This was a small race which started on The Ohio University Campus. It quickly picks up a bike path about 2 miles in and stays on the same path to the finish on the track. I wish the course would involve a little more of the college town and a little less path. Besides that and the fact that there were NO MILE MARKERS I had a great experience. Maybe run it with a friend because it gets kinda lonely out there.

I ran the half in 2011 and enjoyed the course and got a PR, so I decided to come back for the full this year. Athens is a fun and funky town to visit, the price is right, and the course is lovely. The race is mostly on a beautiful bicycle path running along a river and through quiet countryside. It was easy for my boyfriend to drive a few miles, pull off, walk to the course and see me go by, then hop back in the car to catch me at the next trailhead. The stadium finish was fun and gave spectators a place to sit to wait for family and friends to finish. There is an attractive long sleeved technical shirt as well as mugs for age group prizes. The number of marathon runners was fairly small and it got very quiet after the turnaround for the half, but there were very frequent aid stations stocked well for the full participants. If you like a low key, inexpensive event in a fun location, this is a keeper.

If you're looking for a small, local, no frills race, this is it. Good organization and communication, good race hotel, and everyone in town knows about the race and was happy to chat. But it's pretty much a half marathon for the locals and college kids. Probably only 200 in the real deal.

Flat bike path course (except for the first couple of miles, which are downhill through the town) out and back through quiet woods along a river, like running through a Robert Frost poem. Not many spectators, but the groups you do see are very enthusiastic! Water, yellow or orange gatorade, and oranges and bananas every couple of miles, but not in any kind of pattern. If you want something shout at a volunteer as you run up, otherwise you'll have to stop and look at everything on their table. Long sleeve tech t, different versions for the full and half (thankfully!), nice small medal for everyone and the top 3 age group finishers also get glass or ceramic mugs. Free biofreeze massages afterward, plus pizza and more oranges and bananas and gatorade.

Two complaints: mile markers were short .5 on the way out and long by .6 on the way back. Reviews from past races also note problems with the course length, so be ready.

And, it's a small town without public transit or bike sharing. So if you don't have a car you walk to the race area/downtown. It's the difference between a 5 minute drive from the race hotel and a 25 minute walk. Race organizers need to set up a shuttle bus from the hotel to the start/finish area and have it run all day on race day.

This year was the 45th annual, and except for the distance and transit issues everything else is dialed in. You should do this race. Train for it and you can BQ or PR. Or run just to run. The race is fun and the people are fun and the town is fun.

I decided to run this race because I had a poor run a few weeks prior & wanted to find one for redemption. This was exactly what I needed. This race is VERY small and quiet but great just the same. All the other reviews are correct about the flatness of the course, the GREAT volunteers, and the organization. It is pretty lonely and quiet once the halfers turn around but it really is pretty and peaceful. If you need the yelling crowds, and bands, etc., this is not for you. If you just want a nice run with lovely and friendly people you will love it. I am a slower runner so by the time I hit the finish (5:04), not many people at the finish but, those that are there are great. Cheap entry fee and nice hotel. I stayed at the Baymont about 6-7 miles from the start. Parking was NO problem. The whole thing was just easy and smooth. Would do it again!

After running Jax a couple months earlier with 7,000 other runners I picked Athens to stay away from crowds and got what I wanted. The course was a pancake and quiet it was almost like a training run. Hearing my name announced at the finish was nice, even though my time was lousy. Not much of a spaghetti dinner, but it wasn't bad. My only advice to runners is to get your lodging in advance Athens is a college town and everything was booked solid for the weekend. I didn't sleep a bit in the one-star fleabag I stayed in.

This was my first marathon. I didn't need crowds and hoopla; I just wanted to experience the distance for the first time. The weather was perfect. The course was as fast as you will find in any race, and was very scenic. The aid stations were bare minimum but the people working them were awesome. Members of the OU XC team were very encouraging and helpful, as were all the volunteers. The track finish was great. I'll be back; this has to be one of the best-kept secrets of all marathons. Very low hassle factor in all areas. Overall, a great day in a great place.

I decided to run Athens, Ohio because last October I ran the Athens (Greece) Marathon. It's all about karma. I ran the full, and my son ran his first half marathon. We both had a great experience, and I would recommend this race to anyone who likes the small-town (college) race atmosphere. The course is an out-and-back on a flat, paved, bike trail. There were not many spectators, but those who were there were very supportive. (I score on quality, not quantity.) Another very nice feature was the hotel rate. We stayed at a Hampton right in town, and did not get taken to the cleaners (as has happened at Grandma's). I would definitely do this one again.

This was my first marathon and I think the flat course of it was perfect for the first timer. Most of the participants are half-marathoners, so after their turn around, the crowd was really thin and you were pretty alone. That being said, water stations were always well stocked with Gatorade & water every 1-1.5 miles throughout the marathon course (many of the stations even had oranges or bananas). The 'cheering' crowds consisted mainly of family & friends who moved along the course to cheer on the people they knew, but they cheered for strangers like me as well. The finish was inside the Ohio University track, where they announced your name as you made the 1.5 laps around the track to the finish line. April in Ohio is a hit or miss weather wise. I got lucky this year (rain and cold the day before) but sunny throughout race day w/temps that started in the 30's (felt much warmer with the sun) and ended around 50F.

This course makes Florida look like Colorado. Seriously, who knew you could fit 26.2 miles into an otherwise hilly environment. There were no hills to divide the leg action. (My calves have never been so sore. That hotel jacuzzi felt real good!)

The medical staff at the finish were authentically interested in the runners' well being.

The Kids' Race was cancelled without notification because 'plans fell through', thus the not-5 star organization rating. I was bummed because I couldn't have the special father/child picture of us holding up our medals.

* The crowd was sparse but encouraging.
* The drink stations were perfectly spaced and stocked.
* The long-sleeved, blue technical shirt (the 1/2 was black) is one of the nicest tech shirts I've received. It doesn't mention 'marathon AND half marathon' like many tech shirts do.
* The food (pizza) was gone by the time I finished (~4 hr). Pizza sounded real good at the time too.
*The scenery would be gorgeous if there were leaves on the trees. Otherwise it was one no-leaf tree after another next to a river/stream/swamp.

Some aspects of this race are fantastic. Some aspects of the race are so-so. The lack of meaningful and consistent mile markers is appalling. Overall, though, I had a great time and ran a huge PR.

Pros:
1. Fast course. 23 miles of it through the woods on the flat bike trail.
2. Reasonable registration fee.
3. Chip timing.
4. Cheap but modest pasta dinner.
5. Prize money.
6. Nice stadium/track finish.
7. Friendly race organizers and volunteers.

Cons:
1. Not much information on the website. (I'm still not sure what I won as 3rd overall finisher and top master.)
2. *** Mile markers are a complete and total mess! *** Many were missing or hidden. And on the way back, they turned into 14.1, 15.1, 16.1-markers, which is less than ideal, but could be forgiven if they were all visible.

I believe the Athens Track Club is taking over race organization next year, so I expect the flaws may be corrected while the positives will remain.