Tim Gruber won the 2017 Blue Ridge Marathon over the weekend. This race is dubbed "the toughest road marathon in the U.S." - Significant hills, including four climbs & descents of 450+ feet each. Blue Ridge race organizers are so confident in their claim to “America’s Toughest Road Marathon”, they even trademarked the slogan. And with 7,430 feet of elevation change, they have a strong claim. Starting in downtown Roanoke, the race climbs to the top of Roanoke Mountain (2,145 feet) in mile 7. Significant climbs at miles 13 and 19 follow, with plenty of rolling hills sprinkled in to keep the legs motivated. Atop Roanoke Mountain, panoramic vistas are the payoff. Likewise, Blue Ridge Mountain scenery and flatter stretches along the Roanoke River help to offset mounting fatigue. And just before the midway point of the race stands the 88-foot-tall Roanoke Star, which at night watches over the city in a blaze of neon from its vantage point in Mill Mountain Park. - - - - - - #oneRichmond #runR...