Lance Null's Staging Area

The inaugural Visalia Half Marathon was a good start to the Run the Velley series of half marathons.
The race was an out and back course that started and finished in Cutler park on the East side of town, along the St. Johns River. The course is flat, but the temperature creeps up as the race progresses. It does get warm. (or hot in some people’s opinion.)
The race runs along the St. John’s river, up to the Riverway Sports Park, before adventuring out on streets along the edge of farmland. There is some shade in the first (and last) part of the race, but until more of the trees mature, the middle part of the course is open and hot.
There are 4 aid stations (which you pass both ways), but you may want to grab more than 1 cup.
Good course support and outstanding volunteers.
Medal is nice, and so is the race shirt.
Post race includes breakfast burritos (with a vegetation option), chocolate milk, and beer. (in addition to water and sports drink).
It would be nice if the race started earlier – to avoid some of the heat, but that may be limited by the park opening time and permits.

The 2023 Theme for the 10K was Monsters Inc.
As usual, this is an early morning Disney race, so catch a quick nap on the bus.
This race takes place around EPCOT, and around the boardwalk along crescent lake.
There is plenty of photo opportunities during the race, so get your money’s worth and have some fun.
The course is very flat, with overpasses being the “hills” of the course.
Great course support with water & electrolyte. Fun Disney themed medal, food box, water and electrolyte drink at the end of the race.
Not the cheapest race, but if you want to have fun, it is worth the investment.

The race is held on Camp Roberts Army Reserve Base, so you must have a REAL ID to participate. You also have to get your vehicle pass before entering base, so give yourself an extra 10 min.

I really enjoyed the course. It is mostly an out and back course, but the turn around is at 8.5 miles, so the return is much faster. (And that is great mentally).
With a small field, you can really enjoy the scenery, while still having someone to chase.
Swag is OK, and race supports a good cause.
I’m a repeat runner, and will be back again!

Course was a 7 loop course of just under 1 mile from point to point. The course was completely on paved trail.
As usual, the aid station support is fantastic, and there is always some hot food at the aid station in addition to various drinks and snacks.
Race medal is in the shape of Maine, with nice details, and is part of the series chain of medals.
Local YMCA also offered use of their showers after the race, all you needed was your own towel.
Part of the appeal of Mainly Marathons is the people you run with, and become friends with after repeated days together on the course.
So for a fun, yet challenging way to complete your states, sign up for a multi-day series!

Course was an 6 loop course of just over a mile from point to point along the Black River. Mother nature decided to soak us this year, but you can’t control that. The course was mostly asphalt, with a little gravel/grass near the start/finish.
As usual, the aid station support is fantastic, and there is always some hot food at the aid station in addition to various drinks and snacks.
race medal is in the shape of Vermont, with nice details, and is part of the series chain of medals.
Part of the appeal of Mainly Marathons is the people you run with, and become friends with after repeated days together on the course.
So for a fun, yet challenging way to complete your states, sign up for a multi-day series!

This race was a 6 loop race on a course set in High Point Park in Sussex, NJ. The course was paved the entire length.
We stayed in Milford, PA, and other options include Sussex, NJ, and Port Jervis, NY.
Easy packet pickup is available the morning of the race, or if you’re doing the series, the same bib is used each day.
There is a fantastic aid station at the start/finish with multiple types of food and beverage, and some form of hot food.
The course was scenic, and although looped, you get the chance to make new friends and catch up with old ones as you run with someone your pace.
Early start is available for slower runners.

The Vista Strawberry run is held in conjunction with the Vista Strawberry Festival. The course starts and ends in the festival, and this creates some choke points during the run as you run between booths, and around novice runners who are looking at the booths.
The course itself is not too difficult, and once the runners spread out, pretty nice.
The medal is strawberry themed, and post race goodies include strawberries. You also get a free drink in the beer garden post race.
The festival provides plenty of shopping and eating opportunities after the race.
There is parking at the nearby civic center, and also parking further out with a free shuttle.
A nice community race!

Why not have a great, run filled weekend at Flying Pig?
The 3-Way with Extra Cheese Challenge has the Fifty West Mile on Friday night, the 10k and the 5k on Saturday, and the Half on Sunday. (The Full makes it a 4-way). 2023 will be the 25th anniversary of the full.
A well designed challenge, it is very doable. On Saturday, the 10k starts at 7, followed by the 5k at 9. Bag check on Saturday is provided for challenge participants so you can switch bibs and let them hold your medal while you complete the 5k.
The races start and end around the Bengals Stadium, and you can go the entire weekend without needing a car. The hotels in Covington leave you with about a 1-1.5 mile walk each way, so if you’re worried about the extra steps, pay the extra for a downtown hotel.
Nice post race goodie bags with snacks and drinks for a quick pick me up. (Free beer!) The post race area is down on the riverfront and features bands and more vendors.
You come home with a full suitcase of new shirts – one for each race and one for the challenge.
The expo is less than a mile from the stadium, has a lot of vendors, and some nice swag from sponsors P&G and Kroeger. They bundle all of your bibs for the challenge into one packet, BUT if you add the extra cheese (the mile run), then you have to stand in another line for that. (If you notice it…otherwise you can pick it up before the race like I had to.)
The courses are nice. The 1 miler basically does a loop around the football and baseball stadiums. The 5K is a nice little tour of the downtown & riverfront area. The 10K adds in 3 bridges as you also run thru Covington and Newport. The Half reverses the 10k course, then takes you up a real hill, where you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the Ohio river before returning back downhill to the stadium for the finish.
There is a reason this race it on many bucket lists. Add it to yours!!

2021 race moved the start /from the Fairplex to Bonelli park. The course had most of the previous race course, converted to a spiral out and back course.
The course markings were bad in the last two miles of the race, and there was some confusion among the slower runners.
Parking was poor, compared to the normal parking at the Fairplex, and the parking cost is still $12 (each day.)
The race does have extra gifts and rewards for participants who run 3+ consecutive years. (The Penguin club).
Some people complained that the course is more hilly than past years, which is true, but the hills are relatively short and very manageable. (And nicer scenery).
The shirt was also a change this year. The shirt fabric was a very nice relaxed cotton with a very soft feel (previously tech material), but was no longer their traditional Christmas sweater designs. Hopefully that will return.

Course is an out and back course along the coast and along the running/biking trails.
We saw a baby bear cross the course (fortunately without mama.)
Nice post race food and drink.
Great course support – plenty of well stocked aid stations.
Plenty of parking near the start / finish. Many hotels within walking distance.

Fun course, with a 3 hour time limit.
Free parking about 3/4 mile from the start. Finishes at Green Flash Brewery. (First beer is free!) Free shuttles back to parking.
First part of the course (along hwy 56) is slightly downhill, but the hills are lurking. Last third of the race has some good up and down hills.
Good course support. Race starts early enough to avoid the heat.
If you miss the cut times, you are advanced, not swept. (If you get the bump, let them take you to the top of the first hill – not mid hill like a friend did.)
Nice post race celebration, with good food available for purchase at the brewery.
Free race photos too.
I’ll be back!!!

An annual event on my running calendar.
Usually hot temperatures, but we were lucky in 2021 – overcast day. Perfect running weather.
Hills, hills and more hills. Trail race around Vail Lake in Temecula California. Second half of the course is easier than the first.
Good race support, and great support from fellow runners.
RD is great, I hope he is back with the new company next year.
No post race party in 2021 (due to covid restrictions), but the post race party is another good reason to run this race.
Easy parking at race site – for a $10 day fee from the campground.
See you in 2022!