I ran this race in 2012 and again in 2013. I would love to run it one year when the weather is better. Since you pass the start finish multiple times it would be a great race to be cheered on by family if weather permitted. I really apreciated Frank(race director) this year. I had a difficult time deciding what to wear for the race on Sunday and made a rookie mistake and didn't pin my bib to a shirt Saturday night. I didn't realize I didn't have my bib until Frank was giving race instructions minutes before the race. I told Frank and he quickly looked up my bib number for me and told me to shout it out at all the check stations. After I crossed the finish line he made sure I had followed his instructions. He was very gracious and understanding as were the volunteers along the course. I think I'll start checking the couch cushions now for next years race entry fee.

I train lone wolf style and have no need for huge crowds and large numbers of participants. I appreciated the low key small town flavor of this race and felt like I was in my element the whole time. I will certainly be back.

LOVED this race. Beautiful (and relatively flat) trail course, great organization, friendly staff. The rain and mud were the only slight drawbacks...completely out of everyone's control. Set a PR a week after a disappointing performance at Shamrock (VA Beach). This is now an annual event for me!

I happened to be terribly sick the day of the marathon but this one still ranks as one of my favorites. I hope to come back someday to run it again. This is everything I think marathoning should be; low entry fee, no t-shirt, a nice paperweight in lieu of a medal, fantastic support, beautiful course, non commercialized and scenery that is unsurpassed. Thank you to Frank for putting on such a great event. This ranks as one of the best marathons out there.

The Virginia Creeper was my first marathon and it was well worth every minute of the 10-HOUR drive to get there! From race director Frank's warm welcome, to the easy-on-the-knees trail, to the encouraging words from fellow runners, I couldn't have asked for a better day. The overcast, cool weather was perfect for us runners (though probably not for the volunteers). This race's small size was one of the main reasons I chose it; I didn't miss having spectators because I'm not used to spectators! Though I didn't take any homemade snacks during the race, they were certainly plentiful and I indulged at the finish line. The many mile markers were all very clear and there was no confusion about the course's route. Though I have no previous marathon experience to compare the Virginia Creeper to, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a friendly, little marathon next spring!

The registration fee is just $10, there is a 100-runner cap, and the goodies afterward are all homemade. Race is well-organized. The race course's multiple back-and-forths are not particularly enjoyable. Course is an old railroad trail and footing is great - drains well, good footing (this is no Dahlgren).

Scenery is woods, minor rivers, old railroad trestle bridges - picturesque.
Really, really nice people to cheer you on; not a lot of them though.

A totally enjoyable race! The scenery was beautiful, the course was relatively flat, and the volunteers were top-notch. A wonderful way to run a marathon with minimal stress.

This was my first marathon and I am so glad to have run it on the Virginia Creeper Trail. The course is beautiful and the surface is easy on the knees. Even though it had rained during the week, the trail was in great shape. As someone who was "far from the front," I still found all the water stops open, stocked, and staffed by encouraging volunteers. The weather was cold and damp but at least it wasn't the snow we woke up to the next morning! It is a very well organized marathon. There are not large crowds of people - a plus for me - and your family can see you multiple times. If you are looking for a small, well-run, beautiful race, I would highly recommend this one. And a special thanks to whoever made the oatmeal raisin cookies - they were just what I needed to fuel those last miles.

Frank and his crew do an amazing job with this marathon! The trail was beautiful, the volunteers were very encouraging... and I can think of no negative comments about it! Not a big-frills race, and maybe not a PR course due to the surface you are running on, but if you simply love to run in beautiful surroundings, this is one for you!

I did this race last year, and enjoyed it so much that I had to come back. The vast majority of this marathon runs along the Virginia Creeper Trail on soft-packed trails that aren't technical at all. The beauty of some of the overlooks with a rain-swollen river below make this worth the trip alone. Frank does a wonderful job recruiting great volunteers to help along the way. This is a low-pressure, relaxed marathon that is great for first timers. This was my 20th marathon, and it ranks right up there with some of the others I've completed. Thank you, Frank, for all of your hard work to make this such a wonderful race!