The bus ride from Shepherdstown to the start area was an exhilarating way to start the day. The locals drive these narrow, winding, hilly roads in white-knuckle fashion. I liked everything about this marathon - my 17th. I can't recall a more scenic course, nor more challenging hills. The killer hill after 14 is prelude to a rather brutal second half (the first half is a breeze). But don't let that keep you from this race - just slow down and enjoy the scenery. The RD and crew did a fabulous job. I'll definitely do this one again.

Water stops were very sporadic, but extremely friendly. They need closer water stations, especially in the second half. The course is simply mesmerizing, running along the Potomac, Antietam and Harper's Ferry was just awesome. Very few spectators. I think that Mark will definitely fix the glitches and make this one of the top ten small marathons in the nation.

I ran the half and enjoyed it. There are some nasty hills on this course and I would recommend driving the Antietam Battlefield section before running this course - either full or half marathon. I felt bad for the full marathon folks running (most walking) up Sawmill Road while I was headed down. That did not look like fun at all. The organization was great for a first-time event - traffic was well controlled through Sharpsburg and there were plenty of water stops (and even a bagpipe in there as well). Weather was perfect and there was plenty to snack on after the race. For the half, I would like to see the last "climb" off of the towpath not be that steep walkway up to the Route 34 bridge deck. Wow! That is a steep one right at the end. I'll be back to run the half again but I don't have the courage to attempt a full marathon on that course just yet.

Looking at the course elevation profile, you'd think that this course has three or four hills but is primarily flat. You'd be wrong. Maybe the scale just doesn't convey the elevation accurately or maybe elevations are just taken every half-mile and then the dots connected. Bottom line: when you hit the hills, they are constant and unrelenting. You can't rest during the downhills because they are so steep you have to use your quads and "brake."

Put it this way: in winter you'd need to put chains on your tires to be able to drive this course.

Having said that, the organization was impressive, especially for a first-time event. Nice shirt. Sparse food selection at the end, so if you want more than half a banana and a bagel, bring your own. Gel on the course was a nice touch, as was the low cost.

Afterward, everyone said that the half-marathon course was significantly short. That is job #1 for a race director and everything else is secondary - no excuse. Hopefully the marathon, which was mostly on a different course, was accurate.