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Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.9 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 5.0 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.3 
 
 
Number of comments: 260 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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tim runyon from kell,il. (12/4/2009)
"great run" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I have to say that this is my favorite marathon to run, even though it is a very difficult course. Be prepared to run hill after hill for the whole run. But if you are looking for a challenge, then this is the marathon for you. I have run six marathons, and the Monkey in '08 and '09 are two of them. There are no big crowds; it's just running for the love of running, as advertised. This is one I pencil in on my calendar every year, so I will be back next year to punish myself again. If you are looking for a PR, then stay away; this is not the run for you. But if you are looking for a great marathon and after-run party, this is it. Also, Trent took care of my shirt issue when I picked-up my packet. He already knew who I was& how many RDs can do that? Thanks, Trent, for another great run in '09.
 

T. S. from Nashville, TN (12/3/2009)
"Oh, come on! It's not that difficult!" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Ha ha. Just kidding.

It really is that hard. But all of the hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth and quads is made up for a gazillion-fold by the spectacular beauty of the course.

The RD is not, sadly, spectacularly beautiful, but he puts on the best rinky-dink marathon I have run in my rinky-dink running career.

I've run this stupid marathon every year, and every year I love it stupidly more. I have nary a complaint about any of it, from start to drunken finish. This year, there was so much mind-numbingly good food at the finish that I nearly sat down on the soggy ground and cried.

Plus, the overall awards are unparalleled. This year I won one of the highly coveted crotch monkeys!
 

M. C. from Louisville, KY (12/2/2009)
"Best Run Ever" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This race is true to its advertisement:

*Very hilly - quad-killers.
*Great race director - knew my name as I walked up to the registration table. Trent rules.
*Better shirts and food afterward than any race I have run.
*Spectators are few, but are very enthusiastic, and have a great sense of humor.
*Park is great. I would like to run in it another time when in Nashville.
Put this race as a must-do - if you are lucky enough to get in.
 

T. A. from Louisville, KY, USA (12/1/2009)
"Unique and Lots of Fun" (about: 2009)

3 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Well, "fun" is a relative term when discussing the Monkey. The course is as advertised: beautiful, and very challenging. The RD and volunteers clearly put a lot of themselves into staging this race, and it shows - from the pre-race emails to the course support to the post-race festivities to the sublime race shirts. Highly recommended.
 

P. F. from Oklahoma (11/30/2009)
"Exactly as advertised." (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my second time to run the HHFMM. It was exactly as described on their web page: "not flat, not fast, and you have to be crazy to run it." One of my favorite marathons to run, even though I am from the flat-lands where a hill is an interstate highway overpass. The volunteers were the best. Will I run it again? You bet. Would I recommend it? Only if you want to run a small, well-organized, challenging, hilly marathon.
 

J. J. from Louisville, KY (11/30/2009)
"Brutal. Brutal. Brutal. But so much fun." (about: 2009)

3 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


If you're into a real challenge, this is the race for you. Great course support, superb RD, and a lot of REALLY TOUGH fun.
 

Tom Riser from Birmingham, AL (11/28/2009)
"It keeps getting better!" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


This was our 4th Flying Monkey Marathon (yes, we are "Streaking Idiots") and the sense of camaraderie among the participants and the volunteers is fantastic. The course seems more beautiful each year. After this one, we agreed we would do this every year that we are still able to run. The Race Director, Trent, is contagious in his enthusiasm and unflagging in his energy. How many race directors administer the marathon website (complete with "monkey chatter"), get everything organized, help hand out packets at registration, actually run the marathon and then give out awards afterward (with the help of his daughter)?
 

K. S. from IL (11/28/2009)
"Tough and fun" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 3 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Trent puts on one of the best, yet more brutal marathons in the country. The race is well organized, well marked, and has a lot of amenities that makes the race extra special (personalized bibs and shirts, signage and wooden medals, as well as extra additional special stuff). There is a lot of thought and effort behind the monkey marathon, which always results in a wonderful (yet painful) experience, which is the reason I come back year after year.
This is not your PR course kind of race, nor are there tons of spectactors (although the ones that are there are awesome-hence 5 stars), but if you like small races with lots of fun involved and can take the pain with lots of hills, this is your race.
 

D. H. from Hilliard, OH (11/27/2009)
"Fantastic, again" (about: 2009)

2 previous marathons | 2 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Just great. The scenery is almost enough to make you forget that you're running a marathon. Almost....

I can't wait to do it again next year. I'm an idiot.
 

Eva Sanmartini from Montrose, Michigan (11/25/2009)
"You are gonna love it!" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Brutal, bizarre, AWESOME!! The Monkey spanked me, and I liked it!!!
 

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