I ran the inaugural marathon yesterday and here are my thoughts:

The expo was nice, but a bit congested. It seemed like a lot of people were running into each other and a bit confused. The course was more challenging than I thought it would be. The miles in the woods were rolling and in areas it felt like you were running in quicksand where you couldn't get any type of lift and got sucked down into the loose sand. The area also had some single-track areas, which made it hard to get around those who were walking. I was really glad when that portion was over. Running on Highway 158 was somewhat tedious. Cars driving by you slowly with their exhausts filling your airway weren't the best motivation.

And then the rain came. At first it was welcome due to the warm start but I was at mile 16 when it really came down and that was hard to handle. My shoes had inches of water in them and my shirt and shorts were literally stuck to my body. The wind just added to the pounding of the rain in your face. And then there was mile 21 over the bridge. It was a long hill but the grade was gentle. The decline was welcome but the aid station was closer to mile 23 than 22, so that was also a nice surprise. I also wished they would've made the mile markers stand out a bit more with flags or balloons. The crowd support was just okay. The people who did brave the weather were great but I think a lot of people bagged it because of the rain.

The finish was soggy and slippery before you reached the track. I don't know how anyone in a wheelchair could have made it through that patch. Overall this race and course were challenging. You can't plan for the weather but the stretch in the woods and the bridge were both taxing on the body and mind. The volunteers were great, as were the local supporters that did come out. The scenery was lovely in parts but I was hoping for more water views. I think this race could be great with a few tweaks.

Overall I liked the marathon and would consider doing it again. The volunteer support was excellent and the community really turned out to make this a good event. Would recommend more Gatorade or energy drinks available on the course. Also, better marking of the miles. The signs looked just like highway mile markers, and it took time to figure out they were markers for the marathon. Good mix of road running and trails, which made the race a bit of a challenge. Overall, a good start for a marathon that has a promising future.

There was a lot of hard work and organization; restaurants were unprepared for runners; traffic was very bad, as the main road was closed; not enough porta-johns at the start (I waited 55 minutes and there were 100's behind me); mile markers were very hard to find (some behind tents); did not like the run through the woods in the sand (5 miles) and the causeway was tough for a finish; and no water after 22.5? People were great and helpful - a few changes and this could be fun. I visit 4-5 times a year and enjoy the area.

The EXPO was surprisingly large for a smallish marathon, and packet pickup was very easy and smooth. A little more signage indicating where to go for the expo would have been nice, but we eventually found it. I don't think the organizers were expecting so many runners, as we received strong suggestions to find an alternate ride to the start, despite having reserved space on the shuttle. Drop-off was relatively smooth, though there was no place for drivers to park and watch the start, so unless you lived there you really couldn't see the runners off. But there were many points along the route for supporters, and despite the horrible driving rain after about 9:00, the spectators were out cheering us on in full force - incredible! I especially liked the barbershop quartet - live entertainment is great in a long race. It rained like crazy and people still came out in the rain. There were no clocks on the course, and the mile markers weren't always easily visible - it wasn't until mile 3 that I was even able to see one. Also, 22-23 were not accurate - I guess they weren't allowed to place 22 on the bridge, so it was very close to the marker for 23. The course was advertised as flat, and we excpected it to be run on pavement, but miles 8 - 12 were actually on a hard-pack then pine-needle covered trail which was kind of hilly. The course runs through neigborhoods, then around the Wright Brothers Monument at Kitty Hawk, and more than I would have liked was on the main thoroghfare, with one lane blocked for runners. For the parts run on the main roadway, there was plenty of police support to protect us from traffic, but at one point the officers held up runners to let cars pass. A little education of the police force will help clear up this problem for future years. The bridge at miles 20 - 22.5 was a big one, and the wind and rain didn't make it any easier but we can't blame the director for the weather. There was plenty of water and Gatorade along the course, and gel was offered later in the race. Even for slow runners like me there was plenty of gel left. The volunteers were unfailingly enthusiastic and many businesses had welcome signs out front. When I thanked spectators for coming out to cheer us on, they almost always thanked me for coming. I am glad to have run this innaugural race, and I think it will only get better.