This was my second year running this race. I enjoyed both experiences. In all of my running, I have never experienced a finish line like the one at Kiawah. It is a very spectator friendly experience. Once I ran my race, I was able to watch my friends finish theirs, up close and personal.

I ran the half marathon. The course is ok, nothing much to speak of really. Spectators are essentially non-existent but the organization is excellent. It's obvious that this is where most attention is given, and rightly so. Very well done.

My one negative from this race is the timing. The chip for a large number of runners failed to register at the starting line. This affected the true running time for myself and a number of other runners, some of which were PR's. I wrote the company chosen to do the timing for this event, RMS Sports, and they were not responsive at all. It's a disappointment for sure. The fact that this was not even acknowledged was disappointing as well. I hope the race director solves the timing issues from this race and applies that going forward. Most runners take their times pretty seriously.

Overall, a good run with one disappointment.

The 2004 Kiawah Marathon lived up to billing. The course is flat, fast, beautiful.... and windy. As is chronicled below, the double-looped race is not much for fan support, but is well organized and traffic on this gated resort island is no concern whatsoever. A bit of confusion for some runners appeared to be caused at the 'fork' for half- and full marathon runners. While miles are marked, there are few race clocks. Plenty of water and Gatorade stops, but bring your own food/gel. The pasta dinner and post-run food was good and the face features a great T-shirt (no ads) and medal. I will be back again!

The course on Kiawah Island was flat and fast. The scenery was great, especially the golf courses -- at times I wished I was golfing instead. I parked off the island, but the shuttle buses were hassle-free. Packet pick-up was painless and the start went off flawlessly. They really know how to organize a race! The free post-race massage and buffet were excellent as well. The bean soup and pasta salads were nice high carb alternatives to the traditional bagel. Even the race T-shirt looks classy. The volunteers were exceptionally friendly, so this was a great race all-around!

Course is flat and flat-out fast. Definitely a PR course, even if the weather isn't perfect (brisk headwind from miles 6-9 and 19-22 in 2004). My favorite feature of this race is that my wife was able to rent a bicycle and bike along aside me from miles 8 to 24. It was wonderful to have a support team beside me, especially when things got spread out after the half marathoners turned off at 13.

We rented a villa 400m from the start/finish, and if you're going to Kiawah, you should try to do the same. A single two-lane road gets you onto the Island, and my understanding is that it gets backed up in a major way on race morning. Additionally, by staying in a villa, you'll be close to all the festivities and to the beautiful beach on this barrier island. Definitely make a weekend of it, as Kiawah and nearby Charleston, SC are wonderful places to visit.

I didn't attend the pasta bash, so I can't speak to it. The expo was predictably small, and I didn't spend much time there. The shirts and medallions are nice but not extravagantly so. Overall awards were very cool pelican statues, and age-group awards were decent wooden plaques. The field isn't all that fast for this race, and the age-group awards go 5 deep in most categories. Point being, it's definitely a race where some of us who aren't used to bringing home hardware are able to do so.

Now for the bad news. Although the course is on an island, don't expect to see the ocean. Instead, expect to see beautiful neighborhoods and a few glimpses of a golf course. The good news is that those beautiful homes and the beautiful mossy trees in their yards will protect you somewhat from the winds that could be coming off the Atlantic (although you are exposed for a few miles near the half-marathon turn around).

Additionally, realize that you'll be running the half marathon course twice and that the half course has an out-and-back section (which you'll essentially be doing four times). Personally, I don't mind such arrangements, but some are morally opposed to running the same section of pavement more than once in a race.

My biggest complaint is that miles 6-8, 11-13, 19-21, and 24-26 are on bike paths. That won't be a problem unless you are lapping walkers from the half marathon. The path is only wide enough for perhaps three participants across, meaning that it can be difficult to get around groups of walkers, especially at the water stops. Given the nature of the island, there isn't an easy solution to this problem, but it is a problem nevertheless.

All in all, I think it's a good event worth doing.

The course was great. This was my second marathon with the first being the Mayor's Midnight Sun in Anchorage, AK. Just by pure luck did I choose two outstanding places for the marathon experience. I would return to either, but Kiawah is closer to home, so I hope to return.

This was my first 1/2 marathon, a 2004 goal of mine. It was memorable moment to finish, and most of all with no injuries. What an accomplishment for me, what a high. A feeling that is so hard to explain. I wish my friends and family could feel what I felt.

The Kiawah Island Marathon and Half-Marathon are great events; very organized and pre- and post-meals are excellent! The course is beautiful and serene, a relaxing way to spend a weekend. I have run both events, and set new PRs on both.

OK, it was a very windy day! Winds were 15-20 mph all day. Other than that, this was a wonderful marathon. These folks know how to organize a race. Volunteers were just fantastic! Scenic course, great food and beverage, and very helpful volunteers. I will definitely run this race again!

What more could you want? A flat, fast course, no hassles with airplane schedules, and hot bean soup at the finish. The Kiawah Island Marathon is my favorite, despite enjoying marathons in Honolulu, Alaska, Ireland, and Boston. It's well-organized, friendly, and easy--relatively speaking!

I've done this race the past 4 years and am coming back for #5 this year. Overall I enjoy this marathon a lot. The course is pancake flat, yet it can still be challenging if the winds whip up as they have the past 2 years. Although it's a double loop course and some runners see that as a negative, I think otherwise. To me it can be nice knowing what's coming. Also, with a double loop course, you can see other runners the entire race - can be motivating b/c you won't have the big crowds of spectators like you have at big city marathons. It's also a scenic course in my opinion. Great running weather - cool temps are usually the norm.

The post-race is better than most marathons. Good food(hot soup, pastas, breads, brownies), a beer truck and other refreshments. Nice awards and awards ceremony after the race, plus there are massage therapists for the marathoners. The group I go with rents out several large houses every year on the island and we have a blast.