I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it … MORE
I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it and I thought it would be cool to run a half in the two smallest states in one weekend. I am unofficially calling this the smallest state challenge. Of note, driving from New England to Delaware is absolutely awful as you have to pass through NYC so I can’t say I necessarily recommend this challenge. Also flights from Boston are really expensive this weekend as it’s school vacation so I couldn’t fly without paying like $400. I knew the driving would be awful and honestly I thought about skipping this race and running one somewhere closer instead but after some subpar experiences with New England Half Marathons last weekend, I decided it would be worth crossing the George Washington Bridge twice for a race in the more back of the pack friendly mid-Atlantic region. This was definitely the right decision as this race was so much better than my last 3 half marathons in New England. For the race I opted to pay extra for emergency race day packet pickup. if you are coming to do the race after Rhode Island do not expect to make it on time for packet pick-up. I know it goes until 8pm but traffic is insane and it took over 8 hours to drive from Rhode Island to Rehoboth Beach. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Rehoboth. it was about a 10 minute drive to the race. There are hotels within walking distance but I didn’t really have time to spend in Delaware besides the race and had a car anyways. Pre-race communication was excellent with a helpful race guide. I was a little nervous about parking since I have never been to this area of Delaware and the guide just said there was plenty of parking by the boardwalk and don’t worry there is plenty of parking by the boardwalk. However if you arrive on the later side you may have to parking about 0.5 mile away from the start. Race day packet pickup was super easy and convenient. Since it cost $30 for race day packet pick-up I don’t think many opted for that option meaning there was no line. Packet included bib, a polyblend shirt and a pint glass. The start of the race was organized in 3 waves for the half marathon. There were pacers up to 3 hours and a sweeper who went at the time limit which was 4 hours. I lined up between the 3 hour pacer and sweeper. Since this race had a 4 hour time limit and I am doing so many half marathons I took this one very easy. The race was extremely well organized. The course was very well marked and There were several timing mats on the course to track runners. I didn’t have any of the issues I had in the prior 3 races. However I was a bit disappointed in the course scenery and lack of spectators on course. While the scenery wasn’t bad, it was not the beachy views I was hoping for. The race starts on the boardwalk by the beach but shortly then is about 3 miles through neighborhoods. The neighborhoods were fine to run though but there were not really any spectators out. A little after mile 3 you do a lollipop loop on a public trail. This section is quite pretty by a lake and through marshlands though not past the ocean. This is mostly trail with a bit on boardwalk and a small amount paved on the loop. The trail is not technical at all but I did have to watch my footing a bit. While the course is very flat, I did not find it to be a fast course. If you want to PR or BQ on this course make sure you run on some similar trail. I also had very tired legs from all the hills at my last 3 races and wasn’t pushing myself too hard. You then go back on the boardwalk where you finish. Aid stations were good and had water, gatorade and 1 or 2 had gels. They never ran out of aid station supplies or shut things down early even though I was very slow although I did stay well under the 4 hour time limit. There were also lots of porta potties at the aid stations. I did love the finish line. This was where all the spectators were. The bib has your name and so many people where cheering for me even though I’m just walking along while there are faster marathoners finishing too. This finish line was so great compared to the day before at Newport. At the finish line you get your medal and a finisher hat. The medal is really nice and stain glass appearance. I would consider the medal above average though thought the race shirt was below average. With the pint glass and the hat as well though this was overall good swag for a race. They had water bottles and bananas at the finish line. There is supposedly a really nice finish party with pizza and salad but I had to leave right away for plans in Philadelphia in the afternoon so skipped it. Overall I thought this was a very nice race. Excellent production, back of the pack friendly and good swag. I did think the course was a bit boring especially as there were so few spectators on course. If I lived closer I would definitely do this race again. I’m not 100% sure I would drive 8+ hours for this race again but would consider it if there was something I wanted to do in the area the weekend of the race. I do think this is a very good choice for Delaware. I have now done 3 races in Delaware (the other 2 being Delaware Running Festival in Wilmington and First State Half in Newark) and I think this one was probably the nicest of the 3 although the other 2 had a lot of issues outside the race’s control (covid, weather). However the other races I did in DE were also nice and were much closer to Philadelphia so may be more convenient for travel.
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Flat & Back of the Pack Friendly
I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it … MORE
I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it and I thought it would be cool to run a half in the two smallest states in one weekend. I am unofficially calling this the smallest state challenge. Of note, driving from New England to Delaware is absolutely awful as you have to pass through NYC so I can’t say I necessarily recommend this challenge. Also flights from Boston are really expensive this weekend as it’s school vacation so I couldn’t fly without paying like $400. I knew the driving would be awful and honestly I thought about skipping this race and running one somewhere closer instead but after some subpar experiences with New England Half Marathons last weekend, I decided it would be worth crossing the George Washington Bridge twice for a race in the more back of the pack friendly mid-Atlantic region. This was definitely the right decision as this race was so much better than my last 3 half marathons in New England. For the race I opted to pay extra for emergency race day packet pickup. if you are coming to do the race after Rhode Island do not expect to make it on time for packet pick-up. I know it goes until 8pm but traffic is insane and it took over 8 hours to drive from Rhode Island to Rehoboth Beach. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Rehoboth. it was about a 10 minute drive to the race. There are hotels within walking distance but I didn’t really have time to spend in Delaware besides the race and had a car anyways. Pre-race communication was excellent with a helpful race guide. I was a little nervous about parking since I have never been to this area of Delaware and the guide just said there was plenty of parking by the boardwalk and don’t worry there is plenty of parking by the boardwalk. However if you arrive on the later side you may have to parking about 0.5 mile away from the start. Race day packet pickup was super easy and convenient. Since it cost $30 for race day packet pick-up I don’t think many opted for that option meaning there was no line. Packet included bib, a polyblend shirt and a pint glass. The start of the race was organized in 3 waves for the half marathon. There were pacers up to 3 hours and a sweeper who went at the time limit which was 4 hours. I lined up between the 3 hour pacer and sweeper. Since this race had a 4 hour time limit and I am doing so many half marathons I took this one very easy. The race was extremely well organized. The course was very well marked and There were several timing mats on the course to track runners. I didn’t have any of the issues I had in the prior 3 races. However I was a bit disappointed in the course scenery and lack of spectators on course. While the scenery wasn’t bad, it was not the beachy views I was hoping for. The race starts on the boardwalk by the beach but shortly then is about 3 miles through neighborhoods. The neighborhoods were fine to run though but there were not really any spectators out. A little after mile 3 you do a lollipop loop on a public trail. This section is quite pretty by a lake and through marshlands though not past the ocean. This is mostly trail with a bit on boardwalk and a small amount paved on the loop. The trail is not technical at all but I did have to watch my footing a bit. While the course is very flat, I did not find it to be a fast course. If you want to PR or BQ on this course make sure you run on some similar trail. I also had very tired legs from all the hills at my last 3 races and wasn’t pushing myself too hard. You then go back on the boardwalk where you finish. Aid stations were good and had water, gatorade and 1 or 2 had gels. They never ran out of aid station supplies or shut things down early even though I was very slow although I did stay well under the 4 hour time limit. There were also lots of porta potties at the aid stations. I did love the finish line. This was where all the spectators were. The bib has your name and so many people where cheering for me even though I’m just walking along while there are faster marathoners finishing too. This finish line was so great compared to the day before at Newport. At the finish line you get your medal and a finisher hat. The medal is really nice and stain glass appearance. I would consider the medal above average though thought the race shirt was below average. With the pint glass and the hat as well though this was overall good swag for a race. They had water bottles and bananas at the finish line. There is supposedly a really nice finish party with pizza and salad but I had to leave right away for plans in Philadelphia in the afternoon so skipped it. Overall I thought this was a very nice race. Excellent production, back of the pack friendly and good swag. I did think the course was a bit boring especially as there were so few spectators on course. If I lived closer I would definitely do this race again. I’m not 100% sure I would drive 8+ hours for this race again but would consider it if there was something I wanted to do in the area the weekend of the race. I do think this is a very good choice for Delaware. I have now done 3 races in Delaware (the other 2 being Delaware Running Festival in Wilmington and First State Half in Newark) and I think this one was probably the nicest of the 3 although the other 2 had a lot of issues outside the race’s control (covid, weather). However the other races I did in DE were also nice and were much closer to Philadelphia so may be more convenient for travel.
Great scenic overall event, nice area.
Great overall event. I though this event was kinda pricy when I registered, but very well done with great swag. Nice Medal, Hat, Shirt, Pint Glass, and post race food/beverage … MORE
Great overall event. I though this event was kinda pricy when I registered, but very well done with great swag. Nice Medal, Hat, Shirt, Pint Glass, and post race food/beverage at Grotto Pizza. Paid extra race day bib pickup. Free local parking wasn’t to hard to find. Good amount of bathrooms available. Started 3 separate waves to spread people out, and that worked well. Multiple event distances were running together, but it was never crowded on course. A scenic course on some paved side streets, crushed gravel paths, and boardwalk for the start and finish. A decent amount of shade too. Ocean views and Sand dunes in many areas. Very pretty. Lots of great shopping in the area near the beach! Post race free food from Grotto Pizza was great with endless Pizza, pasta, salad, chicken fingers, and you get 3 beer tickets! Plenty of seating inside, and an outside area too. Great to put your feet right in the ocean after running too. Really loved everything about this event!
Pretty Course!
Highly recommend choosing this race as your Delaware race. The course is flat, scenic and fun...great crowd support, water spots, etc. I was a little stressed about finding parking on … MORE
Highly recommend choosing this race as your Delaware race. The course is flat, scenic and fun…great crowd support, water spots, etc. I was a little stressed about finding parking on Sunday AM, but I arrived early and it was easy. The race swag is great – loved the tshirt and glass that you got at packet pickup, then the medal is huge and already have worn my finisher’s hat.
I didn’t have a good race, but I blame that on life getting in the way of training…maybe I’ll go back and redeem myself in a few years.
Not as Popular as I Thought
This was a good race, considering the location and the size of DE. I thought that this would be a really popular marathon, but there weren't many spectators out to … MORE
This was a good race, considering the location and the size of DE. I thought that this would be a really popular marathon, but there weren’t many spectators out to cheer us on, so I felt kinda lonely for most of the race.
I was also hoping that it would be cool (since it’s advertised as the “coolest race in DE”). But the weather started to get really hot (high 60s-70s). To make things worse, there’s next to no shade along the course, minus the few parts when we are on the trails. I know the race directors can’t control the weather, so I can’t hold it against them. The course was run through some suburbs/roads, boardwalks, wooden bridges, and lots of dirt trails. I thought the scenery was pretty at least!
As for production, I felt like the expo was small, but it was very organized. Again, I was hoping for a larger venue and more swag, but we only received our race shirts and a glass (which was nice).
Grotto pizza is the big sponsor of this race, and they definitely nailed it! I LOVE their pizza and I wish I lived in the area! After the 5K on Saturday, runners got 2 beers and pizza. After the races on Sunday, we had a buffet at Grottos (ex. chicken, salad, pizza) and 3 beers!
Overall, this was a good race! It’s not difficult, but can be boring and HOT. At least we had a solid after party!
Beautiful flat course
I loved this race. Pros: packet pickup was super easy - in and out in 4 minutes. Race started on time with perfect temps in the high 40's. More than … MORE
I loved this race.
Pros: packet pickup was super easy – in and out in 4 minutes. Race started on time with perfect temps in the high 40’s. More than half of the entire course is on beautiful trails/boardwalks/paths. Very flat (200ft based on Strava as opposed to the 444ft on the official race site). Great swag.
Cons: nonstop emails from the organizers encouraging you to sign up (after you already did) and tell your friends. Post races party, while generous, could benefit from more fresh/healthy options
Overall I had a great time and recommend this race as a great Delaware option
Excellent event
Mostly on trail/ boardwalk...trail can be a bit slippy if dry. Mostly in local neighborhoods and parks. Really flat. Excellent timing on the starts...I didn't understand it at first, but … MORE
Mostly on trail/ boardwalk…trail can be a bit slippy if dry. Mostly in local neighborhoods and parks. Really flat. Excellent timing on the starts…I didn’t understand it at first, but it made perfect sense later. Hat actually fits, medal was a little scuffed but very nice, pizza and beer in abundance ( with salad and pasta). If I were coming back to Delaware, I’d do this one again.
Enjoyable race weekend
I ran this race April 16, 2023, in perfect spring weather. It was state #16 for me in my quest towards 50 halves in 50 states. The course was one … MORE
I ran this race April 16, 2023, in perfect spring weather. It was state #16 for me in my quest towards 50 halves in 50 states. The course was one of my favorites: begins along the boardwalk in Rehoboth, follows a couple of town streets past beautiful homes, and into Cape Henlopen State Park. The path here is light cinder (tiny rocks), fairly flat, and mostly shaded. There were a couple spots where it gets narrow, and because it’s an out-and-back, runners were single file going both directions for a bit. This was fine with me, and didn’t mess with my flow or anything, but I know for some runners this can mess with their PR. Scenery was beautiful, coastal, and quiet (despite this being a pretty big race, and lots of normal running chatter, music, etc). At roughly mile 7 or so, a tidal pool overflowed into the path, and a race volunteer directed runners to go through the middle of it, because I guess it got nearly waist deep just off the trail. Glad he was there. Though I hadn’t planned for wet shoes in this race (though I’ve run plenty of trail races, this was my first with a portion through ankle-deep water), but it actually wasn’t as bad as I had feared. I do wish I’d stopped to empty my shoes of the tiny rocks that had crept in, because I ended up with my first race blister — but now I know to take those seriously! 🙂 The timing of this race is prior to busy beach season in Delaware, so it was a pretty perfect season IMO. We stayed at a small Air BnB in nearby Dewey Beach, (Swedes Beach is dog-friendly, but you need to buy a $5 permit online). Everywhere was very family and dog friendly. We brought our bikes, which made travel around the area fun and easy (And, street parking is FREE until May 15, so this makes things even easier). Our rental in Dewey ended up being super close to the running festival’s 5k which took place on Saturday. Completing both the 5k and half earned a medal for each, plus a third medal for the “Fort Miles Challenge.” All the medals were attractive. While the race tshirts ended up being pretty run-of-the-mill cotton and busy with sponsors’ names, etc, the other swag included a pint glass and my FAVORITE new hat of all time: it’s a trucker-style hat with Coastal Delaware Running Festival, Rehoboth Beach on the front in a subtle rectangle. I love the fit and style, and I wear it almost every day. (Nice job, race directors!) Overall the organization and communication on the race was well done and helpful. The emails do get repetitive and pointless after a while (I don’t need an email every week telling me to sign up for a race I’ve already signed up for…), so that was the only minor organization critique I have. All other details were smooth. Post-race celebration was gate-checked, so if you know you definitely want to celebrate with non-running family or friends, you will absolutely want to purchase tickets for them ahead of time. They kept a tight lid on entering and exiting at Grotto Pizza. But, it’s worth it. The beer, drinks, pizza, salad, and wings were plentiful and delicious. If I find myself with available to travel to Delaware in the spring, I would absolutely run this race again.
Beautiful coastal half
The course went through a variety of areas, from residential with beautiful beach homes to a park setting and around a large pond to a forest and finishing on the … MORE
The course went through a variety of areas, from residential with beautiful beach homes to a park setting and around a large pond to a forest and finishing on the boardwalk next to the ocean. It was an uncharacteristically warm day and I would have appreciated one or two more water stations, but there was a lot of course support. The swag included a pint glass (thumbs up) and a cotton tshirt (thumbs down) – I would prefer a performance tank or t. The food and drink at the end was awesome.
Why did this cost $135?
Why did this race cost $135 for virtually no production value? Expo was small and crowded; swag only included a cotton tee shirt with cringey distressed shirt decals; aid stations … MORE
Why did this race cost $135 for virtually no production value? Expo was small and crowded; swag only included a cotton tee shirt with cringey distressed shirt decals; aid stations were too few and far between with not enough water, volunteers, or trash cans; not many spectators and no music along the course; and they didn’t even have good security near the finish line (kids and dogs wandering in front of your path in the final 200 meters).
The free postrace Grotto’s pizza buffet and THREE beer tickets sort of made up for it, though. MFs were getting plastered at the postrace party thanks to all the free booze.
Rehoboth Beach is a nice little beach town of 5k people with candy and ice cream shops, boardwalk arcades, and lovely beaches. The expo was a mile away from the beachfront, in a too-small convention center. Don’t try to park in its parking lot! Every space was full. Instead, try parallel parking on the street nearby. The street parking is free until May 15th. The swag consisted of a beer glass and, as I mentioned earlier, an olive cotton T-shirt with the shirt decal graphics butchered in a failed attempt to make it look cool. No coupons or bumper stickers or free samples at the expo. Just a glass and a shirt.
Marathon started at 7am, and I was still able to find street parking half a mile away 15 minutes before. About 500 runners. Race started and ended on the boardwalk. It was about 60 at 7am, but it had rained yesterday, and was super humid the first few miles. The highlight of the run was through Cape Henlopen State Park from miles 3-10. Absolutely gorgeous sunrise misty wetland vistas. Aid stations roughly every two miles. Didn’t seem too bad at first, but after 10 miles, things got rough.
See, aid stations often only had one table, so you could only pick up one small cup of water with like 3oz at a time. The last trash can after each table was placed far too soon, so it was impossible to finish your cup in time, leading to a lot of litter. The first ten miles was decently shaded, but around mile 12, the course spit us onto the black tar roads, where there was virtually no shade, insufficient water stops, and no respite from the black tar heat for 8 miles. It was only 72 degrees, but the sun and tar did me in and I slowed to a shameful walk around mile 17. Around mile 20, we finally got to a shaded forest with gravel, and I ran from mile 21 until the finish.
Other reviewers are talking about how easy the course was. If it had been cooler or cloudier, I would agree–it was very flat. But the sun + tar + no shade + not enough water combo messed up a lot of people.
Naturally, the weather grew cloudy, cool, and windy around 2pm. Just a few hours too late to save us.
Great post race lunch
I ran this as a pacer. It was a great event. The expo was small but near local restaurants and the boardwalk. The race starts and ends on the boardwalk … MORE
I ran this as a pacer. It was a great event. The expo was small but near local restaurants and the boardwalk. The race starts and ends on the boardwalk next to the beach. The course was a mix of boardwalk, paved roads through residential areas and a state park.
After the finish line a local pizza shop hosted a buffet lunch for all the runners with a mix of pizza, salad and pasta. There was beer too. The weather was great, the volunteers were wonderful. The course was interesting. Afterwards you can celebrate on the beach.
Best race ever!
I've raced in maybe 40+ half marathons and this is by far the best race I've done. I did this because it fit my calendar and I needed to knock … MORE
I’ve raced in maybe 40+ half marathons and this is by far the best race I’ve done. I did this because it fit my calendar and I needed to knock Delaware out on my state list.
Parking is easy and there is plenty of it. Port-a-potties are plentiful both at the start line and on the course. I didn’t stay locally but it looked like there were hotels within easy walking distance of the start line.
The swag is sweet. The standard metal and shirt, of course, but also a pint glass and a cool hat. Great stuff, all around.
The course itself was great. There are a few minor hills, if they can be called that. After all, you are on the beach. You start and finish on the boardwalk right next to the sand / beach. It’s a beautiful course, with marsh or beach views for most of it. You do run through a few neighborhoods in the early miles, but these are nicer old homes and it’s quite a nice run.
The post-race party was far better than I’ve seen anywhere except for a race in Huntsville, AL (Bridge Street Town Center Half). You have four (four!) tickets for beer after the race. Lol, I suppose they could put ten tickets on there and be safe because most runners are not too interested in drinking like a fish after a race. But there is also a pizza / salad / pasta buffet after the race. Right next to the finish line. The race start/finish is right in the middle of Rehobeth Beach shopping and food / touristy area, so you can walk around and shop or eat ice cream, or whatever, all right where you started and finished, and where you parked. I cannot imagine a better race, honestly. This is the race I never knew I needed to do.
If you like destination races, this is one to travel to. I flew in from Tennessee and I’m glad I did. It’s a race that should be appearing on online bucket lists, but which I’d not heard of until I just randomly found that it fit my free weekend schedule.
I have only two things about this race that I’d change. Shoes and price. Maybe half of the race is on packed gravel. And the paved part was on a road that could have used re-paving. This is not a complaint, but I would have worn different shoes. The website accurately describes the surface, but perhaps it could emphasize that runners should consider wearing trail shoes. I would have, and I will next time.
The second thing I’d change would be the price. It’s the most expensive race I’ve ever done. And an extra $30 for race day pickup? That may be common north of the South, but here in the South I’ve never had to pay for for same day pickup. And $30?! I understand that to run an event like this one it needs to be an expensive race, but it did seem to be a bit too much. And maybe mail the packets for a bit cheaper than $30? I drove in from north of DC, 2.5 hours away, on race morning so I couldn’t have picked up the packet any other day than race day.
Would I do this race again? Yes, but I would arrive the night before and stay at a hotel. I would wear different shoes, and I’d not forget my sunglasses and handheld collapsible water bottle. 🙂
A Scenic Half Marathon Along the Coast
I ran the half marathon at the 2022 Coastal Delaware Running Festival. The festival also included a 5k (on Saturday), and a marathon and 9k that went off Sunday morning … MORE
I ran the half marathon at the 2022 Coastal Delaware Running Festival. The festival also included a 5k (on Saturday), and a marathon and 9k that went off Sunday morning before the half.
The race starts on the boardwalk in Rehobeth Beach. It’s a cute little shore town, and it’s a great place for a getaway.
The boardwalk itself is fairly short, and the route quickly leaves the boardwalk for a short loop through the neighborhood. The first two miles or so isn’t particularly beautiful, but they are nice tree-lined streets offering shade.
The middle chunk of the race (around miles 4 to 11) are run through Cape Henlopen State Park. Here, it’s a packed dirt road. The route goes through the forest for a bit, along the pond, and back. It’s beautiful, scenic, and serene.
The course is very flat, with a few gentle slopes along the way.
There are nice crowds along the boardwalk at the start and the finish, but crowd support gets kind of thin after that. The full marathon and 9k start earlier than the half, so for the first three miles or so we ran by the slower participants in those races. But once the routes diverged around mile 4, it was much quieter.
Aid stations were plentiful, with water and gatorade. Gu was available at mile 8. After the race, we got our medal, a hat, water, and a banana. At check in, I also got a shirt (not a tech shirt, but it is a comfortable cotton tee shirt) and a branded beer glass.
The race started on time – going off at exactly 7:40. The marathon started at 7:00, and the 9k started at 7:20. This helped spread people out on the course, as opposed to some races that start the marathon and half together.
The half marathon field was also loosely divided into three corrals. The first corral was designated for those running faster than 8:00/mi. It was based on the honor system, but people respected the rope and stayed behind it if they didn’t think they belonged in the corral. As a result, a much smaller group of 3-4 dozen of us took off at 7:40 – and the other corrals followed at 7:41 and 7:42.
The post race atmosphere was great. By the time we finished, the 9k finishers had all come in. We started to stream in, followed a little while later by the first marathon finishers. There was a good crowd on the boardwalk, and it added a lot of energy to the last phase of the race. I enjoyed sitting on the boardwalk for 20-30 minutes after I finished, watching the other racers come in and cheering them on.
There was also a great post-race celebration. Runners got free entry, and friends / family could buy a ticket ahead of time for $30. It was held at Grotto Pizza, a block from the finish, and it lasted from 9 to 3. This gave me time to walk back to the hotel, clean up, check out, and then meander over around 11. As a runner, you get three beer tickets and there’s a decent buffet of salad, pizza, pasta, and chicken. Not gourmet food, and not New Jersey pizza… but definitely enjoyable. The TVs inside were live streaming the finish line, and you could continue to hear the announcer.
Overall, it was a great race – a scenic route, well organized, with a lot of energy at the start and finish. It’s a little quiet in the middle of the race, and the minimal amount of crowd support out in the park is the only potential downside (if that’s important to you).
Well organized, great course and people
Race was finally run after COVID delays and moved from the spring to the fall. Fall races are better for me, training wise. The course was mostly flat and scenic, … MORE
Race was finally run after COVID delays and moved from the spring to the fall. Fall races are better for me, training wise. The course was mostly flat and scenic, starting and ending on the boardwalk and spending miles in parkland.
The volunteers were top notch.
The race swag was awesome! Large finisher medal, beer glass and running visor.
Scenic, Well Run Coastal Marathon
There were so many things to love about this race. 1. The scenery. The race started at beautiful Rehoboth Beach, went through a state park filled with fall foliage lakeside … MORE
There were so many things to love about this race.
1. The scenery. The race started at beautiful Rehoboth Beach, went through a state park filled with fall foliage lakeside and riverside views, and gave you a number of different views of the Delaware coastline as well.
2. The aid stations. Volunteers were very well trained at holding cups so that they could be picked up without spillage on runners or on the volunteers themselves (on a flat hand). The one thing I could possibly nitpick here is that the availability of gels could have used a bit more fanfare, as it was hard to see where GU gels were available because the volunteers holding them blended in with everyone else and they weren’t announced.
3. Organization. The race started like clockwork. All turns were clearly marked. The course was super easy to follow thanks to the work of the volunteers and the race organizers.
4. Post-Race. Good pizza from Grottos was served along with beers. This is my eighth marathon, and I haven’t seen better post-race offerings as far as food goes.
Alright. Now let me explain my score on the difficulty of the race. Yes, the race is absolutely pancake flat, but a couple of factors make it a bit more challenging. The first…a large percentage of the marathon takes place not on asphalt or another surface, but instead on dirt, mud, and rock trails. While these trailish sorts of surfaces can definitely be easier on the joints, these surfaces take a lot of energy away from your stride as compared to pure road surfaces. I definitely felt myself working harder to maintain pace on the trail surfaces. The second is that this is a coastal marathon. Expect the wind to be a factor…it’ll be blowing in your face for part of this race. These reasons are why I gave it two “shoes” for difficulty instead of one.
But all that aside, do this race. Just make the time and sign up. Regardless of whether you PR, you will enjoy yourself.
If you’re looking for a smaller marathon
Nice small race
This is a nice small event with around 500 runners I believe. It was very nice to hear my name called out as I crossed the finish line on the … MORE
This is a nice small event with around 500 runners I believe. It was very nice to hear my name called out as I crossed the finish line on the boardwalk. Crowd support is light, as this is not a populous area and parts of it is through parks and even on gravel paths. There is one hill to worry about, around mile 16 if memory serves me, where we go up across a bridge over a river. Aid stations and both water and gatorade but were roughly two miles apart, so I carried water. The after party was quite good. I got VIP because this race was on my birthday, so I also got indoor bathrooms and breakfast food before the race, and a free massage after. The medal is quite nice, but the stock shirt given out didn’t have the date on it and has some cotton in it, so I don’t wear it to run.
Beautiful course with amazing volunteers
This was my 9th marathon and probably the "easiest" (is any marathon really easy?) course I've run so far. The course was really beautiful - some earlier miles we ran … MORE
This was my 9th marathon and probably the “easiest” (is any marathon really easy?) course I’ve run so far. The course was really beautiful – some earlier miles we ran through a state park and later miles were on a trail which was very nice for my aching legs. The race started right on time at 7am. The volunteers were amazing! Cheering everyone on and helped me get water to refill my bottle. They were all upbeat and smiling and I was so appreciative of that. They handed out Gu at 3 different spots and around mile 21 they had gummy bears and M&M’s. Not much crowd support if you need that but I really don’t. After the race they had a party for the runners at Grotto Pizza with unlimited Pizza, salad, pasta, chicken fingers and 3 beers! It was so much fun! The weather started off mid 50’s and misting but cleared up and was mostly overcast and 60. I loved everything about this race and I highly recommend it!
Loved it
Beautiful course with lots of changing scenery and running surfaces. Some out and backs so you could see front runners. Nice after party and great medal! MORE
Beautiful course with lots of changing scenery and running surfaces. Some out and backs so you could see front runners. Nice after party and great medal!
Boardwalk Finish is Great
Cool small town marathon with varing views and terrain. Things get congested at the finish with slow half marathoners walking 4 abreast to the finish. Great atmosphere afterwards and the … MORE
Cool small town marathon with varing views and terrain. Things get congested at the finish with slow half marathoners walking 4 abreast to the finish. Great atmosphere afterwards and the post race party at Grottos Pizza.
A great race!
Overall I loved this race. Flat and fast course. It starts and ends on the boardwalk along the ocean. The course goes through beautiful neighborhoods and parks. My only complaint … MORE
Overall I loved this race. Flat and fast course. It starts and ends on the boardwalk along the ocean. The course goes through beautiful neighborhoods and parks. My only complaint is that parts are run on a trail surface. It was tough for me to keep switching between running on pavement and the trails. There is also very little crowd support. It is a smaller race so race logistics are easy. Great swag and a great post race after party.
Fabulous First Marathon
The expo was in the Rehoboth convention center. There was only one volunteer per race handing out bibs and two volunteers per shirt so there was a huge bottleneck there. … MORE
The expo was in the Rehoboth convention center. There was only one volunteer per race handing out bibs and two volunteers per shirt so there was a huge bottleneck there. The for purchase race swag was surprisingly diverse for such a small race. The race swag bag featured a cotton t shirt, glassware with the race logo, and a magnet with the race logo. At the finish you receive a trucker hat. I would have rather received less swag and a technical t shirt.
The race started at 7 am for the marathon. It was very low key to get to the start and into your corral. There were pacers available and lovely to chat with.
The race started and ended on the boardwalk with a view of the ocean in Rehoboth. The race wound through the parks to the small beach towns in the area, even including a stop at dairy queen. There was little to no elevation other than the canal bridge near Lewes. Water stops were abundant and many featured snacks. The finish on the boards was fun and I feel like it was a great low key race to dip my feet into the marathon pool.