Julie Krawiec's Staging Area

This is such a well run small town race. Appreciated the ease of a drive through bib pickup, where they gave you an Idaho potato sack filled with goodies! Race morning they provided luxury buses to transport us to the start line, which was much appreciated. I stayed on the bus as long as possible, as it was a brisk 35 degrees that morning.

I absolutely loved the first 17 miles of the course. It was a mix of gravel, dirt and paved road. Really kept you on your toes and made the mileage fly by. But then…the hill!! This hill is no joke! Knowing this was a net downhill course I did not train properly for this 2 mile incline. I was able to run up it, but then the sun came out and things started to really heat up. My quads were shot at the top, so it made it hard to push through the stretch of open farmland with rolling hills that was the final leg of the course.

Once you turned into the downtown area my spirit was lifted by the locals who came out to cheer us on to the finish! Great after party. So much food and there’s nothing better than a free massage immediately after. Helped greatly with my recovery. I would absolutely recommend this race, just learn from me and make sure to train for that hill!

Lastly, I’d suggest flying into Jackson Hole to get a chance to visit the Tetons while you’re in the area. My favorite place in the world!

I signed up for this race not only to check off Nebraska, but because it was one of the few in-person races offered in 2020. It was so nice to be amongst the racing community again! Race production did a great job with communication prior to the event regarding their COVID-19 policies and procedures. We were assigned timeslots for packet pickup, as well as a corral for race day. You were required to wear a mask in the pre-race area, as well as in the corrals. One thing I noted was they had an abundance of porta potties prior to the race, as well as along the course, and hand sanitizing stations as well. They did offer gels and water stations with canned water along the way, but I opted to carry my only supplies as a precaution.

I truly didn’t know what to expect out of Lincoln, NE, but was pleasantly surprised by how pretty the course was. The first half of the course consisted of rolling hills, which were tough on my tight legs in chilly conditions. But hang in there because this is a net downhill course and you will fly to the finish line if you don’t take off too quickly. I only wish we were able to do more in the area, but we chose to remain in our Airbnb for the majority of our trip. The finish line is right in the heart of the downtown area, and I bet it would be a blast to visit the restaurants and bars any other year. With that being said, the production team did their best to make you feel celebrated at the finish line with opportunities for photos with your medal and a PR gong!

I am a huge fan of Vacation Races! They provide such unique opportunities to runners to explore areas surrounding our National Parks. With this being said, this particular race was TOUGH! I had banked on the fact that I was in the middle of marathon training and was racing at lower elevation (current CO resident), but neither factor helped in this case. Be prepared for what feels like an endless climb. The humidity was also intense. Make sure you have plenty of water AND electrolytes on you.

The swag is fantastic! I signed up for the Black Bear Double, and was able to place in both the 5k and the Half, which means I left with 5 gorgeous medals! If you like “bling” Vacation Races are for you!

I am a native New Englander who moved to Colorado a little over 2 years ago. Since I started my marathon journey this race has been at the top of my bucket list. The time of year (peak foliage season), location (just outside a national park and along the ocean), and the fact that it would bring me back to my roots, what more could I have asked for of a race? Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

The hills are something to take seriously and to prepare yourself for. They aren’t joking when they say the last 6 miles are continuously uphill. However, the first half of the course provides you with downhills to reward you for your hard work running up. I only wish the rolling had carried through the second half of the course…regardless, it is very much worth the challenge! Just make sure you hill train and you’ll be fine.
You are surround by the most beautiful landscape the entire 26.2 miles, which makes up for the lack of spectators throughout. This is a smaller marathon, but there were at least 4 designated spectator points, which I definitely looked forward to for motivation. They placed aid stations every 2 miles or so, but not enough bathrooms along the course. The first one I saw was at mile 5, which just won’t cut it on a bad tummy day. They also gave out GU’s at 2 different points along the course, which I appreciated.

Along with the 6 miles of uphill I mentioned earlier, it’s important to note that you are constantly running along the left side of the road, and on a slant (some points more steep than others). This took a toll on my left leg/hip for sure by the end. You are told to run in the pull-off lane, which can vary in terms of width, making some points more difficult to pass than others, especially when these areas were not blocked off to oncoming traffic. The last 1 1/4 mile of the course is downhill. It feel soooooooo good!!!! Just beware that you will most likely be weaving in and out of spectators and oncoming traffic leaving the finish line area.

These minor complaints didn’t take away from the overall experience for me. I did not PR at this race, but I left everything I had on the course, which left me feeling very accomplished and fulfilled with my performance that day. I finally earned my own coveted lobster claw medal, which I have wanted for so long! Hands down my all time favorite! If you are a runner and have yet to experience New England in the fall, make this race a top priority. Not going to lie, it made me want to move back.

Also, highly recommend booking your Airbnb/Vrbo ASAP! The good ones close to the starting line fill up quickly. We booked ours in January and it was so worth it! Can’t beat a 0.3 mile walk to the starting line.

I chose this race because it’s one of the ONLY races I’ve found that would allow me to cross off 2 states on my 50 state half marathon journey. Super cool! Can’t say enough about the race production. They were great with their communication, sending emails out on event details every day leading up to the race. The transportation they provided to the starting line was smooth, and they were timely with their start. The downfall was the unpredictability of the weather, which we can blame on Mother Nature. Woke up the morning of the race to rain and sleet. Luckily that didn’t last long, but the cold temp and gusty wind made for quite a challenging run, especially when you crossed over the bridge and into Mississippi. It was a brutal (mentally and physically) 5 mille stretch before you finally turn off the highway and onto a side road where houses and trees shielded you from the wind. Highly recommend downloading a really entertaining podcast or updating your playlist for this run. There’s not much to see along the route….long stretches of what feels like never ending roads. The large medals, nice finisher awards, and quarter zip top (with side pocket) made for a satisfying finish. I’d definitely recommend this race for locals.

In the weeks leading up to this years race, we didn’t know what to expect in terms of weather?! Prior to committing to this event, I had read that the weather could be quite unpredictable this time of year in SD, and that was no exaggeration! We came prepared for the worst, and luckily what we endured consisted of mist, which was refreshing at times, temps in the low-mid 30s, and only minor bouts of sleet.
The weather man’s predictions didn’t stop the runners from lacing up to enjoy this unique closeup view of the Crazy Horse monument. The daughter of the monument’s original sculptor spoke to the volunteers and participants, thanking us for taking part in the race, which I thought was such a special touch.
Those first 3 1/2 miles around the property were no joke…be prepared to climb steep inclines on loose gravel. From there, the full and half marathoners go on their separate ways along the Mickelson trail. It’s well maintained and provides runners with a much appreciated downgrade for the remainder of the course into Hill City. Even with the winter weather predictions, we treated to gorgeous foliage the entire time.
The medals given at the end are hands down the most unique I’ve ever seen. I’m so glad the weatherman didn’t scare me away from this one. I can’t imagine if I had missed out?!

The race route between Georgetown and Idaho Springs puts Colorado’s natural beauty on display from start to finish. I’ve driven this route countless times traveling into the mountains, but after running this race, I’ll never look at it the same way again (in a good way). The rock formations along the road and the beautiful creek are amazing to stare at as you fly downhill for the majority of the course. There are a few uphills sprinkles in their that can catch you off guard, but I’d say 75% is a downgrade slope. Also inorant to note is the start line transportation. Be prepared for an early morning! They offer a bus ride for participants to the start. I highly highly recommend you take them up of this offer. Get there as early as you can to secure your parking spot in Idaho Springs, as they’re not as plentiful as one might hope. I’d recommend this race to anyone who wants to embrace the outdoors of Colorado, and it doesn’t hurt that this course almost guarantees you a PR.

This is such a unique venue to host a 5 and 10k race. The course is on gravel roads that wrap around the ground of the animal sanctuary. You get to run by lions, grizzly bears, tigers, wolves, and so many more amazing exotic creatures. No paved road race will ever be able to compare to this ambiance. Following the race there is an abundance of food offered to participants. What I appreciated more than anything was that they had a gluten free burrito as well as a vegitarian option and your standard meat lovers. I actually got to eat something delicious after a race!! Also, you cannot beat the swag they give out for this race. The t-shirts and running hats are fierce to say the least. You better believe I will be back to run it again next year!!

One of the local races put on by RunDenver Series that takes you out and back along the Cherry Creek Dam. The course provides you beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and the reservoir. The “out” is very much downhill, so take advantage because it’s a steep climb back up the side of the dam that starts around mile 9. The one aspect that was very disheartening to me as a runner was the volunteers at the water station. The first station you come upon at the start to the race had people standing there talking to one another rather than handing out water to runners who needed it, and very few of the cups on the table were filled. On the way back that same table was packed up by the time I passed it and the volunteers were walking towards the finish line far sooner than the cut off time for the half if I might add. Other than that, they give out solid medals to all participants, which are unique to the distance you’ve run. They also change the swag through the series, so I’ll definitely give them another shot to collect a beanie, compression socks, long sleeve and short sleeve tech shirts at the different races within the series. Worth signing up if you’re local.

If this is not already on your “must do marathons” list, you best add it towards the top! From the moment you enter the expo center you are swept up in excitement the of the event! If you’re not able to stay at a hotel close to downtown don’t fret, you are still able to easily access the start line using public transportation. They do an amazing job with organization in terms of the corrals. Be sure to submit your best half marathon or marathon time, as you will otherwise be placed in the very last corral and have awhile to wait to kick off your race. Regardless, there’s no better way to see the ins and out of this amazing city. The crowd embraces your from the very start to the very end of the race, which is the best motivation of all!

What I loved about this race was that you kick off your run next to the Washington monument. You proceed to run towards, maybe not directly in front of, a variety of other very notable monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial. Running over the bridge towards Arlington cemetery was quite amazing as well. Be aware that this is a point-to-point course, not a loop, so have your uber/lyft app ready and be prepared to pay a MASSIVE surcharge to return to the start. Otherwise you’re stuck attempting to funnel into the metro, which has been severally backed up the 2 years I’ve run it. Kind of leaves you with a sour taste at the end of race day.

This race is what made me fall in love with the marathon distance. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off my marathon career than in the “happiest place on earth.” Disney puts on an expo like no other I’ve ever seen. I will cherish my Cinderella NB sneakers forever! This one calls for an early start, as they need to funnel everyone through the course before opening the parks, but the overall experience was so worth the 5:00AM start time. If you stay at one of the Disney resorts you have access to buses to transport you to Epcot for the start and then back home at the finish. So worth it! Be aware that the race does consist of what feels like long endless stretches of road between the parks; however, Disney strategically places characters and local bands along these portions to keep you entertained. I had been to Disney World 13 times prior to running this race, and I have to say, I now look at Disney completely differently having run through it. So many memories are made along this course. Nothing will ever top running through Cinderella’s castle with my brother by my side. This is a must-do marathon for all levels runners!