Glen Marumoto's Staging Area

The only full marathon in Puerto Rico. The territory has many halfs, but this is the only full. The race is run by the city’s Sports and Recreation directorate. There is no entry fee. Repeat, NO ENTRY FEE. So you get what you pay for. This year, it’s 51st year, they had a new course. It starts with a small loop, then a big loop. But because it was new course, the course marshals got confused and made the lead runners run the small loop a second time so some ran longer. The course has hills starting at mile 8. You don’t start back down until mile 11. Once you get past the hills, it’s pretty flat, but you are running in the city so no views and no shade. There are multiple out and backs. You actually pass the start line 4 times. The weather is hot and humid (what do you expect for a Caribbean Island?). Amazingly, the aid stations were well staffed and well stocked. Too well stocked, you got the entire water bottle. There was Powerade at a few stops, but no nutrition. The city and people are very nice though. The medal is very small and you get no shirt. But what do you expect for free. The city refuses to let any organization take over the race. The locals would like to pay for it, just to get a better race. Once again, you get what you pay for. And being government run, well you get the idea.

Probably one of the flatest courses around. The only “hill” is the bridge going over the Mississippi River. No, really, it isn’t hype….this course is flat. You can BQ/PR here. And because it starts in AR and ends in MS, 50 Staters can count it as one or the other. Aid stations at just about every mile. Staffed with enthusiastic volunteers, one was staffed by the mayor of Lake Village! Scenery not much except for the river. And no real crowd support except for the mile 22 adult refreshment stand….that was special! You have to put this race on your list!

The course is pancake flat. I know a lot of courses say that, but this one is flat. The only “hill” was the bridge we crossed over with 500 yards of the start. This course has the potential for being a BQ mill, pending weather. Not much scenery, but the race committee was awesome. For an inaugural race, this production was like it was a veteran race. Race day weather was chilly, 50 degrees at the start, and warmed to about 60 by 11:30. Overcast skies. It might have been a tougher race had the sun been out as there is little shade on the course, but this year it was perfect. Better than Newport News which was the next day. If I had to pick one, CGM would be the one. Semper paratus, Coasties!

My favorite US race. As an out-of-towner, treatment is second to none. You get a “welcome mat.” They pick a spirit animal, then someone in town colors in the spirit animal with your name and hometown. The goody bag is a real goody bag. This year it was a dry bag (waterproof) filled with all kinds of stuff. The scenery was spectacular. But it is a tough race, uphill on the way out and rollers when it isn’t uphill. Post race “snack” was salmon or a burger with salads and desert. The winners got hand crafted wood paddles. They had an ice cream social with door prizes for those who could stay around. You got one ticket for running and could buy more. The drawing took almost an hour they had so much to give away. And the people couldn’t have been nicer. They made me feel like I was a local. I really think because of the location (it is definitely hard to get to, the last leg into Klawok is via a single engine Cessna Caravan or the ferry) they are looking for any excuse to have a party. Anyway, this is a great race!!!

Great RD and race committee. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Better than Honolulu Marathon, ran a relay team of one. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

See whales on Course XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX