Veterans Marathon - Race Reviews

Veterans Marathon is very well organized with a good BQ course! Small town that honors and supports veterans while catering to all the runners! Prerace festivities to recognize and honor veterans from presenting colors and flags to the children's choir singing the National Anthem reminds everyone that others have protected our freedom to have the opportunity to run. Great volunteers and aid stations. Great race to run a PR!

Excellent communication, wonderful people, nice scenery, cold weather. I love these small races. Joanne, the RD, was extremely nice to me and my son, who had to kill time waiting for me to finish the race. She was really awesome. Course support was also top notch. I have zero complaints. Super 8 (reluctantly) gave us a 1pm checkout. No frills hotel and under $70/night. I highly recommend this race to anyone.

As former marathon directors, organization is critically important to us, and this one did not disappoint!!! Temps stayed between 36 - 39, wind was quite brisk and was a head wind for first few miles in loop and a tailwind in last few miles in loop. Busier road section at front end of loop wasn't bad bc either traffic was non existent (1st loop) or cones let drivers know there is a race going on. Beautiful country roads are like a bacon strip - it is rolling hills, but none of the hills are severe. Farmland scenery is very lovely & zen. Had light rain for the first half hour so the conditions did make it challenging, but we both still managed decent times for us (I did full, hubby did half). Very happy with the result, and not sore at all (I'm about to turn 60 & ran 3:53). Super 8 motel was accommodating with a 1 p.m. checkout, sizeable fridge, microwave, hairdryer, huge room. Columbia City is charming and tiny. Aid stations on course are awesome & plentiful, few spectators were nice but if you are the type that wants crowds (I prefer the small races), this is not your race.

Great race with super amenities! Race support on the course was top notch. Nice flat to rolling course. Love the race jacket and gloves. The post race soup/chili was over the top!!

This race, despite COVID, was well organized and, despite the cold weather, was great fun. I ran the half this year (back surgery a year ago) and will run the marathon in the future. I decided to stay in the new Holiday Inn Express. Bad news. Even though this hotel is new, this was far below the standards of Holiday Inn. The owners apparently want to save on every little item. The TV, direct TV, was almost impossible to work. Tried calling the front desk but, after a dozen rings, I gave up. The shower had a dismal flow - to save $$. The water was lukewarm at best. The toilet had a ring around it. Yuck. The breakfast muffins were stale - ?? bakery outlet?? A lot of other runners and I ran the race early Saturday morning and we all placed our orders the night before. But it was a Chinese fire drill the next morning. Felt sorry for the runners deep in the line. I think most of them gave up and went somewhere to eat. Last time for me in this place.

In the mid-west in November, you can never be sure what you are going to get for weather. Since there was a weather system pushing sub-freezing temperatures down as far as the Gulf coast across the eastern United States, we were not going to have a pleasant and warm autumn day for this marathon. And by this time of year, there are not many folks holding autumn marathons in the mid-west. But this marathon focused on veterans and celebrated Veteran's Day. Some participants were saying how much worse the weather was for the event in 2018. Still, it was cold. Overnight low was forecast to be 23 degrees F, with a Saturday daytime high of 43, with clouds. Lynn is the RD for this event, and she was available for questions leading up to race day. She also provided club discounts for Marathon Maniac and 50-States Marathon Club member. Many thanks for that. Columbia City is a small town just west of Ft. Wayne, and it was pretty easy to get to. There is a small business district, and packet pick-up was on Van Buren Street, which seemed to be the main east-west street through town. Also, the court house was right there on Van Buren Street too, and the start line was there - in the middle of the road, which was closed for the occasion. The finish line was right at the same intersection, 90 degrees to the start line. This race used chip timing, but the runners did not cross a mat at the start. I guess everybody had the same start time at the sound of the 'gun', then when runners finished, they got their finish time recorded by the electronic equipment. Works for me. The course started down Van Buren St heading west. After several turns through neighborhoods, we were on a long straight road heading out of town to the west; I think it was US 30. Eventually we turned left off that road and kind of headed into farm country. The roads kind of meandered through rolling hills of the area farms to the west and south of town. Once we were out of town and turned south, the winds were quite extreme. And by now we were on pretty long stretches of road, and the wind kind of kept up thought the morning. There was plenty of opportunity to see farm work being done: silos being filled with corn, fields being plowed, and one being sprayed. One guy had a substantial bon fire going that was making a lot of smoke. Throughout the course, there were marshals at critical corners, police monitoring where automobile traffic might need to be stopped, and EMS people hanging out - just in case. There were adequate hydration stations with volunteers handing out water and Gatorade. They had gels too - at two locations on the course. The staff at the hydration station out in the country gave me their last gel as I was heading back to town on my second circuit. That reminds me to say that this is a 13.1 mile loop, and the full marathoners had to complete the prescribed course two times. The weather forecast was pretty accurate. It was in the mid-20s early, and it did warm up to the low-40s, but the wind was strong and unrelenting. Early on there was a total overcast. That overcast blew over, and then we had some sun and a scattered to broken layer of high cirrus clouds that the sun managed to penetrate part of the time. The stretch later in the morning with the sun breaking through when the wind was at our backs was pretty pleasant for running weather. But weather can be so variable and change so fast. A couple of closing comments: There was a guy at the start-line with just running shorts and a rather patriotic tank-top - and no warm-up clothes. I simply do not know how he survived the cold while we waited for 8:00 a.m. to roll around. Afterwards, RD Lynn was there at the finish line, so I got to chat briefly with her and personally thank her for orchestrating everything. Also, there was a local business offering hot soup to the runners at half price. They even had a sign on the course about the hot soup at the finish line! Lynn sent me over there after I finished. The gal inside informed me that I was too late, they were no longer serving soup, and that the gal serving the soup had gone home. Too bad for me, for finishing so close to the end. The race organization still had food for the runners at the finish line: Bananas, fluids, crackers with peanut butter, fruit & grain bars, and gummy fruit snacks. Lynn and her volunteers did a great job, and this is one of the last outdoor mid-west marathons on the schedule now as winter approaches.

Love the small easy to navigate races and this was it. Flew into FWA (Fort Wayne), got cheap rental car and drove 35 minutes to Columbia City. Quality Inn was $64 but upset that they wouldn't allow a late checkout so options for postrace shower are the YMCA (bring a towel) or try Super 8 for late checkout. Packet Pickup was easy, in town so near places to eat. Long sleeved Brooks tech shirt was very nice and socks with marathon logo were nice touch. Parking at start was simple (1 block away). It was bitter cold 23 degrees (13 windchill). Mostly flat 2 loop course with few rolling hills so dress accordingly because there is no protection from the wind. First loop was with halfers and there were any cars out. Second loop was lonely and many cars on road so you were forced to the side which was cambered (my hip hated that) but never felt unsafe. it was well marked and you were alone the bulk of loop 2. It is rural and well aided (every 2 miles or less). They advertised 1 gel stop at mile 13. There were actually 5 places you could get a gel, but you had to be on the lookout. That was awesome. Not much of a crowd, but anyone who was out in the cold was encouraging. Age group awards are in 5 year increments and go 2 deep. they are an incredibly heavy, very nice limestone plaque. It was really special. Not a ton of food at the finish, but I am never really hungry anyway. I was very pleased with my choice for an Indiana marathon. It was on Veterns Day, making it even more special. It was so organized and friendly. I thank the Race Director and all the volunteers, especially in that cold.

There's a first time for everything. This was marathon #84 and it was the coldest of them all, making me wonder if I should be concerned about frostbite, cramped muscles, glycogen loss, etc. So I decided - for the first time in a marathon - I'd wear compression tights. Except I didn't have any. So a few days ago I tried on four pairs and selected a cold weather Reebok. Some decisions are better than others and this was one of those good ones. Only rarely did my legs feel the cold - about 20 at the start and, thanks to a stiff breeze, which seemed to be almost continually in one's face - not much warmer at the finish. I made another important purchase - a heavy hoodie. While I pumped gas he day before the marathon, I noticed a Goodwill store not far away. So I bought the XXL hoodie, more than ample for my medium-sized frame. I pitched it after the second mile. It was nice being warm at the start. I also covered most of my face with a neck warmer scarf that was a finisher's gift at the Akron marathon. Another good decision. It warmed the air, which was cold most of the time. I must have looked like a bank robber, but, really, who cared? The Veterans Marathon, especially from my ex-Navy background, was a well-organized small marathon. Most of the runners did the half, which, I'll admit, seemed like a good idea instead of doing 26.2. In the second half of the double-loop course - on country roads through harvested corn fields and past massive barns and small farm houses - I ran mostly alone, sometimes without anyone in front to guide me. Yet, the topography was perfect, in my opinion. No hills and not flat - just gently rolling slopes, up and down, the best kind of route for marathon running. And no concrete, just asphalt. With a half mile to go, a younger runner caught up to me and, at a Y-split in the road, he went left - the wrong way. I shouted at him and shouted again. Lucky for him, he was not wearing ear buds and could hear me. He was headed down the wrong road, which he disputed. But red arrows on the pavement don't lie. The best part, though, came at the finish line, when, as I staggered across, two lovely young ladies, bundled in winter coats, grabbed me. One, holding a sheet, told me that I won my age division and would get a nice limestone plaque, which, of course, meant that no one else in the 70+ bracket was stupid enough to run in such frigid conditions. I never claimed to have common sense. I must thank my chiropractor, Dr. Richard Yost, for seven ART treatments to help rehab my ailing hamstring, and my favorite podiatrist, Dr. Stacy Osborne, for his orthotics, which I think about every time my foot strikes the pavement. If you don't need crowds to cheer you on and if you like running through a pristine patch of Americana, then you'll like the Veterans. If you need crowds, try the Flying Pig, my favorite fun marathon. And, if it's cold, dress warmly. I had no frostbite, no cramps, and no complaints. Thanks to Reebok, too.

Nice small-town race. Not a lot of swag, not a lot of crowds, just a nice little double-loop with mostly gently rolling farm scenery. The ups and downs are gentle enough such that you can run the ups hard and pick up a bit of speed on the downs, could be a fast course if you want a good chip time. The local Super 8 opened a couple rooms in the afternoon so guests could return and shower.

I stayed at the Super 8 motel on Frontage Road, not far from the start and finish. Nothing's far in this little town. As others have said, this modest hotel was great. Beautiful flat countryside, with a few rises and dips, but nothing dramatic. Terrific weather - 28 at the start and mid-40s by noon. Well organized and friendly people. No traffic, no hassles with parking. Just you and the road. Plus lots of corn fields, barns, and a few cows. Not for those who like big city crowds and all that buzz.

This is a nice small town race at a reasonable price. Pros: -The parking is ridiculously easy! I was able to park within 2 minutes or less of the starting line. -The race 'expo' is quaint (it is located in a side room of a restaurant) ,however, they were very organized and I got my packet within a minute of arrival. If you are looking for a 'fancy' expogo to a larger race! -The food is great!! The amazing homemade soup was provided by a local church and they also had the usual fruits, protein bars, cookies, and water. -There were plenty of port-a-potties to go around at the start of the race and they were spaced adequately throughout the race. -The race director was available to answer questions before and after the race and is a Veteran himself, which I think adds to the authenticity of the race. Cons: -The crowd support was weak. Although I didn't expect to see many spectators, it was even more quiet than I imagined. By the second lap, most people had left the course area altogether. -Traffic control/course markings. In the last two to three miles of the race (while running uphill) there were several vehicles that plowed through the area, not even bothering to move to the other lane. I literally had to 'jump' in the ditch to get out of the way. This was a little rough at this point in the race. Furthermore, around mile 14-15 there is an area where you run through an industrial park. I could not remember exactly where to turn on the second loop, and the area was not clearly marked. At one point I thought that I may have turned the wrong way, because I was running by myself and did not see any spectators. Thankfully, I did turn the right way; but just a suggestion that they should consider marking this area more clearly next year. -The jackets are really nicebut it should be mentioned that they are Men's sized. I ordered a medium and it was HUGE on me! One small suggestion would be to do both Men's and Women's sizes.

Fantastic small town, late fall race. Flat course, guaranteed cool temps, but the wind got tough out there. Columbia City is picturesque rural town America. I loved every minute of this race. Just beware, I ran almost all of the back 13.1 solo, except for the few people at the aid stations.

This is a nice, small marathon in rural Indiana. Spectators are great (but sparse) on a two-loop course that is mostly flat. Weather was perfect for a marathon (40s and overcast), although windy in some directions. Main disadvantage was the crowned roads. I couldn't find a flat place on most roads and it took a toll on my left knee. Course was rural. If you're looking for constantly screaming fans, fanfare, noise, this one isn't for you. If you love running for the sake of running, you'll enjoy this one. Miles well marked. Plus a reasonable $70 entry fee supports veterans and comes with a nice NB jacket. I stayed a 20 minute drive away in Ft. Wayne for only $50. Parking free, easy, only a 2 minute walk from starting line. As a 50 stater, I liked the Indiana-shaped medal. Good job, organizers!

This is my first year for this northeastern Indiana race. It's a fairly flat course made up of two times around a 13.1 mile loop that goes through town then out into the countryside southeast of town. A lot of local folk come out to cheer you on, which is really great. The only downer is the wind. Out in the country, with most of the fields plowed this time of year, the wind can be strong and cold. But it's a fun race I high recommend.

I've run 3 of the 5 Veterans Marathons. This year was different, though, with new RD and organizer. I thought the organization and attention to detail was a little lower this year. But, perhaps (and i get this as I'm an RD myself) they just had a hard time finding volunteers, so put the marathoners on a double loop of the course. A couple of ideas...give marathoners and half marathoners obviously different bibs. But, it's a nice, small race, so it's a good addition to the list.

The new company running this marathon did a great job. Plenty of parking, a race start that was on time, a clearly marked course, and great soup at the finish. The only thing I didn't like was that they had us run the same half-marathon loop twice. Previously, we had two entirely different loops. But doing the same thing twice made the day more monotonous. It's not a show-stopper, but it made the experience less fun.

I have run in this event the past 3 years, with the last two running the full. This is a great small town event, friendly and very helpful volunteers and great organization by the directors and staff. If you are looking for your first marathon or to just get another under your belt, this is a wonderful event. Not crowded and good people throughout. Again thank you to all the staff and volunteers.

Very well organized race! Being able to pick up your race packet on Saturday morning is an asset but that's only the beginning. I arrived at 7am and was able to park within a quarter mile of the starting line, get my packet, use the restroom and visit with runners all with plenty of time to spare. The runners were by far the friendliest group of marathoners I have encountered. Lots of great conversations! The aid station volunteers were enthusiastic and, while there weren't a lot of spectators, the few along the course were fabulous! (Case in point, the lady with the sign saying 'Where are you from?' who recorded people's locations as they called them out and would let you know if they'd seen other people from your town. Fun!) The course wound through beautiful farmland and some industrial areas (but to me those added to the small town charm). Getting to shower at the YMCA was a capstone on a great race! Only three minor suggestions: 1) More aid stations. The stretch farthest away from the start needed one more. 2) Different bib colors for marathoners and half-marathoners so volunteers at the half finish knew who to give medals to and who to tell where to go to continue the full. 3) Food at the finish. When I finished at 4:33 there was about a quarter of a pot of one soup left. The soup volunteers are great but consider supplementing with other things too.

Just finished the 2013 Veterans Marathon. I signed up because I'm a veteran and thought this would be a good way to get a state,run to honor our vets, and enjoy a little midwest charm. Check, check, and check. About 240 runners signed up for the marathon with slightly more for the half and 5k each. Packet pick up was easy and Columbia CIty is super easy to get to from Ft. Wayne. The premium this year is a New Balance Sequence jacket. On the front right is the new Veterans Marathon logo and the bag is a giant reflective 3RRC reflective logo for Three Rivers Running Company. It's very lightweight and soft and pretty timely considering the conditions There's not much info on the race web site but as it turns out, their Facebook site had lots of good info. I'd recommend linking the two. I generally don't use facebook. The half and full started at the same time and the full just looped the half course twice. The day was brisk with temps at about 40 but winds were stiff at around 25 miles per hour. The race started on time and was not crowded at all. It was marked very well but there were just enough people to see where you were going anyway. The course has rolling hills but nothing really bad at all. The real problem was the water stops. The folks running them were awesome (thank you!) but there were 3-4 miles between some of the most important. Because it was two loops that extra gap in the first half was somewhat tolerable but not having a water stop every mile after 16 is just wrong. Where there were water stops some of them had styrofoam cups or worse... little dental cups. One stop had plastic. And one, correctly, had paper cups. After surviving the hydration issues, leg cramps set in around mile 20. The last 6 miles were about finishing. Upright. After crossing the line and getting my medal it occurred to me to get some water and food. Except all there were were a giant box of pretzels (serve yourself) and gatorade and water. Nothing else. It's not like I finished last ... 4:45. My time two weeks ago at the Marine Corps Marathon was 30 minutes faster. Five year streakers got a very nice 'large' version of the medal - nice touch. I can't recommend the full marathon right now but if you're local and want to run an OK half marathon or 5k honoring vets, this might be the ticket.

This is the perfect size marathon for those looking to just get one done. Weather was nice, people were great.

I'm very disappointed to learn that 2012 was the last running of the Veterans Marathon. This was a great race in all aspects- I was looking forward to running it again:(

This was my 41st Marathon! Woo - Hoo! This race was very underrated and should be considered strongly by runners. A great sweater/pullover, gloves and free parking near the start. The motel was inexpensive and the organizors were very friendly. Here my pros/cons: Pros: 1. Low Cost to enter/stay in Columbia City 2. Very, very friendly people in town 3. General Lee! The Auburn car museum has it! Check out the Science Centre in nearby Fort Worth to see all the angry faces in the Canadian flag. Cons: 1. Not enough water stations (I prefer one every mile) 2. Too many from mile 13 to 14 (3!) 3. Small detail - the medal is nice but I am from the Flavour Flav school of things around my neck. The bigger the better playa'

Found the logistics of getting to and from the race, lodging, food etc..all very convenient. Lots of community involvement; signs welcoming runners and all around support of the sponsored aid stations. Discounts for various running groups and veterans too. The high school band serenaded us at the start while a couple vintage planes buzzed around for a couple hours. The course itself though was not too exciting; rolling through industrial parks, rural-suburban settings and farmland stretches. The second half was much more exposed and thus headwinds played havoc. The second half also was not as closed as the first half and we were running more on the gravel shoulder. All-in-all though, a decent event and the race brings out a social and patriotic bunch. The weather this year was very comfortable (although breezy) and it made for a nice jaunt around Columbia City. Nice frills: fleece jacket and finisher medal.

This was my second year running the Veterans Marathon and it just keeps getting better. The course has a few challenging upgrades, just to make it interesting. The course is well marked and well support with the police and the local fire department for traffic control. Seemed like the aid station were very close together, probably because there were so many of them. The lower than most entry fee, included a fleece jacket in Air Force Blue, one of the nicest I have ever received along with the finishers medal. Packet pickup was excellent, plenty of free parking and hotels nearby. If you are looking for a PR, stay away. If you are looking for a very well organized and supported marathon in a small city it's here.

You should run this race. I think each state has a marathon that is indicative of that state and for Indiana this is that race. Columbia City is a small town in Indiana and the race starts out in the picturesque Courthouse Square. Parking is very easy. There was an Air Force Color Guard, a marching band, guys dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms fire a cannon to start the race. A local high school girl belted out the National Anthem - a perfect rendition. She actually knew all the words (unlike many 'celebrities') and had a great voice. WW2 planes did flyovers during the race. Plentiful water stops and great volunteers. The route takes you across farmland and while the crowds are small there are people on the lawns of their farms to cheer you along. Loved the finisher's medal and the pullover jacket. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful race.

My first year for running this marathon and I really liked it. I have run Boston, Chicago, Columbus, The Flying Pig, and a few other marathons, and this marathon ranks up with the best of them. I live in a rural community and run by myself in the country, so after a few years of running some of the big marathons, I was ready to get back to the country. I got to the race about an hour before the start and easily found a parking spot on the town square near the start. Not only was the city hall open for bathrooms, but also a church on the corner had opened its doors for the runners. Organization was top-notch, volunteers were very enthusiatic, and it was nice to see several locals out on the course cheering on the runners. Plenty of water and gatorade stations with fantastic volunteers. The course had some very gently rolling hills, but not bad. The temperature was about perfect, but just the wind in the 2nd half that got bad, but there's nothing to be done about that. If you're tired of going to the big city marathons with all the crowds and noise, then this is the place to go.

I had some concerns about the hills, but found them to be gently rolling. It's all a matter of perspective but any hill training should get you through it. Enjoyed the scenery and the community. Thanks for hosting.

Well supported race. Although, my feet were killing me from the crowned roads. The most wind i have ran in and along with the non stop rolling hills,sore legs for a couple days. I enjoyed the race but, probably won't run it again. Keep up the good work.

An enjoyable experience from beginning to end. Sign up on line was easy. The cost was $60. The fleece we received was a vest this year. They had knit hats for sale at packet pickup and free disposable gloves as it was expected to be a chilly start (40ish). The hotel was 4 minutes from the starting line and was under $70 per night. The town has many options for food - all the big chains either in town or a short drive away. We ate at a local Italian place. Dunkin Donuts for bagel and coffee right on the way to the race. Parked for free less than 2 minutes walk from starting line. Start time of 8 AM with porta potties available and city hall was open if you wanted to stay warm. Jr/Sr High School band played the National Anthem which was sung quite well by a local student. Cannon started the race and we ran through gauntlet of students playing Stars and Stripes Forever. The course was basically flat for the first half and was windy on this day. The second half was hilly with many rollers (but none too big) and the wind picked up and was not in our favor til the last 4 miles. Elevation gain at the very end (inside of a mile to go) was not very nice, but was nothing unfair. Support on the course was great for such a small marathon - more than enough waterstops. Two chances for gels/bananas and none before mile 15 or so was one minor drawback, but normal for a marathon. Scenery was gorgeous - farms, animals, churches, graveyards, storefronts etc. There were plenty of quiet spots too. Fellow runners were friendly and supportive as well. Finishing medal in the shape of Indiana with a representation of the Iwo Jima flag raising. Free post race soup from the local Methodist Church was DELICIOUS!! I had the chicken noodle. Local Y offered free showers and even a towel since I forgot to bring one. I have now run in 17 and this was the most enjoyable for sure, though definately not the fastest. Run it if you get the chance.

A close friend of mine ran the first Columbia City Veterans Marathon, 2009. He suggested that the course was fast. He noted the few rollers here and there, but none that would significantly impact overall pace. I was hoping for a PR so I signed up. I came to Columbia City anticipating a very simple marathon. I was very pleasantly surprised by how well the event was organized. The packet pick up race morning was easy to find, quick, and friendly. Aid stations were numerous, friendly, and well stocked. The spectators were very, very friendly. The volunteers were fantastic. I was shocked by all of the police/fire assistance. There was a uniform at nearly every intersection! The course was maked perfectly. There were just a few rollers the 2nd half of the race, as expected. It's certianly a fast race. I'll come back and set a PR here one day. Well done Columbia City!

I have run this marathon twice.. In 2009 and 2011.. I ran it yesterday (11-12-2011) and it was my 80th overall marathon.. A rave course and 10+ organization.

Ran this race for the second year in a row and enjoyed it immensely. The organizers really put the runners first. The course is a joy, a tour of rural Indiana. It was also a wonderful way to honor America's Veterans. There were two officers from Ft. Campbell, KY who took an early start and walked the entire marathon course in full ACU uniforms, plus loaded packs. They got a lot of love and persevered. They were an inspiration. Aid stations were well-prepared and well-spaced. Course was basically flat with a few rollers in the 2nd half. I heard some runners complaining about the 'hills'...they have not seen hills...these were modest inclines, when they existed. Highly recommend this race...it's a winner.

My experience with this race very much matched the many positive comments below. The race is well organized, the spectators, though sparse, are extremely friendly and supportive, and the course is a pleasant tour of rural Indiana. It is rolling throughout, but nothing too tough. And there is something to be said for the low stress of a small race. I showed up 25 minutes before the race and had plenty of time to pick up my packet and go to the bathroom. If you are looking for a small marathon in a rural setting, it is hard to imagine there is a better one out there.

I have won this marathon the first 2 years and found the course to be easier then what people believe. The first year I ran conservative thinking there would be large hills to tackle, sure there are some bumps in the road, but nothing major. The second year I ran 2:32 just by knowing the hills are not a big deal. Nearly 20% of the field qualifies for Boston, which is high for a small-town marathon. The awards are custom made and honor the military, the course has good crowd support and a variety of terrian. I would suggest this marathon and half marathon to anyone looking for a small-town race. Eating a local diner afterwards only adds to the experience. Justin Gillette

If you want small-town Americana, where people say, "Good morning" when they pass you on the street, then this is the race for you. The weather was perfect the course was great. I needed a race to help me get ready for the HUFF 50K ULTRA trail marathon in December. The temperatures in the late fall are always hard to prepare for. Though, I knew I couldn't wear the new, great, fleece Veteran's Marathon jacket. No lines for packet pickup on race day. When I registered on line with a credit card I had no problems. What a great deal this marathon is for $55.00. I switched to a long-sleeve winter shirt with a new Veteran's Marathon headband that I bought from Mama Bird. I was surprised that Gary Bird remembered me from the first year. As race director, he put on a great race. The porta-potties had lines about 5- to 10-deep but the wait was less than 5 minutes. The local church and city hall bathrooms were open too. I still was shaking and got nervous and teary-eyed when they sang the national anthem at the start of the race. You can't help but well up at this race if you have an ounce of patriotism in you. I even got a couple of dollars discounted for being a veteran and they put "ARMY" on my bib. There were American flags everywhere and everything else was red, white, and blue. The local high school band played music with the VFW, and Boy Scouts were honor guards. Breakfast was available, or warm drinks in the morning for a small, good will donation. Small-town America at its finest. BOOM - off goes the honest to goodness, big cannon, and we start the race. We ran under some huge flag the firemen hung across the road. I started out with an ad hoc 8:30 pace group. We headed east from the town. The course is really flat, especially the first half. Seven water stops on the first half. The Columbia City girls' cross-country team blew by us like we were standing still. They were 13th in the state meet a couple of weeks earlier. There were red, white and blue stripes across the road at the mile markers and signs with the sponsors' logos. All throughout the countryside, people came out from their farmhouses and really supported the race. Those spectators were very enthusiastic and supportive. They yelled, clapped, waved flags, played music, made signs, and rang cowbells. The first half just went by really quickly; it didn't seem like almost two hours. It was great coming back to the town square. People cheered for the runners all throughout the town. It was very inspirational. I dropped off my headband and gloves and headed back out into the country now west of town for the second half. Then the race got lonely. There were about half as many runners because the halfers had finished and the runners who were left had all strung out. The second half was flat, too. It had warmed up and became a beautiful fall day, which was a lot different from the cool first half of the race. With most of the corn and soybeans already harvested, and the leaves fallen off of the trees, you could see for miles on either side of you. Then about mile 16, I saw the leaders coming back at me. The kept telling me, "Good job" and "Keep at it." It's great that these guys were inspiring me. The GU at the mile 17 water stop really helped. For the next mile we ran on a soft gravel road that was easy on the feet, then over a couple of small, rolling hills. It seemed about half of the people running were not from Indiana. I caught up with one of the guys who was cramping up, but there was no way he could D.N.F. - his extended family was out their supporting him all the way. He was hurting bad but because of his support team he was not going to stop. It's easy for support people and spectators to get around the course. On the lonely country roads, it's a must to run with someone for the last 10K. You pick each other up so youll both run faster. With two miles to go we passed a guy who was doing his 99th marathon. He had bib #99. I think the race director will bend over backwards to help anyone out. Just past mile marker 23 we made the last turn toward town. I could see the courthouse dome on top of a hill off in the distance. Finishing in front of the courthouse was great. Miss Whitley County put my medal on. There was plenty of good food at the finish: bananas, oranges, cookies, pretzels, Gatorade, chocolate milk - everything you could imagine. They still had hot food too. At the finish I ran into other people I had finished with the year before. It was a great end to a marathon. I had to sit for a while and no one cared. They just took off my chip and let me sit for a few minutes - not like another Indiana marathon, where the ushers push you off of the football field grass when you finish. I'm sure next year I can improve by a few minutes more and qualify for Boston. If you want small-town, heartland Americana, where people are courteous and kind, and say, "Good morning," when they pass you on the street, then this is the race for you. The whole town did a great job. I'm looking forward to doing it again next year. This is must-do Indiana race. - Joe A.

Running this race based on the positive comments from 2009 inaugural race, I was not disappointed. The day was weather-perfect, the people were a great source of support, and the water stations were plentiful. I could have done without the hills in the second half, but they were still manageable. Running only big marathons, I loved the small marathon. There is something great about being able to park a block away - no hassle. I would encourage all to give this a try. Way to go, volunteers and organizers!!!

I agree the course is not flat, especially the second half. It got lonely out there with so few marathoners but the runners were all friendly and the few spectators were great. I finished around 4.5 hours so I know I'm not fast by any means, but by the time I went to get the hot food, it was all gone (except some sausage - I'm vegetarian). That was very disappointing. Luckily I'd packed food in my car. Loved being able to pick up my packet the morning of the race, getting to use real bathrooms, parking so close, etc. Water/Gatorade/GU stops/volunteers were great though maybe make their locations on the map more clear (or have a list with more exact locations, e.g., mile 11.5, 13.5, etc.). I started the race with arm warmers but took them off around mile 7. A mile or so later I saw a guy on the side of the road and asked him to put them in my gear bag - and he did! How awesome - thank you! All in all, I enjoyed doing the 26.2-mile race on my 26th birthday! ;)