Scott Hepburn's Staging Area

To steal (and butcher) a phrase from Little Rock’s native son, Bill Clinton: “It’s the medal, stupid.” That’s why we ALL pick this race.

Shoutout to the crowd: For a relatively small town, I was pleasantly surprised by the crowd support. Spectators were plentiful, energetic, encouraging, and fun. Saw more signs that I’ve seen at other races. Visited a few unique refreshment tables…grilled pineapple, plenty of shots, beer, etc.

Let’s talk about those hills. Starting at mile 8ish, they’re eternal. Never especially steep, just always f’ing there. Steady, low-grade climbing for, I dunno, eight miles? And then you drop all the way back to zero in the span of 3/4ths of a mile. The down was a nice reprieve, but hardly offset the energy drain of the preceding 7-8 miles.

Little Rock isn’t an especially scenic town. Sunrise over the river was nice. But other than that? Meh. Nothing to look at.

Race production was mostly good. My only gripes were I wish water stops had been a smidge more frequent (almost 3 miles apart in the first half) and I thought the half-marathon turnaround at mile 6ish could have been more prominently marked. Otherwise, course was smooth.

Post-race food was okay…pasta, snacks, light beer, chocolate milk…better than some I’ve been to for sure.

Swag…it’s basically the huge medal and that’s it. Got a mini poster, too, which my little girl will enjoy. And I thought the L’Oreal Lip Stick Station at mile 26 was fun and unique. I snagged some makeup for my kiddo.

If you need to check off Arkansas, it’s easy to see why this is the marquee marathon. Enjoy the run!

I had the pleasure of running this race along the Gulf of Mexico before an arrogant, power-hungry liar and convicted felon decided we should call it the Gulf of America. Lucky for me, he hasn’t revoked our right to run. Yet.

Ranting aside, let’s talk about the race. It’s a fine race. The gulf views are pretty. A bit repetitive, but still…nice enough. I liked watching the sun come up over the water before the start of the race.

The course isn’t challenging at all. It’s straight and flat. The humidity, on the other hand, ain’t my cup of tea. Even when temps were cool the humidity made breathing tougher and my heart rate climb. A lot of runners said the wind was brutal; I didn’t notice it, but I may have been in a zone. Crowd support was fairly limited since it’s a point-to-point along a highway hemmed in by the coastline, which makes it difficult for spectators to get around. The folks who were out were supportive, though.

As far as race amenities, this one was a mixed bag. The pre-race expo…if you could call it that…was a waste of time. It was held in a parking garage. There was no swag. No vendors. Just a bib and a race shirt and some old merch to buy. Maybe they didn’t get any sponsors? The post-race event in the baseball stadium was better…you got a bunch of food and drink tickets and I couldn’t even use mine. The food options were limited (I snagged a few BBQ pork sammiches and a beer), but they were giving out chocolate milk (my post-race fave), no ticket required. I’m helped myself to as much as I wanted.

Biloxi itself is a snooze fest. Typical coastline made-in-China tchotchke town. As I expected, Mississippi was a “run this damn race and get the hell out” state.

Would I recommend this race? I dunno. Maybe. I guess. It was fine. Just nothing distinctive about it. I don’t ever want to go to Mississippi again, but I’m curious if other races in the state have a bit more flavor.

Shenandoah, Iowa is a SUPER small town. It comes with all the charms of a small town, and so does the race. This is running for the joy of running!

There were maybe 100 runners milling around at the start line. Maybe even less than that? Lines for the porta potty weren’t an issue, and if you were in a pinch the Depor restaurant had its bathrooms available.

The course is a very simple out-and-back on a packed gravel trail with no twists and turns. That should lend itself to fast times, but the heat and humidity ratcheted up. This race would be SO much better as an October or November race.

Race staff and volunteers did a great job. Road crossings were adequately manned with volunteers and local low enforcement. Of course, it’s rural Iowa, so there’s not much traffic anyway. Water stations were plentiful and volunteers were happy to help you. Beverages got warm late in the day. Again, curse you late summer heat (and a burning planet). No GU that I saw, but a few stops had fruit, candy, etc.

Scenery was pleasant, if a bit non-descript. You run on a tree-lined rail trail, so you’re in shade most of the time.

Crowd support was light because, well, small town plus trail instead of city streets, but I thought the local folks who came out to cheer us on were great. I love when the community is there for us. They have busy lives and they chose to come encourage us. #thankful

Porta potties along the route? I didn’t notice. I vaguely remember there were a few. Certainly don’t remember seeing runners waiting in line for a porta potty, for what that’s worth.

Post-race was actually not bad for a small town. No big hoopla, but there was good music, friendly fans, EXCEPTIONAL service from the gals working the food and bev station, and free beer. Volunteers actually went out of their way to bring me Gatorade and chocolate milk when I grabbed a chair at the finish line. I felt very supported.

All in all, a nice event for a small town race. If you like the city races, do Des Moines, but if you wanna see America at its best, run the Wabash Trace marathon.

Until the Jersey City Marathon came along, I struggled to find a good race option for my NJ marathon. Most other races in the state get pretty uninspired reviews (why, NJ?). Happily, Jersey City proved to be a solid choice.

The course itself was MOSTLY flat and fast, as advertised. There’s a couple little hills, including a sneaky one at mile 19/20 that took the wind out of my sails. Still, I was well ahead of PR pace for most of the race. It’s a little congested at the start as you navigate some narrow corridors, so keep that in mind for the first 2-4 miles.

Swag was nothing special. Basic yellow short-sleeve race shirt (I actually kinda like it). Finishers medal was of the swings-open variety that is so trendy lately. Virtuallyf no expo swag…some goodies would have been nice, especially for the steep price.

Crowd support was pretty good throughout. If you have friends and family cheering you on, the course is VERY friendly for moving about and catching your runner at multiple points along the race. I think I saw my cheering section 6-7 times.

Aid stations were sufficiently spaced and adequately stocked (water and Gatorade at most stops, though the claim of Gatorade at all but one stop proved incorrect). Don’t recall seeing many portapotties, but I wasn’t looking.

All in all, a good race. Price was way too high for what you get. I guess that’s just inflated NYC metro cost. Whatcha gonna do? Race needs a big name sponsor to improve the value proposition or lower the cost. Still…seems like this race is quickly emerging as the best of the limited options in New Jersey, and it’s a fine choice for your Garden State marathon.

Flew out to Lawrence, Kansas from NC specifically for this event. Seemed like a fun atmosphere. When Mother Nature threatened to turn this into a pavement run (out-and-backs, no less), I was crestfallen. But the run gods intervened, we ran mostly on trails, and I had a blast.

Usually I start a review by talking about the run, or maybe race logistics, but I’d be foolish not to highlight the food first and foremost. The RD and event team put on a helluva feast all day and all night. Quesadillas, sammiches, burgers, pizza, snacks of every variety imaginable, drinks of all persuasians, several soups, beer…I could go on and on. It’s a miracle I kept going out for more laps with all that food waiting in a heated tent.

The run itself was great. Trails were moderately technical, and soggy in a lot of places. No crazy hills, though plenty of up and down. Three trails — 1.9mi, 2.6mi, and 3.6mi — with the shortest one on pavement due to poor trail conditions. Each challenges you in their own way.

The camaraderie was solid…got to chat with several other runners, most from nearby. Seems like a good running community out there in Lawrence and nearby Kansas City.

Every runner got apparel (half zip for 12-hour runners), and you got a Cactus Roulette branded casino chip with each lap you finished, each chip colored to match the trail you just ran. And when you tapped out, you got a yellow finishers chip.

For just the third year of this event, it’s incredibly well done and promises to grow. Tons of fun, truly unique and a nice change of pace from my usual road marathons. Definitely give this one a run if you get a chance.

Highlights:
* Running past rockets at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center
* Being cheered on by members of our armed services in uniform outside of the Rocket center. These men and women deserve to be honored for all they do. And here they were cheering US on.
* Swag/Expo – Got a giant bag of Ka’Chava. Picked up some high-vis long-sleeve shirts from prior years for $1. Got some cheap souvenirs for the kiddo. The race shirt was a lightweight, light blue long-sleeve tee…and hey, blue is my color.
* Running through the botanical garden. It’s winter, so nothing is in bloom, but it’s still a pleasant setting.
* Post-race food was plentiful. The usual fare: Nothing unique, but hey, they didn’t run out (unlike other races I’ve run)

The rest:
* Other than the rockets and the botanical gardens, the race course is fairly forgettable. I just watched a YouTube preview of the whole course and I don’t remember any of it.
* The medals. I’ll say this: They’re not ho-him. They gave us three medals: One for the marathon, and two half-marathon medals. Feels like double-dipping. It’s overkill. I hate taking credit for a “race within a race.” Why not give out a 5k medal while you’re at it? I tossed the extra medals in a junk drawer.

I’ve seen the reviews that say the first half is scenic and the back half is boring. I disagree! There’s no denying the first 13 miles are some of the prettiest marathon miles…especially along the coastline. And while the second half isn’t all mansions and seashore, it has some pretty stretches of its own.

Is this race hilly? I don’t think it’s THAT hilly. There’s one at mile 22 or 23 that was a doozy that late in the race. And the second half certainly is hillier than the first half. But it’s not as hilly as some folks make it out to be. Is it flat? No. So I guess if you’ve only ever run pancake-flat races, it’ll seem hilly. Still…this is Rhode Island, not the Himalayas.

Crowd support is decent. Most of the crowds are congregated in a few touristy areas within the first 13 miles. There are places where it’s sparse…the ocean miles are empty, but who cares with a view that good. The back half has empty stretches. Still, you rarely went more than a mile or so without finding a little cluster of folks. I ran sans headphones the whole time and didn’t miss the crowds.

Race swag is so-so: A basic medal and not much else. I like the shirt.

Post-race: They ran out of pizza. They almost ran out of beer. These are things I hate. Sufficient food and beer for ALL runners should be a “don’t F this up” issue for a race director. Would love to see them do more than the minimum though.

Aid stations & porta johns: I legit don’t remember. Vaguely remember the aid stations being staffed by friendly folks, but couldn’t tell you if there were enough or what they served.

Final thoughts: Despite a few nitpicks, this race is a top five marathon in my book (of the 17 states I’ve run). It’s about the view. Look around you! If you can’t enjoy running along the New England coast surrounded be grand mansions, what DOES a pretty run look like to you?

Full disclosure: While my ratings are a bit low for this race, I still enjoyed the experience. You’re gonna want to read on to learn more.

SCENERY: One of my top criteria for selecting (and rating) races. And the scenery in Blackwater Falls State Park IS gorgeous. The canyon walls…the miles of green mountains…the waterfall…all beautiful. But I can only give the race partial credit: You can’t enjoy the view when you’re running in the pitch black of night. It WAS cool to see all the runners lit up with neon glow sticks and color vests. But after the half marathoners disappeared, so did the carnival vibe. (Park scenery: 10/10; race scenery: Incomplete)

HILLS: It wasn’t just the 2,400 ft. of elevation gain that killed me. It was the non-stop hills. You’re almost never running flat. Go up a hill, go down a hill, repeat. It was challenging…and I’m glad I did it.

SWAG: No race expo. The “medal” was a unique handmade pottery thing. That’s pretty cool. The soft, light hoodie race shirt was also nice. One of my faves. Don’t expect any other swag, though.

FOOD/AID STATIONS: Zero stars. No post-race food for runners. Not even a banana. Aid stations were adequately spaced, although not much care given. This was a “fend for yourself” race. They never promised to be otherwise. I’m scoring poorly here, though, because I’ve learned I like being spoiled (and refueled) at a race.

COMMUNICATION: Not the best. 100% focused on selling race entries. Pre-race…post-race…it’s all push marketing. Too many emails trying to get you to register (even after you’ve already registered). At least they were responsive on social media when people asked questions…that’s a positive.

LODGING: I rented a vacation cabin at the park with some buddies. I think it was maybe $350/night split between us. It could accommodate eight, so if you split that with other runners, it’s a great deal. Not rustic at all…more like a hotel room in the woods: WiFi, TV, AC, full kitchen, etc. Cabin was right next to the race route, so perfect for mid-race fueling, support crew, etc.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The highlight of this race was the setting. Stay for a few days and explore the nearby towns of Thomas and Davis. Hike the trails of the park. See the waterfall. The race itself was okay — but for me, the mini vacation is what made the weekend.

Don’t get me wrong…the experience of running under moonlight with a waterfall within earshot was cool. If you don’t mind a minimalist event, you’ll have a good time. I’m glad I ran this event. My lower scores are more a reflection of what I’ve enjoyed about other events. But don’t take my word…run it for yourself and let me know what you think!

What I Loved:

* Every aspect of race production went smoothly. From registration and communication to expo, race day and post-race, Carmel Marathon Weekend was a world class event.

* The race route is pretty, although not necessarily scenic. Even without a signature Instagram-worthy view, it was a really pleasant run. Carmel is a lovely community.

* Decent crowd support. There were a few stretches with no crowds — one stretch along the paved trail for a few miles, another stretch in a corporate park area of town — but there were still plenty of areas with fans cheering.

* The finisher’s medal is one of the biggest medals I’ve ever scene…and it’s not just flimsy or gaudy monstrosity. It’s a hefty, high quality medal with a nice design.

What I Didn’t Love:

It’s hard to find anything to complain about. I totally forgot to stop by the famous pancake village after the race (bummer!). There were no energy gels along the course, which some runners might lament. And the swag bag was just a packet of sponsor promotional junk…no goodies. But those are all minor gripes.

One caution: Traffic and getting around town for race spectators is tricky. If your curb crew is planning to bounce around to multiple locations, they could easily find themselves stuck in standstill traffic, and potentially miss you. The online route maps are sorta useless, too.

Final Word:

I PR’d, so I’m probably biased, but the Carmel Marathon is easily a top 5 event of the states I’ve run so far (11). Couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Loved chatting with the race director after the race. If you’re looking for an Indiana marathon in your 50 states journey, there’s a lot to love about the Carmel Marathon.

Picked this race because my wife has family in the area, so we saved $ on lodging and also got to see family. The race has an unmistakable small town quality to it. Here’s the pros & cons:

The Good:
* Swag. Okay, it’s bright and colorful and looks like stuff a kid would love…and that made it great stuff to give to my 7-year-old. High quality hoodie, high quality winter hat, and a fun medal.

*Communications. Race director made a pre-race video and did a lot to communicate details.

*Logistics. Easy to reach location, and close to the Springfield airport for out-of-towners. My wife was also able to drive from water stop to water stop so she could cheer me on multiple times, and never had to drive more than five minutes.

The Bad:
* Missed Turns. Volunteers set up a water table blocking a key race intersection, then told runners to turn the wrong way. About a dozen runners missed a two mile segment. My wife realized what happened and got the volunteers out of the way before more runners were affected, then tracked down the race director to ensure the runners who missed their turn could complete their full 26.2 miles. Mistakes like this doom races. After the Garmin/Land of Oz Marathon fiasco, important details like this should be a priority.

* Volunteers/Aid Stations. Some of the volunteers did a good job handing out water, but for the most part, volunteers seemed disinterested or were too busy chatting with each other to help runners. By late in the race, several aid stations had been abandoned, including several at road crossings where drivers where barreling through unchecked. Aid stations were water only.

Post-Race. There was pizza. That’s it. Pretty much the most anti-climactic finish line I’ve encountered.

The “Not Good, Not Bad”:
* Race Route. It was a nice route. Two laps on an out-and-back greenway. Starts out mostly flat for five miles, but after that there were some hills that were a doozy. Not sure why I didn’t anticipate them, but man there were some energy-suckers out there. Still…it was a pleasant enough route.

Overall, an okay race, and I hope it continues to grow…and that the race director gets more support. I give him credit for a good event in what often felt like a one-man show. I have no doubt this race will continue to improve as it builds upon a successful second running.

It rained. We were drenched. And we had a blast.

What stood out most? I’ve never seen (or met) so many Marathon Maniacs and 50-staters. Almost everyone I talked to was mid-journey on the way to 50 (or beyond). I met one woman who made this event her 50th. Congrats, runner!

I ran solo (usually do), but made some friends along the way (hi Britt and Clay!). I loved the FB group for the event; the race director shared tons of info there, and it’s a vibrant community. I connected with a few other Maniacs/50-chasers via the group the night before, then met up with them at the after party.

Course is flat and fairly quick. Runs through town for a bit, then north along the shoreline over a crowd-lined boardwalk. Later, the course winds through coastal pines and marshlands. It’s really quite pretty. After making the homeward turn at mile 11, we doubled back through the old fort and forests we traversed on our way north. After mile 20ish, the course veers off through a neighborhood and onto some wooded trails. Not gonna lie, the rain has made the trails an unpleasant, puddle-drenched mud strip by this point. It was a little demoralizing when my stamina began to flag at mile 23.

Worth noting: The “tunnel” of flags in between miles 22 and 23 is pretty cool.

Post-race party was as good as advertised. Tons of food (eggs, waffles, sausage, bacon, hot dogs, Mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, and more). We got three beer tickets with race admission and other runners were giving us their spare tickets all afternoon.

Race medal reflects the coastal setting. Race shirt was okay — long-sleeve. Nothing else really in the way of swag.

All in all, the Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon was a ton of fun. My finish was okay, but the memories will stick with me for a long time.

What a gorgeous place to go for a run! And just missed a PR by 13 seconds, too!

Temps were low 60s in Cascais at the start and didn’t get too much warmer thanks to the temperate coastal climate. The scenery for the first 20ish miles is idyllic, especially miles 2-8 while you’re in Cascais for an out-and-back. Breaking ocean waves, gentle breezes, and unspoiled views of the coast greet you for the first third of the race.

Water stations begin at mile 3. They’re a little spread out for the first half of the race — maybe every two miles? — but come a bit more frequently on the back half. There were no toilets along the race route; men and women alike were seen ducking into the underbrush for mid-race relief.

Along the route to Lisbon, you’ll pass through more village-y areas. The beauty of the course still shines through, with a mostly flat route hugging the shore as beaches, cliffs, and tidal areas mark the miles.

Crowds were sparse most of the way, but certainly not absent — and the finish area is a throng of spectators lining the streets as you reach the square where the race ends.

The train ride to Cascais is a short 40-minute trip, and free to runners. Board as Cais du Sodre. The trains run every 30 minutes and were full with runners (and our special funky odor).

Race swag was pretty ho-hum. There’s a shirt (it’s ok), a buff (meh), and a bag. A granola bar, too, I think. Post-race support was equally ho-hum: Another bag with a banana and a protein drink. There was a Gatorade tent nearby. If there was any other swag or nourishment for runners nearby, I missed it.

I told myself Lisbon was gonna be “just a training run,” but despite only 48 hours to lick jet lag, I had one of my best races ever. By relaxing and enjoying the run, I was able to soak up this magnificent destination. I highly recommend this race for anyone who cherishes the journey more than the result

Every good thing you’ve heard about The Flying Pig Marathon is true.

The race is exceptionally well organized. Every detail is attended to. It’s not just obvious things like race route and communication and aid stations (though those things are excellent); it’s the little details, too, like a greeting committee at the airport, or a carefully organized gear drop bus brigade.

The city of Cincinnati is beautiful…far more charming than I expected. From the iconic bridges (can we please celebrate America’s builders?) to quaint neighborhoods to pockets of small town “Main Street” tucked along the race route, there wasn’t a mile of this race that passed without something to admire about Cincinnati.

A few notes to help other runners:

* Race started at the Bengals football stadium, which meant TONS of indoor restrooms…no waiting in long lines for a porta-potty

* The well-organized gear drop bus brigade made it easy to drop my belongings before the race and pick them up after. Super helpful, since I was headed to the airport after the event.

* Hydration stations at least every mile (a HUGE plus), and Gatorade AND water at every single one.

* The famous crowd support from the community is exactly as advertised. I don’t think I ran 100 yards without a cheering spectator all day. Maybe once. But still done. Well done, folks of Cincinnati.

* The medal is HEAVY…a high quality medal. The race shirt was kinda “meh,” but wah wah. I give the swag a B-.

* Can’t comment on mid-race porta-potties…didn’t need ‘em, so didn’t look for ‘em.

* Love the snacks at aid stations (official AND unofficial). Yes, I took the bacon at mile 15. When in Rome. Hard pass on Oreos, but love that it was an option. Saw gummy worms, orange slices, Swedish fish, Skittles, Girl Scout cookies, and more. Skipped the beer. Took the Jell-O shot. Because why not?

* Availed myself of the professional stretching. Good call. Made that flight home after the race tolerable.

* Note to self: Don’t rush out of the post-race recovery area. Get the free food. I wasn’t feeling great and just skipped it. Wish I had at least grabbed some pizza. The fruit cup and banana were fine, but I think there was more recovery nourishment available, and I just bypassed it.

* A few decent restaurants and bars within a few blocks of the race. Not a ton, but enough to tide you over if you don’t wanna travel far for grub and drinks. I recommend the Belgian place or the rooftop bar at The Blind Pig.

Okay, lots of words. Sorry. I had a great time in Cincinnati, and I highly recommend the race to ANY marathoner.

Ran this event in 2019 when it was an overnight race. There’s something about running through the night that makes a 12-hour endurance race even more challenging and more memorable.

A tropical storm blew through the night of the race and made the trails a muddy mess. That made for tough running and more than one slip-and-falls.

For the first hour or so, runners were clumped together throughout the 3-mile wooded loop. By midnight, we were strung out, our headlamps dotting the trail around the lake like fireflies against a moonless sky.

My lamp died somewhere around 4am after 10 laps, so I called it quits at 50k. I lounged in a pavilion at the start/finish area, listening to other runners and support crews enjoy the night. I contemplated another lap or two, but the mud and lack of sleep spelled the end of me.

A fun time, and great to share the trail at night with other obsessed runners. I hear they’ve changed up the timing of the event recently, but I’m sure it’s still a lot of fun.