This is a once in a lifetime race experience! You will not BQ and in 2018 the winning time was right at 3:00:00 so no one even went sub-2. But it is a gorgeous marathon through the largest park in Nashville with 3600+ feet elevation GAIN. The views are outstanding: you are in the middle of fall colors, run past the Percy stairs (twice) and sweeping views past Nashville Steeplechase (twice).
Aid stations are supported mostly by local running clubs and they deliver! Lots of snack options, drink options, and heck near the end beer and fireball shots!! The swag is UNBELIEVABLE!! You get 2 shirts, one is personalized with your nickname and the sleeve has the # of monkey kills (# of monkey marathons) so 1 monkey for each marathon you have done. We also got custom swiftwick socks with a monkey! There were Hatch Show print posters! There were silipint cups! There were magnets, temporary tattooes, and stickers! The best swag I’ve ever seen!! Parking is literally in the park right next to the start and finish and portapotties.
But the best part by far is all the runners...everyone is there just to run a race in a beautiful park and have fun. It’s really dumb to run a marathon over that many hills and we all did it because we love running! Google the race though, check out the race pics...it really is that hilly and it really is that gorgeous in the park.

Very flat course for Nashville, well communicated to racers, free and very close parking which says a lot for Nashville. Was no expo and the aid stations were inconsistent but the packet pickup was easy and swag is awesome! Loved the design of the medal!! The porta potties at the start were plentiful which is always great when you don’t have to spend your warm up just waiting in line the whole time. Was a little confused on the line up at the start in terms of which direction it was headed and the music/announcements didn’t begin until about 2 min before the race. But it wasn’t overly crowded so very easy to hop in line wherever. Also very easy to find your friends and spouses at the finish!

I am only recommending this because it is an awesome and fun race series. That being said the course for this race in 2018 was sh-t. The park staff should not have allowed the trails open for running much less a race. First, there was lightning and thunder at start. The race was delayed but then suddenly we all lined up and they said GO! I was a litttle shocked and spent the first 0.25 miles deciding if i should turn around for my own personal safety. Then I realized it would be too much of a problem to try to run back around all these people in a single file line in the mud. Let me be clear. This race was nothing but mud. Everyone returned to their car covered from the knee down in mud. Some up to their hips and back. 1/3 persons fell. I guess you could call it trail carnage but I think the 6 miler series should be friendlier to the everyday runner.

A few things to note about the RNR Nashville:
The date in April is highly subject to sudden changes in weather. Race starts have been anywhere from completely freezing and pouring rain, to 80 degrees and sunny. So beware when you sign up that you may encounter a race with potential to be very hot and you have not yet trained for it!
The RNR expo is awesome and very fun...dedicate a few hours to this. It's also great to spend time walking around downtown and catching the sights as well as a pre-race beer!
Course is hilly and there is just no other way around it. They are not short, punchy hills either. They are LONG and gradual inclines. When viewing the race profile, it does not look too menacing...but let me tell you do not be fooled!
Aid stations at this race are so much fun...lots of diverse themes, music, and cheering!! Some offered shots of beer..very festive and fun!
Finish line in 2018 was a hot mess. It finished at Nissan stadium but do not expect to be able to see anyone you know. I was running in through a gauntlet of thousands of people (lots of hype!) but it was really hard to actually find my family. Then we sat through the parking lot nightmare of trying to get out. That was a bummer.
All in all...I will probably not do this race again. I live in Nashville and I love my city but this race is huge. It's just not my style, but it is a lot of fun.

I love the 6 miler series but I struggled to like this race this year. Bells Bend was heavily flooded. We had to cross deep water, knee level, on what I counted as 6 times in 6 miles. But there are a lot of positives...this is a race in a series that is fun (they’re all 6 milers), and I love the distance is accessible to a larger audience or anyone just getting into trail running. The T-shirt’s are always very cool and high quality. Packet pick up is easily done at the race as long as you have your confirmation number. The aid station is usually 1 (its only 6 miles) and will have water to fill up on, i think this is usually cuplesd, I will keep doing the 6 milers but some of the locations for these races are highly subject to weather. If you only like running on dry trails these are not the races for you