Tobacco Road Marathon - Race Reviews

Overall, I was pretty happy with this race. Great organization, nice tech shirts, and plenty of aid on the course. However, I went into this race thinking it was completely flat. Compared to the coastal courses I usually do, this was definitely tough. Plus, the gradual slight incline is steady from miles 22-25, the worst location for it. Definitely a good course for someone more used to 'hills'!

2022 was my 4th TRM. Great flat marathon and you help support the Red Cross, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Hope for the Warriors and the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy.

On Sunday 3/20/22, I ran my first Tobacco Road Marathon. I have so many good things to say about this race. Let's start with the course conditions. The trail is a mix of paved road/trail with large sections of the course being crushed/pulverized limestone and gravel over packed dirt. I wore trail shoes but if I could do it over, I would have worn a comfy pair of road shoes. No big deal but if you are someone like me that wonders about wearing the most appropriate type of shoe for a course, then you will want to select a good pair of road shoes for this course. There were gradual ascents and gradual descents along the way. It was not pancake-flat but the hills were nothing soul-crushing. It was a friendly course. The weather was absolutely perfect for a race. Temps at race start were 51F and when I crossed the finish line, I think it was about 58F. Mostly sunny but plenty of tree-cover with just the right amount of exposure to the sun. There was an occasional wind gust that you might notice on the course but overall, I don't think it ever really felt like more than a 3-to-5 mph breeze. After running 4 of my last 6 marathons in precipitation and/or difficult course conditions, this day felt like a gift from the heavens. Spectators were enthusiastic and supportive in the places they could locate themselves along the course. Keep in mind, the course isn't setup in such a way that makes it easy for a lot of people to gather along the way. This is rarely a concern for me as I spend most of the 26.2 miles inside my own head pondering the mysteries of life. :-) Communication was great! The last couple weeks prior to the race, bulleted lists of important items to be mindful of continued arriving in my Inbox...well done! Did I PR...No. Did I qualify for Boston...No. Did I have an amazing experience...YES, without question. I usually finish around the 4:27 to 4:33 mark. I finished this race with a chip time of just over 4:15. This was my 20th state in my quest for all 50. I would highly recommend this race for any experienced or novice marathoner asking themselves the question, 'Where should I go when it's time to run a marathon in North Carolina?'

I am partial to this race because I PR'd and qualified for Boston here. Very well organized with good water stops. Gatorade and water available at each stop. Even though I didn't use it, there were a fair number of stops that had nutrition available (GU, waffles, etc). Since most of the race is on greenway, there isn't much fan support if you're looking for that. They had pacers for BQ qualifying times, which was nice.

I ran this with an eye to getting a PR and didn't come close. A lot of it was me, but in terms of being an ideal course for a PR, this race has a couple of items to consider. One, it is hillier than it looks on the elevation charts. Coming off the trail at mile 23 you will have to deal with some noticeable hills in open conditions (no tree cover). The trail itself isn't hilly but does have some extended distance of ascending grade (2% would be my guess) that does wear one down in the second half. Finally, the trail is mostly paved, which kind of disappointed me as I was hoping for packed dirt. On the plus side, the course has minimal turns meaning runners don't end up running an extra quarter mile (my watch registered 26.3 miles exactly), the trail offers plenty of shade against direct sunlight, and only the first 2.5 miles of the course is shared with the half-marathoners. If you are running this in under 4 hours you will not feel crowded on the trail and should be able to run your preferred pace. I should also note the course is far away from area hotels. The race charges for on-sight parking passes, and has a shuttle service to a free lot about 2-3 miles away. Also, the shirt this year was comfortable but not technical.

If your goal is PR, avoid this race. From mile 6 or so through mile 23 (17 miles) runners run both directions on about 10 feet wide country trail. Nonstop runner traffic heading the opposite direction became a psycho drag. Half of the course is on packed but uneven dirt and at times sharp loose gravel. Organization is excellent though. Not a fast course for out of towners unless trained on it.

This race was very solid. One that will not overly impress and at the same time will in no way disappoint. Packet pick up was in a hotel and was surprisingly bigger than I expected. Nice room with many vendors. People were nice as could be. I advise using the off-site parking and using the shuttles to and from the race. This was as smooth as I've experienced. If we would have missed the shuttle we got on, there were 12 waiting for us both to and from the race site. Not quite an indoor staging area, but they had a large tent that kept us warm and protected from the wind. Course was fine & essentially 3 separate out and backs. 21 of the 26 miles were on a rails to trail soft surface. Nothing spectacular, but I could tell recovery was easier due to the gentle terrain and soft surface in which we ran on. No major hills to report. The road from start to 2.5 and then again 24 to finish was rolling hills, but nothing difficult. Race shirt was nice and medal was nice, but large. If you are looking for a race that isn't over the top, but won't disappoint, I'd suggest the TRM.

If you're looking for a fast, flat hassle-free marathon this may be for you. The non technical course is 2 out-and-back treks on a former railway path. There is not much scenery, so run with a talkative friend or one of the many pace groups. The race directors take a personal interest. One even waited at the finish line to congratulate runners! I recommend buying a parking pass so that you can sleep later, but shuttles to and from the remote parking lot are efficient. All Boston Qualifiers are flagged on the website and receive a cool tech shirt applauding their accomplishment. The medal is obscenely large. The age-group award was an engraved souvenir cup. You could collect the age group award immediately after finishing without waiting for everyone to finish. The post race food was decent and there was a beer party.

A very well organized race with a surprisingly big expo with multiple cool vendors. Race morning the good organization continued with the shuttles to the race that ran like clockwork both before and after the race. The course was basically two long out and backs along a rails to trails trail of mostly packed dirt that was nice on the legs. It was a pretty trail, but a lot of the same scenery. I read on other sites that this course contained rolling hills, but it seemed flat as can be, except for some gentle hills for the first two and last two miles. My only real complaint about the race was the narrowness of the course at times when we returned to the street. I observed a car honking at a runner at the most narrow point of the course. Nice staging area at a local park. Food before and after the race, including pizza and chocolate milk. Very nice shirt, but the colorful medal was a little big for my taste. Free socks were included. A nice, but not memorable race in a very nice part of the country. Post race celebrations were held at Bond Brothers and Fortnight, both very good breweries in Cary.

I loved this race! Logistically, it was a breeze. Easy parking right near the start (buy the parking pass!), and everything we needed was at the Embassy Suites. The course had plenty of water, Gatorade, and gels. I loved that it was quiet, a soft surface, peaceful, and easy to focus, but if you like a lot of cheering and stuff to see, this might not be for you. This was my 7th marathon and I ran a 9-minute PR and got my first ever BQ. The shirt and medal (and free socks! AND bonus BQ shirt!) were all top notch. My only complaint was having to dodge the slow half marathoners at the end, who were often walking 2-3 abreast and taking up a lot of space. But that's not the race's fault. If you want a fast course where you can focus, be in nature, and maybe nail a PR - do Tobacco Road! Thanks to all the staff and volunteers for an unforgettable day!

This was my first Tobacco Road Marathon and my 11th marathon overall. I would - without a doubt - recommend running the Tobacco Road Marathon to others. This is a smaller race that has top-notch organization. Everything went smoothly from packet pickup at the expo, to parking at the baseball complex (highly recommend purchasing a parking pass), to pre-race communications from the RD, to on-course support, and on. The bulk of the course is on the American Tobacco Trail, which is a great running pathway. It alternates between packed dirt and asphalt and it's generally flat and well shaded. It's about 2.5 miles to/from the ATT through a residential neighborhood, which has some rolling hills. The aid stations were very well supported. I have never seen a race offer as many gu packets as Tobacco Road. We didn't linger for the post-race activities as we had to check out of our hotel (to the race organizers, can you work something out with the Embassy Suites to offer a later complimentary checkout than 1pm?) Finally, the weather, which is obviously not in the control of the race organizers. This year was hot and muggy. I believe temps are typically much cooler than the high 60s/low 70s we experienced. That said, with the shaded trail, it was manageable. Honestly, my only negative (other than the 1pm late checkout) was that the race shirt was short sleeved. Personally, I wish it were long sleeved. We also received a really nice water bottle as part of our swag bag. I'm not bananas about medals, but for those who are, this one was huge and very nice. Also, the PR bell is an awesome touch! I only wish I'd earned a BQ shirt as well.

This was one of the most enjoyable marathons I have run. Well organized from sign up all the way through to the post race event with food, drink, live music. The course was a little uphill for 2 miles to the railroad track and pretty straight from there with no sharp turns or bottlenecks to slow you down. Nice scenery and gentle curves all the way. Tree cover against any sun but not enough to affect my GPS reception. The flat straight course together with the downhill finish helped me to a new PB and and a BQ time so I could ring the bell and collect the special BQ t-shirt. Great marathon and highly recommended.

Beautiful course, top notch organization, perfect weather. But the best thing is no one is paid, it's all volunteers and 100% of proceeds go to worthwhile charities instead of someone's back pocket. Cary is a nice town with nice people, I highly recommend this race.

For all the little hassles of this race- it's not really near a downtown or within a cab ride from anywhere- Tobacco Road has LOTS going for it. Sure, you'll need to rent a car, but hotel rooms are cheap and plentiful in the Cary area and parking really isn't that bad at USA Baseball. And this race is ideal for a fast spring PR. The course is T-shaped, with a 2.5 run from the start to the American Tobacco Trail, a mix of pavement and smooth, packed stone dust trail. You'll turn right onto the ATT for the first out and back (half marathoners turn left, meaning little congestion on the trail). Not hilly, but some slight rail grade elevation changes. By mile 14 you're back at the road crossing, then continuing on to the second out and back. This one's a bit hillier, but not at all bad. Great aid stations with enthusiastic volunteers, gels, and real food at mile 18. Weather was overcast and in the 50's- just perfect for a great run. My second fastest marathon (of 48), just a minute off my PR. Highly recommended.

This is my 5th consecutive year running the Tobacco Road Marathon! The organization is second to none, the swag is great, the course is fantastic and the dirt is helpful and keeps my legs fresh the entire race. I love the BQ shirts and bell at the end of the race for those that BQ! I will continue to schedule this race year after year and it is in my back yard practically. One thing to note - the race website says it is a flat and fast course. It has rolling hills throughout and isn't all that flat. Although, I wouldn't say it is a very difficult course either. The weather is just about perfect year after year. I have seen the 40's and 50's each year....this year was in the mid 50's throughout. There is a lot of tree cover from the sun on the tobacco road trail which is 20 miles of the race.

Very well organized and attention to the runners was first rate. Course is flat and somewhat boring but I was lucky to have some good company on the journey. Special Shirt to Boston Marathon qualifiers was a very classy touch ! It was great to watch the runners go up for the shirt and proudly put it on :)

[I ran the half marathon and my stats are for half marathons, not full.] This is a well-organized small/mid-size race that is easily accessible for 50-staters and presents few hassles. I was reluctant to sign up for this race after reading previous years reviews about problems with parking and shuttles to the race. The RD clearly has worked hard to address these concerns-even posting a detailed 'transportation plan'-and everything worked like clockwork. Follow the instructions to arrive early and I recommend buying the parking pass. (I did not use the shuttle so cannot comment on that, and I also did not attend the pasta dinner.) Pros: - Well-organized event with an involved and accessible race committee - Well-supported course with ample water/aid stations, fully staffed and well-organized - Highly visible and accurate signage - Course seems flat but may be deceptively difficult (graded so there is gradual but long uphill/downhill) - Race day logistics operate like clockwork but highly recommend purchasing the parking pass and following instructions to arrive early (no later than 5:30am; sign up early because parking passes sell out) - Enthusiastic crowd support at the finish and always fun to be greeted by the RD after crossing the line - Starting line itself is very congested but the full and half marathons separate early (after about 2 miles) - Good post-race food and fun, local band - Good option for 50-staters. You need to rent a car but Cary is a short drive from Raleigh-Durham airport. - Good pre-race communication. The final instructions leading up to the race included straightforward listing of key points, not just a marketing blitz. - Location of expo at host hotel works well (recommend staying at host hotel) Cons: - I usually don't mind out/back courses and it is peaceful to run on this tree-lined path, but it also became dull because its a straight out/back. - Shuttles from the host hotel would be a great addition and it would further ease demand on parking passes. The need to arrive no later than 5:30am to be guaranteed a parking space (even after paying a parking fee) is excessive. - Race shirt sizing is not accurate (oversized) - Host hotel does not offer late check-out without additional fees If you like small/mid-size races with relatively few frills, this is a great option. There is a small expo at the host hotel, no bands on the course, and relatively few spectators since accessibility to the path is limited, but the organization is excellent, the post-race food & band are fun, and there is a very enthusiastic crowd at the finish.

I chose this race before its inclusion in the Runner's World's January 2014 issue. The race was close to home for me, very small (capped at 1500) and relatively flat. I wanted a smaller race after running Marine Corps in 2013 and being bogged down for the first few miles in thousands of people unable to get to my marathon pace. Pro's: Most of course is on clean, crushed stone trail. Most of course is flat. Water stations were ample and most were passed twice as it's an out and back T-shaped course. The 3:30 pacer, Gary, was fantastic (as I'm sure all of the pacers were). He ran very even splits and was knowledgeable about the course. Medal is huge and amazing! Plus, we got race logo calf sleeves that are very cool. Great weather (mid 40's and overcast) Cons: Small expo with very little in the way of swag. Race shirt was huge. I wear a medium in every brand imaginable but this was huge. Of course, there were no exchanges at the expo and then after the race, there were no smalls available. They said they'd mail me one. We'll see. Sparce spectator support but those who were out were loud and cheering. Very gradual incline from miles 22-25 that was not obvious from race map. Be prepared for that.

I am pursuing the 50 states and chose this marathon for NC. It had amazing organization and logistics. The one negative for me was that although the trail was incredibly scenic and mostly flat, it got monotonous. I am a back of the packer and was alone a lot, which could have contributed to the monotony. Pros: -very accessible and friendly race director who was very attentive to runners' needs (and even ran me in to the finish) -expo was bigger than I expected and had everything you needed -last-minute tent put up due to expected rain (what a nice touch!) -good aid stations including a huge 'buffet' at the mile 19 turnaround -large and nice medal -good traffic control -plenty of post-race food and beer for slower participants -supportive of slower participants (course open for 7 hours for marathoners and half marathoners could take that long as well) -half marathoners split off before mile 3 so it wasn't too crowded -out and back sections allowed runners of different paces to see each other and cheer each other on I recommend staying at the Embassy Suites host hotel if you can. It was convenient to be in the same hotel as the expo, and it's only 15 minutes to the race site. The only downside is that they do not offer free late checkout after 1pm. I also recommend buying the parking pass. Although there was a lot of traffic getting into the parking lot, it was worth it to be able to park right at the start/finish. In 2014 we had cooler temps with the threat of rain (which held off for most of the race). The trail is tree-lined so I suspect it would be shaded and provide protection from the wind. This was my first visit to the area and I recommend The Pit BBQ and Beasley's in Raleigh for excellent food. I'm glad this was my NC marathon.

This is a well organized, smaller race but that's what makes it the best! The race director is outstanding when it comes to the runner's needs. We had acces to indoor bathrooms as well as portables. Due to weather he provided a large tent near start & finish. Spectators may be small but volunteers and sheriff/police force also outstanding. Great attention to the nice small details of running! I would highly recommend

My first marathon at age 54. Course is flat with a very forgiving surface. Unpaved portion of trail had obviously been swept the day before, so no debris to go over. Weather was perfect ( low 50's) and course almost entirely shaded.

This is an excellent half and full marathon run on mostly crushed run trail that is fairly flat and fast. The race organizers do an excellent job, it's well supported locally and there is always enough food at the end. GREAT RACE.

Really nice race. Parking pass made it VERY easy on race morning-highly recommended. The crushed limestone paths are wonderful to run on-the were well compacted and not rutted. Plenty of water / gatorade & GU on the course. The elevation profile they post on-line is accurate. The course is not flat (has 1000'+ of climb), but everything is gradual and can easily be considered 'flat' relative to other courses in the area. My biggest suggestion for improvement is to make some mini-corrals so that there is about 30 seconds between batches of 200 runners or so. The fact that course starts downhill causes a lot of 'repositioning' in the first mile. It could all be avoided with a bit of a staggered start. Fan support is good-especially considering this race has little road access. Aid stations are great! I will run this one AGAIN!

First time running Tobacco Road. Very enjoyable course but those slight inclines and high humidity this year made for a tougher than expected flat course. The end of the course in indeed downhill but the 50 meter uphill walk immediately after the finish line was almost comical. It made for a great addition to the memory! The never ending free pizza and beer hit the spot. The race director was actually wlaking around, speaking to all the runners and asking if anyone needed anything. This was quite a surprise and quite welcome. The medal is pretty big and well made. I will do this marathon again. Oh yeah, buy the $5 parking pass. This made the whole experience a breeze. We arrived 45 minutes before the start and got a great parking place!

Ran this in 2013. My 1st Tobacco Road and 7th marathon overall. Course was through the forest and was a refreshing change from an urban setting. Not too often you get to see tobacco barns, goats and horses while running a marathon! Trail is very shaded, few small hills at beginning/end of course, but basically flat. Plenty of water stops - gave out water, gatorade and some had Gu gels - which helped a lot! Give this one a try - smaller, different - but fun!

I ran this in 2013, with beautiful 55 degree weather. I don't think that will happen every time. The course is a two-sided out and back. Overall, the course lacks for visual excitement, but the pine forest lined trails are nice. The trail is very nice with a choice of running on pavement or a hard packed sand which is kept incredibly even. If I had trained, this could have easily been a PR run with the great conditions of that day and the quality of trail. The trail has slight hills, but nothing taxing. The downhills give enough to give you some momentum and the uphills not so much that you want to walk. The negatives on this race are the ability for spectators. The trail is hard for spectators to access and, given the lack of people in areas easier to access, people of NC do not appear to cheer much for marathons. The directions to the sites are ridiculously bad. My wife got completely lost and was not able to get to the sites to cheer me on. Perhaps a local could follow the maps, but when you come out from AK, it is extremely hard.

Pros: Comfortable charter buses for the folks who didn't pay for event parking located 7 miles away. While M and HM runners start together for the first 3 miles, it never really felt crowded. M runners get to run alone for 10 miles. 20 of the miles are on the Tobacco Trail- out and back. Course is relatively flat and fast for 20 miles. Water/GU stops every 2 miles. Volunteers were plentiful and pleasantly supportive. First Aid officials patrolling course on bicycles. Mile 19 offered a nice spread of high-carb, salty snacks. 20 miles of the course is shaded. Papa Johns gave away leftover large pizzas towards the end of the race. Cons: Porto-Pots did not have soap/sanitation stations built inside. Music played over speakers prior, during, and after event was deafening. 20 miles out and back on a flat trail with basically no turns makes for a monotonous course, no matter the beauty/peacefulness of the tree-lined scenery. Coming off the trail, for the final 3 miles, you run with (not against) busy vehicular traffic with no access to sidewalks or safe public running areas. These roads were closed to vehicular traffic at the beginning of the race. Now mind you, I had a slow finish but finished well under the course time limit. I expected that they would close off traffic until the 7 hour time limit, as advertised. Overall: Would definitely recommend this event as 'must-do' NC marathon. The trail is 'fast', a Boston qualifier, historic, quiet, and scenic (grandiose trees abound!)

I just came back from running this year's event and I can definitely say this a fun and well run marathon. The course: miles and miles of nearly flat railtrail is just the nicest thing to run on and as promised the finish was on a downhill. The course was also well-patrolled with bikes and emergency runner pickup vehicles. I was a very late finisher but the water stops were still well-staffed and very enthusiastic - something which really means a lot when you are jut having a bad day. I am especially pleased that when they ran out of pizzas at the finsh they went out and ordered another whole bunch - thanks much for that!

This is a small, well organized race with good crowd support and a flat, fast course. It's a great course to do a PR, since most of the surfaces are packed dirt which is easier on the feet. There is plenty of water and gel on the course. Most of the course is tree lined and shaded. The race staff gave runers very personnal attention.

Aside from it being a little hot and humid for March (this global warning stuff is starting to be a pain), this was a really good small race. No hotels near the start/finish that was true but the expo hotel and several others were only around seven miles away. I bought a parking pass which seemed to be the way to go. On the other hand, I heard that the shuttles were much improved and I didnt hear of anyone missing the start. The expo was pretty good for the size of the race (the special socks were fun). Also, as for the start, there was enough distance between the start and the trail that it wasnt too congested by then. I was more worried about catching the slower half marathoners but that wasnt too bad either. All in all, not a bad place to check off North Carolina.

For a smaller event this was well organized. I was a little concerned after reading reviews of the 2011 event. The parking was well organized and there were tons of buses. We were parked, on the bus, and to the start line in less than 30 minutes. The run was beautiful although the trail is deceptive. It is flat but beware the hills are low grade and long. There was water and gatorade every 2 miles or so and they had gel at every stop. Nice tech shirt, monstrous medal, tons of pizza, and beer from a local microbrew at the finish line. It is really hard to find anything to complain about with this event.

I have nothing bad to say about this race. The course was beautiful and easy on the legs, the volunteers enthusiastic and supportive, and the organization was outstanding. Thanks particularly to the two race directors who gave great advice regarding transportation at the expo and for being at the finish line to greet finishers. I would not change one thing about my experience in Cary, NC. Finishing time : 3:58:54.

I have run this marathon (or the half) in each of its three years. In my opinion, the first year was the smoothest in terms of organization and logistics. The race expanded significantly in 2011, and along with it has come a series of kinks, some of which are yet to be worked out. For example, the serious transportation snafus encountered in 2011 (people left in remote lots without transportation to the start, two hour waits for buses back to the remote lots after the event) were very well mitigated this year. However, this year I witnessed MANY instances of cars leaving the race site as the half marathon was ending. The full marathon was still in process, and many cars were coming very close to runners who were still on the course. The police and volunteers did the best they could in directing traffic, but I have never seen so many cars weaving in and out of cones and coming perilously close to people during a race. This was annoying to the marathoners (to say the least) and potentially very dangerous. In addition, despite changes in the half and full marathon courses this year, the ATT portion of the race is still way too narrow to accommodate this many runners - particularly the slower half marathoners who I observed walking or slowly jogging several abreast, thus requiring the faster marathoners to pass them in very narrow circumstances. On several occasions, I thought I was going to be inadvertently tripped. Finally, it's inexcusable that the lead biker would overshoot the course at the turnaround point (and that it wouldn't be clearly enough marked), sending the top marathoners astray and probably costing them first and second place finish times. I love the concept of this race and the course is awesome, but I think the organizers have gotten too ambitious in terms of the size of the race. Options: 1) decrease the number of participants (consider going back to the 2010 size); 2) impose stringent limits on where spectators can gather (NOT ON NARROW BRIDGES); 3) do not allow non-registered runners to 'pace' their friends - at least not while on the ATT part of the course; and/or 4) hold the marathon and half marathon on back-to-back days. On a positive note, communication leading up to the marathon was great, instructions to runners was thorough and consistent, aid station volunteers were awesome, and the t-shirts and medals rock. Nice prize money, too, for a relatively small race! I wouldn't discourage others from doing this race; I do, however, hope that this feedback helps race organizers continue to implement improvements next year.

This was my 9th marathon, and it was my favorite. Gorgeous scenery along the Tobacco Trail, soft running surface, and no worries about dodging cars on the course. The full marathon and half marathon runners separated after three miles, so then the full marathoners were free to just relax and enjoy the marathon, without a congested path. Low cost, fast packet pick up, easy parking, plenty of aid stations -the whole process was stress free. I did not need any pickles, PB & J sandwiches or bananas but it was great to know they were available ( I think they were at mile 19). I will be back next year!

I've run this marathon all three years of its existence and plan to be back again next year. If you have to have city sights and fans lining the course, this isn't the race for you. But if you like a nice, flat course and a well-organized race, this is your race. Here is my blog entry on my race experience from with my 2012 race: http://runningtarheelfan.blogspot.com/2012/03/important-rule-of-marathoning-always.html

First off, I want to say that the organizers do the best they can but the logistics for out of towners is a nightmare. First off expo is a different part of town than race start and the parking is an different part of town. You will have to do lots of driving around town to get to expo, shuttles and your hotel. Parking is 15 minutes away from race start. You also have to walk about a half mile to get to the shuttles from the parking lot. This is all a hassle that requires you to be at the parking 5AM for a 7AM start and than afterwards all you want to do is get to your hotel and having to wait for a shuttle, taking the shuttle and than driving 15 minutes to hotel. (No Hotels near shuttles) Now if you are lucky enough to get a parking pass. They are limited and sell out fast so if you want to do this race and avoid these issues than you better be quick. Pros Nice Expo Lots of Port-a-potties Plenty of food & drink post race Lots of volunteers on course Great Shirt & Medal Cons Logistics Very crowded on the course for first 3-5 miles and no corral management.

This is the second year in a row I have run this marathon and the second year in a row I have written a review (i.e., see Nice Attempt, but Need to Work Out Some Kinks (about: 2011), M. S. from USA. At the end of my review I wrote, it's a good race but it's a new race. And with new races come plenty of kinks that need to be worked through. I have a good feeling that many of these issues will be solved by next year. It is next year and I am happy to report, as far as I am concerned, the issues I listed have been rectified with the solutions well surpassing my expectations. It's almost as if the race organizers read my criticisms line by line and discussed how they would be addressed. So I feel I owe the organizers a lengthy review. And my review will be somewhat bittersweet because I assume the number of runners will significantly increase for the 2013 race. This year I arrived much earlier to the race (as was recommended) and parking was a breeze again for me because I knew to purchase the parking pass. As many will recall, last year chartered buses were dropping off panicky runners from remote lots well after the start of the half and full marathons. If there were any issues this year with the buses, then I was completely unaware of them. As far as I was concerned the transportation plan appeared updated and was efficient. At the end of the race I actually saw several buses waiting for runners to board. This was in stark contrast to last year when runners were waiting very long times for the buses to arrive. Last year, the half marathon began prior to the full marathon and problems occurred when the fast end of the full marathon pushed up against the slow end of the half marathon. This year the half and full marathons started at the same time. I witnessed no notable bumping or bottlenecking. Problem solved. This year at the trail split (around mile 3) the full marathon runners made an initial right hand turn (as opposed to left) down the trail. For whatever reason, this seemed to work well and I really did not notice too much congestion this year with the minor exception of the very end of the race, when the running area on the road (marked off by cones) became a little narrow in some places. At any rate, the particular changes I just listed represent a huge improvement to the race. Like last year, the spectators were friendly, supportive, and energetic. And I think there were more spectators than last year. The drink stations were well organized and someone was taking note of my personal pet peeve because the water and sport drinks were handed out in different looking cups! And the cups were bigger! Last year the port-o-johns were located way too far from the start/finish line. But not this year! This time the port-o-johns were located basically ON the start/finish line. The only suggestion I would make about this plan now would be to turn the port-o-johns the other way (toward the streetlights) so that runners may see which stalls are vacant in the dark. Otherwise, supply lighting to where the queues form. And maybe rent a few more port-o-john units as the lines remained fairly long at race start time (causing some runners to enter the woods). The amenities supplied after the race were again top notch with beer and pizza. Also, the race amenities were located much closer to the finish line. The orange race shirt (which I did not comment on last year) is really cool and the medal is a nice piece of bling. Good job organizers! We offered criticisms and you responded. The best praise I can give is the following: I run way too many marathons which includes the other well known local marathon that occurs every November in Raleigh. If this is your first marathon or you happen to run only a few marathons per year, I would definitely choose this one. See you again next year!