This race was very organized. It is a great location for a 'family' marathon. You can walk up and find a beachside hotel for $40! The volunteers are as good as I have seen. The expo is the best. Great deals, free adult beverages (if you like), and short lines. Parking at the race is no problem. You could even take a shuttle from the hotel. Nice shirt and nice medal. Nothing special.

The course: If this were a point-to-point run from the south, you would have to close it out. This is due to the high winds that seem to be a reccuring theme. If the course were run backwards so you had the wind at your back coming in, it would make things easier. Does the wind usually come from the south or is this something you can't plan? You are running next to cars for about 1/3 of the race.

Post-race - not congested, can find your family easily, massages, food, and once again, free beer. Getting out of the parking was a piece of cake. This is definitely family friendly with many places for them to see you. There are also two different post-race parties (adults and children).

I've run this race 3 times and finally qualified for Boston on it. The weather was a surprise. It was 58 at the start and 70+ around 10:00. The wind was very strong out of the south, 20+ mph. A lot of runners were slowed down by the strong gusts.

The course is generally flat. It has some boring stretches. Route 17 Business is a poor choice for a marathon, and you are on it for around 10 miles. It is three lanes in each direction and one lane is for runners. There is a car exhaust issue, but I understand they cannot shut down 17. The running lane is rutted from heavy trucks. Cars are right next to you the entire time, and they cut in front of you to turn into stores. I kept myself entertained by counting pancake houses on Rt. 17--I came up with 8, but I think I missed a few. Maybe next year I'll count stores with Nascar signs, or t-shirt shops.

The spectators were sparse after the 1/2 marathon except around the relay areas. One of the volunteers sent me the wrong way around mile 22 at one of the intersections. I can understand the confusion because all fo the runners come through the intersection 3 times, and there were runners everywhere, some running 3:00 hour marathon, some 5:00 hours, and some 1/2 marathoners.

The t-shirt is consistently disappointing, but the medal is nice and the expo is good, with free food and beer. It was funny to have a nutritionist set up next to the local grocery store. The nutritionist was expounding upon the virtues of a healthy diet. The local grocery store was giving away Oatmeal Cream Pies and Moon Pies. Guess which booth was getting the business?

Post-race food is average, but there is beer and the race results are posted and updated very quickly.

All of the logistics (parking, packet pick-up, finish support) are perfect. I just wish they could change the course.

I didn't go the the carbo dinner or the post-race party, although it looked like fun.

I only ran the half marathon this time around since I have a full one on the calendar for March. I live (and run) in a pretty hilly area so the course was pancake flat to me (just like the webpage claims). The wind was incredible... I'd rather run hills. Anyway, the course was good. The spectators were few but enthusiastic.

My biggest gripe was the disorganization. The packet pick up was a zoo. Just finding where to pick up my packet was an exercise in patience. The webpage was misleading about where to get the packets at specific times (during the 5K). I know I wasn't alone because there were several other people at the 5K also looking for their marathon packets. Then when I found out the packets weren't at the 5K I asked where they were and was told they were at the Holiday Inn. I asked where that was and the lady looked at me like I had sprouted horns. I reminded her that I was not from 'around here' and asked for directions. She gave me some directions and away I went. I found out, the hard way, that there were two Holiday Inns fairly close together on Ocean Blvd. When I finally got to the right one, I had to stand in a line for everything. A line for the packet, a line for the chip, a line for the shirt, a line for tickets to the party, etc.

Then on race day I made the mistake of driving out to the starting line and parking by the stadium. I then walked up to one of the staffers and asked them where I should park and was treated to angry threats to tow my truck if I even thought of parking at the stadium. This was while I'm asking where to park. She went on in her rant to tell me they weren't playing around this year (I guess she never thought I wasn't there last year and possibly was open to suggestions on parking). The webpage did lead me to believe I could have parked there if I wanted to as long as I got there by a certain time. It also mentioned parking across the street. Perhaps I should recommend active listening classes for staffers for 2005.

The course was a good one like I said, and my time was better then I set out to run. I don't think I'll come back since I prefer friendlier interaction with the event staff. However, if I need a quick course to qualify for Boston, this would top my list.

Thought I'd respond to some of the comments. Regarding the water stop with only one volunteer: I think what happened here is that this particular stop wasn't officially 'open' yet. I distinctly remember passing it around mile 3 or 4, but seeing a mile marker for mile 14. Due to the looping course, I think this was the mile 14 water station, but they hadn't staffed it yet... we had all just started running. However, there was one poor lady volunteer there with a bucket of Powerade, who, well... I think they just shouldn't have set up until we all went by. When we came back to mile 14, it was fully staffed and fine.

I TOTALLY AGREE with the comments about having to visit 4-5 different tables at the expo just to pick up bib, chip, tickets, shirt, etc. This seemed really wonky, and the tables were at different places in the room. As for the comment below chiding runners not to attach chips to their shoelaces, here's the thing: 1) neither I nor my friends received a zip tie with our chip - it wasn't in the envelope and it wasn't on the table and 2) I distinctly remember that they had a model shoe on the table WITH THE CHIP TIED TO THE SHOELACES. So... I hear you on not clogging up the exit chutes, I mean, the last thing I want to do is bend over and fiddle with my shoes two seconds after running 26.2 miles... but, dude, it wasn't our fault.

A couple people have noted that some of the volunteers, while friendly, were kind of clueless. To me, it never felt like anyone was in charge. It's ok as a volunteer to not know everyone's random questions, but point me to someone who MIGHT know.

As for the host hotel, yeah, it did seem pretty lame and VERY FAR from the race. Maybe it's just where they could get a big room for the expo for cheap? I stayed there... it was clean, but definitely 'a motel at the beach'. (I've left my positive comments previously.)

It was a nice race if you dont mind having to find out basic informaton on your own, such as is there a baggage drop off or not, and is there food as well as beverages at the post-race party or just beer?? Will there be food/fluids at the start/finish? Lots of basic race info was totally not present and my friends and I (we were all from out of town) had to scramble at the last minute to find out important details like I just mentioned. Most of the volunteers and workers at the expo did not seem to have this info at hand. These are very basic items which a runner should not have to go from person to person at the expo asking until they find someone who 'thinks' it 'might' be or not.

Other than dropping the ball in the 'need to know' stuff, I thought Myrtle Beach was a good basic marathon, had great aid stations with very friendly and encouraging volunteers who stood in the wind and sun for hours with smiles on their faces! One more negative thing is that I would change the host hotel from the Holiday Inn Oceanfront. I stayed there, and they were very friendly and I had an oceanfront room, but it is 'SO' very run down and grungy, although clean, that it gives a very negative first impression when you first arrive. I arrived on Thursday and couldnt believe this was the host hotel. I know you try to keep costs down, but you really should try to get a newer, more modern hotel. First impressions set the stage, you know?? All in all, I would still probably recommend this race to another 50-stater.

This was my first marathon. I thoroughly enjoyed the race and the events surrounding the race. I found everyone involved, from the organizers and volunteers to the other runners, to be supportive and pleasant.

As others have written here, the course is flat. However, a strong headwind (at times) made for a challenging finish.

I would highly recommend this marathon for anyone looking for a first marathon.

The packet pickup could have been streamlined by at least putting the scoring chip in the race packet along with the plastic tieback in with the chip. There were just to many tables to go to and at most races you pick up your packet and then your t-shirt and that is it. The pasta dinner was good but the hotel needs to be closer to the start finish line. I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott beside the stadium, which worked out great. It would have been nice to have the pasta dinner and after-party coupons already in the race packet. The night before the race needs to be stressless, not stressful.

The race day went fairly smooth, but there were a few things that could improve the event. The mile markers were not clearly marked and there were very few clocks throughout the event. This made it very tough to keep up with splits and when the next water stop was coming up. There was one water stop in the first 13.1 that had only one volunteer working and that worker had to fill cups and the runners had to pick up cups off the table.

At the finish, it would really make it easier if the chip removers used round-end scissors to cut the plastic ties off. I noticed a lot of runners had attached their scoring chip through their shoe laces. This resulted in a major slowdown at the finish line because the runners had to unlace their shoes. Most events now provide directions to runners that the chip is to be attached with a plastic tie that can be easily cut off at the finish without runners having to stop or sit down to have somone unlace the the shoes to take off he chip. Runners need to keep moving after running 26.2 for safety reasons and the possibility of runners passing out due to abrupt stops.

Double loop (really figure 8). The first half shares with the accompanying half-marathon that starts at the same time... makes for some crowding during the first 6-10 miles. Previous reviewers have described this course as either flat or limited-rolling-hills. The course website calls it pancake-flat. To me, this course is like Houston... yes, it is flat compared to races with big hills. However, there are several stretches of 1/2 to 2 miles apiece that are 'gentle' uphills and these take a toll.

Meanwhile, I learned a four-letter word that's far worse than 'hill': WIND. 20-30 mph wind that seemed to be pointing right at you no matter what direction you were running. Combined with these slight uphill grades, the course was a lot harder for me than I expected. However, it is certainly doable and not grueling. And you can't knock the race organizers for wind in a town next to the ocean. The weather was otherwise wonderful. BTW, you will run right next to the ocean for a little bit of mile 16 (very nice)... other than that, you are running on roads through town and oceanfront drive, and alas, there are hotels between you and the ocean on this drive. That said, you have to hand it to the race organizers - they really worked hard to make the course as scenic and ocean-friendly as they could without us running on the beach itself (ouch) :-). Traffic control is reasonably good... I had to dodge a few cars, but there was LOTS of traffic on race morning, and the police and race volunteers worked plenty hard. They did a great job.

Post-race food was marginal, but extra credit for food/gel given out DURING the race as well as free water and Powerade at the expo before the race (along with lots of snackie goodies and beer 'free with a donation'). If anyone complains that the race required runners to pay for food, that's not quite true. There was a well marked booth by the gear check that was selling all kinds of food for spectators. There was also a tent with free food for runners; however, it wasn't that well marked depending on how you exited the race chutes (to the left, easy to see; to the right, hard to see). Well organized overall and I'm glad I did it.

A soild race with good organization. The course is a good one with gentle rolling hills. The expo is smallish, but well done. Packet pick-up is easy. My daughter and I stayed at a hotel approximately 3/4 mile from the start. And, the best part...the race started on time!

This was my first marathon, so I do not have anything to compare to. However, I have to say that overall I was very pleased with the experience. I give it two thumbs up! As advertised, the course is pretty flat, and the fans and volunteer staff were great! The only thing that I think needed improvement was the number of porta-johns on the course ... there were just too few ... I saw people, even women, having to use the bushes everywhere along the course ... they need to double the number of porta-john locations, and increase the number of johns at each location. There was one water station that was understaffed (I think it was the second one) ... the poor lady handing out Gatorade was working frantically and her hands will probably be stained Gatorade-red for a few days ... the rest of the water stations had more than adequate staffing.