Nice course utilizing downtown paved trails (for a two-loop course). The first half is as deceptively flat as the second half is hilly. The first time through is not bad, but the second time really taxes your endurance. Really enjoyed the finish at the stadium. It allows spectators to watch the finish. The expo was a bit disappointing - too few exhibitors. I picked up my packet at noon Friday and many exhibits had yet to be set up. The spectators were few, especially on the full marathon, but names on the bibs helped personalize the encouragement. Overall it was a positive experience and one I would recommend. Nice job.

I ran the 5K course.

I loved the course. It was a fast course - as flat as you will get in Greenville. Finishing up in the stadium was a good idea. I hope they keep the same course for next year.

I know a lot of people who ran the half and whole. They loved the course. I helped several clients in the marathon last year, and it was a pain to navigate. This year's course was much better because it was all centrally located around Greenville. Great choice in the changes there.

Only complaints I heard were the lap around the track, and the out-and-back on Pendleton. Either way, it was trivial. Everyone loved the course as a whole. Much better for spectators and more fun to run.

I have run this marathon every year, and thought that this year's course was a significant improvement over prior years'. The race starts in front of the Grenville Drive Stadium (minor league baseball team) and finishes on the field. The stands are great for friends and family to wait to cheer your finish!

The race volunteers were GREAT! The cool misty morning was great to run in... probably not so great to volunteer in. The race seemed to have more volunteers than marathoners.

The course is a double loop and run with the half-marathoners for the first loop. That, combined with the net downhill start, can result in going out too fast over the first half if you're not careful (as the half-marathoners surge up the hills between miles 10 and 13).

I enjoyed the varied scenery and surfaces - especially waterfalls, parks, rubberized surfaces, going around a track, and getting many opportunities to see and meet runners ahead and behind. For the most expensive fee I've ever paid, I missed a few key elements: no split clocks or split callers; I didn't see a single port-a-john; no foil blanket wraps at the finish. After the half-marathoners cleared out for the second loop, the course was rather deserted. I started to make a wrong turn at one unmanned intersection. Some course "monitors" were sitting in their chairs, completely ignoring runners. When going through the parks the second loop, I had to contend with the general public, who would barely move themselves and their dogs over to let me run by on the trails and bridges. Stadium was a nice place to finish. Overall, it's a nice and convenient local race.

This was my first half-marathon and it was great! The course was perfect and having the finish in the baseball stadium felt like we were running in the Olympics. The volunteers were great - full of energy and support for all runners. The Greenville community was awesome, coming out in cold, damp weather to cheer on runners the entire length of the course. My entire family ran (my husband and son ran the 5K, my daughter ran the kids' marathon, and my sister and I ran thehalf). We are already talking about next year's event. This one is definitely going to stay on our calendars. Don't change a thing for next year - everything was perfect! Our family's memories will last a lifetime.

I just wanted to thank everyone who had a part in this terrific event.

Being a newbie runner (under 2 years), I've only participated in one other endurance event - the Nike Women's Marathon in SF. I finished the full there and swore that I would NEEEEEVER do another one. About 3 months ago, I decided to try another long race - a half this time. I selected this one because I have family in the area.

I am SOOOOO glad that I did. The new course was awesome. I enjoyed the beautiful parks and the historic neighborhoods. The cheer groups along the way were so encouraging. Yes, they were small, but I was grateful to have them there. The Greenville PD did an amazing job. I didn't even mind the "wet" weather. It was such a great experience that I'm planning on making it an annual event. I'm already recruiting a team to participate with me next year.

Thanks again for all of the hard work. It really paid off.

Until next year....

This race is very well organized. Package pick-up, well-placed water stations, nearby hotels, and a nicely designed course make this run a great experience. It is small (240 marathoners for 2008), so one tends to get lonely during the second loop. Plan for the gentle hills during the second loop! This is a run with true Southern charm.

Pros: I'm a Greenvillian and had never seen some portions of this course before. Very beautiful and eclectic. Plan for some hills. Integrating Fluor Field into the race was brilliant. The final lap around the field, announcing of your name, telecast on the scoreboard, and seating for spectators was great. The food afterward was also excellent: Jersey Mike's sandwiches, soup, pastries, etc. The medal was unique, pretty, and well-conceived. The names on the bibs was a good idea. Liked the strangers calling my name. This race did the city proud.

Cons: Where were the bathrooms on the course? I saw TWO! And the website was horrendous. I'm from this area, but it gave no parking instructions for visitors - never a bit of news, much less a news update. No elevation graphic either. Check out Baltimore's Under Armour website. To see your time you had to click a link for the GTC. Also, where's the race photograph?

I'll definitely do this one again. It's a good one but needs some work. Finally, not a lot of fans along the route, but the weather wasn't the best, and I really didn't expect a great number.

Pros:
1. Running through this course was much better and more scenic than the previous year's course.
2. Plenty of aid stations and fluids.

Cons:
1. After loop one, the course marshals were gone. In a few places I saw other runners turn the wrong way because there was nobody there to direct them. I live here and train on sections of this course all the time, so for me it was easy, but I had to scream ahead to try and help other runners. THIS IS A MUST FIX!!
2. Course markings were in dark blue on black asphalt - duh, it's harder to see that than, say, yellow.
3. Finishing inside the baseball stadium could have been done SO MUCH BETTER than it actually was - maybe some music or some piped-in fan noise?!

This was quite an expensive race compared to most "small" races that I have participated in, but I did not decide to run it until the day before, so I had to pay full price. But, other than that, I enjoyed the course (a double loop), through what I am sure are some of the most beautiful parts of Greenville. And, where else can you run on a few miles of rubber surface alongside a bike path? Yes, parts of the course paralleled a bike path and it had a rubber/track surface! Volunteers were great and hung in there even for us slower runners. Not many spectators, unless you brought your own, but then long-distance running is not a spectator sport!

I recommend this run and will place it near the top of my list of "most scenic."