My Profile

@scottclem

Richardson, TX Raving since 2020 Boston Marathon finisher, 50 States hopeful/finisher, IRONMAN, World Marathon Majors Six Star hopeful/finisher, Seven Continents Club Active 3 weeks, 5 days ago

About Me

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My Races

Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.

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Half Marathon

Marathon

Ultramarathon

(Marathon or Ultra) + Half

Marathon + Ultra

Other

Future Races

Personal Bests (3)

Race Distance Location Date Result
Ironman Louisville, KY Oct 9, 2016 4:14:18
60K Hatch, UT May 30, 2020 10:32:14
Marathon Ojai, CA May 29, 2016 3:13:58

Future Races (0)

Race Distance Location Date Paid

Past Races (53)

Race Distance Location Date Result My Raves My Performance
Marathon Wilmington, NC Feb 24, 2024
Marathon Las Vegas, NV Jan 20, 2024
Marathon Honolulu, HI Dec 10, 2023 4:10:00
Marathon Salina, KS Nov 4, 2023 3:51:22
Marathon Hartford, CT Oct 14, 2023 3:45:40
Marathon Milwaukee, WI Oct 1, 2023 3:53:39
Marathon Aspen, CO Jul 15, 2023
Marathon Deadwood, SD Jun 4, 2023 4:31:48
Marathon Jersey City, NJ Apr 23, 2023 3:56:19
Marathon Rehoboth Beach, DE Dec 3, 2022
Marathon Manchester, NH Nov 13, 2022
Marathon Des Moines, IA Oct 16, 2022
Marathon Red River, NM Jul 30, 2022
Marathon Waitsfield, VT Jul 10, 2022
Marathon Two Harbors, MN Jun 18, 2022 3:38:40
Marathon Eugene, OR May 1, 2022 3:32:59
Marathon St Louis, MO Apr 3, 2022 3:36:56
Marathon Cookeville, TN Feb 26, 2022 3:56:00
Marathon Daufuskie Island, SC Jan 15, 2022 3:46:04
Marathon Little Rock, AR Nov 21, 2021 3:38:59
Marathon London, United Kingdom Oct 3, 2021 3:45:25
Marathon Akron, OH Jul 10, 2021 3:47:47
Marathon Lincoln, NE May 2, 2021 3:56:04
Marathon Savannah, GA Mar 13, 2021 4:05:23
Marathon Biloxi, MS Dec 13, 2020 4:02:52
Marathon Jackson Hole, WY Sep 26, 2020 3:40:49
Marathon Medora, ND Jul 25, 2020 4:52:04
60K Hatch, UT May 30, 2020 10:32:14
Marathon Mobile, AL Jan 12, 2020 3:32:57
Marathon Philadelphia, PA Nov 24, 2019 3:29:15
Marathon Berlin, Germany Sep 29, 2019 3:20:48
Marathon Ashton, ID Aug 24, 2019 3:53:07
Marathon Frenchtown, MT Jun 30, 2019 3:37:42
Marathon Big Sur, CA Apr 28, 2019 3:37:51
Marathon Houston, TX Jan 20, 2019 3:25:09
Marathon Seattle, WA Nov 25, 2018 3:38:04
Marathon Chicago, IL Oct 7, 2018 3:30:02
Marathon Dallas, TX Dec 10, 2017
Marathon Staten Island, NY Nov 5, 2017 3:31:35
Marathon Hopkinton, MA Apr 17, 2017 4:17:14
Marathon Dallas, TX Dec 11, 2016 3:31:23
Ironman Louisville, KY Oct 9, 2016 4:14:18
Marathon Ojai, CA May 29, 2016 3:13:58
Marathon Hopkinton, MA Apr 18, 2016 3:47:14
Marathon Mesa, AZ Feb 27, 2016 3:21:09
Ironman Panama City Beach, FL Nov 7, 2015 6:28:56
Marathon Lafayette, LA Mar 8, 2015 3:38:25
Ironman Tempe, AZ Nov 16, 2014 4:25:52
Marathon Fort Worth, TX Feb 23, 2014 3:58:58
Marathon Detroit, MI 2013 4:15:32
Marathon Oklahoma City, OK 2012
Marathon Arlington, VA 2012 4:14:45
Marathon Las Vegas, NV 2011 4:38:00

My Raves

Logistics: Easy. The town is a few miles from the regional airport if you are flying in. There are a few hotels very close to the expo, shuttles and finish … MORE

Logistics: Easy. The town is a few miles from the regional airport if you are flying in. There are a few hotels very close to the expo, shuttles and finish line.
Production: Communication was top notch. The buses to the start area, # of porto-potties, aid stations, finish area were all fantastic. This year they started at 6:30am which I am fan of, and they really stressed that everyone should get to the buses and start area early. I was up at 2:30 and at the race start by 5am. So it was a early start and a bit of a wait.
Expo & Swag: Expo was well organized simple, with standard booths. I like the cotton t-shirt blend for participation. ( edit: There is branded merch but I missed it! See link in the reply below)
Course Difficulty: Mostly flat. You might notice an incline for mile 25 if you are trying for a time, but overall no major hills. Weather was perfect for running on this day.
Course Scenery: It is was (surprisingly) not very scenic nor interesting. The start area of the race next to the beach was nice but it was too dark to appreciate.
Post Race party was fun with food and music.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
2
SWAG
3

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This is a small race and expectations for swag, food, and spectators should be set accordingly. Buses conveniently pick up racers and spectators from specified locations. It’s a little chilly … MORE

This is a small race and expectations for swag, food, and spectators should be set accordingly.
Buses conveniently pick up racers and spectators from specified locations.
It’s a little chilly and dark in the starting area, but that is a good thing.
The course is beautiful and the weather was perfect this year.
It is a challenging course, with some very steep and long hills. The most challenging being around miles 15-18. Expect to hike these unless you are a contender.
A really excellent marathon if you enjoy scenery, and running for the joy of it.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
2

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I had some low expectations of this race due to some unfavorable reviews that I've read and heard. But, I was pleasantly surprised... Location: Waikiki Beach - lots of tourists, … MORE

I had some low expectations of this race due to some unfavorable reviews that I’ve read and heard. But, I was pleasantly surprised…
Location: Waikiki Beach – lots of tourists, but I didn’t mind. It was fun coming in the winter and seeing everyone on the beach swimming, surfing and walking around with bikinis and swim trunks. So many shops along the strip. I’m not much of a shopper but even I found a few things to purchase. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
Expo: In a big convention center but pretty sparse. Plenty of volunteers so no waiting. The thing I liked about it was that there was good race merch so I bought a little more than usual.
Race Start: This race set a record for me waking up at 2am. I was too far from the start to want to walk (2.5mi) but the shuttle pickup was next door. I was worried about not getting on the shuttle from previous years’ reports (and even this year I heard stories of missing the shuttles) , so I got there around 3am and hopped right on, getting to the race at 3:15am with a lot of time to, well, walk around and use the porto-potties a dozen times. The starting area is large, and there are plenty of porto-potties, but my biggest surprise is that there was no hydration or food available, besides some park drinking fountains. Quite surprising for a race this large. The corral system was fine, and, yes, I observed many people in a corral they were not supposed to be in, but I didn’t care as long as they didn’t start walking from the start. The ceremony is long but interesting and different with some Hawaiian traditions thrown in. Fireworks go off when it starts, and yes, several people videoing the fireworks rather than running. The first several miles is just about not tripping over people and watching your step. But this is nothing unique for a big city race. Overall I didn’t have any negative experiences with the congestion.
Race Course: Starting at 5am, it remains dark for a couple of hours. This is good because when the sun comes out it can definitely beat on you. It is well lit and no need for any additional lighting. I found it very beautiful at times, looking at lights on the hills and the ocean as the sun came up. The course goes up hill around mile 8-9 and it is long. And then it goes down some. Going out, the hill is not bad and a welcome change. The course goes out along the coast with very scenic views. I was sight-seeing while running the first 17 miles and even stopped for a couple of pictures. Then the course turns back. For me, it was down to business on the way back, more concentration on keeping my pace, looking at all of the people going out, and keeping my body as cool as possible. The sun is out, and my body starts to feel it. Around mile 23? the hills start again and this time not as easy. I had to do some walking and my legs were struggling. The good part was that around mile 24-25 it is a significant downhill. So even with my worn out legs, the gravity allowed me to keep running. The last half-mile goes flat but you can see the finish line. Seeing that kept me going.
Post race: I was zapped at the end, and needed to sit for a while. There is plenty of space and nice area to just hang and watch people. I was underwhelmed with the food and beverage offerings at the party, and this is my only minor gripe.
The medal is very nice!
I enjoyed this race quite a lot, and enjoyed staying in Waikiki.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
4
SWAG
2

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Logistics: Closest major airport is in Wichita, but an easy 1h20m drive to Salina. Expo: Small, with friendly, local vendors. Not much swag, but that's what I expect for a … MORE

Logistics: Closest major airport is in Wichita, but an easy 1h20m drive to Salina.
Expo: Small, with friendly, local vendors. Not much swag, but that’s what I expect for a small race.
Hotels: They filled up fast and the cost was 2-3x what you would normally expect for Salina.
Race Day Parking: Many free parking lots available on the street next to race start. Very convenient.
Race Course: It’s a 2 loop course so you run next to the half-marathon finish line , and then do it again. Although I prefer a single loop or P2P courses, I don’t mind this format as you know exactly what to expect the second time around and can help mentally. The course is not too scenic, but I didn’t expect it to be. There is a small lake and a park that are the highlights or scenery, but otherwise there’s not much to look at. The roads vary from beat-up farm-to-market roads (watch your footing) , gravel, well-paved side roads. Even though there is not much to look at, the course was not boring as it had many different segments and few long straight-ways. I feel the RDs did the best they could for this town, but I’m told the city received funding for new park trails next year, so perhaps this course will only improve. There is only one major hill to speak of. It’s a decent steep hill but nothing to worry about. I’m used to running steep hills lately so the first time around, no problem, just slowed down a bit. But the second time around is at mile 20, and because I didn’t pace well on this race, I had to power walk it. The downhill after the uphill more than makes up for loss time.
Race Day was cool and cloudy (in the 50s) and really ideal for racing.
The longest straight stretch of road is the last quarter-half mile to the finish line. It is flat so you can see the finish line when you turn onto the street and it seems so close, but oh so far. For me, I had broken down the last 5 miles and was having a hard time sustaining a long jog. But once I got a glimpse of the finish line it motivated me to fast-jog it in that last bit (the best I could do).
The finish area, post-race party was great. After handing you a medal, they hand you a piece of chocolate pie. This was a first for me. And OMG, it hit the spot so well. They also had burgers, great hot dogs, chocolate milk, and other food choices. A band was playing.
Overall production was good. Plenty of aid stations and porto-potties, and enough volunteers.
For me, it’s good to keep small races like this in perspective. I love to run, and as long as the race provides the basic needs I am happy. They did a great job marketing this race on Facebook and as a result the number of participants ballooned this year. It was a bit crowded for about 8 miles, depending on your pace, of course. I fear that this race could get over-hyped and people expect more than it is. I have no complaints (besides my poor pacing), and would recommend this race for 50-staters.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
2
SWAG
2

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Logistics: Airport is about 20 minutes from host hotels. I stayed at the Hilton and it was right across the street from the expo and about 10 minutes from the … MORE

Logistics: Airport is about 20 minutes from host hotels. I stayed at the Hilton and it was right across the street from the expo and about 10 minutes from the race start and finish.
Expo and Production: Good expo with lots of swag. This is 2 races in a row where the swag was really good so I had to buy a few things. Production was flawless in my eyes. Good communication, great start line and excellent finish area to hang out in. Well done!
Weather and Course: The weather was perfect for running on this day. Started out in the high 40s with cloud cover. So just cool enough but not cold. It remained in the 50s throughout the race and perfect. I enjoyed the first 6 miles of the course that went through neighborhoods and a park, and consisted of gently rolling hills. Nice scenery and variation to make it interesting. The course takes you toward the river and you go over a bridge to the other side. This is not a huge or super steep bridge but it is enough to work for when you go back over it in the last couple of miles. Most of the course takes place on the East side into residential areas. The course is mostly flat with an occasional incline and decline. If I am to be honest, this part of the course, from a scenery perspective, is just okay. Not the most scenic. But by the second half I was really concentrating on my speed and it was perfect.
Great volunteers and everything was perfect for a marathon!

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
3
SWAG
5

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Logistics: As a 50-stater and traveling from out-of-town, this had to be the easiest marathon logistically. Airport is 10 minutes from host hotels. The hotels are within .25mi of race … MORE

Logistics: As a 50-stater and traveling from out-of-town, this had to be the easiest marathon logistically. Airport is 10 minutes from host hotels. The hotels are within .25mi of race start. (And, the hotel let me in when I arrived at noon! ) Shuttle at finish took me back to hotel.
Expo and Swag: For medium-size race, they had better swag than most. I generally don’t buy much, but they had several things I couldn’t pass up.
Course: I really enjoyed the course. Scenic, fun, never boring. The route takes you through some nice neighborhoods, parks, by Lake Michigan, and most significantly across the Hoan Bridge. This bridge is about 2.5mi long, with a solid mile ascent and a mile descent. The first time you go over it around mile 9 (if I remember correctly) and you are lucky you get to see all of the fast half-marathoners coming in the opposite direction. The second time is at mile 24, and it is a solid climb, so save some legs and energy! It all pays off at mile 25 when you are at the top of the bridge and know that the rest is a fast downhill. If you are feeling good, that may be most fun 1.2mi of the course!
Production: Everything was flawless to me. Great communication, expo, start line, finish area, volunteers. Great job!

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
5

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

Marathon #51 for me, and this was one of the most scenic. I was in awe from start to finish and stopped many times for pictures. The course itself is … MORE

Marathon #51 for me, and this was one of the most scenic. I was in awe from start to finish and stopped many times for pictures. The course itself is one of the most “friendliest” in that the first 20mi is downhill. No obstacles, no crazy turns, just 20 miles of beautiful scenery. Heaven.
The challenges: it is high altitude. I had to hold way back so I didn’t blow up later, as i have in other high altitude races. It is mostly exposed to the sun and it can get warm as the race goes on, but the race wisely starts at 6am when it is cool, so that helps tremendously. The race does flatten out starting around 19-20. At Mile 21 there is a long slight incline that you just have to endure before some short downhills. If you haven’t blown up, the last few miles can be fast.
There are very few Porto potties on the course. I finally stepped off of the trail at one point , but this may be an issue for some people.
The after party is great with plenty of food and drinks. The champagne at the finish line is a welcome touch.
I love this race and highly recommend it.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3
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I was impressed with the beauty of the area, and the course was one of the more scenic ones I've done for the 50 states. The production was excellent, the … MORE

I was impressed with the beauty of the area, and the course was one of the more scenic ones I’ve done for the 50 states. The production was excellent, the expo and swag better than most races of this size. Pasta dinner was really good. I love point-to-points and the opportunity to talk to fellow runners on the bus. Staging area was great and just the right ratio of porto-potties to runners so that the lines moved quickly.
Now, I had not done my homework and didn’t realize that this race started at 5500 ft and rose 1000 ft. My body definitely felt the altitude and climb. The downhill at mile 13.5 was a welcome relief and I immediately gained about a minute per mile without extra effort. Still, the overall effects of the sun, altitude, and climbing eventually took their toll on me and many other runners so the last 7 miles was a struggle. Support was great throughout the race and no complaints. The only thing that I wish were different was the start time. 8am is a late start for this course. 7am or even 6am would be much nicer from a running perspective, and it would give us visitors more time to check-out of our motel. I was late checking out but lucky for me the Holiday Inn Express was very forgiving and hospitable.
Overall – beautiful course and production, grateful to have run it.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

I participated in 2023, their inaugural event. As far as I'm concerned, it went well without any issues. The course is interesting enough. The highlights for me was seeing the … MORE

I participated in 2023, their inaugural event. As far as I’m concerned, it went well without any issues. The course is interesting enough. The highlights for me was seeing the Statue of Liberty very clearly (I even stopped on the side of the road twice to take pictures) , and seeing the skylines of NJ and NYC. I also enjoyed running through the neighborhoods of Jersey. People were friendly and cheering. Jersey people are noisy and fun. The course is flat and most of the time feels like you are running slightly downhill. There are two downsides to the course: 1) It is a little narrow for the first couple of miles so it gets congested, but this is somewhat common for city races. 2) There are many rough neighborhood roads with potholes. It was a rainy day so trying to avoid the puddles was like running a trail race. I enjoyed it, but if I were doing it for a PR/BQ time, I could see where this would not be ideal.
note: I can’t accurately report on the race swag because I missed the expo and had to pick up my bib race morning. I got a tech-shirt which is fine. Did not get purchase anything.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
3

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I had low expectations for this race for some reason, but was pleasantly surprised. Loved the course. Yes, it is hilly, but it is never dull, and sometimes really beautiful, … MORE

I had low expectations for this race for some reason, but was pleasantly surprised. Loved the course. Yes, it is hilly, but it is never dull, and sometimes really beautiful, especially along the river. The volunteers were great, even in the rain, as were the spectators cheering in the rain. Everything was perfect in my opinion.
Course notes: Miles 16-20 are on a hard packed trail along the river , surrounded by trees. The prettiest part of the course, but slightly at an incline so your pace may slow a little (mine did). But stick with it, because you turn around after mile 20 and can make up some time going back down the trail. Everything is hunky dory until the last mile when you go up a significant long hill. But you are almost done! When you turn the corner you see the finish line and think I can sprint to the finish, but the course teases you and you have to go around the block and finally see the finish for real. No complaints, but that last 1.2mi could be mentally tough if you are already spent.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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Really loved the course. One of the more interesting/varied urban courses I’ve run. Production was excellent. Swag was okay, but free digital pictures which is uncommon for city races. Great … MORE

Really loved the course. One of the more interesting/varied urban courses I’ve run.
Production was excellent. Swag was okay, but free digital pictures which is uncommon for city races.
Great after party,

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
3

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So gorgeous and equally challenging. The marathon course runs up two different mountains from approximately 8600 ft to 10,000 ft. As a flatlander it seemed that the uphill running would … MORE

So gorgeous and equally challenging. The marathon course runs up two different mountains from approximately 8600 ft to 10,000 ft. As a flatlander it seemed that the uphill running would never end. The first mountain is a series of switchbacks with a technical rocky road. Once you finally make it up to the forest at 10k ft you run loops on softer ground but the course rarely flattens out completely. You are ultimately rewarded with the downhill switchbacks that brought you up the mountain. This can be a fast section if you are adept at traversing the rocks but it can be treacherous. At mile 20 you start the second climb up the ski slope which is laughably steep. From the ground it doesn’t look too bad, but the hill keeps going up and up and up to the highest point possible. After reaching the peak it’s about 4+ miles down soft switchbacks. (The course is over 27 miles) If you still have legs you can make some good time here, but for me it was just a nice fast walk jog, knowing that I would indeed finish the race if I didn’t let my heart rate get too high. Having noted the technical challenges I’ll say that the views make it all worth it. I forced myself to stop and take pictures several times since I wasn’t competitive on this race . Also met several special people on this race that made it very enjoyable and fulfilling. Final tip: take walking poles! I did not but a nice young lady let me have one of hers going up the ski slope. It was a game changer for me and I’m forever grateful for her generosity.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4
My Media

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

I was expecting hilly and it did not disappoint. After 40+ marathons I can say that this was the hilliest road marathon that I’ve done. Much more challenging than Big … MORE

I was expecting hilly and it did not disappoint. After 40+ marathons I can say that this was the hilliest road marathon that I’ve done. Much more challenging than Big Sur, IMO.
It takes place in a small town on rural roads in VT and is surrounded by hills of trees. Being the first time in VT the beauty and lushness of it all blew me away. For lodging be sure to book early at one of the many B&Bs or Inns nearby. They may cost you a little more than your normal hotel but s very much worth it. Having just run Grandmas marathon where the prices of hotels are way overpriced for the value, the prices of the lodging here is appropriate. The production of the race is A+. Not much swag but the RD and support people are sooo nice, and the aid stations are top notch. In fact I’d suggest that the people that organize and support the race are a major factor that makes this race special. Let’s hope it remains the gem that it is.

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

I ran this race because it looked scenic with challenging hills. The day before the race I toured the waterfalls and drove the course. The first 16 miles are mostly … MORE

I ran this race because it looked scenic with challenging hills. The day before the race I toured the waterfalls and drove the course.
The first 16 miles are mostly downhill or small rolling hills. The course traverses a river for many miles on a narrow 2-lane road. The river is usually on the left side while the right side are high cliffs with some beautiful mini waterfalls scattered throughout. There are some beautiful moments.
Close to mile 17 is where the real fun begins. I was feeling really good and figured I could easily slow-jog up every hill. But that first big hill told me otherwise. I resorted to walking at least half of it. There were about 2 other hills in the last 9 miles that I had to do the same. Most of the others I was able to slow down a little without walking. Overall I figured I lost about 10 minutes in the last 10 miles of the race due to the hills. The hills definitely did not disappoint! Afterwards I was very satisfied.
Production: No complaints about the number of aid stations along the route, and the volunteers that supported them. It was a cold day with some sprinkles and so I am grateful for anyone standing out (or waiting in the car) at an aid station!
2 complaints from me. 1) There weren’t many porto-potties on the course. Maybe 1 or 2 at most? I was lucky that day that I didn’t need to go, and if I needed to go pee I could’ve pulled over into the woods as sparse as the participants were. But I was worried about women in particular who had to go. If I’m wrong in my observations I am happy to be corrected. 2) The post-race awards and activities for the marathon were not obvious if they had any. There was a tent with food (thank you) but I didn’t hear or see any announcements (at all) and nothing about award presentations . It was too cold to stick around for long so left after 15 minutes in the tent. I did email the organizers asking if I would receive an award but didn’t get a response.
To be clear, I run a lot of small races and am grateful to have marathons and to race organizers that have continued during COVID.
I would recommend this race to others that are looking for a scenic, hilly run!

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
4
SWAG
2

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

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