If you need to run in SC run somewhere else. Point to point race requires you to take a bus. got in line at 7:15 and got to the start 6:00 min after 8:00 and NO ONE was there. They had started the race. Pretty bad when it's the races fault and they don't wait. We weren't the last bus either!!! Porta potties were at a minimum. I understand there is a budget but don't skimp on buses and port a johns. There was ONE every couple of miles. Course was awful!!! Could you have picked worse areas to run through??? Spectators were few and far between which really didn't matter to me, but the areas we ran through were obviously not interested in the race. This was my 45th marathon so I have lots to compare this to. Down at the bottom of my list. Really disappointed.

Wow, what a GREAT race. I felt this was very well organized. Great weather, great course, and WONDERFUL volunteers and spectators. And what a beautiful city. This was my 10th marathon. I was very impressed with the water stations from start to finish - very well stocked with water/Gatorade/pretzels/Coke/bananas/etc. For slower runners to end the race and still have refreshments, WOW, that doesn't happen very often. The medal was great also. I will definitely recommend this race to others.

This race has great potential if rerouted some to include more scenic areas, perhaps at the very least to put the last few miles and finish area in a scenic area. Having the last several miles in a desolate area with little fan support is really rough. Some issues will no doubt be avoided in the future, such as traffic jams at the parking garage area and a hard-to-locate bag check.

Pros: good pre-race communication via emails and Facebook page; nice medal and shirt; friendly volunteers; course was flat and free of traffic; weather was perfect for running.

Cons: less than a mile of riverfront scenery in this "Riverfront Festival" marathon while many miles were in industrial areas; last six miles were desolate with no scenery and little fan support; no bananas/oranges/Coke during last six miles, though it was advertised there would be (it seems they put it at the finish area instead).

I ran the half marathon. I am local so was familiar with where the course was going, but trying to get 13 (or 26) miles of beauty is difficult. (Disney goes by the water treatment plant - nice.) I have run 9 marathons and many halfs all over the world, and for a first-year event this one was very organized. The volunteers were enthusiastic and helpful. Every section of the course was well marked and managed. I parked at the finish and took the bus to the start and there were plenty of buses. You can't beat shrimp and grits and cold beer at the finish. For a first-year, hats off to the organizers and volunteers. Surprising number of vendors at the expo for a first-year race as well.

This was my first half-marathon and I have no idea how much time or money goes into organizing these events, so my only disappointment was the very small number of porta-potties. The volunteers were fantastic and very upbeat, and the plethora of law enforcement made me feel very safe throughout the sketchy areas. Since this was my first half marathon, I was very happy to be awarded with a keepsake medal at the finish line. I will definitely be doing this race again next year, even if it's the same course.

Okay, my first thoughts as I went home were that the race sucked... ugly, boring. Then I uploaded my pictures... hmmm, I wondered. Why did the course seem boring? I had tons of great pictures! I love a course that shows you all of the city - the ugly underbelly as well as the fantastic sections. This race did that very well. We ran under moss-covered tree canopies, though downtown, by the water, by the mansions, through the boarded up district, through the old hill area, through new areas, and through old areas on the rise. Did I expect a prettier course? Heck yes! Did I expect a prettier town? Heck yes! I was somewhat disappointed by the entire trip, but I had a great time. My expectations may have gotten the better on me, but the venue was wonderful... well, I'd have preferred the expo to be downtown and the dinner to be downtown, but whatever.

The negatives: maybe the last section was a bit too straight for me, but the out-and-back nature of it was fun! I saw my friends that were faster and slower than me! The expo and dinner were at the finish, not the start... that made you need transportation, but if you had a rental car, you got your bib and then checked into your downtown hotel.

The positives: HOT food! Good, hot food! Cold beer (I don't drink it, but I saw people with like 9 cups stacked together, so it must have been unlimited). A great shirt (no advertising on the back!). A very good medal! A nice backpack swag bag (I have dozens, but not everyone does - I ran to the race from north of the airport and you can't tell, so it is well made). Once you get to downtown, you never need your car again! You can walk to dozens of places to eat. Nothing better than a race where you don't have to drive once you arrive! We got lots of communication via email about the race. An easy route to follow full of turns! I love lots of turns and hate long straightaways... a perfect course for me! We went through like six different types of neighborhoods... the art was fun on the Navy base and I do like out-and-back sections. There were hundreds of volunteers, and cute, decorated barricades. There was music! I have never seen the automated voice timers at the mile marks used instead of clocks... it seemed a great way to provide time for those one-in-a-thousand who don't have a working watch with them.

This was a good event. Could it have been better. Yes. But it had all of the elements that make for a great race.

I heard many people complain about how this was a run through the slums. The reality is that yes, there were some parts that ran through industrial areas, but NY and Chicago do too. What they didn't acknowledge were the nice parts of the city that we did see. I thought the volunteers were great, and the organization was not bad for a first-time race. I spoke with the race director and some of the folks who put this race together. They were serious about the comments and I would expect that there will be some changes. All in all, I really enjoyed this race.

From the enthusiastic and encouraging volunteers along the entire marathon course to the shrimp and grits at the finish line, GOOD job by the Charleston Marathon for a great job on your inaugural marathon!! Thanks for allowing me to exchange my shirt for a smaller one; for the plentiful water, pretzels and GU along the course; and for having food, water, and EAS drinks left at the finish for us 6-hour marathoners. It was a beautiful sunny day for us girls traveling from Michigan. Your city is AWESOME!!!

I liked this race. I stayed with a friend who took care of my transportation so I can't comment on that. But I had a great time. It is not a scenic course except for the start, but it was well organized and supported.

At 4 hours I was always around other runners and never questioned where to go. There was music in many spots and lots of marshals.

The mile markers could have been a little more eye-catching, but they had a car with a speaker announcing the time at most mile markers.

The race director sent out emails ahead of time with lot of information. I only think this race will get better.

I would like to say that, for a first marathon, the effort was credible. I could echo the negative points raised and the route could have been better - as in "more scenic." However, I understand that there were approximately 25% more people running than expected. I think this is a tribute to the location and the timing of the race. I think that the lessons learned from the race review will highlight the fact that you are on to something positive. I appreciate the fact that this race was organized by volunteers; I appreciate the effort. Thank you for the opportunity to run and I am looking forward to next year.