| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| H (°F) | 69 | 75 | 71 | 61 | 58 |
| L (°F) | 54 | 50 | 44 | 36 | 44 |
Great expo, great route for the half marathon with awesome volunteers at the aid stations, as well as a lot of community members along the route also handing out water, … MORE
Great expo, great route for the half marathon with awesome volunteers at the aid stations, as well as a lot of community members along the route also handing out water, ice, snacks, etc. A great race!
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The expo was medium sized, easy to maneuver in and out of, but large enough to get any supplies that you may have forgotten, or some new running swag. Parking … MORE
The expo was medium sized, easy to maneuver in and out of, but large enough to get any supplies that you may have forgotten, or some new running swag. Parking for both the expo and race start was relatively easy, street parking (parking is free on Sundays) or nearby parking garages. There were quite a few pot-a-pots at the start, but still seemed to be long lines, get in line early. For the most part I think the course was flat with a few long inclines. The first half of the course took us through some nice neighborhoods where many residents came out to cheer on the runners. The second half was a longer out-and-back with very little shade. Traffic seemed to be flowing the entire time, but they kept us separated and highly police monitored, especially at the crossroads. Major props to the Lincoln Police Dept for taking extra measures to make sure all runners were safe from start to finish. Also, the aide stations and volunteers were wonderful, and well prepared for the high temps. The swag was pretty good, no complaints (shirt, medal and finisher food), was good but nothing to brag about.
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Nice day for a run, but the humidity was off the charts. I was feeling it by mile 3, but the crowds we great, and the other participants were awesome. … MORE
Nice day for a run, but the humidity was off the charts. I was feeling it by mile 3, but the crowds we great, and the other participants were awesome. Wasn’t my best run, but it was just one of those lower energy days too. All in all a good run thru the streets of Lincoln Nebraska and the finish line food was one of the best.
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People were everywhere cheering you on. Great crowd support. Lots of water stations. It got really humid and warm post race. Could have had a better post race refuel box. … MORE
People were everywhere cheering you on. Great crowd support. Lots of water stations. It got really humid and warm post race. Could have had a better post race refuel box. Hard to find photos from race, they have volunteers, so you have to go through hundreds of pictures to find yourself, still never found any of myself even though, I waved at many.
Overall was a good race, definitely like the Good Life Halfsy overall better.
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Lightly rolling course through campus, neighborhoods, a bike trail and downtown. Lots of Army National Guard involvement: runners with rucksacks and flags, marshals, entertainment, handing out medals and more. The … MORE
Lightly rolling course through campus, neighborhoods, a bike trail and downtown. Lots of Army National Guard involvement: runners with rucksacks and flags, marshals, entertainment, handing out medals and more. The neighborhoods had good course support too. The course had well attended fluid stations and medics. There were a few unofficial aid stations too.
The expo had a variety of apparel, shoes and other accessories. There were lots of volunteers at the expo. On Saturday, the local running store was open and offered a discount on most items except electronics. In short, if you forgot something, you would be able to get any last minute essentials.
The post race had water, chocolate milk, Gatorade, some other sugary drink, two different canned Starbucks drinks, banana, tangerine, donut holes, yogurt, trail mix, half bagels, pizza and cookies. The post race area had a shirt exchange tent too. On top of all that the race had free finish line photos too.
The city of Lincoln is laid out like a grid that is easy to navigate with streets named with numbers and letters. We stayed at the Cornhusker Marriott which had a free airport shuttle. It was nice because we didn’t need to rent a car or even need an Uber the entire race weekend.
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This race is very well organized. The app and website is the best I have seen. The pre-race communication is outstanding. The course is relatively flat but has a couple … MORE
This race is very well organized. The app and website is the best I have seen. The pre-race communication is outstanding. The course is relatively flat but has a couple of long gradual uphills. The support was outstanding with many official and unofficial aid stations. It was a warm, sunny day so the extra stations offered by individuals were welcome. The start could use more port a potties. Lines were long and many could not get in before the start. The medal is nice. Wish the shirt was a tech shirt.
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The course is overall quite flat, with only a few hills of note around mile 9 and a few closer to 18-22. It was a very hot (84F with 40% … MORE
The course is overall quite flat, with only a few hills of note around mile 9 and a few closer to 18-22. It was a very hot (84F with 40% humidity and full sun when I finished), humid day, but Lincoln was prepared with tons of aid stations (official and unofficial, I think) that were well stocked with ice, GU, sprinklers, and there were also spectators handing out popsicles, fruit snacks, and ample encouragement. The only bad part of this race was the weather. I think it was very well-organized, and tons of enthusiasm! Would highly recommend!
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Great Race. Lots of runners, lots of fan support on course. Nice views of the University of Nebraska and the surrounding neighborhoods. Average sized expo with plenty of stuff to … MORE
Great Race. Lots of runners, lots of fan support on course. Nice views of the University of Nebraska and the surrounding neighborhoods. Average sized expo with plenty of stuff to pick up if you happened to have forgotten something. Course seemed pretty flat with a good sized hill around mile 10. Only small complaint was the water stops were space out a little far apart. First one wasn’t till around mile 4. be But all the water stops were well stocked. Was able to grab 3-4 drinks every stop and didn’t need to stop running to get it. It was warmer than usual so thinking maybe that’s why there weren’t all that many stops. Other than that, great time and great race
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This marathon exceeded expectations. Course was a well-planned small/mid-sized city urban run. Lots of neighborhoods, a bike path a turnaround (into the wind) at a park, then finishing on the … MORE
This marathon exceeded expectations. Course was a well-planned small/mid-sized city urban run. Lots of neighborhoods, a bike path a turnaround (into the wind) at a park, then finishing on the University of Nebraska’s campus. The second half had few turns after dropping off the half-marathoners at UN’s Memorial Stadium by hitting the bike path. While the path was concrete, just having to go straight was appreciated as I was nursing a bum ankle. Finish area was well spread out making it easy to move around and find the rest of my party.
– Kudos to the Lincoln Track Club for putting together a top-notch event. They put together a good track from start (being able to hang out in a Cornhusker facility out of the elements) to finish. But I really want to know how you managed to wedge a perfect day (sun, cool but not cold, only slight wind) for running between multiple days of wind and rain.
– Nice swag.
– Well organized pasta dinner (pick your time).
– Lincoln also provides lots of dining options in the Haymarket District.
– Parking is also relatively easy to find in the area.
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Atmosphere: This race is a well-oiled machine. From the line up to water stations and past the finish line, the race organizers and volunteers were great. I gave birth less … MORE
Atmosphere: This race is a well-oiled machine. From the line up to water stations and past the finish line, the race organizers and volunteers were great. I gave birth less than a year before this race so I was worried that I would struggle to finish the half. Despite my concerns, there was a lot of spectator support which made pushing through easy. The longest stretch without support was maybe 1.5 miles (miles 6-8 are on a trail along the highway) so I never felt like I was “alone” which made it really easy to continue. There was plenty of music, cheering, water, and food from the spectators.
Course: Because the half marathon runs through neighborhoods, there was plenty of shade. I was told by a friend that the last five miles was uphill. This terrified me. But it really was not bad. The hills never felt like they were more than one block long. So I just took those as a short walking break if I needed to–after all, I did have a baby recently so I knew this wouldn’t be a PR race for me. This year didn’t end on the football field but on the outside of the stadium. Because of this, you could see the finish line from about .20 miles away. I really enjoyed this because it was a reminder of “you’re so close” but it wasn’t like other races where you can see the finish line from so far away that it seems like it will take forever to get there.
Swag and such: There was a nice t-shirt, medal, and lunchbox. Immediately after I finished, racers were shuffled into a line to get water, a foil/space blanket, a lunchbox with food and drinks, and a chocolate milk. This was really nice that I didn’t have to go find the stuff on my own after I finished.
Suggestions: The half marathon is a loop throughout town. It is advertised as drivers/spectators can’t get in or out of the circle throughout the race. The police monitoring traffic were great. I wish the race website would offer a map to guide how family and friends can get through the course to get to the finish line. My husband didn’t realize until we were leaving that he didn’t need to go all the way to Holmes Lake to get through traffic to go to UNL but rather he could have gone down Antelope Valley Parkway because the marathoners actually go on the trail under the road, not across it. Would have saved 30-45 minutes of driving but oh well. You live and learn.
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Very organized starting line and expo. You can stay in the gym right by the start where it’s warm (42 degrees at start to 60s at end)… Wave start is … MORE
Very organized starting line and expo. You can stay in the gym right by the start where it’s warm (42 degrees at start to 60s at end)…
Wave start is firm (rather than a mishmash style of go! St. Louis), so they have separate staggered starts. First half is scenic with lots of spectators a few rolling hills. Second half was gradual uphill with tail wind for six miles (sadly didn’t appreciate tailwind) then the downhill I was looking forward to was more than countered by a strong headwind. Maybe the wind picked up?
It was sunny and there is not much shade on that out and back, but the wind was cooling at least . To go snacks at end did not include banana, which I literally crave at the end, but did include a plastic water bottle and Gatorade. (As opposed to a cup that is harder to carry (st paddy’s marathon)).
Stayed at marriott Cornhusker which DID have bananas on offer and the expo on site.
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* Expertly organized event with great pre-event communication. * Mostly flat, scenic course through the neighborhoods of Lincoln. * Helpful, enthusiastic volunteers. * Lots of cheering spectators, and live bands … MORE
* Expertly organized event with great pre-event communication.
* Mostly flat, scenic course through the neighborhoods of Lincoln.
* Helpful, enthusiastic volunteers.
* Lots of cheering spectators, and live bands along the course.
* Free pastathon dinner the night before the race.
* Hotels near the packet pick-up, start and finish lines.
* Organized wave start.
* Live results and day-after-race finish video and finisher certificate.
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This was a great event. The expo was small but sufficient and had everything I needed. The Lincoln Track Club even offered me a free long sleeve shirt when I … MORE
This was a great event. The expo was small but sufficient and had everything I needed. The Lincoln Track Club even offered me a free long sleeve shirt when I mentioned I was from Florida and it was colder than I was expecting! Then the free spaghetti dinner.
The race itself was fantastic! It was perfect weather. I loved the rolling hills, the many many families and band cheering runners on, with full extra aid stations. What a great welcoming city. The Nebraska Army Guard was everywhere which was really nice. They were working , running, and playing music! The roads were nice and neighborhoods were scenic to run through. The swag at the end included a lunch bag filled with goodies. The best part was the water/Gatorade came with lids and straws. I’ve never experienced this and I didn’t have to stop once. Brilliant.
This is one I would come back to – it was delightful!
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The first half was super great as you ran with the half marathoners, then there was a big drop off and the second half was far less enjoyable. The first … MORE
The first half was super great as you ran with the half marathoners, then there was a big drop off and the second half was far less enjoyable. The first half also had quite a few spectators as it ran through town. There were ample aid stations with lots of Gu and water. I’d probably recommend doing the half over the full if you thrive on more support and runners around you.
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I traveled from eastern Illinois to run this race, my first post-covid race and first marathon in 2.5 years. The race expo was great, held in a hotel a few … MORE
I traveled from eastern Illinois to run this race, my first post-covid race and first marathon in 2.5 years. The race expo was great, held in a hotel a few blocks from the capitol building. Production was fantastic for the most part, except we couldn’t finish in the football stadium this year because the Huskers decided to hold their stupid spring game the day before and they couldn’t clean up the field in time for us. I got to hear all about how “it ain’t the same this year”. We finished on the adjacent track instead. Oh well.
Lincoln may not be the prettiest city, but this course milked what it had to offer, from the downtown to some nice neighborhoods to some quality parks. This is by far the biggest, oldest, and most reputable marathon in Nebraska, so it’s a good choice for you 50 staters looking to run in Nebraska.
Plenty of parking about a half mile away in some parking garages downtown.
The crowd support was amazing here. The city really showed up to cheer us on and plenty of spectators handed out water or beans or oranges as well as the official water tables. As other reviews say, they hand out cups with straws at the water tables here. Makes it easier to drink between steps.
I smoked the first half in about 1:48, but died on the back end (2:28). Mostly because I didn’t train enough, but also because the back half was a lot of black tar roads with little/no shade and it was sunny and low 70s by 10am. It got up to 89 that afternoon and I really struggled here, 25 minutes worse than any other marathon I’ve run (4 others so far). Be prepared for those tar roads, few turns, little shade on the back half if you run this one. I would still recommend this as a good Nebraska race!
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Unfortunately, this year the finish was inside the track stadium and not the football stadium. I would like to have been on the field where Ohio State always dominates the … MORE
Unfortunately, this year the finish was inside the track stadium and not the football stadium. I would like to have been on the field where Ohio State always dominates the cornhuskers. I assume it was due to Covid precautions.
The course started with a bit of an uphill for the 1st couple miles on paved streets. It eventually goes onto a paved pedestrian trail for a while before returning to some residential roads. The last mile is a nice downhill sprint to the finish inside the track stadium.
It was my second day in a row running a half, so I did not have my best time, but the course wasn’t too difficult and allowed me to at least make it respectable. It was humid and windy, so that added a little challenge as well. Luckily, the area with the most direct wind was a nice downhill in the middle miles of the race.
It was the largest race I’ve done since Covid. There were a lot of waves at the start and surprisingly a decent amount of spectators. Lincoln seemed to be the typical college town and larger than I thought. Spectators were not allowed in the finish area and had a special meeting place further away. The medal and shirt were nice and there was a nice gran and go goody bag at the end with some nice snacks.
The only thing I didn’t like about the race was my starting wave. I’m not sure how, but I ended up in wave D. There were a lot of good runners in the competitive wave, but I found myself dodging a lot of runners for the 1st couple of miles and was still passing several people up until the end. I used a lot of time and energy the first couple of miles when it was rather congested. Otherwise, I enjoyed the race.
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First half is really great with specators and lot of energy. 2nd half heat but they give ice and water pretty good. MORE
First half is really great with specators and lot of energy.
2nd half heat but they give ice and water pretty good.
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We rush from Eisenhower Marathon in Kansas to do this race the next day. We were able to find parking and pickup our bibs with lots of time to spare. … MORE
We rush from Eisenhower Marathon in Kansas to do this race the next day. We were able to find parking and pickup our bibs with lots of time to spare. The race start was supposed to be Covid 19 proof however many of the runners weren’t wearing masks. We had staggered wave starts. The first 13 miles of the race is rollers in neighborhoods with a lot of shade. Unfortunately the second half is on a different loop. We were exposed to 88F temperature with little to no shade. There were lots of drink stops fortunately. As I am slow I worried about the 3:15 cutoff for the first have which I easily beat at 2:50 however after reaching mile 18 I had race officials coming to me every mile asking me to speed up. I did and was on course to finish at 6:30 when at mile 22 the police required me to get on the non-existent sidewalk. Of course they removed the markings of the course. So instead of finishing at 6:30 I finished at 6:50 after going a long ways off course. Who’s fault I believe the Police and the city’s. However, it wish the race well they can’t control the weather or the police. Cheers, see you out there.
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There are lots of pre-race porta potties - if you know where to look. They did not do a good job of identifying the location, and the 'holding pen' for … MORE
There are lots of pre-race porta potties – if you know where to look. They did not do a good job of identifying the location, and the ‘holding pen’ for later waves, was nothing like the map implied.
Once the race started, it was very enjoyable. You start on the UN campus and run by some scenic buildings, before heading across town and past the Nebraska state capitol building. You run past Union College, and along a rec trail before returning back through neighborhoods, back through downtown and finishing back at the UN campus.
The race usually finishes inside Memorial Stadium (Nebraska Football), but this year we finished on the track due to construction. The National Guard provides excellent support, and there are also members out rucking the course.
Nice post race snacks and drinks.
Parking meters are free on race Sunday, and there are also plenty of parking garages and lots within reasonable walking distance of the start/finish.
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Overall, this is a very well-organized, solid marathon. There's nothing terribly unique that sets it apart, but it's a good race. Pre-race: Parking was free and readily available beside the … MORE
Overall, this is a very well-organized, solid marathon. There’s nothing terribly unique that sets it apart, but it’s a good race.
Pre-race: Parking was free and readily available beside the finish area. The indoor football field was a nice area to relax prior to the start. Perhaps most importantly, porto-o’s were PLENTIFUL!! Corrals were also well-organized, and the start times were accurate. I appreciated the attention to detail.
Race: The first half is a loop around Lincoln, while the 2nd half is an out-back to a park. It’s all relatively flat with some rolling hills. There’s only one significant hill in mile 19. We did run past the capitol building in the first mile or so of the race. Otherwise, it’s mostly residential and paved bike paths. I’m not a Huskers fan, but finishing on the track was cool.
Spectators/Aid stations: This was by far the best part of the race! The spectators were plentiful and the number of aid stations (especially in the 2nd half) were fantastic…especially on a hot/humid day. Lincoln comes out to support their race!
Swag: Shirts are nice, medal design is cool, and I appreciated the ability to do an shirt exchange at the expo. They also emailed a link to your clip of finish line video, which is a nice touch.
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Hometown race
Great expo, great route for the half marathon with awesome volunteers at the aid stations, as well as a lot of community members along the route also handing out water, … MORE
Great expo, great route for the half marathon with awesome volunteers at the aid stations, as well as a lot of community members along the route also handing out water, ice, snacks, etc. A great race!
A-Okay
The expo was medium sized, easy to maneuver in and out of, but large enough to get any supplies that you may have forgotten, or some new running swag. Parking … MORE
The expo was medium sized, easy to maneuver in and out of, but large enough to get any supplies that you may have forgotten, or some new running swag. Parking for both the expo and race start was relatively easy, street parking (parking is free on Sundays) or nearby parking garages. There were quite a few pot-a-pots at the start, but still seemed to be long lines, get in line early. For the most part I think the course was flat with a few long inclines. The first half of the course took us through some nice neighborhoods where many residents came out to cheer on the runners. The second half was a longer out-and-back with very little shade. Traffic seemed to be flowing the entire time, but they kept us separated and highly police monitored, especially at the crossroads. Major props to the Lincoln Police Dept for taking extra measures to make sure all runners were safe from start to finish. Also, the aide stations and volunteers were wonderful, and well prepared for the high temps. The swag was pretty good, no complaints (shirt, medal and finisher food), was good but nothing to brag about.
Humidity abound!
Nice day for a run, but the humidity was off the charts. I was feeling it by mile 3, but the crowds we great, and the other participants were awesome. … MORE
Nice day for a run, but the humidity was off the charts. I was feeling it by mile 3, but the crowds we great, and the other participants were awesome. Wasn’t my best run, but it was just one of those lower energy days too. All in all a good run thru the streets of Lincoln Nebraska and the finish line food was one of the best.
Great Neighborhood Support
People were everywhere cheering you on. Great crowd support. Lots of water stations. It got really humid and warm post race. Could have had a better post race refuel box. … MORE
People were everywhere cheering you on. Great crowd support. Lots of water stations. It got really humid and warm post race. Could have had a better post race refuel box. Hard to find photos from race, they have volunteers, so you have to go through hundreds of pictures to find yourself, still never found any of myself even though, I waved at many.
Overall was a good race, definitely like the Good Life Halfsy overall better.
Well organized race
Lightly rolling course through campus, neighborhoods, a bike trail and downtown. Lots of Army National Guard involvement: runners with rucksacks and flags, marshals, entertainment, handing out medals and more. The … MORE
Lightly rolling course through campus, neighborhoods, a bike trail and downtown. Lots of Army National Guard involvement: runners with rucksacks and flags, marshals, entertainment, handing out medals and more. The neighborhoods had good course support too. The course had well attended fluid stations and medics. There were a few unofficial aid stations too.
The expo had a variety of apparel, shoes and other accessories. There were lots of volunteers at the expo. On Saturday, the local running store was open and offered a discount on most items except electronics. In short, if you forgot something, you would be able to get any last minute essentials.
The post race had water, chocolate milk, Gatorade, some other sugary drink, two different canned Starbucks drinks, banana, tangerine, donut holes, yogurt, trail mix, half bagels, pizza and cookies. The post race area had a shirt exchange tent too. On top of all that the race had free finish line photos too.
The city of Lincoln is laid out like a grid that is easy to navigate with streets named with numbers and letters. We stayed at the Cornhusker Marriott which had a free airport shuttle. It was nice because we didn’t need to rent a car or even need an Uber the entire race weekend.
Friendly folks
This race is very well organized. The app and website is the best I have seen. The pre-race communication is outstanding. The course is relatively flat but has a couple … MORE
This race is very well organized. The app and website is the best I have seen. The pre-race communication is outstanding. The course is relatively flat but has a couple of long gradual uphills. The support was outstanding with many official and unofficial aid stations. It was a warm, sunny day so the extra stations offered by individuals were welcome. The start could use more port a potties. Lines were long and many could not get in before the start. The medal is nice. Wish the shirt was a tech shirt.
Lincoln is Prepared!
The course is overall quite flat, with only a few hills of note around mile 9 and a few closer to 18-22. It was a very hot (84F with 40% … MORE
The course is overall quite flat, with only a few hills of note around mile 9 and a few closer to 18-22. It was a very hot (84F with 40% humidity and full sun when I finished), humid day, but Lincoln was prepared with tons of aid stations (official and unofficial, I think) that were well stocked with ice, GU, sprinklers, and there were also spectators handing out popsicles, fruit snacks, and ample encouragement. The only bad part of this race was the weather. I think it was very well-organized, and tons of enthusiasm! Would highly recommend!
Must do for Nebraska
Great Race. Lots of runners, lots of fan support on course. Nice views of the University of Nebraska and the surrounding neighborhoods. Average sized expo with plenty of stuff to … MORE
Great Race. Lots of runners, lots of fan support on course. Nice views of the University of Nebraska and the surrounding neighborhoods. Average sized expo with plenty of stuff to pick up if you happened to have forgotten something. Course seemed pretty flat with a good sized hill around mile 10. Only small complaint was the water stops were space out a little far apart. First one wasn’t till around mile 4. be But all the water stops were well stocked. Was able to grab 3-4 drinks every stop and didn’t need to stop running to get it. It was warmer than usual so thinking maybe that’s why there weren’t all that many stops. Other than that, great time and great race
The skies parted and we ran
This marathon exceeded expectations. Course was a well-planned small/mid-sized city urban run. Lots of neighborhoods, a bike path a turnaround (into the wind) at a park, then finishing on the … MORE
This marathon exceeded expectations. Course was a well-planned small/mid-sized city urban run. Lots of neighborhoods, a bike path a turnaround (into the wind) at a park, then finishing on the University of Nebraska’s campus. The second half had few turns after dropping off the half-marathoners at UN’s Memorial Stadium by hitting the bike path. While the path was concrete, just having to go straight was appreciated as I was nursing a bum ankle. Finish area was well spread out making it easy to move around and find the rest of my party.
– Kudos to the Lincoln Track Club for putting together a top-notch event. They put together a good track from start (being able to hang out in a Cornhusker facility out of the elements) to finish. But I really want to know how you managed to wedge a perfect day (sun, cool but not cold, only slight wind) for running between multiple days of wind and rain.
– Nice swag.
– Well organized pasta dinner (pick your time).
– Lincoln also provides lots of dining options in the Haymarket District.
– Parking is also relatively easy to find in the area.
Great support and easy course
Atmosphere: This race is a well-oiled machine. From the line up to water stations and past the finish line, the race organizers and volunteers were great. I gave birth less … MORE
Atmosphere: This race is a well-oiled machine. From the line up to water stations and past the finish line, the race organizers and volunteers were great. I gave birth less than a year before this race so I was worried that I would struggle to finish the half. Despite my concerns, there was a lot of spectator support which made pushing through easy. The longest stretch without support was maybe 1.5 miles (miles 6-8 are on a trail along the highway) so I never felt like I was “alone” which made it really easy to continue. There was plenty of music, cheering, water, and food from the spectators.
Course: Because the half marathon runs through neighborhoods, there was plenty of shade. I was told by a friend that the last five miles was uphill. This terrified me. But it really was not bad. The hills never felt like they were more than one block long. So I just took those as a short walking break if I needed to–after all, I did have a baby recently so I knew this wouldn’t be a PR race for me. This year didn’t end on the football field but on the outside of the stadium. Because of this, you could see the finish line from about .20 miles away. I really enjoyed this because it was a reminder of “you’re so close” but it wasn’t like other races where you can see the finish line from so far away that it seems like it will take forever to get there.
Swag and such: There was a nice t-shirt, medal, and lunchbox. Immediately after I finished, racers were shuffled into a line to get water, a foil/space blanket, a lunchbox with food and drinks, and a chocolate milk. This was really nice that I didn’t have to go find the stuff on my own after I finished.
Suggestions: The half marathon is a loop throughout town. It is advertised as drivers/spectators can’t get in or out of the circle throughout the race. The police monitoring traffic were great. I wish the race website would offer a map to guide how family and friends can get through the course to get to the finish line. My husband didn’t realize until we were leaving that he didn’t need to go all the way to Holmes Lake to get through traffic to go to UNL but rather he could have gone down Antelope Valley Parkway because the marathoners actually go on the trail under the road, not across it. Would have saved 30-45 minutes of driving but oh well. You live and learn.
Second half is tough
Very organized starting line and expo. You can stay in the gym right by the start where it’s warm (42 degrees at start to 60s at end)… Wave start is … MORE
Very organized starting line and expo. You can stay in the gym right by the start where it’s warm (42 degrees at start to 60s at end)…
Wave start is firm (rather than a mishmash style of go! St. Louis), so they have separate staggered starts. First half is scenic with lots of spectators a few rolling hills. Second half was gradual uphill with tail wind for six miles (sadly didn’t appreciate tailwind) then the downhill I was looking forward to was more than countered by a strong headwind. Maybe the wind picked up?
It was sunny and there is not much shade on that out and back, but the wind was cooling at least . To go snacks at end did not include banana, which I literally crave at the end, but did include a plastic water bottle and Gatorade. (As opposed to a cup that is harder to carry (st paddy’s marathon)).
Stayed at marriott Cornhusker which DID have bananas on offer and the expo on site.
What A Half Marathon Should Be
* Expertly organized event with great pre-event communication. * Mostly flat, scenic course through the neighborhoods of Lincoln. * Helpful, enthusiastic volunteers. * Lots of cheering spectators, and live bands … MORE
* Expertly organized event with great pre-event communication.
* Mostly flat, scenic course through the neighborhoods of Lincoln.
* Helpful, enthusiastic volunteers.
* Lots of cheering spectators, and live bands along the course.
* Free pastathon dinner the night before the race.
* Hotels near the packet pick-up, start and finish lines.
* Organized wave start.
* Live results and day-after-race finish video and finisher certificate.
Quintessential Midwestern Half Marathon
This was a great event. The expo was small but sufficient and had everything I needed. The Lincoln Track Club even offered me a free long sleeve shirt when I … MORE
This was a great event. The expo was small but sufficient and had everything I needed. The Lincoln Track Club even offered me a free long sleeve shirt when I mentioned I was from Florida and it was colder than I was expecting! Then the free spaghetti dinner.
The race itself was fantastic! It was perfect weather. I loved the rolling hills, the many many families and band cheering runners on, with full extra aid stations. What a great welcoming city. The Nebraska Army Guard was everywhere which was really nice. They were working , running, and playing music! The roads were nice and neighborhoods were scenic to run through. The swag at the end included a lunch bag filled with goodies. The best part was the water/Gatorade came with lids and straws. I’ve never experienced this and I didn’t have to stop once. Brilliant.
This is one I would come back to – it was delightful!
Had me in the first half
The first half was super great as you ran with the half marathoners, then there was a big drop off and the second half was far less enjoyable. The first … MORE
The first half was super great as you ran with the half marathoners, then there was a big drop off and the second half was far less enjoyable. The first half also had quite a few spectators as it ran through town. There were ample aid stations with lots of Gu and water. I’d probably recommend doing the half over the full if you thrive on more support and runners around you.
Legs went numb in these Lincoln Parks
I traveled from eastern Illinois to run this race, my first post-covid race and first marathon in 2.5 years. The race expo was great, held in a hotel a few … MORE
I traveled from eastern Illinois to run this race, my first post-covid race and first marathon in 2.5 years. The race expo was great, held in a hotel a few blocks from the capitol building. Production was fantastic for the most part, except we couldn’t finish in the football stadium this year because the Huskers decided to hold their stupid spring game the day before and they couldn’t clean up the field in time for us. I got to hear all about how “it ain’t the same this year”. We finished on the adjacent track instead. Oh well.
Lincoln may not be the prettiest city, but this course milked what it had to offer, from the downtown to some nice neighborhoods to some quality parks. This is by far the biggest, oldest, and most reputable marathon in Nebraska, so it’s a good choice for you 50 staters looking to run in Nebraska.
Plenty of parking about a half mile away in some parking garages downtown.
The crowd support was amazing here. The city really showed up to cheer us on and plenty of spectators handed out water or beans or oranges as well as the official water tables. As other reviews say, they hand out cups with straws at the water tables here. Makes it easier to drink between steps.
I smoked the first half in about 1:48, but died on the back end (2:28). Mostly because I didn’t train enough, but also because the back half was a lot of black tar roads with little/no shade and it was sunny and low 70s by 10am. It got up to 89 that afternoon and I really struggled here, 25 minutes worse than any other marathon I’ve run (4 others so far). Be prepared for those tar roads, few turns, little shade on the back half if you run this one. I would still recommend this as a good Nebraska race!
Stroll through cornhusker country
Unfortunately, this year the finish was inside the track stadium and not the football stadium. I would like to have been on the field where Ohio State always dominates the … MORE
Unfortunately, this year the finish was inside the track stadium and not the football stadium. I would like to have been on the field where Ohio State always dominates the cornhuskers. I assume it was due to Covid precautions.
The course started with a bit of an uphill for the 1st couple miles on paved streets. It eventually goes onto a paved pedestrian trail for a while before returning to some residential roads. The last mile is a nice downhill sprint to the finish inside the track stadium.
It was my second day in a row running a half, so I did not have my best time, but the course wasn’t too difficult and allowed me to at least make it respectable. It was humid and windy, so that added a little challenge as well. Luckily, the area with the most direct wind was a nice downhill in the middle miles of the race.
It was the largest race I’ve done since Covid. There were a lot of waves at the start and surprisingly a decent amount of spectators. Lincoln seemed to be the typical college town and larger than I thought. Spectators were not allowed in the finish area and had a special meeting place further away. The medal and shirt were nice and there was a nice gran and go goody bag at the end with some nice snacks.
The only thing I didn’t like about the race was my starting wave. I’m not sure how, but I ended up in wave D. There were a lot of good runners in the competitive wave, but I found myself dodging a lot of runners for the 1st couple of miles and was still passing several people up until the end. I used a lot of time and energy the first couple of miles when it was rather congested. Otherwise, I enjoyed the race.
Back to back Marathon from Eisenhower
First half is really great with specators and lot of energy. 2nd half heat but they give ice and water pretty good. MORE
First half is really great with specators and lot of energy.
2nd half heat but they give ice and water pretty good.
I like the race but not the outcomes
We rush from Eisenhower Marathon in Kansas to do this race the next day. We were able to find parking and pickup our bibs with lots of time to spare. … MORE
We rush from Eisenhower Marathon in Kansas to do this race the next day. We were able to find parking and pickup our bibs with lots of time to spare. The race start was supposed to be Covid 19 proof however many of the runners weren’t wearing masks. We had staggered wave starts. The first 13 miles of the race is rollers in neighborhoods with a lot of shade. Unfortunately the second half is on a different loop. We were exposed to 88F temperature with little to no shade. There were lots of drink stops fortunately. As I am slow I worried about the 3:15 cutoff for the first have which I easily beat at 2:50 however after reaching mile 18 I had race officials coming to me every mile asking me to speed up. I did and was on course to finish at 6:30 when at mile 22 the police required me to get on the non-existent sidewalk. Of course they removed the markings of the course. So instead of finishing at 6:30 I finished at 6:50 after going a long ways off course. Who’s fault I believe the Police and the city’s. However, it wish the race well they can’t control the weather or the police. Cheers, see you out there.
Relatively flat race with good support
There are lots of pre-race porta potties - if you know where to look. They did not do a good job of identifying the location, and the 'holding pen' for … MORE
There are lots of pre-race porta potties – if you know where to look. They did not do a good job of identifying the location, and the ‘holding pen’ for later waves, was nothing like the map implied.
Once the race started, it was very enjoyable. You start on the UN campus and run by some scenic buildings, before heading across town and past the Nebraska state capitol building. You run past Union College, and along a rec trail before returning back through neighborhoods, back through downtown and finishing back at the UN campus.
The race usually finishes inside Memorial Stadium (Nebraska Football), but this year we finished on the track due to construction. The National Guard provides excellent support, and there are also members out rucking the course.
Nice post race snacks and drinks.
Parking meters are free on race Sunday, and there are also plenty of parking garages and lots within reasonable walking distance of the start/finish.
Well organized, good spectator support
Overall, this is a very well-organized, solid marathon. There's nothing terribly unique that sets it apart, but it's a good race. Pre-race: Parking was free and readily available beside the … MORE
Overall, this is a very well-organized, solid marathon. There’s nothing terribly unique that sets it apart, but it’s a good race.
Pre-race: Parking was free and readily available beside the finish area. The indoor football field was a nice area to relax prior to the start. Perhaps most importantly, porto-o’s were PLENTIFUL!! Corrals were also well-organized, and the start times were accurate. I appreciated the attention to detail.
Race: The first half is a loop around Lincoln, while the 2nd half is an out-back to a park. It’s all relatively flat with some rolling hills. There’s only one significant hill in mile 19. We did run past the capitol building in the first mile or so of the race. Otherwise, it’s mostly residential and paved bike paths. I’m not a Huskers fan, but finishing on the track was cool.
Spectators/Aid stations: This was by far the best part of the race! The spectators were plentiful and the number of aid stations (especially in the 2nd half) were fantastic…especially on a hot/humid day. Lincoln comes out to support their race!
Swag: Shirts are nice, medal design is cool, and I appreciated the ability to do an shirt exchange at the expo. They also emailed a link to your clip of finish line video, which is a nice touch.