Kiawah was my second marathon, and I specifically chose it to qualify for Boston--which I did! It's a flat course, but the winding nature of it does get a little tedious. However, if you're looking for a well-organized race, a fast course, a small field, and typically great marathoning weather, this is the race.
The crowd support was mediocre, but if you're focused on your goal, there are enough people there to pull you through. The one disappointment was the food buffet after the race, but the Friday night pasta dinner was great. Overall, this is a great destination marathon for either the first-timer, or the serious racer looking for a PR or a qualifying time for Boston.

This was my first marathon. The twist & turns on the island became annoying after Mile 15 or so... I became somewhat disoriented. Overall though, the scenery was beautiful and the Staff there was very well organized. It was obvious that this Marathon has been an annual event there for many years.

This was my first marathon and I especially liked the flat course (Easy on the feet and knees). The packet pickup went smoothly and the volunteers were wonderful. However, I was extremely disappointed with the number of spectators present. Although I was happy to receive my finisher's medal. I would not recommend this marathon to any first timers. The seclusion of the course and limited crowd makes it hard to really get the adrenaline pumping. I am looking forward to the Marine Corps Marathon!

As I wanted to combine a trip to friends of mine in Charleston with running a marathon, the Kiawah Island was the best choice I could make.
And indeed it was a very very good race.
As I am used to running in European marathons, the organisation of this one was really high rated. Little things like having anough toiletboxes at the startline do matter a lot for all runners. I loved the scenery where the marathon took place. The many drinkingposts on the course, every one or two mile I guess, gave you lots of opportunities to drink. The beautiful t-shirt, the very nice finisher's medal, the great after race buffet and party with the showing of the race movie and my 39 place overall makes the Kiawah Island marathon a highlite of my stay in the USA. I will probably never run this race again myself, but I can recommend it to other European runners who want to combine a marathon with a trip to the southern states of the USA.

This course is very flat and isolated. The volunteers are AWESOME!! The organization was next to perfect. Weather conditions were unbelievable - 45 degrees, overcast, no wind and a little drizzle. A runner couldn't ask for anything better. Food was great afterwards. Need more spectators though!

The winding course may make you dizzy, but the setting is lovely if you like to stay in a fabulous resort and run between salt marshes, egrets, pelicans, and multi-million dollar homes! Fantastic medals, shirts, and enthusiastic volunteers in a quiet gated oceanside resort make this a great family destination race. Traffic and spectators are almost nonexistent.

Scenic run through neighborhoods, golf courses, wetlands, etc. Most island accomodations are close to the start with shuttles running continuously-very convenient. If you're looking for a PR and can live without big city crowds, this race is a must.

Ran this race once, in '95. Well organized, with nice amenities. Course is indeed scenic and flat, but I found the twists and turns resulting from cramming 26.2 miles onto a small island pretty annoying. Not much crowd support, but that's not an issue with me. Helpful course workers. Plenty of handy lodging options (I ran by our front door twice), though, being a resort island, a tad pricey.

(Run in 97). Agree with previous posters about course. Features I liked were types/quality of pre-/post-race foods (tough to lay off; non-runners loved dessert choices), entry fee value, lodging options within a short walk to start/finish, and separate starts for the different race events. Did feel meal prices were slightly high. Pretty easy for spectators to meet us along course (or bike alongside, if courteous). Smile/wave if any cameras point at you, as you might be on screen at the post-race race-highlights video.

wonderful weather in an idyllic setting...considering that it was run on a planned development, I was surprised at how pretty the course was...lot's of turns which I liked....long straightaways did not occur...flat and fast, a definite repeater...stay in Charleston if you can...one of America's unique cities