Becky Elliott's Staging Area

The half marathon in Coeur d’Alene was an amazing experience! I greatly enjoyed the route (the water views of the lake and river were amazing!) and the friendly atmosphere of the event. The location can’t be beat! There is a lot to see and do in the area around Lake Coeur d’Alene! Regarding the race, I liked the scattered start times for the different events (marathon, half, 10k, 5k). This helps to reduce overcrowding on the course. However, it would have been nice if the finisher medals could have been unique to the race distances. It seems odd that the finishers of the 5k were given the same medal as the finishers of the full marathon. Also, the water stations were fewer and more spread out than most other races that I have run. Additional water stations with more volunteers at each would have made the race better. But overall, this was a great event!

This half marathon was nicely organized and well executed. The event offers several race distances (half, 8k, 5k, 1mile), but thankfully, (in 2026) they each had completely different start times. The half marathon started first (7:20am). The course was challenging, but the placement of the hills (middle miles) makes it manageable. The view of Mt Hood from the top of the climb is pretty amazing. Also, it is nice to have the downhill sections in the second half of the run. The finisher medal for the half marathon was rather disappointing (an odd hoop with various charms: beer bottle (?), Toyota ad, a ribbon stating ‘half marathon’, a shamrock, and an orange rope (?)), the post-race food was less than ideal (hot dogs), but the post-race party was a lot of fun! The bands were FANTASTIC! Overall, this was a good race to run for my Oregon half (as I pursue running a half in all 50 states), but a word of caution: The city of Portland is a bit rough; Don’t travel alone.

The Route 66 Half Marathon is a good race hosted by the nice folks in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was the 20th year for the race. The finisher medal was the blue whale that is a miniature replica of the quirky roadside attraction located in Catoosa along Route 66. My husband and I had visited this roadside stop earlier in the year. When I learned that it would be the finisher medal for the race, I had to register! It was a fun race, the volunteers were great, and support along the course was fine.

Colorado Springs hosts a nice event during a beautiful time of year in Colorado! The event offers three distances for this out-and-back event: Full, Half and 5k. The full and half marathoners start together, and run together until the half runners turn back at the 6.55 mile point. Because the distance runners all start together, and due to the fact that much of the route is along a bike path, the course is a bit crowded. Even after the turnaround point, the course remains crowded because you are then passing by all of the runners behind you. Sections of the trail are dirt… don’t expect an entirely paved course. The view of the mountains is nice (especially at the start)! The race volunteers and aid station helpers were all friendly and encouraging. The race t-shirt is very nice, and the medal is good (but smaller than expected). The elevation in Colorado Springs is just over 6000′, so if you are a flatlander like me (from Ohio), the altitude may impact your race.

The city of Buffalo hosts a wonderful race weekend! The half marathon course was mostly flat, fast, and fun! The event was well-organized, there was lots of crowd support, the course was interesting as well as providing a great tour of the area, and the volunteers were awesome. The finisher medal was very nice, and the race expo was solid. Just a couple suggestions would have made this race top-notch: I understand that the primary post-race celebration was held inside the convention center, but most runners just want to grab a quick banana or bagel after crossing the finish line. None of the runners that I traveled with went to the post-race celebration because it was “so far away” from the finish festivities. It would have been nice to have some of the basic finish line sustenance out along the finish chute. Also, the extreme amount of fencing was a bit over-the-top, and prohibited easy reuniting with friends and family. If you travel to attend this race, be sure to walk back down to the Canalside area of Buffalo and ride the Carousel!! It was fun!

Overall, this is a nice race. The event is well organized, the water stations volunteers were great, and the finisher medal is quite snazzy. However, the second half of the race has some significant hills, so be prepared! Also, the fact that there was not a clock at the finish line was a tad disappointing. I am a runner who tends to dig a little deeper when I see the seconds ticking away on a large Timing Clock at the finish line…. I missed having a clock at the finish line of this race.

I traveled from Ohio to run this race to count as my ‘Georgia’ half marathon. As the race date approached, I was disappointed that the forecast was calling for cold temperatures at the start (32F). ((Note: as I already mentioned… I was traveling from Ohio in February…. I was hoping for warmer weather!)) However, as I later discovered, the cooler weather worked in our favor because it meant that we would not have to contend with any of the dreaded Sand Gnats that typically swarm this area during this time of year. As predicted, the race morning was cool, but the sunshine was plentiful, and the course was nice and flat. The race was well organized, and the award categories were great (age group winners for EVERY SINGLE AGE!!). However, my only complaint is that there was no Gatorade or electolyte drink offered at any of the aid stations. I am grateful for the water (and for the nice volunteers who served it), but I typically enjoy a little jolt of sugar/electrolytes around mile 8; without it, I felt like I was dragging a bit more than normal toward the end of the race. Overall, this smaller race was an enjoyable experience with a nice finisher medal and t-shirt.

This is a fun Fall race in a quaint, little town in central Ohio (about 45 min from Columbus). The community really comes together to host a friendly event that really hits the mark with even the tiniest “runner-focused” details. The course is VERY WELL marked, and there are race marshalls at all of the critical points to ensure runners don’t go astray. The theme for the event is SCARECROWS, and the race coincides with the town’s annual Autumn Festival. There are three races held as part of this event: 5k/10k/1-mile run. I ran the 10k, which (fitting for the season) makes two loops through the local cemetary! There are cute participant shirts and finisher medals, and the race benefits the United Way. For a fun Fall run, I highly recommend this event in Washington Courthouse!!

This was a fun race in Atlantic City. The race starts and ends on the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. There are a couple bridges & overpasses in the first part of the race that add some slight elevation, but overall, this is a pretty flat course. From mile 7.5 to the end, the race is run on the boardwalk. The view of the ocean as you reach the boardwalk is amazingly beautiful…. especially if you are blessed to run on a sunny morning. However, be careful about your footing on the boardwalk, because there are a few loose boards. Also, the spectators tend to wander into the course because there are no barriers for most of the length of the Boardwalk. The mentally tough part of the race is that runners pass right by the finish line at about mile 9… and you have to keep going! The finisher medal is nice, and the race is well organized. Overall, this race is worth traveling to run.

This is a wonderful event hosted by the delightful town of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Asics sponsors this event. For this race, Deena Kastor (Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist) was present to cheer on the runners!! It was an honor to meet her. The race itself is a very well organized event. The course is one of the better ones I have run…. runners cross over the Hatem Memorial Bridge (a 1.4-mile, four-lane bridge that spans the Susquehanna on US 40 between Havre de Grace and Perryville in northeast Maryland) and run through the town of Perryville. Sections of the race run on paths next to the Susquehanna River. The finisher medal is very nice, and the finish line celebration is enjoyable. All of the volunteers were great! With about 700 runners in the half marathon, it is a very nice size (and a refreshing change from the monster-sized events hosted by some of the larger cities).

This is a very well-organized race in a lovely location (Richfield, MN). The volunteers and community members are so nice and welcoming; there were many, many people out along the course cheering us runners on (and the sprinklers were much appreciated)! It is not a very big race (just shy of 500 runners in the half marathon), and there is no fancy “bling”, but it is a treasure for those who simply enjoy the thrill of running. The finisher “medal” is a simple wooden medallian that complements the purpose of the race: to support Wood Lake Nature Center’s environmental education partnership with the Richfield Public Schools. Despite the hot and humid conditions on this particular race day, I am very glad that I participated in this event. On a cooler day, this flat course could offer a PR.

If you are from a state with a lower elevation, running this race at about 6500′ will impact your performance (unless you have acclimated). The views are fantastic, and the finisher medals are impressive. Vacation Races does a nice job of organizing the event. This race is “cup-free”, meaning that you have to bring your own water bottle. I originally thought that the hydration stations would be crowded (with runners having to fill up their own bottles/cups), but the organizers did a nice job of making sure there were ample “fill stations” at the hydration stations. Only complaint = they needed more porta potties at the start area. Grand Teton National Park is amazing. I highly recommend staying a few extra days to explore the area.

This half marathon in Newport, RI is a great race with a course that provides breathtakingly gorgeous ocean views. The wind was the biggest issue for me (a runner from Ohio is not used to the constant seaside “breeze”), but nature is not something that race organizers can control. The one thing that can be addressed for future races is the number of porta-johns at the water stations… they provided only ONE at the stated locations. One porta-john at mile 10 of a half and full marathon is NOT sufficient. The finisher medals were nice, and the race shirt was great. Lots of crowd support, and super-nice volunteers. Thanks to Newport for a fun race experience!

The Louisiana Half Marathon is a wonderful race! The course is great (very few elevation challenges), and the scenic route takes the runners through parts of the LSU campus. The volunteers were extremely friendly, and the aid stations were well stocked. The finish line is spectacular, and the race organizers make every finisher feel like a winner! Of the 77 half marathons that I have run, this race is definitely in my top 10!

This is a tough but fun trail race! Even though I have run over 75 half marathons, they have all been road races. This run was my first Trail Half Marathon, and I had a blast! Many of you already know this, but Trail Running is VERY different from Road Running…. especially when the ground is covered in loose leaves that hide treasures below like roots and rocks and patches of mud! I fell down twice within the first two miles. I learned the hard way that watching your footing is a MUST in trail running! This race had a lot of elevation changes, and the downhill sections were more challenging than the uphill sections due to the leaves. The volunteers were great, and the two aid stations along the Half Marathon course were well-stocked and attended to by friendly volunteers. When I finished, I mentioned to a fellow runner that this had been my first trail run. She told me, “there are much easier trail runs to do as your first one!”
For those of you new to trail running, my time was extremely different than my road racing times. It took me a full hour longer to run this trail half than my most recent road race half, but the scenery was amazing and the pure joy involved in running through the woods made this a delightfully enjoyable experience!

As advertised, this is an extremely flat course. The majority of the course takes place out on the airport runway, and as a result, there isn’t much in the way of interesting scenery nor on-course “pizzazz”. In fact, the race can become a bit monotonous (a real challenge for one’s mind). If you are thinking about doing this race, you will need to decide if the benefits of a flat course are enough of a draw to outweigh the “blah-ness” of the race. On the plus side, the race was well organized, the participant jacket and finisher medal were nice. One suggestion: Add more porta-johns on the course – especially out along the runway.

This was a wonderful, small-town race in Battle Creek, MI. It was extremely well-organized, and the atmosphere was phenomenal. As the race started, the hot air balloons were launching into the air, creating a magical display of color! It was an exciting way to start a half marathon! The course led us out onto the airport runways, then through the nearby neighborhoods. Support along the course was great (lots of fluids and porta-potties), and the finisher medals were quite nice. Additional bonus: Runners received admission tickets to the FIELD OF FLIGHT Air Show & Balloon Festival. Overall, this was a delightful experience! This Ohio runner gives this Michigan race two thumbs up!

The Urban Bourbon is a great half marathon! The course is fun (except for the whirly-whirl curvy ramp that seems to go on and up forever, leading up to the ‘walking bridge’ that crosses the Ohio River into Indiana!). The volunteers are friendly, the finisher medals are top quality, and the celebration bash afterwards has a FANTASTIC band! The only drawbacks are as follows: the packet pick-up process was not as organized as other races I have run, and they did not begin the race with the National Anthem.

This event is organized by the same group (M3S Sports) that arranges the Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus, OH (and the previously held Emerald City Half in Dublin, OH). The event offers two race distances: a Quarter Marathon (6.55 Miles) and a 5k. The start and finish is located in the Grandview Yard, which is a newly developed section of Grandview Heights. Overall, the race was great. The course is a mixture of road running and bike trail running. The climb “up” from the bike path to Goodale Blvd just before mile 6 is a bit challenging for tiring legs.
Unfortunately for more competitive runners, finishing stats are tallied by the race for which the entrant registered, not which event the person actually ran. As a result, participants who registered for the Quarter, but ended up only running the 5k, were credited with finishing the Quarter, leaving the age group finishing order details in a bit of disarray. An additional timing strip for the Quarter Marathon might have helped to eliminate that issue.
Other than that, this race has some nice perks which include free race photos and a nice finisher medal.

This race is so FUN!
The race organizers do a fantastic job! It is a non-traditional race distance (4.6 miles), but there is a valid reason for that… the course takes runners around Mansfield, OH to visit the filming locations for the movie, “Shawshank Redemption”. The race starts and finishes at the “prison” (aka Ohio Reformatory). All racers are assigned either “Guard” or “Inmate”. The Warden runs the race as well. The theme is great! The organization is FANTASTIC! Runners are treated to a private showing of the movie INSIDE the prison the night before the race. Also, the finisher medals are THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN!! The entire experience is top notch!!

This is an extremely well-organized event hosted by a wonderful city (Carmel, IN). There is a great finisher’s medal, a nice race-expo and packet pick-up, and supportive volunteers! The first half of the race is primarily downhill. I would love to run this race again in better weather.
However, on race day in 2022, it was snowing & sleeting!! It was an unusually COLD day in Indiana! I am not a fan of miserable weather. But, this race experience was made better by one fellow runner who encouraged me by saying, “Don’t think of it as snow…. think of it as confetti from heaven!”
Runners are wonderful people!!

2010 was the last year that this race was run as a 20K. It is a sister race to the Parkersburg News & Sentinel Half Marathon. Both races are held in WV.
Ogden is held in Wheeling, WV at the end of May.
Parkersburg is held in Parkersburg, WV in August.
If a person runs both races in the same calendar year, they receive a special t-shirt. Having run Parkersburg many times, I decided that I wanted to run Ogden so that I could earn that extra shirt. So, I registered for the 2010 race. Ogden ended up being the most DIFFICULT race I have ever run (and I have run over 60 half marathons!!) There is a KILLER hill. It keeps going for over 2 miles, and gains 650′ elevation!! It is located in the first few miles of the race!! This Hill (which others may describe more like a mountain) demands respect.
By the way, the race organizers changed this race to a Half Marathon in 2011, and it has been a Half Marathon since. But the Hill remains a challenge on the course!