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May 10, 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 71 to 81]

More Comments: [ < 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 > ]

N. M. from High Point, NC (11/7/2007) "May be the best small Boston qualifier in the U.S." (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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!
D. P. from Atlanta, GA (11/7/2007) "Well organized and great fun!" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
S. M. from ASHEVILLE, NC (11/7/2007) "VERY SCENIC, SMALL RACE" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 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.
Lynn Dingle from Raleigh,NC (11/5/2007) "Fast, but not easy!" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 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.
M. D. from Harvest, AL (11/5/2007) "Top Notch Organization" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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
J. D. from Fayetteville, NC (11/5/2007) "Overall good race" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 While reading the others' comments, I agree the organization was great! Lunch was fantastic. The volunteers were wonderful Unfortunately, I did not receive a light. I think it would have been nice to have directions to the start place in the race packet. The race course was great until you got into town and then there were a couple of times I felt I was taking my own life into my hands as traffic was quite heavy and people were not paying attention. There were many times I felt alone on the course.
Christi Paine from Atlanta, Georgia (11/2/2007) "TOUGH, but well worth it... quite an experience" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my fourth marathon. And it was quite unlike the others I've run. This marathon is small (150 runners). For me, I think I prefer a larger field, but the fans/spectators/volunteers that were there were wonderful. I will say, overall, I loved this race. David and Rhonda are A+++ 110% committed to making this a great experience for everyone. The Lees and the volunteers gave their all, and I am very thankful to them. The course is tough. For me, it was TOUGH. Believe them when they say it is a STEEP decline in the first half. IT IS!!! Be warned, the roads are open and have a considerable camber. This and the steep drop made it very hard going on my legs for the second half, but marathons aren't really easy anyway, so there it is... lol. The scenery is gorgeous. This area of NC is beautiful and we had perfect weather. The finish was perfect. Solitary through the woods and over pathways and the bridge. Gorgeous and peaceful, especially knowing you were at the end. For me, a somewhat private triumph...( I was in some pain, but it was worth it times 10). The celebration at the finish was fantastic (food, drink, mylar blankets, friendly people) as is the "one of a kind" medal. Even the race shirt was excellent. This was not my PR, but only 6 minutes off, and still a Boston qualifying time, so I am pleased. And thanks to the store at the top of the ridge, for opening up for us! Much appreciated! I highly recommend this marathon. My experience in the Ridge to the Bridge means quite a deal to me. Thank you, Brown Mountain Running Club, and especially David and Rhonda. I LOVED IT.
Tamara Smith from Cincinnati, OH (11/2/2007) "Organization of this race sets the standard!" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This marathon was a terrific experience from beginning to end. The race director did a fantastic job, and really set an amazing standard. I want to offer my hearty congratulations and appreciation to David Lee and his terrific team of good-hearted folks - you did a great job on this marathon. Here are some of the highlights: David sent out a number of email updates to all registered runners, with useful information about the run. He answered questions, and shared tips about how to best run the course, and its first half, downhill section. He was quickly responsive to any and all emailed questions. He added a place on the website to communicate with other runners - for example, to share rides to the bus pick up area. Very nice buses to the start - no school bus ride for this run! We had a comfortable travel coach, with a great driver. He didn't talk a lot, allowing for conversation among the riders, but he pointed out things along they way, and shared humorous anecdotes. Since the run was starting at 7:00, prior to the sun rising, we were all given small flashlights (easily carried with the attached key ring) and a glow bracelet, to increase visibility. The course was a lovely, tree-lined road in the country. Although there were cars on the road, most swung wide to go around us. The shirt was a nice, long-sleeved tech shirt. The goody bag was a yellow fabric, with our name and race number on a luggage tag. He also included the typical clear plastic bag as a drop bag for extra clothes at the start. The volunteers were uniformly pleasant, supportive and encouraging. The race finish area did not have showers, but David provided packages of 10 deodorized body wipes! In addition to bananas, oranges, pretzels and water, we were served pulled pork, green beans, rolls and peach cobbler - delicious! · Thanks to the owner of the new store at the start, who opened early for us, had coffee, gels and other products available, and provided a warm place to wait. I hope he got some business back for his efforts. Thanks to everyone who spent so much of their time to make this a special experience. Your time and efforts are much appreciated. By the way - I gave the fans 5 stars, because even though there weren't any to speak of, the volunteers and local sheriff, driving back and forth the whole time, made up for it! (Who needs spectators anyway? That's not why I run!)
R. H. from Minnesota (11/1/2007) "Part 1 of My Double Marathon" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Read all these comments by the other runners. It looks like they are over-selling the marathon, but once you run it, you feel the same way yourself. This was my 17th marathon and was a special treat. I am on my way through the 50 states and am thankful I selected this one for my North Carolina marathon. I ran both the Ridge to Bridge and then the Marine Corps the following day and there was a huge contrast between the two, yet both were special in their own way. Most small marathons are organized by a local running club and there are details missing which runners from out of town need to have, yet this race director, David Lee, had it together and assembled an awesome race. There were not many spectators, but I expected that in this race and prefer the small marathons to the overcrowded ones. In Minnesota, our leaves have changed and most are on the ground, but in North Carolina, I was treated to the full fall colors and spectacular scenery. I held back on the down hills since I had a marathon to run the next morning, so being towards the back, I was amazed by the cheering of the aid station volunteer who I could hear ¼ mile away and there wasn't another runner in sight, that'll make anyone feel like a hero. This marathon is so easy to recommend to others, I only wish I lived closer and could make it an annual event.
J. V. from The Great State of Texas (10/31/2007) "Ignore the stars, this was a great race!" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Peak to Creek Marathon (formerly Ridge to Bridge Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I hate giving a race a low score when it doesn't deserve a low score. This is a small rural race run in the hills...nobody lives there, only trees and beautiful countryside...so spectators get a single star. The race is wonderfully friendly. Fantastic medal! Loads of great food! And if you stay at the host hotel, 4AM breakfast! We were given homemade goodies at packet pickup, too good to be true. The course was well marked, there were plenty of friendly volunteers...the Sheriff and ambulance cruised the course continuously. The owner of the store where we started was a friendly and courteous to us as possible. We were even taken to the top of the hill (yes they drive you to the top of the hills so that you can run down them!) in luxury coaches, not school buses. This was a first class event from beginning to end. Even your race number was based upon your predicted time...so you when you lined up you just made sure that no smaller numbers were behind you! Very well done event. Okay, the course was fast. The medal was great. The food was wonderful. The organization was like perfect. Pretty dang near perfect race...but a couple of small items. Some people like crowds. Sorry, find a big event race...Marine Corp is the next day. The road was not closed. Not much you can do about that. The road had some camber to it...even less you can do about that! If you like small pretty races with lots of support (water, gatorade, gels, and food at the finish), then you should love this course. Run it for the fast time. Run it for the great medal. Run it for a scenic course. You will be glad that you did!

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