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Apr 27, 2024

Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) Runner Comments

Back to Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.3

Number of comments: 88 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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P. F. from Arden, NC (10/26/2009) "Super Fall Marathon" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really thought this was a super race from top to bottom. The course was challenging but very fair, the race directors were great, the scenery was super and the volunteers at the aid stations were also super. Two thumbs up.
Mark Long from Hamlet, NC (10/25/2009) "Tough and Easy" (about: 2009) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first R2BM. The excessive downhill running was very tough on my body and I truly expected that part to be easy. However, the entire course was very easy on the eyes. I truly love the beautiful views of the Pisgah National Forest, Wilson's Creek and the other surrounding areas. Passing by some of the Christmas tree farms you could actually smell the trees from the course. The directors, David and Rhonda Lee, obviously put a great deal of work into the event, from the bus ride to the start, down to the fantastic food at the end. The custom pottery finishers' medal was great. I would highly recommend this race. I know timing is everything, but the fall colors up there were spectacular. To David and Rhonda, thank you for a job well done!
J. H. from Winston-Salem, NC (10/24/2009) "Awesome Scenery and Great Support" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 David and Rhonda did an outstanding job with this race. The course is new this year, and the reviews have been positive. I just got back from Morganton, NC, the town nearest the start, and I wanted to share a few thoughts. (1) The scenery is spectacular. It goes through a wooded area with beautiful fall foliage. The course has some rolling hills for five miles, followed by a nine-mile downhill stretch, then ending with the last 12 miles along a gentle slope following a small river to the finish. The ground is soft and there are a few locals but not much traffic. (2) Many fun people with a lot of experience run this race. It's a small marathon that is big on things that marathon runners like: great support, excellent logistics (including economical host hotel with easy packet pick-up), and friendly fellow runners. (3) Work on some hills for this course. The nine-mile downhill takes getting used to, but I've found that hill work helps in both directions. The course spares the pounding you get with pavement marathons since it is on soft dirt. However, the quads take a bit of a beating during the downhill sections (but this is do-able). (4) Plenty of food at the end of the run with cool awards (which I didn't win) and a great finisher's medal (which I did get). You can soak in the cool river afterward to soothe your aging joints if need be. As I've gotten older, that's increasingly important. For those of you considering a small, well-run and fast marathon, this would be a good choice. Less bustle and no crowds make this run good for folks that enjoy running in a scenic environment with friendly, helpful staff. If you need huge crowds and high school bands blaring at you to help you along, you may be disappointed. However, if you like a quieter run with the occasional conversation with good folks, this is the course for you.
M. M. from Southeast (6/8/2009) "Great race directors" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 As others have said, the race directors are one of a kind. David Lee does his best to prepare you for this race through his detailed, descriptive e-mails, but unless you live in the area and can run these hills, there is no way to truly prepare for this race. I had the same experience as M.R. (the good, the bad, the ugly). The elevation has changed for '09, but for me this course is too much of an unknown and nontraditional. I had hoped to qualify for Boston with this race, but did not. I would return to run this race for fun, for the personal experience, and with no goal in mind.
Chris Trawick from Cataula, GA (11/6/2008) "A Marathon EXPERIENCE like no other..." (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 R2B 2008 represents my sixth marathon over the past 3 years, and it was my favorite race, no question about it. The previous posts about this race cover the information pretty well. I'll only add my salient comments regarding specifics of the major items below: 1. Course topography: The first half of the course descends from Jonas Ridge, and is a pretty fast downhill line. For the beginners and less-trained veterans please take note. This section of the course is not to be taken lightly. It bears very heavily on your legs (quads and calves) and can leave you ill-prepared to face the hills that await you beyond mile 14. Hill training is your friend. Don't doubt me on this one. 2. Traffic: I did not consider traffic to be an issue in this race. While running on the side of the road is generally less than optimal, I found the oncoming vehicles to be very accommodating and cautious when near me. I never once felt unsafe. The previous concerns about traffic may simply reflect one's personal acceptance/avoidance of the inherent risk of running 4 feet from 3,000-pound pieces of metal driving at 50 mph. 3. Hills past mile 14: Yes, there are. Large and long they are. Train for them. I would consider them to be "rolling" if I lived in Morganton, NC. "Rolling" is a relative term, but they aren't something that you can't prepare for. 4. Organization: David and Rhonda have made this experience one that really pulls you in and makes you feel as though you have lived amongst these fellow runners and friends. It is unlike any race experience I have ever felt. The entire atmosphere is something that every runner should experience at least once. Once you do, you'll be back again. 5. Fellow runners: Great, great friends to be made here. From all over the country there are people that you can instantly feel comfortable around, and comfortable being around. Unlike anything I've ever witnessed before. In summary, I cannot recommend R2B highly enough. Do yourself a favor and experience this event. You will surely come back to do so again. But you cannot have MY spot. I will be there again in 2009. Chris
G. P. from Mocksville, N.C. (11/6/2008) "Great marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Great race: Great organization, lots of great food, beautiful scenery, glow plugs and LCD light to come down the mountain for your protection in the dark, great bus ride up the mountain, and a DVD of the event with video of everyone. David and Rhonda are the race directors, and they do an outstanding job. This is an out-and-back marathon, with no loops or circles. They take you 26.2 miles out and you run back. It would be impossible to stop traffic for the total distance. How many marathons run out and back, with no loops and only 2 turns? I did not feel that the traffic was any worse than at some other marathons I have run. This is a very fun, but difficult marathon to run, and very well organized. Every detail is taken care of. Great volunteers also! There are a few hills at the end, but they are manageable. I would recommend it to anyone. Expect sore calf and quad muscles for several days after! Very challenging marathon. Great job on organization and every detail.
K. S. from Brantford, Ontario, Canada (11/6/2008) "1ST Marathon Memories in NC" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 1st marathon, and I ran it with my boyfriend. What can I say about the scenery? Just spectacular! I enjoyed the challenge of the course, and the pit stops were plentiful with water, Gatorade and gels. The organization of the race was 11/10!! David and Rhonda made us Canadians feel welcome, and always kept runners up to date for months before the run. The pre-race dinner and breakfast were very convenient at the hotel, I loved the small number of participants, and the people overall made our run quite comfortable. The option of an early start time was much appreciated as well; being marathon virgins, our goal was to complete the run under 5 hours, and we did! I definitely recommend this run in Morganton because you are not just a number in a pack of 1000's; you are recognized by name and you get homemade cookies and a cool race shirt in your pack!! THANKS, DAVID AND RHONDA!!! We will be back sometime in the future. :)
A. W. from Chattanooga, TN (11/6/2008) "My favorite marathon!" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I absolutely loved this race. My legs hurt more and longer than after any other marathon, but it was easily my favorite. There were very few fans on the course, but I gave it 5 stars because I saw my family 14 times during the race. I'd much rather see my wife and kids than strangers yelling, "Yeah, go runners!" Due to the small field, and the open roads, it was easy for friends and family to follow. The race started out in the fog on top of a mountain. There were no real panoramic vistas, but the course was gorgeous with the fall colors. The first 13 were downhill, and you can run really fast with little effort, but the downhills pound your legs and muscles. Even though I had stamina left, for the last 6 miles, my legs were gone. I had a PR by 4 minutes, but ran the 2nd half 20 minutes slower than the 1st. There was a major hill between miles 17 and 18, but the second half comprised 13 very manageable miles. I don't feel it was as hilly as other posters made it out to be. As far as some of the negative comments concerning the road not being closed, most of us train every day on open roads. It was no big deal, and I think it did not take away anything from the race. You could not find a more personal and organized race in the country. No loud music or big crowds, but I would trade fall colors, hometown feel, personal touches, and a long-sleeve tech shirt over a big marathon (like those put on by Elite Racing) and their cotton t-shirts and commercialization any time.
T. M. from Hickory, NC (11/6/2008) "Wonderful running experience!" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is my second year running the race, and I think it is one of the greatest experiences. The race organizers cover every detail, and truly go out of their way to accommodate runner needs. With respect to the course, it is fantastic, but it takes some training to enjoy. We did 3 training runs on various parts of the course, and it helped not only the downhill running, but preparing for the uphills. Their is one long climb from 17 to 18, and then several rolls through mile 23. None of the additional climbs are very long or steep, but if not prepared, it does seem like they go on forever. The key to limiting the aches is in the training. I was sore, but not nearly as sore as last year. I ran a large marathon (10,000+ people), and it was a great experience, but it does not compare to Ridge to Bridge. I hope to run this each year.
W. M. from NC (11/5/2008) "Wonderful Race" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my second marathon, and the first that I trained for on a more serious level. As a 36-year-old male, I needed a 3:15 to BQ. Didn't quite get there. Hit 3:27, which I am still very proud of considering my first marathon was over 4 hours. The course is really fun. Downhill for the first 14 miles. But beware... those last 12-13 miles are killer!! My legs were quivering at the finish line, but really no worse than they were at the flat marathon I ran back in May. We started out in the dark at the top of a mountain, but as daylight broke we were headed down Highway 181 and the views were spectacular (especially with the leaves changing color). As for traffic... not a problem. The organizers did a great job of having local law enforcement and volunteers cruise back and forth along the course. Their presence seemed to be constant, and I never had any concern about oncoming traffic - even when I was near the front of the pack for the first several miles. There were plenty of water/GU stations along the way and we could even shed layers at the stations and have them brought to us at the finish line. The tee shirt was a long-sleeved tech shirt (one of the better race shirts I've ever received) and the medal was a ceramic leaf with the race name and year on it (also nice and particularly fitting for this race). Kudos to Dave for organizing a great race and I look forward to running it again next year!!

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