If you need to be cheered by crowds, this isn't your race.

If you love a great course, a great atmosphere, a great technical shirt, a great medal, great after-race food and fun, then this your race - and more.

From the start with the 1860's era cannon, to the scenic course, I had a great first-marathon experience. My family was able to quickly find me and we all shared a great experience at the finish line. First-timers got a great framed bib.

Slight rolling hills and a great downhill finish.

This race will be an annual event for me.

This is my fourth year running this race and there is a reason I'll never miss it. It's a wonderful small race - though apparently not a secret any longer! It does sell out. They had growing pains last year adding the half but those were mainly ironed out this year - with just some issue with traffic/parking getting in. It is a small race so don't expect huge crowds or a party - but do expect those there to be enthusiastic, a fairly flat course (some gentle hills), a great post-race atmosphere, chip timing, and a nice shirt. I'll be back again next year.

This was the first marathon I ever ran, and now, in 2009, it was my 13th. I just missed a PR this time. It was truly enjoyable to run the course, with its shaded lanes. Only a couple of drawbacks. My Garmin, and others confirmed this, showed 26.5. I don't think there was a mis-measured course; just a lot of curves and banks where you run further if you run level. The hills were not noticeable during the first loop, and really at about the right level to provide needed variety, but that probably contributed to my just missing a PR. Nevertheless, it is far more fun to run this marathon than all of those on boring city streets.

This race combines two things that I am passionate about: Running and history! History buffs: put this one on your calendar.

The course was mainly through a wooded area dotted with memorials and monuments. Every now and then you would come out on these beautiful clearings with fog surrounding a monument to the Civil War battle fought there. It was breathtaking and moving. I did not see any deer, but I talked to several others who did.
Autumn is by far my favorite season, and as others have commented, the weather and fall colors are absolutely perfect!

This was my first two-loop course. I heard some negative comments about that, but I honestly didn't mind at all. It wasn't familiar enough to feel like I was looking at the same stuff twice. Also, I was able to anticipate the more challenging hills the second time around. Speaking of hills... since "hilly" is a relative term, I will try to describe it as best I can. None of the hills are extreme. The worst is between miles 18 and 19. However, almost the entire course is made up small inclines and declines. You always seem to be going either up or down. Breaks up "muscle monotony," but I would not call this course easy. Still, I PRed by 20 minutes and broke four hours for the first time.

The race organization is tops. No complaints. The post-race food was the best I've ever seen. Unfortunately, I can never eat after a marathon, but my husband (who did the half) ate enough for both of us. Soup, banana pudding, pizza!

Crowd support is nothing like a big-city marathon, but that would be out of place here. It is a peaceful, "purist's" marathon. Those supporters who were out were great... especially the kids who wanted to give you a high-five as you passed.

Technical t-shirt and medal - great. Especially considering the entry fee.

Don't forget anything. The expo is TINY!

I stayed at the Hometown Inn; it was very clean, but they had no checkout later than noon.

Great race! Great course on a beautiful day. I ran this race in 2008, the first year the half marathon was added, and there were a few glitches. My compliments to the race director for a well run race. Organization was excellent, volunteers were plentiful, great shirt and medal, and great food! This marathon (my 46th) was the best-run small marathon I've run.

This is a very well done small marathon. As expected, the crowds are sparse for a small rural race, but they are encouraging. The hills are gently rolling and the course mercifully skips the highest point in the park. Many years of the organizers putting on this marathon shows in that they are well prepared and don't miss any details. I run four or five marathons per year and rate this one very high for the organization, scenery, volunteers and general enthusiasm. Just don't get startled by the volume of the starting gun (cannon).

I read the comments posted here for the previous years and almost skipped over this one. I am so glad I took the chance!

Why? Read Jason Massie's comments for "Fantastic Fall Marathon..."

Race organizers/volunteers: You obviously read the comments for the previous years as well, and KUDOS to you for making the adjustments.

This race was one the prettiest races I have run. The scenery was great and the people were very friendly. Here is the breakdown.

Pros:
Great course. It was scenic and very good weather with few hills and a well marked course.
Nice, friendly people.
Small-town race gave a good runner feel to it.
Great after-race food and rest area.
Nice medal and nice t-shirt.

Cons:
No medical staff on the course. There were some bikers riding around, which was a good start, but I still didn't notice any medical staff if I had a real problem.
The water stations were a little spaced out, but the real problem was that they were understaffed and the cups had so little liquid that you had to take two each time.
There are no people lining the course. This isn't a real con - I'm more or less saying that this isn't a huge race, and the real great thing is the scenic beauty of the course.

Overall, I liked this course and would do it again if I had the chance. I could have won the half marathon - it was that kind of race!

Of course, hills are relative, but this course has quite a few parts that are significantly rolling, and the road could be quite steeply slanted at times. Weather was perfect, and the park is beautiful at this time of year. Parking, etc., was easy. Spectators very sparse, especially for the second loop. Overall, great race but not an easy course.

This is a great marathon for those looking for a smaller marathon that is well run and scenic. The check-in was easy, there were plenty of bathrooms, the water stops were well placed and the course was well marked. The only potential negative (which I actually like) is that the course is scenic. If you need a band every mile and spectators at every corner then this isn't for you. If you like a nice peaceful run that is well organized, this is your race.