Charleston Marathon - Race Reviews

I have completed 80+ marathons prior to Charleston Marathon. I ran with the 3:30 pacer during this race. We had to stop for a train between mile 10 and 11. This was the first time that I had to stop for a train during a marathon. I managed to run a Boston qualifying finish despite this train delay. However don't know how many runners missed their goals by this train delay.

I'm an experienced marathon runner with 10 marathons under my belt including Boston 2013 and a full Ironman. This was far and away THE WORST course I have ever run in my life. Crowd support was almost non-existent and who could blame anyone for that...the course had you running mostly out and back loops through undesirable ghetto areas. At one point you run down a dock and turn around and run back. I will say that the course was well staffed and I never had issues w/ water or gels. Packet pickup was smooth and easy. The medal was nice. But..the course...I won't be coming back to Charleston and I wouldn't recommend you go either until a serious revision is made because no one in there right mind wants to see the nonsense on this course.

This was my 7th marathon, and I chose it because of the flat terrain, hoping for a BQ. I read the reviews about out-and-back loops and I suppose I underestimated how mentally defeating those would feel for the entire second half of the race. We were also hit with a 15 mph headwind for the majority of the race. There were virtually no crowds at all until the finish line with only a few hundred people. Water/aid stations were plentiful, but some weren't even manned with volunteers-I have never experienced that before. I was on track to BQ at the half marathon point, but finished 10 minutes slower than my goal due to these other factors. I would NEVER run this race ever again. The city of Charleston is beautiful and that portion of the race is gorgeous. Perhaps if the weather had been warmer and less windy I would have had a more positive experience.

Race has been robbed from local organizers! It used to be a local race supporting local a local charity but they got greedy and hired a for profit race outfit. Expect a 'corporate' feel with even less music / fun than 'advertised by an R&R race'!! Could be a really great run if the mayor of Charleston ever let a quality course be set up. (Everyone thought it would change with the change in mayor but it didn't.) The after party (pre2018) AWESOME!!! Shrimp & Grits and plenty of beer & mimosas!! -doubt the thought and care will be the same...no profit in a great party. Lots of turns in the last 10 miles. Other than that...perfectly straight! SUPER flat with the exception of a road bridge at mile 9...prob a whopping 30 foot elevation change...but when you've been flat for so long feels like a mountain! Oh...bring some caffeine for miles 5-15...SO BOORING... Long distance point to point ->No walking back to the start! Be prepared to shuttle if you are not local!! (I am so always had a car at both ends...) ...never heard a problem with the shuttles though.

C Please note. (as explained to me by a local) The fact that the race starts in Charleston and ends in North Charleston is due to (mainly) the city of Charleston asking for their police and medical personnel to be paid for the time they spend on marathon activities. (As opposed to the personnel of North Charleston providing the services for free, so I heard!) Some people complain about the fact that the marathon doesn't pass through the exotic streets of downtown Charleston (a bland, unexciting race) but this is entirely not the organizers' fault. Big City, big city politics. Many city marathons run through 'rough, depopulated and desolate' stretches and a seasoned (meaning having run more than one!) marathoner would know that by now. I also have this uncanny feeling that the bourgeoisie don't want you running in their neighborhoods and they probably have a say in marathon routes. Can't please everyone! In any case, all marathons have stages where they'll have 'filler roads' that are not ordinarily used by traffic or have light traffic to reduce congestion when a race of such magnitude is going on. 'You are not in Boston anymore!' C I watched the video of the entire 26.2 mile course that was on their website (and YouTube I think) From the video, I could tell that the route was not taking you through the scenic downtown Charleston that they show on brochures but I was mentally ready for that. Watch the video to get an idea of the race and where the runners pass through so that you may make the decision as to whether the race is 'scenic' enough for you... C Bring along sunglasses (for the first 3 miles and more, as you race next to the water and the sun shining brightly on your face) and shoes with good cushioning. Some parts of the race have a pebble like feel to them (for the full marathon) and I was thankful for the good sole cushioning. If you usually don't run with, or accustomed to minimalist shoes, this is not the race to do it. The various reasons to run the Charleston marathon. 1. ALL The proceeds from the marathon are used to fund the arts in Charleston public schools, a very noble and selfless cause especially in these days of non-existent funding for the arts and dying art forms in the USA. 2. As a marathon in January, it is a perfect race for many of those (like myself) who live in the snowy Northeast, Midwest and Northwest respectively. A January race forces you/one to keep training through the winter months instead of hibernating, keeping you well trained and toned throughout the year, meaning that when majority of the races in Spring start, you shall be ahead of those who didn't train through the winter. It was a balmy 60 degrees in 2016 but it was below freezing some years before so just beware. 3. It is a relatively inexpensive race to register for and Charleston is a relative inexpensive city to visit. For the winter months, most marathons are mostly in the warm states of Florida, California and Texas. If you are traveling from far away, the races in Florida and California are more expensive to register for and the flight, accommodation and rental car fees are higher than those found in Charleston for the most part. If you are racing on a budget, keep this in mind. A man of modest means like me jumped at the opportunity. Book early for reasonable deals. 4. If you are doing the 50 marathons in 50 states challenge, this is the perfect marathon to cross the state of South Carolina aka South Cackalacky off your list! 5. At sea level, ideal running weather and a relatively flat course, this is the perfect race to PR and BQ in. 6. They have a 60 mile bike race for cyclists on the Sunday after the main running road races on Saturday, which is a unique and additional attraction. 7. They allow bib transfers (for a fee) and same-day early morning race registration! I have never come across a race that does this. In case you get injured, a loved one or family friend can run in your spot! You can jet in/drive in and sign up for the race that day! Amazing! 8. It's a big city race with a small country feeling to it. You need to be there to experience it. 9. It's held on the Martin Luther King Jr weekend, so, since the Monday after the race is a holiday, (assuming you have Monday off) you have the extra day to recuperate, tour Charleston or volunteer on the actual Monday in events in Charleston. A win win in my opinion. Traveling to Charleston C Travel arrangements are very personal and differ from one person to the next. For the out-of-towners, if flying into Charleston, the Charleston International Airport is the main airport and they have car rental services right beside the main airport buildings which you have to walk to. (When it's raining, it's not pleasant, so be aware) I purchased a vacation package from Priceline which covered airfare, car rental and hotel accommodations. This is the cheapest way to do it. (I think) C There is Amtrak, especially for us folks from the NorthEast and Greyhound for those who use buses. C Alternatively, if using public transportation is your thing, or you watch your carbon footprint, after you get to Charleston, there is a public transit bus that will get you from the airport to Burke High school. You can get the information from google maps or Apple Maps and see the schedules for the buses. There are a couple of hotels about half a mile from the start line and many runners had booked these hotels due to the ease of walking from the hotels, to the expo or the start line respectively. These hotels are the Charleston Marriott, downtown Charleston Comfort Inn and Hilton Garden Inn respectively. C I had carried a couple of GU gels (about 5) and salt stick capsules through security and there was no problem. You can get your gels from the expo or if you use GNC products, there is a GNC store in Charleston in case you don't want to deal with airport security throwing away your prized gels and protein shakes! The Expo C The expo was small but very well organized. Everything was within reach. It was held at Burke High school in Charleston (on Friday, January 15 2016, the day before the marathon) which is where the marathon starts. There were various vendors at the expo, mainly local. Some of the vendors included Community coffee, local Apples, Talbot juice, cheese, grocery store, accel energy drink and common fit personal trainers. The previous year's running gear was on sale at a discount just in case you misplaced yours or just needed a souvenir. I saw individual vendors selling Running buddy pouches, GU gels, body glide, shoe inserts, running gear and so on. If you don't have cash, all have card readers for your debit/credit card purchases. C They had a local band doing cover songs! C They have a pre-race dinner between 5-8pm on Friday, which caters for both herbivores and carnivores. It's priced reasonably at $10 (or $7 online prior to the date) The Marathon Mile 1 to mile 13.1 C All runners (half and full marathoners) start at the same time so the start is crowded. At the start, they have pacers who carry placards up in the air showing you expected finish times, from 3.30-3.45 full marathon finish time with 15 minute time increments till 5.00 or 5.30, for both the half and the full. The placards are visibly high and hard to miss. The pacers have pacer t-shirts on them. (Kudos to those pacers for carrying those placards for 26.2 miles!) They have no corrals like the bigger races so if running fast or keeping ahead of the pack is your thing, then keep to the front. The first 3-5 miles are a bit crowded but I don't think there is a big city marathon where you shall avoid a crowded beginning. Mile 1 starts from Burke High School and curves through Lockwood drive and Murray Boulevard, with the waterfront on the right. After mile 3, the race runs from the White Point gardens through the city of Charleston on King Street before inching its way forward towards North Charleston. As the race approaches North Charleston, there are industrial areas that would probably put off someone out to enjoy scenic views while running the race. No big deal here. C From mile 6-8, you pass through some North Charleston neighborhoods. Not all houses here have a white picket fence but a marathon should take you round neighborhoods that don't have million dollar houses. There are thousands of runners and there is nothing to be 'afraid' of when running through some of these neighborhoods. Very friendly people who are cheering you on I might add. C As the runners approach mile 8 or 9, there is a slight incline on Viaduct Street, not really steep. Once you are past the incline and bridge, the half marathoners run straight and the full marathoners keep left on their way to the Marina and the Federal facility. This might be discouraging to some runners as one sees elite runners running back to the 'main course' to join the rest of the runners while you have quite a bit to go. Never mind, there are slower runners than you and that might act as a 'motivation' to let you know that you are not doing too badly. The energy gels are to be found on mile 10 and there are water stations. I learned from runners to create a v-shaped wedge/funnel on the paper cup that contains the Gatorade or water to have the water go into your mouth perfectly with no spills! You have no idea how handy this tip is. You can always tell I have just completed a race by my Gatorade stained clothes! There are places that had a puddle of water on your way to (and back from) the marina and runners' shoes did get wet. It had however rained the day before. Mile 13.1 to 26.2 C This is where the fun and agony begins! This is a very desolate race at this point and its devoid of the mainly huge crowds you would find in, say, the Philadelphia (insert mega city here) marathon. The only people you'll see are your fellow runners, volunteers manning water stations and police and medical personnel. Once you are past the marina and Federal facility, you trudge on to N Hobson Avenue, close to Hunley Observation Laboratories. You shall be running through mostly industrial buildings and there shall be a couple of rail tracks that you shall have to run over. The rail tracks are not raised and it's no big deal. On mile 18, you shall get onto Buist Avenue where you shall meet runners faster than you running opposite you 3 or so miles before the finish line. You'll hit Park Circle before coming to the Academic Magnet High School on mile 20 and go round the school as you go back to the residential neighborhoods. As you approach mile 25, the scenery changes and you are exposed to a beautiful water view on Riverfront park. The stretch is about half a mile long and you are back to Noisette Blvd as you head towards N Charleston High School for the finish. The Finish. Post run refreshments and entertainment. C once you have hobbled to the finish line, your name is announced and a finisher's medal hang on your neck. The finisher's medal was an attractive medal that featured the art theme of the marathon itself, which was unique. The marathon t-shirt was also emblazoned with the same art. If you run with a smartphone like I do, ask the nice volunteers to take a pic of you at the finish line if you don't have someone (family/friend) to take it for you. This is for memories' sake. C There is an array of hydration options at the water station. There is water, Gatorade, beet juice, Coke and other types of soda, (never seen soda on offer after a race before) muffins, bananas, apples and so on. Once you are past the water stations, there are various tents with various refreshments. They include a delicious small bowl of shrimp grits, beer on tap (Samuel Adams cold frost and a grape flavor) and orange juice and champagne, redeemable from the stubs that are on your race bib. They also have peanuts on offer, both original non-flavored and chili flavored, which I enjoyed taking out of their shells. C One attractive theme of the races is the entertainment on offer at the finish line. There were various bands that were playing and these bands were very good, playing everything from country music, R&B, hip hop, country and pop music. Many were playing cover songs and I am sure some were playing original songs. There was also some bouncing castle thing for the kids that involved Velcro tape and kids jumping into the bouncing castle and sticking themselves on it! C There were various tents with sponsors of the race and most were manned to provide information about the products on offer. C There were announcements by the master of ceremonies announcing the 3rd place finishers, runners up and winners in the 5K, half marathon and marathon. Various winners in the various age group categories were also announced. The mayor of North Charleston was also present and participating. C They had places to shower at the school at the finish line and also at the start line. You can put your bath accessories in your race bag, which you can use to shower either at the start or finish line high school showers respectively. C There was a shuttle service (school buses) that was ferrying runners from the finish line (in North Charleston) to the start line at Burke High school in Charleston. It was very efficient and ran every 30 minutes or so. There were no waiting lines. C Remember the bags that you left at the start line in the UHaul trailer? They bring the bags to the finish line. I made the mistake of getting onto the bus thinking I was going to find the items at the start line and had to take the same shuttle back to the finish line to retrieve the items. C Some restaurants and eateries have discounts for runners on Saturday evening. You have to find out from the race organizers or social media. Chip times and the running Apps and smartwatches comparisons C Amazingly, the chip times were being broadcast in real time to your (the runner's) email account. They showed the chip times at the 11.8 mile mark, 20 mile mark and 26.2 mile finish line mark. Maybe this may stop a potential future race bandit? Hopefully! C There were also loudspeakers that were broadcasting the amount of time one had spent on the road. This was helpful for those with no gadgets to tell time. However, many people looked like they had some sort of stop watch/smartwatch or were running with their phones on their armbands. (With running apps running most likely) C I primarily use Runkeeper from my phone and I have a Fitbit. Runkeeper showed the total distance to be 26.79 miles (showed my Philadelphia marathon distance to be 26.70 and Delaware 26.47) I also use the Walkjogrun app just in case the Runkeeper app crashes and it showed a total of 26.67 miles (26.47 in Philadelphia and 26.30 in Delaware) Two separate runners with Garmin had 26.47 and 26.42 respectively. Race Photographs C Big races have expensive photographs! That's just the way it is. I used to believe that paying $25 for ONE digital photograph was outrageous, but I have realized that these are once in a lifetime opportunities and I need to memorialize them somehow. They claim that, even when they bring the prices down, people don't pay for the pics, so they charge a lot to cover for all the 'lost' pics that people won't buy. They also argue that camera equipment is pricey, they have to hire numerous cameramen/women and sift through the pics (using software of course) to match the pics to you. The choice is yours. I have made the painful decision to add $25 to my race budget as I feel that the finish line photo is very important to me. If you have a person positioned at the finish line, then maybe you don't need the official finish line photo. C Marathonphoto was the company that was taking the pictures. I saw an active lady taking pictures at the start line for anyone interested. I may be wrong (I ran the full marathon) but I saw none of the photographers on the way. They had photographers strategically lined up at the finish line and all my photos seemed to be from the finish line. They had one photographer who was positioned perfectly and he/she captured the finish line banner and the finish time. That picture was perfect I have to admit! Maybe that's why the photographs were ready and released so quickly! (race day was on the 16th, Saturday and the photos were ready on Tuesday 19th, 3 days after. The Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE marathon photos took a week before they were ready) I know photography is hard business but they should have at least had a photographer at the scenic 24-25 mile marker close to the water at Riverfront park where the bridge I-526 was in the foreground. A waterfront photo would have looked marvelous! They also needed photographers when runners ran through the streets of Charleston. If you compare photographs of the Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE marathon (the 2 I have run so far) you do see that there were various photographers at various points in the course. Bunching up a few photographers at the finish line and taking many similar photos just means that there are less desirable photos to buy, which means less sales. I would run it again!

This was #13 for me... Pros: 1. Wicked flat. I think there was one teeny bridge. Great race to shoot for a PR. 2. Packet pick up was easy but there was a band playing the the gym which made it nearly impossible to hear, expo was very small. 3. Plenty of water, Gatorade and support at each water stop. 4. Cool little finish line festival. 5. Shrimp and grits and beer at the finish. 6. The people of Charleston were so kind and welcoming. Cons 1. The course is a maze of dull and uninteresting out and backs with no spectators to be seen or heard. The course is a dreadful bore for such an amazing little city. 2. Long sleeve shirt is cheap and ill fitting. 3. Food on course was a great idea but poorly placed. 4. Finish was disorganized, was challenging to find water. Tips There is nothing but the start near the host hotel. Don't stay there, stay downtown, use Uber to get around. The airport is small and it's off season, book early if you plan to fly since there are not a lot of flights in and out. If you plan to be downtown for dinner make reservations early. Overall the race is well organized with easy to manage logistics. It's just a shame that it doesn't provide more opportunities to see the true southern charm of the city.

This was my 2nd time running this Marathon. The weather was ideal, the packet pickup was a breeze and the volunteers were awesome. But there was some logistic issues with the aid stations after mile 16. I did not find another one until mile 22, by that time it was too late, I was running on empty. At the finish there was only water and juice, where was the Gatorade? The finish also lacked edible options. Bananas, muffins and peanuts are not enough. The band at the finish was awesome. Baggage drop off and pickup were flawless. Charleston needs to do a better job at showcasing its city, instead of having marathoners do multiple out and backs.

The 2015 Charleston Marathon was my 30th martahon. As others have said, there was a problem with the distance. I didn't notice the marker for Mile 1, but the marker for Mile 2 appeared at 2.25 miles on my Garmin. Other runners were similarly long. My Garmin ended up registering 26.6 for the race. Some of that could be due to me taking poor tangents at times, but something was definitely off. I see some other comments that says they are correcting times. I've checked the results again, and my 'official' time has gone down by a couple minutes. I don't know how they figured out how much to shave off, but it's nice that they did that. I agree with others that the first few miles through downtown Charleston were scenic. But I thought the rest of it was quite blah. There were a couple decent residential neighborhoods, but nothing spectacular. I guess I was expecting more. The course takes a very windy path that doubles back and crosses over itself a bunch of times. But I didn't have any problems  other than whatever caused the overlong distance. So I found the course to be well-marked and well-attended by volunteers. As others have said, it was flat and the weather was great. And located at sea level, there was no altitude to worry about. This would be a great course to attempt a PR  as long as you don't have to run an extra quarter or half mile. Minor nitpicks: I finished in the middle of the pack, and was still only able to get one beer before they ran out. Also, I think this was the first point-to-point course I've run where I had to take a shuttle from the finish back to my rental car at the start line. Typically I've taken the shuttle to the start line and then run back to my car near the finish. It might not seem like a big deal, but it wasn't terribly pleasant to stand around waiting for a shuttle after running 26.6 miles, and then hobble on up with a busload of other sore and stinky runners for a 20 minute ride. At least the parking at the start was a breeze. Charleston seems like a great town, and the people were all really friendly. A more scenic course would be nice, but I guess you gotta work with what you have available. Not a bad way to check South carolina off my list...

I traveled in from Philly. Wasn't sure what to expect. Gald there were some options for race packet pick up. The starting line was organized. There weren't many spectators, but I don't run for them. :) The stations and amenities were AWESOME! So many volunteers, and they were quick to clean up cups. Suggest perhaps bananas at 19 or 20 as well instead of just mile 13ish. I picked one up and carried it with me for 9 miles. The course toward the end felt a little like running through and ant farm with all the turns. They were marked, but it was turn after turn after turn. The race director does a nice job with organization, communication and amenities. I loved the local kids signing and playing instruments throughout the course. The weather was perfect. Good choice for a January race. Yes, there was a hiccup with the length, but it was fixed and times adjusted within one week. Now that is service. I guess technically, we ran an Ultra. ha ha.

This was a very well run event. From the volunteers, to the expo, to the aid stations. However, I am extremely disappointed with the course. I lived in Charleston for almost a decade and was excited to finally run a marathon in my old city. Outside of the first handful of miles downtown, the rest of the course is going down one street for endless miles, followed by what felt like endless out and backs. I felt like I was running a poorly planned training run. Where you grossly overestimate your mileage and end up running the last 7 miles as tiny out and backs through your neighborhood. Charleston is SUCH a gorgeous city. This course barely touched it. It does the city an absolute disservice. I would not recommend this race to anyone. Stick with Kiawah if you need a fast SC marathon.

Overall a beautiful city to visit! An excellent race overall! The good- -Fast, flat course -Easy packet pickup-and packet pickup morning of the race available!...for an out of towner like me traveling into town the night before, its essential -very enthusiastic volunteers at water stops, enthusiastic crowd support -scenic course at times -excellent food at the finish, shrimp and grits excellent -great city to visit for a weekend when doing a race -its impossible to predict, but I came from freezing, snowy Cleveland to impeccible race conditions; low 40s at start, mid-upper 50s at finish, not windy, not a cloud in the sky -Eating some brunch at the Hominy Grill after the racewhat a restaraunt! -nice medal -nice job w posting results quickly, w emailed split times too -showers available at finish -quick shuttles back to the start to our cars The bad- -they ran out of beer at festival where I was -awesome that showers were available, but they were available at finish line, but all my stuff was in my car at the start-if it would be possible to have showers at the high school near the start line, that would be fantastic! The ugly- The word that the lead car went the wrong way and caused all 1/2 and full marathoners to go an extra .2 or .3 miles....I do appreciate that the race organizers appear to be working dilligently to fix the problem (adjusting times, etc)...I'm not an elite runner or on the borderline of qualifying for Boston, so its not too big a deal for me, but for others who are, I could see why they would be upset. Overall, an excellent race and city in which to mark South Carolina off of anyone's race list

Overall, a good race that I'd recommend for those who want to experience Charleston. Really enjoyed running along the water, Battery Park, and King Street during the first 10K. The course is flat and can be fast. Surprising that the winning times were so slow, probably due to lack of prize money? But if you're looking for a BQ, this course is doable. 2015 had great weather, low 50s and sun, no wind. Lots of turns and a few rough asphalt patches, but course profile is inviting. I'm sure everybody will talk about the long course... the RD has already acknowledged and will adjust times for BQ purposes. Very cool of them. But, the lead pace car's error only added about 0.2 to the route. Mapping their original course on Google leads to about 26.6 without that error. I think the course is long regardless of 2015's hiccup. I realize all courses are a supposed to be a little long, but this one was extra. One suggestion to race organizers... there are a few points where runners coming from different directions cross each other's paths (miles 9.7 and 14.3; much of the 18th/23rd miles). The race is small so it's not a huge deal, but something to consider in terms of creating clearly marked lanes to guide the flow of runner traffic. Last suggestion: Put the middle timing split at 13.1 instead of 11.9 if logistics allow. Volunteers were exceptional, and lots of them. Aid stations were well stocked, GUs and bananas at several. Expo was pleasant, easy to pick everything up. Gear check was seamless. Cool medal and white long-sleeve tech shirt. Shrimp & grits = marvelous post-race food. First 6 miles very scenic. The middle stretch gets industrial, but you get to run through some cool neighborhoods past mile 17. Overall, I'd recommend the race. Super high-strung racers who need everything perfect will find some flaws, but chill runners will enjoy the experience. And Chucktown is amazing.

Great post-race party, even hard cider and champagne for us Celiacs! Shrimp/grits, vendor, band (although it stopped playing two hours before the posted end time for the post-race). Course was beuaitful in spots, blah in others, but the highlight of the course is downtown Charleston to tour/visit as part of marathon weekend. Need more porta-potties, especially when the half marathoners are still with the marathoners. Was VERY crowded for the first 2 1/2 mile or so; definitely recommend starting the Half a half hour later. Ran out of water at the mile 14 aid station! Otherwise, plenty of aid station and great volunteers. I stayed at an airbnb at 22 Bennett St., only a mile from the start and walking distance to downtown Charleston, plus 2 bikes.

The people of Charleston made the experience. The expo was better than I expected and participation along the course was great. The only drawback I have is that the marathoners came back together with the slow half marathoners for a mile or so mid marathon and had to weave in and out of a slow crowd.

I ran Charleston this year and was also struggling with the strong winds and the unexpected cold. The organization of the race was allright in my opinion - we cannot blame them for the weather nor for the fact that most people would prefer to stay indoors with this kind of weather rather than stand outside to support a group of runners - I liked the medal, the food and drinks at the finish line and the bus service from the finish line back to the starting area. I also liked the trophy I received for being second in the male masters category. The loss of you chip (falling from your bib as some commenters wrote about) in my opinion can be easily avoided by folding the lower part of the bib up and putting some pins through that part, or simply by wearing your bib a bit higher on your shirt so that the bib and the chip inside it will not move about 40.000 times together with your hips and thighs. There is some room for improvement I think. First of all, none of the Charlestonians I met in the days before the race knew anything about a marathon being organized on Saturday January 18th. That might be one mayor reason why we did not see a lot of audience. I think a bit more promotional activity might be done. Second, I would change the direction of the course. During the last miles one is exhausted and needs a lot more diversion than in the beginning of the race, when a runner is still feeling strong and concentrated. I would have liked to run the last few miles through historic downtown, pass King Street and the Battery and - potentially - more audience than in the last part of the race as it is now. One other thing that could be changed is the fact that the marathon after the split at the 9 mile point joins with the half marathon course again at the 14 mile point. As a result of this you find yourself running together with half marathoners who are about 5 miles behind you and running at a slower pace. This logically caused a bit of congestion, though I found all runners very cooperative in letting us marathoners pass. Should the race grow bigger however I foresee problems with this reunion of faster marathon runners and slower half marathon runners. Thumbs up however for a potentially very attractive race that was only in it's 4th year. Charleston was really worth the visit.

Overall the event was well managed, but the course got a little confusing after mile 20. The turns, cross traffic, broken payment, and gravel sections were not welcome so late in the race. I also got one staffer tell me I was at mile 11 of Half and 16 of Full when I was at mile 24. The weather was cold and windy, which made it tough for 5 miles after mile 16. Based on course alone, I probably will look else where for my next marathon. Nevertheless, you have to love Charleston. I always say I need to spend more time there when I leave it.

I liked the course. The start in Charleston is nice, and through most of the race, there are plenty of things to look at. Yeah, part is a bit industrial, but I actually liked that part as well as the views of water and landmarks. That said, I'd prefer a loop that starts and ends in Charleston for the simple reason that parking is plentiful in Charleston and hard to come by in North Charleston (where the current race finishes). At the end of a marathon, the last thing I want to do is board a shuttle back to the start! I'd much rather get in my car and head straight to my hotel for a shower and nap! Although I liked the course, and the shrimp and grits were an awesome post-race snack, this race is still plagued by logistical and organizational problems. Signs (or even better, volunteers who were easily recognizable) at the expo directing you to the proper tables, signs/volunteers at the start directing you to the bag check, and signs directing you along the course would be major improvements. There were signs at the marathon/half split, but there were parts near the end (in the park) where I wasn't sure I was on the right path. Finally, I was surprised by the lack of welcome Charleston extended for us runners. Folks at the hotel didn't even know about it. Maybe Charleston's just not a running town!

A lot was already said about the cold and the wind, I guess - if you guys want to be warm and cozy, stay home :) More seriously, this race keeps getting better: very scenic course in old Charleston along the battery and King St, then along or over the water, no more running among industrial buildings in North Charleston, law enforcement presence everywhere which makes sense for this most touristic destination, a feast at the finish, no more crowded start, parking was well managed, volunteers were super friendly, aid stations well stocked with drinks and food / gels. Cons? I didn't experience the trouble others encountered with false routes, so I would say none. The asphalt could be better, railroad tracks crossing are a pain - but that is being very nitpicky. I didn't pay attention to the missing mile markers, my watch tells me where I am (or I ask at the aid station). Overall, you can tell that the race director listens to runners' comments and improves each year. We ran Charleston for the 4th time - 60 marathons total, and thought it was unforgettable and all worth the money. We definitely will be back next year despite the winter!

Course is flat and potentially fast if not battling strong winds as happened this year. Course is pretty non-descript after the initial few miles along the waterfront and historic area (King Street). Ends in North Charleston at the High School. Spectators were pretty sparse over much of the course. I should have expected that after talking to many locals and workers in the historic area and no one even knew a marathon was occurring the next day! A marathon course including East Bay Street and Meeting Street in addition to King Street would highlight the historic aspect of the city much better than the current course. Plenty of gel available on the course. Nice enough shirt and medal. Shrimp and grits at the finish was very tasty, unlike the watered down Bud Light beer. For this race to rise above mediocre, the community needs to get on board and support it!

I was told that Charleston was fast course and a great race. The former might have been true on a different day without the 20 MPH headwinds, but the race organization was anything from great. This would have been my 5th marathon, but I didn't bother to finish the race after a volunteer directed the runner in front of me, me, and the runner behind me the wrong direction shortly after the 20-mile mark. I was running in the Top 10 at the time and my wife noted that several runners that were behind me at 18 miles came by her again (just after 21 miles) before she saw me and the other two runners enter the same area going the wrong direction. We ended up running nearly a mile extra before we rejoined the course. I understand that mistakes happen and that volunteers cannot be relied on at all times, but this was not the first time that the course route was not clearly marked. My wife even saw a volunteer stick her sign into a trashcan because she didn't feel like standing in the cold anymore. The trashcan blew over because of the 20 mph winds leaving nothing to direct runners when they reached that particular turn. I also recall several volunteers and police officers acting oddly as the runner ahead of me and I passed them going the wrong direction. I realized after the race that these individuals all knew we were going the wrong way and were quick to try and remedy the situation. None of them bothered to say anything to the few of us that were already going the wrong way, though. On a perfect weather day, Charleston could be a great race to run a fast time... but only if you know the area and have memorized the course map.

If you are looking for an excuse to go to Charleston this is a good reason the coarse is flat and even with a head wind for over 16 miles I still PR. But until the city and community embrace this run it will be what it is a not very well organized event with some odd decisions on the coarse ( running on a dock only to turn around on a dime I could see congestion when the mass group go through, having the marathon come back in with the 1/2 at mile 14 results in congestion for the faster runners ,the last 2 miles going through a winding park with areas of sand crushed shell and zig zag turns, and then the under staffed aid stations ) the expo was over congested with little to offer runners and so congested that you could not get in to some vendors . All in all Charleston is a great city and fun to visit but do not have your hopes high in regards to the run the coarse runs through King Street and the rest is through prominently industrial parks

Organization: There were regular facebook posts by the organizers. The expo was in a high school but there were no signs inside during you to the gymnasium area. There was a decent number of vendors. Getting to the parking before the race was difficult and all 3 large parking lots should have been opened up for use. Course: The course was pretty much pancake flat except for one bridge crossing. I would have liked to have the course pass thru the Citadel but it would probably have been too difficult to fit in the half-marathon distance with the detour. Post-race: The shrimp and grits were very good. The only beer options were bud light and Michelob ultra. The buses ran regularly. There was also water, soda, muffins and bananas available. Major problem: Reviews for 2013 mentioned the issue with the timing chips falling off. The problem did not go away. A fellow runner told me about my bib barely hanging to my bib and I ended up carrying the bib for 12 miles. The organizers need to fix the problem for 2015.

Pros: 1) Visiting Charleston as part of a marathon is good. 2) Good, friendly volunteers. 3) Before and after at high school (different high schools) so can wait indoors before and take shower after. 4) Plenty of parking at start. 5) Efficient transportation from finish back to start. 6) Shrimp and grits at the finish...delicious. 7) Easy packet pickup at the race start high school. 8) Course had some very pretty spots. 9) Traffic control and police officers were awesome. Cons: 1) White shirt and medal were not as nice as in previous years. 2) Aid stations for the first 9 miles needed more tables. Volunteers frantically tried filling cups since they only had two tables to work with. 3) Would have liked potato chips and chocolate milk at finish. I recommend the race, particularly if you would like to see Charleston.

Parking was free at the start and there were plenty of spaces. The school at the start made for a large indoor waiting area which nice with it being 35 degrees at the start.The course was beautiful for the first 5 miles and then got boring, but it didn't really bother me. No ones fault, but the wind was brutal. Every runner I spoke with on the course and after commented on how tough it was to run through that wind. It added an area of difficulty on an otherwise easy course. Water stations were great though a bit congested. I was only able to find the hammer gels one time due to there being too much going on at the station (they were available at three stations). They had bananas and pretzels at mutiple stops which I really appreciated. The finish was outstanding. The last .4 miles went through a nice little part of town with little shops. Then you made a final turn for a 200 yard finish. Had post race shrimp and grits along with some other snacks. Plenty of food available even around the 4 hour mark. The shuttle was waiting to take us back to our car. And if we had missed that one, another shuttle was waiting behind it. The medal is my new favorite of the 7 I have received. The shirt is a nice long sleeve that I will wear. The bib was very nice. It had my name and where I was from, which was great when fans encouraged me by name. A great way to race South Carolina. I recommend this race.

This was my first full marathon (after 4 halfs). The first 4-5 miles are as beautiful as it gets. There is no better place to run than downtown Charleston. After it moves from downtown to N Chas it's not as pretty but it was not bad. The worst part for me was the run on the boat dock at at the turnaround on Tide Water Rd. I didn't mind at all the run out and back but running on the boat dock was my least favorite part of the run. N Chas is doing a lot to revitalize itself and miles 16-24 were a good look. The run along the Cooper R. in mile 25 was fantastic. I didn't stick around long so I can't speak to the post race festivities, except to say that my daughter and her boyfriend loved the shrimp & grits. Charleston was a great first experience in a full marathon. Didn't care for the shirt design and could've used a few more port-a-potties in the first part of the race when the half and full runners were together. Great job Charleston!

My take: The fantastic: The finish line was located by North Charleston High School. The lockers and showers were available for the runners. I was damaged finishing the marathon, but after the hot shower I felt almost completely regenerated. The feeling was incredible, it happened to me first time in my 35 years of running. The good: Plenty of parking on the start and finish. Indoor waiting during crispy morning (appreciated by those who run NYCM ;o) This marathon is still not discovered by running community. I dont think it will be for long. Statistically it has a better chance for good weather than the one running a week latter down south. Calendar wise it is good backup marathon in case you pull out of a late fall marathon. It is very flat and perfect for PR or BQ. This year the weather was fantastic. I actually like the course. First few miles were spectacular. Latter the big out and back felt really long but I was lucky to strike a chat with fellow runner. The part in North Charleston was visually pleasing. As a small marathon it did not have as many spectators as the giant ones. At the same time your family can cheer you in several points on the course. The bad: As young marathon it has several small problems. The organizers should not use plastic caps for drinking. Fast runners tend to make sort of funnel from a cup to avoid splashing liquid when drinking. If you try to do that with plastic cup it will brake and the liquid finish outside your body. For future please use paper cups! As long as we are at hydration stations I would like that the great kids helping us have aprons to avoid getting wet. (Sorry guys for the splashing) The shirt looks nicer than on the photo, but I still think simple logo (like palm tree and crescent) would be better choice. Finally we got to the ugly: Timing chips were very flimsy attached to the bib. On Facebook you can read post by a runner who pick up several chips on the course and brought them to the finish line. Could you imagine preparing for marathon for few months and then do not have a proof of finishing because of negligence of timing company? The problems did not finish with chips. If you go to results page you can find that the first place in general classification belongs to the forth guy in the marathon. General classification does not include top finishers, and winners in master and grand master category. Those runners can not be found using website search function. As well it looks like the winners did not cross the finish line. As a side note the result website has some bizarre statistics like average finish time for all three distances together (marathon, half and 5k) (female won with men in this category ;o). They also have All Category where they put runners from all distances in nice time order (5k runners definitely won with the marathoners!). At the same time they were not able to do simple Age Grading. I contacted Mid-Atlantic Timing about those problems but they were completely dismissive. I got really tired of their response and I created marathon result spreadsheet myself. You can download it here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By1WFBzjW02XeUxpQ3lvNmx4Q1U/edit?usp=sharing It is difficult to blame marathon organizers for this scandal, their only fault was choosing bad timing company. Being older guy I had opportunity to run lot of races. From top of my head I really like the company servicing Philly marathon. (text messages, personalized bib with your name on it, split times at 5k, 10k, half, 30k). I'm sure runners would pay few extra dollars to be timed in a logical honest way. In conclusion, I think Charleston Marathon has a great potential. They have to address some small imperfections, and definitely get rid of those clowns from Mid-Atlantic Timing.

I don't understand why others are complaining. I thought it was a very solid race that was well organized. I like packet pick-up on race morning, which was great for us out of towners. The staging area was indoors, with free and easy parking. The course was great for the first 5 miles and the last two with some OK stretches in between. Even when it wasn't pretty, it was flat and I actually liked the out and backs. Water stations were well run and many had food. The course was well marked and splits were called throughout- very unusual for a smaller run. Nice atmosphere post race and the weather couldn't be better. Great shirt and medal. I have run some bad races, and this was not one. Well done and a great time of year to visit S Carolina.

I'll skip addressing many issues already mentioned regarding start, finish, food, porta potties, etc. Bottomline, Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities in America and as long as the route goes through industrial areas, federal law enforcement facilities, etc., the race will never be successful. Though I can imagine downtown businesses in and around King street would not appreciate roads closed for 6 1/2 hours - would restrict customers. Keep working on the other areas and create a beautiful route and it would be a fantastic race! Keep it up Charleston, it always takes time for new races to work out all the kinks. My son and I will be back next year.

I ran the half marathon so my comments need to be taken with a grain of salt. The course was adequate, but not great. Given the way Charleston is laid out, not sure how you would have a course that is scenic without running over a bridge (not sure if that is logistically possible). I thought the course was well marked other than in the park. There were a few areas where I had to really focus on where to go. The event was run well. Food after was more than sufficient and shrimp & grits were awesome. My two complaints are 1) I was unsure if there was a bag drop. Website had 'clothing drop' listed so a little unclear. 2) the layout of the aid stations. Would have preferred water first than gatorade - just a personal preference of what I am used too. Overall, a good race that seems to have taken running comments/complaints into account and an event that I can see improving in the future.

After reading the 2012 comments, I was a bit apprehensive to sign up for the marathon. A good sign of the quality of the event is that mistakes and feedback from runners are listened to and improvements and fixes are implemented in the future. I am happy to say that the main issues and problems that plagued the race in previous years were greatly improved or fixed. First, and most importantly, the aid/hydration stations were fantastic. I was very worried about this situation as this was the main complaint last year. Never had any issues and never had to wait for hydration. Secondly, the expo was moved indoors to a high school so no worries about dust, cold, etc. Lastly, there was plenty of food and drink at the finish. The Shrimp & Grits were fantastic. Corn dogs, french fries, boiled peanuts, beer, gatorade and water were also available. In my 24 marathons, the post race experience in Charleston SC ranks in the top 5. Very flat course. The first 6 miles is absolutely gorgeous running by the lake and then up beautiful King Street. The rest of the course is much more industrial but that doesn't bother me. As for previous comments about the start/finish or any other parts of the course being in 'bad' or 'dangerous' areas, I submit that those who say that either never traveled very much or live in a bubble. If any of those are 'bad' or 'dangerous' areas, they wouldn't survive in 95% of this country. The 2 things that the race could improve upon is having more course marshals (I took the wrong turn right before Mile 22 and wound up running an additional 2 miles but it was probably my fault as I don't know anyone else that did that) and to have the mile markers more visible. The city of Charleston is a great place to visit and is one of the top 10 Food Cities in the U.S. The locals and volunteers were the epitome of Southern hospitality and I really enjoyed my stay there. If you need music blaring every few yards and demand that thousands of strangers come root you on, then this race might not suit you. If you like to visit a charming city with great food, no hassles and no crowding (less than 900 marathon finishers)and a race that will grow and improve and cares about the runners, then you will love it.

This was my 7th marathon. 4 road races, 3 trail races. The first few miles were great, but then we headed North out of town and the scenery dropped like a rock. The stretch where the marathon splits off at mile 10 was DESOLATE. I thought I was running into Area 51. The pier, while visually breaking the monotony, was tough to negotiate, and the course needed some tape or something along that section to help guide the runners. Not intuitive at all. And the last 8 miles were just awful. I certainly won't win a marathon, but I was near the front. In the closing miles, corner marshals were focusing on incoming runners, not on those on their way to the finish. At many turns I had to yell out 'Which way?' when approaching. I did not miss any turns, but the closing miles of a marathon is not a good time to 'need to think'. Mixing the marathon and half together meant that the faster marathoners were mixed back in with the slower half-marathoners, many taking up the entire width of the course, which forced us to bob and weave through them in North Charleston. Was a little disappointed in the finish line location, with those sharp turns at the end to make up the distance. Also, the postrace shrimp and grits were devoured by the time I got there at 11:30. So was all the 'good' beer; only Lite was left, blech. We did, however, find an outstanding outdoor bar/grill right on the race course (DIG in the Park) which was fantastic for dining and spectating. Awards ceremony was not well-publicized; I would've skipped it but my friends said I should go check my time (had to hunt down the tent, needed a bigger sign), and found out I was eligible for AG awards. Couldn't pick up award early, had to wait for marathon awards at '1-ish', which was about 1:15. My friends all enjoyed the half-marathon, but would have liked gels available at the 6 mile mark. I took my own gels with me, as well as a handheld water bottle, and took water at every aid station, so I cannot comment on the presence or absence of nutrition.

Pleasant, well organized race on a flat course. The race offered race AM packet pick up- a definite plus for out-of-towners,free and easy parking at both the start and finish, good aid stations with lots of food, and the nicest shirt and medal that I've recieved in 29 marathons. The course was beautiful for the first 4 miles, but not much to look at after that, though flat as can be. The course was well marked with splits called each mile-unusual for a smaller race. Perfect weather and friendly people as well. I think the organizers got the big stuff right. A good way to race S Carolina

I spent a long weekend in Charleston and ran the marathon on the first day. I am aspiring to run a marathon in all 50 states, and this was #11. Overall I enjoyed the experience. The expo was about as expected for a small marathon - small but adequate. The long-sleeved shirt was nice. Free parking was easy close to the start. Start was on time to the second. The first 5 miles were scenic, through old Charleston and up King St. Next part was not scenic, past warehouses and railroad tracks. Thankfully the temperature was cool, as there was little shade. There was a long out and back section to a short run on a pier - which was cool. One good thing I have never seen at a race - at every mile marker, there was an automated speaker system blurting out the elapsed time of the race. This was good because I left my watch in my motel room. It also negated the need for periodic digital clocks or people yelling times. The hydration stations were adequate. The post race food was not great. They had shrimp/grits which was okay, but little else. They did have free beer though :) The shuttle back to the start was quick and efficient.

For the past two years I have run the Charleston Marathon (mostly because I wanted to support a local race) and both years I wrote reviews that were, well, not so great. Each year I kept thinking about what people from out of town must be thinking as they ran the race and, well, I was really embarrassed... This year was NOT the same. This year I knew that those people were thinking the same thing as me. This was a great race! A few things before I get to the start. This was my ninth marathon and my second time pacing a race (last year I paced the half marathon). This year my running partner CSR and I were the pace leaders for the five hour marathon group. My disclaimer about the title: I have lived in Charleston for over eighteen years so I now consider myself a local, but not a Charlestonian (believe me, there is a difference and a Charlestonian will let you know that difference in a very polite southern way). The route this year was much improved. Props go out to Howie Schomer for all his work. He spent countless hours mapping routes that would work and, in my opinion, hit a home run with this one! The first few miles of the race are absolutely beautiful. Runners go down Lockwood Blvd and then around the Charleston Battery. The rest of my review is on my web site: http://www.mooreonrunning.com/2013/01/charleston-marathon-recap-from-proud.html

I am glad to know that I'm not the only one that didn't like the course, especially the out and back portions going through non-scenic, industrial areas. Very mentally challenging. Port-a-potties along the course were very few and the course could have been marked better. I won't be doing this marathon again.

I am running the 50 states and I picked Charleston for my marathon in South Carolina. I was so disappointed. If you are from out of town I recommend renting a car. The start and the finish lines are both in bad neighborhoods. There is no way to get to the start from any of the recommended hotels. The Taxi services know that so they charge you double the amount of money. There is a shuttle from the finish to the start but what good is that if you do not have a car. The course is just ok. I agree with the other reviews, it was confusing. The first few miles is the best part. I was very disappointed but I would like to give them a chance to work out all the kinks. It is their 3rd time and Charleston is a beautiful place to visit.

This is my 4th year for this event, first year when it was only the half marathon and all three of the marathons. The locations for the start and finish are a big improvement. The course changes for this year are good, but it would still be better to have more of the race in downtown Charleston if possible. There was more drink/food along the course and at the finish. There was more room for the post-race celebration at the new location and the convenience of the high school facilities as well. Overall the changes seem to reflect some of the comments from runners over the past several years. Charleston/North Charleston is a great location for a marathon and I want this one to continue to grow.