I'd like to take this time to thank you and everyone else involved with the Mesa Falls Marathon. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. I came from Kansas City to run in my second mararthon and was not disappointed. The people of your town and surrounding communities were among the most friendly I've encountered.

I've attached a word doc that I wrote to recap my race experience. Please use it as you wish. I look forward to one day returning to do this race again.

Sincerely

Rich Stiner

I want to compliment you on a job well done. I had a wonderful time. The event was well organized. The volunteers and staff were very pleasant and helpful. The course was awesome and the weather was nothing short of perfect. Thank you for organizing the event. I’m sure the process is complex and tedious, but you did an outstanding job.

Thank you,
Alan Wynn

Thanks for a great race!  I was raving about it to my fellow runners in Helena this evening, so hopefully a few more of us will make it next year.

Thanks to all of the volunteers.  The dinner, breakfast, water stops, registration, etc. -- everyone was fantastic.  They were great supporters.  The folks with hoses were very much appreciated.

I ran the half marathon and it was a beautiful course, beginning with a run along the river and enjoying views of the Tetons about midway through the course.  My husband  traveled with me and we enjoyed a magnificent long weekend:  viewing trout and an enormous moose at the Big Springs near Island Park; checking out Mesa Falls and the incredible restored Visitors Center at the Upper Falls; fishing the Warm River; standing in awe of Cave Falls; and hiking along the Bechler River.  Next time we'll stay a week!

The huckleberry milkshakes were a real treat as well.  We came back a couple of days later and bought two more to savor on the trip home.

Mary Vandenbosch
Helena, MT

“You did a great job with the race. It was awesome and beautiful and fun..... I was there with all those Ririe girls in the matching outfits and they all loved it too. (They are training for St. George) Anyway, the race was awesome. Thanks for all the hard work that went into it. I've been home for a while now and I'm craving more of the yummy finish line fruit.” JH, Rexburg

Thanks to all for a wonderful marathon. I had a great time. Best wishes all the future ones. HR, Wisconsin

Great race! Loved it!
JC, Idaho

Just returned back home to Orlando, FL, and wanted to thank both of you for organizing a TERRIFIC race. It was definitely one of my best marathon experiences to date -- the plush busses, beautiful scenery and varied terrain along the race course, good course marking and traffic control, unique wood medals and awards, nice race bag goodies, great post-race food, friendly volunteers and spectators, awesome race shirt -- who could ask for more??? I will surely recommend it to others. SP, Florida

Thanks to you and your team for a grand time in Ashton, ID!! The scenery was spectacular, the support was excellent and the massage was the best. I had a wonderful weekend. The worst part was coming back to work today.
This was my 60th marathon and I'd have to put you in my top 10. I don't do large urban races anymore. I don't need a rock band to get me through the miles. Sky scrapers are not inspiring. Majestic scenery takes me to a zen place and I usually finish with a smile on my face. You provide a grand venue and back it up with well organized support. THANK YOU. DR, California--50 Stater, Marathon Maniac #107

Thanks for a great race day. All was near-perfect…… I really enjoyed the course and community. I like small town marathons, the wide open spaces and places, and the serenity of running with God. Thanks. We plan to come back next year. You all did a most excellent job. GS, Utah

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the Mesa Falls race. It was the best one that I have done and will definitely be back next year! Thanks for all of your hard work! MW, Idaho

I just wanted to let you all know what an enjoyable 1st marathon experience last weekend was for me. Although the downhill hindered my time I had a great time. I wanted to thank the city of Ashton and all the volunteers everyone was so happy and eager to help. I really felt the small town friendliness that we all love. The race seemed very organized and the route was unbelievably beautiful. I've already recommended the race to family. Thanks for a great first time marathon experience!! S and M, Idaho

Thank you, I do want you to know that my wife and neighbor….. were very pleased with the whole experience. This was their 2nd marathon but they have ran many 1/2 marathons and they were impressed with the whole effort. I think the only thing they complained about was when they dropped down to the river it was hard to pass some one because you had to jump to the other track......but they said the scenery
was worth that inconvenience. Hey I can't complain either....us husbands
put in our pontoon boats at Stone Bridge and about 3/4 the way down I caught a 23'" 6 lb brown trout on my fly pool, what a thrill. We were able to still be at the finish line when they came in (or we would of been dead ducks). I hope you keep it up....who knows I may join in next year....1/2 not whole...the old body wouldn't hold up for that length....I'm a mountain biker. Thanks again. D & K Idaho

Thanks to you for hosting a great event. It was my first half marathon and it went off without a glitch. Great job and see you next year. WP, Montana

Just wanted to say that everything was great!!!! A friend from the Boise area who ran the marathon said it was by far the most well organized race he had run and this was his 10th. He really appreciated all the signs, volunteers, etc. which made it very easy for an out of towner to get around. He will definitely spread the word. Thanks again!!!! SS, Idaho

Thank you for all of your efforts in organizing and pulling off what was, for us, one of the most scenic and enjoyable races we've ever run. We look forward to doing it again next year. S Family, Washington

Hi: Thanks for another great running race. As always, it was extremely well organized and a lot of fun. I liked the new style of women's shirts and the aid stations were perfect. I also think dividing the trail with the spray paint line helped a lot in alleviating congestion. I didn't notice the impact of the additional runners at all. Hope to see you next year. EP, Wyoming

Many thanks! As always, the committee did a great job, and it was well run. I had a great time. BC, Utah

Meredith and I wanted to thank you for an amazing marathon from pre-race dinner to the marathon itself to post race. We have never seen a community get behind an event like Ashton. Though we are from San Antonio, TX, I am originally from a small West Texas town of 800. Ashton reminded me of a small hometown's good points over a large city such as San Antonio…..B & M, Texas

Thank you for all you did! It was my first race and I had a blast! Ann, Idaho

So glad I came back, it was every bit as lovely and fun as I remembered. We drove home through Yellowstone this year, so that was especially memorable. Thank you for all you do to put on a first-class event. I love small races and yours is just grand. AY, South Dakota

Much to my surprise yesterday, I opened my mailbox to find the sweatshirt that I had worn for the first several miles of the race!! Wow... thank you for tracking me down. Around mile 6 or 8, I had simply tossed the sweatshirt to an aid station with the instruction "Find a good home for this." I figured they'd keep it or donate it... I had no expectation that it would be returned. I deeply appreciate the fact that whoever was at the aid station noted my bib number, and that the shirt found its way back to me here in Virginia. By the way, this was my fourth marathon, and our family favorite so far. My wife and son were able to get much more involved in this one than in any prior ones. I think the fact that they were able to see me so often on the point-to-point course gave them a much better appreciation of what it is like to actually run one of these. Plus, my son actually jumped out of the crowd near the end and ran with me to the finish line!! The photo my wife took at that point shows a father with a smile a million miles wide... rather than the exhausted person who had just run 26.2 miles. Thanks again for a job well-done overall!! B & V, Virginia

I have been meaning to drop you a note and tell you how impressed we were with your marathon, and your beautiful state. My husband and I have been race directors for several small local races, and we can only imagine the work that goes into putting on a marathon and half marathon. You guys make it look easy! And I know it is anything but. Everything was so perfect from the helpful race instructions you e-mailed ahead of time, the pasta dinner, the breakfast, the smooth and easy transportation to the start, the BEAUTIFUL course - I suppose you were also responsible for all the friendly folks we ran with - the cheering section and tireless announcer at the finish line, the home baked bread and boysenberry malt, and very especially the very cool race shirt that fit everyone from my XL husband to women's S me! Very cool! We were all grins all weekend. You can see in the attached photo that Bobby and I are also sporting our potato lapel pins. The only sad note was that my warm-up jacket did not turn up at the finish line. It was inexpensive, and I told myself no big deal, but I have missed it, and was in fact on my way out the door to shop for another jacket when the mailman arrived with your package containing my jacket! Far beyond the call of duty. You have my heartfelt thanks, and I am recommending your marathon to all our marathoning friends. Many happy miles to you all, and many thanks again for putting on a world-class race. PB, Illinois