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 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)

***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!

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 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.

For the price I/we paid for this race, I expected WAY better, sadly…read more The course was amazing, flat and gorgeous. I also appreciated that there weren't 10k people running with me (13.1 miles is 13.1 miles, no matter how many people I'm running with). There were a good amount of water stations. I would suggest a few porta-potties before mile 3 (for those who opted to forgo the start line crowd). The course entertainment wasn't exactly what I expected; it seemed like an after thought (which I assume might be correct since there was something posted on the FB page about 6 weeks prior to the race). Granted, course entertainment isn't required, but it seemed as if it was more water station entertainment than course entertainment. That water station where everyone was in costume was seriously the best and an awesome pick up to motivate me towards the end of the course. The worst part of the entire process was race communication- absolutely horrendous. I received an email 2 days before the race to tell me that I'd get notification of my time after the race. That was it. There was no race day reminder with expo info. There were/are so many people looking for more information on the FB page and there is/was no one responding to anyone's inquiries. There are also no informational emails being sent out. I had to look up the address for the packet pickup/expo and the what I saw on the race page was "Across from town hall." This is unacceptable in 2015. I am new to the area and I need a physical address to put into my GPS. Summerville isn't that large and we were able to figure it out, fortunately, but I like being certain of where I'm going. Post race, there was a link put out on the FB page for the photographer (the lone man at the finish line with the huge camera lens) who hadn't even had a chance to upload photos. I would suggest doing like every other race and emailing/posting the link when the photos are finished and can be ordered. Based on the photographer's page, they've never done this type of event before and they are having some issues with the volume of photos/technology setbacks. Again, for what I paid, I expected more. More photographers, quicker turn around. This is not to knock the photographer. Despite how much I loved the course, I'm not sure I would run this race again. FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Tea-Half-Marathon-1546287018930923/?fref=nf

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+

My girlfriends and I decided to take our running on the road to attend the divas race in myrtle…read morebeach. The registration and packet pickup process was very organized to our surprise and they had many vendors on site selling cute running accessories. What we didn't find out until getting back to our room was that the manufacturer of the race shirts screwed up the sizing and they were all a size too small. They did offer replacement shirts once we returned home. The race itself was hype with lots of music, tiara's and the like......the course was another story all together, very confusing and no clear markings separating the half marathon from the 5k as the course blended the 2 at certain points which caused lots of confusion. I doubt I would return to the Myrtle Beach series, but perhaps another city next year.

After being bit by the running bug pretty recently and finishing my first half at the Disney…read morePrincess in February, I started hunting for fun, entertainment-forward races, keen on setting a PR. The Divas Half Marathon series had a stop in North Myrtle Beach... which I could drive to, and which I knew would be a flat and fast race. The expo was sort of sad. We were able to park nearby, but we went in what was apparently the exit. And when we wound around to where they were handing out the Myrtle Beach tourist bags, they tried to usher us out, not understanding that we had missed the entrance by going in the exit. Once we got that cleared up, it was quick to pick up our bib in one room and our tech tees in the next. I was disappointed by the small number of vendors, and we were in and out. I registered myself for a Small and my husband for a Medium tee (the registration said they were not providing men's shirts, so I figured I'd get two for myself -- and one of them would be bound to fit). I was amazed to find that the two were identical in size -- I lined them up and there's maybe a quarter-inch breadth difference in the shoulder, but not in the body. They're also cut oddly... so they practically show your midriff in front and then have a tail in the back. Apparently, Divas used a different manufacturer this year -- and the result was not too popular with the ladies! One of the things I liked best about this particular race is that you could stay in a nearby hotel and walk right to the start line. Since there weren't a ton of porta potties at the start (and about ~4,800 women), I was grateful I was able to stay in my hotel room until 30 minutes before the clock started. Divas negotiates discount rates with some partner hotels, however so many of those required a drive to the race. I'd recommend Avista -- affordable and one block away from the starting line, ocean-front, indoor and outdoor hot tub, and large bathtubs with jets. I thought the starting line was set up pretty clearly... there are pace marker signs to the side to help everyone line up, and there are pace captains with pink balloons (although, it was surprising to me that after seeing the 10min/mi pace captain, the only other one ahead appeared to be 7min/mi!). I lined up midway in the 9-10min/mi section. Announcements were made, the anthem was played, and we started off in one mass mob. Not having multiple starts created a little congestion at the get-go. We wove some for about 2 miles (nothing nearly as bad as Disney Princess though). And by mile 3, we were definitely thinned out. I ended up pacing faster than I'd planned, and ended up passing lots of people in the beginning, but gradually caught up to folks falling into a 9min/mi pace, and got settled. Not much spectator support on this, but the scenery wasn't bad (we never saw the beach though!). I especially liked miles 8-11 that took you through some pretty neighborhoods, with mansion-like houses. Thank you especially to the couple who tail-gated with their SUV and played music, moving to two different spots on the course. You put a spring in my step that I needed! Radio stations and DJs provided music at another 3 stops. There was a duo of goofy guys who reappeared with their signs and affro wigs and antics at three spots along the course. But most of the spectators were there for a specific person and not cheering for others. For most of the route, opposing traffic was allowed, but this didn't seem to be a safety issue. And the route never narrowed so much that I thought it was creating any kind of bottleneck. Watch closely for the signs indicating 5K course vs Half Marathon -- I almost missed the turn, and vice versa, saw a couple of 5Kers have to backtrack. Aid stations and water/Gatorade stations were well-spaced and pretty well-manned. Grabbed a tiara at 12.75 (was hugely disappointed to discover it's a dollar-store plastic version and not a nice metal one). Hubby tried to get a boa, but the volunteers were slow, and he didn't want to slow down for them. Leading up to the finish line, there was great support; we rounded the corner, saw the end, and sprinted it out. For a PR at just under 2 hours! As promised, sexy shirtless men crowned you with your medal, we were handed a bottle of water, followed by a rose, followed by a champagne flute. And then you could grab your choice of banana, apple, bagel (jam provided), or oatmeal cookie. The tour announcer/mascot Honey Loquacious was on stage with some great music playing. But no one was dancing. Boo! Overall, this race met expectations. Especially for the price. What I liked most: lots of encouragement and friendly runners; fun costumes and incorporated pink; substantial medals; ease of race access; completely flat course that's not over-crowded; low humidity (at least this time of year!).