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☰
Blue Ridge Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Blue Ridge Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 5.0 
Organization 4.9 
Spectators 4.7
Number of comments: 187 [displaying comments 161 to 171]
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Dirndl Girl from Washington, DC
(4/17/2011)
 "Beautiful course; super friendly support!" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 2011 - Lightning had the race called 5.5 hours in (heavy rain throughout), but everything to that point was phenomenal! The course is challenging and lovely, with superb support. Plenty of port-a-potties and hydration all along the course; at least two stops had fruit, and residents were out to cheer in all inhabited areas (quiet and beautiful along the Parkway) - even warm pumpkin bread from one family! Runners were also mutually supportive. I highly recommend the Blue Ridge to anyone who knows what they're in for - the hills are no joke. ;) | |
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L. B. from Nashville, TN
(4/17/2011)
 "Be ready for the challenge...amazing race!!!" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 We have many hills in Nashville and as I heard about this course through the last 6 months, I opted to take this challenge and train on the hilliest of hills in my town....nothing compares to these two mountains and hills on this course...you go up and down, up and down, and weave in and out of the city....when you think you are done with a hill...well, there comes another one....this was an amazing race despite the monsoon like conditions yesterday....the spectators were very supportive, the volunteers were helpful....Roanoke is a beautiful city...around the 16th mile, I thought to myself, 'This is fun...hard, but fun.' I enjoyed it...if you are up for a challenge, then sign up for 'America's Toughest Road Marathon.' You won't regret it!!! | |
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P. T. from West Windsor, NJ
(4/17/2011)
"Beautiful course, wonderful support" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a beautiful run! The mountains in the rain were majestic. What a great job by the volunteers and race organizers, who just acted as if every marathon is run in the pouring rain and had a great time of it. The beauty of the course would make this a must-do, but the people of Roanoke made it a classic. | |
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D. F. from St. Louis, MO
(4/17/2011)
"Beautiful, hard course; enthusiastic volunteers" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The course was fantastic - lots of great hills and beautiful trees. Volunteers were the most enthusiastic we've ever encountered. Organization was a tad lacking: packet pickup was unduly inefficient and the promised cell phones on the course to contact friends and family to see us on the StarCam were nowhere to be found (though one aforementioned AWESOME volunteer loaned me hers). Even in the rain, it was a lot of fun! | |
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A. D. from Roanoke Va
(4/17/2011)
"What an awesome experience!" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am a 43-year-old who has only started running in the last couple of years. I have run some 5Ks, but this was my first and only half marathon - and what a choice!!! I knew it would be hard, as I am from Roanoke and know how hilly our town is, but holy cow!! If I had run on the course beforehand, I probably wouldn't have done it. I am now so glad I did. What an accomplishment, and the people working the race were incredible. We had flash flooding that day and these people stood and encouraged us for hours. I don't know how many times I had slowed to a walk when up ahead I would see an encouraging face and it made me keep going and ultimately finish. By the way, I was glad it rained buckets - it makes my memories all the better! Thanks to all volunteers; you helped so many of us get through! | |
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D. P. from Brookfield, WI
(4/17/2011)
"Hills, anyone?" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a course for runners who enjoy scenery, a challenging course, and don't care about PRs. Though spectators are sparse, they and the volunteers make up for it in enthusiasm. Pros: + RD was really on top of things. He had an alternate course for the final few miles to avoid flooding issues due to all the rain. Race was delayed only 10 minutes while he confirmed all police and EMT support were in place. He was also on hand at the expo efficiently handling any issues that popped up. + Scenery - Blue Ridge parkway in Virginia and several scenic overlooks (which unfortunately the weather conditions minimized) + Nice finishers medal Cons: - Weather rained only during the race (sunny day before and about 6 hours after the race had started). Even though I was soaked to the bone I enjoyed the course. - Even though the art center was open prior to the race, all their bathrooms were locked - how tacky. You had to stand in the rain to use the portalets. - No complimentary post-race massages. I saw a few massage therapists sitting around near the finish with no customers. - cotton T-shirt. So many races have tech shirts that its a little disappointing to see cotton. Runners who enjoy this race will also enjoy Ridge Runner WV and Grandfather Mtn NC. | |
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J. T. from Cay, NC
(4/17/2011)
"'america's toughest'- an enjoyable challenge" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 BRM calls itself 'america's toughest road marathon'. I'm not qualified to pass judgment on that claim but I can say that it was the toughest course I've run. If you enjoy the challenge of running hills (and train for it) then this is a great marathon. It was also highly enjoyable, great course and I really liked the challenge of the hills. You have to have a real strategy on how to tackle them if you want to have a good run. Organizers do a great job for such a small event, and I was very impressed by the community support, number of volunteers, and enthusiasm of the spectators. Expo was, in a word, small (this is not a huge marathon) so don't expect to see the normal marathon expo vendors here for bargain shopping. Mostly local (non-running) supporters and Fleet Feet (thanks for coming out guys!) Course is really nice, 3 climbs of note with the first one being the toughest. Peaks are at miles 7.3, 13.0 and 18.8. Aid stations and course monitors are plentiful, with HEED and water at every one and gels / bananas / orange slices / gummi bears at selected ones. Schwag Report - Nice medal, but no goodie bag, finisher item and no technical shirt. All you get is a cotton t-shirt which is a little meager for a full price ($80-100) marathon. So in closing, this is a great marathon if you are looking for a challenging but enjoyable course and Roanoke VA is a great little town to spend a day or two in. Do it! | |
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J. C. from Christiansburg, VA
(4/17/2011)
"Even better than last year!" (about: 2011)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Blue Ridge Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the half-marathon last year and was hooked on the challenge of the course. With the course changes this year, it was even better! The rain was just a bonus to the difficulty of this race. It is not for the faint of heart, but once you run it, you will look forward to the challenge of running it again. | |
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M. B. from Washington, DC
(4/17/2011)
 "I'll be back Roanoke!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 How to sum up my first attempt at 'America's Toughest Road Marathon'? Wet, tired, ready to try this again next year. The 2011 running of this new race will forever be remembered as the wet windy one: PROS: -Small race = less hassles -Beautiful course, green everywhere -tons of on course support, food and gels/drinks plentiful -Roanoke and its people, first class, lovely little city and truly some of the friendliest folks I have ever encountered. -Ease of access, right off of Highway 581, hotels easy to find, plenty of attractions downtown OTHER: I won't say 'cons' but rather here are some thoughts -This course is very tough, this is not PR time and walking will happen for most casual runners -The extra hill added between 16-20 is absolutely daunting, strategy and conservation are key. The extreme hills may limit casual runner participation in the full -Never thought I would have to walk on downhills but I did. Everything is small scales don't expect the big expo or finish line fest. But what you do get is a race run by people who want you to enjoy yourself. Job well done! | |
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S. U. from Lilburn, GA
(10/18/2010)
"Most rewarding run of my life" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Blue Ridge Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 OMG! If I had previewed the course beforehand, I probably wouldn't have registered for it. Can you say, "2 MOUNTAINS?!?!" But fortunately, I showed up blindly and had the run of my life. Insanely challenging course, but my goal was simply to enjoy the scenery and finish before the cut-off time. Goal accomplished! My favorite and most memorable race experience ever! LOVED the fruit/pretzels at aid stations! LOVED the amazing landscape! LOVED faking a sprint to the top of a mountain and having the volunteer laugh/cheer me on. LOVED the awesome B&B that I stayed in. LOVED the volunteer that walked with me for a quarter-mile until I crested the hill and could start running again. The BEST running experience of my life! |
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