Brian Yowler's Staging Area

This race was well-organized, but there’s not much to be excited about here. Pre-race: The expo was small and disappointing with very few vendors. It seemed like only the major race sponsors had a booth. The race shirts were soft, but sizing was small. When I asked about an exchange, I was given a firm “no”.
Race day: The number of porto-johns was embarrassingly few. If I actually waited in line, I would’ve missed the start of the race. So, I waited for a few miles and stopped mid-race. The course rolled the entire way. My garmin indicated over 1400 feet of elevation gain! There’s no avoiding this in Atlanta, so forget the PR or BQ. There were very, very few spectators and no on-course entertainment (if you are looking for that in a city race). The medals are fine, but nothing special. The post-race food selection was small and typical.
Overall: I was already in town for the Olympic Trials and I needed to check off Georgia for my 50 states goal, so this race worked out well. However, I certainly would NOT make a special trip for this race otherwise. With the huge number of marathon options out there, Atlanta doesn’t offer anything that makes it stand out from the rest. My advice…move on…there’s “nothing to see here”

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.

2 loop course around Presque Isle park. Shaded and flat!
Plus…you can hang out on the beach and take a dip after your race. If you are looking to PR and get a last minute BQ, this is the race for you.

I love this race! It’s a pancake flat, 2-loop course that’s spectator friendly. It’s shaded almost the entire way, and temps are always nice. Presque Isle is also an awesome location for a race! You can take a dip in the lake post-race and hang out on the beach. Also, stop by Sara’s on the way out of the park for a chili dog and some ice cream. Erie is a great place for a short family vacation, too! If you are looking for a new PR/BQ, this is THE race to do.