It was hard to find enough stars to give this race. Especially in the ELEVATION category! The Blue Ridge Marathon is epic in the true sense of the word. It's tough as nails but that is what makes it so appealing!

Here are my takeaways:

The Expo: The Expo for the Blue Ridge Marathon was held at the Patrick Henry Hotel, which is right across the street from the Start/Finish Line. This made logistics a breeze in terms of selecting a hotel and finding my way around. Unlike big race expos, this one seemed less about shopping (although there were still plenty of things to try/purchase) and more about getting to know other runners.

Runners get a free drink at the bar during the expo so it seemed like most folks picked up their packets, browsed through the merchandise and then congregated at the bar. It made for a cool, fun vibe.

Events: The Blue Ridge Marathon isn’t just a one-off race. It’s a whole weekend of events that include a shakeout run, a pre-race concert, a day of races (10K, Half, and Full), and a Slow K on Sunday morning that stressed an easy-going pace (you were encouraged to walk and talk with your coffee and donuts)! THIS WAS BY FAR MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS ENTIRE RACE WEEKEND!!

The Course: The course is hard. There is no other way to say it. But in the immortal words of Tom Hanks (League of Their Own,) "It's the hard that makes it great." Train for the hills...both the ups and the downs...and you will have a much better day than if you try to wing it. This course is not for the faint of heart. But the views are absolutely stunning and (almost) worth every foot of elevation change it takes to get to them.

The Support: So, so good. Volunteers were everywhere. Water stations were aplenty. Spectators and community members came out in droves to offer water, jello shots, "moo-mosas," and one spot even had a kissing booth!

The Amenities: Swag included a beautiful tee (made from recycled materials) and a medal for the marathon and a fantastic coffee mug for Sunday's Slow K. LOVE!

Bottom Line: If you love a challenge, you will freakin' love this race.