Whiskey Row Marathon

If you're looking for fanfare and amenities, this race isn't for you. If you want to test your mettle and catch some beautiful views in the process, this is your race. I am a flatlander and the altitude was noticeable but not a huge factor. Course is relentlessly hilly but not technical. I was able to fly downhill and hiked the steeper climbs. A very small race, there were many parts where I ran by myself. Expo is very small and not many could answer my questions about the course ahead of time except that it was hard. They were right about that. Things I was glad I did: carried a 20 oz. hand-held bottle, wore a hydration vest for gel storage, wore gaiters. Aid stations are adequately placed but the dry air would have dehydrated me had I not carried a water bottle. My finish time was 4:31 and I am 54 years old from Missouri so I was very pleased with my results but very drained at the end.

This was my 24th marathon, but easily the hardest. If you're going to run this make sure you train on hills 100% of your training runs. I ran my worst time by over an hour. Was fun though if you're a glutton for punishment. Also the money goes to a good cause rather than Rock N Roll which goes to corporate pockets.

This marathon was a lot of fun. I've ran quite a few hilly/trail marathons in the past (Big Sur, Catalina, Death Valley, Pikes Peak), as well as a few trail 50k's, and Whiskey Row brought back some memories and reminded me of the type of running I truly enjoy. A runner next to me commented on doing the 'ultra shuffle', and I couldn't agree more. This race has more in common with a trail ultra than a road marathon. Course Breakdown: The first 5 miles are on pavement through town and it seems you are constantly going up or down. A lot of climbing once you hit the dirt road. It is not so steep you can't run, but expect your mile splits to be slower here. Good views when you reach the high point at mile 9, then it drops to the turn-around at 13.1. Coming back, many runners resort to power walking for brief stretches (myself included), as the steepest uphill is in this section. The longest walking section is right before reaching the high point again, mile 17. From there, it drops back into town, but be aware - it isn't all downhill. The ups and downs at the beginning are now at the end. Inclines that test your will when you are feeling tired, and have had enough of uphill running for the day. On a personal note, my hill training paid off as I was pleasantly surprised to still have my legs at mile 22. Except for the fast people in the front, most runners carried fluids, as the aid stations can be far apart (another ultra similarity). A lot of runners had Camelback-type reservoirs. Something to consider when planning your hydration strategy. I heard it can get warm at the end of the race when it drops back into town. Parking at the start was easy. The half-marathon and 10K start later, so the majority of the runners show up later, after the full has already started. Never stood in line for the bathroom. A local restaurant provides pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and salad at the finish. How could you ask for more? Overall a great race!!! Excellent organization and a challenging course. I hope I can make it back next year.