Back to Rock 'n' Roll Country Music Marathon Information & Reviews
A Runner from Brentwood, Tennessee
(7/18/2001)
"Hilly Course" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run this one twice now. The first year (2000) the weather was perfect 50-55 degrees and overcast most of the way with even an occasional very light sprinkle. The second year it was too hot -- close to 80 at the finish, but felt like 90. The constants are the hills, the music, the fan support, and the volunteers. It's a well organized marathon. Big enough, but not megasized. | |
A Runner from Utica, N.Y.
(6/16/2001)
"THE BEST RACE EVER! A+ RACE" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd marathon in 4 months, and was the best ever! The race certainly was challenging...there are a lot of hills and this year it got very hot! But I would definately DEFINITELY encourage people to run this one. The people of Nashville are AWESOME...lining the streets to cheer you on. The bands are great, organization was immpeccable...there was water and gatorade at every 1/2 mile and plenty of it...plenty of bars and nutritional supplements. In every step of this course there's something to see....and the concert with Martina McBride and sons of the Desert was great and was FREE to the runners. Well done!!! If you can do this race...it's worth it! | |
A Runner from San Antonio, Texas
(6/12/2001)
"This Marathon is Fantastic" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Although there are definitely hills and the temperature this year was hot, this is a great marathon to run. As previously mentioned the course support is great (from fans to water) but the one thing not mentioned yet is the post concert. Martina McBride put on a great show and I was able to sit on the ninth row for free! At the show you could not only enjoy the music but also enjoy replaying the day with fellow marathoners prior to the concert. As far as Nashville itself, this is a great place to visit. My hotel was downtown and food/entertainment was only moments away. So if you run this marathon (and I recommend that you do), pace yourself through the hills in the first seven miles and enjoy the entire event. | |
A Runner from Peoria, Arizona
(6/8/2001)
"Great course" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Lots of hills and beautiful neighborhoods to run through. Fan support was excellent. Warm temps and humidity took its toll during the later part of the race. Would recommend this marathon to everyone. Not bad for its 2d year. Look for this one only to get better! | |
A Runner from Green Bay, Wisconsin
(5/25/2001)
"From Frozen tundra to melting blacktop!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon. I ran one last fall in northern Wisconsin and got 40 degree temperature and rain the whole way. Thought I would try one a bit warmer. I guess I got what I wanted! I trained all winter outdoors in one of the coldest winters we have had in a while and never really became acclimated to the heat. The hills were tough, but I train on hills, although not the same intensity. Let me say that I will run this again, although with a bit more realistic approach. Do not expect to run a fast time unless you are an expert marathoner. If you come for great organization and a bunch of fun, as well as the most polite and encouraging people to cheer you on you will love this race! | |
A Runner from Los Angeles
(5/19/2001)
"HILLS, HILLS, and more HILLS" (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 12th but the most hill intense. I have run some other tough ones (LA, Hearst Castle, Honolulu, Etc.) that had some hills, but this one ranked up there with the best of them. Since I work with one of the charity marathon training programs, I was so shocked that this was a TNT event. Nice way to intro first timers to the sport. I am sure that many of those people won't run another one because of the experience and pain of this one. This isn't a first timer course. The individual hills weren't too bad in themselves, but the series of them drained you quickly. You just never got a chance to bounce back because turn the corner and there was another hill. This year the heat contributed to the drain and made this one become a must to walk in for many people. Only other course complaint was Mile 20 - you cross a bridge close to the stadium where you can see and hear the finish line events. Tease us some more why don't you. After all the hills, you are tired and that last thing you need is to see and hear the name of the person that is done when you have 6 to go. Those last are a mental test, and they surely made it a challenge. Crowds were patchy but great for the most part - a bit low on the marathon 'savy' but energetic. Too many fans saying 'it is downhill from here' only to turn the corner in 10 feet and look up yet another incline. Get the cheerleading squads to stay a bit longer. This marathon takes its toll so people need all the encouragement they can get, especially the slower ones. They are out there the longest and need the pep of a cheer. Industrial parts didn't bother me too much, and the scenery of Nashville was great. Overall, I am sad that the course experience left such a bitter taste that I couldn't recommend this one - all else was just great (shirts, organization, check in, expo) but had such a miserable time on the road that I just can't! When you travel to a new place you rely on the race to give you an indication of the course, and I do feel like I was lied to. So Elite racing...tell it like it is. Many will still do it for the challenge, but let us do it feeling informed. It wasn't even a misrepresentation - it was lying. Nothing in that course description prepared anyone for the constant hills. Just be up front - I would have still run it but I may not have walked away feeling bitter. | |
A Runner from kentucky
(5/17/2001)
"well organized and fun" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 this was an extremely well organized marathon with plenty of support. Altough there were a lot of hills it was a fun run. I have read some of the other comments from whiners who complained about the hills and that the start and finsh should be closer or that part of the course ran through an industrial area. to those people - quit whining. A marathon is a race or test of endurance. If you want to sight-see, go on a bus tour. This is a great marathon. | |
A Runner from Oregon
(5/17/2001)
"America's premier mid-sized marathon?" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I realize that this was only the second running of this marathon, but if next years Country Music Marathon only gets 5,000 runners again, then this race deserves to be promptly labled as THE best kept secret in American marathoning. Nashville is a the perfect host town; the people are friendly, and the town is geniuniely excited about the run. Local news coverage is outstanding. Most impressive are the large number of volunteers staffing the numerous (and well-placed) water stations along the course. And all of the bands add a great touch (the music varies greatly from R&R to Dixieland jazz.... not just country!). There is nothing negative I can say about the organization of this marathon (well, ok, Ultima sucks, but somebody out there likes it, right?). Sure, the course does spend roughly 6 to 8 miles in non-descript industrial parks. But what we runners sometimes overlook are the logistical nightmares involved with holding a marathon. And I'll gladly take some time in an industrial park if the majority of the rest of an urban marathon is able to include neighborhoods, parks, downtown, and popular landmarks. All of which this marathon course includes. This is simply a wonderful marathon that deserves to stick around for a long, long time. The folks at Elite Racing are doing something right. | |
(LISA) from Atlanta GA
(5/12/2001)
"Great for first timers" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Since I am from Atlanta, the hills did not seem as bad as what I had been told they were......but then it was my first marathon and I was not sprinting !! Definitely train on SOME type of hill if you are not used to them, since there is a 3 miler at the 2 mile mark!! The first half of the course was fun and shady and wound through a beautiful part of town. The water stations were plentiful and the spectators lively. Shortly after the half way mark the spectators dropped off until mile 20 and water became almost scarse.....shade....forget it!! I guess that I was expecting it to be in the 60's being that I was a good 4 hours north of home, but by 11 AM it had pushed over 80 and I walked out of the finish area with a great tan. Beware of the heat, but have a great time...it's a fun one. Also a great one for first timers. I met SO many doing their first marathon either walking or running it. The bands and cheerleader made it even more fun, and other than the last mile and a half after the beautiful park, it was a great course. At mile 25 the finish could be seen yet it never got closer....or so it seemed. All runners became extremely quiet and I swear we could hear each others brains actually frying, since the heat was unbearable on this stretch. This actually helped the grandeur of the finish line though. My FAVORITE part of the race was that they had 'pace folks' who held signs and helped you organize yourself...and it was great for a first timer like myself. Thanks Nashville...I will be back next year with my SUNSCREEN !!! | |
A Runner from Rochester, MN
(5/7/2001)
"Hospitality and Excellent Organization" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race organization was unbelievable, having ran my 6th marathon, this by far was the most organized. Scenery was rather boring with little to look at but industrial complexes but the fans when present were unbeleivable. Runing through the park at the end was extremely hot with little shade and few fans. I was glad that there were few hills in this area. Training for the hills is a must for this race.Unfortuantely, coming from Minnestoa where snow had only melted 2 weeks prior to the race I found that the heat took quite a toll. Overall I would rate this race a 7-8/10. |
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