Tobacco Road Marathon

Overall, I was pretty happy with this race. Great organization, nice tech shirts, and plenty of aid on the course. However, I went into this race thinking it was completely flat. Compared to the coastal courses I usually do, this was definitely tough. Plus, the gradual slight incline is steady from miles 22-25, the worst location for it. Definitely a good course for someone more used to 'hills'!

2022 was my 4th TRM. Great flat marathon and you help support the Red Cross, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Hope for the Warriors and the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy.

On Sunday 3/20/22, I ran my first Tobacco Road Marathon. I have so many good things to say about this race. Let's start with the course conditions. The trail is a mix of paved road/trail with large sections of the course being crushed/pulverized limestone and gravel over packed dirt. I wore trail shoes but if I could do it over, I would have worn a comfy pair of road shoes. No big deal but if you are someone like me that wonders about wearing the most appropriate type of shoe for a course, then you will want to select a good pair of road shoes for this course. There were gradual ascents and gradual descents along the way. It was not pancake-flat but the hills were nothing soul-crushing. It was a friendly course. The weather was absolutely perfect for a race. Temps at race start were 51F and when I crossed the finish line, I think it was about 58F. Mostly sunny but plenty of tree-cover with just the right amount of exposure to the sun. There was an occasional wind gust that you might notice on the course but overall, I don't think it ever really felt like more than a 3-to-5 mph breeze. After running 4 of my last 6 marathons in precipitation and/or difficult course conditions, this day felt like a gift from the heavens. Spectators were enthusiastic and supportive in the places they could locate themselves along the course. Keep in mind, the course isn't setup in such a way that makes it easy for a lot of people to gather along the way. This is rarely a concern for me as I spend most of the 26.2 miles inside my own head pondering the mysteries of life. :-) Communication was great! The last couple weeks prior to the race, bulleted lists of important items to be mindful of continued arriving in my Inbox...well done! Did I PR...No. Did I qualify for Boston...No. Did I have an amazing experience...YES, without question. I usually finish around the 4:27 to 4:33 mark. I finished this race with a chip time of just over 4:15. This was my 20th state in my quest for all 50. I would highly recommend this race for any experienced or novice marathoner asking themselves the question, 'Where should I go when it's time to run a marathon in North Carolina?'