Sean Carroll's Staging Area

Race day weather was cool, but pleasant. The course started just outside of Olde Mistick Village. From there, it meander through downtown, across the drawbridge and along the river through some nice residential areas. This portion of the course was generally flat.

The back half of the course was considerably hillier and included some trail portions ( gravel covered). This is New England though, and it is to be expected on any course up here.
There were several water stations with water and electrolyte drinks. The safety, officers and volunteers were very friendly on the course.
The race ended at the aquarium back in old Mystic. The metal teacher to see you third old witch but nice with the finish line vibe. The furniture sure was pretty nice for a smaller race like this. There was merchandise and refreshment available in the finish line area as well.
I enjoyed this race and would recommend it to anyone visiting Connecticut close to the race weekend.

Race day weather was in the high 40’s with a soaking rain shower throughout.

Race day pick was at the start/ finish line for this out and back course. The race started at a beach park. Within the first mile the first of many rolling climbs appeared. The course meandered through the neighborhoods of Thai coastal community. There were occasional beaches and ocean views but due to the rain and fog the lighthouses the race is named after were not visible from the route. As this was an out and back course, we were rewarded with a downhill and finally a flat finish over the last mile.
Aid stations provided water & electrolytes every 1 1/2 miles or so. There were also occasional electrolyte packages. The event volunteers and law enforcement were friendly. One negative- there were not enough restrooms on the course. There was one near mile 5. I lost 10 minutes waiting in line off of my time at the single portable restroom at that location.
The finisher medal and shirt were fairly nice for a smaller event. Views at the finish line would’ve been enjoyable on a nicer day.
This was a hilly but well
Organized event.

Race day was cool with a persistent wind. Start time temperature was around 40 with 10 to 15 mph wind.
This was a this was an out and back course. The race started and finished on the Atlantic City boardwalk for 3 1/2 miles. The remainder of the course ran on streets parallel in the ocean. This was an extremely flat course. The only elevation that IThe course started and finished on the Atlantic City boardwalk for 3 1/2 miles. The remainder of the course ran on streets parallel in the ocean. This was a extremely flat course. The only elevation that I can remember, was running on and off of the boardwalk onto the street.
Volunteers were friendly and helpful. They had water Gatorade as well as a few gel packs.
I was not a fan of the official finisher shirt design. However, it was a long sleeve tech shirt. The medal was respectable .
This was a solid, well produced run. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a race in the Atlantic city area.

Race day temperature was in the high 50s at the start and rose to the low 40s at the finish. It was sunny with a light breeze.
The course was largely waterfront following roads and greenway paths. The road was not closed for the race and several cars were parked within the race cones. Drivers were moving at slow speeds so there was no real danger at any point. The course had a surprising amount of elevation change.
The portion of the race on the greenway was very scenic. The trees provided shade and the water was lined by a few nice estate homes and a lighthouse. The race finished on the track in East Providence. The was a youth flag football game going on as we lappped the track, making it one of the weirdest finishes I’ve ever experienced.
The aid station only provided water. If you need gu or electrolytes you need to bring your own. The volunteers were friendly and upbeat.
The finisher shirt was a cotton t-shirt. The finished medal was above average.
The was a nice small race. I’d recommend it if you’re in Rhode Island on race weekend.

I might have rated this race a 5 if the shuttle logistics had ran more smoothly. They didn’t have adequate parking at the finish line, so all pre and post race transport was my shuttle buses for all runners. I had to show up at 4 am to shuttle to the start line but my bus didn’t pick us up after 5 am. Post race, the shuttle driver got lost and a 15 minute route took 90 minutes to get back to my car. That said, I’d like to discuss what I really liked about this race.

The pre race temperature was in the low 50’s and it rose to the 60’s by the end of the race.

Vacation Races does a good job providing Starting Line drinks including coffee and hot chocolate. The race started in rolling waves. The first 3 or so miles were downhill on dirt trails through mature forest. Following that, the course moved to paved roads and continued most downhill through mile 10. There were 3-4 noticeable climbs that broke up the descent.
Miles 10-13 rolled significantly around the Shore of Bass Lake, where the race finished. The last 3 miles were a bit of a burn after the downhill pounding, as expected, over the first 10 miles.

There were 6 aid stations which all
Offered water & electrolytes & Stinger gel packs. Several stations also affected snacks and cut fruit. The volunteers and law enforcement officers were all supportive and very nice.

The T- shirt was nice but very similar to the shirt (including color) that I received at Zion last month. The medal was nice as alway and feature a panoramic landscape picture of Yosemite.

The course and scenery made for a memorable park of my weekend. If you can get to the Yosemite area, this is a memorable late spring run.

I’m a big fan of Vacation Races. The gear and expos are always very good. Packet pick-up was well organized an efficient. The shuttles stopped near several hotels in Springdale. The charter buses were a nice upgrade from the school buses I’ve seen at other races. The tent at the start area was a great touch given the weather.
As with all vacation races, the course did not run inside but finished near the national park. The scenery was great as the course followed the Virgin River and showed off mountains, mesas and the distinct peaks in the park. The weather had been cold so snow could be seen on the peaks.
The weather did not treat us well. The temperature was near 40 degrees at the start of the race. It was windy but there was no precipitation. Heavy, blowing, soaking rain hit near mile 3. You could tell it was snowing at higher elevations and turning to rain/ sleet as it hit us. I felt bad for several runners who dropped clothing at the aid station right before the weather hit us. this was by far the the coldest I’ve ever felt during a run. We were completely soaked by mile 4. In fact, my wife who ran with me had problems with her hands and feet going numb despite wearing wool running socks and gloves. I realize that the conditions were out of the organizer’s control. It still made for a less enjoyable run though. I probably would’ve rated this race a 5 had the weather been better.
There were 2 major hills on the run at miles 6 &10. The climbs were not extremely steep but were sustained. The course was all on paved surface, although part of the run was on the shoulder of the highway and proved a bit narrow for passing at times.
The volunteers and law enforcement officers along the course were friendly and very appreciated given the weather.
The snack boxes at Vacation Races are not on par with the rest of their race day experience. It was adequate but not great. Hot chocolate or coffee would have been a nice add given the weather. The finisher medal and shirt were top notch as always. The shuttles back to hotels after the race were greatly appreciated.
This course was great. I wish better weather on future runners of the races in this beautiful location.

Race day arrival was very simple. I parked 40 minutes before the race started and was able to get a spot within a block of the start line.

The temperatures were in the high 30s to start the race and peaked somewhere in the high 50s. The weather was clear and it was a lovely day for a run. The course started in Texas and shortly crossed into Arkansas. It meandered through some city trails and some roads that were blocked off. The course headed back into Arkansas at about the halfway point and followed a similar out until it once again crossed into Arkansas for the finish line approach. I would assume the race is a pretty even split between distance in Arkansas and in Texas.

The police officers and volunteers that helped with the road crossings and the eight aid stations were fantastic for this race.

The overall course only had a few hundred feet of elevation gain and consisted of long gentle rolling train.

The finisher’s shirt did not mention the name of the race prominently on the front so this was a bit disappointing. The medal was nice for a race of this size. The food and snacks offered after the course were adequate. Several local restaurants were offering discounts for hardier meals.

I think this was a nice race and would run it again if I was near the Texarkana area.

Race day was in the low 40s with a typical damp/light rain. The race start finish line was on the DAIMLER campus which was nice because it offered a lot of open space and parking.

The 1st mile of the race was a 300 foot climb leading to a bluff. From the top of the Bluff the course was pretty flat and very gently rolled to the turnaround point.

The course mainly ran through the University of Portland campus and through residential areas. When the wind kicked up on a few occasions it was considerably colder.

The last mile was a downhill descent and turn back into the DAIMLER campus to the finish line.

The volunteers were nice and provided water and electrolytes at all rest stops. Gu was also provided at one of the stations which supported runners on both the out and back legs. They were holiday singers on the course tee which was a nice touch for this time of year.
Due to shipping issues the race metals did not arrive. However, the organizers provided a ribbon, a holiday ornament and a patch for the half marathon.

This was a well organized event and I would recommend if someone is looking for a local race in the Portland area .

The start and finish line for this out and back race was along the shoreline in downtown Kailua near all the restaurants. The temperatures at the start were in the low 70s and eventually climbed to the mid 80s by the finish.
The race started in waves beginning at 5:45 AM. Sunrise was a little bit before 6:30, so that made for a cool start. The first few miles were gently rolling. However, the 2 miles on either side of the turnaround involved significant elevation gain (I believe the race organizer said the climb was 200 m). The course past several small beaches, some nice residential areas along the shore and a resort golf course community. The final half mile before the turnaround was a dissent/climb to “the pit at end of the world”, which is composed of lava flow field along the shoreline.
Aid stations were placed approximately every 1.5 miles with both water and Gatorade available. There were no Goo type energy products at any stations. The volunteers were very friendly and helpful. The last 3 miles after the descent were relatively warm and there was very little shade.
Finishers are received a tank running shirt and a mug commemorating the event.
Overall this race had beautiful scenery and the race production was high-quality considering the size of the event. If anyone is looking for a race in Hawaii, I would recommend giving this one a try!

The race was point to point. Shuttles ran smoothly to get all the participants to the start line. It was extremely foggy at the start, but the fog lifted a few miles into the run. It was a crisp morning in the low sixties at the start. It got a little warm near the finish. It might’ve been nice if the race started at 7 instead of 7:30.

The course did have some hills and rolling terrain. The was one long climb near the halfway point— the incline was never steep, but I’d guess the climb was half a mile in distance.
The terrain was a mix of hard packed trail and road. The finish followed the Mississippi River into downtown Lansing which is a pleasant small town.

The aid stations had water and Gatorade but were self serve and unmanned.

The bling features a River theme and was on par with most other small races I have ran.

The race volunteers and officials were friendly and pleasant.

This was an enjoyable way to experience northern Iowa on a fall weekend!

I knew this course had a lot of elevation gain, but I wasn’t prepared for how much of a grind the first 7.5 miles would be. Fortunately the last 5.6 was mostly downhill. The course was spectacular- it transverse tunnels, switchbacks & pigtail brides through the Black Hills with several s Enoch views of Mt. Rushmore.
The Vacation Races organization did another outstanding job of producing this race. There was a wait for shuttle buses but everyone arrived at the start line before the race. The free race photos are always appreciated. Water, Gnarly Mox and Honey Stinger Gel Packs were offered and every aid station.
This races was tough but I’m sure the memories will outlast my current level
of soreness from the run.

The course was a point to point race on a former railroad route. As a result the entire race was either a gentle decline or flat. Race day temperatures were in the 50s which made for a nice run. I was coming off of an injury so I didn’t push hard, but this course is conducive to running a fast time.

The scenery was outstanding. I saw a herd of over 100 elk as I approached the shuttles . The course had dense evergreen stands, several bridges, and views of the surrounding mountains. It was cloudy bu that didn’t spoil the views.

The water stations were stocked with water, electrolyte drinks and gel packs. The race was cup-less, but a handheld water bottle proved more than adequate for me given the number of aid stations on the course. The support staff was very friendly and helpful.

The swag was OK. Soft T-shirt and a wooden finisher medal.

There was a coffee truck, beer garden and tension release massage available for purchase in the finishing area.

Overall this was a great experience. I would recommend the race and Orca for anyone looking of a race in this area.

The race was a mix between very hilly technical trails ( 1000 feet of elevation gain) and bike paths. There was a good walk from the packet pick up area to the start line. The course started on a bike path and turned onto a narrow wooded trail. The turns on the course were marked by very small blue plastic flags, and I missed the turn from the bike Path onto the trail. Let’s just say I did some bonus miles. After that initial mishap, I was paranoid about saying on the course for the rest of the race.
It had rained the evening before and the trail was slick and muddy. There were very technical areas about the the inclines and declines were somewhat slick. This is definitely a race to run in trail shoes. The path or somewhat narrow, but the trails very enjoyable if you enjoy off road running.
At about the halfway point, the race transitioned from the trail to a shaded bike path which ran along the shoreline of Lake Arthur. Despite the extra distance, I really enjoyed the scenery on this course. The finisher medal for the race was simple, but I really liked the gear bag that was included for participants.
The volunteers and staff on the course were very friendly and helpful. Bottled waters and Gatorade’s were provided every 2 miles or so. They were also occasional snacks at some aid stations as well.
If you are adventurous and enjoy off-road hiking/running, I would highly recommend this course if you can get the western Pennsylvania.

The course had one major climb. There was one area that was very technical and uneven. Other than that, the majority of the course was rolling on hard packed trail.

Vacation races does a great job with production and race swag. There was considerable tree cover and not as much landscape to admire during the run as some other vacation races.

Great out and back course with quiet views of Bear Lake. The extremely friendly race staff made everyone feel welcome. I really enjoyed interacting with other participants –many of whom were completing the trifecta.

The course followed close to the shoreline of Lake Michigan for a good portion of the race. There was a small portion of the race on a packed gravel trail. The headwind was pretty strong close to mile 12 and just so happened to coincide with the only real elevation gain on the course.
Downtown Kenosha had some nice Victorian home and the outlying residential areas were charming. The finish running towards the lighthouse was very cool.

The effort to produce a live event during the pandemic was appreciated. everyone did a good job of staying socially distanced and adhering to the city’s guidelines.

The course was a flat, paved, point to point run along a greenway on the Mississippi. Parts of the greenway were enjoyable, although we did cross through a few industrial sites. The last 3 miles were excellent. We ran under the St. Louis Arch twice along the river before finishing downtown.

The course had a fast, downhill start. Realizing that this was an out back course, I was dreading the return leg almost immediately. I didn’t expect the course to be as rolling as it was. I wouldn’t call the course grueling but it was a little tougher than I expected.

The scenery was nice running through the Mississippi State campus and past the Football stadium. Once the course left campus the remainder of the run to the turnaround point consisted of rolling farm/pastureland. There was very little traffic, the weather was in the low 40’s and it was easy to relax, settle in, and enjoy the run.
The run back to the finish line did include a gradual uphill climb until the last 1/4 or so which provided a level home stretch.

The staff was very kind and the effort to put on a live event during the pandemic was greatly appreciated! The medal was nice but not overly unique. I really like the design of the long sleeve tech shirt and the fairly large waterproof bag was an awesome, unexpected surprise.

Fantastic start to finish. The race began on Bay Street and meandered through the oak tree lined streets and historic home of the Savannah historic district. This is one of the flattest and fastest races I have ever run. Other than a couple of bridges, there was not elevation change.
The drink stations were fantastic with water & Gatorade. Gu packs and bottled gatorades were also available.

The music was nice and the atmosphere was energizing. The race finished in Forsyth Park. It provide a nice spacious venue for the after race concert. The medal was unique and finished the Forsyth Fountain. It was great to be able to take finisher photos in front of this Iconic landmark. The race energy carried over through the evening as many participants stayed came out to enjoy the downtown area and festivities.
This is a destination race and I would recommend it to anyone who can make it to Georgia in November any year.