Trail Marathon

Okay, there is lots to day about this relatively small race. To begin with, this is an April marathon event that got postponed to autumn. Even in the weeks leading up to the race, it was uncertain if they would be able to host the event this year. But everything worked out in favor of a group of marathoners coming together to run. Second, this is listed here on marathonguide.com as October 25th. Actually the event date was set for October 24th - so we ran on Saturday - and not Sunday. Don't know why the change, but it worked out better for me that way. Randy is the official that I e-mailed with earlier, and after I registered, the e-mails from headquarters kept coming, and kept runners informed of exactly what needed to be done (masks - when and where, water stops and refreshments, parking, where to stay, and the like). Also, these hosts got their ducks in a row with health and safety officials to make sure everything was 'legal'. The race was to start at 7:30 a.m. and that was supposed to be when it got light outside. People seemed to start arriving in the parking area about an hour before that. Still dark with no area lights, and most of the stars still shinning, it was not clear where we were supposed to congregate. But in the distance was a tent that was well lit up. That is where we had to go to get our SWAG bag. Right adjacent to the tent was the start/finish line. Bathrooms were right there too. When it was time to run, we were pointed in the right direction, and the marathon began. We followed flags through the grass connecting us to the trail. One other thing I want to say before I proceed. Randy gave a textual description of the trail and turns, etc. It made no sense to me. Then he said, the course is well marked and if you follow the markings, you will not get lost. I agree. The course was extremely well marked and with all the twists and turns, staying on course was easy. I wondered how the guy marking the course stayed on track. Much of it looked like an arbitrary path thru the leaf-covered forest floor and not a path or trail. So, well done. This was a double loop closed course. Pink flag markers mapped out the marathon course; blue flags were for the 50-K. For at least part of the course, both flag colors were present. We had to run the circuit twice for the marathon distance. There were two aid stations on the course. I think they were just past mile post four and nine; so we saw those people again at about MP 17 and 22. There were no cups on the course (a great choice) so volunteers would refill water/hydration bottles from a pitcher, while we held the bottle. Also, all the food was individually packaged - so each runner got a small bag of whatever item he/she chose (chips, M&Ms, cookies, etc.) It worked great. There were refreshments at the start/finish line too. We were admonished to not liter the trail. Provisions were made with litter receptacles, but some arrogant folks still threw their trash on the path. They spoil it for the rest of us. This was a trail marathon and advertised as a course that would 'kick your butt'. It was not as bad and I anticipated. Old Farts in Fallasburg was worse (ropes were required for the hills). North Country Trail in Manistee, Devil's Lake in Wisconsin, and Tecumseh Trail in Indiana all seemed more difficult. But I had a good challenge, and I welcomed the opportunity to run; especially this year of 2020 when so many races were just cancelled. The course was billed as a trail marathon; not a crushed gravel railroad bed that is flat, fast, and smooth. It was a lot of up and down, but no steep aggressive hills. Lots of it was single path passage. There were excessive roots and rocks in the path, many places where the earth had been washed away, and there were ruts cut between banks of trees. To make matters worse, the autumn leaves had mostly fallen, and much of the time the trip-hazards were obscured with leaves. People fell; I was one of them. I fell once and scraped up my right shin pretty good on an exposed and elevated root. I stumbled a few other times. It was a bigger deal the second circuit when I was more tired and it was harder to lift my feet up. So I walked much of the second loop. But I finished - even though near the end of the pack. I gave five stars for Course and Organization because the course was extremely well marked. As far as ruts, rocks, & roots, that is part of the trail marathon experience. If you don't like it, then run on the pavement. And race management did their homework to make this event came to fruition. Many thanks for one of the few marathon opportunities for 2020. Lastly, the weather was great - near 50 degrees in an almost 100% shaded course.

Just as promised.. tough, hilly, rocky, rutted, and i think the course is even long.. Nice shirt and medal, aid stations were well maintained with a good selection.. Don't do it if you are looking for a sissy run

This is the second time I done this race and treated first class citzens. The course is neat and clean and view is great. Well done running fit michael Biernatt