Lewis & Clark Marathon (MO)

Lots of half marathoners! I did the full and finished ahead of a least 3,000 of them. Did they save me any food worth eating? No! Luckily for me there was plenty of Michelob Ultra Light. Oh yeah: don't oversleep for this race; traffic is bad.

I did the half in 2007 and trained for the full in 2008, only to be disappointed by Mother Nature. Not to worry - she delivered this year!! This was a great race with plenty of support and enough scenery change to keep it interesting. 370 and the bridge is always a highlight for me, and despite the not-so-pretty jaunt on Hwy94, the "country leg" that follows is a great change before heading towards the half. I realize the Family Arena lot was a necessary add to get mileage, and I really appreciated the volunteers there who tried to make it interesting for us. The Superstar photo (mirror) cracked me up. The "add" of the subdivisions was great and added a little hilly interest and an excuse to walk. The mini-crowds in the residential area were awesome. Ending on the Katy trail was perfect relief from the sun, and for the legs. It also allowed for some nice solitude at the end of a long run...definitely a good revivement for the finish line crowd! I'm curious to see how this will evolve into a St. Louis-St. Charles Rock 'n' Roll, yet so sorry to see this great race go away. Thanks for another great run, Fleet Feet!

This was my first marathon so I was not sure what to expect but I was definitely not disappointed with any aspect of the course, the organization, etc. The full marathon starts with the half marathon so there is considerable congestion at the beginning but this is offset by offering areas for different pace groups to gather and chip timing. I was actually still in line for the potty when they fired the starting gun! :) Once underway, the course was enjoyable and there were several spectators along the way. I was able to get good luck hugs and kisses from my family at the 13.1 mark; just what I needed! Water, GU Brew, GU Gels and Chomps and other items were readily available so hydration and nutrition was not an issue. There was also plenty of food and drink left at the finish (even after my 4:30 finish!). I thoroughly enjoyed the Katy Trail portion as the gravel trail was a welcome relief to my legs after all the time on the roads. Have fun with this run!