Amy Schaumburg's Staging Area

I really enjoyed this race that seemed to show runners the “best of” the surrounding area. Running over a bridge with border crossing guards into Canada was truly a novel experience. The stretch along the river in Canada is lovely and the run back through the tunnel a first for me (and about 20 degrees warmer!) The second half of the course isn’t nearly as interesting, but great course support and fans still hanging out at the downtown finish line. Overall, really enjoyable race, even for us back-of-the-pack runners. Thanks Detroit!

What a fabulous experience. From huddling in the car pre-race to avoid the freezing temperatures to watching the sun slowly rise on the desert floor while roll was called and Taps was played to seeing young men and women run with 40 lb packs through 26.2 miles. What an experience. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Great little town. Gigantic medals (really, a bit too big, but memorable), fabulous on-course support including a large number of CLEAN potties at practically every aid station, amazing, friendly folks and an easy walk to start/finish. You hope that city races show you the things that are best about their city and this one did not disappoint. We even saw the governor standing outside the governor’s mansion saying hello to everyone. I mean, how often does that happen!?!?! Moving the race to mid-autumn due to COVID was great as the fall colors were so beautiful and the weather perfection for running. My friend and I loved everything about this race.

It was a 30-hour experience from flight into Nevada through a quick breakfast before finally getting to sleep. Packet pick-up was easy, busses out to start were great, start line was unique and wonderful. Special shout-out to Mother Nature for the full moon, clear skies and PERFECT overnight running temperatures!

The only negative for us was that one of our group that was racing with us got pretty sick and decided to drop around mile 10. There was no clear way to us how to get her off the course. The aid station person was happy to have her hang out with her until she drove to the finish line (this was around 2 a.m.) but that was all we could do. Even the police officer that happened by declined to allow my friend to get in his car or call for some help. The aid station volunteer had zero cell reception and no radio to communicate with anyone. I’m very glad my friend wasn’t in worse shape because I’m not sure what we would have done.

Happened to be a crappy day for running. The 1.5 miles along the coast at the end was brutal. Windy & rainy. Crazy.

But the course was beautiful, mostly flat and aid stations and volunteers were top notch. I recommend this race even with the crazy weather!

This is a small race, sweet, beautiful, friendly folks and a great place to hang out before and after. There are only a handful of small hills and the race is primarily on the lake or river, so great views!

Expo was fun, people were awesome, Austin is a great city to hang out in before and after. Course itself is kind of “meh” but would still recommend because of everything else. Thanks Texas!

It was super hot/humid this year, so that is definitely a factor when I talk about this race. Having said that, I felt like the race was incredibly well organized and the volunteers were AMAZING!!! Each aid station had plenty of everything and everyone was very helpful and encouraging.

The medal is terrific, the tshirts colorful and the overall atmosphere supportive and fun. No, the course is really nothing special, but it is flat and, if it wasn’t so hot, probably pretty fast. We had a really good front half of the race until the sun came out.

My dad was a B-52 pilot and is a Vietnam Vet so having him at the race and getting to tour the museum with him and my mom was really, really special. As an air force brat, I was so pleased to get to run in this race. THANK YOU!

I should preface this by saying that I REALLY dislike running in the rain. Portland is pretty close to me, though, so we all trooped up to do this race a few years ago.

It was cool and cloudy and rained THE ENTIRE race. There is also this odd, industrial section that seemed to go on for miles. The course was open to traffic and because of the rain, there was water bursting up into the air from semi-truck tires flying by. No fun.

Love the swag, though. Nice stuff. The photo is my friend and I at the finish line. Perhaps you can see how soaked we are? 🙂

My parents live right down the road in Norman, so this was a must do for me. The course isn’t all that spectacular, but the start area, right next to the memorial for the bombing victims, is beautifully heartbreaking. I stood amongst the chairs for about 15 minutes before I worked my way to the line-up. Good chance to reflect on the reason the race was put together.

And the people along the route seem very, very happy to see you!

When I ran the full in 2015, the weather was perfect. When I ran the marathon relay with family members in 2011, the weather was the kind of crap that only Oklahoma in the Spring can deliver. Wind, rain, thunder, lightening, hail at the end…it was a delayed start and as a relay runner, I stood out in the pouring rain for about 1.5 hours…but what are you going to do, it’s Oklahoma in April – just be aware!