You start and finish the race almost on the water (Easton's Beach), running through scenic waterfronts, quaint neighborhoods, and historic mansions. Check out my YouTube video below. The event was … MORE
You start and finish the race almost on the water (Easton’s Beach), running through scenic waterfronts, quaint neighborhoods, and historic mansions. Check out my YouTube video below. The event was well organized and had a relatively small field compared to the big marathon events. Come check out this race before it the secret gets out and it becomes too large!
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A Hidden Gem in the Ocean State
You start and finish the race almost on the water (Easton's Beach), running through scenic waterfronts, quaint neighborhoods, and historic mansions. Check out my YouTube video below. The event was … MORE
You start and finish the race almost on the water (Easton’s Beach), running through scenic waterfronts, quaint neighborhoods, and historic mansions. Check out my YouTube video below. The event was well organized and had a relatively small field compared to the big marathon events. Come check out this race before it the secret gets out and it becomes too large!
Gorgeous Run
Beautiful course and town. This is a must race for anyone looking to add Rhode Island. Nicest people everywhere. The miles went by due to the beautiful scenery. MORE
Beautiful course and town. This is a must race for anyone looking to add Rhode Island. Nicest people everywhere. The miles went by due to the beautiful scenery.
Breathtaking course!
Absolutely breathtaking course all around downtown Newport. You run all the way around ocean drive past countless beautiful mansions. There are rolling hills, but nothing overly challenging. MORE
Absolutely breathtaking course all around downtown Newport. You run all the way around ocean drive past countless beautiful mansions. There are rolling hills, but nothing overly challenging.
Wow!
This is by far the most spectacular run I've ever done. Half the race is along ocean drive, right along the Atlantic Ocean and the rest was through the beautiful … MORE
This is by far the most spectacular run I’ve ever done. Half the race is along ocean drive, right along the Atlantic Ocean and the rest was through the beautiful city, countryside and mansions of Newport. The event was super well executed and supported throughout with plenty of water stops, closed roads, and locals cheering along the route.
Terrible management. Avoid this race
This company will not follow its own policies and rob you blind. Hope you like being nickle and dimed. They are dishonest in their communications will lie to your face … MORE
This company will not follow its own policies and rob you blind. Hope you like being nickle and dimed. They are dishonest in their communications will lie to your face and not stand by any of their own policies or previous messaging. They also don’t give updates on the race and just expect for you to actively figure things out even as things change daily in a pandemic situation. They don’t care about Covid or their customers safety in general. Just race any other race where management cares about doing good business and cares about their customers. There’s plenty of them!
RHODE TRIP!!! woo-HOO!!!
The first 13.1 miles of the Newport Marathon could well be the most scenic half-marathon you'll run this year. The Start & Finish lines are staged on Easton's Beach, so … MORE
The first 13.1 miles of the Newport Marathon could well be the most scenic half-marathon you’ll run this year. The Start & Finish lines are staged on Easton’s Beach, so runners are treated to a beautiful sunrise over the bay as breakers roll in on the beach. A grateful “shout out” to Kicking Horse Coffee for pouring out hot cups of their “Kick@$$” java blend to the shivering, huddled masses. This marathon is a hidden gem; well organized, enthusiastic volunteers, spectacular views and clearly the pride of Newport. Mile 2 takes the runners past an expansive yacht basin and sailboat moorings too numerous to count. What then follows is 10 miles of touring “Mansion Row” …..and the name doesn’t do it justice. These are palatial estates, many on the Historic Register, with magnificent homes, manicured grounds and panoramic views of the ocean. Then, as the entire field approaches the Half-Marathon Finish Line
…….everyone goes away. As a marathoner, you get that uneasy feeling they all know something that you don’t. The second half is still scenic, but pales in comparison to the first 13 miles. And there are two beat-you-up-&-take-your-lunch-money hills at Miles 22.5 and 24. (That’s just mean!) But, the Finish Line is glorious and it was ironically appropriate that the ’70s boogie hit “Born to be Alive” was blaring as I shuffled in.
Micro-Brew Review: Lots of great options! Tilted Barn in Exeter, Whalers in Kingston, race sponsor Ragged Island in Portsmouth and Coddington in Newport. But….my two-thumbs-up favorites, and well worth the drive, were Buzzard Bay in Westport, MA and Moby Dick Brewing in New Bedford, MA. You won’t be disappointed.
Cross my heart and call me Ishmael!
Very beautiful course
The only reason I picked the race is because it looks very beautiful, and it is. The half marathon course covers the entire coast of Newport. With Fall weather in … MORE
The only reason I picked the race is because it looks very beautiful, and it is. The half marathon course covers the entire coast of Newport. With Fall weather in October, it is as beautiful as the painting. The volunteers were awesome and friendly. The only thing that nobody mentioned is there are a lot of long, gradual hill. Not even to be consider hills, but enough incline to make you feel the incline.
Beautiful setting
Charming New England town. The course took us through town and then along the water front. We found a hotel close to the finish line which always makes it more … MORE
Charming New England town. The course took us through town and then along the water front. We found a hotel close to the finish line which always makes it more convenient.
Beautiful race along the coastline
I had a great time at the Newport Marathon. The race was well-run, with smooth packet pickup and gear check, ample water stops, and a great start/finish location. The scenery, … MORE
I had a great time at the Newport Marathon. The race was well-run, with smooth packet pickup and gear check, ample water stops, and a great start/finish location.
The scenery, especially along the first half of the course, is stunning. Waves were crashing up along the seawall as we cruised by and the jaw-dropping mansions loomed over us.
I didn’t love the number of sharp turns the course incorporated and, like others have said, the second half becomes a bit of a slog as the best parts of the scenery drop away and the rolling hills add up, but it was overall a worthy course and I was able to meet my goal time.
Hotels in the area are unfortunately pricy, but it was worth it for me. I would definitely recommend.
Beautiful coastline course!
The course along the coast line just makes this course worthwhile! Small race expo, but the race logistics, aid stations and crowd support were good. Highly recommend this race! MORE
The course along the coast line just makes this course worthwhile! Small race expo, but the race logistics, aid stations and crowd support were good. Highly recommend this race!
Nice race for RI
I ran this race as the 4:40 pacer for my 43rd state. I enjoyed this race despite having some travel issues. The course is partially scenic. I enjoyed running along … MORE
I ran this race as the 4:40 pacer for my 43rd state.
I enjoyed this race despite having some travel issues. The course is partially scenic. I enjoyed running along the coast and having the waves crash up onto us.
Excellent day of packet pickup, post race area and bag check.
Pretty scenery
Scenery of ocean was very pretty. If you're not from the coast be prepared for humidity, even if it's not hot. Race day was windy when we were near the … MORE
Scenery of ocean was very pretty. If you’re not from the coast be prepared for humidity, even if it’s not hot. Race day was windy when we were near the coast. The shirt was pretty and the medal was a pineapple with an inscription on the back that explained the significance of the pineapple. After the race they offered drinks, fruit, candy, bagels, peanut butter and delicious soup! The shuttle buses were no issue and there were plenty of bathrooms. The start and finish is right next to the beach so you’ll get to walk in the sand if desired.
A few minor issues. The course has at least two 360 degree turnarounds which might impact someone going for a PR. Also the spectators seemed reluctant to cheer for strangers, with the exception of a few groups of teenagers.
Run past seaside mansions
Although it rained on me during the entirety of this race, I did not need to squint too hard to enjoy the beautiful scenery provided by this impeccably run seaside … MORE
Although it rained on me during the entirety of this race, I did not need to squint too hard to enjoy the beautiful scenery provided by this impeccably run seaside event. Packet pickup was available the morning of the race, there was plenty of shelter to shield us from the winds and rain, and the weather had not dampened the volunteers’ spirit.
The first half is admittedly much more scenic and varied than the second, but any 50-stater should already be used to that. Many of the areas’ storied mansions are featured during the first 13 miles, which also feature several miles along the Atlantic coast. If you take one picture during the entire race, I’d recommend you do it here.
The second half is run through neighborhoods, which, though green and dew-drenched, rarely screamed “Rhode Island.” The last miles also threw in several short hills to keep things interesting. The t-shirt was forgettable, but the sailboat-shaped medal was the first I’ve ever received to feature fabric as one of its primary materials.
A HUGE perk of this race is that race photos are included in registration courtesy of GameFace Media. Any race that does this is automatically bumped a full letter grade in my book.
Coastal with views of massive mansions
The views can be distractingly pretty, magnificent mansions and beautiful coastlines. A fun start. The first half is beautful. The second half is an out and back with a hairpin … MORE
The views can be distractingly pretty, magnificent mansions and beautiful coastlines. A fun start. The first half is beautful. The second half is an out and back with a hairpin turn so it can get to be a little tough mentally to see other runners coming at you for what seems forever, but the ocean views are well worth it. Do it at least once.
Beautiful Scenery
Did this as a back to back marathon with Hartford and would love to go back and do again! Weather we windy and blowing sand, but the scenery on the … MORE
Did this as a back to back marathon with Hartford and would love to go back and do again! Weather we windy and blowing sand, but the scenery on the waterfront was beautiful. Then running by the old mansions also kept my mind off the run. The second part had two out and backs… one flat and one up coming down on the way back. More water front and beautiful homes. Finish line on the water to dip in at the end and great post race food. A simple race overall, but definitely one I would love to repeat!!