I just wanted to say thank you again for putting on a fantastic event. My family greatly enjoyed yesterday and I am sure we will be back in the future. The course was amazing, the volunteers were so supportive and the race was spectacularly put on! If you have somewhat bad knees, this is a fantastic race, as the surface is very supportive. Looking forward to 2012!

There's not much to add to the glowing comments below except to suggests that the name be changed to the "Virginia Keeper Marathon."

The Course: Tressels turned to footbridges; deep ravines with tall trees, rhododendron and fast running creeks; pasture land complete with cattle; and a wide river meandering beside the runners. For some runners, time is not so important.

The organization: Frank and Co. have this one "simply" perfected. It works.

The spectators: Frank and Co. serve dual roles here, along with a few family and friends. Who needs thousands of spectators when those on hand bring homemade cookies, brownies and sandwiches, as well as ever-present smiles and the occasional pat on the back? The goodwill and generosity is there for everyone.

For the serious marathoner, this one may be a little slow - no steep grades or hills, but the packed trail surface may not give you the reaction force (rebound) that you're looking for. However, this can be a great training race/run - easy on the legs.

No, not much to add.

The course was great, the volunteers were great, and the paperweight was a unique reward. I loved it and will be back next year.

I had a friend do this last year and she said she had a wonderful experience, so I thought I'd try it. She was right. From the beautiful trail scenery to the great support staff, this is a top-notch marathon. This is a small, hometown marathon, where everyone is so encouraging. A volunteer gave me a ride back to my car in their own vehicle so I wouldn't have to walk. While different from the big marathons in many respects, this one ranks right up there for quality! Thank you, Frank, for all your hard work in making the Creeper such a wonderful race.

This marathon completely lived up to my expectations. I was hoping for a low-key, scenic, non-asphalt marathon and this one delivered. The scenery was beautiful and my usual knee ailments were almost non-existent with this softer running surface (only two miles on asphalt and the remainder on a dirt/gravel trail). There were plenty of aid stations and the volunteers were very supportive. Although there was not a large amount of spectators, the ones who were there were very encouraging. This is by far my favorite marathon.

I live 3 miles from the trail, so I run on the Creeper Trail several days a week. It was a no-brainer to run my second marathon here. I was surprised how fast it filled up and was on the waiting list for 2 months before I got in. The race has a down home, relaxed feel - if that's possible for a marathon. The race director (Frank) really is as great as everyone says, and the race organization gets 5 stars PLUS. The paper weight is nice, as is the postcard you get in the mail a few weeks after the race with your official time on it. Surprisingly, only 5% or so of the runners are locals; they are really missing the boat on this one....

Great alternative to the "big city" version of marathons. Beautiful scenery and a forgiving course (only gentle grades on this rail-to-trail). Race director is well-organized and everyone is very friendly. Yes, it is a low-frills event, but I didn't miss anything. All I wanted was a PR... which I got by over 10 minutes. Register early - this one fills fast.

When I decided in late 2007 to run this race in 2009, it was based on the great reviews here. I was not disappointed. I had my best marathon experience here and other races will certainly pale in comparison. Frank is the epitome of what every race director should be. The volunteers were wonderful, the post-race snacks were great! And the trail... well, I am sad that this beautiful trail is a 15-hour drive from my home. What a gem! I will certainly be back to run this race again. Thank you to all for your hospitality. Southwest Virginia is truly beautiful.

This was my first marathon and I'm so glad I picked the Creeper. The trail was in great shape, despite days of rain prior to race day. Super nice volunteers, well marked course, and some of the prettiest countryside you will see. Frank, the director, was a fun guy who had everything totally organized. Thanks so much for making my first marathon experience so great. I highly recommend this race!!

The course is so scenic that you'll finish and want to run another loop. After a lot of pre-race rain and light drizzle during, the course was in great shape. The volunteers were the champions-of-the-day, braving the wet cold conditions. Their support helped warm the soul on the beautiful 37-degree morning. The race director, Frank, makes everyone feel welcome with his Southern hospitality and humor.

- Paul Brown, Hendersonville, NC.