Paul Vining's Staging Area

Weather was a serious factor, 76 and 90+% humidity as the day progressed. They moved the 12:30 gaunlet up to 12:00 mid-race, and because of that I only got 28.9 miles in, still counts as at least a marathon in my books. Officially I didn’t finish the 50K, but I know what I did. About half of the pacing team fell off pace as the conditions deteriorated and medical got overwhelmed. Still a great race and I will be back for the 50th in 2 years.

Race was mostly downhill, maybe 80%, first 2-3 miles definitely, rolling small hills after that, along with running on a bike path very nice scenery. Race starts at 10:30am and was a little warm for that time of year. Once the course approaches town off the roads and onto the bike paths. Great crowd support and a good amount of eater stops/hydration/snacks, no vest needed today. Nice swag, beet and popsicles for purchase were great.

Was told the first 7 miles were downhill (well 2.5 down then 1 mile up), still a very fast course, altitude will get you if from a sea level state, bring a water vest as there were only 3 water stops, good hot dogs and water at the end, very nice medal. Beautiful scenery, took lots of pictures

Drove 2 hours from Conway, AR through hellish rainstorms, arrived an hour before the planned 7am start. Weather cleared at least down to a light sprinkle. 7am comes and goes, then a late start of 7:15 is rumored due to weather and logistics, then 7:30, then at 7:35 they say there will be a potential 8:15 start but the race my end early due to tornado watches, etc… Long story short I downgrade to the half as I feel that I can fit that in the alotted time and didn’t want to be pulled before i finished a marathon. Race was otherwise uneventful after we started. Good amount of water, gatorade, snacks on course, every ~2.5-3 miles. Course is extremely hilly and that may change next year. Will be back next year as they are changing the time of year and the course up a little. Appreciated the alcohol/jello shots at mile 11!

Course is at the top of the hills in Branson, Mo, I think only about 5% of the course was flat, the rest is steep up and steep down. Few spots where footing is questionable, but go through caves, by waterfalls, and atop a very picturesque view. Great snack and alcohol tastings after the race. Very nice medal.

Very well organized trailish race on rolling gravel roads, A little hillier than i expected, glad i was done by the time it was heating up. By starting at 6am you can get a few miles in in the cooler morning hours. I rand one of the loops used for the real endurance races, with an extra mile on it. Very nice swag and lots of snacks, like fireball!. May see me again next year.

Lovers Leap is for real, i ran up 3/4 of it, and jogged back down. Running loops around campground is somewhat uneasy for steps so watch ankles. Good number of water stops, great public volunteers and support.

Very good production, great turnout, I got to see a 90 year old run across the finish line, was quite the moment. Nice evening race and cooling off a little.

Small local 5k, running around a park and neighborhood in Rogersville, nice and flat, small amount of busted asphalt, police directing runners and diverting traffic. For a race of less than 100 people excellent food, BBQ sandwiches, plenty of sugary treats, great production, chip timed and nice shirt as well.

Board a bus to be taken 13.1 miles outside of town, near the interstate, see a beautiful sunrise, then like ~8 miles of perfectly straight rolling highway miles until civilization. Nice run through town, around a park and finish on the 50 yard line (on the practice field, as there were technical issues), nice swag, part of a three year medal series, so will come back next year and the year after that. Very nice participants ~600 or so i think. They do offer a 5k as well

The elevation chart didn’t look that bad, but somehow the combination of packed gravel trails and the humidity really killed me. The last third of the race that looked like a downhill, just did not feel like a downhill. Maybe if the temps were in the 60’s it may have helped. I had lots of water and gatorade on course, and good snacks at finish line.

Nice flat course, great crowd, had about 1000 people this year. Only thing bad is humidity, but it’s Florida. Lots of snacks available and water on the course.

Fairly cold and windy, as the start is right by the beachhead. The start is a small loop and up a hill, after that it is through downtown Niantic and then under the bridge and back on the boardwalk. Other than the first 25% it is all flat. Very nice local race. Good snacks.

Nice park, 3 lap course, a little chilly, and very windy. Very nice shirt, sadly medals were age group each 10 years and gender combined. Drinks and snacks were provided.

Start at a school, run through basically flat neighborhoods, a couple of water stations. The finish has a longish downhill onto the football field, with a final lap around most of the track.

Great snacks, pizza and monster energy drinks. Super nice hoodie and great looking medal, growing race with locals, nice paved trail for most part, beginning and end part is gravel for about 1/2 mile, nice trail with small bridges. Good water stops.

Running along old railroad tracks, the last of a running series over the summer. Would run again but I believe they are ending this series, hopefully they will begin a new one.

Great production, just the gravel was large, chunky, and very loose, thankfully after the steep hill it leveled off a bit, still 450ft of elevation every 5k. I completed 7 loops and totalled 23.45 miles, but fell short of the 50k total.

Very well put on race supporting veterans, most of the volunteers at aid stations were veterans. The course was great, I would say rolling hills along the trail. The temperature that day was about 90 degrees with crazy high humidity. Running throught the wooded trail was even more humid. Very nice refreshments after the race, bages, fruit, water (both cold and not). Placed 3rd in my age category. Will definitely repeat, hopefully less humid next year!

Great route around the city, only one major hill, the bridge around mile 8 or so. Nice views of the Mississippi River, one beer station, nice supportive community. Course is mostly flat with slow gently rolling hills.

Course is fairly flat, even the bank on the raceway is slight, I took way too many pictures along the way. Stop and kiss the bricks to carry on the tradition. Fairly good number of aid stations, and lots of spectators along the way, wish there was more fan support (ie snacks, alcohol) along the way. Would rpeat again at least once more.