Mark Hall's Staging Area

This was the 25 anniversary Museum of Flight race. It was a well supported and ran event, at the museum attached to Robins Air Force Base. Access to the museum was thru a gate entrance without security, so access was simple. This was a Covid compliant event so that limited interaction with the venue and people – in and out of the museum hangar at packet pick up, no expo. Start was staggered with 2 people taking off every few seconds.
The water stops were well spaced, about every 3 miles, with gatorade, water, bananas and oranges, and goos at some.
The marathon is a double loop course around the runways. The scenery was interesting enough to me, always something to look at on a military base. My watch had elevation gain at 410 ft without a hill, just inclines.
Winter weather can vary, this year it was 43 degrees and wet but the rain that was forecast never really showed up, just an occasional drizzle.
Nice long sleeve shirt that was non race specific (there was a marathon, half, and 5k) and a neat medal. Pizza at the end for runners.
There were 103 marathon finishers so it is a smaller race, after 25 years they sure seem to have it down. I enjoyed myself, I was very glad the museum foundation put it on.

The 2020 Dirty South Trail Half Marathon & 10K was part of the Knoxville Track Club’s annual trail running series. It takes place in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness over bike and hiking trails, starting at Meade’s Quarry. The KTC does an excellent job putting races on. The trails were well marked, there were 2, maybe 3 water bottle tables, and friendly, helpful volunteers at the staging area. A tshirt was available – one for this year’s trail series, not race specific.
This year’s event had brilliant winter weather that was initially hidden by early morning river fog. The starting temperature was around 32 and was up to 50 3 hours later. The trails had mud from the rain 2 days earlier for a little extra challenge.
It was so nice to have an opportunity to run in the woods thanks to the KTC.

Here are the answers to the form prompts –
Share specifics, e.g. awesome aid stations, a medal I’ll sleep with under my pillow: Yes to both. Plentiful water and Gator-aide ready to go every 2 or so miles. Gummy bears, pickles, fruit. Friendly people that stayed for the tail end runners. The medal, what’s not to love about an ear of corn from an Iowa marathon? Definitely an under the pillow medal.

What was the most unique aspect of this race?: 2 things – I am not sure how many marathons there are between 2 small Iowa farm towns when corn and soybeans are near their peak before harvest. This must be one of the few, and to me the course was beautiful. Also, 2020 was the year of Covid 19 and so many races were cancelled. The Cedar River Complex folks had precautions that were being used nationwide and went on with their race (It’s been over 2 weeks and I am symptom free so it worked for me). That, and that the marathon was a Boston Qualifier seemed to draw a crowd, they seemed at their cap of 80, up from high 30’s the year before. It was one of the few marathons happening and was in a place I was glad to visit in a format I felt secure in.

How would you improve the race?: Wouldn’t change a thing.

Would you recommend this race to friends?: Definitely. We were surprised that nearby Mason City had so much to offer. Definitely stay in Osage if there is room at the motel and Airbnb’s, for a country experience. But 35 minutes away in Mason City is the only existing Frank Lloyd Wright designed hotel, renovated re-opened in 2011 and a joy to stay at. Mason City has a wonderful old city around the Historic Park Inn and it was fun to spend time around the marathon in.

I liked the swag, for a race this size. The medal speaks for itself, nice long sleeve tech shirt in superman blue with a large graphic like the medal. Fun local stuff in the bag.