Mercedes Marathon - Race Reviews

I knew going in this was a double loop, which in my experience is never good for a marathoner. Support was extremely limited, generally a few people here and there that were really only looking for the person that they came out to support -- otherwise not interested in the race; also, I found it odd that not even the relay crowds were cheering as you passed the check points. Water stations were really the only place to hear cheering. The second loop always becomes even thinner with runners and support, but a huge thanks to the water station volunteers that stuck it out -- my last double loop marathon experience had me worried I'd be pouring my own water again. This year was a revised course due to interstate construction and consisted of lots and lots of turns, gravel, train tracks 4x's (over and back each loop) Kinda hilly, but it's Birmingham -- to be expected and a great way to challenge yourself. Overall a good race, but not great.

Alabama crossed off my 50 state list. Good: Organization was fine. Small but reasonable expo. Plenty of hotels close to start with easy parking on race morning. I stayed at the Residence Inn which is actually a few miles from the start but it was a really easy drive through town with free parking on the street near the start. Plenty of porta-johns available near the start as well. Water/Powerade stations were plentiful and traffic control on the course was great. Free massage with no waiting after the race (but see below). Airport is just outside of town - 15 minute drive from my hotel. Neutral: Just for reference, weather was in the 60s and raining off and on. Course consists of two loops. The 1/2 marathon starts at the same time so you run the first loop with the 1/2ers until about mile 12. Half marathoners out numbered marathoners by about a 4:1 ratio. The course itself was okay. Most of it is flat with a few hills in the middle miles. These were a little more painful on lap #2. There are several places where the course loops back and you can see other runners that are ahead or behind - sometimes by miles. Could be good or bad depending on whether you are looking ahead or back. Race shirt was okay but they ran really small. Most people were exchanging them for a larger size. Medals are simple Mercedes emblem with ribbon being the only portion that shows the year. Could be improved: Miles 10-11 (and 23-24) are almost all one long straight stretch through a mostly desolate area (into a headwind this year) with few spectators. It makes for a tough stretch. As mentioned, you start with the 1/2ers which made the first few miles fairly congested. The start area is self-seeded so you inevitably have to pass people that started too near the front. The post-race party was in an auditorium that required you to walk down stairs to get to food and drink. Stairs are about the last thing I want to face after finishing a marathon. I noted the no wait massages - this is may have been partly due to having to climb stairs to the balcony level to get to the massages. (The website says an elevator is available but I did not see it while there.) Overall: It was a well-run marathon in an accessible city. If I lived in the area I would probably do it again but I will not go out of my way to return.

Race Expo and number pick up was adequate and was able to pick up gels. Easy to park on street close to the race start/finish. Great volunteers. Was surprised at several long hills to climb on the course which you end up doing twice. The temps warm 65-68 and humid and rain held off until the end of the race and then were down pours. This races is more popular with half marathoners. Good post race barbecue with lots of beer and a live band. I was pleasantly surprised with the city of Birmingham lots of great restaurants. Alabama is in the books, and Mercedes Marathon good choice for your 50 state quest.

A friend recommended that we run Birmingham to cross Alabama off the list. I am not fan of double loops but 13.1 interesting miles repeated is far better than 13.1 miles with 13.1 garbage miles added to a half-marathon (i.e. Philadelphia, Charleston, etc.). The crowds were very supportive and you got to hit most of the high points of the city. The expo was a bit small but the race went off without a hitch. There is plenty of hotels downtown along with plenty of parking. I would definitely recommend this race.

This was my 55 marathon and my 35th Sate in my quest to complete all 50 States. Overall, the race was a very well-organized race. There was plenty of drinks and nutrition on the course and plenty of volunteers to hand them out. The course has a few hills that you have to run twice, since it's a 2-loop course, but nothing too bad. The finishers' medal is just a lame Mercedes emblem with the name of the race in the back. More plug for MB than the actual race!! The expo was nothing to write home about and the free T-shirt was one of those dry-release ones, kinda lame. I recommend this race only if there are no better ones in Alabama!

I entered this race because I'm working on 50 states, there aren't many options in AL and even less between December and April. Previous reviews were good but my expectations were exceeded. Things to like: - the course isn't real scenic but for me scenery is overrated as is crowd support. Hills were more or less as advertised on the web site elevation profile, and mile markers seemed accurate - my Garmin measured only 26.16. Enough turns and hills to break up the monotony and avoid long stretches running into the wind (which wasn't a huge factor). I'm not a fan of 2-loop courses but as a stranger to the area it was nice to know after the halfway point what was in store the rest of the race. - Size of the field: small enough that logistics were a snap - my hotel was within 600m of the start/finish line so no worries about transportation and parking, and could shuffle back and get cleaned up before the noon checkout, For about $100. The field was large enough to provide company for most of the race (having a relay helped with that) but not so crowded that negotiating the first few miles was difficult, even though the half started at the same time as the full. - good swag: decent shirt and gloves - post-race food (BBQ sandwich) and beer, accompanied by an outstanding live band Things not to like: weather - warm and humid. Not the RD's fault but it would've been an awesome race w/ normal weather. Not a lot of sights to see in Birmingham but the art museum was great, so overall it was a good experience, I'd put the race in the top 1/3 of the 47 I've done. Would definitely recommend it to 50-state wannabes.

Just curious why there was no National Anthem? I ran the half marathon and have run many races during my running but this is the first to not have the Anthem.

The best city marathon I have run. The expo had vendors but not so many as to be overwhelming. The shirt was in the bag with your number so you didn't stand in multiple lines. The roads were in good condition, with excellent traffic control by the local police (some of whom were awesome at motivating the runners). Excellent swag! Gloves, shirt, car seat covers, and a lovely MB medal. I'm glad I picked this event for my Alabama marathon. As a slow marathoner I really appreciated that there was still water, powerade, and fruit left at the finish when I got there.

Made a quick weekend jaunt down to do the race...excellent times! The good... -Parking very easy -Being able to see the Civil Rights Institute on Sat. before the race, powerful! -Southern hospitality!!!...I went to out a late dinner at the Highlands Bar and Grill the night before the race...great restaurant!!!..also sat next to 3 ladies who immediately chatted it up and were very friendly, the bartender was also great...he mentioned he was a runner but not running in the race because of injury; he asked if I had a slicker if it rained, I said I didn't bring one, and he said 'wait here', and he ran in the back and gave me his his and gave me his number and said 'just call me when the race is done and I'll come pick it up' -Extremely cool Mercedes Benz medal -Amazing food with band playing in the arena post-race very well done -Volunteers at aid stops great and enthusiastic The bad- -Course not terribly memorable, although pretty flat- (one exception to not being memorable, running by the 16th street Baptist Church and the Institute-again, powerful) The ugly- Walking back to my car and on the way walking by what appeared to be 2 homeless dudes arguing and almost getting in a fight, not the best thing to see as the parting visual leaving a city Enjoyable weekend, no doubt

I agree with most comments listed by others except for the ones related to hills. They did not seem difficult to me. The medal IS beautiful. What bothered me was the missing anthem. This is what gets me started on the right foot so because it was missing, I started on the wrong one and did not have a great race.

A very well organized race on a course that was hillier than I anticipated. The hills were all fair, but the quantity of them had an effect on me. The streets were wide, and to me well maintained with a nice variety of scenery. I liked the double loop. Weather was much better for running than watching a marathon with temps in the low 50's and light rain for a time. It did get a little humid when the rain stopped. Aid stations were very frequent and well stocked with more GU than you could ever need. Aid station volunteers were energetic and supportive. Enough spectators, and they were pleasant. Great traffic control with very nice police officers. Swag was above average with a nice looking short sleeve technical shirt-which I prefer-gloves, beach towel, and great medal. Expo was adaquate, enough vendors to have what you need, but not overwhelming. Free parking within a half-mile from start and finish. Free parking for expo as well. It made for a logistically easy race. Nothing to complain about, much to like. As a 50 Stater, I can wholeheartedly recommend Mercedes for your Alabama marathon.

This was my 3rd running of this event. I live 233 miles from Birmingham and that makes it a low cost trip. The course is a nice two loop run through downtown, UAB campus and into some upscale areas. The organization is great with a nice post-race party. Nonthing negative to report.

The Mercedes Marathon was a well-organized event. Parking was free for both the expo and the race. This is not something I often see, especially for downtown marathons. The expo was nothing special, but that is ok with me. Logistics were easy on race morning. We parked on the Northeastern side of town for free. Enough restrooms to accommodate runners on race morning. Start line was a little hectic due to fences not having enough openings, but we made our way to our pacer just before the race started. I thought the streets were wide for the amount of runners and it made for plenty of room for running which was nice. Weather was around 50 degrees with heavy clouds and couldnt have been better. The rain for the first hour felt nice and was more like a mist. The course was a double-loop and had its share of hills. I would label this course as challenging (I liked it a lot). The hills did not seem all that bad the first time around, but proved to be very challenging on the second loop. Water stations seemed to arrive every 1.5 miles (or less), so you wont go thirsty running this race. I saw Powerade at every stop and spotted Gu at 5 or 6 stations along the course. Fans were not everywhere along the course, but when you saw them they were enthusiastic. The marathon took us through some very cool places in Birmingham including Uptown and UAB. Finish was solid taking place in a park. Race shirt was fine. Finishers Medal was great. Received a finishers beach towel which I really like. Had food and drink at the finish which was appreciated...nothing fancy, but enough. There is not much, (if anything) I would change about this race. I appreciate a good tough course and that is exactly what to expect from this race. Two thumbs up for the Mercedes Benz Marathon and I highly recommend this race if you are looking to cross Alabama off of your list.

I enjoyed this race a lot. I signed up for it as a pretext for visiting my daughter, who's in school at UA. I was pretty low key in my approach, as it's hard to train up north for a late winter marathon. It turned out to be very fun. Yes, there was a lot of up and down, and the double loop was all through city/residential/industrial area, but there was still plenty to look at, and I give the race high marks for water/aid and overall execution. The spectators were very enthusiastic, and it felt good to run without freezing. I also liked the medal - the Mercedes medalion is probably the only one I'll ever own! I definitely recommend it.

Unseasonably warm temps made the double loop course tougher than it otherwise would have been. Didn't appreciate having to do the hills twice, and for we Full Marathoners there just weren't nearly enough water stops during the 2nd loop/miles 14-26. Should have been water every mile and there wasn't. Postrace BBQ sounded like a great idea but in reality, the auditorium was packed and nobody wanted to give up a seat for myself and family to sit in, so we didn't stick around. Needs a bigger post race facility/hall. A nice event but could definitely be improved by eliminating double loop and more water stops for starters.

Didn't really know what to expect but really had a great time. The pacers I was with where awesome and very supportive even as I slowed down a bit and lost them. The course runs through some kinda blah places, but for the most part it was really nice. The support, both spectators and race volunteers were great! Can't say enough good stuff about them all. All in this was a great race to check along the way to the 50. Nice job folks!

I would definitely recommend this race. The race was well organized; the course clearly marked and had the best post race food. In addition to the t-shirt, you received gloves and a finishers cooling towel. The course was hillier than expected but not painfully so. The beginning and end of the course was in the more industrialized areas and had few supporters. The mid-portion was through neighborhoods and for the first half had great crowd support. I am a back of the pack runner so water is always a concern at the end of the race. There was plenty. One suggestion is to always use water from bottles. Some of the water was from hoses and put into plastic lined trash cans (similar to what Rock n Roll does) and thought it tasted a little funny. The post race party was excellent! Tables with centerpieces. Pork or turkey sandwiches, coleslaw and chips from Jim n Nicks Bar-B-Q, beer and Coke. Other races don't come close. This would be a perfect first race for anyone

Love the two loop course. Really helps when you fly in the day before and didn't get a chance to see the course. As previous years have mentioned, it would help to have different color cups for different liquids. I ran alone but was still a problem trying to get the right liquid as there was no pattern aid station to aid station. Aid stations were very plentiful. Spectators are sparse and quiet. Great music and food at the end of the race. I even went to the hotel, showered, and returned and there was still plenty of food. Other races should take note, although this might just be that the barbecue place was extremely giving.

I was so happy that this course was so flat, but I definitely did NOT enjoy running it in 2 loops. The scenery didn't impress me enough to do it two times around. It was very chilly and I was happy that they handed out gloves at the expo to wear during the race. Although I wouldn't do this race again, I would recommend it if you want to run a fast race.

Great event. Easy to use the race hotel (and shuttle bus) and AVOID the cost of car rental from the airport. The BEST in terms of aid stations and GU on-course I have EVER seen. Aid station volunteers were AWESOME and LOUD. I am a 'flatlander' from the Chicago area and had no problems with the terrain. The variety of elevation was just enough to give a change to different leg muscles. The fact that the final miles are net downhill is tremendous. I actually enjoyed the double-loop format as well. Only two improvements to suggest: At the start there is a HUGE bottleneck on the sidewalk between the auditorium building / gear check area and the starting corral. Simply you NEED to have openings in the fence on that side so that runners can walk into the starting corral. It is LITERALLY grid lock after you check your gearopenings in the fence that STAY open until 5 minutes to race start would have solved all of this. Second, your aid station workers need to be given two different cups-one for Powerade and one for water. As a runner you need to be able to know what you are getting. Often the aid workers are just holding cups and the music is so loud that you can't hear what they are offering. Again, separate cups for each and it is FIXED. Overall, super well done. I will run it again in the future.

Birmingham was a great way to mark off Alabama on my 50-state T-shirt. The host hotel left a bit to be desired ... we had trouble with our TV and heard several people complaining about no hot water. But seeing the people attending the Anime Convention was a hoot. They thought WE were odd for running 26.2 miles, but they were dressed in crazy costumes and talked funny. We had a fabulous pre-race dinner at Rags Lorino's Italian Bistro in Lakeview (short drive from the hotel). It was perfect. Mr.Lorino was delightful and the food was top-notch. My only negative experience came at mile 26 as I was near a relay-team runner. All the other members of her relay team joined in to cross the finish line with her. A nice idea, but they were rude. I had to slow down, I got stepped on and I had to go around them to pass. They were laughing and talking and waving and posing for photos. I just wanted to finish. It would have been nice of them to give me a tad bit of courtesy, as I had run the entire marathon and not just one five-mile portion.

As others have said after this year's race, this is a surprisingly interesting and well organised marathon. The balance of downtown streets, residential neighbourhoods and commercial sites is just right, as is the mix of flat roads and undulating hills. The tech shirt is nice enough to wear (one often can't say that) and the colourful cap was also good, and I was pleased not to receive yet another white cap. The organization was flawless. The beer and sandwich afterwards were just right. Above all, I loved the cold weather.

This was my first marathon and it was good. I would not recommend it for a first marathon, it is a challenging course with some tough hills beyond the 20 mile mark. Perfect weather. Glad I ran it.

COURSE: Birmingham is a beautiful town! Look up at the old architecture and appreciate the art of the industry. UAB is a nice campus with great fan support. The little parks and neighborhoods made it feel like a comfortable long run. Admittedly, I saw less on the 2nd loop :-) Friends and family have many opportunities to cheer on the runners as the course snakes through the city. The best part is having Vulcan watch from atop his pedastal!! (Just be aware of the potholes and uneven pavement.) ORGANIZATION: The Expo is well-organized with lots of vendors and merchandise. The start was flawless and included an intro by the Mercedes head honcho. The finish chute is efficient, with lots of food/water. SPECTATORS: The fans and volunteers were super excited to cheer us on. There were tons of funny signs (WORST PARADE EVER!) Plenty of water, Powerade, GU, and port-a-potties. NOTE #1) We stayed at the Tutweiler Hotel right on the park. There is a fascinating audio tour in the hotel - learned a lot about the history of Birmingham. The old library is right across the street - when was the last time you saw a card catalog and talked to an actual reference librarian? NOTE #2) The Mercedes emblem medal is the BEST MEDAL EVER!!! If you have to drag your bleeding body over the finish line in 5hrs59min59sec, do it! The medal will make it all worth it!

I've run a lot of urban marathons, and this one is the best of those. Right off the bat let me say that one thing that really stands out for me is the organization at the END OF THE RACE! We were given emergency blankets, finisher hats, and MEDALS as we entered the chute at the end. Then we were led right into the arena where there were tables a plenty, live band, and FREE Jim and Nicks Bar-B-Que for everyone. There was a wonderful celebratory atmosphere (NOT the usual 'take your bagel and go home now' feel). We enjoyed plenty of great ambiance in this end of race party. THE COURSE was very forgiving and beautiful with the most varied scenery. We ran past parks, a golf course, a children's hospital, thru the UAB campus, through OLD DOWNTOWN with historic high rise buildings and lots of fan support at each place. There were water stations almost at every mile and certainly no more than 2 miles without a potty. It was spectacular and the city of Birmingham AL was an extremely pleasant place. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this race both as a FIRST TIME marathon as well as for a seasoned vet looking to hit a PR during nice weather on a fast and scenic course. BLING - A Mercedes Hood ornament styled medal, what more can you ask?

I just did the race and I LOVE IT! The bling is sooooo worth doing the race. Even though you have to loop twice is very well organized. I have never been in a race with so many water and GU stations, that was perfect because I didn't need to carry my water belt. I highly recommend it

This is the first half marathon I have done, was far as the course it was ok, lot of hills. I almost fell over a manhole and had my boyfriend not caught me I would have hit the tar. But no was there to check and see if I was ok. They need more people to look out for runners.

My comments are based on the half-marathon.... Worst part: The weather was in the 20's. Wasn't that bad after the first mile though. Best part: Passing Mile 12! Overall- AWESOME! I will be doing this one next year. Pre-race: It was REALLY cold but they let us stay in the lobby of the Boutwell auditorium right next to the starting line all the way up to the start of the race. It made a HUGE difference. Spectators: Not a huge amount of spectators but given how cold it was I can't say I blame anyone who changed their minds about coming out. The spectators that did come out were AMAZING, lots of encouraging signs, lots of cheering. Water Stations: The water and GU station volunteers were exceptionally awesome. Special thanks to them. Plenty of stations however I only saw one with gatorade. GU's were plentiful though. And special thanks to the nice man who was handing out orange slices around the 8-9 mile marker. You were a life saver. Course: This is my opinion mind you but I didn't find the course very hilly at all. Sure there were some inclines but they never lasted very long and like others have written it really did seem like you were going downhill more often than uphill. Post-Race: Medal was really cool. The hat....was just okay. The after party was very good. One suggestion for next year is have more than one beer stand because the lines got a little long. The after party band and Jim and Nick's BBQ were really good too.

I have run this marathon every year for the past 12 years. Always have an enjoyable run. A few small changes to this year's course, but actually an improvement. A great course overall. Wonderful volunteers and staff every year. Plenty of traffic control. For a back-of-the back runner with a total of 270+marathons under foot, I have been around and highly recommend this event. There is also a 5K the day before and do not miss the children's event, especially little one's from the Bell Center.

Wow, phenomenal race! Wasn't honestly expecting much from this (running it to cross AL off the states list), but I was pleasantly surprised. Expo was sufficient, nothing to write home about, but the race day activities were about as good as I've ever seen. To be sure, the city of Birmingham doesn't have a ton to offer as far as sights go, but the course stayed mainly in the well populated downtown area (with a few residential areas thrown in) so there were plenty of fans (a group of homeless people on one corner were the best). Very well marked course and plenty of cops to stop traffic. The aid stations were plentiful, not sure whether or not they were every mile, but it seemed close. Plenty of GU (6 stations in the full). Poweraid was the electrolyte beverage. A few small inclines but no real 'hills' - great PR potential. Some people have commented on the potholes, but I never noticed any big ones - a few areas of broken pavement at most. It is a double loop (which I actually enjoyed - more spectators, more aid stations and it's nice to know what's ahead of you). What set the race apart though was the post-race party. Catered BBQ, and better yet, as much beer as you could drink (hard to beat a 32oz Mic Ultra after a 26.2). There was a band performing and you could spread out and take your food anywhere in the arena - lots of families and friends relaxing together enjoying the food and people watching. Long-sleeve tech shirts were nicer than most, Mercedes medal was big and shiny, the finishers hat looks a little goofy -doubt I'll wear it much. All in all the organization was flawless (on par with Flying Pig), and the party at the end would be worth coming to in and of itself.

The Mercedes marathon has many great features, most of which have already been mentioned. The medal, a beautifully polished car emblem, is striking. My second favorite, next to the Flying Pig's. But organizers must take a day or two, right before the marathon, to spray paint the many potholes on the route. I fell last year and luckily did little damage. But I saw a fellow runner fall this year and watched him hit hard. I don't know if he was able to finish. I realize that spray painting all the holes would take time but the effort might prevent such accidents. It would also be wise to split off the half-marathoners early. I just ran the Albany marathon; where the halfers split off in the first 100 yards. Nice. And I did not see a single pothole at Albany. Thanks to the Track Shak for providing gloves. Very thoughtful.

Pros: -Flat for the Birmingham area -Plenty of food after the race -Plenty of hotels/parking very close to the race. My car was in a deck less than fifty from the start line. -Free massages afterwards -Lots of free powerade drinks, Gu and fruit -Sweet, friendly folks manning the aid stations Cons: -(Personal peeve): They only gave tech shirts; I like to have a choice between tech and cotton -Double loop meant crowding of half marathoners in the first loop. I hated hearing 'uugh.. we still have 3 miles to go!' when I had 16 miles to go -The expo was moderate size but there wasn't the bounty of free stuff that you expect at a marathon -There was no designated parking area for marathoners. Most races I have been to in big cities validate parking for a nearby parking garage. I paid $8 both Friday for packet pickup and Sunday for race day. Not. Cool. -There were 3-4 Gu stations on the course but only one had them laying out on the table. The others they had volunteers throwing them to us/at us. -CRAZY disorganization before the race in the auditorium. It was cold so I understand people staying inside but there were no lanes moving to bag check/to the bathroom... just people standing around. It would have been nice to have had someone encourage them to go out. I do not plan to do it again because there was not anything spectacular about it. If it fits into your training schedule then it is an easy race, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I've been wanting to do this race for the past 4 years but I've had other commitments in the past on marathon weekend. This was the year for me to do it finally. The weather turned cold- try 22 degrees with wind chill in the low teens at the start. The gloves they give you (free) at the expo helped keep my hands from completely freezing during those first 3-4 miles. I ended up running just under 3 hrs, which was about 15min faster than I was expecting going into this race. I give credit for that to (what I consider) great temps (ok- maybe slightly cold..) and a very fair/fast course. While there are some hills on the course (that you do twice), they seemed to be gradual and you got plenty of nice downhills and flat sections to motor on as well. Pros- I liked the double loop course- allowed for familiarity Low, low price of entry. (1/2 the price of the many races that can't even touch this race as far as bang for buck) Superb communication leading up to the race Small, but nice expo. Race organization is excellent. Visible mile markers with time clocks at EVERY mile. Plenty of gatorade, water, and gu (22 fluid stops) We drove into the parking deck right next to the start at 6:30 (30min before the start) with ease. Awesome post race entertainment in the auditorium plus Beer and BBQ!!!! Awesome medal and great schwag (gloves, hat, shirt, koozie, a nutrition bar) Cons- Can't think of a single one. I didn't mind that there weren't many spectators. IT WAS FREEZING that morning- not the best conditions to be sitting out watching runners. This race blows away/destroys all of the overpriced Rock and Roll races I've done (san diego, country music, and Savannah) from an overall satisfaction. Mercedes knows how to treat runners. I highly recommend this race.

I thoroughly enjoyed this race. Although there weren't a lot of spectators, the support by the volunteers was fantastic. There were plenty of well-stocked water and Powerade stations, and I have never seen so much Gu! Although the course wasn't especially scenic, I found it to be interesting due to the rolling (but not too difficult) hills. The double loop course worked very well for my psychologically. Best of all was the convenience. I walked the 2 blocks from the host hotel to the start line just before the race began and didn't even need to check a bag. There was no need for a car rental with the expo, start, finish, and host hotel all in close proximity. Great medal, hat, and long-sleeved tech tee. I didn't stay for the post-race party, but I heard it was a blast!

This race was great from start to finish. Good pre-race communication and organized expo. The weather was perfectly chilly. Watch out for ice on the roads at water stops. Lots of staff support. Hydration and GU stops were abundant. The rolling hills were not as bad as I feared and may have helped me to beat my PR by eight minutes! Double loop was not even an issue. Always like to see more cheering spectators, but understand that watching runners in freezing temps is not as fun as being one. Best post race party I have experienced. This is a well done race and worth traveling for. The medal and finishers hat are awesome.

This race was top notch in every way. The organization was amazing. The double loop course was scenic and enjoyable. The markings for the half and whole were very clear. The water stops were furnished very well. There was plenty of water,powerade and gels. Spectators were great and offered pickle juice,gummis and fruit. The course showcased alot of Birmingham downtown and UAB campus. The medal was awesome and we also received a tech long sleeve shirt,gloves and a hat. I would definitely do this race again. The course was slightly hilly but very fast. Kudos to race directors in ALL areas!

Pros: -easy course for the usual hilly Alabama foothills -great after party food and drinks with plenty of massages and medical staff that worked really well with the cold -water stations were plentiful and great support teams -awesome finisher medals Cons: -there was a very confusing race start with no real use of the corrals -there were plenty of water stations but no real amounts of spectators esp for marathoners -the after party raffle awards went by longer then the actual awards which kind of made them look like they did not care about the real champions over all good race with a great staff that did a very excellent job making a easy course out of a hilly situation