This race is really a one-of-a-kind marathon : 1) Before the race, you feel like part of a family, receiving David's great emails and countdown. It was great sharing tips posted on the message board and exchanging ideas with the community. Even the Holiday Inn ladies enjoy the event and bent over backwards for runners - amazing! 2) During the race, the gorgeous scenery and friendly volunteers were great. Plus, the downhill speed really gets you carried out. 3) After the race, you enjoy the greatest, family-type atmosphere, with smiles on all faces, plenty of excellent cooked food, and hugs (but no kisses). In one word, you feel really part of this great, enthusiastic community. Of course, you may enjoy the downhill course and a PR, but still - do not underestimate the task; your muscles will not forget it. :) Bottom line: David, I will be back next year, probably with company! Thanks so much for putting this together.

Well, this race had BEAUTIFUL scenery. But, it really wasn't what I expected at all.

The first 13 or so miles were exactly what they were billed as: fast and downhill. Now for the misrepresentation: the second half was billed as partly flat, with "gentle, rolling hills." There was absolutely nothing gentle about those hills.

They were one after another, very large in stature, with no time to recover in-between hills. It was the hardest 13 miles I have ever run in my life, mainly because I wasn't mentally prepared for something like that.

I'd say the main reason this race is billed as a race that 60 percent of the people in it qualify for Boston is because there are only 150 runners and the majority of them are older or females, which is the easiest way to qualify for the Grand Race.

This is truly one of the hardest marathons in the country. It also hurts that there are practically zero spectators throughout. The only spectators are a few family members of runners and they are in their cars on the side of the road, waiting only for their loved one to come by. The volunteers did a very good job of handing out drinks and gels at aid stations, although this is the first race I have ever been at that hasn't had a fruit option at a few of the aid stations during the race. Man, a banana would have come in handy when I got some of those leg cramps.

David was awesome, however, and bent over backwards to make this race go well. I just don't think it comes close to living up to the hype it gets. Sorry.

This was the first small marathon I've ever run, and it will be one that I will run again and again. I cannot put in to words how great the organization of this race was - it was top-notch. The race director sent continuous email updates, gave quick responses to any questions, and they gave out little lights and glow sticks to light the way during the predawn start - it was top-notch. The course was beautiful (even through the fog) and very challenging. Don't underestimate how tough running downhill for 14 miles can be; you'll definitely feel it the next day. The spectators get 5 stars because, even though they were few, they were so kind and cheerful. Hopefully the race will keep its cap low so that it doesn't become too crowded. The post-race food was the best of any event I've ever been to, with pizza, barbecue, cobbler....

The predominately downhill course is tough on your quads so make sure you do some downhill training before the race.

Other than my quads hurting for a full week, this is one marathon you don't want to miss. If you are looking for homemade cookies in your race packet, an incredibly dedicated race direct and crew, a warm general store to wait in until the run begins, an early start for slower runners, an opportunity to buy an incredible race DVD for less than $5 and (as if that is not enough) an opportunity to have items you tossed during the run returned to you at the finish line, than this is your marathon. Sign up before word gets out.

This was my second marathon, and what a great one it was! David Lee did a wonderful job in the months leading up to the race keeping us posted on updates, changes, and giving training advice. The course itself was very challenging to me, as I was not used to running downhill for such a long amount of time. I loved the start in the dark, and the course had some beautiful views as we moved down the mountain. The spectators might not have been large in number, but they had an opportunity to move down the course as we ran, and they were very supportive and kept our spirits up!! The food after the race was plentiful, and the awards were done in a timely manner.

Overall, this was a great race. It was a small field, but this gave us more of an opportunity to get to know one another, as well as who our race director was. I look forward to R2B next year!

The organizers do an incredible job treating the ordinary runner like an elite athlete. Their attention to detail was amazing. They provided L.E.D. lights and glow sticks for foggy parts of the course, well placed aid stations including one at the top of the only big hill in the course, detailed update emails pre and post race, $2 race DVD (can't beat that anywhere), and on and on. Oh, and for those of you looking for a fast course to qualify for Boston: I trained once a week (I don't recommend it) having ran a 4:23 in my last marathon (and a 3:49 PR), and I finished the Ridge to Bridge in 3:17.41. I have never run the same marathon twice, but this will be my first. I plan to run it again in 2008!

One of the toughest races I've run, but also one of the most enjoyable. The race organization and execution were perfect. You won't have cheering crowds, but plenty of people driving by honk and shout encouragement. Many thanks to David Lee and all the other volunteers for a wonderful experience.

This race reminds me of a reverse Grandfather Mtn marathon. The scenery is very similar but runners get to go downhill for ~13 mi instead of up for 26. One may think that makes the course easier but it can destroy one's quads if run too fast.

The crowd size is quite small but the enthusiasm and VERY delicious, homemade cookies from aid station volunteers plus beautiful scenery more than make up for it.

The organization and attention to detail by the RD rivals that seen in much larger races.

I highly recommend this race. I hope its size remains small because I have seen growth hurt many other marathons.

Three of us trained for this marathon together. All three of us set personal bests. All three of us got so sore we could hardly walk. I have never felt a race as badly as I did this one!!! The quick pace of the first half is hard on the legs. The second half your tired legs meet some very challenging hills. Over all, it was a great experience. The course was very pretty, the weather was great, and my husband and I are thrilled with the beautiful awards.

David and Rhonda did a fantastic job in organizing and directing this race. Of all more than 50 marathons I ran this is the best organized one. Food is plenty and good at the finish line. Not many spectators but the aid stations were outstanding.
For the course if you run the first half at conservative pace, the second half is tough but should be no problems.
I'll be running this race again