There are some HILLS in Baltimore. I do not live in a hilly area and even though I *tried* to train on the hills I could find, it was not … MORE
There are some HILLS in Baltimore. I do not live in a hilly area and even though I *tried* to train on the hills I could find, it was not enough to handle the long hill you hear everyone talking about.
The city comes out for this race, people are along the sidewalk or sitting on the porch to cheer for most of the race. None of the animals were out at the zoo in 2022, but usually the penguins are there.
The course is interesting, you run through many different parts of the city and it keeps it interesting. Zoo, neighborhoods, parks, downtown. You loop back at some point where the half marathon is starting, so it is a nice blast of energy going through the crowd again.
The course measured long, which is normal for zigzagging through crowds. I was hoping for a BQ and my measurement of 26.2 had me there, but my race time was 3 minutes short. Something to be aware of if that is your goal here!
The after party is fun and the medal was really cool, one of the coolest medals actually. The shirt is nothing special.
Bottomline: would recommend!
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Hilly, interesting course - recommend
There are some HILLS in Baltimore. I do not live in a hilly area and even though I *tried* to train on the hills I could find, it was not … MORE
There are some HILLS in Baltimore. I do not live in a hilly area and even though I *tried* to train on the hills I could find, it was not enough to handle the long hill you hear everyone talking about.
The city comes out for this race, people are along the sidewalk or sitting on the porch to cheer for most of the race. None of the animals were out at the zoo in 2022, but usually the penguins are there.
The course is interesting, you run through many different parts of the city and it keeps it interesting. Zoo, neighborhoods, parks, downtown. You loop back at some point where the half marathon is starting, so it is a nice blast of energy going through the crowd again.
The course measured long, which is normal for zigzagging through crowds. I was hoping for a BQ and my measurement of 26.2 had me there, but my race time was 3 minutes short. Something to be aware of if that is your goal here!
The after party is fun and the medal was really cool, one of the coolest medals actually. The shirt is nothing special.
Bottomline: would recommend!
Tough race but very well organized
This was by far the toughest course I've ever run, but the organization of Baltimore Running Fest makes the race and the whole weekend feel like an immersive experience for … MORE
This was by far the toughest course I’ve ever run, but the organization of Baltimore Running Fest makes the race and the whole weekend feel like an immersive experience for runners of all skill levels. This was a fun one, and I’d like to take on the challenge of this race again.
Good race production but city is ugh
This was my first time to Baltimore and traveled solo (no rental car). Getting to the race was easy by the train but was glad to have other runners with … MORE
This was my first time to Baltimore and traveled solo (no rental car). Getting to the race was easy by the train but was glad to have other runners with me. I stayed downtown at the Hilton. I only walked around Camden and the immediate area to get to the expo and Inner Harbor. Other than that I did not feel safe venturing too far away. The race itself had great execution. The medal was top notch and I like the UA long sleeve shirt. The course was hilly but not overly so. The zoo area was nice other than that I was not impressed. I have run some other larger city marathons and this one would be at the bottom of the list for scenery. Baltimore is a failing city and it is sad to see. I am not disappointed that I ran the race but it is not a race I would go back for. The finish line area was nice but nothing spectacular for post race food although you did get 2 beers included.
A beautiful day to see Baltimore
Aid stations are excellent and spaced a good distance apart. One qualm was that they mixed up gatorade vs water cups so you had to rely on what the volunteers … MORE
Aid stations are excellent and spaced a good distance apart. One qualm was that they mixed up gatorade vs water cups so you had to rely on what the volunteers were yelling out. Also they switched up if gatorade was first vs. second.
The medal is by far the coolest I have received, it is a crab with a magnetic opening on the front similar to a locket.
The middle of the race was a bit tough with a large portion in the sun. I would highly suggest sunglasses and/or a hat to mitigate this.
Hills were not forgiving for the second half especially near the finish so make sure to not rush out at the start.
Difficult, but best medal yet!
Overall, I enjoyed this race and thought it was well organized (if not particularly personalized, e.g., not a lot of pre-race communication from anyone except the medical team wanting me … MORE
Overall, I enjoyed this race and thought it was well organized (if not particularly personalized, e.g., not a lot of pre-race communication from anyone except the medical team wanting me to fill out my race day emergency contact, stuff like that). The hills are no joke and the heat this past weekend was absolutely brutal (some stretches of the course have no shade at all, so a hat or lots of sunscreen on particularly sunny days is a must). The race field was incredibly diverse, the on-course support from spectators was top-notch, and the course itself wound through downtown Baltimore, which I appreciated as an out-of-towner. We got to see so much of the city! Plus, this medal is hands down the coolest one I’ve gotten so far.
Biggest complaints: the first water station was a hot mess (they had it behind barricades? Which you would’ve needed to realize a quarter mile back to run in the correct spot?). Not a fan, and it really set a bad tone for the remaining 10 miles on a very warm day. Also, the t-shirt is not impressive at all – which is only this disappointing because I was expecting big things, based on their partnership with Under Armour. However, both of these things are small potatoes, and I really did enjoy this race! You should sign up, especially if you’re looking to complete a run in MD.
Baltimore really goes all out!
I had a great time running the Half Marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival in 2022! The city of Baltimore really goes all out and does an amazing job. Packet … MORE
I had a great time running the Half Marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival in 2022! The city of Baltimore really goes all out and does an amazing job. Packet pickup was very smooth and the health expo was good. The location right downtown on the Inner Harbor is a great place to host the festival. Kind of unusual to have all 4 races on the same day, but Baltimore really pulled it off. Now, this race was NOT easy. There are hills, serious hills. The inclines and declines can be rough. The scenery was great, got to ran through some really interesting neighborhoods. There were crowds cheering all along the way. Loved the swag and post-race. One of the best times I’ve had running yet!
My race review
I got to see some amazing views of the lake, and the community support was top notch amazing. The medal is super cool, and will be looking at it a … MORE
I got to see some amazing views of the lake, and the community support was top notch amazing. The medal is super cool, and will be looking at it a lot
So many hills!
The hills never end! At some point I was told the route was going to be flat but it was more like rolling hills. I mean I hate hills as … MORE
The hills never end! At some point I was told the route was going to be flat but it was more like rolling hills. I mean I hate hills as much as any runner does, but this was just a bit much for me!
The cracking crab medal was pretty cool and this was the first race I did since the pandemic started so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I was underwhelmed by the penguin exhibit at the zoo that you apparently run past, as it was so small that I just ran right past it not knowing that was it. The course was good and lots of people came out to cheer on the runners.
Worth the trip
Was able to get to ballpark via easy metro trip from park and go lot near Ft Meade. (Avoid driving into town race day. Traffic can be a nightmare there.) … MORE
Was able to get to ballpark via easy metro trip from park and go lot near Ft Meade. (Avoid driving into town race day. Traffic can be a nightmare there.) Good crowd support. Hills not as bad as I thought they’d be… but definitely a factor for me. Good swag. Nice expo.
Baltimore Blast
Great course and views of the city. This course is hilly, maybe I missed that along the way, but there were definitely a number of hills. Loved that this takes … MORE
Great course and views of the city. This course is hilly, maybe I missed that along the way, but there were definitely a number of hills. Loved that this takes you through many interesting places of the city. The water stops were “cupless” and I felt there could have been a few more places for hydration along the way. The support from the community throughout the course was great. Definitely a fun race!
The swag was awesome!
The swag was great, Under Armor long sleeve and a beautiful crab medal! The post race party was fun with two free drinks, TONS of food, and a beautiful setting … MORE
The swag was great, Under Armor long sleeve and a beautiful crab medal! The post race party was fun with two free drinks, TONS of food, and a beautiful setting in the inner harbor. The course was beautiful but hillier than expected. Because of COVID there were no cups on the course, which was fine but it was communicated very well and we traveled from out of town without bringing a running water bottle. Also, even for a cup-less race, they could’ve used a few more water stops. The weather was very humid so hopefully next year is better!
Hills Elevation Hills Elevation....
I wasn't prepared for how steep the hills are in Baltimore. Race production went smoothly for the most part. The expo wasn't as big as I was expecting, we moved … MORE
I wasn’t prepared for how steep the hills are in Baltimore. Race production went smoothly for the most part. The expo wasn’t as big as I was expecting, we moved through it quick and did a second loop around. The race needed more water stops with having to refill your own water bottle it was congested at the water stops and made it difficult to make it a smooth transition. I didn’t mind how we had to bring our own water bottle since I normally train with one and train how to refill it quickly. Overall, I enjoyed this race. I enjoyed the community atmosphere and everyone coming out of their houses to cheer along the course. I’m thankful we were able to compete in person.
Very interesting race
First of all, this has been one of my favorite half marathon to date. The expo had cool gear and the medal is one of the coolest I earned. The … MORE
First of all, this has been one of my favorite half marathon to date. The expo had cool gear and the medal is one of the coolest I earned. The only thing I did not like is that the half marathon starting time was super late in comparison to the rest of the event
The course was well marked and well stocked aid stations. The spectators were awesome as well.
This is my first Marathon!!!
MCRRC FTM program rocks!!! FTM is really great training program from MCRRC, it is so organized and well planned for especially first timers. I have really enjoyed most of my … MORE
MCRRC FTM program rocks!!!
FTM is really great training program from MCRRC, it is so organized and well planned for especially first timers. I have really enjoyed most of my run except last few miles.
Fun race in a destination city
Ample free parking for the race and expo. Free shuttle from parking to expo and back, or a .75 mile walk. Same walk on race morning. Excellent medals - Crab … MORE
Ample free parking for the race and expo. Free shuttle from parking to expo and back, or a .75 mile walk. Same walk on race morning.
Excellent medals – Crab theme.
Combination medal opportunities such as the Baltimoron (5k+half – same day) or with other races in the area.
Plenty of aid stations, stocked with water and electrolytes, along the course. Great volunteers. Plenty of post race food, and an area to stretch out and to get a massage.
Beautiful scenery during the race, including a few iconic Baltimore sights.
Don’t forget to get your post race photo by the USS Constellation.
Baltimoronathon and King Crab Complete
I was excited to do this race and to go to the expo. I ran the 5k in 2017 as my 3rd one ever. I enjoyed it then and had … MORE
I was excited to do this race and to go to the expo. I ran the 5k in 2017 as my 3rd one ever. I enjoyed it then and had the same expectation. Although my training had lagged because of leg and knee pain, I decided to continue with my plan to do the Baltimoronarhon, 5k then half. So the expo was pretty good, mostly had race goodies from Corrigan. Packet pickup is smooth. You pick up your bib and bag first then you have to pretty much walk through the whole expo to get your shirt at the end. I was lucky to get to exchange both my shirts because I got a large but they were cut bigger than some of the other Corrigan shirts, so I exchanged for mediums. All of the volunteers were nice and helpful. The weather was pretty good for a run to me. I ran the 5k with not much of a problem and felt pretty good about it. The course is fairly flat. The half did not start until 9:45, which is pretty late but I heard that was so that the elite runners in the marathon would be able to get out ahead of the crowd. Logistics worked pretty well considering it was downtown Baltimore at the Harbor, beautiful skyline and sun rise. My only real issue is that non-runners come into the corrals and are in the way. There were plenty of barriers, but that didn’t keep them from crossing. As part of the challenge, I was able to choose my own corral. It was nice being able to cheer on the marathoners as we waited to start and they passed around their halfway mark. The half and full end up merging around mile 3 of the half. It worked out pretty well. The half marathon course is very illy, which for some reason I forgot because I had done the Charles St 12 miler and the Baltimore 10 miler. Police managed the traffic well and the route was clearly marked. There were plenty of porta pots at the start and unfortunately my bladder was having fun so I had to stop 2 or 3 times along the race and never had to wait for one. I do think there could have been a couple more water stops, but after coming off of OCNJ half a couple weeks ago, I guess I was spoiled because they had overload of water stops. The volunteers and spectators were awesome! The run around Lake Montebello was challenging because by then I was really hurting. Getting to the finish line was my goal because I wanted to complete the King Crab series and the Maryland Double, which involves running events that take place in Baltimore and Frederick since March and major bling. I completed the day with 5 medals! And the huge crown that has a light at the top. This medal is so big, it also has a kickstand in case you do not want to hang it. The finish festival was ok. Regular snacks, though the chips were gone, then I saw many runners walking around with boxes that contained chips and pretzels…had they been allowed to just take these from the tables without regard for those who would not get any? I don’t know what happened. The good thing was that there was homemade Maryland crab soup! Truly a Baltimore thing and it was awesome, they did not give 2nd rate soup just because it was for so many people and for a race. There was a beer garden…I dislike beer a lot, so I got canned vodka and sparkling soda at the hospitality tent for the King Crabbers. Now waiting for the date of the party to celebrate. All in all, a nice time even though I struggled so much. I may have to run again next year because it will be year 20 and it’s a hometown race, which makes it nice.
Got to pet a penguin! Run through Zoo
Awesome running weekend. Multiple distances to choice from. Crab soup at the finish line, with other top notch food and drink options. Will be running this race every year. MORE
Awesome running weekend. Multiple distances to choice from. Crab soup at the finish line, with other top notch food and drink options. Will be running this race every year.
Very good half marathon
Since I use RaceRaves for reading reviews for my future races I figured after running over 100 half marathons it's about time I start sharing my own reviews. So here … MORE
Since I use RaceRaves for reading reviews for my future races I figured after running over 100 half marathons it’s about time I start sharing my own reviews.
So here we go..
This is the second CSE produced race that I have ran the first being the Fredrick Half a few years ago. I can say they do a very good job at what the do. The expo at the convention center was well organized and easy to get to by public transportation or free parking at the nearby Ravens stadium parking lot. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes.
The Half starts at 9:45 am at the Inner Harbor and parking is also free at the nearby stadium lots. I stayed downtown so can’t comment on how the traffic situation was. But it could be a issue with road closures due to the full marathon 8 am start time. The race started exactly on time and had no problem with congestion at the start. The course runs through several different types of neighborhoods with pretty good crowd support all the way expecily the final half mile. Aid stations were very well organized and placed in ideal locations.This course has lots of hills throughout except for a 2 mile flat section at mile 8 that loops around a lake.
The finish line is also at the Inner Harbor, that also is the location for the post race festival.
The medal was a nice looking Crab design that opens up. Post race food was quite good with fruit, protein bars, granola bars and assorted snacks.This is a race that I really enjoyed and will probably run again in the future.
A Great Race in Maryland
Overall, I enjoyed this race. With Under Armor as the title sponsor, the tech shirts were great. The race directors clearly communicated the different starting line locations prior to and … MORE
Overall, I enjoyed this race. With Under Armor as the title sponsor, the tech shirts were great. The race directors clearly communicated the different starting line locations prior to and the day of the event. My one major issue was that I was stopped two times for traffic to pass in front of runners. It seems as if this was happening at regular intervals near the downtown finish. I was stopped for at least 20 seconds before the traffic officers stopped the traffic.
Tough course
Tough course. Although I studied it before hand and knew that the first three miles and miles 16-20 were mostly uphill, what caught me off guard were a couple of … MORE
Tough course. Although I studied it before hand and knew that the first three miles and miles 16-20 were mostly uphill, what caught me off guard were a couple of hills over the last 10k which broke me. They start the half later, and then the half and full meet up around the long hilly climb. I met up with slower half runners there so had to spend some time dodging other runners, which was not ideal. The reward for the long climb is a nice run around Lake Montebello. Aid stations were a bit further apart than I’d like so I carried a hand held bottle. The medal is spectacular, a crab that opens up, and the after party is pretty good, with Dogfish Head beer and a good array of food. I also liked the race shirt, it has the date and no cotton.