Ron Looker's Staging Area

Seems like a lot of people think of Iowa as being flat, but that is not accurate. Luckily, the worst of the elevation gain is early.
The packet pickup is outdoors close to where the race starts. Bib pickup was quick and easy. They gave away some free samples of body armour and were broadcasting a football game on a big screen. It was a nice atmosphere. Just another block or two over was the farmer’s market. It goes until noon on that Saturday and is worth checking out. I stayed at the Renaissance, which is just over 1/4 mile from the race start/end. It took a lot of the usual race morning stress out of it.
The half and full both started at 8. They split off a couple times. The route went trough some nice older neighborhoods on the way to Drake stadium where runners did a lap around the track. We did a lap around Water Works Park and Gray’s Lake Park. The 1st half of the course was more enjoyable than the 2nd half. There were a few places where we had to do a short out-and-back just to get the distance. The one near the end was especially annoying, since you only have a mile left and you turn away from the direction of the finish, just to do a short out-and-back up a little hill. I actually thought I had made a wrong turn at first. The 2nd half did not have nearly as much shade as the 1st half. By the end, it was in the 70’s and not a cloud in the sky. It heated up quickly. An earlier start might have helped.
There was a 3:00 and 3:05 pacer at the start. I have no idea what happened to the 3 hour pacer because I passed him early and never saw him again. The 3:05 pacer finished in 3:15. Everyone has a bad day, but just keep that in mind. My success or failure is my own and not the fault of a pacer, but they can be useful.
The had some of the usual fare at the end. I can’t usually eat anything after a race, so I didn’t take much. The medal was nice and they had a puffy jacket instead of a race shirt. I’m not sure how I’ll look in it, but it’s nice to have something different once in a while.
It was a good race, I just didn’t like a couple of the places that were just to make up some distance.

I contend that there is no such thing as an easy marathon, but some courses are easier than others. The downhill was great and kept me going, however, the gravel trail gave me some issues. I wore Nike Vaporfly and might not have been the best choice for a dirt/gravel trail.
There is a race on Sat and Sun. I did the race on Sunday and had to pick up my race packet on Sat. The pickup is only from 3-7 and takes place at a local running company. There was a little bit of a wait, but nothing too extreme.
The race starts at 6 in Hyak and follows the Palouse to Cascades Trail for most of the race. After about half a mile, you enter the Snoqualmie Tunnel. You will need a light for this part and there is a drop at the end of the 2 mile tunnel for your light. It was an unusual experience. Be sure to watch for potholes. The trail was dirt and gravel. I did not prepare properly to run on this surface. My ankles and stabilizer muscles were feeling it pretty early. The weather was great. It was in the 50s for most of it and foggy. The scenery was great, although sometimes obscured by the fog. The couple of bridges that you cross are cool as well.
The aid stations are 2 to 2.5 miles apart. The 1st one isn’t until about mile 5. The race finish had a few of the usual goodies, nothing over the top. The race announcer, announcer all the finishers name and if you hit a BQ. Sunday’s race had about 700 finishers. Overall, it is a great race. The downhill is very fast, but the gravel trail slowed my a little. I still managed a 26 sec PR.

After several years of watching, I decided to run again. This is a hometown race and was one of my first of many half marathons.
The race packet pickup was at a new location this year. I went on Friday during my lunch. It seems like everyone else had the same idea I had. The parking lot was tight and was pretty full. There were volunteers that were helpful in directing participants to open spots. Once inside, it went quickly. I just wasn’t a fan of the location, but the parking was free.
The half and quarter marathons started together at 8. The 5K started a half hour later. The corrals were wide and I didn’t feel like I was going to be trampled, and I was able to get into a comfortable pace early. That was not the case in my race two weeks before.
It was a little warmer than I’d like for a race, but it was good for spectators. I was impressed by the amount of people out watching. I knew a lot of people due to various running clubs that I’ve attended over the years. It made it a little more fun in that respect since I usually do out of town races. There seemed to be plenty of fluid stations. It was a nice tour of some of the Columbus neighborhoods with a loop around Ohio Stadium (the Shoe). I don’t recall much on course entertainment.
The end had all the usual fare, nothing special. It’s the after party that is the main attraction. Your friends and family can reunite with you at the Columbus Commons where you can get your pizza slice and several different adult beverages. They have a live band and the party goes until 1.
The shirt was nice, but not one I will run in since it’s just a cotton t and not a good wicker. The medal was large and had a nice design. The tracking app was also one of the better ones. I tracked several people and it is pretty accurate. The only negative is that they gear check did lose my friend’s bag. Luckily, after several hours, she did get it back.
Overall, I would recommend this race if you need a spring half in Ohio. It probably gets a little overlooked because it’s just a week before the Flying Pig.

They boast about having one of the largest finisher medals, and they didn’t disappoint. When they placed it around my neck at the finish, I thought it was going to pull me down.
The expo was at the convention center and was within walking distance of my hotel. It was quick and easy to pick up the race pack. They had all of the usual options as well as some race specific items such as hats, mugs and shot glasses. It was nice to see something different.
Due to a hot forecast, the race time was moved from 8 am to 6 am. It didn’t get as hot as predicted, but I appreciated the earlier start time. It was very humid, but the temp stayed manageable in the mid 50s most of the time and cloudy.
The race started behind the convention center. It’s nice that there was a good option to stay out of the elements until start time if the weather had been unfavorable. The lines for the indoor restrooms were long, but there were additional facilities outside. Luckily, I didn’t need to use any of them.
The half and full marathons started together and were corralled based on predicted finish time. I had to provide a time to be able to get into B. Everything started right on time and the congestion was minimal.
The course had plenty of fluid stations and was a nice tour of the city and surrounding areas. The areas where the half and full marathoners diverged was well marked. There was no doubt where I needed to go. There are definitely some hills. The total gain wasn’t a lot, but it’s where the hills are that made it challenging. The worst section is miles 15-18. There is an out and back section that seems like it lasts forever before heading back towards town.
The finish had beer, chocolate milk, water in a reusable bottle and a few food options. They were offering pasta, but there was no way I would be able to eat that after a marathon.
As stated before, the medal was huge and on theme. It dwarfs the rest of my medals. If you hang it, make sure you hit a stud on the wall. The shirt was nice as well.
One thing that I appreciated was a nice place for spectators to wait. There were some breakfast options available nearby and they were able to wait inside the convention center until close to my anticipated finish time.
Overall, it was a well done race.

Your preconceptions about Oklahoma might be wrong. It is not as flat as most imagine.
The expo was your typical expo. There were several vendors handing out samples and selling any gels or other items that you might have forgotten. The bib and shirt pickup were quick and easy.
I stayed within walking distance to the start, which always helps relieve some of the stress of race day. It was a wet start. Fortunately, there were corrals for the start which helped alleviate some of the early weaving. The half and the full start at 8 with a gun shot and lots of confetti.
The rain let up soon after the start, but I was already soaked and there were puddles everywhere. The half and full share the course for about 11 miles. The split off is pretty well marked, and there is a volunteer directing runners as well.
The first 6-7 miles have a lot of rolling hills through some nice neighborhoods. The neighborhood was lively with some entertainment and looks of spectators. You eventually move to the trail for an out and back for several miles. Most of this area was fairly flat. There were still some spectators scattered around. Around 17 miles, you leave the trail and are back on roads. This is a slow climb for the next 3 miles with a couple bigger hills in there. Once you get past mile 20, you hit the University of Tulsa and then head towards downtown. This are was completely dead. There were no spectators anywhere. I was on a 4 lane roads with no one behind me or in front of me that I could see. It was almost a little eerie. The last few miles are a gentle downhill with a few rollers mixed in. Enough up hill to make your legs cry.
The course was a little long according to my watch. Much to my surprise, I was on target to finish close to 3 hours. My goal for a long time was to break 3 hours. I knew it was going to be close and I gave it everything I had. I turned the final corner and saw the clock ticking up. I emptied the tank and finished just 5 seconds under 3 hours. Despite the hills and occasional rain, I was able to hit my ultimate goal.
I knew the course was going to be challenging. I’m glad I didn’t let it intimidate me. I didn’t notice where the center of the universe detour was. I didn’t even remember about it until I was asked about it later. The full and half meet up again with about 1/4 of a mile to go, but they have separate lanes to the finish.
The finish had some of the usual fare, bananas, orange slices, lots of drinks and pizza slices. The course itself had several drink stations and were spaced out well. The race shirt was nice and the medal was large. It will go nicely with the rest of my collection.
I thought the race was very good, but I couldn’t believe how lonely the last few miles were. That’s when the cheers are needed the most. Overall, Tulsa was a nice city.

I was a Buckeye running through Badger country. I had to wear my OSU shirt for this race. I didn’t have any boos.
I drove in on Friday and went right to the bib pick-up. It was at a Lexus dealership outside of town. It wasn’t really close to anything. It was an odd place to have it in my opinion. There was no expo at all, you just picked up your bib and shirt.
The race started at 7:00 on Saturday morning near downtown. There were plenty of parking garages, but there was a little bit of a line getting into them. So, plan accordingly. Someone else was driving, so I was able to just jump out and head towards the start.
There were no corrals, so you had to line up with a pacer that was going your projected pace. There was a 5K as well, but it started 15 minutes after the half.
The course is circular and goes through part of the UW campus and around 2 of the 5 lakes in Madison. There is a lot of shade along the course. You travel along city streets, a trail and a street through the woods on close to the Arboretum. I saw a yard with several wild turkeys in that area. There was decent crowd support along the way at least in some areas. There appeared to be plenty of aid stations along the way as well. Madison has some rolling hills. The worst was the last mile. At this time you were in the full sun and it was a pretty good incline for about half a mile. From about mile 12.5 to the finish was a nice downhill. Make sure to save a little reserves for that last mile.
Just the basics at the end of the race. There were bananas, chips, granola and clif bars as well as water. The race medal was nice, but it appeared to be the same one as the 5K.
You never know what the weather might be in Aug. It was in the 60’s with over 90% humidity. Luckily, there was a decent amount of shade along the course. All of the race photos were available to download for free.

If you are a 50 state runner, there are not many choices in North Dakota. Luckily, this is a good race.
The race expo is a two day event. I was there as soon as it opened, so there was a little bit of a line, but it moved quickly. There were a few vendors and it’s a chance to look at the Fargo Dome. They had hand towels on the way out the door. This was an important pick-up as I’ll explain later.
Race day starts in the dome. This is a great place for a race start due to the restrooms and in case of poor weather. It’s also nice for non-running family members. They are able to sit in the stands and wait and the concession stands are open as well.
There are 3 distances running at once, 10K, half and full marathon. Each one has it’s own start time and each course differs slightly. There are no corrals, but there are pacers where runners should align themselves. Of course there are those at the front that go out at a 9 min pace.
The course is mostly flat. There are a couple underpasses and a bridge, but the overall gain was less than 400 feet. You travel through a lot of neighborhoods, around a park and through Moorhead College. About 4 of those miles are in Minnesota. The only issue, it that there are a lot of turns which can slow the momentum at times. Luckily, most areas are well marked and there are volunteers there to help. There were a few places that were a little lonely, but the college and neighborhoods had pretty good support. Family’s were out cheering for random strangers and was like a block party.
There seemed to be a good amount of fluid stations offering water and powerade. There was at least one Gu station and orange slices. I didn’t notice many port-a-johns along the way, but you generally only notice if you need one. Luckily, I did not need one.
The weather was good. It sounds like you can get just about anything in Fargo this time of the year. It was a little warm for me by the end, mid-sixties, with lots of sun and a moderate breeze.
Runners finish inside the dome with a video of themselves on the big screen. The DJ announces your name and where you’re from. There were donuts and some other snacks at the end. Parking and getting into/out of the dome were pretty easy. They do also offer a shuttle service.
Runners receive a nice sweatshirt, backpack and a decent sized medal. Overall, it was a good race experience.

Although the race didn’t pass by all of the monuments, it was a cool way to see some of the city.
The race expo and bib pickup were at the convention center. They had a few vendors and RnR had a lot of gear and other items for sale. No issues getting my bib and everything went smoothly. I stayed in a hotel that was within walking distance to everything, so I didn’t have to worry about parking on race morning.
This was a big race with over 10K finishers for the half. The race didn’t start until 8. Luckily, there were corrals organized according to your estimated finish time that you provided. There seemed to be a little confusion with the start. I believe the elites had their own start, but it wasn’t obvious that was going to happen and they held the rest of us up. The course was well marked and scenic. You ran past the Washington Monument, Kennedy center, over a bridge and through some neighborhoods before finishing close to the capitol building. The course had some rolling hills throughout, but there was a killer about 7.5 miles in. I was having a great race up until that point. There was a little wind, but otherwise, the weather was ideal for running. The course was a little long as well. My watch had 13.38.
There was a decent amount of treats at the end, but nothing that stood out. I did not attend the after party, so I don’t know how that was. I believe there was a free beer to those over 21.
The shirt and medal were nice. Even though this was not a new state, it was an enjoyable race and I would suggest it.

I’m sure it would have been more enjoyable in better weather. After the 1st couple of miles, the rain started to fall. Along with double digit wind, it took a little something away from the experience.
The packet pickup was quick and easy. There was a large tent near the Rehoboth Beach Running Company. There were a few items for sale, but the event mostly just consisted of the bib and shirt pickup. The shirts are Brooks and high quality, but they run a little small. The pickup lasted until 8 and they have race day pickup as well. It makes it convenient for all those coming from out of town.
The race started downtown at the bandstand. It was a little congested at the start, but spread out within the first mile. The sun was just starting to rise over the ocean at the start. Luckily, I had a good look at it before the rain came in. The course has a variety of surfaces. It starts off on a paved road before going on the wooden boardwalk. You get back on a paved road for a while before you hit the gravel trail. The fine crushed gravel isn’t too bad, but some areas had larger rocks and mud which made it a little rough. There was a water stop every couple of miles.
The end is about half a mile from the start and in front of the running company. The finisher medals are nice as well as the age group awards if you’re lucky enough to have earned one. I had a couple non-runners with me, so I didn’t attend the after party. There were additional wristbands that could have been purchased, but I needed to dry off and wanted to explore the area. The wrist band got you into the party, provided food and 3 drinks.
Overall, the race was well organized and the volunteers were friendly and encouraging. Obviously the weather is out of anyone’s control. My only complaint would be the trail running. It’s just not my favorite surface.

I couldn’t even get a PR. This was my first trip overseas and therefore my first race out of the country. Due to flight issues, etc, I didn’t get to Berlin until late on the Friday before the race. That left me with just Saturday to get everything done.
One challenge that I had was being able to eat and hydrate enough before the race. I usually down a couple Power Ades and plenty of water. I couldn’t find a single Power Ade and water is a little different over there. They have still and sparkling water. In restaurants, the water comes in fancy bottles. I was able to find an Aldi to get a banana and bottled water.
I would suggest really understanding the transportation routes before going. The subway is the best way to get around, but understanding how it works and where to catch it, could be challenging. It was closed in one section and I had to walk a long way to find the next station. I walked way too much the day before the race.
The race expo/packet pickup was in an old airport. It was large, but still very busy. It took a while to get in to pick up my bib. They put a bracelet on you that you need to keep on for the race as well. I made the mistake of taking it off after the expo and they almost didn’t let me through security on the day of the race. Your bib is not enough. There were the usual expo items and a decent amount of marathon souvenirs. You have to buy your own shirt because you don’t get one with your race admission. The race bib is huge and does not have a timing chip. If you want to be timed, you have to make that choice when you signed up. They give you something to put through your shoestring. They also make sure to get that back after the race.
I stayed at a hotel that was a little ways from the start, but they offered a shuttle to the start. No matter how you get to the start, there will be a lot of walking to get to the starting corrals. You go through security and need to show them your bracelet from the expo (oops). And then more walking. There is a park close to the start with paths to do a little prerace warm up. All of the walking and warmup was on gravel paths and I had to empty all the pebbles out of my shoes.
Before the race they do a nice intro for the top 3 contenders. The race started promptly at 9:15. Luckily, the streets are wide at the beginning and helps with crowding. There are other parts of the course where the streets are a little more narrow and it can be a little congested. They have lines on the road that are supposed to be for the tangents, but I was still about 1/5 of a mile over by the end.
There are spectators along the entire course. It is very well supported. The only issue it that people like to cross the road in front of runners. This can be a little frustrating. Luckily, I didn’t have any close calls with spectators, but it looked like other might have. There were a lot of water stations and one place with Maurten gel. There was even a place with Coke Cola. All the stations used plastic cups. It had to do with recycling, but it’s different having plastic cups all of the ground vs paper cups. Also, it makes it more difficult to drink while running.
You get to run past a lot of interesting architecture and other areas. The finish is soon after passing through the Brandenburg Gate. It was a very cool way to end the race. The course is fairly flat and the weather was pretty good as well that day. It wasn’t my day, but I am still grateful for the experience.
They give you a bag with goodies at the end. It’s interesting because it is local items that you don’t see in the US. The medals were nice with Kipchoge on the reverse side. The lanyard could have been a little better, but it’s all good. At the race registration, I choose the poncho. I think the other option was a bag drop. The poncho was good quality and a good choice to keep my warm afterwards.
Make sure you know how to get back to your hotel afterwards. I took my phone and still had a hard time getting back. I ended up getting an Uber. I didn’t know until right after I finished that the world record had been broken.

There are a lot of things about this race I wish I would have known a long time ago. I knew it was a popular race, but I didn’t know how big it really was. The race is held in June. I originally tried to sign up for the half in December, but it was already sold out. The cap for the half was 8000. I decided to sign up for the full instead. The full was capped at 9000 and eventually sold out as well. In January, I started looking at hotels. Little did I know that everything within a 150 mile radius was already sold out. I called around and did find one, but the price was twice as mush as usual. A few of the colleges do release some of their rooms starting sometime in Spring, but I was traveling with others and it wasn’t a great option. Just keep all of these things in mind.
The race was on a Sat and I flew into Minneapolis the day before. It should be about a 2.5 hour drive to Duluth from the airport. Due to construction and slow-downs, I got to Duluth late afternoon during the 5K. Traffic getting to the packet pickup was backed up onto the freeway and was at a crawl. The only place that had open parking spaces was a parking garage that cost $10. Even then, I had to circle a while to find a spot. It was a bit stressful, so I would suggest going a lot earlier in the day if possible or walking if you’re staying close enough. They are open until 11 pm.
The race expo had a lot of vendors and was very spread out. You have to walk around awhile to find the bibs. You do not receive your shirt until after you finish the race. The spaghetti dinner is at the same location as the expo, but I did not participate.
The race start is in Two Harbors and busses must be used to travel to the start. They had a few bus pickup locations which were conveniently located. There is also an option to ride the train, but it fills up quickly and is 1st come 1st served.
The half marathon starts over an hour and a half before the full so the marathoners don’t have to worry about passing any of the slower runners. The starting area was large and had a lot of port-a-johns, but also had long lines. The bag drop area had a lot of trash cans with the bib number range and was like a well-oiled machine. It looked like there was water and maybe coffee at the start area as well. There was good space to get a little warm up in and plenty of places to sit. They did not have corrals, so runners are supposed to line up based on hopeful finish times that were marked. Only a few runners were not lined up correctly. I got in the corral a little late, so it was crowded and I couldn’t get to the pacer that I wanted to follow. The race started on time and had a flyover which I loved.
The street was wide and the crowd was able to spread out within the first few minutes after the start. Traffic was blocked from the entire route, so you did not have to contend with that. There were several water and sports drinks available on the course. Not as many at first, but they increased as the race progressed. There was fruit available at a couple locations as well. The course followed the coast from Two Harbors to downtown Duluth. A lot of the time there were pine trees between you and the lake, but there were spots where there were great views of Lake Superior. There was a lot of crowd support along the way, especially near the end when it was needed the most. It was better supported than any race I have run in the last couple years. The course has a few gently rolling hills with a little hill, Lemon Drop Hill, around mile 22. I had an overall elevation gain of 499 feet.
The finish had a lot to choose from. The usual fare as well as some local things. The only issue was that I didn’t see any bags to collect all of my goodies. You pickup your race shirt at the finish and they give you a drink ticket as well. The shirt and medals were nice. Gear pickup was quick and easy.
The weather was good. Temp was in the 50’s with some wind. It was most noticeable during the last mile when you turned right into it. I started to falter a bit around mile 18, but I was able to hold on for a 1:12 PR. Overall, I think the race lived up to the hype.
As a side note, there is an option for spectators to purchase a ticket to watch from the train. I purchased this for my parents. The train goes along part of the course and follows the lead runners for awhile. They were served food, had a restroom and get to sit in the bleachers at the finish line. They said it was worth it.

I picked up my race packet the day before the race at the convention center. It was fairly easy to get to and had a parking garage across the street. The pick up was a little different in that it was part of a larger expo- The Gateway Outdoor Expo. There were vendors for mountain biking, kayaking and various other outdoor activities represented. The bibs were handed out in the front and then the shirts were in the back corner of the expo. It meant you had to go by most of the exhibitors. Otherwise, it was a quick and easy experience. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any extra memorabilia that could be purchased.
The race started at Forest Park at 7. There were shuttles from the end of the race that would drop runners off at the start, but I was dropped off by my #1 fans, so I don’t know how good the logistics were.
The weather was perfect for running. It was 40 degrees, sunny and no wind. The day before had been very windy, so this was a great relief. Port a pots were plentiful and the lines seemed to move quickly. I always like to get in line for a little last minute relief.
The corrals weren’t too crowded and the race started on time. The route didn’t go past all of the monuments or through downtown, but the areas where we did run had good streets and seemed safe. Probably not as scenic as some races, but I didn’t think it was bad.
The water stops seemed to be spaced out a bit early on and became more plentiful the further along you were. I take a water bottle with me, so I didn’t use any of the water stations. There was someone handing out Gu at one place, but it wasn’t obvious at first.
I thought the race was supposed to end in the “shadow of the arch,” but it wasn’t all that close to the arch. The last quarter/half mile of the course turned onto a gravel road and was the worst part of the course. Luckily, the rest of the course had nice paved roads that were closed off to traffic, although one person did get loose on the course.
There was a nice mix of rolling hills and nothing too difficult, but it was definitely not flat. I didn’t expect to have a PR, but thanks to the great weather I managed to shave 3 seconds off my personal best. Not a lot, but I’ll take it.
The end of the race had the usual bananas and fruit cups, but they also had a gooey butter cake from Gooey Louie. I like to research local dishes from the places I travel and this is the one thing I had planned to try while I was in town and they gave it away at the end. It was very good and I think I added back all of the calories I had just burned off during the race.
I liked the medal and shirt because it was unique and had the arch and the flag. Race shirt fit well and is comfortable. It’s not wicking, but cotton, so some might not like it because of that, but it is comfortable for lounging around. The end of the race wasn’t great, but overall I liked the race. Of course a PR will always help improve my impression of any race.

I wanted to run this race in 2021, but I didn’t like the course. Luckily, the course was moved back to the city. I wanted the more traditional Atlanta experience.
The race expo wasn’t anything special, but the location was nice. It was in the Georgia Aquarium ballroom. You’re able to observe the whale sharks and beluga whales from there. That was a unique experience although I had been to the aquarium before. Bib and shirt pickup were quick and easy. There were no frills, just the basics.
I stayed at a hotel that was only 1/4 – 1/2 mile away from the start. There are places to park around there due to it’s proximity to World of Coke Cola and the aquarium, but it’s generally expensive. One less stressor on race morning.
The race start was spacious and runners in my corral seemed to be in the correct place based on pace. This isn’t always the case and I don’t want to use all my energy in the 1st mile weaving around everyone. There was a light rain off and on the entire race and start temp was around 50. The rain picked up a bit at times, especially near the end. The wet roads can be a little slippery, but my shoes were probably part of the issue (Nike next%).
The course had rolling hills throughout with a few tough stretches. My normal course in Ohio is pretty flat, so maybe it was just me. There were only a few places that had very many spectators. Otherwise, there were a few scattered about. It could have been the weather.
The race finish had the usual items. They gave out a thin jacket instead of a space blanket. It helped me warm up a little and keep from getting much wetter on the walk back to the hotel.
The medal was nice and unique and the long-sleeved shirt was adidas and looks like it’s good quality. Overall, I thought it was a nice race and well organized.

Good course for a PR. As advertised, it was flat and fast. I had a 3 sec PR. Nothing major, but I’ll take it.
Packet pickup was quick and easy. It took place at the convention center. It was a decent sized expo as expected from a race of this size.
I stayed at a hotel that was less than a mile from the start. I was able to walk to the start and therefore don’t know how parking was.
I was in the A corral. It was very crowded and hard to move. It felt rather claustrophobic. It was a little congested for the first half mile, but luckily I was able to break free soon after that without getting tripped.
The course was flat overall with just a few feet of elevation gain overall. The start of the race was 30 degrees with minimal wind.
Crowd support was good in some areas and a little sparse in others. The cold probably kept some away, but kudos to those that braved it. I was concerned about the split from the full marathoners as I have had issues before, but they couldn’t have made it any easier. The had several signs as well as a giant inflatable that made it obvious. The less thinking during a race, the better.
Some of the roads need some work and you had to watch where you were going. The course did have a few twists and turns, but they were marked well. The last couple miles were pretty straight.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and well done race. You get to see some of the attractions downtown. Some of the buildings did crazy things to the GPS on my watch at times.
The shirt was a nice material. Some thought it was ugly, but I’m indifferent. The medal was nice and the end had all of the usual goodies.

Unfortunately, this was the last time Rock and Roll will be in Virginia Beach. This was the 2nd time I had done a RnR series race. They always have a big production and great medals. The packet pick up was at the convention center with easy, free parking and good hours. I picked up someone else’s packet as well with ease. There wasn’t a whole lot to the expo, but that might have been due to Covid. It was an early start to the race at 6:30, but it was appreciated due to the daytime temperatures. It was only 67* at the start, but 90% humidity. Luckily, most of the course was shaded. Only the last couple of miles which were on the boardwalk, were in full sun. The course overall was flat with a couple small over passes around miles 3.5 and 10.5. The last couple miles were the most difficult because it was into the wind and some intense sun, but finishing on the boardwalk was nice. There was plenty of on course entertainment and water stops. Overall, it was a good race and well organized. The medal was cool and the shirt was nice.

It’s not the best known race in Kansas, but the small town atmosphere was a nice change. I chose this race because it was on a Saturday and I planned to run Lincoln the next day in Nebraska. It was only a 3 hour drive between the two and I was able to knock off two states in a weekend.
The course was an out and back which was mostly on roads, but also went through a park. It was part of the Chisholm trail. It wasn’t the most scenic race I’ve done, but the view was still nice and not monotonous. The road was closed to traffic which was nice. Overall, the course was mostly flat. There were a couple rollers in there just to mix it up.
Just over 100 finishers for the half. Not too many spectators, but the town was happy to have us there. Lots of yards and businesses had signs welcoming us.
Shirt has ok. I believe it was just a normal cotton t-shirt. Race medal was nice. It resembled the campaign buttons for Eisenhower which made it unique.
Overall, I enjoyed the area and the race.

I’m from Ohio and had been running in snow with 20 degree temperatures throughout February. The race time temp was in the low 60’s with over 80% humidity, therefore, it felt very warm to me. I was not acclimated and struggled a bit. There was a decent wind as well, but the coarse changed directions, so I was not in the wind the entire time.
Once again, this was a Covid race, so I was just grateful to get a live race. They had the usual Covid precautions in place which included a rolling start and masks until time to cross the start. The rolling start meant you had a roughly a 15 minute time frame to start. The full started at 6 and half at 6:15. The faster runners were encouraged to start closer to the 6:15 time. I ended up having a final trip to the port-a-john and missed the start. Therefore, I had to weave in and out of runners for the first mile. It was totally my fault though.
The coarse included some slight up hills and down hills with the only big climb on the the bridge on and off the island. Unfortunately, that was the only time I remember seeing water. Although it was not an ocean front course, there were still some nice areas with palm-tree lined streets.
There were plenty of potties at the start and a few throughout the course. There seemed to be plenty of aid stations offering bottled water, but I carried my own water and didn’t use any of the station. There were some spectators along the way, but not like a big city race, which was to be expected. I think the best part was probably the medal. It was one of the largest and nicest ones in my collection. It might have been worth it just for the cool hardware. After all, isn’t that why we do it? The shirt was nice as well and had names of the full marathoners on it (I believe). I signed up a little late anyway, so I didn’t have my name on my bib either.
There were some refreshments at the finish and the volunteers were friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, my gut can’t usually handle food right after a race. As long as you are not expecting an oceanfront view throughout the course, I think it is a worthwhile event. I almost said enjoyable, but racing doesn’t seem enjoyable at the time.

This race took place during Covid which obviously changed the dynamics. I’m happy that they were able to secure the permits and do whatever was necessary to provide everyone with a safe race experience. It’s just rare to have a live event during these times.
They had so many different start times based on your projected pace. Luckily, I was able to have a fairly early time and beat the rare November heat. There was plenty of space on the trail in most places to easily pass with a safe distance. Most of the course was on a paved trailed through a park. It was fairly scenic, especially compared to the urban races. Not many fans to cheer along the way. There were not too many places for people to get to but could also be due to Covid. There were a couple pretty good up hills. One was English Pope Hill around mile 2 and a longer climb around mile 10. They definitely slowed me down. Luckily, there are a couple nice downhills to recover. There was a separate finish line to keep everyone distanced at the end.
As for the swag, the medals were nice and they had a light sweatshirt instead of a shirt. Everything seemed like it was good quality.
Overall, it was a nice course especially if you’re a fifty state runner.

This race should be on everyone’s bucket list. Maui is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. It will be difficult to top this.
The good:
Beautiful area, mostly along the coast
Best age group awards and trophies I’ve seen
Fresh pineapple at the end
Refreshing mister at the end
Fairly flat course and well marked
The not so good:
Hard to find parking in town for packet pick up (not a problem on race day)
After the turn-around, there was a lot of people coming on your left and cars on your right. I had to focus on the distractions and didn’t totally get to enjoy the views
The awards at the end was chaotic and took a while

Overall, very good. Ends next to a beach, so you can jump right in.

If you can make it past the first 2-3 miles, you’ll be OK. The first two miles are net uphill almost 300 feet. The 3rd mile is a steep downhill. After the first 3 miles, it is a much easier downhill. Course was tough on the legs and is over 7300′ altitude at it’s highest. Surprisingly, I didn’t seem to be affected by the altitude. There are a couple short, but steep hills near the end. There is prize money, so there is some strong competition.
The views overall are nice and you pass some of the local landmarks like camel rock. Not too many spectators, but there is plenty of on course support.
The awards ceremony at the end was a little chaotic, but the hand-made age group awards were unique. The shirts and metals were both very nice as well.

Such a great course. Be prepared to get to the buses early and for a bit of a wait until the start. Time goes quickly though.
The Taiko drummers and pianist are at critical points early in the race and a nice distraction.
The late stages of the race get tough as the scenery changes and the hills keep coming.
Overall, a great experience. Worth the pain for the views. It should be on everyone’s bucket list.

It was a good race overall. Starting temp was around 28 with 14 mph winds, but the sun was out. The toughest part of the race is early, between miles 2 and 4. After that, it gets easier until around mile 12 when you climb a bridge. I went with the 1:30 pace group and they were really good, but I didn’t hear the same about some of the other pacers. Medals and shirts were really nice, but I didn’t see a lot of post race food options. Race support was rather sparse as well. The course was confusing at times and the turn around point was rather subtle and anti-climatic. I was glad I was with the pace group during those parts. The dead possum at mile 10 was rather amusing and gross at the same time. Overall, it was a good race and I enjoyed the parts of the course that go through the city.

Not much to look at during the run and hardly any spectators. There were a lot of long stretches with just pavement. Weather was a big factor as well with temps starting in low 70’s with >90% humidity. Someone put an ugly hill around mile 8. There were a decent amount of water stations and a cool, wet sponge near the end which was much needed. Having a serviceman place the medal around my neck was cool and there was some decent treats at the end. Overall, good to support the military, but not one of my favorites.

The appeal is the mostly downhill course. However, the quads will take a beating. The first 10+ miles are on a crushed limestone trail and then becomes paved and open the last 2+ miles. Runners take buses up winding roads from the finish line to the start. The trees help shade the course, but in my case, it also kept the humidity in. Water stops every 2 miles and one of the best food spreads at the end that I’ve seen. A lot of local places donated food and was right around the WVU campus. Not a very big race with just over 500 finishers. Not many good places for people to watch either. Not a bad race though.