D Biernesser's Staging Area

This is a nice little neighborhood run. My only complaints were that I didn’t see any porta potties along the course (Not that I needed them, but I tend to look), and, TBH, there were too many cars in the runner’s lane between miles 3-5 and 8-10. Y’all may be comfortable with your neighbors, but I’m not that comfortable.

First time in person (virtual last year). Overall, really nice!

Small marathon series, but well organized and produced. Expo is small, very local, but good selection of stuff nonetheless. Packet pickup was smoooooth. TShirt was actually sized for my size of female.

Race starts and ends at the same point. There’s free parking all around, but I’d suggest getting there kinda early for a close spot. Porta potty line was quick. Very nice wear blue ceremony before the start. Single start after the wheeled/elites.

There’s a fair amount of doubling between the full and half marathon courses, but most (sadly, not all) half marathoners made room for the full runners coming in behind them. This isn’t just a Coast Guard problem, but maybe an announced reminder up front to not walk/run three abreast and not zone out in headphones would help.

I saw one runner complaining about course markings, but TBH, it wasn’t a problem for me, so I’m not sure what happened.

Very pretty neighborhoods, and then we got to run on the runway and by the water at the Coast Guard station. Very nice overall.

If you’re blingy, this medal set is a must add to your collection. And if you’re multiple challenge oriented, this one, the USAF Marathon series, and the Space Force 10 miler all contribute to a Sea, Air, and Space challenge medal.

Post race festival was again small, but really nice. Two beer tents, two food truck/tent options, and a snow cone truck, plus vendors and Coast Guard equipment all over.

Oh yeah – weather was low 60s, maybe about 30 % humidity…but surface winds in excess of 20mph for a lot of the exposed sections of the course. That was …challenging.

Courses were completely redesigned this year – the half marathoners still don’t get bacon, but the hills are less steep. Also, this year the half and full marathoners didn’t have to share a lot of course, so I suspect it was easier for both sides.
Still a bummer having to catch a 0500 shuttle for a race that begins at 0730 – but, OTOH, this year a couple of food trucks opened up earlier, so hot coffee was available – and by credit card, too!
Love the Galloway pacing teams, even if I can’t keep up with them post COVID.
Also love having access to the wear blue section – I felt sorry for the full marathoners, who had to stay on the other side of the road.
Post race festivities were very good – just need a couple of medics on the far side of the freebie food tent. 😉
Finally, one minor complaint. This year for the first time, I did the 5k on Friday, so I got to the pasta dinner pretty late (as did several others). We had to wait on faith for more food (there wasn’t a general announcement), and then for the newbies, there was no explanation that one of the pasta options was gluten free. And they were out of rolls 🙁
Really not fond of getting the same Tshirt for two races. If that’s what’s gonna happen, please give us the option of declining a shirt. Not a huge fan of the medals anymore…they seem kinda laminated/cheap, even though I know they’re not.
Other than that, I meant it – it gets better every year. I can’t make 2023, but am hoping for 2024.

I’ve done a lot of half marathons. Most go through either an industrial section or two, or along/on poorly repaired roads or on concrete. Not this one! Smooth as freshly laid asphalt all the way, and nice and broad. Along the Rappahanock, through the old town, through the neighborhoods – not a mis-step on the scenery.
There are elevation changes on this one – my tracker recorded the equivalent of 110 flights of steps 😉 Be warned, but not afraid.
It would probably have been tougher in full sun, but fortunately the clouds were overhead and there was a breeze for the first 2.5-3 hours.
The neighborhoods were pretty, the crowd support was really extensive (On!On!), the music was uniformly good all the way along (though some on Hospital Hill would have been nice, but I get it, a hospital ;-).
The aid stations were plentiful and plentifully stocked. The finish line food was pretty good, the medal is awesome. My favorite course.

The Cowtown did their absolute best to run a large race during Covid. The course had some rolling hills (though i hear previous years were worse). Going through the Stockyards was great (though cobblestones do worry me), and the park towards the end was really sweet. The music and bands were good. And the bling was the best. My time sucked…but, Covid. Yeah, I’ll blame Covid.

Now, the downside. Due to covid, there were no shuttles or non car transportation to and from the event or packet pickup. I knew that going in, but the reality of walking about 4 extra miles each day in the heat wasn’t much fun. There was no GU in my box, and I ended up salvaging that and a warmup jacket from the side of the road about mile one into the event.

All in all, hillier-ish than I expected, but fun. Cooler would have been better.

To sum:
Expo was fine, easy to get to via public transportation.
Start line a little tough to get to – pay for a shuttle.
Weather was low to mid 60s – maybe a little humid, but not much for this Miamian. Blessedly overcast.
Course was quite nice – no industrial back lots on this half! Some hills, but in my perception, not as many as Nashville. My only course regret was that all the fun block parties were around miles 3-6. I prefer my party towards the end. 😉
Spectator support was outstanding. They were everywhere.
Finish line was nice – but the usual confusing scrum afterward. More signs earlier for the finish festival and activities, please. Us old timers know to keep walking for medal engraving, et al, but the new people get confused.
Snafu with T-Shirts meant that we got them after the race, and the women’s shirts were a violently lime green with pink accents. I and another woman tried to trade the men for their nice blue shirts, but no dice.
Hey, I PR’d on a nice day with outstanding crowd support. Liked it a lot.

With Disney, you get outstanding organization, good swag, lots of entertainment, great shuttles. You do pay for it.

Only complaint is that the course gets way too crowded at many points, with walkers or walk/joggers taking up the entire lane at a multitude of points, including the finish corral. Hint, people – if I’m passing you on the right, you may well be too far over on the left. Even as a walk/jogger, I don’t start walking until I’ve moved to the right.