I'm still not sure how to judge this race - there are parts of it that are really cool and others that were disappointing. When I think about picking one race in each state to run towards my goal of 50 states I'm not sure that I would pick the Asheville Marathon again. I don't have experience with other races in North Carolina but I'm not convinced it was the right race for me and my family.

Course: The course winds all throughout the Biltmore estate. The first 10 miles or so are very hilly and on asphalt; after that you get a variety of surfaces beneath you - crushed rock, wide dirt path, asphalt, and utility roads in the winery section. The last of these were particularly problematic for me - the rocks were uncomfortable and unstable to run on and it was a rather hilly section of the race - all around just not great for my plantar issues.

Lodging: We stayed in Asheville in a small hotel. Good set up overall because the race was at the Biltmore and we were more interested in what the city had to offer it worked well for us. Also much cheaper.

Food / Drink: We ate and drank real well in Asheville. Biscuit Head was awesome brunch and Buxton Hall BBQ was an amazing experience. We asked the waitress to surprise us and the food was really really good. As for the beer - Burial Beer Co and Catawba were our favorites.

Gear: The shirt is pretty standard. The medal is a stamped piece of wood and they also gave out fleece blankets. Pretty good overall.

Other Notes: A previous reviewer mentioned that this is a Biltmore Marathon rather than an Asheville Marathon - that is 100% correct. Asheville is a really cool town and one I would go back to again. The Biltmore is beautiful and really interesting - made better because we spent the $60 admission fee to tour the home the day after the race. The expo is small but easy to get in and out of. You have to buy a pass ($20 each) for spectators to be able to watch the race and even at that point they are only allows to spectate from 2-3 points on the course.

Overall: It's a nice race but it's kind of absurd that spectators have to pay to get access to the course and you better enjoy out and backs.