Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
Greenville is a fantastic place for a visit. Small town charm with lots of restaurants and shops. Hotel accommodations are plentiful. The Greenville Track Club makes a good effort to put on a quality run fest. You’ll enjoy it if you want a smaller participation group and a chance to run crowd free. At least for the marathon. The 1/2 had a much larger group running.
Pros: good course, and weather has the potential to be perfect for marathon racing. Volunteers work hard to support the run. Finishing in the local minor league baseball stadium adds to the unique elements of the course. Greenville is a wonderful town for a weekend getaway
Cons: You get a medal to run the half and full marathon, and a decent tech shirt. However, I won my age group and received a key chain :( The overall, masters, and grand masters winners got a medal holder of various size made of wood. Water is provided every 2 miles and there was a gel station which you pass twice on the course
it starts pre-dawn, and for the first 40 minutes you're running in the dark. The bike trail you race on is mostly unlit, so it's advisable to have a headlamp or some sort of lighting device for the first 5–10 km. The first half of the race is a steady climb to the town of Travelers Rest where you get a downhill stretch before you button hook a cone and head back. It's definitely a second half race. Be careful to conserve energy on the way out and don't overcook yourself early.
Pros: weathertends to be advantageous. Last year was super hot: this year was cool and slightly rainy.
Cons: everything else. 1000 turns with only 10 people giving directions. I got off course and ran an extra .5 miles, derailing my PR chance. Had to stop for traffic on three occasions. 6 water stations for the whole 26 miles? Post race food is pre packaged gas station food with bananas.
I won't run this one again.
Hilly with lots and lots and lots of turns. God practice would be to do a bunch laps around your living room couch.
Likes, not a lot of traffic. hills were not hard or too steep. the last 6 were flat and fast dislikes, no goos handed out late or any other item except gatorade/water. age group awards were coffee mugs that you can buy at any spinx store. if you are fortunate enough to place in a marathon it needs to be something nice that shows your accomplishment.
Perfect marathon to run a negative split. stay slow the first 10 at least then change gears. it worked for me