Paul Vining's Staging Area

The course this year ran counterclockwise around Salina, and avoided any dirt trails. Unfortunantly the rain and the cold temps were a battle. Rain was drizzling the first half, but then after an hour it just increased the downpour. In spite of that the crowd support was great, good snack, and a very fun, cheap race. It is getting very popular each year growing in leaps and bounds!

Pack your own toilet paper in a ziplock bag. Easy access from local subway station. Lots of bananas and apple on the course in second half. The had both electrolyte drink and a ‘tea’ for beverages, along with water of course. Really great crowd support and a very fun race, I’m not fast, so I have a good time 🙂

1700ft of elevation for the full, steep hills as well, way to many photo ops along course, decent Hydration along course, good crowds for the last 2 miles or so, went from 55 degrees to almost 80. Great weather though. Great fun. Warning marathon was long 26.6, but the halves were both short, the second half marathon was 12.6 ….

Due to roadwork the course was changed to run from the stadium, flat course, a mile of gravel, windy through campus, needs better food after, just had bananas and granola bars. Packet was great and flexible.

Course was a series of out and backs, relatively flat, but very hot this year. They had plenty of food after the race even for the last finishers. Water and hydration available on course, but could have used more as it was very hot, would definitely run again.

The course ran by a lot of the major Rome landmarks beautiful crowds beautiful people good water stops no nutrition on course but food was they had sponges to cool you down it got a little warm that day 70° f but again a beautiful race will be back next year for their 30th anniversary

Best swag and greatest medal around, course is a little hilly but nothing too steep. Crowd support is outstanding. Will run this race again if only for the huge medals!

Weather was a factor as it was 10 degrees hotter than previous day, and for me 60 degrees hotter than previous weekend. I ran the first 25 miles or so then walked it in after that due to my schedule, and it being 83 or so degrees. Lots of on race support and great participants.

Very hilly course with one giant hill in the middle of the half, lots of support, for some reason this years was very cold, 25 degrees, with a 15 mile an hour wind, brisk, good snacks inside after the race, nice medal

Looking for unique races, this is definitely that. The buses to the start line were great and very timely. The temperatures outside made me want to get back in the caves as much as possible, nice warm 65-70 inside. %k was basically one loop, and 10K two loops. Great photos to be had all around with mascots and caves. The medals are nice, but kind of disappointed the only thing the combo runners get is a blue connector of medal, nothing special at all IMHO. Might run it again, but most likely a one and done for me.

Run on a packed gravel trail, old railline, seems a bit tougher than a road race, as no bounce. Route is an out and back, fairly flat, with just slight inclines IMHO. Good snacks at start, decent at stop along the way. Like the logo.

Course is essentially flat except for an onramp and offramp near the end, You can choose to either run on the roads, or like i did on the miles of sidewalk along the beach. Nice view of the Gulf of Mexico and beautiful house across from the beach. Very nice post race festivities, gumbo, beer, champagne, pulled pork, etc…

What more can be said, up and down one mountain, then up and down another! Great views along the way, only a few steep parts, otherwise gently rising and falling, nice snacks after the race. Great staff.

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!