My Profile

@bjrobinette

Louisville, KY Raving since 2018 50 States hopeful/finisher Active 1 month, 1 week ago

About Me

  • Running club(s):
  • Rave race:

    Pikes Peak Ascent

  • Race that's calling my name:

    Jack and Jill Downhill because that will be state #50

  • I run because:

    Running all 50 states is really just an excuse to travel and stay in shape. (round is a shape!!)

My Races

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

50 States Map
image/svg+xml FL TX NM AZ AK CA NV UT CO OR WA ID HI OK MT WY ND SD NE KS MN IA MO AR LA MS AL GA SC IL WI MI IN OH TN KY NC WV VA PA NY ME VT NH RI CT NJ DE MD MA DC

Half Marathon

Marathon

Ultramarathon

(Marathon or Ultra) + Half

Marathon + Ultra

Other

Future Races

Personal Bests (8)

Race Distance Location Date Result
200 Mile Relay Clermont, KY 2014 32:48:33
Marathon Chicago, IL Oct 7, 2018 5:28:02
Marathon Relay Louisville, KY Apr 28, 2018 4:20:58
Half Marathon Louisville, KY Oct 25, 2014 2:12:52
10 Miler Louisville, KY 2014 1:44:09
10K Louisville, KY 2014 56:50
5 Miler Louisville, KY Nov 22, 2018 54:42
5K Louisville, KY 2014 27:10

Future Races (0)

Race Distance Location Date Paid

Past Races (77)

Race Distance Location Date Result My Raves My Performance
Half Marathon Snoqualmie Pass, WA Jul 31, 2022
Half Marathon Salem, OR May 29, 2022
Half Marathon Fargo, ND May 20, 2022 2:38:00
5K Fargo, ND May 20, 2022 35:50
Half Marathon Asbury Park, NJ Apr 2, 2022 2:43:37
Half Marathon Orange Beach, AL Nov 27, 2021
Half Marathon South Hero, VT Oct 17, 2021 2:51:07
Half Marathon Albuquerque, NM Sep 25, 2021 2:41:25
Half Marathon Rochester, MN Sep 12, 2021 2:48:52
5K Rochester, MN Sep 11, 2021 39:55
Half Marathon Buffalo, NY Jun 27, 2021 2:57:55
5K Buffalo, NY Jun 26, 2021 38:26
Half Marathon Anchorage, AK Jun 19, 2021 2:58:39
Half Marathon Chatsworth, GA Apr 25, 2021 2:35:57
Half Marathon Lincoln, NE Nov 1, 2020 2:50:42
Half Marathon Baton Rouge, LA Jan 19, 2020 2:28:34
5K Baton Rouge, LA Jan 18, 2020 34:26
Half Marathon Pass Christian, MS Dec 15, 2019 2:35:09
5K Pass Christian, MS Dec 14, 2019 36:00
5 Miler Louisville, KY Nov 28, 2019 58:51
Half Marathon Huntington, WV Nov 3, 2019 2:36:36
Half Marathon Hampton, NH Oct 6, 2019 2:36:12
Half Marathon Kailua-Kona, HI Jun 30, 2019 2:47:53
Half Marathon Wilson, WY Jun 1, 2019 2:42:53
5K Wilson, WY May 31, 2019 35:06
Half Marathon Coeur d\\\'Alene, ID May 26, 2019 2:37:20
Half Marathon Nashville, TN Apr 27, 2019 2:32:50
Half Marathon Philadelphia, PA Mar 31, 2019 2:28:52
10 Miler Louisville, KY Mar 23, 2019 1:46:48
10K Louisville, KY Mar 9, 2019 1:03:12
5K Louisville, KY Feb 23, 2019 30:24
Half Marathon Oak Island, NC Feb 16, 2019 2:25:41
5 Miler Louisville, KY Nov 22, 2018 54:42
Half Marathon Las Vegas, NV Nov 11, 2018 3:02:00
Marathon Chicago, IL Oct 7, 2018 5:28:02
5K Jeffersontown, KY Sep 11, 2018 30:33
Half Marathon Cedar Rapids, IA Sep 2, 2018 2:38:22
Half Marathon Frenchtown, MT Jul 15, 2018 2:24:14
5K Frenchtown, MT Jul 14, 2018 32:16
Half Marathon Lubec, ME Jun 24, 2018 2:27:28
Half Marathon Brighton, UT May 12, 2018 2:14:09
Marathon Relay Louisville, KY Apr 28, 2018 4:20:58
Half Marathon San Francisco, CA Apr 8, 2018 2:29:20
Half Marathon Myrtle Beach, SC Mar 3, 2018 2:28:09
Half Marathon Phoenix, AZ Jan 14, 2018 2:29:50
Half Marathon Rehoboth, DE Dec 2, 2017 2:35:13
Half Marathon Wynne, AR Nov 4, 2017 2:37:43
Half Marathon Crazy Horse, SD Oct 8, 2017 2:18:42
Half Marathon Milwaukee, WI Sep 9, 2017 2:17:19
Half Marathon Manitou Springs, CO Aug 19, 2017 5:20:55
Half Marathon Bucyrus, KS May 13, 2017 2:29:12
Marathon Relay Louisville, KY Apr 29, 2017 4:40:10
Half Marathon St Louis, MO Apr 9, 2017 2:21:46
Half Marathon San Antonio, TX Mar 19, 2017 2:39:09
5K Louisville, KY 2017 29:35
Half Marathon Indianapolis, IN Nov 5, 2016 2:21:57
Half Marathon Newport, RI Oct 9, 2016 2:37:02
Half Marathon Hartford, CT Oct 8, 2016 2:19:02
Half Marathon Morrow, OH Aug 14, 2016 2:41:37
Half Marathon Kalamazoo, MI Jul 24, 2016 2:44:40
Half Marathon Worcester, MA Jun 19, 2016 2:23:03
Half Marathon Alexandria, VA May 29, 2016 3:01:38
Half Marathon Louisville, KY Apr 30, 2016 2:23:09
Half Marathon Hancock, MD Apr 10, 2016 2:29:51
10K Louisville, KY Mar 26, 2016 59:30
10 Miler Louisville, KY Mar 26, 2016 1:58:57
Half Marathon Key West, FL Jan 17, 2016 2:46:47
5K Louisville, KY 2016 29:02
Marathon Oklahoma City, OK Apr 26, 2015 5:55:41
Half Marathon Louisville, KY Oct 25, 2014 2:12:52
Half Marathon Louisville, KY Apr 19, 2014 2:21:33
5K Louisville, KY 2014 31:52
10K Louisville, KY 2014 1:03:30
10 Miler Louisville, KY 2014 1:44:09
5K Louisville, KY 2014 27:10
10K Louisville, KY 2014 56:50
200 Mile Relay Clermont, KY 2014 32:48:33

My Raves

The expo was a trip around the Fargodome with lots of freebies and plenty of opportunities to buy merchandise. Since the start and finish are inside the done there are … MORE

The expo was a trip around the Fargodome with lots of freebies and plenty of opportunities to buy merchandise. Since the start and finish are inside the done there are plenty of restrooms and lots of room to talk, stretch, etc pre and post race. The half, marathon, and 10K were all the same day but the starts were staggered but have different courses at the start to reduce crowding. The course was altered days before the race due to flooding so we ran mostly in neighborhoods. But a lot of people were out cheering despite it being a little cold. The medal was the same as the 5K, just a different ribbon. The pullovers are nice but ran small. They let me trade up a size though. All the volunteers/workers were friendly and helpful. Post race was water, chocolate milk (Yay!!!), one beer or Truly, doughnuts (Yay!!!) , potato chips, and banana. Finishers were announced inside and the big screens showed those about to enter the dome and the finish line. I seriously diubt that North Dakota has a better race for 50 staters.

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The day was very windy and chilly. But, the start and finish is inside the Fargodome so there are plenty of bathrooms and you get to stay warm before and … MORE

The day was very windy and chilly. But, the start and finish is inside the Fargodome so there are plenty of bathrooms and you get to stay warm before and after the race. Packet pickup was part of the marathon expo. You walk around the dome with packet pickup for each race in different parts of the dome. The expo was nice with some freebies and plenty of opportunities to buy other merchandise. Quite a few participants in the 5K so it was a little crowded in places on the course. You get a nice medal for a 5K and the long sleeve shirts were nice too. You get a post-race beer. If I had to nitpick, my only complaint was only getting a bottle of water at the finish. No food, powerade, chocolate milk, etc. But all the workers/volunteers I encountered were friendly and helpful. All in all, I enjoyed my experience.

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5
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3
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5

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First, I want to say that this race had to be suspended for two years due to Covid. The medals say 2020 on them. A few people were upset about … MORE

First, I want to say that this race had to be suspended for two years due to Covid. The medals say 2020 on them. A few people were upset about this, but I have no problem since I am sure the medals were ordered well before they were forced to cancel the race.

The two things I was not thrilled about for the race was running on the boardwalk and the finish line, postrace amenities.

I know running on the boardwalk is part of the identity of the race, but the boardwalk is not closed to other traffic and there were places where I had to run around groups of people blocking sections of the boardwalk. In addition, when you cross the finish line all you received were cups of water. You had to walk to the Berkeley Hotel to get your shirt, medal, and postrace food. The hotel is only about .25 mile away so that wasn’t a big deal. However, the room where you received your swag and food was kind of small for this. There was not much of a postrace spread. Bananas, oranges, some small snacks, and water. No gatorade, chocolate milk, beer ;-(. I am going to write this off as a cost saving measure due to being canceled for two years? Also, I know the organizers were still asking for volunteers almost to race day. So that might have also been part of the issue. I like to get together with other runners after the race and this did not provide much of an opportunity to do so.

The scenery was ok. Mostly neighborhoods for the first 8 miles until you reach the boardwalk. The last 5 miles are along the beach. Of course, being near the beach it was very windy.

I liked the shirt (nice having a shirt that fits and you can wear) and the medal was fine. The communication from the organizers was excellent. Constantly sent updates and information. I imagine this race was probably better pre-covid and will return to its previous reputation in the near future.

For out of towners, staying at the Berkeley was convenient. You can walk right out of the hotel to the starting line. You have to pay for parking everywhere in
Asbury Park but it was cheaper to pay for parking on the street than for parking at the hotel.

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Race is about 30 minutes north of Burlington (nearest airport). For a low key inexpensive race it was fine. Organizers were nice. Park right at start/finish. In a get what … MORE

Race is about 30 minutes north of Burlington (nearest airport). For a low key inexpensive race it was fine. Organizers were nice. Park right at start/finish. In a get what you pay for situation, the shirt was a baseball sleeve shirt and the medal was fine. Course was out and back with constant small rolling hills. Running on country roads with some nice views of Lake Champlain and the colors of Fall. Only problem was that the roads are not closed so you have to deal with the occasional car. The last mile was a little tougher with traffic because it was later in the day and people were visiting the nearby orchards and early finishers were leaving. All in all, not a bad small race with a nice trip to Vermont.

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I stayed at the race hotel (Sheraton Uptown) which meant the bus picked us up and took us to the start from the hotel. The negative was there was no … MORE

I stayed at the race hotel (Sheraton Uptown) which meant the bus picked us up and took us to the start from the hotel. The negative was there was no ride back after the race so we got a lyft at the finish. Also, The Sheraton did not shuttle from the airport. They only shuttle flight crews. 🙁

Our bus driver got confused and tried to take us to the marathon start even though we told him he had already passed our starting line. But, that just allowed us to stay warm on the bus longer. The race itself is mostly down the mountain with a decent sized uphill once you get into town. Overall, I was not overly impressed with the views. It was hot by the time we finished and running in the town wasn’t all that great. Shirts were so-so but they did include a hat. The best part about the race was they did have a variety of donuts, food at the finish and cool wash clothes to help cool you down.

The best part of my trip was breakfast at the Sunnyside Up Cafe right next to the hotel. The lemon berry french toast was awesome.

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Well organized race that runs mostly on bike/running paths on connected parks. Small ups and downs throughout the race. Nice hoodies for both the 5K and the half ( I … MORE

Well organized race that runs mostly on bike/running paths on connected parks. Small ups and downs throughout the race. Nice hoodies for both the 5K and the half ( I ran both. 5K was on the same course). It is still hard to compare the postrace experience due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions. I guess they normally have a band, etc but not much this time. I stayed at the Centerstone Hotel, which was the race hotel. It was about 3/4 a mile from start/finish/packet pickup. They shuttled from airport and offered to shuttle to start but I just preferred to walk. Easy walk from hotel via one of the parks. It was only $75 a night and well worth it. They have a restaurant at the hotel that is apparently very popular with the locals. Also, other places to eat nearby within easy walking distance since you are literally right next to the Mayo Center. Overall a decent experience.

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I was registered to run this in 2020 but Covid caused me to be deferred to 2021. I cannot emphasize enough the great job the race director has done over … MORE

I was registered to run this in 2020 but Covid caused me to be deferred to 2021. I cannot emphasize enough the great job the race director has done over the last year and a half in communicating with the runners about updates, changes, etc. Kudos to him!!

I heard some of the locals comment about how much smaller the race was this year but then someone commented about missing all of the Canadiens. So that made sense.

As for the race, it was mostly flat through the town of Buffalo. The volunteers were awesome and there were plenty of aid stations, port a potties, etc. The aid stations had water, gatorade, and some had gels. The scenery was what you would expect when running a race in a big city. Nothing special. It was hot because the race had to be delayed a month but the race started very early so that helped.

The finishers got nice jackets and boxed goodies at the finish as well as water, gatorade, and a beer. The box was very full of snacks. Due to covid, no post race party though. The medal was nice and the people were awesome. This was a good choice for my NY race.

For out of towners, there are plenty of hotels that are within a couple of blocks from the start/finish. Also, lots of bars/restaurants in the area as well. Very nice race and I enjoyed my trip to Buffalo.

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2
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5
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5

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My review for the 5K would be the same as my review for the half marathon. Just a couple of quick notes though. You got a medal for the 5K. … MORE

My review for the 5K would be the same as my review for the half marathon.

Just a couple of quick notes though. You got a medal for the 5K. Nice, but just a little smaller than the one for half (as you would expect).

You got the same goodie box for both races and the same finisher jacket (except one says 5K and one says 13.1).

Race organizers and volunteers were wonderful.

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This race was state #41 in my quest for 50. First, I stayed in mid-town. It was a nice area but downtown is closer to race start, train station, and … MORE

This race was state #41 in my quest for 50.

First, I stayed in mid-town. It was a nice area but downtown is closer to race start, train station, and more restaurants/bars.

Bib pickup was at Kincaid Park. No expo, just pickup your bib and they had one table of merchandise. I did a little run on the Coastal Trail in the park. Saw moose 4 different times on my run.

The start was staggered with 50 people starting every 5 minutes. There was no way to enforce who started when other than the honor system. But it seemed to go well. A lot of the race is on the Coastal Trail and there are some pretty nice views on the trail. The course has some decent hills but there were plenty of aid stations and porta potties on the course. About halfway you have a stretch that is offroad for about a mile. Since it was raining the trail section was very slick.

At the finish, you get your medal, a bottle of water, and a banana. No postrace party. The shirt and medal were very nice.

Bottom line, the race was ok, nothing outstanding. But my trip to Alaska was fantastis.

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Small race with no bells and whistles. You park and Chatsworth and they bus you up the mountain. It was cold and windy at the top but they did have … MORE

Small race with no bells and whistles. You park and Chatsworth and they bus you up the mountain. It was cold and windy at the top but they did have tubs for you to drop off your extra clothes for pickup at the finish. However, mine weren’t there, good thing they were pretty much throwaways any way.

First 5.5 or so is at the top of the mountain where you run out, back, and then out again. Lots of big ups and downs on this part. After that the next 7 miles are down the mountain with a pretty good drop before your finish in Chatsworth. I was very sore after for a couple of days because the downhill also has a lot of sidehill angle,

The people were nice but save yourself the time of picking up your bib the day before because that is literally all you do. After race was a banana, water, bbq, mac and cheese, baked beans, and a beer.

Shirt was a plain t-shirt, not a tech shirt. Medal was pretty decent though. Free pictures.

All in all, a race where you get what you pay for. I ran it out of desperation as I needed a race in Georgia and didn’t want to run in Atlanta and it fit in my schedule.

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It is hard to compare races pre and post covid-19. I want to thank the sponsors and organizers for doing what they had to do to allow us to run … MORE

It is hard to compare races pre and post covid-19. I want to thank the sponsors and organizers for doing what they had to do to allow us to run an actual race.

The start was in corrals and within the corrals they still did 5 second intervals between groups. People who started in the rear began almost an hour after the first group. But you have to do what you have to do to have the race.

Prerace packet pickup and expo was obviously greatly reduced. Mostly packet pickup, merchandise booth ($5 pint glasses), and a couple of booths.
There were plenty of port-a-pots at the start. No waiting!! Which is an obvious plus.

The first 5 miles or so were rolling hills. After that, the race was pretty flat. The course was your pretty typical run through neighborhoods and a park. Reduced spectators along the course due to the pandemic but there were still some people out and supporting the racers. The course was well marked and well staffed.

The medal and shirt are nice. Nice bag of snacks at the end including gatorade and water. I thought the organizers did a great job under the circumstances. I bet this is a really great race when they are limited by covid restrictions.

We stayed near the finish line so we were close to the Haymarket area. Easy walk to restaurants, microbreweries, and bars.

Overall a good experience. Liked the town, liked the race. Happy to be running in person again!!

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The reason to run this race is the after party. Plenty of food and beverages (runners get 6 beer tickets). Great family atmosphere. Live music on a stage until 2:00. … MORE

The reason to run this race is the after party. Plenty of food and beverages (runners get 6 beer tickets). Great family atmosphere. Live music on a stage until 2:00.

The race itself was fine. Mostly flat, the biggest hills are going over the bridge (twice). Mostly run in residential area surrounding a lake. Some spectators had mimosas, beer, food. Part of the race is on the LSU campus, including running around the football stadium (Death Valley). Swag was good. The organization was great but the music fest at the end was definitely topnotch. I stayed at the Hilton which was a popular place for out of towners. Easy walk to start/finish. I would recommend this race without reservation.

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This is a point to point race that is very flat except for running up and down an interstate ramp at the end. The packet pickup was exactly that. Picking … MORE

This is a point to point race that is very flat except for running up and down an interstate ramp at the end.

The packet pickup was exactly that. Picking up your packet with some souvenirs you can buy.

You catch a bus at the finish line for transport to the start. You run straight down Beach Boulevard with the Gulf of Mexico on your right. You finish in a nice minor league baseball stadium. There are 6 food/beer tickets for runners but the food people weren’t taking tickets so you got 6 beers if you wanted. They were in cans and you could take them with you. Food was a seafood pasta, gumbo, and bbq. There was free chocolate milk and soft drinks too. I would give the postrace a 5.

The shirts are comfortable, the medal was nice. We stayed at the Beau Rivage Casino which was right across the street from the finish. The Hard Rock Casino is very close too.

All in all, a pretty good race and a nice racecation.

Last note, Brett Favre has run this race the last two years.

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5K the day before the half. Same shirt as marathon/half with slightly different design. Smaller version of marathon/half medals. 3 tickets for food/beer postrace. Road was a little uneven in … MORE

5K the day before the half. Same shirt as marathon/half with slightly different design. Smaller version of marathon/half medals. 3 tickets for food/beer postrace.

Road was a little uneven in places but nice flat out and back. Easy access to start/finish

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If you are looking for a racecation, then this is not the race for you. If you are looking for a flat, easy run to fulfill your WV race then … MORE

If you are looking for a racecation, then this is not the race for you. If you are looking for a flat, easy run to fulfill your WV race then this race might be for you.

The race was well organized with plenty of water stops and the start/finish at the football stadium make parking easy and well within a short walking distance to your car. You do get to carry a football across the finish at the goal line in the stadium.

The swag was a short sleeved brooks running shirt and a pair of goodr sunglasses.

The scenery was pretty nondescript. I did like that the people at the animal shelter brought out some of the dogs as you entered the park. I will also give the organizers a thumbs up for having chocolate milk at the finish.

All in all there wasn’t anything particularly bad or spectacular about this race.

On a final note, I stayed at the Doubletree and they let all runners have a 2:00 checkout time. So it was nice to have plenty of time to stretch and shower after the race before leaving.

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We went to run the Smuttynose as our New Hampshire race. this was state #35 for me. We flew into Boston and the drive to Hampton was right at 1 … MORE

We went to run the Smuttynose as our New Hampshire race. this was state #35 for me. We flew into Boston and the drive to Hampton was right at 1 hour. The town is “rustic” and the people are very friendly. You won’t find any Marriotts or Hiltons in Hampton. We stayed about .5 miles from the start and was able to watch the sunrise on the ocean from our room.

The race was well organized. Instead of a shirt they gave a 1/4 zip fleece.
The fleece is a nice fleece. The medal was fine (not fancy) but is also a bottle opener. (The race is sponsored by a brewery). The course was flat except for a couple of small hills in the neighborhood part of the run. The race is mostly up and down the road next to the beach and the crowds were pretty nice through most of the race. I would have given the difficulty a 1 except you have to run into the prevailing wind for the final 3 miles or so. The post race party was fun with some live music. There were 4 places you could get your post race beers and 2 of them had live music. The only reason I did not give this race a 5 was because you only got a bottle or water and a bag of chips as finish line food. No chocolate milk, not gatorade, no bananas, etc. They did have lobster rolls and clam chowder, which I was told was very good. But that isn’t my type of finish line food. All in all, a very good race experience in a nice little town.

I would definitely recommend this race to anyone looking to complete a New Hampshire race. Also, kudos to the Grandview Motel (where we stayed) and Lola’s Kitchen (little shop next to our Motel where we got coffee, water, etc.)

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End of June and Hawaii = Hot! but I knew that going in. I needed a race for Hawaii and this fit into my calendar the best. Most of the … MORE

End of June and Hawaii = Hot! but I knew that going in. I needed a race for Hawaii and this fit into my calendar the best.

Most of the race is running on an open, main road through lava fields. If it feels like you are running in a desert, you are. The climate for this part of Hawaii is actually classified as arid desert. There were lots of aid stations and a couple of misting stations but you are running on asphalt, no clouds, temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s, and in lava fields so it just felt like the heat was intensified.

Race organization was pretty good. My only complaint was that it is a chip timed race but there was not a starting mat. So your time was based on gun time start but chip finish. There were plenty of mats throughout the course so they certainly could have put one at the start. They have four races: marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon and 5K. But they stagger the race starts by 30 minutes so the course wasn’t really crowded.

The course is kind of a weird loop so you run into the sun about half the race and criss cross runners of different races at various times. The shirt is nice and the medal is ok. The expo was nice for a fairly small race with lots of nice extra merchandise options if you are into that.

Best thing about the race, you are in Hawaii. It was a nice vacation race and I really enjoyed my first trip to the big island (volcanoes, black sand beaches, awesome waterfalls). But, if you are worried about great finishing times or PRs you may want to skip this one. If you are like me and just want the finishing medal, it was a decent race on a great vacation.

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I say this race was breathtaking, both literally and figuratively. The race started very foggy but once the fog cleared it was a beautiful day to run. The views are … MORE

I say this race was breathtaking, both literally and figuratively. The race started very foggy but once the fog cleared it was a beautiful day to run. The views are fantastic. The Grand Tetons are visible throughout in the distance with views of beautiful valleys and farms along the way. For a flatlander the elevation was quite a challenge but worth it.

They course wasn’t as difficult as I had expected but there was about a mile section (10 or 11) of unpaved, uneven surface. Also, the road is not totally closed so you have to be aware of cars traveling in both directions.

They began a Moose Double this year (5K on Friday, Half on Saturday). The medals for the individual races were great and the Moose Double medal is even better. The shirts are nice and you got a choice of what your wanted for doing both races (extra shirt or pint glass).

My only negatives about the organization are the length of the line at packet pickup and the wait for shuttles at the end. They did not separate the 5K from the Half at pickup so everyone was going through the same line and it was quite lengthy. For those of us doing both, there was a separate much shorter line. Also, the line for the shuttles at the end was quite long. But they did acknowledge that they needed to improve both.

I liked the boxed goodies at the end. That helped speed up getting your postrace goodies. And they did have chocolate milk!! I think there should be a law that requires all half marathons to provide chocolate milk to the finishers!! LOL!

Jackson is a neat little town and trips to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park definitely make this one cool vacation race! (I cheated and took a side trip to Glacier National Park in Montana too) All in all I had a wonderful vacation and got to add Wyoming to my list of states!!

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The 5K was on Friday evening before the half marathon on Saturday morning. I thought it would be a good idea to see how the elevation was going to effect … MORE

The 5K was on Friday evening before the half marathon on Saturday morning. I thought it would be a good idea to see how the elevation was going to effect me so I decided to run the 5K. The course was flat and ran around a park. Nice views of the Tetons but the course was crowded and getting out was even worse. the race looped around the parking lot so you were hemmed in until the walkers completed the 5K. The race began at 7 and I couldn’t even get out of the parking lot until 8:20 so it didn’t give me a lot of time to get back to my motel and get rested for the morning (especially since the parking lot closes at 5:15 am for the half). They could have done a better job at the expo of separating the 5K and half marathon to pick up your bibs because the line was very long for them. Since I was doing both, our line was much shorter. Since this was their inaugural 5K I am going to give them a pass on the postrace traffic issue (they acknowledged it was a problem) and hope they have that fixed before next year.

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I didn't run as well as I expected here. The course had one long, gradual hill (mile 7 to 8) which led to the turnaround point. So then you got … MORE

I didn’t run as well as I expected here. The course had one long, gradual hill (mile 7 to 8) which led to the turnaround point. So then you got to run down the long gradual hill for a mile. There were some smaller rolling hills too.

When you run near the lake the views are great. But when you aren’t near the lake, the views are like any other race where you run through neighborhoods or through parks. I guess I just expected more spectacular views throughout having read some other reviews. It was certainly not as beautiful as the Grand Teton Half I ran they next Saturday.

The organization was fine. The expo was in a set of stores and was small but the organizers were nice and helpful. The race shirt was a nice long sleeve and the medals were nice but not overwhelming.

Overall, I still think it was a good choice for my race in Idaho.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
3
SWAG
4

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First, the race corresponded with the NFL draft being held in Nashville. So the usually awful Nashville traffic was magnified. The Expo was so-so. I actually considered it to be … MORE

First, the race corresponded with the NFL draft being held in Nashville. So the usually awful Nashville traffic was magnified. The Expo was so-so. I actually considered it to be kind of small for the number of runners that were participating. The course was very hilly and crowded. They use the corral system and stagger them, but many people moved way up into corrals that they didn’t belong in. I saw people that were supposed to be in corrals 30+ (walkers) that were up in the 4th and 5th corrals. So since the course is crowded the walkers just make more obstacles to run around. Also, don’t they know that walkers should be on the side, not walking right down the middle? (Sorry but that is a pet peeve of mine) It got very warm so that didn’t help either. The medals were small (aren’t all r-n-r medals small) but they light up. The shirts were very nice though. I am not a big fan of the rock-n-roll series but this one does help support St. Jude’s Hospital so that at least makes up for the some of the shortcomings. At least I can mark Tennessee off my list now.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
2
SWAG
4

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Except for one hill, mostly flat course. The race was well organized and the expo was fine. I appreciate that the organizers actually made some attempt to enforce corrals (which … MORE

Except for one hill, mostly flat course. The race was well organized and the expo was fine. I appreciate that the organizers actually made some attempt to enforce corrals (which were color coded to your bib). Helped reduce the number of walkers in front. The medals were decent and the shirts are comfortable except that I guess I ordered the wrong size and there was no shirt exchange. I was given an email address to see about getting a new shirt but they have responded yet (only 4 days). Hopefully they will. Philly was nicer than I had anticipated (or maybe I just stayed in the right part of town). Was a nice race for marking Pennsylvania off my list of states.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
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3
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4

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The Papa John 10 miler is flat except for about 3 miles through Iroquois Park which has a couple of big hills. You finish on the football field at Cardinal … MORE

The Papa John 10 miler is flat except for about 3 miles through Iroquois Park which has a couple of big hills. You finish on the football field at Cardinal Stadium. Shirts are nice and you get a decent medal too. Lines for postrace food is crazy though and I didn’t want to wait that long. Very popular race for locals.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
3
SWAG
4

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Fairly flat 10K in downtown Louisville. Plenty of nearby parking available. Popular race as it is the second race of the Louisville Triple Crown of Racing. MORE

Fairly flat 10K in downtown Louisville. Plenty of nearby parking available. Popular race as it is the second race of the Louisville Triple Crown of Racing.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
2
SWAG
2

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Well organized race with over 4000 runners through downtown Louisville. Nothing spectacular about this race but it is the first race of the Louisville Triple Crown of Racing. MORE

Well organized race with over 4000 runners through downtown Louisville. Nothing spectacular about this race but it is the first race of the Louisville Triple Crown of Racing.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
2
SWAG
3

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The race is run mostly parallel to the beach but because of dunes and buildings, you never really see it. I did go to the beach the day before the … MORE

The race is run mostly parallel to the beach but because of dunes and buildings, you never really see it. I did go to the beach the day before the race and it was a nice, clean beach.

The course was flat except for having to go over a bridge twice. The medals are large (the do call it the Big Ass Medal Series) but the shirts weren’t tech shirts. They were nice t-shirts, but regular t-shirts all the same.

The organizers did do a great job with email updates leading up to the race. Post race you got a bottle of water, a banana, a beer, and your choice of bbq or pizza. I will say the bbq was pretty good. Parking near the start/finish line was plentiful and easy.

Overall, not a bad race if you don’t require lots of bells and whistles. The island itself was nice and had a couple of good places to eat.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
3
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4

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This is a very well organized, family friendly 5 mile (1.25 option too) run/walk in Iroquois Park. The course can be a little tough as it is 2 miles up … MORE

This is a very well organized, family friendly 5 mile (1.25 option too) run/walk in Iroquois Park. The course can be a little tough as it is 2 miles up the hill, a loop around the top, and 2 miles down the hill. Always have very nice Brooks long sleeve running shirts. Decent snacks at the end as well. A nice little tradition for Thanksgiving Day.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
4
SWAG
4

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If you want the opportunity to run on the Las Vegas strip, then this is the race for you. If you want a well organized running experience, you may want … MORE

If you want the opportunity to run on the Las Vegas strip, then this is the race for you. If you want a well organized running experience, you may want to pass. The waves and corrals ended up being more of a suggestion than a rule which meant plenty of walkers blocking traffic early and often. Post race was blah. The medals,though nice, were very small. I have no plans to repeat this race.

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2
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2
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4
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3

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Great crowd support throughout the race, but very crowded streets at times. I spent a lot of time and energy running around walkers in the middle of the road and … MORE

Great crowd support throughout the race, but very crowded streets at times. I spent a lot of time and energy running around walkers in the middle of the road and avoiding spectators. BUT, the organization is excellent, awesome expo, and cheering crowds for the entire 26.2. There is a reason over 40,000 run this race. Just don’t expect a lot of elbow room.

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1
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
2
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4

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Not a bad small race but the humidity was a killer. Organization was fine. Medals are nice ceramic medallions. Shirts are appropriate for the price. All in all, if it … MORE

Not a bad small race but the humidity was a killer. Organization was fine. Medals are nice ceramic medallions. Shirts are appropriate for the price. All in all, if it had been less humid it would have been a decent day.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
3
SWAG
3

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I ran the half marathon and missed a lot of the great scenery. A lot of the race is running through neighborhoods or just areas where people live near the … MORE

I ran the half marathon and missed a lot of the great scenery. A lot of the race is running through neighborhoods or just areas where people live near the road. Many people were out to support and many houses had sprinklers, hoses, etc for the runners to use to cool off. Very nice medals for all the races (I ran the 5K the day before). Nice tech shirts. I still use both to run in. All in all, a good experience.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
3
SWAG
5

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The towns are small towns but the people are extremely friendly and supportive. One bar owner told me this race is their biggest tourist event of the year. Finding a … MORE

The towns are small towns but the people are extremely friendly and supportive. One bar owner told me this race is their biggest tourist event of the year. Finding a room may be a problem if you don’t book one early. The pasta and lobster prerace meal was great and we had a great time talking to all the different runners from all the different states. The Bay of Fundy itself is awesome and there are a couple of really neat lighthouses nearby. You are within a few hours drive of Acadia National Park, Hopewell Rocks, Saint John, NB and more. Was a great choice for a vacation race. I was extremely glad I chose this for my Maine race even though almost the entire half is in Canada (the finish is in Lubec, ME right after you cross the border). You will need a passport or passport card for the race though. Border guards from both countries were nice and helpful.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

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Who could ask for more than running from the top of snow covered mountains, next to a roaring stream, through breathtaking scenery. All downhill but extremely beautiful. The most scenic … MORE

Who could ask for more than running from the top of snow covered mountains, next to a roaring stream, through breathtaking scenery. All downhill but extremely beautiful. The most scenic race I have participated in (at least for the first 12 miles). The altitude was a little bothersome for me (flatlander) for the first couple of miles but I would absolutely run this again. Very nice medal. A little blah on the shirt though.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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This race is an example of you get what you pay for. A very inexpensive race that checked Arkansas off my list. I was hoping for a scenic country race. … MORE

This race is an example of you get what you pay for. A very inexpensive race that checked Arkansas off my list. I was hoping for a scenic country race. Instead, I spent most of the time avoiding road kill. I love to run some of the small town races, this wasn’t one of them.

The people associated with the race were nice enough but I didn’t get to participate in the postrace meal as I never received directions as to its location, only to find out later that is was in the school cafeteria. The shirts are not tech shirts, but I guess you shouldn’t expect that for the price. The “wood” medals were a disappointment.

Of the 25 states I have completed so far, this was the most disappointing.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
2
SWAG
2

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