Susan Bedsworth's Staging Area

This was my 4th time running Rehoboth, 3rd in person after doing the 2020 marathon virtually. The previous times before that I ran the full marathon. This year I did the half. They updated the beginning of the course where the marathon and half overlap for about 4 miles. I loved the change…added some lovely scenery and had us running the entire length of the boardwalk. Early on in the race I saw a bald eagle and around mile 7.5 where you begin the Breakwater/Junction Trail section there was a cornfield filled with snowgeese seemingly cheering us on.

Mary Beth does a great job each year as director. The medals are awesome every time, the shirts are nice (they do run small for women so order a size up), and there’s a post-race party. The weather has also been fantastic for the 3 times I’ve run the race in person. The courses for both races are flat, fast and scenic. The aid stations are organized with experienced helpers.

Highly recommend!

I loved this race years ago when I ran it for the first time. I did the virtual run in 2020 and was glad to be able to attend in person this year. It was my first in-person half since March 2020 and only my 4th in-person race at that point. The event is well-run and this year we had outstanding weather. The community is amazing. Can’t wait to return!

This is a race local to family so it’s a great excuse to go visit and get in a run. The race is small and used by locals as a Boston prep run. Course is scenic but very hilly. Definitely challenging, but even if I could I wouldn’t change it. Volunteers are supportive and kind and the medal is great. This was my last in-person race prior to COVID hitting.

I ran this for the first time and I’m glad I came out to support a local community organization. 9-miler was just shy at 8.8, which they acknowledged prior to the start but getting exactly 9 where the start and finish is is challenging due to road constraints. Lots of great homemade goodies at the finish, plenty of water on course and post-race. Nice medals for age group finishers and large trophies for top overall male and female winners. Course is challenging with 2 large hills. First one starts out deceptively easy but you round a bend and it gets steep. Second one is one you run down early in the race. Not nearly as long as the first major hill. Both times you’re rewarded with a long downhill section right after, so that’s a plus.

I will definitely return to this in the future!

Summer biathlon (running and target shooting) was something I came upon in 2017. I competed in my first in 2018 and was hooked. This year, I found one close to home. The events are small (30-40 people), but it makes for a great experience for experienced and rookie competitors alike. The biathlon includes a 5k (total) of running and target shooting. You run 1 mile, return to the range and shoot 5 targets from the prone position, run another mile, shoot 5 targets standing, and run a final mile. The goal is to run fast and shoot straight. Easier said than done. Penalty laps or penalty time is assessed for each missed target.

The PA events are very beginner friendly and open to all ages. They are run by people who love the sport and want to share it with others. With the events being so small, almost everyone comes out with a prize of some kind too. I’m sure these type of biathlon events exist in other states. If you have one near you, consider checking it out, or come to PA and join the fun!

The Altoona event was a lot of fun. The running route is a crosscountry type course including a gravel road and grass trail. While you get to run down a long hill to start each mile, you finish by running back up that same hill to the range or finish line. That adds additional challenge when it comes to controlling your breath to shoot well. Yes, you can blow off the shooting and just run fast, but the point is to do both well.

This is a well organized race with a great course. The scenery is lovely, parking is a breeze, volunteers are plentiful and knowledgeable, and the swag is nice. The field is small enough that you’re not overwhelmed, but large enough to ensure you’re never alone on the course and includes plenty of talent from near and far. I will be back!

This was my first time running the Kiawah Island Half. It was a girls’ weekend with two friends who ran the marathon. This is a great destination/racecation race. It’s a nice size, well organized, and has great swag. I loved the shirt this year and the medal. They have a great Christmas craft market during the expo where you can browse local artisans. Post race food, while not right at the finish line is excellent. The course is scenic…the homes you run past are incredible. While it is quiet, I did find there were plenty of spectators riding bikes to meet people they were supporting at various locations. Another great spot is The Sanctuary, where you see the ocean and there’s a big party going on. It’s a fun spot to run through. While we stayed on the island allowing us to walk to and from the start/finish, they’re shuttle option for those off-island runs smoothly, as well. I can’t wait to do this race again!

I ran the Hershey Half for the fourth time in 2018. The course is really neat and enjoyable. You get to go through the park early on, which is a nice bonus. The spectator support is pretty fantastic throughout. This year the shirts were really nice and I loved the KitKat medal. It’s a nice addition to my collection. As always, the aid stations had great volunteers. The shirt this year was really nice, plus you get 2 free tickets to the park, a coupon for additional admissions and a coupon for some cookies from the bakery. They were delicious!

The weather was sunny, but very windy this year adding a new challenge. The course is hilly, but scenic. I enjoyed getting a photo with a Hershey character…Reese’s Cup…at the finish!

Only thing I’d say that needs improvement are the food bags at the end. The bag itself was nice, but there was very little in it this year.

I joined a friend to participate in this race for the first time. It benefited a local organization and is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. This year they surpassed their fundraising goal. I hadn’t raced a 5k in a long time and was looking forward to seeing how I’d do. The course incorporates both bike path and neighborhood streets and is very hilly. They make it a family event with face painting, a bike tour, a bounce house and plenty of food. It was a fun morning!

This was my first time participating in this race. I signed up on the recommendation of 2 friends who ran it in 2017. It’s a small town race, but offers 3 distances to suit any runner. The race is in its 5th year and this was the biggest yet. The half marathon boasts a course that is almost entirely downhill. There are a few small climbs, but nothing major. About 8 miles of the race is on a gravel rail trail surface and offers excellent shade. Despite a hot day, it was less intense. The last 3 miles are unshaded city streets, so that was tough but you were almost done. A neat aspect of the course is the old rail tunnel you run through. They line it with paperbag lanterns and it creates a neat experience. The tunnel is also 20-30 degrees cooler than outside temperatures so it’s a nice break.

The shuttle service was well-run before the race, parking is easy and the after party was nice with music and a free beer.

It was also neat to learn a bit of history. The course follows the path from South Fork to Johnstown of the 1889 Flood that killed more than 2,200 people. There’s a national memorial in South Fork, I’d recommend visiting to learn more.

With Johnstown being a city in poor a economic state, this was a feel good race in that you knew you were benefiting a community in need of economic activity. The race officials are very humble and thankful for the support of their race and community. I will definitely go back.

This is a great race to prep for a spring marathon. A lot of people use it in prep for Pittsburgh’s Marathon in May. This was actually my very first half back in 2012 and I did the 30K in 2018. It’s a small race, but the park you run around is lovely. You loop a lake and see lots of wildlife, including waterfowl and deer. The only drawback is it’s a looped course so for the 30k you see everything three times. However, I found it enjoyable. They have a great pace team, a nice and large medal, and it’s well organized!