I signed up for this one late in registration, in an attempt to get all the states completed so I could run my 50th state in Hawaii. Due to this, … MORE
I signed up for this one late in registration, in an attempt to get all the states completed so I could run my 50th state in Hawaii. Due to this, I was not one of the lucky ones that was gifted the nice Columbia Jacket that was included in early registration. To me no big deal, but some were bummed about that, as they missed out too, yet they were selling them at the race so had plenty. Sign up early if you want the perks. It was my 9th consecutive marathon weekend in 9 different states traveling from the west. It was my first one of those to not break the 4 hour mark, but I attribute that to lack of sleep and not the course itself, as I was working graveyards and was just extremely tired. The course itself is flat, but I’m not a big fan of loops as there is monotony in seeing the same thing, and is just not my cup of tea to run loops. There was ample aid stations and plenty of food at the finish. The coolest part was definitely the epic finish line where they give you a ball upon entering the stadium and you run to the finish line with the football. Also loved the last part before the stadium finish, running through the University grounds, where you are given a rose to place on the memorial fountain in honor of the football team who lost their lives in a plane crash. I thought that was a very touching tribute and loved they included runners, just a beautiful tradition. Overall great organization, plenty of parking for runners before the race, smooth process in obtaining bib, but just not a big fan of the looped course.
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Stadium Finish/Touching Tradition
I signed up for this one late in registration, in an attempt to get all the states completed so I could run my 50th state in Hawaii. Due to this, … MORE
I signed up for this one late in registration, in an attempt to get all the states completed so I could run my 50th state in Hawaii. Due to this, I was not one of the lucky ones that was gifted the nice Columbia Jacket that was included in early registration. To me no big deal, but some were bummed about that, as they missed out too, yet they were selling them at the race so had plenty. Sign up early if you want the perks. It was my 9th consecutive marathon weekend in 9 different states traveling from the west. It was my first one of those to not break the 4 hour mark, but I attribute that to lack of sleep and not the course itself, as I was working graveyards and was just extremely tired. The course itself is flat, but I’m not a big fan of loops as there is monotony in seeing the same thing, and is just not my cup of tea to run loops. There was ample aid stations and plenty of food at the finish. The coolest part was definitely the epic finish line where they give you a ball upon entering the stadium and you run to the finish line with the football. Also loved the last part before the stadium finish, running through the University grounds, where you are given a rose to place on the memorial fountain in honor of the football team who lost their lives in a plane crash. I thought that was a very touching tribute and loved they included runners, just a beautiful tradition. Overall great organization, plenty of parking for runners before the race, smooth process in obtaining bib, but just not a big fan of the looped course.
Flat course loved football finish
This is a fairly flat course. I would say the scenery was mediocre. However, running in with the football across the finish line, was the absolute best about the race. MORE
This is a fairly flat course. I would say the scenery was mediocre. However, running in with the football across the finish line, was the absolute best about the race.
Would do again
Fun race if you like smaller races. Expo wasn't far from the stadium and easy in and out. Its just basically a packet pick so bring everything you need. There … MORE
Fun race if you like smaller races. Expo wasn’t far from the stadium and easy in and out. Its just basically a packet pick so bring everything you need. There is a Dicks Sporting Goods about 10 mins away if you forgot something though. Course was average. its a small town in WV, not sure what others are expecting. Was as flat as it can be for WV, 2 small hills was it. You get to finish on the field and they toss you a football to cross the finish line with. Race photos were a pain to find and I still haven’t found mine but stuff like that doesn’t matter to me. The weather was unusually warm. I’m not really a warm weather runner so I did awful. Only thing I didn’t like was at the finish it was hard to find the water. Would recommend if you need West Virgina and I would do it again for sure.
Best Race in WV.. scenic and flat
Enjoyed the Course and finish. expo is very minimal and swag is good with Columbia jacket Liked the 2 loop course where we know where we are running in second … MORE
Enjoyed the Course and finish.
expo is very minimal and swag is good with Columbia jacket
Liked the 2 loop course where we know where we are running in second half.
Mostly straight than taking more curves.
considerable support
Finish is amazing in the stadium.
fast course
LOVE MUM!
For my first marathon, this was a GREAT experience! I had no idea what to expect. I went into it with two goals: to run it in under four hours … MORE
For my first marathon, this was a GREAT experience! I had no idea what to expect. I went into it with two goals: to run it in under four hours & to never, ever walk/stop! I accomplished both! The pace team was great. There were lots of people around cheering, although there were a few stretches with no one around. The post-race rollout/ stretching was UNREAL! So thankful for that as I had a two and a half hour drive back home afterwards. The merch was amazing and the organizers did a fantastic job. Lastly, all of the food/ beverages after were so well thought-out. I took advantage of all of it! Hopefully I will be back next year! Love MUM & would recommend to anyone!
Just OK, flat - yet boring and kinda sad
I flew into the Huntington airport - a car is a must. Packet pick-up was far away from everything and hard to find. No expo except for some clearance stuff … MORE
I flew into the Huntington airport – a car is a must. Packet pick-up was far away from everything and hard to find. No expo except for some clearance stuff from a running store. Swag was terrible! – a cheap t-shirt and toboggan – with the option to purchase a fleece pullover and long sleeve t-shirt the morning of the race (who has money with them then?). Start was uneventful. The course was nice and flat – but boring. There was a short run through a park by the river and another park that was full of leaves (was afraid I’d slip because they were wet) otherwise they picked the ugliest parts of town to run through. The saving grace of the race was of course the finish into the Marshall University stadium. We were given a football to run through the finish line with. Photographers were in two places but there was no info on how to get pictures. There were plenty of water stations and that was the only crowd support. Couldn’t find the food afterwards. I was thinking I could eat at the Huntington airport – but they only had vending machines. The medal was very nice. Overall, I was disappointed.
Smog jog
This is the largest marathon in West Virginia, with 165 finishers this year. Packet pickup was in a local Baptist church just east of Marshall University. The expo was very … MORE
This is the largest marathon in West Virginia, with 165 finishers this year. Packet pickup was in a local Baptist church just east of Marshall University. The expo was very small, but all shoes were half off (and I loved that the stereo was playing “Come Out and Play” in a church).
Race starts and finishes next to the football stadium, at 7 am. This year, it fell on the same morning daylight savings time ended. If this happens to you, keep the time change in mind so you aren’t an hour early. Plenty of free parking next to the stadium, but the gates close at 6:30.
The race started with a cannon boom (which terrified many runners). It was a double loop around Huntington, and despite it being the “Marshall University Marathon”, we only ran the last mile on each loop on the campus. It was definitely the best part. The rest of the course was on drab, old roads, many of them going past industrial buildings. This may be my first race where we didn’t run through neighborhoods. On the south end of each loop, we ran next to a park, but this was even worse because there was SO MUCH SMOG there in the morning. Remember, this is coal country. The AQI was 107–“unhealthy for sensitive groups”.
Not a great course, and the fan support was spotty outside of downtown, but I forgive them because Huntington is a small town (45,000). An aid station at mile 14 ran out of cups and had nothing to give us, but I forgive them because they acquired more cups by the time I came back 10 miles later. Most aid stations were pretty good, but bring your own gels. They don’t hand them out.
The best part was the finish: you run inside the football stadium and they hand you a football. You run to the opposite 20 yard line, then back into the Marshall endzone. That was fun! And the free postrace food was great: fresh burgers and chocolate milk and smoothie samples and beer.
Fantastic fun and great race traditions
The traditions make this marathon special. The course was beautiful, and the light fog from the river added a nice charm to the race. The post race massage before hitting … MORE
The traditions make this marathon special. The course was beautiful, and the light fog from the river added a nice charm to the race. The post race massage before hitting the road was a great touch. Medal was very nice. I would strongly recommend this race!!
Small Town Half and Full Marathon in WV
If you are a 50 stater looking for a fast time in cooler weather, this is your best option for WV. The half is 1 loop of a 2 loop … MORE
If you are a 50 stater looking for a fast time in cooler weather, this is your best option for WV. The half is 1 loop of a 2 loop Marathon course, mostly flat. There were a few small tricky sections of rough, uneven road, a couple of short uphill grades and a death drop ramp into the stadium before running up and down the football field to the finish. The long straight stretches were not particularly scenic, but good for momentum. The Ritter Park section had fallen leaves on the gravel path so footing was a bit slippy. There were some mile markers on the course and I noticed a timing mat/display at 10K (10K split provided).
Coming back after a 2020 cancellation, race organization seemed a bit last minute, but they pulled it off. Most pre race communication was through Facebook. On the course, there were good competent volunteers and police doing traffic control. A results snafu was addressed within 48 hours (initially, gun, but not chip times were posted). This could have affected award placement for AGs and was a potential issue for full marathoners going after a BQ. I was able to start fairly close to the actual starting line. My gun time was 1:35:52 and my chip time was 1:35:48, a small difference. Runners further back on the starting line had as much as a minute or more discrepancy, which could make or break getting into Boston if you are doing the full marathon.
Age group top finisher awards were beautiful Blenko Glass pieces that one could choose off a table right after the race. The finisher medals featured the Marshall University buffalo. Swag bag for half included a lunch bag, cotton t shirt, local coupons, pen, chapstick, etc.
I saw no healthy food options post race. There was a grill with hot dogs, etc and beer.
Pandemic precautions were minimal to non existent. No mask, test or vax requirements for participants, but most aid station (water, Gatorade, but no gels) volunteers were masked and gloved. I saw only one volunteer masked at the indoor packet pick up. I live here, am 63 and made sure I was tripled vaxxed in time for the race and wore a buff at the start and when in a crowd.
Approx 1000 participants combined in the half and the full. A fair number of enthusiastic spectators out on the course on a cold morning were very much appreciated.
2nd Time Running This Race, PR'd!
This was my second time running the MUM and the 3rd marathon I've done in my life (4 if you count the ultra). The morning was frigid, probably colder than … MORE
This was my second time running the MUM and the 3rd marathon I’ve done in my life (4 if you count the ultra). The morning was frigid, probably colder than 2019, but not so bad once I got moving. It was actually an advantage after a few miles, much better than humidity. All of the volunteers/organizers were on point and encouraging. They were good the first time I ran this race and absolutely wonderful this time. I can’t say enough good things about the people at the aid stations and check points. Last year the race was canceled, so I think everyone was just extra happy to be there. I know I was.
My goal was 3hrs 30 mins and I managed 3hrs 25 mins. 2 days later, I’m still giddy about it (and sore). The course was flat but not “pancake” flat. There are at least two very small hills. I did notice them, but overall this is a speedy, flat course. I maintained about a 7:45 min pace until mile 24 and then started slowing when back of my left knee cramped a couple times. I never quite hit the wall until the last half mile, so overall I am very pleased with how it turned out.
The scenery is pretty urban and industrial for the most part, although there are a few scenic park areas by the river. I thought the university buildings, bricked roads, and statues were interesting, but not everyone will be as easily amused as me. Along the way, you are given a white rose to place on the memorial fountain in honor of the football team who lost their lives in a plane crash. The finish line is at end of the football field inside the stadium. They hand you a football to carry the last few hundred feet. It’s pretty cool. Oh, and watch out for the ramp leading down into the stadium. After 26 miles, it’s a little rough. It’s the only part of the race I walked.
I was pretty happy with the swag: a hoody, cooler bag, t-shirt, body glide, handbag, etc. This race is great if you’re looking for a PR. It is about as flat as you’re gonna get in West Virginia. The weather is a cold shock at first, but you warm up quickly and pretty soon the cool air becomes an advantage. I do recommend this race, especially if you’re trying to go fast.
Again, the volunteers were EXCELLENT and supportive. Their cheering and encouragement really helped. This is one I hope to do every year.
my overall race expeirence
The finish line finish on the football field was awsome, super cool medal and the course scenery was stunningly beautifiul. great community and on course support MORE
The finish line finish on the football field was awsome, super cool medal and the course scenery was stunningly beautifiul. great community and on course support
Kinda Boring Full Marathon Route
The full marathon did mostly two loops, which I found sort of boring. It was flat, but a bit industrial with little to no spectators for long stretches. The race … MORE
The full marathon did mostly two loops, which I found sort of boring. It was flat, but a bit industrial with little to no spectators for long stretches. The race organization was good, but I was a little disappointed in the sweatshirt. I was looking forward to nice Brooks jackets and the sweatshirt we got was a no-name cheaper fleece material. Would do the half again. Maybe.
Flat and Fast
This was my first marathon, and it was awesome. This was during the months before the pandemic, and there were a lot of participants. I couldn't make it to the … MORE
This was my first marathon, and it was awesome. This was during the months before the pandemic, and there were a lot of participants. I couldn’t make it to the expo, but picking up my packet and swag the morning of the race went well. The pullover I was given was great quality and I wear it often. The course was rather flat and speedy with plenty of water stops. The finish line offered all the food and drink you could want. Overall an awesome race that I will do again.
Great race!
Definitely recommend this race especially to the 50 staters. The two loop course isn't bad and incorporating the university is a nice touch. MORE
Definitely recommend this race especially to the 50 staters. The two loop course isn’t bad and incorporating the university is a nice touch.
Urban Appalachia saves the best for last
BOTTOM LINE: For a solid, few-frills race through the heart of urban Appalachia, MUM’s the word. Held annually on the same Sunday as the nation’s largest marathon in New York … MORE
BOTTOM LINE: For a solid, few-frills race through the heart of urban Appalachia, MUM’s the word. Held annually on the same Sunday as the nation’s largest marathon in New York City, MUM is itself the largest marathon in West Virginia and a worthy late-season addition if you’re looking to conquer the Mountain State on your 50 States quest. As the name suggests, the centerpiece of race weekend is Marshall University, with the hands-down highlights of race day being 1) the opportunity in mile 26 to leave a white flower on Memorial Fountain to honor the 75 lives lost in the 1970 plane crash tragedy, and 2) the finish on the football field at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Aside from those two moments, MUM struggles to convey a distinctive personality or rise above the level of “good enough.” Located at the nexus of West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, Huntington isn’t exactly a tourist mecca, and what there is to see (aside from the Marshall campus) tends to be spread out across the city: a park here, a statue there, a small town square with shops and restaurants a stone’s throw from the Ohio River. And nary a grocery store to be found, though luckily I was able to score a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (my pre-race breakfast) at the local Speedway convenience store. All this civic distancing was particularly inconvenient for me since I’d registered too late to score a room at one of the two conveniently located hotels near campus (my bad), and so I ended up staying atop a hill nearly four miles away at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.
With that in mind, if you do decide to run MUM I’d suggest you a) book accommodations early (though even the closest hotels are more than a mile from the race start/finish) and b) rent a car, because Lyft/Uber rides can be sporadic and tough to come by. (This is especially pronounced if you’re coming from a larger city like Los Angeles, where you’ve been spoiled by a surfeit of rides and short wait times.) In fact, in Huntington the same Lyft driver picked me up four times in a row and drove in from the next county to do so. So I spent a goodly amount of my 40+ hours in Huntington waiting for Lyft rides, though I knew when I saw my dedicated driver’s license plate (LYFT1) for the first time that I was in good hands. Thanks, Dan!
The TL;DR is that I did enjoy my MUM weekend — the course is largely flat (ironic since this is the Mountain State) and diverse enough to justify two loops. What’s more, the sunny weather but cooler temperatures were exactly what you wish for in a November marathon. The race organizers do rely heavily on the appeal of Marshall University to attract runners (it worked on me!), though there’s also enough to see around Huntington for curious minds (on active legs) to fill a Saturday. All that said, unless you’re averse to running in the heat, I’d recommend the excellent Hatfield McCoy Marathon in June (which starts in Kentucky and finishes in West Virginia) as a more memorable choice for the Mountain State. And I’m not alone in that opinion, since MUM finished as runner-up to Hatfield McCoy for both the best marathon and best half marathon in the state in the RaceRaves Runners Choice polls.
PRODUCTION: Race production on the whole went smoothly enough, though at the same time the weekend lacked a certain je ne sais quoi, that genuine sense of spirit and enthusiasm that distinguishes similarly sized races like Missoula, Jackson Hole and Clarence DeMar. As mentioned above, the organizers clearly count on the overarching presence of Marshall University to carry the day, from the Marshall-themed decorations at the pre-race expo to the finish on the field at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. (Disclaimer: While I’m a notorious sucker for college campuses and will always err on the side of the color green, the Marshall football team happened to be playing my alma mater Rice University in Houston on the Saturday of race weekend. That said, Rice so rarely wins that another predictable defeat didn’t color my feelings toward MUM.)
With the exception of Kiwanis Park, friendly volunteers were stationed at strategic points along the course, presumably to keep an eye on and direct the runners. I owe a particular debt of gratitude to the volunteers at the mile 2/14 aid station, who kindly allowed me to stash my bottle of Maurten at their table before the race, which I then claimed on the second loop. Oh, and kudos to the PA announcer whose welcoming voice on the field at Joan C. Edwards Stadium greeted runners as they crossed the end zone/finish line, many of them with football in hand. Near-freezing temperatures aside, I also appreciated the opportunity to lounge on the field for as long as I wanted afterward, an unexpected bonus and particularly when compared with another unnamed marathon happening that day in ew-Nay ork-Yay ity-Cay, where no sooner do you cross the finish line in Central Park than they kick you out the nearest exit.
Outside the stadium, the reasonable post-race spread featured hot dogs, burgers, Krispy Kreme donuts with Kelly green icing, potato chips, bananas, Coke, chocolate milk and water, plus Bud Light and always unappealing Michelob Ultra. (On that note, I’d urge the social media “influencers” who now awkwardly endorse Michelob Ultra in my Instagram feed to reconsider; I’ve yet to meet a runner whose face lights up at the mention of Michelob Ultra.) Nearby, a vendor offered runners the chance to put their feet up (literally) and treat their weary legs to the latest in pneumatic compression recovery technology.
Small, quiet and lacking in energy, the pre-race expo was held more than a mile from campus at the New Baptist Church, a converted ice-skating rink where a fleet of cars sporting “FUNERAL” placards greeted us at the entrance. The expo itself consisted of packet pickup, a registration table, a couple of booths selling running supplies and local apparel, a drop-off point for non-perishable donations to the food pantry, and an oversized United States map with pushpins to indicate your state. Given its utilitarian format I got in and out relatively quickly, all the while wondering why this wasn’t being held for convenience sake on the Marshall campus.
SWAG: The race shirt is a Kelly green Brooks tech tee, comfy though not as desirable as the stylish pullover that had been offered to registrants several months earlier. (With MUM now in its 17th year, I’d urge the organizers to follow the lead of other events and better anticipate participant numbers so that the pullover option remains available after the current July 1 registration cutoff.) The finisher medal is an understated bronze football with an attractive green and black ribbon, while Goodr sunglasses emblazoned with footballs and the Marshall University logo (never again to be worn by this Rice alum, go Owls!) rounded out the swag.
For a more colorful perspective on Huntington and MUM weekend, check out my race recap at https://blisterscrampsheaves.com/2020/07/14/marshall-university-marathon-race-report/
Two loops not too bad
I was nervous going in about the double loop but gave me a chance to see things I may have missed the first time around! The sentimental touches were very … MORE
I was nervous going in about the double loop but gave me a chance to see things I may have missed the first time around! The sentimental touches were very thoughtful and emotional from this BIG Football Fan! I recommend the Chessie House(Airbnb) within walking of start/finish and plenty of restaurants!
Nice Come Back Race
I have not run a marathon in over 6 years. Been running for only 7 years and completed my first marathon in 2013. I've stuck with half marathons since then. … MORE
I have not run a marathon in over 6 years. Been running for only 7 years and completed my first marathon in 2013. I’ve stuck with half marathons since then. I felt particularly stronger this training cycle and over trained a bit for a half and decided to switch from half to full at packet pick up. Happy with my time. 🙂
Flat WV Race
Out of the "regular" road marathon options in WV, this is probably the easiest one to get to, find lodging, and best bet to qualify for Boston. Swag is decent; … MORE
Out of the “regular” road marathon options in WV, this is probably the easiest one to get to, find lodging, and best bet to qualify for Boston. Swag is decent; marathon participants get a pullover and a little something extra (this year was goodr glasses with footballs and the Marshall M pattern). That being said, there isn’t much special about this race. Course is very industrial, repetitive, and quiet. The community does not come out for this race. Fortunately, the volunteers are very energetic and encouraging. You do get to place a flower on the memorial and finish at the stadium. I’m a Marshall student, so I did this one to check the box off; probably would not repeat.
Flat race in WV
If you are looking for a racecation, then this is not the race for you. If you are looking for a flat, easy run to fulfill your WV race then … MORE
If you are looking for a racecation, then this is not the race for you. If you are looking for a flat, easy run to fulfill your WV race then this race might be for you.
The race was well organized with plenty of water stops and the start/finish at the football stadium make parking easy and well within a short walking distance to your car. You do get to carry a football across the finish at the goal line in the stadium.
The swag was a short sleeved brooks running shirt and a pair of goodr sunglasses.
The scenery was pretty nondescript. I did like that the people at the animal shelter brought out some of the dogs as you entered the park. I will also give the organizers a thumbs up for having chocolate milk at the finish.
All in all there wasn’t anything particularly bad or spectacular about this race.
On a final note, I stayed at the Doubletree and they let all runners have a 2:00 checkout time. So it was nice to have plenty of time to stretch and shower after the race before leaving.
Awesome race!
I loved this race! I picked it as my West Virginia race and am glad I did. The swag was awesome! We got a nice gender specific jacket, stocking cap … MORE
I loved this race! I picked it as my West Virginia race and am glad I did. The swag was awesome! We got a nice gender specific jacket, stocking cap and duffel bag. The medal is great too- with the Marshall University logo and stadium on it. The course is 2 loops that goes through Harris Riverfront Park, through Huntington, on the John Ritter Trail and through John Ritter Park, through campus and finishes on the football field in the Marshall University stadium. On your last loop through campus at the end you were given a flower to put on the Memorial Fountain in memory of the victims of the 1970 plane crash which was touching. Then when you finished you could carry a football across the finish line which I thought was unique and cool! The race was organized very well! Great volunteers, plenty of aid stations, good post race food and free beer at the finish. The one thing that could be improved was to put the miles on the course map. The stadium was open before the start so you could use the bathrooms in it. And you could park for free at the stadium and have your car very close to the start and finish. I highly recommend this race!