Brian Marx's Staging Area

Getting into the race is the hardest part. It sold out in minutes. I would have put the difficulty as a 1 but training in 25 degree weather in WI then running in 80 down in the Keys is what made it difficult. There is a hard pace cut off. If you can’t keep up with the required pace (about 80 minutes to finish) a bus will pick you up. This road is the only way in and out of the Keys and they keep it closed for runners so the HAVE to open it up when they promise. However, if you can run this, DO IT!!! The race is so unique and there is nothing that compares to running with open ocean on both sides of you. It is well worth the early morning start time and the heat. The shirt is an average tech shirt and the medal is good but nothing extra special. This one is all about the experience. This is a bucket list race.

Vacation Races just does it right. Every race I have done with them has been absolutely stunning. This one was no different. Yes, the hills were HARD but the views made the climbs well worth it. I even encountered Sasquatch on course. VR even constructed a bridge to get across a stream. The only reason I didn’t give them a full 5 shoe rating for swag was because the Sasquatch double medals were delayed and not at the race. That was mostly beyond their control though. They did communicate the issue to all runners. Their communication has always been top notch. If you are looking to run in the Pacific Northwest then this is a race you really need to try.

This was a great race to run except for the wind. 25 mph winds with 40 -45 mph gusts made it difficult race. The race starts out with a few hills on streets but then flattens out and it is mostly flat along a bike path. The volunteers are amazing. This is one of the best races I have run from that standpoint. They added a “Zippy Mile” on Saturday night to make it a challenge race. It made for a great weekend. If there had been no wind this would have been one of my favorite races. I didn’t downgrade anything because of the weather but it did take away from some of the fun. The weather did get offset by a bald eagle that flew right over my head and made for an amazing memory. I will try to get out to run this one again!

This race could be so much better! It started out with the notification that the shirts would not be available at packet pick up and MAYBE after the race. The expo was bare bones. I have been to better ones at local races. This is a big time running company. It should be better. Moving to race day- I never rank down for weather but it was hot and humid. I have been at races not this bad that we’re yellow and red flagged but there was no safety communication outside a text a few days early saying it would be hot. The race started late. It was supposed to start at 7:15. I had to move up a few corrals because I was placed in the final corral even though I submitted a time to be placed much better. I finally started at 7:55. They were using a rolling start and sending runners off 12 at a time. That’s ok but let runners know they don’t need to show up at a normal early time. San Antonio is a beautiful city but we didn’t run through any of the interesting parts of it. The best part was the blue mile (mile 6) where the soldiers who died in battle were remembered. Also, San Antonio is hilly. After the race we got our shirts (most of us as they ran out). They were basic black with white ink. Again, I have gotten much better shirts at local races with smaller budgets. The medal was a typical Rock ‘n’ Roll medal. It’s nice but smaller. Rock ‘n’ Roll has gone down tremendously in production value. The crew at the start showed no emotion and the announcer was absent at the finish. It also looked like they had a few water stops that ran out at various spots on course. I’m a mid pack runner so I feel bad for those in the back. The volunteers were amazing though. I love the city and it was a great place ti visit but I won’t be doing this race again.

This run from the lakefront to Glendale on the Oakleaf trail. A lot of it was in the shade. The rest stops had bottles of water and Gatorade. It was nice but harder to run with the bottles for 2 miles or throw away a half full bottle. The course was pretty flat and the only issues I had was the mile before and after the turn around. The sidewalks there were in pretty bad shape. It was mostly an out and back with a bit of an offshoot for a few miles. The medal was top notch and the beer and brat after is always a welcome bonus.

The race starts out with a 5 mile hill. This is quite possibly the most difficult of my 62 half marathons I have run. However, the view at the the top is WELL WORTH IT. I have become a huge Vacation Races fan. Even during the pandemic they were able to put on quality races and now that things are starting to get back to normal they are keeping that high level of race production and customer service. One of the most difficult races yet still one of my favorites. They also have challenges after the race that allow you to earn additional prizes while exploring the local area.

This was a chance for me to run a live race in the middle of a pandemic. The corse went through quite a few farms an d it was great seeing horses. It was a gentle rolling hill course with no big hills but not many pure flat spots. It was an out and back and then an extra out and back for the half marathon. The water stations were a choice of cups or water bottles. It was a great race for during a pandemic.

This was run by Silver Circle Races and they have done an amazing job with social distance running. The course wasn’t the most exciting and they shirts are tech shirts but it was a real in person race and it is part of a great series. I am so thankful for this company and them putting on races in this difficult time.

This course was the same as the Mother’s Day Trail Assail race except it is in the summer. It was HOT and HILLY. There is not a single flat part of the course. It ate me alive. However, with all the restrictions on races right now I can’t say a single thing bad about this. It was a real race with social distancing at the start.

For most this will not be a PR race. Enjoy the event. Take pictures with characters. Ride rides. I did those plus stopped for several “adult drinks” along the way. The race is expensive but the production is well done.

I ran this race as the “Sweeper Pacer”. This is a race “for runners by runners”. The support you will get is amazing. The run is mostly along the lakefront of Lake Michigan. There are some rollers in the first half of the race and the second half is mostly an overall downhill run. This has been put on for about 40 years now and is a well oiled machine. It is a fast course and great for all runners from first timers to BQ hopefuls.

You can’t pass up this chance to run the Indianapolis speedway. It breaks up the distance perfectly. It’s a nice run out to the speedway then a few miles around the speedway then the run to the finish with great crowds. The final mile is dedicated to fallen veterans and is very inspiring. Just before you leave the speedway you will cross the speedway finish line and have a chance to “kiss the bricks”. Each year the medals is one of my favorites for the year. The only think I don’t like as much is you are required to attend the packet pick up on Friday afternoon. It requires me to take a day off work but that’s not terrible.

SO far I have run almost 60 half marathons and this is one of my top 2. It is in the middle of Amish and run by the local Amish with all money going toward the volunteer fire department. All of the water stops are run by local Amish families. The medal is an actual horseshoe that locals collect throughout the year. The families put on a spaghetti dinner the night before and your entry comes with a home made whoopie pie. The course is hilly but that just adds to the scenery of the area. I can’t recommend this race enough.

I didn’t know Atlanta was so hilly! The race was one of the best organized I have participated in. Jeff Galloway obviously knows what he is doing. My only complaint is running near the finish at mile 10 and realizing you still have 3 more miles to go to get there. The medals are great. The post race refreshments are top notch and the throw-away jacket was a great touch

This is an unbelievable marathon run by the Badgerland Striders. It is advertised as a run by runners for runners and that is just what it is. I ran it once for myself and I ran it once as the 6:30 pacer. The shirt is always top notch and the medals are some of the best I have gotten. The support on course is second to none. It is a fast course and mostly flat and down hill with a few rolling hills. Once you get to the lake the views are amazing.