Brian Yowler's Staging Area

This is NOT the race for a BQ or a big PR, but it’s worth doing. The first 8 miles are brutal, including several long uphills and downhills. However, the 2nd half is flat with a big downhill section before mile 18. So, if you are patient, you can run a big negative split (mine was 10 minutes). There was also really GREAT crowd support (for a mid-sized race) and on-course support from volunteers. As part of the I-35 challenge, this was overall a great experience!

I’ve run over 30 marathons, but have never run one on a trail. This one was amazing! It’s really small, but well organized. The course is mostly single-track trail, but very “runnable”. The full marathon is 2 loops around Timothy Lake with very rewarding views of Mt. Hood! There are 2 significant hills on the course, but it’s mostly flat. If you want a great Oregon experience, I’d highly recommend this race!

Packet pick-up was among the quickest I’ve experienced. The swag was awesome…short-sleeved tech-shirt PLUS a nice fleece quarter-zip! Overall, the marathon was well-organized and very easy to navigate. I stayed at an AirBnB less than a mile from the start/finish. It was an easy walk to/from the race, so no transportation needed. Pre-race bag check, restrooms, corrals, were all very nicely organized. The weather was absolutely perfect…40’s and overcast. The course was solid, with a few miles along the lakefront (although with the fog/clouds, there wasn’t much to see). The rest is mostly through residential areas. The uphills after mile 10 are slight, but provide a challenge. However, you get to come back down those hills during the last few miles, which is amazing! The only 2 negatives of the course are the out-and-backs, especially the last one, and nearly a complete lack of spectators. I’m fine without big cheering sections, but the out-and-back takes a real toll mentally after mile 20. Overall…a solid race. Recommended.

Monumental is a nice race that’s relatively flat and potentially fast. The course is not all that interesting. It’s simply a loop through the neighborhoods of Indy. It’s well organized and worth running. However, it’s not a destination race, unless you are doing 50 states.

There is plenty of free parking near the start/finish at Broadway at the Beach.
The “yeti-like” coffee mug has become my favorite piece of swag!
The course is obviously pancake flat, but since a large portion (miles 8-16) is in 1 direction, a headwind can kill you. That was the case this year. A really strong headwind killed my time. Without the wind, this course could be fast.