Lorelei Suehrstedt's Staging Area

This race happens on the abandoned PA turnpike. The funds raised go toward turning it into a green space for recreation. It’s a smaller race on an awesome course. The conditions have not been improved since the turnpike was abandoned which means the roads are broken up and chunky and the tunnels are filled with graffiti. This is what makes it so amazing. Parking is right at the start and finish. Hotels are cheap. The food and beverages are plentiful and with good selections. Award winners get super cool awards.

I streak this race and intend to for as long as possible. I love the simplicity of this race and the friendly folks who organize it.

THE TOWN: it’s small and it’s Amish, two qualities that make it amazing. The biggest road is two lanes: this way and that way. I came the day before the event to avoid heavy traffic – a wise decision. Considering accommodations were inexpensive, it was worth the money. Everything is walking distance: the food, sightseeing, shopping. But you have to walk the horse and buggy paths as there are no sidewalks. Easy peasy, but noteworthy. Food at the restaurants are very inexpensive. It’s a foodie-Amish town. It’s easy to find good eats.

HOTEL: I stayed at the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn. It was very nice, rather inexpensive, and directly across the street from packet pickup and the start/finish line. I’ve already booked a room for when I return next year. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else. With that said, if you miss your chance to book it, there are plenty of other nice places to stay nearby. There’s probably not a bad one.

THE EXPERIENCE: this race occurs in conjunction with their hot air balloon festival. They launch hot air balloons after the 5K on Friday and before the half marathon on Saturday. On Friday night, they inflate them and have a balloon light show which is jaw-dropping. You can enjoy the balloon show while making your own s’mores over the huge flaming trough!!! All the fixins’ are laid out on a hay wagon. Seriously seriously fun!!! Before or after the Friday 5K, you can choose to participate in the Amish-prepared pasta dinner. Say yes to this. You’ll get to eat with your old friends, your new friends and the Amish. A great experience with great food.

Wake up early on Half Marathon day to make sure you don’t miss the morning balloon launch. They promised a 7:15 launch but it was actually earlier than that. The sky fills up quickly with this amazing show. The launch is right across the street from the hotel. Imagine my surprise when I looked out my window to see not a sky but a humongous balloon. The last balloons launch as the race kicks off.

They say that they start exactly on time using an atomic clock. Yes. This is true. Also, they use lead buggies! Too cool. Be sure to read the booklet they give you packet pickup. On the course map, they will tell you what you can expect to see. There are a few unbelievable things on the list and you will think that perhaps they are lying or stretching the truth a bit. Well, I saw everything they listed. You’ll have some surprises.

The course itself is my new favorite. It’s as gorgeous as can be. The Amish community is breathtaking. It’s NOT flat. I loved the hills. Other folks hated them. All I can say is…train for hills and embrace the joy.

The Amish will run with you, especially the 5K. I know. I know. You’re wondering the same thing I did. What do they wear? Well, I’m not going to tell you. You’ll have to find out for yourself. The Amish also man the aid stations and giant groups can be seen throughout cheering you on. They even have bands that will sing to you.

After the race, the Amish will feed you a giant meal again. Don’t miss out on the pies, cakes and ice cream. Amish pie! Amish cake! Seriously, it’s worth every calorie and fat.

SERIOUS STUFF: SWAG: you’ll get a nice tech shirt for each race. That means two shirts if you do the fireman’s challenge (5K & Half). You’ll get a Whoopie pie. Don’t know what that is? Well, come to this race and get an Amish one. You’ll love it a hundred times more than the shirts. If you do the fireman’s challenge, you’ll get a bonus gift. This year, it was a triple insulated water bottle. Think Kleen Kanteen type, in a choice of colors. THE MEDAL! Hands down, my new favorite. They solder a plaque to an old horseshoe and add a leather strap from their own tanneries to hang it around your neck. We asked an Amish girl where they were made and she said, “in my grandpa’s barn.” Like, wow! Grandpa made 2000 medals! Take a look at the photographs.

Are you signing up????? Make sure to study up on the Road Apple award you can earn.

ITS AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THIS WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

I recommend staying at a hotel close to start and finish. I stayed at the Red Lion which is affordable and easy to walk to after the race. It also has free parking. Even though it was close to the start, we still had to take the metro due to how the fencing and security was set up, but taking the metro was easy.

We also took the metro to packet pickup. The expo was not impressive. While I really enjoyed the race-specific section, the rest of the expo had limited selections and was very crowded and hard to navigate. The Brooks section with race-specific things was easy to browse and had a fast line. I went on the second day and I don’t know how it compared to the first day.

The swag was great. I loved the material of the shirt. It was thick and long-sleeved. However, not many people liked the design. I heard and read many comments from people who were disgusted by the design. It is definitely not like any other race shirt I’ve ever seen. However, I like it. I wore it all over the place the day after the race. It’s rather comfy. The medal was amazing. It’s the same design they’ve had in years past, but this year it was red and it opened up to reveal a coin. The coin is two sided so you can pick your favorite side to display. Also, they give you a paper finisher jacket which is much nicer than a space blanket. It’s race-designed. A real memento!

The race starts with a singing of the national anthem. What is awesome is that the flag is falling from the sky carried by two parachuting soldiers! Also, two flying osprey (the super cool flying machine, not the bird) hover overhead and all around.

Now for the race. This is my second favorite marathon, knocking the Flying Pig into 3rd place on my list. The course is gorgeous for a huge chunk of it. There were only a few miles I found deathly boring. It has gently rolling hills, the biggest of which are at the beginning miles. The crowd support is tremendous throughout. The aid stations are plentiful and the volunteers were energetic. Did I mention the course is beautiful?! The Blue Mile brought me to tears. It is lined with photos of fallen soldiers and volunteers carrying flags. I mean, so very touching. I wish they would have made more hoopla about “beating the bridge” just because that would have been motivating and fun. Beating the bridge means you have to get there by a certain time. If you didn’t make it, a bus took you away for a ride of shame. Also, lots of people told me how awful the final hill is because it’s right at the finish. Don’t believe it. Yes, there’s a hill. No, it wasn’t that bad. It’s really very short. Don’t let other bully fear into you. Did I mention the course is beautiful?

The big finish. I LOVED THE FINISH LINE! A marine puts the medal around your neck, then a very very long line of marines congratulate you as you make your way through the endless chute. A real feel-good finish.

This race has three distance options: 50K, 50M, and 100M. There is also a 100M relay. I ran the 50K.

There are a lot of neat things about this race. First, it is a point to point, rather than a loop. The 50K is entirely along the canal and it starts at 5pm which means this is mostly a night race. This means you have to soak in the visual beauty in the few hours of daylight you have; then you listen to nature’s beauty the rest of the night. The canal is extremely dark. While we had headlamps, you can’t see much outside the boundary of your light. Periodically, I would turn off my lamp and just stare up at the stars. I heard at least two species of owls for many miles. I dodged frogs leaping across the trail. It’s truly a sensory experience unlike any other.

Also, the 50K has an 18 hour cut-off. 18 HOURS!!!!!! Seriously, you can’t not finish this. This makes it great for a first time ultra runner. Speaking of which, they give ultra-virgin shirts to those who finish their first ultra here.

The aid stations are 10K apart, give or take. Though the last is only 5K away from the previous station and 1.7 miles from the finish. Only every 2 or 3 have potties. Every aid station has great, enthusiastic volunteers. Racers can prepare drop bags to be had at specific stations. Very handy so you don’t have to lug all your stuff around. They will then take your bags to the finish line. The selection of food and beverage was amazing and plentiful. There were pizza stations. There was a pancake and sausage station. And a bunch of others….including a Jim Beam station – gasp!

The course itself is crushed limestone which can be tricky to navigate. Beware the black walnut “tennis balls”, acorns and other ankle twisters. Otherwise, it is wide and it was not at all muddy even though it had been flooded the night before.

The swag was tops! The tech shirt was Star Wars inspired. I even got a headsweats hat in my swag bag. What a surprise! A very nice custom water bottle and your choice of stickers. The merch was nice, too. I bought a headsweats tank top. As for awards, 100M finishers get a huge buckle and a plaid button-down finisher shirt. 50M get a smaller buckle. 50K get a keychain. Each distance has its own medal.

There were 400 registered for this race. I thought that was just the right size. I met new friends, including a fellow Raving Lunatic, Tim. A FELLOW RAVING LUNATIC! How great is that?!?! Proof positive that this is a worthy race.

Logistics is easy. There are plenty of hotels. Plenty of parking.

This is a small local race that feels like a million dollar production. A big portion of the course was along the Leelaneau Trail and it’s wine country. That means nothing but gorgeous scenery and hills. Since it runs along the beaches, you get to see lots of views of sun over water. Truly breathtaking.

The race director makes you feel at home. He and his better half, Nance, are as friendly as they get. And they are perfectionists. Every detail is taken care of. This race get strong community support so there were tons of raffle prizes at the end for local shops and restaurants. We won a prize and immediately cashed it in for lunch on the way home. Very yummy – happy tummy!

The bling is outstanding. I don’t think you’ll find a better medal. It’s ceramic and is made by a local tile producer. It weighs a ton and will beat on your chest as you walk as though you might need CPR. Shirts are optional and I regret not signing up for OneNote when I registered. My size was sold out by the time I arrived.

Since this is in wine country, I recommend having a few wine tastings because some of the best wines come from this region. Remember, just a few tastings. Don’t fall into the delicious trap.

Importantly, this is a USATF certified course. If you’re an old fogey like me, you are vying for that Pheidippides Award.

This course is a 5-mile loop along the Ohio & Erie Canal. It’s very beautiful. If you’re lucky (like we were) you’ll get to see horses pulling the canal boats or perhaps an eagle perched in a tree. The trail is mostly crushed rock, but there is a stretch in Tent City that is grass. It’s very flat, if you’re looking for a PR. The trail is so well-made it did not get muddy or puddly even in the driving rains.

I set up my tent Friday afternoon. You’ll want to come as early as possible if you want to located on the edge of the course. Otherwise, it goes 2 or 3 tents deep. I was set up along the course and also had use of a canopy so my friends and I could just toss/retrieve things easily as we passed. Tent City was large so I would recommend bringing ear plugs and eye mask. I had these and slept like a log. If you don’t, you’ll hear generators, car alarms, conversations, etc., and you’ll see flashlights and other lights. I did find that my neighbors were very respectful and helpful. And, the race director bid everyone good night around 9pm and all music and equipment was shut down.

There was a nice pasta dinner provided, free of charge, on Friday night. 😛

The race, all distances, started at 6am so the course was cumbersome for the first lap. After that, as folks used the aid stations, everyone spread out. Because the trail is mostly all-wooded and is 5-miles long, I actually did not see many of my friends. Look for your peeps and take your selfies beforehand; otherwise, there’s a good chance you’ll never see each other. There is an amazing aid station at the start and finish, along with first aid and a selfie booth. There were two unmanned water stations. And, there was one other smaller manned station at the halfway point. While the aid stations were evenly spread, the port-o-pots are not. There are tons at the start, and two at the halfway point. There is no room on the trail for port-o-pots anywhere else. So, be aware of this. You’re only relieving yourself every 2.5 miles. Plan accordingly.

Since the laps are an even 5 miles, there are out-and-backs at the end to help you finish out the 50K or 100K distances. Also, you are awarded on what you finish, not what you register for. So, you have up to the last minute to decide. There are 50K, 50M, 100K, 50K/50M, and 100M options. You get a medal for 50K and 50M. You get a buckle for 100K, 50/50, and 100M. Each medal and buckle is custom made to the distance. And they are bee-u-tee-ful!!! The shirts are tech camo. This year is was red, but I saw silver and blue ones that must have been from previous years. They are gorgeous. When you cross your finish line, you’ll get a huge hug and your bling.

The food and beverage are plentiful. Guests can buy a wristband for beer. Runners get beer for free. There is also a pool, hot tub and fire pit (though the race directors forgot to bring it this year).

This was an amazingly fun event. I am definitely signing up next year.

Regarding my title for this review, when I crossed the finish line, I was pulled aside and told I was named “Cleveland’s Happiest Runner”!!! They interviewed me and the recording is/was released 5/22/18. How sweet is that?! I’m totally elated! Hahaha

The 8K course is a cruise around downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s a nice and easy course for runners and walkers alike. Many use this course as a first Time 8K or a warm-up to the longer distance the following day, or just so they can extra swag.

The swag includes a cotton shirt (or pajama top, as I call it), but the medal is really nice. It has a nice design that features the skyline and it has some heft to it – something to show off and be proud of. If you signed up for the challenge series, you also got a spring-weight hoodie.

There were two aid stations which is plenty for an 8K.

Only caveat I have is that the 8K Runners eventually meet up with 5K walkers so this makes the last mile a struggle as you weave around those going at a slower pace.

The course winds it’s way around Canton and finishes up on the football field. It has rolling hills throughout. Nothing beastly. A nice break for the muscles in the legs. My favorite part of the course was on the hardest hill. For a long long way, they had signs dedicated to individual fallen soldiers. After the signs, there were American flags held by folks cheering you on. What was remarkable was the number of signs and flags. It seemed never to end and this was possibly a mile long.

There were plenty of aid stations with water and Gatorade. There was one with gu.

The swag was awesome. And the way they handle swag is awesome. When we registered, we had the option to select from no shirt, shirt, half-zip, or shirt & half-zip. The registration fee started from $26 for no-shirt option and went up from there. You can’t ask for a better half or full for $26! And, unless this is a one-and-done for you, don’t buy the shirt. They sell all leftover previous shirts for $1 the next year at the expo, so just buy it when you come back. As for the medal, it is different every year. Each time, it’s been totally revamped, which, I must say, is awesome. They do a great job and they are always big and beautiful.

I opted for VIP parking which put us right at the finish. It was worth it for not trying to tackle the long shuttle bus line. Alternatively, stay at the Grand Hotel which is also right at the finish. I did that last year when I ran the full – a great idea!

I would do this race again! Loved it!

The course was beautiful Fred Beekman Park at the Ohio State University. It’s a small race with a handful of solo runners and a lot of teams. I ran it as a solo. The course wound around a football field and a baseball field and it was great to watch a few games as we ran around. It served as a great distraction, especially since the course is not flat.

This is a great race if you’re looking for a PR. I shaved almost an hour off for a fantastic PR.

Since this race supports a scholarship for the siblings and children of those killed in action, the teams consisted of ROTC and Team RWB, etc. There were a few flag carriers and several gear-luggers out there giving it there all with all the added weight. It was impressive.

The race production was smooth. They provided a lot of food. While the selection was limited, the food never ran out and there was enough variety to satisfy all nutiotional needs. The people are very friendly and supportive. The crowd was support was remarkable. Lots of friends, families, and team members to cheer everyone on. Also, the baseball and football spectators cheered us on, as well.

Bathrooms — indoor plumbing, heated, clean! A runners dream!

Swag was unique. We were given tech shirts, but since they are unisex, it’s really a parachute for a small person like me. Instead of a medal, we received bracelets engraved with the name of a lost soldier, the date they died and the war they fought in. I thought that was really neat. You also get a signature coin which is really pretty.

Packet pickup was easy peasy and the expo is small. No glitches whatsoever.

The course was beautiful! Carmel is a beautiful city and the course wound its way through the town and the residential streets. By the time you cross the finish line, you may have already made plans to move there. The first half of the course went downhill. The second half went uphill. A perfect V. However, there was only a 200’ elevation change so the hills were actually not to mean.

The swag is very nice. There wasn’t anything unique or extraordinary about it, but the shirt was high-quality and well-designed. The metal was huge and glittery. At the finish, the food was packaged in a bag – gotta love that!

I paid $30 for this half. It was as good as others twice or three times the price.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful. The course is challenging: hills, creek-crossings, mud, snow. While this is a trail championship, it is a great course for runners of all levels.

The organization is fantastic, seriously top-notch. They really take care of you. Lots of great food and beverage. The swag included a hoodie, a knit beanie, and a medal. Since I ran this race from the very beginning (last year-lol), I was given a hoodie with “Founder” on it.

The friendships and comraderie are really what makes this race even more special. Even if you knew no one coming in, you’ll have lots of friends walking out. The energy and support is fantastic.

The course is a 7.75 mile loop with a big aid station at the start and a small water stop in the middle. It is cup-free so you have to have a hydration system.

The proceeds benefit the Wooster Park system. The great thing about running it every year is that you get to see your money in action.

The race course is on the old abandoned Pennsylvania turnpike. There are plenty of rollings hills that are not too easy and not too hard. The tunnel itself was 2 miles long and you go through it twice. It’s absolutely black in the tunnels so you need your headlamps and flashlights. The roads outside the tunnels are very broken up since they have not been repaired since 1968 when the turnpike was abandoned. The roads inside the tunnels are in perfect shape since they had not seeing weather. There is plenty of debris and broken concrete inside tunnels to be aware of. All of this is outlined in the course description of the time you register and add to the ambience of the race. I’ve done well over 100 road races and I think this is probably one of the best course routes ever.

For swag we received a black hoodie and a large medal. Both were very well done and high-quality. After the race there was a lot of pizza and candy and chocolate milk and other snacks being served. For an inexpensive race the swag is really awesome.

I definitely plan to do this race again.

The race is worth every penny. The views over the bridge are amazing. And if it’s not cloudy, you might get to see the sun rise as you go over it. Then there is the tunnel to get back to the US. It’s muggy with no airflow, but it has both flags at the border line and that’s kinda cool. It’s easy to spot. Just look for the pile of selfie takers. From either side of the river you can see the other country. Lots of folks were taking selfies of their home country in the background.

The crowd support is amazing. And the Canadians really are nice people.

The aid was plentiful along the way with Gatorade and water available in abundance.

My only word of warning is to be aware that there can be more-than-usual congestion: on the bridge, in the tunnel, and at landmarks where people want to take selfies, as well as other places that dot along the course. If you are really wanting to run this, this can be aggravating. I think this race takes in a lot of inexperienced runners who don’t signal their walks and walk in the middle of the course at inconvenient times. Be aware. Be forgiving.

They tell you that you MUST carry your passport (or other country-crossing documentation), and this is true. Our weather was predicted to be unpredictable and there was a good chance that, if they called the race, many of us would be stranded in Canada. Imagine not having your documentation then!!

The swag was awesome. A nice long sleeve tech with the Detroit flag (I think) on the back. They gave us buff-likes as an anniversary gift, to celebrate their 40th. The after-food was plentiful.

PARKING IS FREE AT MGM CASINO!!!

The community of Corning as well as other surrounding communities celebrate with the runners. The shops and restaurants invite you in with welcoming signs and discounts. The people are everywhere cheering. For about 6,000 runners, there seems to be an equal, if not more, spectators. Certainly, this is one of the friendliest races I’ve done.

The location is beautiful. You run most of the race through wine country and farms. Don’t be surprised to be greeted by horses, cows, goats, etc. You’ll cross bridges over picturesque rivers. If taking pics along the way is your thing, be sure to pause here. The latter part is through residential streets. At the startline, you will be greeted by a rising sun that splashes the autumn trees with vibrant colors. You may or may not have fog. It’s really a breathtaking way to launch.

The course itself is net downhill with one bigger hill early on and small “speed bumps” here and there. It’s a fast course, a perfect one for beginners or those seeking a PR. It’s also a BQ.

The weather was chilly both times I ran this. High 30s to low 50s. I’ve seen tons of tank-wearers regretting their outfit choice. It’s important to weather-stalk. This is foggy farm country and that means 30-50 degrees here can feel cooler than 30-50 somewhere else.

It seemed that every school and all the organizations had groups of volunteers at the beginning, at the end, and everywhere in-between. Each and everyone as enthusiastic as the next. It seems excitement is contagious here.

The packet pickup is at Corning Museum of Glass. It’s just outside the gift shop and out of the way of general traffic. It flowed very smoothly. You are given your bib, your half-zip, a Wineglass, and a small bottle of champagne from a local winery. (The champagne has enough oomph to give you a good night sleep without ruining your run.). This same area has all the merchandise. There is plenty of variety of things to choose from. All were good quality, pretty (or handsome) things. Hold out on the goodies until after the race, if you can. After the finish line, they have a merchandise tent and are willing to discount the goods so that they don’t have to lug it back.

Once you’re done picking up your goodies, you can head right into the gift shop. The CMOG gift shop is a great place to buy your Corning keepsake. I usually end up with a bauble made by a local artist. I also enjoy some Christmas shopping while I’m there. Be careful, though. Not all things are local-made. They do label things as “imported” if it’s not local. I don’t know about you, but this is important to me.

After the gift shop, visit the museum! You’ll get an admission discount and it worth the money. You’ll be amazed at how extensive the collection is.

After the Museum, visit the shops that left gift cards in your swag bag!!!

The finish line is right in the middle of Market St. in Corning. Smack dab in the middle of all the fun stuff. They will feed you an enormous amount of food and beverage! They have seating all over the streets for you to rest and recharge.

On lodging: there are plenty of hotels in the surrounding areas. No matter where you stay, you’ll have to be bussed somewhere; whether to the start from your hotel, or to the hotel from the finish or both. The busses are frequent and run smoothly. The drivers are friendly. No matter what, book your hotel early as they do fill up fast. I’ve stayed in Bath both times and had great luck. Check the bus routine so that you book in a convenient place. You don’t want to stay where the bus isn’t going to go. Hotels can be cheap.

So just remember, the whole town of Corning and the surrounding areas are excited to have you there. It’s going to be a never-ending celebration.

This is a fun event to run with family and friends. The course is relatively flat so you could a PR here. Or, this could be a great first half marathon.

The start is at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so from the onset the energy level is high. Since it’s on Lake Erie, it’s also beautiful. The initial stretch is a long way down Carnegie, which is, quite honestly, boring and tedious. However, it is the way to reach University Circle where the course becomes gorgeous as you run alongside the Cultural Gardens. After the Cultural Gardens, the rest of the race is along Lake Erie which is a lovely sight in August when the water is blue and the boats are everywhere.

For the women, the shirts are fantastic. They are fitted so show off your feminine curves. And the design is wonderful. Instead of putting sponsor names on the back, they put this, “Becoming a legend one step at a time”. The men’s shirts are equally nice.

The medal is nothing short of amazing! This year it was a huge double fret guitar glittered in red. Spectacular!!!

This race had 2500 runners so it’s not too big nor too small.

The first five miles are straight uphill. My Garmin recorded about 1228′ of gain. The second 5 miles is all downhill, burning up the other half of your leg muscles. The remaining Miles are gently rolling hills that finish off any last bit of strength and energy you may have had. In short, it will eat you alive if you don’t properly train. If you do properly train, it will a little bit of your soul intact. I’ll post pics of the elevation chart.

The views are worth every step it takes to get up there. Skies as far as you can see. And valleys as deep as they come. I know of a three bear sightings. One ahead of us. One that I actually saw below us in the valley. One behind us, literally intermingled with the runners. I’ll post that pic, too. The organizers sent out guns to scare the bears away before the race. And folks with rifles patroled the courses to protect us. As far as I know, no bears and no runners died in the production of this event.

Everything went off without a hitch. You have to drive far to park for the shuttles so you must wake up earlier than you can ever imagine. We had to leave by 3am to arrive by 4am. However, the shuttles were efficient.

Tent camping sites were available but it was a bit too chilly for my tastes so I am glad I settled for renting a cabin at the KOA, which I highly recommend. It’s cheap and you can fit a lot of your friends. Hotels are very expensive and it can be hard to book. Have your plans in place as early as possible.

Expo was okay. The bib and shirt pick-up was smooth. They do check IDs. There were plenty of merchandise to buy except for the hat I really wanted. They don’t have the same offerings on their website which was a disappointment. I hope they load that up soon so I can buy anything I missed out on. A few vendors were missing, which was another disappointment. I really wanted to buy Goodr sunglasses, but came home empty handed because they weren’t there to sell me any. The expo is bagless so bring your own bag.

I loved the race shirt. The Women’s was cut small so it fit me perfectly. The design was amazing: simple and beautiful. The medal has the same shape and size as the ones I’ve grown used to from VR, but this time it was a combination of wood and medal. I liked it just as much as their previous all-medal ones. And, it’s huge!

After the race, you have the option to complete a trifecta challenge and/or the Club challenge. The trifecta challenge is simple: visit three designated locations and take your pic with your medal and bib. Then submit your proof within 72 hours. This is great if you have children with you or can’t otherwise complete the Club challenge which is more difficult. The Club challenge makes you conquer moderately difficult hikes and can take most of a day to complete. You have a choice in the selection. We chose to hike to Iceberg Lake which is 10 miles round trip and took over 6 hours to complete. Well worth it. It’s the most breathtaking place I’ve seen this whole trip. You get special awards for completing the trifecta and one for completing the club. We managed to complete both so I’m eagerly waiting for a package of goodies.

Vacation Races never fails to provide one of the best race experiences you’ll ever have. I like that I end up in national parks when it’s not peak season so my family and I can get enjoyment with a lighter crowd. Because of VR, we’ve taken the kids all over the country. If you like a challenging race filled with immense beauty, then this is the one for you. Loved it 5-stars worth.

Grosse Ile is an island at the mouth of the Detroit River into Lake Erie. The blue waters and luxurious homes made it quite picturesque. The course and flat and fast. It’s limited to about 500 runners of all levels.

For $25, we received a very nice sweatshirt. The food selection was plentiful. Medals were given to those who placed.

I will definitely do this race again.

I loved the new course. It started at Public Square and took us past the Brown’s Stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock Hall of Fame. As a flat and easy course, it is perfect for someone advancing to the 8K distance.

I ran this race as part of the Cleveland Marathon Challenge, meaning I also ran the Half Marathon the following day. It’s a great warmup for the longer runs, but offers a little more challenge than a 5K.

Since it was their 40th anniversary, the 8K medal was a big as the previous year’s half marathon medals. Very impressive and beautiful. For those that accepted the “challenge”, blankets were given out as well. The shirts were bland, though. Cotton, and without a notable design.

All in all, I love this race and I’ll be back next year.

I ran the full marathon. The full marathon course was the half marathon course run forward then backward. However, at the turn-around, they cleverly hid the finish line from view so as to not crush our spirits. There were plenty of water stops and gu was offered throughout. The crowd support was better than I expected and we received lots cheers from folks sitting on their porches. All the mile markers highlighted a Hall-of-Famer. And there was entertainment all along the way. My only complaint was that some stations ran out of Gatorade. However, there was no shortage of water.

The course takes you through Canton. You’ll see parks and the McKinley Monument. You’ll also see industrial and commercial areas. There were richer and poorer neighborhoods alike – each with lot of excited families out to cheer the runners. You’ll get to experience all the flavors Canton has to offer. It has gently rolling hills throughout. Some say it’s hilly, but I would not call it that because I do hill training and this feels manageable – actually nice – to me. Seriously, it’s filled with small hills. Nothing to be worried about.

The swag was nice. We received triblend shirts with a great design. The medal was neck-breaking enormous. Finishers also got a blanket. All participants received free admission to the Football Hall of Fame.

I’ve run this twice. The first time, it was really cold. This time it was runner-collapsing hot. It’s Ohio. You have to be prepared for all weather conditions.

The Expo is mediocre. There were several good vendors and I found some treasures, but you won’t spend a lot of time there.

This one is growing quickly and it is a good one to do. I would recommend the half and the full. I did not enjoy the relay as much when I did it a few years ago.

I tried to include pics of the different types of areas you’d run through. Unfortunately, I don’t have neighborhood pics.

This is all on trail and it’s very hilly. The elevation chart they gave us said to expect about 2000′ elevation gain for the 25K. My watch said it was a little less. It is a 7.75 mile loop with 8 water crossings each time you did the loop. That meant 16 water crossings for the 25K. It was also 20 degrees which meant the wet pant legs froze, water that splashed onto my jacket froze, guys with beards had icicle faces, and hydration backpacks are useless (though the bottles were fine). Much of the course was single-track, but there were plenty of places where it widened out. The single-track ridges had incredible views. There was one water-only stop on the lap, but it was to refill your hydration kit as this was a no-cups race.

The post-food choices were outstanding. Hot noodles and pulled pork, if you wanted something substantial. Chips, cookies, candies etc for snacking. Lots of good beverage choices. This was in a park, though, so no beer. That was okay by me.

The race director and all the staff and volunteers are super friendly, helpful, contagiously funny.

The swag was awesome. It included a thick and warm hoodie with the fierce growling Red Bull that is their logo on the front. I didn’t even know bulls growled. Hooda thunk? And the medal with the same growling bull was good quality and worthy of showing off.

I did not finish as well as I wanted because I am nursing a shin splint. But even a seasoned athlete will find this challenging. LOVED IT! I WILL BE BACK!

I do this race every year. The proceeds benefit cancer research. Also, it’s 4 miles through OSU’s campus. What more could you ask for??? Oh bling. The medals are top notch. Huge. Beautiful. Worthy of showing off. The shirts are tech and get better every year. Starting line entertainment? The absolute best I’ve seen in races. Each wave was sent off with a rap song written in lyrics focused on OSU. And, Brutus showed us his dance moves before high-fiving the runners out. The course is gorgeous. You won’t get more for your race dollars anywhere.

It’s a family run so I get enjoyment with running with my home-peeps. Also, it’s a great run for first time runners.

What about the finish, you ask. In the final stretch, you tunnel into the stadium and cross the finish at the 50-yard line and your face is shown on the gigantic scoreboard screen. This is your chance for the world to see your best or worst race day visage. So go ahead and give your best grimace or your easy peasy smile.

The recovery food is amazing. Every year, I forget to bring a bag with me and I end up lugging a ton of delicious snacks to my car before I can chow down.