Scott Hepburn's Staging Area

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.