This first-time, well organized event was planned and executed in about 8 months through the cooperative efforts of a variety of people representing local and federal government, private organizations and wonderful volunteers. This speaks so well of the RD, himself a runner, and MD who wants to make a difference in the health of West Virginians. Thank you, Mark.

Receiving a packet when checking in at the host hotel, Holiday Inn Express, was a very nice touch as was the big 4 a.m. breakfast. Packets were in paper bags also as going green was another focus of this event.

Early morning scenery was breathtaking. I'm a native West Virginian, so those curves and hills didn't bother me while riding the bus. BUT during the second half of the race, as had been stated, they were continuous, never-ending and then they took away my breath, cramped me up and wore me out! I barely managed to finish under the 7-hour cutoff and then limped to the bus stop.

The website is well organized and full of interesting information. We were kept informed as the event time progressed. I asked for and received number 64, representing number of marathons done. RD was very responsive to questions and I was really pleased to find a nearby new race that showed such organization and teamwork.

This race was a challenge for me, a slow person, but I would highly recommend it for the scenery, good workout you'll get, and the opportunities to learn history, visit local shops and support the efforts to help make others healthier.

RD is having medals specially made for the runners and promised to send them out. Age group awards of expensive running shoes are coming also. I look forward to receiving both.

I plan to do this again as long as I can because I'm very partial to my home state of West Virginia. I encourage all those that stay away from first-time events to try this one. It's headed to the top of the "must do" lists.

They have an early start for walkers, with extended closing. They also have beautiful scenery and excellent organization.

I really enjoyed the marathon course. It was really challenging and very scenic. This was race has a small-time feel with big-time race organization, and the area, at the time of year the race was held, was simply beautiful. I hope to do it again next year.

This was my 6th marathon, and it's certainly my favorite so far. Excellent organization, especially for a first-time race. I will certainly do it again, and I highly recommend it to all marathoners. There's a good variety of scenery, surface, and incline. I loved the fact that it started getting more difficult at mile 14. Great challenge! EXCELLENT job by director and all volunteers! This one is a MUST-do.

I loved running this marathon. Early on, I knew it was going to be a day to just relax and let the course take you. Honestly, the forest trail lulled me to sleep. Not a timing mat or ticking clock in sight. We met bleary dog walkers, campers in PJs, and scouts at breakfast. Just leaves and rocks and trees. A pair of runners were chattering behind me. They were so damn loud. Do you mind? I'm trying to listen to the Potomac. But, just as I was growing weary of the flat, shady trail, I hit the rolling hills of Antietam. This woke me up. The battlefield was breath-taking: a bouquet of cannons and standing stones, bathed in goldenrod. Turkey vultures spectated (four stars) from fence posts. The hills: merciless, but lovely. (Yes, lovely. I'm sick of flat, fast courses.) Seeing the half-marathon parade on the other side gave me heart. So many kind words from strangers. In the home stretch, we found the road, and reality set in. Orange cones, traffic cops, and broken glass. Would we join the road kill?

So, the elevation chart may have misrepresented the hills in the second half. And, I didn't get a fancy medal for crossing the finish line. Yeah, maybe the mile-markers weren't posted with precision. And I didn't run a great time. I was barely sore. But, every now and then you just need to have a good old run.

The way the community embraced this event made you feel like you were at Boston (almost), without getting trampled on. I know this event can only grow, but let's hope it won't get too big. Did I mention the hills? Also, to the runners who littered: shame on you! You should be shot out of a cannon, scattered to the vultures.

I was amazed at the excellent organization and attention to detail, and ALL at a reasonable entry fee. This is not to mention the diverse beauty of the course, i.e. C and O, the canal, Antietam, hills, and some quaint and historically significant towns in both Maryland and West Virginia. I agree entirely with the above comments that this is a VERY challenging run with an intense but rewarding second half. You've really got to hold yourself back on that 10 mile "C and O" stretch because Miller Sawmill Road and Antietam make a real bear. Again, my only hope is that this run stays small-town, quality-driven and runner-friendly. A great experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Well done inaugural event. This is just a nice, small, local marathon. If you need cheering crowds, music along the course, and all of that, then this is NOT the race for you. You can almost count the spectators on fingers and toes. The course goes from Harper's Ferry, WV, crossing the Potomac River into Maryland and follows the C & O towpath up to Antietam battlefield and ends in Shepherdstown, WV at Shepherd U's footfall stadium. It was just a nice (albeit challenging) run. The first 14-plus miles are the easiest; the most challenging are the approximately 6-7 miles in Antietam. There are lots of little elevation changes and a couple of long grinds and virtually no shade, so by mid or late morning it can be warm. So make sure to train doing some hill work and make sure to hydrate - that can be a problem, as there are not that many hydration stations. You should plan on carrying a water bottle.

The highlight for me was being at the point where the Shenandoah and Potomac meet right when the rising sun was a big orange blaze; it was one of the most beautiful scenes I've encountered while running a marathon. Running through Antietam was nice as well. My only two negatives: PowerAde blows! And not receiving a medal at the finish line (to be mailed later) was surprisingly a kind of a letdown for me. Minor negatives aside, I plan to do this again. NOTE: that I rate the crowds as a 5 so as not to penalize it, as there are very few places for spectators. What spectators there were, were fine.

Fantastic community support (although few spectators); great organization (first time or not) and historically beautiful course! Can't say enough positive about the pre-race and race day organization and execution. Enough water/gel stations unless you need them every two miles; I don't.

Do be prepared for two very different halves. The first half was fantastic: flat; scenic; no traffic; shady and cool. The second half had many tough hills as well as traffic, and it was sunny and hot (though still scenic).

The small number of runners was nice and the townspeople could not have been nicer. We had great fun visiting the shops downtown after the race.

Few suggestions: a course that is flatter for the second half; a little more food at the end; and start the marathon an hour earlier.

Great experience, great cause(s), and great organization! Thanks, Mark and Lois!

This is my sixth marathon. All six have been "medium to big" races. This was the smallest of all and the first I will definitely repeat.

It features a TOUGH final 12 miles. Tough, yet historic. Great organization; great course. I will dare say that the course rivals Big Sur - though the organization is more sincere (if you can imagine that!).

Small-town race; great course. Terrific leadership and support in organization. Run this marathon.

I agree with the first poster that bus ride to the start was enough to get your heart rate going. I just told myself the driver knew that road and every single curve to it!

The course is just absolutely beautiful, and out of seven marathons, it's the best yet for scenery. My favorite were miles 1-2 - the out-and-back on Murphy's farm where the fog was lifting up over the fields with canons poking out. The sunrise was gorgeous crossing over the Potomac, probably the best minute of the entire race. As previous posters say, the first 14 miles are a breeze: downhill to flat. I don't think I saw anyone running up that first hill coming off of the towpath; the hills for the next six miles were indeed rolling steep hills. I don't blame the hills at all. I think the course is amazing and I'll most likely be back next year.

The RD kept everyone up to date with emails and everything seemed to be organized well. Going 3-4 miles between aid stops turned out to be a little far when temps started to rise up toward the second half. All of the local volunteers were amazing - some of the best around. The people in West Virginia were very welcoming to all of the runners. I know 2010 will be even bigger and better.