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Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.9 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 5.0 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.3 
 
 
Number of comments: 260 [displaying comments 231 to 241]
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Run2 Eat from bell buckle, tn (11/19/2007)
"pure running experience" (about: 2007)

4-5 previous marathons | 2 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


the 5 stars are earned, across the board, at this event. this is a unique marathon - the course is blatantly, brutally hilly; the spectators are few but are also extremely enthusiastic, supportive, & encouraging; the organization - from pre-race meals to packet pickup to post-race potluck recovery feast - is superb. the course support includes so many aid stations that you can get fluids just about whenever you want them. however, there are miles to cover between aid stations when you are likely to find yourself alone on a steep hill, alone suddenly exiting cool woods into hot sunshine, alone working your way through hairpin turns... this is the sort of course where you might not see another runner, spectator, or aid station for quite a ways, and the going does get tough. but, that is when you get to learn what you are made of, in a race that really is about the pure running experience.
 

M. H. from Cincinnati, OH (11/19/2007)
"Wonderful, boutique marathon for connoisseurs" (about: 2007)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


If you are a marathon connoisseur, you are going to want to add this one to your list. It's a wonderful little race where you get lots of personal attention.

The aid stations were plentiful, and better run and stocked than you will find at many larger and more well-known races. The few spectators were of the highest quality, enthusiastic and well-informed. It was easy for your loved ones to spot you multiple times on the course, if they wanted. My hubby volunteered along the course and got to see me twice.

Although the course is not certified, the mile markers seemed more accurate to me than at many certified races,and I didn't miss seeing a single one.

Race director pays a lot of attention to the small details that make for a memorable event. In the weeks leading up to the race, he sent us several entertaining emails with tips on where to stay and where to eat. He also runs a cool web site and message board about the race.

We got cotton t-shirts with a hilarious graphic on them, as well as long-sleeve technical shirts with our names printed on them. They organized a potluck for the finish line, and people brought a wide variety of homemade treats. The race director made pumpkin pie! And he really went the extra mile, by arranging for microbrew to be available at the finish line (keg tapped at noon). This guy is a superhero. He even ran the race with us!

I haven't even mentioned the course. Yes, there are hills. Mostly, it's hills. But it is a beautiful place to run. If it were easy, everyone would do it. We got our money's worth, and then some.

I can't say enough good things about this race. Everyone should want to do The Monkey. I hope to make it back there again.
 

Parker Gates from Nashville, TN (11/19/2007)
"Spoils other races" (about: 2007)

2 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This event was a blast! Great course, super challenging, small number of runners, great homemade food from all the volunteers, great volunteers... and did I mention that it's challenging?
 

Janis Posey from Birmingham, AL (1/10/2007)
"What a blast!" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was such a great race.... Good course, good organization, good aid stations, and just enough crowd support that you never felt all alone, but yet it was easy for my husband to follow me on the course. The web page is creative and informative. The RD has a GREAT sense of humor! The volunteers that put the race together really made me feel welcome and important! The shirts are GREAT and so is the medal - please don't change a thing!
 

Diane Taylor from Nashville, TN (11/28/2006)
"This will be a classic someday" (about: 2006)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I loved every minute of this race!!!! Percy Warner Park is beautiful. The volunteers were very enthusiastic. The shirts and numbers were personalized with our name (or nickname) on them. The course was tough and challenging as promised (but I already knew that). The weather turned out great for running (a little on the cool side for the volunteers). This is one marathon I hope to do every year until I'm 90 (or more)!!
 

T. S. from Nashville, TN (11/27/2006)
"A REAL marathon!" (about: 2006)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


Not only is this a beautiful and challenging course, it's a unique (and rare) opportunity to run a real marathon without all the crowds, hype, fanfare, and garbage that is tacked on to most marathons these days.
It's limited to 100 and is sure to fill up fast for '07 after its great success in '06.

Destined to become a classic! It is packed with truly insane hills and stellar scenery. Plus, it's in Nashville, so you can have a Krsipy Kreme and a PBR when you're done and no one will stare at you.

Not for first-timers, fun runners, or "joggers."
 

Dallas Smith from Nashville, TN (11/27/2006)
"Beautiful, hilly, challenging course" (about: 2006)

2 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 1


A great race! Small field but a great course. Nice website and forum. Great post-race food, if you like homemade cookies, pies, soups and more.
 

j. v. from Dallas, TX (11/26/2006)
"I had a great time!" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I can't say enough about this race - the best organized small race that I have seen. I love small races; you can have a great course like this... all in the hills. Not one house, stoplight or policeman anywhere! We had personalized bibs, and we had personalized shirts! A first for me!

Okay, I only ran the race for its name. I ended up loving the race. The RD made this a wonderful experience; he even baked a dozen pies from scratch, and still ran the race!

I was from out of town so I did the pre-race dinner. That was fun, but I also got to go pick up another out-of-town runner and we had a second pre-race party! Now how often does that happen? No hanging around your hotel room watching TV waiting for the race. The post-race party was great as well... at the race site and the post post-race party, I met some wonderful people and got to break bread with both the RD and Chuck Engel... and Sam. I guess you had to be there. Wonderful, fun, personable people... and very approachable. Everybody combined to make this a wonderful event. I just hope that it never grows... it is so hometown at this size. Capped at 100, and full.
 

Joel Tejeda from Missouri (11/24/2006)
"Unique and challenging, but fun" (about: 2006)

1 previous marathon | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This is my inaugural marathon run, but not my last. RD went above and beyond on this, and many volunteers urged me to continue on when I really wanted to stop and walk. Highly recommend this to any runner who wants something different in a marathon. Can't wait until next year.
 

T. R. from Hermitage, TN (11/23/2006)
"A beautiful run in a beautiful park on a great day" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Wow! I train in this park so I knew the hills. It was my second inaugural marathon in a week. I loved the craziness of the run. The people I was running with were there for the fun and challenge of the 26.2 miles on a hilly course. I ran with Trent for several miles and listened to him continue his race director's chores as the miles rolled by. The folks at the water stops provided lots of enthusiasm and cheers to keep us moving forward. I even saw a flying monkey on a bicycle, though the wings looked a little funny.
 

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