My Profile

@akingagain

Troy, MO Raving since 2021 50 States hopeful/finisher Active 2 days, 1 hour ago

About Me

  • Running club(s):

    Troy Running Club, She Run This Town – St. Louis

  • Rave race:

    Vacation Races Lake Powell

  • Race that's calling my name:
  • I run because:

    I needed to do something to get back in shape. My sister is an avid runner and she inspired me to try a 5K and shw would run it with me. Lo and Behold, I became addicted. I am going for the half marathon in all 50 states. My sister has done 3 with me so far. I have signed up for my first (and probably only) full marathon, St. Jude in Memphis, Dec. 22. I love that runner’s high and feeling good after I get it done.

My Races

Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.

50 States Map
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Half Marathon

Marathon

Ultramarathon

(Marathon or Ultra) + Half

Marathon + Ultra

Other

Future Races

Personal Bests (7)

Race Distance Location Date Result
120 Mile Relay Grayling, MI Jun 24, 2022 32:00:00
82 Mile Relay Maryland Heights, MO Jun 3, 2023 13:32:19
Marathon Memphis, TN Dec 3, 2022 5:03:41
Half Marathon Salt Lake City, UT Sep 10, 2022 2:12:23
10K Eugene, OR Jun 17, 2023 1:00:43
4.6 Miler Mansfield, OH Aug 12, 2023 48:26
5K Chesterfield, MO Apr 8, 2023 27:46

Future Races (83)

Race Distance Location Date Paid
Half Marathon Springfield, IL Apr 6, 2024
120 Mile Relay Fayetteville, AR Apr 19, 2024
Marathon St. Louis, MO Apr 28, 2024
Half Marathon Conway, NH May 5, 2024
10K Columbia, MO Jun 28, 2024
Half Marathon Salina, KS Nov 2, 2024
50K Nebo, NC 2024
Half Marathon San Francisco, CA 2025
120 Mile Relay Mt. Carmel, UT 2025
Half Marathon Detroit, MI 2025
Half Marathon Hebron, NE 2025
Half Marathon Kellogg, ID 2025
Half Marathon Santa Rosa, CA 2025
Half Marathon Roanoke, VA 2025
Half Marathon Bend, OR 2025
Half Marathon Ashland, WI 2025
Half Marathon Providence, RI 2026
15 Miler Christmas, FL 2026
Half Marathon Cascade Locks, OR 2026
Half Marathon Falmouth, MA 2026
Half Marathon Brunswick, ME 2026
Half Marathon Bainbridge Island, WA 2027
Half Marathon St Charles, ID TBD
Half Marathon Safety Harbor, FL TBD
Half Marathon Davis, WV TBD
Half Marathon Fitzgerald, GA TBD
Half Marathon Coeur d'Alene, ID TBD
Half Marathon Hood River, OR TBD
Half Marathon Quechee, VT TBD
Half Marathon Charlotte, NC TBD
Half Marathon Rachel, NV TBD
Half Marathon Abilene, KS TBD
50K Clarks Hill, SC TBD
Half Marathon Boise, ID TBD
50K Lemont, IL TBD
Half Marathon Fargo, ND TBD
Half Marathon Kiowa, MT TBD
Half Marathon Lincoln, NE TBD
Half Marathon Ithaca, NY TBD
Half Marathon Helena, MT TBD
Half Marathon Wilson, WY TBD
Half Marathon Albuquerque, NM TBD
Half Marathon Mackinac Island, MI TBD
Half Marathon Hilton Head Island, SC TBD
Half Marathon Ilulissat, Greenland TBD
Half Marathon North Bend, WA TBD
50K Key Largo, FL TBD
Half Marathon Koloa, HI TBD
Half Marathon Little Rock, AR TBD
Half Marathon Livermore, CA TBD
50K Greenville, SC TBD
Half Marathon Mankato, MN TBD
Half Marathon Dearborn, MI TBD
Half Marathon Millstadt, IL TBD
Half Marathon Frenchtown, MT TBD
Half Marathon Davis, WV TBD
Half Marathon Myrtle Beach, SC TBD
Half Marathon Myrtle Beach, SC TBD
Half Marathon Napa, CA TBD
50K Fries, VA TBD
50K Relay Newport News, VA TBD
Half Marathon Ocracoke, NC TBD
Half Marathon Agoura Hills, CA TBD
Half Marathon Rehoboth Beach, DE TBD
Half Marathon Carson City, NV TBD
Half Marathon Huntsville, AL TBD
53K Wildwood, MO TBD
Half Marathon Bentonville, AR TBD
1st Half Marathon San Francisco, CA TBD
Half Marathon Williamsburg, VA TBD
Half Marathon Shiprock, NM TBD
Half Marathon Portland, ME TBD
Half Marathon Carnation, WA TBD
Half Marathon Hot Springs, AR TBD
Half Marathon Ottawa, IL TBD
Half Marathon Steamboat Springs, CO TBD
Half Marathon Taos, NM TBD
Half Marathon Newport Beach, CA TBD
Half Marathon Rhododendron, OR TBD
Half Marathon Celebration, FL TBD
Half Marathon Salem, OR TBD
Half Marathon Tulsa, OK TBD
Half Marathon Amelia Island, FL TBD

Past Races (25)

Race Distance Location Date Result My Raves My Performance
Half Marathon Cary, NC Mar 17, 2024 2:17:51
5K St. Louis, MO Feb 17, 2024 30:10
Half Marathon Irvine, CA Feb 10, 2024 2:19:54
120 Mile Relay Warner Springs, CA Nov 11, 2023
Half Marathon Bird-in-Hand, PA Sep 9, 2023 2:30:58
4.6 Miler Mansfield, OH Aug 12, 2023 48:26
10K Eugene, OR Jun 17, 2023 1:00:43
82 Mile Relay Maryland Heights, MO Jun 3, 2023 13:32:19
Half Marathon St. Charles, MO May 14, 2023 2:36:01
120 Mile Relay Conyers, GA Apr 22, 2023
5K Chesterfield, MO Apr 8, 2023 27:46
Half Marathon San Antonio, TX Mar 5, 2023 2:17:44
Marathon Memphis, TN Dec 3, 2022 5:03:41
Half Marathon Saint Louis, MO Nov 6, 2022 2:20:00
Half Marathon St. Charles, MO Oct 2, 2022 2:19:32
Half Marathon Salt Lake City, UT Sep 10, 2022 2:12:23
5K Hannibal, MO Jul 2, 2022 33:32
120 Mile Relay Grayling, MI Jun 24, 2022 32:00:00
Half Marathon Oskaloosa, IA Mar 26, 2022 2:27:40
Half Marathon Canal Fulton, OH Oct 31, 2021 2:39:00
Half Marathon Hermosa, SD Sep 18, 2021 2:40:11
82 Mile Relay Maryland Heights, MO Jun 5, 2021 14:27:59
Half Marathon Paducah, KY May 8, 2021 2:26:00
Half Marathon Page, AZ Oct 10, 2020 3:01:00
Half Marathon Townsend, TN Sep 7, 2019 2:59:00

My Raves

This race was well put on. There were about 2700 runners including the half and full. The two started together but the full split off about 2 miles in and … MORE

This race was well put on. There were about 2700 runners including the half and full. The two started together but the full split off about 2 miles in and then came back on their last half to the half marathon route. It is encouraging to see them. The half is an out and back which gives plenty of aid stations and bathroom locations, plus on the way back you know what to expect. Course aid stations had gatorade, water, and gu gels.

Race swag was a shirt and medal. The medal was nice as it had a magentic part that came off and you could give to someone as a thank you. Post race had small cups of beer and nice slices of pizza from Papa John’s. There were oranges and bananas but you had to walk to seek them out.

It is a slightly scenic as you run partially on pavement then to the Tobacco Trail which is crushed limestone and well compact and nice to run on. The Tobacco Trail is shaded with nice tree lined views. It wasn’t scenic enough I stopped to take pictures though.

This was my second fastest half, superseded by Revel Cottonwood, which is downhill.

We were fortunate to have fantastic weather. It was 59F when I started and 60F when I ended.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
3

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Mother Nature did not cooperate for the run in Saint Louis so it went virtual. The communication was awesome. They are mailing our swag which is a medal, long sleeved … MORE

Mother Nature did not cooperate for the run in Saint Louis so it went virtual. The communication was awesome. They are mailing our swag which is a medal, long sleeved shirt, and I chose a hat vs a water bottle.

They decided to go virtual due to the accumulation of snow and ice on the trail and parking lot making set up difficult and for the safety of the runners. We were bummed, especially those who traveled in for the half marathon, but you can’t predict mother nature.

The company has offered us a free entry to another race they put on this year and a discount for 2025.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
4
SWAG
5

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Caren Ware Events put on a fantastic race. The course was 2 loops on the bike/walk path along the beach. Beautiful scenery with the ocean right there. The path is … MORE

Caren Ware Events put on a fantastic race.
The course was 2 loops on the bike/walk path along the beach. Beautiful scenery with the ocean right there. The path is paved and elevation gain was only 58 feet.

Half marathoners got a really nice full zip jacket. You could pick which race medal you wanted either heart or football (superbowl weekend/valentine’s day). Each half marathoner got a bag of powder protein, medal, and the jacket.

Course support was great with water, granola bars, and bananas.

Communication was great.

Caren was there signing her book if you bought one.

She has traveled the world running on each continent in the remotest places she can find. This race money was going to the Sherpas of Nepal to help send their kids to school.

One of the things I look for in races is where the money goes and the uniqueness of the event.

I found this on an internet search looking for a half near where we would be visiting family. It was the first year and I believe she plans to host it again.

She is actually doing a series of runs once a month. So check out her event page.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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OMG, we were told it would get cold, but we were not prepared for sub freezing temps. Well, we had sleeping bags, blankets, coats, winter running gear, but as soon … MORE

OMG, we were told it would get cold, but we were not prepared for sub freezing temps. Well, we had sleeping bags, blankets, coats, winter running gear, but as soon as that sun went behind the mountain the temp dropped. We flew in from MO so could not bring propane or heaters. A suggestion (after the fact and I had some but didn’t think to bring) is to bring mylar blankets.

Other than the cold the trails are FABULOUS! Beautiful scenery, the sky is lit up by stars stretching as far as you can see. Are they challenging? Yes, they are, but we are not a competitive team and took our time to hike the uphills and run or jog on the downhills (which there are many of them as well).

I am definitely glad we took the time to run this one and can say we challenged ourselves to what is rated as the ‘hardest’ Ragnar.

As for village fun there were games, movies, s’mores, hot chocolate, coffee (after they thawed the water lines) and 4 food trucks. We glamped and our tent needed a little TLC (zippers broken, holes in the tent), BUT, we are super grateful for the opportunity to do the glamping and having the tents and cots set up for us when we got there. As traveling from out of state we would not have been able to do all that.

It was not my best performance due to the cold which put a real downer on my attitude and love of Ragnar. (Trust me when I say, almost everyone complained about the cold).

Rumor has it, location may be changed 2024, but I’m not positive about that.

Overall, super fun time hanging with my friends. Great memories made and RAGNAR is a well run event (We have completed 3 of them so far).

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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COMMUNITY!!!! This race production was spectacular. If you want community support this is your race. It starts on Friday with your packet pickup and pasta dinner (extra cost but worth … MORE

COMMUNITY!!!! This race production was spectacular. If you want community support this is your race. It starts on Friday with your packet pickup and pasta dinner (extra cost but worth it) and vendors. (I bought some nice made horse shoe items for a great price). There were plenty of water/powerade/gatorade stops. There were coolers of ice about each mile marker. Many farms had sprinklers hooked up so you could run under them. Some of the best scenery through Amish country. I was thinking to try to PR this race, but once I started I chose to enjoy the views (rolling farm land, animals, people, the crowd support) it was all beautiful. It was a warm day, but being from Missouri I am used to the heat and humidity but it did add to the challenge. Gently rolling inclines and declines through out. Great after race food (included in the race price). I’m talking chicken, hotdogs, sausages, potato salad, ice cream, desserts! Swag is a beautiful medal made from a horse shoe so they are all different. I joined the Fireman’s Challenge which was running the 5K on Friday along with the half marathon. Thankfully they had enough of the cutting boards left for me to get one.

The porta potty line had a director – smoothest line I have ever stood in and plenty of porta potties for the 1800 people. Also they had different inspirational quotes in them. 🙂

The only negative I have for this race is the turns were only marked on the ground and no signage on posts to show a turn. So if you were left with no one to follow you might take a wrong turn (which 2 of my friends did).

We flew in on a Thursday and stayed until Monday and took in many city activities in the area from Harrisburg, Hershey, Philly, Gettysburg and a fun scooter/coupe tour through Lancaster. Spend time there, you will not be disappointed.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5
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1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

Such a well organized event. I ran it for the theme and the awesome medal. With your registration you get a ticket for a self-guided tour through the penitentiary and … MORE

Such a well organized event. I ran it for the theme and the awesome medal. With your registration you get a ticket for a self-guided tour through the penitentiary and a ticket to ride the carousel (which you can do during the run!). The medals are fantastic! The course is a nice 4.6 miles out and back and yes there are hills, but they are not terrible. Missouri girl here so I am used to them and train on them. There is a nice after party at the Phoenix Brewing Company. Along main street, coming up the hill, there are cutouts of the actors from the movie Shawshank Redemption. Friday night they have a showing of the movie and a Q&A with actor/s (depending on their availability). This year and in years past, Scott Mann, the golf pro was there. He is a super guy and we spent time talking with him at the after party. Hopefully next year more will attend. The town of Mansfield is super cute and they love their Shawshank Trail where you can view locations where scenes were shot in the movie. Super fun costume contests. Very well put on event. We will be back for the 10th anniversary run and the 30th anniversary of the movie.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5
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A very nice small town race. I was looking for a half marathon while I was going to be in Eugene, OR and there was not one. However, I found … MORE

A very nice small town race. I was looking for a half marathon while I was going to be in Eugene, OR and there was not one. However, I found this 5K/10K race and decided to do it. There weren’t a lot of runners but it was very well organized and chip timed. Packet pickup was easy and we had time to get there after our flight arrived. Tshirts were just $15 additional. There weren’t any medals but I’m ok with that. I came in first for females for the 10K and received a nice shirt that said CHAMPION. 🙂 Post run food was amazing. There was nan bread and potato curry and many fresh baked goods. There was a small vendor event. All was related to the 10 year anniversary of the Dahli Lamas visit to Eugene, OR.

DIFFICULTY
1
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5
SCENERY
3
SWAG
2

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KT82 does not disappoint. This year they automatically had everyone skip one of the 7 mile legs so actual running is NOT 82 miles. We did double up our runner … MORE

KT82 does not disappoint. This year they automatically had everyone skip one of the 7 mile legs so actual running is NOT 82 miles. We did double up our runner that had to miss that leg. It is Missouri and of course, Mother Nature decided to have a hot flash again this year. But we knew that and we were prepared. We run non-competitive so can skip legs if we need to. We skipped the same amount at 2021 and still came in an hourish earlier so we were very happy with our time. After race food is good BBQ, cans of beer and wine, and music in a park in beautiful Herman, MO.

I think they could have split the two 7 mile sections in half even though it would have given an odd number of legs to teammates and it would have been easier to complete those in the heat.

We always enjoy this relay and had a van with drivers this time. Road construction messed up a few turns to get to a couple loops, but we managed.

Super fun, well put on production and the Katy trail and trails are beautiful and can be challenging to run.

DIFFICULTY
3
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5
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4
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4

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This course kind of ate me up. It started with a nice downhill for the first 1.5 miles (which I took full advantage of) then turns on to the Katy … MORE

This course kind of ate me up. It started with a nice downhill for the first 1.5 miles (which I took full advantage of) then turns on to the Katy Trail. This trail is nice and flat with chipped gravel. It was a beautiful stretch through the woods, listening to birds, creeks, and the river. At about 6 miles you split off to Hamburg Trail which is terrain that seems to have been driven on by vehicles so you are running on the crowned top of the center or in a rut. This last 6 miles is a lot of up and down. After about mile 8 the lovely MO heat and humidity got to me along with the hills. There were only 5 water stops on the route (thankfully I had my camel pack) and no restrooms, except for the 7 port-a-potties they had at the beginning (NOT enough for the number of people there). I came in at the middleish of the pack and they were already out of gatorade at the finish, water was minimally cool. Shirts and medals were nice.

DIFFICULTY
4
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4
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Oh my! Glamping is the best!! Ragnar puts on great races. This is the second one our team ran and this year we chose to glamp. Totally worth the extra … MORE

Oh my! Glamping is the best!! Ragnar puts on great races. This is the second one our team ran and this year we chose to glamp. Totally worth the extra money. The race event is well organized, great communication, easy check in, awesome medals, shirts we ‘ehhh’ this year, but we designed our own team shirts so it’s all good. The scenery on all the courses was amazing. Yellow was the hilliest route and I ran it at night but lots of twists and turns. The trail was very well marked! Our team didn’t all finish their loops so we have a DNF, but I completed all of mine. These runs, for our team, are such a bonding fun experience. It’s our girls’ get away weekend. We don’t run these to win awards, we run them for the adventure and comraderie from not only our team, but all the runners out there. Runners are the best.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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This is a nice flat course. I actually surprised myself at the pace I had. I certainly didn't feel like I was running that fast, but it was a new … MORE

This is a nice flat course. I actually surprised myself at the pace I had. I certainly didn’t feel like I was running that fast, but it was a new PR for me. Scenery is not exceptional as it is through a business district. Parking was easy. Shirts were pretty. Medals were small. There was beer and a few vendors at the end.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
2
SWAG
4

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This race went really well for me. It was my 2nd fastest half marathon (only 2nd to my Revel downhill half), but only over it by 5 min. The course … MORE

This race went really well for me. It was my 2nd fastest half marathon (only 2nd to my Revel downhill half), but only over it by 5 min. The course is flat with what I call inclines and declines (not hills by any means). We started downtown near the Alamo (due to a lot of construction we were not routed through the Alamo on this run), this was a lot of cobblestone to run over. I was cautious to watch my footing. We proceeded in turns and loops where you could see other runners, ran through a nice neighborhood with some beautiful homes, regular paved roads, and on to the River Walk path which has beautiful scenery. This is where the inclines came in to play. There was plenty of space to run without weaving around everyone. Water and Gatorade where really the only support along the route, but they were about every mile after the first 1.5 miles. Crowd support did not exist except for the families cheering on their family and friends running. There was a nice bunch at the park we ran by where there were drummers, mariachi band, pretzels, beer, and oranges. The finish was a nice long corral where cheering was great. After party had beer from local breweries, good food consisting of potatoes, pulled chicken, beans, tortillas, and a brownie, chocolate milk, and water. The expo….well there wasn’t one. It was just bib pickup and the shirt which was a bit of a disappointment to me this year. Very plain and not the best material. The medal was large and a saddle this year — very nice!

We doubled this run with the 5K donut dash which was the day before. We were to get a 3rd medal for running both (on the website when we signed up), but amazingly it disappeared and people in charge of the race gave us three different answers when we asked about it….1.) no they weren’t giving them out this year, 2.) they didn’t come in and we will mail them, 3.) I don’t know. Really disappointed with this as we wouldn’t have signed up for both if there was not a 3rd medal. We will be writing to someone about it.

All in all I enjoyed the race. We rented an airbnb right by the River Walk and spent Wed – Mon as a family runcation. (Be sure to check out Fredericksburg if you attend – cute town and lots of wineries and delicious German food).

DIFFICULTY
1
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5
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4

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This race has all the feels! I selected St. Jude as my one marathon to run. I participated as a bronze fundrasier. The route is beautiful. Running through the hospital … MORE

This race has all the feels! I selected St. Jude as my one marathon to run. I participated as a bronze fundrasier. The route is beautiful. Running through the hospital campus is so emotional. There is a lot of crowd support throughout the whole race. Water/gatorade stops at every mile after mile 2. I ran with the 5 hour pacer and it worked perfectly. The medal is fantastic, but the shirt was sadly not well made. Thumb holes were backwards on the shirt and seams sewn bunched up. A trucker hat was also given for the marathon (not sure about the other distances). If you plan to run one marathon this is the one to run.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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You can't pick a better place to run a half marathon than in Forest Park. The time of year this is held the trees are phenomenal. The half marathon has … MORE

You can’t pick a better place to run a half marathon than in Forest Park. The time of year this is held the trees are phenomenal. The half marathon has you running on the streets of the park. There were court marshalls and people to hold up traffic for you. Packet pickup was super smooth. (I chose the day of). A nice medal is given at the end. Nice after snacks and water. Chip timed. Water stations, there were only 3 this year due to people cancelling at the last minute to volunteer and help. Be prepared with your own water (I do this at ANY race). There was only water and maybe gatorade or something at the stations; no snacks. The park has rolling hills, some a bit bigger than others, but all are manageable.

I signed up for this one because 20 miles was on my training schedule for my marathon training and decided 13.1 with others is much better than by myself. I continued running the additional miles in the park.

If you are from out of town, plan to visit the Zoo, Jewel Box, and other areas of the park. They are free admittance. Plenty of hotels in the area to stay.

DIFFICULTY
4
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I have ran the last part of this course twice before in the relay with my sister. This is the first year I ran the whole half (Only because they … MORE

I have ran the last part of this course twice before in the relay with my sister. This is the first year I ran the whole half (Only because they got rid of the relay). The course is really quite flat except for mile10, which many call a hill, but I call a gradual small incline. I guess because it is really the only incline (except for the very beginning with a short hill) and the rest of the course flat. You run through farm area, Main Street St. Charles, the cute town of New Town, and Boshertown. It is a nice course with a lot of support and spectators to cheer you on. The swag is usually a nice long sleeved tech shirt/hoodie. The event is super well organized. Packets can be mailed to you for a charge or must be picked up prior to race day (NO race day packet pickup)

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
3
SWAG
4

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This was an amazing race. Communication was great, the EXPO had a lot of vendors and photo ops. There were plenty of busses to bring us up the mountain. They … MORE

This was an amazing race. Communication was great, the EXPO had a lot of vendors and photo ops. There were plenty of busses to bring us up the mountain. They gave us gloves and a mylar blanket so we could stay warm before we started. The course is absolutely beautiful. It has plenty of downhill with the last 3 miles being essentially flat. (My quads, calves, ankles, and feet ached for 3 days, but in the best way possible)! I PR’d my half by 14 minutes. At first I didn’t think it legit to count a mostly downhill run, but after I ran it, yeah, it’s legit! Definitely a different workout. I plan to run more of the REVEL series. The post race was also fantastic. A good brewery serving craft beer, massages, creamsicles, pizza, chocolate milk, snacks, and water. The photos are fantastic and you can create your own little video with the photos for free.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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I have ran this 5K three times as I live an hour from Hannibal. It's a cute town with a big summer event going on that weekend, so you can … MORE

I have ran this 5K three times as I live an hour from Hannibal. It’s a cute town with a big summer event going on that weekend, so you can plan to stay the weekend there and tour Mark Twain’s boyhood home, hike, take a riverboat ride.

The race is well put on. Shirts are nice, medals are on the cheap side. The race is down main street and near the end you get to run up Lover’s Leap where the Cannibals meet you. Be careful running back down, several people have fallen with a face plant and EMS getting them. It does take place during the wonderful Missouri summer so be prepared for humidity.

This year I am stepping up to the 10K. Always up for a challenge.

DIFFICULTY
5
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5
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5
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4

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We had a team of 8 ladies. This was our first Ragnar and first time running as a team. It took us a little longer to run it but we … MORE

We had a team of 8 ladies. This was our first Ragnar and first time running as a team. It took us a little longer to run it but we did it. It was exceptionally warm for MI that weekend but we are from MO so tolerated it ok. Chilly at night though so bring a warm sleeping bag. Everything from sign up to leaving went smoothly. Unloading our vehicle and bringing everything to a camp spot was a bit of work (Next one we are glamping), but it went smoothly with all of us. The course is beautiful scenery. Each loop starts up a hill with sand. We just all opted to walk that each time. I had the joy of running through the woods at 2am and it is just amazing to listen to the night as you run. Lots of roots just high enough to stub your toes on though. I walked a lot of the trail at night and just enjoyed it. My biggest concern was being on the trail and getting hurt. There are not course marshalls and cell signal is spotty so if you are down you are waiting for another runner to get help. We said ‘one and done’ but by the time we were packing up the cars to go home we were planning the next one. Oh, and it was such an amazing bonding experience we are all getting tattoos. LOL. (adding we are a group of women ranging in age from 35-67).

Evening activities included a movie with a bonfire and s’mores. The best part of the trail Ragnar is having the base camp. We all were able to meet our runner and cheer them as they came in and still be able to rest, relax, and enjoy each other’s company.

Really loved it and we will be doing several more Ragnars.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5
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This was a small race for a half marathon. I came in second in my age group for 50-59 and I run an 11ish mile pace for a half marathon. … MORE

This was a small race for a half marathon. I came in second in my age group for 50-59 and I run an 11ish mile pace for a half marathon. The town is really cute and the trail goes all around the town. It is paved, scenic, and not super hilly. The day I ran it was super super cold. I almost bailed out except I had driven 4 hours for this. I was glad I did it. Again, the trail is awesome for such a small town. Registration and packet pickup was easy. Plenty of parking for the event. Well run event. The race was not expensive and for a local cause.

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2
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I chose this race because I love Halloween. My son and I did the 4 mile in costume the morning before the half. I ran the half. It is scenic … MORE

I chose this race because I love Halloween. My son and I did the 4 mile in costume the morning before the half. I ran the half. It is scenic as you run along the trail next to the Canal. It is a flat course and mostly small gravel trail. It is a super cute town. We did the haunted canal boat ride the night before the race. We stayed in an Airbnb that is in the historic district. Race registration, packet pickup, and expo were easy and nice.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4
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What a spectacular race! As for the course, miles 5-8 with the continuous uphill has stunning views and the aid stations are spaced out well. There is a nice downhill … MORE

What a spectacular race! As for the course, miles 5-8 with the continuous uphill has stunning views and the aid stations are spaced out well. There is a nice downhill after you hit that mile 8 with another incline around mile 10. That downhill really helped my time. You get fantastic views of Mt. Rushmore. We drove the course the day before and took photos stopping on the way so I wouldn’t have to stop too much on race day. 2021 was the last year they held it so I am glad I was able to attend.

There were a few issues with the shuttles, but it was 2021 and still Covid restrictions but the race went one and everyone was able to cross the finish line. Vacation Races has a nice recovery box at the end of their races and a beautiful finish line.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

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Such a fun relay! Ending in beautiful Herman, MO is fantastic. We booked an AirBNB for Saturday night. It is a great bonding experience. The weather was very hot, but … MORE

Such a fun relay! Ending in beautiful Herman, MO is fantastic. We booked an AirBNB for Saturday night. It is a great bonding experience. The weather was very hot, but we powered through and made it.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

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This was my 3rd half marathon. I was so excited to be able to run it at a steady 11:30min/mile pace. My favorite thing on this race was there was … MORE

This was my 3rd half marathon. I was so excited to be able to run it at a steady 11:30min/mile pace. My favorite thing on this race was there was a water stop every mile!!! I did not have to carry water. I took each mile as a chance to walk through the water stop and drink my water and do a quick recovery. It is scenic running through beautiful subdivisions and parks. Spectators were plenty at the beginning and there were a couple places my family could watch to cheer me on. Easy packet pickup. I love Paducah, KY anyway as they have my favorite winery. Nice race and not just for women. My son ran the 5K and had his own PR.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
4

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I ran Lake Powell Half with Vacation Races. It was covid year but they still held it, but altered the course (and it was harder, but beautiful). Uphill through sand … MORE

I ran Lake Powell Half with Vacation Races. It was covid year but they still held it, but altered the course (and it was harder, but beautiful). Uphill through sand to the most beautiful path to run watching the sun rise. There were several spots where family could cheer us on. Beautiful finish down the sandy hill and through a spectacular canyon. The weather there is my favorite. Be sure to hydrate because when you sweat it just evaporates off. No humidity. I loved it being from MO.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4
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Vacation Races always puts on great races. From sign up to completion it is easy. Race day is full of excitement not just from the runners but the announcers too. … MORE

Vacation Races always puts on great races. From sign up to completion it is easy. Race day is full of excitement not just from the runners but the announcers too.

This was my first half marathon and it hooked me. Townsend is a beautiful little city. We did a family vacation while we were there and visited Gatlinburg and completed the other challenge put out by vacation races to earn my extra pin. The scenery on the run is spectacular. The weather is fantastic, cool morning and warming up (they complained about how humid it was, but I am from MO so humid is not an issue with me). The medals are large and flashy. I had randomly joined a team and we came in 3rd place so I ended up with another medal arriving in the mail later. A super nice recovery box at the end left us with snacks to munch on later in the day as we hiked. Great race!

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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