By: Wes W.
Posted: March 28, 2019
An Excellent Way to Visit Fort Bragg
This is a well-organized event. I was not sure if I could pick up my bib the day before. I wrote email asking if I could pick up my bib the race day. I got a positive response right way.
The Marathon route starts from Fayetteville town center. It ends inside the Fort Bragg. It is a course with rolling hill up and down slops. It is not an easy course because some long up hills. I had never been Fort Bragg before. I enjoyed visiting the base by running through it.
There were plenty of aid stations with drink and food well loaded. I was very touching to run through the mile of fallen hero's photos plus and a long line of American flags holding by volunteers. The service soldiers cheered for the runners along the way as all side streets were guarded by service persons. The parachute show around 11:00am at the finish line was great.
After branch out with 1/2 marathon route at mile 10, the marathon route has a 13 mile back and forth turning around route. It would be much better if the route loops deeper to the base instead of back and forth.
There must be some mistake for the last 0.2 miles. After mile mark 26, we had to run ~0.4 mile before reach the finish line. Something was wrong in that section of measurement.
By: George H.
Posted: March 26, 2019
Great organization and fun ending!
Been wanting to run this one for years and finally pulled the trigger for 2019. This was my 19th marathon and I have to say this one was the best organized to date. Given the smaller size they had more water points then I could count; I think 1 every 1.5M up to 10M then 1 every mile until the end. The course has a few mentally tough hills around 20M and 25M but is generally flat. This year we had a large temperature swing from start to finish: 35 - ~70, wasn't ready for that. Not too many spectators especially once you get on Ft. Bragg so if that's a big thing for you take note. Only down of the whole thing was a train that came through downtown around 6a race morning and stopped blocking all but one access to the start from the west. Would think City of Fayetteville would have coordinated so that wouldn't happen. At least didn't encounter any trains on the course, cross at least a dozen tracks along the way. Very good course overall though, glad I finally did this one.
By: KC C.
Posted: April 05, 2016
Mixed emotions
I have lived here for the past three years and didn't run this race until this year. Race route basically starts downtown and ends on Bragg. I had issues with the overall distance calculations. My GPS was on target for the first 15 miles. I started noticing there was a difference in mile points to my GPS. By the time, I crossed the finish, my GPS read 26.42. I don't understand how this could be a certified route, being this off. Numerous runners apparently had the same complaint according to my supporters at the finish line. There was numerous timing issues as well and 24hrs, it appeared they corrected it finally.
The UCAN electrolytes were confusing to some but you just had to pay attention to the cups which I figured out within two aid stations.
I am used to having some stations with fuel but the last station I saw that had blocks/gels was 15. No stations had any other type of fuel that I saw. The post race fuel choices could be better...but living 20 minutes away, it's not a huge deal.
Spectators were awesome! The blue mile was emotional. Some areas had no spectators except for the aid stations because we were on post...
The medal was heavy and huge. Plus you could take it to Dicks Sporting Goods in town for two days to have it engraved for free!
Overall, I would do this again if they corrected the distance.
By: Mike D.
Posted: April 04, 2016
My 116th Marathon
With 116 marathons completed, I feel I have some credibility to evaluate a marathon. This is, by no means, not the best race I have completed. That said, it is a very nice race and not deserving of the negative comments. The first 5 miles are up and down in Fayetteville and then you enter Fort Bragg. There was a mile long line of spectators with American flags on one side of the road, and pictures of killed service members on the other side. This was sad and inspiring. Miles 5-15 is a long steady incline with only a few down hills. Miles 15 to 20 is relatively flat, and then miles 20-26 are up and down with some steep hills. After the flags it can be lonely with only water stops. The organization is great and I have no issues with recommending this event.
By: Eric Johnson
Posted: April 04, 2016
This race is improving and a must run
This race is getting better every year. Shuttling and bussing were vastly improved. Those that had issues didn't review the map or road closure schedules. The Marathon medal was bigger this year. I can't comment negatively on the lack of spectators because it's a military installation. I want America's defense to be secure and I felt honored to be able to run through it. The aid station volunteers were great as were all of the course marshalls. SEE YOU IN 2017.
By: Eric M.
Posted: November 06, 2015
A discouraging solo race
I had really high hopes for this marathon, but I had a double hernia reveal itself during this race and had to walk the last 8 miles. My comments however have nothing to do with my personal results, but my objective evaluation of the marathon itself.
First of all, Meb as the speaker the night before was an awesome coup. He was great and even though we were not allowed to eat until after he spoke, we didn't mind too much. The starting and finish line setup and operation were also well-run, with clear signs and instructions at the start and good food and support at the finish.
The problem is the race itself. There are vast stretches of this race that are on the Fort Bragg base itself and they are long, stretches of dusty solitude and isolation, devoid of any fans or volunteers. When you got to a course marshall, usually military personnel, they were very supportive, just few and far between.
And to be honest, Fort Bragg is a dump, not an appealing or attractive place at all.
I won't be back and I can't imagine myself recommending this to anyone I actually like.
By: Eric Miller
Posted: July 12, 2015
A hot, empty wasteland of a course
Well organized and staffed. Meb as the speaker the night before was a definite star for them. But the bulk of the course is on the wasteland of spectatorless back roads of Fort Bragg. Very demoralizing.
By: Jessica P.
Posted: March 22, 2015
Don't expect a finish line area
The start area was crowded and many did not flow into the park area next to the start line. The first 5 miles consists of a lot of uphill and the only shade you will get until you reach mile 24. It was hot, for 2015 they moved the race from May to March to avoid the heat. Due to the heat, I had a number of stomach issues to deal with that slowed me down. I ended up being one of the last to finish before the cut off time. When I finished the 'Finish Festival Area' was torn down. The beer, that wasn't even free for runners, was taken down. Had to walk all the way across a field to get my finishers jacket, something they changed for 2015. Packet pick up was not organized; they had one stapled together list of bib numbers that everyone had to look on. Before the race, I had won a prize pack via FB and was told I could get it at packet pick up. I was not able to get it there, emailed them and was told I could get it after I finished the race. Went to where I was told I would be able to get it and they knew nothing about it. While there are expected hiccups for the first time a race was put on, there is no excuse for everything being down in the festival area when it was publicized to be open 30 minutes past the 7 hr cut off time.
By: todd w.
Posted: July 06, 2014
UCAN is terrible
I don't expect a lot from a first time marathon. We know there will be a lot of things to improve on. Wow the hill at mile 23 was rough - be nice to change the route next year. Also, UCAN was terrible. First there was no way to try this before the run as couldn't be found and second the taste was not palatable for myself and the 2 other marathoners I was running with - 70+ marathons between us. Go back to the tried and true sports drinks and use this post marathon. Don't run this for the scenery. However, once on base troup support was good.
By: Vainthe J.
Posted: July 05, 2014
Great Inaugural Marathon!!!
The only two legit complaints I have about this marathon is that the pasta dinner started late and the UCAN sports drink gave me a headache. Other than that, for an inaugural marathon it was awesome. I can only compare it to the Rock N Roll Marathon that I ran in DC two months before and this one was way better. They certainly were prepared for the hot weather as they had an ample amount of water and aid stations in place. The course was mostly out in the sun with not much to see so for a lot of people this may not be their preference. The volunteers were awesome as they were very encouraging and uplifting. Oh I forgot to mention this in the beginning, marathoners should not have to walk across a busy road to get to the shuttle after they've run 26 miles. Either way this is a race I would come back to and I'm sure this marathon will continue to improve as the years go on.
By: Mark S.
Posted: May 07, 2014
Wouldnt recommend this race.
My 9th marathon which I would rate 9th. Package registration and pick on Saturday was not organized. There were not even signs in the hotel with directions or arrows to the correct rooms. Race start parking was not organized. There were empty car parks near the start but blocked off? First 6 miles were fun in downtown Fayetteville but after that it was highway and a very lonely Fort Bragg/Pope AFB run. It was not a spectator friendly marathon at all although my wife got her pass to get onto the base the day before very easily ( this fact however should have been stated far more importantly than it was). The course was alot more uphill than the elevation chart showed...it seemed to climb and keep climbing. I do understand this was a first year race but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone if they keep the same format. Even much of the finish area was not accessible to spectators (my wife for me) who was told half a dozen times 'You cant go in there' when wanting to meet me at the finish....all the staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful but general organization was lacking.
By: Brian C.
Posted: May 06, 2014
Good start to what can be a great race
This was the inaugural All-American Marathon and Mike to Mike Half so we knew to expect a couple kick-ups along the way, but overall they did a good job.
To start: the parking and how to get to the start line was very confusing and there was no aid in navigating this. The bottle neck at the start took me almost six minutes from gun - which was a howitzer, so that is pretty cool - to cross the mat. Once we started running it was very well organized except for when the Half Marathoners split from us, that was a hand written sign on an 8.5'x11' piece of paper with two arrows drawn on it. There was plenty of water stations and they were really trying to get us to drink something called UCAN, I wasn't a fan of their chalk flavored drinks, the electrolyte drinks were okay.
The course itself was not to scenic once we got out of downtown Fayetteville. There was a couple miles on the interstate that were especially boring. The base was interesting, in particular the air field and all of the fun facts that they had along the course.
Between the interstate and the base that was 19miles were spectators were not allowed to be, making a very lonely run. I had friends at the finish line and that was it.