Paul Taylor's Staging Area

The race course is fast and very flat, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Pacific Northwest countryside. It’s an out-and-back course that ends on the track of a local high school, giving it a charming small-town feel. It’s an ideal course for achieving a personal record or Boston Qualifying time.

I use this race as a shakeout for the race on Sunday. It’s a well-supported run through town with a finish at Hayward Field. I highly recommend it as part of the Doublestack Challenge.

One of the most challenging courses I’ve completed. It is a well-run and executed race with top-notch volunteers. Just don’t plan to run your best time on it.

One thing is for sure, it will be hot. I’ve run this course three times with each time being sunny and warm. Although it has some longer downhills, it also has some uphills too. Overall a nice race!

This is a well-organized and small-town race. Orca Running race directors put on excellent events, and this one is no different. It’s an out-and-back along the water, which can make for some wind.

This marathon race is iconic and considered the Holy Grail of marathon running due to its rich history and unparalleled crowd support. I believe it’s worth the hard work of qualifying to experience it.

The crowds were amazing during the race. The route was very iconic, passing through all five boroughs. The hills throughout, especially those over the bridges, and the stretch into Central Park made the course somewhat more challenging. Although the start line experience was not great, it was worth the hassle for the overall race experience.

A steep first 10k set me up for my fastest marathon performance yet. Outside a few lovely mountain views in the first few miles, the downhill course was run next to a busy highway, making the race less enjoyable.

The Try Events race is well-organized and takes place in a beautiful setting, mainly on trails along the water. However, it is held in November which can result in adverse weather conditions. Fortunately, the few times I’ve participated in this race, the weather has been pleasant – sunny, cooler and with little wind.

Although the course was pancake-flat, the streets were more crowded compared to other majors like Boston, NYC, and Chicago that I have run to date. Despite this, the start and finish line experiences were the highlights.

This 10K race has a large crowd but lacks organization. The course has changed a little bit over the years. Corral placements can be challenging for fast times. Consider a different 10K race.

This is definitely one of my most memorable races so far. The route was fantastic as it covered all of the major attractions and landmarks of Washington DC. The constant high-fives from the Marines were simply amazing, and the Blue Mile was an experience that I’ll never forget. I would rate this race a perfect 10 out of 10!

It was nice to start and end within the Fort Langley historic site. It was a reasonably hilly course along reasonably busy streets. Overall, it’s not a bad race.

The 50k race organized by Garry Robbins is an incredibly demanding and challenging event, which requires participants to push themselves to their limits. However, the rewards are well worth the effort, as the stunning views along the route are simply breathtaking. In addition, the organizers ensure that the experience is first-class, with all the amenities and services that every runner needs. Garry Robbins and his team have done an exceptional job in putting together an event that not only challenges the participants, but also provides an unforgettable experience that they will cherish for a lifetime.

The race in the desert was very well-organized. It took place on a long stretch of road and was a simple out-and-back with one memorable hill. Many people used it as a training race for the Badwater 135 because of the scorching hot temperatures. If you’re looking for a road ultra in the desert heat, it’s worth considering.

Although one may expect this race to be incredibly scenic, the truth is that most of the breathtaking views are limited to only a few spots. Overall, I would rate the race as average, especially considering that it appears they only offer a half-marathon distance now.

A heavy rainstorm shortened the half marathon course to 9 miles. It was a small and enjoyable event, but unfortunately it is no longer held.

The highlight was running through Dodger stadium. Other than that, most of the rest of the race was fairly forgettable. It has since been discontinued

It was a well-run and nice half-marathon race in October. It took participants around the Vancouver seawall. Its a shame it no longer exists. It would have definitely been a yearly event for me.