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Virginia Creeper Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Virginia Creeper Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.9 
Organization 4.9 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 93 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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G. K. from Northeast TN
(4/1/2008)
 "The best low-key marathon you'll ever run" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Virginia Creeper Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 A great race in a beautiful setting. It's well organized without taking itself very seriously. I've run three and had foul weather each time. SW VA can be sketchy in the spring. The race is small and there is no crowd except at the start-finish line, but they're raucous and supportive. The trail of crushed cinders is especially kind on the knees of us heavier runners. | |
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P. C. from Knoxville, TN
(10/19/2007)
 "Small but great" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I decided to run this race while recoving from an injury. I am glad I did it. The course is really beautiful. This race will become my yearly marathon. The soft ground doesn't beat your legs up that much. Volunteers are great and race director did a great job too. | |
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S. B. from Wyoming (Cincinnati), Ohio
(4/10/2007)
"VA Creeper Exceeds ALL Expectations" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Virginia Creeper Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Not sure what drove me to sign up for this marathon. Was it the name, the cost ($10), the honest and witty website, or the lure of a small, friendly marathon? The answer is probably a combination of all these factors. No matter the reasons, I will never second guess my decision to do so. I had the time of my life! The marathon was everything advertised and more. The course beautiful, the race director and staff enthused and energetic, the volunteers cheery and hospitable, and the other runners as "real," friendly and supportive as you'll find. If you are looking for big crowds, medals, t-shirts, post-race parties, loud music and entertainment, skip this marathon. If you are looking to have one of the most memorable experiences you'll ever have running a marathon, SIGN UP NOW! Otherwise, you may be disappointed to have been closed out. IT WILL FILL UP! Now before you think I'm still on and endomorphine-induced high from a personal best time, I'll tell you that is certainly not the case. Although I didn't have my "BEST time," I certainly had a GREAT TIME. I will cherish my Franklin Track Club paperweight for the rest of my life! | |
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Lance Gutierrez from Radford, VA. USA
(4/4/2007)
"Great little marathon" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Virginia Creeper Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My first marathon was cold and windy Chicago with over 30,000 souls pounding the pavement around me. I loved the Creeper, and didn't mind the out-and-backs on the forgiving dirt trail. I give the spectators 5 stars (mostly cows, trees and wildlife along with a few very friendly humans). I qualified for Boston, but might have to pass on that one to enjoy the VA Creeper again. This marathon is a model for what can and should be done more. No big-business sponsor in the name of the race, and a $10 entry fee! Great, friendly, fun organizers. | |
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M. C. from Pittsburgh, PA
(4/3/2007)
"wonderful!" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Virginia Creeper Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The only reason the spectators get a 4 is because of their small numbers- they stuck around through the rain and were wonderful cheerleaders. The director and crew were amazing, a group with awesome southern hospitality! The course was interesting, and I think all the out-and-backs helped mentally, as you were never very far from the start. The area was BEAUTIFUL. All in all, a great way to spend a weekend! | |
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Mike Thomas from Hendersonville, North Carolina
(4/2/2007)
"This was a great place to run my first marathon." (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Frank went out of his way to be sure I got started in the right area and didn't miss any turn-arounds. The course has a couple "out-and-backs," but overall the course is beautiful. I even saw deer running on the course ahead of me! Abingdon has some steep inclines that had me worried, but the Virginia Creeper Trail had nothing like that. Any inclines were very minor and easy to deal with. Even in the rain, supporters were out there cheering me on. Other runners were very supportive also. I plan to go back to the VCM next year - I had so much fun this year. Thanks to all involved! | |
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S. C. from Dryden Va
(3/25/2007)
 "Very beautiful course" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Virginia Creeper Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This will be my fourth Creeper Marathon. It is a very beautiful course, and that helps - especially around mile 20. | |
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D. R. from Richmond, USA
(5/15/2006)
"Beatiful course" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Virginia Creeper Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The course was really beautiful and the weather that day helped a lot to enjoy even more the running. I consider this marathon a good one for first time marathoners. The race director is one of the most friendly persons I've ever met. I hope see you next year. | |
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P. D. from nc
(3/30/2006)
"Updating last post" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I said that the course seemed flat to me the whole way. That is not true. The first 2 miles, which consists of an out-and-back on a country road was hilly. Otherwise my comments stand. Considering that the weather was summer-like this year and that two years ago it snowed and last year was like spring, be prepared for any weather. In fact they should call it the Virginia Creeper Four Season Marathon! | |
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p. d. from Winston-Salem, NC
(3/19/2006)
"Really fun first marathon" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A really pretty course on a very gently sloping trail. Runners must share the trail with other users,(day hikers, equestrians, dog walkers, bicyclists).It was unseasonably warm on race day, so I suspect that there were a lot of people on the trail for the date. But there was no problem at all having non-race folks there. In fact everyone seemed interested in the race and very supportive of the runners and the race. Even with the out-and-back-and-a-half nature of the course, I still give it a 5. There are plenty of opportunities to bail however, so be mentally tough! As a beginner, if you get in at least one 20-miler in training, you will have gone past the last bail point in the race so you should have no problem. As a slow runner, I spent a lot of time in miles 11-17 virtually alone in the beautiful scenery and I enjoyed the peaceful bucolic setting. Then it was back to two-way traffic and lots of encouragement. The race is perfectly organized. My packet was at the host hotel the night before the race at check-in. Frank, the race director, had a room at the inn to meet, greet and assist runners as well. Late check-out at the host hotel was a boon! Aid stations were well placed and the volunteers were great. I especially enjoyed the folks at the "Oasis" who provided all sorts of goodies and a smile just before meeting the cows.... Having read the reviews of the course here I feel I should clarify something. Many folks say it is more hilly than they thought it would be. And on race day my wife said that was the feeling of some of the earlier finishers. If you are trying for a PB and are really pushing the envelope, I suppose the long VERY gentle upslope from about miles 14-22 must be a challenge. But as a first-timer and a slow runner, the grade was almost imperceptible. The course seemed almost totally flat to this 45-year-old, 5'10", 205-lb. first-timer, and I would highly recommend this to others if you are not looking for crowds. |
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