Andrew Jackson Marathon

Andrew Jackson Marathon

Andrew Jackson Marathon

( 2 reviews )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Jackson,
    Tennessee,
    United States
  • April
  • 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Cassondra

Wamego, Kansas, United States
3 6
2017
"Andrew Jackson Marathon-A double loop marathon"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Cassondra 's thoughts:

Jackson TN is my hometown from the time I was 1 till I moved to Kansas at 21. I love my little southern town and was so excited to run the streets of where I grew up. Here are my thoughts and observations
on the race:

1. Packet pick up was super simple. There is no expo, you just go to the Performance Running store located out north of jackson and get your packet. I LOVED the hooded t shirt! The design is unique and the hooded t shirt is SUPER soft.

2. The pasta feed was super yummy AND they had a guest speaker come and entertain us during the feed. I really enjoyed hearing his tales of running and being a guide for blind runners at some pretty major marathons.

3. Being from Jackson, finding parking was very easy for us and seemed plentiful. There weren't too many porta potties but it didn't seem to be a big issue with the number of people entered.

4. Plentiful aid stations and great volunteers! Several houses we passed were having yard parties and cheered us on. Most of the race was through residential areas with some being commercial area. I noticed porta potties on the course and on course entertainment in a few spots. Lots of police presence and large coned off areas for us runners to run in when we were on major roads.

5. Double loop course. I am not a huge fan of this, especially since this course is very challenging and hilly, but I understand the need. Point to point races or out and backs require many more volunteers and many more road closures so I get it. Mentally knowing what I had already encountered the first loop kind of kicked me in the butt for the second loop. Sometimes a nice surprise of what is in store works best for my brain.

6. Unique medals and awards. Since it was such a small race for the full, I got an age group award and it was very nice. Unfortunately, they were having the awards ceremony as I was finishing, so no podium for me LOL!

7. Post race party. First the good. Bands playing, food trucks and food vendors making yummy food, bounce houses for the kids that stayed up for quite a while post me finishing, and the farmer's market going on were all good things. Now the bad. Most food vendors were packing up as I finished. The course had a 6.5 hour time limit and I made it in around the 5 hour mark. The finish line photographer had also left or was no longer shooting. While I got a few very nice photos from the course and when I crossed the finish mat for my first loop, there were no finish photos. This doesn't affect me as much as it did the runners behind me and directly in front of me whom it was their first marathon. Again, just as I got several on course shots they did as well, but a finish line photo is always one to treasure forever and ever.

8. There was a little confusion on starting the second loop but other than that, the course marshals were wonderful at guiding us through the twists and turns through Jackson. Even as I was slowly trodding through my second loop, they were there cheering and directing! Several of the aid stations were dressed up which made it super fun as well.

Overall, I would be back to do the course as a half, but I am one and done as a full. Most of the course was not shaded and while the heat wasn't horrible, being on pavement and no shade did not help. The double loop killed me mentally, but it was SO fun seeing all the places I grew up and having lots of nostalgic moments. I LOVED the swag and the award and the pasta feed, but I wish the photog and food vendors had stuck around a little longer. I don't have an appetite right after I finish, but it slowly comes back as I recover and at that point it was a ghost town. The RD was SO nice and I loved the new to me running store in my hometown.

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