From the starting line at the corner of Markey and Main Streets near the ball park, the race route what could basically be described as a clockwise loop course through the city, along a combination of city and neighborhood streets as well as stretches along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 13 1/2-mile-long trail for bikers, walkers and runners that runs alongside the Reedy River, connecting Greenville with the nearby town of Travelers Rest.
Runners follow the course as it winds through local parks like Meadowbrook Park, Reedy River Falls Park and Cleveland Park, and much of the early and middle miles of the race unfold along the river. The second half of the race includes more hills than the first, with some short, steep hills especially as runners head into miles 8 through 10, along Cleveland Street, McDaniel Avenue, Lanneau Drive and McPherson Lane.
After the hills, the route then flattens out again as runners hit the home stretch back in toward the finish line, making a few turns in the blocks just west of the baseball stadium. The last stretch of the race includes perhaps the highlight of the course, as runners make their way all around Fluor Field and then into the ballpark to cross the finish line on the field.
Runners will have 4 hours to complete the 13.1 miles of the half marathon, organizers note, and both the full and the half marathons are for runners only — walkers are welcome to enter the 5K.
