Kiawah Island Marathon/ Half Marathon

Kiawah is oe of the flattest races I've run- along with Myrtle Beach.  It's a good first marathon because of that.  The marathon is a 2 loop course, which can get very boring on the 2nd loop.  But they have bike rentals and allow spectators to bike along the course (just not on the path portion) so you can have family and friends do that, which is nice.

Kiawah is a great BQ'er!

My only warning is that make sure to start up front (within reason of course) if you are trying to BQ and every second counts.  The start is really congested- it's not a corral start and they start the full and 1/2 at the same time.  The roads are narrow and the turns in the beginning get very congested.  It seems like a lot of runners don't place themselves appropriately at the start line- they have pace signs but apparently nobody pays attention to them.  So you could end up behind slower paced runners which will slow you up in the beginning.  But it usually thins out around mile 2 or so.

Greenville (which is where I live) is very hilly, but I PRed the half here last year. Went on to do Myrtle Beach and my time was slower by about a minute. So, keep in mind that since you will be training on hills, they may not affect you as much. The elevation is not an issue. I didn't notice an improvement from running at sea level.

Now, if you want a flat flat falt mary, Tybee Island mary (in Georgia) in early Feb is for sure the flattest I've ever seen. Way flatter than Myrtle beach. Myrtle Beach has some slight grades to it, Tybee does not. 

I do not know about Kiawah- I've been there but it was so long ago I can't remember!

The course for the Greenville Mary is changing this year and it will ramble through downtown more than in the past. It also will go through Cleveland park.

Good luck with your decision! 

Yep- Furman is a great place to run. I like to do my 20 milers there because there is a five mile loop that has a bathroom on the course and I can store water in my car. I understand they have a pretty extensive trail system there too, but I've not yet tried it. I think there is about 3-5 miles of trail. Varied terrain, some shady and some sunny. Beautfiul campus. I highly recommend it. Most runners park in the PAC (athletic building that is at the back of the horseshoe loop that you drive in on) and there are courses marked on the pavement and at the PAC building (outside on the window). Not sure if the five mile loop is marked out there, but it might be on mapmyrun or something similar. I'll see if I can find the names of the roads for you.

There are 2 different 5K routes comletely on campus I believe.

In terms of other trails, I'm still looking myself. Mostly I just run on the roads in the neighborhoods around my house. But I head to furman for runs of 15 miles and up.

Oh and runners to train with. I know there are running groups that leave out of fleet feet sports on Augusta road. They have different pace groups, so you should be able to find one that is your speed. (I am not your speed- not even close). I have seen fast runners out at Furman. Perhaps it is guys from the cross country team out running. I dunno, but some are fassssssttttt.

Oh, and you can also head out to Milliken and company off of Business I-85 in Spartanburg. Their research center sits on a huge campus and there are literally thousands of acres of grass you can run on. I know they hold cross country meets out there sometimes. Not sure how much is marked, but there is a lot of wide open space for you.

One last thing. Tri training doesn't prevent you from PRing. Sometimes the cross training you get from the swim and the bike helps to strength your run.

Just sayin'

There is a sprint tri in Greenville that is filling up. Pool swim (400 m), 15 mile bike, 3 mile run on and off pavement)

That's what becoming addicted to triathlons will do for you. Ironman training especially. I used to think 12 mile runs were long. Now they are a cake walk. Of course, when your ez long runs put you in the 10-11 m/m range, it's easier to go longer.

You can do early registration if you book a house/condo for the weekend, as well as pasta party tickets and the race registration.

Edited:  This is what the website says:

"Those runners wishing to reserve accommodations as well as enter the race may be guaranteed entry today. Please contact the Reservations Department at (800) 654-2924."

It has filled up already!

A friend is signed up and asked if I wanted to do it and I said sure, so I went to register and the only way to get in now is to do the package which includes 2 nights accomadations + entry into the full for only.............$750.  I think I'll pass this year.  If anyone knows of a way to get in still, I'd love to do, just do not want to pay that much.  Thanks!

Tyler