We've always enjoyed Beerfest--it's one of those events we look forward to every year! Most of us…read morecan't wait for the moment tickets go on sale so we can snag our VIP passes. This year was by far the best VIP experience yet! The free appetizers, ice cream, and mixed drinks were such a nice touch, and the improved shade coverage made a huge difference. We also never had a problem finding a table, and the bathrooms (always one of the big reasons we go VIP) were as great as ever. We're so happy they got rid of the drink tickets this year--it felt much smoother and less wasteful. The variety of food trucks was excellent, with something for everyone. Our group has our favorite breweries we look for every year, and the variety of swag did not disappoint! It also seemed like they didn't run out of beer this year, which has been a common complaint in the past, so that was awesome. We also loved the big screen showing the football game--lots of people seemed to enjoy that too. Overall, this year's Beerfest VIP was the best yet. We're already counting down to next year! The only thing I think they should improve is the parking and directions for VIP entrance. We were asking the volunteers and each person told us something different as we were walking from the ride share drop off.

I had a blast at the 2023 Charleston Beer Fest and would recommend it to anyone who likes craft…read morebeer, live music, vendors, and supporting a great cause, Palmetto Community Cares. Every PCC-hosted charity event I've been to has been well-organized, and Beer Fest was no exception. With five rows of vendors and breweries, everyone found a new to them beer or brewery they liked. You receive a mug when you walk in and use it to walk around the aisles of breweries and sample. Most Charleston breweries were represented, but you could also try breweries from around South Carolina and a few North Carolina breweries. I saw tents with hard kombucha, ready-to-drink cocktails, ciders, seltzers, as well a Fall beer flavors (hello pumpkin or Oktoberfest styles). Sour beers are my favorite, and I found no shortage of them. The sour from Sumter Brewing Company was my favorite, along with the Ginger's Revenge alcoholic ginger beer. The lines move quickly, and the small pours of the drink were enough for me. I saw a few tents run out of certain beers about 4 hours into the event, but even when we left, you could still find plenty to drink. Beer Fest had at least 10 food trucks with everything from smash burgers to pierogis to boiled peanuts. Even the vendors were high quality. With the event in September, we bought several Christmas gifts AND the weather was cooler than a summer event, especially in Riverfront Park. The ground was a little soggy from rain earlier in the day, but we avoided the showers and storms. This was my first Charleston Beer Fest, but I would return again and recommend it for both locals and visitors- it's a one stop shop to try many breweries and even cuisines for a low cost and great cause.

I've run the Charlie Post Classic and volunteered at least three times. I volunteered in 2020 and…read moream writing an update to reflect the positive changes. The Charlie Post Classic has something for everyone. You can choose from the 5K or 15K, and it's the only 15K race I've seen in the area. The soft lightweight hoodies are gender-specific cut and a great change from the usual race t-shirts. Every runner or walker received a finisher's medal at the end, regardless of time. Top runners received age group awards and overall awards as well. This run's proceeds benefit scholarships for the College of Charleston athletic teams, so your race dollars stay local. This year's race had beer at the end, and being on Sullivan's Island, it's great to hang out at the bars and restaurants or on the beach after the run each year. Some places even open early. If you want to run the Charlie Post Classic 15K/5K in 2021, register early- it sells out each year with over 1,000 participants.

Another year and another great race. Going on for more than 30 years now and starting again this…read moreyear at the Sullivan's Island Fire Station, the weather was near perfect for great times, and the course was a decent flat out. The traffic was quite a challenge this year and quite a few near misses once the locals started getting up and about on Saturday morning. Obviously they're still not used to having anyone else on their island and driving like they haven't a clue! I like the island, the Posts, and running, but something proactive needs to be done about the traffic! The race is only an hour! All in all, great race and we can't wait to do it again next year!

Outstanding Well Organized…read moreGreat people to meet like Mrs. Kat T -she goes out of to help anyone and she can recognize old Asian Indian thick acccent touched by all the gestures Lot of music lot of walk and run It was not easy if you are first timer people have been doing 7 or 9 or 10 years All great groups can add the pictures- touched by all the gestures they keep the board for 4 mile mark, 5 mile mark and 6 mile mark Marcy could understand on day 1 on the phone to get me into the race

If you've never done this run, you're missing out. I've participated a few times and it's always a…read moregood time. The expo is cool to check out some local businesses and the freebies are always nice while picking up your race bib and bag of goodies. The run itself is pulled off really well for the size of the run and the amount of participants each year. My only complaint is I wish it was a little more consistent in the corrals with runners versus walkers. Someone may choose to sign up as a runner but decide to walk the whole thing. Walking portions of it doesn't bother me but it seems like there is a huge stretch of people walking. I wish they would choose to go to the walking section if this is the case. I get it that it's a tough run at parts, but it would be nice if people go to the side instead of walking next to a bunch of other walkers. It's hard to weave in and out when you're trying to keep the pace you want. Sometimes you just have to stop because there's no way to get through. At points it's nice to keep going, because once you stop, it takes a bit to get that drive to run at the pace you were, at least for me it did. The festival in Marion Square is a good time to unwind after the 10k. There's a ton of vendors, food, and water/drinks to get you hydrated. Oh and I love that they are now giving out finisher medals. It's nice to have a little trophy of sorts to remember the accomplishment of this run. I hope they keep that up for future runs. I would definitely run it again. All in all it's a great event for the community.

I ran the half in 2017 (signed up for the full in '18 but got sick on race weekend). I would have…read moreto say that the half was better. Putting aside the obvious challenges of running twice as far in a full, the views and course were more mundane. The two races share the course for half of the race, but the extra half in the full seemed less scenic. More kind of marshy stuff with open roads, not the live oak lined trees and Spanish moss. It's a flat race but there are a lot, a lot of turns. The paved trail winds through some neighborhoods and the trail architect seemed to get a kick out of looping the road around every single possible tree. Could have cut the turns down from 4,000 to 2,000 by utilizing a straighter path. Of course, the turns are fun on a bike, but not so much when running. The last two years have been frigid. In fact, both years were the same weekend as a winter storm a couple of hours north. Not sure what is it about this weekend that brings the worst weather, but prepare for low 40s with rain or mid 60's and sun. Lovely race!

There are a few marathon/half marathons offered in/around Charleston and since this one is hosted…read moreby Kiawah I always feel like it should the fanciest of the fancy. I've done this race for 3 years in a row now (because my friends are peer pressure-ers) and I'm not sad about it. Perks: -I can get to Kiawah in an hour. That's not too bad considering I've flown to other cities to run. -Over 40 years of experience = well oiled machine. -Family experiences before/during the race. -A buffet after the race. -A pre-race INSIDE waiting space. -Day of packet pickup. Let me repeat that last one for those in the back.. A pre-race INSIDE waiting space. Because standing outside in December/winter when it's cold/windy/rainy (as it tends to be at the start of the race in the last 3 years) REALLY SUCKS, even in temperate Charleston. What doesn't suck? Being inside where it's warm and where there are toilets and plenty of open space for making a Megan-rito and taking a pre-race nap. Yes, yes, I've done this. #NotSorry Cons: -It takes me an hour to get there+traffic+shuttle time for off-island parking. Sob. That's a 0430 wake up time to make it to the island to take the shuttle and then usually 1.5+ hours of waiting before the 0800 start time (but again, INSIDE waiting space, sooo fine). -Cold food from the buffet is not my idea of post-race delicacies. Truthfully, I just want a store bought blueberry muffin and a bottle of water. -It's the same course every year. -There are some narrow parts of the course which cause bottlenecks, this is, of course, after the marathoners and half marathoners are back together and it's stressful. -You cannot pick up someone else's race packet. This sucks because Kiawah is NOT convenient to get to. Day-of pickup is available, but where do you put your stuff? Gear check is such a drag. -Limited packet pick up options. Last year, I think, was the first year that off-island packet pickup was offered, which still didn't matter because my non-Charleston running friends still had to wait until the night before or day of to get their packets, so why bother? So for a local, it's not a bad race to participate in. If you're not local, it's probably more of a one-and-done type of race.

I've run the James Island Connector Run for the last four years, but never realized I could review…read moreit on Yelp. The Connector Run has a 5K, 10K, and a bike ride option. This race typically draws a competitive field at the front, but there is no time limit and all abilities are welcome. The race has adequate water stops and mile markers. It's a great first 5K or first 10K, but the course itself runs over the connector, so it's not easy. This 10K is much tougher than the Cooper River Bridge Run because you run over the Connector twice and it has six total inclines. The view from the top is beautiful and worth it! The JICR one of my favorite local races for several reasons. The proceeds of the JICR benefit college scholarships for special needs individuals. Some of the individuals who benefit help with the race, so you get to see them at the finish party. I run a lot of road races, and they all claim to give money to charity, but it means so much more to me to see the faces of those who benefit from my race fee. Speaking of the after party, this race has one of the best. Every runner or walker receives a finisher's medal and you can hang out in the park after and enjoy the hot dogs, refreshments, and beer. "Tag Your Pix" takes the race photos and posts them on Facebook for free, and several of us got excellent photos from this race last year. If you're looking to run your first road race, earn some medals/bling, support a cause, or just want a 10K that's less crowded than the Bridge Run, definitely check out the James Island Connector Run.

This is my favorite local race and I feel like it's a little secret. The run supports a charity…read morethat helps students with disabilities continue education. It is a fast out-and-back 10k/5k run/walk/bike on the James Island Connector in mid-October-- just when it starts to get cool. A good part about this race is that it isn't as packed as other races that span bridges... There is a good turn-out, but it doesn't max the capacity of every restaurant on the peninsula. Also, it includes beers in the Cannon park after the race! Also really cool, everyone gets a finishing medal! (see photo)

I swore I would not run this race again after traveling down from Maryland in 2015 and having the…read morerace cancelled in the middle of it. I found later someone passed during the race. I decided to sign up for this year's race since I now live in Atlanta and my cousin's run it every year. This year's race was much better organized as the stations were plentiful and the course really amazing. The organizers really did an outstanding job all the way around. I am taking one star off because out of all the Rock N Races I have run, the music sucked for this race. Besides that, I have no complaints and am looking forward to running this marathon again next year.

I liked this race a lot. It helped that the weather was beautiful on race day. The course was…read morenice and flat and went through a lot of beautiful areas of town (and some kind of industrial areas). There were a ton of positives about the event...the starting corrals seemed to be well managed, the volunteers were incredible, I loved all the bands and the people along the course were so friendly and supportive. The festival after the race was great. Forsyth Park was a beautiful spot and it was so fun to sit in the sun and listen to the band at the end. I had no problem finding my friends at the Family Reunion area and I got my bag pretty quickly. There were a couple of things that could improve the event. Shorter lines at the beer tent would be one! The other thing was the bib pickup. Having that across the river seemed like a nice idea but those ferry boats were incredibly inefficient. They were running them as fast as they could but with the volume of people on Friday, I had to wait a half hour to get on a boat to go there then even longer to get on a boat to come back. To be honest, when I'm visiting a city I don't want to spend an hour in line waiting for a boat. I'd rather be seeing the sights and spending money in the host city. Also, the exit for the expo was poorly marked inside the convention center. I know they want you to visit the booths but it was in the back corner and it was poorly marked. If you tried to go out another way they wouldn't let you. If they could work the bib pickup kink out, then this would be a five star event for sure.

Terrific locally organized race. The course is flat and fast with minimal turns - a nice place to…read morechase a PR if you're interested. The winds off the water can be a beating though. Two improvements: Packet pickup was at a local entertainment venue and was a bit confusing to navigate. Food and beer lines at the end were very long. I think they should also police the food area more to make sure spectators aren't eating runner food.

Yelp review #1,000…read more 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. :) Run More! B+

***NOTE: As of the 2018 race, the Charleston Marathon is under new management***…read more 2017 was another great year for the Charleston Marathon. The City of Charleston and City of North Charleston are embracing this race more each year. The big change I noticed was that the expo was moved to the North Charleston Colosseum. It's a no-frills expo, but picking up my packet went smoothly and you can pick up last-minute needs like Gu. The route was well marked and the water stop volunteers, pacers, and race staff were wonderful. Both water and gatorade are offered on the course. The last few miles of the half marathon were a little lonely for me after the full marathoners turned off at mile 9.5. The finish line party was amazing as usual- I talked to runners from other states and they assured us, Charleston Marathon-ers know how to party. The bands played until later in the afternoon and the beer tent was great even for those who finished the marathon in the early afternoon hours. Keep up the great work, Charleston Marathon!

All in all, the Charleston Marathon offers a solid, albeit no frills type of experience…read more This was my first full marathon (I mean, everyone else was doing it so why not? Kids, don't give in to peer pressure), and I did some homework before signing up for this race so I pretty much knew what to expect. As others have mentioned, the course is not all that spectacular. The first few miles are quite scenic and showcase Charleston quite well as you run along the Battery and the touristy portion of King Street. Then, however, you run up the rest of King Street (which I still love especially with the revitalization going on but understand why others may not) and proceed ultimately into North Charleston. Along the way, there are some other spots of eye candy as you run out onto a marina and along a few waterways. However, there are also a lot of drab spots that really don't speak to the essence of Chucktown. The good news is that you barely notice this if you're simply trying to survive as I was... Also as noted by others, there are a few out and back spots which are kind of a bummer since it adds repetition and puts you in contact with peeps who are way ahead of you in the race and looking strong, graceful, and beautiful as you struggle to keep your breakfast from taking a trip up North. Getting away from the Debbie Downer vibes, let's focus on some of the positives, shall we? First off, the expo/packet pick up was a breeze. Plenty of parking and you could get in and out easily. Yes, the expo didn't have a ton of freebies, epic guest speakers, or any other type of top shelf craziness, but that was more than ok with me. I didn't need those types of perks, I just needed a solid shirt (which I did get) and my race bib. Similarly, race morning was smooth. There was a ton of parking (once you got through race traffic) and plenty of port a potties at the start line (avoid the inside bathrooms since the lines were insanely long). Again, getting to the race site and to the starting area on race day morning was a no stress experience which is truly invaluable (especially for your first marathon!). The course itself (as you would imagine and others have mentioned) was almost disgustingly flat. However, I honestly chose this race as my marathon debut for that very reason, and do not think I would have survived if not for the lack of elevation change! Given the vertically challenged nature of the course, peeps can come here and expect fast times. Along the course, I felt that the volunteers/dancers/musicians were amazing! They seriously provided this struggling dude with some major motivation at points. For a small race only in its fourth year, I think the race organizers did an admirable job with the support staff they had in place. Once you cross the finish line and pretend like you're not going to collapse, you get awarded with a very handsome medal and free shrimp and grits. Like some others, my GI tract was in no mood for seafood or creaminess so I deferred. I did indulge a little bit in some free beer and in the general festivities of the finish line area, however. I do believe Park Circle is a spectacular spot to have the post race festivities as that area does showcase a part of the greater Charleston area that not everyone is familiar with but should be! All in all, I was pleased with how this event was put together and executed, and sincerely hope to see it continue to grow and improve in the years to come!

Fast, mostly clean, fun track! I have participated in my track days on my R1, GSXR 600, and RX-7…read more The RRR staff is always professional and on point. The track could probably use some re-paving and some more amenities could be added to bring it up to the levels of other local tracks. But if you come prepared with a tent and tools, you'll have one of the best track days of your life. Well, at least until Hutchison Island opens back up. RRR is a fast and fun track that will test you and put a smile on your face!

Ok, so I just recently stepped foot on Roebling's straight-a-way and I couldn't wait to review it…read more This place is a lot different than most of the other tracks in the SE. The location is just outside of a neighborhood and in a very private suburb of Savannah. The track is narrower than say, a Barber of Road Atlanta, but wide enough. The surface is actually very nice and not too bad on tires, but can get slick on the edges due to the sand in the area. The front straight is super fast and turn 1 takes some serious getting use to before you really learn how fast you can actually tip in. The grounds are very well laid out and well kept. Their's power all over the place so generators aren't really necessary. You have to pit in the sandy grass so be sure to bring a rug and some chairs when you come. I love the track and cannot wait to race on it again.