Meg Sauve's Staging Area

Berlin Marathon was my 66th marathon and 6th World Marathon Major. It wasn’t on purpose that I finished there, but it was fitting. It’s not where many people want to finish the journey, for whatever reason; London and Boston seem to get the most majors finishers. However, Berlin was special. It’s a fast course (though not a PR for this slightly undertrained runner), it’s iconic, and it has what I think might be the coolest finish line of all the majors: the Brandenburg Gate. More on that in a moment.

To preface this, I went with Marathon Tours and Travels and stayed at the Berlin Marriott. It’s a fantastic hotel, walking distance to the start/finish, and easy Uber/cab/train distance to other sights and the expo. We had periods of blue skies and nice weather combined with showers and sprinkles and downpours the five days I was in Berlin. Great temperatures though. It was nice to be close to the action and able to walk to so much – thankfully the rain cooperated and never prevented sightseeing or even walking to the start or standing in the corrals.

The expo is big, as you can imagine. It’s at an old airport a few miles from where I was staying. I listened to the advice of previous runners and the marathon organizers themselves and went Thursday afternoon, right after I dropped my bags at the hotel. It was busy, but not stupid busy, and I didn’t have to wait to get my bib/chip, nor did I wait more than a few moments to pay for the souvenirs I purchased. I pre-ordered my shirts and jacket and that line also went very quickly. I’d say the only bad thing about the expo is that it’s kind of cramped, and when it gets REALLY busy, like on a Friday or God forbid, Saturday, it’s really tough to look at shirts, pay for things, or even just walk around because people are EVERYWHERE. Thankfully I got in and out of there pretty quickly after collecting my items and getting the six-star finisher sticker on my bib from the Abbott booth. A quick Uber ride got me back to my hotel.

I won’t talk about all the sights there are to see in Berlin, but do take at least a day to go see some of the iconic WWII locations and memorials, not to mention the Berlin Wall exhibits and other historic areas. Lots to see and do.

Additionally, as a six-star hopeful, there was a reception at the Hall of Fame at the Brandenburg Gate Friday night. I almost didn’t go to this, but it was so worth it. In addition to the free beer, they also gave the few attendees that showed up a pair of awesome WMM compression socks (my new favs), and you got to stand in the area where the elites came through to be interviewed. I got my picture taken with Joan Benoit Samuelson which was incredible, and just had a nice time talking with some of the six star runners from around the world. It was a very nice perk, and the evening ended up being beautiful and clear. Perfect!

Race morning is relatively leisurely. I was in Corral E/Wave 2 and had a start time of 9:25am, which let me sleep a full night, have my coffee, and mosey to the starting area on foot without any rush. I got to the corrals around 8ish, no lines for portajohns at that point! There were big screens set up in the corrals so you could see the videos they were playing of Kipchoge’s world record run last year and other live streams from the announcer on stage. We saw the starts of the other corrals before moving up for our own. There was no rain yet and actually the morning was quite beautiful and clear for our sendoff!

Once the gun goes off, it’s time to focus. It is a crowded field, regardless of where you are I assume (unless you’re in A!). While I didn’t ever feel like I was weaving and dodging too much, I know some people really complained about elbows flying and getting cut off. I found it about average for a major. My only complaint would be I wish they continued to have water/aid stations on both sides of the road and that they wouldn’t use plastic cups. They are a bit dangerous and loud, and hard to drink from and no one seemed to care about at least trying to get them into the bins. The race also tried to use silicon reusable cups at one of the last aid stations that they specifically said had to be thrown into a special bin so that they could be recycled. That seemed to be a major fail – those were everywhere BUT in the bins. Another note on the aid stations – at one point I decided to be daring and take one of the cups of tea – it was delicious! Not a fan of the beet drink though.

The course is very flat; it’s a city race and runs through the typical cityscape, but there are iconic views along the way. In my opinion though, nothing in the other majors compares to seeing the Brandenburg Gate towards the end of the race. By the time I got there, I was soaking wet (though not freezing – the rain really did feel good), I was ready to be done, and there it was: the chariot and the horses and this conquering angel welcoming me to the finish. It was the most beautiful sight!

The finish chute is like most others – a long trek to get a medal, a wrap, a goodie bag, etc. I was one of the relative few who also went to the Abbott tent and got my six star finishers medal which was truly amazing. I got my Berlin poncho next which was a nice thing to have in the cool rain. And then I departed, making sure to snap a photo of the gate and my majors medal before leaving the finish area. Note to the race – the way they have spectators crossing towards the end is amazing. I wasn’t sure how I would cross the finish area to get going toward my hotel on foot but they have it set up to shuttle people across without getting tangled in runners going toward the finish line.

Bottom line is that this is a world marathon major in a big city. It’s 44,000 of your closest friends running through sometimes narrow streets. I thought it was well organized and I have no true complaints. Honestly it was a great experience and because it was #6 it will forever hold a very special place in my heart amongst all of the majors. I’ll never forget the Brandenburg Gate or how I felt when I crossed that finish line and received those medals. The city of Berlin came out and supported runners in rain and wind and cool temperatures and that is special. Thank you, Berlin! Ich bin ein Berliner!

Having already finished my fifty states quest, I was in search of a new PR. My main choices were Houston, Louisiana, and Surf City for a decent course, best chance of good weather, and uncrowded field. I settled on Louisiana after reading many reviews and getting input from other runners, and I’m glad I listened!

The weather on Saturday (10k, 5k, and kids’ race I believe) was rain and thunderstorms and some of those events were cancelled. I arrived that afternoon to great weather thankfully, and it held through Sunday’s events. It was cold (low 30s at the start, probably low 40s by the end, and the sun came out later in the morning. The downside was it was quite windy which made it feel colder) but in my opinion, cold is great to run in so I was thrilled.

The expo was a nice size and they had some slick race specific gear. I’m a sucker for hats and did end up buying a cool trucker hat. Other than that I was in and out in ten minutes.

The start/finish was close to my hotel so I took advantage and left my room a little later, then got a solid warmup in before going into my corral at 6:45. This was key: I was able to line up almost at the front, near the 3:20 pacer (I was shooting for 3:25 or better) and when the gun went off I didn’t have to weave and dodge like at my last race (MCM). This got me on pace from the beginning and kept me from adding distance that would skew my results. I don’t know how many marathoners vs half marathoners there were, but I found the field to be a good size, and once we split at mile 11, it was even better.

The course itself was a nice mix of neighborhoods (beautiful old trees and Spanish moss abound), LSU campus, and a lake that had some very nice views and beautiful houses, though the wind was cutting in many places. The road surface was generally fine, there was only one short stretch of really rough, not-quite-fully-paved surface but that was minor. I also found the course perfectly marked. I was running great tangents for almost the first ten miles and ended up with 26.29 miles (whereas MCM I ended up closer to 26.6). Plenty of police and volunteers and lots of aid stations.

The medal is nice; I love their logo with the tree (hence the hat I bought) and the finisher shirt, while simple, is a super soft cotton or something. It’s very comfy.

The best, and most unexpected perk for me, was the BQ tent where, after getting your official results, you could claim a “I Boston Qualified at the Louisiana Marathon” shirt in blue and gold. Awesome!!

The festival appeared to have lots of food and beer options, but I don’t usually eat right after a race so I headed back to my hotel to warmup. It looked like quite a party!

Overall, this really is a great race with a small-town feeling. It’s wonderfully produced and marked, there were ample volunteers and police out to support, and it felt like a race for runners. I really enjoyed the day and was thrilled with my results. I’d recommend it for anyone seeking a PR, and if you luck out with the weather you can have a seriously great race. Geaux run Louisiana!

This was actually my third time running the MCM, but the first time was 2006, and the second 2013. I am not a huge fan of big-city, multi-thousand runner events, BUT the Marine Corps Marathon is near and dear to my heart as a Marine veteran.

The expo is at National Harbor. I went on Friday afternoon and found it to be far from empty, but still very fast and efficient. There were lots of vendors and good official gear for purchase (I bought a shirt and the jacket). It’s a good thing the merch was good because the official race shirt that came with the bib was pretty repulsive. I’m a fan of the MCM “mock-neck” shirts in general and love my gray one from 2013, but this year’s is atrocious. I’ll leave that point alone now!

The logistics getting to the start need some work in my opinion. The only negatives associated with the race were before the gun went off (again, in my opinion). I came from a short distance away, just over in Rosslyn where the finish is. I got to the Metro at about 6:05 (Metro started at 6am) and the first train that came through around 6:20 was overflowing with runners. The next one was pretty empty and I managed to get on – at this point it’s about 6:30am…still plenty of time right? The start is 7:55am.

Once we unloaded at the Pentagon station, it was like a hoard of zombies. We were slow-walking/shuffling the long distance from the station to the parking lot where the runners’ village was. It seemed to take forever. Security itself wasn’t really an issue, but it was just so crowded it was impossible to make much headway. I missed the Marathon Maniac photo by a mile because by the time I got to the starting area it was about 7:30am. Luckily I found a portajohn with a short line (note to RD – more portajohns…when you think you have enough, add at least 10% more) and then hustled into the corral. Unfortunately I didn’t realize I had entered the green corral and was supposed to be in gold closer to the front. So that took some doing, to get to the front of my corral. The good part is that I made it, and all of the shuffling, jogging, and panicked movement was a good warm-up; I didn’t stand still for more than 5 minutes before the Howitzers went off! I also got to see the parachute team with the giant flag and the Osprey flyover. I crossed the start line about two minutes after the clock started.

Note about the corral system: While I appreciate that they had corrals this year, there was still a ton of walker-dodging and people lined up four abreast. I was desperately trying to PR so I was doing a lot of weaving the first few miles, but it does eventually open up.

Enough negatives – the race itself is fantastic. The Marines (YUT) along the course, the crowds, the scenery, the Blue Mile, the monuments, the American flags…it’s just unlike any other event. The course takes you back through Rosslyn/Arlington, across the river to Georgetown, down an out-and-back to Woodley Park and past GWU and the Lincoln Memorial, West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park where the Blue Mile is. The Blue Mile, if you haven’t experienced it, displays photos of fallen service members lining both sides of the road, along with dozens of American flags being held by members of Wear Blue to Remember and service members. It’s the most meaningful portion of a marathon I’ve ever run. I turned my music off and just soaked it all in. The course also takes you past the National Mall up to the Capitol then back across the river and up to Arlington where you finish near the Iwo Jima Memorial. Amazing. Once you finish (HUGE crowds there) you receive your Eagle, Globe, and Anchor medal from a USMC Lieutenant and proceed through the chute to photos, food, and water before the finish area festival. The EGA medal is of course my favorite medal of all time. This year’s was all red and opens to display a challenge coin.

The course itself has its challenges; there are some hills, especially in the first four miles, but it’s not bad. We had spectacular weather this year though I know past years have been very hot. Aid stations were I think every two miles or so. They did a great job having tables and volunteers stretched over quite a ways to give you ample opportunity to grab a cup.

I did score my PR and BQ and couldn’t be happier that it was at the Marine Corps Marathon. It was a tremendous day! I highly recommend the MCM as a must-do marathon.

I have run all fifty states but some races are still must-do events, and Mad Marathon was supposed to be one such race. I’d heard it was beautiful but challenging and it lived up to both counts.

Waitsfield is a beautiful little town and worth visiting. There are tons of little B&B’s to choose from (Yellow Farmhouse Inn was lovely). Packet pickup is near where the race begins/ends and takes about thirty seconds. There is also race morning pickup which to me, is always a nice perk even when I don’t need it. There is no city traffic to fight through on race day and it’s overall a peaceful setting for the start and finish. I love races like this!

The start area is literally around the corner from the finish chute and festivities so logistics are easy in terms of parking and having extra stuff. I parked about 20 yards away which was awesome. After a Marathon Maniacs photo we all walked to the start, listened to a beautiful singing of the National Anthem, and then began the 26.2 mile meat grinder.

Lots of people flew off the line only to come crashing back to earth after the first few monster hills. This is not a PR course in my humble opinion. Coming off a PR last month, and coming into this race with a new fueling and nutrition plan, I had already tossed time goals out of my mind and planned to focus on scenery. Plus, it was very warm though blessedly not a humid day.

The course is just gorgeous. It runs along roads both paved and dirt (no rock or debris issues), by pastures, picturesque barns, valley views, over and next to rivers, and through covered bridges. I took several photos on the move to try and capture this Tolkien-esque area. This also helped take my mind off all of the hills. There are many, many hills, but thankfully the last five miles or so are flatter so at least you don’t get crushed right up to the finish. I’ll point out one more time that it’s hilly; I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people walking during a race (including me, up the hills!). Don’t get excited about a downhill because you’ll pay for it on the other side.

There were aid stations roughly every two miles with amazingly cold water. They also had Gatorade and some had gels. It was pretty hot by 10am or so, and combined with the hills those stations were like an oasis.

The finish chute is cool, with flags and a faux covered bridge finish arch. The medal is very nice and substantial (I don’t care for the pink shirt, but that’s just me). You also get a hug from the race director which is a nice personal element.

This is not a race you run for a personal best or crowd support. This is a race you run because you know it’s going to be tough but beautiful. It was both and also well worth the effort.

The London Marathon was my 58th marathon and fifth marathon major. I did not get a spot through the lottery but did obtain one through a UK charity early on. I flew into London with my sister, arriving the Thursday before the race. I wanted to hit the expo early on rather than put it off until things got crazy there.

Thursday proved a good plan! Picking up my number was fast and simple. There was still a lot of merchandise available in all sizes so I had my pick of items (though I ordered the jacket online weeks earlier). There were lots of vendors and promotions going on and the overall vibe was fun and exciting. I can’t speak to how things were later in the week, especially Saturday, but I assume things got busier and more crowded.

Race day was the hottest London Marathon to date though the morning leading up to the start was comfortable (before the exertion!). I was in red start and staying right next to Hyde Park Corner station; getting to Greenwich on the tube was simple and travel on the line from London Bridge was free with a bib. There were also volunteers assisting runners and making sure everyone made it to the right place from London Bridge (and other stations). I arrived at Greenwich around 8am and made my charity team’s photo before proceeding to the red start area. There were tons of portajohns without a line (if you knew to keep walking and not stop at the first long lines you came across). There were also large screens up with footage and audio from the elite start and the Queen pressing the button in Windsor to start the race. They used waves within each start area to help keep the crowding down a bit. I was in wave 3 which was very near the front and within sight of the screens. We took off about 10:12am and you could instantly feel the heat!

We ran for about three miles before merging with the other starts. This was surprisingly seamless though I’ll say that you never get any room. There are tons of people of all paces around you which can be a real negative but then again, it’s a Major and that’s how they all are to a certain extent so you deal with it. It was entertaining to see some of the funny costumes though!

The crowds at this event were FANTASTIC. I’ve never seen so many people in a marathon crowd; three, four, ten deep, along the entire course. More than Chicago, NYC, Boston, and Tokyo. The good spectator weather may have contributed but it was crazy. I had headphones but never used them; I wouldn’t have been able to hear music anyway as the crowds were cheering so loud. Just amazing support the whole way and it was even better because of the multiple charity team spots along the course that cheered even more loudly when they saw one of their runners approaching.

Volunteer support along the course was great too. There was (in my experience) plenty of water and sports drink (Lucozade) along the route, nearly every mile. I did read the next day that some stations around miles 8-10, ran out of water for an hour. I was not affected by that shortage thankfully but it would have been tough in that heat and unrelenting sunshine. The race did take precautions and added extra shower stations to the course to help cool off runners.

Speaking of water, I thought it was strange when I read that London hands out bottles of water as opposed to cups. At first I thought that would be annoying and dangerous (trip hazard!) but I changed my mind after the first aid station. It was SO NICE to have a little sports top bottle of water to carry, drink from, and squirt over my head, face, neck, and arms. Most people were good about tossing empties off to the side too, so no real problem there. I made the most of those water bottles and carried the larger sports drink bottles for a long time making sure I stayed hydrated.

The London course itself was probably my favorite of the majors. You really get to see a ton of the city and surrounding areas, including Tower Bridge and the mall leading to Buckingham Palace. Just a beautiful and historic place to run and it was great soaking up the sights and support from the crowd. There were only a few little hills and otherwise a fairly flat course.

The finish was unreal. Tons of people and an amazing place to finish the event on a sunny day. The finish was a lot nicer than Tokyo, which was a bit anticlimactic. Here you received your medal right away, there were photographers ready to take finisher pics, and goodie bags with finisher T-shirts in them. Meet-up areas for family and friends were a short walk away. I didn’t check a gear bag so not sure how long it took to retrieve them but I didn’t see any lines of waiting people.

I was able to take a quick tube ride back to my hotel to clean up and then get out for some pub fare and a beer with my sis.

On another note, while I had a decent race and finished around 3:54, that was not the case for everyone. Medical teams were busy treating heat injuries and dehydration all day. The effects were evident as more and more people slowed to a walk. I understand and sympathize with this but runner etiquette of moving to the side and being aware of those around you was not common.

Swag was great all around. The runner bag at the end had a good finisher shirt, lentil chips, dried fruit, water, an apple, heat sheet (not needed that day!) and Lucozade in it. The medal is large and suitably stately.

Overall, London has moved up to my top spot as far as the majors go. The biggest negative to me is definitely the crowded field but hard to alleviate that with a major. Otherwise I really enjoyed the event and thought that the organization and support were top notch. Five stars!

I finished my 50 States Marathon quest at the Maui Oceanfront Marathon and what a way to finish! Les makes this race fun from start to finish, starting from the day you register. Communication is frequent and quite humorous much of the time. Emails also come full of great info for anyone with a few days to spend on Maui, which is very helpful given the number of tours and things to do.

Packet pickup takes place in two locations over two days so it’s pretty convenient regardless of where you’re staying. We rented a VRBO house in Lahaina which was walking distance to everything on Front St/waterfront, including packet pickup.

There are shuttles Race morning but my husband drove my friend and me to the start. There’s also an early start option (the regular start is 5am to avoid the heat as much as possible). Before each wave there’s a Hawaiian blessing which is very cool. Fifty staters finishing their journeys all get bib #50 and line up across the front row for the start which is a nice touch. All total there’s probably around 400ish runners I think (wild guess).

The course itself is very pretty. We had a detour this year that ran along the beach on the hard packed sand for a couple of hundred yards; the RD planned ahead and advised runners to put baggies on their shoes. They had volunteers assisting at the beginning and end of this portion. It ended up being a nice detour by the water with tiki torches in the darkness.

There are some rolling hills in the middle section but then the course flattens out to the end in Lahaina. There is some shade along the way (after the sun comes up of course) but not a ton. Lots of aid stations though. We saw whales breaching along the way which was spectacular. I’d say the only downside to the race is the traffic along the highway. Runners use the shoulder and it’s a main thoroughfare with nonstop traffic coming toward you. I don’t know that anything could be done about this, I’m sure the city wouldn’t close that main road down for anything. In any other race it would have been a major negative. In Maui it was a minor bummer because of the scenery on the left!

MOM gives fifty state finishers a special medal in addition to the marathon medal which is a very nice touch.

All in all I really liked this race. I’m normally a 3:40-3:50 runner but ran with my friend at his pace, so we were out for a lot longer. I was worried about the heat initially but honestly the breeze made a huge difference and I never felt like it was that bad; I’ve certainly run in worse heat. I’d definitely recommend this race for fifty staters or anyone looking for a great race in Hawaii. Much better location than Oahu in my opinion. Make sure you do some snorkeling with Maui Snorkel Charters, do some whale watching, and take in the beautiful luau at Old Lahaina Luau grounds on Front St. Sunrise on Haleakalā is also amazing! Aloha!

Hartford Marathon was my 48th state and 54th marathon. Strangely I don’t have a lot to say about it because it was pretty even keel; well organized and not really any cons, but also not a super exciting or scenic race. The weather ended up being pleasant after a threat of rain; it was overcast and relatively cool until I finished so that was nice though if you were out longer than 3:45 it probably got a bit warm in the sun. But it was the coolest race I’ve run in months. As far as the race weekend here are my thoughts:

Pros:
-It was the 24th year so they know what they’re doing in terms of organization and course.
-Well-marked course.
-Spending a few extra bucks gets you priority parking near the start/finish and a warm indoor area with refreshments and real bathrooms.
-One start/finish area makes logistics easy.
-Half and full runners start together but the two races break apart very early which I loved. Eased congestion on the roads and there’s no dramatic break at mile 12.5 when they all run to the finish and we keep going.
-Very nice medal and good shirt.
-Decent course but nothing to write home about. Modest hills and the typical mix of city, suburb, and country scenery. Typical city marathon course.
-Abundant aid stations. I thought they were supposed to be every two or more miles apart but it seemed like they were more frequent than that.
-Good post race area with beer and food, chocolate milk, and entertainment. Festive.
-You can get marathon seeding based on other results.
-Cool finish under the iconic arch near the Capitol.
-Started on time.
-Good communication.

Cons: Not a lot of these
-Expo was lackluster. I’m not an expo person, and actually I had my packet mailed to me so I only went to exchange my shirt for another size (they ran small). Strange packet pickup process. Kind of dark setting.
-Lots of relay runners sprinting past at various points. Not a fan of relays!

Again, there’s not a lot to rave about and not a lot to complain about. It’s well-done and a decent course. The swag is very good and you can trust that the RD has a well marked and organized event planned. In other words, it’s a solid marathon. I’d definitely recommend it, especially for fifty staters.

Clarence DeMar was my 52nd marathon and 46th state. I’d been looking forward to a cool, fall New England race after a warm Iowa marathon two weeks prior. However, that was not to be! The anxiety set in the week before when I checked the weather and saw a high of 91. What?? Lots of chatter began online and the RD addressed the weather issue early that week stating they were meeting with the medical team to determine what would need to be done to ensure runners’ safety. This had me worried but needlessly. They emailed again Thursday with the news that the race was starting an hour early (7am instead of 8am) and that extra water and aid stations were in place. I’d like to say THANK YOU to the RD and team for not canceling outright. Moving the start time up made a world of difference. Furthermore, he stepped up on the bus before we disembarked at the start (and sent an email the night before saying the same) and told us to have a great race, don’t go out there for a PR, run smart, and enjoy the scenery instead of shooting for a time. If medical services got overwhelmed they would have to black flag the race. I thought this message was on point.

Okay enough about the anxiety and the heat! I thought the race was great. Fantastic comms leading up to race day, great long sleeve tech shirt (in a fall color that I love), and very nice 40th anniversary medal.

The packet pickup process was simple and friendly and they also offered it race morning for those who couldn’t make it. I don’t often need that option but I appreciate it when it’s available because you never know with airline travel!

The start is at a school which is always nice! We took a bus ride up, which left from Keene State College. There was a comfortable gym to hang out in for an hour before the start and lots of portajohns. Also bottled water was available.

The course itself was very pretty. There were river views, farmland, a dam and lake, nice homes, along with a cemetery. Much of it was shaded (but definitely not all!) and there were lots of hills, none of which were major or huge, just rolling.

The finish is at Keene State College and there’s a good selection of food and beverages available. I stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites which was a convenient walk to packet pickup, the bus pickup, and the finish (lots of restaurants nearby as well).

Overall I commend the RD and team for a very well thought out and organized marathon. I am so grateful it wasn’t cancelled and we got an earlier start time. I’m also very thankful for all of the volunteers and PD and medical services personnel that were out there with us, cheering us on, hosing us down, and handing us water; they made the difference!

This was a big deal for me – marathon #50, state #44, so I’m going to start by mentioning that the week leading up to race day, the forecast was calling for 100 degree high temps, higher than normal morning temperatures, and no end in sight to the heat wave. This was of course disconcerting! The RD handled this well, reassuring those that contacted the organization that this wasn’t too unusual for the area and time of year and explaining that the medical team would be involved in any adjustments that were made in the next few days. They posted on social media and in emails to participants as well.

The race org did decide to make some adjustments, including shortening the course cutoff time from 1:30 to 12:30. They also allowed deferrals and distance changes after the deadline. As a fifty stater on my last six marathons, I didn’t want to defer; it is an expensive place to travel to and we had other plans after the race so I decided to take my chance with the temperatures.

Back to the days leading up to the race: depending on your plans and budget there are some options for getting to Missoula. You can fly into the town’s airport, fly to Spokane and drive, or fly into Kalispell/Glacier airport which is what we did since we’d be visiting after the marathon. It’s about 2.5 hrs to drive to Missoula.

There are several hotel options. We stayed in the Doubletree which was unfortunately over-priced but convenient and on the river. You can walk to the bus loading area and back from the finish. There are several great restaurants and breweries within walking or cheap Uber distance.

Friday has a Beer Run event which is in the afternoon. I didn’t run it but it was probably 98 degreees for that event! Saturday has the 5k and expo which is held at a park by the river next to the farmers’ market. There are several vendors and great race merchandise. At this point the forecast was still showing high temps for race day and sunny skies.

Tip: Go to Ciao Mambo for pasta Saturday night but show up a few minutes before they open. It fills fast but the food is great!

So, Sunday rolls around. Bus loading is between 4:15-5:15. It’s a smooth loading and drop off process to the start. There are tons of portajohns and tables with water and cups available. The temperature was a lovely 62 degrees. The National Anthem was played, the fireworks went off and the race started at 6am sharp.

The course is beautiful, with mountains, river views, farmlands, and lovely homes. There is one large hill and a few rollers but it’s not bad. There was a lot of shade along the course, more than expected actually, and a nice breeze. The 3:50 pacers did a great job and were fun to run with. And amazingly the temperature was not that bad, but probably close to 80 by 9:45. It is a dry heat though! The absolute best part, other than the large number of aid stations (roughly every two miles until the last 10k when they were every mile), was the community support. Cold, wet sponges at a few stops and tons and tons of sprinklers, misters, and hoses. It made such a huge difference. Yes, my running buddy and I were drenched but dried pretty quickly at the end! The cold water was amazing and frequent the last six miles.

The finish is on the bridge by the park where the expo was and is festive with good food and beer. The medal was very nice – I love the Run Wild Missoula logo and they did a good job with the bling. The shirt was pretty good too.

Bottom line is that it’s a very well done race. It’s well organized and marked, and the half is its own race basically; they start farther down the course and you don’t really merge with them unless you’re running really fast; the course is not congested but they also mark lanes for half and full after the merge point. There’s lots of support from police, volunteers, and the community. The event organizers took precautions when it looked like the weather might affect the welfare of the runners but they didn’t panic and cancel it like some races might have done. It ended up being a great day to run and well worth the trip! I highly recommend the race, especially if you’re a fifty stater looking for a summer race / Montana marathon. Also, the race photos are included, and it’s a short drive up to Glacier – it’s worth it!!

Well done, Run Wild Missoula!!

Weather can play a huge role in Lincoln, NE and this year’s race was a good example. It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, and the temperature climbed quickly from 60 to 75+.

Aside from the weather, the race is very well organized and the course very well marked. The start is adjacent to the football stadium and there’s an indoor practice field with bathrooms where you can hang out until the start. The finish is on the 50 yard line of the football field which was very cool.

Runners are supposedly organized by pace and bib color though I saw zero indication that this was enforced which is too bad. There is a wave start with a minute or so in between each wave. The gun went off at 7 and I crossed the line around 7:10 in the 8:00-8:59 pace wave.

The first several miles felt kind of congested, with lots of weaving and dodging slower runners. I’m not saying I’m a speed demon but people weren’t seeded very well and one of the half marathon pace groups had a huge group taking up most of the road. After four or five miles things spread out some and by the 13 mile mark it was wide open!

This race did water stops very well, with not just one or two tables but several spread out over a significant distance with alternating water and Gatorade. I loved this. If you missed your shot at the first table it was ok, there were a few more chances just steps away. They also had lids and straws on their paper cups which was crazy to me at first but so nice. Additionally, it was a hot day and the water was SO nice and cold. It was kind of amazing actually. Pouring it on my head felt great. People were giving out bags and cups of ice too, which was a lifesaver in the second half as there was little to no shade. I also snagged an otterpop which tasted divine.

Overall the course wasn’t bad. There were some pretty park areas, residential streets, downtown etc. I would not call the course flat at all though. It’s not a monster but there are several hills and the back half has some rollers. I’m okay with hills but it shouldn’t be called flat.

Finishing in the stadium was cool and the medal was pretty good. Water and Gatorade, Pepsi, chips and chocolate milk were among the food options at the end. I think half runners cleaned out the cookies and other treats though, those tables were empty.

Again, weather could make or break a race here but I squeaked in under 4 and call that a win. It’s a good race with great support from the National Guard and community. I’d recommend it, especially for those running the states. Sign up early, it does sell out.

I’ll start by saying that yes, I would recommend this marathon, but only if you know what you’re getting into. ODM used to be a point to point race run from Cape May to Sea Isle City. After a few years of runners complaining about the nonstop headwind, the race decided to make it an out and back course starting and ending in Sea Isle City. I can’t speak to the original course, but based on over half of this event, I can imagine it was even more of a meat grinder then! Elevation-wise, it’s a piece of cake, but as for *course* difficulty, the wind makes it tough. Pros and cons:

Pros: Well organized and well marked course; turns obviously marked with signs and cones.
Aid stations every 2.5 miles – decent given it’s generally cool this time of year.
Some nice scenery; you run the boardwalk towards the end and the bridges have nice views, but you’re also in a lot of neighborhoods.
Great shirt, decent medal, nice AG award.
Race day bib pick up if needed.
Warm tent for awards and food after the race, good options (pastries, sandwiches, broth, coffee, water, and other items).
Instant results.
Nice size event; there is no half, it’s a marathon and a 10 miler.

Cons: not a lot of communication – one email after registering, one after they decided to change the course, nothing leading up to the race.
Expo was hard to find, just need to narrow down its location within the conference center (venue personnel there were not helpful until someone showed up who knew where the race expo was).
Plastic cups instead of paper made it difficult to drink on the move without sloshing water or Gatorade all over yourself. Paper lets you pinch the top together to sip more easily while running.
WIND WIND WIND. Since they changed the course, there were a few isolated spots that had a nice tailwind so the first half felt pretty fast. As soon as you round the cone at the halfway point, it’s a vicious headwind the entire way back. I was somewhat mentally prepared based on previous years’ reviews but it’s still like running into a wall.

The location itself was pleasant; nice little restaurants, inns, and local flavor in Sea Isle city. I would have preferred a little bit more communication leading up to the race, but it worked out just fine. I don’t have plans to run this race again, it was to cross off New Jersey, but I’m glad I ran it. I felt like I accomplished something more than the usual sense of accomplishment after finishing a marathon. This was number 47 and it was one of the toughest but I was proud of my time and the struggle made it more meaningful. If you are looking for something similar, I’d recommend it. If you’re looking for big crowds, lots of on course support, and an easy day, probably not your cup of tea.

Mississippi River Marathon starts in Lake Village, AR and finishes in Greenville, MS. It’s a very small race in the deep south but for such a small event, they do a fantastic job with the details, which can make or break a race. The cons:

Weather is unpredictable, which goes for any race, but it got unseasonably warm for this year’s race. The saving grace was cloud cover and wind, which helped cool runners, but the sun could bake you if there were no clouds! There’s no shade along the course.
Scenery is so-so. It’s mostly along a lake and river which is okay, and crosses the Mississippi which is very cool, but otherwise there’s not a whole lot to see.
Porta-johns: I know they have this on their radar to fix for next year, the line at the marathon start got long before the race.

Pros:
Fantastic RD and organization. There were water stations almost every mile, which on a hot day, makes a WORLD of difference. Great volunteers and lots of police manning the intersections.
Nice pull-over quarter zip top.
Cool medal!
Great awards for age group winners.
Race day packet pickup if needed.
Half marathon started at a different spot so there was no congestion or merging.
Lots of food at the finish – great spread!
Free race photos!

I’d recommend the race for all of those ‘pros’ listed above. The cons were fixable or out of their hands. Bottom line is it’s a nice low-key race to knock out either Arkansas or Mississippi.

I think the other reviewers have said it all but I’ll just add that it was a very nicely done race. Memphis is a cool town and you can stay close to the start and finish (not having to rent a car is great). The start is downtown and there are places to stay warm and dry until the start. The course itself isn’t bad, but the real highlight is running through the St. Jude Children’s Hospital campus. It was cold, windy, and drizzly this year so there weren’t many kids out in that kind of weather, but still, the spirit and enthusiasm from the crowds there brought tears to my eyes. It’s definitely the best part of the race and comes around mile 11 or so. That spirit carries you through the rest of the route.

If there is any negative to the race, it’s just that it’s so crowded, especially at the start. There are more half runners than full, and people don’t always seed themselves correctly so there’s a lot of weaving and dodging for a while, but once you split off the crowd thins considerably! One of the best parts, is the amount of aid stations! I think there were 25, which is just incredible. My only complaint is they served Nuun as the electrolyte drink which I thought was pretty gross…but some people like it.

The finish was in the stadium downtown. It was a neat venue to end the race and on a less cold day, a fun place to hang out afterwards. The medal was very nice, and the shirt for the marathon was awesome (long sleeve tech with thumbholes).

Overall, a very nicely done marathon that really takes care of all of its runners to the max! It’s for such a great cause which makes it special by itself, but they don’t stop at that. The organizers truly go out of their way to make it a great race for the entire 26.2 miles and I think they succeeded. I’d highly recommend it for other fifty staters looking for a Tennessee marathon.

GMM is another example of a great, small, low key race put on by runners, for runners. There were only a few hundred runners total, half and full, and I’d say the majority were in-state residents and locals with a few out of towners like myself. I chose it as my Vermont race for my fifty states and it was a great choice!

South Hero and the surrounding area is beautiful and very scenic, especially in October. There are a few B&Bs near the race (I stayed at Annie’s B&B found on AirBnB, and it was actually walking distance to the start and finish, plus the owners are distance athletes themselves and put on a great breakfast spread!) There is parking at the school, which is the start and finish, but it’s nice to not have to run with car keys.

For the record, there was pretty much no email from the race organizers leading up to race day. I just find it funny, the differences between small and large races. Packet pickup was either in Burlington or at the school. Burlington is worth a visit, especially on Saturday for the farmers market. It took just a minute and the race shirt is kind of cool; long sleeve and cotton, but baseball t style and fun.

The weather was lovely, partly sunny and the high in the low 50s, though windy in some spots. The race starts later than most, at 8:30, but with cool weather it didn’t matter. The marathon course is out and back along paved and hard packed dirt roads. It travels by the lake, by lovely cottages, large homes, vineyards, orchards, and farms. It’s flat to rolling without any huge hills but a few rollers at the beginning and end. Aid stations were at every two miles and well staffed and stocked. The course was well marked and the half and full turn arounds were impossible to miss. The medal was nice.

Honestly this was a lovely race. No hiccups, nothing complicated. You could show up race morning and pick up your bib if you wanted. You get to see some beautiful scenery and have the opportunity to enjoy some other Vermont spots like Stowe (an hour drive) and Burlington (20 minutes). Soak up the fall foliage and enjoy a small town race put on by runners!!

I absolutely loved Jackson Hole Marathon, and I’d say it probably earned the top spot of my all time favorite marathons both in terms of organization and scenery. I prefer smaller and more scenic as opposed to crowded city runs and it definitely fit the bill. From the beginning:

I flew into Salt Lake City and drove the 4.5 hours to Jackson (cheaper than flying directly into Jackson airport). The Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole was a beautiful, quiet place to stay, and convenient to downtown, the grocery store, and everything else. Jackson isn’t a cheap place to visit but it’s totally worth it with lots to see and do, and great restaurants and beer. The bib pickup location was the Chamber of Commerce downtown on Friday afternoon. Very quick and efficient – and great t-shirt for 2016!

The start is in downtown Jackson (about a mile from Wyoming Inn – my husband dropped me off but shuttles also run from the finish to the start area). The town square is lovely with the antler arches on each corner. I think there were supposed to be heated bathrooms in the visitor center open that morning but that didn’t happen for some reason. There were portajohns and I found an open hotel with easy bathroom access! There are lots of fellow Marathon Maniacs and 50 Staters at this race so the start was a fun, casual few minutes before the gun went off at 7:07am. The weather was cool but not cold, and mostly clear.

The course itself is point to point, running from Jackson to Teton Village on mostly paved paths with only a few manned road crossings. It’s absolutely breathtaking and not at all crowded. I carried my phone and took several pictures. It’s not a downhill course, but not terribly challenging either. You are at about 6600 feet and there are some hills but nothing bad. There are several aid stations but the most important consideration is that it’s a cup-less race, so you need to carry your own water system with you, either a bottle, hydration pack, or hydra pouch. Volunteers were very helpful and supportive the entire way.

Again, the course was beautiful, within sight of the Tetons, pastures, the Elk Refuge, and lots of other breathtaking beauty around you. You may be alone for some of it, as it’s a small race, but nothing wrong with that!

The finish was in Teton Village which was lovely. My husband met me there and we drove back after hanging out a bit (about 11 miles to Jackson). The medals were very cool, one of my favorites, and there were snacks and drinks available, including the local Snake River Brewing which I fell in love with. It was low-key but festive.

The weather really cooperated with us this year. I can see how it could be a very hot course without a ton of shade in some parts, but it was cool with partly-cloudy skies the entire race, only getting a little warm towards the last couple of miles. Perfect!

Be sure and take the time to see Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. We spent time in each and saw tons of wildlife! Well worth taking a couple of days minimum!

Running all 50 states, I chose Aspen Valley for my CO marathon. I didn’t choose it because it’s a Boston Qualifier or downhill, only because I read good things and it seemed to be one of those scenic courses that I can’t resist. It didn’t disappoint.

The good: basically no expo; I picked up my packet in Basalt on my way up to Snowmass Village where I stayed. Quick stop, very simple. It’s a beautiful area and the course is very scenic, especially in the first half, but also in the last half, just a little less so towards the end. The path itself is mostly paved or very small grain dirt/gravel, so good running surfaces. Not many water stops in the first few miles, so be aware. I wore a lightweight hydration pack which was perfect.

The shirt is pretty good, technical short-sleeve, and the medal is pretty – a shiny silver aspen leaf on a white ribbon. The volunteers were great as well, and it’s a peaceful course, with a few spectators and nice vistas.

The not-quite-as-good: I don’t want to say “bad” because there wasn’t anything bad about the race, just observations. You are at a significant elevation to start and even at the end. Aspen is around 8000 ft or so, and even Basalt is around 6000ish. I didn’t feel sick or anything but I think it affected me regardless; my legs felt leaden by halfway and that’s not usually a problem. It was ultimately the heat that got me though. My running buddy and I were cruisin’ for the first 13 miles then hit a heat wall. I think the temps were in the high 80s as we got lower into the valley, and there was little shade. Granted, it wasn’t humid which was a huge plus, and the race started at 6am which helped a lot. I just don’t do well in the heat, so what may be a super fast course and BQ for lots of people was more of a slog for me. I got my slowest time of the year (except for the double I did in KY and OH). I don’t really care about that, just funny to see the differences in peoples’ performance.

Also of note, it can be expensive to stay in the area but worth it for the beauty in my opinion. Parking wasn’t bad; if you aren’t in Aspen, drive to the intercept lot down the hill from Snowmass and take the bus up to the start. That worked perfectly. It’s bit more of a pain to get back, as the finish is about 12 miles past Snowmass. Luckily my friend’s mom was there and we were able to drive straight back. The bus system does operate for runners for free but I was glad to not have to wait around for it in the sun.

Post race food – I didn’t hang around long but I know salad was the main offering (seemed weird), plus champagne. It was a festive area with other things to do – listen to music, etc.

Photos are great – you can download them for free or purchase prints. I love free race photos; I wish every race would factor that into the registration fee somehow.

Bottom line – there are some logistical issues to getting to the race (about 3.5-4 hrs from Denver) and it’s not cheap to visit, but I’m glad I ran it. The beauty in the area, even just on the drive to and from Denver, was breathtaking, and the weather was great (despite the heat later in the day). The marathon is wonderfully organized and I definitely think it can be a fast course, just wasn’t in the cards for me that day.

I ran the Kentucky Derby Marathon Saturday and the Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday making it a double weekend, but it was worth it. The Flying Pig was one of the best city marathons I have run. The start is by Paul Brown Stadium which was very cool. I stayed downtown and it was easy walking distance. The finish isn’t far away, at the Cincinnati Reds baseball park, right down the street, so again, easy walking distance back to downtown hotels. The expo is also downtown at the Duke Energy convention center and it was great. TONS of vendors and great swag! Fun shirt (the logo this year was awesome!), plus a poster, plus a nice gym/duffle bag. Logistically, this is a pretty easy race on all fronts. Stay downtown, or even right across the river in Kentucky and you can walk everywhere.

The race start was well organized with corrals (pig pens). The course is really great. There are numerous hills, but it’s kind of known for that. Cincinnati really seems like a cool city – we ran across a few bridges, through the city, by the river, next to parks, and ultimately ended up back downtown. Really scenic for a city marathon. The crowds were fantastic too. It’s not Chicago, but I swear it was just as good – they were enthusiastic the whole way. Great volunteers and 25 (!!) stocked aid stations. There was plenty of water and Gatorade, plus chews, and stations giving out bacon, fig newtons (pig newtons), twizzlers, chips, peppermint patties (pig mints), beer, cold wet towels, Swedish fish…and much more. No need to carry your own water as there is plenty of support along the way. It got hotter and sunnier than any of us expected (initially called for rain, then storms, then just overcast…don’t know where that sun came from!) so people brought out hoses to spray runners. It never felt too bad because it was a 6:30 start, so you’re done fairly early in the day.

The finish line (actually the Finish Swine) was festive and the medal was really cool. I LOVE how this city and race embrace the logo and name – everything is pig-centric and fun. They did an absolutely wonderful job organizing this event and made it so simple for runners to enjoy the actual run and not sweat the logistics. Highly recommend the Pig!!

First off, my understanding is 2016 was a completely different course from years past, so be aware if you’re thinking of registering and looked at old reviews. This is for the 2016 event that just took place.

My opinion is it was a good race. The RD put out A LOT of good information well in advance of the event, which is always helpful, especially for us out of towners. It was my 32nd marathon and 27th state so I appreciate all of the intel in advance!

The expo was a nice size. If you enjoy shopping for gear or talking to vendors, it’s big enough for that. If you just want to grab your bib and shirt, you can do that too. I didn’t have any waiting around, there was ample parking at the convention center (part of the Embassy Suites in Olathe), and the volunteers were very helpful. I double checked my info at the first table, walked 10 steps and got my bib, then meandered to the back of the hall to get my shirt. There was plenty of information to be gathered here too – parking, race course, shuttles, etc. They also had a cute “yellow brick road” path on the floor leading you to where you needed to be. Appropriate, given it’s the Garmin Marathon in the Land of Oz. Lots of photo ops too if you’re so inclined.

My impression is that the previous course was fairly flat and fast, and surprisingly, they still billed this course as mostly flat and fast too. Not the case. It was pretty continuously rolling, with some bigger hills late in the course. I’m not anti-hill, I actually kind of like the variation, but there was very little in the way of flat stretches and when you’re expecting flat, it’s not always a nice surprise. That said, just be prepared!

The great thing about the morning is that the race starts early (6:45am for the full). I love an early race because it means you’re done early! Also, the start (and finish) is right outside the convention center and hotel. If you stay at the Embassy Suites, you’re golden (I did not but I got there early). Even if you don’t, you can stay warm (or dry, as the weather dictates) inside the convention center. Pretty nice perk depending on the weather. We lucked out with comfortable, cool temps and overcast skies, though it was windy. Not bad at all! The RD had advertised a Marathon Maniac Corner (like Route 66 offers) which would have been nice, but I don’t think it ever materialized, even though they gave out wristbands to us MM/50 Staters. Maybe next year they will figure that part out. Regardless, it wasn’t a big deal to not have that.

A quick word on parking. I had about a 15 minute drive from my hotel in Overland Park. I was concerned that parking would fill up fast so I arrived very early (about 5am). I had no problem parking in the many lots across from the starting and finishing area. There were also two shuttle spots that would drop you off at the start. I’m sure this will change before next year’s event, but I heard that people got screwed trying to leave the parking lot after the race. As in, they had to sit and wait for 60-90 minutes in a traffic jam trying to cross the course which ran on the only road out of the commercial park. Not great planning for that aspect. Now, that said, as a full marathoner, I think the vast majority of those stuck were 10k and half runners, so when I left I had zero problem exiting. Like I said, I bet they change that for next year.

The start went off smoothly, and then we were off into the hills. The full and half ran the first 12-point-something miles together before we broke off for the second half. The first half was pretty residential, nothing glorious or scenic but not bad either. The second half was on a paved path by the river which offered peaceful solitude (seriously, there were like triple the half runners, so we were pretty spread out on the back half). The path is out and back to the last 1.2 miles when you run back to the convention center. It was hilly too. Aid stations were plentiful, about every 2 miles, and the course seemed to be marked very well. I ran 26.3, which is about right considering I don’t always run tangents very well!

I didn’t check out the finish line food, just got a granola bar and water, but I think there were hot sandwiches and maybe some other things. They did have massage therapists inside and outside, which was awesome. I usually find the wait to be too long for this little perk, but it wasn’t more than a couple of minutes in Oz. I got stretched out first, then a nice massage, all inside the wind-free convention center! I also got my printed finisher’s certificate and results quickly.

The bling for this race was first rate. Very cool dark blue tech shirt with NEVER SURRENDER on the front and the outline of the wicked witch in green, probably one of my favorite race shirts. The medal is quite large and also features the wicked witch. If you like the bling, it’s a good race to collect a nice heavy finisher’s medal.

Bottom line: it was far from a PR for me and it wasn’t an easy course. But, it was well supported, the course wasn’t bad, the bling was awesome, and we had good weather, so I consider it a good race worth doing and I would recommend it for a Kansas finish for any other 50 staters.

I’m a nice person and don’t like to write bad reviews, but…

Chattanooga held their inaugural marathon this month. It’s a cool town, good restaurants, and probably will be a great event down the road, so this review is only for this first race.

The course itself is fine. Not beautiful and scenic, but interesting and varied enough to be good. It’s quite hilly, has some nice river views and bridge crossings, goes through some industrial areas and some residential ones, so again, quite varied. The expo was okay but the downside was it’s at the start of the 5k and fun run the day before the marathon, so if you drive it’s tricky to get to it first thing in the morning. The t-shirt was meh, smaller fit than normal but nice, soft material.

The race start went off without a hitch, and the first three miles or so (maybe more) were spot on, according to my GPS. Then things fell apart. Somewhere in there they had a cone set up for a turnaround but it was about a tenth of a mile too soon, meaning that the course was technically about a quarter mile or so short of an actual marathon. THIS is the major fail. It’s your inaugural event, THE most important thing you can do is make sure that your Boston-qualifying certified course is correct, and yet they didn’t do that.

For most people this probably doesn’t bother them and they don’t care; I think Boston will adjust your times and other clubs make exceptions when the race screws something up. For someone trying to run a marathon in all 50 states, however, it’s a very expensive mistake that means we have to redo a state if we want a certified finish at the end of all 50. So, their .20 mile short race cost me a lot of money and time and wear and tear on my body. And there was no official acknowledgment for days after this happened, even when local news was picking it up as a major SNAFU. So, sure, this race might be dandy next year or the year after, but for me, it was a waste of time and even if they gave me free entry I wouldn’t go back.

I have never run more than a mile or two on a track but hey, why not run 26.2 and see what happens?

I had a hole in my race calendar and this was a chance to run a marathon in a northern state in January that I otherwise would have to put off till warmer months, so why not go for it.

Registration was easy as with most events, the marathon seems to fill up last, even though I registered somewhat late in the game. Getting to Milwaukee from VA was surprisingly cheap so my hubby came along too; it’s rare he gets to see me more than once or twice during a race…this time he saw me about 95 times!

There was no expo, just show up race morning and pick up your stuff, which is awesome in my opinion. One less thing to do the day before the race. The event was held at the Petit National Ice Center and runners and family spent the first little while before the start upstairs in a warm room with tables, chairs, coffee, water and most importantly, bathrooms. Close to race time we made our way down to the track where we were given instructions on where to set up our personal water bottles and nutrition. I had mine in a plastic bag with my name and bib number written on it, and two bottles (1 with water, 1 with Gatorade), also labeled. These were set up on a table that corresponded to a range of bib numbers. Volunteers manned this table throughout the event and handed off bottles and Gu’s to runners then took them back the next lap. It wasn’t a perfect system but it was pretty good and you can’t beat having access to food and water ever .25 miles during a marathon. I didn’t need it, but there were a couple of portajohns set up along the track too.

The organization of this race was pretty great. Maybe it’s easier in some ways because there is no “course” to mark and monitor, but it has its own slew of logistical issues, none of which was noticeable to me as a runner. Everyone wore an ankle bracelet that gave us a chip timed run, and you crossed a couple of mats where your lap times, lap countdowns, and average lap time were displayed prominently. This was helpful, although I underestimated the difficulty I would have doing the math to time my laps and nutrition like a normal marathon. Regardless, I made it out okay!

There is no scenery. It was roughly 95 laps around the indoor ice arena where yes, a couple of hockey games were going on, and some speed skaters were training in the outer ice loop. But I couldn’t really focus on that stuff for very long. There were no headphones allowed, but the RD had a playlist of music pumped out over the PA system, including selections that we runners sent in ahead of time. That was pretty cool, although some people have weird taste in running music!

So, 90 laps later, with 5 to go, the RD announced my name as closing in on the finish, and then again on my final lap (he may have done this with 20 or 10 to go as well, I can’t remember). I have never been so delighted to be done with a race as I was here. 95 laps on a track that doesn’t change is mind numbing and leg numbing in my opinion. I wish there could have been a hill manufactured for the race just to change up what my legs were doing. But, that’s the way an indoor marathon goes, and now I know.

I am very glad I did it and appreciate the fact that they have a great long-sleeve tech tee and solid medal for finishers. I was pleased with my time and the swag, and hobbled away happy, though I have now checked the indoor marathon box for good!

This was my last marathon of 2015, and I registered kind of late. It was a Saturday race, which is sometimes a little harder to get to, and Little Rock was a little expensive to fly into, but it was worth it. There wasn’t really an expo, just packet pick up at a running store (which happened to be next to a grocery store…score!! Race morning breakfast purchases made!). I prefer no expo, so again, this was a good thing in my opinion.

I stayed at a hotel just a mile or two away from one of the two designated parking spots. This was pretty convenient – no need to worry about getting to the start and parking. Instead, I parked in a large church parking lot and took the bus to the starting area.

The start was great. It’s the only marathon I’ve run where there was a heated tent for runners to hang out in, which in December, was very nice. They had coffee, water, and snacks pre-race and we only had to walk around the corner to the start. There were plenty of portajohns nearby as well. Definitely one of the best pre race starting areas I’ve experienced. The sunrise was lovely too!

The start was smooth. The whole course was really nice; I was astounded by the quantity and quality of footpaths by the river. They were asphalt and in great condition, with nice views pretty much the whole time. The last 10k was more in a park with small, rolling hills, but also pleasant. You cross three bridges (hence the name) which meant some incline, and there are a few minor hills during the course as well, but nothing bad in my opinion. The bridges were like milestones, I started looking forward to them because they had nice views and meant we were making progress.

Aid stations and volunteers were great. It’s not the type of race you run for thousands of cheering people along the course, but it was very pretty and quite enjoyable and I met some cool runners along the route, one of which I ran with for about 16 miles. I tend to prefer scenic over crowd anyway.

You run back by the finish around mile 20 and cross a bridge that leads into that park area by the river. On the one hand you’re thinking “crap that’s the finish but I’m not done…” but on the other hand it’s a party atmosphere and the announcer calls your name and where you’re from on the PA, so that’s cool. He also says it again as you re-cross the bridge to finish right at about mile 26.1. It didn’t bother me to pass the finish but some people might find it a bit of a bummer.

The post-race atmosphere was fun and there was a good selection of food and drink. The shuttles back to the parking lots were also great, as they ran pretty frequently right by the finish area, and dropped you off at your lot. From there I only had a mile or two to drive to my hotel.

The t-shirt was a nice long sleeve tech shirt. The medal was so-so but not bad. The real prize, pun intended’ were the age group awards. I placed in my division and collected a SWEET plaque to hang on my wall. Great swag in my opinion, with minimum hassle and a beautiful, extremely well-organized race.

Bottom line, if you need Arkansas for your 50 states quest, I HIGHLY recommend this race. It’s one of my favorites, and not just because we had beautiful, sunny, cool weather. It really felt like a marathon for runners, by runners, and it showed with every detail. I don’t anticipate running repeat races if I can help it, but this is one I would consider running again just because I enjoyed it so much.

Trying to run all 50 states means I’ve gotten to see some truly spectacular places and run some great marathons. But there are a few states that, to be quite honest, I’m just not as excited to run (no offense to anyone living in those states!). Oklahoma was one I wasn’t that excited about but I’d heard good things about Route 66 so I signed up for the 10th anniversary run. Great decision!

First, Tulsa is a pretty cool city. I stayed downtown at Aloft which put me within easy walking distance of pretty much everything race-related and right next door to the expo location. It was a great choice and they went all out in support of the marathon too, posting the event information and maps, and wearing shirts and pins with the marathon name and logo. It’s fun to see that kind of support from a hotel! That also set the stage for the whole weekend, as it’s a pretty festive atmosphere all around, even though downtown Tulsa itself kind of closes down on Saturdays and Sundays. Not to worry though, as there are still good restaurants nearby!

Expo: I’m not an expo person and I usually try to get to the expo first thing to get it over with. I was a little surprised at how they ran packet pickup. There was a single file line to get to the long table where multiple volunteers were sitting, so it was more like going to the bank and going to the first available teller when you’re at the front of the line. Usually it seems like packets are picked up based on last name or bib number. I’ve run the big races – Chicago, Disney, Boston, NYC, MCM – and I think those races had faster pickup than Route 66. That said, I did get there early and didn’t have to wait that long thankfully. I walked around briefly to check out the vendors and get my Marathon Maniac wristband which gave me access to the MM/50 State area pre-race and post-race. I also got my zip up jacket which is a nice piece of swag.

Race morning was clear and cold (perfect!). I walked the short distance to the start downtown which was so nice – no driving, parking, or shuttle required. As a Maniac I accessed the roped off area which had its own portajohns as well as coffee and water. We also took a Maniac photo which was crazy, because this race draws a TON of Maniacs! It was a festive beginning on a beautiful day.

The race went off on time and we marathoners split off from the half runners fairly quickly (if I remember correctly). The course itself had some rolling hills but I didn’t find it to be terribly challenging (but I live in a hilly area!). Most of it was somewhat scenic and it ran through some beautiful, wealthy neighborhoods! There was also a college campus in there somewhere. Crowds were pretty good and the aid stations were frequent. I’d also like to say that I have never seen so many people handing out alcohol on a marathon course!! I didn’t partake but it was everywhere – Fireball, Jell-o shots, beer, and who knows what else. If you took one of each you’d be fairly smashed by the halfway point! Very enthusiastic people all around!

Route 66 also has the Center of the Universe Detour, also known as the World’s Shortest Ultra. This is a short detour off the course (also marked and optional) that takes you to another beer stop and you receive a large coin upon completing it before rejoining the marathon course. It’s right before the end and I think it takes the distance from 26.2 to 26.5. I did it and it was fun, though be prepared for a short, steep hill as you go back to the marathon.

The finish area was festive and the medal was awesome. As a 50 Stater or Marathon Maniac you could swap your standard marathon medal for a custom club medal. The line was very long for half runners who were switching their medals out, but the marathon was smaller and therefore no line! I thought this was a really nice touch and it’s among my favorite medals!

There were shuttles running back into downtown from the finish but they were getting stuck in traffic. I chose to walk the mile or so back, which I’m usually glad to do as it helps shake the legs out. It was nice weather and a good stroll. I ended up going back to the restaurant I ate at the day before for my post-race meal: a burger wrapped and baked in pizza dough. Yum!

Overall assessment: great race, and a happy surprise for this doubter. Tulsa was fun and the race was very well organized, festive, and offered fantastic amenities, especially if you’re a member of one or both clubs (MM or 50 States). I enjoyed running the course itself and definitely recommend it to other marathoners.

MDI is one of those races that I always think of immediately when someone asks “what’s your favorite marathon?” It’s just a standout for so many reasons, some of which are below:

It’s in Maine. I’d never been before this race, but I hope to go back. Maine in October is beautiful. I took so many pictures of the changing leaves, it’s a little ridiculous. There’s also great food in Bar Harbor, and it’s a nice drive from the airport in Bangor.

Lots to do. Bar Harbor closes down the week after the marathon, for the most part, and you get there just after the majority of tourists have left, which is nice. I stayed in a B&B right around the corner from the start, so walking distance to everything (and when I say walking distance, it was like 50 feet from the green in the center of town). Good restaurants and things to walk around and see, little touristy things, nice paths, and great views. I recommend you do a Maine foodie tour if you want to sample the local fare. Lobster rolls, blueberry-everything, crab cakes…yum.

The start was casual, because it’s not a HUGE race. I was able to walk out of the B&B a few minutes beforehand which meant my own bathroom up until the gun went off!

The weather: lucked out last year. It was crisp, cold, and sunny with blue skies. This made for comfortable running and great views.

The course: Absolutely nothing like it. It is challenging, with pretty much hill after hill. By the end, my legs were pretty sore! But the views were rewarding. The leaves were changing, you run along gorgeous shoreline, and you pass the famous tree. I ran with my phone and snapped quick photos along the way just because it was so pretty. If you can train on hills, it will help. I ran Chicago the weekend prior (flat as a pancake) and my MDI time was 7 minutes faster, so don’t be scared.

Did I mention the views?

The medal: it’s a big golden lobster claw. What’s not to love about that?! I gave the SWAG four stars only because the marathon shirt was bright pink, not my favorite. But the medal made up for it!

My husband was with me and met me at the finish, and there is a drive back to the start/Bar Harbor. There were probably shuttles but I didn’t investigate since I had a ride. Easy drive back though.

Overall: I loved MDI. It’s so well organized and executed. Some of the best scenery and great small town support. Everyone was friendly and enthusiastic, and very excited about the marathon. There was great food and drink, a local vibe that was really fun, and of course, beautiful fall weather and foliage. Highly recommend MDI!! Oh, and if they’re auctioning/selling race banners, it’s a nice keepsake. I got one and it’s hanging on my wall.