Jamie "Hotrod" Miller's Staging Area

This was a very low key race with packet pickup either the night before or the morning of the race. There was plenty of parking and bathrooms. Race takes place on Tryon Farms trails and consists of 8 loops, for me I believe made the race go by faster, as you also get to pass the aide station 8 times…less gear that you have to carry. The race director was very knowledgeable and friendly as well as the volunteers. The belt buckle was awesome. I will certainly be back next year!

Expo was average, which for me was good for easy in easy out. No finisher shirt did leave me pretty bitter about this race (especially since I am making a 50 state quilt & had to spend another $20) race cost with shirt $140. Start was easy to get to (plenty of near by parking) and had plenty of bathrooms, cool fireworks! The course was nice with minimal hills, and the volunteers & police officers were awesome! Aide stations even had 5 hour energy’s. The after party was inside the convention center and had quite a bit of beer, finisher food boxes and pizza for all. The medals we just okay, the extra bottle opener was better than the medal. They do shut everything down & open roads pretty quick so maybe more challenging for the back of the pack. Overall the marathon/race itself was great, the swag just meh.

The Shuttle (super nice) buses departed early morning to get us up the mountain (a bit too early with a 1.5hour wait outside for the race to start); however, in our race packet they did equip us with a Mylar blanket and gloves. At first after crossing the starting line you have a slight incline but with the altitude for this Indiana girl it certainly made breathing difficulty. From there was mainly all down hill, with a couple bumps in the road for the next 13 or so mile. Amazing views and I even saw some wild mustangs while in route. Aid stations were very plentiful but certainly not a spectator friendly course. The second half was less exciting and less of a drop, with the heat of the day starting to kick in. The finish line was great and after party was pretty nice too – 1 Free Beer! The medals were actually pretty cool (I didn’t think they were gonna be all that) and the finisher tshirt was nice too – very bright/colorful. Then back on the bus to ship us back to our cars…very well organized! I would have to say this is the sorest I have been in 34 marathons, with no downhill training.

The expo was small, but very nicely presented – even saw a 50 stater table there. I like the shirt design which was wicking and matched the character theme (this year it was the year of the lion). The course went into a nice neighborhood (but with a lot of hills), and several different bike trails. I feel like we were on a lot sidewalks and roadways – traffic control was great!!! Aide stations were good with water/ Gatorade, and plenty of Gu especially in those later miles. Course was well marked with mile markers and pink arrows on the ground. I absolutely Loved the medals this year (except they had wrong date/year – understandable due to COViD cancellations). I enjoyed dressing up with my group as Wizard of Oz characters. The announcer/DJ did a great job calling out finishers, while keeping the music rockin’. The post-race food was good (burritos), but unfortunately no beer. However, the Red Crow Brewing is right down the street and has plenty of cold beer and space!

For this Indiana girl the scenery sure beats corn fields! The tunnel was in the first 1/4 mile and was about 2.5 miles long (stay in the middle and take good headlamp/flashlight, it is dark and uneven). The course of as very very gradual, for me no additional pain, besides the normal. Lol! Beautiful wild flowers along side the course with the huge towering mountains in the background for a majority of the run! Loved the medal and the tank! Packet pick up was fast, smooth and easy! The after party was okay, no beer or much food, , but there is a cool spot about 1 mile down the road MT SI Tavern, with some pretty good food!

Packet pickup was well organized, quick and easy allowing runners and option to enjoy the great city and lakeside of Couer D’Arlene. (Just make sure to feed those parking meters – reasonably priced). The marathon it’s self was very scenic and beautiful views of the lake…with a few good hills. At one point the road up/down hill was uneven making it a little more difficult. The course was very well marked with different colored signs/tape/arrows for each race (26.2, 13.1, 10k, 5k). I would certainly say while the first half had more hills it also had the better views and some shade, as race day was quite warm. Aide stations were well stocked with water, Gatorade (even low carb), GUs, Vaseline, and other necessities. The volunteers were amazing! The finish was at McEuen Park which allowed for runners to lay out and picnic in the grassy field. The food was great and they had 15 min stretching tables. Awesome sponsors! No beer this year -but 1 block up was tons of restaurants and bars to celebrate. I like the shirts a long sleeve T-shirt, with actually decent colors for everyday wear. The only part I did not like of this race was the medal – I ran 26.2 miles to get a real medal not one I have to run two other races to piece together to complete. Until next time…stride on!

Love the COViD drive through packet pickup, for us was very smooth and simple, volunteers were very friendly. Race start was very well spaced (with several different starting corrals). I think the race directors did a great job keeping it COViD safe, while maintaining a bit of normalcy. We stayed at the Comfort Inn which was less than a mile from the start, reasonably priced & worked out perfect for family/spectating as it was along the course. Most of the run was through the state park with was very nice – mostly paved trails (and wooden bridges/walk way) , Cypress (?) trees were amazing, and I even got to see an alligator. It was great seeing so many fellow Maniacs & Fifty Stater’s on course! I can not say enough about the after party at Hangouts, 2 free beers, and a boxed lunch – tons of open space to social distance outside! I would love to do this race again if just to see what the normal after party would look like! They also had a Big Beach marathon sand castle for pictures afterwards! Overall I would give this race an A+!

This is an absolutely gorgeous course!!! Check in at the YMCA was very quick and easy (very friendly). Big shout out for the race director as she responded to emails quickly, and was very helpful! Due to Covid they did a staggered start that was very controlled, and well spaced. Again, I can not say enough about the wonderful scenery along this course carrying a lot of history a long the way (from the historic tunnel, seeing the town that founded ice cream, to the town that Lincoln came through to delivery the Gettysburg address (and later his body). The trail was very well groomed, with crushed compacted stone along the route – good for both trail runners and road trip runners.Traffic control and hydration stations were very well manned. The medal was nice, and the bagged meal (COViD pre-caution) was awesome! Would certainly recommend this race! A+

Expo was small but nice! Easy in and out! With packet pickup available the day of the race as well. Parking was very easy (even for out of towner’s) -short walk to race start. Plenty of bathrooms at race start/finish, as well positioned along the course. Aid stations were perfectly placed. Highly recommend a throw off for the cool start. The bridges allowed to stretch out with up/down hill while the rest of the course was (pancake) flat. Traffic control was great, as well as the musical diversity! Volunteers A+…swag was good including a wicking long sleeved shirts, avocados, tons of free beer, cute medal (although I honestly was not a fan). Race director was very friendly, and humble! I especially enjoyed the scenery (saw dolphins feeding off the back of a boat). Very cute town!

The expo was nice size (not too big not too small), the post card in the mail added a nice personal touch. Race start was easy to get to! (Tons of marathon maniacs) The first part of the course had quite a few long inclines winding through beautiful neighborhoods. Mile 12 was race on the blue track of Drake University. The second half began in a nature trail (paved) leading to Waterworks Park then circling around Grays Lake crossing the bridge leading us back in town to the finish.

Aid stations were plentiful, and really like the mobile aid stations on bikes with everything from biofreeze, Kleenex, to Vaseline.

Medals were pretty heavy and had a nice design/color. We also got a nice zip up finishers jacket. Post race party was good with free massages and 2 free beers (however, closes down about the 5 1/2 hour mark, not great for slower runners).

Overall, great race, great production with very friendly people!

The expo is nice but very small, great to get in and out! The race start was smooth, bathroom lines and parking were not too bad at all. The course had rolling hills with several house farms surrounding, very beautiful! Got to see a few baby colts. Water stops were great with water, sword and ice, very friendly volunteers. Again, never a line for the porta potties. The temperature made it difficult for me hitting 90 degrees, the week before in the 50s (you never know what you are gonna get). Only improvement I would suggest would be timing mats, especially at the out and back. Overall great race, great views and, great people!

I think that this was overall a great race! The course was very flat with a repeat hill about mile 16/22 (bridge) which I felt gave me a chance to stretch out my legs/hips. I was a very windy race (off the ocean), but who can control the weather. J&A Race did an awesome job of production, as this was very well organized race with tons of extra swag (blanket, hat, and a beautiful medal). The after party was great with tons of beer (4 free), and stew. The bands were great, we had a lot of fun doing this race, and will certainly be back again! Considering I was sick all weekend, my time was not too bad…

I really enjoyed the first half of the marathon running through the Historic Savannah streets, greeted by several spectators. However, I would have ran the first half twice rather than the second half which was a lot of out and backs…the highway really threw my mental game off. Aid stations and finishers medals were good, but the T-shirt’s design just didn’t cut it (a giant peach with a headband).

For me this was a very difficult course, between the heat and the hills…however, the views along this course were breathe taking! Travel is a bit difficult, and rooms are expensive…I found a cheap room, but will never advise anyone to go here (America’s Best Value Inn); not air conditioning, no coffee, the floors were nasty, I have absolutely nothing good to say about this place. The expo was kinda cute (outside), with a farmers market right next to it. Medals were pretty cool!!! It was a lot of fun tubing, as there is not much else to do, got tube at Ace Hardware $16, and took free city bus to drop point, floated back…very relaxing, fun and inexpensive. Volunteers were awesome!