I think the rain kept the spectators away. I forget how much I hate hills until I run in this race, they are not killer long but some are killer steep. That is the only reason I gave the course a 3 - really not bad. Would have liked to have an orange or something at mile 13.1, which is where we stopped, but hey we drove back and had a great rubdown. We only ran the half but as a team so we could run the whole course.

I ran the half marathon. The entire event was very community based, with friendly nice people at the registration and expo. The course director proudly told me he had personally designed the course, and it was a very pretty (and hilly) course, interspersed with a few straightaways. There were medals for both the marathoners and half marathoners ( a nice touch). Enthusiastic people at the water stops (could have used more gatorade). All in all, a nice community run which I would run again.

Be aware that the Hogeye course has been changed completely for 2003. It will start in town (Fayetteville, Arkansas), wind through the University of Arkansas campus and then head out into the country in a direction opposite the old course (you will no longer go to Hogeye). It will be scenic, though maybe not as much so as the old course; roads will be a little easier to run on and traffic possibly a little friendlier; and there will the addition of a small amount of 'urban' landscape at the beginning and end. But it will not be nearly as rural, nor anywhere near as hilly as the old course. It'll still be a challenge, especially at the end. But Hogeye will no longer deserve to be called one of the hardest courses in the country.

If the 400 foot elevation change you do 4 times during the race and the 62 hills on the course weren't enought to make this race tough, the 47° temp, the 2 inch per hour rain, and the 20 mph wind with gusts only added to the challenge and the enjoyment (HOGEYE 2002). Someone said this is one of the 10 toughest marathons in the country. I can't wait to run the other 9. The aid stations had plenty of water and sports drink, but lacked the goodies that really help, oranges, bananas, bagels (probably would have been nasty in the rain). Otherwise pretty well done for a small marathon.
If you are looking for a race that will really challenge you, try this one.

This marathon deserves its rating as one of the toughest marathons in North America. Combining hot weather conditions this year (2001) with a hilly course made for an extremely difficult race. Throw in a redneck driver or two on the open course, and you now have an experience!

The organization is good, although more porta-johns would have been useful. The shuttle vans for runners were plentiful for the relays and the DNFers. (I had to wave them past me once.) The course surveillance by the police was good too.

The eats afterward were great! Free massages in a race this small (<100 marathoners and <100 half marathoners) is practically unheard of, but very appreciated.