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@missmac17224
Raving since 2018 50 States hopeful/finisher Active 19 hours, 27 minutes agoAbout Me
My Races
Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.
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Half Marathon
Marathon
Ultramarathon
(Marathon or Ultra) + Half
Marathon + Ultra
Other
Future Races
Personal Bests (21)
Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result |
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Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic | 24 hr | Rockingham, NC | Sep 25, 2021 | 63.27 mi |
Nutcracker 12, 6 & 3 hr Endurance Run | 6 hr | Erwin, NC | Dec 10, 2022 | 28 mi |
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | Dopey Challenge (48.6 Miles) | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Jan 9, 2022 | 10:41:34 |
General Store 50K | 50K | Ellerbe, NC | Jun 5, 2021 | 7:10:47 |
Myrtle Beach Marathon | Marathon | Myrtle Beach, SC | Mar 5, 2022 | 4:48:13 |
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Marathon & Relay | Marathon Relay | Greensboro, NC | Feb 9, 2020 | 3:58:07 |
NC VSAP 22 Miler, 22K & 2.2 Mile Ruck | 22 Miler | Eastover, NC | Sep 18, 2021 | 4:44:06 |
Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7 Mile Run | 19.7 Miler | Albemarle, NC | Mar 6, 2021 | 4:16:48 |
Salem Lake Frosty Fifty (Frosty 50) | 25K | Winston-Salem, NC | Jan 6, 2023 | 3:19:15 |
Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Kiawah Island, SC | Dec 14, 2019 | 2:11:19 |
Copperhead 20K | 20K Relay | Hampstead, NC | Aug 28, 2021 | 2:25:02 |
American Tobacco Trail 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Apex, NC | Oct 23, 2021 | 1:39:33 |
North Carolina Spring Classic | 16K | Holly Springs, NC | Apr 27, 2019 | 1:45:06 |
Reindeer Fun Run | 12K | Aberdeen, NC | Dec 7, 2019 | 1:13:18 |
Red Apple Run for Diabetes | 10K | Fayetteville, NC | Nov 17, 2018 | 58:36 |
U Can Finish 5 Mile & 2 Mile | 5 Miler | Orlando, FL | Oct 27, 2019 | 57:48 |
Raleigh Turkey Trot @ Ridgewood | 8K | Raleigh, NC | Nov 22, 2018 | 47:47 |
Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run | 4 Miler | Chapel Hill, NC | Apr 9, 2022 | 39:08 |
DAV 5K Boston | 5K | Boston, MA | Nov 6, 2021 | 28:13 |
U Can Finish 5 Mile & 2 Mile | 2 Miler | Orlando, FL | Oct 27, 2019 | 19:24 |
World’s Largest Flip Flop 1K | 1K | Cary, NC | Jun 8, 2019 | 15:46 |
Future Races (13)
Race | Distance | Location | Date | Paid |
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First State Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Newark, DE | Mar 25, 2023 | ✓ |
Mountains-to-Sea Trail Challenge | 50K | Raleigh, NC | Apr 16, 2023 | ✓ |
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (Indy Mini) | Half Marathon | Indianapolis, IN | May 6, 2023 | ✓ |
Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon | Half Marathon | Cincinnati, OH | May 7, 2023 | ✓ |
Highball to Thurmond Ultra | 50 Miler | Thurmond, WV | May 21, 2023 | ✓ |
Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie | 50 Miler | Ellerbe, NC | Jun 10, 2023 | |
Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic | 24 hr | Rockingham, NC | Sep 30, 2023 | ✓ |
Derby 50K | 50K | Ellerbe, NC | 2023 | ✓ |
Seaboard Festival 5K | 5K | Hamlet, NC | 2023 | |
Frederick Running Festival | Half Marathon | Frederick, MD | TBD | |
Mt Sneffels Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Ouray, CO | TBD | |
Summerlin Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Las Vegas, NV | TBD | |
Wineglass Marathon & Half Marathon | Marathon | Bath, NY | TBD |
Past Races (117)
Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result | My Raves | My Performance |
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Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Cary, NC | Mar 19, 2023 | 2:24:36 | ||
Ellerbe Marathon & Half Marathon | Marathon | Ellerbe, NC | Feb 25, 2023 | 5:39:13 |
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Occoneechee Mountain Challenge | 10 Miler | Hillsborough, NC | Jan 29, 2023 | 2:04:58 |
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Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler | Half Marathon | Gibsonville, NC | Jan 21, 2023 | 3:11:21 |
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Salem Lake Frosty Fifty (Frosty 50) | 25K | Winston-Salem, NC | Jan 6, 2023 | 3:19:15 |
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Nutcracker 12, 6 & 3 hr Endurance Run | 6 hr | Erwin, NC | Dec 10, 2022 | 28 mi |
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Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio | Half Marathon | San Antonio, TX | Dec 4, 2022 | 2:32:01 |
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Skinny Turkey Half Marathon, 10K & Just Think First 5K | Half Marathon | Raleigh, NC | Nov 24, 2022 | 2:23:19 |
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Holly Springs Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Holly Springs, NC | Nov 19, 2022 | 2:23:21 |
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I Thought Turkeys Could Fly 5K | 5K | Dunn, NC | Nov 12, 2022 | 42:18 |
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Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Raleigh, NC | Nov 6, 2022 | 2:33:59 |
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Monster Dash Long Beach | Half Marathon | Long Beach, CA | Oct 29, 2022 | 2:27:54 |
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Triple Lakes Trail Race | Half Marathon | Greensboro, NC | Oct 29, 2022 | 2:31:03 |
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Rootrock Trail Run | Half Marathon | Chapel Hill, NC | Oct 22, 2022 | 3:39:05 |
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Historic Hillsborough Half | Half Marathon | Hillsborough, NC | Oct 2, 2022 | 2:31:03 |
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Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic | 24 hr | Rockingham, NC | Sep 24, 2022 | 33.07 mi |
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Spin & Dye 8K | 8K | Erwin, NC | Sep 17, 2022 | 49:32 |
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington | Half Marathon | Bellevue, WA | Sep 4, 2022 | 2:20:36 |
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CARA Run For Their Lives! | 10K | Sanford, NC | Aug 27, 2022 | 1:10:19 |
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CARA Run For Their Lives! | 5K | Sanford, NC | Aug 27, 2022 | 32:20 |
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License to Fly 10K | 10K | Coats, NC | Jul 30, 2022 | 1:10:36 |
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Common Rush Trail Run | 10 Miler | New Hill, NC | Jul 23, 2022 | 2:18:46 |
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Firecracker 4 Miler (NC) | 4 Miler | Fayetteville, NC | Jul 4, 2022 | 39:11 |
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Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Utah | Half Marathon | Laketown, UT | Jun 11, 2022 | 2:46:28 |
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Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Wyoming | Half Marathon | Cokeville, WY | Jun 10, 2022 | 2:31:15 |
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Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Idaho | Half Marathon | St Charles, ID | Jun 9, 2022 | 2:42:16 |
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Atlantic City | Half Marathon | Atlantic City, NJ | May 15, 2022 | 2:20:26 |
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Owls Roost Rumble | Half Marathon | Greensboro, NC | Apr 30, 2022 | 2:58:20 |
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Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run | 10 Miler | Chapel Hill, NC | Apr 9, 2022 | 1:52:17 |
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Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run | 4 Miler | Chapel Hill, NC | Apr 9, 2022 | 39:08 |
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC | Half Marathon | Washington, DC | Mar 26, 2022 | 2:18:59 |
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Northern Trails Marathon and 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Greensboro, NC | Mar 12, 2022 | 2:13:39 |
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Myrtle Beach Marathon | Marathon | Myrtle Beach, SC | Mar 5, 2022 | 4:48:13 |
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Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler | Half Marathon | Gibsonville, NC | Feb 27, 2022 | 2:54:31 |
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Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7 Mile Run | 19.7 Miler | Albemarle, NC | Feb 12, 2022 | 4:26:42 |
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | Marathon | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Jan 9, 2022 | 6:09:10 |
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | Dopey Challenge (48.6 Miles) | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Jan 9, 2022 | 10:41:34 |
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | Half Marathon | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Jan 8, 2022 | 2:38:45 |
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | 10K | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Jan 7, 2022 | 1:13:40 |
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | 5K | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Jan 6, 2022 | 39:59 |
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Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon | Marathon | Kiawah Island, SC | Dec 11, 2021 | 4:53:03 |
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Skinny Turkey Half Marathon, 10K & Just Think First 5K | Half Marathon | Raleigh, NC | Nov 25, 2021 | 2:17:10 |
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Greensboro Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Greensboro, NC | Nov 20, 2021 | 2:21:56 |
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DAV 5K Boston | 5K | Boston, MA | Nov 6, 2021 | 28:13 |
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Seaboard Festival 5K | 5K | Hamlet, NC | Oct 30, 2021 | 28:57 |
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American Tobacco Trail 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Apex, NC | Oct 23, 2021 | 1:39:33 |
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Mo’ Bell | Half Marathon | Burns, TN | Oct 10, 2021 | 3:26:10 |
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Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic | 24 hr | Rockingham, NC | Sep 25, 2021 | 63.27 mi |
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Growler Gallop Greensboro | 10K | Greensboro, NC | Sep 19, 2021 | 1:12:34 |
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NC VSAP 22 Miler, 22K & 2.2 Mile Ruck | 22 Miler | Eastover, NC | Sep 18, 2021 | 4:44:06 |
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach | Half Marathon | Virginia Beach, VA | Sep 4, 2021 | 2:17:28 |
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CARA Run For Their Lives! | 5K | Sanford, NC | Aug 28, 2021 | 43:48 |
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CARA Run For Their Lives! | 10K | Sanford, NC | Aug 28, 2021 | 1:23:28 |
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Copperhead 20K | 20K Relay | Hampstead, NC | Aug 28, 2021 | 2:25:02 |
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Run for Recovery (OH) | 5K | Cleveland, OH | Aug 14, 2021 | 29:49 |
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Conquer the Canyon Marathon Race Festival | Half Marathon | Wellsboro, PA | Jul 24, 2021 | 2:17:15 |
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Greensboro Distilling Speakeasy 5K | 5K | Greensboro, NC | Jul 23, 2021 | 30:57 |
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General Store 50K | 50K | Ellerbe, NC | Jun 5, 2021 | 7:10:47 |
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Myrtle Beach Marathon | Marathon | Myrtle Beach, SC | May 1, 2021 | 4:48:52 |
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North Carolina Spring Classic | 16K | Holly Springs, NC | Apr 24, 2021 | 1:54:58 |
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Race the Bar Pig Pounder 5K | 5K | Greensboro, NC | Apr 18, 2021 | 31:24 |
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Northern Trails Marathon and 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Greensboro, NC | Mar 13, 2021 | 2:01:50 |
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Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7 Mile Run | 19.7 Miler | Albemarle, NC | Mar 6, 2021 | 4:16:48 |
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Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler | Half Marathon | Gibsonville, NC | Feb 28, 2021 | 2:53:48 |
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Nutcracker 12, 6 & 3 hr Endurance Run | 6 hr | Erwin, NC | Dec 12, 2020 | 26 mi |
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Reindeer Fun Run | 12K | Aberdeen, NC | Dec 5, 2020 | 1:14:20 |
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Greensboro Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Greensboro, NC | Nov 21, 2020 | 2:13:22 |
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Growler Gallop Greensboro | 5K | Greensboro, NC | Oct 4, 2020 | 28:54 | ||
Race the Bar Pig Pounder 5K | 5K | Greensboro, NC | Sep 6, 2020 | 29:55 | ||
Greensboro Distilling Speakeasy 5K | 5K | Greensboro, NC | Jul 24, 2020 | 31:45 | ||
RunnerDude 10 Mile and 10K Challenge | 10 Miler | Greensboro, NC | May 17, 2020 | 1:49:41 |
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St. Paddy’s 4 Miler | 4 Miler | Raleigh, NC | Mar 21, 2020 | 43:40 |
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Ella’s Race | 10K | Raleigh, NC | Mar 21, 2020 | 1:02:41 | ||
Northern Trails Marathon and 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Greensboro, NC | Mar 7, 2020 | 1:59:35 |
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Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler | Half Marathon | Gibsonville, NC | Feb 23, 2020 | 2:39:06 |
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St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Marathon & Relay | Marathon Relay | Greensboro, NC | Feb 9, 2020 | 3:58:07 |
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Occoneechee Mountain Challenge | 10 Miler | Hillsborough, NC | Jan 26, 2020 | 1:59:34 |
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Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Kiawah Island, SC | Dec 14, 2019 | 2:11:19 |
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Reindeer Fun Run | 12K | Aberdeen, NC | Dec 7, 2019 | 1:13:18 |
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Raleigh Turkey Trot @ Ridgewood | 8K | Raleigh, NC | Nov 28, 2019 | 49:20 |
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Holly Springs Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Holly Springs, NC | Nov 23, 2019 | 2:18:28 |
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah | Half Marathon | Savannah, GA | Nov 2, 2019 | 2:13:52 |
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U Can Finish 5 Mile & 2 Mile | 5 Miler | Orlando, FL | Oct 27, 2019 | 57:48 |
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U Can Finish 5 Mile & 2 Mile | 2 Miler | Orlando, FL | Oct 27, 2019 | 19:24 |
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nOg Run Club Oktoberfest 4 Miler | 4 Miler | Raleigh, NC | Oct 12, 2019 | 39:44 |
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Jackets 5K | 5K | Sanford, NC | Oct 5, 2019 | 31:59 | ||
Zen Squirrel Trail Running Series: Race #2 | 10 Miler | Chapel Hill, NC | Sep 28, 2019 | 2:20:12 |
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon & 1/2 Marathon | Half Marathon | Montreal, Canada | Sep 22, 2019 | 2:16:30 | ||
Canes 5K | 5K | Raleigh, NC | Sep 8, 2019 | 31:26 | ||
CARA Run For Their Lives! | 10K | Sanford, NC | Aug 24, 2019 | 1:05:44 |
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CARA Run For Their Lives! | 5K | Sanford, NC | Aug 24, 2019 | 30:57 |
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African World Peace 5K | 5K | Fayetteville, NC | Jul 13, 2019 | 29:07 | ||
Firecracker 4 Miler (NC) | 4 Miler | Fayetteville, NC | Jul 4, 2019 | 40:26 |
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World’s Largest Flip Flop 1K | 1K | Cary, NC | Jun 8, 2019 | 15:46 | ||
Race 13.1 Raleigh, NC (Spring) | Half Marathon | Raleigh, NC | Jun 1, 2019 | 2:32:25 | ||
Moms Rock! at the Diane Snyder Run to Remember | 10K | Las Vegas, NV | May 11, 2019 | 1:07:30 |
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John E. Norman Cinco de Mayo 5K & 10K (NC) | 10K | Fayetteville, NC | May 4, 2019 | 1:02:48 | ||
North Carolina Spring Classic | 16K | Holly Springs, NC | Apr 27, 2019 | 1:45:06 | ||
Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run | 10 Miler | Chapel Hill, NC | Apr 13, 2019 | 1:54:27 |
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St. Paddy’s 4 Miler | 4 Miler | Raleigh, NC | Mar 23, 2019 | 39:58 |
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Durham Women’s Half Marathon & 8K | Half Marathon | Durham, NC | Mar 17, 2019 | 2:12:27 |
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Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Kiawah Island, SC | Dec 8, 2018 | 2:17:18 |
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Reindeer Fun Run | 12K | Aberdeen, NC | Dec 1, 2018 | 1:17:59 |
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Raleigh Turkey Trot @ Ridgewood | 8K | Raleigh, NC | Nov 22, 2018 | 47:47 | ||
Red Apple Run for Diabetes | 10K | Fayetteville, NC | Nov 17, 2018 | 58:36 | ||
Alamo Beer Challenge Series: Battle of Leon Creek | 10 Miler | San Antonio, TX | Nov 10, 2018 | 1:42:53 |
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Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon | 10K | Raleigh, NC | Nov 4, 2018 | 1:02:23 | ||
Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon | Half Marathon | Philadelphia, PA | Sep 16, 2018 | 2:28:27 | ||
CARA Run For Their Lives! | 10K | Sanford, NC | Aug 25, 2018 | 1:03:23 |
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CARA Run For Their Lives! | 5K | Sanford, NC | Aug 25, 2018 | 29:39 |
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Firecracker 4 Miler (NC) | 4 Miler | Fayetteville, NC | Jul 4, 2018 | 52:09 | ||
John E. Norman Cinco de Mayo 5K & 10K (NC) | 10K | Fayetteville, NC | May 5, 2018 | 1:08:13 | ||
Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh 1/2 Marathon | Half Marathon | Raleigh, NC | Apr 8, 2018 | 2:32:15 | ||
Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Kiawah Island, SC | Dec 9, 2017 | 2:41:49 | ||
American Tobacco Trail 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Apex, NC | Oct 28, 2017 | 1:57:17 |
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CARA Run For Their Lives! | 10K | Sanford, NC | Aug 26, 2017 | 1:19:59 |
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Krispy Kreme Challenge | 5 Miler | Raleigh, NC | Feb 4, 2017 | 1:11:00 |
Ellerbe Marathon & Half Marathon
Rural half/full marathon
Ellerbe Marathon & Half Marathon
This small race is run on a 13+ mile loop along paved rural roads. Run two of the loops for the full marathon. The course has some hills that can … MORE
This small race is run on a 13+ mile loop along paved rural roads. Run two of the loops for the full marathon. The course has some hills that can challenge the unprepared runner. Course support was adequate. Runners received a long sleeve tech shirt with finishers earning a medal and a locally made piece of pottery. Hot soup and quesadillas awaited the finishers.
Occoneechee Mountain Challenge
Good trail conditions this year
Occoneechee Mountain Challenge
Dry weather leading up to the race makes a big difference in the trail conditions. This year, the trail had just one small spot of mud. The first 3 or … MORE
Dry weather leading up to the race makes a big difference in the trail conditions. This year, the trail had just one small spot of mud. The first 3 or so miles is mostly flat greenway. Then the trail starts with a lot of wooden steps, a serious hill climb in the middle on a utility road. After coming back down the mountain utility road, you get back on single track trail that runs along thew Eno river. This was my favorite part of the race, as it was peaceful, running along the river and through a grove of mountain laurel. There were some more wooden steps to climb before the end of the trail section and heading back to the greenway for the return to the finish line.
The race started and finished on the historic Occoneechee Speedway, which I thought supercool. Chili and hot coffee was provided at the finish.
Registered runners got a winter hat that featured the race logo and had reflective properties.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler
Good trail conditions this year
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler
I've reviewed this race before, so I will just add details specific to this year. The race was moved a month ahead to January instead of February. This is probably … MORE
I’ve reviewed this race before, so I will just add details specific to this year.
The race was moved a month ahead to January instead of February. This is probably why the trails were in the best condition of the 4 times I’ve run this race. The course was also slightly different as they needed to avoid a part of the trail that was being worked on.
The hooded sweatshirt was great as always.
The medal featured a beautiful stained-glass effect.
Salem Lake Frosty Fifty (Frosty 50)
Handcrafted Coaster finisher award
Salem Lake Frosty Fifty (Frosty 50)
I think the best aspect of this event was the handcrafted ceramic coaster for all finishers. There was a different design for the 25k & 50k. The race was a … MORE
I think the best aspect of this event was the handcrafted ceramic coaster for all finishers. There was a different design for the 25k & 50k.
The race was a ~7.75 loop around Lake Salem. 25k runners ran 2 loops, 4 loops for 50k. The trail was mostly crushed gravel with a section of pavement.
Parking was ample. T-shirt was long sleeved blend. I heard there was beer afterward.
Nutcracker 12, 6 & 3 hr Endurance Run
Holiday themed ultra
Nutcracker 12, 6 & 3 hr Endurance Run
With options of 3, 6 or 12 hours, this is a great choice for someone wanting to run their first ultra. Some runners run in costume. The course is a … MORE
With options of 3, 6 or 12 hours, this is a great choice for someone wanting to run their first ultra. Some runners run in costume. The course is a converted rail to trail out and back of 5 miles each way (10 miles total). Once you do as many of the 10-mile out and backs that you can within your event, you start doing the shorter 1 mile out and backs until time runs out. Runners can also stop at any time they choose…there is no pressure to run more than you want to. This year, there was a nutcracker medal in addition to a hoodie.
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio
Historical San Antonio
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio
Rock n Roll knows how to put on an event. The expo was quite large, in the convention center. We went 3 times: our initial bib pick-up, then to go … MORE
Rock n Roll knows how to put on an event.
The expo was quite large, in the convention center. We went 3 times: our initial bib pick-up, then to go back to exchange a shirt, then a 3rd time when our friends arrived. There was different merchandise added each time, so we ended buying something on each visit.
The start was very crowded…imagine 9000+ runners plus their family friends, in a two-block area. The corrals were doubled, meaning 1 & 11 were supposed to be in the same area, 2 & 12, 3 & 13. etc. The higher number corrals were supposed to wait until the lower number corrals started, but there was no attempt to enforce this. The gear drop was at the finish line, which was a couple blocks from the start line. I’d recommend not utilizing the bag drop unless you really need to. Since we stayed at a hotel, we ended up walking almost two miles before the race even started!
Rock n Roll races are always fun, with lots of entertainment and cheering crowds along the course. This one was mostly flat, with the most elevation gain during the 3 or so miles on the military base, Fort Sam Houston. This was also the prettiest section of the course.
We did not stick around for the after-party as it was chilly and our friends had to check out of their hotel.
San Antonio is one of the better host cities for RnR, with lots to see & do in the area, including the Alamo, Riverwalk, zoo, parks and Tower of the Americas. It’s definitely worth going for a couple extra days.
Skinny Turkey Half Marathon, 10K & Just Think First 5K
Not your typical turkey trot
Skinny Turkey Half Marathon, 10K & Just Think First 5K
The ONLY Thanksgiving Day run in Raleigh that offers a half marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 Mile, and kid's dash, and all are stroller and dog friendly. I ran the half … MORE
The ONLY Thanksgiving Day run in Raleigh that offers a half marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 Mile, and kid’s dash, and all are stroller and dog friendly.
I ran the half marathon, which had basically two different out and back sections. My watch registered over 940 feet of gain, so there’s plenty of hills. The races started at different times, so the beginning wasn’t crowded. The half merged with the 5k runners around mile 5, then merged with the 10k runners just before mile 6. Since the course was on roads, there was plenty of room for everyone.
There’s ample parking, a cute medal, soft t-shirt, and packets can be picked up on race morning,
The post-race offered a small water bottle, half a banana and bag of chips.
Holly Springs Half Marathon
More hilly than holly
Holly Springs Half Marathon
The course for this race starts at a sports complex and winds through a couple of parks, through town, around a lake, and up and down hills. It’s run on … MORE
The course for this race starts at a sports complex and winds through a couple of parks, through town, around a lake, and up and down hills. It’s run on roads, greenways and a mulch trail around a lake. The shirt was a decent long sleeve triblend tee.
Packets cannot be picked up on race morning, unless you pay for it. They also offer a VIP package, which includes race morning packet pickup, special parking, shower facility and special access to the post-race beer and pancake breakfast.
I Thought Turkeys Could Fly 5K
Flat 5k
I Thought Turkeys Could Fly 5K
This was a small race, with no frills. Participants got a t-shirt. Medals were awarded for top 3 overall and top in each 10-year age group in each gender. The … MORE
This was a small race, with no frills. Participants got a t-shirt. Medals were awarded for top 3 overall and top in each 10-year age group in each gender. The course was flat and ran through neighborhoods. Parking was ample at the start/finish line at a small park.
Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon
Terrible parking situation
Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon
The course was a little hilly but it was well marked and had great support. The shirt was an awesome long-sleeve tech. The medal was cool, with a spinning middle. … MORE
The course was a little hilly but it was well marked and had great support. The shirt was an awesome long-sleeve tech. The medal was cool, with a spinning middle. There was an after party, but I didn’t attend due to another obligation. Overall, it was a well-run race with 4 distances to choose from. My only complaint was the parking. Parking was basically “find a local neighborhood to park in”, so with around 6000 runners, we had a nearly mile walk to the start/finish area.
Monster Dash Long Beach
Mixed feelings
Monster Dash Long Beach
I have mixed feelings about this event. The pros: TONS of free race photos. Flat course. Just over 2-mile out and back that breaks up the distance. Very laid-back event. … MORE
I have mixed feelings about this event.
The pros: TONS of free race photos. Flat course. Just over 2-mile out and back that breaks up the distance. Very laid-back event.
Cons: Just over 2-mile out and back that can be boring with nothing to look at except sand and water.
State # 13 with half marathon or longer (plus DC & Canada)
Triple Lakes Trail Race
Virtual half marathon
Triple Lakes Trail Race
I was unable to run this event in person, but I wanted the super cool medal. This was the final race of 4 trail races where the medals connect to … MORE
I was unable to run this event in person, but I wanted the super cool medal. This was the final race of 4 trail races where the medals connect to form a larger medal, in the shape of a spider’s web. Rich, Lib and the entire Trivium Racing team are the greatest and I highly recommend their races.
Rootrock Trail Run
Rootrock-the name says it all
Rootrock Trail Run
This was a very difficult course. As the name says, there were lots of roots and rocks on this single loop course. The trail was well-marked for the event. The … MORE
This was a very difficult course. As the name says, there were lots of roots and rocks on this single loop course. The trail was well-marked for the event. The shirt and medal were nice. The race director showed he cared about all aspects of the event.
Historic Hillsborough Half
“Hills”borough
Historic Hillsborough Half
The half marathon course had some hills, long gradual ups and downs that tested the calves and quads. It was mostly road with some greenway/riverwalk. The cool part was running … MORE
The half marathon course had some hills, long gradual ups and downs that tested the calves and quads. It was mostly road with some greenway/riverwalk. The cool part was running around an old NASCAR dirt track. The medal was decent as was the t-shirt. The 3 1/2 time limit meant there were few walkers.
Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic
See my review from last year
Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic
I pretty much covered everything in my review from last year. I can add that there was a long-time participant named Bill that recently passed away doing what he loved...running. … MORE
I pretty much covered everything in my review from last year. I can add that there was a long-time participant named Bill that recently passed away doing what he loved…running. He had accumulated over 1150 miles at Hinson and was honored on the event shirt this year.
Spin & Dye 8K
Harnett Area Running Club
Spin & Dye 8K
The course was mostly rolling hills with a couple of steep hills (but thankfully short). There was no finisher medal but they did award top 3 overall male and female … MORE
The course was mostly rolling hills with a couple of steep hills (but thankfully short). There was no finisher medal but they did award top 3 overall male and female as well as the top finisher in 10-year age groups. All runners did get a nice t-shirt. The race was very small with only 21 finishers, but it was still enjoyable. The small participation was likely due to this being the first year of the race and small town location. I do applaud the Harnett Area Running Club for trying to expand running in the area.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington
Rockin' in the Evergreen State
Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington
Just like most Rock n Roll races, this race had music on the course, great aid stations, medical tents on the course, a nice medal, a nice tech shirt and … MORE
Just like most Rock n Roll races, this race had music on the course, great aid stations, medical tents on the course, a nice medal, a nice tech shirt and lots of runners. There was a monster mile-long hill in the middle and an uphill finish at the end. The nicest feature of the course was all the trees along most of the route that provided plenty of shade. The host city of Bellevue was pleasant.
CARA Run For Their Lives!
Fundraiser for Carolina Animal Rescue
CARA Run For Their Lives!
This is Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption's (CARA) largest fundraising event of the year. I ran the challenge, which was running both the 5k & the 10k. The 5k started … MORE
This is Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption’s (CARA) largest fundraising event of the year. I ran the challenge, which was running both the 5k & the 10k. The 5k started at 7:30, the 10k at 8:00. Like all previous years, only the challenge runners received a finisher’s medal and age group awards were given to the top finisher of each age group. Cotton/poly blend shirts were available to purchase. Starting at Kiwanis Park, both races ran along the greenway and into residential areas, with the 10k following an additional 3 miles worth of greenway.
CARA Run For Their Lives!
Fundraiser for Carolina Animal Rescue
CARA Run For Their Lives!
This is Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption's (CARA) largest fundraising event of the year. I ran the challenge, which was running both the 5k & the 10k. The 5k started … MORE
This is Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption’s (CARA) largest fundraising event of the year. I ran the challenge, which was running both the 5k & the 10k. The 5k started at 7:30, the 10k at 8:00. Like all previous years, only the challenge runners received a finisher’s medal and age group awards were given to the top finisher of each age group. Cotton/poly blend shirts were available to purchase. Starting at Kiwanis Park, both races ran along the greenway and into residential areas, with the 10k following an additional 3 miles worth of greenway.
License to Fly 10K
Inaugural race
License to Fly 10K
This was a small race put on by a local running club. The 8 am start time made for a hot race, especially with the hills. Registrants got a t-shirt. … MORE
This was a small race put on by a local running club. The 8 am start time made for a hot race, especially with the hills. Registrants got a t-shirt. Medals were awarded for the top 3 in the age groups (mostly 10-year groups).
Common Rush Trail Run
Nice run at Harris Lake Park
Common Rush Trail Run
This event offered a 5 (actually 5.5) mile and a 10 mile run. Both started at the same time, with the 10 mile route being two loops of the 5 … MORE
This event offered a 5 (actually 5.5) mile and a 10 mile run. Both started at the same time, with the 10 mile route being two loops of the 5 miler. The course was mainly double and single track trails with occasional views of the lake. The trails were not overly technical, but there were plenty of roots/stumps to watch out for. The race didn’t start until 8 AM, so it was quite hot by the time I finished the 10 mile race. Runners got a nice short sleeved shirt. Pint glasses were given as age group awards.
Firecracker 4 Miler (NC)
Small local race
Firecracker 4 Miler (NC)
Limited to 300 runners this year, this was a small local race. There was a decent sized hill in the first mile. Runners got a tech tank top and medal … MORE
Limited to 300 runners this year, this was a small local race. There was a decent sized hill in the first mile. Runners got a tech tank top and medal for finishers. Age group awards were a medal with 1st, 2nd or 3rd. The best part of this race was seeing so many people dressed in red, white & blue.
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Utah
3 races in 3 states in 3 days
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Utah
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on … MORE
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days
The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. We stayed in Garden City, Utah, which was a quaint and very friendly little town. The Idaho race was 25 minutes away from there, the Wyoming race was 50 minutes away and the Utah race was in Garden City itself. There were plenty of beautiful views in the area, including Bear Lake itself. We even went to the Teton mountains, about 3 hours away.
The T-shirts were tech material, with all featuring the same design. The bear logo and state name were a different color to designate which state it was for. The finishers medals were the same shape and design for each state. The ribbon and bear logo on the medal were different colors, depending on the state.
Each race was a timed out and back, with a rolling start and 100-120 runners completing the half marathon distance. Each race had water/aid stops roughly every two miles, with a porta potty every other water stop. A deejay welcomed runners back as they finished each race. The age group awards were just like the finishers medal, but were gold, silver or bronze. Runners who completed all 3 races received a nice medal hanger featuring the bear.
This series of races was difficult for me, but not because of the 3 races/3 states/3 days. I was not accustomed to the altitude (6000-6500 feet above sea level). While not sore at all, my legs felt like they just did not want to move, from the very beginning! I was surprised by just how much the altitude slowed me down.
Idaho-Idaho had the best views, especially of Bear Lake. My watch registered over 500 feet of gain. The mountains provided some shade early, but the race ended with lots of sun exposure.
Wyoming-Wyoming was the flattest of the three, yet my watch still registered over 380 feet of gain. Wyoming was also the coolest of the three days.
Utah-Utah had the longest and steepest hills and was my least favorite of the 3 races. My watch registered over 600 feet of gain. This course started in the middle of town, so we didn’t get the great views until after mile 4. The middle 3 or so miles was on dirt/rock trail that went up in the hills of sagebrush. We had to watch our steps, not just for rocks and ruts, but also cowpies!
I’m glad I completed this series but was even more glad when it was done…the running anyway!
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Wyoming
3 races in 3 states in 3 days
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Wyoming
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on … MORE
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days
The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. We stayed in Garden City, Utah, which was a quaint and very friendly little town. The Idaho race was 25 minutes away from there, the Wyoming race was 50 minutes away and the Utah race was in Garden City itself. There were plenty of beautiful views in the area, including Bear Lake itself. We even went to the Teton mountains, about 3 hours away.
The T-shirts were tech material, with all featuring the same design. The bear logo and state name were a different color to designate which state it was for. The finishers medals were the same shape and design for each state. The ribbon and bear logo on the medal were different colors, depending on the state.
Each race was a timed out and back, with a rolling start and 100-120 runners completing the half marathon distance. Each race had water/aid stops roughly every two miles, with a porta potty every other water stop. A deejay welcomed runners back as they finished each race. The age group awards were just like the finishers medal, but were gold, silver or bronze. Runners who completed all 3 races received a nice medal hanger featuring the bear.
This series of races was difficult for me, but not because of the 3 races/3 states/3 days. I was not accustomed to the altitude (6000-6500 feet above sea level). While not sore at all, my legs felt like they just did not want to move, from the very beginning! I was surprised by just how much the altitude slowed me down.
Idaho-Idaho had the best views, especially of Bear Lake. My watch registered over 500 feet of gain. The mountains provided some shade early, but the race ended with lots of sun exposure.
Wyoming-Wyoming was the flattest of the three, yet my watch still registered over 380 feet of gain. Wyoming was also the coolest of the three days.
Utah-Utah had the longest and steepest hills and was my least favorite of the 3 races. My watch registered over 600 feet of gain. This course started in the middle of town, so we didn’t get the great views until after mile 4. The middle 3 or so miles was on dirt/rock trail that went up in the hills of sagebrush. We had to watch our steps, not just for rocks and ruts, but also cowpies!
I’m glad I completed this series but was even more glad when it was done…the running anyway!
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Idaho
3 races in 3 states in 3 days
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Idaho
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on … MORE
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days
The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. We stayed in Garden City, Utah, which was a quaint and very friendly little town. The Idaho race was 25 minutes away from there, the Wyoming race was 50 minutes away and the Utah race was in Garden City itself. There were plenty of beautiful views in the area, including Bear Lake itself. We even went to the Teton mountains, about 3 hours away.
The T-shirts were tech material, with all featuring the same design. The bear logo and state name were a different color to designate which state it was for. The finishers medals were the same shape and design for each state. The ribbon and bear logo on the medal were different colors, depending on the state.
Each race was a timed out and back, with a rolling start and 100-120 runners completing the half marathon distance. Each race had water/aid stops roughly every two miles, with a porta potty every other water stop. A deejay welcomed runners back as they finished each race. The age group awards were just like the finishers medal, but were gold, silver or bronze. Runners who completed all 3 races received a nice medal hanger featuring the bear.
This series of races was difficult for me, but not because of the 3 races/3 states/3 days. I was not accustomed to the altitude (6000-6500 feet above sea level). While not sore at all, my legs felt like they just did not want to move, from the very beginning! I was surprised by just how much the altitude slowed me down.
Idaho-Idaho had the best views, especially of Bear Lake. My watch registered over 500 feet of gain. The mountains provided some shade early, but the race ended with lots of sun exposure.
Wyoming-Wyoming was the flattest of the three, yet my watch still registered over 380 feet of gain. Wyoming was also the coolest of the three days.
Utah-Utah had the longest and steepest hills and was my least favorite of the 3 races. My watch registered over 600 feet of gain. This course started in the middle of town, so we didn’t get the great views until after mile 4. The middle 3 or so miles was on dirt/rock trail that went up in the hills of sagebrush. We had to watch our steps, not just for rocks and ruts, but also cowpies!
I’m glad I completed this series but was even more glad when it was done…the running anyway!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Atlantic City
♫Running the boardwalk, down by the sea♫
Rock ‘n’ Roll Atlantic City
This was the inaugural running of Rock 'n' Roll Atlantic City. Overall, I enjoyed the run itself, with plenty of water stops and music on the course. I was happy … MORE
This was the inaugural running of Rock ‘n’ Roll Atlantic City. Overall, I enjoyed the run itself, with plenty of water stops and music on the course. I was happy with the shirt and medal. I would not run this again, but only because Atlantic City was nice to visit once, but that’s enough for me.
Pro: Nice course, starting on an old airfield, running through a stretch of the city and finishing the last 4 or so miles on the boardwalk.
Con: Due to the sand dunes, the ocean was not visible from the boardwalk.
Pro: Packet pickup was easy, typical of a Rock ‘n’ Roll event.
Con: The expo was small (few vendors) for a Rock ‘n’ Roll event.
Pro: Shuttles were provided from the hotel area of the city to the start line.
Con: The hotel area of the city was dirty and I would not walk there alone during the day or at all during dark.
Owls Roost Rumble
Half marathon around Lake Brandt
Owls Roost Rumble
Trivium Racing took over as the timing company/race director of this race in 2022. Communication from them has always been top-notch. T-shirts were gender-specific tech with a cool looking owl … MORE
Trivium Racing took over as the timing company/race director of this race in 2022. Communication from them has always been top-notch. T-shirts were gender-specific tech with a cool looking owl printed on the front. This was the 3rd of 4 trail races in a series where the finishers medals connect together to form a larger medal. Age group awards were a nice metal placard with the same owl design as the shirt.
The trail was not the most technical I’ve been on, with minimal rocks but sections with lots of roots. There were numerous views of the lake. I had hoped for a better finish time, but two weeks in Vegas with over overindulgence and no running really slowed me down.
Due to the nature of the course, there were not very many water stops and only one location with a portapotty (around mile 9). I was glad I wore my hydration belt.
I would consider running this again.
Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run
Double Down
Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run
I ran the 4-mile and 10-mile races, termed the Double Down. The 4-miler started at 7:15 am and the 10-miler at 7:45 am. Runners in the Double Down had until … MORE
I ran the 4-mile and 10-mile races, termed the Double Down. The 4-miler started at 7:15 am and the 10-miler at 7:45 am. Runners in the Double Down had until 8 am to start the 10-miler after running the 4-miler first. With that kind of pressure, I PR’d my 4 mile race. I took it a little easier on the 10-miler and enjoyed the beautiful neighborhoods that we ran through. I even stopped and took pictures of an amazing tulip garden.
Double Down runners got a special medal in addition to the 4-mile and 10-mile medals, and also received two tech t-shirts.
The courses have plenty of hills to test your endurance.
My only disappointment was that the Double Down runners did not get listed in the 4-mile or 10-mile results.
Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run
Double Down
Tar Heel 10 Miler & 4 Mile Run
I ran the 4-mile and 10-mile races, termed the Double Down. The 4-miler started at 7:15 am and the 10-miler at 7:45 am. Runners in the Double Down had until … MORE
I ran the 4-mile and 10-mile races, termed the Double Down. The 4-miler started at 7:15 am and the 10-miler at 7:45 am. Runners in the Double Down had until 8 am to start the 10-miler after running the 4-miler first. With that kind of pressure, I PR’d my 4 mile race. I took it a little easier on the 10-miler and enjoyed the beautiful neighborhoods that we ran through. I even stopped and took pictures of an amazing tulip garden.
Double Down runners got a special medal in addition to the 4-mile and 10-mile medals, and also received two tech t-shirts.
The courses have plenty of hills to test your endurance.
My only disappointment was that the Double Down runners did not get listed in the 4-mile or 10-mile results.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC
Monumental Race
Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC
Monumental...kinda. We got a great view of the Washington Monument. Partial view of the Capitol Building. We ran behind the Lincoln Memorial (which I didn't even realize until after the … MORE
Monumental…kinda. We got a great view of the Washington Monument. Partial view of the Capitol Building. We ran behind the Lincoln Memorial (which I didn’t even realize until after the race). Other than that, the race was a typical city race run on downtown streets plus some residential areas. There was a pretty big hill at the halfway point, but there was some live Colonial American music to distract us from the ache in our calves. If possible, I would highly recommend using the public transit of the city and not drive a personal vehicle.
Northern Trails Marathon and 10 Miler
Very wet this year
Northern Trails Marathon and 10 Miler
The 10 mile trail race was mostly single track, out and back with a small loop at the halfway point. There were a lot of up and down portions so … MORE
The 10 mile trail race was mostly single track, out and back with a small loop at the halfway point. There were a lot of up and down portions so that the effects of the 500 feet of loss and 500 feet of gain were easier to handle mentally. This year, there was a huge rainstorm the night before the race, right up to the start time. This made the trails very wet, muddy and slippery. Since the race started and finished at a high school, there was tons of parking. The race is also one of a series of 4 trail races where the finisher’s medals will all connect to form a big spider web. The shirt is a short sleeved tech shirt.
Myrtle Beach Marathon
Lots of sunshine
Myrtle Beach Marathon
With this being my second time running the Myrtle Beach Marathon and last year being postponed to May, I was hoping the earlier start in March would be cooler. It … MORE
With this being my second time running the Myrtle Beach Marathon and last year being postponed to May, I was hoping the earlier start in March would be cooler. It was not! The temperature still got to the upper 60’s by the end of the race and I got sunburned. The course was quite flat and a great part of it was along Ocean Boulevard, which allowed for views of the ocean and a great breeze.
The communications leading up to the race were great. There was tons of parking close to the race start/finish line. I would recommend getting there early, as the lines for the port-a-potties were quite long.
The finisher’s medal was a good size and very heavy. The race length determined the size of the medal, with the marathon having the largest. Every finisher also got a long-sleeved tech shirt and a tank top.
At the finish of the race, runners got to enjoy pizza, one free beer (with the option to purchase more), and a live band in the Pelican’s baseball stadium.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler
Mud, mud, water, more mud
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler
I’ve reviewed this race before, so I’ll just add that the trails were very muddy and slick this year. The middle section of 3-4 miles was so slick as to … MORE
I’ve reviewed this race before, so I’ll just add that the trails were very muddy and slick this year. The middle section of 3-4 miles was so slick as to be almost unrunnable. I’m sure the front of the pack didn’t have as much trouble, but by the time the middle and back of the pack runners got there, it was slip-city. Everything else was excellent, from communications from the director to parking to the awesome hoodie.
Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7 Mile Run
Returning Idiot
Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7 Mile Run
The Fellowship of the Idiot Run is a free 19.7-Mile Run that takes runners from the YMCA to the top of Morrow Mountain and back to the YMCA. It is … MORE
The Fellowship of the Idiot Run is a free 19.7-Mile Run that takes runners from the YMCA to the top of Morrow Mountain and back to the YMCA. It is a non-timed event. There is no charge for the run. For a free event, there is plenty of support along the way. First time “idiots” get a t-shirt and certificate. Since the run starts at 5 am, runners can get to the top of Morrow Mountain in time for a beautiful sunrise. This is a fun way to get in a long run and fits the training schedule perfectly for anyone training for the Myrtle Beach Marathon three weeks later.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
WDW Dopey Challenge-can't wait to repeat
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot. I would recommend getting to the start very early to get a good position in the starting corral.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot. I would recommend getting there very early to have a good position in the starting corral.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at … MORE
I got talked into running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World on Marathon weekend and I am so glad I did. Even though it was rough getting up at 2:30 each race morning, it was also nice to be done the race and still have time to go to a park.
The 5K and 10K races both started in the parking lot of Epcot. The half marathon and marathon started out on the road near Epcot. Be prepared for a long walk from Epcot out to the start line for the half marathon and full marathon. Each race had several characters along the route where you could stop and get your picture taken with them. Most of the time, the wait was not very long to get a picture taken, but the more popular characters had a longer wait.
The races also had many very large aid stations with water and sports drink. I was very grateful for the medical stops, especially for the marathon. I was able to stop and get some Vaseline for chafing that I was experiencing, but they also offered biofreeze, bags of ice and sunscreen.
The 5K ran only in and around Epcot. The 10K briefly went in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. The half marathon went to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. The full marathon went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, the parking lot of Blizzard Beach, briefly in Hollywood Studios and then back to Epcot. Excluding the 5K, each race had stretches of highway that could have been boring except that they had character stops and some entertainment.
My husband ran just the half marathon but the entire week he kept saying he wished he had done Dopey also. We will go back in a few years when he is ready to run all the races. The only thing I would do different next time is to run the races first and leave the park visits for the week after the races.
Transportation during the races was easy as buses were provided for those staying on Disney property to get to and return from the start/finish in Epcot.
For the Dopey Challenge I got six tech long-sleeved shirts and six medals. That’s one shirt and metal for each race plus a shirt and metal for the Goofy Challenge (completing both half marathon and full marathon) and another shirt and metal for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races).
The only disappointment for me was the Expo. Packet pickup was fairly straight forward, but shopping for merchandise was time-consuming and a waste of time. The Expo opened on Wednesday morning at 8 AM. We didn’t get there until Wednesday around 1 PM. It took a couple of hours waiting in line just to get in to look at merchandise. By then, there was very little worthwhile merchandise left to buy, and I ended up getting just a Dopey Challenge magnet. The Expo was open several days but anyone who didn’t get there very early on the Wednesday (and was willing to wait in line for 5-6 hours) did not have a good selection.
The most fun thing about these races was the costumes. I dressed up in a different Disney character for each race, as did many, many other people. It was so much fun looking at everyone’s costumes, from the very simple to the very elaborate.
I can’t wait to go back!
Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon
New start/finish area for 2021
Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon
Kiawah Island will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first half marathon. I loved everything about it. My third year running the half marathon is … MORE
Kiawah Island will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first half marathon. I loved everything about it. My third year running the half marathon is my PB. The corses were changed for this year and while still very nice, I preferred the original location. Most runners will need to get a shuttle to and from the start/finish area regardless if they stay off- or on-island. There is great support along the course and music/bands in a couple of locations. Great food at the finish…REAL food, like couscous, pasta, hot soup. Plus beer, always a good thing. The shirt this year was a long sleeve cotton blend, as opposed to the tech shirts offered in the previous few years. The medal was just as awesome as always, with a stained glass effect and a spinner with half marathon on one side and marathon on the other.
Skinny Turkey Half Marathon, 10K & Just Think First 5K
Only Thanksgiving Day half in the area
Skinny Turkey Half Marathon, 10K & Just Think First 5K
This course had some hills! The volunteers on the course were great. The t-shirt was a long sleeved cotton blend. Plenty of parking, since the race started and finished at … MORE
This course had some hills! The volunteers on the course were great. The t-shirt was a long sleeved cotton blend. Plenty of parking, since the race started and finished at a high school.
Greensboro Half Marathon & 5K
Two Loop Course
Greensboro Half Marathon & 5K
Trivium Racing always puts on a good race. Last year, this race was a point to point due to Covid. This year, it was a two loop course to find … MORE
Trivium Racing always puts on a good race. Last year, this race was a point to point due to Covid. This year, it was a two loop course to find the flattest half marathon route in the city. While it was flatter than last year, I would not call this course flat. The shirt was a long sleeved tech. The medal was the final medal of the 6-race mega medal series, where all the medals joined in a fashion similar to the Olympic rings. Food options after the race weren’t great but there was plenty of beer.
DAV 5K Boston
Howitzer starting gun
DAV 5K Boston
The DAV 5k Boston raised $30,000 for Veterans. The runners gathered inside Fort Independence on Castle Island in Boston prior to the start. Then a color guard led the runners … MORE
The DAV 5k Boston raised $30,000 for Veterans.
The runners gathered inside Fort Independence on Castle Island in Boston prior to the start. Then a color guard led the runners to the start line, asking the runners to follow based on expected finish time. It was the first time I experienced a start like that, which I think worked very well. I ran my race in my expected time and did not have to do a lot of dodging around other runners, which seems to happen frequently in races. Each event (5k hand-cycle, 5k run, 1 mile walk) was started by the massive boom of a Howitzer cannon and finished inside the fort. Other than the final ramp up to finish line inside the fort, the course was flat. The shirt was a long sleeve tech.
Seaboard Festival 5K
Awesome overall awards
Seaboard Festival 5K
This was a railroad themed 5K going through a residential neighborhood with rolling hills. Finishers received a custom Railroad/Halloween themed medal. The top 3 male and female finishers also received … MORE
This was a railroad themed 5K going through a residential neighborhood with rolling hills. Finishers received a custom Railroad/Halloween themed medal. The top 3 male and female finishers also received a cool lantern in addition to another medal. The top male and female in the Masters and Grandmasters divisions received a wooden train whistle. Age group medals (gold, silver & bronze versions of the finishers medal) were given to the top 3 in 10 year age groups.
American Tobacco Trail 10 Miler
Flat rail trail out and back course
American Tobacco Trail 10 Miler
This event offered two distances, 4 miles and 10 miles. The course was entirely on the converted rail to trail American Tobacco Trail. This translates to a flat fast course … MORE
This event offered two distances, 4 miles and 10 miles. The course was entirely on the converted rail to trail American Tobacco Trail. This translates to a flat fast course on crushed stone. Parking was mainly at a nearby area with a shuttle bus going back and forth. I chose to park further down the trail, about 2 miles from the start. This allowed me a 2 mile warmup prior to the 10 mile race, plus the 2 miles back for cooldown. Finishers received a pair of gloves in addition to a long-sleeved T-shirt.
Mo’ Bell
Something for everyone
Mo’ Bell
Mo' Bell truly has something for everyone. The options included 100 miler, 75 miler, 50 miler, 24-hour, 12-hour, 100k, 50k, marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k and 1 mile run. Runners … MORE
Mo’ Bell truly has something for everyone. The options included 100 miler, 75 miler, 50 miler, 24-hour, 12-hour, 100k, 50k, marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k and 1 mile run.
Runners could also choose whether to run the 3 mile trail loop, the 1 mile road loop, or any combination of the two to cover their distance. There were hills with both loops and the trail had lots of roots and rocks.
Due to the variability of the course options, timing was not electronic. For my half marathon, it was simply pick up a brown rubber band after each trail loop or red rubber band after each road loop. The longer distances used clothes pins but I wasn’t present for the start of those events and didn’t hear exactly how the timing was done.
Swag included pajama bottoms for the half marathon and higher events plus a cute cowbell finisher’s medal.
If this event was local for me, I would consider running it again.
Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic
Food, Food and more FOOD!
Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic
This was my first 24-hour race and I don't think I could have picked a better one. The course is a 1.5032 mile loop around Hinson Lake. Completing the same … MORE
This was my first 24-hour race and I don’t think I could have picked a better one. The course is a 1.5032 mile loop around Hinson Lake. Completing the same loop 42 times may sound boring but it really wasn’t. With over 300 people running, there was always someone new to see. A fun quirk of the event was the Gnomes. There were different gnomes placed around the course in various locations. Each lap, the gnomes would be in a new spot! It was a kind of game to see where they would show up on the next lap. There were also different amusing signs along the course that got changed out over the course of the 24 hours.
Did I mention food? The aid station had every kind of food you would ever want to help get your through whatever distance/time you were aiming for. They had grilled cheese sandwiches, cheeseburgers, potatoes, candy, cookies, soup, noodles, bananas, oranges, chips, pizza and more pizza. There was also several flavors of gatorade.
The weather this year was pretty much perfect, which my understanding is it’s usually hot, wet and/or mosquito infested. New for the event this year (it was supposed to be new last year but got cancelled), 100k finishers earned a medal. With the weather being so great and the introduction of a 100k medal, I decided to push for my longest distance ever.
Many people chose to pitch tents along the course and I’m glad I did that also. I did have to break after 55 miles and laid down in my tent for a while until I felt able to get up and finish the push to the 100k.
The final fun facet of this event was the banana lap. With somewhere around 30 minutes left in the 24-hour event, those still on course (or coming back to the course), got a banana with their bib number on it. The runners continued around the course until the foghorn signaled the end of the event. Wherever you were on the course, that’s where you dropped your banana. A crew then went around and measured the length of the course completed by each runner on that final lao and added the distance to their overall distance. Since I had completed at least 100k and was still there for the banana lap, I was able to jump around 20 spots in the standings, surpassing those that decided to stop at 100k.
I would highly recommend this event to anyone thinking about doing their first 24-hour event or anyone just wanting to push to see just how far they can go.
Growler Gallop Greensboro
Growlers as age group awards
Growler Gallop Greensboro
This was a fun race. The 10k was essentially 2 loops of the 5k course and was moderately hilly. There was good course direction along the city streets. The race … MORE
This was a fun race. The 10k was essentially 2 loops of the 5k course and was moderately hilly. There was good course direction along the city streets. The race started and finished near Southend Brewing, so there was plenty of beer (each runner was allowed 2 free beers, and of course could buy more). The age group awards were beer growlers and a certificate to fill them. This race was also part of Trivium Racing’s Greensboro series. The medals from all 5 races interlock similar to the Olympic rings.
NC VSAP 22 Miler, 22K & 2.2 Mile Ruck
Very rural
NC VSAP 22 Miler, 22K & 2.2 Mile Ruck
I ran the 22 mile option of the VSAP. VSAP stands for Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention. It was a very worthy cause to run for. The course started and … MORE
I ran the 22 mile option of the VSAP. VSAP stands for Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention. It was a very worthy cause to run for. The course started and finished at a local baseball field and was quite rural. Runners should be sure to carry water/fuel with them as there was not a lot of course support. It was the inaugural race, so I would expect to see improvements next year. Overall, a worthy cause and a great long run if building for a full marathon.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach
Sun set on Virginia Beach
Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach
Rock 'n' Roll announced that this was the final race at Virginia Beach, after 20 years. I've run a handful of Rock 'n' Roll races, and they are pretty much … MORE
Rock ‘n’ Roll announced that this was the final race at Virginia Beach, after 20 years. I’ve run a handful of Rock ‘n’ Roll races, and they are pretty much the same. Absolute fantastic race in terms of entertainment on the course, course support, bling, shirts, spectators, expo, just about everything. The course started close to and finished on the boardwalk. If they were to have it again, it would definitely be worth running.
CARA Run For Their Lives!
Nice local race
CARA Run For Their Lives!
CARA Run for their Lives is a nice local race that is the biggest fundraiser for the Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption. Not a lot of fuss to this race. … MORE
CARA Run for their Lives is a nice local race that is the biggest fundraiser for the Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption. Not a lot of fuss to this race. Only finishers of the challenge (running both 5k & 10k) earn a medal. The course has some hills as it runs through part of town and along a greenway.
CARA Run For Their Lives!
Nice local race
CARA Run For Their Lives!
CARA Run for their Lives is a nice local race that is the biggest fundraiser for the Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption. Not a lot of fuss to this race. … MORE
CARA Run for their Lives is a nice local race that is the biggest fundraiser for the Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption. Not a lot of fuss to this race. Only finishers of the challenge (running both 5k & 10k) earn a medal. The course has some hills as it runs through part of town and along a greenway.
Copperhead 20K
Team Effort
Copperhead 20K
The Copperhead 20k Relay was lots of fun. Relay teams could have 2-4 members, with each member running 5k lap(s). Each member could have 2 minutes deducted from their time … MORE
The Copperhead 20k Relay was lots of fun. Relay teams could have 2-4 members, with each member running 5k lap(s). Each member could have 2 minutes deducted from their time by drinking a beer before running their lap, for a potential total deduction of 8 minutes. There was also the option of running the 20k as an individual, with the same potential deduction. For any runner under 21 or non-drinker, there was the option of chocolate milk. Before the main race, they held a couple of beer mile events (a competitive open beer mile and a Clydesdale and Athena event). The winner of each got a machete. There was no finishers medal but each participant got a pair of Copperhead socks and had the option of purchasing shirts or tanks. There was A LOT of beer available and the overall atmosphere was like a party.
Run for Recovery (OH)
ZOO-logical fun race
Run for Recovery (OH)
Pros: This race is a huge fundraiser for a good cause: resources for those dealing with addiction or mental health ailments. The race entry included a nice cotton blend shirt … MORE
Pros: This race is a huge fundraiser for a good cause: resources for those dealing with addiction or mental health ailments. The race entry included a nice cotton blend shirt and entry to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The course ran through the zoo, which was pretty cool. There was plenty of crowd support and the course was mostly shaded. My rating of the race swag would have been a 5 if there was a finisher’s medal. They did give out quite a few age group medals.
Cons: Registration was confusing and communication was non-existent.
Conquer the Canyon Marathon Race Festival
HILLascious!
Conquer the Canyon Marathon Race Festival
I believe the course was unique for this year. The course map advertised over 1700 feet of gain but my watch registered only 1500 feet. Should I feel cheated?? The … MORE
I believe the course was unique for this year. The course map advertised over 1700 feet of gain but my watch registered only 1500 feet. Should I feel cheated?? The first 2 1/2 miles were uphill (my calves were not happy with me) on this out and back, which meant the last 2 1/2 miles were downhill (my quads were so angry, they yelled at me for 3 days afterwards). The shirt was a nice tech shirt, though unisex. The medal was cool, featuring a gas lantern, with a light that flashes. Oh, one more thing…the 1500 (or 1700) feet of gain was for the half. The full marathon ran the out and back twice, for a gain of 3000 (or 3400) feet of gain. Ouch!
Greensboro Distilling Speakeasy 5K
Virtual
Greensboro Distilling Speakeasy 5K
I was unable to run this event in person due to scheduling conflict, but I needed the medal! This event is part of Trivium Racing's mega medal series, where all … MORE
I was unable to run this event in person due to scheduling conflict, but I needed the medal! This event is part of Trivium Racing’s mega medal series, where all the medals join together in a way similar to the Olympic rings. Trivium Racing always puts on a great race and they do their best by the runners.
General Store 50K
Great roving support
General Store 50K
This was a very small and rural event with no bling or fanfare, basically just a group of runners out for a long run. Runners did get a t-shirt and … MORE
This was a very small and rural event with no bling or fanfare, basically just a group of runners out for a long run. Runners did get a t-shirt and trucker’s hat though. There were volunteers who drove the course to provide runners with anything they might need (water, soda, ice pops, etc). Most of the runners were members of the Mangum Track Club (see their website to see what they’re all about).
Myrtle Beach Marathon
Great choice for first marathon
Myrtle Beach Marathon
Over a year ago, I decided I would wait until I turned 50 to run my first marathon. I had planned on making a trip out of it, going someplace … MORE
Over a year ago, I decided I would wait until I turned 50 to run my first marathon. I had planned on making a trip out of it, going someplace that I hadn’t been before. Then COVID hit and races began getting cancelled. I ended up choosing the Myrtle Beach Marathon, so that even if the race got cancelled, we could still go and enjoy the weekend. The race happened and I did it! I ran my first full marathon!
The original scheduled date was March, which is definitely a better choice than May, as the temperature got to the upper 60’s by the end of the race. The course was quite flat and a great part of it was along Ocean Boulevard, which allowed for views of the ocean and a great breeze. Many runners complained about the headwind, but I found it refreshing.
The communications leading up to the race were great. There was tons of parking close to the race start/finish line. The race was also well executed for COVID restrictions, with wave starts every 2 minutes. With the number of runners (close to 1000 for the marathon alone), this allowed for ample spacing of runners. I was not crowded during the race, yet I was never alone either.
This stagger also meant that there was not a huge gathering at the finish line. While normally I would enjoy a cheering crowd, it was also nice to NOT have a crowd to (literally) run into at the finish. There was plenty of post-race, prepackaged food and water, though no beer.
The medal was a good size and very heavy. Every finisher also got a long-sleeved tech shirt and a tank top.
Overall, I consider it a great choice for my first marathon and look forward to running it again, when it’s in the cooler month of March.
North Carolina Spring Classic
Nice mix of street and trail
North Carolina Spring Classic
In my second year running this race, the course was changed from point to point to a sort of loop. The course started and finished in downtown Holly Springs, NC … MORE
In my second year running this race, the course was changed from point to point to a sort of loop. The course started and finished in downtown Holly Springs, NC and ran along streets, parkways, and a packed mulch trail around a lake.
Race the Bar Pig Pounder 5K
Pig Pounder 5k-a squealing good event
Race the Bar Pig Pounder 5K
The course had a few rolling hills but a nice downhill finish. Trivium racing did an excellent job dealing with the COVID restrictions. Plenty of beer at the finish, which … MORE
The course had a few rolling hills but a nice downhill finish. Trivium racing did an excellent job dealing with the COVID restrictions. Plenty of beer at the finish, which is only to be expected since the race started and finished at the Pig Pounder Brewery. This was race #3 of this year’s Mega Medal series, where all the medals will link in manner similar to the Olympic rings.
Northern Trails Marathon and 10 Miler
Mostly single track trail
Northern Trails Marathon and 10 Miler
The 10 mile trail race was mostly single track so it was difficult to pass much of the time. It was also primarily out and back a small loop at … MORE
The 10 mile trail race was mostly single track so it was difficult to pass much of the time. It was also primarily out and back a small loop at the halfway point. There were a lot of up and down portions so that the effects of the 500 feet of loss and 500 feet of gain were easier to handle mentally. Since the race started and finished at a high school, there was tons of parking. The race is also one of a series of 6 races where the finisher’s medals will all connect to form a mega medal, similar to the Olympic rings.
Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7 Mile Run
Proud to be an Idiot
Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7 Mile Run
The Fellowship of the Idiot Run is a free 19.7-Mile Run that takes runners from the YMCA to the top of Morrow Mountain and back to the YMCA. It is … MORE
The Fellowship of the Idiot Run is a free 19.7-Mile Run that takes runners from the YMCA to the top of Morrow Mountain and back to the YMCA. It is a non-timed event. There is no charge for the run. For a free event, there is plenty of support along the way. First time “idiots” get a t-shirt and certificate. Since the run starts at 5 am, runners can get to the top of Morrow Mountain in time for a beautiful sunrise. This is a fun way to get in a long run.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler
Tough trail
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon and 5 Miler