beautiful races in the southwest USA. The worst part of the run was the longest uphill mile before the finish line. Overall, the race was organized very well with sufficient supply of drinks and food before, during and after the run. The after-race massage brought me back to life. I was slightly disappointed by the cheap plastic medal for my 3rd place in my age group. Thank you, Sedona, for the excellent, long-distance event.

No glitz here. It's just you and the gorgeous scenery of one of the most beautiful areas in the country! Great volunteers and a very difficult course. You will feel very proud at finishing this one. Arrive at least on thursday to acclimate to the elevation. The dirt road is challenging; I can't imagine wearing flats. I think that pure road racers will be unhappy with this course due to the uphill finish. The scenery is gorgeous - try to look up every now and again.

Most of the previous comments below are fair. There was no food at the finish and I came in 55th, but I got a terrific massage. I can't add to the previous comments other than to say that I had a great time (albeit a slow one). Hills - be prepared! The scenery was unbelievable!

Sedona has a gem in this marathon. The course is very challenging and amazing in its beauty. Granted the car traffic on the dirt road was a bit annoying, but the fact of the matter is that marathons are never comfortable. You take what you get and go with it. As for water at the rest stops, I was one of the last folks to finish and I was able to keep filling my bottle to my heart's content all the way to the finish. As for there not being an acceptable energy drink on the course, phooey! Any experienced marathoner knows that you had better take or place along the course any special or unusual food or drink you may need. No marathon, no matter how big, can meet the needs of every picky runner. Water and some kind of sports drink are all that can be expected of an aid station. Well done, Sedona.

Fantastically tough course. Beautiful and well organized, and I truly commend the organizers and volunteers. Great job! My only complaint is that there were way too many cars on the dirt course of the marathon. Some traffic may have been due to local residents, but I'm sure some were from nosy on-lookers. Some were for the marathon. Either way, the trail part of the course was tough enough due to concentrating on foot placement to avoid the worst of the rocks. But then, to have to move out of the way of those cars constantly was a major distraction. I could never get into the "zone" as I was constantly avoiding cars.

I would like to preface my comments by saying that I am a veteran marathon runner, and have run over 61 marathons worldwide. Sedona, AZ was my 24th state in my quest for all 50 states. I feel my experience allows me to suggest to you changes that need to be made to improve the event. And improvement is sorely needed, as I would find it exceedingly difficult to recommend this event to any of my fellow runners in light of my experience. First, the expo: While it is different for vendors to be available on race day, it is totally impractical as there is no time to shop. The expo needs to be staged in another venue the couple of days prior to the event. This allows ample time and gives those vendors a much better opportunity to make money. And your collection of sales tax revenue would increase. In addition, marathon officials were shockingly uninformed when asked about race details and so on (none could answer any of our questions). The expo should provide an opportunity to interact and network with fellow marathoners, vendors, and marathon officials. Sadly, this one did not. The day of the event saw a wind storm rip the vendor tents apart prior to the conclusion of the event. Second, the course: The scenery is, of course, breathtaking. I really like the timing chip utilized. However, it is dangerous to share the majority of the course with vehicular traffic, not to mention to breath exhaust fumes and dust from their movement. Many motorists were honking for us to get out of their way; this is a major distraction for runners. The cattle guards were a major safety concern. No one could address this to us prior to the race. I was glad to see they were covered when I was running. The hydration stations were plentiful enough, but sorely lacking in water. Much too much of this "hydrodrink!" Many runners, myself included, will not ingest an untried product on race day. Third, the finish line: This is a tough course to finish on an upward incline. It is also rewarding to have completed it. I am not the fastest runner, nor am I the slowest. Yet, I finished in the top 25% of the marathoners that day, first place my age group. So there were still 75% of marathoners yet to finish. There was nothing left for marathon finishers: little to no water, post race food, not enough help from officials at the finish (try bending over to remove your chip after running 26.2 miles through this course; all other marathon events happily provide volunteers to handle that task). And here we go again with vehicular traffic in the pedestrian areas post-race (a Mercedes convertible, a Nissan pickup and a Chevy pickup all with 15 minutes of my finish; totally unacceptable!). On a more positive note, the provided massages were great. While I understand that the wind storm affected the finish area, it was as if the race was over as most were packing up and leaving, vendors, officials, despite the remaining 75% marathoners who had not yet crossed the finish line. Is this the kind of impression you wish to give marathoners crossing the finish? Fourth, overall: Despite its being touted as a world-class event (as the announcers proclaimed), this falls short in many categories. It is certainly not representative of the entry fee. No poster, as all other races have. The area affords many, many opportunities for a unique prize and package for marathon finishers (see the St. George Marathon). It seems as though it should be called, instead, the "Sedona half-marathon and 5K... and you can also do the marathon." The half-marathon and 5K finishers enjoyed the spoils at the finish at the expense of the marathoners. Sedona is a beautiful area and has much to offer. We enjoyed visiting it and the surrounding areas. However, the marathon experience negatively impacted our impression and experience in Sedona. It is our hope that this communication would prove to assist in dramatically improving this marathon event. Working on the logistics pre- and post-race, tightening up the organization and management of the event, and improving the marathon experience would go a very long way in achieving your goals to make this a more premier event. Word-of-mouth promotion can be powerful.

Looking through the comments from 2008, some of the concerns were addressed, which was nice to see. The course is drop-dead beautiful and very challenging. When God gives you something like this to run around, there's not much more to improve upon. The improvements I would recommend: 1. No vehicle traffic on the dirt road. The guy from the Enchantment Resort was kicking up enough dirt to choke the heartiest of lungs. I said something to him and his reply, "What can I do?" Some of the cars I thought were chasing runners, but never saw them again, so they were going somewhere... pick another way to get there! 2. Fluid stops need bigger cups - and make them paper. Those cups provided less than 1 ounce of fluid. We should be taking in 7-10 ounces every 20 minutes or so. 3. Fluid stops, again: have the cups handed to the runners. Don't make us step off a 4-6 inch drop to get something to drink. 4. Over the final mile or so, I would suggest clearing at least a little portion of the road for the runners. Sidewalks stink to run on! I would consider running this again for the course. It was fantastic in its beauty.

This was my 23rd marathon in the last three years and so I feel that I have a good perception on modern marathons. Sedona offers beautiful scenery as did Bar Harbor. If Sedona had the ocean, it would be second to none in terms of scenery. Also, the restaurant (with views of the red hills) providing the pasta dinner was fabulous! I even won my age bracket; so I guess I shouldn't complain, but I would run this one again only if there were several changes made. I also noted that the number of finishers had dropped about 20 percent from the previous year. Obviously this says something as well. So how can Sedona improve? 1. Lower the entry fee to correspond with the cotton t-shirt or offer a technical shirt to match the high entry fee. Remember: cotton is rotten. 2. Provide water every mile, on the mile, after mile six. In this very dry climate and high altitude, drinking fluids often prevents dehydration, which is what happened to me. Note to runners: drink lots of water the day before. Lots. 3. Make the mile markers stand out. They were camouflaged with the speed limit signs. 4. Prohibit all traffic on the dirt road. Having to run the hills was tough enough and runners should not have to breathe the dust created by the drivers showing off their ATVs and SUVs. If you can't stop traffic, switch the route to a paved surface. 5. Provide at least a clock at the finish - and at the halfway point would also be nice. 6. The uphill finish was tough, but that's to be expected. If you change the route, consider a flat finish. 7. Consult with a running club. These are the folks who know what runners want. Caution to all runners: wear trail shoes (the many rocks on the trail section will hurt your feet if you wear ordinary shoes); be very careful in this section to avoid twisting an ankle; and drink plenty of water before and during the race. And bring your camera. The scenery is drop-dead gorgeous. Also,the LaQuinta offered a generously late check out and was in between two huge red rocks.

This was my first full marathon. I enjoyed every last moment that I was on the course. The runners were great, with their friendliness and their support (as well as their tips to get through). The race organizers were on top of their game, it was easy to get to race packet pick up, and easy to find the start and finish. The fan support was great, but limited. Having a lot of people driving along the course with support (and in town) was great. The dirt roads, the hills... everything was awesome and I couldn't have asked for a better way to start a marathon career.

If you like small but well-organized events in beautiful settings, this is the race for you. It's a fairly even mix of running on very well maintained roads and dirt roads through the red rocks. The event was well-supported by friendly volunteers. It was cold in the early morning, but once the Arizona sun rose, the temperature grew perfect, even a bit warm. Don't expect a PR on this hilly course unless this is your first marathon. Bottom line, the Sedona Marathon is a great excuse to escape to beautiful red rock country for a weekend. And it's only a couple of hours from Phoenix, the hub of Southwest Airlines, so flights are plentiful and inexpensive. The course is very scenic, although it seems a shame to run an out-and-back route in such a beautiful locale. It would be an improvement to make it a loop so that it showed off more of the region. Also, whoever planned the course must have a somewhat sadistic side, as most of the last mile was uphill. But I'm a proponent of runners adapting to courses rather than adapting courses to runners, so the hills didn't really bother me. Overall, a great, small, well-organized event in a beautiful place.

Wow - this is a gorgeous and tough race. You'll be in heaven at the beginning with the breathtaking scenery and gorgeous surroundings. But, watch out - mile 18 to the finish hurts, hurts, hurts. Amazing support, easy to get to start and finish, plenty of port-o-lets, and nonstop beauty. This is a fun one. Don't worry about your time. Enjoy the scenery.

This marathon is the most spectacular and scenic course I've run to date, hands down. Imagine running on dirt road and rocks through scrub desert surrounded by red-rock monoliths. I can see why Sedona is named "The No. 1 Most Beautiful Place in the America." I expected the hilly and high-altitude (4,100 to 4,600 feet) course to be very challenging (this year's winning time is 3:02:45) but the weather was perfect (sunny, 61 F) and my mind was totally distracted by the beautiful surrounding sceneries. And what better way to reduce those lactic acid built up in my legs after the marathon than to hike one of the many great trails that Sedona is blessed with? This marathon is a gem (only in its 3rd year). I plan on running it again next year before the word gets out and the marathon becomes too big/crowded!

I walked the half marathon for the first time in 2008 and had a wonderful experience. The race is small, well organized, and beautifully scenic, and this year the weather was perfect with sunshine and a 40-60 temperature range during the race. The 1/2 wound up a paved road, mostly gentle rolling hills, above the town of Sedona into the red rock areas with green juniper trees, desert cacti, and the magnificent red rock monoliths rising above in every direction. There were plenty of aid stations, very supportive staff, and a few spectators who were encouraging and appreciated of the walker/runners. The town of Sedona is a destination itself for the beauty that surrounds it, and is much more enjoyable in Feb. then in the over crowded months of tourist season. I highly recommend this race, and it is easily accessible as it is only a 2-hour drive from the Phoenix, AZ area.

Mixed feelings abound as I absolutely enjoyed the run/scenery (breath-taking) and managed a PR for the 1/2 marathon as I was well-prepared for the event and the hills. I ask, "Did the organizers prepare as much as I did though?" For example, there were no clocks on course, not even one at the finish. Was this intentional or an oversight? The finish left a vacant emotion and puzzlement as one did not have the "instant feedback" and was required to head back to the start line to retrieve the results which was a walk away. Lack of communication with people managing the bag check and pick-up, resulting in an inconvenience to runners who finished the race; returned to the "celebration area" assuming to pick-up their gear and only to learn they would have to go back to the finish line. The aid/water station near the turn-around was incredibly staffed and versed in how to distribute water, not to mention their costumes added welcome levity on a uphill climb. However, some water stations were manned with a few people who only poured and arranged cups/cubes on the table and under-manned for hand distribution. Perhaps the local high school track team or students could have been approached to assist? One table was located off the paved road upon a dirt and gravel shoulder where one had to watch his/her step. In the beginning of the race, one ran on the lane of Highway 89; however, on the return, you had to transition over a curb onto a sidewalk, which bisected open drives to commercial/residents. Luckily, a driver exiting was patient enough to let me pass before transitioning into the lane. I wondered how others faired? The start line/event celebration area was odd: politicians' campaign booths, tables set-up selling stuff - art trinkets perhaps, pizza, etc. This is not your normal finish where runners are greeted with bagels, fruit, water, etc. In fact, it was a bit unsettling as the "event" appeared to be an opportunity by locals to promote one's agenda or skim a few more bucks off runners/tourists - there is appropriate time and place for these types of booths. Runners don't typically carry their wallets with them, nor vote in the local elections (I assume the event is trying to become a destination event by drawing outsiders into the community to spend money. To that end, yes, we enjoyed our stay and spent quite a bit of money in town, not at the event though.) Truly, the comments are meant for the organizers who, with a little effort, could have one of the best destination race events and "must-do" race in the nation... details, details. Runners: you do this race for the spectacular, other-world scenery; pure enjoyment of running; beautiful town; and, incredible medal. Don't do this run if you need on-course entertainment, timing, staffed water tables; goody bags (overwhelming number of local coupons; not many running related items); or a finish celebration.

I ran the half marathon. The organization leading up to the event was very good - easy registration, lots of updates, good info on the web page, and easy bib pick up. The drive from Phoenix the day before is short. Some small issues the day of the event: Parking I was told would be difficult, so I arrived very early. Good energy at the starting line. The race started late, but once underway was great. Not a lot of fans, but those who were out were very supportive and vocal. The course is never flat - either going uphill or down. The scenery is beautiful and the other runners were fun to talk to. I plan on coming back to run the half again next year.

I'm an average 58-year-old runner who has completed 175 marathons and ultras and Sedona makes my top five list for beauty - along with the Vermont 100, Wasatch 100, Superior Trail 100 and Leadville 100. I think race officials and volunteers did a good job for a second-year marathon. Most of my running friends have not heard of this race. When the word gets out, the Sedona Marathon has the potential to get too big to handle under its current setup. Its small-town feel and scenic beauty are two of the reasons, body-willing, I will be back next year.

I am glad that I did not change my mind, having come down with some bad flu/cold one day prior. The beautiful views in and out help me forget how sick I felt. The weather was perfect. The fuel support was great and cheerful. Dirt trail path was great - at times I felt like I was the only person around. A challenging course, the end especially. Want a challenge? This marathon, with its small flare, is one on the list. Beautiful hikes, and a short drive to the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff for some R&R afterwards.