I arrived at the race registered to run the second half. I quickly and very easily upgraded to the full Marathon at packet pick-up. After packet pickup we visited a … MORE
I arrived at the race registered to run the second half. I quickly and very easily upgraded to the full Marathon at packet pick-up. After packet pickup we visited a very small Expo and then was treated to a free and very delicious spaghetti dinner.I ran this race with two other friends who drove from northern Minnesota to the race with me. We stayed in the fire station the night before the Race. The cots were very comfortable and the hospitality was top notch. All they ask for is a donation and that was a cause very worthy of giving to. We would stay there again. We stayed together throughout the entire full marathon and had an absolute blast. Each aid station was stocked like a typical trail run would be stocked with real foods, loads of fresh fruit and personal items that you do not find at any other Road Race I’ve been too. I’ve now run my 34th state with West Virginia being the most recent. This is quite possibly my favorite of all of the events I’ve ever done. The aid stations are quite frequent and next time I run I will not carry any liquid with me. Even though this race is historically known to be a hot one the aid stations provide ample support. In addition they are manned by wonderful local people who are excited to have you in their towns. Local law enforcement Patrol the route as needed and area medical professionals were at various points along the course. The event is clearly managed very well with all aspects being covered completely. Some Aid stations even went with the theme and it was fun to stop and take pictures and visit with the locals. One such aid station squirted us with squirt guns and then gave us the squirt guns to take with us as we left. There are photographers on the course and they charge a nominal fee it is not marathonfoto pricing 🙂 at the Finish you are greeted by Hatfield n McCoy and receive a medal and a mason jar with Hatfield and McCoy label which is really cute and suitable for your own moonshine 🙂 the final racer came in after 7 hours and was escorted by event directors, law enforcement and medical professionals. They were all walking in with her and very excited. The fun) support did not stop before the last finisher came through as you often find, unfortunately, with other marathons. My friends and I drove 16 hours to get to this event, one way. We will absolutely be back
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MUST DO EVENT!
I arrived at the race registered to run the second half. I quickly and very easily upgraded to the full Marathon at packet pick-up. After packet pickup we visited a … MORE
I arrived at the race registered to run the second half. I quickly and very easily upgraded to the full Marathon at packet pick-up. After packet pickup we visited a very small Expo and then was treated to a free and very delicious spaghetti dinner.I ran this race with two other friends who drove from northern Minnesota to the race with me. We stayed in the fire station the night before the Race. The cots were very comfortable and the hospitality was top notch. All they ask for is a donation and that was a cause very worthy of giving to. We would stay there again. We stayed together throughout the entire full marathon and had an absolute blast. Each aid station was stocked like a typical trail run would be stocked with real foods, loads of fresh fruit and personal items that you do not find at any other Road Race I’ve been too. I’ve now run my 34th state with West Virginia being the most recent. This is quite possibly my favorite of all of the events I’ve ever done. The aid stations are quite frequent and next time I run I will not carry any liquid with me. Even though this race is historically known to be a hot one the aid stations provide ample support. In addition they are manned by wonderful local people who are excited to have you in their towns. Local law enforcement Patrol the route as needed and area medical professionals were at various points along the course. The event is clearly managed very well with all aspects being covered completely. Some Aid stations even went with the theme and it was fun to stop and take pictures and visit with the locals. One such aid station squirted us with squirt guns and then gave us the squirt guns to take with us as we left. There are photographers on the course and they charge a nominal fee it is not marathonfoto pricing 🙂 at the Finish you are greeted by Hatfield n McCoy and receive a medal and a mason jar with Hatfield and McCoy label which is really cute and suitable for your own moonshine 🙂 the final racer came in after 7 hours and was escorted by event directors, law enforcement and medical professionals. They were all walking in with her and very excited. The fun) support did not stop before the last finisher came through as you often find, unfortunately, with other marathons. My friends and I drove 16 hours to get to this event, one way. We will absolutely be back
Hilly, hot, and FUN!
This was a great race overall. The packet pick-up was well done. Great skit to set the Hatfield&McCoy theme. The volunteers were great and the community was very supportive. Race … MORE
This was a great race overall. The packet pick-up was well done. Great skit to set the Hatfield&McCoy theme. The volunteers were great and the community was very supportive.
Race day was perfect. The parking lot at Food City was super-stocked with porta-potties. Did not have to wait. The Food City was open and allowed runners to grab last minute supplies if needed.
The course was great. The start was more downhill than I expected, but the climb up Blackberry mountain was not as bad as I pictured. The course was open, but traffic was very light. The aid stations were well stocked. A couple of the stations had inexperienced volunteers that laid out drink cups on the table only. The course narrowed in a lot after the half way point, but also was tree lined. This kept the worst of the climbing heat at bay until near the end of the race. The finish was great, super well stocked with cold drinks and food.
The timing team had a little difficulty loading results to the net and this caused a delay in announcing age group awards.
My only comment/suggestion was to get rid of the small plastic cups at the aid stations and use paper if possible.
Overall, great race.
Worth The Drive
Pros: Water stops at every mile starting at mile 2, many water stops had extras like wet rags for the runners and the volunteers were all really friendly and helpful. … MORE
Pros: Water stops at every mile starting at mile 2, many water stops had extras like wet rags for the runners and the volunteers were all really friendly and helpful.
Cons: I did not receive a course map at packet pickup, nor did I see where to get one. A map would have been helphul to my spectator husband. Being as we were out of state and the area we were in, our phones did have service at times. The website does need updated. Running the double half will not get you two states for Half Fanatics and 2018 is the last year 50 States will honor both states unless both halfs are completed on different days.
A must do race, with a small town feel
Loved the number of water stops! It was not an out and back course or double loop so there was literally 23 or 24 different aid stations! Add in the … MORE
Loved the number of water stops! It was not an out and back course or double loop so there was literally 23 or 24 different aid stations! Add in the people who live along the route who were out with coolers and there were even more opportunities to hydrate! Police and EMS workers were regularly patrolling the route.
I didn’t realize the second half had as much dirt road as it did but I was thankful for the shade it provided.
Half fantastic announced the week of the race that they would not count the double half as two separate halfs. They claimed to have been discussing the criteria with the race director for a while and supposedly asked for the advertising to be changed. My personal criteria, I will count two different states.
The hills are definitely challenging so don’t anticipate a PR. However, after I added my two half times together, I realized it was a 26.2 PR for me!
I’ve ran 52 half marathons, 5 full marathons, 2 50ks and countless 5k, 10k and other distances and would have to rank this race up there in the top 5! Well done!
One of the best for crowd support
This race provides multiple opportunities - Blackberry Mountain half, River Road half, double half marathon, or full marathon. I chose the mountain half and I thought it meant it was … MORE
This race provides multiple opportunities – Blackberry Mountain half, River Road half, double half marathon, or full marathon. I chose the mountain half and I thought it meant it was up an actual mountain. I took trail running shoes with me and imagined maybe grassy inclines and creeks that I would have to run through. No – it’s all on blacktop, but it goes up a mountain. The mountain was steep but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Really the first 6 miles were not bad, then the mountain started around mile 6.5 but the descent took us to mile 7.5 or 8. After that it was similar to the beginning with just another slight incline later.
The most impressive thing was the crowd support. The towns all come together for this. The day prior was the race expo at the high school. The kids were spirited, there were many local vendors, a spaghetti dinner, etc. I bought a stuffed pig for the run. During the race there were many people along the way hanging out in their front yard to encourage runners and some even set up tables with water and snacks.
The water stations were well stocked and had a good number of volunteers. They truly made the race a great one. My performance is still poor, but this was a fun run and I met a lot of nice people both in the race and along the streets. I would highly recommend this one!
Incredible Experience
This was my 4th Marathon and I chose it simply to gain entry into Marathon Maniacs. It was one of 2 near Cincinnati that fit my schedule and the reviews … MORE
This was my 4th Marathon and I chose it simply to gain entry into Marathon Maniacs. It was one of 2 near Cincinnati that fit my schedule and the reviews from prior years were positive. That being said, it was an amazing experience and something I was not prepared for. All the races I have done were local, and you would see families and groups of co-workers and what not. Everyone in Indianapolis trains for and run the Indy Mini, and the same goes for the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. These are the races I know, large groups of people that all live nearby. Williamson is kind of in the middle of no where. I am sure there are locals, but almost everyone that was there was running to get a check mark for West Virginia. It was a totally different crowd of people. And, that made this race special and unique for me. But, that is not to say the race wasn’t great. It was. It was a smaller race with about 250 marathoners. Small can mean two things, no budget to do things right or the ability to treat each athlete like a family member. HMM definitely was in that later category. The aid stations were well stocked. There appeared to be adequate medical support, but thankfully I didn’t need to test that out. The course was interesting. You were in the Appalachian Mountains, but the course largely followed a river in the valley. The course was flat to rolling hills, with a huge hill at the start and a moderate one towards the end. I like hills and enjoyed the course, and ended up with a PR. The race cleverly starts in Kentucky and ends in West Virginia, so you don’t end back up at the starting line. You also start at a grocery store, so you weren’t allowed to park there. But, they had school busses running the entire day. I actually stayed in a B&B in Matewan, WV, which was the 1/2 point, so the end of the one of the 1/2 marathons and the start of the second one. But there was no issues getting on a bus to travel from Matewan to S Williamson, KY or Williamson, WV. The course was primarily on non-closed roads, which was also unique. But, the locals were very respectful (and few and far between). My reason to attend this race meant it was probably a one and done for me, but I enjoyed myself so much, I am sure I will be back.
Wonderful Race Event!!
The Hatfield and McCoy Event was absolutely the best. The entirety of both communities come out to help and cheer. The volunteers are top notch and super fun to interact … MORE
The Hatfield and McCoy Event was absolutely the best. The entirety of both communities come out to help and cheer. The volunteers are top notch and super fun to interact with. The course was amazing, as it winds through the hills and hollows of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia. The aid stations were well staffed and well stocked. The finish line food was excellent. The medals are really neat. I will definitely do this race again. The best part are the people, I can’t say enough positive things about the entire experience. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the 20th year in 2019. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Thank you!
My favorite marathon
Very entertaining and a great challenge. The scenery is great. The people are so nice and the course is well stocked with refreshments and water. I’ve done it three times … MORE
Very entertaining and a great challenge. The scenery is great. The people are so nice and the course is well stocked with refreshments and water. I’ve done it three times and out of the 26 marathons I’ve completed, this remains my top choice and I highly recommend it.
Great first race!
This was my first ever half marathon and it was definitely a challenge! Beware of the hill halfway through the race! Be sure to train long distance hills if you … MORE
This was my first ever half marathon and it was definitely a challenge! Beware of the hill halfway through the race! Be sure to train long distance hills if you plan on running up the whole thing. Everyone was nice, very supportive and overall had a great time! Loved having water stops every mile starting at mile 2!
Hot. Hilly. But we keep going back.
The volunteers and community keep us coming back. We’ve done the last 3 years in a row and plan to return next year as well. Best water stops of any … MORE
The volunteers and community keep us coming back. We’ve done the last 3 years in a row and plan to return next year as well. Best water stops of any of the 26 marathons we’ve done. Love this race.
A small, but well-organized race.
The scenery is beautiful and almost makes you forget that the course takes you over a mountain, literally. The aid stations are well placed. They provide signs along the course … MORE
The scenery is beautiful and almost makes you forget that the course takes you over a mountain, literally. The aid stations are well placed. They provide signs along the course with fun quotes and a runner’s name to welcome back people who are racing for a second time (or more). The medals are always nice (this year’s is also a bottle opener) and I love the Mason Jar gift, too.
Great Race
Great race day. Got my PR in 5k while my husband did his first marathon. Race volunteers were extremely friendly and town had plenty of history to visit. MORE
Great race day. Got my PR in 5k while my husband did his first marathon. Race volunteers were extremely friendly and town had plenty of history to visit.
Beautiful run through hills and hollows
This was my 2nd half marathon and it was a challenging course. It took me about 15-16 minutes longer to run this than my first half that was about a … MORE
This was my 2nd half marathon and it was a challenging course. It took me about 15-16 minutes longer to run this than my first half that was about a month ago. Expect hills, heat, and humidity. The volunteers were awesome and there were Aid stations every mile, with ice water and Gatorade. Some even had watermelon! I was very impressed by the dedication of the volunteers, and how many signs there were to welcome back repeat runners. The ice, cold towel at the end was the best! Loved getting my picture with the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s at the finish line. I had fun running this course despite the hills, and love the beautiful medal that I received. Would love to return to repeat this race someday!
Loves this race
I ran the BlackBerry Half as my first half marathon. The Hatifield and McCoy will always hold a special place for me in running. I loved the packet pickup day … MORE
I ran the BlackBerry Half as my first half marathon. The Hatifield and McCoy will always hold a special place for me in running. I loved the packet pickup day of because I was coming from out of town. The volunteers were amazing!!! The course was beautiful and not too difficult except for 1 mountain. Since then I have ran Marshall and a race in Ky and this is still my favorite half. It is scenic and has the best small town feel. I am looking forward to venturing to the full and I am bringing many friends with me to experience what is so special about the H&M. If you want a race that has good support this is it!
Fun Run
Unique metal good quality. Great volunteers. I did the River Road Half. It is challenging but doable. First time I've ran across a swinging bridge. MORE
Unique metal good quality. Great volunteers. I did the River Road Half. It is challenging but doable. First time I’ve ran across a swinging bridge.
best medal and volunteers
Most fun race ever. Every single volunteer has a smile and is cheering you on the entire time. You see awesome sites along the way as many aid stations are … MORE
Most fun race ever. Every single volunteer has a smile and is cheering you on the entire time. You see awesome sites along the way as many aid stations are decorated and even some homes have things to see like the worlds smallest horse. It’s fun from beginning to end. Aid stations are never without things you need and there are many stations throughout. It’s very hot but they give ice cold sponges to cool u off. Awesome race! Cool medal too
My Favorite Race
In the past two years, I've run more than 20 races in 6 different states and this is my favorite. I ran the River Road Course as my first ever … MORE
In the past two years, I’ve run more than 20 races in 6 different states and this is my favorite. I ran the River Road Course as my first ever half marathon last year and tried to Blackberry Mountain Course this year. Both are challenging and beautiful and the swag and afternoon activities are as great as the race. My favorite is the people. There are themed water stops at pretty much every mile, there is no time limit, and it has inspired me to try to double-half after swearing I’d never run 26.2 miles. Although not a PR in time it is a PR for fun.
Awesome Race
Best supported race I’ve ever run! The course was beautiful!! The volunteers were awesome!! Local support was outstanding!! Great value for your money!! MORE
Best supported race I’ve ever run! The course was beautiful!! The volunteers were awesome!! Local support was outstanding!! Great value for your money!!
Great race!
Such a well organized race from the check in tables to the many, many aid/water stations along the route. Water stations were about a mile apart and they also provided … MORE
Such a well organized race from the check in tables to the many, many aid/water stations along the route. Water stations were about a mile apart and they also provided fresh fruit and cooling sponges to help get you through.
Should be on everyone’s bucket list
This race has been my favorite for the last 3 years! First time I ran this race was the full Marathon. And for a first timer for this race distance … MORE
This race has been my favorite for the last 3 years! First time I ran this race was the full Marathon. And for a first timer for this race distance this place was the best place to have my first! Had such a wonderful experience. Each aid station had everything and much more that a runner would want and need! The locals are friendly and make you feel at home. The medals are super cool! And the mason jar is awesome as well. I have ran a different race each time I’ve gone. Next up is the double 1/2. I was a bit nervous about this past race but I did pretty good. The Blackberry Mountain is tough but doable!!! Everyone needs to run this race at least once in their running career!