Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon

This was a well organized race with plenty of water stops every two miles with various munchies. This race appeals to the older race crowd and the half is one serious group. The spectators were maybe five people and two of those were out walking their dogs so they may not count. But i personally do not run marathons based on spectators anyway. With me driving up from Florida the hills were quite challenging but doable.

This little marathon is in a beautiful part of Tennessee. The people are great and welcome you to their town. It can be a lonely run, but the escorts by police and others make it seem that they really go out of their way to help you. I was last but the support I got and the people who waited for me truly warmed my heart.

While this was a small town marathon with a small field, even with the half-marathoners, race organization was superb. Hats off to the local police and fire departments of the small towns we crossed. Pre-race packet pick-up was easy, with race-day sign-up if you chose to wait until the last minute. Parking was available in lots a block from the start/finish area and on the streets as well, and there were virtually no lines for port-o-lets until just before the start; even then, it wasn't much. The course was modestly hilly and rolling for the first half, with a long straight stretch on 41A, which wasn't scenic, but they did give us an entire lane to run in unencumbered for several miles. This section is about to be repaved, so the surface had been ground down, which wasn't the best to run on, but next year's racers will have new blacktop, so this criticism will no longer apply. Water stops were every 2 miles without fail, and most also had Gatorade. Paper cups would be an improvement over the plastic ones used at several this year. A little tutorial for the volunteers would also helptell them to balance the cups on their palms next year. But these are minor points. The course was well marked, and the local police and fire departments were posted anywhere you could possibly get lost and at every intersection. They stopped traffic for us well in advance of us reaching the intersections, and I never felt any pressure from any drivers, except for one who didn't move over for me as I trudged up mile 26. The second half of the race turned onto back roads through Estill Springs before heading back to Winchester. This section was hillier, with more turns. There are 3 significant hills in this section, at miles 19, 23-24 and 26. The latter was easily the worst. Imagine heartbreak hill at mile 26. For reference, I was second overall at 3:13, and these and mile 4 were the only 4 miles that I was over 7:30. I barely broke 8 minutes on 26. In all fairness, I started the day hoping to run 3:15. Conditions were nearly perfect. It was 50 degrees at the start, and it was only 72 when I left the area to drive home at 11:30. There was also a headwind in the last 2-3 miles, which didn't make the climbs any easier. There was abundant post-race food, with Little Caesar's and Subway both contributing. The finisher's medal wasn't a medal at all, but rather a plastic diamond suspended from a ribbon. However, overall and age group awards were nice, and you were almost guaranteed to win one. Overall and Master's awards were plastic plaques in the shape of the State of Tennessee, mounted on a wooden base with your finish place. Age group awards were mugs. Overall, I'd recommend this race with a few caveats. I an unaware of any hotels in the area. I stayed in a Hampton Inn in Tullahoma 30 minutes away. You had better like solitude when you run, and you had better be prepared for late race hills.