Overall Rating
Overall Rating (37 Reviews)
3.7
(37 Ratings)  (37 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
2.9
SCENERY
3.4
PRODUCTION
3.7
SWAG
3.2
Experience a marathon reimagined! Unveiling the Greater St. Louis Marathon, an electrifying race weekend with fresh courses, historic sights, vibrant after-parties, and for the first time, the National Running Club Championships & Rally. All set in the heart of downtown St. Louis. Your running journey just got more exciting! New … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Apr 27):
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H (°F)  66  75  84  71  76
L (°F)  49  38  62  47  51
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Recent reviews

    tsltan FIRST-TIMER '23

    The highlight for me is undoubtedly running through the Gateway Arch National Park (and later taking the tram up the Arch for a 360 view of St. Louis). I also … MORE

    The highlight for me is undoubtedly running through the Gateway Arch National Park (and later taking the tram up the Arch for a 360 view of St. Louis). I also recommend checking out the sunset at the rooftop of the 360 St. Louis atop the Hilton St. Louis across from the Busch Stadium ballpark.

    I stayed at the Hotel Indigo, which is ideally located in downtown St. Louis. It’s within walking distance from the Gateway Arch National Park as well as from the shuttle stop near the Finish area. The shuttle takes you to the Start area in Forest Park.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3
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    cassidymegan3 FIRST-TIMER '23

    The "expo" was at Tower Grove Park. It's a beautiful park. You pick up your bib at one end then walk 1/4-mile to the other end to get your bag. … MORE

    The “expo” was at Tower Grove Park. It’s a beautiful park. You pick up your bib at one end then walk 1/4-mile to the other end to get your bag. This helps to make sure that the vendors get some exposure. It was simple enough.
    The race started at Forest Park in front of the visitor center. I was a pacer who came in from out of town so I took an Uber to the start but there was plenty of parking available. I had no issues with dropping my bag or portapotties at the start of the race- there were plenty in the parking lot and I did not have to wait. I *DID* see a lot of people asking volunteers where they could drop their bags. Since I happened to get dropped off right at the bag drop area, I knew where it was but they could have used a sign or a light to point it out to other runners.
    I didn’t use the shuttles but I know that they offered them since this was a point-to-point race.
    I guess some pacers have different styles. There were 2 of us per time. My style is usually to hold a steady pace throughout the race- not stopping at water stations, portapotties, or up hills. My copacer wanted to give people time to bank for an impending headwind and uphill at the end of the race. I wanted to show solidarity so I stuck with him but that wore me out. By mile 11, we were 6 minutes ahead of schedule. When he went to the portapotty at mile 14, I slowed down but I think that the damage was already done. There are many hills on this course. For an 8’47” min/mile pace, this should not have been a problem for me but blazing up them at 8’11” so early in the race was exhausting for me. I’m an experienced pacer and I’ve run more than 100 marathons – I should have just done my own thing and stuck to my plan the whole time. If anyone ran with me/us, I’m sorry if you ran out of steam, too.
    Around mile 16, you head up a hill that takes you right by the arch. It’s really very beautiful. Lot of people stopping to take selfies. By this time, the half marathoners and 10Kers have sort of joined back up and the signs of where to run got a little confusing – so ask the volunteers which way to go. At mile 18, you head down toward the boring, pothole/gravel/puddle-filled part of the course along the river. It is out-and-back with not a lot to look at. It’s an old industrial area. I rounded the turn-around point at about 21.8 and my co-pacer met back up with me. On our way back, a runner was on the ground being attended to. I have learned that he survived but it shook me up at the time and we tried to warn oncomers that they needed to prepare to give them room (run in the grass, etc. so they could attend to the young man) it’s hard to do when people are tuned into their music. I lost my footing (slipped on some gravel on a downhill turn while trying to warn the oncomers) and overcorrected myself. I should have let myself fall but I twisted my ankle a bit, my hip went wonky, and I knew that I wouldn’t hit my 3:50 mark. I lowered my pace sign, flipped my shirt inside-out and finished the race. There’s a steep climb leading to the finish line (the same downhill at mile 17.5, just in the opposite direction.) Beware of that.
    I really hate when I miss my mark in a pacing situation and I was so worried about that runner who was down. I think that I would have enjoyed this marathon if not for those things. I really loved St. Louis and its history. I looked forward to this race for a long time. I may try to run it again on my own. I loved the shirt. The medal was pretty, and they had a lot at the finish line by way of snacks (I didn’t see a medical tent- I could have used some ice) but overall, I was disappointed in my performance. Poor performance can kill the vibe of a race.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3

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    sydneylross FIRST-TIMER '23

    A friend of mine asked us to register for this race without knowing much about it and it exceeded all expectations! The course is beautiful with some rolling hills. There … MORE

    A friend of mine asked us to register for this race without knowing much about it and it exceeded all expectations!

    The course is beautiful with some rolling hills. There isn’t much crowd support on the course, so if that is important to you, then this might not be the right choice. The finishing area in the Gateway Arch National Park was beautiful.

    It did get a little confusing as you are finishing the half because you reconvene with the marathoners again from mile 17-18. I did feel terrible for the marathon runners because they literally are less than 100 yards from the finish line and then have to veer off just after mile 18…

    Either way, the medal was beautiful, the course was well put together, logistics with bussing worked very well from the finish to the start line. Would recommend.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    5

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    dqcvdtpda FIRST-TIMER '23

    There are so many more people here than in the November race. Starts in Forest Park and this year it took us through Washington University/University City, Midtown, Downtown, and then … MORE

    There are so many more people here than in the November race. Starts in Forest Park and this year it took us through Washington University/University City, Midtown, Downtown, and then around the park around the Arch.
    Other folks are correct about the last half mile hill being a surprise. I mean, you’re finishing at the Arch, right? At the river, right? Uh, no, you have to go up hill after winding around the Arch. My finish kick didn’t have the speed I was hoping for.
    The pre-race packet pickup was outside at Tower Grove Park, and this year it was cold and windy on Saturday. The forced march through the non running related booths was pretty annoying. “Are you interested in white water rafting?” “Uh, no.” I understand why they do it, but this is a runner’s review.
    There was a line at every port-o-lette throughout the course, so they could add more. The aid stations were frequent and well provisioned for the most part.
    I enjoyed touring my birthplace city in a way I have never done. I spend a lot of time in Forest Park, but jogging though it and some of the nicer neighborhoods is really neat. Unfortunately, it’s St Louis, so there are sketchier areas in Mid-town and approaching downtown, but I felt safe and enjoyed the run.
    I hope you join me at the biggest running event in St Louis. It’s Spring, so you never know what weather you get, but this year the race day weather was phenomenal.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3

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    MarathonerMadeline REPEAT RUNNER '23

    This was my 6th or 7th time running the Go! and I think it was the best yet. The race starts in Forest Park and ends in downtown under the … MORE

    This was my 6th or 7th time running the Go! and I think it was the best yet. The race starts in Forest Park and ends in downtown under the Arch. The course has improved from years past by strategically placing hills at the beginning, except for the very cruel uphill finish. This was one of those finishes where you think you’re about to come across the finish line, but then turn the corner at mile 26.1 only to see a steep uphill finish. Other than that, I actually appreciated the 10 mile out and back along the river because it was very flat and the breeze felt pretty nice.

    However, areas where the race could improve is the expo. It needs to be indoors. They should’ve known the the unpredictability of the weather that it could cause an issue with it being held outside. Moreover, because it was a general outdoor expo, there were very few running-focused booths. Along the race itself, the port potty’s were sparse, although there were probably 50 at the beginning and end. The end of the race few was pretty typical; however, they didn’t give us a bag to carry our goodies, so I wasn’t able to pick up everything they were handing out. Overall, it was an excellent day, and I recommend this race to anyone looking for a Missouri race.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    2
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    Johndoe758964 FIRST-TIMER '23

    So I Initially I wanted to run the marathon, but the second half of it is by the shore of the river and there is nothing there. I ended up … MORE

    So I Initially I wanted to run the marathon, but the second half of it is by the shore of the river and there is nothing there. I ended up singing up for the half instead.

    I love how organized the race was. Everything was very smooth. I went to pick up my bib on Friday in Tower Grove Park, which was later relocated to Forest Park visitor center due to Tornado watch. It went over lunchtime and had to go back to work, so it was a bit annoying to have to walk from on side of the expo to get the bib, to the other side to get the tshirts. Those tshirts are very ugly by the way. It’s a flashy green that was probably designed so that construction workers on the highway don’t get hit when there’s fog. I understand that you need flashy colors to see who are the volunteers/organizers, but I would encourage keeping the colors neutral for participants gear. Unless they’re making the shirts ugly on purpose so that we buy the official race gear.

    I was expecting to receive an email or two maybe a week or two before the race to remind me of the main information and build some excitement around it. All the race information is on their website, and everything is well explained so it wasn’t a big deal.

    I’m a student in St. Louis and don’t have a car so I just biked to Forest Park in the morning and parked in front of the Visitor Center. The gear check went very smoothly and was extremely convenient since all your gear is brought back to the end of the race. It took 20 seconds to find mine at the end of the race.

    The race being in St. Louis, you can’t have big expectations for the scenery and all. This being said I really enjoyed it. I started following the 1h50 pacer and then spent the race trying to catch up with the 1h45 pacer. I didn’t find it hilly. My watch says I climb 500 feet and went down 550 feet. In the last mile it goes downhill a lot by the arch, before a steep short climb right before the end. I liked that last surprise, then you’re exhausted when you arrive and feel like you gave it all. There was some face wind blowing at some point, and I can tell how it can be a whole different race when it does.

    There’s certainly a part of the race say from mile 7-10 where there isn’t much going on and we run through impoverished Midtown neighborhoods. The water station were well positioned, I took some Gatorade twice, a gel and water. I’m always very grateful for all the volunteers who got up early in the cold to help organize the race and distribute water, so I don’t expect that they smile and encourage me profusely on top of that. They don’t get tips.

    Support was sparse but fairly evenly distributed through the race I’d say until mile 10 at the St. Louis City stadium. Very nice support at mile 2 in Clayton, and mile 6-7 especially. Again I’m very grateful for all the people cheering on the side of the road, and usually throw a lot of thank you to them. Kids, cops, students, random people encouraging random strangers like me.

    I haven’t done a lot of races so I can’t compare post-race parties. Like I said I got my gear back quickly. The thing is on a parking lot so it might have been nice to have some sort of seating at the arrival. I ended up eating my Goey butter cake on the concrete. It might have been nice to have some sort of changing rooms for privacy too, or maybe I missed them. I ended up changing on the side of a tent. There give you a great local beer upon arrival (Schlafly).

    I took the Metrolink back from Laclede’s landing to Forest Park. There were some school bus shuttles to bring racers from the arrival back to Forest Park. Again it was very well organized in my opinion.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    1

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    GwenWest FIRST-TIMER '23

    This race was just ok. The expo was something different with the outdoor expo instead of just running stuff. I enjoyed that bc it was different. There were lots of … MORE

    This race was just ok. The expo was something different with the outdoor expo instead of just running stuff. I enjoyed that bc it was different. There were lots of vendors and people were super friendly. Having the race be point to point was kind of a pain. Plenty of parking in forest park but parking downtown after for my family was a pain and then we were stuck with all the roads being closed and it took forever to get out. The course itself was just ok. Lots of cool buildings to look at but the roads were in rough shape with lots of potholes and old bricks which are ankle breakers so I spent most of the time looking down so I wouldn’t fall. Bought myself a sore neck. Quite a lot of hills. Most of them were rolling and not horrible but there were a few big ones. My hill training wasn’t up to par I guess so I ended up walking a bit. The medal was beautiful and I loved St. Louis. Definitely spend some time at the Arch if you have time.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3
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    Schmalls1 REPEAT RUNNER '23

    This should be billed as a half with a marathon option. The first half was beautiful, packed, great energy, awesome landmarks, though HILLY. I did have to wait ten minutes … MORE

    This should be billed as a half with a marathon option. The first half was beautiful, packed, great energy, awesome landmarks, though HILLY. I did have to wait ten minutes to use one of only 3 porta potties at the six but other than that – half was great. But after the split, there were so few runners, I found myself completely alone on the course several times. Almost no crowd support after the half which toward the end really matters. Also the the last 6-7 which are always always tough was just gross. We were running along completely broken pavement with potholes and rocks everywhere, a wall blocking the river on one side and abandoned trains on the other and a good portion of that last stretch smelled like a sewer. And then a straight uphill finish line. I’d run the half again but not the marathon.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    2

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    sld324 FIRST-TIMER '23

    Not a flat course. There were at least 6 long steady inclines. The steep hill at the very end felt like the Go! Organization flipped me the middle finger. All … MORE

    Not a flat course. There were at least 6 long steady inclines. The steep hill at the very end felt like the Go! Organization flipped me the middle finger. All aid stations and medical stations were not well marked. Swag was non-existent. Will not be running or supporting this org again.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    2
    SWAG
    1

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    RosBogan FIRST-TIMER '22

    I spent 24 hours in St. Louis to complete my Missouri Half Marathon, and I am glad I chose this race to do it. The race itself was well run … MORE

    I spent 24 hours in St. Louis to complete my Missouri Half Marathon, and I am glad I chose this race to do it. The race itself was well run and provided a great tour of the city. The weather was great and public transit made it easy to get to the start without renting a car or taking a ride share. I also visited the Gateway Arch museum while in town and found that to be an excellent little museum to give me some history and context for the city.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    manturuk FIRST-TIMER '22

    The race expo is weird - a ton of outdoor stuff aimed at hunting, fishing, hiking, and biking. There were almost no running-related booths. The race shirt is a cotton … MORE

    The race expo is weird – a ton of outdoor stuff aimed at hunting, fishing, hiking, and biking. There were almost no running-related booths. The race shirt is a cotton t-shirt with an ironed-on image (not sublimated) so not anything special. I did like that they gave you a shirt with your specific distance on it.

    The course itself was totally fine. You run point to point, so you run through some pretty neighborhoods. However, you are just running through a city so nothing especially scenic. The finish takes you through a gravel area by some train tracks, but I was told the course changes a bit every year. I didn’t find it hilly, although there were some long gradual inclines. If you run in a flat area, you might call them hills.

    There isn’t a lot to do in downtown St. Louis other than look at the arch and the sculpture garden. I came from out of town and just wandered around afterwards. If I did it again, I’d rent a car and stay in a different area. There also aren’t a lot of restaurants around the finish.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    2

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    bobbybengal79 FIRST-TIMER '22

    This was a deferral from 2020. They actually gave several options in 2021 and 2022 for this and other Go St Louis events to use the deferral. The packet pickup … MORE

    This was a deferral from 2020. They actually gave several options in 2021 and 2022 for this and other Go St Louis events to use the deferral.
    The packet pickup and expo were in downtown St Louis. Once I parked it was a little difficult to find the expo since there was no signs. The expo was not just a running expo but a outdoor expo that included biking, RV, etc. Surprisingly I found this different and interesting. This was a point to point race that started in Forest Park (seemed nice) and ended near the Arch. Plenty of porta potties at the beginning. The half marathoners and marathoners ran together until they reached the 13 mile mark. The marathoners then split off and did a out and back on a trail along the Mississippi river. The first half wasn’t bad and had some decent crowd support at times and some hills. The second half was boring with almost no crowd support. There was enough water stations with good volunteers. The final .2 of the race was basically straight up hill (sucked). The medal was small but had a neat design. I actually liked the soft t-shirt. post race included a caned beer. The food included a roll, some gooey cake, packaged snacks, and bananas. I am not sure if I would go out of my way to run this again (I only live 4 hours away). It was decent but not spectacular. If you are looking for a Missouri Marathon I preferred the Kansas City Marathon.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    2

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    enigma20 FIRST-TIMER '22

    I picked up my race packet the day before the race at the convention center. It was fairly easy to get to and had a parking garage across the street. … MORE

    I picked up my race packet the day before the race at the convention center. It was fairly easy to get to and had a parking garage across the street. The pick up was a little different in that it was part of a larger expo- The Gateway Outdoor Expo. There were vendors for mountain biking, kayaking and various other outdoor activities represented. The bibs were handed out in the front and then the shirts were in the back corner of the expo. It meant you had to go by most of the exhibitors. Otherwise, it was a quick and easy experience. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any extra memorabilia that could be purchased.
    The race started at Forest Park at 7. There were shuttles from the end of the race that would drop runners off at the start, but I was dropped off by my #1 fans, so I don’t know how good the logistics were.
    The weather was perfect for running. It was 40 degrees, sunny and no wind. The day before had been very windy, so this was a great relief. Port a pots were plentiful and the lines seemed to move quickly. I always like to get in line for a little last minute relief.
    The corrals weren’t too crowded and the race started on time. The route didn’t go past all of the monuments or through downtown, but the areas where we did run had good streets and seemed safe. Probably not as scenic as some races, but I didn’t think it was bad.
    The water stops seemed to be spaced out a bit early on and became more plentiful the further along you were. I take a water bottle with me, so I didn’t use any of the water stations. There was someone handing out Gu at one place, but it wasn’t obvious at first.
    I thought the race was supposed to end in the “shadow of the arch,” but it wasn’t all that close to the arch. The last quarter/half mile of the course turned onto a gravel road and was the worst part of the course. Luckily, the rest of the course had nice paved roads that were closed off to traffic, although one person did get loose on the course.
    There was a nice mix of rolling hills and nothing too difficult, but it was definitely not flat. I didn’t expect to have a PR, but thanks to the great weather I managed to shave 3 seconds off my personal best. Not a lot, but I’ll take it.
    The end of the race had the usual bananas and fruit cups, but they also had a gooey butter cake from Gooey Louie. I like to research local dishes from the places I travel and this is the one thing I had planned to try while I was in town and they gave it away at the end. It was very good and I think I added back all of the calories I had just burned off during the race.
    I liked the medal and shirt because it was unique and had the arch and the flag. Race shirt fit well and is comfortable. It’s not wicking, but cotton, so some might not like it because of that, but it is comfortable for lounging around. The end of the race wasn’t great, but overall I liked the race. Of course a PR will always help improve my impression of any race.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
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    Just an OK race. It was my first time to St. Louis. The expo was hard to find and had very disappointing vendors. I love to buy extra shirts and … MORE

    Just an OK race. It was my first time to St. Louis. The expo was hard to find and had very disappointing vendors. I love to buy extra shirts and running stuff but there was nothing to purchase. The race started at a reasonable time and the shuttles to the start were plentiful. The course was hilly and boring. Very little crowd support but plenty of water stations and water (and I’m always near the end). The medal was good but the shirt was tacky. Post race food was pretty good. There was some type of famous gooey cake that everyone was excited about. If you are only doing one Missouri – pick another race. If you want to see St. Louis and the Arch – it’s a good choice.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    1
    SWAG
    2

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    hseitz FIRST-TIMER '22

    Perfect day for running in St. Louis, low 60s, sunny, mild wind. The start line (Forest Park) is about 5 miles west of the finish line (on the north side … MORE

    Perfect day for running in St. Louis, low 60s, sunny, mild wind. The start line (Forest Park) is about 5 miles west of the finish line (on the north side of downtown). There is a pre-race shuttle from downtown to Forest Park, or postrace vice versa. Parking in Forest Park is free, but they have most entrances blocked just before the race starts, so check the marathon website for a map of which park entrances are open.

    The first half of the course takes you through some average-looking neighborhoods and barren city streets west of town, ending near the north side of downtown. If it is a sunny day, BRING SUNGLASSES, y’all. You will be running eastward into the sun for 2 hours straight. Luckily I had mine. The second half of the course is an out-and-back, 6.5 miles north along the Mississippi river banks. I clocked in at about 3:40, but some guy dressed in a Left Shark costume, blaring Katy Perry songs from a speaker, got 3:21. Hats off to him.

    Pretty good crowd support. I was a little disappointed with the course, as it shied away from downtown and missed the landmarks, like WUSTL, the Arch, and the cool downtown streets.

    DIFFICULTY
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    runvirginia FIRST-TIMER '22

    Easy logistics—uber downtown to expo, bbq restaurant, hotel. Easy am shuttle (heated) and heated building to wait for start. Corrals went quicker than rock and roll races (whew) and the … MORE

    Easy logistics—uber downtown to expo, bbq restaurant, hotel. Easy am shuttle (heated) and heated building to wait for start. Corrals went quicker than rock and roll races (whew) and the weather was great.

    I was worried about the wind so I didn’t wear my hat—my regret. We ran into the sun for ten miles. Sigh. The route was straight and long low-grade rolling hills. NBD for me—reminds me of the bike path I train on in nova. Garmin says 740 feet of elevation gain— the only tough one was the last .15 mile!

    The out and back for the second half was not as scenic as the first half but it was flatter and we could settle in for the tough part. Water stops were plentiful, stocked with gu.

    Love a cotton shirt (I think I am in the minority but I really wear them more)—race specific shirt and medal with the arch and state flag featured prominently.

    I enjoyed St. Louis—people were friendly everywhere , lots of green spaces downtown—did I mention the bbq??? So so good.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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    50StateRunner50 FIRST-TIMER '21

    The course was a flat, paved, point to point run along a greenway on the Mississippi. Parts of the greenway were enjoyable, although we did cross through a few industrial … MORE

    The course was a flat, paved, point to point run along a greenway on the Mississippi. Parts of the greenway were enjoyable, although we did cross through a few industrial sites. The last 3 miles were excellent. We ran under the St. Louis Arch twice along the river before finishing downtown.

    DIFFICULTY
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    runningservant FIRST-TIMER '21

    What a beautiful morning, what a beautiful day, I have a beautiful feeling everything's blowing away – literally. You couldn't have asked for a more perfect union to begin the … MORE

    What a beautiful morning, what a beautiful day, I have a beautiful feeling everything’s blowing away – literally. You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect union to begin the race. With a new marathon course, new drop-off location for the half and having had an excellent 5K day before the main events, it was a dead ringer that many PRs and course records would be set. That was until the Great Mighty Mississippi River reminded everyone – and everything – just why it is called the Great and Mighty.

    Had the first 5K been an indication of things to come, I would have set my own personal goal of 5:05:50 for my 50th Birthday Year Celebration Running of Marathons time goal, instead, it was an indictment against thinking that you can do anything but show up prepared as possible to run in whatever conditions possible.

    Miles 3.2 upto 8 would take the wind out of not only me, but even the elite runners on the course who would later go one to tell how their hopes were just to finish after making it just under a third into the marathon. Some like myself, pushed towards the turnaround while witnessing the elite runners being pushed by the wind. At one point, my 6′ 2″ 290 pound body was twice nearly knocked over by the 40 mph plus wind gusts. A fellow runner who past me up heading back to mile 8 laughed in awe that the wind nearly knocked me off of my feet. And as I was heading back to mile 8, the wind gust picked up and knocked over a Port-a-potty. Exhausted, I excited the trail head to climb the bridges back over to Missouri from Illinois. Little did I know that I’d find myself experiencing one of the worst episodes of PTSD that I had experienced in a little while.

    I started up the bridge headed back 3 miles to the start area where we began having difficulty focusing. By the time I had reached the aid station just prior to crossing the Route 66 Bridge, I was an emotional wreck. The lady over the aid station convinced me to rest a moment and proceeded to call for someone to pick me up. However, I was determined to get to the otherwise. I knew if I could just make it to the other side, back to Missouri, that I’d finish with the wind at my back helping me. Besides, I had told myself that I needed to complete no less than 13.1 miles because my heart l great niece Gabby and another runner’s son Aiden didn’t have the choice to give up due to their pain. After gathering myself, I told the lady that I needed to at least get back across the bridge to the start. She arranged for the medics to pick me up at the start.

    As I continued across Route 66, I only grew worse. My anxiety, depression and crying spells were back and in full force. I was angry, hurt, mad, disappointed, felt like a failure and many other emotions were going through my mind and body. Sometime thereafter, a medic biker rode up asking me was I okay. I quickly replied no emphatically. I knew I was far from okay. I was in a vulnerable place. I had been thrown out of a plane workout a parachute. I needed help and probably for the first time during my race wasn’t afraid to let someone know.

    The biker guy stayed with me for the next mile or so. He helped by asking important questions then listening. He let me cry but kept me focused. He encouraged me to get where I could get help and decide realistically whether to continue or not. I shared why I was running, why I wanted to get to the half way point and my hopes of just needing to complete an entire marathon one day in 5:05:50. He then handed me off to another biker, a lady who I recognized from Facebook with Black Girls Run.

    I continued with her expressing why I needed to get to the half mark while she continued to ask if I wanted to stop. She warned me of a steep hill and was concerned if I’d make it. To tell the truth, I was concerned if I’d make it. But I continued to cross the street where the police officer who was driving a medics transport vehicle inquired if I wanted to get in. I told him that I needed to get to the halfway mark, to which he replied that he’d wait for me there. So up the steep hill I went, stopping at some point lessthan halfway up and continuing to get to the timing mat.

    As I approached the sign informing us that the mat was near, I found new energy from the sun shining — just enough energy to run through the timing mat. If only I wasn’t an emotional wreck, I would have pressed on to cross the finish line. But the pain caused from the work I had to wrought from running against and from the Great ighty Mississippi River was way too much for me to bear. I called it quits, knowing that I’d live to run another day.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    My Report
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

    2 members marked this review helpful. Agree?

    Shak38 Nov 23, 2021 at 4:01pm

    Rooting for you in your next adventure

    Rooting for you in your next adventure

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    runningservant Nov 23, 2021 at 6:17pm

    Thank you. I need all the cheering I can get.

    Thank you. I need all the cheering I can get.

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    Joerobe FIRST-TIMER '21

    Overall Rating: Good. No issues, started on time. Course was crazy windy. Course Difficulty: This course was really flat and fast. A few rollers here and there, but overall easy. … MORE

    Overall Rating: Good. No issues, started on time. Course was crazy windy.

    Course Difficulty: This course was really flat and fast. A few rollers here and there, but overall easy. The downside is probably that you are completely exposed to the elements, so anything other than perfect conditions would affect you.

    Course Scenery: The first 2 miles are pretty cool as you are going over old bridges on Rt 66, the next 8ish mile are on a levee (pretty boring), back over the bridges, 10 more pretty boring miles, and then it gets interesting running in front of the arch and some historic riverfront and old town.

    Race Production: Really good. The only issue I had was coming into town as on Sat, and no available packet pickup that afternoon/evening. I was planning to be dropped off at the start, but the race was 100% in on packet pickup at the finish and take the shuttle bus. Ended up having my son pick up the packet earlier in the week (which he had no issues with). Not a big deal, but definitely needs to be planned for.

    Race Swag: Good medal, nice long sleeve shirt, and commemorative mug.

    My Performance: Good, probably would have gotten a PR, just ran out of steam after fighting the wind.

    This was a good race that was pretty close to home. I generally don’t do city races, and didn’t love fighting the post race (Cardinal’s game) traffic when it was over, but I was super thrilled to get back into an actual in person race.

    If you’re looking for a race that is fast and well run in the StL area, this will do.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    2
    SWAG
    3

    3 members marked this review helpful. Agree?

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    AllyM FIRST-TIMER '19

    -Coming into downtown for the finish is an amazing scene. -This race takes you through some of the cooler parts of St. Louis! -The course is well-laid out and has … MORE

    -Coming into downtown for the finish is an amazing scene.
    -This race takes you through some of the cooler parts of St. Louis!
    -The course is well-laid out and has some gentle hills.
    -Make sure you have your pre-race transportation plan in place, as the Forest Park staging/parking area can fill up quickly!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

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  1. Races
  2. Greater St. Louis Marathon (fka GO! St. Louis Marathon)