Yelp review #1,000
Just finished the 2014 MyrtleBeach.com Myrtle Beach Marathon in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! It was held on Saturday, 02/15/2014 in downtown Myrtle Beach. It was lifetime #68 marathon and state #45 in my quest to run marathons in all 50 states from Hawaii. The chase had humbled me so far and there's only a handful left to go. I remember joining the 50 States marathon club when I had 10 qualifying states in December 2010, now I have 45. Its insane how life goes! It was my first time ever to South Carolina, so I wanted to savor every bit of it. I'm glad that Myrtle Beach Marathon was held on the Saturday of the long President's Day weekend. More time to explore and fly back without having to take more time off of work for vacation.
The Myrtle Beach marathon boasts a small race field, up to 1,000 marathoners and up to 2,500 half marathoners. They also have a marathon relay, as well as a 5K the night before. The race expo was held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Parking at the parking lot was $3.00 all day. Cash only!! The expo itself was free though. The expo was decidedly small, but large enough for packet pick up, shirt pick up, and a few dozen vendors to peddle their race related goods/services to all those coming to the Myrtle Beach marathon & half marathon - to race, spectate, or other. There was race sponsored pasta dinner at The Breakers resort, but at $18, it was not a bargain.
This year, 2014, threatened with a winter storm PAX that blew through the area, but definitely lucky that the race didn't cancel, especially when they did in 2012 for snowfall the night before race day. The race start was at Broadway at the Beach, a premiere shopping area in Myrtle Beach. There was rain that morning, not snow flurries, but it was a cool morning, in the upper 40's, which was nice running weather. The finish line was in a parking lot next to a baseball field, adjacent to the Broadway on the Beach. There was plenty of parking at the start, but you just had to get there early, so you don't get locked out of that. The race was 26.2 miles and the course was pretty good. At least half of it ran through residential sections of Myrtle Beach, along with views of a Myrtle Beach airport, and the other half was on Ocean Boulevard, which was like Atlantic City's boardwalk or Waikiki's Kalakaua Avenue, in a small way. Plenty of things to see out there on the course and there was adequate aid stations. One every 2.0 miles.
I myself had a good time, since I met up with a few 1st timers at the back of the pack and encouraged them when the miles got challenging. The sun came out around mid day and it was kind of nice having that mix of sun and a cool winter's blast to keep it interesting. I met new friends and hope to see them sometime down the road. It was nice to see them all cross the finish line and myself to knock off a new state for my quest. The finish line was always sweet when you cross it. No matter how fast or slow, crossing that finish line will change your life forever. Certainly changed mine! Out out of the few South Carolina road marathons, Myrtle Beach is a good flat and fast one to do. With a 7 hour time limit, anyone can finish this marathon with a proud, fierce pride. Definitely life changing for sure. At least in Myrtle Beach. Excellent organization, great volunteers, and there are 3 timing check points along the course.
The finisher's medal is always a pleasure to see, since it's the shape of flip flops, gold plated, and said Myrtle Beach marathon on it. It is cute for sure. Add this one if you want to see Myrtle Beach, SC on foot. :)
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