The Virginia Creeper Marathon is a low-key, low-frills event run entirely on the beautiful Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon, Virginia. Amenities are minimal but all participants receive a race memento. Awards are presented to the top finisher, male and female and there are age group awards. The course is pleasantly …
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The Virginia Creeper Marathon is a low-key, low-frills event run entirely on the beautiful Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon, Virginia. Amenities are minimal but all participants receive a race memento. Awards are presented to the top finisher, male and female and there are age group awards.
The course is pleasantly scenic. The race starts and finishes on the Virginia Creeper Trail near the Abingdon Trailhead which is at the junction of Green Springs Road and the Virginia Creeper Trail, in Abingdon, Virginia. The race is run on the Virginia Creeper Trail, a former railroad bed. The Trail is flat to gentle grade, with a soft running surface (plus the occasional wooden trestle). The course is two out-and-back segments on the Trail. The first turnaround is approximately 1 mile south of the Alvarado Station Trailhead, the second turnaround is approximately .1 miles south of the Abingdon Trailhead, and the third turnaround is at the Watauga Trailhead. Runners come to/thru the Watauga Trailhead three times (at miles 3.6, 15.6, 22.6) and the Alvarado Station Trailhead twice (approx. miles 8.5 and 10.7). Those locations have car/parking access which makes them wonderful access points for family and friends to photograph and cheer their runners on to an excellent finish. Aid stations (every 3 – 3.5 miles) and the finish line will have water, sports drink, refreshments and homemade goodies.
The course is USATF Certified and meets all requirements for Boston Marathon Qualifiers.
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Historic Trail in Appalachia for $15
Yes, this marathon is real. When I saw it listed last year and checked the website, my jaw dropped when I saw the $15 entry fee. "Is this somehow a … MORE
Yes, this marathon is real.
When I saw it listed last year and checked the website, my jaw dropped when I saw the $15 entry fee. “Is this somehow a scam??” I asked before running to the 50 States Marathoners Facebook page and searching the race. Fortunately I found a few others who’d done the race in the past and confirmed that, yes, this is a real marathon.
Pros:
-the cost. $15 is insane. Yet somehow these cheap races (see NC’s Mangum half/full that is less than $50) have the most dedicated RDs and volunteers, interesting courses, and the fellow runners are out there for the love of the sport.
-RD and volunteers who do it for the love of it. Donna was awesome, sent good emails with tons of info, and gave her email and phone number if you needed anything. And the volunteers are her recruited friends and were all so friendly. Honestly, I could’ve hung out at the aid stations much longer just chatting and eating, the vibes were that good.
-Early start option (7am vs 8am). Early start is supposed to be for those who need longer on the course and can self support themselves for the first hour, but we opted to do early start b/c my husband had jury duty the next morning (in SC) and I wanted to get ahead of the heat. It topped out in the 70s or 80s, but it’d already been in the 90s several times in SC so I wanted to get most of our miles in before the sun got higher and the trail got more crowded. We were running around 9:30s and led the early start pack, so we missed out on being around people but it was nice to enjoy the trail as it woke up.
– Tons of hotels and B&B in the area. We went the same weekend as Bristol (nascar race), so the hotels were like $300 a night, which is insane. Normally they’re around $100, so we cast our net out further and stayed just outside Damascus for $100. Easy drive in race morning, stayed at a local B&B, and they were super chill with us coming back and showering before hitting the road.
– Capped around 100 people, so it’s definitely a sign up ASAP kind of event. There’s a waitlist, but most of the field is from the region, so IDK if many from the waitlist make it to race day.
– about 50% of the field in our year were first time marathoners, which is always fun and special to be apart of that experience. You never forget your first marathon or the fellow runners.
– Minimal incline, which is insane for the region.
The course is rocky and dirty, but not terrible. I included some pics with the review. The hardest part is where the course is over blown out mountain bc you’re running on hard rock as opposed to dirt or wood. Even in my max cushion shoes (asics superblast2), my feet and joints were killing me by the end. I had the same problem on a similar course in WV (elk river, also on an old rail line). I tripped and fell on a trestle (which is what you call the bridge a train uses, I guess). But that was entirely bc my body was fatigued (I’d run a hilly half marathon in SC the day before) and I just wasn’t picking my feet up enough by mile 23. But the volunteers at the aid station were awesome and really concerned. People of all ages and abilities walk and ride on the trail, so it’s like a 2/10 on being technical.
Cons:
-No shirt and no medal, but you do get a little finishers gift. This year was a little handmade wooden train that the RD put together as her winter crafting project (!!!). And you can get a Virginia Creeper Trail shirt from any of the local shops – I picked up two from an outfitters in Damascus. I imagine if you *need* a running related shirt, you could reach out to the State of Franklin Track club and ask if they have any club shirts for sale.
-The course isn’t closed, so it’s shared with cyclists, walkers, runners, people with dogs and babies, cigarette smokers, etc. It got more crowded as the morning went on, so I was really glad to have done the early start. I also tend to get pretty tired toward the end of marathons, so I’m not great at communicating or ducking/weaving around people.
-No crowd support, which I only put as a con bc that matters to some people. I’m honestly fine without anyone cheering, especially on a trail race. It makes the water stops with awesome volunteers even more special. That being said, if your friends/family want to cheer for you, there are several roads that run parallel to the trail where they can park and meet up/cheer/take clothes, etc. And there were family members with signs at the finish line, which is always sweet.
– Minimal phone reception on some parts of the course. My husband wasn’t able to track me at some points and I couldn’t call him after I fell at mile 23 (just to let him know not to worry since I’d be crossing the finish line later than I’d planned). We also came up from SC, so IDK if I restarted my phone if it would’ve grabbed a tower (or whatever phones do in 2026). So if you use your phone for music or for someone to track you, let them know there may be some blocks where you’re not available.
-Instead of 13.1 out and then back, the course did a funky out 9ish miles, back to a point close to the finish, then back out like 4 miles, and then 4 miles back to the finish. IDK if this is bc of storm damage impacting the trail or if the idea was for us to hit aid stations a few times, but it was mentally tough to be within spitting distance of the finish and turn around *again*. Plus that put us closer to the trailhead and back in with the crowds. There are businesses in the area where you pay them to transport you and your bike to trailheads, so there was a constant rotation of passenger vans with 15+ people at a time getting on the trail. Which is great for the local economy and makes the trail more accessible to everybody, but a little annoying at mile 19 of a trail marathon.
-Not a ton of parking at the trailhead – we got there early and grabbed a spot near the front, but you may want to explore other parking options or getting a hotel close enough to walk from. When we left around noon the lot was full and people had made their own parking spots.
Great race
Low key race, very scenic! Beautiful trail! It was tough because of the hot temperatures the day of the race! Would definitely run this one again MORE
Low key race, very scenic! Beautiful trail! It was tough because of the hot temperatures the day of the race! Would definitely run this one again
Beautiful
This race above all was beautiful! This was my first time on the Virginia Creeper Trail but I hope to go back soon. The race itself was great, the volunteers … MORE
This race above all was beautiful! This was my first time on the Virginia Creeper Trail but I hope to go back soon.
The race itself was great, the volunteers and aid stations were stocked, and the race director was amazing.
The entry fee was $15!!!! You do not get a shirt or medal, but she did hand out a handmade gift at check in. To me, that meant more than a medal.
Greatest Value Ever!
I ran for the first time the Virginia Creeper Marathon this year. It was a true pleasure!! I haven't done a small event like this in probably two decades and … MORE
I ran for the first time the Virginia Creeper Marathon this year. It was a true pleasure!! I haven’t done a small event like this in probably two decades and had forgotten how much fun they can be. It’s low key but ran by a great, friendly group of folks! Other participants were super friendly as well. No t-shirt or medal is given out; however, I love the paper weight that I received. It was done really nicely.
The course itself is on the easier side, especially as far as trail running goes. It is easier than many road marathons providing a clear, unobstructed running surface and lacking any major hills.
If my schedule allows, I would like to participate again next year!