This race in indeed in the heart of the Appalachians, yet the course is not as hilly as one might think. One giant hill at Mile 6/7 and one looong toenail-losing descent at Mile 8. Half-way point crosses into Matewan, WV and the remainder of course curves along river bank. You even get to dodge golfers through the golf course at Mile 18! Although 25 miles of the course go through KY, you can count the race as KY or WV.

It was 70 and muggy at the start, so the hour-long thunderstorm was a welcome relief. Organization was excellent, as were volunteers. Unfortunately, those are the only spectators you will see....

Make sure to make reservations early, although the race director does good job of keeping registrants aware of hotels as they become open.

Dave Hatfield and crew did a GREAT job making this race the real McCoy. I loved how Dave mingled with the crowd at the start, creating a very relaxed and friendly feel. The $35 entry fee is FAR TOO LOW for a great shirt, a nice medal, two fine meals, and Blackberry Mountain to boot. If you're looking for something challenge, off the beaten path, then this is for you. Go easy up the mountain (miles 5 through 7-ish) - there's a bevy of bumps beyond that, and a killer hill just past 23.

While the course was challenging to me, I recommend this marathon. You will not find friendlier people anywhere. At every aid station (they were EVERY mile) I was thanked for coming to their race. The pasta dinner, which was included in the fee, was one of the best - nothing fancy, but really good food, and lots of it. The entertainment provided was great - they had a skit of the Hatfield McCoy feud. The actors were also at the finish line for pictures. Plenty of food after the race, as well as a special meal for the runners. The race can count as either Kentucky or West Virginia, so think about running it. The long hill at mile 6 was easier than all the smaller ones along the 2nd half. Not a fast time for me, but it was a good time.

If you're looking for a scenic race with ambiance, this fits the bill. Don't expect fast times with the rolling hills and humidity, but it's worthwhile to run slowly and "smell the roses." Of my 106 marathons, I've never encountered more friendly and helpful volunteers who make everyone feel exceptional. The pasta party is one of the best ever, and even features a skit outlining the history of the feud by characters in costume - not to be missed. All in all, an extraordinary race for a small town.

Yes... all of the hype about this race is 100% TRUE! The people are wonderful. The course is challenging, with many tough hills and a mile or so of gravel terrain, but it is still a scenic run with a fluid station every mile. The weather was hot and humid... but the post race rub-down with cold towels made it bearable. My advice: forget the big, impersonal races and run this fun and friendly course instead. I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Logan, WV, and it was (suprisingly) a very nice hotel.

The other comments about the course and organization are right on target so I won't repeat what's been said. Totally beautiful in the country. Nice, quiet scenery by the river. Kids out playing in the yard would yell for you as you went by. The treatment I received at the finish stands out more than the other marathons I have run (34). After I finished, I walked a little ways and sat down. Immediately a teenage girl handed me a cold bottle of water and started untying my shoe to take off my chip. Two extremely nice women came up to me and one handed me a towel with "Hatfield-McCoy Marathon" written on it. I must have looked terrible because they kept asking if I was okay or needed anything. I downed the water and one of the ladies asked me if I wanted a PowerAde. Before I could answer she scurried off and returned with a BIG bottle of cold PowerAde. She then showed me a table of watermelon and grapes and told me to help myself. Then one of the nice ladies told me to take my shoes off and sit in the fountain that was nearby. So I did. Felt great. I also liked the idea of the awards being given out as the age groups filled. No waiting around, especially for those of us with a long drive home. Very much worth the trip.

Not much else to expect in West Virgina but hot, humid, hilly and hospitable. The marathon lives up to its reptutation and is a "must-do." I gave the spectators five stars for their quality, not quantity.
The "book early" recommendation should be taken seriously. The website does not include the Mountaineer Hotel (304-235-2222), just down the block from the finish line. At the end of this marathon, you'll appreciate having less than a tenth of a mile to go for a shower! The management wants to be "the place for the runners." It's an older hotel on the order of Boston's Park Plaza, but quaint, very friendly, personable, and accommodating.

This race may not be great big (yet), but it is certainly great! It is definitely not a PR course, but it makes up for it with variety and sheer beauty. The event staff could not have been more helpful. I drove 11 hours to the race, and arrived at the pasta feed 1 hour late at 10 p.m. (they were scheduled to end at 9 p.m.). The volunteers happily fed me, and when the race director discovered that I didn't get a hotel booked, he invited me to stay at his home! I cannot exaggerate how friendly and fun this race is - you'll just have to experience it for yourself!

I had a great time. The volunteers were outstanding, the pasta meal was great, and the course was tough, challenging, and beautiful. The Hatfield and McCoy skit the night before was great. Bonuses for this race included ice in the sports drinks, Gu and water every mile, bananas at most stops, every mile was marked, and a little boy who lived on the course who each year looked forward to giving out free cold bottles of water for the runners. It was a wonderful marathon, and should be on everyone's list of must-do marathons. This is a great production for such a small marathon!!!

The first half of this race has a lot of climbing. The good news is your legs are fresh; the bad news is it can zap your strength and speed for those little ups and downs in the last 12 miles.

This race is fun; their isn't much of a crowd, but the quality of the crowd is incredible. At about mile 11, the folks I had dinner with the night before were at the water stop yelling for me, like they knew me for years. At about mile 21, there was a kid running along side the runners and handing out water bottles from a cooler. You just don't get that home-style crowd support at a larger event.

I'll definitely run this one again some day!

For you 50-staters - it starts in KY and ends in WV, so it can count as either.

Oh, and water stops almost every mile (24 official water stops total).