It's a terrific, well organized race. Unfortunately the course is not closed, so in some points you have to watch out for cars. It's very hard, so prepare well - at least a couple of months in advance. It's all uphill; at mile 18, you feel like quitting, but when you finish the last mile, you really feel like a hero. This was my first marathon, but I prepared very hard for several weeks. It is not easy; it is not a joke; so be sure you are well prepared for this race.

I am a 8:30 miler. And I finished this race in 4:08 (though my watch said, "4:14").

The beginning of this course is brutally difficult around mile 4-5. There are no flat spots on the course; it was either up or down. It was very scenic, and the temperature got cooler the higher we ran; however, it was still hot (74 degrees and 80% humidity). Miles 4, 18, and 24-26 were the hardest with a steep incline. As previous posters say, ditch the speed workout and train for the hills. My Garmin 405 watch had a total elevation gain of 13K+. I am glad I didn't drive the course before I ran it or I would have had second thoughts.

I gave the spectators 5 stars because of the finish, with so many people cheering for you.

I gave the course 5 stars because you just don't get to run the Blue Ridge Parkway everyday.

I would have given it 5 stars; however, my bus ticket for the ride back disintegrated from my sweat. It would have been much better if the bib were stamped.

Overall, it was a great race with a lot of friendly people! The volunteers were awesome!

I was definitely a bit nervous entering this race after reading about the grueling hills, but was up for the challenge. Unlike the previous marathons I've run, my goal was completion, and not time-based. This is certainly a great event to enter if you're looking for something unlike most other races.

This is for sure a small-town race, but with evident community support. The water/Gatorade stations were manned by enthusiastic and encouraging volunteers. Locals really got involved, offering gummy worms and a refreshing spray from a garden hose along the route.

Entrants should note that it's not just the uphills that are challenging, but the occasional downhills as well. While I don't know how one could fully prepare to run on such an undulating course (up and downs over 3,000 feet), you've definitely got to get plenty of hills into your training, and during the race, there are some hills that you just must walk portions of.

I did not like the finishing area of the race at all. Runners enter the Highland Games, where the marathon is obviously not the main draw (or secondary for that matter). Festival go-ers were all over the place, making the finishing quarter-mile somewhat confusing. The race is completed on a gravel track; I would have preferred a straight away to the finish line. However, post-race food was perfect - plenty of honey wheat and raisin bread, protein packed peanut butter and sugary jams, plus honey, and all of the best brown bag lunch desserts (Moonpies, oatmeal cream-filled cookies, Zebra Cakes, Honey Buns, yum!).

Overall, I really enjoyed this race and the camaraderie along the way. It's no-frills, but then again, I'm not really in it for the schwag. Spectators are sparse (you've got to either be very self motivated or bring along an iPod), but those who are there are fantastically supportive.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the race, both positively and negatively. It prepared me perfectly for this marathon. My best advice for this race: start out slowly, carry your own nutrition, take off your watch, and just run.

Between looking at the elevation chart and the website listing GMM as one of the 10 toughest marathons in the US, I was expecting to score a PW (Personal Worse) on this course. Instead, I finished within a couple of minutes of my usual time, and my legs hardly felt sore. (Usually I need a post-race massage just to walk somewhat normally.) Maybe it's because I got more walking in than usual.

I actually walked up every steep hill on this course, but really took advantage of gravity and flew down the steep downhills (especially in the first half), some of which went for 1.5 miles. To prevent blisters, I tape my feet, wear trail socks, and make sure that my laces are snug enough to keep my feet in place in my shoes (I'm used to trail running).

The bonus to running this race is getting to see the Scottish Highland Games, which is where the track is for where this race finishes. The catch is that you only get to finish on the track if you get there by noon (5-hour cutoff). I got my victory lap with plenty of time to spare and then took some pictures. (NOTE: Do not try to get your picture taken by one of the bagpipers playing on platforms inside the track - major faux pas, as they are being judged for cash prizes. I'm lucky I didn't get tossed out of there! Race Director: this may sound obvious, but you may want to instruct runners to stay off the field to prevent any possible future issues with the Games.)

My only issue is the use of these small tickets for the shuttle back to the start: somehow mine got lost from my backpack during the race when I pulled out the camera a few times for pictures. If someone nearby hadn't heard my plight and given me a spare, I'm sure it would have been resolved, but it was a bit of a concern. Maybe the race bibs can be stamped "shuttle pass" to avoid this issue. Another runner taped his ticket to the back of his bib number. Others I talked to said their tickets were sweated up pretty bad.

The other memorable thing is hearing people shout, "Car!" as they came from either direction on this winding course. I didn't find the cars to be a problem, though the camber of the road can be rather steep on a lot of those "S" curves.

I was scared to death of this race because of everything I had heard about it. I was pleasantly surprised. The worst hills seem to be before you even get to mile 10. Once you are up "high in the mountains" the course is beautiful. It is shady and there are cliffs and waterfalls. I felt pretty prepared for the hills by running the hills where I live (Kentucky). The people running the race were so encouraging (it is a male-dominated race) and the water stop people were great. I got water at every stop after 5 miles. The only bad part is having to stay to the side of the road because of traffic. But most of the cars are going really slowly, so it isn't too bad. I would recommend this marathon to anyone who enjoys beautiful scenery and doesn't need a lot of people around cheering them on. It gets a little lonely towards the end, but the scenery more than makes up for that. Also, staying in the dorms at ASU is a good deal, and you can come back afterward and get a shower. The shuttle back down the mountain is also nice - you get to see a very scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and you go over the Linn Cove Viaduct.

This was my first marathon and I loved it. Everyone thought I had lost my mind to run this for my first but I have to say that I'm glad I did it! If you need a big crowd such as ING's, Marine Corps, or New York, this might not be the race for you. If you are like me and would rather have a small, open-space race, this is a kick-ass race! The scenery is beautiful, the weather could not be better, and the competitors are top-notch.

At mile 18, you will swear you'll never run this damn thing again! Then come about December, you start planning and asking your diehard, crazy, runner friends if they are going to run it with you!!! Guess what??? They won't....

I was intimidated thinking of running "UP" for 26.2 miles in the heat of the summer. My neighbor recommended it and said, "Just add 30 minutes to your normal marathon time and enjoy." Turns out I took time hydrating at each stop and there were enough nice downhills that it really wasn't bad. I felt fine when I finished... 30 minutes slower than my normal marathon time. It was very scenic, with waterfalls alongside the shady road. Highly recommended. Pasta dinner was fine, and company great.

Yes, it is hard, but it's absolutely worth the effort. The scenery - beautiful mountain vistas, streams, rhododendron, wild flowers - and the excitement of finishing at the Highland Games, along with the excellent organization, make this a must-do event. I've run Big Sur and the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Maine, and I enjoyed this one just as much.