Blake Lehmans's Staging Area

This was my first ever marathon, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going in. When deciding which race to run I landed on Myrtle Beach because the course was flat, and the prior years temps seemed to be perfect.

Production: Leading up to the race the communications from race production were great! Even for a first timer everything was clearly stated and made sense to me. It was also nice that I had the option to have my race bib mailed directly to me, so I didn’t have to stress about driving down the night before to pick it up. I was a bit worried about not having corrals at the start line, but thankfully was able to find my pacer without much issue at all. During the race, aid stations & Porta potties were found around every 2 miles, and I never ran into any issues. Someone had a cup of water or gatorade ready for me every time I arrived. The finish was open and funneled runners a few hundred feet into the Pelicans stadium which kept things from getting too crowded. Time mats were spaced at 10K, Half, & 18.3. One small complaint is that it would have been nice to have a few more time mats. Also, there was no race tracker for friends and family to watch your progress through the course, which I have seen at other races.

Course Difficulty: The course was incredibly flat! Given ideal weather it is very possible to put up a fast time.

Course Scenery: Even though I have been to Myrtle Beach in the past and am familiar with the area, I was a bit let down by the scenery. Miles 1-6 were mostly down a large Hwy without much to offer in terms of views. 6-16 was a long stretch down the oceanfront strip, but you only really saw the ocean a handful of times and most of the businesses & buildings weren’t the greatest thing to look at. Then you wrapped it all up with another 10 miles of mostly highways and large residential roads.

Race Swag: We received a long sleeve tech shirt, a finishers tank top, & a pretty nice medal. I’ll probably never wear the shirt or the tank because i’m particular about my clothes and how they fit/feel. At the finish runners also received pizza & one free beer.

Overall: Overall, I think this is a perfect race for a runner who is looking to set a Personal Best. But if you are looking for an experience, I would likely point you in a different direction.