My Profile

@Doodlebug86

Landenberg, PA Raving since 2019 World Marathon Majors Six Star hopeful/finisher Active 10 months ago

About Me

  • Running club(s):
  • Rave race:
  • Race that's calling my name:
  • I run because:

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 (6)

Race Distance Location Date Result
Marathon Lake Buena Vista, FL Jan 7, 2018 5:02:45
Half Marathon Kitty Hawk, NC Nov 11, 2018 2:07:00
10 Miler Woodstown, NJ May 6, 2018 1:35:21
15K Philadelphia, PA Apr 7, 2018 1:29:45
10K Lake Buena Vista, FL Apr 2, 2022 1:09:54
9K Rehoboth Beach, DE Nov 14, 2021 53:14

Future Races (36)

Race Distance Location Date Paid
Half Marathon Atlantic City, NJ TBD
Marathon Chicago, IL TBD
Half Marathon Monterey, CA TBD
10 Miler Philadelphia, PA TBD
Marathon Hopkinton, MA TBD
Marathon Claremont, Australia TBD
Marathon Folsom, CA TBD
Marathon Houston, TX TBD
Marathon Cincinnati, OH TBD
Half Marathon Quechee, VT TBD
Half Marathon Slatington, PA TBD
15K Wilmington, DE TBD
Half Marathon Vernal, UT TBD
Marathon Toronto, Canada TBD
Marathon Two Harbors, MN TBD
Half Marathon Hampton Beach, NH TBD
Marathon Honolulu, HI TBD
Half Marathon Jekyll Island, GA TBD
Half Marathon Jim Thorpe, PA TBD
Half Marathon Key West, FL TBD
Marathon London, United Kingdom TBD
Half Marathon Huntington, WV TBD
Marathon Frenchtown, MT TBD
Marathon Bar Harbor, ME TBD
Marathon Paris, France TBD
Marathon Craig, AK TBD
10 Miler York, PA TBD
Half Marathon London, United Kingdom TBD
Half Marathon Bridgetown, Barbados TBD
Half Marathon Seattle, WA TBD
Marathon Forest City, PA TBD
Marathon Tokyo, Japan TBD
Half Marathon Newport, RI TBD
10 Miler Virginia Beach, VA TBD
Half Marathon Rye, NH TBD
Marathon Bath, NY TBD

Past Races (22)

Race Distance Location Date Result My Raves My Performance
Half Marathon Lake Buena Vista, FL Feb 26, 2023 2:24:30
Marathon Staten Island, NY Nov 6, 2022 6:06:08
Half Marathon York, PA May 15, 2022 2:16:34
10 Miler Lake Buena Vista, FL Apr 3, 2022 1:50:50
10K Lake Buena Vista, FL Apr 2, 2022 1:09:54
9K Rehoboth Beach, DE Nov 14, 2021 53:14
Half Marathon Mystic, CT May 19, 2019 2:23:21
10 Miler Washington, DC Apr 7, 2019 1:46:37
Half Marathon Kitty Hawk, NC Nov 11, 2018 2:07:00
10 Miler Woodstown, NJ May 6, 2018 1:35:21
15K Philadelphia, PA Apr 7, 2018 1:29:45
Half Marathon Lake Buena Vista, FL Feb 25, 2018 2:26:10
Marathon Lake Buena Vista, FL Jan 7, 2018 5:02:45
Half Marathon Baltimore, MD Oct 21, 2017 2:31:06
Half Marathon Lake Buena Vista, FL Apr 23, 2017 2:56:26
Half Marathon Anaheim, CA Jan 15, 2017 2:11:15
Half Marathon Kissimmee, FL Nov 6, 2016 2:23:40
Half Marathon Rehoboth Beach, DE Apr 24, 2016 2:21:22
15K Philadelphia, PA Apr 2, 2016 1:42:15
Half Marathon Lake Buena Vista, FL Feb 21, 2016 2:11:43
Half Marathon Kennett Square, PA 2016 2:21:09
Half Marathon Rehoboth Beach, DE Dec 5, 2015 2:11:44

My Raves

This is a fairly small race, it takes place on a rail trail and runs right next to train tracks for the majority. There's no expo, packet pickup was at … MORE

This is a fairly small race, it takes place on a rail trail and runs right next to train tracks for the majority. There’s no expo, packet pickup was at the local YMCA, which was, at least this year, where the race started. Super easy course, mostly packed gravel with a paved start and finish. Under lots of trees, so tons of shade. Course support is minimal (mainly bathroom stops & water) just due to the nature of the course. You’re also contending with local people just using the trail, which isn’t really a big deal, but something to be aware of. Volunteers on the course were great and mile markers & on course signage was great.
I’d run it again.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
4
SWAG
2

Was this review helpful?

Mystic itself is cute, everything is pretty convenient. The race itself was one I wouldn't run again. If you need a race with lots of people out on the course … MORE

Mystic itself is cute, everything is pretty convenient. The race itself was one I wouldn’t run again. If you need a race with lots of people out on the course to cheer you on, this isn’t the race for you.
Bib pickup, at least for me, was at the old Mystic Village, which is a small collection of stores located next to the aquarium. It was pretty simple, and pretty fast as long as the volunteers aren’t ignoring you and having their own conversation. The shirt pickup is in a different part of Mystic Village, there’s a single sign to point directions, and after that you have to know where to go, because there’s no one to give you directions and no additional signage. I had to ask another runner who already had a shirt, and had several other runners asking me when they saw I had my shirt. There isn’t a expo, but the running store Kelley’s Pace in the village has really great and helpful staff. The store is small, but worth the visit.
The race start is a mess. Or at least it was this year. The 10k and the half start together, with no division of runners. So it was a blob start with some runners lined up down the straight part of the road, and others coming up from the village. This created a traffic jam.
Make sure to use the restroom before you leave where ever you’re staying. There were 4 (?) porter johns at the start, and 1 or 2 every 3 or more miles along the race route.
Water along the route was about every 2 miles, and at the water stops they also had NUUN, which was a great change from Gatorade which I normally find on courses. There were time clocks at every miler marker.
The first 6 miles are gently rolling, after the 10k splits off to finish the half goes up a large hill, after which it’s both rolling and large hills for the remainder of the course. The scenery of the course is fairly attractive. You start just outside of Old Mystic Village, and end in front of the aquarium, making the course a loop. To start you run down the main street of Mystic and over their drawbridge. You go around the water, where there’s a nice breeze. After that isn’t a mix of back roads, and roads with houses.
The end of the race is in front of the Mystic Aquarium itself.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
2
SCENERY
3
SWAG
3

3 members marked this review helpful. Agree?

Overall I do recommend this race. It doesn't have as many runners as some I've done, but it feels more crowded because there isn't as much space. It was very … MORE

Overall I do recommend this race. It doesn’t have as many runners as some I’ve done, but it feels more crowded because there isn’t as much space. It was very similar to being a sardine. Thank goodness I wasn’t trying for any kind of PR because it would have been super difficult where I was.

There were regular water stops that had Gatorade. Medical spots where plentiful and there was plenty of course support. Downside, while the roads are paved, they haven’t been paved recently and they’re full of potholes – I saw at least 2 runners go down. While the Cherry Blossoms are pretty, they’re really on the second half of the race, other parts are much less attractive, but full props for the race organizers for getting all those roads closed.
There was tons of food at the post race party, but it was crazy crowded, so make sure you have a plan if you need to meet up with someone.
The packet pickup was crowded, but pretty fast, they knew what they were doing. The expo was, again, crowded. 2 things that kind of sucked were needing to up grade to a tech shirt, and paying additional for a medal. I get, since they want money to go to charity, but still.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
3

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?