Martha’s Vineyard was a nice place to visit. People were very nice. However logistics were crazy! The emails all said the same updates but no assistance on how to maneuver … MORE
Martha’s Vineyard was a nice place to visit. People were very nice. However logistics were crazy! The emails all said the same updates but no assistance on how to maneuver through parking for the ferry if you did not stay on the island. Luckily we did a dry run the day before and went to packet pick up (apparently also smart rather than getting bib sent to us because we may not have gotten it). I’m pretty travel savvy but I had to ask locals our options for morning of to get on the 6:00 am ferry. Then no buses. No one monitoring or guiding people. First buses crammed in with everyone from runners, to family members and half marathoners ( who could’ve taken a later bus). I got disconnected from my friend, and she didn’t make it to the start until later. The poor drivers seemed to be clueless, but it would’ve been nice to have them announce “these are for full marathoners first!” And of course have many more buses. The line to pick up bibs and use a porta potty at the start area was crazy. I waited until after the last wave, (with someone I met on the shuttle who’s boyfriend was left behind too) and still no friend so we just took off.
I believe this all may be due to not enough volunteers, as the aid stations were sparsely manned. I can’t imagine if I was in the fast groups and how they kept up.
I’m always use to having barely food or beverages left by the time I cross the line. I don’t drink beer and there was no more mimosas.
A shout out to the sweet girl who worked at the merchandise tent (she was so positive), the start line dude with dreads was a blast, and the nice guy who manned aid station at the 2 mile.
The course was serene and pleasant, the ocean views at the end would’ve been prettier if weather cooperated more.
Shuttle buses to return to the ferry were not there so we had to pay for a regular bus to get there. So inconvenient for a tired, wet, old body. If it weren’t for new friends that had cash this would’ve been more miserable.
Well it’s done. If you want to do this one and can afford it, I’d suggest staying on the vineyard, bring your car,
Poorly planned logistics!!!
Martha’s Vineyard was a nice place to visit. People were very nice. However logistics were crazy! The emails all said the same updates but no assistance on how to maneuver … MORE
Martha’s Vineyard was a nice place to visit. People were very nice. However logistics were crazy! The emails all said the same updates but no assistance on how to maneuver through parking for the ferry if you did not stay on the island. Luckily we did a dry run the day before and went to packet pick up (apparently also smart rather than getting bib sent to us because we may not have gotten it). I’m pretty travel savvy but I had to ask locals our options for morning of to get on the 6:00 am ferry. Then no buses. No one monitoring or guiding people. First buses crammed in with everyone from runners, to family members and half marathoners ( who could’ve taken a later bus). I got disconnected from my friend, and she didn’t make it to the start until later. The poor drivers seemed to be clueless, but it would’ve been nice to have them announce “these are for full marathoners first!” And of course have many more buses. The line to pick up bibs and use a porta potty at the start area was crazy. I waited until after the last wave, (with someone I met on the shuttle who’s boyfriend was left behind too) and still no friend so we just took off.
I believe this all may be due to not enough volunteers, as the aid stations were sparsely manned. I can’t imagine if I was in the fast groups and how they kept up.
I’m always use to having barely food or beverages left by the time I cross the line. I don’t drink beer and there was no more mimosas.
A shout out to the sweet girl who worked at the merchandise tent (she was so positive), the start line dude with dreads was a blast, and the nice guy who manned aid station at the 2 mile.
The course was serene and pleasant, the ocean views at the end would’ve been prettier if weather cooperated more.
Shuttle buses to return to the ferry were not there so we had to pay for a regular bus to get there. So inconvenient for a tired, wet, old body. If it weren’t for new friends that had cash this would’ve been more miserable.
Well it’s done. If you want to do this one and can afford it, I’d suggest staying on the vineyard, bring your car,
Poorly organized
This was one of the most poorly organized races I’ve ever participated in. I have to say the race directors should be ashamed of themselves for the lack of preparedness. … MORE
This was one of the most poorly organized races I’ve ever participated in. I have to say the race directors should be ashamed of themselves for the lack of preparedness. Bibs were supposed to be mailed out which you paid $15 dollars for btw… and most didn’t receive theirs.
Busses to the start and porta potty situation was a disaster. No timing mat to start so if you didn’t leave in your wave your time was completely wrong. Winners coming in at the finish didn’t have the finish line set up and ready!
Water stops had one person volunteering at many, and not their fault but they could not keep up with 1500 runners.
All of these mistakes and it was one of the most expensive half marathons I have ever run.
Do better MV marathon and half marathon!
"Into the Woods, to Journey's End......"
The Starting Line for the MVM is staged at the Martha’s Vineyard High School, but the process of getting there appears scripted straight from, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” It required … MORE
The Starting Line for the MVM is staged at the Martha’s Vineyard High School, but the process of getting there appears scripted straight from, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” It required me to take a plane, rental car, ferry, and a bus to toe the line on Race Day.
Little did I realize that the first 13 miles of the Martha’s Vineyard Marathon would literally wend its way directly into the woods. A few blocks and one left-turn from the Start, the racecourse enters the DCR Manuel Correllus State Forest where the pine trees and scrub oaks were swathed in a thick, eerie, damp fog with verdant ferns covering the ground. Visibility was limited and the signature tune from “Into the Woods” kept looping through my head like a berserk earworm; “Into the Woods, it’s time to go….” (OK, was it just me or did anyone else find Johnny Depp as The Big, Bad Wolf particularly creepy in that movie?!? I mean, even for Johnny Depp!)
Visibility wasn’t the only thing that was limited. There weren’t a lot of porta-pottys available through the Forest, although there were certainly plenty of porta-shrub options, adding to the spook-factor with figures vanishing from the trail and moving dimly through the trees. The website course description mentions, “…gentle rollers between Miles 8 and 12” which could more accurately be described as 25-ft-deep half-pipes that you rolled into, hoping to gain enough momentum to roll up and out the other side.
Mile 17 runs along Atlantic Drive, a long, straight, flat, exposed section of the course that parallels the ocean on your right. You can’t actually see the water over the obstructing dunes, but the rhythmic crash of the surf is exceptional music for the road. It was along this stretch that a young couple riding bikes stopped and asked whether I needed a beer. Wait…what?!? Is this a trick question? (I must have looked needy.) I graciously accepted a Whaler’s IPA, which couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m a big proponent of in-flight re-carbing and the can was just really cold. Best…Beer…Ever!
Mile 21 – As you’re exiting Edgartown, note the location of Bad Martha Brewing on your left. A great après-race destination for brick oven pizza and exceptional micro-brews. And a MVM Race sponsor. Must patronize!
Mile 23 – The course crosses the “Amity Bridge” from the classic summer movie, “Jaws.” duuuh-DUMP…duuuh-DUMP dump-dump, dump-dump, dump-dump, dump-dump. (Finally got rid of that furshlugginer “Woods” earworm, but now we have a whole new problem.)
The final four miles of the course are fully exposed to the sun and wind, so plan to stay well hydrated and sun-screened as the home stretch has the potential to poach unsuspecting runners, particularly if the humidity is running high. The final hundred-yard approach to the Finish Line down the Avenue of Flags is memorable and definitely worth the effort required to get there. Loved the Finisher’s medal which featured (duuuh-DUMP) a great white shark. Everyone knows that every year, every race, every experience will be unique, but I highly recommend the MVM because until you go…. “Into the Woods, who can tell what’s waiting on the journey?”
Brew Review; We’ve already mentioned Bad Martha Brewing, which has a second location east of Falmouth. Depending on how you travel to Martha’s Vineyard, consider visiting Apponaug Brewing in Warwick, Tilted Barn in Exeter, Ragged Island north of Newport, Buzzard Bay south of Westport, Moby Dick Brewing in New Bedford and one of my favorites, Naukabout Brewing in Mashpee. It’s a target-rich environment for micro-brew enthusiasts and you won’t be disappointed with any of these oases on your brew-tour through Rhode Island and Cape Cod.
Slainte Mhath!
Can't Wait for next year!!
This was an incredible race to run! Weather: In typical Vineyard fashion it was overcast and foggy in the morning which helped keep it cool for the first half of … MORE
This was an incredible race to run!
Weather: In typical Vineyard fashion it was overcast and foggy in the morning which helped keep it cool for the first half of the race. Once the fog burnt off it was a beautifully sunny rest of the day!
Course: Mostly flat, with some slight inclines, the most being at the end of the race, but nothing to deter you from running. The route was on the covered bike paths for a large portion, and then along the beach for the final stretch.
Logistically: As someone with family that lives here and has ben coming since I was a newborn, it was logistically easy. Though I can see, and did hear, that it was difficult with the ferries and buses the morning of to get to the start line (but this isn’t something the race coordinators can control, you can’t rush the Steamship).
Personally: I plan to run this one many more times! I PRed by 6 minutes, which definitely adds to my enthusiasm about the race. The shirts and medals are among the best I have received and they had beer AND mimosas at the finish line which was a super cool add.
My overall race expeirence
The views on this race course were out of this world amazing. Very cool medal, and the course was very will marked. Even though the grass that was not totally … MORE
The views on this race course were out of this world amazing. Very cool medal, and the course was very will marked. Even though the grass that was not totally even footing, i still did quite well
Pretty NE Race
This was a picturesque run around the island of Martha's Vineyard. The start is congested since the race is run on paths rather than road for most of the course. … MORE
This was a picturesque run around the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The start is congested since the race is run on paths rather than road for most of the course. It was hot and sunny on race day but weather is variable that time of year, so don’t forget to plan ahead.
Small race-tour island-run Jaw's Bridge!
It was only its second year so keep that in mind, but the race could have used more water stops and definitely needed more Gatorade/Powerade stations. The weather turned bad … MORE
It was only its second year so keep that in mind, but the race could have used more water stops and definitely needed more Gatorade/Powerade stations. The weather turned bad after about 2.5 hours so I will not comment on the finish because it seemed a bit unorganized but I’m sure much was due to the drop in temp and rain and wind. Everyone wanted to get out and go home.
Not what I built it up to be
I registered for this race months ago, thinking it would be my 25th state since I used to live in Massachusetts. Life had some turns and this ended up being … MORE
I registered for this race months ago, thinking it would be my 25th state since I used to live in Massachusetts. Life had some turns and this ended up being my 24th state instead and I’m really happy it turned out this way.
This race had pretty expensive processing charges to start.
Packet pick up was held in a park right in the heart of Martha’s Vineyard. Unfortunately, the whole weekend was rainy, windy and cold. Nothing the race staff could have controlled.
At packet pick up you are given a shirt and bag but that was it in the terms of swag. My sister was running the full marathon and got a generic poncho but half marathoners did not get this.
Race morning, you needed to take shuttles to the race site at the high school. Having the school open helped keeping us out of the cold along with the port a potty situation.
The course was confusing-it was unclear whether you should have been on the road or the bike path below. Also a part of it, you had to run in sand. Running in sand is definitely challenging.
Being in Martha’s Vineyard, I expected the course to be stunning and it just wasn’t. Port a potties were not where they were said to be either.
The worst part of this race was the mile markers were way off (like .6 of a mile off). Everyone in the race was complaining about this.
Also, after completing my half marathon, I walked back 4 miles to help my sister run in the last 4 miles of her run. I was upset to see water stations were no longer manned-gallons of water were just left out for marathoners to pour their own. These people are running a marathon and we can’t have the stations staffed until the end?!?!?! Super disappointing.
I wanted to love this race, I really did however the production and course was just disappointing.
Nice scenery well organizex
I liked that there was easy access to the start. Well organized beautiful run with slightly rolling hills up until the Las five miles which is all coastal. The only … MORE
I liked that there was easy access to the start. Well organized beautiful run with slightly rolling hills up until the Las five miles which is all coastal. The only thing I would like changed is running in on the grass at the finish. It was a little hard to adjust to the change in terraine. All and all I would do the half again.