Country Music Marathon (areas, pay, places)

[oldmanbob]

Anyone care to talk and tell about the course, as I understand its quite hilly, as my wife is doing the 1/2 , and heard bits and pieces. How many locals are expected to run.

[alleycat]

A lot of locals run, both the marathon and especially the half-marathon. The first 12 miles are the same for both the marathon and the half-marathon.

Yes, it is hilly in places. The route is along streets that follow the natural rolling hills of Middle Tennessee. I'm not a marathon runner, but I would say that running a half-marathon on this course would be about the equivalent of running a full 26-mile marathon on level ground.

I had a friend who ran the half last year. The course has changed somewhat this year, but she was able to run the half after starting training only about six or eight weeks ahead of time. If your wife has run marathons before this will probably be a tough course, but nothing insurmountable.

This is a link to the course map, include an elevation chart (but it's really hard to tell just from the chart just how hilly the course is): http://www.cmmarathon.com/course_info.html

[alleycat]

One additional note: a concern this year is the weather. The temperature will be much warmer than normal for the marathon. They are predicting summertime-like weather this weekend with highs in the mid-80s.

[denawilliams]

I am doing the 1/2, but i haven't run the course or even really scoped it out yet from a "running" perspective. However, the areas I've been training in have had a few killer hills. That's not to say I'm not anxious about this hilly course because I definitely am. I'm more concerned with the heat. I ran 12 miles last weekend, and this is my first race of any kind like this. So if I can do what I did last weekend, your wife will probably be just fine. I'm counting on the energy in the crowd, from the bands and from running with so many people to propel me to that finish line

[bluesky42day]

Good Luck Dena! Be sure to look for the pink hula hoopers that are hula hooping the marathon from East Nashville, you probably won't have to look too hard though :-)

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by bluesky42day

Good Luck Dena! Be sure to look for the pink hula hoopers that are hula hooping the marathon from East Nashville, you probably won't have to look too hard though :-)

I would actually pay to see that . . .




;-)

[bluesky42day]

I should clarify...it's the 1/2 marathon...but still...I probably couldn't hula hoop to my mailbox let alone 13 miles! It's my understanding the heat will be pretty intense tomorrow & they are looking for additional volunteers to pass out water. If anyone is available to help all you have to do is show up.