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@manturuk

Chapel Hill, NC Raving since 2021 Marathon Maniacs #15322 Active 4 days, 3 hours ago

About Me

  • Running club(s):

    Godiva Track Club

  • Rave race:
  • Race that's calling my name:
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My Races

Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.

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Half Marathon

Marathon

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(Marathon or Ultra) + Half

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Future Races

Personal Bests (4)

Race Distance Location Date Result
34 hr Savannah, GA Jan 20, 2023 100 mi
100K Glen Rose, TX Nov 18, 2023 21:14:00
Marathon Myrtle Beach, SC Mar 7, 2020 3:47:00
Half Marathon Oak Island, NC Feb 19, 2022 1:44:49

Future Races (0)

Race Distance Location Date Paid

Past Races (41)

Race Distance Location Date Result My Raves My Performance
Marathon Severna Park, MD Mar 24, 2024 3:53:01
Marathon Mesa, AZ Feb 10, 2024 3:48:26
100K Glen Rose, TX Nov 18, 2023 21:14:00
Marathon Columbus, IN Sep 23, 2023 4:19:03
Marathon South Lawrence, SD Aug 20, 2023
Marathon Manitowoc, WI Jun 11, 2023 4:08:11
50 Miler Whitetop, VA Jun 3, 2023
Marathon Pittsburgh, PA May 7, 2023
Half Marathon Charlotte, NC Mar 4, 2023
Half Marathon Oak Island, NC Feb 18, 2023 1:51:16
34 hr Savannah, GA Jan 20, 2023 100 mi
Marathon Pass Christian, MS Dec 10, 2022 4:10:17
100K Harrison, TN Nov 6, 2022
100 Miler Whitetop, VA Sep 30, 2022
# of hrs = your age Manchester, TN Sep 3, 2022
Half Marathon Davis, WV Aug 27, 2022
50 Miler Traverse City, MI Jun 11, 2022
Half Marathon Pittsburgh, PA May 1, 2022
Marathon Hopkinton, MA Apr 18, 2022 3:59:22
Half Marathon St Louis, MO Apr 3, 2022 2:14:19
Marathon Myrtle Beach, SC Mar 5, 2022
Half Marathon Oak Island, NC Feb 19, 2022 1:44:49
Half Marathon Agoura Hills, CA Dec 18, 2021
50 Miler Vienna, IL Nov 13, 2021
Marathon Chicago, IL Oct 10, 2021
Marathon Portland, ME Oct 3, 2021
Marathon Beulah, WY Sep 12, 2021 3:57:47
Marathon Osage, IA Aug 21, 2021 4:13:00
Marathon Coeur d'Alene, ID May 30, 2021 4:00:10
Marathon Hilton Head Island, SC Jan 16, 2021 4:16:00
# of hrs = your age Manchester, TN Sep 7, 2020
Marathon Spearfish, SD Aug 23, 2020 4:18:18
Marathon Myrtle Beach, SC Mar 7, 2020 3:47:00
50K Arlington, VA Oct 27, 2019
Marathon Cass, WV Oct 6, 2019
Marathon Rachel, NV Aug 18, 2019
Marathon Pittsburgh, PA May 4, 2019
Marathon Greensboro, NC Oct 13, 2018
Half Marathon Indianapolis, IN 2007
Marathon Lake Buena Vista, FL 2007
Marathon Chicago, IL 2004

My Raves

This year there were 285 people in the marathon. There aren't spectators, and I ran alone most of the second half. The volunteers were helpful and encouraging. I only saw … MORE

This year there were 285 people in the marathon. There aren’t spectators, and I ran alone most of the second half. The volunteers were helpful and encouraging. I only saw sports gel at one aid station so bring your own. The course measured just under 700ft elevation for me which feels accurate. The hills are mostly just gentle but long 1-2% grade. The trail is pretty. The race swag is amazing for a small local event! I’d run this again.

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This is a very fast course, but there are some real pacing challenges. Your quads are likely going to hurt a lot in the last five miles so I figured … MORE

This is a very fast course, but there are some real pacing challenges. Your quads are likely going to hurt a lot in the last five miles so I figured I might as well go hot on the downhill (miles 1-4 & 7-10). The uphill between miles 5 and 6 is steady but I thought it was nothing of note. Caveat being I live in a hilly area. I started to really feel the fast downhill miles in the second half.

The race is well organized with excellent on course support. I carried no gels or fluid – gel every 4 miles at the aid stations. The start area has plenty of toilets and heaters. The signage was clear and accurate by my watch. I liked the extra fun signs too. The expo was really nice with good quality branded swag for sale and all the extras. I loved the little luggage tag for BQ finishers at the end!

One thing to prepare for is that the first half of the race was beautiful but the second half (which is all of the half marathon course) was running down a four lane city road with only gas stations and strip malls for scenery.

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The course is beautiful but extremely difficult with mostly technical single track. It's mostly rocky - so many rocks. Poles are very helpful. The aid stations are so well stocked … MORE

The course is beautiful but extremely difficult with mostly technical single track. It’s mostly rocky – so many rocks. Poles are very helpful. The aid stations are so well stocked and supportive! The runner village is organized nicely, and the finisher buckle is very cool. This race chewed me up hard!

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Columbus, Indiana is famous for public art and stunning architecture. Unfortunately, this race showcases none of it. The course is mostly through neighborhoods and along a paved greenway. The marathon … MORE

Columbus, Indiana is famous for public art and stunning architecture. Unfortunately, this race showcases none of it. The course is mostly through neighborhoods and along a paved greenway. The marathon runners even have to repeat some sections of the course in the second half. A beautiful town like Columbus could make a much better route!

Everything else was good – great volunteers, plenty of course support, nice medals, and a great finish line party with bands and food. The shirt is pretty cheap, but I’ve gotten worse! One thing to know – the marathon is tiny compared to the other races. I was running alone most of the second half. There aren’t spectators except at the finish area. However, the course is flat, flat, flat. It would be a great BQ course if it stays cool (it hit 80 degrees at the finish for me).

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This is a great small-town race with fantastic volunteers. The race director sent only a couple of emails, but they were clear and told me exactly when and where to … MORE

This is a great small-town race with fantastic volunteers. The race director sent only a couple of emails, but they were clear and told me exactly when and where to be. The race starts and ends at a college so there is plenty of parking within 100 feet of the start line. There were also enough port-o-loos so no one had to wait in line. The local hotels all offered late check out for runners.

The course is an out and back that mostly follows the shore of Lake Michigan. I thought it was a pretty course although there is a small highway on one side. One interesting feature is that you run on all sorts of terrain – roads, sidewalks, greenway paths, gravel, dirt trails, wooden bridges. It is probably 90% road/sidewalk with all the other stuff coming within 2 miles of the turnaround. It is a fast course – no notable hills whatsoever. The only thing to keep in mind if you’re trying to run a fast time is that the wooden bridges and pine straw areas were slightly slick in the rain. I ran mostly alone, but did run with a pace group for a few miles. The pace team was awesome!

The race shirt is pretty simple a cheap, which I found kind of charming. The medal was a cool fish design. At the finish line, they gave out beer, water, and bratwurst. There were aid stations about every 1.25mi with water and Gatorade. I was pretty impressed at the number of aid stations given how small the race was.

Overall, I highly recommend this race if you like small town, low-key races. It is also a great BQ option.

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This event has two half marathons - one "fast and flat" and the other with a big bridge at mile nine. They combined the results so everyone who ran the … MORE

This event has two half marathons – one “fast and flat” and the other with a big bridge at mile nine. They combined the results so everyone who ran the course with the bridge was competing in the same group as those who didn’t. That felt unfair. Otherwise, the race is supported well and the area is very pretty.

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This race is a straight line so you're running alone the ocean the whole time. I enjoyed the scenery, but it doesn't vary. One thing to note is that at … MORE

This race is a straight line so you’re running alone the ocean the whole time. I enjoyed the scenery, but it doesn’t vary. One thing to note is that at mile 24.5, you go up a steeply-banked highway ramp for about a half a mile (both marathon and half do this). It was very challenging to me. Otherwise, the course is as easy as it gets! Not a hill in sight.

There were aid stations every single mile – very impressive for a smaller race! The athlete guide said there would be Honey Stinger products every 3 miles but there were none. One aid station had some gels around mile 11 and one was giving out pickles. Be sure to bring all the nutrition you need! There are no spectators except for a few family members. The race finishes in what looks like a minor league ballpark.

The packet pickup is just picking up – no expo there. They do have some extra race swag for purchase and it looked pretty nice quality stuff. The finish area was minimal but sufficient. I did the 5K the day before and both races had rice and gumbo along with beer for runners.

The shuttle system was efficient and operated as promised. One tip – take an early shuttle if you want to avoid a very long bathroom line at the start! I was on the shuttle by 5:20am and the lines were fine when I arrived but even 15 minutes later they were super long! Lastly, stay at the official hotel. It is across the street from everything. I stayed at the Hard Rock hotel next door and it cost more with much worse service. I heard only great things about the official hotel.

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The race expo is weird - a ton of outdoor stuff aimed at hunting, fishing, hiking, and biking. There were almost no running-related booths. The race shirt is a cotton … MORE

The race expo is weird – a ton of outdoor stuff aimed at hunting, fishing, hiking, and biking. There were almost no running-related booths. The race shirt is a cotton t-shirt with an ironed-on image (not sublimated) so not anything special. I did like that they gave you a shirt with your specific distance on it.

The course itself was totally fine. You run point to point, so you run through some pretty neighborhoods. However, you are just running through a city so nothing especially scenic. The finish takes you through a gravel area by some train tracks, but I was told the course changes a bit every year. I didn’t find it hilly, although there were some long gradual inclines. If you run in a flat area, you might call them hills.

There isn’t a lot to do in downtown St. Louis other than look at the arch and the sculpture garden. I came from out of town and just wandered around afterwards. If I did it again, I’d rent a car and stay in a different area. There also aren’t a lot of restaurants around the finish.

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The course is stunning. The hill at mile 2 is tough but very runnable. I suggest gaiters as there are loose pebbles. Wear a pullover to start as it is … MORE

The course is stunning. The hill at mile 2 is tough but very runnable. I suggest gaiters as there are loose pebbles. Wear a pullover to start as it is cold at the top. Also be aware there are only a couple bathrooms on the course and you have to detour to get to them. The race director was great and the volunteers were so helpful. They tracked every singe runner the whole tune over radio. The ride to the start is fun too because you meet people from all over. The course is on but the road part is in a very wide shoulder and people drive slow because it is a scenic byway. I wouldn’t change a thing about this race.

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This is a small race; in 2021 there were 67 people in the marathon. Everything about it was small and friendly - the packet pickup was run at the local … MORE

This is a small race; in 2021 there were 67 people in the marathon. Everything about it was small and friendly – the packet pickup was run at the local rec center and the finish line had snacks and friendly people from the area asking if you needed water or a suggestion of where to eat lunch (tip – Teluwut Grill really is darn good). I was alone for most of the race although I could usually see someone in the distance way ahead of me.

The race has great midwestern scenery – the sun rising over foggy corn fields was beautiful. It started out cool but it did get warm by the end. My clothes were soaked with sweat, but there isn’t the humidity you get in other places at this time of year. I did not find the running conditions to be bad. The course support was just outstanding! There were aid stations every mile almost – more than planned in the race guide. It looked like some folks just made an aid station at their driveway. One girl gave me a cup of marshmallows at mile 17! Every aid station had water and sports drink, and during the second half most also had snacks of some kind and some iced sponges. Every volunteer was friendly and encouraging.

Also, this is a closed course! How often can you run on a 2-lane country road with no shoulder and not worry about cars at all. That was so much fun for me. I think maybe 2-3 cars ignored the signs and drove on the course, but even then they slowed down and drove on the other side of the road. There were also portaloos at several of the aid stations. Considering there were only 67 of us running the full marathon, it was just amazing how well supported the race was. I drove the course the day before and I’m glad because it is not flat. I would consider it to be very gentle rolling hills from miles 5 – 20; the first and last 5 miles are flat. There is only one hill of note, at mile 6 and 19 (the course is out and back). I found the hill to be very runnable both ways, but I did pass by two people who were walking it on the back half.

I wouldn’t change a thing about this race, and I’m very glad I did it. It is the most rural, quiet, and peaceful road race I have ever run.

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The first half of the marathon course is the most beautiful I've ever seen! The second half (which is the only part the half-marathon runners see) is nice but then … MORE

The first half of the marathon course is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! The second half (which is the only part the half-marathon runners see) is nice but then goes off into a subdivision for a good part of the course. The shirt is absolutely the best race shirt I’ve ever gotten – love it! The aid stations were well-stocked and the volunteers were so wonderful and friendly. There are 3 hills on the full course (one on the half). The first 2 are pretty long but I was fine with the slow incline. The last hill which is on the half-marathon part is in full sun and not as steep but it goes on a long time.

I stayed at the resort and you just walk out the door to be at the start. However, there is plenty of parking so you could stay anywhere in the area and be fine. The weather is perfect here this time of year! Overall, I highly recommend this marathon and am so very glad I got to do it!!

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I expected this to be a really pretty race since it was on an island. However, the vast majority of the course is on inland gravel roads. You run the … MORE

I expected this to be a really pretty race since it was on an island. However, the vast majority of the course is on inland gravel roads. You run the loop twice. There is one sort of scenic part where you run along a boardwalk, and the grounds of the golf resort place are quite pretty. But I found the gravel roads really hard to run on as well as being, well, ugly.

There was one central aid station when I ran it where the course converges from multiple directions. That might have been a covid adjustment? I would not run this course without your own water. I had a support person with a rented golf cart who refilled my water as I ran.

To get to the start, you have to take a ferry. I cannot stress this enough – wear LOTS of warm clothes. It was miserably cold and windy. My hands and feet were painfully numb a good hour before the race even started. That ferry ride was just awful. There is a big tent at the start where you can probably safely leave your winter coats and such.

I would not do this race again, but I met a group there who do it every year and rave about how much they love it. So it seems to appeal to people who want a smaller race with really cold weather.

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This is a stunningly beautiful course starting in Lead, SD and running down the Spearfish Canyon. The first 2 miles of the course are (in the words of the race … MORE

This is a stunningly beautiful course starting in Lead, SD and running down the Spearfish Canyon. The first 2 miles of the course are (in the words of the race staff) “just awful”. You start out going up 2 big hills at 6,000 ft elevation. If you live at sea level, this is a huge struggle. After that, there is a steep downhill followed by gentle downhill with a few rolling hills until the halfway point. After that, it is all downhill until the last mile which is flat. I had an 8-minute negative split! People I met who struggled in the second half went out too fast; start slow on this course and you’ll find the second half to just float by. The second half of the course is on a scenic highway but the shoulder is wide and I had no issues with cars getting close.

The race production is minimal. The swag is a cheap cotton t-shirt with a tiny race logo and a list of sponsors. The race packet contained no real goodies, just some coupons for a couple local businesses. The finish line area was okay with chocolate milk and Gatorade to drink and bananas and cups of candy for snacks. The race started at 6am but they had us get on the bus to the start at 4am even though it was only a 40-minute drive. That was the biggest negative, but hopefully they’ll change that in the future. There are plenty of water stops and bathrooms.

While this can be a very fast course on the right day, the weather is super unpredictable. 48 hours before the race, it was 106 degrees. On race morning, it was 52 and windy. The weather also changes a lot as the race goes on. Also, this is not a walker-friendly race. There is a firm 6-hour cutoff from the time the men’s race starts and you will get pulled off the course if you’re not on pace to finish under the cutoff.

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This is the flattest marathon in this part of the country; my watch showed 39 feet of elevation in 26.2 miles. I have run it twice and will do it … MORE

This is the flattest marathon in this part of the country; my watch showed 39 feet of elevation in 26.2 miles. I have run it twice and will do it again just for that reason. Run this race when you want a PR or BQ.

The race shirt is not great – heat applied decal on a cheap technical shirt. I didn’t save mine. However, they also give you a finisher tank at the end of the race and that was pretty nice. I still run in mine from 2019. The medals are nice. The expo is dreadful. In 2019 it was in a hotel and it was tiny but fine. In 2020, it was at a Dave & Busters which was super loud. There were no booths or anything. It was clearly an attempt to get runners to buy food and spend money on video games. I hope they go back to a hotel packet pick-up.

The course is not scenic, but it is interesting. You run right down the main drag for a long time so you can look at all the hotels and cheesy boardwalk shops. Myrtle Beach has more pancake houses than anywhere in the country, so much of the route smells like pancakes. The loop through the upscale shopping area usually has crowds with funny signs. There is just one part around mile 19 or 20 that is along a freeway bypass road that is really unattractive. There was plenty of water on the course.

There are many sports where the road slopes down on the sides. Try and stay in the middle or you’ll get some nasty blisters! There is tons are free parking at the race start, so you can stay anywhere in MB and get there just fine. Rates are usually very low this time of year, so it is not an expensive trip to go to this race.

I’ll keep doing this one mostly because the course is just so darn fast!

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