The Mainly Marathons New England Series Rhode Island course in Blackstone Bikeway and Visitor’s Center is on a scenic, paved bike path with small hills. Tentative Course Laps: 16 laps for Marathon. Due to the unique multi-loop course setup, there is one giant “aid station,” with more food and drink …
MORE
The Mainly Marathons New England Series Rhode Island course in Blackstone Bikeway and Visitor’s Center is on a scenic, paved bike path with small hills. Tentative Course Laps: 16 laps for Marathon.
Due to the unique multi-loop course setup, there is one giant “aid station,” with more food and drink than you could ever need! Ask anyone who’s run at least one of our races; we’ve got everything from fruit to jelly beans to sandwiches, water to Gatorade to hot coffee, and everything in between. Way more than just granola bars and bananas – we even have our very own mobile kitchen, Loony Lunchbox!
Every participant (full or half marathon) will receive one t-shirt and other fun goodies. All finishers will receive a separate medal for each day; in addition, we give a special medal to those who complete all races in a series. We even give a special award to each person participating in his or her first full or half marathon! The best part: The famous caboose, given to the final finisher of each marathon and half marathon!
LESS
Day 2/Still moving
This was a shorter, hillish course, but not bad at all. The oatmeal hit the spot, and they always have coffee. Friendliest group of runners/walkers/ strollers/volunteers I've seen. And I … MORE
This was a shorter, hillish course, but not bad at all. The oatmeal hit the spot, and they always have coffee. Friendliest group of runners/walkers/ strollers/volunteers I’ve seen. And I forgot to mention the daily high quality medal selection!
Pretty course, weird start location.
The best thing about this race and the race series are the people. You see the same people on multiple days, the race organizers are super friendly, and the courses … MORE
The best thing about this race and the race series are the people. You see the same people on multiple days, the race organizers are super friendly, and the courses are not hard. And, of course, it’s great for people who want to run multiple states in consecutive days. There is nothing negative about these races at all. It’s all good. The aid station is well-stocked, the port-a-potties are there for you on every loop, and you get a state medal for each race in the series you complete. The ONLY thing I can think of that would improve this race is to offer some plant-based food options. I am plant-based and so that rules out the tater tots with eggs in a cup, and the pork BBQ sliders on the aid station table. But that’s a small complaint.
This specific course is NOT flat. Another reviewer said it was “pancake flat,” or something like that. It’s not. It’s not really hilly either. It’s like running into the bottom of a bowl in the first half of the “out” leg, and then running up out of the bowl in the second half of the “out” leg. Then turn around and run back down, and back up. For eight laps (for the half marathon distance). It wasn’t steep, but it’s enough to make you slow down and walk a bit if you are an average runner like me who has run two half marathons in the previous two consecutive days. My time for the course the day immediately before this race was 30 minutes faster than on this course. And my race two days before this course was 31 minutes faster. So, day 1 = 1:54. Day 2 = 1:55. Day 3 (this course) = 2:24.
Another reviewer also mentioned that they’d had a hard time finding the start location. Mainly Marathons must have updated their website because the GPS map location there took me to exactly the right place when I was using Google Maps on my Android phone. But it is at the back of a highway rest area, which seemed a bit odd, but it wasn’t odd at all once you get there. It’s at the turnaround point of a state park greenway.
Those looking for beautiful courses with lakes and covered bridges or Kentucky blue grass, or the Rehobeth ocean front won’t be satisfied here. You have to come into this series knowing you’ll be doing loops. And I’m not an enthusiastic loop runner, but I loved this course. You are in trees for the entire course although you can see the Blackstone River off to one side on part of the loop.
If you are an aspiring 50 races in 50 states person, then this is a great series. And they have 5k, 10k, half, full, and ultra. They’ve got it all.
Great race
This race Director thinks of everything. Aid station was packed with everything you could think of to get you through your run. Volunteers were great.easy out and back course. Will … MORE
This race Director thinks of everything. Aid station was packed with everything you could think of to get you through your run. Volunteers were great.easy out and back course. Will definitely run another one again!
Great Out & Back + Great Food
I did the entire 8 day New England series with some friends and this was the ONLY race we got lost trying to find. If you're able to drive out … MORE
I did the entire 8 day New England series with some friends and this was the ONLY race we got lost trying to find. If you’re able to drive out to the race start the night before I would strongly recommend it. These races are all gun start there are no timing chips. We made it in time but it was a bit stressful.
Pack bug spray. These races are in parks and wooded areas. All super pretty. Also be sure to keep an eye on weather as conditions in this area of the US can be all over the place. Super fun race. I will be doing a different series in 2019.
Repeat Hills!
When doing 8 loops you repeat the same hills over and over! The food and drinks kept coming, the pickle juice and the fried rice were my favorites. Once again … MORE
When doing 8 loops you repeat the same hills over and over! The food and drinks kept coming, the pickle juice and the fried rice were my favorites. Once again and excellent run by Mainly Marathons!
Short loop marathon
This was my least favorite of the 3 New England series races that I did in 2016. It was kind of a cloverleaf shaped loop with several hairpin turns. The … MORE
This was my least favorite of the 3 New England series races that I did in 2016. It was kind of a cloverleaf shaped loop with several hairpin turns. The course was completely flat, but the sharp turns made it difficult to maintain speed. I actually did the 50K option that is available for all of their runs as well as the race in Vermont in 2016. Excellent support though from the whole Mainly Marathon crew and nice camaraderie.