Niagara Falls International Marathon - Race Reviews

Absolutely beautiful course, very scenic. Good support for a small marathon with less than a thousand runners. They also run a half marathon and a 10k and 5k with a relay at the same time. I would suggest a separate finish line for marathon runners. Decent expo not crowded at all. Great finishers medal. Really awesome and unique crossing International boundaries from USA into Canada. A bit of a timing delay in the beginning was annoying. The timer had problems with something causing an almost 20 minute delay of the Marathon. But once we got going it was well worth it. I would definitely recommend this race if you are looking for a fast course it's very flat.

We came up from Texas. I competed in the half marathon on my handcycle. We truly enjoyed our trip. Everyone was super friendly. Package pick up was a little weird but all in all I had fun.

Not sure what to say here. The course is nice and the weather cooperated this year. Spectators were sparse but those there were vocal. Now the rest - the expo was an utter disaster. The venue was too small for the number of participants, line-ups too long and the expo itself virtually non-existent. Food at the end of the race was blah and really get a better drink on route. My worst experience after 25 years of running Niagara.

Omg I hated everything about this marathon! I have done many different marathons in the past 17 years and loved most of them; a couple were a little disappointing and most were incredible but Niagara was the worst! I will tell people not to do Niagara. Okay the course was boring and nothing exciting along the way, not even music or spectators to encourage you on this challenging run. I was alone on my run as I went on my own and there was no pace bunny past 5 hours, which was a huge disappointment, as when you are with your pace group you get to connect with others. The bus driver taking us from the Crowne Hotel to the start line in Buffalo did not have a clue where to go and got lost! It just went on and on with one disappointment after another.

I ran the half marathon this year after running the full the last 5 years. The expo was so-so at best; not many giveaways and exhibitors were sparse. Start line corrals might be a good idea for the future. The course itself is great, loved that was moved up 2 weeks from previous years. Always windy but can't control the weather. The nuun on course was awful - tip to race director: go back to Gatorade! Post-race - a disappointment - a bagel, banana, chocolate milk, water (one only as I was told!) and $7 beers if so inclined. This race has the potential to become a great fall race but needs to improve or it will remain a mediocre event.

Parts of this race were great. The start in Buffalo at the museum, the enthusiasm of the few residents who turned out along the course, the volunteers, the crossover the bridge to Canada. But most of it was disappointing. There were few runners along the course, which was itself largely monotonous, so for most of it runners were alone. The weather for 2017 was awful - hot, sunny, and WINDY - 35-50 MPH headwind or side-wind the entire way. Knocked my footing out several times. High DNF rate. Nuun electrolyte drink served at aid stations was super diluted, so yucky and didn't do the job. Post-race food sparse and the chocolate milk can't be consumed by those who can't drink cow's milk. A real struggle all in all, and disappointing.

I found that the start time was odd for both the half and full, of 10am. Wasn't bad for me doing the half as it simply meant being done on time for lunch, but for my friends who are full runners - they had to run straight through a meal. Why it doesn't start at 8am we couldn't figure out. This would get everyone in nice and early. Even 9am would be better. Also made check-out expensive, as those marathoners wrapping up in 4hrs or more now had to pay an extra $50 to the race hotel for going beyond the allowed late checkout time. Again, something an earlier start time would address. Most pace bunnies didn't show up, so you had to find one near your desired time and make last minute changes. Our bunny opted to try to run to accommodate what would normally have been two different times, so that made it challenging. Not sure if it was the windy rainy weather that caused them not to show? Poor planning? No one seemed to know at the start line what was going on. The expo was disorganized - free samples were set out all at once as 'help yourself' so that when others arrived many items were completely gone. While you would hope that people would be ethical, you have to plan for them not to be. Someone passing 'one' to everyone would have been better. Shirts are a garish colour - yellow would be ok if reflective, but they aren't. The volunteers were wonderful - so much credit to them! The view was unbelievable. Was still nice to do for the amazing view, but it's not one that I'm likely to do again.

This was my 90th marathon! The course starts off at an art gallery. Lots of cool sculptures in the gallery and outside. The photo exhibit of Fran Drexler was good as well. The runners were limited in leaning against walls in the lobby and using the indoor toilets. The portion of the course in the US was nice but they were missing mile markers. When you cross to Canada the course gets a bit dull. Beautiful houses but very few spectators. The cold wind and rain made it a tough race for many runners but there are more aid stations on the Cdn side.. The few spectators were really nice with one lady handing out gloves! Food was okay but I would prefer a disposable jacket like in previous years. I would also like an earlier start time since my first meal of the day is at 5 pm by the time I am all washed up, etc. Expo was okay as well. Not on my list of best races to do but it is okay. It was great meeting runners from all over the US as well.

To start can't beat the course. To run over the Peace Bridge into Canada is amazing. Course is flat; was windy and rainy but can't do anything about that! Ran with a group of 20 who came for the run; all of us disappointed with the organization - why no year on the shirts? I see that from prior years posts people have commented on that. Race kit pick-up disorganized, expo was pathetic and post-run food etc was almost non-existent when we crossed (4 hours). This event needs to get a lot better from an organization standpoint to compete with other events in this time frame. Not certain we will be returning.

Ran the half this year. This is one of the most organized races I have ran. This was my #17. The expo was small, but that didn't bother us, we have seen the big marathon expos and the small ones, they all just try to sell you things. We stayed at the host hotel where the bus shuttles picks up, so getting on the bus was a breeze, no wait. There were warming tents, hydration stations at the start. No assigned corral, but given the size of the race (under 2,000), there was no traffic jam at the start. The course is scenic, beautiful, flat and went by fast despite the strong wind and sprinkle, but that's the weather, you sign up for races knowing that weather is the variable. Hydration stations were adequate. Donut bites, banana, bagel, water and Cliff bar at the finish. The only complain is that the photographer was no where to be found for the pictures with our medals. No big deal. We just came back for pictures afterwards. We were given a rain gear to keep warm and dry. Certainly a nice touch. Shuttle for runners were there waiting and so within 10 minutes of my finish, we were back in our hotel room. Highly recommended!

This was the loneliest race I've ever run. There's no reason why this shouldn't be a huge destination marathon but the organization is lacking. Little to nothing available at expo as far as 2016 race apperal and the participant shirts have no date or indication which race you ran. Might seem insignificant but to someone who has completed 50+ races, it's a red flag. Cutting corners and going cheap will not attract people who'll come back year after year. This race needs to define their target runner demographic and promote this event more. Communication was zero.

The course is nice and flat although this year was quite windy - can't do anything about that though. Found the expo very disappointing, and the food at the finish line was sparse - small bagel pieces, a banana and water. This has the makings of a premier event (location, course) but it seems as if the organizers can't decide if they want it to stay as a small race or increase its'recognition factor and give those running a bit more. For what you pay vs. what you get, there are so many better options around at that time of year.

This is a beautiful run along the Niagara Parkway, crossing the Peace Bridge. The day was beautiful, but very windy (over 40 km/hr). PROS: - Excellent expo with lots of vendors and very efficient volunteers. - The start was at the Albright-Knox Museum, where we could go inside and stay warm and relaxed before the race. - Best Finish with all the fans and Falls in your view - Very good volunteers at the water stations (really pumped you up) CONS: - Start time is very late (10am)! The organizer can easily start the race at 9am. You have to wake up early to take the bus to the start, so by the 2 hour mark in the marathon, you are starving. - Organization of water stations along the course is very inconsistent. The water stations should be evenly spaced out instead of bunched up in the last few miles. - Please use normal sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade. Cytomax is very rare. I have done 25+ marathons, and have never seen Cytomax as the sports drink other than this marathon. - Finish Line food was very skimpy for the marathoners. More variety would be nice (oranges, yogurt, chocolate milk, etc..) - No gels provided in the marathon, which is pretty standard in most marathons.

I really enjoyed this race. You get to run in two countries! Race marks are in miles and km. Half and full races don't start in the same place (no running around walkers or big groups of halfers). Beautiful scenery and really easy logistics. Bus to Buffalo The race expo and packet pickup is in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. The morning of the race, they bus you to Buffalo, after a stop at the border for passport inspection. They were super casual about this. The border agent asked everyone to hold up their passport, then just waved people through. Something about riding a bus to the start makes 26 miles feel really longit feels like you're driving FOREVER. I just thought this was a splendid well-run race. The expo was a hoot not a lot to see, but they loaded up your bag with samples and freebies, including two boxes of pasta, a huge bag of candy, boxes of tea, a little Canadian flag, and some granola. The start Amazing! Possibly the best start line experience ever. Located in a park near a lake and the Albright-Knox art museum, they opened up the museum so racers could wait out of the cold. But they didn't just open the lobby. The WHOLE museum was available for wandering. There were racers checking out the video installations, taking a gander at the good selection of modern icons, from Jim Dine, to Mark Rothko, Kiki Smith, Fred Tomaselli and Louise Bourgeois. It was amazing - just so nice and what a cultured way to start a race. The race was small enough that there were no waves, though there were a good smattering of pacers, so you could align yourself with one of them if you liked. The course CLOSED course. For all 26.2 miles. That in itself is pretty great. The first four or five miles wide through residential Buffalo, eventually making it's way to the Peace Bridge, the same bridge we'd been bused over earlier. A special lane had been set up for us, so no passport check. Border agents just made sure everyone was wearing a race number. The bridge was the only hill on the course. People honked at us as they passed, which was cute. Off the bridge, you do some cloverleafs to blow some mileage before eventually turning north along Niagara Blvd, which runs alongside the Niagara river. So for the entire last 16 miles, you've got a lovely river view, with fall trees along the water. Occasionally, in the distance, you can see the spray from the falls in the air. That's the finish line! Roads were in good shape, with no tricky potholes or weird surfaces. Aid stations were about every two miles, stocked with water and Cytomax. There was one station that had gels, and another that had gummy blocks. Spectators There really weren't any, just occasional homeowners on their front lawn. But, if you were inclined, it would be a spectator-friendly course if you had a car. It would be pretty easy to see your racer after the bridge, then zip ahead and see them periodically throughout the race. But if you need lots of cheers, this isn't a race for you. Finish The peaceful Niagara river eventually starts to get a little choppier, and you starting thinking 'we're getting close!' Then suddenly, there you are. The finish line is right at the Horseshoe falls, with an announcing calling out names. The medal is a little boring, but does have a little middle bit that flips from the US flag to the Canadian one. Standard stuff at the food table: pretzels, bananas. From there, it's an easy walk back to your hotel. Highly recommended  a pretty, serene course. It was fairly windy  but that's always a risk when you run near water. I didn't find it that bad, but others were complaining, and I saw it described in the next morning's newspaper as 'challenging.'

Pros: 1) flat fast course. 2) interesting scenery 3) visiting the Niagra region for the weekend was fun. 4) Size of the race was comfortable. 5) Finish, start and baggage well run. 6) good weather in terms of temperature , but windy. Middle of the road: 1) the expo was an expo, the medal was a medal. 2) the bus trip from the finish through customs to the start wasn't comfortable, but it was no worse than Boston. 3) The crowd support was often sparse, but the people who were there were enthusiastic and I appreciated them. Cons: 1) No sports drinks at every aid station - this is a must. 2) Food/drink at finish was the skimpiest of the ten marathons and twenty halfs I have done in the last decade. I would come back for the course and the trip to the falls, but some Gatorade, please!

Overall this was a very good marathon, but I think the slower runners were short-changed: Pros: 1. This was my 19th marathon and this was a great, flat, beautiful course. 2. The pre-race 'shakeout' run on Saturday morning was great, with a nice breakfast at Planet Hollywood afterward. 3. The transportation to the start line and the starting line itself were well organized and well done. 4. Lots of cheering spectators in Buffalo. Cons: 1. I was running at a pace for a 5:15 finish (before a knee injury near mile 19) and finished to get a medal, but there was no HoneyMax on the course from the mile 15 water station on, until the last mile. I suspect the half marathoners used it up and no one planned for the rest of us. Pretty tough when you have no energy replacement for the last 11 miles. 2. Strong headwind from mile 11 to the end - but we were just unlucky that a weather front was approaching (the temperature was perfect). 3. Very few spectators on the Parkway, but again that was expected. The few that were there were great.

PROS: -Flat & Scenic Course -Relaxed start of race -Expo is small/nice w/local vendors -Nice medal, recovery jacket and participant shirt CONS: -Windy 20/mph head wind, can't be controlled but expect it -Plastic cups on course at hydration stations couldn't be crimped to drink while running -Pace groups- I contacted organizers before race for pace group times, on race day pace group times were different or some were not present, causing me to change my race strategy five minutes before start of race -Finish line food was disappointing My Experience:I had read the comments from prior years and planned accordingly such as staying at hotel in USA to avoid race morning transportation, border crossing and pre race wait time; carried my own gels only relying on water to be provided on course; brought disposable garments (gloves/arm warmers/headband) to deal with cooler temps early on; had my family bring food/drink to finish line for me. Overall an enjoyable experience and smaller race, fast course time expectations were somewhat offset by windy conditions (which seem to be normal for this race) and some frustration on having planned to use a specific pace group which wasn't present as had been confirmed by race organizers. If you plan around the known shortfalls the rest is very nice!

I have experience with several half- marathons but this was my first full marathon. The course and organization overall was adequate. I had read previous reviews so i was prepared for inadequate hydration stations and long lonely miles. What i wasnt prepared for was abandoned water stations, early road openings( before the time limit of 7 hours), and early finish line breakdown.. Like the other reviewer stated we payed the same fees and expect same finish right up to the 7hr deadline... Very dissapointed...

Definitely this race could be a better one. The weather was miserable - chilly day with strong head wind - this factor was beyond control of the organisers. Expo was excellent with many vendors. Marathon runners had to be cleared by Canadian Border Service before obtaining the bib numbers. Technical long sleeve T-shirts were available in another room. So called goodie bags with very limited supply of samples were distributed in yet another location in the mall. The bus transportation from Niagara Falls to Buffalo was OK with the exception of more than half of an hour of waiting for the personal interview with US Border Service. The start was well organised; we had a chance to stay warm under the roof of the Albright-Knox Gallery and view the exhibition of paintings. The race course took us through residential area of Buffalo, across Peace Bridge and a very long and windy Niagara Parkway towards the finish line just before the Falls. Aid stations were manned by helpful and smiling volunteers who offered cold water and cold honey drink and NOTHING else. This was a total failure and disaster. I expected much more for the price. At the finish line we got heavy medal, wind breaker, more cold water, bananas, apples and oranges. Again, the selection was not impressive. Spectators were visible at the start, finish and not many in between.

Wow what a diference a year makes! Such a disappointment from last year and previous years. Pros Medal was great Spectators although sparse were great and you can't beat the course - it's flat and scenic even though windy but; Cons Having an expo in the hallway of a mall was just ridiculous. Echoing other comments what happended to the food at the end? Plastic cups I have never seen during a race and the Honeymax used just tastes awful  why not stick with gatorade or powerade? The shirt while a great design why would it not have the year on it. Hopefully they are not saving the extras for next year and using the same design/colour. This is my 12th year running either the full and the half in Niagara and I have seen significant improvements in the organization etc of this race but this year just seemed to go downhill. Hopefully that trend will not continue.

This was my 5th marathon, following Chicago, Pittsburgh, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Air Force, so I've had a mix of large, medium, and small race experiences. I'm glad I read the previous reviews about some of the issues with this race and prepared accordingly. Bus loading in the morning was chaos with the volunteers unable to keep things organized, busses overwhelming customs on the way to the finish, and massive lines for the bathrooms with not nearly enough facilities. On the course, plastic cups made drinking and running very difficult, and later in the race hydration stops became more sparse (instead of the usual more dense). At the finish, the medal ribbons were dirty/smeared with something, and only oranges, bananas, and bagged apple slices. If you do run this race, make sure to bring your own post-race snacks.

Not sure what happened with the organization of this marathon. I was thankful that I carried my own water, but would have liked some other choice along the route. There was nothing to choose from at the end of the marathon, where the runners needed it most. Due to my running partners injury we were late in getting to the finish line, but we did finish. I paid the same registration fee as the front runners and would expect a little more than a dark green banana at the end. There was no crowd support for 90% of the race, so if you need that to get through, don't rely on it. I did this marathon based on the advice from a previous runner of this marathon and it seems like something had changed from previous years.

Niagara Falls is the home of my PB and I have run it four times since then. I loved each experience. I also suggest anyone who runs this race to read John L. Parker's 'Again to Carthage.' Without giving away too much the final chapters are set on this course. What an honour it must have been to host the US Olympica Trials- back in the day. I strongly recommend this to recreational and competitive marathoners alike. Cheers!

This was one of the most scenic beautiful courses I have ever run. I ran the half marathon. Good Expo lots of vendors. Lots of things to do if you're traveling from out of town. I was impressed with the organization at the finish line. We were given a commemorative jacket that zipped up. Our medals were the same as the full marathon only they said different events. As far as the person complaining that they couldn't take food inside the museum at the start I would say you were lucky to have shelter! We stood outside for an hour and that is just part of running a race. I have run many marathons where their was no museum to stand in so I guess it is all relative.This was a great, great, run!

This was a great marathon, with effective coordination between the two countries. Packet pick-up was downtown, where each runner had to be cleared by Canadian Customs before getting their number (bib). Then the host hotel was right where the Rainbow Bridge comes across into Canada. Buses were loaded there, and we headed toward Ft. Erie, crossing into the U.S. at the Peace Bridge. The race started at 10:00 a.m. which seemed unusual - until you saw the bus loads of runners with each individual having to appear before a customs inspector. Once through Customs, we were dropped off near the start-line. We had shelter in an area museum until the race started. The first four miles were in Buffalo, then we re-crossed the Peace Bridge - this time on foot (and except for the bridge, this course was flat). We looped under the bridge and headed toward Fort Erie along the river. At mile seven we reversed course and ran the rest of the way along the Niagara River. Niagara Parkway was closed to vehicles, so we had the whole road! The finish line and recovery area were right along side the Horseshoe Falls; we could watch the water through the rapids just before it went over the drop. It was awesome. There were plenty of aid stations along the way. Around mile five they were handing out gum-drop type candy. And another station soon after that. Then there were miles and miles of aid stations, most with only water, some with cytomax too. That was poor. The volunteers said 'water is all they gave us to hand out'. I would say that in the second half, most stations had only water; a few had cytomax (carb beverage) but until mile 25, that was about it. At or near 25, they had everything to hand out and we were so thankful. It made a huge difference the last mile or so. The last half mile or so was downhill grade - nice. The finish line was well done. Thin jackets to help us stay warm (temperature was probably in the mid 40s; mostly cloudy, with sun-breaks and windy too). They handed out medals, and had bananas, apple-granola bars and pita-bread; water too. There were shuttle buses to take us back to the hotel, but it was not clear where they were. I had to ask, and still was not certain which buses were for bag drop pick-up and which were for the shuttle. It could have been better marked, but once I got over there, it became clear. This was a great race, was scenic, and flat. They did a great job, and I recommend this marathon event.

I have completed the Niagara Falls International Marathon two years in a row (2012 and 2013). The course is amazing!!! The Niagara Parkway is beautiful with lots of support from the cheering stations. This is a must course for any one who wants to run a small marathon, and bring a good time. Unfortunately, the organization can use some improvement. This year (2013), we were not allowed to enter the Museum with any food or drink, and not allowed to use the restrooms or sit down on the floors. The race director should find a location where the runners can keep their muscles warm because sitting in 1 degree weather (32 Fahrenheit) for an hour and a half is not the best when you have a marathon to run. Also, you can make the start time earlier (such as 9am) to reduce the wait time for the runners. The volunteers and cheering stations are amazing!! Scenic, flat and fast course!!!

2013 was my fourth time doing this race. I originally registered for the 2012 race but had to defer to 2013 due to medical issues. Although this was my worst marathon finish (due to lack of training and getting sick 2 days before race day), this is still a well organized event that is now both runner and walker friendly, with the course open for 7 hours. Course support on the U.S. side (first 4 miles or so) has improved markedly over the years, as has spectator support on the Canadian side. The only issue I had with the organization this year was that the expo opened a few minutes late on Friday afternoon. With so many world events impacting marathons these days, it is gratifying that this event is still allowed to take place without a hitch, a testament to the friendship between our two nations.

This is a smaller, well-organized regional race with the distinction of starting in the US and finishing in Canada. The expo was rather small and held in dimly lit space, but packet pickup was painless. It was good to have uniform, generously sized clear drop bags, although writing numbers in magic marker doesn't really work (bib tags should be used for that purpose). Buses to Buffalo from Niagara Falls on race morning were on schedule, and there were enough porta-potties at the start. You get to run through nicer areas of Buffalo for the first 3-4 miles, and then it's across the Peace Bridge into Fort Erie, Canada, and along the scenic Niagara River Parkway to Niagara Falls. Vehicle traffic was never an issue, you get to use the full roadway except for the bridge. The bridge is also the only hill, otherwise it's flat with a few tiny undulations and a downhill finish. Spectators were few and far between except for the cheering stations, and the Parkway felt lonely sometimes but that's not really an issue. Finish line amenities were adequate, although the area was a bit congested and muddy, and baggage pickup could have been faster if they had more volunteers. I would happily recommend this race, if not for two major problems: prevailing winds and lack of sports drink at aid stations. Winds are usually North/Northwest at this time of the year, and could be fairly strong and cold. The course is point-to-point in the same direction, so you are likely to be running into the wind from Mile 9 to the finish. This is not easily fixed, but the second problem can be: sports drink (Cytomax, which has a bit of an odd taste) was only available every 5 miles, and what was there was extremely weak and watery, except for one station and the finish line. It was served in regular cups, not 'pre-mixed bottles' as advertised. There is no reason they could not serve it every 2 miles, and mix it properly. If you need more than water, you should probably carry your own drink. Other than that, no complaints.

This was my first marathon. Loved the fact that each mile was marked clearly and we waited in the warm Knox Gallary before the start of the race where folks were able to sleep.The only hill was at the Peace bridge going over the US/Canadian border.

This course is flat and fast and has the potential to be a PB for most runners... if the weather cooperates. This course is on average in a Northwesterly direction which is opposite to prevailing winds. The 30+km per hour WNW headwinds were definitely a factor in the 2012 and likely the reason the top 10 percent of the field ran second half splits on average more than 10 minutes longer than their first halves. Water stations were great, volunteers enthusiastic and supportive but the local population doesn't seem to notice that the event is going on (thin spectator participation). Buses leaving at 7 a.m. for a 10 a.m. was inconvenient. While an international marathon is exotic, it doesn't feel exotic when sitting on a floor for 2 hours at the starting line. A start near Point Abino would avoid the border, make the course on average more northerly (less prone to headwinds) and would probably allow for a start a full hour earlier (or a bus ride a full hour or more later). The small field allowed us plenty of room to run which was great and a good reason to choose this marathon.

I saw a number of comments from 2011 that indicated that the water stops were too few and far between, so want to give the race organizers kudos for fixing that. After mile 3 there were water and cytomax stops every mile I think, and the volunteers were terrific and friendly. The organization was great, very easy from beginning to end and Canadians are delightful and friendly. My only complaint was that most of the route had hardly any spectators. The long (and gorgeous) Niagara Parkway was very, very lonely so if you like or need crowds this isn't a great race for you. Finally, the wind was brutal - strong and steady and in my face for the last 14 miles (no kidding), but one can hardly blame the organizers for that.

Pros: * great organization, particularly considering the logistics of a cross-border race; * beautiful course / scenery; * Knox-Albright art gallery in Buffalo was an excellent pre-staging / start area; * fast course (almost entirely flat, a little bit bendy - winds were not too bad on race day, but they can be at that time of year in Niagara). Cons: * there was only one aid station that served sport drink in the first 8 miles (one other served water only); * almost no spectators so the run feels at times like an ordinary weekly long run; * Niagara Falls, Ontario is an attractive destination only for the kitsch-inclined (but the surrounding areas can be quite nice - see Niagara-on-the-Lake, for example); * the finish line is over a mile from most hotels with no shuttle service Depends on your view: * small field of runners means that you may be running the last 15-20 miles entirely alone (I was - finished at 3:09); * aid stations were manned by local high school students - some groups were great and brough much-needed enthusiasm and energy; at one station I had to take my own drinks off the table;

On a clear day, this is a spectacular course. It is mostly flat and very scenic throughout, especially with the finish at the Falls. 2011 was my 3rd time running this marathon (I PRd here in 2002). The organization has only improved over the years. Although spectator turnout is nothing like what you will see in the big cities, those that do come out compensate in terms of encouragement and enthusiasm. I highly recommend this race, especially if you get to run it in good weather.

Great weather, great scenery, fantastic volunteers. Even the border guards were friendly. Canada Rocks.

Niagara Falls is definitely not a fitness and wellness town. The time I spent there I could immediately tell who was running the marathon just by looking at them. Otherwise, it's very much a casino town where everyone smokes and is heavy, or it's a bunch of 'Jersey Shore' looking kids who are thin not from working out (fill in the blank). You are on your own with this run, and if you like that, it's fine. For 2011 we had a perfect, sunny, peaceful day to run the event. Small field of entrants, no pushing or shoving; I loved that. The medal and Brooks apparel were great. If you're single, don't have kids and are coming to Niagara Falls alone, it's a lonely, depressing place. Find someone to tag along or something. Other than the race, there'll be nothing to do. 

This race is probably great for faster runners (under 4hrs) - flat & not crowded. However, there were very few water stops for those of us in the back. The race advertised stops at 2, 4, 6 then every mile. This wasn't even close! Mile after mile with nothing! Not even a table with someone apologizing for running out. The organizers must have known they couldn't staff all the stops and should have told us at the expo - then I would have carried my own water! It was very disheartening to push myself to the next mile marker just to find it empty.

I have run over 30 marathons all over the world. This course rates as one of the most scenic and varied I have ever run. Mason City part is pretty typical small town sights, but the course swings out into broad Iowa farmland and come in and out of very pretty parks that surround Mason City. The parts along the various rivers and streams are charming. If you want to get a taste of life in the heartland of America, this is surely the race to see it. As a bonus, the course is well organized and the volunteers are very friendly and accomadating, e.g. they kept the Sat registration open for me when I arrived after closing time. Another bonus is hot showers, towels, shampoo in the HS where the race finishes. Course is generally very well market, with mile markers at every mile but no clocks or people with the time of race  so you are on your own for time keeping. Abundant water, gator aide and bananas along the course. Bottom line: this is an unbeatable small town marathon.