I ran this strictly to get a BQ time, so I was less focused on having fun as on getting a certain result. Even so I enjoyed myself thoroughly. This race is limited to 300 people, and uses old-school timing, so it has the feel of small locally organized 5k. The RD is very nice and as an accomplished marathoner and experienced RD, he knows his stuff. Thus, the race was USAT approved, well staffed, and well organized. I could have used one more aid station at the end, but otherwise I got just enough water, gatorade and encouragement from spectators. As others have commented, the race is on hard-packed trail and has 2 out/back loops. I had pre-race concerns that I would loose time on the softer surface or get mentally fatigued by the repetition. Neither was the case. I would definitely run this again!

I had a terrible experience at RNR USA and was looking for a low key 'redemption' race. The website said the race was full, but I called Jay Wind (the RD) and he said, 'yeah, sure, no problem, just fill out the entry and mail me a check.' He was SO accommodating and so friendly.

The race was VERY low key:  no chip (kind of unheard of today, even for 5Ks!) but the field was small so you crossed the start line seconds after the race started.

The course is 2 out and backs  one side is the C&O Canal and the other is the Potomac River. Very pretty. It's mostly packed gravel but was uneven at parts.

Not a lot of spectators but the ones that were out were very loud and friendly! Awesome volunteers, too.

If you are looking for a big race with lots of pomp and circumstance, this isn't for you. If you are looking for a low key, small field race with a great RD, sign up !

I really want to write a positive review about this lovely marathon. The race director (Jay) is really nice and friendly and kept the runners informed on his webpage and on Facebook. The volunteers were friendly and tried their best to do a good job. But there are a few things that one should know before running this event.

If you are looking for a professionaly executed event with very little room for errors and good resources for runners, this is NOT it. On the other hand if you are looking for a very low key, stripped to the bare bone basics event, this is an awesome one to run. You'll love it.

The trail is packed dirt but with quite a bit of loose gravel - so it's not so easy on your legs. You run out and back twice which provides some mental breaks but it's not so exciting either.

The organizers had the best of intentions yet things were not, how to say it, so professional. Lets start with the fact that the turn around point was placed about 0.04-0.05 miles too far, now multiple this by 4. As a result all mile marks from mile 7 and beyond were not placed at the right spot. Moreover, when I say mile marks I mean a piece of paper placed on the ground. The race had a 6:30AM noncompetitive start and a 7:30AM competitive start. Each of these had full and half marathon runners in them. So the 6.55 (actually 6.60) miles stretch was packed with runners going at all sort of different paces in both directions at each point of this 6 feet wide path. For the most part it wasn't a problem but it was confusing and some points felt a bit crowded. The trail wasn't closed for the marathon and there were other runners and cyclists on it and at one point a group of kids with kayaks were crossing the trail. There were only two water stops on the trail and another one at the start/finish turnaround. It was humid and rather hot and I could use more water. There was no food at the finish line and at some point also no water or Gatorade. You had to walk 1/4 of a mile back to the parking lot to get food and water. No chip time and people who had no business lining up at or near the start line did it anyway.

But really nice and friendly event. Perfect for the 50 states people but also for everyone else. I got a nice PR on this flat course.

This was a nice change from the over crowded marathons I usually run. The volunteers were WONDERFUL! Friendly faces from start to finish. Only advice is bring your own water. Some stops are spaced far apart. Thanks for the fun race. Will do it next year.

I just got home from my first experience running this marathon and wanted to post a review. This marathon had the best volunteers I've seen in a long time, they were very accommodating especially at water stations. Every stop was extremely friendly and helpful while filling my water bottle.

I found this race while looking for a small race experience after having run Marine Corp Marathon in 2010. If you are looking for a nice, small race that limits the weaving and general chaos of a large event, this is it. This year had a limit of 300 runners combined for marathon and half-marathon. It offered a 6:15am and 7:15am start, whichever a runner preferred.

The course itself was an out-and-back 2 times on the C&O canal trail, which did get boring. The C&O trail is packed dirt/gravel so it was important to watch where you are going. Additionally, the trail was still open to the general public which did get frustrating when approaching large groups of walkers or having bikers come up on you.

I was disappointed in the spectators but can write that off to being such a small race. There was very little cheering, until the end. It was the quietest race I ran, which gave it a long run day feel.

Overall, I will definitely consider doing this race again! A small race that supports a worthy cause! This was a low-drama race with great volunteers!

Jay does a great job of personalizing this small marathon. The course is out and back twice - I thought I would find that annoying but actually it provides an excellent sense of how much, and what, is to come. The aid stations are staffed by enthusiastic volunteers but much of the course is pretty desolate (though beautiful) - if you need lots of cheering crowds this is not the race for you. The entire run is on packed dirt trail and is much easier on the legs that most road races.

Jay puts a lot of effort into personalizing this event. After meeting me at the expo, he greeted me by name at the race, at the turn around and at the end. It was a nice touch!

The course is flat and shady, which was fortunate as it was very, very hot. I had been warned to bring my own water bottle and I am very glad I did. There were coolers allowing for refills, which I needed as the water spots were pretty spread out.

The volunteers were helpful! The layout of the race is not conducive to easy viewing, so it was a very Zen run.

I will have to say that the runners were very accommodating. I'm not sure if it was due to the heat, or the camaraderie of a small race, but people were checking on each other as they passed. I would recommend this race to anyone who wants a break from the cast of thousands that show up in Chicago, NY, Boston, etc.

It was a saving grace to run on the towpath this weekend! And I'm just as thankful for the early start and the few drops of rain around mile 22. I've done this race on the Mt. Vernon bike path and the towpath now, finding that I really like double out-and-backs. Organization was good; the RD kept us posted; packet pickup the morning of was a little chaotic, but not so bad when all you had to do was walk over to the start and go. We could have used another aid station Sunday, but the ones out there were well stocked, and even managed to get ice for the runners. Great volunteers as well! Shade from the trees along the towpath helped, as did the little bit of cooling that happened as the path got closer to the river. There was plenty of food at the finish and plenty of choices (pizza, fruit, chips, drinks). I didn't use the ride service between Carderock and Rosslyn, but I appreciate the fact that it was offered. I liked the T-shirt, and was just disappointed that my finisher medal looked exactly like my 2006 finisher medal. But Sunday I was there for the experience, not the medal.

A very nice, low-key, small race - only 200 runners. There was beautiful scenery along the Potomac River. The race ran down and back twice on the towpath. It was so amazingly flat - what a great run for speed. It was a really hot day, so many of us were struggling. I highly recommend. The reward ceremony at the end of the race was great. Jay, the director, gave away gift certificates to everyone who ran. Great stuff - like $25.00 off at restaurants and running stores, and many others worth much more. I had a great time. Thanks!

I ran the half. This year will be my 4th time in 5 years and I hope to run it every year. I like how it's organized with a runner being able to start whenever they are ready. The course is smooth and very scenic. This race will continue to grow in popularity as the word gets out. I plan to to have two friends from Jersey travel here to join me in the 2010 run. Great job!