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Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.9 
Organization 5.0 
Spectators 4.3
Number of comments: 260 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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J. T. from Melbourne, Australia
(12/14/2014)
"A marathon crafted with love" (about: 2014)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a wonderful marathon, from the entertaining emails sent out before the race, to the perfect organisation and beautiful course, to the fantastic feast at the finish. I've never seen a race so imbued with the organiser's obvious delight in his job. I didn't find the course quite as hard as I was expecting but maybe I just got lucky, having flown in from Australia the previous day and expecting some real suffering. BTW it is well worth reading the article from Marathon & Beyond about how the race got started, there' s a link on the race website. This is a gem, but let's just thank the organiser and keep this our own little secret. | |
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W. J. from Coral Springs Florida
(12/8/2014)
"The best-ever marathon" (about: 2014)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race last year and the temperature was 22. This year it was not quite as cold but the prediction was for 100% heavy showers and storms. I received an email from the race director: 1) I have no intention of canceling the race; 2) I have no intention of charging you extra for the added suffering; 3) this is Monkey, and you asked for it, so stop whining. How great is that! I signed up for adventure and got it. What a wonderful marathon. The course is beautiful, the volunteers are many and helpful. At an aid station around mile 22 in addition to Gatorade and Coke they had sausage balls, pickle juice and shots of Jack Daniels. The pot-luck finish line had Garretts Popcorn from Chicago and sliders from White Castle. Race photos can be downloaded for free. If you are even thinking about doing this do not hesitate when the site opens for next year. | |
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R. C. from Georgia,USA
(11/25/2014)
"Hills of fun with great views." (about: 2014)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Thanks to Trent and the volunteers for a terrific race. | |
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B. W. from Louisville, Kentucky
(11/25/2014)
"This is my favorite marathon" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the only race I've recommended to friends. Some of them have even run it with me. Maybe this is why I keep losing friends. Haha, I kid. I kid. It's my personality that sours them. It's hard to identify the single element that makes this race amazing. Certainly the course is very challenging but it is also gorgeous. The volunteers for this race are the best in class. I've ran this race in several conditions over the years: Perfect weather, wind, rain, freezing cold ... and the aid stations are always frequently appearing and flush with hydration, electrolytes, packets of gooey carbohydrates, and most amazingly plenty of people filled with cheer, encouragement, and good nature. It's amazing how they have braved some of the worst elements without flinching just to make sure the runners are well supported. The entry fee is modest compared to most marathons these days *especially* when you factor in the unique finishing 'medal', the technical shirt, (some years even include a bonus themed tee, cape, etc), SiliPint cup, chip timing, and other miscellany in the packet. Throughout the race you are never far from another runner or a bike patrol in case anything goes wrong, and you are always fairly close to an aid station as well. Each year I'm amazed by how well attended a runner can be in a race with 300 people. I'm surprised each year by how fun the runners and volunteers are and how good you can feel while narrowly escaping Monkey attacks. Oh yes, don't forget the flying monkeys. Not everyone who starts the race finishes but there is free Yazoo beer at the end of the race along with a veritable cornucopia of home-made and packaged goods (brought by volunteers and the participants themselves) to help you celebrate the memory of those who were attacked. Sign-up early and sign-up often...Well, you can actually only sign-up during a narrow registration window. While it is a small stitch in time, it is at least a lottery now. The RD decided that the suffering should be more equitably spread amongst internet users of varying speeds. Inexplicably, the race sells out each year, despite its treachery. I could go on and on about how stupid the course is and how you would have to be an idiot to consider running this race, but I would always close with encouraging you to sign-up for this adventure. They've been doing this so long, the amount of effort that goes into it is invisible to the runner. You just get a well organized, terrifically executed, tremendously staffed race. If it weren't for all the silly running, it would be the best party ever. | |
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N. C. from Carmel, IN
(11/25/2014)
"Toughest little marathon you will love." (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my 5th Monkey and each year is awesome! I look forward to getting into the event and beat myself up on the hills of Percy Warner Park. Its a tough course but the other runners, awesome volunteers and scenery make it all worthwhile to me. The swag is better than any other marathon I've run and the RD makes a great effort to treat every runner as a personal friend. The post race activities are great and I finally remembered to try the homemade pies. This race should be on the top of your bucket list. | |
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A. S. from GA
(11/25/2014)
"Possibly the best 'small'race out there" (about: 2014)
50+ previous marathons
| 3 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have run 'the monkey' 3 times. It is pretty tough,but absolutely beautiful.The views of the park as you crest the tough hills are breathtaking with full Autumn colors. The volunteers are incredible. The best RD and 2 awesome shirts including a personalized long sleeve tech among other great swag.AWESOME INDEED! | |
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Dan Albert from Nashville, TN
(11/25/2014)
"Best road race I've ever run" (about: 2014)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run this race every year and intend to continue as long as I can. It's terrific fun. Great atmosphere, beautiful course, terrific volunteers and race director, best food I've ever had after a race. It's a really tough course but you need to give it a try. | |
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L. S. from America
(11/25/2014)
"I hate loving this run!" (about: 2014)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I love this run...when I am done. So hard, yet so beautiful. The race director and volunteers are the best. Love, LOVE the shirt showing how many monkey runs I've done. | |
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Drew Trachy from Nashville, TN
(11/25/2014)
"Great marathon that is more than just a race" (about: 2014)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Everything about this race is done right. The course is difficult, yet beautiful; the RD is communicative, has a great sense of humor and knows what he's doing; the volunteers kick ass; the schwag and unique medal are awesome; and it all goes off without a hitch. You should do this race. If you're (un)lucky enough to get in, that is. Particulars for those wanting details: Packet pick-up was simple, quick and easy. Two awesome shirts. The race started on time. The weather did cooperate. Then it didn't. Repeat. The aid stations were everywhere and stocked with a great assortment of calories, fluids, supportive spectators and volunteers. Elly took lots of great pics and then gave them to us. For free! The pot-luck spread and free beer from Yazoo was the icing on the cake. Oh, and there were hills. | |
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Rob Rayder from Memphis, Tennessee
(11/29/2013)
"You would be Bananas to Miss the Monkey" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Let me start with my credentials. I have run 79 marathons in 28 states and seen all sorts of races, big and small. And to me, you just can't beat 'The Monkey.' It is one of the best marathons out there. Why? It's all about running a great race in a beautiful environment with everything you want in a race and none of what you don't want. Let's start with the location. The course runs through Percy- Warner Park which is almost a stone's throw away from all the amenities a relatively large city like Nashville can provide, and yet the course itself is paradoxically secluded with towering trees and abundant wildlife. It's hard to believe you even in the same time zone as downtown Nashville, much less the same county. Then let's talk about the swag. It is AWESOME, with high quality t-shirts that are personalized with your chosen nickname (mine was 'No Hill Too Small to Walk'.) You also received an awesome cape with the Monkey logo and a wooden Monkey Finisher's medal. Parking was a breeze and was free and was right at the starting line. You just got out of the car and walked 100 yards or less to the start. No crowds. No fuss. Best of all, everyone is genuinely excited to be there. The volunteers are great and enthusiastic even for 5&6 hour finishers. The runners really support each other over the sometimes brutal hills. The RD is a little nuts (that is a plus in my book), but in a friendly and funny way that sets the tone for the whole race. Everyone seems to be having a great time but still the whole operation runs smooth as silk from start to finish.Marathon logistics are difficult, but at the Monkey it all just sort of works to make a flawless race, even when the weather fails to cooperate (like in 2011 with the rain and this year with the cold.) Needless to say, this is a small race and the Park Service will insure it stays that way forever (it limits the number of runners it will allow.) Thus far more people want to run in it than there are spots. There is, therefore, a weighted lotto for registrants wanting in. Register early for this one. Spots are few and are precious. Still, if my legs hold up, I will run this race every year I'm given the opportunity. Fun, organized, awesome swag and beautiful. What more could you ask for? Unless you want to actually see a flying monkey. |
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