My Profile
@seagroves87
Salem, NH Raving since 2020 50 States hopeful/finisher, 100 Half Marathons Club, Seven Continents Club, Marathon Maniacs #15648, Half Fanatics #18410 Active 6 hours, 5 minutes agoAbout Me
My Races
Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.
50 States Map
Half Marathon
Marathon
Ultramarathon
(Marathon or Ultra) + Half
Marathon + Ultra
Other
Future Races
Personal Bests (36)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serpent’s Shadow Multisport Festival | Sprint | Silver Lake, NY | Sep 26, 2021 | 2:38:44 |
| Candlelight 12 & 24 Hour | 12 hr | Rush, NY | Jul 17, 2021 | 17.12 mi |
| 9 Hours for 9 Lives Ultra | 9 hr | Victor, NY | Jun 10, 2023 | 13.68 mi |
| Bound for the Hounds 6 Hour Ultra | 6 hr | Shortsville, NY | Nov 20, 2021 | 16.1 mi |
| Los Angeles Marathon (LA Marathon) | Marathon | Los Angeles, CA | Mar 8, 2020 | 5:20:34 |
| SRLA Friendship Run | 30K | Lake View Terrace, CA | Feb 9, 2020 | 3:45:00 |
| Regal Beagle Ultra | 25K | Bath TWP, OH | Nov 22, 2020 | 3:16:29 |
| Bataan Memorial Death March | 14 Miler | White Sands, NM | Mar 16, 2024 | 4:07:21 |
| Rocky Run 10 Mile & 5K | Italian Stallion Challenge (10 Mile + 5K) | Philadelphia, PA | Nov 11, 2023 | 3:00:51 |
| Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Pasadena, CA | Jan 19, 2020 | 2:21:41 |
| Surf City 10 | 10 Miler | Huntington Beach, CA | Sep 21, 2019 | 1:48:52 |
| NH 10 Miler | 10 Mile Relay | Auburn, NH | Aug 27, 2022 | 1:52:38 |
| New Year’s Race Los Angeles | 9.3 Challenge (5K + 10K) | Los Angeles, CA | Jan 5, 2020 | 1:39:01 |
| Hot Chocolate Run Philadelphia | 15K | Philadelphia, PA | Apr 2, 2022 | 1:50:28 |
| Dirty Dozen Off Road Run at Holiday Valley Resort | 8 Miler | Ellicottville, NY | Aug 16, 2020 | 1:56:45 |
| Lake Effect Half Marathon | Quarter Marathon | Liverpool, NY | Feb 12, 2022 | 1:25:37 |
| Turkey Trot Los Angeles | 10K | Los Angeles, CA | Nov 28, 2019 | 59:39 |
| Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon & Squirrelly Six Mile | 6 Miler | Albany, NY | Oct 31, 2021 | 1:42:19 |
| Run to Home Base | 9K | Boston, MA | Jul 22, 2023 | 1:23:04 |
| Turkey Chase 5K Cooperstown | 5 Miler | Cooperstown, NY | Nov 21, 2020 | 51:54 |
| RUN585 Summer in the City 8K | 8K | Rochester, NY | Jul 21, 2021 | 52:28 |
| Bourque 7.7K at Tuscan Village | 7.7K | Salem, NH | May 20, 2023 | 56:41 |
| Dirt Cheap Trail Race Mendon | 4.5 Miler | Honeoye Falls, NY | Oct 18, 2020 | 1:06:04 |
| Webster Turkey Trot | 4.4 Miler | Webster, NY | Nov 25, 2021 | 45:24 |
| Big Beach Marathon | 7K | Gulf Shores, AL | Jan 28, 2023 | 48:20 |
| NYCRUNS Big Apple 4 Miler | 4 Miler | New York City, NY | Dec 13, 2020 | 45:07 |
| Webster Trail Classic | 3.5 Miler | Webster, NY | Sep 4, 2021 | 54:14 |
| Bond Lake AC Rut Race | 3.4 Miler | Lewiston, NY | Aug 9, 2021 | 45:06 |
| NYRR Season of Light 3.3M | 3.3 Miler | Brooklyn, NY | Dec 12, 2020 | 36:28 |
| Pi Day Run (NY) | 3.14 Miler | Baldwinsville, NY | Mar 14, 2021 | 32:44 |
| 5K Run & Walk for Kids’ Growth | 5K | Miami, CA | Dec 14, 2019 | 28:40 |
| Snowflake Shuffle | 3 Miler | Bedford, NH | Jan 17, 2021 | 31:03 |
| RuariSparkle Tutu Run, Walk & Trot | 2.2 Miler | Auburn, NY | Sep 19, 2021 | 25:02 |
| Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle | 2 Miler | Manchester, NH | Mar 26, 2023 | 33:48 |
| Trick or Trot 3K | 3K | Manchester, NH | Oct 26, 2024 | 21:52 |
| Millennium Mile | 1 Miler | Londonderry, NH | Jan 1, 2021 | 7:55 |
Future Races (35)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K | 5K | Swampscott, MA | Dec 29, 2024 | ✓ |
| Millennium Mile | 1 Miler | Londonderry, NH | Jan 1, 2025 | ✓ |
| NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K | 5K | New York, NY | Jan 5, 2025 | ✓ |
| Snowflake Shuffle | 3 Miler | Bedford, NH | Jan 12, 2025 | ✓ |
| Bermuda Triangle Challenge | 1 Miler | Hamilton, Bermuda | Jan 17, 2025 | ✓ |
| Bermuda Triangle Challenge | 10K | Hamilton, Bermuda | Jan 18, 2025 | ✓ |
| Bermuda Triangle Challenge | Half Marathon | Hamilton, Bermuda | Jan 19, 2025 | ✓ |
| Clearwater Running Festival | 5K | Clearwater, FL | Jan 25, 2025 | ✓ |
| Clearwater Running Festival | Half Marathon | Clearwater, FL | Jan 26, 2025 | ✓ |
| Miami Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Miami, FL | Feb 2, 2025 | ✓ |
| Mesa Marathon | Half Marathon | Mesa, AZ | Feb 8, 2025 | ✓ |
| NYCRUNS Central Park Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | New York City, NY | Feb 23, 2025 | ✓ |
| Hyannis Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Hyannis, MA | Mar 2, 2025 | ✓ |
| Berry Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Mount Berry, GA | Mar 8, 2025 | ✓ |
| Antarctica Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | King George Island, Antarctica | Mar 15, 2025 | ✓ |
| Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Philadelphia, PA | Mar 30, 2025 | ✓ |
| Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Derry, NH | Apr 5, 2025 | ✓ |
| Earth Day Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Baldwinsville, NY | Apr 19, 2025 | ✓ |
| Eugene Marathon | Half Marathon | Eugene, OR | Apr 26, 2025 | ✓ |
| IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (#IndyMini) | Half Marathon | Indianapolis, IN | May 3, 2025 | ✓ |
| Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon | Half Marathon | Cincinnati, OH | May 4, 2025 | ✓ |
| Saskatchewan Marathon | Half Marathon | Saskatoon, Canada | May 25, 2025 | ✓ |
| Reykjavik Marathon | Half Marathon | Reykjavik, Iceland | Aug 23, 2025 | ✓ |
| Acadia Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Bar Harbor, ME | 2025 | ✓ |
| Mainly Marathons New England Series Day 6 (ME) | Half Marathon | Sanford, ME | 2025 | ✓ |
| Runner’s Den Pancake Run | 5K | Phoenix, AZ | 2025 | ✓ |
| Blue Nose Marathon | Half Marathon | Halifax, Canada | 2025 | ✓ |
| Lake Effect Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Liverpool, NY | 2025 | ✓ |
| Cabin Fever Trail Races | 5 Miler | Webster, NY | 2025 | ✓ |
| Athens Marathon. The Authentic | Marathon | Athens, Greece | 2025 | |
| Big Five Marathon | Half Marathon | Bosveld, South Africa | 2026 | |
| BMO Vancouver Marathon | Half Marathon | Vancouver, Canada | 2026 | |
| Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon | Half Marathon | Singapore, Singapore | 2027 | |
| Calgary Marathon | Half Marathon | Calgary, Canada | 2027 | |
| Manitoba Marathon | Half Marathon | Winnipeg, Canada | 2028 |
Past Races (401)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result | My Raves | My Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twas the Night Before 5K | 5K | Queens, NY | Dec 15, 2024 | |||
| NYCRUNS Big Apple Half Marathon | Half Marathon | New York, NY | Dec 14, 2024 | |||
| Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Haverhill, MA | Dec 8, 2024 | |||
| Millinocket Marathon & Half | Half Marathon | Millinocket, ME | Dec 7, 2024 | |||
| EOD Warrior Holiday Dash 6K, Half Marathon & Marathon | Half Marathon | Washington, DC | Dec 1, 2024 | 2:51:51 |
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| Woodbrook Turkey Trot | 5K | Orange, VA | Nov 30, 2024 | 43:56 |
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| Virginia Valor Turkey Trot | 5K | Centreville, VA | Nov 30, 2024 | 40:40 |
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| GDTC Thanksgiving Turkey Trot | 5K | Derry, NH | Nov 28, 2024 | 39:17 |
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| Upstate Classic | Half Marathon | Altamont, NY | Nov 24, 2024 | 2:55:04 |
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| Barron School 5K Turkey Trot | 5K | Salem, NH | Nov 23, 2024 | 1:00:28 |
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| Running to Class 5K | 5K | Harvard, MA | Nov 17, 2024 | 39:52 |
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| Sudbury Road Race | 5K | Sudbury, MA | Nov 11, 2024 | 38:01 |
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| Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K | Half Marathon | Manchester, NH | Nov 10, 2024 | 2:52:20 |
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| DAV 5K Boston | 5K | Boston, MA | Nov 9, 2024 | 35:38 |
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| Colt State Park Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Bristol, RI | Nov 3, 2024 | 2:46:39 |
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| Pawtuxet River 5K | 5K | Coventry, RI | Nov 2, 2024 | 35:29 |
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| Newburyport Half Marathon & Relay | Half Marathon | Newburyport, MA | Oct 27, 2024 | 2:40:04 |
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| Trick or Trot 3K | 3K | Manchester, NH | Oct 26, 2024 | 21:52 |
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| Royal Parks Half Marathon | Half Marathon | London, United Kingdom | Oct 13, 2024 | 2:44:17 |
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| Wineglass Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Bath, NY | Oct 6, 2024 | 3:20:34 |
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| Jell-O Half Marathon & 7K | Half Marathon | Le Roy, NY | Oct 5, 2024 | 2:51:58 |
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| Clarence DeMar Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Keene, NH | Sep 29, 2024 | 3:09:10 |
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| Beneva Montreal Marathon | Half Marathon | Montreal, Canada | Sep 22, 2024 | 3:17:57 |
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| Miles for Migraine Vermont | 5K | South Burlington, VT | Sep 21, 2024 | 39:24 |
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| Irish Cultural Centre 5K | 5K | Canton, MA | Sep 15, 2024 | 38:51 |
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| Happy as a Clam 5K | 5K | Essex, MA | Sep 13, 2024 | 47:29 |
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| Racefaster Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Ridgewood, NJ | Sep 8, 2024 | 3:04:02 |
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| Bird in Hand Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Bird In Hand, PA | Sep 7, 2024 | 3:38:48 |
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| Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Koloa, HI | Sep 1, 2024 | 3:27:33 |
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| Sioux Falls Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Sioux Falls, SD | Aug 25, 2024 | 3:04:35 |
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| Nebraska State Fair Marathon | Half Marathon | Grand Island, NE | Aug 24, 2024 | 3:25:52 |
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| Celebrate Tom Walton 5K | 5K | Concord, NH | Aug 17, 2024 | 37:02 |
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| Boot Scootin’ Boogie 5K | 5K | Londonderry, NH | Aug 17, 2024 | 42:30 |
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| GWL Greenway 5K | 5K | Lawrence, MA | Aug 11, 2024 | 37:38 |
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| Race to the Ledges 5K | 5K | Concord, NH | Aug 10, 2024 | 40:21 |
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| Corporate Road Race | 5K | Manchester, NH | Aug 8, 2024 | 35:21 |
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| Cape Ann TripleThreat Half Marathon | 1 Miler | Rockport, MA | Aug 4, 2024 | 12:44 |
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| Sunrise Classic | 5K | Concord, MA | Aug 3, 2024 | 38:01 |
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| Yankee Homecoming Road Race | 5K | Newburyport, MA | Jul 30, 2024 | 49:09 |
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| Run for the Elk Race Festival | Half Marathon | Emporium, PA | Jul 28, 2024 | 3:34:14 |
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| Conquer the Canyon Marathon Race Festival | Half Marathon | Wellsboro, PA | Jul 27, 2024 | 3:37:59 |
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| Jungle Jog 5K | 5K | Rochester, NY | Jul 21, 2024 | 47:55 |
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| Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY) | Half Marathon | Hamlin, NY | Jul 20, 2024 | 2:54:48 |
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| Berna’s Great Legs 5K | 5K | Lowell, MA | Jul 18, 2024 | 37:42 |
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| Narragansett Summer Running Festival | Half Marathon | Easton, MA | Jul 14, 2024 | 3:24:38 |
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| Angels 5K Road Race (NH) | 5K | Concord, NH | Jul 13, 2024 | 39:50 |
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| Miles Over the Moon | 4 Miler | Salem, MA | Jul 12, 2024 | 51:16 | ||
| Sour Apple Running Festival | Half Marathon | Smithfield, RI | Jul 7, 2024 | 3:34:19 |
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| Fleet Feet Firecracker 4 Miler | 4 Miler | Fairport, NY | Jul 4, 2024 | 58:54 |
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| Burn Your Half Off Florida | Half Marathon | Ocala, FL | Jun 22, 2024 | 3:35:54 |
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| Greater Seacoast Community Health Father’s Day 5K | 5K | Dover, NH | Jun 16, 2024 | 45:51 |
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| Mainly Marathons New England Series Day 6 (ME) | Half Marathon | Sanford, ME | Jun 15, 2024 | 3:31:29 |
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| Hollis Fast 5K | 5K | Hollis, NH | Jun 13, 2024 | 42:52 |
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| Road of Rainbows | 5K | Boston, MA | Jun 8, 2024 | 49:05 |
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| Fargo Marathon | Half Marathon | Fargo, ND | Jun 1, 2024 | 3:19:51 |
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| Fargo Marathon | 5K | Moorhead, MN | May 31, 2024 | 43:54 |
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| Buffalo Marathon | Half Marathon | Buffalo, NY | May 26, 2024 | 3:28:12 |
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| Buffalo Marathon | 5K | Buffalo, NY | May 25, 2024 | 36:50 |
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| Marine Corps Historic Half | Half Marathon | Fredericksburg, VA | May 19, 2024 | 3:11:41 |
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| St. Michaels Running Festival | Half Marathon | St. Michaels, MD | May 18, 2024 | 3:21:34 |
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| Mainly Marathons Prairie Series Day 3 (KS) | Half Marathon | Hiawatha, KS | May 12, 2024 | 3:49:49 |
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| Running with the Cows | Half Marathon | Bucyrus, KS | May 11, 2024 | 3:34:34 |
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| Rock’N Race | 5K | Concord, NH | May 8, 2024 | 41:43 |
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| REVEL White Mountains | Half Marathon | Conway, NH | May 5, 2024 | 3:22:04 |
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| Maine Coast Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Wells, ME | May 4, 2024 | 3:15:56 |
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| Enjoy Your Life Happy Half Marathon & Friendly 5K | Half Marathon | Amesbury, MA | Apr 21, 2024 | 3:24:56 |
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| Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Derry, NH | Apr 20, 2024 | 3:10:00 |
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| NHTI Delta Dental 5K | 5K | Concord, NH | Apr 19, 2024 | 41:58 |
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| Coastal Delaware Running Festival | Half Marathon | Rehoboth Beach, DE | Apr 14, 2024 | 3:34:13 |
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| Newport Rhode Races | Half Marathon | Newport, RI | Apr 13, 2024 | 3:25:32 |
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| Great Bay Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Newmarket, NH | Apr 7, 2024 | 3:22:34 |
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| Fool’s Dual Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Gloucester, MA | Apr 6, 2024 | 3:22:29 |
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| Care Packages at Carderock | Half Marathon | Potomac, MD | Mar 31, 2024 | 3:25:02 |
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| Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Philadelphia, PA | Mar 24, 2024 | 3:24:54 |
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| First State Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Newark, DE | Mar 23, 2024 | 3:23:12 |
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| Bataan Memorial Death March | 14 Miler | White Sands, NM | Mar 16, 2024 | 4:07:21 |
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| St. Patty’s 5K & 10K | 5K | Portsmouth, NH | Mar 10, 2024 | 57:13 |
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| Virginia Credit Union River City Half and 5K | Half Marathon | Richmond, VA | Mar 9, 2024 | 3:20:43 |
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| 4 Leaf Rover 4 Mile Road Race | 4 Miler | Lawrence, MA | Mar 3, 2024 | 53:56 |
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| NYCRUNS Central Park Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | New York City, NY | Feb 25, 2024 | 3:25:58 |
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| Austin Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Austin, TX | Feb 18, 2024 | 3:37:48 |
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| Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon | Half Marathon | Melbourne, FL | Feb 11, 2024 | 3:21:38 |
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| Ave Maria Marathon | Half Marathon | Ave Maria, FL | Feb 10, 2024 | 3:20:03 |
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| DONNA Marathon Weekend | Half Marathon | Jacksonville Beach, FL | Feb 4, 2024 | 3:25:38 |
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| Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Pasadena, CA | Jan 21, 2024 | 3:25:22 |
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| Red Rock Canyon Marathon | Half Marathon | Las Vegas, NV | Jan 20, 2024 | 3:43:58 |
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| Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend | Half Marathon | Anaheim, CA | Jan 14, 2024 | 3:35:28 |
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| San Diego Resolution Run | Half Marathon | San Diego, CA | Jan 13, 2024 | 3:06:50 |
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| NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K | 5K | New York, NY | Jan 7, 2024 | 57:36 |
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| NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K | 10K | New York, NY | Jan 6, 2024 | 1:27:46 |
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| Millennium Mile | 1 Miler | Londonderry, NH | Jan 1, 2024 | 10:35 |
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| First Run 5K & 10K (MA) | 5K | Lowell, MA | Jan 1, 2024 | 41:23 |
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| Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K | 5K | Swampscott, MA | Dec 17, 2023 | 42:48 |
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| Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon | Half Marathon | Biloxi, MS | Dec 10, 2023 | 3:22:22 |
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| Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon | 5K | Biloxi, MS | Dec 9, 2023 | 44:38 |
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| Santa Hustle Nashville | Half Marathon | Nashville, TN | Dec 3, 2023 | 3:28:48 |
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| St. Jude Memphis Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Memphis, TN | Dec 2, 2023 | 3:20:14 |
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| Leftovers Run (PA) | Half Marathon | Oaks, PA | Nov 26, 2023 | 3:33:55 |
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| Fisher Cats Thanksgiving 5K | 5K | Manchester, NH | Nov 23, 2023 | 37:55 |
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| Chartway Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon, 10K & 5K | Half Marathon | Norfolk, VA | Nov 19, 2023 | 2:57:25 |
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| Run the Vineyards Cork High & Bottle Deep Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Williamstown, NJ | Nov 12, 2023 | 3:24:56 |
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| Rocky Run 10 Mile & 5K | Italian Stallion Challenge (10 Mile + 5K) | Philadelphia, PA | Nov 11, 2023 | 3:00:51 |
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| Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide | 5K | Cambridge, MA | Nov 5, 2023 | 35:51 |
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| Newburyport Half Marathon & Relay | Half Marathon | Newburyport, MA | Oct 29, 2023 | 2:50:37 |
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| Trick or Trot 3K | 3K | Manchester, NH | Oct 28, 2023 | 22:52 |
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| New England Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Concord, NH | Oct 22, 2023 | 3:08:01 |
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| Howl-O-Ween 5K | 5K | Manchester, NH | Oct 21, 2023 | 39:48 |
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| Baystate Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Lowell, MA | Oct 15, 2023 | 3:16:16 |
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| Baltimore Running Festival | Half Marathon | Baltimore, MD | Oct 14, 2023 | 3:23:29 |
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| Staten Island Half | Half Marathon | Staten Island, NY | Oct 8, 2023 | 3:04:59 |
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| Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon | Half Marathon | Milwaukee, WI | Oct 1, 2023 | 3:09:02 |
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| Clarence DeMar Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Keene, NH | Sep 24, 2023 | 3:24:51 |
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| Be A Hero 5K | 5K | Moultonborough, NH | Sep 23, 2023 | 50:48 |
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| Halfway to St. Patrick’s 5K & 10K | 5K | Manchester, NH | Sep 17, 2023 | 40:51 |
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| Surftown Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Westerly, RI | Sep 10, 2023 | 3:25:09 |
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| NAFI Rhode Island Run 4 The Kidz | 5K | Bristol, RI | Sep 9, 2023 | 50:13 |
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| New Haven Road Race | Half Marathon | New Haven, CT | Sep 4, 2023 | 3:26:22 |
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| Swanzey Covered Bridges Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Swanzey, NH | Sep 3, 2023 | 3:28:34 |
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| Black Bear Trail Races | 5K | Waterville Valley, NH | Sep 2, 2023 | 1:21:46 |
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| Blueberry Cove 13.1 | Half Marathon | St George, ME | Aug 27, 2023 | 3:37:37 |
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| NH 10 Miler | 10 Mile Relay | Manchester, NH | Aug 26, 2023 | 2:41:49 |
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| Gopher to Badger Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Stillwater, MN | Aug 12, 2023 | 3:24:00 |
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| Cape Ann TripleThreat Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Rockport, MA | Aug 6, 2023 | 3:29:12 |
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| TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race | 10K | Cape Elizabeth, ME | Aug 5, 2023 | 1:28:44 |
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| Rotary Trails to Ales 5K & 2K | 5K | Bedford, NH | Aug 3, 2023 | 52:46 |
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| Yankee Homecoming Road Race | 10 Miler | Newburyport, MA | Aug 1, 2023 | 2:21:09 |
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| Rocky Mountain Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Estes Park, CO | Jul 29, 2023 | 3:26:24 |
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| Rocky Mountain Half Marathon | 5K | Estes Park, CO | Jul 28, 2023 | 44:43 |
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| Ribfest 5 Miler | 5 Miler | Merrimack, NH | Jul 23, 2023 | 1:24:33 |
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| Run to Home Base | 9K | Boston, MA | Jul 22, 2023 | 1:23:04 |
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| Miles Over the Moon | 4 Miler | Salem, MA | Jul 21, 2023 | 1:03:17 |
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| L+M Hospital Summer Stride 5K & 10K | 10K | New London, CT | Jul 15, 2023 | 1:28:57 |
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| Mad Marathon | Half Marathon | Waitsfield, VT | Jul 9, 2023 | 3:40:09 |
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| Run for Freedom 5K & 10K (NH) | 10K | Derry, NH | Jul 4, 2023 | 1:31:11 |
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| Love A Nurse Run 5K | 5K | Anchorage, AK | Jun 24, 2023 | 38:33 |
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| Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Anchorage, AK | Jun 17, 2023 | 3:20:55 |
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| Lake Placid Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Lake Placid, NY | Jun 11, 2023 | 3:48:44 |
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| 9 Hours for 9 Lives Ultra | 9 hr | Victor, NY | Jun 10, 2023 | 13.68 mi |
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| Charlie McMullen Mile | 1 Miler | Rochester, NY | Jun 9, 2023 | 11:06 |
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| RUN585 The Big Run 5K | 5K | Rochester, NY | Jun 9, 2023 | 40:35 |
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| Montezuma Festival of Races | 5K | Savannah, NY | Jun 4, 2023 | 42:32 |
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| Rush-Henrietta Kicking Hunger 5K | 5K | Henrietta, NY | Jun 3, 2023 | 39:18 |
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| Mendon Mauler Trail Run | 4 Miler | Mendon, NY | Jun 2, 2023 | 1:33:50 |
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| Fallen Soldiers Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Potomac, MD | May 29, 2023 | 3:09:21 |
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| Buffalo Marathon | Half Marathon | Buffalo, NY | May 28, 2023 | 3:10:28 |
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| Buffalo Marathon | 5K | Buffalo, NY | May 27, 2023 | 36:34 |
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| Dirt Cheap Trail Race Durand Eastman | 5 Miler | Rochester, NY | May 24, 2023 | 1:04:56 |
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| Mystic Half Marathon & 10K | Half Marathon | Mystic, CT | May 21, 2023 | 2:56:33 |
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| Bourque 7.7K at Tuscan Village | 7.7K | Salem, NH | May 20, 2023 | 56:41 |
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| FLRC Women’s Distance Festival 5K | 5K | Dryden, NY | May 14, 2023 | 41:44 |
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| Happy Half at Holiday Valley | Half Marathon | Ellicottville, NY | May 13, 2023 | 3:09:50 |
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| Medved Madness Trail Race | 5 Miler | Henrietta, NY | May 7, 2023 | 1:36:10 |
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| Naples Youth Corp 5K & 10K | 5K | Naples, NY | May 6, 2023 | 38:33 |
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| Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oklahoma City, OK | Apr 30, 2023 | 3:10:07 |
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| Flower City Challenge | Half Marathon | Rochester, NY | Apr 23, 2023 | 3:08:19 |
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| Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Derry, NH | Apr 16, 2023 | 3:15:06 |
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| Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Albany, NY | Apr 15, 2023 | 2:58:56 |
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| Run the Land East vs. West | Half Marathon | Cleveland, OH | Apr 8, 2023 | 3:29:42 |
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| Rochester River Run | 5K | Rochester, NY | Apr 2, 2023 | 44:11 |
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| International Taste Fest 5K & 10K | 5K | Syracuse, NY | Apr 1, 2023 | 39:29 |
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| Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle | 2 Miler | Manchester, NH | Mar 26, 2023 | 33:48 |
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| Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle | Half Marathon | Manchester, NH | Mar 25, 2023 | 2:56:29 |
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| Yuengling Shamrock Marathon | Half Marathon | Virginia Beach, VA | Mar 19, 2023 | 3:19:09 |
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| Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC | Half Marathon | Washington, DC | Mar 18, 2023 | 3:17:53 |
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| Chilly Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Burlington, Canada | Mar 5, 2023 | 2:54:59 |
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| Saguaro Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Tucson, AZ | Feb 18, 2023 | 3:34:05 |
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| Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon | Half Marathon | Melbourne, FL | Feb 12, 2023 | 3:26:12 |
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| Teddy Bear Trot | 3 Miler | Rochester, NY | Feb 5, 2023 | 42:00 |
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| Big Beach Marathon | Half Marathon | Gulf Shores, AL | Jan 29, 2023 | 2:55:44 |
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| Big Beach Marathon | 7K | Gulf Shores, AL | Jan 28, 2023 | 48:20 |
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| NYRR Fred Lebow Manhattan Half | Half Marathon | New York, NY | Jan 22, 2023 | 3:24:07 |
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| Daufuskie Island Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Daufuskie Island, SC | Jan 14, 2023 | 3:05:47 |
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| Winter Warrior Half, Quarter & Half Marathon Relay | Half Marathon | Rochester, NY | Jan 7, 2023 | 3:08:26 |
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| Millennium Mile | 1 Miler | Londonderry, NH | Jan 1, 2023 | 9:24 |
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| Santa Stampede Rochester | 3 Miler | Rochester, NY | Dec 18, 2022 | 39:27 |
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| Reindeer Run 5K (NY) | 5K | Rochester, NY | Dec 10, 2022 | 36:23 |
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| California International Marathon (CIM) | Marathon | Folsom, CA | Dec 4, 2022 | 6:33:57 |
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| UW Medicine Seattle Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Seattle, WA | Nov 27, 2022 | 3:10:43 |
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| Walk or Run with the Reindeer | 1 Miler | Shortsville, NY | Nov 19, 2022 | 19:06 |
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| Outer Banks Marathon & Southern Fried Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Kitty Hawk, NC | Nov 13, 2022 | 3:39:26 |
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| Outer Banks Marathon & Southern Fried Half Marathon | 5K | Kitty Hawk, NC | Nov 12, 2022 | 1:00:58 |
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| Louisville Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K | Half Marathon | Louisville, KY | Nov 6, 2022 | 3:27:19 |
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| Indianapolis Monumental Marathon | Half Marathon | Indianapolis, IN | Nov 5, 2022 | 3:00:23 |
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| Seacoast Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Portsmouth, NH | Oct 30, 2022 | 2:52:30 |
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| Pumpkins in the Park 5K (NY) | 5K | Rochester, NY | Oct 29, 2022 | 39:03 |
|
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| E-Race Cancer Half Marathon, 10K & 5K | 5K | Bridgeport, NY | Oct 23, 2022 | 34:43 |
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| Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K | 5K | East Rochester, NY | Oct 22, 2022 | 35:55 |
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| Zombie Run For Your Life 5K | 5K | Hamlin, NY | Oct 22, 2022 | 38:37 |
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| Des Moines Marathon | Half Marathon | Des Moines, IA | Oct 16, 2022 | 2:54:09 |
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| Kansas City Marathon | Half Marathon | Kansas City, MO | Oct 15, 2022 | 3:24:06 |
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| Jell-O Half Marathon & 7K | 7K | Le Roy, NY | Oct 8, 2022 | 57:18 |
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| Maine Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Portland, ME | Oct 2, 2022 | 3:19:24 |
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| New Hampshire Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Bristol, NH | Oct 1, 2022 | 3:02:48 |
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| Rochester Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Rochester, NY | Sep 25, 2022 | 3:10:21 |
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| Amish Country Running Festival | Half Marathon | Randolph, NY | Sep 24, 2022 | 3:33:03 |
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| Bronx 10 Mile | 10 Miler | Bronx, NY | Sep 18, 2022 | 2:31:32 |
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| Hamptons Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Southampton, NY | Sep 17, 2022 | 2:48:30 |
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| Tejas Trails Mellow Trail Run | 10K | Spicewood, TX | Sep 9, 2022 | 1:57:18 |
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| Potato Run 10K | 10K | Rochester, NY | Sep 4, 2022 | 1:21:35 |
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| Crosswinds 5K | 5K | Canandaigua, NY | Sep 3, 2022 | 46:02 |
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| First Responders 5K | 5K | Webster, NY | Sep 2, 2022 | 43:23 |
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| NH 10 Miler | 10 Mile Relay | Auburn, NH | Aug 27, 2022 | 1:52:38 |
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| Pound the Ground 5K | 5K | Honeoye Falls, NY | Aug 24, 2022 | 44:27 |
|
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| Graveyard Downhill Mile | 1 Miler | Rochester, NY | Aug 23, 2022 | 9:36 |
|
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| Miles for Migraine Illinois | 5K | Chicago, IL | Aug 20, 2022 | 40:30 |
|
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| RUN585 Hot Summer Night 5K | 5K | Rochester, NY | Aug 17, 2022 | 37:34 |
|
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| Bergen 5K (Jenny Kuzma Memorial Race) | 5K | Bergen, NY | Aug 13, 2022 | 39:03 |
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| RUN716 | 15K | Buffalo, NY | Aug 7, 2022 | 2:07:38 |
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| Phelps Sauerkraut 20K & 5K | 5K | Phelps, NY | Aug 6, 2022 | 44:09 |
|
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| Young and Wyld 5K | 5K | Honeoye Falls, NY | Aug 3, 2022 | 42:46 |
|
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| Summer Georgetown 5K, 10K & Half | 5K | Washington, DC | Jul 31, 2022 | 41:25 |
|
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| Keuka Outlet Trail Half Marathon & 10K | Half Marathon | Penn Yan, NY | Jul 23, 2022 | 3:42:22 |
|
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| RUN585 Summer in the City 8K | 8K | Rochester, NY | Jul 20, 2022 |
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| Jungle Jog 5K | 5K | Rochester, NY | Jul 17, 2022 | 39:23 |
|
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| Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY) | 5K | Hamlin, NY | Jul 16, 2022 | 41:36 |
|
|
| Candlelight 12 & 24 Hour | 12 hr | Honeoye Falls, NY | Jul 16, 2022 | 7 mi |
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|
| Boilermaker Road Race | 15K | Utica, NY | Jul 10, 2022 | 2:17:55 |
|
|
| Irondequoit 4th of July 10K & 2 Mile Fun Run | 2 Miler | Rochester, NY | Jul 4, 2022 | 38:49 |
|
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| Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum 5K | 5K | Sodus Point, NY | Jul 2, 2022 | 57:57 |
|
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| Sunset House 5K | 5K | Irondequoit, NY | Jun 25, 2022 | 51:52 |
|
|
| Yellowstone Half Marathon | Half Marathon | West Yellowstone, MT | Jun 11, 2022 | 3:43:28 |
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| Yellowstone Half Marathon | 5K | West Yellowstone, MT | Jun 10, 2022 | 49:52 |
|
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| Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Idaho | Half Marathon | St Charles, ID | Jun 9, 2022 | 3:22:27 |
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| Grand Teton Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Wilson, WY | Jun 4, 2022 | 3:22:58 |
|
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| Grand Teton Half Marathon & 5K | 5K | Wilson, WY | Jun 3, 2022 | 40:01 |
|
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| Buffalo Marathon | Half Marathon | Buffalo, NY | May 29, 2022 | 3:24:34 |
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| Buffalo Marathon | 5K | Buffalo, NY | May 28, 2022 | 35:50 |
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| Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K | Half Marathon | Chicago, IL | May 22, 2022 | 3:07:36 |
|
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| Williamson Apple Blossom 5K | 5K | Williamson, NY | May 20, 2022 | 38:34 |
|
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| Middle Finger 5K | 5K | Geneva, NY | May 14, 2022 | 36:53 |
|
|
| Yosemite Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oakhurst, CA | May 7, 2022 | 3:20:45 |
|
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| OC Marathon Running Festival | Half Marathon | Newport Beach, CA | May 1, 2022 | 2:53:34 |
|
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| OC Marathon Running Festival | 5K | Costa Mesa, CA | Apr 30, 2022 | 39:27 |
|
|
| Flower City Challenge | Half Marathon | Rochester, NY | Apr 24, 2022 | 2:57:21 |
|
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| Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Derry, NH | Apr 10, 2022 | 2:44:42 |
|
|
| Easing Heartbreak Hill 5K | 5K | Concord, NH | Apr 9, 2022 | 53:00 |
|
|
| Amerihealth NJ April Fools Half Marathon & 8K | Half Marathon | Atlantic City, NJ | Apr 3, 2022 | 2:45:37 |
|
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| Hot Chocolate Run Philadelphia | 15K | Philadelphia, PA | Apr 2, 2022 | 1:50:28 |
|
|
| NYC Half | Half Marathon | New York City, NY | Mar 20, 2022 | 2:56:31 |
|
|
| Mega Cupcake Marathon @ Hawthorne Trail | Half Marathon | New Port Richey, FL | Mar 13, 2022 | 2:42:56 |
|
|
| Little Rock Marathon | Half Marathon | Little Rock, AR | Mar 6, 2022 | 2:58:54 |
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| Little Rock Marathon | 5K | Little Rock, AR | Mar 5, 2022 | 53:03 |
|
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| Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Atlanta, GA | Feb 27, 2022 | 3:07:16 |
|
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| Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon | 5K | Atlanta, GA | Feb 26, 2022 | 54:16 |
|
|
| Cabin Fever Trail Races | 5 Miler | Webster, NY | Feb 20, 2022 | 1:44:39 |
|
|
| White House Challenge (GRTC Freezeroo Series) | 4.4 Miler | Webster, NY | Feb 19, 2022 | 56:27 |
|
|
| Lake Effect Half Marathon | Quarter Marathon | Liverpool, NY | Feb 12, 2022 | 1:25:37 |
|
|
| Miami Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Miami, FL | Feb 6, 2022 | 3:09:45 |
|
|
| Miami Marathon & Half Marathon | 5K | Miami, FL | Feb 5, 2022 | 36:48 |
|
|
| Louisiana Marathon | Half Marathon | Baton Rouge, LA | Jan 16, 2022 | 2:57:09 |
|
|
| New Years Double – Allen, TX | 5K | Allen, TX | Jan 1, 2022 | 53:32 |
|
|
| New Years Double – Allen, TX | Half Marathon | Allen, TX | Dec 31, 2021 | 3:14:20 |
|
|
| New Years Double – Allen, TX | 5K | Allen, TX | Dec 31, 2021 | 43:59 |
|
|
| Montclair 5K Doughnut Run | 5K | Montclair, NJ | Dec 12, 2021 | 36:17 |
|
|
| NYCRUNS Big Apple Half Marathon | Half Marathon | New York, NY | Dec 11, 2021 | 2:43:54 |
|
|
| Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Haverhill, MA | Dec 5, 2021 | 2:54:08 |
|
|
| BASC Santa Claus Shuffle | 3 Miler | Manchester, NH | Dec 4, 2021 | 32:31 |
|
|
| Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K | 5K | Swampscott, MA | Nov 28, 2021 | 52:55 |
|
|
| Bishop Brady Galloping Gobbler | 4 Miler | Concord, NH | Nov 27, 2021 | 50:55 |
|
|
| AJWS Trot Off Your Turkey 5K | 5K | Amherst, NH | Nov 26, 2021 | 35:08 |
|
|
| Webster Turkey Trot | 4.4 Miler | Webster, NY | Nov 25, 2021 | 45:24 |
|
|
| GBTC Cross Country Race 5K | 5K | Buffalo, NY | Nov 21, 2021 | 37:45 |
|
|
| Bound for the Hounds 6 Hour Ultra | 6 hr | Shortsville, NY | Nov 20, 2021 | 16.1 mi |
|
|
| Turkey Tumble for Autism | 5K | Washington, DC | Nov 14, 2021 | 35:03 |
|
|
| Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon | Half Marathon | Richmond, VA | Nov 13, 2021 | 2:37:32 |
|
|
| Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K | Half Marathon Relay | Manchester, NH | Nov 7, 2021 | 2:25:32 |
|
|
| Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K | 5K | Manchester, NH | Nov 6, 2021 | 32:51 |
|
|
| Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon & Squirrelly Six Mile | 6 Miler | Voorheesville, NY | Oct 31, 2021 | 1:42:19 |
|
|
| Savin Rock Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | West Haven, CT | Oct 30, 2021 | 2:42:53 |
|
|
| Ann Arbor Marathon | Half Marathon | Ann Arbor, MI | Oct 24, 2021 | 2:47:29 |
|
|
| Gourdy’s Pumpkin Run Akron | 5K | Akron, OH | Oct 23, 2021 | 32:23 |
|
|
| Monster Scramble Buffalo | 10K | Lackawanna, NY | Oct 17, 2021 | 1:14:15 |
|
|
| Great New York State Marathon Weekend | 10K | Syracuse, NY | Oct 16, 2021 | 1:14:52 |
|
|
| Prairie Fire Marathon | Marathon | Wichita, KS | Oct 10, 2021 | 5:53:42 |
|
|
| Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Hampton, NH | Oct 3, 2021 | 2:28:50 |
|
|
| New England Dog Jog 5K | 5K | Nashua, NH | Oct 2, 2021 | 34:41 |
|
|
| Serpent’s Shadow Multisport Festival | Sprint | Silver Lake, NY | Sep 26, 2021 | 2:38:44 |
|
|
| Amish Country Running Festival | Half Marathon | Randolph, NY | Sep 25, 2021 | 3:12:46 |
|
|
| RuariSparkle Tutu Run, Walk & Trot | 2.2 Miler | Auburn, NY | Sep 19, 2021 | 25:02 |
|
|
| Helping Horses & Hounds 5K | 5K | Watkins Glen, NY | Sep 18, 2021 | 36:00 |
|
|
| Crosswinds 5K | 5K | Canandaigua, NY | Sep 18, 2021 | 36:45 |
|
|
| Surftown Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Westerly, RI | Sep 12, 2021 | 2:38:56 |
|
|
| Maple Leaf Half Marathon & Kotler 5K | Half Marathon | Manchester Center, VT | Sep 11, 2021 | 2:50:12 |
|
|
| Groton Labor Day 5K | 5K | Groton, NY | Sep 6, 2021 | 37:09 |
|
|
| Oak Tree Half Marathon and 5K | 5K | Geneseo, NY | Sep 5, 2021 | 35:55 |
|
|
| Webster Trail Classic | 3.5 Miler | Webster, NY | Sep 4, 2021 | 54:14 |
|
|
| First Responders 5K | 5K | Webster, NY | Sep 3, 2021 | 30:49 |
|
|
| Black Diamond Express Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Mendon, NY | Aug 29, 2021 | 2:38:43 |
|
|
| Run to Remember 5K (NY) | 5K | Weedsport, NY | Aug 28, 2021 | 33:35 |
|
|
| Graveyard Downhill Mile | 1 Miler | Rochester, NY | Aug 26, 2021 | 8:28 |
|
|
| RUN585 Hot Summer Night 5K | 5K | Rochester, NY | Aug 25, 2021 | 35:58 |
|
|
| Roots ‘N Road | 5 Miler | Henrietta, NY | Aug 21, 2021 | 1:12:03 |
|
|
| Pound the Ground 5K | 5K | Honeoye Falls, NY | Aug 18, 2021 | 37:25 |
|
|
| Stan’s Donut Race | 5K | Chicago, IL | Aug 14, 2021 | 32:36 |
|
|
| Dirt Cheap Trail Race Black Creek Park | 5 Miler | Churchville, NY | Aug 11, 2021 | 1:14:03 |
|
|
| Bond Lake AC Rut Race | 3.4 Miler | Lewiston, NY | Aug 9, 2021 | 45:06 |
|
|
| Run for the Elk Race Festival | Half Marathon | Emporium, PA | Aug 8, 2021 | 2:44:35 |
|
|
| Run for the Elk Race Festival | 10K | Emporium, PA | Aug 7, 2021 | 1:13:49 |
|
|
| Run for the Elk Race Festival | 5K | Emporium, PA | Aug 7, 2021 | 35:00 |
|
|
| GLOW Corporate Cup | 5K | Batavia, NY | Aug 5, 2021 | 32:38 |
|
|
| Young and Wyld 5K | 5K | Honeoye Falls, NY | Aug 4, 2021 | 35:03 |
|
|
| Summer Georgetown 5K, 10K & Half | Half Marathon | Washington, DC | Aug 1, 2021 | 2:44:07 |
|
|
| Run the Vineyards Crow Vineyard 5K | 5K | Kennedyville, MD | Jul 31, 2021 | 35:55 |
|
|
| Christmas in July 5K & Reindeer Relay | 5K | Wilkes-Barre, PA | Jul 31, 2021 | 34:14 |
|
|
| Kinzua Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Mt Jewett, PA | Jul 25, 2021 | 2:55:36 |
|
|
| Kinzua Half Marathon & 5K | 5K | Mt Jewett, PA | Jul 24, 2021 | 36:42 |
|
|
| Chocolate Challenge 5K & 10K | 5K | Liverpool, NY | Jul 24, 2021 | 32:26 |
|
|
| RUN585 Summer in the City 8K | 8K | Rochester, NY | Jul 21, 2021 | 52:28 |
|
|
| Candlelight 12 & 24 Hour | 12 hr | Honeoye Falls, NY | Jul 17, 2021 | 17.12 mi |
|
|
| Shark in the Park 5K & 10K | 5K | Mendon, NY | Jul 17, 2021 | 41:28 |
|
|
| We Run 4 Recovery 5K | 5K | Auburn, NY | Jul 14, 2021 | 34:49 |
|
|
| Spartan Blue Mountain Trail Run | 10K | Palmerton, PA | Jul 11, 2021 | 2:22:32 |
|
|
| Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY) | Half Marathon | Hamlin, NY | Jul 10, 2021 | 2:35:07 |
|
|
| Dirt Cheap Trail Race Webster Park | 5 Miler | Webster, NY | Jul 7, 2021 | 1:30:38 |
|
|
| Irondequoit 4th of July 10K & 2 Mile Fun Run | 10K | Rochester, NY | Jul 4, 2021 | 1:14:27 |
|
|
| Fleet Feet Firecracker 4 Miler | 5K | Fairport, NY | Jul 3, 2021 | 33:27 |
|
|
| Montezuma Festival of Races | 5K | Savannah, NY | Jun 27, 2021 | 36:56 |
|
|
| Buffalo Marathon | 5K | Buffalo, NY | Jun 26, 2021 | 32:08 |
|
|
| Will Run for Beer 5K | 5K | Hampton, NH | Jun 20, 2021 | 34:19 |
|
|
| Flower City Challenge | Half Marathon | Rochester, NY | Jun 19, 2021 | 2:40:27 |
|
|
| RUN585 The Big Run 5K | 5K | Rochester, NY | Jun 16, 2021 | 32:31 |
|
|
| Delaware Marathon Running Festival | Half Marathon | Wilmington, DE | Jun 13, 2021 | 2:46:00 |
|
|
| 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Philadelphia, PA | Jun 12, 2021 | 2:46:31 |
|
|
| The Heritage – Will Run for Wine 5K | 5K | Dundee, NY | Jun 6, 2021 | 42:37 |
|
|
| Rush-Henrietta Kicking Hunger 5K | 5K | Henrietta, NY | Jun 5, 2021 | 33:55 |
|
|
| Mendon Mauler Trail Run | 4 Miler | Mendon, NY | Jun 4, 2021 | 1:17:00 |
|
|
| Fallen Soldiers Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Potomac, MD | May 31, 2021 | 2:39:24 |
|
|
| Laurel Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | 5K | Lorton, VA | May 30, 2021 | 36:56 |
|
|
| Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Purcellville, VA | May 29, 2021 | 2:44:02 |
|
|
| Lilac Run 5K, 10K & Dunkin’ Dash | 10K | Rochester, NY | May 23, 2021 | 1:10:59 |
|
|
| Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon | Marathon | Cary, NC | May 15, 2021 | 5:49:31 |
|
|
| Shelburne 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Shelburne, VT | May 8, 2021 | 2:44:57 |
|
|
| Dirt Cheap Trail Race Durand Eastman | 5 Miler | Rochester, NY | May 5, 2021 | 54:45 |
|
|
| Canton Hall of Fame Marathon (fka Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon) | Half Marathon | Canton, OH | May 2, 2021 | 2:44:45 |
|
|
| Canton Hall of Fame Marathon (fka Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon) | 5K | Canton, OH | May 1, 2021 | 32:30 |
|
|
| Gettysburg Festival of Races (North-South Marathon & Blue-Gray Half) | Half Marathon | Gettysburg, PA | Apr 25, 2021 | 2:37:11 |
|
|
| WCS Run for the Wild | 5K | Bronx, NY | Apr 24, 2021 | 56:54 |
|
|
| Earth Day Half Marathon & 5K | 5K | Baldwinsville, NY | Apr 18, 2021 | 32:25 |
|
|
| Zion Ultras & Trail Half | 50K | Virgin, UT | Apr 10, 2021 | 9:44:46 |
|
|
| Run Emigration Half Marathon & 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Salt Lake City, UT | Apr 3, 2021 | 2:10:00 |
|
|
| Wayne A Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K | 5K | Albion, NY | Mar 27, 2021 | 30:42 |
|
|
| Yuengling Shamrock Marathon | Half Marathon | Virginia Beach, VA | Mar 21, 2021 | 2:34:15 |
|
|
| Yuengling Shamrock Marathon | 8K | Virginia Beach, VA | Mar 20, 2021 | 57:05 |
|
|
| Pi Day Run (NY) | 3.14 Miler | Baldwinsville, NY | Mar 14, 2021 | 32:44 |
|
|
| Winter Connect Our Kids 5K & 10K | 10K | Washington, DC | Mar 7, 2021 | 1:10:26 |
|
|
| Rolling Hills 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | 10K | Lorton, VA | Mar 6, 2021 | 1:14:18 |
|
|
| Red Rock Canyon Marathon | Marathon | Las Vegas, NV | Feb 27, 2021 | 5:57:07 |
|
|
| Cabin Fever Trail Races | 5 Miler | Webster, NY | Feb 20, 2021 | 1:51:20 |
|
|
| Teddy Bear Trot | 3 Miler | Rochester, NY | Feb 14, 2021 | 41:37 |
|
|
| Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon | Half Marathon | Melbourne, FL | Feb 7, 2021 | 2:42:08 |
|
|
| Snowflake Shuffle | 3 Miler | Bedford, NH | Jan 17, 2021 | 31:03 |
|
|
| Hindsight is 2020 5K | 5K | Johnson City, NY | Jan 10, 2021 | 35:27 |
|
|
| Run to Read Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Fairmont, WV | Jan 9, 2021 | 2:29:49 |
|
|
| Millennium Mile | 1 Miler | Londonderry, NH | Jan 1, 2021 | 7:55 |
|
|
| Race Again Prospect Park | Half Marathon | Brooklyn, NY | Dec 20, 2020 | 2:41:51 |
|
|
| NYC Central Park Holiday Classic | 5 Miler | New York City, NY | Dec 19, 2020 | 52:28 |
|
|
| NYCRUNS Big Apple 4 Miler | 4 Miler | New York City, NY | Dec 13, 2020 | 45:07 |
|
|
| NYRR Season of Light 3.3M | 3.3 Miler | Brooklyn, NY | Dec 12, 2020 | 36:28 |
|
|
| Utica Ugly Sweater 5K | 5K | New York Mills, NY | Dec 6, 2020 | 32:53 |
|
|
| Campgaw Fall Series Race #3 | Half Marathon | Mahwah, NJ | Dec 5, 2020 | 4:24:42 |
|
|
| Rochester Cross Country Classic | 5K | Henrietta, NY | Nov 28, 2020 | 34:43 |
|
|
| Regal Beagle Ultra | 25K | Bath TWP, OH | Nov 22, 2020 | 3:16:29 |
|
|
| Turkey Chase 5K Cooperstown | 5 Miler | Clyde, NY | Nov 21, 2020 | 51:54 |
|
|
| Dirt Cheap Stage Race | 3 Miler | Honeoye Falls, NY | Nov 13, 2020 | 55:05 |
|
|
| Stars & Stripes VeteRun 5K | 5K | Honeoye Falls, NY | Nov 11, 2020 | 34:47 |
|
|
| Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K | Marathon | Manchester, NH | Nov 8, 2020 | 5:48:56 |
|
|
| Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K | 5K | Manchester, NH | Nov 7, 2020 | 34:54 |
|
|
| Dirt Cheap Trail Race Halloween Edition | 5 Miler | Rochester, NY | Oct 31, 2020 | 59:26 |
|
|
| EVL Halloween Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Ellicottville, NY | Oct 24, 2020 | 2:29:16 |
|
|
| Dirt Cheap Trail Race Mendon | 4.5 Miler | Honeoye Falls, NY | Oct 18, 2020 | 1:06:04 |
|
|
| Into the Woods 5 Miler | 5 Miler | Erie, PA | Oct 17, 2020 | 56:43 |
|
|
| New England Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Concord, NH | Oct 11, 2020 | 2:24:36 |
|
|
| ROCtoberfest 5K | 5K | Rochester, NY | Oct 10, 2020 | 32:22 |
|
|
| Unlimited Breadsticks Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Victor, NY | Sep 27, 2020 | 3:28:33 |
|
|
| Amish Country Running Festival | Half Marathon | Randolph, NY | Sep 26, 2020 | 2:54:30 |
|
|
| Ready Set Glow Trail Run | 5 Miler | Victor, NY | Sep 25, 2020 | 1:26:12 |
|
|
| Island Vines 5K & 10K | 5 Miler | South Hero, VT | Sep 20, 2020 | 52:46 |
|
|
| Pine Creek Challenge | Marathon | Wellsboro, PA | Sep 12, 2020 | 5:33:25 |
|
|
| Dirt Cheap Trail Series Race #1 | 4.5 Miler | Henrietta, NY | Sep 9, 2020 | 1:09:08 |
|
|
| NH 10 Miler | 10 Miler | Auburn, NH | Aug 29, 2020 | 1:55:30 |
|
|
| Roots ‘N Road | 3 Miler | Henrietta, NY | Aug 22, 2020 | 36:03 |
|
|
| Dirty Dozen Off Road Run at Holiday Valley Resort | 8 Miler | Ellicottville, NY | Aug 16, 2020 | 1:56:45 |
|
|
| Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY) | Half Marathon | Hamlin, NY | Aug 8, 2020 | 2:28:55 |
|
|
| Battle at Bristol Mountain | Half Marathon | Canandaigua, NY | Jul 24, 2020 |
|
|
|
| Zion at Night Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Virgin, UT | Jun 6, 2020 | 3:02:56 |
|
|
| Los Angeles Marathon (LA Marathon) | Marathon | Los Angeles, CA | Mar 8, 2020 | 5:20:34 |
|
|
| Women Run LA | 10K | Lake View Terrace, CA | Feb 23, 2020 | 1:03:29 |
|
|
| L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run & Bike Ride | 10K | Los Angeles, CA | Feb 16, 2020 | 1:06:04 |
|
|
| SRLA Friendship Run | 30K | Pacoima, CA | Feb 9, 2020 | 3:45:00 |
|
|
| Surf City Marathon & Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Huntington Beach, CA | Feb 2, 2020 | 2:26:29 |
|
|
| Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K | Half Marathon | Pasadena, CA | Jan 19, 2020 | 2:21:41 |
|
|
| New Year’s Race Los Angeles | 9.3 Challenge (5K + 10K) | Los Angeles, CA | Jan 5, 2020 | 1:39:01 |
|
|
| 5K Run & Walk for Kids’ Growth | 5K | Los Angeles, CA | Dec 14, 2019 | 28:40 |
|
|
| Turkey Trot Los Angeles | 10K | Los Angeles, CA | Nov 28, 2019 | 59:39 |
|
|
| Long Beach Marathon & Half Marathon | Marathon | Long Beach, CA | Oct 13, 2019 | 5:33:45 |
|
|
| Surf City 10 | 10 Miler | Huntington Beach, CA | Sep 21, 2019 | 1:48:52 |
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| Santa Monica Classic | 10K | Santa Monica, CA | Sep 8, 2019 | 1:06:11 |
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| Griffith Luau 5K | 10K | Los Angeles, CA | Aug 10, 2019 | 1:05:57 |
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| Hot N Hilly Summer 6K & 10K at Riley Wilderness Park | 10K | Coto de Caza, CA | Jun 28, 2019 | 1:23:38 |
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| Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego | Half Marathon | San Diego, CA | Jun 2, 2019 | 2:26:59 |
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| PCRF Reaching for the Cure Run | Half Marathon | Irvine, CA | Mar 17, 2019 | 2:30:24 |
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EOD Warrior Holiday Dash 6K, Half Marathon & Marathon
Friendly alternative to RnR DC
EOD Warrior Holiday Dash 6K, Half Marathon & Marathon
This is a 6K, Half Marathon or Full Marathon produced by Bishop's Events that takes place on the C&O towpath in the Georgetown area of DC. Bishop's Events is a … MORE
This is a 6K, Half Marathon or Full Marathon produced by Bishop’s Events that takes place on the C&O towpath in the Georgetown area of DC. Bishop’s Events is a nice race company that hosts hundreds of races in the DC area. I discovered them during the pandemic as their races were small enough to hold. Overall they are a very nice company though I would say their races are average. They do raise money for charity and are very responsive to questions and feedback so they are a race organization I like to support. I have done a few races on this course before. I was looking for a race this weekend where travel wouldn’t break the bank and I found reasonable flights to the DC area I just had to fly out first thing in the morning Saturday and fly back really late on Sunday. For the race I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Arlington, VA. This is close to the race and has cheap and easy parking since I needed a car for the trip. I can’t figure out how to get to parking down below the C&O towpath where the packet pick-up is but I have always been able to find easy street parking in Georgetown. I usually put Georgetown Cupcake in my GPS and it’s about a 5 minute walk. This is a pretty laid back race. Packet includes bib and shirt. The shirt is fine and is a tech shirt. There is a marathon and a half for this race. This is great as it means there is essentially no time limit for the half. Bishop’s Events now have a 3:15 time limits for their half’s but they like to accommodate everyone so you can request an early start. The marathon does have a 6 hour time limit but again you can request an early start. The half started at 8:45. It is chip timed with the same start/finish. They called runners by pace and we left in small groups to keep things spread out. The course is a simple out and back on the towpath. it is nice scenery but gets a bit boring and definitely doesn’t have the iconic sites of DC. But it’s flat and non-technical trail so easy on the joints. There were some puddles to dodge but it sounds better than last year. There was I believe 4 aid stations with water and gatorade that you pass twice. No nutrition on course. No mile markers but a clear turn around. My pace was pretty good. I had a strong pace for the first 10 miles. I was recovering from a cold so wasn’t quite 100% so I slowed down a bit the last 3 miles but still finished well under 3 hours. The medal was underwhelming. One of my worst half marathon medals. There are an assortment of snacks such as oreos, goldfish, chips, etc. Overall this is a fine race and a nice, laid back way to check off DC. It is not an exciting or scenic as RnR DC but Bishop’s is a really nice race company so this is a nice alternative especially if you want a smaller, more personal race with a more runner friendly company. There aren’t a ton of choices in DC and this is or another one of Bishop’s races in DC is a good choice to consider.
Woodbrook Turkey Trot
Cows and Horses and Vines
Woodbrook Turkey Trot
Again I was in DC this weekend for the EOD Warrior Holiday Dash and wanted to see what races I could find on Saturday. I saw this was an afternoon … MORE
Again I was in DC this weekend for the EOD Warrior Holiday Dash and wanted to see what races I could find on Saturday. I saw this was an afternoon race at 2:30pm also produced by Bishop’s Events and decided to do it. This race is really in the middle of nowhere about 1.5 hours outside DC. The race I did in Centreville was right en route to this race so while it was a lot of driving it worked out well logistically. There was no pre race email but the website was updated. This is part of a Wine series and took place on a vineyard. I don’t drink but vineyards typically mean farms which mean farm animals. Bishop’s Events are typically fine, small, friendly races and this was no exception though I find swag and production to be pretty average. The swag is better for a 5K than a half an includes a tech T-shirt and you got a free glass of wine which I declined. There was a 10K and 5K. the 10K started first and I think was two laps of the 5K. We gathered for pre race introduction and started. We were instructed to line up by pace. It is chip timed with a common start/finish. This was also a mostly cross country/non-technical trail race with a lot of it on grass. The description was less confusion than the other race this morning but still a bit confusing. You start by crossing the road and doing this out and back on a circular track thing then cross the road again and run past the farm buildings and through the vineyard and pass by some cows and horses. The track part was kind of odd and not scenic. It was on grass. The vineyard part was cool and very scenic with the animals and you also ran right through the vines. Course was mostly well marked though some sections were a bit confusing. There was a water station around mile 2. I think the course may have been a bit short as my GPS said 2.9 miles. I also may have accidentally cut a corner or skipped a short section as I said it wasn’t impeccably well marked. My finishing time was slow. The difficulty was the same as the morning race but I was 5 minutes slower even though this course was a bit short. I had a hard time with the afternoon start as I had eaten lunch and had some stomach cramps that made me have to walk. This race does have a medal at the end. The medal is fine. Bishop’s doesn’t have the best medals but any medal for a 5K is good to me. Overall I had a fun time with this event. It could have been a little better marked and I’d prefer more time in vineyards and less on the track area.
Virginia Valor Turkey Trot
Quirky Cross Country Course
Virginia Valor Turkey Trot
I was in DC this weekend for the EOD Warrior Holiday Dash Half Marathon and decided to see what other races I could squeeze in on Saturday. For the trip … MORE
I was in DC this weekend for the EOD Warrior Holiday Dash Half Marathon and decided to see what other races I could squeeze in on Saturday. For the trip I took a super early flight Saturday morning and a super late flight Sunday evening. I saw this 5K started at 10:30am so I would have no problem making it there on time. The race is located in VA about 30-45 minutes from DC. It is a cool town right near Manassas National Battlefield Park which I had some time to explore as my flight actually arrived early. It takes place at a sports park. It is a local race but it is timed by Bishop’s Events though it is not an official Bishop Event. There was okay pre race communication. The big issue is there was not much communication about what the course was like. I looked at the map and assumed it was a cross country course but I don’t think that was explicitly stated anywhere or if it was it was not very clear. I didn’t really mind. I was up for anything but some of the participants definitely weren’t prepared. There was a shorter 3K at 9:30 that was advertised as for children and the longer 5K at 10:30. Parking, packet pick-up and logistics all very easy. Packet also included a long sleeved cotton shirt which was fine swag for a short race. The race started with announcements. The announcer gave the most confusing description of the course and I was worried I would get lost. The good news is it was extremely well marked. And it was a cross country course. It was pretty much all on trail and grass. It was not very technical or hilly. It was fine for me as it’s easier on the joints and I had a lot of miles planned this weekend. The course had a lot of turns and out and backs. The issue was I noticed several participants cut corners and skipped out and backs. I don’t think anyone was doing this to cheat as it was participants with strollers, little kids and walkers at the back who I just think were expecting an easy road 5K not a cross country course so it was too hard for them to do the full 5K. The terrain needed to be better communicated as these participants would have been better off doing the 3K. Scenery was mixed. Some parts were nice and wooded other parts were just on fields. The finish line had a timing mat and it was chip timed at the finish only. There is no medal for this race. There was hot cider or chocolate and fruit at the end. My finishing time was fine for the terrains. Overall I had fun and it was nicely challenging for me but needed better communication about what the course was like.
GDTC Thanksgiving Turkey Trot
Rainy work-out before the Tofurky
GDTC Thanksgiving Turkey Trot
Last year I did the Fisher Cat's Thanksgiving Race in Manchester, NH. I liked but didn't love that race so decided to try a different turkey trot this year. I … MORE
Last year I did the Fisher Cat’s Thanksgiving Race in Manchester, NH. I liked but didn’t love that race so decided to try a different turkey trot this year. I decided on this one as it is another big race (though not quite as big as the Manchester one – I actually though this race was perfect sized) and is about 5-10 minutes closer to me. Overall there were some things I liked better and some things I liked more about this race. There was good pre race communication. There were options to get the packet before the race or race day. I got it Wednesday evening before the race. One of the main reasons I took a sneaker off production is packet pick-up was very inefficient. There was not a very long line but it took like 15 minutes to get my packet. They had the lines divided in 2 but as this is a fairly large race with close to 1000 runners the volunteers had to read though a very long list to find our names. I think maybe pre-emailing bib numbers or a bib lookup or dividing it into smaller lines may have been more efficient. After you got the bib you got the shirt. The shirt is a long sleeve tech shirt with a thanksgiving design. It is an exceptionally nice shirt for a 5K and nicer than some of my half marathoner shirts. If you want to do this race try to sign up on time for the shirt. Race day morning went smoother than packet pick-up. For the race there is limited parking near the start/finish or you can park at a nearby school and take a shuttle. I parked at the school and did the shuttle. The shuttle was very well-organized and efficient. Made up for the slow packet pick-up. It was a few minute drive and we were dropped off. One negative a bit outside the race control is the weather was pretty bad today. Luckily it was better in the morning than later in the day but it was drizzly rain and there was not a lot of indoor areas to hang out in by the start/finish area. It was otherwise set up well with booths and porta potties. While overall production of the race was good, I did think the start could be a bit better. The start is on a road that does not close until right before the race so about 10 minutes before the start we all lined up on either side of the road and then right before it started went on the street. The issue was there was no instructions or signs to line up by pace. For a big race this caused a lot of congestion in the beginning. The streets though were wide and mostly closed off. The race was very well marked and had mile markers and an aid station with water in the middle. The course is really beautiful with lots of views of the lake. This was definitely a much more scenic course than the one in downtown Manchester. The course is hilly though especially in the middle. It’s a road 5K so it’s not that hard but this isn’t a great course for a PR especially with maneuvering around people. I was dealing with a mild cold this week so wasn’t able to give it 100%. I just set a goal to finish under 40 minutes and I did that. There are tons of back of packers so it was fine having a slower race. There is no medal as expected in New England for a 5K. You are given a bottle of water at the finish. The finish area was nice and there was a great selection of post race food including treats from Dunkin’s and Panera along with bananas and packets of hummus and chips. The shuttle back to the school was also quite quick. I timed it badly and just missed a shuttle but I only had to wait a few minutes for the next one. Overall this was a good race. Some aspects such as the scenery, course markings, post race food, and race shirt were excellent but a few details such as more efficient packet pick-up and better organized start could be improved to make it a 5 sneaker race. I would consider doing this race again but I may also try another Turkey Trot since there are so many to choose from.
Upstate Classic
Great Deal for a Race and Vegan Options!
Upstate Classic
This is a 5K or half marathon located just outside Albany, NY. It is produced by AREEP. I did their Helderburg to Hudson Half a couple years ago and liked … MORE
This is a 5K or half marathon located just outside Albany, NY. It is produced by AREEP. I did their Helderburg to Hudson Half a couple years ago and liked it so decided to do this race as it was the closest half marathon to me this weekend. This race was started during covid but continued after the pandemic as it was a successful event. One thing I love about this race (and most of AREEP’s events) is they have the races at a lower cost if you don’t want a shirt. Since I have done a ton of half marathons in NY and have plenty of race shirts I really didn’t need one and this race cost only $45 which was a great deal for this race. Albany is also pretty cheap. It is a 3 hour drive so I got a hotel which was a decent hotel for a bit over $100. There is great pre-race communication with a detailed athlete’s guide. The race starts at a Fairground. There was packet pick-up Friday or race day. I obviously got it race day. You are assigned a bib before hand and it went smooth. I just got the bib since I didn’t add on the shirt. The shirts were pretty cool though and the price to add them on is fair if you want a shirt. The start area was well organized and there were a good amount of porta potties. There were lines closer to the start of the race but when aren’t there lines. The start was organized. They called people into the start area by pacing. Calling out 8 minute milers first then 9 minute milers and so on so that we were spread out. There was a little over 400 runners and we were pretty well spread out. The course is a loop through rural scenery. It is very scenic and you see forests, farms, and mountains. It isn’t the prettiest time of year but still enjoyable scenery. As it is rural there aren’t a ton of spectators but I appreciated the ones there and at one point there were a bunch of chickens on the sidewalk cheering us on. The course was very well marked. The roads were opened but coned off and quiet. There were enough volunteers and course marshals that everything was safe. My only complaint about production is there were only 4 aid stations and they only had water though there were porta potties at the aid stations too. I didn’t take off production points because this was stated in the race guide and also with the low cost of the race fair to not have extravagant aid stations. I did carry water and some honey stinger to make up for the lack of nutrition and infrequent aid stations. The course is moderating challenging the first and last few miles are mostly flat with some rollers but there are some bigger hills in the middle of the course. The most difficult part of the race today was not the hills but the wind. It was very windy. I had a really fast first 5 miles because it turns out I was running with the wind but the last 5 miles or so had a strong headwind and were rough and draining. I was hoping to finish around 2:45 based on my initial pace but the wind was too much. I still finished under 3 hours but I was a bit disappointed it was my slowest race in awhile although I was a bit excited to be disappointed in a finishing time under 3 hours as I would have been ecstatic with this time last spring. The finish area was a bit subdued due to the winds but there were volunteers and you got a nice medal with the race logo. It’s an above average medal. There are boxed lunches at the end and AREEP always has vegan options. It was a vegan sandwich and the most delicious vegan dessert. This race is between 4 to 5 sneakers but I rounded up due to vegan options and affordability. Overall I thought this was a very nice race. I would definitely recommend it to locals and semi-locals traveling a few hours away like me and would do it again. In terms of 50 staters, I’ve done a lot of half marathons in NY state and this is not as iconic as some races such as NYC, Buffalo and Wineglass but it is a solid option if it works with your schedule especially if you prefer smaller-mid sized races or are looking for a more budget option.
Barron School 5K Turkey Trot
As Local As It Gets
Barron School 5K Turkey Trot
This is a 5K the weekend before thanksgiving that benefits the local elementary school in the town I live in. It is a very local race and just a few … MORE
This is a 5K the weekend before thanksgiving that benefits the local elementary school in the town I live in. It is a very local race and just a few minutes drive from where I live. My parents decided to join me and we had lunch and watched a movie after. It’s about 2.5 miles from where I lived so a little too far to walk so we drove. Race morning was a bit drizzly. There was plenty of parking at the school when we arrived and the gym was opened so there was a place to hang out inside before the race. There was also a nice raffle. Packet pick-up was outside and included bib, a nice but white cotton long sleeved shirt and a swag bag. It’s not the most exciting swag bag in the world but included a nice pen, a rice krispie treat and lots of coupons. I’ve done a lot of these local 5Ks for schools and this had the nicest swag of them. Race went pretty smooth. There was about 200 participants. I walked with my mom. There didn’t seem to be any indication to line up by pace but we just stayed in the back. It was chip timed with the same start/ finish. The course is through neighborhoods around the school and is nice but a bit generic. All these races have looked similar. It was mostly well marked. There was one section with a short out and back that was a bit confusing that I thought could have been marked slightly better but not big issues. The course didn’t seem to hard. A few ups and downs but no big hills. It’s always harder to gauge when walking than running though. There were lots of participants and lots of back of packers so there was always someone to follow. We were slow due to some issues my mom was having but even at our slow walking pace we weren’t last showing that this is very back of the pack friendly. No medal but that is expected in New England. There were a selection of granola bars and other snacks at the end. Overall this was a nice, little 5K to support the school and community. Especially as it is very convenient I will do it again if I am in town.
Running to Class 5K
More of a Fun Run
Running to Class 5K
I was on call this weekend and planning to run around a 5K distance in the early afternoon. I found this 5K at noon which is untimed so more of … MORE
I was on call this weekend and planning to run around a 5K distance in the early afternoon. I found this 5K at noon which is untimed so more of a fun run than a race but seemed better than just running on my own and it raised money for a school. The start is at a school in Harvard, MA which is about 30 minutes southwest of where I live. It starts/finishes at the school. There was a pre race email and updated website. If you signed up early enough (which I did) you got a shirt which was an orange cotton shirt. There were no bibs. This was a very sort of grassroots race clearly completed organized by the school and parents. I do like the community involvement but it would have been nice to have a timing company or at least have it manually timed. This was all in the race info and everything was done well. The course is a loop around the neighborhoods in the school. It’s mostly woods. It would probably be really pretty in late September early October. There were rolling hills. Everything was well marked with volunteers at intersections and mile markers. There was a clock at the end so you could see your time but there were no official times. I had to take a work call and walked half a mile of the race so not my best finishing time so it’s fine it is not published. At the end there was cider and an assortment of granola bars. Overall this was what I was expecting. I’d prefer a timed race but this was all I could find and it was better than running by myself and nice to support to school.
Sudbury Road Race
Love a Triple Race Weekend
Sudbury Road Race
My clinic was closed on Veterans day so I decided to see if there were any nearby races so I could have a 3 race weekend and there was this … MORE
My clinic was closed on Veterans day so I decided to see if there were any nearby races so I could have a 3 race weekend and there was this one. Overall this was a fine 5K. It was pretty non descript but also had no issues. It is located in Sudbury, MA which is inbetween Boston and Worcester and about 45 minutes southwest of where I live. The race started at 10:30 so even though it wasn’t super close I could still sleep in. There was a short but sufficient pre race email and the website was updated. It was a smallish race with 140 participants. There is race day packet pickup. The swag item is a shirt but I signed up too late to get it. The shirt is a pretty genetic cotton shirt typical of an event like this and it’s fine I didn’t need it. The race is chip timed. It is a loop course through neighborhoods around the school with a short out and back portion in the middle. Race was well marked though it was open to traffic so we were sometimes running on the side walk. There were course marshals at intersections and plenty of signage. Scenery was pretty typical suburban New England scenery. There were not many back of packers. I think they may have all done the 1 miler option instead. I wasn’t particularly fast today as I used a lot of energy yesterday and was a bit sore but I also wasn’t particularly slow and there were only 10 people behind me. The finish is the same as the start. No medal as per usual for 5Ks in New England. There were granola bars and some treats at the end. Overall this race was completely fine though nothing was particularly special about it. If you are in the Boston or Worcester area and looking for a race to run on Veterans Day it will do.
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
So Many Hills
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
This is a race produced by Millennium Running downtown Manchester. This was my third year doing some version of this race but only my first time doing the half marathon … MORE
This is a race produced by Millennium Running downtown Manchester. This was my third year doing some version of this race but only my first time doing the half marathon as I had previously done the full marathon and the half marathon relay. My opinion is pretty much the same of all the races. This is a very well-produced and very convenient race but there are some brutal hills and the scenery isn’t as nice as other races in NH. Logistics really couldn’t be easier. This is located in downtown Manchester with lots of hotels in walking distance from the start/finish and it’s a quick cab ride from the Manchester airport. If you do not want to rent a car, definitely do this race for NH. Of course I live 25 minutes away so I just drove. I parked in the lot I usually do. There is a fee but it’s always convenient. There is race day packet pick-up which I did. Packet included bib and a polyblend long sleeved shirt. It’s fine for a shirt but I actually think the shirt from the 5K yesterday was better. Another thing I love about this race is it is very back of the pack friendly with a 7 hour time limit for the full marathon and a 4 hour time limit for the half. This was one reason I chose to do this race when there were at least 3 half marathons near me this weekend. Even though I have gotten faster and don’t need a long time limit I’d rather support races that are more supportive of back of the packers and also like running with other people. There are also pace groups for slower paces which is nice with a 5:30/2:45 pacer, 5:45/2:52 pacer and 6:00/3:00 pacer. I lined up between the 2:45 and 2:52 pacer. I figured I would finish around 2:52 (I was extremely correct) but wanted to start off a bit faster and bank time for the hills. The start was well organized with the pacers. The first about 5 miles of the race are my favorite part. It starts in downtown Manchester but a lot is on the rail trail. The first 5 miles are pretty flat and I maintained a little over a 12 minute mile pace and was around the 2:45 pacers. One cool part they added was a lap around the minor league baseball stadium at mile 5. I don’t remember this from when I did the full marathon and liked the addition. The prettiest scenery I thought was along the rail trail and the coolest scenery was running through the stadium. The rest of the race I don’t like as much. From about miles 6 to 11.5 it is mostly uphill with a few downhill sections. It is rough and the scenery here is mostly just through neighborhoods and while not bad scenery isn’t anything special. There is a small section through non-technical trail but the rest is on roads that are closed or coned off so traffic is not a concern. Luckily the final 1.5 miles are downhill or flat so there is a fast finish. Race is very well produced as expected. There were aid stations every 1-2 miles with water and gatorade and some had maple syrup energy packets. Course was well marked. There were a ton of people running my pace including marathoners so if you are a slower marathoner who does not like running alone this is a great choice for NH. I was very happy with my finishing time. It was a bit slower than my last few half marathons but this race was much tougher. I wanted to finish under 3 hours with a bit of a cushion and I finished right round my predicted time of 2:52. The medal was excellent this year. There was typical pre race snacks with some delicious tomato soup and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beer at the finish. Decent post race food but yesterday’s 5K was better. Overall I do think this is a good race. It is well produced and very back of the pack friendly. It is not my favorite scenery for NH and the hills between miles 6-11.5 get pretty brutal. I would definitely recommend this race if you don’t want to rent a car or if you are a slower marathoner. I do think there are some more scenic options with more favorable elevation profiles such as the New England Half or Clarence DeMar Half/Full if you don’t mind renting a car and traveling a bit further. As this is a very close race for me I’m sure I will do it again.
DAV 5K Boston
Great Cause and Great Food
DAV 5K Boston
This is a 5K that raises money for disabled veterans that takes place the Saturday before Veterans day. It generally sales out about 1 month in advance so don't wait … MORE
This is a 5K that raises money for disabled veterans that takes place the Saturday before Veterans day. It generally sales out about 1 month in advance so don’t wait last minute to sign up. Packets are mailed prior to the race although they give instructions about what to do if it didn’t arrive or you forgot your bib. Packet included bib and a really nice, long sleeved tech shirt. It’s the kind of shirt you expect from a half marathon and better than you get with most 5Ks. There is good pre race communication as well. The race takes place on Castle Island with views of Fort Independence which has some cool waterfront and historical views and the fort seems like an appropriate place for a veterans day race. The only issue is it is at the Southeast tip of Boston and not that easy to get there by public transportation. They did recommend public transportation but you basically took the red line to south Boston and then took a bus. I work on the red line and though of parking at work but saw it would take over an hour (not counting the drive) so decided to just arrive early and park at the venue. The race starts at 10am with pre race ceremonies starting around 9:20. I arrived a little after 8am and had no issues parking but the lot filled around 8:30am so if you do park at the start/finish arrive before 8:30. There was a nice race festival area with booths for vendors, sponsors, charities and food. This is a big 5K for a small venue and had about 1500 participants but everything was as well organized as possible. They had pre race announcements discussing the history of the race and the charity it raises money for. They tend marched us to the start. I loved how they started this race. This as I said isn’t a huge venue and it’s all on public paths (which is completely fair as it is hard to get Boston to close down streets) but means the race will be quite crowded. However they called out participants by pace and had us March over. Of course a few people didn’t go where they should have but most people lined up correctly. They had participants under 40 minutes go for the first wave and participants over 40 minutes go in a second wave. There is also a 1 mile race that starts a bit later. The course starts with a loop around Fort Independence which is cool and then it is an out and back along a bridge with a short loop at the end of the out and back. There are water front views and it is a nice course. I do think it was the best venue for a 5K I’ve done in Boston that uses all public paths. The race is chip timed. It is a flat course but there was a strong headwind that slowed me down. I still had a very good finishing time. At the end you get a medal! This is almost unheard of for 5Ks in New England. It’s not the biggest medal in the world but it’s nice and appropriately sized for a 5K. The best part is the finish party with a bunch of local food vendors. I will admit a lot of the menu items were a bit meat centric but I got a tofu banh mi, minestrone soup and a sugar cookie all of which were delicious. Overall this was a a great 5K with nice swag and a post race party. I would definitely do this race again and would highly recommend it if you are a local or visiting for one of the many half marathons in the Boston area on Sunday (at least this year BAA half, Manchester City Half and Harborside half were all the day after this 5K).
Colt State Park Half Marathon
Pretty, Double Loop Half
Colt State Park Half Marathon
This is a half marathon that takes place in Colt State Park in Bristol, RI which is about 25 minutes outside Providence. The main reason I chose this race was … MORE
This is a half marathon that takes place in Colt State Park in Bristol, RI which is about 25 minutes outside Providence. The main reason I chose this race was it had a 3.5 hour time limit while all the half marathons this weekend that were closer to me had a 3 hour time limit. It was also the same weekend as Rhode Island Comic Con so along with a longer time limit it was a fun weekend to visit the Providence area. This is a smaller half marathon with 400-500 runners so logistics are pretty easy and there is race day packet pick-up. There was an email with all the pre race info needed. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Swansea, MA which was about 15 minutes from Colt State Park. While it is a smaller race that they described as an “old school” race there were a few production elements that were excellent. The first was there was great signage in park where to go to the parking area at the race start/finish. Packet pick-up was easy and included a solid tech shirt and the bib. I thought the corral could be a bit more organized. There were kind of two lines that merged and there were supposed to be pacers but I didn’t see them at the start though maybe I missed them because I have more thoughts on the pacers later. I stood in the mid-back as I’ve been faster lately and no longer needed the 3.5 hour time limit (though I still like the lack of stress) but this race seemed to attract a faster race field as it is the RI championship for the half marathon distance so I probably should have been further back but there was no pace signs or pacers to tell me that. Definitely not a huge deal but an area of improvement. The course is very nice through the park. It is mostly on paved trails though a few small portions are on open roads. I’m kind of glad there weren’t many back of the packers as I was doing run walk intervals and some of the paths were a bit narrow. The course is beautiful with a good mix of waterfront views and forest views with fall foliage. It is mostly flat and there weren’t really any hills just a few inclines and bumps. The hardest part is some sections had a headwind but as it was a loop it was not the entire race. It is two loops which is not my favorite format and why I marked scenery 4 sneakers instead of 5 as the second half of the race is a repeat. Race production was quite good though again it’s a bit old school and missing some of the bells and whistles at bigger races. It was impeccably well-marked. Another great production aspect was they had small flags marking the entire course. I loved this as I am always paranoid about going off course and didn’t have to worry about it. There were 3 aid stations you passed twice. While volunteers were friendly and aid stations were well stocked despite there only being ~ 20 runners behind me I do think they could be improved a bit. The main thing is the first and third just had water while the second had both gatorade and gels. I agree with the other review that I’d prefer gatorade and gels at different aid stations to mix it up. I also had very even splits but lost about a minute the 2 miles with the big aid station as I had to get all my nutrition there. Not a huge deal but a small tweak could improve the race. Another production complaint which is outside the race’s control is I don’t know what the 3 hour pacer was doing. As I said I didn’t see the 3 hour pacer in the starting corral. My goal for this race was to finish somewhere between 2:45 and 3 hours as I wanted a comfortable cushion from 3 hours but didn’t want to overexert myself and risk injury pushing myself as hard as the week before so I wanted to have a 3 hours pacer as a guide to not fall behind. I didn’t see any pacers in the beginning but suddenly at mile 3 one appeared. I’m not sure if she started late or was ahead of me in the corral on the other side but I was glad to see her so I could pass her and use her as a marker to not fall behind. However she stayed the same distance ahead of me for several miles and was going about the same pace which was ~12:30 min/mil which is around a 2:45 pace and not 3 hours. I eventually did pass her but then about 10 minutes later she passed me and told me to not worry about her as she was no going much faster than 3 hours. What? That is literally your job. I’m pretty sure pacers get a free race entry. Even if no one is in your pace group you should still run the pace you signed up for in case someone falls behind and wants to use you to pace them. I mean I get human error and pacers aren’t gonna be perfect and sometimes start off a bit faster to bank time but this was not that. Anyways after she said don’t worry about me I’m going too fast I told her I was hoping to use her as a gauge to not fall behind and she seemed surprised someone would request that and not just let her do her thing but she did stay behind me the rest of the race. Anyways I digress as this is not really the race’s fault but if you are a pacer do not do this. Everything else production wise was solid. A few areas I felt like were a bit tight with running on open roads but it was always a small portion of the course and there were enough course marshals to keep it safe. Finish line was a bit lackluster near the end of the race. I was very happy with my time and finished a bit over 2:45 which is what I was aiming for but most people already finished so the finish area was kind of quiet. No one was even handing out the medals I just grabbed mine. It was a nice wooden medal. I did overhear someone saying they were concerned they may not have been enough medals so I’m not sure if the last finishers got them. Even though this race had a 3:30 time limit it still wasn’t a great back of the pack course but it wasn’t my worst back of the pack experience in Rhode Island. The finish area was nice. There was clam chowder, huge delicious muffins, granola bars, fruit and athletic brewing company non-alcoholic beer. Overall this was solid race. I wouldn’t call it a must run but it’s a fine choice for Rhode Island and if you are a comic book fan you can pair it with a trip to Comic Con which was also fun and I got to meet Dogpool.
Pawtuxet River 5K
When in Rhode Island
Pawtuxet River 5K
I was visiting Providence this weekend for Rhode Island Comic Con and the Colt State Park Half on Sunday so I wanted to see if I could find a 5K … MORE
I was visiting Providence this weekend for Rhode Island Comic Con and the Colt State Park Half on Sunday so I wanted to see if I could find a 5K Saturday and I found this one. Overall this was a solid, smaller 5K but not really too special. There was adequate pre race communication with an email before the race. It started at a park. There was plenty of parking at the park when I arrived and they also gave an address for a secondary parking lot if it was full. Bib pick-up was race day and was easy and included a fine cotton T-shirt the typical swag item for this kind of race. Race was generally well produced. There was a bit under 200 hundreds and production is smaller scale but not issues. It was manually timed. The start was about a block from the finish area/park. It could have been a bit clearer but they directed us there. The RD gave some instructions before the race though they were a bit hard to hear and off we went. The course is nice but again not that special through neighborhoods and along a river path. One issue is it started at 8am which I though was a bit early. There was a glare and you were facing the sun on the river pass so it was hard to see. There was also a very rude biker who almost hit me as I was trying to pass another runner and didn’t see them from the glare and was not very polite about it. I think this race could’ve started a bit later so there would be less issues with the sun. Other than the rude biker no other issues. Course was on open roads, public paths and side walks but was generally coned off and had course marshals at all street crossings. There was nice fall foliage and nice views of the river. There was a water station in the middle. There were plenty of course markings. Course is pretty easy and no major hills. I do wish I looked at the elevation profile though as I had a really fast first two miles and was hoping to get a 5K PR for the year. However I didn’t realize it but the first 2 miles were a gradual downhill which meant the last mile was mostly uphill. It wasn’t super steep or anything I just didn’t bank my energy right so was a few seconds over a PR for the year but still had my second fastest 5K this year. At the finish line I was excited I saw medals but sadly they were only for kids. Adults like medals too. This is typical for New England. There were granola bars and the typical post race snacks and water bottles. Overall this was a solid but not particularly special event. Would recommend if local or visiting Rhode Island.
Newburyport Half Marathon & Relay
Always a Fast Race
Newburyport Half Marathon & Relay
This is a half marathon in MA by the NH border produced by Millennium Running. I also did this race last year and it was exactly the same so you … MORE
This is a half marathon in MA by the NH border produced by Millennium Running. I also did this race last year and it was exactly the same so you can refer to that review. The only difference this year is the weather was perfect so the course was a bit more scenic and less cloudy but I still don’t think it’s the most scenic course you can make in Newburyport and it still had the eyesore that is the business park near the end. Swag was similar to is year but a different design for the sweatshirt and medal but both are very nice. There was one thing I wanted to be the same as last year and that is that last year this was my fastest half marathon and I had one goal today and that was for it to be my fastest race of the year. I unfortunately had a canceled flight back from Portugal and missed the New England Half so with an extra week of rest I know I could really push myself. And I sure did. I was very happy to finish in 2:40 which was a typical finishing time for me pre injury so hopefully I am back! Finish area is nice by the water and again there was cheese pizza and the medal was really big. Overall this is a solid race and a very fast course. I wouldn’t plan around this race but if I’m free and in town I’d do it again because it is a great course for me
Trick or Trot 3K
New Venue This Year
Trick or Trot 3K
This is a 3K (slightly under 2 miles) race produced by Millennium Running. I did this race last year but it was a very different race as it changed venues. … MORE
This is a 3K (slightly under 2 miles) race produced by Millennium Running. I did this race last year but it was a very different race as it changed venues. Last year it was in downtown Manchester but this year it moved to a brewery in the suburbs. I liked the new venue better as I get sick of running in downtown Manchester and the brewery was about 5 minutes closer to where I live. There is good pre race communication and production is great as expected for Millennium Running. The race starts at 11am so I got to sleep in. There is a children’s Halloween festival and some kids races before the 3K. You can either get your packet the day before at the Millennium Running store or race day. I just got it race day. Parking was easy and there were volunteers that told you right where to park. This year the swag item was gloves. I preferred the shirt we got last year but at the same time I kind of liked getting a different swag item. The course was very different as it was an out and back in the suburbs. There was a lot of fall foliage and it was a nicer course than last year. There were also less turns so it could be faster. However the first half has a pretty good hill to go up so it still wasn’t a fast course but at least the second half is downhill. I was 1 minute faster than last year although I didn’t push myself too hard because I wanted to save energy for my half the next day. The finish line is nice with an announcer but no medal which is the usual for shorter races in New England. There was a good selection of post race food such a granola bars, chips, yogurt (including non-dairy smoothies) and some non-alcoholic beer and you could redeem you bib for an alcoholic beer at the brewery. Overall this is a solid little race. It’s not my favorite distance as it’s too short to get in the zone but too far to just got all out like a mile race but I’d do it if in town and not looking for a long race. I also liked the new venue better than last year.
Royal Parks Half Marathon
London Calling
Royal Parks Half Marathon
Now that I am wrapping up running a half marathon in all 50 states, one of my next goals is to run one in all 7 continents. I had the … MORE
Now that I am wrapping up running a half marathon in all 50 states, one of my next goals is to run one in all 7 continents. I had the opportunity to go to Lisbon for a conference from 10/16 to 10/19 and decided to find a European Half Marathon to pair with the trip. There wasn’t any in Lisbon but I found this one the weekend before so decided to start my European adventures in London. This is a huge race with over 15,000 participants and entry requires lottery, charity or through a tour group. I decided to play it safe and just went through Marathon Tours which provided guaranteed entry and also covered the hotel and the logistics. I took a red eye from Boston to London Thursday night and the trip included a stay at the Intercontinental hotel from Friday through Monday (you can request to extend your trip if you want to go longer but these were the exact days I wanted to be in London). The trip had some group dinners and cocktail hours but was pretty unscheduled which was nice as there was time to do whatever you want to do in London. There is very good pre-race communication with emails about every week and a detailed race guide. If you live in the UK your packet is mailed but if you are international you need to pick it up either the day before or race morning. We did a group run Saturday morning and ended at bib pick up. Sunday was race day morning and we walked together as a group which took away a lot of stress. The start had 8 corrals and you were assigned an expected start time. It was a bit chaotic with so many people but overall was not bad and I was happy we started right about on time unlike Montreal where we started much later than the listed time for the corral. Once you start the race is amazing and this may be my favorite of all my half marathon. The race starts in Hyde Park and most of the race is in the Royal Parks. At around mile 1 you run past Buckingham palace. Then there is about 2-3 miles through the streets of London where you pass Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and just about all the landmarks you think about when you picture London. I think these were my favorite miles of any race. It gets a bit more boring after mile 5 as the rest is through the parks but I completely get why when holding a huge race with a 4 hour time limit in London you would have the last half in a public park. However all the streets for the race and the park were closed and there was much less maneuvering around tourists as a race in Central Park in NYC. The parks still had very nice scenery with some gardens and statues. The race route was pretty much all closed off and you could not get lost. The best part was the entire race was lined with spectators. I mean the entire race. I think this may have had the most spectators of any race I’ve done. It is well organized though aid station were more sparse than America and just had water. I think this is more typical of Europe so I won’t take off production points. There were accurate mile markers and 5km markers with timing mats for splits. The course is also really fast and flat with just some inclines and declines and is the perfect elevation for me. Between the high energy from all the spectators and the fast course I was on fire. Even though I stopped and took some pics the first couple miles I realized at the halfway mark I was definitely going to be under 3 hours and was on pace to be under 2:45. It took all my strength and energy to keep up the pace but I did it and had my fastest half marathon time since my injury in 2021! At the finish they gave some peanut butter oat bars, water and a plant based tropical energy drink. You get your medal which is kind of a lame, wooden medal but has London landmarks on it and the race is an environmentally friendly race they wanted to use more sustainable materials so I will forgive them. My only production complaint is it was a bit jam packed at the end as you got the shirts at the end. They were also out of the smaller sizes of shirts but I can wear a larger shirt so it was fine. The shirts are also made of recyclable materials so are only okay. Oh well the rest of the race was so great it made up for the swag. The finish party was excellent. There were food trucks including a completely vegan one (and most of the others had vegan and vegetarian options) and runners got an alcohol free beer. This party was made for alcohol-free, meat-free people like me. Overall this was an excellent race with a really nice, flat fast course and amazing spectator support. As long as you are okay with mediocre swag and figuring out how to get entry I would definitely recommend this race for Europe. I also loved London and plan to come back for the full marathon one day!
Wineglass Marathon & Half Marathon
This Race Kicks GlAss
Wineglass Marathon & Half Marathon
I’ve heard great things about this race but was never able to make it work in my schedule when I lived in Rochester as I ironically had plans in New … MORE
I’ve heard great things about this race but was never able to make it work in my schedule when I lived in Rochester as I ironically had plans in New England both weekends the race was held while I lived in Rochester. However now that I am living in New England I had no plans this weekend and decided to do this race. Overall this race had fantastic production and swag that lived up to the hype but I was a bit disappointed with the scenery though not enough to remove a sneaker from the overall rating. This race has an expensive price tag. I think I paid about $150 and registered on the earlier side but this had some of the best production and swag of any race I have done so I understand the price tag. There is excellent pre race communication with a race guide and everything you need to know is very clear. I drove in Friday night and did the Jell-Half which is about 1.5 hours away from Corning and drove to the expo Saturday after lunch. The expo is at the glass museum and is medium sized and well organized but very cramped. Packet included a really nice jacket, drawstring bag, wine glass, piece of chocolate and a bottle of champagne if over 21. Since I don’t drink I wish they offered a cheaper no alcohol option without the champagne and wine glass as I’d rather pay less and not get the champagne and wine glass. The wine glass is a nice souvenir and I will display it but not use it. I have the champagne to a friend. After the expo I went and visited the museum which is amazing! Corning is a small town and the restaurants are pretty packed so plan to have dinner early. I ate at an Italian restaurant with some friends but my favorite restaurant in Corning is the Cellar which has lots of vegan and gluten free options. If you are looking to save money (which I was since I was going to Europe next week) stay around Horseheads which is about 20 minutes away though if you want the easiest race day morning stay in downtown Corning. Everything about the race was really smooth. I drove down Sunday morning and it was very clear which shuttles were for the half and full marathon. The race is point to point with a different start for the half and full which share the last 13.1 miles. At the start you can wait in a school so even though it was cold and early in was warm inside. There were lots of porta potties outside the school but of course the lines got long closer to the race. The start was pretty well organized. It was one long corral and there were pacers. It’s a big but not huge race with a few thousand runners each distance. The course is point to point and a gradual downhill with a few small rollers but no significant hills. It is a potential fast course and a lot of people use it to BQ. Of course it is not a fast course if you pushed yourself a bit too hard at a half marathon the day before but luckily it is extremely back of the pack friendly as the half actually starts before the full and has the same cutoff time it’s very walker friendly. I started off strong but kind of fell apart in the second half and walked most of the second half. Everything was very well organized with clear course markings and mile markers. Aid stations were a bit sparse in the beginning around every 3 miles but were closer together towards the end and had water, electrolyte and a few had gels. The scenery as I said was a bit disappointing. Maybe it was just because it a foggy day so some of the background was not visible or it’s because I am spoiled by New England fall but I thought the course was so boring. A lot was along a highway and a railroad track and through some pretty generic neighborhoods. It’s not awful scenery just nothing special. There also weren’t many spectators especially in the beginning. There were more at the end be but there was much less than Clarence De Mar despite being a bigger race and you go some long stretches with spectator support. The finish is great though in downtown Corning. It’s a lovely finish and lots of spectators at the end. My finishing time was fine. It was a bit slower than I’ve been running lately but given how hard I pushed myself Saturday I was happy with it. You get a really cool glass medal at the end. The finish festival is great with tons of great food options. There was typical fruit and granola bars but also bagels with peanut butter, soup (which had the ingredients listed so no concern about the tomato soup having chicken broth – I love that the race thought of all these little details), cheese pizza and some sodas along with water. There was enough to eat for lunch so I didn’t have to stop on my way home. Overall I thought this was an excellent race with some of the best production and swag but I was a bit disappointed by the scenery and spectator support. This is definitely one of the better half marathons in NY (and I’ve done a lot in NY) but I would put it at the 4th best in NY behind NYC, Buffalo and Lake Placid. It’s still a good choice for 50 staters and Corning is a charming town and there are lots to do around it. I’m not sure I will do this race again. It’s nothing personal but it’s the same day as two excellent half marathons right by me (Smuttynose Rockfest and Maine Half) so I would lean towards doing those instead but I’m glad I got to do this race once and see what the hype was about.
Jell-O Half Marathon & 7K
You’ll be Jell-ous of the Jell-o Swag
Jell-O Half Marathon & 7K
This is a 7K or Half Marathon in LeRoy, NY which is the birthplace of Jell-o dessert and is a small town between Rochester and Buffalo. I did the 7K … MORE
This is a 7K or Half Marathon in LeRoy, NY which is the birthplace of Jell-o dessert and is a small town between Rochester and Buffalo. I did the 7K a couple years ago when I was living in Rochester. I was going back to the area for the Wineglass Half on Sunday so decided to do this race on Saturday to make it a double weekend. It is produced by Willow Running and is a smaller race with a couple hundred participants. Overall everything was fine but it’s a pretty lackluster race. There is adequate pre-race communication with a few emails and updated race website. Since it’s a smaller race, logistics are easy. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Victor, NY. This is about 45 minutes away from the race but en route from New England. I like to get to my hotel by midnight and Victor is as far west as I can go and get there before midnight which is why I chose it but there are likely closer hotels. Batavia is probably the best place for lodging but you could also stay in Rochester or Buffalo. Race morning is easy as you just park at the Jell-o Barn and there is race day packet pick-up if you can’t get it earlier. I obviously did race day. Along with the bib you get a really fun, long sleeved, hooded tech shirt with the jell-o theme. In comparing the race companies around Rochester I find Willow Running events are a little more bare-bones production wise but have the best swag around. The race itself was pretty bare bones. We just started on a road and it is chip timed at the finish not start. The course is through country roads which were open. The scenery is nice, farmland scenery but gets repetitive. The course is described as flat which it is definitely not though I also wouldn’t call it hilly. There is a mean hill just after the half way point but most of the rest of the hills are doable. The biggest difficulty is the second half is more uphill than the first half. Production is adequate. One thing I liked that they fixed this year was they used mile markers for the half marathon and km markers for the 7K which was helpful as the races have different start lines and the last time I did it both the mile and km markers were off for the 7K until the end when the races merge. Though the roads are open they are pretty quiet and there are course marshals at the biggest intersections. I didn’t think there were enough aid stations. There were 4 and they were pretty spread out in the beginning. They had water, Gatorade and Jell-o. It was nice weather though the course is unshaded and it got a bit hot by the end of the race and I would’ve needed more water if I wasn’t carrying a water bottle. There also aren’t a lot of spectators which added to the boringness. Course was marked well enough though I do think you could get lost if you weren’t paying attention. Despite some hills I had a really fast time and had my fastest race of the year. I guess I run fast through the farmlands of Western NY as my previously fastest half was also in a similar location. The finish line was a bit disappointing especially after I was feeling so great with my finishing time. There is a nice finish arch, you are cheered on by race staff and get a cool Jell-o medal. However the food was picked over with limited vegetarian options. It also seemed most of the celebration was over even though there were still quite a few runners behind me. There were a few cookies but they were kind of stuck together, a few cups of Jell-o and some BBQ. Since I’m vegetarian I grabbed like half a cookie as I couldn’t eat anything else. Someone I know who finished about 10 minutes after me and ate the BBQ said it was completely cold. I was starving after my fast performance and needed more than half a cookie but luckily I found a vegan cafe called Eden Cafe in Batavia about 20 minutes away which was delicious. Overall this is an okay race with great swag. I also felt it was a better 7K than half marathon as the flaws were more apparent in a longer race. This is a race I’d recommend to locals or to those traveling to Wineglass who want to do a double but there are much better options for NY for 50 staters unless you really, really love Jell-o and need Jell-o swag.
Clarence DeMar Marathon & Half Marathon 🏆
One of the Best in NH
Clarence DeMar Marathon & Half Marathon 🏆
I had run this race last year and not much had changed so that review has more details. Overall this is one of the best half marathon in NH and … MORE
I had run this race last year and not much had changed so that review has more details. Overall this is one of the best half marathon in NH and probably the best full marathon. I’ve done most of the halfs in NH but only one full in NH but this is the best half that also has a full marathon so I assume it is the best full marathon here. My favorite NH half is the New England Half in Concord but this race is a close second. It is located in Keene which is a bit far away which is my only negative. I am trying to be a little cheaper with an upcoming trip to Europe in less than 2 weeks and a trip to Antarctica in March so I again stayed at my parents house an hour away instead of getting a hotel and did race day packet pick-up. Swag for the race is okay. The shirt this year was a long sleeved green polyblend shirt. I’d prefer a tech shirt like last year but I suppose it’s good to mix it up. I do like the swag back has some other items like a bumper sticker, Gu and ChapStick and not just a shirt. Race logistics exactly the same and everything was smooth. It was absolutely perfect weather and a but warmer than last year (though still nice and cool for running) so it was more comfortable waiting for the start. The race is excellent. It is very scenic with fall foliage (though not quite at it’s peak which is one reason why I slightly prefer the New England half). The course has some hills but isn’t bad for New England. The course is well marked and there are plenty of aid stations. There are a ton of spectators for being a smaller town and the therapy pig was back. I think there were even more spectators this year. Not all of the course is on closed roads but it is generally coned off and lots of course marshals. My biggest issue last year outside of the race’s control was even though it is a back of the pack friendly race there were not many back of packers and I was third from last and running only with marathoners. However this year there was a significant amount more people in the back of pack and I was about 15 minutes faster so I had an even better experience. My only very minor criticism is I wish there was an aid station with nutrition somewhere between mile 6-10. There is an unofficial aid station near the end of the race with lots of goodies but no official aid station with nutrition. This is mentioned in the info and you can take the Gu they give you. The finish line and after party are at Keene State College and set up nicely. I was happy I finished under 3:10. The medal is a bit small but it’s okay. There is soup, cookies and other food at the end. Overall this race has an excellent course and is very well produced. The medal could be a bit better and the location isn’t as convenient as some other locations in NH but this is still an excellent choice for a NH race. I’m sure I will run in again.
Beneva Montreal Marathon
C'est une bonne course
Beneva Montreal Marathon
Now that I am wrapping up 50 states one of my next running goals is to run a half marathon in all 10 Canadian Provinces. I decided to do this … MORE
Now that I am wrapping up 50 states one of my next running goals is to run a half marathon in all 10 Canadian Provinces. I decided to do this race as Montreal is only about a 4 hour drive for me and I enjoy big city races. The race had excellent pre race communication with very frequent emails in both French and English. There was a helpful race guide that had all the information. My mom wanted to visit Montreal as well so she joined me for this trip. For the race we stayed in Burlington, VT Friday night and I did a 5K there Saturday morning and then we crossed the border into Canada and arrived at the expo in the early afternoon. The expo was pretty big. The parking lot was a bit full but we found parking pretty easy. It was easy to get the bib and you are assigned a bib number beforehand. It was efficient and there weren’t lines like described from past years. You have to pay extra for shirts. I did since it was my first race in Quebec and it was a nice short sleeved tech shirt I will definitely use. There were a number of other booths at the expo. The expo primarily used French but there were English language signs and all (or at least most) of the volunteers were bilingual. We stayed at the Holiday In in downtown Montreal which was a nice place to stay and is a short drive to the start and near public transportation. The race is point to point. It starts on an island called Île Sainte-Hélène and ends in Parc Maisonneuve near where the expo is. One confusing thing is “start” in French is “départ” and “finish” in French is “arrivée.” So I initially thought you started i.e. arrived at the park and finished i.e. departed at the island when I looked at the course map. Luckily I read the guide carefully and realized we started the the island. The guide said to use public transportation and there are NO shuttles between the start and finish. However since my mom was with me she drove me to the start and picked me up at the finish line. If you are traveling with someone with a car definitely do this, it was really easy as everyone used public transportation. One runner I knew doing the race used public transportation and said it was a mess with how many runners there are because this race is huge. I knew it would be a big race but I had no idea it was this huge. There were almost 10,000 participants in the half and between 3000-4000 in the full. I think this was the largest running event I’ve done this year. The start area was set up as well as possible for such a big race. You are assigned into one of nine corrals based on predicted times. I was in the last one because I’m slow. There was a small cafe to get a light breakfast and lots of porta potties though of course the lines got quite long. While I do feel the corrals were organized, one of my bigger complaints is the guide said the expected time each corral would leave and we ended up leaving about 20-25 minutes later than the stated time. The first corral started at 7:45 and it said the last corrals would leave around 8:05 but we didn’t start until close to 8:30. It was also a bit confusing as the instructions on the intercom for the participants were all in French (not a complaint just a thing to be aware of). I do think we were all spread out fairly well for how big the race was so it’s fine it took nearly 45 minutes to get everyone going, I just wished the guide said it would take 45 minutes not 20 minutes. It made it harder to plan to meet my mom after the race starting 20 minutes later than expected as my cell service is spotty in Canada. Anyways after we left it was a really enjoyable race. The first few miles are on the island. This part is a bit quieter as there aren’t many spectators but it is a nice and scenic, pretty area to run in. You then cross a large bridge into the city. The initial part after the bridge is less nice as it’s a lot of docks and you go under some overpasses but soon you are in the heart of the city and it gets really fun. There are a lot of spectators in the city and it is just fun to run on closed city roads and see the city without having to worry about being run over. The Montreal Canadiens mascot Youppi was there and I took a selfie with him but he didn’t like that I am from the Boston area. You then run to the park and there are a ton of spectators at the finish area. Overall spectator support is pretty good. There weren’t many in the beginning because of how the course is set up. I initially thought it was underwhelming for a big city race but they showed up in the middle and end. Overall production of the race was quite good. Everything was very well marked and there were several timing mats for race splits. There were plenty of aid stations with water and electrolytes. Just some advice if you are running in a location where you don’t speak the language make sure you know the word for water. The water and electrolytes were both clear and I never looked up the French word for water. I assumed it would be something similar to aqua or agua since French is a Romance language but it is Eau which does not sound similar in the heat of the moment when at an aid station and it seemed like people were screaming random words so I was just taking cups and sipping to see if it was water or electrolytes. Again not the races fault, just some advice to learn the word for water. There were plenty of porta potties at the aid station. The only issue with the aid station is they did run out of nutrition for the slower runners though they never ran out of Eau or electrolyte drink. Other than running out of nutrition, there were no other issues as a back of packer and the half had a 4 hour time limit so it is walker friendly. Another minor production issue is a few of their later km markers were a bit off. They had markers every 2km. The 16km and 18km appeared to be placed quite a bit early. It was hard enough pacing myself using km markers and even harder with not correctly placed km markers. My Garmin had some issues with GPS signals under the overpasses and my tangents weren’t great so I was using the markers to help pace myself and it got confusing at the end and I ended up a couple minutes slower than my goal since those two markers were placed too early. In terms of course difficulty, I would say it’s pretty average. It’s not flat or hilly. There are a few small hills but most of it is pretty flat. However it is net uphill and a lot is at a slight incline which while barely perceptible just makes it not a fast race. I was aiming for between 3:00 and 3:15 and finished a bit over that but still faster than a lot of my recent races. The finish line is very exciting with tons of spectators as I said previously. The medal is a bit underwhelming. The finish area is fun but crowded. There is okay post race food. Neither race I’ve done in Canada has had a ton of post race food. There were granola bars, fruit, chocolate milk, trail mix and Nutella uncrustables. Enough to fill me up until lunch but not a full meal like you get with some American races. If you want lunch nearby, the Biodome in the same park as the finish has an all vegetarian cafe called Espace Vego for a quick vegetarian lunch. Overall this was a very fun, big city race. It was very close to 5 sneakers and it would just take a few minor improvements in production for me to raise my ranking to 5 sneakers. I would definitely recommend this race if you like huge, city races and are hoping to do a race in the Canadian Provinces. Even if you aren’t this is still a race to consider as Montreal is a very fun city to visit. As I enjoy big city races and this had a longer time limit than the races in Boston and Montreal is easier to get to than NYC and Philadelphia, I would definitely considering doing this one again.
Miles for Migraine Vermont
No Headaches from this Event
Miles for Migraine Vermont
Miles for Migraine hosts 5Ks and walk events all over the US. It is a wonderful program that supports headache fellowships and they hold events in locations with hospitals that … MORE
Miles for Migraine hosts 5Ks and walk events all over the US. It is a wonderful program that supports headache fellowships and they hold events in locations with hospitals that have headache fellowships. As a physician, I can tell you that managing headaches is a headaches and we need more specialists so it’s a great event. It is also free but you are encouraged to make donations and raise money. I did one of their events in Chicago a few years ago and while it was a nice event there were some issues with course markings but I am happy to report this race in Vermont went off with no issues. Burlington, VT is a bit far for me to travel for a 5K but I was actually planning on staying in Burlington Friday night en route to Montreal for a half marathon Sunday so this race worked out perfectly on Saturday morning. There was a useful pre race email and this year they did put the course map on the website which was feedback I gave them after the Chicago race so they appear to listen to feedback. My only pre race communication complaint that is the website listed the event time as 9:30 but 9:30 was actually the time for the pre-race announcements and speaks and the race didn’t start until 10am. Not a huge deal but I thought the race was going to start at 9:30 so I’d have time to shower but with 10am I had to leave right after the race. Other than this there were no issues. The event started in a park with lots of parking. The start/finish area is set up great with booths and a moose mascot from the UVM Children’s Hospital. Packet included bib and a tote bag with flyers from sponsors and information about migraine care and products. There was the option to pay for a shirt. I really liked the shirt I got in Chicago and it was getting worn out so I purchased another one. It is a really nice, poly blend shirt and the design is slightly different each year. There were nice pre race announcements with a patient and a physician speaking. Then we left around 10am. It was a beautiful but hilly course which is typical for Vermont. It was on a very wide side walk along a main road and then through a park/golf course. The pain road had some picturesque Vermont scenery and the park & golf course were also very pretty. There are some big hills which is expected for VT. I think this 5K had more elevation gain that the half marathon I did in NJ 2 weeks ago. While I definitely prefer races on roads to sidewalks. I don’t like races on open roads and for a free race wide sidewalks and public paths seem like the best plan. This course was very well marked unlike the one in Chicago so no one got lost. There was no water stop on course but that is fine and it was mentioned. The finish area was the same as the start and was festive. My finishing time was fine for the hills and I just broke 40 minutes. You get a really nice medal for a 5K which is amazing for a free race. Heck in New England we don’t usually even get medals for 5Ks we pay $50 for. The medal though is a generic miles for migraine medal and not specific to the area (which is completely understandable for a free race and it’s not a complaint. I just wrote this to let people know if you do multiple miles for migraines events you will get the same medal each one). There is also a nice selection of post race drinks (including La Croix) and snacks such as fruit, mini muffins, granola bars etc. I gave 5 sneakers for swag as a medal and nice snacks are great for free. Overall this is an excellent event and I’d recommend it if you are in the area. As Burlington is about 2.5 hours it’s a bit far for me to do unless I go to Montreal again or do another race up in Vermont the same weekend.
Irish Cultural Centre 5K
Luck of the Irish
Irish Cultural Centre 5K
This is a 5K race located in Canton, MA about 30 minutes south of Boston. It's a bit far from me as I live 30 minutes north of Boston but … MORE
This is a 5K race located in Canton, MA about 30 minutes south of Boston. It’s a bit far from me as I live 30 minutes north of Boston but I was on call this weekend and this race starts at 11:30am so it’s late enough for me to go in the hospital and round and then run the race. This race as the name implies raises money for the Irish Cultural Centre. Really my only production complaint was there was no pre-race email except the generic refer your friends runsignup ones. However the website was updated and had all the info. Parking was easy at the Cultural Center. The race is medium sized for a local 5K with around 300 runners. It started with both the American and Irish anthems and we went. This is a very nice race that encouraged participants of all abilities including walkers. I love this as this is not always the case in New England. As a result even though I am not very fast (though I was much faster than Friday) there were a bunch of people at my pace and about 100 people behind me. The course is very flat. It is sort of Y shaped and on closed roads. The area around the cultural centre is pretty but most of it is through business parks and not scenic though the race can’t really help this. There were 2 aid stations with water which is great for a 5K especially as the late start made it a bit hot. I was excited to finish under 40 minutes since I was still battling a cold a bit and even more excited there were medals at the finish. They were tiny, generic medals but New England 5Ks hardly every get medals so I will take it. There was a very nice post race lunch with pasta, salad and bread and you also got a free drink either a beer or a soda. Overall this was a really nice, back of the pack friendly 5K with a fun after party and even a tiny medal. If this were closer to me I would definitely do it again. An hour is a bit far to travel for a 5K but I would definitely do it again if I was on call and it was such as nice race I’d consider traveling to it even if I wasn’t.
Happy as a Clam 5K
Sick as a Dog
Happy as a Clam 5K
This is a Friday evening 5K in Essex, MA on the North Shore that is a fundraiser for an elementary school. This race worked out perfectly for me as I … MORE
This is a Friday evening 5K in Essex, MA on the North Shore that is a fundraiser for an elementary school. This race worked out perfectly for me as I work on the North Shore on Fridays about 20 minutes away from the race. Unfortunately I got sick during the week with some sort of URI that is not covid. Sick as a dog may be an exaggeration but I was definitely not 100% for the race but felt good enough to walk it. There was a helpful pre race email sent out with instructions. Parking was a pain (but this was described in the email). The race started at 6 and I didn’t arrive until around 5:30 and I parked about 1/2 mile away at the backup parking that was suggested. My warm up was the walk. Packet pick up was easy and included a nice long sleeve shirt though it is white which isn’t my favorite. I didn’t have time to go back and forth to my car so had to tie it around my race. The race are was very fun with the clam mascot and some food trucks. There was also a walk at 5pm before the run and a kids 5K.. The race started behind a timing mat. The course is a loop with an out and back portion. It was a very pretty course through wooded neighborhoods. Not super exciting but pleasant and pretty. However it was quite hilly. I think there was more elevation gain in this 5K than the entire half marathon in NJ. Course was well marked though roads were open to traffic. They had course marshals at the crossings and the roads were mostly quite so it was safe. There was a water stop halfway. Since there was the earlier walker start I was one of the last finishers. I had to mostly walk though I occasionally jogged some downhill. My time was pretty terrible but I survived. Everyone was nice even though I was slow and there were a handful of spectators in the neighborhood. The finish is the same as the start. There is no medal which is typical of New England. There was fruit and water at the end along with food from the food trucks for purchase. Overall this was a nice 5K that I would do again as long as I was not traveling on Friday.
Racefaster Half Marathon
I sure did Racefaster than yesterday
Racefaster Half Marathon
This race is located in northern NJ about 20 miles outside of NYC. I decided to do this race as it was on my way home from Bird-in-Hand. It is … MORE
This race is located in northern NJ about 20 miles outside of NYC. I decided to do this race as it was on my way home from Bird-in-Hand. It is also about 20-30 minutes from Metlife Stadium and I wanted to go to the Giants opening game and it was very convenient for that as well so it worked perfectly for my weekend plans. This is a fast, no frills race that is good for locals or if you are in the area but isn’t a destination race. There was adequate pre-race communication. I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express about 10 minutes away. The race is in a park and is mostly an out and back with a a small loop in the middle. The entire race is on paved paths in a park. There is the option for early packet pick-up but you can get it race day. I got it race day as I slowly made my way up to NJ after Bird-in-Hand. Race day packet pick-up was easy and included a bib and a long sleeved tech shirt with the race logo. The race had 300-400 runners so it was on the smaller side but not tiny and it made things pretty easy. We just lined up in front of the timing mat and left. There were two pacers to help spread things out but they were much faster than my pace. It seemed to be a pretty fast field so I stayed near the end. The park was quite pretty and it was a pleasant run but it wasn’t much different scenery than running on the rail trails near me. I always think it’s a bit boring when races are all on a public path but logistically it is easier and I prefer it to open roads as it is safer. The course is as the race name suggest very fast. There are no hills but a few inclines and declines. Less than 200 feet of elevation gain. It was perfect for a fast race for me. I was correct that most runners were faster as this course is set up more to get a good time than have a good time but there were a few slower folks and I had no issues in the back. There were 3 aid stations you pass twice so 6 totals and lots of bathrooms in the park. The aid stations however only had water. The course was also well marked and it was easy to figure out where to go. I had a very fast race. I didn’t break 3 hours which I thought was a bit of a stretch to be able to do in my 5th half marathon in 16 days but I was a few minutes faster than Sioux Falls and had my second fastest half this year. The finish line is a bit disappointing. You get your medal with the race logo which spins but it’s kind of small and cheap and mine broke. There was water at the end but no food. I had to go straight to Metlife Stadium as the game started at 1pm so I was starving so I wish there was food. I did make it to Metlife in time to park, get lunch at the concession stand and get to my seat before 1pm kickoff so this did work great with the football game. Overall I’d recommend this race to locals who are looking for a fast course or if you happen to be in the area. While I didn’t have any big issues with the race I don’t think it was special enough to recommend to 50 staters as a stand alone NJ race. I did the April Fools Half in Atlantic City and the Run the Vineyards half in Southern NJ closer to Philadelphia and I’d recommend those two races more (though I also did a trail half in NJ that I would recommend less unless you really like a challenge). However I would recommend this for 50 staters if you are looking for a double with Bird-in-Hand or love football and want to find a race you can combine with a game at Metlife Stadium.
Bird in Hand Half Marathon & 5K 🏆
Camel Alert!
Bird in Hand Half Marathon & 5K 🏆
This race has been on my radar since it was voted the best half in PA and I have heard nothing but good things from my runner friends. I looked … MORE
This race has been on my radar since it was voted the best half in PA and I have heard nothing but good things from my runner friends. I looked into it a few years ago but the race wasn’t offering race day packet pick-up and there was no way I could make Friday packet pick-up without taking a day off and there was no way I was using a vacation day for a race as close as PA so I opted for a different race. However I decided to look into it again as I have made more running friends and figured worst case I could get someone to pick up my packet and was very happy to see they now offered race day packet pick-up for $20 so I immediately signed up after seeing that. This race is located in Amish county about 1.5 hours outside Philadelphia. It would be pretty easy to fly into Philadelphia or Baltimore and drive to the race but it’s not a race you could easily do without a car. I opted to drive from work in MA and it was about a 7 hour drive which meant I arrived after midnight. I stayed at a holiday inn express about 20 minutes away. I did hear the 5K and pasta dinner are really good so if you are willing to take a day off to go to PA you should try to get there earlier on Friday. There was good pre-race communication although the email they sent was a bit wordy and not the easiest to quickly get information from. However it was clear and easy where to park. I arrived early as they suggested and it was easy but this is a small area with limited roads so there was definitely congestion for the later cars. Packet pick-up was easy and there was also vendors (mostly local Amish goods and foods but also the typical stuff) and fire pits and a lot of porta potties though of course there were long lines close to the start. Packet included a tech shirt that I would consider average for a half and a delicious whoopie pie which was a nice additional treat. The race start was pretty well organized. There were no corrals but they had pacers to help people line up. I was planning to take this race easy so I stood near the back. There were pre race announcements and the race started on time. One thing I appreciated was the RD said the race would start on time and anyone who was still in bathroom line could start after since it was chip timed which is so much better than waiting for everyone to finish and starting late in a bigger race like this with a few thousand runners. The race started and it was amazing. After running in Kauai last weekend, it was going to be hard to beat that scenery but this race came close. The race is through beautiful Amish farmland. It is similar to the Amish Country Running Festival I’ve done in western NY but with about 50X more runners and half the elevation gain. Along with the picturesque farms there are a bunch of Amish families cheering you on. And even better there are a bunch of farm animals cheering you on. There are all the usual farm animals cows, horses, pigs, goats, chicken, etc but then at mile 12 there is a camel!! It was such a cool and fun race. I took it very easy and took a ton of pictures so my finishing time was not the best. Overall production was excellent. Course was well marked and had mile markers and plenty of aid stations with water, gatorade and one had a sherbert type dish that was so refreshing. The end was a little rough as part of it was on grass but I wasn’t PRing this race. It’s also not the easiest course. There are a moderate amount of hills. I think it is well described in the pre race info. It is hilly compared to Nebraska but flat compared to Vermont. It was about 500 feet of elevation gain and similar to an average course in NH or MA where I usually run. Weather today was quite nice but the course is unshaded and it can be hot in early September which can add to the difficulty. I made it to the finishing time with one of my slower half marathon finishes but I had a blast. Also there were ton of back of packers so it did not matter. The race has a stated 4 hour time limit but they were not strict. The finish line had an LED arch and big screen with results. You get your medal which is a horseshoe medal and is huge. This medal may even be better than my Pro-Football HOF superbowl ring medal. Definitely a top 2 medal and it’s probably in my top 5 definitely in my top 10 half marathons. Afterwards there is a picnic. I’m gonna be completely honest I was very disappointed in the picnic. There was nothing vegetarian except salad and potato salad so I really couldn’t get a full lunch and didn’t want it wait in line for just salad. I mean the picnic is a nice gesture and I get that traditional Amish food isn’t vegetarian but if you are vegetarian don’t plan on getting a full meal. I did get a piece of cake from the dessert table to hold me over until I could get lunch. Overall this was an excellent race and had some of the best scenery and farm animals in any race I’ve done. I’ve now done several races in PA and this one is definitely the best though logistically it’s a bit trickier to get here than a race in Philadelphia and there are some wonderful races in Philadelphia as well. If you can make this race work with your schedule you should definitely try to do it. I think it is a bit far of a drive to make it an annual race but I’d definitely be open to doing it again.
Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon 🏆
Welcome to Paradise
Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon 🏆
I was initially going to do the Maui Oceanfront Half for Hawaii but after the devastating fires I decided to cancel that trip. I chose to do this race instead … MORE
I was initially going to do the Maui Oceanfront Half for Hawaii but after the devastating fires I decided to cancel that trip. I chose to do this race instead for a few reasons. The main one was that it took place on a Holiday weekend and I needed to minimize vacation day use to save them for Antarctica in March and the other reason was quite a few of my running friends were finishing their 50th state here. I also ideally wanted to go to a different island than O’ahu for Hawaii as I had already been to O’ahu and Honolulu on vacation. Kauai is a beautiful island but is much less urban than O’ahu which has it’s positives and negatives. The biggest negative being it’s more expensive and logistics can be trickier with less flights and hotel options but the positives are that Kauai has some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen and it feels more authentic. For the race I just took off Friday and had Monday off so it was a pretty quick trip. There was good pre-race communication with a simple but easy to read race guide and the right amount of pre-race emails. I took the earliest flight from Boston to Lihue Friday and arrived mid-afternoon. The host hotel for the race is the Grand Hyatt Kauai. It’s a fancy resort and a bit more expensive than I usually pay for a race hotel but with the race discount it is cheap for a Hawaiian resort and was much cheaper than the lodging I initially booked for Maui. It was somewhere around $350 per night. Since I was staying only a couple nights I decided to treat myself and pay it. It is very convenient staying there as the expo is there and there are shuttles to the race there. Kauai is a difficult island to explore without a car as there are limited ubers and lyfts but there is enough to do around the resort and the surrounding areas to get away without renting a car if you don’t drive or don’t want to. I did rent one since I wanted to explore. After I arrived I checked in and then went to the expo. The expo is open both Friday and Saturday. It’s a small to mid sized expo about what you would expect for a race this size with a couple thousand runners. Swag included bib, tote bag and shirt. The shirt is a nice material but it’s neon green and not my favorite design. Saturday I explored the island (walked to Poipu beach to see sea turtles and seals, visited Waimea Canyon and took a raft tour of the Na Pali coast) and then Sunday was race day. The race starts early at 6am which is necessary as it is hot and humid. The race starts about 1.5 miles from the hotel and there were shuttles. One thing I loved is there were a ton of signs directing where to go to the shuttles as it is a big resort. The shuttle was efficient and I got there about an hour early. The start area was nice with plenty of porta potties and some light pre-race snacks but my stomach was a little off as I ate too much fresh fruit and drank too much fresh fruit juice on my trip and the options were fruit, fig bars and yogurt and I would not be able to stomach any of them. The start had announcements, some traditional Hawaiian prayers and the anthem. One thing I wish is that the corral was better organized. It didn’t really have any signs of where to line up by pace. I assumed I would be near the end given the time limit but there were a couple hundred participants behind me so there was a lot of passing the first mile. However one thing really nice about this race is it is on all closed or partially closed roads so there was plenty of space to spread out. I’ve also heard many of the other Hawaiian races are on open roads. The only downside is this race has a tighter time limit than some other Hawaiian races. It’s not a very tight time limit but you have to get to mile 6.7 in1:55 which is around a 16 minute/mile pace. This sounds easy enough for me except the first 7 miles are uphill. . After that though it is all downhill and you have as much time as needed to finish. If you don’t make it to mile 6.7 in the time limit they shuttle you to further along the course and you get a medal but no official time. Since Hawaii is not easy to get to, I could not risk a DNF and I pushed myself as hard as I could those 6.7 miles. Luckily they are beautiful. This is one of the most scenic half marathons I have done. I still have Grand Teton as #1 for scenery but this could be #2 and is definitely top 5. There are gorgeous tropical views and views of mountains. It is so beautiful the miles fly by. Most of the uphill is gradual and I was able to do run-walk intervals for most of it. There is a really steep section about halfway through mile 5 that I could only walk so make sure you bank time for that if you are worried about the time limit. Around mile 6 you go through about a mile of the tree tunnel which is really cool as you are surrounded by beautiful tropical trees and then you reach the time limit. I was very relieved I made it in about 1:45 so had plenty of time to spare. Of course that really wore me out and I mentioned I had stomach trouble and waited until after the time cutoff point to use the porta potty so the next half of the race was not pretty performance wise as I walked a lot and took several bathroom breaks but it didn’t matter I was going to get Hawaii done. And it was definitely still pretty scenery wise. This part is mostly downhill and if you didn’t waste all your energy on the uphill it could be fast. If you are a faster runner I would take the uphill easy and if this race didn’t have a time limit I would have taken it easier. Some of the next few miles are through a small town so there are a lot of spectators who were giving out fruit and spraying with hoses and sprinklers. The last couple miles while scenic enough were a bit frustrating as they had no shade and were super, super hot and humid. Race production overall I thought was very good but there were a few minor things that could be better. The course was very easy to follow and very safe with closed roads. There were accurate mile markers. The one thing I thought could be improved is more aid stations. They were every 2 miles which is not enough for how hot it was. I brought water but I wish I also packed something with electrolytes as even though one aid station in the middle had GU and all had gatorade I had cramping at the end of the race indicating I needed more electrolytes. There also weren’t quite enough porta potties. While there weren’t huge lines they were pretty full by the time I got to them and very gross. A couple extra aid stations and porta potties and a more organized start corral and I’d have no production complaints. My finishing time was okay. I was on pace to finish at 3:15 at the halfway mark but fell a part a bit for reasons stated above. I still finished under 3:30. The finish line is nice with an announcer and a finish arch. You get your medal which is nice though not spectacular. There is a good post race party. I liked that they had ice coffee with lots of non-dairy milk options as I could not handle dairy that day. They also had a pretty good selection of post race food but I couldn’t eat too much and just grabbed a bar to eat. There was a shuttle back to the hotel. The shuttle was pretty efficient. There was about a 15 minute wait. It wasn’t too bad and I had plenty of time to get back, shower and pack before 11am check out. I had a great time with this race and thought the scenery was so beautiful and Kauai was such a lovely place that I started to think I could make this a part of my regular rotation and go whenever I had a few spare vacation days but that all changed on my journey back to Boston. My initial flight was at 9pm on Sunday from Lihue and arrived in Boston at 5PM on Monday. We boarded the flight on time but waited in our seats 2 hours due to mechanical issues and in the end we needed a part shipped from O’ahu which couldn’t arrive until the next day so we unboarded and unfortunately the flight got moved back too late for me to get to work on Tuesday. Me and a few other runner friends on my flight ended up booking a different flight to Southwest Monday at 7am and had to spend the night in the Lihue airport on a bench and I eventually made it back to Boston bright and early on Tuesday and basically had to head straight to work. The whole trip took about 33 hours starting at the time I arrived at the Lihue airport. This is not really related to the race but remember Kauai is a small island that doesn’t have a ton of supplies on the island so if you can, try to take an extra back up day off for travel. I also decided after that mess I won’t be going to Hawaii anytime soon as there are plenty of beachy races in the Caribbean to do instead. I would still definitely recommend this race and if it wasn’t a 13 hour trip (or 33 hour trip if your flight gets delayed and you need to reschedule it) I would definitely do it again. I am also happy to have 49 states done and am all set to finish in Oregon at the Eugene Half in the Spring!
Sioux Falls Marathon & Half Marathon
Recommend the Half not the Full
Sioux Falls Marathon & Half Marathon
I chose this race for South Dakota just due to convenience. I was initially hoping to do a race in the beautiful black hills of South Dakota. However when I … MORE
I chose this race for South Dakota just due to convenience. I was initially hoping to do a race in the beautiful black hills of South Dakota. However when I looked into the logistics with my limited funds and vacations dates this year with the Antarctica Half, I realized flights to Sioux Falls were much cheaper and had more convenient times than Rapid City and I could do this as a double with Nebraska State Fair. While Sioux Falls isn’t as majestic as the Black Hills it was a nice race. For the most part pre-race communication was good and I had all the info I needed. The biggest pre race issue was the cancelled the marathon only a few days in advance due to heat. This made me a bit nervous they may cancel the half but luckily that happened. While I completely understand why a race company would cancel a marathon due to the heat, this is an August race! I feel like you should expect the possibility of heat in August. This was also the second time in 4 years they canceled the full marathon. I think they need to change the race to a later date if they are going to have a low threshold to cancel the race due to heat. As a result, I definitely do not recommend signing up for the full unless you don’t mind being forced to drop down to the half. Otherwise everything went smooth. One thing I wish was different is the expo closes at 4pm on Saturday and I wish it went later. The 4pm closing makes it a bit tighter to make it to the expo if flying Saturday morning or driving from Grand Island Nebraska. It is about a 4 hour drive from Grand Island so definitely not an issue for half marathoners but it did mean I could only visit the state fair for about an hour before I had to leave for South Dakota to make it on time and it may be an issue for full marathoners doing the double. Expo was small but had a few booths and the essentials. Packet included bib and a nice half zip pullover but again a bit of a hot swag item for a summer race. For hotels do NOT stay at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Sioux Fall. I initially had reservations there but it was super loud as there was some banquet with loud music going on until midnight and I ended up having to change hotels as I couldn’t sleep. I ended up staying at the Holiday Inn Express by the Airport. It was a bit more expensive but much quieter and actually closer to the race. Race morning was pretty smooth. They had a map where to park. Start pretty well organized but the start area was a bit underwhelming with just a timing mat and a banner that said start. There were a lot of porta potties and pacers up to 3 hours. I didn’t really stick with the pacer since I wanted to do run walk intervals and she wasn’t doing them but I used the 3 hour pacer as a guide to make sure I could keep her in my eye sight as this had a 3:15 time limit. The race started on time. The weather was very very humid but I didn’t think it was that hot. It was in the 70s, there was also a cool breeze and a mist. I mean it was hotter than ideal for a full marathon but I’ve done much hotter races this summer. I liked the course a lot. The start is at a sports complex and the first mile or so it flat. Then it is hillier and goes through downtown. None of the hills are bad. It is just rolling hills. The miles downtown are nice with interesting architecture and lots of spectators. The best part of the course is around mile 5 when you run past the falls that Sioux Falls is named after. After you out and back along a river path which is peaceful and very flat and then you are back to a few hills in town and then back to the sports complex where you finish on a track. In terms of difficulty there is about 300 feet of elevation gain and it’s a mix of flat sections and rolling hills. I would saw the course is below average in difficult but the heat made it a bit tougher. I was able to keep an under 3 hour pace until about mile 8-9 when I started to feel a bit overheated and decided to slow it down as I banked plenty of time to finish in 3:15 and it was more important to finish healthy than finish under 3 hours. Production was good and the course was well marked and had plenty of police and volunteer support. It was either on closed roads or public paths so no issues with traffic. There are about 1000 participants so it is a nice size race. There would be the right amount of aid stations in usual weather but as they felt it was hot enough to cancel the full I feel like they should have added a few more. Mile markers were also a little bit off in some sections. The finish line was also lack luster with just a timing mat and no finish arch. These are all very little production details that didn’t ruin the race but there was enough little things that could have been improved to make this a 4 sneaker not 5 sneaker race. I was happy I finished well under 3:15. I didn’t make under 3 hours but it was still my second fastest half this year. Though the race did not seem strict with the time limit but I couldn’t risk it as I am so close to 50 and it would be hard to redo South Dakota. I had no issues with anything at my pace. The medal is nice with the skyline of Sioux Falls. There was plenty of snacks and drinks including sodas at the end. Overall I thought this was a very nice race. There was a few things that could be fixed to make it a great race. If you have the time and money try to do a race in the Black Hills as they are gorgeous (I’ve been there before on vacation) but if you are looking for a convenient half is South Dakota this is a good choice especially as a double with Nebraska State Fair. However I would be very cautious signing up for the full marathon if they do not move the race date.
Nebraska State Fair Marathon
A FAIRly Good Half Marathon
Nebraska State Fair Marathon
This is a 5K, Half Marathon or Full Marathon that is located in Grand Island Nebraska (about 2.5 hours from Omaha) and is run in conjunction with the big Nebraska … MORE
This is a 5K, Half Marathon or Full Marathon that is located in Grand Island Nebraska (about 2.5 hours from Omaha) and is run in conjunction with the big Nebraska State Fair. I chose this race mostly due to convenience as it worked perfect as a double with Sioux Falls the next day. Pre race communication was adequate with an updated website and enough emails to get all the info you need to know. For the race you can either do packet pick-up the day before or morning of the race. I had Friday off and flew into Omaha and arrived in the early afternoon. While I technically could have made Friday packet pickup I wanted to go to Omaha Zoo and get dinner at Modern Love (an amazing vegan restaurant in Omaha I definitely recommend if you are there) so I didn’t arrive in Grand Island until later in the evening and got my packet race morning. I stayed at the Candlewood Suites in Grand Island which was a short drive to the race. Race morning was east. There is plenty of parking at the State Fair Grounds. Race packet pick-up was also easy and smooth. It included bib, ticket to state fair, drink ticket for soda, water or beer and a red long sleeved tech shirt. The shirt is nice although for hotter, summer races I’d prefer a short sleeve shirt. It was a pretty hot morning for the race but the race starts early at 6:30 so you miss most of the heat. It was a bit hotter than expected for August but it’s August so heat can’t be unexpected. This race did not cancel any distance unlike Sioux Falls which canceled the marathon despite similar weather on Saturday and Sunday. The race was very well-organized for a small race. There was between 200-300 half marathoners and 100-200 full marathoners. The course is a loop through Grand Island and is as interesting and as varied as possible for the area. The first about 2.5 miles I didn’t like much as they were along a busy main road with strip malls and chain restaurants and just wasn’t interesting. It was a 2 lane road and 1 lane was blocked off so it was safe and plenty of space. After that the scenery is better. The next part is around 2 miles on a path that runs through corn fields the iconic view of Nebraska. My favorite part was the next section which was about 4 miles through parks. This part was scenic and had some shade which was nice. There was also a really nice section around mile 7 where you circle around a museum. The rest of the race is mostly through neighborhoods which is fine but a bit generic. The race is very flat, almost too flat. The only difficulty is the potential heat which is why I marked it 2 sneakers. There were a good amount of aid stations. At least every 2 miles some more frequent. I could have used more in the heat but for a smaller race it was a good amount. They had water and gatorade and some had other snacks like fruit snacks. The race was well marked, there was accurate mile marks, lots of volunteers, plenty of course marshals and police to direct traffic. Roads were either partially closed or you were on public paths. There aren’t a ton of spectators but more than expected for a smaller race. Production was really good and about as good as any smaller race this size I’ve done. This race had a long time limit as the half had the same time limit as the full. Sioux Falls had a tighter time limit of 3:15 so I took this race easier. My goal was to finish under 3:30 since that would give me time to quickly visit the fair and still make it to Sioux Falls for packet pick-up and my finishing time was just what I expected. No issues being in the back of the pack other than this being a small race so I was sometimes running alone. The finish line is well set up with a big start/finish arch. The medals are huge and it is one of my better medals. This was the 10th anniversary year so they may be bigger than usual but some people I know who run this race regularly said the medals are alwasy nice. There was plenty of post race snacks like granola bars, cookies, fruit, chips and then tons of food you can purchase at the fair. Overall I thought this was a really nice race and definitely a good choice for Nebraska. The races in the bigger cities may have some more spectators and bigger post race parties but this is a good choice for Nebraska especially if you are looking to double with South Dakota as Sioux Falls is the next day.
Boot Scootin’ Boogie 5K
Country Music and Beer
Boot Scootin’ Boogie 5K
This is an evening 5K which is in Londonderry, NH produced by Millennium Running. Londonderry is in between Concord where my parents live and was spending the weekend and Salem … MORE
This is an evening 5K which is in Londonderry, NH produced by Millennium Running. Londonderry is in between Concord where my parents live and was spending the weekend and Salem where I live so this is a convenient race for me. After the race there is a concert and brewfest. The theme is country music and beer which I will admit is not a theme I am particularly interested in (I’m more of an indie music and coffee type of person lol) but why not do two 5K’s in one day. There is the option for pre race packet pick-up but I just got it race day. You can purchase VIP parking and park right at the start and finish but I just did regular parking at the high school which is about a 10 minute walk. I arrived early and had time to get my packet and bring it back to my car. Packet included bib, a wrist band for the brewfest and a tank top. It is nice quality and a fun design but again quite neon. The start area has some additional booths and a good amount of porta potties for a big race. This is a big race with around 1000 participants. The race is well produced as expected by Millennium. I do think there could have been more of a wave start. There is suggested paces to line up by but it’s a mass start and the first 1/2 mile was very congested. Just about every was doing the same pace so it was fine but it made it hard to do run-walk intervals so I mostly ran at a medium pace the first 1/2 mile. The first mile is a gradual downhill which means the last mile is a gradual uphill. The middle is mostly flat with some small rollers. It is well marked and there are mile markers and a few official and unofficial aid stations. It is mostly through neighborhoods and has pleasant but not exciting scenery. It’s a very fun atmosphere with so many runners and several were dressed up in cowboy costumes. I was a bit tired since this was my second race today. My first and second mile had solid paces but I was tired by the third mile and given it was all uphill just walked it. It wasn’t a terrible hill and if it was my only race today I’d probably run walk it. The elevation profile and crowd makes this a slow race and my time was not great but it’s okay as the race is very back of the pack friendly. At the end of the race there is typical post race food (granola bar, chips, yogurt) and water and there is the brewfest where you can stop and get a tasting glass. I appreciate they had food options outside the brewfest in case anyone just wanted to go home. I don’t drink alcohol but decided to check out the brewfest since I had time. There was a band performing and several breweries you could get samples from. I was happy that one brewery Better Day Brewing was a non-alcoholic brewing company and at least two other companies had non-alcohol samples so I got to try a few things. There were also some food trucks but they had long lines and limited veggie options so I skipped them. Overall this was a fun and convenient event. As long as I am in town I would do it again and since it is in the evening could even do it weekends I am working.
Celebrate Tom Walton 5K
The Final Race in the CARS Series
Celebrate Tom Walton 5K
This is the final race in the Capital Area Race Series (CARS) Series in Concord, NH and is in honor of a local runner and former cross country coach who … MORE
This is the final race in the Capital Area Race Series (CARS) Series in Concord, NH and is in honor of a local runner and former cross country coach who died last year. My parents were out of town and I had to housesit for them in Concord and watch their pets so I had to stay local this weekend. The CARS series is a nice series of small races that have generally between 100-200 runners per race. I travel too much to do the whole series but have done 3 of the races this year and I have enjoyed them all. I plan to likely do more next year when I will be taking it a bit slower with half marathons. This race starts at the delta dental office building which is right by the community college in Concord. Most of the course is on the community college campus. Parking was easy and there was a short email with pre race info. Packet was inside the building and included bib and a tote bag with the race logo. I liked how I got a different swag item each race I’ve done in the series and not just a shirt at all of them. The course is chip timed and well organized and marked. It’s kind of a boring course but flat except a small bridge. You just run through the college campus. The finish line is well set up with an announcer. My finish time was pretty good. There was good post race food including bagels and donuts. Overall this was a very, solid 5K that is worth doing if you are in the area.
GWL Greenway 5K
Better Than Expected Community Event
GWL Greenway 5K
This is a community event for the city of Lawrence which is about a 15 minute drive for me. I'm not going to lie the website was kind of sketchy … MORE
This is a community event for the city of Lawrence which is about a 15 minute drive for me. I’m not going to lie the website was kind of sketchy and there was zero pre race communication so I did not set high expectations but since it was only a 15 minute drive I didn’t really care if it was terrible but I was pleasantly surprised with how nice this race was. This was again a race with between 100-150 participants. I wasn’t really sure how parking etc would be so just drove to the GPS address and it was easy. Bib pick up is before the race and included a solid tech shirt along with bib. There were also some water and granola bars pre race. The race went along the greenway in Lawrence. Lawrence is a lower socioeconomic town and some areas are not as nice but I was surprised by the amount of beautiful green areas and it was an interesting course with both tree lined scenery and more urban scenery. It was well marked and had a water stop in the middle. There was good course support with police at all street crossing. I do wish there were mile markers and a map of the course. I didn’t realize it was point to point. This made for a more interested run but also meant you had to take a shuttle back. My finish time was solid though not as fast as Thursday. The finish area was nice and there was very good post race snacks with granola bars, bananas, bagels and to my surprise one of favorite snacks hummus and pita chips. The shuttle back was well organized and efficient. I just wish I knew about it as I ended up coming home about 20 minutes later than I expected. Luckily I didn’t have plans so it didn’t really matter. Overall though this was a very solid race. With mile markers and better pre race communication I could be convinced to round up to 5 sneakers. I would do it again if I were in town the weekend of the race.
Race to the Ledges 5K
Really Nice, Small 5K
Race to the Ledges 5K
I was initially planning to go to NY state for some half marathons this weekend but due to getting a new kitten, placing a large deposit on my antarctica trip … MORE
I was initially planning to go to NY state for some half marathons this weekend but due to getting a new kitten, placing a large deposit on my antarctica trip (and wanting to save money) and already making sun level I decided to stay home and do some 5K. I did this race in Concord, NH Saturday with my dad. Of all the 5K’s I’ve done during my half marathon break this was probably my favorite. It takes place at the Granite Ledges a senior living home in NH that is located right by Concord Hospital. This is a hilly area so I was not expecting a fast course. There was good pre race communication including clear instructions where to park. The start area had bib pick up and a few booth. Packet included bib and a nice shirt. It’s a small race and was chip timed. The first about 1/2 mile is on trail then it is a 2 mile sort of loop through neighborhoods and then back to the trail. The trail isn’t too technical but there are a few rocks and roots. The road has rolling hills. It is all shaded and while not spectacular scenery is nice scenery and also goes past my high school where there is an aid station. At the finish line they call out the finishers. There is an excellent breakfast for a small 5K Definitely the best post race food I’ve had for a smaller 5K with just over 100 participants. There were yogurt with granola and breakfast burritos (including a veggie one) among other things. This is a small race and tended to attract a more older crowd so even though my finish time was mediocre I was happy I also was third in my age group and got a pint glass and small medal. Overall this was a very nice, smaller 5K. Probably the best 5K I have done with under 150 runners and I would definitely do it again if in town next year.
Corporate Road Race
One of the Most Popular Races in NH
Corporate Road Race
This is a huge 5K in downtown Manchester on a Thursday evening produced by Millennium Running. There are lots of separate corporate teams but it is also easy to participate … MORE
This is a huge 5K in downtown Manchester on a Thursday evening produced by Millennium Running. There are lots of separate corporate teams but it is also easy to participate as an individual. My workplace is out of Boston and Manchester is a little far from Boston for my workplace to have a team so I registered as an individual. Luckily the day of the race I was working in Nashua which is normally a 20ish minute drive to Manchester so I could do an evening race there. Since the race is so popular just a warning it took a long time to drive into Manchester and it was almost an hour drive and the price of parking was jacked up for the event and the parking garage I usually use was $20 which is more than usual. These aspects are a bit out of the race control and everything else was well organized. Even though I only arrived about 25 minutes before the race I had time to get my bib and use porta potty since everything was pretty efficient. The swag for the race was a tech shirt. It was nice quality and design but too neon for me. The race is very well organized and starts and ends on Elm street where most Millennium races start. Its not the most scenic but it’s convenient and there were some spectators. This race has potential to be hot but it was cool and drizzly tonight. The race is quite fast as it is a slight uphill on Elm street and then you turn a block and it is slight downhill. Other than a slight hill at the end it is very fast. I was happy I had my fastest 5K of the year. The finish has a big celebration in the park with booths for the company and the typical food at the end of Millennium races. Overall this is a fun race on a Thursday evening. The crowds make it fun but also make some of the logistics a bit annoying. I’d recommend if you can get to Manchester on a Thursday evening.
Cape Ann TripleThreat Half Marathon
Not Much of a Threat
Cape Ann TripleThreat Half Marathon
I did the Half Marathon last year so more of the specifics are in that review. I am not the biggest fan of YukanRun as they have started to be … MORE
I did the Half Marathon last year so more of the specifics are in that review. I am not the biggest fan of YukanRun as they have started to be strict about time limits and their courses are always on open roads but I was on call this weekend and the first portion of the triple threat the 1 miler started at 8am and would obviously be quick so I had time to do it before rounds. Since I did the earlier race I parked at the school. There is limited parking but if you arrive about 45 minutes before the 1 miler you will be fine. There was again the option of the park n ride abut 1 mile away with a shuttle. For the 1 miler you get a tech shirt and tote bag. I believe you also get a hat for the half. It is excellent swag for a 1 miler but average for a half marathon. The race starts and ends at a school and is kind of a lollipop though the start and finish are different. It is hilly but not too hilly (the half gets quite hilly). For a 1 miler race I prefer the course to be very fast though I do think if you were doing the 3 race challenge it would be a nice elevation for warming up as the small hills stopped you from going too fast and allowed you to use different muscles. Course well marked but again on open roads. There were course marshals where there was a street crossing. The scenery is nice as Rockport is a pretty town. It does not have the beach views the half marathon has because the beach is more than 1/2 mile from the school but it’s still a pleasant mile to run out. At the finish line you get a medal even for the shorter distances which is great and rare in New England. I was hoping to finish under 12 minutes but had to answer a work text so was a little over my goal but had a decent finishing time with the hills. The finish line had donuts, granola bars, water and other snacks. Overall the 1 mile race was a nice way to get a short work-out in before rounds. I have a hard time supporting Yukan too much since they are not back of the pack friendly. Last year I got a finish time even though I was over 3 hours however I looked and again this year they closed the finish line right around the 3 hour mark. As their races are close to where I live I would do their shorter races if there was no other options that worked in my schedule like today but they would not be my first choice and only do this half if you are 100% sure you can finish a half marathon that is hilly and potentially very hot under 3 hours.
Sunrise Classic
Boring but Super Nice Race Staff
Sunrise Classic
This is a 5K on a track in Concord, MA (not NH where my parents live and I usually race). It's about a 40 minute drive for me as I … MORE
This is a 5K on a track in Concord, MA (not NH where my parents live and I usually race). It’s about a 40 minute drive for me as I live between the two Concords. I was excited to find this race as I was on call this weekend and it started early enough that I could round after. This was definitely more of a grassroots race and definitely didn’t have the precision of a professional race. However the people in charge were some of the nicest people and really tried hard to make this as good of a race as possible. The initial plan was to start super early around 6am at Sunrise but due to concerns about noise the town requested the race be pushed back to 7am. Not a problem as I could use an extra hour of sleep and it was still early enough. Pre-race communication was fine but there was just little things like this which showed it wasn’t all ironed out when registration opened. The race is all on a track and there was plenty of parking nearby. Bib pickup included bib and a nice tech shirt. There was a booth for the charity it raised money for and a couple porta potties. I was a bit nervous this would be an elitist race as it turns out only serious runners want to run on a track at the crack of dawn and I knew I would be one of the slowest looking at the competition but everyone was so nice. The race had 2 heats. I appreciated they had the slow heat first as it was hot out. The race is really boring just 12.5 laps around a track but it was kind of fun to run on a track during the Olympics and pretending I am the slowest Olympian ever. There was also an announcer you passed by each time. Unlike the one at Yankee Homecoming who just ignored the back of the packers, this announcer was great and very encouraging. He encouraged me every lap even though I was one of the last runners and all the other runners cheered when they passed me and the faster runners and spectators cheered near the finish area while they waited for their heat to start. I had a solid finishing time for how hot it was though I was third from last. There is no medal but that’s pretty standard for a lot of shorter New England races. There was Dunkins coffee and donuts at the end. You could then stay and cheer on the fast runners in their heat. Overall this was not the most exciting race just being laps on a track but given how nice everyone was I would definitely do it again and I hope it continues to grow and get a bit more ironed out.
Yankee Homecoming Road Race
Do Not Care About the Back of the Pack
Yankee Homecoming Road Race
This is a Tuesday race in Newburyport at the NH/MA border that has a 10 mile and 5K option. I did the 10 miler last year and it was one … MORE
This is a Tuesday race in Newburyport at the NH/MA border that has a 10 mile and 5K option. I did the 10 miler last year and it was one of my absolute worst racing experiences as the RD was extremely rude to the back of packers for the 10 miler. I said never again but they did apologize and offer to mail the medals we didn’t receive so I decided to keep an open mind and do the 5K this year as it is an extremely convenient race. The 5K was definitely a much better experience than the 10 miler but it was still very much catered to the front of the pack. Parking, swag, bib pick up was the same as last year so see that review. The 5K starts 10 minutes before the 10 miler. It is a very nice course though downtown Newburyport and about as scenic as you can get for the area. The 5K shared most of the best views of the 10 miler. There are also a ton of spectators. This could be a great race if it was more back of the pack friendly. It was a really hot evening and I had a rough day and I was not in the mood to run. I though about skipping the race but decided to speed walk. While there were no huge issues like running out of medals or food at the end. There were a couple issues being in the back. The first is the 5K and 10 mile share the same first mile so for use back of packers walking 15-16 minute miles that mean the first 10 milers caught up to us and they are escorted by a very loud police motor cycle telling us to get out of the way. I completely understand that the leader of the pack should be escorted and we should move but if the 5K and 10 miler were separated by 15 minutes instead of 10 minutes there would be no overlap on this part. Maybe I’m reading too into what happened last year but the RD seemed to not really care about making us have to move over and force us to watch the fast runners go past us. There was about 1/2 mile without them before they merged with us again. It would be so simple to have the 5K start 5 minutes earlier or the 10 mile start 5 minute later (or both and separate them by 20 minutes) to have less mixing. The finish while less anti-climatic than last time I still thought was quite elitist. I finished just under 50 minutes which is my speed walk goal. The lead 10 miler finished just over 50 minutes and since he started 10 minutes later would not be arriving at the finish line for another 10 minutes. However the announcer instead of cheering on and celebrating the 5K finishers currently at the finish line was spewing facts about the lead 10 miler who was again 10 minutes away. I total get if the races started at the same time and we finished at the same time that the first place 10 miler should get more attention but until he gets about a minute from the finish line let’s cheer on those who are there and not ignore us. I did get a medal this year and there was food left at the end. Overall this is probably a great race if you have an 8 minute mile pace but it’s not a great race for the back of the pack. Absolutely do not do the 10 miler if you can’t finish under 2 hours. If you are slower do the 5K but don’t expect to be cheered for. I will likely regrettably do this race again as I can’t say no to a weekday race so close to me.
Run for the Elk Race Festival
No Elk to Be Seen
Run for the Elk Race Festival
This was my second time doing this half marathon. I also did it 3 years ago when I lived in Rochester and it was closer. It's a pretty medium race … MORE
This was my second time doing this half marathon. I also did it 3 years ago when I lived in Rochester and it was closer. It’s a pretty medium race and I wasn’t plan to return but I couldn’t resist the double with Conquer the Canyon this year. It was the exact same course as 3 years ago but a different company. However it was the same company as Conquer the Canyon this year. My initial review for this race and my current review for Run for the Canyon have more details. Emporium is really in the middle of nowhere and this course is not as scenic as Conquer the Canyon so it was less popular and there were only about 40 half marathoners. There is really nowhere near Emporium I stayed in Corning all weekend but it was a 2 hour drive in the morning. Again there was the option for early start. Similar swag to conquer the canyon. You got an extra shirt at the end for doing both races. I’d probably prefer an extra medal or a different swag item as I have enough shirts. The course is an out and back on a rail trail. It’s pleasant but boring. I didn’t see any elk but I saw several deer on my drive. Production was the same as Conquer the Canyon, simple but adequate, Only issue was there was not a porta potty on course. Could’ve used one. Finish line was fine and again medal nice design but kind of small. The swag was better 3 years ago but there were less production issues this year. At the end there was pizza, cookies/brownies and water. Overall this is a fine race if you are a local or looking for a double but not a race I would go out of my way for. I’d only do it a third time if I need summer half marathons and it was again a double with Conquer the Canyon.
Conquer the Canyon Marathon Race Festival
See the Grand Canyon of PA
Conquer the Canyon Marathon Race Festival
This race is located in Wellsboro, PA which is just south of the NY state border. It's a bit of trek to get there for me and about a 7 … MORE
This race is located in Wellsboro, PA which is just south of the NY state border. It’s a bit of trek to get there for me and about a 7 hour drive but as I wanted some backup races to ensure I made it to Sun level in Half Fanatics and there are limited summer options in the Northeast and this was a double with another race I decided to sign up. I did manage to make Sun level the week prior but why not do 2 more half marathons. For the race I actually stayed in Corning, NY home of the Wineglass Half since Corning is about 45 minutes from the race and on the way to the race from New England. Corning also has better vegan and other food options than rural PA and it is always fun to visit the Glass Museum. The race starts at 8am but there is an open early start option. Basically you can park, pick up your bib and go anytime. The whole race was like this and everyone involved was very friendly and laid back. I arrived around 45 minutes before the race. Picked up my packet which included bib, socks, and a cotton T-shirt with a nice design. I’d say it was average swag but nice for a smaller race. Then I just went to the porta potty and left. A bit anti-climatic but it was nice to not wait around and be able to run when it was cooler. However weather was really nice and even if you started at 8am it wouldn’t have been bad. This course is an out and back along the park that contains the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.” It is a very scenic but hilly course. It is about 2/3 road and then 1/3 non-technical trail. It is most forest scenery but really pretty. You don’t see the Grand Canyon directly on the course but around mile 4/9 there is a scenic view point where if you take a quick detour you can view the canyon. This is a very hilly course with around 1800 feet of elevation gain (twice that for the marathon) so you likely aren’t PR’ing so enjoy yourself and take a peek at the Canyon it is spectacular. The hills were rough but I don’t mind hills if there is good scenery and a long time limit and this race definitely had both. The time limit is the same for the half and full marathon and with the early start pretty much anyone can finish the half on time. As a result I took my time, enjoyed the scenery and mostly sped walked. Production was solid and as expected for a smaller race like this. There were mile markers and turn around signs. There were aid stations about every 2 miles with water and gatorade. No fuel though. There was one porta potty on course at mile 4/9 near the view point. At the finish line you are cheered on and get your medal which is a nice design but a bit small. There were water bottles, sandwiches (including veggie ones that I think were vegan), and cookies. Overall a solid, smaller race. It was very scenic but very hilly. This isn’t my first choice race for PA but everyone was very nice and if you really want to check off another state in the summer and need PA it is a solid option. It is also bit tricky to get to. I believe Rochester is the closest airport and is around 2 hours away. Both Philly and Pittsburgh are around 4ish hours and would be options if looking to fly into a bigger airport.
Jungle Jog 5K
Support the Zoo!
Jungle Jog 5K
This is a 5K that supports that Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. It is a really fun race since it goes through the zoo and it has the best … MORE
This is a 5K that supports that Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. It is a really fun race since it goes through the zoo and it has the best race shirts around. I did this race 2 years ago and it was exactly the same except the theme of the swag so just read that review. I moved out of Rochester but was in town for the Shoreline half on Saturday and decided to stay and do this race Sunday. The swag this year was lemur themed and the shirt is again an amazing tech shirt. The medal is nice but again it is given with the packet so less exciting than receiving it at the finish line. I do like that there are different prices for whether you want swag or not. Really the only difference between 2 years ago and this year is that I was super sore from running so well yesterday that I walked 90% of the race so my finishing time was not great. There are a ton of back of packers so it is not a big deal to walk. I saw wolves and tigers in the zoo this year. Overall it’s a really fun 5K and a great way to support the zoo. If you decide to do the Shoreline half stick around and do this race the next day.
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
Staring at the Sun
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
This is a summer half marathon or 5K located near Rochester, NY produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. I used to live in Rochester and did this race every year I … MORE
This is a summer half marathon or 5K located near Rochester, NY produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. I used to live in Rochester and did this race every year I was there and had done the half marathon twice and the 5K once when I was injured. It’s a special race to me since it was my first road half marathon I did after the pandemic and the stars were aligned for this to be my 52nd half marathon in 365 days to level up to the Sun which is the highest level in Half Fanatics. I was initially going to stay local this weekend but the only local half marathon was by Yukan who has 3 hour time limits and I didn’t think I could finish a half marathon in 3 hours in the summer so I decided to travel to Rochester to do this race since it has a 3.5 hour time limit. This is a fun weekend to travel to Rochester as it is Pride weekend which for some reason they celebrate in July not June. The race takes place on Saturday and there is race day packet pick-up. They recommend you pick up your packet before at Fleet Feet. I initially was not planning on arriving in Rochester until close to midnight on Friday but my work was canceled on Friday due to the Crowdstrike Outage so I arrived early enough to get my packet Friday. It was easy to pick up at the store and included bib, tank top and coupons. The tank top this year is black. I like black tank tops as I have a lot of fun colored running shorts. There was good pre race communication and it was very clear where to go in the morning and where to park. The race starts at 7am and weather looked beautiful. It was perfect running weather most of the race though it did get a little hot by the end but it was about 10 degrees cooler than my last 3 half marathons. In general Rochester is hot but less hot than most of the country so it’s not a bad place for a summer race. It’s a pretty small race with a couple hundred runners so there are no designated waves or pacers but the start is on wide streets so it’s easy to spread out. The first about 2.5 miles are in a state park by Lake Ontario. This part is shaded and nice. The next 8 miles are on farmland. This part has been slightly different each year I have done it. This year it was a 4 mile square you do twice. I like the farmland it is very pretty but this part is not shaded so it can be hot. It’s a little boring doing a double loop but it helps with race strategy since you know what is coming. The last 2.5 miles are in the park and the last mile or so is right by the lake and beautiful. The race was very well organized. Roads weren’t closed by they were quiet and with lots of course marshals so it was safe. There were 4 aid stations, 2 you passed twice that had water and gatorade. While I do feel this is sufficient for most half marathons, I’d prefer a couple more for a summer half marathon. The volunteers were great though and it was recommended you carry additional water. It’s a pretty quiet race but there are a few spectators. My favorite thing about this course is the elevation profile. This course is perfect for me. It has about 150-200 feet of elevation gain with no true hills but lots of slight inclines and declines. I tend to be fastest on courses like this and today was no exception. I was shocked at how fast I was. I guess I just really, really wanted to get to the sun. I was able to complete the first 7 miles all under 13 minutes. I then started to feel a little over heated and knew I couldn’t maintain this pace but with smart planning could finish under 3 hours which as I stated above I didn’t think I would be able to do in the summer. This is where the double loop helped as I strategically walked the hotter and more uphill sections and ran the sections where the breeze and shade helped out. As a result I had my fastest half of the year and was about 30 minutes faster than my usual time. I guess I could have stayed in New England this weekend lol (I’m actually very glad I did this race as I would have been stressed the whole time if I had to finish in under 3 hours). The finish line is nice and by the beach. The RD remembers me since I did a lot of their races and cheers on the runners. There were cooling towels, water, snacks and post race breakfast burritos that were vegetarian (but not vegan). I was very happy that I both finished a half under 3 hours and made it to Sun level and was happy this ended up being the race where it happened. I do really enjoy this race especially the area by the beach and the elevation profile. I definitely recommend it to locals or people who live 6 hours away and need a half marathon with a 3.5 hour time limit. In terms of 50 staters, I think there are more iconic NY half marathons such as NYC or Buffalo, but as it can be hard to get new states in the summer if you need NY and want a summer race this is a good one.
Berna’s Great Legs 5K
Empowering All Women Race
Berna’s Great Legs 5K
This is an all women race located in Lowell, MA on a Thursday evening in honor of a member of the Lowell running community who passed away from cancer. It … MORE
This is an all women race located in Lowell, MA on a Thursday evening in honor of a member of the Lowell running community who passed away from cancer. It is a very convenient race for me as Lowell is located at the NH/MA border about 20 minutes from me. There was good pre race communication including info about packet pick-up, parking, course info, etc. It was easy to get to and park. Packet pick-up was easy and included a hat with the race logo which a nice swag item. The start was at an athletic complex by a track. There were a number of booths to look at. This is a nice sized race with about 300 runners. It is only open to women runners and is a very empowering, welcoming and friendly environment. There is an option for a walk that starts 15 minutes early and there are women of all abilities participating. The race started on time and just goes through neighborhoods in Lowell. It’s not really exciting scenery but there were a good number of spectators for a smaller, evening 5K and it was just a very fun environment. Difficulty seems average with a few small hills. It was hot but not super hot. There were mile markers and 2 water stops on the course. My finishing time was pretty good and well under 40 minutes. You are cheered for at the finish line and the best part you get a medal! You almost never get medals for 5Ks in New England. I rounded up the swag rating because we actually got a medal. There were also some typical snacks including refreshing watermelon, goldfish crackers, fruit snacks and cold water bottles. Overall I thought this was a great race and is very convenient for me. I will definitely be making this an annual race
Narragansett Summer Running Festival
Good Race. Bad Weather.
Narragansett Summer Running Festival
This is a summer half marathon or 10K that takes places at Stonehill College in Easton MA which is about 30 minutes south of Boston and an hour south of … MORE
This is a summer half marathon or 10K that takes places at Stonehill College in Easton MA which is about 30 minutes south of Boston and an hour south of where I live. I was happy to find a summer half marathon I don’t need a hotel for since there are limited options in New England but there’s a reason there are limited half marathon options in New England in the summer and that is the weather. I was actually registered to do this race last year but there were severe thunderstorms and they canceled the half and held only the 10K which is all located on the college campus so it would be easier to keep the runners safe. I ended up opting not to do the 10K last year since there were tornado warnings in Southern NH last year and I wasn’t risking my life for a 10K. They did not offer any refunds or deferrals you were just transferred to the 10K. This is all fair since you sign something saying the race may be canceled for weather and I understand this isn’t a big race and they paid for everything already but if you are someone who gets upset about not getting a refund for last minute cancellations don’t do this race. Luckily this year there were no thunderstorms in the forecast but the weather looked miserable with highs in the low 90s on race day. They had good pre race communication and option to transfer down to 10K with the heat. If I wasn’t 2 races away from making Sun Level in Half Fanatics I absolutely would have transferred down. I was very nervous they would cancel the half due to the heat but luckily the half marathon happened. They had clear directions of how to get to the race and when to arrive. I arrived about an hour early and everything was easy. There is race day packet pick-up. I can’t remember if they offered earlier packet pick-up but it’s kind of a long drive to do twice so I opted for race day. It was easy and included bib and a nice, red tech shirt with the race logo. The start had a corral area with pacers to help every line up. There are around 600-700 half marathons so it worked fine for the number of runners. I stood near the end since there is a 3:30 time limit and I was not planning on pushing myself today with the heat so knew I’d be finishing around the time limit. The race is supposed to start at 7:30 AM so at least the first hour wouldn’t be too hot. I had one very big issue with the start which is that it was delayed by 15 minutes due to runners arriving late due to traffic getting into the school. If it wasn’t so hot this would be understandable but on a day this hot every minute in the cooler, early morning temps matters. Especially since this is a chip timed race, I think they should let those who arrived on time go on time and just leave the start line open for those who arrived late. Other than the 15 minute late start production was very good for a small to mid-sized race. The course starts on campus for a short time and then it is a loop through down. There is a maybe 1/2 mile trail area you run through when you leave and return to campus. It isn’t too technical but may slow you down a bit. The rest is roads through town. The roads were mostly open but most of the race was on quiet streets and the few busy streets were coned off and the busiest street even had caution tape on top of the cones to make it extra safe. There were plenty of course marshals and the open roads where not an issue. Everything was well marked. There were friendly volunteers and a few spectators though this was not a huge spectator race. The scenery was nice though wooded streets and very, nice neighborhoods though wasn’t super exciting scenery. The elevation profile isn’t too bad. There are some small hills and includes with about 400 feet of elevation gain. I would consider it “New England flat.” There were a good number of aid stations every 1-2 miles with water, gatorade and one you passed twice had honey stinger. You then go through campus the last 3ish miles. The 10K is two loops around campus. The miles on campus are interesting and you see the football stadium and the buildings though some of it was not shaded and it got hot. I had an interesting race strategy that I would definitely recommend for hot races if you are concerned about the time limit. A 3:30 time limit is 15-16 minute mile. I often go for even splits in a race but this race knowing it would be really hot by the end I went for terrible splits to bank time so I could walk the last few miles. Basically what I did was the first third of the race that was not too hot I did faster 13-14 minute miles, the second third of the race which was hot but not yet miserable I did 15-16 minute miles, and the last third of the race that was miserably hot I just walked 17-18 minute miles and managed to finish a few minutes under 3:30. This was not a race to PR. The finish line you get your medal and even though I was third from last and close to the time limit it was a welcoming and fun finish area. They didn’t seem too strict on the time limit as the 2 finishers behind me were around 3:40 and got finishing times. The medal is wooden but it is actually quite nice. The finish festival area was nice and there were BBQ sandwiches including a vegetarian (possibly vegan?) one made from mushroom along with typical snacks. I had no issues being close to the time limit and this was definitely one of the best Massachusetts races I’ve done if you are a 3-3.5 hour finisher. If it wasn’t for the weather, I would 100% recommend this race for Massachusetts and it would probably be a 5 sneaker race if it had better weather. However with the weather I would be cautious about choosing this race if you are a 50 stater especially if you are traveling far for the race. I would definitely do this race again since it is close to me. However unless I am in a situation like this year where I need a half marathon to meet a milestone, I would definitely drop down to the 10K if it is this hot in future years.
Angels 5K Road Race (NH)
What Goes Down Must Come Up
Angels 5K Road Race (NH)
This is a 5K that is part of the CARS series in Concord, NH which is a bunch of shorter races throughout the Concord, NH area in the Spring and … MORE
This is a 5K that is part of the CARS series in Concord, NH which is a bunch of shorter races throughout the Concord, NH area in the Spring and summers. The race starts and finishes at a school in Concord. I don’t remember much pre-race communication and the website is pretty bare bones but it was updated with the essential information. Race was easy to get to and there was plenty of parking at the school. It is well produced for a small, local race with 100-200 runners but obviously doesn’t have the bells and whistles of a bigger race. The packet included a bib and a water bottle with the race logo with a couple small goodies from sponsors. I thought a water bottle was a practical swag item for a race like this and while for larger races and new states I’d like a shirt for a smaller, cheaper race it’s nice to get something different. The race is chip timed. The course is well marked and had enough course marshals to keep it safe. It was mostly partially closed or coned off streets though one small section at the end you had to be on the side walk. It was mostly through neighborhoods though there was one very pretty, farmland area in the middle. The elevation profile though is just mean. The first mile is mostly downhill and fast but as it’s a loop course that means there are some mean hills after that. It was also very hot even though the race started pretty early at 8am. I was happy I made my goal of under 40 minutes with the heat and hills at the end. There are no medals which is pretty standard for 5Ks in New England. There was a nice selection of post race food including typical fruit, granola bars and yogurt and some treats from Panera. Overall this isn’t a “must run” race but is a nice local 5K that I will do again if I a in town. I’d recommend it to locals but definitely if you are looking for a specific time bank time or energy for the hills in the second half.
Sour Apple Running Festival
Bare-Bones But Back of the Pack Friendly
Sour Apple Running Festival
This is a half marathon or 5K located in Smithfield, RI which is about 20 minutes outside Providence. It is produced by Ocean State Multisport which is a company that … MORE
This is a half marathon or 5K located in Smithfield, RI which is about 20 minutes outside Providence. It is produced by Ocean State Multisport which is a company that produces several low key, low cost races in RI and a few in MA near the RI border. I decided to do this race as there are limited races in New England in the summer and it was this half or Mad Half in VT and while Mad Half is a good race I couldn’t do those hills 2 years in a row. My overall impression of this race and this company is that is low cost but as a result pretty bare bones and no frills. However the races are also back of the pack friendly and have a very nice RD. The cost of the race was only $45 which is about half the price of most half marathons. There is pretty good pre race communication with an updated website and an email before the race. The race is about 1.5 hours from me and is a borderline distance for whether I need a hotel or not. My mom wanted to visit Providence so I opted to stay in a hotel with her but if I were looking for a really low cost race weekend I could drive. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Smithfield which was about a 10 minute drive from the race. There were no hotels in walking distance but lots of hotels about 10 minutes away. The race starts at 8am and has a 4 hour time limit. There is also the option for an early start for half marathon walkers so essentially an up to 5 hour time limit. This is great given how strict most RI and MA races are about time limits so if you are a back of the packer definitely look into Ocean State Multisport. I was debating whether to do the early start as while I knew I could finish in 4 hours so didn’t need it but I also knew it would get very hot by the end of the race so it might be nice to start early. In the end I decided to sleep an extra hour and do the regular start. There was pre race packet pick-up the day before or you could get packet the day of race. Since we spent the day in Providence the pre-race packet pick-up was inconvenient so I got it race day. Packet pick-up was smooth. The bib is generic. The shirt is a white cotton shirt but it has a really nice design for the price of the race. It does not have the year on it and I believe they have the same swag every year but I could be wrong. The course starts in a park and is a lollipop loop through Smithfield with 2 very short out and backs to make the mileage work. There seemed to be issues getting volunteers for the race so there weren’t a lot of course marshals directing traffic. I personally thought the course was very well marked and I never even got closed to lost. However there were a few 5Kers who missed the turnaround (which was clearly marked – pay attention if you do a race with multiple distances) and I think I saw one person accidentally skip the small out and back (it did not seem intentional) so it was possible to get lost if you aren’t paying attention. I thought the course was quite scenic and luckily very shaded. It is not on the coast so the scenery did not have the iconic coastal views or mansions of Surftown or Newport. However it went through nice neighborhoods, wooded streets and farmland. There was a beautiful part through the Audubon wildlife refuge. The course is hilly though the hills are manageable and it is much less hilly than my other option Mad Half in VT. The hills are pretty standard for New England but hillier than average for most of the rest of the country. There were mile markers and pretty frequent aid stations. Aid stations were about every 2 miles. I could have used a bit more in the heat but the amount was good for the cost of the race. The only issue is they just had water. Also a few had no volunteers and just water left out. One aid station ran out of water. I thought it was because I was slow but it turns out someone stole the water. I really appreciated that the RD drove by and handed us water bottles since the aid station was out of water. I took the race pretty easy since it was hot and hilly and had a 4 hour time limit so it didn’t make sense to over exert myself on this and finished a little over 3:30 which was slow but what I expected. The finish line was a bit anti-climatic because someone stole water from the finish line as well and the staff member that was supposed to be there cheering and handing out medals was out finding water so the only person there was the timer. The timer was nice and gave me my medal and printed out my time. The medal is very nice for the cost of the race but it appears to be the same medal every year as one of my runner friends told me she got the same medal a few years ago. There were lots of post race food choices including pizza, cookies and a few other items but not water or other drinks since it was stolen. Overall this was a fine race. Production was pretty bare bones but fair for the price and there were no issues within the race’s control. The race can’t really help that someone stole water on such a hot day and they seemed to be trying to trouble shoot the best they could with limited race staff and volunteers. Of course issues like this are less likely to happen in a bigger race with more volunteers but then the cost would need to go up. I also appreciated the race being back of the pack friendly and having a long time limit as I had issues being in the back with my last two RI races. Overall I would say if you are a 3:15 or under half marathoner there are bigger, better races for RI but if your are over 3:15 this or another Ocean State Multisport race is a great choice for RI. This is also a good choice for locals looking for a half that won’t break the bank. If I lived closer I would do all their races but they’re a bit far and don’t have enough frills to go out of my way for them multiple times per year but I’d definitely either do this race again or another race with Ocean State Multisport in the future.
Fleet Feet Firecracker 4 Miler
Running in Rochester Again
Fleet Feet Firecracker 4 Miler
I ran this race a couple years ago back when I was living in Rochester but the course needed to be adjusted due to construction so it was a 5K … MORE
I ran this race a couple years ago back when I was living in Rochester but the course needed to be adjusted due to construction so it was a 5K instead. This year I ran the traditional 4 mile route. I was visiting a friend in Rochester for Holidays and chose this race because it was closest to my hotel in Victor, NY. This race is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing who consistently produce good races throughout Rochester. There was great pre-race communication with clear information about parking, packet pickup, course map, etc. It is recommended you get your packet at the store the day before but I was unable to so I got it race day. They tell you not to but as long as you arrive early I’ve never had issues with race day packet pick-up. Packet included bib and an okay T-shirt. Kind of underwhelming swag but not so underwhelming to not recommend the race. The race starts on a road in town and ends at a park. The start and finish are a little less than half a mile apart. Production was good except one minor detail which is that only the finish line is chip timed. This is not really a big deal as this is not a huge race. It is a nice size race with a few hundred runners but the participants didn’t seem to know this. It was hot and I lined up near the back since I knew I wasn’t setting any speed records today. But when they said go the people in front of me were pausing to set up their Garmin and slowly walking over to the start line not running as soon as they heard go. Not a huge deal as I maybe lost 20-30 seconds because of this but it would be good if it was in the instructions. The course is pretty nice. It is through neighborhoods in Fairport. The neighborhoods are pretty and most were shaded. I wish there were a bit more spectators. I appreciated the ones who were out there but the 10K race in Irondequoit I did most years I lived in Rochester has more spectators. It was a less convenient race for me today though which is why I chose this one. There is an aid station in the middle with water. The course was well marked with accurate mile markers and was accurately measured which was great. I had one goal today with the heat and that was to finish under 1 hour and strategizing well and using the mile markers to help with pacing allowed me to meet my goal. There is a nice finish arch and you get your time right away. There were water bottles and a selection of snacks at the end like mini muffins and cookies and a few other options. Overall this was a solid, well produced race. There wasn’t anything super special about it and personally I liked the Irondequoit race a bit more because of all the spectators but this is still a good 4th of July option if this race is closer to you. It timed out much better with my plans so I’m glad I did it. I also like the 4 mile distance. It’s a bit more challenging than a 5K but still short enough that most people can do it.
Burn Your Half Off Florida
So Hot I Must Be Close to the Sun
Burn Your Half Off Florida
I wouldn’t normally travel to Central Florida for a race in June but I was in Orlando for a conference and on a quest to get to Sun Level in … MORE
I wouldn’t normally travel to Central Florida for a race in June but I was in Orlando for a conference and on a quest to get to Sun Level in Half Fanatics so I will take what I can get. This race is located about an hour from Orlando and it is hot. It is produced by Awesomesauce who I believe is going out of business so I’m not sure this race will continue. It is a very laid, back relaxed type of race. It takes place in a park and you run the same loop about 10 times. The loop is a little over 1 mile long. Packet pickup is race day. They initially said there would be no shirt but since they are going out of business they did let us choose a swag item which appeared to be from prior years. I got a nice orange tech shirt. The designs are all really cool but do not have year or location. Race start is very relaxed with pre race instructions about 5 mins before the start. The course is a lollipop loop with a short straight section to the loop. You can run the loop in either direction to break it up. The loops are very boring but this is the only safe option for a race in Florida in the heat as the loops allows the RD to keep an eye on the runners and it is easy to drop down a distance. There are also some homemade signs along the course to add some entertainment and encouragement. There is a big aid station you pass each loop which also allows for easy access to aid. The aid station was good but they brag about how it is the most epic aid station ever and maybe it would be if I didn’t do a mainly race the week before but mainly marathons has better aid stations. The aid station still had water, Gatorade and a large assortment of sweet and salty snacks. The scenery is nice but it gets boring. It also got really hot by the end. I had a solid pace for the heat though I had to walk the last 2 laps rather slowly. You keep track with rubber bands and at the end you let the timer know you are done. You then pick out a medal. They are old medals because the medal company they used to use closed but they are all cool looking. There are then some basic post race treats near the finish. Overall not the most exciting race and definitely not my first choice for Florida with the loops and the heat but if you are a local or in central Florida already it is a solid race.
Greater Seacoast Community Health Father’s Day 5K
Not Many Father’s Day Options in NH
Greater Seacoast Community Health Father’s Day 5K
I was looking for a 5K to run with my dad on Father’s Day in NH and it was pretty much this one. The race is located in Durham which … MORE
I was looking for a 5K to run with my dad on Father’s Day in NH and it was pretty much this one. The race is located in Durham which is near the seacoast and is just under an hour drive either from my apartment in Salem or my parent’s house in Concord. I drove my dad and stayed in Concord last night. The race is at a Margarita’s restaurant near an industrial business park. There was lots of parking and race day packet pick up. I think there may have been early packet pick up but we just got the packet in the morning. We arrived about an hour before the race. I’m glad we got there early as packet pick up wasn’t very efficient and the lines got very long closer to the race. There also weren’t enough porta potties and those lines got long too. Along with bib you also got a nice but kind of plain designed tech shirt. The race started on the street in front of the restaurant and ended in the parking lot. Start could’ve used corrals or signs of where to line up. I was a bit sore from yesterday and not planning to push myself so lined up near the end but a bunch of slower people were in front and some faster people behind. Course is an out and back. It is an okay course. It is definitely a convenient course for traffic control as there were minimal intersecting street and it allowed the road to be partially closed off without affecting traffic much. As this is a fairly popular race with several hundred runners it was good to have it on closed streets. For a race like this that is probably more important factor so while it wasn’t a great course I do think it is probably the best they can make at the location. The scenery is pretty blah though industrial parks but there are some nice trees. There are a few hills but none too hard. At the finish line you get a bottle of water. There is medal which is typical for 5Ks in NH. There was great post race snacks with fruit and typical race snacks like granola bars plus lots of pastries and cookies and goodies. I was really slow but my dad was pretty fast and won his age group. The age group prizes were a variety of gift certificates but it took forever to get his prize as all the winners were rummaging through the options. Overall this was a fine race but a lot of the production could have been more efficient. Since there are limited other options I would do it again.
Mainly Marathons New England Series Day 6 (ME)
MAINEly Marathons
Mainly Marathons New England Series Day 6 (ME)
This was my second half marathon I have done with Mainly Marathons. This is part of the New England series which is a 6 day event from Monday through Saturday … MORE
This was my second half marathon I have done with Mainly Marathons. This is part of the New England series which is a 6 day event from Monday through Saturday with a race in all 6 New England states. I had to work during the week so only did Maine. I chose this race due to the lack of time limit and also the lack of other half marathon options in driving distance. This is a convenient location in Maine for me right across the NH border and is a little over an hour drive. There is the option for an early start at 5am or a regular start at 6am. I started at 6am given it would have been an extremely early wake up to get there at 5am since I didn’t opt for a hotel. The race starts at a YMCA and has plenty of parking. Packet pick up is morning of if you are just doing this race. Packet includes bib, choice of shirts and this time I remembered to get the lanyard first. There is pre race announcements a few minutes before the race including description of course and awards for people who met milestones with Mainly then you go. These courses always consists of multiple loops which while they can be boring make sense for hosting multi day races with little prep time for course marking in between and also allow these to be a more social event passing other runners and the huge aid station multiple times. The last mainly race I did in Kansas was fun but it was not a great course. However the course is Maine was lovely and shaded. It was also 7 loops which was not as bad as 9. The course was mostly on a shaded paved bike trail and was very pretty and there was perfect running temp in the shade. It was flat for Maine though did have some minor inclines but was the easiest Maine course I have done. At the end of each loop is the huge aid stations with every snack you can imagine or want and there is always a hot food option. Today it was hot dogs including vegan dogs. You then grab a rubber band to keep track of loops and do it again. I did get a little bored of the loops in the middle but less so than the 9 loops in Kansas. I did this race my usual pace though there is no time limit and lots of people walk. I finished a few minutes slower than usual due to chatting with runners and the epic aid station. At the finish you get the medal that attaches to the lanyard. Each race days gets you a new medal to attach so the end result if you do the whole series is impressive though just one race still gives you a really nice medal. Overall I really enjoyed this race in Maine. While the loops got repetitive it was a nice course. The New England series tends to be one of the more popular Mainly series since so many New England states have tight time limits although I have not had issues with back of the pack friendliness in Maine at other races. I have now done 4 races in Maine and even with the loops this was my second favorite after the Maine Half in Portland. That would still be my first choice for Maine but this is a nice choice if you want to get a lot of states at once. Since this is on a Saturday within driving distance and there aren’t many other options I will definitely do this race again. I have also decided I definitely want to do a full series with Mainly marathons but may have to wait a couple years due to some international travel plans.
Hollis Fast 5K
Too Hot to be Fast
Hollis Fast 5K
This is an all downhill 5K on Hollis, NH that takes place on a Thursday night in June. It is basically designed to PR and is a very popular race … MORE
This is an all downhill 5K on Hollis, NH that takes place on a Thursday night in June. It is basically designed to PR and is a very popular race for a weekday race in a smaller town. Hollis is in Southern NH and is just west of Nashua. I work in Nashua every other Thursday and this year it took place on a day I was working in Nashua so this was very convenient for me. There was good pre-race communication but they definitely overexaggerated how early you had to get to the race. There was packet pick-up earlier in the week but I couldn’t make it as I was not working near Hollis/Nashua those days so did race day packet pick-up. This is a point to point race and the parking and packet pick-up is near the finish line and you are shuttled to the start. The parking, shuttles and packet pick-up are at an event center in Hollis. They said you should arrive well before 5pm if doing race day packet pickup. You really only need to arrive around 5pm. I arrived around 4:20 and all I got was worse parking since they filled the further away parking lots first and I hung around for nearly an hour waiting for the shuttle doing nothing since there was minimal service and poor wifi as packet pick-up took just a couple minutes. Packet included bib and a nice, tech shirt. Nice shirt for a 5K but its the only swag item. Eventually a little after 5 we were shuttle to the start at a school. I took the first shuttle and we arrived around 5:30 and I then waited another hour for the race start but at least there was service here. There were also cups and pitchers or water since it was a hot evening. There was an announcer but he was hard to hear. I thought the start could be more organized. It is a ton of runners in a small town/venue so the start line was cramped and there was no signs of where to line up. While there are plenty of walkers and back of the packers this is definitely a race field that tends to attract a lot of very, very fast runners looking to PR so I stood near the back but not right at the back. This seems correct based on my finishing time but there were people of all paces around me and the race was very, very congested for about 1 mile. I’d suggest in the future perhaps having people go off in 3 or 4 waves a few minutes apart. Other than the congestion in the beginning and having to weave around people or be woven around this was an excellent course. It is all downhill but most is pretty gradual so it’s not a huge quad killer. The scenery is nice through quiet neighborhoods, farmland and wooded streets. There are also a ton of spectators for a small town 5K which made it very fun. There is an aid station in the middle with water. Another thing I loved is along with mile markers for the last mile they also had 1 mile to go, 3/4 mile to go, 1/2 mile to go, and 1/4 mile to go sign. This made the last mile go faster and would also help people looking to PR keep pace. While this is a very fast course, it was about 85 degrees and a bit humid out so I was not very fast. I also tend to be slower at evening races. I do think if I ran an average difficulty 5K in this weather in the evening I would have been 2-3 minutes slower. The finish area is nice and there are lots of people cheering and a table with water. There is no medal which is pretty standard for short races in New England. One annoying thing is the finish line is about 1/2 mile away from the venue with parking and packing pick-up so you have to walk a bit after you finish. There were post-race refreshments in the event center. They were just yogurt (including non-dairy smoothies and bananas). Normally this is fine for a 5K but with a later 5K I was hoping for something a little more substantial as I was starving since I have to eat a small lunch if I am doing a race in the evening. It also takes about 10-15 minutes to get out of the parking. Not a huge deal nor unexpected for a large race in a small venue but definitely account for the walk from the finish line and the time to get out of the parking lot when planning your evening. Overall this was a nice 5K that would be really fast in cooler weather. There were a few productions things that could be a bit better but for a smaller town 5K it was well done. I would do it again if I am working in Nashua the day of the race.
Road of Rainbows
Run (or Walk) Proud
Road of Rainbows
This 5K takes place at Boston Common and starts at 10am about 1.5 hours before the Pride Parade and is part of Boston's Pride festivities. I was on-call today but … MORE
This 5K takes place at Boston Common and starts at 10am about 1.5 hours before the Pride Parade and is part of Boston’s Pride festivities. I was on-call today but since Boston Common is an under 15 minute walk from my work I figured I cold squeeze this in. Luckily there was pre-race packet pick-up on Wednesday afternoon/evening which is the best day for me to get my packet so I was able to get it beforehand. There is also Thursday and race day packet pick-up. Packet is just the bib and you can pay extra for a shirt. One thing cool about this race is during registration you can pick tiers for pricing based on how much you are able to spend so everyone should be able to participate no matter their income level. There was good pre-race communication. The morning of the race ended up being quite busy for me work-wise so I had to go straight from work and could not change into running clothes so I ended up walking the race. The start/finish area was really fun with a stage and lots of vendors. The race is chip timed at the start/finish. They announced people in pace groups of 7-9 min/mile followed by 10-12 min/mile followed by 12-15 minute/mile followed by walkers. Since I usually walk between a 15-16 minute mile I lined up at the end of the 12-15 minute/mile group and front of the walkers. The race had 700-800 participants and is three laps so it is gonna be crowded and involve passing people of different paces so be prepared. As I said the course is 3 loops through Boston Common. Not the most exciting course ever but I get that Boston Common is not the largest park and this involved no road closures so it made sense as a course. Course was well marked and had mile markers (though they were like 0.05 miles short but the actual course was the correct length). There was also an aid station you passed 3 times with water. The course as I said gets a bit boring though Boston Common has some interesting statues and artwork and with Pride going on it is fun people watching. It is also quite congested and this is a better race to do for fun than time. It is also very, very hilly. My pace was fast for walking in regular clothes not work out clothes and I reached my goal of under 50 minutes. The finish line has basic snacks like bananas and granola bars. All participants get a medal. The medal though is not at the finish line but at a booth. The medal has a nice design. It is not very big but I think that is better for 5K medals. Runners also got a free scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (and they had non-dairy strawberry cheesecake!) and also some energy drinks. It is also convenient for going to the parade afterwards. Overall it’s a convenient though not exciting course but a fun event that I would do again if I were in Boston for Pride.
Fargo Marathon
Go (Extra) Far in Fargo
Fargo Marathon
I chose to do this race for North Dakota because there are limited options and this is by far the most convenient one. If you have read other reviews from … MORE
I chose to do this race for North Dakota because there are limited options and this is by far the most convenient one. If you have read other reviews from this year you have probably realized there were a few issues. A couple issues seemed outside the races control including the sudden and unfortunate passing of the previous race director and flooding in the area causing last minute course changes. However there was one change that made me nervous and that was that this race is now run by Ventures Endurance. Ventures Endurance is a nationwide race company that has also bought Loco Races in New England and if you have read my recent review of those races (Great Bay & Maine Coast) they have been subpar. Probably the biggest issue with this race was communication. Pre-race communication was inconsistent, inaccurate and very confusing. I signed up as soon as registration opened but a few weeks later the date changed and I never received notification I just saw it updated on the website. There were multiple other changes like this such as the 5K moving to MN, the children’s and dog races moving from the middle of the week to Saturday, etc with limited communication. They also sent an email 1 week before that they had to change the course due to flooding but it was unclear what the new course was and the course start times kept changing. Also the course they posted appeared to be over 13.5 miles. Some of this information was shared on email, some just updated on the website and some just on social media and it was not consistent which method of communication was updated. It was very confusing. I was just planning to arrive in Fargo Friday around noon and roll with the punches. The race starts/finishes outside the Fargo Dome. It used to start/finish inside the Fargo Dome but sadly not this year. All of the hotels near the Fargo Dome were sold out so I stayed at the Holiday Inn near the West Acre mall which was an under 10 minute drive. I opted to rent a car since I couldn’t walk to the start. Although I later found out they did have shuttles at the West Acre mall I could have walked too but then I wouldn’t have had a method to get to the 5K and expo in Moorhead, MN. Again this made planning a mess. For the packet you need to get it before the race but you can have it mailed if you are unable to arrive earlier enough on Friday. I got my packet Friday before the 5K and there were huge lines to get in. It took about 20-30 minutes to get in the expo so I didn’t have time to look around and just got my packet. Packet included bib, drawstring bag and a cool looking jacket but the material was kind of cheap. For race morning I had the option to park at the Fargo Dome or take the shuttle. After the shuttle disasters of Maine Coast, I opted to just park. I arrived about an hour before the race and parking was easy. I parked close to the entry/exit of the lot for an easier in and out though it was a bit of a longer walk to the start of the race. The start area was set up okay but there were not enough porta potties. I went about 40 minutes before the race start and there were already long lines. The start area was set up fairly well. It was one long corral but there were pacers to help you line up. The slowest pacer was 3 hours. I lined up a bit behind the 3 hour pacer. I know my review sounds pretty negative so far but I actually had a very good time as soon as the race started. I will start with the biggest positive which were all the spectators. There were so many spectators along pretty much the entire course. I was very impressed especially for such a small city. The course is also pretty nice. It is very flat with just a few inclines. It is about as scenic as possible for Fargo. It’s mostly though neighborhoods though does go through downtown Fargo including the Fargo theater the most iconic site in Fargo. Production for the race was mixed. I thought the half marathon course at least was fairly well marked thought this does not appear to be true for the full marathon. There was one split though where there were no signs just volunteers telling marathoners to go one direction and half marathoners to go another. There were also adequate aid stations though it was inconsistent whether they had powerade or not. I believe two had gels. There were lots of unofficial aid stations as well. There were not enough course marshals or police support as some intersections had no one directing traffic. Luckily the Fargo drivers were much more polite than the drivers in Buffalo I encountered last weekend so I didn’t have any issues but I could see how there could have been issues for some runners. The biggest issue with the half marathon course was the mile markers. There were accurate mile markers the first 5 miles and I was pacing myself well for around a 3:15 finish though I thought I’d be a little slower if the course was actually 13.5 miles. However then the mile markers disappeared. They didn’t reappear until I saw an 7 mile marker. The issue though was my Garmin was at 8 miles. I wasn’t sure if the mile marker was not accurate or if the course was actually a bit longer than 13.5 miles and my tangents were terrible and I actually had 6 and not 5 miles to go. I then didn’t know what to do with my pacing as my current pace was too fast if there was an extra mile so I slowed down just in case. The mile 8, 9 and 10 markers were also 1 mile off. However about 1/4 mile after the mile 10 marker came the 11 mile marker which seemed correct in the sense it was 2.1 miles from the finish line (though it was at about 11.4 on my Gamin as the course was bit long). My finishing time was pretty good for the long course and the confusing mile markers. I didn’t break 3:15 but I did break 3:20. The race was also very back of the pack friendly which is another positive. The finish line was nice with the announcers cheering the runners on and there is a really, nice and big medal at the end. You also get a medal for doing the Go Far Challenge with the 5K though it was not clear where the challenge medals were. I actually forgot to get my challenge medal and returned about 2 hours later while the marathon was still going on to get it. The finish area was a bit lackluster. There were some water and basic snacks and a stage with a musician. However I heard it takes place on a dry campus so they can’t serve beer so the afterparty was across the street at a Buffalo Wild Wings. I feel like they still could have had pizza and athletic brewing NA beer and made a party at the finish area. I skipped the party at Buffalo Wild Wings as it looked crowded. It took a few extra minutes to get out of the parking lot but wasn’t bad because of where I strategically parked my car. Overall I have very, very mixed feelings on this race. I would rate it between 3 and 4 sneakers though it could easily be a 5 sneaker race with the great spectator support if they could fix the production issues. I ended up giving the 5K 3 sneakers and half 4 sneakers so it averages out to 3.5. Even though this race had issues I’d still recommend it to 50 staters given the convenient location, great spectator support and back of the pack friendliness.
Fargo Marathon
Not Fargo 5K
Fargo Marathon
This 5K takes place the Friday before the Fargo half or full marathon and you can run it with the half or full as part of the "Go Far Challenge." … MORE
This 5K takes place the Friday before the Fargo half or full marathon and you can run it with the half or full as part of the “Go Far Challenge.” I also did the half marathon and will put more detail in that review. Overall this was a nice 5K but communication was terrible. For starters the 5K took place in Moorhead, MN, not Fargo, ND. It was pretty poor communication about this change. I’m not even sure I got an email. I just looked at the race website and was surprised and happy I decided to rent a car as this made it pretty difficult to not rent a car for this trip. This is also an issue if people are trying to do a 5K in all 50 states and signed up expecting to run in North Dakota. There was also confusion as the week of the race they sent an email with the wrong info saying the 5K started in Fargo which was straightened out but I wouldn’t be surprised if some participants ended up in the wrong start area. The 5K starts at 6:30 at Concordia College which is where packet pick-up is. I arrived at Concordia college around 5pm and thought there would be plenty of time but the packet pick-up was a mess. It took me like 15 minutes to get in and find parking. I ended up street parking about 1/3 mile from the expo and 1/2 mile from the 5K start. There was long lines for packet pick-up so I pretty much had exactly enough time to park, get my bibs, take the swag back to the car, walk to the 5K start, use porta potty and line up. Swag included bib, a drawstring bag and a T-shirt for the 5K. swag was good for a 5K but the whole pack pick-up and pre-race was more stressful than it should have been. The 5K was in honor of the former race director who shockingly passed away last year and there was a nice tribute to him. They did need clearer instructions on where to line up. They announcers said faster people up front but it was not clear what paces were where. I just kind of started in the middle and there were a lot of slower people in front of me and faster people behind me. The race was through downtown Moorhead and went over a bridge and by a park. It was pleasant running and there were a ton of spectators for a 5K which was great. However one out and back section was very narrow which was difficulty to pass with participants of so many different paces. The finish area had the announcers cheer on the runners. You also get a medal which is a good medal for a 5K and there were basic post race snacks. My finishing time was horrible but it was hard to navigate around people and I was feeling a bit sluggish since I fly to Fargo from Boston earlier in the day. Overall I did love the course support for this 5K but wish there was better communication, signs to line up by pace in the start corral and it would have been nice if it were actually in Fargo.
Buffalo Marathon
A Memorial Day Tradition
Buffalo Marathon
This is my third year doing the half marathon. I used to live in Western NY but moved to New England over the summer. I found pretty cheap direct flights … MORE
This is my third year doing the half marathon. I used to live in Western NY but moved to New England over the summer. I found pretty cheap direct flights from Boston to Buffalo and decided to come back and do this again. I have reviewed this race several times so will focus on some things that changed. I now needed a hotel and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Buffalo which is maybe 1/4 mile from the convention center and start/finish line and very convenient. You definitely don’t need to rent a car though I opted to due to plans not related to the race. I got my packet Saturday though they did offer race day packet pick-up this year. There was good pre-race communication except the time limit for the half was unclear. The website said 3 hours (yikes) but the guide said 3:30. I have done this race around 3:30 one year and had zero issues so I assumed that was the actual time limit and they seemed to keep the course open longer than 3:30. They also will keep the finish line open longer since there is also a marathon so you don’t have to worry about getting a finishing time for the half. The race is excellent and mostly flat with a nice tour of Buffalo. Production is really good with lots of aid stations, course marshals, and police support. There is a lot of spectators, musical acts and participants so it is a high energy course. My only complaint this year is there were some terrible and very rude drivers. This is somewhat outside of the races control as the volunteers and police would tell the drivers to stop and they wouldn’t listen so I had to stop a couple times for cars to pass. Perhaps a bit more police support would help though they weren’t really listening to police either. I decided to take the race slow and finish around 3:30 as I was initially planning to do Run to Remember in Boston on Monday which had a tighter time limit and I wanted to save energy (I ended up deciding to skip Run to Remember as it had a 3 hour time limit and I realized I didn’t need it for my goal to make sun level and I wasn’t in the mood to stress about getting a finishing time and definitely not in the mood for a DNF). I had no issues finishing this race around 3:30 except the last 2 musical acts were packing up but the aid stations and important stuff was all still there. The swag this year was nice with the long-sleeved hooded tech shirts with very bold designs and I liked the color block buffalo medals this year. They fixed the issue with the finish line food from yesterday and volunteers handed runners single items so I doubt they ran out of food as there was plenty left and I was one of the later half finishers. I also liked they had the snacks at the finish line as last year the only food was at the post race party. There is a post-race party in the convention center but I decided to skip as I wanted to have plenty of time to shower and check out of my hotel and I had enough food at the finish line. This is definitely a really good race and it would be perfect if Buffalo had less rude drivers. I would definitely recommend this race for NY especially if you prefer large, urban races and don’t want to run in NYC. I will be back again though I think I may be in Canada next year this weekend so probably 2026.
Buffalo Marathon
One of My Favorite 5Ks
Buffalo Marathon
The 5K takes place the Saturday before the half/full marathon. This was my 4th time doing this race and I realized it is the race I have done the most … MORE
The 5K takes place the Saturday before the half/full marathon. This was my 4th time doing this race and I realized it is the race I have done the most times. As I have run it a lot and it has been the same course I will leave this review pretty short. It is one of my favorite 5Ks because it is such as fast course and I always have one of my fastest times and this year was no exception. They have race day pick-up for the 5K in the convention center right by the start line. The swag this year was a hooded, tech shirt. The 5K is well organized and very fast with a slight uphill the first half and slight downhill the second half and goes through downtown Buffalo. There is a nice medal for a 5K. The only issue this year was they ran out of food. Finishers got a big bag and there was a selection of fruit, granola bar, oreos, chips, and mini muffins. However by the time I finished (which was right in the middle of the pack) they were almost out of everything and I just got a bag of mini muffins. I will give this a pass as they have been experimenting with the best way to do post race food and they fixed this for the races the next day.
Marine Corps Historic Half
Best Race Ever until Hospital Hill
Marine Corps Historic Half
This race has been on my bucket list and I decided to do it this year as I had the weekend off and found a race in Maryland the day … MORE
This race has been on my bucket list and I decided to do it this year as I had the weekend off and found a race in Maryland the day before. I was particularly intrigued when it was voted the best half in VA over Richmond and Shamrock which are two of my all time favorite half marathons. Fredericksburg is about an hour outside DC depending on traffic and was about 2.5 hours from St Michael’s, MD. I flew in and out of Baltimore as that was more convenient for St. Michael’s but DC would be the best place to fly into for the race. There is good pre race communication though I don’t find the Marine Corps race website the most user friendly as some information is in the race specific section and other information (such as time limit which is a 17:30 pace) is in the generic FAQs for all races though I was eventually able to find all the info I needed. There is packet pick-up at the convention center in Fredericksburg Friday or Saturday before the race or you can pay extra for race day. I had plenty of time after St. Michael’s so I picked it up Saturday. Expo was pretty good. Kind of a medium sized expo. Packet pick-up was pretty efficient and I got bib and shirt. The shirt is fine and a nice quality tech shirt though I don’t love the design. For the race I stayed at the Holiday Inn which was about a 5 minute drive from the start. I think there may be some hotels within walking distance but parking was really easy. The race starts at 6am near a huge shopping center and you just park in any of the parking lots since the stores don’t open until after the race. This probably had the easiest parking of any race I have done that is this large. It is a large but not huge race with a few thousand runners. Race organization was outstanding. The start area was quite organized. Porta-potty lines were not very long for the size of the race. The race starts with announcements and anthem. You line up by pace and runners left in waves. The slowest pacer was 3:10. My finish goal was 3:15 and I knew looking at the elevation profile of the race the best strategy to get my goal was to stick with the 3:10 pacer until mile 11 with the big hills so I lined up with the 3:10 pacer. Race started on time and the waves left pretty efficiently. Weather was overall very nice today but it was a bit humid for me. The roads were all closed off so there was space to spread out. The course is pretty nice and varied through different neighborhoods and areas in Fredericksburg. I can’t say it was the most exciting or iconic course I have run but it was overall a very nice course. There was good spectator support and lots of areas with marines cheering us on. The beginning is a bit quiet since it starts at 6am but there is a ton of support by the end. There were frequent aid stations with water and electrolyte drink. There was also a donut stop and a food station with apple sauce and sports bean jelly beans. Organization was pretty much flawless. It was well marked. Had several timing mats on the course for runner tracking and accurate mile markers. The elevation profile is not ideal though. The first few miles are mostly downhill and the pacer did these a bit faster to bank time for the uphill (she clearly explained this was her strategy), the middle is flat and we were perfectly on pace and I was able to easily keep up with the 3:10 pacer the first 11 or so miles. Then around mile 11 you get to Hospital Hill. While the hill is brutal there is a ton of support at this area. After Hospital Hill it is still mostly uphill and there is another mean hill around mile 12. It’s a brutal ending. While I do think if I used all my energy I could have stayed with the pacer until the end, I have a lot of races left and purposefully decided to walk most of the race starting with Hospital Hill. I still managed to get an excellent finish time and was well under 3:15. This was my third fastest half this year and this was probably my third hardest. Race was also very back of the pack friendly with lots of people finishing behind me. At the finish you are given you medal by a marine. The medal is really nice. There are snacks and water immediately after you finish and a finish festival. The finish festival seemed nice but I didn’t stay long as I had plans in DC in the afternoon. Overall I thought this was an excellent race with some of the best organization I have seen. Was it better than Richmond or Shamrock? I am not sure as those are such fun races with such a party environment but this was definitely a great race. I would highly recommend all 3 of these Virginia races and I’m not sure I can pick a favorite so you should just come to Virginia a few times and do all 3. I really enjoy visiting the DC area so I am sure I will return and do this race again.
St. Michaels Running Festival
Flatter than a Pancake
St. Michaels Running Festival
This is a 5K, 10K or half marathon located in Maryland along the Chesapeake Bay and is about 1-1.5 hour drive from Baltimore. I have already done a few half … MORE
This is a 5K, 10K or half marathon located in Maryland along the Chesapeake Bay and is about 1-1.5 hour drive from Baltimore. I have already done a few half marathons in MD but I was looking for a double and this was the day before the Marine Corp Historic Half which was on my bucket list. I flew into Baltimore Friday night. Most of the hotels are not in St Michael’s but in a town called Easton which is about 15-20 minutes from St. Michael’s. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express there. Pre race communication was good though I found the parking instructions a bit confusing they were just kind of like go to town we will direct you and you may need to take a shuttle or you may park at the finish and have a short walk to the start. That did summarize the parking situation but I prefer a specific address to put in your GPS more than a just drive into town if I am driving to a town I’ve never been to. I woke up early think I could get prime parking at the finish and avoid the shuttles. However they directed the earlier arrivers to the shuttle areas since it made traffic flow better. I was able to park right at the shuttle stop and the shuttle was there right away so it was not a big deal but I’d probably have slept in more if I knew this. The race starts at the high school in town and ends near the Maritime museum which is less than 1 mile from the start. There is race day packet pick-up which is great but also the option for earlier packet pick-up or packet mailing. I got race day packet pick-up. Packet included a nice jacket along with bib. The only negative about race day packet pick-up is I had to do bag check which I usually don’t do as I couldn’t get back to my car since I took the shuttle. There were a good amount of porta potties near the start. There were lines but they were shorter than most races I’ve done of similar size. This was mid-sized race with about 1000 in the half marathon. The start was pretty well organized and there were pacers to help you line up. I lined up a bit behind the 3 hour pacer. I was planning to take the race pretty easy since it had a 3:30 time limit so wasn’t planning to try to keep up with them. the course is fairly nice but very boring. There were no waterfront views but it had woods, fancy houses, some farmland, some golf courses and lots of greenery. It was just a bit monotonous as a lot felt the same. The course is also pancake flat which makes it easy but doesn’t help the monotony. The course also had some random loops and out and backs to make the miles work. Overall it was well marked and well organized. Roads were mostly coned off and it felt safe. There were plenty of police support and course marshals directing traffic. A few mile markers were slightly off which would be one minor production issue. There were good aid stations except there was one stretch that went a little long between aid stations 2 and 3. Aid stations had water, electrolyte and there were gels at at least one of them. It was a rainy day so it wasn’t the best running weather and there were little spectators. Not sure this is always the case or just because of the rain. I had no issues being back of the pack and there were plenty of people my pace. They also weren’t strict with the time limit as some people were over 3:30 and got finishing times. My finishing time was fine. It wasn’t bad but I feel like I could have been faster on such a flat course though I do find I tend to actually finish faster in races with some mild elevation changes as I get stuck in a slow, steady pace on flat courses. The finish line was good and you get the medal which I would say is average. There were a few snacks at the finish line but most of the food at the post race party. I did thinks signage at the finish line could be a little better. There were clear directions to the finish festival. However I wasn’t sure if the bag drop pick-up and shuttle were at the finish line or the festival. I’m sure it was in the race guide so this is partially on me but it’s hard to recall these type of things right after you finish a long race. I didn’t see the shuttle or bag drop so assumed they were at the finish festival and luckily was correct. The finish festival was nice and had additional snacks, pizza (including cheese), beer, soda and live music. The bag drop was also there and there was no line. One thing that could be better is a sign for shuttle pick up. I just saw a group of runners waiting for something and assumed it was the shuttle pick-up. They said they thought it was but no one seemed 100% sure. Luckily it was. The shuttle wasn’t too bad. I did wait about 15 minutes as traffic was slow in town and it was just one shuttle going back and forth. Overall I thought this was a very nice though slightly boring race. I would definitely recommend this race to locals and it is not a bad choice for Maryland especially if you like flat races. Personally I enjoyed Baltimore Running Festival a little more as the scenery was more varied and there was a ton of spectators but I could see how if you prefer more mid-sized races and hate hills how you could prefer this race to Baltimore. This also worked great as a double with Marine Corp Historic Half so if you are looking to get MD and VA in the same weekend I doubt you can find a better double than that.
Mainly Marathons Prairie Series Day 3 (KS)
Worst Course but Best People
Mainly Marathons Prairie Series Day 3 (KS)
Mainly marathons is a series of races that take place all over the country in all 50 states. They produce several series for different regions of the country so runners … MORE
Mainly marathons is a series of races that take place all over the country in all 50 states. They produce several series for different regions of the country so runners can do back to back to back to back to back races and get multiple states in one trip. This race is part of the prairie series which is an 8 day series in the midwest from Oklahoma to Minnesota. This are flexible series so you can do 1 or all 8 days and you can mix and match distances. I just did Kansas as I was in Kansas for Running with the Cows and the Kansas race was the following day. This race takes place in a very small town about 1.5 hours outside Kansas City. I spent the day in Kansas City after Running with the Cows and then drove up in the evening. I stayed at the best western which was convenient and about 1 mile from the start. The start was at a school. These are very laid back and they offer an early start at 6am and a later start at 7am and have no time limits though they do recommend the early start if you think you will be over 6 hours. A lot of people chose the early start option as it was again a very hot day but as I said it my last review I only got like 3-4 hours of sleep Friday night since my flight was delayed so opted for the extra hour of sleep. I was also planning on taking this race extra easy as I had plenty of time to get to the airport afterwards and just needed to finish in around 4 hours to have no stress getting back to the KC airport. It is a very laid back start you get your bib, shirt and you are supposed to get your medal ribbon though they didn’t give it to me at the start (they did give it when I finished). The shirts are really nice and I love the cute prairie dog they use for the prairie series. They do pre race announcements about 10 minutes before the start. It is nice that they announce people meeting milestones and also explain the course. The course though it sucked. Mainly races are typically multiple loops and you take a rubber band to keep track of the number of loops. This one was particularly short and boring even by mainly standards from what I heard. It was just an out and back on a paved walkway on the school grounds that for the half you had to do 9 times. There was one nice farm view but I really didn’t need to see it 18 times. The course was pretty easy though it had some inclines. The big issue was it was again hot and without much shade. Luckily the course is not the reason you do mainly marathons. The reason is the people. With the looped courses, laid back atmosphere and the fact most people are not going very fast as they are doing a lot of races in a row, these are more a social event for runners. It was a ton of fun to chat with some of my runner friends from my running clubs and meet other runners. It made the boring miles go by much faster. There is also a great aid station at the start/finish line with tons of food. It is essentially an ultra station. They always have a hot food including a vegetarian options along with granola bars, candy, PBJ, fruit, cookies, chip, pickles etc. I took the race very easy and just walked at a pretty regular pace. I think I set a personal worst but I did finish under my goal of 4 hours. At the end you ring a bell and let the timing table know you finish. I was happy to be done as I was sick of the course. The medal is really cool. It is on an awesome ribbon and you connect a specific medal for each state and there is also a small medal with the year. The only down side as it is just one huge, medal for the series but I heard you can purchase additional ribbons. Since I just did one race it is a huge medal for one race. Overall this was a very fun, laid back, no stress racing experience but it was an awful course. If you don’t care about the course and prefer more social races I’d definitely recommend the mainly marathon series. Personally I’d prefer a more scenic, interesting course through a major city or beautiful landscapes so these wouldn’t be my first choice for a new state but I also love races that are back of the pack friendly and well supported so these also wouldn’t be my last choice. I am planning to do the race in Maine as it is on a weekend I am free and staying in town and would definitely consider doing more of these races and I think it would be fun to complete a whole series. However as they are often on weekdays, I would need to take several vacation days to do the full series and as I have some ambitious international plans, I’m not sure a mainly marathon series is in the cards for me.
Running with the Cows 🏆
Walking with the Cows
Running with the Cows 🏆
Kansas is kind of a far place for me to go just for a weekend but I love cows so this race has been on my bucket list. I am … MORE
Kansas is kind of a far place for me to go just for a weekend but I love cows so this race has been on my bucket list. I am also attempting to get to sun level in half fanatics and have a pretty insane half marathon schedule this spring and found 2 back to back half marathons in Kansas with no time limit so it was perfect for a “break” weekend to go and walk these races with no stress about finishing. There was good pre race communication and a simple athlete guide with all the information. For the race you can do early packet pick-up but it is also available race day. I flew into Kansas City Friday evening so got it race day. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Overland Park, KS. It is about 40 minutes from the Kansas City airport and 15 minutes from the race. My flight got delayed so I didn’t get to my hotel room until around 2am so it was a short sleep before the race. The race was easy to get to and parking was easy on a field. Packet pick-up was smooth and there is a nice short sleeved tech shirt. It was the 15th anniversary of the race so the swag and decorations were extra special. There is just a shirt and medal for swag but there is so much food at the end I rounded the swag up to 5 sneakers. There is a bunch of cow decorations and a big cow to take pictures with making it a very fun pre and post race environment. This raises money for a local Catholic school which is where the race starts and finishes. The race has about 400 participants in the half so it is on the smaller side but not super small. For a small, more local, charity type race production and everything was excellent. The race is chip timed and has the same start and finish. There are no waves but there are pacers to help line up. I stayed near the back knowing I would be mostly walking the race as it was my “weekend off.” The course is pretty nice but a bit boring. It is through farmlands and is what you picture when you think of Kansas. The scenery is nice but it gets a bit repetitive as there are some out and back sections. There were some farm animals though I was hoping for a little more. I did love the spectators who brought cows with them. It’s a very rural area so there aren’t a ton of spectators but I appreciate every one out there. It’s kind of a low key, calm race environment. I don’t find races like this very fast but I do find them peaceful and enjoyable. The course has gentle rolling hills. That is actually what it is. It is constant up and downs but they are gentle with no monster hills. The biggest challenge was the heat and it is unshaded. I would say course difficulty is average and a bit above average with the heat but I rounded down to 3 sneakers given there is no time limit. There was excellent aid stations. They were very frequent. There were 6 but 4 you past twice so 10 total so they were almost every mile. All had water and gatorade, many had mini donuts, one had gels and one had fruit snacks. No issues running out of anything at my slow pace. The only production issue I noticed was the mile markers starting with mile 5 were off by 0.1 miles so I thought the course was going to be long but there was only 1 mile between the mile 12 marker and the finish so the course length seemed accurate. I think they may have been placed wrong but at least they were placed so you would end up with a faster finishing time if you relied on the mile markers for pacing. The finish line is nice and they give you water and an excellent cow medal. Definitely a top 10% half marathon medal though I’m not sure it is this nice every year or just because it was an anniversary year. After the finish you go to the cafeteria for a huge buffet with pasta, tacos, pizza, and tons of dessert. There were a lot of vegetarian options. Some options seemed vegan though it wasn’t labeled so I am not 100% sure. There was plenty of food for the later finishers. Overall I thought this was an excellent smaller, charity race with a super fun theme. It also had no time limit which made it stress free and allowed me to just enjoy myself. I have also done Prairie Fire in Kansas (though I did the full not the half). I thought both races were very good. I’d recommend this one if you prefer smaller, rural, low key races and Prairie Fire if you prefer more urban, larger races although you can’t go wrong with either. Kansas is a bit of a trek for a weekend but I’d definitely do this one if I lived closed and I could be convinced to come back and do it again.
Rock’N Race
The Whole Town is Out
Rock’N Race
This is a weekday evening race in my hometown Concord, NH that raises money for the cancer center there. I have done this race over a decade ago so I … MORE
This is a weekday evening race in my hometown Concord, NH that raises money for the cancer center there. I have done this race over a decade ago so I am technically a repeat runner though I can’t remember much about the first time I ran it. The race was on a Wednesday this year though in the past it had been on Thursdays. Wednesdays work great as I have office hours in the afternoon and can work from home so had time to get ready and drive to Concord for the 6pm start. My mom has a team and was the team captain so picked up the bibs. The packet also has a nice polyblend shirt. The race starts downtown in the grassy area in front of the state house. There were samples of Karma water and also food tents being set up. There is a separate timed run and untimed walk that have the same course but different start/finish lines and the walk starts about 10 minutes after the run. There were signs were to line up for each race. The start was pretty organized but this is a huge race as it seems like the entire town either participated, volunteers or spectated the race. They did have us line up by pace but I do think a few waves could have spread us out better. That is my only production complaint. Course is well marked on closed streets with mile markers and aid station in the middle. It is a fun race with a ton of spectators and a ton of musical acts on the course. There were more musical acts on this 5K course than I’ve seen on Rock’n’Roll half marathons. The course is nice through downtown and the hospital which is appropriate given its charity. However ugh it is hilly. I think this had as much elevation as my two races last weekend. There are a ton of participants and lots of back of packer so it’s fun despite the hills. My finishing time wasn’t great but I was faster than my last 5K a few weeks ago and this was a much harder course. The finish area is fun and there are tons of local restaurants with food sample and you get 2 food tickets. Overall this is a very fun race if you are in Concord, NH the evening of the race. As long as it is an evening I can get to Concord by 6pm I would definitely do this race again.
REVEL White Mountains
Bring it Back!
REVEL White Mountains
I have been wanting to do a Revel race as I have heard good things but they are always out west. So I was very excited an east coast race … MORE
I have been wanting to do a Revel race as I have heard good things but they are always out west. So I was very excited an east coast race was announced and in my home state of NH of all places. They did say this may be a limited event so I am not sure this race will return. I immediately signed up as soon as registration opened. The race is way up north in Conway and is a bit of a trek. It is a little over 2 hours from where I live and a little over 1.5 hours from my parent’s house and not very close to any airports. I initially thought I would stay at my parent’s house but when I saw how early the race started I booked a hotel. There was good pre race communication including an athlete guide. I had plans with my family Saturday afternoon so I didn’t think I would make the expo so I paid extra for race day packet pick-up. The athlete guide gave no info about race day pack pick-up but we did get an email with the info a few days before the race. I booked my hotel through the race website. One issue with this is they oversold the rooms at the hotel I booked and upgraded me to a nicer hotel at the same price. This doesn’t sound like an issue but this was never communicated to me until I arrived at my initial hotel and was told I had to go to another hotel and with the early wake up all I wanted to do was get to bed not drive to another hotel to check in. It all worked out but just a warning you may be better off directly booking with hotel and paying more if you don’t want to deal with this kind of thing. I was nervous about race morning as it involved shuttles after the shuttle fiasco in Maine but Revel seems to have every run very smoothly. If I didn’t know better I would have assumed Maine Coast was the inaugural race and this race had been held for years. There is separate parking for half and full marathoners and shuttles to the start and from the finish. I did arrive very early and everything was a breeze. I got my packet, brought it back to my car and there were no lines so I pretty much immediately boarded the shuttle. Packet included bib, a nice short sleeve tech shirt and a few other things like gloves to keep your warm. I did see lines to get in the parking lot as we were leaving in the shuttle so do try to arrive early if possible. The race is in a small town that does not have a ton of roads so it does take 30-40 minutes for the shuttle to arrive at the start and since the race starts at 6am this is a very early morning. My only production critique of an otherwise perfectly produced race would be the start area. The start area was a bit cramped for the number of runners and did not have enough porta potties. I’m not sure how this can be fixed given limited options for the course to work. I used the porta potty as soon as the shuttle got there and it didn’t have lines but didn’t use it right before the race. A lot of people also complained about how cold the start was. I’m guessing they are not natives of New Hampshire as I was completely fine with the temperature and had no additional layers and was comfortable but it may have been nice to have a heating tent for the out of towners. The race had runners line up by pace and started on time. Not everyone was finished with the porta potties but as it is chipped time they kept the start line open for them. I prefer this to delaying the start. The course is absolutely amazing! It is stunning scenery of mountains and rivers and the beauty of New Hampshire. Definitely a top 5% course in terms of beauty. It also definitely gave you the best views of NH. There aren’t a ton of spectators given the limited entry points for spectators though a few found ways to show up and there are plenty of other runners and such spectacular scenery that the miles fly by. The course is on the Kancamagus Highway and one half of the road is closed off for runners. They had some complicated system to allow traffic on the other side. The race was very easy to follow as except the last maybe half mile it was start down the highway. Everything was very well produced on course. There were aid stations approximately every 2 miles with water, electrolytes and multiple had Gu and/or fruit. There were also plenty of porta potties with no lines at each aid station. There were big mile markers and other encouraging signs. The half marathon course is pretty much all downhill. It is a relatively gradual downhill. The only difficult part is some of the road was on a slant which could be a bit painful on your muscles. I was hoping to have a very fast race and killed the first few miles but didn’t have enough left in the tank to finish strong at all and ended up finishing around 3:20. My main goal was to not get injured as I got injured during a downhill race a couple years ago and I did accomplish that. There is the same time limit for the half and full marathon so there are a ton of back of packers. I also stopped to take some pictures and chat with other participants which didn’t help my time. The last half a mile or so is in town and is well marked with course marshals directing traffic. It was also the correct distance. There is a nice finish area. I really like the medal. It is a very cute, and very New England themed, Moose design. The finish area was pretty good. There was a beer tent and you also got a sweet treat which was just a Dunkin Donut along with a bag of snacks and a water bottle. Dunkin Donuts didn’t seem like the most exciting post-race food but it does fit the New England theme. There was post race food to purchase but I had lunch plans afterwards. I then left for the shuttle and kept my fingers crossed there would be no line. It was an annoying about 1/2 mile walk to the shuttle but there was no line and it went as smooth as possible. As there were some traffic delays from runners crossing the street it does take a bit of time to get back to the parking lot and also a bit of time to get out of town though this seems unavoidable hosting a race in a small town. Overall I though this was an excellent race and I hope it comes back. If it does come back I would definitely recommend this race for NH and would definitely run it again if I had the weekend free. Even if it does not come back I would definitely love to run another Revel Race and would definitely recommend their races from this experience. If this race doesn’t come back, another great (mostly) downhill option for New Hampshire is the New England Half in October.
Maine Coast Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Longest 0.1 miles ever!
Maine Coast Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
This is a race produced by Loco Races that takes place on the Southern Maine Coast about 20-30 minutes from the NH border. It is a little over an hour … MORE
This is a race produced by Loco Races that takes place on the Southern Maine Coast about 20-30 minutes from the NH border. It is a little over an hour drive from where I live so it is pretty local. I was initially not going to get a hotel until I looked at the race logistics of both this and Revel White Mountain and just how early I would need to get up both days and last minute booked a room at the Holiday Inn in Wells. It was actually fairly cheap for a hotel for race weekend in Maine. Since I initially though I wasn’t getting a hotel I opted to have my packet mailed. There was good pre-race communication and good updates about when the packet was mailed and when to expect it. I received it over a week early and it included bib and shirt. The shirt is a sweatshirt with a really nice design but the material is a bit cheap and it runs very small. If (this is a big if) I do this race again I would get it 2 sizes up. Race day morning is kind of a mess as there are multiple different shuttle options. This is partly on me but I was on call last week and the Revel race starts crazy early so I did sleep as late as possible but race morning was a mess. I realized the runner drop off which is the 5K start and is about 1 mile from the half marathon start and has a shuttle was only half a mile from my hotel so I decided to walk and take shuttle and if line was long just walk to the start. It was not clear if there was a shuttle from the finish back to the runner drop off but there was a parking lot under a mile from my hotel so I thought it’d be easier to not deal with parking. Not sure if that was the right call or not. I got to the runner drop off area and there was a huge shuttle line so I just walked to the start and got there a few minutes before the race. It worked out as there were some porta potties on the walk so I didn’t have to wait in the huge lines. The shuttles did seem a mess and the race started 20 minutes later which I suppose is better than the 40 minutes late last year but it still not good especially as I had plans in NH that afternoon. The race had pacers to help line up but no corrals. The beginning of the race was a bit tight but it was on a closed road and everyone was able to spread out really quickly. I will talk about what I loved for the race which was the course. The course is a point to point and a lot of it runs right by the water. There were some beautiful views. Some of it also runs through the town which is a cute beach town. It was definitely a top 10-20% course in terms of scenery and my favorite course I’ve done in Maine even if it wasn’t my favorite race in terms of production. The course is also pretty flat. I will give a warning it is “Maine flat.” Maine is a very hilly state and this was much flatter than the other races I’ve done in Maine but did have about 300 feet of elevation gain and a couple smaller hills. I actually like this elevation profile but a few runners from flatter areas of the country I spoke with were surprised by the hills. The course was either on closed or coned off roads and there was adequate police support and course marshals. There was not adequate aid stations though. I think there was only 5 and 3 of them ran out of gatorade and one ran out of cups by the time I arrived. The course has stated 3:15 time limit and I pushed myself to stay under the time limit. The race however was not strict about the time limit and the course was not being torn down before I finished which was good. Now let’s get to one of my biggest issues which was the finish. So I was pacing myself perfectly for a just under 3:15 time limit. I know courses are typically a bit longer than 13.1 miles to get certified and that if you don’t do the tangents perfect you will end up running over 13.1 but I timed myself using the mile markers. The mile marker seemed accurate as I made mile 13 with around 13.1 miles on my Garmin and about 3-4 minutes to spare and was happy as I knew I could run 0.1 miles in 3-4 minutes. However I did run 0.1 miles and the finish line was nowhere in sight so I ran another 0.1 miles and still no finish line and someone says it’s just around the corner. Finally after about 0.35 miles past the 13 mile marker I make it to the finish but sadly ended up over 3:15 as I did not account for the extra 0.25 miles in my race strategy. My Garmin said I rain 13.45 miles. This was so frustrating to run a race perfectly to get a goal time and miss it by under a minute because the course is 0.25 miles long. Luckily as I said they weren’t strict and I got a finishing time but I really wanted under to get under 3:15. This was definitely not a tangent issue and even if it was then the earlier mile markers were incorrect as there is no way I did the tangents so bad I added a quarter mile after the 13 mile marker. The medal though is really nice and mermaid themed and I really liked the after party. There was a ton of people still there even with my slower finish. There was also pizza, ice cream, granola bars and bananas. Luckily there was cheese pizza and plenty of food left as I did not have time for lunch with the late start. Then there was the trek back to the hotel. As I said my plan was to take the shuttle to the nearest parking lot to my hotel. However the shuttle line was insane. I looked at how long a walk it would be and it was 2 miles and I would get to my car exactly the time I needed to if I walked and I couldn’t risk the shuttle as I may be late for my afternoon plans. Overall I will say I loved the course but there were 3 very big and very fixable issues which were the shuttles, running out of supplies at aid station, and the course being too long. I really think the race needs to reconsider the number of runners, the start time, or the start/finish location. I did really love the course and this is a convenient race location for me but I’m not sure I would do it again unless they fix these things. Next year I am registered for Indy Mini and Flying Pig this weekend so I will not be running this race but I will see what the reviews say for this race next year and maybe consider it in 2026 if they fix these issues. Overall even though I thought this course was better, I would recommend the Maine Half Marathon in Portland in October for 50 staters as the logistics were much better worked out.
Enjoy Your Life Happy Half Marathon & Friendly 5K
Happy with this as an Inaugural Race
Enjoy Your Life Happy Half Marathon & Friendly 5K
This was the inaugural year for this race. It is located in Amesbury, MA right on the MA/NH state border and a quick 25 minute drive from where I live. … MORE
This was the inaugural year for this race. It is located in Amesbury, MA right on the MA/NH state border and a quick 25 minute drive from where I live. I was happy to find 2 very local half marathons this weekend after all the driving last weekend. There were a few production issues as expected for an inaugural race but overall I was happy with the happy half marathon. There was good pre race communication with all the info needed emailed and on the race website. There was an option for pre-race packet pick-up but I had plans with my dad Saturday afternoon so got it the morning of the race. It started at a park in Amesbury. There was a nearby parking lot and also plenty of parking downtown. It was a smaller race with a little over 100 participants in the half. Packet pick-up went smooth. Along with bib you get a very, nice Enjoy Your Life brand jacket. Definitely nicer than the shirts you get with most races. The start was a bit of a mess because there was not nearly enough porta potties so the half had to be started about 5 minutes late. Not the end of the world but hopefully they order more porta potties next year. There were no waves or corrals but as I said it was a small race field so not a big deal. The race starts with a short portion through downtown Amesbury. The race is open to traffic and while it was well marked and there was a lot of police support, I did think this section could benefit from having the street closed or at least coned off as there was a lot of traffic. The vast majority of the race is on quiet, country roads which did not need to be closed to be safe. The course is pretty cool in that it starts in MA but then you cross the state line in NH and loop around before going back to MA. It would only count for MA though for most clubs as it starts and finishes in MA. It is very scenic and you get all of the best New England scenery. Some farmland, some woods, some lake views. However it is very hilly. The hills were pretty unrelenting. The course was very, very, very well-marked. There were also a ton of police support and course marshals for such as small race. I think there was more than Newport. I knew I would be slow given the hills and how much I pushed myself yesterday so I was alone most of the race and appreciated never having to worry about being lost. My biggest production complaint is there was not enough aid on course. There were only 3 aid stations with water and gatorade and you only passed them once because it’s a loop. At one point you went 5 miles without an aid station. I knew this as there was good communication and I brought water but it’s pretty standard for road half marathons to have aid stations every 2-2.5 miles so I’d recommend they add at least 2 more. There was also only 1 porta potty on the entire course at mile 3.7. This is not usually when I need a bathroom break but I used it to be safe since I knew there wasn’t another one. In terms of back of the pack friendliness this was definitely better than most MA races. It had a 3:30 time limit and not the 3 hours a lot of them had. I knew I would be close to 3:30 but that I shouldn’t have a problem making the time limit. Not unexpectedly I was last pretty much the entire race. Other than running alone there were not much issues being last. Around the halfway point I saw one of the race staff in a truck with all the signs drive by me and thought “here we go again the race staff is cleaning up before I get there even though I’m under the time limit” but nope the staff member just drove to the next area that required clean up, parked and waited for me to pass and then cleaned it up a few minutes after I left so nothing was cleared away before I got there. I cannot figure out why the other races I did couldn’t do this and had to clean up simultaneously with me. The only issue is they did let the volunteers leave but they left plenty of water and gatorade and didn’t pack away the aid station until after I passed. The race staff, police and volunteers were also very encouraging as I passed and never made me feel like a burden. After you go through the countryside you then go back to downtown Amesbury. I really didn’t like this part at the end as there was a lot of traffic so I ran on the sidewalk. I do think for future years if the race gets bigger they should look into closing down these streets or at least one lane to make it safer. The finish line was a bit anti-climatic being last as pretty much all the other participants left but I was cheered on by the race staff and volunteers and got my medal. The medal is fine. It spins and has the Enjoy Your Life logo. It’s a bit smaller than most of my other half marathon medals. It’s a bit below average but with the really nice jacket overall the swag is good for the race. Even though I was last I was happy I finished well within the margin of the time limit. They had a nice post race brunch. I liked that it was heathlyish with frittata, sweet potato hash, and a blueberry coffee cake. There was still food left for me even if the party was empty. It was a bit cold but still tasted good. One of the volunteers offered to get me a beer but I declined since I don’t drink. Overall I thought this was a pretty good race. It had really nice scenery and a nice jacket for swag. I do hope they fix some of the production issues and continue to improve the race. While it wasn’t the best experience in the back as there was not a lot of back of packers, it was better than most MA races. I would definitely recommend this race to locals but I think there are still a few things to be worked out for me to highly recommend it to 50 staters but it’s not a bad option if it works best with your schedule and if you are a 3:00-3:30 finisher this may be a very good option given there are so many MA races with 3 hour time limits. As no one was over 3:30 I am not sure how strict they are with the time limit. Overall I would do this race again if it worked with my schedule especially since it is so close and I’m interested to see how it grows and improves.
Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon
One of My Favorite Local Races
Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon
Even though this is cheap, it is one of my favorite local races and this is my third time doing this half marathon. The race was pretty much exactly the … MORE
Even though this is cheap, it is one of my favorite local races and this is my third time doing this half marathon. The race was pretty much exactly the same all 3 times so I will keep this review short as you can see my prior reviews for details. This is produced by Millennium Running and production is excellent and it is very back of the pack friendly. This year the race was postponed two weeks due to a storm in early April but there was clear communication and very fair offers for changing to virtual or for 100% race credit with Millennium. The new date worked well for me as while I was registered for a different half marathon on April 20, it had a 3 hour time limit and I was considering skipping it so was very happy to do the Cheap Half Marathon instead. The new date also worked for my dad. But a word of caution if you plan to do this race. It is very cheap if you register right away. It costs only $26.21 for the first 100 registrants but last minute registration for my dad was not cheap at $80 so if you want to do this register early. Everything race day went very smooth and there was no changes from my prior reviews. The shuttles were very efficient which was great after the mess at Newport. My dad was impressed with how well organized the shuttles from the parking area were and the amount of spectators for a race like this. I was also very happy that I was faster than usual and finished under my goal of 3:15. The only downside is you only get a ribbon at the end instead of a medal but it is a funny ribbon. As long as swag is not a big deal for you, I would highly recommend this race. I am already signed up for next year!
NHTI Delta Dental 5K
Excellent local, smaller race
NHTI Delta Dental 5K
This race is part of the Capitol Area Race Series (CARS) in Concord, NH which is a series of several shorter races in Concord, NH which is where my parents … MORE
This race is part of the Capitol Area Race Series (CARS) in Concord, NH which is a series of several shorter races in Concord, NH which is where my parents live. This is a Friday, evening 5K that starts at 6pm. I was planning to be in Concord this evening and normally wouldn’t make it by 6pm but I had a couple cancellations at the end of the day and got to leave work a bit early so I was able to do the race. It takes place at and raises money for NHTI the community college in Concord. Packet included bib and a nice, very comfortable polyblend shirt. The shirt is the only swag but it is a nice shirt for a small 5K. The race has between 100-200 runners so is small but not tiny. It is chipped timed and had excellent production. Probably the best production I’ve seen for a smaller 5K like this. They started with a kids run, announcements and anthem and we were off at 6pm. The race course however is very, very boring. It is just two laps around the community college campus mostly just around parking lots. Similar course to the Winter Warrior race in Rochester. I however completely get why they used this course as it required no street closures and was very flat, easy to run on, and very safe as there was limited traffic other then a few cars leaving the campus. Course was very well marked and there was an aid station in the middle you passed twice. I had a very slow time. I wasn’t planning on doing the race so I didn’t really fuel right for an evening race but I got it done. The course is really flat so you could get a great time if you tried. There was a nice selection of snacks at the end with some fruit, bars, chips, rice krispie treats and an additional booth with some yogurt (including dairy free). Overall this was an excellent smaller race. It was not an exciting course but was flat and easy. I am planning to do a couple more CARS races this summer and will likely do even more next spring and summer when I am not planning to do as many half marathons.
Coastal Delaware Running Festival
Flat & Back of the Pack Friendly
Coastal Delaware Running Festival
I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it … MORE
I was looking for another half marathon along with Newport and even though this one was a bit of a trek a bunch of my running friends were doing it and I thought it would be cool to run a half in the two smallest states in one weekend. I am unofficially calling this the smallest state challenge. Of note, driving from New England to Delaware is absolutely awful as you have to pass through NYC so I can’t say I necessarily recommend this challenge. Also flights from Boston are really expensive this weekend as it’s school vacation so I couldn’t fly without paying like $400. I knew the driving would be awful and honestly I thought about skipping this race and running one somewhere closer instead but after some subpar experiences with New England Half Marathons last weekend, I decided it would be worth crossing the George Washington Bridge twice for a race in the more back of the pack friendly mid-Atlantic region. This was definitely the right decision as this race was so much better than my last 3 half marathons in New England. For the race I opted to pay extra for emergency race day packet pickup. if you are coming to do the race after Rhode Island do not expect to make it on time for packet pick-up. I know it goes until 8pm but traffic is insane and it took over 8 hours to drive from Rhode Island to Rehoboth Beach. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Rehoboth. it was about a 10 minute drive to the race. There are hotels within walking distance but I didn’t really have time to spend in Delaware besides the race and had a car anyways. Pre-race communication was excellent with a helpful race guide. I was a little nervous about parking since I have never been to this area of Delaware and the guide just said there was plenty of parking by the boardwalk and don’t worry there is plenty of parking by the boardwalk. However if you arrive on the later side you may have to parking about 0.5 mile away from the start. Race day packet pickup was super easy and convenient. Since it cost $30 for race day packet pick-up I don’t think many opted for that option meaning there was no line. Packet included bib, a polyblend shirt and a pint glass. The start of the race was organized in 3 waves for the half marathon. There were pacers up to 3 hours and a sweeper who went at the time limit which was 4 hours. I lined up between the 3 hour pacer and sweeper. Since this race had a 4 hour time limit and I am doing so many half marathons I took this one very easy. The race was extremely well organized. The course was very well marked and There were several timing mats on the course to track runners. I didn’t have any of the issues I had in the prior 3 races. However I was a bit disappointed in the course scenery and lack of spectators on course. While the scenery wasn’t bad, it was not the beachy views I was hoping for. The race starts on the boardwalk by the beach but shortly then is about 3 miles through neighborhoods. The neighborhoods were fine to run though but there were not really any spectators out. A little after mile 3 you do a lollipop loop on a public trail. This section is quite pretty by a lake and through marshlands though not past the ocean. This is mostly trail with a bit on boardwalk and a small amount paved on the loop. The trail is not technical at all but I did have to watch my footing a bit. While the course is very flat, I did not find it to be a fast course. If you want to PR or BQ on this course make sure you run on some similar trail. I also had very tired legs from all the hills at my last 3 races and wasn’t pushing myself too hard. You then go back on the boardwalk where you finish. Aid stations were good and had water, gatorade and 1 or 2 had gels. They never ran out of aid station supplies or shut things down early even though I was very slow although I did stay well under the 4 hour time limit. There were also lots of porta potties at the aid stations. I did love the finish line. This was where all the spectators were. The bib has your name and so many people where cheering for me even though I’m just walking along while there are faster marathoners finishing too. This finish line was so great compared to the day before at Newport. At the finish line you get your medal and a finisher hat. The medal is really nice and stain glass appearance. I would consider the medal above average though thought the race shirt was below average. With the pint glass and the hat as well though this was overall good swag for a race. They had water bottles and bananas at the finish line. There is supposedly a really nice finish party with pizza and salad but I had to leave right away for plans in Philadelphia in the afternoon so skipped it. Overall I thought this was a very nice race. Excellent production, back of the pack friendly and good swag. I did think the course was a bit boring especially as there were so few spectators on course. If I lived closer I would definitely do this race again. I’m not 100% sure I would drive 8+ hours for this race again but would consider it if there was something I wanted to do in the area the weekend of the race. I do think this is a very good choice for Delaware. I have now done 3 races in Delaware (the other 2 being Delaware Running Festival in Wilmington and First State Half in Newark) and I think this one was probably the nicest of the 3 although the other 2 had a lot of issues outside the race’s control (covid, weather). However the other races I did in DE were also nice and were much closer to Philadelphia so may be more convenient for travel.
Newport Rhode Races
Impressed with Scenery Not Production
Newport Rhode Races
Newport, RI is a beautiful town and is relatively close to where I live (about 1.5 to 2 hours) so I was excited for this race. The scenery definitely lived … MORE
Newport, RI is a beautiful town and is relatively close to where I live (about 1.5 to 2 hours) so I was excited for this race. The scenery definitely lived up to expectations. However the production was a major let down. I thought there was good pre-race communication with a helpful athlete guide that had the right amount of information in it. However a few participants I know received incorrect communication about an early start for the half marathon which was frustrating for them. As the race is a bit of a drive for me I did decide to stay in a hotel. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Middletown just North of Newport. This was a convenient location if you are just driving to the race like me as it was pretty close to the parking lot for the half marathon. However it is a couple miles away from the beach and the mansions so if you are hoping to spend the weekend in Newport you may want lodging closer to the beach. There is the option for race day packet pick-up but you have to pay $20 extra. The expo on Friday goes to 7pm but as traffic can be dicey coming from the Boston area I opted to pay extra for race day so I wouldn’t be stressed Friday evening. Race day morning I parked in the suggested lot in a business park. I had no issues parking or finding my car but I arrived early since I needed to get my packet and got prime parking right by shuttle pick-up. Absolutely no issues with the shuttle in the morning. The start area on the beach was set up well. I got my packet easily. Packet was just shirt and bib. The shirt is a nice, tech shirt. I’d consider it above average though since the swag is just a shirt and medal I marked swag as average as many half marathons you get something in addition to a shirt. There was gear check but I opted to just wear my shirt so I didn’t have to deal with it. It was comfortable to run it. I liked that they had a heated tent as it was a cool morning and you couldn’t wait in your car. For the race they had pacers and you lined up by pace. As it had a 3:30 time limit I stayed near the end knowing it was hilly and I wouldn’t be fast. This is a pretty big race with between 2000-3000 participants in the half marathon. While production for the race wasn’t the worst I’ve ever seen as there were no egregious issues it was some of the worst production I’ve seen for a race this big. I’ll start with the positives which is the course. It is beautiful and has a nice variety of scenery. It starts at the beach and then goes uphill (which means it ends downhill) and is then a loop through Newport. The start is mostly though neighborhoods and quieter areas. There are some fancy houses and some farmland with some farm animals. The best part is the middle of the race where you run right next to the water which was some of the best scenery I’ve seen in any race. At the end you run past the historic mansions which is also really cool and then go downhill to the finish line. There are a lot of hills but they are manageable and worth it for the scenery. There is intermittent spectator support. Not a real spectator filled event but enough pockets of spectators to keep you motivated. Now to the not as good which is production. There were adequate aid stations. However there were not enough porta potties and I lost 5 minutes waiting for one which meant I was chasing the time limit the rest of the race. I did manage to stay under the needed pace but again they were packing up the aid stations by the time I got there even though I was under the time limit and one aid station in the middle ran out of cups. Luckily I had a water bottle. As I said it my last review, aid stations should stay open for all participants under the time limit. There were a few other production issues as well. The course was mostly on coned off sections of road which was fine but there was not enough police support or course marshals. While I never felt in danger there were a few intersections where there was no one directing traffic and I had to stop and look both ways and make eye contact with drivers to make sure they were gonna let me pass. At a very, well-produced race runners shouldn’t have to think about traffic at all. I also thought the course could be better marked. Some of the turns were just marked with arrows on the ground. The finish was also really poorly designed for back of packers. I noticed they were putting cones away to the sidewalk and off the street before the time limit as I was running to the finish line. I finished under 3:30 gun time so I should not have to move to the sidewalk. The finish line area was also really crowded with people waiting in line for the shuttle and it was not that clear where to go. I noticed the person in front of me veered to the right into the parking lot area and I almost followed him but then saw the 13 mile sign was straight ahead along the road and asked a participant who finished if I was going the right way. Luckily I was. It does look like the runner who went the wrong direction figured it out as I saw a result of a participant about his age 1-2 minutes after me. The worst part about the finish area was the half marathoners came in from one side and the marathoners from the other and there were spectators blocking my path and I had to maneuver around them. I did make it to the finish line under the time limit even if you use guntime so there really isn’t an excuse for packing things up. The finish line and spectators were all focused on the marathoners but I did get a medal. The medal is nice. There was a food tent. There was pizza, donut, some bars and fruit. There was plenty of food for me. However I heard for the middle of the pack half marathoners they ran out of food and told them to wait an hour until the marathon food arrived. The absolute worst part was the shuttle at the end. The line was ginormous and there was a ton of spectators which is annoying. I’ve seen shorter lines for Space Mountain. It looked like it would take 30 to 45 minutes to wait in line. I realized the parking lot was only 1 mile away and it would be quicker to walk so I did exactly what everyone wants to do after a half marathon and walk a mile to my car. Overall I did think the race was beautiful but it was not well produced and not back of the pack friendly. I have also done the Surftown Half in RI which is even less back of the back friendly but was a much better organized race. If you can guarantee a finish time under 3 hours, do that race instead. While Newport is an easy location to visit for me, this is not a race I am eager to repeat. Last year I did the Helderberg to Hudson Half in Albany, NY this weekend and while that is about an hour further away I thought it was a much better race and plan to do it next year instead if both races are the same date. I’m definitely hesitant to sign up for this one again or another Rhode Race Half although it wasn’t a bad enough experience that I would never do one of their races again if they were the only local options with 3:30 time limits.
Great Bay Half Marathon
Great Hills and Views
Great Bay Half Marathon
This is a Half Marathon, 5K or 10K produced by Loco Races that takes place in Newmarket, NH which is by the Seacoast. It is also about a 45 minute … MORE
This is a Half Marathon, 5K or 10K produced by Loco Races that takes place in Newmarket, NH which is by the Seacoast. It is also about a 45 minute drive so is another local race for me. There was excellent pre-race communication. As I said in my last review there were storms in NH during the week. Weather was good on Sunday so they had lots of communication about the storm and an option to drop down to a shorter race as some of the trail was a bit wet. There was also clear information about parking and time limits. I loved how detailed they described the time limits. As I also said in my last review I had an health issue during the week and had to walk. The time limit was 3:30 and I was 98% sure I could power walk it in 3:30 but given I knew it was a difficult course I wanted to make sure I would get a finishing time if I were a bit over the time limit and they reassured in the details that they would keep the finish line open for everyone you just may be unsupported if over 3:30. Parking for the race was easy but it was about 3/4 mile away so prepare for that. One thing I did not like about the race is it starts really late at 11am. I really did not like this start time at all as it basically sucked up the entire morning and afternoon. I wish it either started at 9am or I’d honestly prefer even later like 1 or 2pm. I really couldn’t do anything today except the race. Packet pick-up was kind of a mess this year. This was related to so many people changing distances and appeared to be a one off and not the usual. Since I didn’t change distance packet pick-up was smooth. Packet included bib and a nice, jacket with the race logo. I didn’t feel like going back to my car so I tied the jacket around my waist. The start didn’t have corrals but had signs of where to line up by pace. All the distances started together. I stayed near the back since I knew I’d be slow. One annoying thing was due to all the bib switching the race started 15 minutes late which was annoying since it already had such a late start time. The first few miles that shared with the shorter races went though downtown Newmarket and through neighborhoods. There were a lot of speed walkers and back of packers doing the shorter distances so this part was fun. Everything was very well marked. However as soon as the half split I realized there were really no walkers doing the half marathon. I was DFL the entire rest of the race. And while don’t worry I did get a finish time, I did not enjoy the experience as DFL. I want to be clear I have been DFL before and it doesn’t necessarily bother me and I get it DFL is better than on the couch but this is specific to how this race cleaned up after the last runner. A clean up truck basically tailed me the entire race and it would speed up before every aid station so as soon as I got to the aid station everything was packed up except 2 cups of water left out for me. The course was basically broken down right next me. It was really annoying and did not feel like I got the same race experience as others as I love interacting with volunteers but they were packing away and mostly ignoring me (I do not believe this was the volunteers fault as this seemed to be the race instructions). Also while I was not fast I was always well under the pace I needed to finish in 3:30. I do not think the course or aid stations should be put away unless someone is behind the time limit pace which I never was. The First State Race I did in Delaware had a similar system with a sweeper and clean-up crew behind the last runner. However they stayed about 2 minutes behind and were almost never in view of the runner. I was last for part of that race and only noticed the clean up crew during an out and back portion. The clean up crew should be invisible to racers under the time limit. Anyways besides that the race was pretty good. It was very tough with constant and some steep hills but there was absolutely gorgeous scenery. It is mostly road but there is a few miles on a non-technical trail. There were 5 aid stations. It’s hard to say how they were as they were all closed when I got there except for some water they left out for me. Course was well marked. The course was completely closed off on busy roads and had a coned off section in less busy roads and only the quietest roads were not coned off or closed. There was never any danger of being hit by a car like yesterday. I was happy with my finishing time even if I was last and I ended up over 7 minutes under the time limit. The finish line was great. The announcer and volunteers were very supportive and nice even though I was last. The medal is average with the race logo. There was pizza and fruit at the end and I was happy there was cheese pizza. They actually ordered too much pizza and let me take home an entire pizza pie as a consolation prize for being last. Overall I thought this was a difficult but very beautiful race. I did find it very frustrating being the last runner on the course with how they cleaned it up despite being under the time limit. They had a survey asking for feedback and I hope they listen as I would have really enjoyed this race if it wasn’t being packed up around me. It was not the greatest race experience but better than yesterday. I would still do this race again but I may just do the shorter races given the late start time, difficult course and subpar experience in the back. This isn’t a bad half marathon for NH but I do think Millennium Running produces better and more back of the pack friendly races.
Fool’s Dual Half Marathon & 5K
Only Fools Run This
Fool’s Dual Half Marathon & 5K
I was initially scheduled to run the Cheap Half Marathon in NH (which is an excellent race) but due to a storm during the week that race got postponed. I … MORE
I was initially scheduled to run the Cheap Half Marathon in NH (which is an excellent race) but due to a storm during the week that race got postponed. I didn’t have time to rearrange travel plans but saw this half marathon was happening and decided to register. This is produced by Yukan Run in Massachusetts and is located on the North Shore about 45 minutes from where I live. I am not a huge fan of these Yukan Run races as they are always on open roads and have 3 hour time limits. However in the past I have not had issues getting a finishing time. Since it was this or nothing I decided to sign up and see what happened as I needed a half today to make Sun level in Half Fanatics this spring. Unfortunately for I believe the first time ever they decided to be strict with the time cutoffs and I did not get a finishing time so it looks like I won’t make Sun level until the summer. I’m going to try to leave my review as unbiased as possible as it is fair to not give finishing times as there is a stated time limit but it still was not a very good race. Pre-race communication from this company is okay. Most of the updates are on the website but all the info is there. This race started and finished at a school in Gloucester and parking was easy. Bib pick-up is the day of the race and included shirt, tot and hat. It is solid swag though the quality of everything is average. This race is an out and back. There is no corrals but it is just a few hundred runners. I hung out near the back since I knew I would be slow due to some health issues during the week (don’t worry I am fine. It was a transient allergic thing but I was only able to speed walk this weekend). This course is an out and back. Yukan races are not always the most well marked but this was so easy to follow that it didn’t matter. The course had some waterfront and New England views and was pleasant though the race I did with them over the summer (triple threat half) had better views. It was very, very hilly. Nearly 1000 feet of elevation gain. Mostly rollers though. It was just constant up and downs. My biggest issue with the course was it was on open roads. They were very, very busy and there was a narrow shoulder to run on. At one point I almost got hit by a truck. It was also odd we were running with traffic so you couldn’t look for cars coming at you. One runner who had a similar pace to me decided to cross the street and run on a sidewalk against traffic but a race official forced her to go back running on a narrow shoulder with traffic. It was not very safe especially as it was a bit rainy and Massachusetts isn’t really known for having the kindest drivers. The rest of production was fine with an adequate number of aid stations. There could have been a few more porta potties on course but there were a few. As I made my way to the finish line I was disappointed to see the timing mat was removed. My actual finish time was good for my health issues and the hills. One of the timers said they could give a manual time but it has not been updated and I contacted the race and have not heard anything so I am not keeping up hope. I think they just said that so I wouldn’t leave angry. They did give me a medal which is fine. I really wish New England races wouldn’t have such strict time limits especially races on open courses. There are multiple of these Yukan Races and while they aren’t my favorite they are very convenient. I just got my schedule for the summer and fall and if Yukan wasn’t strict with the time limit I would have signed up for 3-4 of their races but instead I choose to travel farther for races with longer time limits. Overall I do not really recommend this race or Yukan Races. As they are now strict with time limits do NOT sign up if you are a 50 stater who may be over 3 hours. If you are a local who needs a convenient race and can run under 3 hours, these will do but I still wouldn’t highly recommend them.
Care Packages at Carderock
Early Bird Sees the Deer
Care Packages at Carderock
This is a race in Maryland produced by Bishop's Events a company that produces a lot of smaller, laid back races in MD, VA and DC. I've discovered them during … MORE
This is a race in Maryland produced by Bishop’s Events a company that produces a lot of smaller, laid back races in MD, VA and DC. I’ve discovered them during the pandemic and continue to support them when I am in the area as they are a very friendly, charity focused company. There races are generally a bit bare bones but with solid production and often on beautiful trails. The races in Potomac, MD are the prettiest. I actually had plans to be in Baltimore this weekend so this race worked perfectly. Potomac is closer to DC than Baltimore so it was about a 50 minute drive but not too bad. There was limited pre-race emails but the website is very updated. Once thing I love is they have the GPS coordinates for where to park so it is easy to find the race. The half has a 3:15 time limit but this is a back of the pack friendly race company so you can request an early start and it is generally granted as long as you ask about 2-3 weeks before the race. I was hoping I wouldn’t need the early start but completing 4-5 half marathons a month to get to Sun level in Half fanatics does not leave enough time for recovery or speedwork to get faster and I’ve been stuck around 3:20 so I requested it. It was very easy and I received a reply shortly after my request. I arrived at the race a little before 7. Picked up my swag, brought it back to my care and then did the early start. Bishop’s events swag keeps getting better. The shirt is a solid tech shirt. The early start is a bit anti-climatic but there were a couple other runners with me. The course is an out and back on the towpath. This a different part of the path in Potomac than the course I did at Fallen Soldiers but still extremely scenic. Shortly after I started I saw a bunch of deer. I don’t think the regular starters saw them so sometimes it pays to be slow. The course is easy on non-technical trail but there is the occasional loose rock to watch out for. Weather was absolutely perfect today. The course is gorgeous and there is always lots of wildlife. Along with the deer, there were turtles and lots of cool birds. There were also beautiful wildflowers. It is a very pleasant course to run on but as this was a small race with about 50 participants I was by myself a lot. Production as I said is a bit bare bones but adequate. There were 4 aid stations you past twice. One with just water and one with water and gatorade. There is no nutrition or porta potties on course though there are plenty of trees. There were well marked, accurate turn arounds for the 5K, 10K, and half. At the end you get your medal. The medal is a bit smaller than average for a half marathon medal but I loved the Easter egg design they used this year. It also has the race name, date and distance on the back. Timing was very accurate as it is chipped time and my results were available immediately and were correct accounting for the early start. There were some basic snacks like oreos and goldfish at the end. Overall this is a very nice event on a beautiful course. It does not have the crowd support or energy of the Baltimore Running Festival another race I did for MD but also does not have the hills and has better scenery. If you like smaller, scenic races I would recommend doing one of the Bishop’s Events in Potomac for MD. Although if you like the higher energy and large crowds I’d recommend Baltimore Running Festival.
Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon
Love the Love Run
Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon
I enjoy visiting Philadelphia and enjoy larger, urban races so this one was on my bucket list. I decided to do it this year but two reasons. The first is … MORE
I enjoy visiting Philadelphia and enjoy larger, urban races so this one was on my bucket list. I decided to do it this year but two reasons. The first is I was looking for a double half weekend and this worked perfect with First State Half in Delaware and the second is the Bruins were playing the Flyers in the afternoon on Saturday. There is no race day packet pick-up but luckily there is the option to pay to have your packet mailed before hand as I could not go to packet pick-up and the game. However if I was not going to the hockey game there would be plenty of time to get my packet on Saturday after the race in Delaware. There was good pre-race communication and a helpful athlete guide. One thing I appreciated is they communicated when the packets were mail, when to expect it and what to do if you didn’t receive it leaving out a lot of the stress of worrying if it gets lost in the mail. It came on time and included a nice polyblend shirt with a cool design. I heard they ran small in other reviews so I got a size up and it fits well maybe a bit big which is better than tight. I stayed outside the city to make driving to Delaware easier but was about a 15 to 20 minute drive from the start. They did give directions for where you can park but as I know maneuvering around Philly the morning of a big race can be a pain I just took an uber to and from the race. This was less stressful but it was a chilly morning so it’d have been nice to have a warm car to wait in. The race starts and finishes near the Rocky stairs in the same area ever race I’ve done in Philadelphia starts and finishes. The race area was set up nice and porta potty lines were shorter than usual for a race this size. There was close to 10000 runners between the half and 7K. The only issue is I wish there was someplace warm. Weather was at least sunny and much better than yesterday but there was some wind and it was about 10 degrees colder. There is a big start corral and you are assigned waves by predicted times. It takes about 30 minutes for everyone to be through so it’s not too tight with so many runners. The first approximately 4 miles are through the city and pass a lot of landmarks including the LOVE sign. I liked that this varied and was not just the river path the other two races I did in Philly were. The 7K shares this part and honestly all the best parts were shared with the 7K so if you aren’t a crazy half fanatic this a race where you won’t be missing out much doing the shorter distance. Then at around the 4.5 mile mark the half go on the typical river path whereas the 7Kers go to the finish line. The next section is similar to the Hot Chocolate 15K and Rocky Run course I have done. It is not as iconic or urban but it is pleasant. Well that is until the end where there are some big hills. The course is overall relatively easy and I’d say a bit below average for a half but all the hills are in the later miles which is the worst place for them. Oh well I wasn’t really looking to PR today. The race is very well organized and there were lots of aid stations with water, Nuun and a few had Gu. It was very well marked and streets were closed. There were a good amount of spectators though it wasn’t like Richmond or OKC where there were spectators everywhere. This course has a stated time limit of 3:30 though they don’t seem strict at all. On the out and back section of the river path there was a sweeper behind the last participants who were definitely walking at a slower pace than needed to make 3:30 and I saw the aid stations didn’t get shut down until they passed and there were finishing times slightly over 4:00 so this seemed very back of the pack friendly. There were a good number of back of the packets. However I did notice there weren’t quite as many back of the packers as some similar urban races with a 4 hour time limit such as Pasadena or Memphis St Jude so it wasn’t quite a party at the back vibe. My finishing time was okay. I just wanted to be under 3:30 which I was. There is an announcer at the finish line and the medal is really nice. I did think the finish line could be set up a little better and it’s my only production complaint. I didn’t see water bottles. I had a handheld one so didn’t really look. There was a tent with food. The food was an interesting assortment of snacks and I can’t say was my favorite snack bag but almost all of it was vegan. There were also some food trucks including a Monster Energy Drink Truck which I needed for my long drive home. Half marathoners also got a mug which you could pick up after the race. Overall I thought this was a very good race and probably my favorite half I’ve done in PA although I also really loved Gettysburg. If you like larger, urban races this is definitely a great choice for PA. I’d consider doing it again though I think I will be even colder in Antarctica next year
First State Half Marathon
Rain, rain go away!
First State Half Marathon
As you have probably read in other reviews, the weather for this race was awful and may have affect some of the race experience but I will try to be … MORE
As you have probably read in other reviews, the weather for this race was awful and may have affect some of the race experience but I will try to be as unbiased as possible. I decided to do this race as it worked out perfectly with the Love Run Philadelphia Half which I have wanted to do. This race is about 35-45 minutes outside of Philadelphia so you can’t find a more convenient two state double. I already had both states but I’m trying to get to Sun Level in Half Fanatics and need a few double half weekends to get there. There was very good pre-race communication with the right amount of emails with all the important information. Race headquarters is at a bar/restaurant called Deer Park Headquarters and that is where parking, packet pick-up and the after party are. The start line is a few blocks away and I appreciated they email and had on their website a map to get from the tavern to the start/finish line after getting lost last week. I also appreciated race day packet pick-up at no additional fee as I drove in pretty late last night. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express by the Philadelphia airport. It is just outside of Philadelphia on the way to Delaware and a very convenient location for this double and has very easy parking. The weather was not good. It was basically a downpour all morning. This was not the light to occasionally moderate rain in Richmond 2 weeks ago but a continuous downpour. There was nothing unsafe about the weather and luckily it was a nice running temperature in the mid 40’s so the race was held. Parking was easy either at the tavern or a parking garage across the street. I got my packet which included a neon yellow, tech long sleeved shirt (which tbh is a bit bright for me), a visor which was very useful in the rain and a drawstring bag. I spent most of the prerace in my warm car and walked over last minute. There were only around 200 participants. Typically there is more but I think about half the participants decided to skip because of the weather. The start/finish are the same and are at University of Delaware. There was a corral area but no waves. They did tell people to line up by pace. I knew I’d be slow in the rain and since the race has a 3:30 time limits expected to be near the end. The race was very well organized. It was well-marked and roads were mostly closed or had a large area coned off so it felt safe and there weren’t cars splashing you with water. There were 5 aid stations that had water, electrolytes and fruit snacks. There were not gels though. I was fine with fruit snacks but if you need something like GU you should bring it. It is an out and back course. The course seemed fairly nice starting at campus, then going through neighborhoods with about a mile on a rail trail early on in the race. Nothing spectacular but a pleasant run. it was hard to enjoy anything with the rain. The course was fairly average in difficult with some moderate hills in the middle. The hills were well placed where the start and finish were flatter. There were not a lot of spectators. Not sure if this was due to the rain or usual for the race but the volunteers were very helpful and cheerful. There were also not many back of the packers. Again not sure if the race made the slower runners and walkers who were going to be 3+ hours less likely to come or if this is usual. It made the race a but lonely and I would have liked to have commiserated with someone about the rain but I had no issues being in the back. There was a sweeper who was supposed to maintain a pace of 3:30 but as everyone was at a faster pace she followed a bit behind the last runner which was me for a lot of the race. The sweeper never forced me to go faster or interfered with my race. She just let the volunteers know they could close the aid station when she passed them. I have no idea if the race is strict with the 3:30 time limit or not since everyone was faster. According to the FAQ it sounds like you will get a finishing time but may not have course support if you fall behind the pace. I did manage to pass a few people the last mile so I was not last. The finish line was a bit subdued due to the rain but there were race staff and volunteers handing out the medal and water bottles. The medal is nice size and has glitter but the design is a bit plain. After there is a great (and luckily indoor) party at Deer Park Tavern. I had plans to go to a hockey game in Philadelphia so only stayed a few minutes. They had a buffet lunch. I would have preferred more vegan or plant-based options but they did have vegetarian Mac N Cheese which was delicious and held me over until the game. Overall this was a very solid race. It likely would have been even nice with better weather and more participants and spectators. I wouldn’t call it a must run but it’s a convenient choice for Delaware and works great as a double with the Love Run.
Bataan Memorial Death March 🏆
Unique, Meaningful March in the Desert
Bataan Memorial Death March 🏆
I want to start by saying this was one of the most meaningful and unique races I have participated in. Therefore I feel a little bad giving it 4 sneakers … MORE
I want to start by saying this was one of the most meaningful and unique races I have participated in. Therefore I feel a little bad giving it 4 sneakers since it is such a wonderful event but there were multiple small production aspects that could have been done better and if fixed this would easily be 5 sneakers. This race serves as a memorial to those in the Bataan Death March and you can meet the few survivors left at the event. The race takes place in White Sands Missile Range which is a super cool, historical and scenic area for a race. It is near Las Cruces, NM which is the closest place for lodging. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express there. It is not the easiest or cheapest place to get to. The closest airport is El Paso which is about an hour away but flights from Boston to El Paso were over $1000 so I ended up flying in and out of Albuquerque which is about 3.5 hours away. It’s a very scenic and beautiful drive through the desert though. I thought pre-race communication could have been better. The website was missing some information about parking and the course map. Some of this was sent in an email and some on social media but there wasn’t one email, website, athlete guide or anything that had all the info. You are required to get your packet the day before the race. It sounds like there were some travel issues probably related to high winds the day before the race so they made an exception this year to get it race day. I however had no travel issues and made it to packet pick-up. Packet pick-up was on the missile range and there was a bit of an expo and also some history exhibits and merch to purchase. Packet included bib and a shirt. It is a fine, average polyblend shirt. I liked that they had a scanning area to make sure your chip worked. They also gave a map of the course and the parking area. One thing I really wish is there were better race day morning directions. It just gave directions to the base and said volunteers will point where to go. This worked fine for parking but I ended up not knowing where I parked as I just followed directions in the dark which led to issues after the race. I’d prefer a physical address to put in my GPS or the address for the various parking lots to make it easier to trouble shoot if you don’t remember where you parked. The start was about a 5 minute walk. I went to the porta potties about an hour before the race started and there were no lines but there were long lines soon after. There is a 20 minute opening ceremony at 6:30 and the race starts around 7am. The race actually started a bit early this year. One other critique is how the corrals were designed. This race has both a marathon option and the 14.2 mile honorary march option. I chose the shorter option. However the marathon option has multiple division including civilian and military and lightweight and heavy weight. The heavy weight division carries a 35 lb ruck sack. The corrals go marathon runners, light weight marathoners, heavy weight marathoners and then honorary march. While it was very impressive to watch the marathoners with their ruck sucks, it was very hard to maneuver around them doing the honorary march. I think the honorary march should go after the lightweights. As a result I pretty much walked the entirety of the first 8 miles that are shared with the marathon. How the course works is there is a lower and upper loop. The honorary marchers do the lower loop and the marathoners split off at mile 8 and do the upper loop and then rejoin around mile 20. Even if it was slow going there was beautiful desert scenery and great camaraderie while I walked the first 8 miles. The course was well marked this year. The first about mile is road and the rest trail. Most not technical at all until a little after mile 8. I had trail shoes mostly because I didn’t want to get my road shoes all dusty but they weren’t necessary. The production on course was pretty good. There were not enough porta potties though and aid stations were quite crowded. With everyone walking a similar pace the race was not as spread out making the aid stations more jammed packed than usual. I think everyone did the best they could. It was much better than the aid stations at Disneyland the last race I did that was this jammed pack like this. Aid stations had water and gatorade and some had fruit as well. At mile 8 you diverge from the marchers and it is a different vibe. There are enough honorary marches and marathon runners than you aren’t alone but its much more spread out. I was hoping to be able to run a bit here but soon after mile 8 there is the sand pit. It honestly wasn’t that bad but it was about 1 mile of looser sand so it was hard to run in but not necessarily hard to walk in. I managed to sort of run the last few miles of the race but it was a pretty slow pace as the marching and sand pit tired me out. Other than the sand pit I thought this was a pretty easy course and would be a good “intro” to trail running course. The full marathon has a steeper climb and this is definitely not easy for those doing the full in the heavyweight division. There is a really long time limit and it is very, very, very walker friendly. In fact most people walk. I was in the top 150 out of over 600 honorary marchers with my slow, mostly walking pace. The finish line was nice and this year they did have finisher medals. The medal is fine. It is average for a medal for a longer race although I don’t think a gaudy, huge medal would be appropriate for a race like this. I enjoyed the race a lot but then had a lot of issues after the race. The first is I was starving. I read the prior reviews of veggie burgers so thought I’d have no problem with food. However there was no free food just food trucks. Being one of the first finishers (which is such a weird position for me) the food trucks were setting up and some weren’t open. Also there were very limited vegetarian options. I had plans back in Albuquerque at 5 and waited in a couple lines and ended up with no food. I was so hungry. There should be some free food. At least granola bars or fruit. The food trucks also should be prepared for earlier runners especially if there is not free food at the end. The finish is about 1/2 mile away from the parking lots and there is a shuttle. The shuttle was efficient but I realized I had no idea what parking lot I was in. I got off at the wrong one and took a wrong turn and it took me about 20 minutes to find my car. Again some of this was on me but I do think having clearer parking instructions may have prevented this. Another issue was the main gate was closed and I got lost getting off base. If this was a planned closure I think some better instructions for leaving base would be helpful. I did manage to make it to Albuquerque in time for my plans but I was very rushed and didn’t get to shower right after the race. Overall I thought this was a very meaningful event and has the potential to be a top-tier race but there were a few issues with communication and post-race that prevented me from giving it a perfect score. I would still 100% recommend this race as it is such as unique experience.
St. Patty’s 5K & 10K
Another Good Millennium Race
St. Patty’s 5K & 10K
This is a 5K or 10K race produced by Millennium Running. The location was in Portsmouth, NH so the location moved from when this was first added to Race Raves. … MORE
This is a 5K or 10K race produced by Millennium Running. The location was in Portsmouth, NH so the location moved from when this was first added to Race Raves. Portsmouth is over by the seacoast. I was initially going to do the 10K but I made plans with my mom in Portsmouth right after the race so we decided to walk the 5K together. It was easy to change distance on the registration website. There is race day packet pick-up or you can get it before at the store. We did it race day. There was easy parking. It was rainy overnight with flood warnings so I think some people may have decided to skip the race but the weather was actually very nice and parking was so easy but I’m not sure it would be as easy if everyone showed up. Packet pick-up was easy and you are assigned a number beforehand. Along with bib you get a green polyblend shirt that is a nice shirt for a 5K. Race very well organized as expected from Millennium Running. The roads weren’t completely closed but there was a lane closed off with plenty of space. The course is a loop and 10Kers do it twice. The course though is really boring. It is all in a business park area. No scenic beach scenes but it’s relatively flat and there’s a lot of participants many in green making it fun. There is an aid station in the middle and one near the start for 10Kers with water. Finish line is set up well and all the runners are cheered on and announced when they finish. My mom liked that with the 10Kers doing 2 laps we were finishing with other people and not one of the last finishers. There is no medal which is pretty standard for shorter races in NH. There was a nice selection of snacks. I really like the dairy-free smoothies from Stonyfield which is a yogurt company based out of NH. Overall this was a nice race and a fun event but was not scenic. As it is close by and there are lots of challenges and incentives to do as many Millennium Races as possible I would do it again if I were in town but not necessarily plan around the race.
Virginia Credit Union River City Half and 5K 🏆
Rainy, Well-Produced Inaugural Race
Virginia Credit Union River City Half and 5K 🏆
This was the inaugural year for this race which is located in Richmond, VA. However it is produced by the same race company who produces the Richmond Marathon and they … MORE
This was the inaugural year for this race which is located in Richmond, VA. However it is produced by the same race company who produces the Richmond Marathon and they clearly know what they are doing as you could not tell this was an inaugural race. I am trying to get to Sun Level in Half Fanatics and needed a half marathon this weekend specifically on Saturday. There was none in driving distance but this one was the easiest to fly to. I had my packet mailed as I was flying in Friday evening but they did offer race day packet pick-up. However with how the course was set up it is much easier to have your packet before the race. I received my packet a couple weeks before the race. It included a tech shirt which was a nice design but was white which isn’t my favorite color for shirts. There was good pre-race communication with the right amount of emails and updates. I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express that was about a 5-10 minute drive away. There were no hotels in walking distance so I did rent a car. The race starts at the University of Richmond campus. The start and finish are about 1/2 mile apart and there is parking either by the start or finish. Race day packet pick-up is at the start so if you are doing race day packet pick-up you should park at the start. If you have your bib parking at the finish is easier which is what I did. I liked how well marked it was with directions how to get to start line. There was a student center on the way to the start line that was open, warm and had clean bathrooms if you want to avoid the porta potty line. The start was well organized. They limited the race to 2000 participants since it was inaugural. There was a little over 1500 participants. It was a rainy morning so I assume some people didn’t show up. I feel bad there was bad weather because the race was otherwise really good. The temperature was nice for running there was never a downpour but it was not the best weather. The start corrals had signs where to line up by pace which people seemed to do well. The course is a loop along the river and neighborhoods by the river and campus. It is a much different course than the Richmond course which starts downtown and is more urban. This course is more quiet and suburban but had some beautiful views of the river and went though pretty suburban neighborhoods. It would be lovely if the weather cooperated. The race was very well organized. The roads were all closed and there were a good amount of aid stations. The first couple just had water but the later ones had Nuun. The middle one had this energy bars called Xact energy bars which were these soft, gummy chews. They tasted delicious. I might buy some as they were less messy than gels and softer the the usually Clif Blok type chews they usually give. Course was very well marked. Due to the rain there wasn’t much spectator support but I appreciated the few, very cheerful people who were out. The course however was quite hilly. I expected a flat course when I signed up as the Richmond Half in November is flat. Luckily I read the elevation profile a few days before the race and saw it was actually hilly. About 600 feet of elevation gain. Not crazy but a bit above average for difficulty. There is a really mean hill in the middle but it leads to the best views of the river. My finishing time was fine for the conditions and hills. The finish are was set up nice and I think would be very fun in good weather. The medal was fine. It would say it was average. It had a design featuring the river which was a nice touch. You also got a tot bag. There were typical post race foods like granola bars, chips and apples along with pizza. There were plenty of pizza even near the back. The race has a 3:30 time limit but there are a few checkpoints you have to make and the pace needed to make them was more like 16-17 minute/miles so it’s more of a 3:45 time limit. I was never in danger of not making the time limit but was finishing close to the time limit and had no issues. Overall I thought this was a very good race and went off very smooth for an inaugural race. I’m not sure it was special enough for me to fly to again unless I need a race this weekend to need a milestone but I would definitely recommend it to locals. While this race was good, it did not have the energy or spectator support of Richmond (which is the same race company) or Shamrock (which is a different company) which would be my top choices for a Virginia half for 50 staters but this is not a bad option if it fits better in your schedule.
4 Leaf Rover 4 Mile Road Race
Nice Swag and Theme but Bad Course
4 Leaf Rover 4 Mile Road Race
I was on call this weekend but didn't need to go into work so I decided to see what the closest race to me was on Sunday that still had … MORE
I was on call this weekend but didn’t need to go into work so I decided to see what the closest race to me was on Sunday that still had registration open and found this one. It is located in Lawrence MA which is right by the NH border and about a 15 minute drive for me. As I signed up last minute I did not do early packet pick-up. The races starts at an Italian Restaurant which is a great place for the post-race party. There is parking by the restaurant and also easy street parking nearby. It is part of a 3 week series of St Patrick day themed races in neighboring towns in Northern MA. I only did this race. Packet pick-up was easy and you got a nice long sleeved shirt. This is a fairly large race with 600 participants. The race was pretty well organized. It was chip timed at the start and finish. The course was a loop around Lawrence. It was pretty flat with just a few minor inclines going over the river but nothing that was much of a hill. It was not a scenic course at all. It also was kind of an annoying course as some of it went through busy streets and you had to go on the sidewalk. There were lots of course marshals and it was well-marked and there was an aid station with water at the half way point. There were lots of back of packers so it was fun despite the lack of scenery. At the finish line you get a medal and bottle of water. The medal is nice for a shorter race. I find New England races don’t often given medals for shorter races so I appreciated getting one. There was a very nice post race party in the restaurant with salad, bread and pasta. The pasta was all vegetarian. One was just marinara sauce and another had cheese. I think the marinara one was vegan but I didn’t confirm. Overall I thought the race had great swag and post-race party for a short race, good production but not a great course. As I live only 15 minutes away, I would do this race again if I were in town but wouldn’t plan around it.
NYCRUNS Central Park Half Marathon & 5K
Loops in Central Park
NYCRUNS Central Park Half Marathon & 5K
This is a half marathon produced by NYCRUNS that takes place in Central Park at the end of February. It is almost exactly the same as the Big Apple Half … MORE
This is a half marathon produced by NYCRUNS that takes place in Central Park at the end of February. It is almost exactly the same as the Big Apple Half in December but it’s my first time doing this specific race. There is pretty good pre race communication. I do sometimes find I need to search for specific details on NYCRUNS website a little more than I do for other race websites but I was able to find all the information I needed. I stayed in Times Square which is a convenient central location for NYC and a quick 15 minute train ride to the start. They mail the bib before if you sign up over 30 days in advance which makes race morning easy. I just got up and took the train to the upper west side where it starts. The half starts a little late at 9am. This would be good for a cold day but it was pretty nice weather today so the park does get crowded by the end of the race. While it was nice running weather it was a bit chilly to hang out before the race so I went to a Whole Foods a few blocks away and got a light breakfast and used their bathroom. Race start was pretty smooth but I do not like how NYCRUNS does there corrals which is just one big corrals that has just an entrance from the back. I knew I would be slow given my ankle is still recovering from the injury in Austin so I hung outside the back of the corral. The course is 3 loops around Central park it ends on the upper east side so the top part of the loop you only do twice which is appreciated as that part has Harlem Hill which is the worst hill in Central Park. Running in Central Park is fine. There are nice views of the park and some landmarks but it gets repetitive if you’ve done it enough. It’s also quite hilly though nothing crazy except Harlem Hill. It helps that I know all the hills by now. There were 3 aid stations, two you passed 3 times and one you passed twice which was plenty. They had water and electrolyte. They did not have nutrition so I’m glad I had the light breakfast. There are some spectators though not a ton of support. I find these Central Park loops not the most fun for being in the back of the pack as you spend most of your second loop being passed by people and the third loop there is so much tourist interference but not much can be done about this. Also the aid station and finish line was starting to be packed up. Everything was there and there was adequate aid and support for back of the pack but more volunteers were focused on clean up than cheering. Same with the finish line. There were a few people with medals, etc but a lot were cleaning. My finish time was okay. This was the first time I ran since I injured by ankle in Austin (I was registered for a 4 mile race on Saturday but given a combination of my ankle injury and my train arriving 45 minutes late on Friday and not going to bed until 1am I skipped it) so O didn’t push myself and just wanted to finish under 3:30 which is the stated time limit. They are not strict with the time limit so don’t worry if you might be a few minutes over. The medal was a nice snowflake design that sparkles. The post race food was bagels and apples although they ran out of cream cheese. You can get the shirt at the end. The shirt is nice quality but the design is a little bold. I still prefer taking a risk with the design so liked the over the top colorful shirt. I think NYCRUNS has pretty good swag. If you compare the 2 big race companies in NYC which are NYRR and NYRUNS, I find NYRR’s production better but NYCRUNS swag better. Overall this is a fine race. I get kind of sick of Central Park loops but there aren’t many other options for half marathons in the North East in the winter. I would definitely return given the limited options and recommend this race for people who live relatively close by. It would not be my first choice for 50 staters given it’s just loops but if you really want to run a race in NYC and not have to enter through lottery and want to visit at a cheap time for traveling this is not a bad options.
Austin Marathon & Half Marathon
Great City but Expensive Race
Austin Marathon & Half Marathon
I get President's day off at my new job I started last summer so I had a 3 day weekend and wanted to find a half marathon in a city … MORE
I get President’s day off at my new job I started last summer so I had a 3 day weekend and wanted to find a half marathon in a city that would be fun to visit for 3 days. Austin is one of my favorite cities and definitely my favorite city in Texas and flights to Austin were reasonably priced for a Holiday weekend so I decided to do this race. However this race isn’t exactly reasonably priced. I wouldn’t call the price outrageous but I signed up several months in advance and it was $140 which was the second most I paid for a half in the past year (the most being Disneyland). This was a very good half but for the price I’d expect something a bit more special such as running through Disneyland or running through Times Square. I believe the price is likely due to Austin being an expensive city to shut down roads and hold a race. So if you really want to race in Austin expect to pay a bit more than you would for races in other cities. The race is on Sunday and I flew in Saturday morning. You need to pick up your packet either Friday or Saturday. The packet pick-up is about 1 mile from downtown Austin where the race starts and hotels are. I didn’t feel like renting a care so what I did was I packed lightly and took a cab directly to the expo and then walked to my hotel. The expo was very large but also very crowded. Packet pick-up was pretty efficient as you were assigned a number and there were lines by number. Packet was in a nice bag with the bib, a hat, and a lot of actually useful samples like Gu and small travel sized sunscreen and lotion. I liked getting some extra swag that I would actually use. The race shirt is a short sleeved tech shirt. It is okay. It’s not my favorite but I’ll probably still wear it. There were a lot of booths and one had samples of vegan chocolate. It was a bit too cramped and crowded for me to want to stay too long though. For the hotel I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. It was about half a mile from the start. The only issue with the hotel I didn’t really think about is it was the opposite direction from the start as the expo so it was about a 1.5 mile walk to the hotel from the expo. Austin is a very walker friendly city with lots of cool shops, museums, restaurants, and music venues you can walk to from downtown. The only issue is I spent a lot of time on foot and twisted my ankle accidentally stepping in a pothole Saturday. I have bad injury luck in Texas. I was limping the rest of the day on Saturday and nervous I may not be able to complete the race. Sunday I got up and my ankle hurt a bit. I wasn’t limping and could walk okay but I couldn’t run. There is a 4 hour time limit so I decided to walk the race. Race morning had beautiful weather for a New Englander used to running in the cold but was a bit cold for Texas. This a a very large race with probably close to 10,000 people between the half and full. The start was a bit chaotic but not more so than most races this size. The porta potty lines were a bit long but when aren’t they? I do think the start corral could have been a bit more organized. They had signs to line up for the fast paces but not the slow paces so the back was a mix of everything from 12 min milers to 18 min milers. This is a very back of the pack friendly race so there were a lot of us walking which was great for me but we could have been spread out a little better. They set us off in waves. The good thing about the race is it was mostly on completely closed roads so there was a ton of running room so despite the mixed paces it was easy to navigate around people. The rest of the race was extremely well organized. It was really easy to follow and as I said all on closed roads. There was a ton of volunteer and police support. This had excellent and frequent aid stations. The half and the full only share the first 12.5 miles of the race. I was a bit worried support may not be great in the back since there would not be marathoners sharing the aid stations but the support was excellent. There was also plenty of water and electrolyte drink. At mile 9 there were Gu and energy blocks and there was so much left they were giving us walkers multiple packets. It did make me appreciate that with the higher price tag they did over buy things to make sure everyone got what they needed. There were also a lot of musical acts which is great since Austin is such as music city. In terms of spectator support I’d say it was average for a big city race. There were a good number of spectators but it was not one of those races like Oklahoma City or Richmond where there are spectators everywhere but also not like Atlanta where there were almost none. While I though the race organization was great, I didn’t love the course. Other than the start and end in downtown I thought it was kind of boring. They seemed to choose streets most convenient to shut down and not the most interesting to run through. A lot of it was pretty generic and not necessarily representative of Austin. It wasn’t awful scenery and there was a mix of neighborhoods, business areas, park areas to change it up but again for the price tag I’d want a little more special scenery. The course is also quite hilly. It’s not crazy hills like Vermont but definitely hillier than average. My Garmin had between 600-700 feet of elevation gain. The worst hill is around mile 12 though it’s not a crazy hill. It’s also net uphill the first 3 miles. It was more constant hills than particularly difficult hills. My finishing time was obviously slow since I had to walk but I actually thought it was pretty good for completing the race with a messed up ankle. I did like that you ran right by the state house when you finish. The finish area was set up well as there was a divide between the half and the full so you weren’t in the way of the faster marathoners and no one would get confused and give you the wrong swag. The medal is fantastic. It’s one of my best medals. It’s a belt buckle medal and has all these details specific to Austin and Texas so it is a great medal for 50 staters. You also got a water bottle and bag of snacks. It was in a reusable bag with the race logo and had pretzels, a granola bar and fruit leather. There were also food trucks if you wanted to purchase something more substantial. Overall I thought this was a very good race with great organization and medal but it was only an okay course. I’m not sure it fully lived up to it’s expensive price tag but I would recommend this race if you want to visit Austin as part of your 50 state journey and would do this race again as I love to visit Austin. However if you want to get Texas done as quickly and cheaply as possible where you get the most bang for your buck this is not the race to do.
Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
The Weather is Always Bananas
Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
This was the third time I've done this race. It is located in Melbourne on the space coast about an hour from Orlando. I typically combine it with a trip … MORE
This was the third time I’ve done this race. It is located in Melbourne on the space coast about an hour from Orlando. I typically combine it with a trip to Disney World but this year combined it with another race. It is sponsored by Publix and there is always a fun produce theme with great medals which is one reason why I keep coming back along with the convenient location for winter trip. This year the theme was Bananas. I actually arrived early enough to make the expo for the first time I’ve done this race. It was a small expo but some of the booths had interesting things and since you can’t park right at the start it definitely made race morning easier getting the packet the day before. But there is race day packet pick-up if you want to go to Disney World on Saturday. The packet included the bib, a hat and some coupons. One disappointing thing is you have to pay extra for the race shirt but I suppose that is better than raising the price of the race. I again stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and parked in the same garage. They were charging $10 this year. Try to bring a $10 bill as it took forever to get change for a $20. It was easy to have my bib so I could just walk to the start instead of walking back and forth. Again I used the Wawa nearby for it’s restroom and skipped the porta potty lines which are always a huge mess. Everything goes smoothly except the porta potty lines. The start is well organized and they are pace groups for up to 3 hours. It is a nice sized race with a few hundred runners each distance. I tried to stay with the 3 hour pace group but as my title states the weather was not great. This was actually by far the best weather I’ve had for this race but it was really hot and humid and I was not making under 3 hours. The course is really nice. It is essentially a loop and almost all of it has waterfront views. It is flat except two bridges which are rather steep. The race starts very early so there weren’t many spectators the first half but there were a lot later in the second half. Aid stations were great and they seemed to have more electrolyte and nutrition options than previous years. The finish line was also more decorated than last year. My finishing time was as expected for the weather. At least there was no thunderstorms or large winds this year. There is a double loop marathon so there is an extremely long time limit for the half making this very back of the pack friendly. The medal is great as always. It is big and has a spinning banana. There is pretty good post race food. Based on prior reviews I think it was better pre-covid but they had typical foods, some donuts and cheese pizza enough to fill me up until I could reach the Orlando airport as my flight left in the early afternoon. Overall this is a very good, almost great race. It is a very convenient race to get to and works well with a visit to Disney World and after doing the Disneyland half I’d rather visit the park and do a cheaper, smaller non-Disney race like this so I’m sure I will do it again. I’d recommend this race for Florida if you want a mid-sized, waterfront race near Orlando.
Ave Maria Marathon
Not Everglades but still saw a Gator
Ave Maria Marathon
I was initially registered to do the Everglades Half with Vacation Races this weekend. However it got canceled a couple months in advance. I am trying to reach Sun Level … MORE
I was initially registered to do the Everglades Half with Vacation Races this weekend. However it got canceled a couple months in advance. I am trying to reach Sun Level in Half Fanatics so wanted to find a replacement race but did not want to change my travel plans so I looked for the next closest half marathon to Miami and I found this one. This race is located in a small town called Ave Maria outside Naples. I flew into Miami but there is probably a closer airport. I just didn’t feel like changing my flight and rental car. It was about a 2 hour drive from Miami. I did change my hotel and stayed in Naples. I took Friday off since I was planning to do the Everglades 5K and arrived Friday morning and drove over. Since I was looking forward to seeing some alligators and other swamp animals and vegetation I stopped by the nearby Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary which was close to Ave Maria and it was a nice 2 mile boardwalk where I saw lots of cool animals at a safe distance. I would recommend stopping by if you do this race. I then went to packet pick-up. It was just a booth outside. No other vendors but it was efficient and let me see the lay out of the town. Definitely fine to wait until race day if it works better with your plans. The packet included the bib and a purple, tech shirt. It’s an okay shirt. I’d rate it below average but it was fine for a smaller half marathon. Race day morning was easy as it’s a small race and there was plenty of parking. The marathon and half marathons started at 7am. There were no waves or anything but it was a small race so it didn’t really matter. There were around 70-80 participants in the half and less in the full. The course is a loop through the town with an out and back on a bike trail in the middle in that makes sense. So it’s kind of a lollipop shape but you start at the circle. The first part of the loop is through neighborhoods and golf courses and the scenery is fine. It is mostly on the sidewalk which is okay for a race like this. The bike path is next to a busy street so one side is cars. The other side has some nice swampy scenery and some more industrial buildings so it is a mixed bag. The second part of the loop is also through neighborhoods. Course was for the most part well marked. Though I though a few direction arrows may be nice near the end. There were a lot of crossroads but I correctly assumed on the lack of markings to go straight but I always feel better if I see an arrow pointing me instead of assuming. Otherwise production was good for a smaller race. There were mild markers and sufficient aid stations and porta potties. The volunteers were cheerful but there were limited other spectators. Since it’s a small race for some of the race I was by myself. I was excited I did see an alligator right nearby in a pond while on the bike path since alligators were one reason I wanted to do the Everglades race. This also had by far the best weather of any race I had done in Florida. It was still a bit hotter than ideal and there was a light breeze but as this is more inland there was less wind and also less humidity than the other Florida races I have done. It was also very flat as expected for Florida. My pace was fine. I didn’t push myself too hard since I had another race tomorrow. The race has a stated time limit of 3:30 but they weren’t strict about it since the marathon is a double loop of the half. I was under 3:30. I was aiming for under 3:20 but oops I just missed my goal by 3 seconds taking pictures of the alligator. The finish line had an announcer and you got your medal. The medal has a nice design but it kind of small compared to other half marathon medals. There was expected food like bagels, fruit and granola bars at the end. I liked that they had peanut butter for the bagels. Overall this was a fine race but not really anything spectacular. I typically like a bigger race as I prefer not to be running by myself so much but everything met expectations for me. This is definitely not my first choice for Florida unless you like races with under 100 participants. However I was happy I was able to find this race to replace the Everglades with and I’d recommend it to locals or if you happen to be in the area.
DONNA Marathon Weekend
So Much Support for a Great Cause
DONNA Marathon Weekend
This is a race in Jacksonville Beach that raises money for the Donna Foundation which is a wonderful charity that funds breast cancer research and provides financial support to people … MORE
This is a race in Jacksonville Beach that raises money for the Donna Foundation which is a wonderful charity that funds breast cancer research and provides financial support to people with breast cancer who are in need. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I have quite a few friends who are fighting or affected by breast cancer so this was a race I have wanted to do. I had this weekend off and it was one of the easier options for races to fly to. I had also never been to Jacksonville so thought it’d be good to go somewhere different. I’m really glad I made the trip as I thought this was an excellent race. I don’t know why the rating is so low. While I wouldn’t put this in the absolute top tier of half marathons I’ve done, it was definitely in the top 25% and somewhere between a 4 and a 5 sneaker race. I rounded up because of the charity. I think the lower score may be related to the full marathon being 2 loops but the 1 loop half was excellent. For the race I flew in Saturday morning. One thing a bit annoying as another reviewer pointed out is packet pick-up is nowhere near Jacksonville Beach. Saturday there are shorter races and the expo at Jaguar’s stadium. This is a cool venue for the expo but it is about a 25 minute drive from the beach area. Another downside is the expo closes at 2pm. There is the option for later packet pick-up closer to the start but you need to pay extra. I was initially not going to rent a car but after looking at the logistics I decided to as it would be easier and not cost much more to rent one. My flight arrived on time and everything went smooth but the 2pm end time of the expo made me a bit nervous if my flight were to be delayed. I thought the expo was pretty good for a race this size. It had packet pick-up and lots of booth and running shops though there wasn’t as much merch specific to the race as other expos. Packet pick-up went smoothly and you got a long sleeve tech shirt. It is purple and design is fine. It did run a bit large which I heard a runner complain about. I prefer shirts that run large to shirts that run small so I didn’t mind. You also got a bag with some coupons, samples and smaller items. It was solid swag for a half marathon. For my hotel I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Jacksonville Beach. This hotel is a little over 1/2 mile from the start. It is not right on the beach but it is close and it is the perfect place to stay if you need to leave Sunday after the race as it is close enough to walk but far enough to not be affect by road closures. If you are leaving later than Sunday you may want a closer hotel at the beach. Getting to the start was easy as I just walked there. There is also a shuttle from Jacksonville if you are staying or live in the city and not near the beach. There is a nice athlete village type area. It had gear check and a heated tent which was way too hot for me and lots of porta potties. For the start there are signs to line up by pace and there are lots of pacers doing the Galloway method including at slower paces which is appreciated. There are announcements and the anthem and then the race starts. It went in waves and it spread people out nicely. The only issue is the pace groups were huge and a bit annoying to maneuver around. I wasn’t really looking for a goal pace this race as it has a 7 hour time limit for the half and full so just wanted to go at a comfortable pace so I didn’t use the pacers but had to maneuver around a few. I wish they figured out how to take up less space. Otherwise the race went very smooth. It is a medium sized race with about 2000-3000 for the half and 500 for the full. There are lots of back of packers. The course is almost completely flat. No hills. A few minor inclines and declines. Very fast and easy. Florida weather is never very good but this race had nice weather until the last couple miles where there was a headwind. It did start to downpour a bit after I finished so the marathoners probably felt that. The course was well marked and very easy to follow. It is not the most interesting course in the world and there are very little waterfront views. It is mostly though neighborhoods. However they were very pretty neighborhoods and I loved the tropical vegetation. I could see how this could get boring for 2 loops which is where I think the lower rating came from. However there was so much support that this race was a blast. The whole community was out supporting the race. I think this is the most spectators I’ve seen for a race this small. There were tons of cheer stations and unofficial aid stations. Lots of people handing out food and booze if you drink. Even if the scenery was a bit boring I was never bored. There were also plenty of official aid stations and mile markers. I ended up walking a few miles with a member of one of my running clubs so my actual running time was a bit slower than I expected but the miles I ran by myself were the pace I was aiming for. The finish line is nice and you are cheered on and given your medal. I liked the medal a lot it is a nice stain glassed design and has dolphins and is very “Florida.” There is a nice after party but the post race food was odd. I didn’t see any typical granola bar, fruit, chips anywhere. I had to leave pretty quickly to check out of my hotel so maybe they were there but hard to find. They did have quesadillas and cookies but the ones labeled “veggie” actually had chicken in them so I only ended up eating a cookie for the post race food. I think the mislabeled quesadillas may have been a catering issue and I do think the race intended to have a veggie options so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Luckily I wasn’t that hungry since there were so many snacks on the course. I know not everyone wants a big food item like a quesadilla after a race so I do think having smaller snack items as well (or if they did have them making their location more obvious) would be better. There was also a beer garden and area for massage. I had to leave right away so didn’t hang out too much. Overall I thought this was a very fun, supportive race that raises money for a great cause. There were a few minor things I think could have been done better such as closer and later packet pick-up and better finish line food but it is still a race I would run again and definitely one that I would highly recommend. Of the 3 races I have done in Florida (the other 2 are Publix Florida Half in Melbourne and Miami half), this one is probably the least scenic but had the most spectators and most supportive environment and is definitely a great choice for Florida especially if you are affected by breast cancer or like to run races that support charity.
Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K
One of the Best SoCal Halfs
Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K
I did this race 4 years ago back when I was living in LA as one of my first half marathons. I've been wanting to come back and do it … MORE
I did this race 4 years ago back when I was living in LA as one of my first half marathons. I’ve been wanting to come back and do it again and it worked out with my travel schedule this year. For the race you need to pick up your packet early on Friday or Saturday unless you pay for VIP Hospitality. It is $100 extra for VIP Hospitality but I really wanted to leave for Las Vegas first thing in the morning Friday so sucked it up and paid for it so I could get my packet race day. I drove from Vegas to Pasadena Saturday evening and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Pasadena. For parking there is the option to park at the Rose Bowl or in downtown Pasadena and take a shuttle. I had to leave straight for the airport so I chose to park at the Rose bowl. There is great pre-race communication and they tell you to arrive by 5am to avoid traffic. They are not lying. I woke up at 4:30 and arrived a little after 5am and there was already a bit of traffic though it was generally easy to park that early. However the lots were just about filled by 5:45 and any open spots were very far away from the start. The VIP tent opened at 5:30 and I got there just a bit before 5:30 and lined up and got my packet which included bib and an okay, light blue shirt. Honestly the swag for this race is the only disappointing thing. The swag is fine and probably average for a half marathon but I’d expect more from such a big and expensive race. The organization more than makes up for it though. This race was just a little bit smaller than Disneyland and so much more organized and smoothly run. After I got my swag I brought it back to the car and hung out at the VIP hospitality tent. The hospitality tent is nice but not worth $100 unless you need to do race day pack pick-up or really, really hate being cold and don’t want to park at the rose bowl. It is in a heated tent that was actually warm and there was a nice, spread for breakfast that included bagels and overnight oats/chia pudding and coffee. There was also seperate VIP bathrooms but they were still porta potties. There were shorter lines and they were cleaner than the general porta potties though. For the race there is a big corral and you line up by pace. This race has a 4 hour time limit from the last runner to cross the start line and unlike Disney people did a good job lining up by pace. Race started on time and we went through the corral relatively quick but not too quick. The race was crowded but never so crowded I couldn’t find my pace. Organization is top notch and it was very easy to follow the course. There were mile markers and the aid stations were amazing. These were some of the most efficient aid stations I’ve seen at a race this big which was great compared to Disney. There were lots of great volunteers and spectators on course. The course is nice. It is quite scenic though not as scenic as Red Rock Canyon. It starts at the Rosebowl then it’s a few miles through nice neighborhoods and then most of the race is in Downtown Pasadena. You pass by nice museums, some interesting architecture and Cal Tech. You then go back towards the Rosebowl and there is a section on a freeway overpass with beautiful mountain views. You then finish with the typical 5K around the Rose bowl anyone who has lived near Pasadena knows so well. The course is challenging but doable. There is a big hill around mile 2. The downtown area is mostly flat. There are a few uphills and downhills connecting downtown to the Rose bowl and the first half around the Rose bowl is a gradual uphill which means the last 1.5 miles are a really nice gradual downhill. The finish is amazing at the Rose bowl 50 yard line. My finishing time was okay. My legs were really sore as it was my 4th half marathon in 9 days and I walked and hiked a lot the days in between. The medal is decent. Like the shirt it is average but I’d expect a slightly better medal from a race this size. There was water bottles, fruit and these delicious chipotle barbeque chips immediately at the end. There was additional food and beer outside the stadium and in the VIP hospitality tent but I had to get the airport immediately as soon as I finished so I could not enjoy the post race party. Overall I think this is an excellent race. It is extremely well organized, a fun race environment with a lot of participants and spectators and a really nice, slightly challenging course. This is probably my favorite half marathon in Southern California and I’d 100% recommend it to 50 staters. I’d consider coming back for a third time.
Red Rock Canyon Marathon
Brutal but Beautiful
Red Rock Canyon Marathon
I had done this marathon before and enjoyed it a lot so when I was looking for a half marathon close to LA the Saturday before the Rose Bowl half … MORE
I had done this marathon before and enjoyed it a lot so when I was looking for a half marathon close to LA the Saturday before the Rose Bowl half and saw this one was happening I decided to take a side trip to las Vegas. For the race if you want to stay on the strip you can purchase a bus ticket from the strip if you don’t want to rent a car. However as I obviously had to rent a car with how much I was traveling I just stayed at the Hampton Inn by Red Rock. It is convenient for the race. The full marathon, half marathon and 5K start at different times and locations. There is no parking at the start/finish so you can take a free shuttle from a nearby parking lot or purchase one from the strip. I just parked at the free one which was an 8 minute drive from my hotel. There was only race day packet pick up. I thought the start could be a bit more organized though I get it is difficult with multiple races and multiple starts. For instance some more signage at the start would be nice as everyone went the wrong direction to get the packets but we figured out where to go eventually. It’s a smallish race with a little over 300 half marathoners so packet pick-up was pretty smooth. You got the shirt at the end so you didn’t have to run with it. Weather for the race was nice. it was cooler this year. There was a bit of a drizzle which is surprising for the desert but never full rain. The start was just behind a timing mat and there was no indication where to line up by pace. This could have been done better but since it’s a smaller race it wasn’t a huge deal. This race is really cool because the course is actually in the state park. The half marathon is basically a point to point along the entire scenic drive. It is gorgeous. One of the most beautiful races you will run. There was a coned off area for runners so it was safe even though roads weren’t closed. It is a very tough race with 1400 feet of elevation gain. But the good news is the time limit is super long especially for the half marathon. There is a 7 hour time limit for the full marathon and 6:15 for the half so no worrying about not finishing. The full marathon this year was an out and back along the entire scenic loop. My legs were quite sore since I spent the week in between races walking around Disneyland and hiking and I have a very ambitious half marathon plan so I decided to just walk this one and soak in the scenery. The first 5 miles are mostly uphill and brutal. The good news is the last 8 miles are mostly downhill and less brutal. There were also sufficient aid stations and I was happy there were quite a few back of packers so I was never really alone during the race. My finishing time was obviously quite slow as I pretty much just walked this race but there were still a number of people behind me so this is a great half marathon for walkers. At the finish line you get your medal. The medal and shirt were nice with southwestern designs but they are not distance specific and are quite similar to the swag from 3 years ago. It is still nice swag for a smaller race. There was a lot of food options at the end. No big food options but lots of snacks and a good mix of healthier snacks like trail mix and fruit and less healthy snacks like donuts and candy. The shuttle back was easy though I finished just as one left so I had to wait like 20 minutes. Overall this is one of the most scenic half marathons you can find. I would definitely recommend this race especially if you like smaller, scenic races as long as you don’t mind hills. I would also definitely recommend this for walkers and back of packers. This is a great choice for Nevada if you are more into the beauty of the desert than you are into casinos. I wish the start was a bit more organized but overall I was very happy to come back and do this race again.
Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend
Way Too Crowded
Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend
I used to live in Anaheim right by Disneyland so I have been wanting to do a Disneyland Race if they ever returned. I was initially planning to go to … MORE
I used to live in Anaheim right by Disneyland so I have been wanting to do a Disneyland Race if they ever returned. I was initially planning to go to Maui this weekend but canceled my plans after the devastating fires and decided to visit California and do this race instead. I made this decision in August several months after registration opens. These races sell out fast so I had to get a charity bib. It was pretty easy to find a charity bib for the half marathon but I could not find a bib for the Dumbo Challenge which in retrospect I think was for the best as I was able to run another half on Saturday and 2 Disney races in a row may have been too much for me. I ran for Anaheim Community Foundation. I was happy to raise money for my former community. The charity bib commitment is not too bad. I had to raise $1000 but the entry fee was waived. Since this is an over $200 race, I really had to raise $700-$800. Most charity bibs are in this price range so its not like having to raise money for the Boston Marathon. I flew into LAX on Friday and went to the expo on my drive down to San Diego. The expo is at the Disneyland hotel. They had discount parking for runners and it was like $10. There is a separate area for bib pick-up and the expo. You are assigned a number and bib pick-up was very efficient for a race this large. You also get a really, nice long sleeved tech shirt with a very cute Disney design. It was a light grey color. A bit of a safe color choice but very wearable and comfortable. The expo is obviously huge but it’s kind of an odd expo. They have a lot of things like jewelry and tutus to run in and less practical stuff. I wanted a specific brand of socks and gels but they did not have the brands I wanted. They also have a huge area with merchandise for the race. Some of it was really nice but I already spent enough on the race. One of the perks of Disneyland is the set up is so convenient as it is just in Anaheim and there are a ton of hotels within walking distance. I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express about 1/2 mile from the start and the price was very reasonable for race weekend. The race starts at 5am but this is much easier than Disneyworld from what I heard as I as able to just walk to the start. I woke up at 3:30 and arrived a little after 4am. The start is outside the park and was easy to walk to but look out for road closures when planning your trek over. You are assigned a corral based on predicted time but everyone just puts the fastest time that doesn’t require verification so the middle and later corrals are basically just random. This is very frustrating but I was told about this in advance. If you are not fast enough to qualify for a verified time expect a lot of walkers in front of you. The time limit for the race is a 16 minute/mile pace after the last runner crosses the start line so unless you are in the last corral you likely have close to or even more than 4 hours to finish. I honestly wish they would just have a 4 hour time limit and have people be honest with the corrals because it was a mess. If people were actually in the correct corrals the race would likely be smoother but then less people would get finishing times and less people would be happy with how it is set up. The start was quite festive but I heard from other runners not as festive as Disneyworld. I was assigned corral E which was third to last so I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about the time limit and knew it would be a mess navigating around people so decided to take this one easier. I honestly thought they had the corrals leave way too close together. This may have been related to the city wanted streets open sooner but if that is the case the race should have started even earlier. I have never been in a race this jam packed before. I was surprised to see there were only about 11,000 participants as both the LA marathon and NYC Half had over twice as many participants and never felt this crowded. I get 11,000 is a lot but I have done a lot of races this big that did not have this many issues. It is fun that a lot of participants were costumes and are generally more social runners so it has a party atmosphere. However you will not be able to find your pace. Just go with the flow. The first mile was in Anaheim right outside Disney and wasn’t too bad. Then there was an aid station right outside Disney. These aid stations were awful. I’m not blaming the volunteers. They were trying their hardest but the aid stations did not have enough volunteers, were in tight locations and the volunteers were very behind with getting cups of water ready. The first aid station someone pushed me really hard to try to get ahead since everyone was so slow. It actually hurt. Then you enter Disney. I will admit it is really cool to run through Disney. However there are a ton of people stopping for pictures and there are a couple people deciding that people shouldn’t be stopping and walking and again 2 people pushed me quite hard trying to run through the masses of people walking. Being pushed 3 times quite hard put a damper on my mood. If you do participate in this race just accept you are not going to run your fastest and don’t push other people. Other than the pushing this section was pretty great. There were characters out and lots of sights to see. Pro tip there are also a ton of bathrooms in Disney which are nicer and have shorter lines than the port a potties on course. Things did get a bit worse at the aid station at mile 3 when there was a full on stoppage for about 3 minutes to get through since it was so tight and the volunteers were so behind. At around mile 6 you leave the park. The scenery gets significant worse but at least there is more “running room.” I put “running room” in quotes as I did try to run this section but I had to navigate around so many people that it took an extra 0.1 miles to get from mile marker to mile marker so while my pace was technically faster I did not save much time at all running over speed walking and ended up walking most of the last 5 miles. Also I spent so much time monitoring people around me that I tripped and fell on a pothole. I wasn’t hurt at all but again this race was too crowded. It just wasn’t very safe. The course mostly goes through industrial parks in Anaheim. I’m sure most people hated this part. I actually didn’t mind it because as I said I used to live in Anaheim. I lived there when Pokemon Go was huge and I used to explore these industrial parks looking for Pokemon lol so it was kind of fun to go back. The aid stations were a little better in this part as there was more room but they were still slow. The course was very well marked and had adorable mile markers. I did enjoy the section by the Honda Center a lot. The long section through the parking lot of Angel’s stadium was a bit annoying. There were some spectators and entertainment in this section but from what I heard not as much as expected from a Disney race. I eventually walked my way to the finish line. I did not have a good finishing time at all and was technically over the time limit but since I started well before the last runner crossed the start line was never in danger of being pulled from the course. I’m not sure I actually could have finished this race faster without seriously injuring several people and possibly myself. The medal is just amazing. It is the Disney “D” with Mickey and Minnie running on it and it is beautiful and really great quality. Probably my second best medal after my super bowl ring medal from the Pro Football HOF race. The finish area was pretty nice. You got a box of snacks which is an efficient way to provide post race food for a larger race. I was then able to walk back to my hotel. My opinions on this race are extremely mixed. I can see why some people love RunDisney especially if you are a more social runner. Personally I thought the crowds were too much and the corral system with so many walkers up front did not work for me. The first 6 miles had great scenery and the last 7 less so though it was fun to visit my old neighborhood. The swag however was absolutely fantastic. I’m glad I got to run and experience Disneyland but I wouldn’t personally do this one again. I’m not sure RunDisney is really for me. I’m more of a Vacation Races kind of athlete. I would consider doing a Florida Race in Disney World as I’d be interested in the comparison but I won’t be signing up for Dopey any time soon.
San Diego Resolution Run
Nice Start to the New Year
San Diego Resolution Run
This is a nice , smaller race located in San Diego that takes place in January to keep you on track with your New Year's Resolutions. I was doing to … MORE
This is a nice , smaller race located in San Diego that takes place in January to keep you on track with your New Year’s Resolutions. I was doing to Disneyland Half on Sunday and decided to make it a double by doing this race on Saturday. There was good pre-race communication and the correct amount of emails and updates. For the race I got my packet at the Road Runner Store the day before though they do offer race day packet pick-up. Packet pick-up was easy and included a fine, light blue shirt and the bib. You can also buy anything you need at the store. I needed socks and I didn’t see the brand I usually wear and got Road Runners brand but they were great and my feet were blister free despite 4 half marathons in 9 days. The race is located near Sea World and Old Town so there are lots of hotels nearby though I’m not sure if there are any in walking distance. For race day morning I arrived about an hour early. I just parked in one of the suggested lots. It was about 1/2 mile away. I realized I definitely could have parked closer but it was fine as it allowed a warm up and I already had my bib. The race is in a park and the start/finish area is set up nice. There are a few booths. One had free Celsius energy drinks. There was also a Dunkins booth but you had to pay for coffee and donuts. The start was fairly organized as it’s a smaller race with 300-400 participants there is just one starting area no waves or anything. I just lined up near the back as there is a 3:15 time limit so I knew I would be one of the last finishers. I was a little nervous about the time limit as I picked up another cold and wasn’t feeling 100% but it was such a beautiful day for a run and such a flat course I had no trouble making the time limit. The race started on time. The course was extremely well marked. It seems they learned from their issues from prior years with course markings. There are 3 distances that share parts of the course but everything was very well marked and there were mile markers specific to each race. I really liked the first 4ish miles which were a loop around a little island. It was nice, peaceful, waterfront scenery for most of the race. Not the most exciting scenery every but pleasant views the whole time. After the Island it’s a short kind of loop out and then back to the finish line. Then the last 6 miles are an out and back in the opposite direction. I liked the last 6 miles less. Not really much the fault of the race but since this was a multiuse paved trail there were lots of bikers and people slowly walking who were not participating in the race. It was also a bit chaotic by the start/finish line since a lot of participants who finished the shorter races were walking on the path back to their car. This wasn’t really any worse than any other race that has an open public path. There were sufficient aid stations with water and electrolyte drinks and one had gels. Although it was a little disappointing the last aid station was closing down as I approached it. They still offered water but I wish they would have waited like 5 to 10 minutes before breaking it down as I was well within the time cutoff and it is always disappointing to see volunteers more focused on clean-up than cheering on runners. The finish line are was nice and I was happy with my time especially since I wasn’t feeling 100%. The medal is solid for a race like this probably average or slightly below average compared to all my half marathons but what I would expect from a smaller, more laid back race like this. There was okay snacks at the end with granola bars, fruit etc. I saw coconut water set up but they appeared to run out. I was still able to get a free Celsius energy drink. Overall this was a solid race. It’s not the greatest or most exciting race in the world but it met expectations and I had a nice time. I have done several half marathons in California and this would definitely not be my first choice for 50 staters but I would definitely recommend it to locals and it was worth the short trip down to San Diego to get an extra half marathon in. If I was still living in Southern California I’d definitely do this race again.
NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K
Canceled Half Marathon 3 Weeks B4 Race
NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K
There was an exhibit I wanted to visit in NYC in January and I was excited that NYCRUNS added a half marathon to this event so I could get a … MORE
There was an exhibit I wanted to visit in NYC in January and I was excited that NYCRUNS added a half marathon to this event so I could get a half marathon in while I was there. However I was very annoyed they canceled the half marathon 3 weeks in advance. I understand there are things out of a race company’s control but 3 weeks is pretty unfair as I was unable to rearrange my plans and I feel particularly bad for anyone who trained specifically for this half. This definitely affected my feelings of the race. As it was too hard for me to rearrange my schedule, I decided to still go to NYC and walk the 5K with my mom who was on the trip as well. The cancellation solution was also a bit annoying as they just automatically registered runners for the Central Park Half in February but I was already registered for that race. I did contact NYCRUNS and they gave me a code to use what I paid for the half marathon to apply to the 5K fee for both my mom and I so they were very fair in their response. It may have been easier to just give everyone race credit instead of just transferring them to another half that they may be registered for already or unable to attend. Otherwise things went fairly smoothly. There was very good pre-race communication especially as weather seemed a bit iffy overnight. They communicated exactly when to expect an update. Luckily weather was fine the morning of the race though it was a bit wet and drizzly. The race starts on the west side of the park and ends the same place as the 10K yesterday in the middle of the park. If you are registered 30 days in advance they mail your bib but since we just recently registered for the 5K we had to get our bibs race day morning. Bib pick-up was easy. The race was generally pretty well organized with a few minor issues. The start corral could have been set up better. It was one long corral with only an entry by the back. It did have signs where to line up by pace. My mom and I knew we would be near the end since we were walking so we hung out near the back of the corral but they kept telling us to move forward. This resulted in slower people in the wrong place and also fast runners who arrived late having to push through to get to the front. The rest of the race was well produced and it was a 5K course that was nice and did not include Harlem Hill. There were 2 aid stations. One criticism is the map showed there were porta potties at the aid stations but they were not there which was an issue since we needed them. Otherwise there was accurate mile markers and it was well marked. Scenery the same as yesterday but half the park. There were lots of walkers so this is a very back of the pack friendly 5K. The finish line was set up well. You get the most adorable medal. It’s one of my best 5K medals. You also got your shirt at the end. It is a white singlet. I don’t really like to wear white singlets unless they are made from very thick material so don’t appear see-through which this one was a very light material and the type I don’t wear. The design is adorable but I’m not sure if I will wear it. Post race food was better than yesterday with delicious NYC bagels and apples. Overall this was a good 5K. I would have given it 4 sneakers but I did take away a sneaker for canceling the half marathon with so little notice. While I do think NYCRUNs produces solid races and has better swag than NYRR, I’d be cautious to register for all but the biggest half marathons produced by NYCRUNS (Central Park, Brooklyn, Big Apple) unless you are a local or would be visiting NYC regardless of whether there was a half marathon.
NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K
1 Lap Through Central Park
NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K
I was visiting NYC this weekend so decided to do this 10K. It is produced by NYRR who produce the NYC Marathon. It is a pretty cheap race. There is … MORE
I was visiting NYC this weekend so decided to do this 10K. It is produced by NYRR who produce the NYC Marathon. It is a pretty cheap race. There is good pre-race communication with clear instructions for bib pick-up and start/finish line set up. There is the option for pre-race packet pick-up but I arrived to NYC late on Friday so got my packet the day of the race. Morning packet pick-up was easy. For the really huge NYRR races, you should try to do pre-race packet pick-up but for the “smaller” ones race day is fine. I put “smaller” in quotes as this still had ~5000 runners. These races are very popular as they are part of the 9+1 program to get guaranteed entry into NYC marathon. The start was well organized and you are assigned a corral based on predicted pace. The course starts on the upper east side and ends in the middle of the park around 102nd street. There were porta potties at the start/finish. The bib pick-up is closer to the start. You pick up the shirt after the race. The course is pretty much the entire 6 mile lap around the main road on Central park with a slight overlap to make it 6.2 miles. 10K is definitely my favorite distance for Central Park. I get sick of half marathons as they are multiple loop but the 10K allowed to see the whole park without having to do loops. Central Park is cool to run in if you never have but gets a little boring after you’ve done enough races here. Central park is hilly but I know the hills well. This course is set up well where the worst hill Harlem hill occurs around mile 0.5 which is a good place for the worst part of the course. The rest of the course is more rolling hills and a bit flatter at the southern part of the park. Production was good with just 1 issue with the 1 mile marker in the wrong location. Plenty of aid stations and some of the most cheerful, wonderful volunteers on course. Central Park is always a bit annoying as the roads are not closed. But the race started relatively early at 8am and it was a bit cold but not miserable today so it wasn’t as bad as other races with perfect weather and packed park. My pace was fine. I was aiming for under 1:30 and I met that goal. There are tons of back of packers and I was never alone at this pace. There is no medal at the end but very cheerful race staff/volunteers cheer you on. No medal is fine to me for races shorter than half marathon. There was not the best post race snacks just some pretzels and apples. You get the shirt at the end. One minor critique is I’d prefer the shirts to be at the finish line but they were closer to the start so I had to walk back to the start to get the shirt and then back past the finish line to catch my train on the west side. But not a big deal. The shirt isn’t my favorite color. It is kind of an olive green but I love the quote on it so I will wear it. I did notice my results weren’t initially posted after the race. I was worried my time wasn’t recorded but it showed up before the end of the day. I think it may have been because I did race day packet pick-up though I’m not sure. Not a huge deal just don’t worry if you don’t get your result right away. I did check and they have an easy way to submit missing results which luckily I didn’t need to use. Overall this is a solid 10K and I’d recommend it if you happen to be in NYC the weekend of the race.
Millennium Mile
Start the New Year w/ 2 races in 2 state
Millennium Mile
This is a 1 mile race in Londonderry in NH. I've done this race a few other times so you can see those reviews for details. The race was the … MORE
This is a 1 mile race in Londonderry in NH. I’ve done this race a few other times so you can see those reviews for details. The race was the exact same as last year with same location, same course and again a winter hat for swag. I did this race after the First Run 5K in Lowell, MA. It was about a 30 to 40 minute drive between races. This race starts at 2pm and I arrived at 12:45. I was a bit early but it made parking very easy. Production was very smooth as expected for Millennium Running. Course is almost all downhill and very fast. I was a little slower this year as I still have a bit of a lingering cough from my illness last month and just ran a 5K. I was hoping to break 10 minutes which I didn’t do but at least beat 11. This is a great way to start the New Year that is a tradition now for me and my dad who also did the race.
First Run 5K & 10K (MA)
Start the New Year w/ 2 races in 2 state
First Run 5K & 10K (MA)
This is a 5K or 10K produced by Loco Races that is now owned by Ventures Endurance that takes place in Lowell, MA right across the NH border. My tradition … MORE
This is a 5K or 10K produced by Loco Races that is now owned by Ventures Endurance that takes place in Lowell, MA right across the NH border. My tradition for New Year’s day is to do the Millennium Mile in NH which starts at 2pm. I saw this races started at 11am and realized the 5K would time out great for a double. Since I was doing another race later in the day, I chose to do the 5K as the 10K would get a bit tight with time (still doable if interested just more rushed). There was good pre race communication and it was clear where to park and go for start. The start/finish is at a bowling alley which was a great venue as you could wait inside if there was bad weather and it was a fun place for a post race party. Parking was in a business park that was maybe 1/3 to 1/2 mile away. It was a bit of a walk to the start/finish but parking was so easy and it was a nice distance for a warm-up/cool-down. After the issues I had parking at my last race in Lowell I am not complaining. Just account for this so if you do race day packet pickup you have time to go back and forth to your car unless you want to wear the swag. If you don’t want to walk so much before the race utilize pre-race packet pick up. Bib pick up was easy and the swag included a sweatshirt. It was a solid but not amazing sweatshirt though nicer than the typical T-shirt. Start was organized in a corral with signs to line up by pace. Worked pretty well though you always get newbies at races like this that don’t line up correctly. The course is 1 loop for the 5K and two for the 10K. The course was fine. The scenery was not great just kind of boring suburban views of houses and business. I think for a race like this having a great venue for the start/finish and having convenient parking is more important than scenery so I wouldn’t change it. There were about 700 participants for the 5K and about half that for the 10K. The busy race field meant you were always running with people for the 5K but I’d imagine the 10K is a bit lonely on the second lap especially for slower participants. The race had one lane of traffic closed off. For the most part it worked except for a 4 pack of run-walkers who insisted on all running side by side and took up the entire running lane. Please don’t do this. I’d imagine it was very annoying for the fast 10Kers to weave around the 5K runners on their second lap. The 10K is probably the best experience for middle of the packers. There was a water stop in the middle. My biggest production complaint was the mile markers were quite off. This is my third race with this company and every time the mile markers were off. I was pacing myself to finish just under 40 minutes as I wanted to break 40 but save energy for my next race and used the mile markers to help pace. The mile markers were all about 0.05 miles short so I thought the course was probably a bit short. I made the 3 mile marker at 38:30 as I planned but there were about .25 miles after the third mile marker not 0.1 miles and the course was actually a bit long. It’s not the end of the world but details are what separates a good race from a great race. As a result I finished a bit over 40 minutes. Not the end of the world. Finish line was same as start and you get a medal. Not the greatest medal in the world and not distance specific but it’s nice to get a medal for a 5K and it’s a good 5K medal. There was solid post race snacks with granola bars, bananas and smart food which was enough to hold me over until the next race. There seemed to be a fun post race party with free beer (I think?) and a free round of bowling. I didn’t participate since I had another race to get to. Overall I thought this was a good race and a few tweaks could make it great. It times out perfect with the Millennium mile if you want to start the year with 2 races in 2 states.
Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K
Great, smaller 5K
Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K
This is an annual 5K celebrating Chanukah in Swampscott, MA. I have done this race a few times as it was often held when I was home for the holidays. … MORE
This is an annual 5K celebrating Chanukah in Swampscott, MA. I have done this race a few times as it was often held when I was home for the holidays. In the past it has been the first weekend of Chanukah so I thought I would be out of town this year but this year they had the race at the end of Chanukah and it worked well as today was empty in my race schedule. My last review has most of the details. This year was the biggest race yet with a couple hundred participants. It was a very nice, hopeful event given all the current world events. Packet pick-up was interesting as they had a list of bibs by name and the bibs in envelopes with letter of last name and you just grabbed your bib. Worked efficiently but not sure if anyone took the wrong bib. Again there is a really nice baseball shirt although I didn’t see the mugs they had last year. The race is chip timed and it is a really nice course with some ocean views and is well marked with police at an major intersections. My only complaint about the course is it is not closed and sometimes I had to run on the sidewalk. Although I understand logistically for a smaller race like this, they are probably not about to close the roads for a small race like this so I didn’t take off a sneaker. My finishing time was pretty terrible as my lungs are still a bit junky from whatever I caught after Thanksgiving but I was faster than last week. At the end there are delicious latkes. I will continue to do this race as long as it fits in with the rest of my racing schedule especially as I am now back living in New England.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon
Awesome first 11.5 miles
Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon
I chose this race for Mississippi since I thought it would be nice to run by the beach and it also worked out well with the Memphis St. Jude Half. … MORE
I chose this race for Mississippi since I thought it would be nice to run by the beach and it also worked out well with the Memphis St. Jude Half. This is the week after the St. Jude Half so I took the week off and spent it in the South and made my way to this race from Tennessee. This race is pretty easy to travel to as it is about 1 hour and 20 minutes from New Orleans and there is also a smaller local airport in Gulfport. I flew into Memphis for my trip last week and flew out of New Orleans after the race as there were more and cheaper flight options than Gulfport and I was renting a care anyways and it was an easy drive. There are lots of lodging options in hotels and casinos by the finish line of the race. I stayed at the Double Tree in Biloxi since I did not want to stay in a casino as it’s been a rough year for my lungs and I did not want to be somewhere with a lot of smoke. This was a very convenient hotel and within walking distance to finish line and shuttle. This race offers race day packet pick-up or you can get the packet early at the Margaritaville Resort. I got my packet before the 5K on Saturday. I was happy they let me pick up my packet for both races that morning. This was the most time efficient plan. I’m not sure if more booths open later but there did not appear to be much of an expo just an area selling race merch and running gear. Packet pick-up was relatively efficient. Packet included bib, a cute drawstring bag with a turtle design and a polyblend T-shirt with a turtle design. You also got a free polyblend training T-shirt mailed to your home the spring before the race if you register early. I liked the swag a lot. My only complaint is the 5K and half shirts were exactly the same except the distance written. I wish they were slightly different i.e. one short-sleeved and one long-sleeved, one polyblend and one tech, or different colors or designs. The race is a point to point course. There are shuttles that take you from the finish at MGM park a minor league baseball stadium in BIloxi to the start by the Mississippi aquarium in Gulfport. I was able to walk to the shuttle from my hotel. The shuttles seemed organized and it was very clear which ones were for half and which ones were for the full. It was a little annoying waiting for the race to start as it was a bit cold and windy and quite dark in the start area. The start was otherwise well organized. There were no corrals but there were pacers to help people line up by pace. The slowest pacer was 3 hours. I lined up a bit behind the 3 hour pacer. I was hoping to finish around 3:15 as I was feeling better than last week but not 100%. Everyone passed through the corral quite quickly which was good as I had a flight to catch after the race but the start was more congested than Memphis where the start was more staggered. This was a pretty large race with a few thousand for the half. There were lots of back of packers and I was never running alone. The half is the second half of the full marathon so the half marathoners basically have the same time limit as the marathon so this is very walker friendly. Although I’d imagine this set up is annoying for fast marathoners who have to weave around us. As I said it my title the first 11.5 miles are wonderful. This race is a point to point along the road next to the beach and you actually see the beach for the entire first 11.5 miles. The other side has interesting tourist attractions and buildings. It is a really nice course. It is also very flat for the first 11.5 miles. Although I will admit it was almost too flat and straight. Sometimes I need a little elevation change or a turn here to mix it up or I get kind of stuck in a steady, slow pace. This is what I was doing and I was exactly on pace for 3:15 during this section. The course is also well organized with one lane closed from traffic and mile markers and plenty of aid stations. Aid stations were nearly every mile and had very enthusiastic volunteers with water and Powerade. One very minor suggestion is I wish they used different cups for water and Powerade. They had the same cups and I’d sometimes have to ask the volunteers which one they had. I didn’t see any nutrition on course but maybe I missed it. It’s not the most spectator friendly race but there are some spectators and enough volunteers and other runners to make it an exciting atmosphere. I thought the weather was pretty good. It was a nice running temp although cold for Southerners but there was a strong wind. The wind wasn’t too bad the first 11.5 miles as it was mostly a crosswind and was slightly blowing in the right direction. Not enough to help speed us on along but it also didn’t slow us down. This all changed at mile 11.5. I’ll be honest I absolutely hated the end of this race. At about mile 11.5 you go on a highway ramp. It is a pretty steep uphill and also quite ugly and ruins the peaceful beach vibes. The worst is there is a slight uphill for about half a mile right into the wind. This was miserable and I realized I did not bank nearly enough time to make my goal with the difficulty of this section. I trudged along and was very happy to make it to the turn around as it was downhill and with the wind to get off the ramp. You then ran a block and into the baseball stadium. There was a slight include leading up into the stadium which was also a bit annoying. The finish is the stadium is cool with a finish arch with an announcer. My finishing time was slower than my goal as I didn’t bank enough time for the end but was faster than last week. If you are trying to PR or BQ make sure you account for the end in your strategy. The medal is a really cute sea turtle design. I like it a lot though it is a bit smaller than some of my half marathon medals. You get water at the finish. There is a table where you get an extra challenge medal if you also did the 5K as well. It was very annoying though to have to go up stadium steps to get to the post race party. I’ll start with the positives of the post race party. There were good drink options and I loved that they had both soda and non-alcoholic beer (though it was Heineken 0.0 which is not nearly as good as Athletic brewing company). However they had some of the worst post-race food for vegetarians. They only had fruit for basic post-race snacks. No granola bars or chips or anything more substantial. There were lots of savory food options but absolutely nothing vegetarian. I thought the race was between 4 and 5 sneakers and rounded down due to the lack of veggie options. I still thought this was a very good race and a good choice for Mississippi. If they could figure out how to fix the end so it wasn’t as miserable and had some veggie options at the end it would be 5 sneakers for sure.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon
Get some extra bling!
Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon
This 5K takes place on Saturday the day before the Mississippi Gulf Coast Half & Full Marathon. I did it as part of the challenge with the half marathon. My … MORE
This 5K takes place on Saturday the day before the Mississippi Gulf Coast Half & Full Marathon. I did it as part of the challenge with the half marathon. My half marathon review has more details about the specifics of the race. The 5K is also point to point and ends at the Margaritaville Resort. This is also where packet pick up is. Of note it is about 1.5 miles from MGM park which is the finish for the half/full so I drove and it was easy to park. I got my packet race day and it was easy and they let me pick-up both the 5K and half packet before the race. Packet included drawstring bag and nice polyblend shirt. You then take a shuttle to the 5K start. The 5K start was at a beautiful beach and there was a nice boardwalk to get a warm-up walk on. There was no corrals or signs for pace and people just lined up for the race. The race was easy to follow as it was just point to point. I didn’t really look at the course and I assumed it was going to be flat and it was for 1 mile but then it was up a pretty steep bridge and there was a headwind for most of the race so it was actually pretty hard for a 5K. I think it would be pretty scenic though it was foggy this morning. I took it pretty easy and walked-jogged it and finished it under 45 minutes which is normally slow for me but what I was aiming for. You got kind of a cute medal with a ferris wheel at the end. The post race party was nice for a 5K but again there was no veggie options. Overall this is a nice additional to the longer races on Sunday and worth doing for some extra bling if it works with your schedule.
Santa Hustle Nashville
Nice Swag but not Christmassy enough
Santa Hustle Nashville
I was in Tennessee for the Memphis St. Jude Half Saturday and was planning to go Nashville for the next couple of days and couldn't resist a double. This sounded … MORE
I was in Tennessee for the Memphis St. Jude Half Saturday and was planning to go Nashville for the next couple of days and couldn’t resist a double. This sounded like a really, fun Christmassy race but it was only okay. The Santa Hustle series holds races throughout the country and I’d imagine others are similar. The review from last year pretty much described it perfectly though they did make one very literal change from that reviewer’s suggestion. The race is only $60 and I’ll start with the major positive. This race has really nice, fun Christmas themed swag for the price. You get a really nice, zipped sweatshirt and a nice fleece headband. The race is at a park in Nashville and there is race day packet pick up or the option for the day before. I got it race day. There was okay pre race communication. There was good parking instructions but I could not find the time limit. I could’ve sworn I remembered it being 3:30 when I signed up which I didn’t think would be a problem but as I said in my last review I was recovering from a cold and wasn’t sure I could finish it in 3:30 and I could not find a time limit on the website. In the end there did not appear to be one but that would have been nice to have known. Packet pick up was easy. The rest of the start was okay. There were not nearly enough porta potties. Luckily I went pretty early but there was a huge line when the race was starting and the line merged with the runners on the start line making the corral quite chaotic. There were pacers up to 3 hours which helped spread everyone else. It was chip timed but it was just scanners not a mat and it only appeared to scan at the finish so it was essentially gun time. This was generally wouldn’t matter much in a smaller race like this with a few hundred runners but it was not clear and everyone was taking their sweet time going through the corral and several runners started late as they were still in the porta potty. I only realized the scanners were only reading our time at the end when I saw my results were a minute slower than my Garmin and figured out what happened. The rest of the race was fine. It was the same Y-shaped out and back described in the first review. It was a pleasant park to run in but not very distinctive. It’s a good course for a cheaper race that utilizes public space but don’t sign up expecting a tour of Nashville. The Christmas theme was not that apparent during the race and they really could have done more. There was just one Christmas aid station around mile 1 with cookies and candy canes. This is where they listened to the first review’s advice rather literally and did have Little Debbie’s for the cookies. It was the gingerbread cookies. I do think this was a better choice than oreos. There were a few other aid stations but they were all generic with just water, some had gatorade and most had gels and bananas. They had whole bananas. I appreciated some real food but it’d be better to have the bananas cut in quarters as I can’t eat an entire banana during a race and had to waste about half of the banana I took. Course was well marked and there were volunteers at the more confusing Y section. One thing I really liked is there was a sweeper on a bike with a cart attached. He was very nice and not an annoying sweeper who tried to force you to go faster. I asked him about the time limit and he reassured they would let everyone finish and he was there just to clean up after everyone passed and make sure everyone was safe. There were also mile markers but they were very plain. This is where I really think the race could be elevated and it wouldn’t take much work. It would have been awesome if there were Christmas decorated mile markers and signs throughout the course with Christmas cheer and Christmas jokes. Perhaps loudspeakers blaring Christmas music at aid stations. Other than participants in Christmas gear and the first aid station nothing felt particularly Christmassy. The course is also very hilly. My Garmin recorded nearly 1000 feet of elevation gain. I was very happy to finish under 3:30 with the hills and how I was feeling. The finish line was a bit anti climatic as there weren’t many back of packers. It was just the RD and a few volunteers cheering me on. I got my medal which is nice and has a jingle bell. However there were 3 people behind me and I only saw 1 medal left after me so unless there were some hidden ones I think they may have ended up with 5K medals. Post race snacks also somewhat disappointing with just granola bars though I did like the energy drink samples. I do think some hot Cocoa and Christmas cookies (even Little Debbies) would have been better. Overall I thought this race was okay. It had nice swag and was a nice but not too exciting course on a public trail. There just wasn’t enough Christmas stuff to make it extra special. Since I was in Nashville anyways I’m glad I ran this race. I would recommend it to locals for the swag but it’s not a race I would go out of my way for. I would do another Santa Hustle if there was one within driving distance but wouldn’t go out of my way to do another one.
St. Jude Memphis Marathon & Half Marathon
Great Race for a Greater Cause
St. Jude Memphis Marathon & Half Marathon
This race is a big fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. As a pediatrician, this was the race I wanted to do for Tennessee to raise money for such a … MORE
This race is a big fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. As a pediatrician, this was the race I wanted to do for Tennessee to raise money for such a great cause. It’s also on my birthday weekend and when I like to take vacation. For this trip I took off the Friday before the race and I also took the whole week off after to explore the South and will be running in Mississippi next weekend. I arrived in Memphis on Friday morning. There is only packet pick up Thursday or Friday before the race. But Friday packet pickup is open until 8pm so if you are driving from a couple hours away you can still make it after work. Packet pickup was at a convention center and it was a nice expo. Not as big as a huge race like the LA marathon but bigger than most expos. Lots of St. Jude gear too. I thought it was smart how they did the bib pick up. You are pre assigned a bib and they scan your QR code and tell you where to go. It was very efficient as you didn’t need to fumble around finding your bib number and also less likely to have an error than assigning a bib on the spot. After bib pick up you get your shirt which is a long sleeved tech shirt. It is okay. Not the best quality but wearable. There were also a few booths with samples along with merch and the typical booths. For the race I stayed at the Comfort Inn which was very close to the expo and about 1/2 mile from the start/finish line. There are closer hotels right at the start/finish but this hotel was about $100 cheaper per night. I walked to the start. The start is well organized and you are assigned a corral. It does take awhile for all the corrals to go through. I was in the third from the last corral and it took a bit over 20 minutes for me to cross the start so it may take close to 30 minutes for the last participant to cross. This didn’t bother me as I liked having the course less congested since it is such a big race. Just take this into account when planning your day. I’m glad I did and ended up checking out of my hotel before the race as I did not get back before noon. I was sick with a cold last week and recovering so I knew this would be a slow race and paced myself to finish around 3:30. However this is a very fun and very back of the pack friendly race so it is a great race to enjoy yourself and take it easy. Scenery on the course is pretty hit or miss. There are some interesting parts downtown and the best part is running past the hospital with many children and families cheering you on at mile 10. However there are also some less scenic parts with views of construction sites. Oh well it’s hard to get a continuous, scenic 13.1 miles. The lack of scenery in some areas is more than made up for by cheer stations. There is a cheer station about every 1/2 mile. There were also aid stations every 1 to 2 miles along with lots of spectators and unofficial aid stations. They also had mile markers and signs including a very moving area with pictures of cancer survivors during and after treatment. The course isn’t too tough. There are some rolling hills. Nothing crazy. I’d consider it average difficulty. It’s not a course designed for a PR but you could PR or BQ if you strategized properly. I was only slow because I was sick last week. At the finish you get your medal and a bag of snacks. The medal is really nice and glittery. It has the St. Jude logo and the image of a bridge in Memphis. It is a nice and classy medal. The bag of snacks was pretty typical. There is also a post race party at the baseball stadium. This is my only complaint about the race but the post race food was not vegetarian friendly and I wish I skipped it since it was crowded and took awhile to weave around everyone. They advertised soup and pizza. The first section had chocolate milk and orange juice. I did like the orange juice option as I don’t like chocolate milk. The next section had soup. I asked if the soup was vegetarian and the volunteers had no idea. Not blaming the volunteers but the majority of races I have done (even some tiny local ones) label the soup as vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten free. Someone said they thought the broccoli cheddar was vegetarian so I took some but I’m pretty sure it had chicken broth. This could be bad if someone has an allergy. Even worse was when I went to get pizza it was only pepperoni. I’ve said this before but I don’t understand only ordering pepperoni. Lots of people don’t eat pork for religious, health or ethical reasons. Just get cheese it’s cheaper and more people can eat it. I did like that they had coke products along with beer but the line to enter the post race party was not worth a bottle of coke and soup that probably wasn’t vegetarian. I was hoping the post race food could be lunch since I wanted to get to my next destination Nashville by 3:30. Luckily they also had food trucks where you could purchase food and one had a veggie burger. If I did this race again I would skip the post race festival unless they confirmed they had vegetarian options. Kind of put a damper on an otherwise great race. I almost dropped my rating a sneaker. Other than not having a vegetarian friendly post race festival, this was an excellent race and a very moving experience. I would definitely recommend it for Tennessee.
Leftovers Run (PA)
More Race Companies Should Do This!
Leftovers Run (PA)
This is a race produced by RUNegades, a race company based outside of Philadelphia, where runners get leftover swag from their previous races. This is a great idea as I … MORE
This is a race produced by RUNegades, a race company based outside of Philadelphia, where runners get leftover swag from their previous races. This is a great idea as I know we all hate when a race runs out of our T-shirt size or even worse runs out of medals but I do understand the race companies not wanting to waste money or resources by buying too much swag so this is the perfect solution. Have a race using the leftovers if you end up with too much swag. The race had a pretty low entry few of $60 and though it was pretty bare bones, it was a solid race. I normally wouldn’t travel all the way to Philadelphia for a smaller race like this but I am hoping to get to Sun level in Half Fanatics next spring or summer and really wanted to do a race this weekend and this was the closest option. I do wish I thought about the logistics a little more. This is completely out of the race company’s control but driving from the Boston suburbs to the Philly suburbs going right through NYC and the NYC suburbs on Thanksgiving weekend was not a great idea. For the race I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in King of Prussia which was about a 10 minute drive from the start and convenient. There was adequate pre race communication with very clear parking instructions and a link to the location. There was the option to get packet early but I arrived pretty late and got it race day. For the packet they give you an unused bib which is kind of fun because you get a bib with a random name. There were then boxes of shirts by size. I was excited they had leftover shirts from the Blobfest race since they are really cool looking. It’s a polyblend shirt but it’s such a funny shirt and I will definitely wear it. There was also porta potties near the start. There was a start/finish arch. This race was manually timed which is fine for a more laid back, bare bones smaller race. There was about 150 participants in the half. There is also a shorter 4.1 miler. The 4.1 miler is a loop. The half marathon runs about 1 mile of the loop then does an out and back along the river trail for 9 miles and then completes the final 3.1 miles of the loop. It was all on public trail and most was paved with a small portion gravel. It was pleasant but not really exciting scenery. Not a destination race but fine for what this is. The first mile and the out and back were relatively flat. There were some hills in the final 3.1 miles but nothing too bad. Course was mostly well marked. Although it being a smaller race I was by myself a lot and could have used a few more markers for reassurance. There were mile markers and aid stations every 2 to 2.5 miles with water and electrolyte drink and the one near the middle had gels. It was a pretty quiet race but the volunteers out there were enthusiastic. I was not feeling great the day of the race and took it easy and did run-walk intervals and had a slow finish time. In terms of back of the pack friendliness there was a 4 hour time limit and there were absolutely no issues being in the back. All aid stations were well stocked, all race signs and markers were kept on course but there just weren’t many people in the back so I was alone a lot. Also the finish was a bit lack luster and of course the medals a bit picked over but that can’t be helped. I was second from last and the RD did cheer me on and I saw waited for the last runner but everyone else left so it was kind of a boring end. Again it’s fine for a race like this and for a checkbox race to level up in half fanatics but if you are a back of packer running a special race (1st half, 100th half, 50th state) you’d probably want one with a bigger celebration like the Newport Harbor Race I did last week. In terms of medals there was still one Blobfest one but it was for the 5K but I still took it. I don’t think any from half marathons were left. One thing I loved is they did put a engraved medal sticker on the back that said “Leftovers Run Half Marathon” so it was a bit specific to the race. Overall this was not the greatest race in the world but I knew that coming into it and I was satisfied with the race. I did think this is a great idea to not waste swag but also not have to worry about running out of swag. I would definitely encourage more race companies to do this instead of under ordering swag and hoping people don’t show up. I do think this was a bit far for me to travel for this race so it will probably be a one time race for me unless I really need a race this weekend to get to a specific milestone. I however would definitely recommend this to locals and would consider doing another RUNegades event. Their swag was very, very nice for all the races.
Fisher Cats Thanksgiving 5K
Lots to be Thankful for
Fisher Cats Thanksgiving 5K
This is a 5K produced by Millennium Running that takes place in downtown Manchester on Thanksgiving. The race starts and ends at the minor league baseball stadium. It was the … MORE
This is a 5K produced by Millennium Running that takes place in downtown Manchester on Thanksgiving. The race starts and ends at the minor league baseball stadium. It was the same location as Howl O’Ween but a very different course. There was again free and easy parking in a nearby garage. There is the option for either race day packet pick-up or getting it at the store the day before. I got it the day of the race. It was easy to pick up packet and it included a really nice tech shirt and a free ticket to a Fisher Cat’s game in the spring. This is a very large race with about 2000 participants which makes it a fun environment but also makes some of the logistics a bit tricky. I didn’t think the logistics were quite as well ironed out for this race as some other Millennium events though I would still say it was a very well produced race. The start and finish is actually on the field in the dirt along the outfield of the stadium. It was cool to start/finish in the stadium and it made the actual race cool but it was not the most practical place to start/finish. For the start they had signs of where to line up by pace. Of course thanksgiving is a time that people who don’t regular race participate in races so not a lot of people followed the signs. The race is chip timed at start and finish and there were no true waves but the participants slowly went through. Everyone was spread out fairly well. It’s just not everyone running the same pace. Not sure what can be done about it without enforcing strict corrals which is a bit serious for a race like this. The it is cool starting in the baseball stadium but the rest is just through Downtown Manchester. The hills weren’t too bad for downtown Manchester. I think there was about 100 feet of elevation change. You run down one street and up another and then end back on the dirt around the outfield of the stadium. All streets are closed to traffic and there are lots of police and course marshals. The scenery is meh but there is a fun energy with so many participants. While I did think it was fun starting in the stadium, I didn’t really like the finish in the stadium and I think a separate start/finish with the finish right outside the stadium would work better for a few reasons. The first is the end got very congested. I was hoping to pick up speed but ended up slowing down because everyone was walking and it was too narrow to navigate around people. And also the end logistics were odd. I did this with my dad and we planned to meet at the finish line but there wasn’t really an area for spectators right at the finish line. Also usually there is water at the finish line of Millennium Events but instead once you crossed you had to walk along the stadium and then go up stairs to top of the stadium to get water and then exit the stadium down different stairs for the snacks. It was only a 5K but I’d rather not walk up stairs before getting water. I think the finish could be set up in a way that was better for cheering people at the finish line and also for recovery water and snacks. My finishing time was fine. It was pretty average for how I am running now. There is no medal anymore. I believe there used to be in the past since I have a medal when I did this race virtually during the pandemic. However the nice tech shirt and free baseball tickets are definitely good swag for a 5K so I am fine with no medal. Overall I liked this race and it was a fun environment but I did think the finish line experience could have been improved.
Chartway Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
Mermaids and Mini Pies!
Chartway Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
This is a half marathon in Norfolk, VA produced by J&A racing which is the race company that also produces the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach in March. I've done … MORE
This is a half marathon in Norfolk, VA produced by J&A racing which is the race company that also produces the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach in March. I’ve done the Shamrock Half Marathon twice and love that race so I wanted to check out another one of J&A’s half marathons and decided to do this one since I had to weekend off. There was very good pre-race communication with a detailed athlete guide. This would be too long a drive so I flew in Saturday morning and out Sunday afternoon. It was easy to find flights. The host hotel which is the downtown Hilton is right by the expo, start and finish so I did not need to rent a car. I arrived Saturday in the morning and got my packet at the expo. You can pay to have packet mailed or pick it up race day morning as well. The expo was kind of small but had the essentials and I got bought the cutest race shirt along with the swag item being a really nice sweatshirt. There was enough to do in the vicinity of the hotel and race area to entertain yourself for the weekend without having to drive anywhere. It sounds like in other years this race had cold weather but today the weather was absolutely perfect and it would not be possible to have better weather. Race morning was very organized and you are assigned corrals 1 through 7. I was assigned 6 which seemed correct. There were pacers as well. The slowest pacer being 2:45 which was the start on corral 6. I was aiming between 2:45 and 3:00 and decided to see if I could keep up with 2:45 which I could do for a couple miles. The race starts by the harbor. It is a nice course. It is a good mix of different areas of Norfolk and is a nice mix of more urban downtown views, suburban neighborhood views and more peaceful park views. You also go through Old Dominion University in the middle of the race. My only complaint about the scenery is only the last mile or so is by the harbor so there wasn’t quite as much waterfront views as I’d like. There are also a ton of mermaid statues in Norfolk and you could have fun trying to find as many as possible on the course. Race production was pretty much impeccable. Roads were closed with plenty of police and course marshals. There were lots of DJs and cheer stations, mile markers, and 5K/10K timing splits. Though the number of spectators was on the lower side for the size of the race. The spectators who were there were great though and very enthusiastic. Volunteers were also fantastic which was great compared to last weekend’s half. This had some of the most cheerful, enthusiastic volunteers. Aid stations were every 2ish mile and had water and Nuun. One in the middle had Gu and the best is the last one had mini pies. You could choose either chocolate or pumpkin and they were delicious. The finish is really nice by the water. I was happy to finish under 3 hours though I wasn’t quite as fast as Newburyport a few weeks ago. The medal is a nice mermaid themed medal. There is also a challenge if you do the 5K the day before. I didn’t do this as I didn’t fly in until Saturday morning but you get really great swag if you do the challenge. There is a fun finish area with beer and pizza and typical race snacks. I couldn’t stay too long as I had to check out of my hotel and catch my flight. Overall I thought this was a great race and I am glad I made the trip. I would definitely recommend this race. However if you are a 50 stater looking to only do one race in Virginia I do think Shamrock (which is the same race company) and Richmond (which is a different race company) had such amazing spectator support that they were a little bit more fun but this is still a great choice and a lot of fun if it works better with your schedule. It’s a bit of a trek for me to get to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area but I would absolutely come back down to do this race or another J&A race again in the future.
Run the Vineyards Cork High & Bottle Deep Half Marathon
Not much to "wine" about
Run the Vineyards Cork High & Bottle Deep Half Marathon
This is part of the Run the Vineyards race series produced by a running company called "A Good Day for a Run." They produce a lot of races in the … MORE
This is part of the Run the Vineyards race series produced by a running company called “A Good Day for a Run.” They produce a lot of races in the mid-Atlantic region. I did one of their 5K a couple years ago which I really enjoyed so I was wanted to check out this half marathon. This year a bunch of my runner friends from some of my running clubs were also planning to do it and it was the day after the Rocky Run so I was in. This race is located in NJ about 30-40 minutes from Philadelphia so it’s an easy race to get to. There was good pre race communication and option for race day packet pickup. I spent the day with my mom in Philadelphia so I did race day packet pickup. Parking and packet pickup were easy. It’s a nice sized race with a few hundred runners which makes things easier than a huge race like the Rocky Run. Packet included bib and a half zip shirt which was fairly nice for swag for a smaller more local race. There was a good amount of porta potties and the start was easy to find. There were no corrals but there were pacers. The slowest pacer was 3 hours. The race has a 3:30 time limit but one of the 3 hour pacers thought it’d be cute to have a sign that said sweeper which nearly gave me a heart attack as I did not think I could finish this in under 3 hours since along with doing the Rocky Run I also walked around the Philadelphia Zoo and the King of Prussia mall yesterday and my feet were very sore. She assured me she was not and thought it was cute because she was the last pacer. The last pacer is NOT the sweeper if the last pacer is not the course time limit. Please if any one reading this is pacing a race do not label yourself a sweeper unless you are the sweeper. Other than that the start was well organized. I did stick with the 3 hour pacers in the beginning to see if I could keep up. They seemed to be pacing pretty well but as I expected I could not keep up with how sore I was. The first part of the course is about 1/3 mile through the vineyard. This is grass/trail but non technical. The rest is on streets and a paved rail trail. After the vineyard it is about 1-2 miles on local streets. The streets were coned off and had police present so while not fully closed were very safe and the course was very well marked. The rest of the race is on a rail trail. It is very flat but I thought the scenery was kind of boring. It looked exactly the same as the rail trail by where I live. It was pleasant and flat though and the out and back is fun when doing a race with running friends since you can cheer them on. There were mile markers and generally everything was organized with aid stations every 1 to 2 miles with water and gatorade. Again no nutrition on course. One critique that I feel bad making and may be a bit out of the race’s control were the volunteers were not good. They were some of the least enthusiastic volunteers I have seen and many weren’t paying attention. I know you shouldn’t complain too much about people volunteering their time but if you volunteer for something you need to put in the effort. The worst was one volunteer who was a course marshal at an intersection didn’t see me coming and literally told cars to go when I was about to cross and I had to scream “I am here please stop the traffic” for him to notice me. This could be very dangerous if I wasn’t paying attention. Other issues weren’t nearly as big and a few volunteers were great but a lot where on their phones or chatting while they just placed water out. It was a cold morning and maybe everyone was just off due to the time change last weekend but the volunteers were kind of disappointing and I really didn’t like having to stop and wait for traffic since a volunteer didn’t see me. I’m not sure what the race organizers can do about this but maybe prep the volunteers better. The race as I said was an out and back. I managed to finish under the time limit of 3:30. It wasn’t a fast time for me but I was fine with it given how sore my feet were. I got my medal which is a fine medal for a smaller, local race and was cheered at the finish lines. No issues with being back of the pack but finishing under 3:30. They did keep the finish line open longer and some participants were over 4 hours and got finishing times. However I heard the experience after 3:30 wasn’t as good as they just left the finish line open and had medals on a table. This is all fair since there is a stated 3:30 time limit but I’d only strongly recommend this race if you can finish under 3:30. The finish area was great and there were food trucks. There were some basic snacks as well. My mom was a spectator and got pizza and donuts from the food trucks for lunch which were delicious. There is also wine which I didn’t drink. Overall I thought this was a fine race and well produced for a smaller, local race. I had fun seeing my running friends though I don’t know that this was an exciting enough race for me to travel to do it again over closer races. However I would definitely recommend it for locals and it’s a solid NJ for 50 staters.
Rocky Run 10 Mile & 5K
Eye of the Tiger
Rocky Run 10 Mile & 5K
As a fan of the Rocky movies, this race had been on my bucket list and worked out perfectly as it was the day before a nearby half marathon I … MORE
As a fan of the Rocky movies, this race had been on my bucket list and worked out perfectly as it was the day before a nearby half marathon I was planning on doing. The race is on Saturday. There is the option for pre-race packet pick-up or to pay for race day. Since I was driving in Saturday night I paid for race day packet pick-up so can’t comment on the expo. For the race I stayed in a hotel right outside Philadelphia. My mom also came and did the 5K. We drove in race day morning. I picked up the packets while my mom parked the car. Picking up the packets was easy and included the bibs and a white cotton shirt but with a really funny Rocky design so I didn’t dock a sneaker for it being a white cotton shirt. Parking however was not easy and it took my mom a while to find parking. You may want to consider taking an uber if you aren’t staying in walking distance. The race start area was well organized and is by the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For the race I did the Italian Stallion Challenge which is the 5K followed by the 10 miler. My only real complaint is that since this is 2 different races even though you technically run a half marathon distance it won’t count for any clubs. Though if you aren’t trying to level up in half fanatics and just doing this for bragging rights I think you can call it a half marathon. The start line and finish line are separate and about a 5 minute walk apart. The 5K starts first at 7:00am and the 10 miler at 7:55. They say you need to complete the 5K in 39 minutes to do the challenge. I knew I could do this but I would have loved for the 10 milers to be about 20 minutes later as I’d prefer to have sped walked the 5K instead of having to make it my 3 fastest miles of the weekend. The start was organized in corrals. It appears the slow Italian Stallion runners were all assigned B corrals even if on the slower side. This made sense so we wouldn’t be in the way of the really fast runners but would have time to get back for the 10 miler on time. The start is fun with music from the Rocky soundtrack blaring, volunteers with Rocky cutouts, participants in costume and even a recorded motivational speech from Rocky himself. My only issue is it started a few minutes late and it made me worried about making it to the 10 miler. The course is okay. It is a similar course to the Hot Chocolate 15K I did in Philadelphia a couple years ago. The 5K is an out and back and is flat. It is crowded but it is on a closed street so there is a lot of room. The scenery is kind of boring but everything is done to make the race as fun as possible with Rocky themed music, course decorations and very enthusiastic volunteers. I finished the 5K in about 37 minutes and headed straight back to the start. For people doing the challenge you get your 5K medal at the end so you don’t have to worry about carrying it during the 10 miler. I got in my corral right as the first runners were starting. It seems like it would be fine if you were over 39 minutes as it took a while for the last corral to get through but if you want to guarantee making it to your corral and seeing the start of the race you would need to finish in about 39 minutes. Probably anything under 45 minutes would be fine just expect to start the 10 miler in the last corrals. The 10 miler had the same first 1.5 miles as the 5K but continued to a park and was an out and back until around mile 4ish and then you take a detour and go back on the out and back. Again it was kind of a boring course and isn’t set up for a ton of spectators but it’s a pleasant run in a park and is flat until the detour. There were aid stations every 1-2 miles with water and gatorade and you basically hear the Rocky soundtrack the entire race. At first it was fun but then I got very sick of the soundtrack lol. The volunteers were great and a lot in theme and there was fun decorations and signs related to Rocky on the course. One minor complaint is there was no nutrition on the aid stations. Also porta potty lines were long. I didn’t have enough time to use one between the races and ended up losing about 5 minutes on the course waiting and missed my goal finish time by under 1 minute. Now to get to the detour. The detour was something called Mount Drago. It was a pretty brutal uphill but the Mount Drago theme made it so much fun. All throughout the uphill there were pictures of Drago with quotes from the movie he used to intimidate Rocky. It was really funny and made the slog uphill memorial. All races need to figure out how to make the worse part of their course the best part like this. For the 10 miler they said there was a time limit of a 15 minute/mile pace or 2:30. I finished a few minutes under but there were a lot of people behind me so I don’t think they were strict about it. My goal was to finish both races with a total time under 3 hours. I ended up under 1 minute over due to the bathroom line but I feel l can say I made my goal. The end is right by the Rocky Steps though the course doesn’t go up. You can run up them after if you’d like. You get the 10 mile medal at the end and then can go to a booth to pick up the 5K and challenge medals. Medals are really fun and Rocky themed. One slight disappoint was the post race food was mediocre with just bananas, granola bar and fruit snacks. I expected something more from such as large race. My mom also had fun walking the 5K. There were a ton of walkers for the 5K as well. Overall I thought this was a really fun race and it is a must do for fans of the Rocky movies. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of the movies it’s still a fun race environment. I’m really glad I did this race once. However I’m not sure I’d do it again since it is not technically a half marathon and I’d rather do races that count for my club. If they do make it a true half marathon however I will definitely return
Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide
Park at the Museum of Science
Cambridge Half Marathon + 5K at CambridgeSide
I was on call this weekend and wasn't planning to run any races but I decided to see what was around and saw that the Cambridge Half added a 5K … MORE
I was on call this weekend and wasn’t planning to run any races but I decided to see what was around and saw that the Cambridge Half added a 5K distance this year. The Cambridge Half/5K starts at the CambridgeSide Mall which is about 1 mile from my work and the race started at 7:20 and I needed to be at work at 9am so this was perfect. There is the option of packet pick-up either Friday, Saturday or race morning. I had to do it race morning but I would say try to do it earlier if possible. For the race they did have free parking at CambridgeSide but I know those parking lots are tight and had a plan to park at the Museum of Science if it looked like parking would be tough. The exit you take from NH goes past the museum first and then you turn left into Cambridge but there was such as traffic jam at the intersection I immediately knew to park at the Museum. It is not free but it made race morning so easy as it was super easy to park and only about 1/3 mile away. I had time to pick up my packet and bring it back to my car in probably less time than it would have taken to park at CambridgeSide. If you don’t mind paying for parking just do this option. If you really want the free parking arrive around 5:30am (I arrived at 6am and it was already a mess). Packet pick-up was very easy and I was surprised how smooth with how long everything else took. Packet included bib and the 5K had a nice long sleeve tech shirt. I then brought it back to the museum as I noticed huge bathroom lines at the race I used the bathroom in the museum while I was there. Great idea. Even if you don’t park at the museum I’d recommend taking a warm-up jog or walk to the museum and using their bathroom as the lines were ridiculous at the porta-potties and even worse in the mall and there was literally no one using the ones in the museum of science. The start area was honestly just a mess. This is a huge race and the start area just didn’t seem to accommodate everyone. I don’t know what could be done to fix this other than having a tighter cap on runners. The half starts at 7 and it started on time but a bunch of runners started late due to issues with parking and bathroom lines. Again these weren’t issues for me since I utilized the Museum of Science instead for both. I can’t emphasize enough how much easier my morning was parking there. The 5K started at 7:20. The 5K wasn’t as large as the half with close to 1000 runners. The course was very nice. was essentially an out and back though it was out on one street and back on another so there was plenty of room. It was a well marked course and had 2 aid stations. There was perfect weather and it was a beautiful course along the Charles River with lovely views of the Boston skyline across the river. It was also pretty flat with about 40 feet of elevation gains that were just some inclines. It’s a fast course and I was happy to finish in under 36 minutes and I’m pretty sure it’s my fastest 5K in over a year. There is a medal for both distances with a smaller 5K medal. It’s kind of a plain medal but I’ve noticed most 5Ks around here don’t have any medals so I appreciated it. Post-race snacks were fine for a 5K with water bottle, banana and granola bar but would be disappointing for a half marathon. I had a nice time at this race and was happy to be able to get a 5K in this morning. I’d definitely do this race if I am on-call this weekend next year. However I’m not sure this would be my first choice half marathon this weekend if I had it off as it has a 3 hour time limit (although there were finishing times over 3 hours) and there are definitely races with easier parking logistics. Given the tight parking situation at Cambridgeside if you do this race either park very, very early or use the Museum of Science. If you are coming out of town I would try to stay at one of the hotels by the start. They are a bit pricey but would be much easier than trying to park and you can get to them from the airport by public transportation.
Newburyport Half Marathon & Relay
Fast Course and Nice Swag
Newburyport Half Marathon & Relay
This race is located in Newburyport, MA which is a coastal town by the NH/MA border. This race is now produced by Millennium Running out of NH who took it … MORE
This race is located in Newburyport, MA which is a coastal town by the NH/MA border. This race is now produced by Millennium Running out of NH who took it over sometime after the pandemic. Millennium Running taking over MA races is a great thing as Millennium Running produces some of the best and most back of the pack friendly races in New England. This is a very convenient race for me about 30 minutes from where I live. There is the option for packet pick-up at the store the day before or at the race on race day morning. The store is in Bedford, NH and is not that close to Newburyport and race day packet pick-up was easy so I’d only get it early if you are already in the Bedford/Manchester, NH area Saturday. I actually was there for the Trick-or-Trot but had something I needed to be home for right after so opted for race day packet pick-up. Parking is a bit tight in Newburyport. I knew this from the Yankee Homecoming Race this summer and arrived a little after 8am. The race starts at 9:15. This was perfect time to arrive and I was able to easily find street parking a few blocks away but the parking seemed to get tight about 15 minutes later. I had just the right amount of time to pick up my packet, bring it back to my car, go back to race start, use porta porta and warm-up a bit. Packet pick-up was easy you get a useful email with your bib number. Packet also included a nice sweatshirt and a drawstring bag. Production was very good but a few things could have been a bit better. I think they will likely get fixed as Millennium produces this event more times. One was the porta potty lines were a bit long but that’s a problem at most races. The other was the starting corral was a bit tight. There was one wave and they had us line up by predicting pace. There was over 1000 runners and I think splitting into a couple waves and having a longer staging area may have made it a bit smoother. I thought the course was okay. I will start with the positives it was a very fast course. It’s one of those courses which isn’t flat but also doesn’t have real hills. Just inclines, declines and some very gentle baby hills. This is the kind of course I am fastest at and I felt great running it. The scenery for the course was a bit underwhelming. Newburyport is such a charming coastal town and the Yankee Homecoming Race I did here while it was an awful experience for the back of the pack it was so scenic going past coastal views and the cute downtown area and this course was much more boring in comparison. The first few miles are through quiet neighborhoods, then through a scenic forest loop which did have beautiful fall foliage, then you went through a business park which was very unscenic and then about a mile on a paved trail. The only part by water was the start/finish area. What I also didn’t like about the course is the roads were open though since it was all quiet streets and there were plenty of course marshals it never felt unsafe. I believe this is the reason for the less scenic course. I assume based on how tight the time cutoffs for the Yankee Homecoming race were, the town is very strict about closing roads so for this race they chose a course to be as safe as possible to run with an open course to allow for longer time limits as opposed to a more scenic course with more traffic to navigate. I’d rather have a safe race with a long time limit so I get it but I’d also rather run in a town that welcomes runners and allows us to see the best sights of their town. Since the course was rather remote there were not a ton of spectators though I appreciated the ones there. Aid stations were good but I didn’t think there was quite enough. All had water and gatorade and one had clif blocks. At one point you went over 3 miles without an aid station. I carried water but had some cramping since I needed electrolytes by the time I got to that aid station. Course was very easy to follow and there were lots of participants so I was always running near people. As I said I was very fast. I have been struggling all summer and haven’t been able to run a sub 3 hour half since May but today I was able to shave about 15 minutes off my fastest time this fall and ran my fastest half this year at a bit over 2:50. There was perfect weather the first 10 miles which helped though it rained the last 3 miles. Finish area has a nice finish arch and you get the medal which is a really nice, anchor medal. There was pizza and the usual snacks at the end. Plenty of pizza even being closer to the back but for once I wasn’t one of the last runners. Overall I thought this was a solid race. It was well produced, a fast course and had nice swag. While I wouldn’t say the scenery was bad, it just felt kind of generic like I could be running anywhere in New England and I wish the race went though some of the more charming and unique areas of Newburyport. Overall I’d definitely recommend this race to locals. For 50 staters I’d say it’s a solid option and it’s probably the best race I’ve done in MA so far but there may be better choices.
Trick or Trot 3K
Fun, Family Event
Trick or Trot 3K
This is a Halloween themed race produced by Millennium Running. It is only a 3K and is a fun event for the family. The race starts at 11 and before … MORE
This is a Halloween themed race produced by Millennium Running. It is only a 3K and is a fun event for the family. The race starts at 11 and before the race there are a lot of Halloween festivities including a petting zoo so I got to see some cute and creepy animals. There is good pre-race communication and it is easy to park by the race. There is the option to get the packet the day before or race-day. I got it race day and packet included bib and a nice tech shirt. As I said the course starts at 11am. Most days in late October I’d appreciate the late start as an excuse to sleep in but today it was unseasonably hot and was close to 80 degrees. Luckily it cooled down for my half the next day but it was miserable running weather at 11am. Race was well organized. The start corrals are always a hot mess in races like this with a lot of families and participants who aren’t regular runners but the announcer did their best to remind everyone to line up where they were supposed to. Of course not everyone listened but it was better than the Howl-o-ween where people where walking in lines of 4 up front in the corral. I didn’t really like the course very much. I was hoping for such a short course that it would be very fast but it was a hilly course through downtown Manchester with lots of turns and not much scenery. There was over 100 feet of elevation gain which is a lot for the distance. It didn’t help that is was really hot. I mean it’s just 1.86 miles on road so it’s not hard but it just wasn’t as easy as I’d expect. Despite the lackluster course it was still a very fun environment with a ton of participants in costume. My finishing time was slower than my initial goal which was to push myself to try to run under 20 minutes but with the heat and hills my finishing time was fine. Participants get their names called out as they cross the finish line. There is no medal which is fine for a race this short. There is basic race snack and a food truck which seemed a little meat heavy and I had to get home right away so I skipped it. Overall I thought this was a fun event. I didn’t love the course but it was a nice way to get a shake out run done before a Sunday half marathon. As this is a very close race for me that I don’t need to wake up early to run it I would do it again if I didn’t have other race plans.
New England Half Marathon
The Best New Hampshire Half
New England Half Marathon
This is my second year running this half marathon. I ran it in 2020 during covid and it was a great experience but I wasn't sure if that was just … MORE
This is my second year running this half marathon. I ran it in 2020 during covid and it was a great experience but I wasn’t sure if that was just because there were limited races then but I am happy to report it was an even better experience post-covid. This race is produced by Millennium Running and you can always expect great production from them. It is a point to point that starts at an apple farm and ends in my hometown of Concord, NH. There is good pre-race communication and option to get your bib at the Millennium Running store Saturday or race day at the start with the swag item at the finish. Since the Millennium Running store is in Bedford which is right next to Manchester I got it right after the Howl-O-Ween 5K. Only issue is a lot of runners had the same plan so there was a bit of a line. There is not an expo but you can buy anything you need at the store. Packet included personalized bib and a really nice, fleece jacket that I will use. No other swag but the jacket is nicer than the usual shirt you get at a half marathon. For race day there is no parking at the start. Most people park at the finish and take a shuttle to the start. There are also lots of hotels within walking distance to the finish in downtown Concord if you are coming from out of town. I stayed at my parents house and drove up after getting my packet and my parents dropped me off at the start so I can’t comment on the shuttle but I assume it was organized. Start had packet pick up, porta potties and bag check. Everything seemed organized. It was just a bit cold outside. There was a threat of rain but we lucked out and had absolutely perfect weather for the race. The start has self seeded corrals by pace. There is about 1000 participants and it worked well. This was my first time doing this race with a mass start as during covid there was a time trial start. My only complaint during covid was the streets were open and the coned off running area was a bit narrow. However with the mass start most of the streets were half closed and the ones that weren’t had at least one lane closed and there was always a large area coned off for runners and I never had trouble passing people. The course is gorgeous and net downhill. The first about 8 miles are on rural roads passing by farms and have perfect fall foliage. There is a small hill around mile 3 but its mostly downhill. Mile 8 is the worst as it is uphill through the hospital and then mile 9 is a bit on non-technical trail but then miles 10 through 13 are downhill again through my old neighborhood and downtown Concord. This part is probably my favorite given the nostalgia factor. It’s a fast course but you need to bank time or energy for the hill at mile 8. I was hoping to break 3 hours but I knew I need to feel perfect and it just wasn’t my day. I was still under 3:10 and it was my second fastest race since I had lung injury from the fires in June. There is good course support with frequent aid stations. The first just with water. The rest water and gatorade and mile 8 had untapped maple syrup instead of gels which is yummy. Spectator support is okay. Some of the course is quite rural so there are some areas without spectators but especially downtown near the end there are a lot. Everything is very well marked and plenty of course marshals and police support. It was also very back of the pack friendly. I had no issues at my pace and another participant I knew from one of my running clubs who finished closer to 3:30 agreed that it was very back of the pack friendly. My parents met me near the end and brought their little shih tzu who was so excited to see me she ran part of the course with me which was cute. The finish line is exciting and they call out all the individual finishers. The medal is fantastic. It is always fall themed and was very large and had a nice stained glass appearance. I posted a picture of the shih tzu with the medal. Post-race food is fine but it is the only aspect of the race that I think could be improved. There is water, gatorade and normal snacks like granola bars, bananas, etc. Overall this is a great race and it would be my first choice for 50 staters for New Hampshire. I would try to make this race work with your schedule if you can.
Howl-O-Ween 5K
For the Dogs
Howl-O-Ween 5K
I was looking for a warm-up 5K in NH this Saturday and was excited to find this one. It is both a Halloween and dog themed 5K that benefits an … MORE
I was looking for a warm-up 5K in NH this Saturday and was excited to find this one. It is both a Halloween and dog themed 5K that benefits an animal shelter in NH. Costumes and dogs are encouraged. I didn’t bring a dog but I did dress up in a costume. There was a helpful pre-race email with all the necessary information sent before the race. The race is a the minor league baseball stadium in Manchester and was the perfect location as Manchester is on the way from Salem to Concord, NH which was my next destination and right near by the Millennium Running store so I could get my bib for the New England Half right after the race. Parking was free at a stadium garage and easy, breezy which was appreciated after last Sunday’s parking nightmares. Bib pick-up was easy and included a very nice tech shirt which a cute design and a nice maroon color. You also got a swag bag with lots of goodies. Mostly donated stuff from local companies but some of it will be useful. There were a lot of booths in the upper level of the baseball stadium. I loved that there was a NH animal rights organization giving out vegan Halloween candies and also had a sign that said “dairy is scary” which was funny as there was also a dairy bar giving out chocolate milk at the race. The race was chip timed and an out and back that started in the stadium. The start was generally organized enough for a small race but I wish they reminded walkers to stay in the back. Since this is a fun theme there were a lot of groups of walkers with dogs who don’t regularly participate in races who stood in the front and were difficult to navigate around which was a bit annoying. The course goes through the baseball stadium down a ramp and then around the stadium to a bridge and then goes on the rail trail. No hills but the stadium has a ramp and the bridge has some inclines and declines so I wouldn’t call it flat. It was cool running through the stadium and the rail trail was really pretty with fall foliage. There was one intersection with police controlling traffic. There were also volunteers there to cheer and make sure no one got lost though it was a pretty intuitive course. The out and back made it very fun to see everyone’s costumes and all the dogs. The finish is a bit tough since you have to go back up. I was relatively happy with my time. I just made my goal of under 40 minutes. I could have been faster but I had to adjust my costume and was a little distracted by the dogs. The course may have been a tiny bit short as my Garmin said it was only 3 miles but my GPS wasn’t working correctly in the stadium so it may have been a Garmin error. It was fun to watch all the dogs finish. There is no medal but there was plenty of swag for a 5K. Overall this was a very fun event and I would definitely do it again. It worked great as a warm-up 5K before the New England Half. I have the same feedback as I did for the other dog race which is I do wish there was a shorter option such as a 1 mile race as my parents have a shih tzu puppy who would have liked to participate but can’t do a full 5K yet. Maybe next year she will be able to.
Baystate Marathon & Half Marathon
Fast Course but Pre-Race was a Mess
Baystate Marathon & Half Marathon
This race is located right across the NH border so it is very close to me and only about a 20 minute drive. There is also a 6 hour time … MORE
This race is located right across the NH border so it is very close to me and only about a 20 minute drive. There is also a 6 hour time limit for both distances so I wouldn’t have to worry about a finishing time for the half. I was very excited for the race given the great reviews but I was kind of disappointed by the production especially pre-race. There is the option for early packet pick-up or race day packet pick-up. Since I wasn’t back from Baltimore until around 8pm yesterday I did race day packet pick-up. There seemed to be good pre-race communication with very clear parking instructions. However the instructions were wrong. They recommend 3 parking lots and described their locations well. I was planning to park at the one closest to the start/finish even though they said it was a little harder to get in and out of as I wanted to minimize additional walking given I was doing a double half marathon weekend. The instructions said roads would not close until 7:30am and that the garages would take cash or card. I put the address in my GPS and left my home around 6:30 arriving at 6:50 am. However one of the roads that my GPS wanted me to take was already closed and I didn’t know how to get to my desired parking lot so I ended up parking at another one. Getting in this parking lot was a hot mess as the parking lot was taking cash only and many runners didn’t take cash since the instructions literally said the garage would take cards. It took me about 30 minutes to park which was stressing me out as packet pick-up was stated to close at 7:30am. They really needed more accurate parking instructions and they should have warned about how difficult parking was as I would have left earlier though I thought I left with plenty of time. Packet pick-up was also a hot mess. The packet pick-up was at the area for the local college UMass Lowell and required you go through a metal detector. I understand safety especially given the proximity of the race to Boston and the Boston bombings but the line was moving so slow. Staten Island Half also had metal detectors and security check and it was significantly quicker despite having a 5X larger race field. The packet pick-up lines were huge as there were apparently wifi issues and they were having trouble assigning bibs. I eventually did get my bib and shirt but by then it was 15 to 20 minutes before race start. I’ve done a lot of races and it should not have taken this long to park and get packet for the size of the field. I had about 70 minutes and that should have been plenty of time but I was super rushed. Due to how long everything took I needed to make a decision about whether to bring my shirt back to my car vs use the porta potty. I really had to use the porta potty so had to bring my shirt on the run. The race shirt is super nice though. Really nice green color and very good quality long sleeved tech shirt. However the weather was perfect and I didn’t feel like running in long sleeved. I started the race wearing the shirt but got hot and took it off in the middle and tied it around my waist. The porta potty lines were also kind of a mess and some volunteers kept telling us there were other porta potties with no lines but all had lines. I managed to finish using the porta potty 3 minutes before race start. Yikes this start was an absolute disaster. The rest of the race did go much smoother though was not perfectly produced. They had separate corrals for the full and half marathon. I ended up in the back of the half marathon corral since everything took so long which is fine because I am slow but would be frustrating if I was a fast runner. The course is fine but kind of boring. The point of this race is to be a fast race for Boston Qualifying and it was definitely great for that. The half is two double loops. The full follows the half for about 2.5 miles then continues going straight while the half turns and does two upper loops before joining the half on the way back. The course has some really pretty sections with fall foliage and nice water views and some nice sections through the college campus. It also has some really boring sections where you mostly pass by fast food restaurants and autobody shops. You do pass by multiple Dunkin Donuts twice and I don’t know what could be more Massachusetts than that lol. The course is really flat with just some slight inclines and declines and since you do it twice you can strategize it well. Also with the loops you don’t really need to worry about tangents like you do with courses with lots of turns so this makes a very fast course. I had blisters on my feet from yesterday and very sore legs but was quite a few minutes faster than Baltimore without trying. Course support is pretty good. There are a good number of spectators though most seem more there just for specific runners though they still cheer you on. Aid stations mostly good but two issues. One is no gels or nutrition on course so make sure you bring some if you will need it. The other issue was more specific to back of pack half marathoners. Because of how the course works for miles 6.5 to 8.5 of the half only the half marathoners do it twice so you aren’t sharing it with the marathoners the second loop. There is one aid station at this section which ran out of water by the time I got to it the second time. Luckily I brought my own water bottle and had enough to make it to the next one. The next one does share the course with finishing marathoners so was well stocked. I finished the race about 7 minutes faster than yesterday and they call out the finishers and cheer them on at the finish line. They were only handing out marathon medals and went to get me a half one but told me they ran out and gave me a marathon medal. Kind of disappointing to not get the correct medal. This definitely wasn’t an awful experience in the back of the pack but the missing water at the one aid station and the wrong medal really didn’t make it as back of the pack friendly of a race as I’d expect for a race with a 6 hour time limit. I never felt unwelcomed and the issues seemed more due to poor planning than not caring about back of packers. The post race food was good and they clearly had food that runners want after race. The food options had fruit, chips, PBJ and multiple soup options including several vegetarian and vegan options. Overall I had mixed feelings on this race. Given the really great reviews from other years I’m not sure if the production issues particularly pre-race were unusual. If you do this race definitely either do pre-race packet pick-up or arrive very early between 6 and 6:30am and bring cash for parking. I would definitely recommend this race for people looking to BQ or PR given the flat course and as high of likelihood as possible for great weather in MA (though weather in MA can always be unpredictable as it rained the next day). I would also recommend for 50 staters who finish over 4 hours who are concerned about not getting a finishing time given the 6 hour time limit. I didn’t think it was the best course for the 2:45 to 3:30 finishers like me as it was more designed to be fast than to be interesting or fun. Baltimore was definitely better for my pace. Overall I thought this race was fine. It probably would have been 4 sneakers if the pre-race wasn’t such a mess. I will probably do it again since it is only a 20 minute drive but I’d consider traveling a bit further for a race with easier parking instead.
Baltimore Running Festival
Don't let the hills make you crabby
Baltimore Running Festival
I was initially planning to run the much closer Hartford Half this weekend but I had a poor experience being over 3 hours at another one of their other races … MORE
I was initially planning to run the much closer Hartford Half this weekend but I had a poor experience being over 3 hours at another one of their other races and decided to transfer my registration and look for a more back of the pack friendly half today instead. I didn’t find any I was interested in doing in New England but expanded my search and saw this race had a 5 hour time limit and decided to go for it. Baltimore is super easy to travel to if you use Southwest as it is a hub. Even relatively last minute I found cheap, direct flights from Boston to Baltimore and the race is downtown so you don’t need to rent a car. Since I had to work Friday I opted to have my packet mailed so can’t comment on the expo. I received an update when it was sent and it arrived earlier in the week. Packet included bib and race shirt. The race shirt is a bit underwhelming. It is a nice quality Under Armour shirt but as another review said was kind of plain without the cute crab logo. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express about 1/2 mile from the start and I took a cab from the airport. Honestly, I never usually say this, but I found the staff there to be rude and incompetent and I wouldn’t stay there again. This race has an interesting set up where the marathoners start at 8am and the half marathoners start much later at 9:45. The course is set up so the half marathoners run a unique first 3 miles and then join the last 10 miles of the marathon. This set up allows the elite marathoners to not have to worry about half marathoners getting in the way. I have mixed feelings about the late start but I did think this was a great set up for a course with 2 distances. The late start meant I could sleep in which was great since I arrived late. But it could potentially also mean hot weather and I find late starts hard for fueling. The weather luckily was perfect temps for race day so the late start was fine weather wise but it was drizzling rain throughout the race. Never a downpour but it cause my sneakers to get wet and for my feet to get blisters. The race start was pretty well organized. The only issue is the start area is a bit chaotic as the full course goes nearby and there are different starts for the half and for the earlier shorter distances and a lot of roads barricaded off making it hard to maneuver around. Speaking of shorter distances another perk is there is a challenge to do the earlier 5K plus the half and get a challenge medal. If I were in better shape or not doing a half the next day I would have done this. The half marathon start corral is organized into waves. They said we would be assigned waves but it was a little unclear. Not sure if it was clearer if you went to the expo. There were 5 waves. I figured there would be a lot of back of packers and lined up at the back of wave 4 which seems correct. The race went off on time and it is overall an interesting but hilly course. It starts downtown and there is some cool architecture. At about mile 3 you join with the marathoners once we’ve spread out. The super fast marathoners had already passed so the marathoners we joined with were faster than us but not so much faster that it was an issue and eventually as the race went on and the marathoners grew more tired we were running the same pace as the marathoners. I’m not sure if the course set up affected the elite half marathoners but as the marathoners should have been well spread out and while they wouldn’t be running with elite marathoners they’d still be running with awfully fast marathoners I doubt it would affect them much. The course was extremely well marked and had mile markers and a few points where your splits were recorded. After downtown you go through neighborhoods. Some are nicer than others. All are very hilly. There is a nice section between miles 6 through 8 by a lake that is mostly flat. This is the perfect time for some flat running and the only flat part of the course. Then it is back and neighborhoods and hills and a picturesque finish at the inner harbor. The hills are rough but there is a ton of support. There were frequent aid stations and I loved that they had some real food like pretzels, granola bars and fruit since I get hungry at races that start so late. The aid stations never ran out of anything. There are also lots of unofficial aid stations. I was very impressed with spectator support. There were a ton of spectators despite the rain. I’m sure it is even better in nice weather. The finish area is great at the inner harbor. The medal is amazing and one of the main reasons along with the 5 hour time limit I wanted to do this race. It is a really cool crab design that opens up to a picture of a ship in the inner harbor. My finish time was fine. I was back over 3:20 but I was intentionally not pushing myself too hard on this race since I had another half tomorrow and I knew it was hilly. There was a solid post race food selection of chips, granola bars, fruit, fruit snacks and cow tales which I guess come from Maryland. There is also beer if you drink. I didn’t see any more savory, filling food but I didn’t really look as I went to Shake Shack again for a veggie burger and vegan shake right after. Second half in a row with a Shake Shack by the finish line. Other than the hills (which really weren’t too bad. It was much better than Vermont) and some sections of Baltimore not being the nicest, I have nothing really negative to say about this race. I would not recommend this race to BQ but if you are looking for a convenient, fun, back of the pack friendly race with a great medal do this one for Maryland. I will most likely come back and get another crab medal.
Staten Island Half
The Other Borough
Staten Island Half
I chose to do this race since I had a 3 day weekend and wanted to visit NYC. This race is produced by NYRR and it is a very popular … MORE
I chose to do this race since I had a 3 day weekend and wanted to visit NYC. This race is produced by NYRR and it is a very popular race as it is a race that can be used as part of the 9 +1 and 4 out of 6 method to get guaranteed entry into the NYC Marathon and Half Marathon so there is about 10,000 runners. The race takes place in Staten Island and the best way to get there is the Staten Island Ferry. It is a free ferry you can catch at the bottom of Manhattan. Other than it adding an extra 20 to 30 minutes it really was not a big deal getting to the race. For the race you can either get the packet at the NYRR store or race day. I got it at the store on Saturday. The packet included a long sleeve tech shirt. It was an ugly yellow color and not my favorite. Race day morning I took the ferry with a bunch of other runners. The start area is well marked and the porta potty lines seemed less long than other NYRR races I have done. There are 2 waves with different color bibs. The first wave started at 8:00 and the second at 8:30. There were also corrals within each wave. Each wave had a separate line and it was well organized. This was done so much better than RnR DC that had a similar plan but was a mess. I was in the second corral and runners were sent off in groups and it maybe took 5 to 10 minutes to get through to the start. The first about 8 miles are a bit boring mostly just through some streets in Staten Island with nothing too special about the scenery. It is sort of an out and back with a turn around about mile 6 but then it diverges at around mile 8. After mile 8 the scenery becomes great with views of the bridge and Manhattan Skyline. The course is all on closed streets and is very organized. Tons of aid stations and mile markers. Aid stations have water and gatorade and one had gels. Pretty good spectator support though the spectators are more in pockets and some areas aren’t as spectator friendly but since there are a ton of participants it is a very high energy race even the areas without spectators. The weather was perfect though there was a bit of a headwind the last few miles. The course was pretty easy. Mostly flat with some not too difficult hills between miles 7 to 10. The only challenge is the hills are at one of the more mentally difficult parts of a half marathon. I’m never the biggest fan of the finish of NYRR races. The end is always a bit impersonal and there is always a long corral to walk through. This was the same as other races though the end by the ferry terminal was a bit more spectator friendly than central park. You get your medal and a bag of snacks in the corral. The medal is okay. I don’t think NYRR gives the best medal. The bag of snacks is fine with gatorade, water, apple, pretzel and protein bar. I was very happy with my finishing time. I had a rough summer and was kind of stuck between 3:20 and 3:30 finishing times as I had lung injury from air pollution but it appears my lungs are now healed. I was worried my time last week was a fluke but I was even faster this week. I was still not under 3 hours but just under 3:05. There is a shake shack right by the finish line for a veggie burger and they now have vegan shakes. Overall I thought this was a very good race and a nice option if you are looking to run a race in NYC. Staten Island does not have as iconic of scenery as Manhattan or Brooklyn but I did prefer this race to running loops in central or prospect park. For 50 staters, you can get more bang for your buck running in upstate or western NY over NYC but if you really want to run in NYC and want a race that does not require lottery/charity to enter then I would recommend this one. Since I enjoy visiting NYC I would do this race again.
Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon 🏆
My 100th Half Marathon
Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon 🏆
For my Wisconsin half I was looking for a Sunday race near Milwaukee so I could get Wisconsin done without using vacation days. I was excited this race added a … MORE
For my Wisconsin half I was looking for a Sunday race near Milwaukee so I could get Wisconsin done without using vacation days. I was excited this race added a half and excited it was chosen as the venue for the 50 states half marathon club annual meet up. Awkwardly though it was my 100th ha;f marathon for the 100 half marathon club which counts races between 13.1 and 26.2 miles but not for the 50 states half marathon club which only counts exactly 13.1 mile races. This was an excellent race and an excellent choice for #100. I flew in Saturday morning and got my packet that day. I stayed in the Hilton right by the start and the expo is across the street. You definitely don’t need a rental car (though I got one because I had plans not within walking distance). The expo was fine. Kind of small but had race merch, the typical stuff and a few booths. Packet pick-up went smoothly and included a nice, long sleeve tech shirt. It was a grey color. I don’t love grey but it’s a nice grey. The race is point to point but the start and finish are 1.5 miles apart. Most people are instructed to park at the finish and take a shuttle to the start. But for the host hotel guests you walk to the start and there is a shuttle back. I rolled out of bed and walked to the start about 20 minute before the race. The start is organized with pacers to help everyone line up properly. Only complaint about the start is it started about 10 minutes late. There is a few thousand participants. A really nice number for an exciting atmosphere but not too crowded. The course is well-marked and all on closed streets which is great after running on so many open courses this summer. The weather was a bit hot this morning. The race starts at 7am and it was gorgeous at the start but got a bit hot by the end. I loved the first ~8 miles which started downtown and then went though pretty neighborhoods and then along the lake. There were a good amount of spectators on this section though not as much as some cities such as Richmond or Little Rock. It reminded me a lot of the Buffalo Half/Marathon in terms of size, energy and support probably because they are both Great Lake cities. This part is mostly flat with some little rollers and perfect elevation for me. Then a bit before mile 8 we start an out and back on this huge bridge to finish the race. This part is a bit grueling as it was unshaded and long. There are also no spots for spectators but since it is an out and back a ton of runners cheer you on. The turn around is where the half and full split. The way back has a separate lane for the half and full marathoners so no mixing of paces. There is a steep uphill on the bridge but then it flattens you then have the go back up on the way back but it means the last mile is downhill. There was also plenty of aid stations with water and gatorade and one with gels along the course. Very back of the pack friendly and lots of people running and walking at slower paces. They said you had to make it to the bridge by an 18 minute/mile pace but they let everyone though even if they were a bit slower. However I didn’t need to worry about it because I was feeling great today. It helped that there were a ton of back of packers and people to run with and encourage me. I have been so sick of being stuck at 3:20 + all summer and my goal was under 3:20 ideally under 3:15. I was doing great with most of my miles under 15 minutes (except the hill which was a bit over). Once I made it up the hill the second time I saw at mile 12 I was at 2:56 and realized if I really pushed myself and ran the rest as fast as possible I could finish in under 3:10 and I really went for it. I ran as hard as I could downhill and had my fastest mile since the smoke messed up my lungs last June and couldn’t believe my finish time. I’m still not at my old speed but I shaved 15 minutes off last week. The medal is gorgeous. One of the best medals I have. The finish area is fun though the post race food is only okay. You got a bag of food with an uncrustable PB&J, a clif bar, chips and a banana. At least it was all vegan. I actually love uncrustables and clif bars so I kind of enjoyed the food. I then took the shuttle back to the hotel but you could also consider walking or taking a short cab ride if you don’t want to wait for the shuttle. Overall this was a very, good race. I didn’t love the long stretch on the bridge but otherwise it was a very nice and pretty fast course. I would recommend this race for Wisconsin especially if you prefer more urban races and/or are looking for the most convenient location. This is probably a one and done race for because there are so many great races closer to me in the Northeast this weekend but I could be convinced to do it again and if I lived closer I would definitely do it again.
Clarence DeMar Marathon & Half Marathon 🏆
Meet Archie the Therapy Pig!
Clarence DeMar Marathon & Half Marathon 🏆
I have only heard great things about this race so since I am back in NH and had the weekend off I knew I had to do it. There was … MORE
I have only heard great things about this race so since I am back in NH and had the weekend off I knew I had to do it. There was great pre-race communication with weekly emails leading up to the race. This race is located in Keene, NH which is by the Vermont border. Probably my only real negative about the race is it is not a convenient location. Every airport is over 1 hour away so if you are flying you will need to rent a car or be creative. I obviously drove but it’s still a pretty far drive. It is about 1 hour from my parents house in Concord, NH and 1.5 hours from my apartment in Salem, NH so I stayed with my parents. I was happy there was race day packet pick-up as it would be a long drive to go back and forth for the packet and I didn’t feel like spending money on a hotel. There is a pasta dinner that I’ve heard is great but again because of the distance I skipped it. The race ends at Keene State College and there is a different start for the full and half. You can park either at the start or finish but if you are doing race day packet pick-up you have to get the packet at the finish so I parked at the finish and took the shuttle to the start. I had to leave very early in the morning to get there and get the shuttle. I may consider a hotel if I do it again. The full starts at 7am and the half at 8am but you have to get the shuttles pretty early. The half shuttle left between 6:30 and 7:00. Packet pick-up went smooth and included a very nice, long sleeve light blue tech shirt and a draw string bag with lots of goodies like a bumper sticker and nutrition items. Definitely more swag than I’ve been getting at most half marathons. The shuttle went smoothly. One other minor negative is you had to wait at the start for a while. As I said in my last review the weather cooled down and it was perfect running weather but not perfect waiting 1 hour outside before a race weather. There was a tent runners could hang out it but it was not heated. Other than that everything else was great. There is about 300 participants in both the half and full. The full is net downhill and a fast course that a lot of people use to BQ. The half follows a lot of the marathon but there are a few areas that split. The half is not net downhill (well technically my Garmin said it was 20 feet net downhill lol) and is rolling hills but is not too difficult especially for NH. The scenery is beautiful and there is fall foliage and you also go past farms, pretty rustic neighborhoods, parks and through a cemetery. It was impeccably well marked. It could have been a confusing course as the half and full diverged quite a bit but it was so well marked you couldn’t get lost. There were very frequent aid stations every 1 to 2 miles. The road was not all closed for runners but it was always coned off and there was always space for runners to pass each other since there is some mixing of paces. With the size of the field there wasn’t much issue with the half and full mixing together and it was nice to almost always be running with others even if they were running much faster than me. There is good spectators support for a town of this size. It is not going to be the spectator support of the NYC marathon but there were more spectators than I expected. My favorite spectator was Archie the Therapy Pig who I met and got the pet and take some pictures with. There were also some really cute kids handing out treats to the runners. The half is very back of the pack friendly as there is essentially a 6 hour time limit. However there were very few back of packers participating. I was surprised there were only a couple participants behind me given the long time limit. I had no issues being in the back and since I was finishing with a lot of marathoners, all the aid stations were well stocked. I did run alone for one portion that diverged which was a bit lonely until I rejoined the marathon. The finish line is at Keene State College and it is busy, energetic and well set up. The medal is fine. It’s probably a bit below average for a half medal but adequate. The full medal is appropriately bigger. My finishing time was exactly the same as I have been running. I was hoping to break 3:20. I was on target until I met Archie but it was more fun to pet him and interact with the spectators than be 5 minutes faster. The food was a bit picked over at the end. There was still plenty of food but there was a selection of cookies and only healthy “breakfast” cookies were left. There was also vegan soup and a selection of different granola and protein bars. There was only one thing of chocolate milk left. I hate chocolate milk but I saw a marathoner excitedly get the last one. Since there were like 2 or 3 half marathoners behind me this shouldn’t be an issue for most half marathoners but full marathoners may not have as great of food selection if over 4ish hours (though there should be some food). Overall I thought this was an excellent race. I’m not sure it’s the best half marathon in NH but it’s definitely in the top 3 (the other 2 being New England Half and Smuttynose Rockfest). However this is the best that has a marathon so as long as you can get to Keene this is definitely the race to do for 50 state marathoners and one of the best choices for 50 state half marathoners especially walkers. I am not sure I will be in town next year for this race but it’s one I will definitely do again.
Be A Hero 5K
The Dog Days Are Over
Be A Hero 5K
This is a super hero themed 5K that raises money for the NH Humane Society. I was looking for a Saturday 5K this weekend in NH and since I love … MORE
This is a super hero themed 5K that raises money for the NH Humane Society. I was looking for a Saturday 5K this weekend in NH and since I love superheroes and dogs I decided to do this one. It is located at Castle in the Clouds by Lake Winnipesaukee near the White Mountains in an absolutely gorgeous part of NH. As it is located more in northern NH I stayed at my parents house in Concord this weekend as it was closer to both races. There was very good pre race communication for a smaller charity 5K. However the course was very difficult and while the description didn’t make it sound easy it could’ve emphasized the difficulty a little more. Race morning was a breeze and I loved that there were lots of signs and clear directions of how to get to the race. Packet pick-up is race day. Packet included bib and a nice tech shirt for a 5K with the race logo. There were also a few booths with some samples of dog treats and some sweet dogs available for adoption (I would’ve adopted one of them if I didn’t travel for races so much). The start and finish were chip timed with a start/finish arch. One minor production complaint is the race was scheduled to start at 8:30 but they told us to line up at 8:30 and there was about 10 minutes of pre-race stuff (course info, thank you from human society, anthem, etc) so the race started about 10 minutes late. One thing I was very happy about was there was finally cool weather and it was beautiful to run in. After the humidity and heat of the past few weeks this was wonderful. However as I said the course was really tough. The first half was a loop and mostly trail. The trail wasn’t super technical but there were very steep uphills and downhills. There were also gorgeous views. You then run past the start/finish area and do an out and back. The out and back was non-technical trail but was a very steep up and a very steep down. The course had about 400 feet of elevation gain which is about the same as my half marathon had the next day. The course was very well marked and there were a few cheering sections. One other minor production complaint is while there was a few aid stations they just had water bottles not cups. I was very happy to make it to the finish line as this was tough. I laughed at my finishing time because I was actually slower than the race I completely walked even though I ran some of this one. You got a small medal with the race logo. I liked small medals like this for 5Ks. Post race food was just bananas but you also got a drink ticket where you could get beer or soda. Overall while this was a very tough race it was also very beautiful and went to a good cause. One recommendation I have because of the difficulty would be to have a shorter 2.5 K option with just the first loop. This would be better for families and smaller dogs. My parents have a little shih tzu who would’ve been fun to bring but could never complete the 5K. Especially as this goes to a good cause I would do this race again but I would not expect a PR.
Halfway to St. Patrick’s 5K & 10K
Festive and Back of the Pack Friendly
Halfway to St. Patrick’s 5K & 10K
This is a 5K/10K in Manchester, NH that celebrates it being halfway to St. Patrick's day produced by Millennium Running. St. Patrick's Day is kind of a big deal in … MORE
This is a 5K/10K in Manchester, NH that celebrates it being halfway to St. Patrick’s day produced by Millennium Running. St. Patrick’s Day is kind of a big deal in New England as Millennium Running has 3 different St. Patrick’s theme events. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to run this race so it was a last minute decision. Luckily you could sign up on race day. I can’t comment on pre-race communication other than Millennium usually has great communication and their website is very helpful and has all the info. I had plans in the afternoon and only had time for the 5K. The race takes place on Elm Street where most Millennium races start. One slight negative is it starts at 10:15 which is a little later. It was a beautiful day out and by far the best running weather we had in a while. If this start at 8 or 9am the weather would be perfect but it was a bit hot at the end of the race. Race day registration was easy. The swag item this year was a pint glass which was fine. Not the best swag I’ve gotten but sounds better than the “kilt” described from the prior review. The pint glass was not guaranteed to race day sign ups which is fair but they said to stop by after the race and see if there were leftovers which there were. The start had self seeded corrals and was organized. There was an announcer and Irish music and most participants wearing green which was fun. It was a fairly big race with about 500 runners doing the 5K and 250 doing the 10K. The race has a very fun energy and lots of back of packers which makes up for the lack of scenery. The first almost 1.5 miles is up Elm street which I have run so many times by now I know that street by heart. Then you turn down a side street and run a little under 1.5 miles down another street. Then you take a few turns to the finish. The roads are all blocked to traffic and the course marshals were going above and beyond to keep the race safe and were very engaged. There was an aid station a bit after mile 1. The course was very, very easy to follow. It’s a pretty fast course. The first half is net uphill but there is really only one hill which isn’t too bad and the second half is net downhill. There were a ton of people running my pace so it was fun to not be alone as I have been during a lot of races. I’d imagine the 10K is probably a bit lonelier in the back but there does not appear to be a time limit so it shouldn’t be a problem if you are slower doing the 10K. The finish line was big and it was chipped time. I was hoping to run under 40 minutes but ended up just a bit over. It was still one of my fastest paces since my lung injury so I was overall happy with my time. The end had basic snacks like crackers, bananas and pretzels. I also really like that Stonyfield the yogurt company from NH is starting to also give out non-dairy options at the end of Millennium Races. Overall this was a very fun event. Not one to run for scenery or swag but great production and great energy. I don’t plan my schedule around shorter races but I would definitely do this one again if it works out with my race/work schedule.
Surftown Half Marathon
Do NOT Run if > 3 hours
Surftown Half Marathon
I ran this race a couple years ago and loved it. Of course that was before a stress fracture and lung damage significantly slowed my speed. I decided to run … MORE
I ran this race a couple years ago and loved it. Of course that was before a stress fracture and lung damage significantly slowed my speed. I decided to run this race again since I was moving back to New England and one of my favorite bands was playing in Rhode Island Saturday night. As I was progressing nicely with my time in the late spring and had a few under 3 hour half marathons under my belt, I thought I’d be fine when I signed up but it’s been a rough summer for me. This race has a 3 hour time limit and I knew I wasn’t going to make it. However it was a very fast course so I was hoping as long as the weather cooperated I would finish in the ballpark of 3 hours. For the race I stayed in Mystic, CT which is about a 15 minute drive to the race start and fun place for the weekend. I opted for race day packet pick-up since picking it up the day before wouldn’t time well with the concert. As soon as I woke up Sunday morning and left my hotel I knew I was in trouble. It was about 100% humidity and miserable just walking to my car. I thought about dropping down to the 5K but decided to attempt the half since I was 3 half marathons away from 100 half marathons and I looked at last years finishing times and saw a few people over 3:20. Most of the specific race details are in my review from last year and I am going to focus more on the issues I had in the back. Packet pick-up and parking very easy and free. Packet this year had polyblend shirt instead of tech shirt. It was still quite nice. For the race there were up to 3 hour pacers. I decided to try to follow them but it was way too humid for me to keep up. This year they reversed the course from 2 years ago which I though was better. It was again kind of dumbell shaped so you ran straight along the beach then did a loop and then straight along the beach and then a loop and then straight to the finish. This time the longer and hiller loop was first which I though was better so you got most of the hills over with as opposed to them being during the toughest miles. Although none of the hills are very big. This is a relatively flat race with about 200 feet elevation gain. It is quite scenic though it was a foggy morning so scenery was worse this year as well. It was actually kind of an odd experience being in the back as for the most part I hardly noticed. All the aid stations were open, there were race officials patrolling the course and everything was well marked. There was a timing mat at around mile 8 right by the start/finish and they let us go right through it with no indication there would be issues. I was very surprised to see a photographer at mile 11 because it was over 3 hours by then. There were also no issues with the roads since they are open anyways. However this is where the issues start. It was a rough race in the humidity and I pushed myself as hard as I could praying I would get a finish time. I see the finish line is being partially taken down (which honestly surprised me as nothing else was taken down on the course for the slower runners) and I cross my fingers I would get a time and sprinted to the end. Luckily I heard the sound of my time getting recorded. I did get a medal which was nice but not as nice as two years ago. Most people left the finish area but I also got my crabby challenge medal which was big and adorable. There was also finish line food though it is clam chowder so I just took the popcorn and granola. Now this probably all sounds fine and it was and if I just got a published finishing time I would have been happy and probably rated this race 5 sneakers, maybe 4 because the nerves about finishing weren’t that fun. However I looked and my time isn’t published. I’m like okay maybe they just need more time to record all the numbers. I had lunch in Mystic and went to see a movie and visited Mystic Village and then I was happy I checked later in the afternoon and saw my finishing time. Phew this would count and I am 2 away from my 100th half marathon. However later that night I drive home and see they posted on facebook that they have published the correct times and my time has disappeared. What? It was recorded. So I reach out to them the next day. And I will admit they were very professional in their responses but they basically said the timer was off at 3:15 and times weren’t recorded but I told them I had a finisher time and I saw it so they looked into it and it turned out the timer was never turned off so my finishing time was an accident so they didn’t want to publish it. I begged and pleaded as I really needed the finishing time and it literally was recorded and they eventually did publish it but told me to download my finisher certificate as they may decided to remove it and that they shouldn’t have to post my finishing time because I was over the time limit. While I am happy I got a finishing time this really upset me. Look I completely understand why courses may have to have time limits for runner safety, volunteer safety, staff safety or city permits. If I was pulled from the course at mile 8 which would have been an easy time to pull runners because it wasn’t safe for us or the volunteers to be out so long I’d be a little annoyed but I’d get it. If the timing mat was taken down because the city made them I’d be a little annoyed but I get it. But I don’t get not wanting to post recorded times because you think runners over a certain time don’t deserve a finishing time or something. Literally no one is hurt by posting my finishing time. It also seems really arbitrary that the time limit is 3 hours and someone who is 3:15 is okay but not 3:25. I mean I could sort of get being a stickler for the rules and not posting anyone over 3 hours. Anyways this left a very sour taste in my mouth after an otherwise good race. I have decided I will not be running with Hartford Marathon Foundation who produce this race anymore as even if I get faster I would prefer to support race companies that are less elitist and more supportive of athletes of all abilities. I was going to do the Hartford Half this fall but I decided to transfer my registration to another runner and do Baltimore Running Festival instead. It appears from my communication that Hartford Marathon Foundation is planning to be stricter with their time limits as they have been more lax the past few years so I would definitely reconsider running one of their races if you don’t think you can finish under the time limit and not just rely on past finishing times.
NAFI Rhode Island Run 4 The Kidz
Nice, smaller race
NAFI Rhode Island Run 4 The Kidz
This is a smaller charity 5K produced by Rhode Races & Events that raises money for a charity that helps support kids and family. It was only announced a few … MORE
This is a smaller charity 5K produced by Rhode Races & Events that raises money for a charity that helps support kids and family. It was only announced a few weeks before the race but I was looking for a 5K in Rhode Island as I was planning to spend the weekend in Rhode Island. There was good pre-race communication for a smaller race. It started/finished at a brewery and parking was pretty easy. The race started at 9am and is about 1.5 hours away from where I lived so I just live for RI race day morning. There is race day packet pickup. Packet included bib and a tech shirt with the race logo. It is grey and a bit plain but fine for a 5K. There were a few booths with some of the charities supported by the race. The race had a bit under 100 participants. It was manually timed but well organized. I was planning to walk this race since I had a half marathon with a strict time limit the next day and I had plans in Rhode Island that I didn’t want to be really sweaty and smelly for. I was worried with such a small race there may not be many walkers but about 1/3 of participants were walkers and even walking I was more in the middle of the pack. What I was disappointed with was the course scenery. I was hoping since Bristol is a coastal town it would have coastal views. But it was a loop mostly with industrial views and views of chain stores and a few neighborhood views. It was not scenic at all. But not the end of the world. The roads were open but there was a coned off space for participants and lots of room to run/walk. It was very well marked. There was a water station in the middle. I don’t think it was a very hard course. Maybe a few rollers. It’s hard to compare walking vs running but there were no hills I was out of breath walking. The biggest difficulty is it was super humid and hot. There wasn’t much of a finish line but you were cheered on. They had water bottle and basic snacks at the end and also some pizza. There was free beer from the brewery if you drink. They also had someone selling frozen lemonade which was perfect after the race. Overall this was a solid, smaller charity 5K. It’s not a race I would go out of my way for so I probably wouldn’t do it again unless I was planning to be in Rhode Island the weekend of the race but I would recommend it to locals.
New Haven Road Race
Good Race but WAY TOO HOT
New Haven Road Race
This is a race that takes place on Labor Day Monday in New Haven, CT. New Haven is about a 2.5 hour drive ffor me so I needed a hotel. … MORE
This is a race that takes place on Labor Day Monday in New Haven, CT. New Haven is about a 2.5 hour drive ffor me so I needed a hotel. I stayed at the Omni which is right by the start/finish and very convenient. It is a bit on the pricier side and the upper end of what I am willing to pay for race weekend but so convenient it’s worth it if you can afford it. There are cheaper hotels within walking distance but not quite as close. There was good race communication. There is packet pick-up race day and the day before. I would have liked to have done it the day before but it stopped at 3pm which is awfully early and I didn’t get there on time so I got it race day morning. I got it pretty early at around 7am so I could bring it back to my hotel and hang out a bit. it was easy that early but I heard it was a bit more chaotic with longer lines later in the morning. Packet included bib and shirt. The shirt is a nice, quality tech shirt but grey and kind of a plain design. It is fine and I will wear it. The half marathon/20K and 5K have separate starts so the races don’t mix. My biggest complaint about the race is it starts way too late. The race starts at 8:30. It was already hot at 8:30 and was going to be close to 90 degrees by the end. There is also a 3:15 time limit. I think I could finish in the time limit in nice weather but not in the high 80s. However I looked at past races and saw finishing times over 3:15 so I wasn’t too concerned. Other than the late start time the race is pretty great. It is a pretty large race with over 1000 runners which is perfect size for me. The only disappointing thing is with the tighter time limit there aren’t a ton of back of packers. I was always running with people but it wasn’t a party in the back kind of race like some other larger races I have done. There is a lot of crowd support with adorable families and friendly spectators. There are also a number of bands and musical acts so it is a fun environment. The course isn’t that scenic because New Haven is not that scenic of a city but they did the best they could to give a tour. A lot was through neighborhoods. Some parts were nicer than others. The one museum with the triceratops was cool to pass by. Course extremely easy to follow and it was so nice to be on closed roads as most of the races I’ve done this summer have been on open roads. There were frequent aid stations with water and electrolyte drink and one at around mile 7 had gels. There were also large mile markers with clocks. It’s also a pretty flat course. about 300 feet of elevation gain. Some minor rolling hills. Nothing crazy. It’s below average in difficult but I gave 3 sneakers due to the heat. I was initially feeling great with the fun environment and for the first 7 miles managed to run them all under 15 minutes and managed to bank enough time that I could run the rest of the miles in 16 minutes and finish within the time limit. I did start to feel the heat at mile 8 and mile 8 and 9 were about 16 minutes of mostly speed walking with some jogging. Then it just got so hot and I started to having breathing issues at mile 10. I knew the only way I would finish safely was to walk the rest so I had to walk the final 3 miles. I fell behind the needed pace for the time limit at mile 11.5. They did make us go to the sidewalk at that point but did let us finish. I don’t love finishing on the sidewalk but I was slower than the pace I needed to finish in the time limit and I understand city restrictions and why it needed to be done. The finish line was fine being slow. We still got finishing times, cheered on and got medals. Like the shirt the medal was fine but kind of generic and not that exciting. There was still plenty of post race food including veggie dogs, chips, yogurt, fruit, and granola bars. They actually had extra hot dogs and veggie dogs so us slow pokes got extra food. Overall I did think this race had a very fun environment with lots of spectators. However I wish it started earlier and had a longer time limit. If this start at 7:30 and had a 4 hour time limit I’d give it 5 stars. Although other than having to do the last 1.5 miles on the sidewalk it wasn’t a huge deal being a bit over the time limit. For 50 stater recommendations I’ve now done 3 half marathons in CT and each of them has different pros and cons. Of the 3 I’ve done in CT, I’d recommend this one if you like spectator support and on course entertainment, I’d recommend Mystic if you want a scenic race and the nicest location and medal, and I’d recommend Savin’ Rock if you are worried about a time limit since it was the only CT race I’ve done without a tight time limit.
Swanzey Covered Bridges Half Marathon
Nice, smaller, charity race
Swanzey Covered Bridges Half Marathon
This is a smaller half marathon that takes place in Swanzey, NH which is near Keene by the Vermont border. This race is a fundraiser for the students of the … MORE
This is a smaller half marathon that takes place in Swanzey, NH which is near Keene by the Vermont border. This race is a fundraiser for the students of the local Middle/High School and is in honor of the race founder who also used to be a coach for the school. This was an interesting race to compare to Blueberry Cove last weekend as they are both smaller races that raise money. However this race had a much cheaper entry fee and better production. If you sign up early this race is $60 which is a fair price for a race like this. If you sign up last minute the price does go up to $80 which may be a little overprice for this race but that’s on you for signing up late. This race starts at 9am which is a bit late for this time of year but it is mostly shaded and Keene is a bit cooler than other part of the state. This race is also about a 1.5 hour drive for me so even though it got a bit hot at the end at least I didn’t have to wake up super early or get a hotel. Communication was fine. Not the most detailed website or emails but all the essential information was communicated. There is the option for early packet pick-up but I got it the morning of the race. Packet pick-up and the finish is at the school and it went smooth. I was happy to see actual bibs though they were generic. There is also an okay cotton T-shirt but better than nothing. The start was about a block from the school. It was just on the road and there is not a timing mat for the start but it’s a small race with about 100 runners so everyone starts around the same time. I think there was a start flag to indicate it. The course is very scenic. You go under a number of covered bridges which is really cool. The rest is though neighborhoods and farms and pretty forests. It is one of the more scenic races I’ve done in NH and the covered bridges definitely added to it. The roads are open which isn’t my favorite and some had kind of tight shoulders. It was very well marked with both arrows on the ground and course marshals and volunteers. There were also mile markers and aid stations every 2 miles with water and gatorade. One negative is the last 2 aid stations had no volunteers when I arrived. Not sure if this was just for slower runners or if they were short on volunteers. The course isn’t too hard. I think about 400 feet of elevation gain. Mostly rolling hills nothing terrible. There is one section for maybe a mile that is non-technical rail trail the rest road. The toughest part for me was since it’s such a small race I was running by myself a lot and I find it harder to motivate myself to go fast when I’m alone as I tend to go in training run mode. The finish has a timing mat and a clock with your finishing time. I was slow but as my race on Monday had a tighter time limit my goal was to take it easy and finish around 3:30 which I did. The medal was much improved from what I’ve heard. It wasn’t the biggest or flashiest medal but a very cute covered bridge design medal. The finish area was very fun for a small race. There was a raffle and I ended up winning some kitchenware for my new apartment. There was also a BBQ which included veggie burgers and pasta salad. Overall I thought this was a nice, scenic small race. Personally I prefer the big, exciting race atmosphere and don’t love running alone so much so it wouldn’t be my first choice for a NH half for 50 staters but if you like smaller races that I would definitely recommend this one for you. Since I now live in NH and I don’t need a hotel for this race, I would do this one again.
Black Bear Trail Races
Nice Trail Race in White Mountains
Black Bear Trail Races
This is a trail race that takes place in the Waterville Valley Village in the White Mountains of NH. I was originally planning to attempt to do the half marathon … MORE
This is a trail race that takes place in the Waterville Valley Village in the White Mountains of NH. I was originally planning to attempt to do the half marathon and do my first triple half marathon weekend and use that as motivation to improve my fitness. But I had a very rough summer with lung issues from the smoke from the fires in Canada so my fitness has gotten worse not better so I decided to drop down to the shorter race. I also had some plans in the afternoon and the half marathon at my current fitness level would take probably close to 5 hours and I was hoping to be done sooner. There is a 5 hour time limit so this is a race you can hike if you aren’t a trail runner. There was not an option to transfer down my registration so I contacted the race and they were very helpful and even refunded the difference which I didn’t expect. Initially the short course was a 5K but we got an email a few months before the race that it was instead going to be an approximately 4 miler. I was personally very happy with this change as I wanted a distance a bit more challenging than a 5K but much easier than a half marathon. The races are staggered and have rather late start times. The half marathon is a 9am, the short course at 10am and the kids race at 11am. I do think the later start times worked for this race even though it can be hot in early September as this is in northern NH where it is generally cooler and allows runners from the more populated southern NH not have to wake up super early. I appreciated the 10am start as it is a 1.5 hour drive for me and I could wake up at a normal time and still get there. There was good pre-race communication including an athlete guide. Packet pick-up is the day of the race. The race doesn’t include any swag except the medal but you can purchase a shirt or trucker hat. It is a relatively cheap registration without any swag and a normal price registration if you add swag. I gave 3 stars for the swag because even though the shirt and hat weren’t included they were very nice. I didn’t purchase them but I might if I do the race again as they were very nice. After packet pickup you line up at the start/finish line. The race is chip timed and it is the same timing mat for the start and finish. The short course was the last section of the half marathon. The course was marked very well with frequent flags and direction signs. There was just one intersection I though could have been a bit clearer but it was overall marked well. It was mostly a loop. It was through very pretty woods. Although I can’t say the scenery was every so amazing I had to stop and take a picture. There was one aid station but it was mostly for the half and kind of an awkward placement for the short course as it was at mile 0.5. Like most trail races you probably want to bring water. The half appeared to have aid stations every 3 to 4 miles. The course was technical and difficult but not crazy. There was 600 feet of elevation gain for the 4 miler and I believe around 1600 feet for the half. The terrains was technical with rocks and roots but nothing crazy. Overall this was about average for a trail race. It is easier than the races at Mendon Pond Park by Rochester. I’d recommend trails shoes and they are a must if you are running it competitively but if you are doing a more leisurely pace or hiking regular sneakers are fine. One tricky thing this weekend was there was a lot of mud. My biggest complaint about the race is how the races were staggered. Since the half started an hour earlier, the fast half marathoners all caught up to me while I did the final 4 miles of their race. I felt like the entire race I was letting faster runners pass me which made it hard to get into a groove. The runners were all very nice and polite and encouraging but it just wasn’t a great set up. To make it worse as I finished over 1 hour the kids race started so there were also kids on the course flying by from that race (I am not complaining about the kids race as kids races are a great way for families to participate I am just complaining about having it take place the same time/course as the regular races as it was quite chaotic). It was fun though finishing with other runners as there were finishers from all the races finishing with me which may be why they staggered the race the way they did. The bibs were different colors by distance and there were distance specific medals. The medal is wooden and so cute with a black bear bum design. I love the medal which is also why I marked swag 3 stars even though it is just a medal. My finishing time was slow but remember this was a 4 miler not a 5K and was actually closer to 4.5 miles. Post race food is a bit disappointing with just the basics like granola bars, fruit and fruit snacks. It was fine for the 4 miler but I’d want something more substantial if I were doing the half. But don’t worry there are plenty of restaurants in the Waterville Valley village right next to the start/finish line along with cute shops. This is a very fun place for a vacation and there is also great hiking so if you like trails this would be a good option for a NH half. Overall I very much liked this race. I would definitely do the short course again and would like to do the half marathon sometime if I can get in better shape and get back into doing more trail training.
Blueberry Cove 13.1
Overpriced
Blueberry Cove 13.1
This is a half marathon on the Maine Coast that is located at and raises money for a camp. I think I am in the minority here but I was … MORE
This is a half marathon on the Maine Coast that is located at and raises money for a camp. I think I am in the minority here but I was not really a big fan of this race. It was a nice course and everyone involved was really nice but the production was super cheap and it was an expensive race at $90. I know it raises money for charity but this was the cheapest production of any race I have seen including a race called “the cheap marathon” and personally I’d rather pay the correct price for a race and pay additional money for charity. The race is located a little over an hour north of Portland and about 3 hours from where I live so I needed a hotel. You can rent a cabin on the campground for $20 but they are barebones with no electricity so I opted for the Hampton Inn about 20 minutes away. There is a pre-race dinner but I had to run an errand in NH after the 10 miler and was arriving too late and I also wasn’t sure if there were vegetarian options as it was a fish chowder dinner so I skipped it. Pre-race communication was pretty minimal. I arrived at the camp race morning. There is really no packet. The bib is a reusable cloth bib that just has the numbers written in sharpie. The worst part was some people kept their bibs from last year since there is no other swag and they didn’t have my number so they had to make one on the spot holding up the line. You’d think they’d at least check the bibs before to make sure they were all made to speed up the check in process. There were 4 porta potties and some bathrooms at camp. It was enough for the small race field. The start line was just chalk which we lined up behind. No pacers or signs where to line up. It is manually timed so you will lose some seconds if not up front. The course was relatively scenic. The first 6 to 7 miles mostly along wooded streets then you run a short out and back to the lighthouse in Forrest Gump which is the best part and then run back to camp. The course is described as “gently rolling hills” but it is quite hilly with close to 1000 feet of elevation gain. The roads were all open to traffic with no cones or anything. Most of it was fine but one road had a very narrow shoulder to run on. There were mile markers made from buoys. There were aid stations about every 2 miles with just water. There were no other course markings just volunteers at intersections. The volunteers were helpful and I never got lost but it’d be nice to have a few cones or direction signs or even chalk on the ground instead of just relying on volunteers and at one point I did pull out google maps to be 100% sure I was going the right direction. A runner could easily get lost if if a volunteer need a bathroom breaks or something. Speaking of bathroom breaks there were very limited porta potties on course and the RD actually suggested we use the woods which I ended up doing. The finish was surprise a homemade finish line and they collect the bibs so they are reused. My finish time was slow due to the hills and I have a hard time motivating myself in smaller races but there was no issues being in the back. The medal is also homemade. It is a nice homemade medal but for a $90 race I’d like some other swag if the medal is homemade. There is a nice brunch at the end but it’s not a $90 brunch. Overall this race was just too bare bones and cut too many corners to save money for me. I don’t necessarily mind bare bone races as I do think it is great to have affordable races that people of all means can participate in but this as I said had an expensive price tag of $90. Even if it goes to charity you cannot overcharge a race that much. The race had to just cost the price of a town permit and supplies for the homemade stuff. If they charged $30 to $40 I would have though this was cute and charming but not for $90. Again I do know this goes to charity but I regularly give money to charity and would rather pay the correct price for the race and give additional money to charity. I know a lot of people love this race and if you like quirky, small races maybe you would but I would not pay $90 for this race again. If you are looking for a half marathon in Maine personally I thought the Maine Half Marathon in Portland in October was much, much, much better. I also looked and right now registration is $70 so it’s cheaper than this race and you got nice swag, closed roads, actual bibs, lots of on-course entertainment and great production.
NH 10 Miler
Great Relay Even from the Back
NH 10 Miler
I did the full 10 miler a few years ago and the relay with my dad last year so those reviews have more detail. This year I planned to do … MORE
I did the full 10 miler a few years ago and the relay with my dad last year so those reviews have more detail. This year I planned to do the relay with my dad initially but he was unable to run it so I ended up doing the relay with a friend from a running club. My friend is a walker which was fine as I was planning on taking this race easy and allowed me to see how the race is from the back of the pack. This year I decided to arrive really early to get good parking. I arrived around 6:45 and parked right by the start. There is plenty of parking but if you arrive late you may have to park close to 1 mile from the start. This year the race shirt was a polyblend shirt not a tech shirt but I liked the color and design more than last year. The relay is incredibly well-organized and timed. I went second again. The buses leave right after the runners start so you can cheer on your relay partner and arrive at the halfway mark a few minutes before the first runner passes. Since my partner walked she was one of the last participants to pass the halfway mark so I was near the back. However this race is very back of the pack friendly and it was no big deal at all. All the aid stations completely well stocked with water and gatorade and one had maple syrup. Course is hilly but doable. Finish line and post race area was all still up near the back and it was an exciting and encouraging finish. The medal is great for a race shorter than a half marathon. Overall this is a great event I’d recommend to everyone no matter your pace.
Gopher to Badger Half Marathon
2 States in 1 Race
Gopher to Badger Half Marathon
This race is produced by Run Stillwater who produce several races around Stillwater, MN which is a town in Eastern MN about 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis. This race is … MORE
This race is produced by Run Stillwater who produce several races around Stillwater, MN which is a town in Eastern MN about 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis. This race is really cool in that it is point to point and starts in Minnesota and ends in Wisconsin so it can count for either state. I chose to do this race more out of convenience. I don’t have the time and money to make every state a long, expensive “race-cation” and since Minnesota is a relatively easy state to fly to I wanted to try to do a race I didn’t need vacation days for or to spend too much money on. This race fit well in my schedule as this weekend was blank and I found a direct flight from Boston to Minneapolis Friday evening. The race also offers race day packet pick-up which is great since it’s a Saturday race. There is good communication from the race director who is very friendly and responsive to emails so I would ignore the 1 sneaker rating of this race as I can’t imagine the RD not reaching out or responding to emails. This year packet pick-up and shuttles were by a by government center in Hudson, WI and there was parking there and at a park across the street. There seemed to be plenty of parking. I stayed in the Holiday Inn in Hudson, it was about 1 mile from the packet pick-up area so you could walk. I did rent a car and drive as I didn’t feel like carrying my shirt around and wanted to bring it to the car. Packet included a black polyblend shirt. While the theme is Gopher to Badger which is fun the swag doesn’t have the team logos or anything which I assume is a licensing issues which I get as it does not seem worth the extra cost to have the team logos. The shuttles were well marked with what race distance, The shuttle takes you to the start in Stillwater. Start area is well-organized. There were a reasonable amount of porta potties for runners, there were also cups of water out and there were pacers but the slowest was 2:45 which I was not gonna be close to until my lungs get better but it did help runners line up by pace. This is a decent sized race with about 800 runners. The course is a bit boring but a pleasant run. It is mostly through neighborhoods and quiet areas. Some of it was on open roads but they all had cones and only 1 area was a little busy. It was much less of an issue than last weekend. Course was well marked with cones, direction arrows and volunteers. Some of it is shaded and some of it is not. It was beautiful weather today but got a bit hot by the end. Still cooler than most of the country so this is a good place for a summer run but it will still likely be too hot for a super fast time. The course is pretty easy as it is net downhill with some small hills and inclines. The end is mostly downhill. There are aid stations about every 2 miles with water, gatorade and porta potties. There were also mile markers. There were not a lot of spectators. Sometime between mile 11 and 12 you go over this big bridge into Wisconsin. One side of the bridge is beautiful views of the St. Croix River. The other side is highway. You are on a pedestrian path so no issues with traffic but I find loud, zooming car noises aren’t the most pleasant to run next to. Then it is down a public path by the river to the finish near downtown. Its pretty back of the pack friendly with a 4 hour time limit and they were keeping track of how many runners were left to make sure everyone had a finishing time and medal. But there weren’t a ton of back of the packers so you may be alone for part of the race. I finished pretty slow as my lungs are still a mess but was a few minutes under 3:30. No issues with the finish line being in the back of the pack except there are just less runners and a lot had left the finishing area already. However there were some spectators and all of the race staff to cheer us on and give us our medals. The medal is nice with the bridge on it and good sized. There are basic snacks like bananas, chips and granola bars. Overall I thought this was a solid race. It’s more of a local race than a destination race and well everything was well done it wasn’t a particularly special race except for the 2 state aspect. It is nice that it can count for either Minnesota or Wisconsin. I need both states but I am planning to count it towards Minnesota as I am doing the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon this Fall. However if something goes wrong with that race it’s nice to have the flexible to do either a Minnesota or Wisconsin race as a back-up. This was also quite convenient and was a relatively cheap and easy trip. I would definitely recommend this race to local runners. There are probably more exciting races for 50 staters although this is not a bad option especially if you want an easy trip or the flexibility of it being able to count for both Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Cape Ann TripleThreat Half Marathon
Beautiful Course But Way Too Hot!!
Cape Ann TripleThreat Half Marathon
This is race produced by YukanRun a race company that hold many half marathons and some shorter races in Northeast Massachusetts generally near the coast. This race takes place in … MORE
This is race produced by YukanRun a race company that hold many half marathons and some shorter races in Northeast Massachusetts generally near the coast. This race takes place in Rockport right on the tip that sticks out northeast of Boston. It is a pretty close race for me and a little over an hour drive so this was very convenient for me but my feelings on the race were mixed. I agree with the review below about most of the negatives but the race company did fix a few of them so they seem open to feedback which is great. In terms of communication, they sent emails that basically said refer to the website but the website was very updated and helpful so that is fine. They seemed to fix the parking situation by having runners park at a park and ride and providing a shuttle. The park and ride is about 1.5 miles from the race start so you could use it as a warm up but the shuttles were very convenient. The race starts at a school. There is also parking at the school but it was packed by the time I arrived and I would only use it if you are doing the earlier races and arriving very early. There is only race day packet pick-up at the school. One annoying thing about this is there is no bag check so if you do the park and ride, you have to either take your swag with you or you have to put your swag down somewhere and hope no one accidentally takes it. Swag included a tech shirt. It was a bit plain but nice material and I did like the color this year. It was a nice light blue. You also got a drawstring bag with a collapsible water bottle and an energy gel. The swag was adequate and pretty average but not so nice that I would be really upset if someone accidently swiped mine so I left it behind a rock and did not take it with me during the race(don’t worry it was there when I returned). There seemed to be enough porta potties this year. I didn’t have any long wait. Probably the biggest issue with this race is how late it starts for the summer. This is called “triple threat” because there is a three race challenge where you run the 1 miler, the 5K and the half marathon consecutively. While the challenge sounds fun I did not opt for this challenge mostly because of the chance of hot weather. I did not think I could finish the challenge if it were 85 degrees and it was so I’m glad I didn’t do it. As a result of the challenge the half marathon starts at 9:15 which is way too late for the summer (although I won’t lie after my 4am wake-up yesterday I didn’t mind the extra sleep). Race day was a beautiful, sunny day and if the race started at 7am most of it would be in lovely weather and only the end would be hot but at 9:15 it was already hot and by noon it was very, very, very hot. I believe the challenge is designed as a training run for people doing fall marathons but I really wish this race was swapped with another race to the fall so it could be in cooler weather or that there could be an early start option for those doing the half marathon not doing the challenge (perhaps make it not awards eligible to be fair to those starting at the usual later time). The start was okay but it was just the runners line up and go. I stood at what seemed to be the back but a bunch of runners lined up behind me last minute so I ended up being a little closer to the front than I meant to be since there were no signs indicating where to sign up. One thing I loved about this race was the scenery. This is one of the most scenic courses I have done in New England. The majority of it was right along the beach and through beautiful neighborhoods. This was the beach I was expecting in Maine. The course is mostly an out and back with two small loops at either end so kind of dumbbell shaped. The other big issue with this race besides the late start time is it is open to traffic. The first about 3 miles were fine on quiet beach streets. I occasionally used the sidewalk but didn’t really have to. There is one small dirt section here that is mentioned in the course description the rest is paved. However around miles 4 to 6 you are on a rather busy roads most of which did not have sidewalks. To make matters worse many middle of the packers were coming back as I was going out which made it very cramped. The runners coming back were going with traffic. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to cross the street but it didn’t feel safe to run with traffic when most vehicles would be paying attention to the large herd of runners and may miss the lone slow poke. Another slower runner caught up with me and told me she switched sides as she almost got hit by a car running with traffic. Then there is a nice, beachy loop around mile 6 with less traffic then back to the traffic road, then finally back to the quiet street. The end is a loop through town. There is medium traffic but there were sidewalks here. The rest of the race production was fine but rather barebones. I’m guessing it was hard to get a ton of volunteers so some of the course is just marked with signs. I was always able to follow the signs and did get lost and there were volunteers at the most confusing sections but not everywhere so it’s a definitely a race someone could get lost on. I would recommend downloading the racejoy app if you are prone to getting lost as it will let you know if your off course. I also did see race officials patrolling the course keeping track of the runners so they did as much as they could to keep it safe in these conditions. Aid stations were good. They were located every 2 miles. I’d prefer more in the heat but usually that is plenty and the race instructions did recommend carrying water. Aid stations had water (in larger cups this year than described below), gatorade and gels. There is a 3 hour time limit. I did see finishing times of over 4 hours last year so I wasn’t overly concerned as I thought as long as it wasn’t really hot I’d at least be close but it was really hot and I was not very close to the time limit. Don’t worry they did let me finish and they did not take down any direction signs. The last aid station was packed away since I was over the time limit but it was very smart what they did. The volunteers left but the table was there with most of the supplies packed in boxes but a few water jugs and cups left out for slower runners still on course and the gels were boxed up but accessible. While I’d love for the aid stations to be 100% open I was over the time limit and I understand volunteer safety and time constraints so this seemed very fair. The finish line was like this as well. I ended up finishing well over 3 hours but just under 3:30 and the last finisher was about 3:50 so don’t worry too much about the time limit. I laughed because the race did almost exactly what I said the Yankee Homecoming race should do for slow runners in that review as a compromise although luckily this race did not run out of medals. The medal was fine but a bit generic. I think they use the same medal for most races but the ribbon is race specific. It has the shape of Massachusetts on it so it’s not the worst 50 state medal. At the finish line most of it was packed up and it wasn’t too exciting but a few people were there to cheer and congratulate me. The snacks were mostly packed up but they left some water bottles out and left the boxes on the table so you could open them and take some snacks. This was not the most back of the pack friendly race or the most exciting finish but as a compromise between runners needs and volunteer/staff needs this all seemed a fair compromise and I was slower than the stated time limited. But as a result I would not recommend this race to back of the packers if you are looking for a race with more fanfare such as your first half marathon, 50th state, 100th half marathon etc. As a back of the packer looking to check off another race to get closer to 100 I was fine with this. Overall I thought this race was fine. It was a beautiful course and a convenient location for me. I do wish it was earlier, had closed roads or at least was on less busy roads and had a longer time limit. I’ve heard similar feedback about other Yukan races. Since I am close by I’d do this race or another Yukan race again if there aren’t many other options within driving distance. But this wouldn’t be my first choice for 50 staters or a race I’d recommend traveling several hours for unless you are looking for a double with Beach to Beacon as that race is worth a trek.
TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race
A 6.2 Mile Long Party!
TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race
This is a very popular and famous New England race that takes place in Cape Elizabeth a small town outside Portland, ME. To enter the race you basically need to … MORE
This is a very popular and famous New England race that takes place in Cape Elizabeth a small town outside Portland, ME. To enter the race you basically need to register as soon as registration opens at 7am. I logged in a few minutes before 7am and everything went smooth and I was registered within 15 minutes. I believe there is also lottery and charity options for entering if you don’t get in right away. The race takes place on a Saturday and is a little under a 2 hour drive for me. One thing to definitely take into consideration if you want to do this race is the cost of hotels. Initially it looked like there was only packet pick-up before the race. Luckily packet pick-up was open until 8pm Friday so I would have time to get there after work. I was initially planning to pick up my packet and stay in Maine as it would be too much to drive 2 hours for packet, drive 2 hours home and drive 2 hours on race day. However hotels were insane. It was about $500 to stay anywhere in Portland. I found a hotel that was $350 in Biddeford, ME which is still about a 30 min drive to the race but it was still more than I wanted to pay. Luckily about 1 month before the race there was an email saying they were offering limited race day packet pick-up which I opted to do and canceled my hotel. For the race there are multiple parking locations and you take a shuttle to the start. It is a bit of a confusing race being a point to point in a small town but there is very clear pre race instructions which made everything smooth. Race day packet pick-up was at Cape Elizabeth high school so I opted to park there. Race day packet pick-up is from 5:30 to 7:30. However I heard from others that parking and getting there in the morning can be a pain due to traffic and road closures so I woke up at around 4am and got there around 6am. While I didn’t love waking up so early everything was very easy and I heard it was very hard to park and get to the school for people who came later so arrive early. Packet pick-up was easy. They have the shirts at the finish line if you do race day pick-up which I think works best. The shuttle to the start was really smooth. There was water and lots of porta potties. The start was on a big street and had suggested paces to line up by. One minor complaint I am not sure the best way to fix is the porta potties were lined up along the 11:00+ min/mile pace. I tried standing where I was supposed to be but everyone kept asking me if I was in the porta potty line so I ended up just lining up in the 10:00-11:00 min/mile pace to avoid the porta potty crowd. Not the end of the world and most of the runners were my speed since most people go up a corral. Start was otherwise well organized and we went in waves and it took maybe 15 minutes to get everyone through. The rest of the race is a blast. Pretty much the entire course is lined with spectators and it is a party atmosphere with tons of cheer squads and music. Course is all on closed roads and very easy to follow. There were official aid stations every mile and many more unofficial aid stations including a bacon station if you eat meat. There were also tons of back of packers and lots of people at my pace. There is a 2 hour time limit so it is very walker friendly. The course is scenic and shaded but I will admit I was hoping for more beach. There was a lot of woods and you didn’t really see the beach until the last mile. But it was such a fun environment I didn’t really mind the lack of beach. The course is rolling hills. It’s not really a fast course or a slow course. However as this is a very famous race it does attract some elite athletes and it’s cool that some very famous runners were out today. The finish line was at a a lighthouse and it was a scenic ending with lots of outdoor space for the post race party. Everyone is cheered for and you get a medal. The medal is small but appropriate size for a 10K and has a nice lighthouse design. There are basic snacks like granola bars and trail mix and some delicious blueberries. I also got my shirt which was a nice tech shirt but white. There is another large area with lines for more treats like ice cream and dunkins but the lines were quite long so I didn’t wait. One negative about the race which I don’t think can be helped is the lines for the shuttles back to the parking area were quite long. To be fair I don’t really think a race that is a point to point in a small town with limited roads to use could have been more organized so I didn’t mind waiting 30 minutes for the shuttle but just a heads up for planning your day. Afterwards I went to downtown Portland and got lunch at a vegetarian restaurant the Green Elephant and went to CatVideoFest at the art museum downtown. Overall this was a fantastic race and my favorite race I have done that is shorter than a half marathon. I was especially impressed with how this race managed to cater to both elite athletes and back of the packers after my negative experience last Tuesday in Newburyport. This is a race I would 100% recommend. I wouldn’t usually recommend traveling from anywhere in the country for a race shorter than a half marathon but this one is worth it. Definitely try to do this race if you can. I will definitely try to do it again.
Rotary Trails to Ales 5K & 2K
Trails to Veggie Burgers
Rotary Trails to Ales 5K & 2K
This is a 5K trail race in Bedford, NH. It was incorporated into Millennium Running's Happy Hour Hustle Race series which are 5Ks that take place on Thursday evening about … MORE
This is a 5K trail race in Bedford, NH. It was incorporated into Millennium Running’s Happy Hour Hustle Race series which are 5Ks that take place on Thursday evening about once per month from May through September. This race started at a school and there was good pre race communication and easy parking. Bib pickup is the day of the race and was easy. There were a few vendors at the start/finish area. There is no swag except some stuff from vendors which is fine for a short race but is why I docked a sneaker. There were 200 runners for the 5K and how the race worked is there were 100 cones lined up and two waves and runners went one by one. It was as organized as the time trial starts Millennium used during the pandemic but it worked very well to keep the trail from being too congested. There was both a 5K and a 2K option. The 2K is one loop. The 5K does 2 loops. The first loop is the same as the 2K but you go on to continue another loop instead of run to the finish line. On the second loop 5Kers turn and run an extra ~mile section before completing the second loop. This was a nice way to set up the race as the 2K loop was quite easy. There were some roots and minor changes in elevation but it was all runnable and not very technical. Even if you are intimidated by trail running or just hate trailing running you could walk the 2K and still participate. The extra mile added to the 5K however was quite hilly and technical. Nothing crazy this was easy than the dirt cheap races in Rochester but if you want to run this part you need hill training and trail training. My trail shoes are still packed away somewhere as I am in the middle of moving so I did use road shoes. Trail shoes would be better but it was not so technical that they are 100% necessary. Scenery was nice. The woods in NH are pretty. A few parts were on sports fields and not quite as nice. For the finish you ran around the field to the finish line. I was still rather slow and one of the later runners. However don’t worry the announcer at the end was awesome and she still cheered me on and complimented the pattern on my shorts. No issues being the back of the pack with this race. At the end there was a small beer festival with 5 or 6 local beers to try (I did not participate). They also had a barbeque with hot dogs and hamburgers. I asked if there were veggie options and was happy they said they had veggie burgers and got me one. The only issue with being such a slow runner is they were out of ketchup so if you are big ketchup fan you better push yourself. Overall this was a fun race and a nice challenge. I would definite recommend it if you can squeeze it in your Thursday and it would be a great intro to trail running course for those curious about trail running.
Yankee Homecoming Road Race
RD is rude and elitist
Yankee Homecoming Road Race
I was very excited for this race as it is a large, well-known race that has been held for over 60 years right on the NH/MA border on a Tuesday … MORE
I was very excited for this race as it is a large, well-known race that has been held for over 60 years right on the NH/MA border on a Tuesday evening and couldn’t be more convenient. However I will cut to the chase and say the RD was extremely rude to slow runners at the finish line and of the ~300 races I have done I have never seen an RD be this rude to slower runners. This race has a 5K and a 10 miler option. The 5K starts at 6pm and the 10 miler at 6:10pm. There was no stated time limits and I saw finishing times from prior years in the 2:30 range so I decided to do the 10 miler. The only caveat on the race website was to wear reflective clothing if you think you may finish later than 8pm. There is packet pick-up the day of the race. Parking is kind of a pain and if you can arrive early try to. I had to come after work and parked at about 5:45 and parked a few blocks away. I got my packet which included bib and a white tech shirt. Packet pick-up is efficient but I did not have time to go back to my car so I had to put the shirt in my fanny pack pouch on the run. The 5K went first and then the told us to line up in the corral there were no signs by pace but I assumed I would be near the pack since I doubted there would be many walkers since it would get so dark if you were longer than about a 2:30 pace. I was correct and there was only a handful of runners near the back and none were particularly slow. The slowest runner was 15:00 min/mile pace which is still a solid pace. The race seemed great with tons of crowd support and it was a really nice course with a mix of water front views, running through downtown and some more wooded suburban areas. It had a nice elevation profile with a few minor hills and elevation changes but nothing crazy and had a ton of aid stations while at least for the first 7 miles. However it was not the best race for the back of the pack. There were a sweeper team and while they didn’t force us to go faster it felt like there was pressure from the team and police for us to go faster to open roads up. It was not my favorite race experience but I do understand why that might have had to be done due to to city regulations, etc. Things really started getting worse when around mile 7 they closed the aid stations down. To be fair the volunteers at each aid station did offer me some water. But it is so discouraging to run past aid stations shutting down. It was especially discouraging as I was running a fairly solid pace for myself as I have previously stated I have been having breathing issues all summer due to air pollution and I have been running slower than usual. I was happy I was actually running 13 to 14 minute miles and was about the pace for a 3 hour marathon so having aid stations shut down really felt pretty terrible. I do appreciate that some spectators stayed to cheer us on at the end. I was even more disappointed when at mile 9 there was a sign that asked slow runners to run on the sidewalk. Again this is something that I can understand due to city regulations but is disappointing. I did slow down a bit the last mile due to it getting darker and some of the sidewalk having some cracks and holes in it. I arrived at the finish line around 2:20 which while I wouldn’t consider it a fast time it is not an exceptionally slow time and there were still a handful of runners behind me so what happens next to me is unacceptable. I run to the finish time relatively proud of my time considering the issues I’ve been having this summer and everything is pretty much packed up except the timing mat and finish sign. The RD did not cheer me on, congratulate me on finishing or tell me I did a good job. I just heard someone say “here’s another one.” The finish line was just crickets. They basically acted like I was a burden for taking so long. I then asked about the medals that were promised and got a blunt “we ran out.” No apology about running out basically acting like I didn’t deserve a medal (again these were promised to all finishers). I do understand how races may run out of medals and this isn’t the first time it’s happened to me but it’s the first time the race has not been apologetic about it. And all but one occasion (which was a charity race who sent a very nice apology before and after the race) all the races later mailed medals. I also asked about snacks because I was starving and they were liked they are packed away. What? You knew there were runners on the course why wouldn’t you leave out a few water bottles and snacks for us. I then demanded I get something as I was starving and got some snacks unpacked. I honestly felt so terrible after this race. Every other race I have done has been so encouraging at the finish line and as I’ve said I’ve run about 300 races. I have walked races, I have been DFL, I have been over time limits and I even DNF’ed once and in all those occasions the RDs have been so encouraging and cheerful at the end. It is not hard to be kind and congratulate people who gave you money. I can understand a few things such as making us go to the sidewalk, starting to board up some of the finish area, putting away some snacks, running out of medals but I cannot understand how you cannot even cheer for runners and congratulate them. This was absolutely disgusting elitist behavior. Even if all my other critiques stayed the same if the RD congratulated me, apologized about the medals and left out a few snacks and water bottles for the back of the pack I wouldn’t be thrilled with the race and I may dock a sneaker from the rating and I probably wouldn’t do the 10 miler again unless I got back to running 11-12 min/miles but I would have signed up for the 5K and recommended this race to faster runners. However after this behavior I would absolutely never run this race again unless it gets new management. And I would not recommend anyone else supports an RD who is not supportive to people of all paces. Also just some feedback for the RD if you are going to be unsupportive of people of all paces please set a time limit instead of treating us like second class citizens. If this said there was a 2 hour time limit I would have signed up for the 5K and not had such a terrible experience.
***I just wanted to add a positive updated. I initially rated this race 1 sneaker as I was very upset by the finish line. However the race company did later reach out to all the runners and apologized and ordered new medals which were mailed to us. While I don’t think this makes up for the entire experience I do appreciate them listening to feedback and trying to make things right and I added another sneaker to the rating. After this gesture I am now open to doing the 5K as this is a very convenient race for me but I would still not do the 10 miler unless I get back to running 11-12 min miles next summer***
Rocky Mountain Half Marathon 🏆
Breathtaking
Rocky Mountain Half Marathon 🏆
I love Vacation Races so this was the obvious choice for my Colorado Half Marathon. This is one of the more convenient Vacation Races to get to. The races is … MORE
I love Vacation Races so this was the obvious choice for my Colorado Half Marathon. This is one of the more convenient Vacation Races to get to. The races is located in Estes Park next to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). It is about a 1.5 hour drive from Denver so it’s relatively easy to get to. For the race I flew into Denver Thursday morning and drove to Estes Park and spent Thursday and Friday exploring the national park. Of note you do need to make reservations to RMNP and they fill up quickly so make sure you mark when the reservations open and get them right away. If you do not have them you can still enter the park either before 6am or after 2pm and there are beautiful areas to explore outside the park. For this race I stayed at the Estes Lake Lodge. I would highly recommend staying here as it is the closest lodging to the race. It was a bit of a quirky place to stay but it made race morning so easy as it is closer to the race start than the race parking lots. There is a useful race guide that has all the info you need for the race. Packet pick-up is the day before. It is at a local school’s baseball stadium across from the start. I did drive to packet pick-up since I was driving around anyways. Vacation Race’s expos are generally on the smaller side but run smoothly and they have nice additional merch to purchase. Packet included bib, race shirt and reusable hydroflask cup. The shirt is tech and a really pretty blue color. It is nice quality and a nice design. Race morning you are instructed to park at 5:15 and then the pre race staging area is over near the baseball field across the road from the start. The pre-race water, coffee, cocoa are all there. The announcer and anthem is also there. The runners line up there and then walk under a tunnel to the start. However I stayed within walking distance from the start I just walked directly to the start line since it was closer than the staging area. I did miss out on some of the pre-race excitement but got a private area to warm up on and there were porta potties there with zero lines. If you want to walk from the hotel and join the pre-race staging area you could go under the tunnel. The race had runners line up in waves based on predicted times. I just lined up in the front of the last wave. I knew this would be slow given the altitude and my lungs are still not 100% and I aimed for a finishing time under 3:30. The start of the race is about 1 mile of a public bike trail around Estes Lake. This is quite scenic. there is a small hill at the start but this is relatively flat. Then there is about a 4 mile climb onto some remote and beautiful roads. The incline is very gradual but it is deceptive. If you have a goal time definitely strategize because you don’t want to waste all your energy on this part. I knew my best strategy for my current fitness level and goal was to speed walk the uphill and save energy for the downhill. A lot of people passed me here pushing themselves too hard and then had to walk the easier parts of the course and I eventually passed them. Unless you have done hill training at altitude I would recommend slowing your pace a bit down on the uphill. There are beautiful views of mountains and rock formations and lots of horses on this section so it’s nice to take it slow. When you finally get to the top then there is a really nice gradually almost all downhill until about mile 9.5. I was able to pick up the pace and make up for the time I lost on the uphill. Most of this is also quite beautiful but around mile 9 you go back into town and it isn’t quite as majestic. There is a very annoying hill at around mile 9.5. it is much short and maybe 1/2 mile but it is on black pavement and not shaded. It was pretty beautiful weather for the race but got a bit hot by the end. This was the least pleasant part of the course. Then it is downhill until around mile 11.5 where you finish around the bike path on the lake and it is mostly flat. Race was very well produced and well marked. There were lots of aid stations. All had water and gnarly electrolytes and honey stinger gel and a few had fruit. These are cupless races. I generally carry a water bottle and use the hydroflask for electrolytes. Of note with the altitude you will likely need more water than usual so I was glad I was carrying a handheld water bottle. One negative about the course is it is not on closed roads. On the roads closer to town we had to run on the sidewalk. I don’t really like running on the sidewalk during races. However these were wide and smooth sidewalks and not bad to run on. Most of the time we were on the road it was very quiet and there was little traffic and there were signs that the race was happening. There was one section that was a little busier that made me a little nervous. There were lots of course marshals though and any road crossing had someone to control traffic. Another thing I didn’t love is there were limited spectators due to the logistics of the race but there are a lot of participants even in the back and lots of volunteers so it’s not too bad. The finish line is close to the start. They call your name as you cross and a fun fact if you put one down. I was very happy with my finish time for how I was feeling. It was not fast but I was a few minutes under my goal of 3:30 which I though was good with the altitude and my lungs. At the end you get your medal. Vacation Races have the best medals. They are always big and beautiful. They also give our snack boxes, bananas and chocolate milk. I was excited the chocolate milk was “bored cow” an animal free, lactose free product. However it turns out it’s not about animal cruelty or lactose intolerance, I just don’t like chocolate milk so I didn’t drink much of it. There is also a separate booth to get the elk double medal if you also did the 5K like I did. Overall this is a beautiful course. It is challenging but doable and any course in Colorado is going to be difficult with the altitude. Just make sure you strategize the long uphill stretch in the beginning if you have a goal time in mind. I would definitely recommend this race for Colorado especially if you love the outdoors and beautiful scenery.
Rocky Mountain Half Marathon 🏆
Get Some Extra Bling
Rocky Mountain Half Marathon 🏆
I did this 5K the Friday evening before the half marathon as part of the Elk challenge. My half marathon review has more details. The 5K is all on the … MORE
I did this 5K the Friday evening before the half marathon as part of the Elk challenge. My half marathon review has more details. The 5K is all on the bike trail around Estes Park. It was again very convenient. The 5K start was literally across the street from the hotel with the finish a little further away. They did the same thing with the staging area in the baseball field and lining up there and having others go under the tunnel. This year they did have signs to line up by pace. I do wish they had a few minutes between waves as the course was a bit tight but at least just about everyone was doing the same pace which was better than the Grand Teton 5K where there were was too much mixing of paces. This course is very pleasant around the lake and there are some beautiful mountains in the background. It is relatively flat. There is a bit of a hill at the beginning and a few small inclines. My goal was to finish under 45 minutes and I just barely made it but I was taking it relatively easy. The finish area is nice and you get a cute little medal. It looks just like the half marathon medal but smaller. They did run out of medals for the last 75 participants but don’t worry they will be mailed. I was happy I was fast enough to get a medal. You also get a box of snacks. Overall this is a fun addition to the half marathon and I would do it if it fits in your travel plans so you get some extra bling. If it doesn’t fit in your travel plans don’t worry though as the 5K course is also all part of the half marathon course.
Ribfest 5 Miler
No Ribs for Me
Ribfest 5 Miler
I don't eat meat so this is an odd event for me to do but I did it because it was produced by Millennium Running who also produce great races … MORE
I don’t eat meat so this is an odd event for me to do but I did it because it was produced by Millennium Running who also produce great races and also have challenges and incentives to run as many of their races as possible. It was also the closest race to me on Sunday. The race is held as part of RibFest which is a food festival that takes place all weekend. While the production of the race was great. The actual race was not the best likely due to limitations around the festival. RibFest takes place at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack NH. The ribfest usually opens at 11am but the race starts at 9am and there is a special early 10am opening for runners. However 9am is a little late for a race in the summer but at least I got to sleep in after my early morning yesterday. For parking you can pay $20 for VIP parking and park right at the start or $10 for regular parking which is at least half a mile away. I wish I looked into this more as it is definitely worth it for the VIP parking which I didn’t get. There is either bib pick-up at the store the day before or race day morning. I got it race day morning. Along with bib you got a polyblend shirt and a drawstring bag. The shirt was a nice green-blue color this year. I didn’t have time to bring the swag back to my car but luckily this race had convenient and efficient bag check. The race start was smooth with signs of where to line up by pace. It was a nice sized race with about 750 participants. The course itself was not great especially for a hot summer day. The course is a lollipop loop and is basically a 2 mile stretch along an unshaded highway before a 1 mile loop through a neighborhood followed by 2 miles back on the unshaded highway. There is also a steep uphill at the start to get to the highway. It was pretty brutal to be honest and my lungs were still not 100% so I walked the majority of this race. While it wasn’t a great course I’m not really sure what other option there would be since the ribfest is located on the highway and there aren’t other streets to run on. The streets were closed down and there were 2 aid stations you passed twice. There was also a split mat at mile 3 and in the neighborhood there were some spectators some of who had lawn sprinklers on which felt great. While this was not a fast course in the heat there were a lot of back of packers and it was very walker friendly. The RD drove in front of the lead runner and cheered everyone on in the back and they called everyone’s name out at the end. No medal or additional swag for finishing. There was water, powerade and the usual post race snacks but a pretty nice selection for a shorter race with granola bars, chips, fruit, crackers and a few more things. You also got free entry to ribfest but had to pay for food there. I did look around. It is obviously not super vegan/vegetarian friendly but I got a snow cone and an iced coffee. Overall I did not think this was a great summer course. It started too late and was unshaded and just very hot but production was top notch. I wouldn’t plan my life around this race but as it is close by and convenient I’m sure I’ll do it again.
Run to Home Base
A Different Way to Experience Fenway
Run to Home Base
This is a 5K or 9K race at Fenway Park that raises money for mental health services for veterans. It is a really cool event that goes to a great … MORE
This is a 5K or 9K race at Fenway Park that raises money for mental health services for veterans. It is a really cool event that goes to a great cause. However you do need to raise $500 to participate so if you aren’t great at fundraising you may be paying a lot for the race. There was good pre-race communication with a good number of emails. There was packet pick-up either Friday or Saturday. I would have loved more options for packet pick-up as I would have been able to pick it up Wednesday or Thursday but was not available Friday but as they had race day packet pick-up it was not a big deal. For the race I parked on the outskirts of Boston and took the subway to to Fenway since I didn’t feel like dealing with parking at Fenway. This worked fine but then you have to either carry or wear the swag since there is no bag check. Everything race day morning was very organized. I got my bib and swag. Swag includes a very nice tech shirt and a baseball hat. Since there was no bag check I just wore them for the race. One thing kind of annoying is the race starts at 8am but there is an hour long pre-race ceremony and bib pick-up needs to be done before the ceremony so unless you live in Boston you need to wake up really early. After bib pick-up we sat in the stands for the ceremony. Don’t get me wrong it was a very nice and moving ceremony. It just meant an early morning. I did leave the ceremony a few minutes early to use the bathroom and stretch and walked to the start line and got a selfie with Wally the Red Sox mascot. The ceremony also went a bit long so the race started a bit late which is my only production complaint. There was a big start corral. The 9K went first, then 5K runners, then 5K walkers. It was a big but not huge race with a few thousand runners in each category. The course was very nice and mostly flat. It was a T-shaped with the first approximately 1 mile through Boston than you ran along a Bridge to Cambridge and ran about 1 mile out and back to the right and a little under a mile out and back to the left and then ran back to Fenway. The section in Cambridge had beautiful views of the city. The weather was perfect this morning. I was still extra slow from the lung issues I was having. I was do run-walk intervals at about 14 to 15 minute miles. One thing a bit disappointing for me is there were not a lot of 9Kers doing this pace. If you are around this pace you may want to do the 5K if you like to be around other participants. There were a lot of people doing my usual 12 to 13 minute mile pace so as long as air pollution isn’t the new normal this shouldn’t be an issue for me most years. There were plenty of aid stations. There was one just about every mile. Also very well-marked and streets were all closed off. You finish by running into Fenway and it is really cool to see Fenway from inside the field. My finishing time was slow but as I expected with my lungs and since 9K is a weird distance I did PR lol! I will admit the actual running through home base was a bit anticlimactic. After you finish the participants line up and walk over home base. Since there was a baseball game later the base was covered all around so it could be used for the game. They also gave out water and some snacks at the end. Overall I thought this was a really fun race and a cool way to see Boston and get a different perspective at Fenway. As long as you don’t mind raising the $500 and don’t mind getting up early I would recommend this race. I’m not sure I’d make it an annual race due to those 2 factors but I would definitely consider doing it again.
Miles Over the Moon
Not Safe - Do Not Recommend
Miles Over the Moon
This is an evening race in Salem, MA that starts at 8pm on a Friday evening. This was a convenient location for me as Fridays I worked in a town … MORE
This is an evening race in Salem, MA that starts at 8pm on a Friday evening. This was a convenient location for me as Fridays I worked in a town right by Salem, MA so I decided to do this race. There was adequate pre-race info. You could get your packet the day or the race or Wednesday or Thursday at a local running store. I got it Wednesday. Packet included shirt which was supposed to be glow in the dark and was supposed to also be the bib (there was also the option of a physical bib if you didn’t want to wear the shirt) but they said there was an issue with the numbers so you had to wear your physical bib even with the shirt. Anyways that was kind of a red flag that this was not gonna be a great event and was a sign of things to come. For $5 you could also get a glow in the dark accessories pack. It was only $5 but the stuff in it was pretty cheap. One thing I thought was odd in the pre-race communication was they did not recommend or require headlamps which I thought was odd for how late the race was so I brought one but literally no other runners had them on and it was 100% necessary. The race started at a school and there was very limited parking at the school but lots of street parking nearby. The start of the race was fine. The sun hadn’t set so there was adequate light and weather was good although there were reports of thunderstorms that evening. The race is a figure 8 and a lot of it is by the water and some is through town. It is not closed to traffic. It was a fairly big race and there were lots of slower runners. I’ve been having issues with my lungs from all the air pollution from the smoke so I was extra slow. However after about 20 minutes the sun set and it became pitch dark. At this point it did not seem very safe on open roads. While the roads weren’t super, super busy some were fairly busy. Also these are pretty tight New England roads with not a lot of room for runners. I often retreated to the sidewalk but the sidewalks had a lot of cracks and were hard to run on without tripping. I normally hate running at night because I worry about getting hit by a car who can’t see me or tripping on the sidewalk and this whole race was like that. It already felt unsafe to hold a night race without closed roads. Then as I was finish the first loop I saw a lightening strike in the distance. I thought about just going back to the finish line and not completing the race as I didn’t want to get stuck in a thunderstorm but they did not divert runners so I assumed that meant they were tracking the weather and it was going the other direction but that was a wrong assumption. I went on to continue the other loop of the figure 8 and the weather kept getting worse. At one point we were in the middle of the storm with the lightening so close it lit up the sky and I realized we would be running along water at the end. I was not comfortable running in this weather and I asked a volunteer if I could be pulled from the course because I didn’t feel safe but there didn’t seem to be any contingency plans to evacuate runners or get them off course so I had to finish in the middle of a thunder and lightening storm right next to water which is the most dangerous place to be. I walked a lot due to my lungs and not wanted to get injured and also was careful around traffic so it was a slow race. There was a water stop in the middle. There were course marshals but no signage. I heard someone say a runner went the wrong way and I hope they got back safe. The course was pretty flat and I think fairly scenic but I was not paying attention to the scenery. I was so happy I made it to the finish. At the finish line they were just giving out ice pops. I have no idea if there was anything else as I just wanted to get to my car and of of the storm. Overall this was not a safe event. It is not safe to hold a race in the dark that is open to traffic unless the traffic is really light and/or they are wide streets with coned off running lanes. The race got dark 20 minutes in so everyone but the absolutely fastest runners was running in the dark. The race should have started at 7 or 7:30. You also can NOT require runners to run by water in the middle of a thunder and lightening storm. I would not recommend this race. While it is a very convenient race for me I would absolutely never do it again unless they start the race earlier and there is absolutely no thunder in the forecast.
L+M Hospital Summer Stride 5K & 10K
The Weather is Making me Crabby
L+M Hospital Summer Stride 5K & 10K
This is a 5K or 10K that takes place in New London, CT which is right next to Mystic, CT. It's a little over a 2 hour drive for me … MORE
This is a 5K or 10K that takes place in New London, CT which is right next to Mystic, CT. It’s a little over a 2 hour drive for me which is usually a bit further than I’d drive for a non-half marathon but this race is part of the crabby challenge with the Mystic Half Marathon and Surftown Half Marathon. Since I was doing both those Half Marathons this year and had the weekend off and enjoy visiting Mystic I decided to do this race as part of the challenge. It was borderline too far to drive for the race since I was scheduled to do another race that was over an hour away on Sunday I decided to get a hotel for this race. I stayed at the Holiday Inn in New London which was convenient. Packet pick-up is race day morning and the race takes place at the L + M Hospital and raises money for the hospital. It is produced by Hartford Marathon Foundation which means great production but tight time limits. The time limit for the 10K is 1:30 and basically you have to make it to the split at 2.7 miles in 39 minutes. I knew I should be fine since I finished my July 4 10K just over 1:30 and this race was much easier but also that I would be one of the last finishers. The start/finish area was set up really nice and getting packet was easy. Packet included a really nice tech shirt. It is the only swag item but it’s a nicer shirt than you usually get from a shorter race. The start was separate from the finish and there were signs to line up by pace. Started on time and was organized. The 5K is a lollipop and the 10K does the loop twice with an added out and back the second loop. The race is fairly scenic. The first half of the loop is just through neighborhoods and the second half of the loop is next to the ocean and is beautiful. The race was flat/slightly downhill until the end of the loop where there is a rather large hill. I am having the oddest trend of choosing races with big hills at the end lol. The weather was hot and humid so it was not an easy race but I did run-walk intervals and kept the pace I needed. However while the humidty wasn’t fun at least we lucked out and missed the storms and rain which ruined my plans for tomorrow. I was supposed to do the Narragansett Half in MA on Sunday but it was switched to a 10K due to potential thunderstorms and there were flash flood warnings and travel advisories all along the route to the race so I skipped it. I made it up the hill to the turn around at about 37 minutes so was close to the time limit but had enough of a cushion to not be worried. They did seem strict with making the 39 minute time by the split as I saw the race officials coming to start divert runners soon after me and there were only a handful of runners allowed to complete the 10K after me. The 10K was the same loop with a little extra out and back. This out and back was along the ocean and went to a lighthouse and was the prettiest part of the race so even though most of the 10K course is shared by the 5K you do get an extra treat for completing the extra miles. I then went back up the hill and to the finish and finished a bit under 1:30. They were not strict as long as you made the time cutoff at the split and a couple people behind me got finishing times just over 1:30. There is no medal. I’d like one for a 10K but not completely necessary. There was a nice finish area with good post race treats including delicious ice cream. I then visited the Mystic Aquarium after the race. Overall this was a nice, shorter race. If I lived closed I would definitely do it again but I’m not sure I would drive this far just for this race. If they continue to offer the crabby challenge and I am doing Mystic Half and Surftown half marathons again that year I would come back and do this one again.
Mad Marathon
Mad Hills & Mad Humidity
Mad Marathon
This is the third half marathon I have done in Vermont. I chose this race because I am now back living in New England and this was one of the … MORE
This is the third half marathon I have done in Vermont. I chose this race because I am now back living in New England and this was one of the closer half marathons for me this weekend. Pre-race communication was pretty good for a smaller, local race. I loved the RD sent a more personal welcome email when you sign up. There were regular updates and the website was pretty updated but a few minor details such as detailed parking instructions weren’t quite as clear. This is a little over a 2 hour drive for me. Since it started at 7am I decided to stay in a hotel. There are numerous bed and breakfasts in Waitsfield but they are a bit pricey. Definitely not crazy expensive if you are looking for a vacation but a bit more than I want to pay for what’s supposed to be a cheap weekend. Waitsfield is about 30 minutes from Montpelier and 45 minutes from Burlington if you want cheaper and more traditional options and don’t mind driving a bit. I stayed in Montpelier since it was on the way from NH. If you want the true Vermont experience stay at a B&B in town. If you want to save money stay in Montpelier. This year they had a pasta dinner before the race at a nearby B&B. I got my packet and went to the dinner. Packet pick-up was easy. I loved the shirt design. It is a polyblend shirt with an adorable chicken. Nice brick red color. You also got bib and drawstring bag. The pasta dinner was a bit pricey at $35 but I was very impressed they had 3 vegan protein options, vegan cheese, and tons of delicious fresh veggies. I’d recommend going and don’t worry if you are vegan or gluten-free everything was labeled and there were tons of options. Race morning went smooth. As I said I was a little unsure about parking so I got to the race early and parked literally a few feet away from the finish line. The race staging area was set up well. The finish line is an adorable barn design. So Vermont and really cute. There were announcement and the anthem. The start was on the road next to the finish. This short section of the road was closed off There was just a starting flag. There were pacers and a timing mat and it was a generally organized start. I started with the 3 hour pacers though I knew I had no chance at finishing close to 3 hours. The first part of the course is a bit downhill and flat and I wanted to make sure I didn’t go out way too fast. I planned to lose the pacers as soon as we reached the killer over 1 mile long hill at around mile 2. The hills in this race are killer and steep. There was well over 1000 feet of elevation gain. I think it was hillier than the Amish Country Running Festival. On top of the hills today was super, super humid and very hot. This was rough and it was definitely the hardest road half I have done. I don’t really want to penalize a race for weather but the difficulty is one of the main reasons I gave this four and not five sneakers as it was just not an enjoyable run. Even the downhills were quite steep and hard to do fast. However the views are spectacular. There are views of mountains and farmland. You even go under 2 covered bridges. And you see cows and horses. There aren’t a ton of spectators but there were some. I was impressed with the amount of spectators and volunteers for a small town race. Although you will go long stretches without spectators. There were aid stations about every 1 to 2 miles. Enough for most races. Today I needed more and was glad I was carrying water but expecting an aid stations every 1/2 mile in such a small town is a little unreasonable and I was happy with the number of aid stations there were. I believe they all had water and gatorade. I thought course was pretty well marked. There was the occasional section I thought could have been a bit clearer but I never got lost. There were also mile markers. A few of them seemed off by about 0.1 miles but then they started to line up again. Roads are open but it is on very quiet streets so not an issue. The only busy street near the start was closed off for the start and a small section closed off for the finish. It was a mix of paved roads and some dirt roads. The dirt roads were very smooth and had almost no rocks. Not an issue from a technical standpoint although I tend to be slower on dirt but no one is PR’ing this course. The finish line as I said had an adorable arch. My finishing time was super slow but I survived. I was not worried about my time at all given the heat, humidity and hills. The good news is the half and full marathons have the same time limit (I think 6.5 hours?) so there is essentially no time concern on the half. So even if you have no hill training don’t worry just walk the hills and soak in the views. The medal is also adorable with a chicken and a barn and is nice sized. It is the best of my Vermont medals. I will admit the finish line festivities were a bit underwhelming. Some of my more recent races had whole meals at the finish. This just had some basic snacks. I did like that they had some more Vermont themed snacks like apple cider donuts, vermont cheddar cheese and some apple cider. Overall this was a well produced and beautiful race with nice swag but it was not a very enjoyable run with the hills, heat and humidity. If I compare this race to the other 2 Vermont races I’ve done (Shelbourne Half and Maple Leaf Half) I do think this had the best production and swag but the other 2 were much less hilly (though still quite hilly) and had better weather and are at times of the year with generally better weather. As long as having a slow race doesn’t bother you, I would recommend this one for Vermont and I would also definitely recommend it for walkers and back of the packers. I would absolutely never consider running this full marathon but I may come back for the half again since it’s nearby and just hope for better weather and hope they keep the cute farm animal swag.
Run for Freedom 5K & 10K (NH)
Hot & Hilly
Run for Freedom 5K & 10K (NH)
I am back in New England and was looking for a 4th of July Race. I chose this one since it had a 10K option and a convenient location. Pre … MORE
I am back in New England and was looking for a 4th of July Race. I chose this one since it had a 10K option and a convenient location. Pre race communication was fine for a smaller race and the website was updated. But one thing missing was the elevation profile on the course map. My dad had run this race before so I knew it was hilly but it’s be helpful to have the elevation profile to help strategize as I went a little too hard in the extra hilly first couple miles and didn’t bank energy right. For the race there is race day packet pick-up. Parking is at a local school and was easy with volunteers directing participants where to park. Bib pick-up was easy. I was very disappointed they said they were out of shirts. Unlike my race 2 weekends ago I signed up for this race over 1 months ago. I did read the sign up after it said only the first 200 registrants get a shirt. I understand it’s hard to guarantee shirts to everyone but there were over 500 participants so over half didn’t get a shirt which seems a bit ridiculous. I think there were more participants than usual but it seems like you could account for that and order more shirts. And the record number of participants couldn’t have been unexpected since I had to be over the 200th registrant and I registered within enough time to get more T-shirts made. I mean I have plenty of race shirts so it’s not the end of the world but if getting a shirt is important to you then sign up right away. The start is on one of the streets and is separate from the finish. The start was kind of a mess. There were clear start flags and an announcer and anthem but the announcer was not easy to hear if you weren’t listening. They announced the 10K would start at 8am and the 5K would start 2 minutes later. They said only 10Kers should line up but there were some 5Kers mixed in who weren’t listening. It didn’t really mess up the 10K race but I’m not sure if it affected the timing as those runners would have a 2 minute start. I don’t think they were purposely cheating just confused. After the start everything was well-organized. The course is a loop with 10Kers doing a much larger loop. As I expected at the split (which was well marked and had volunteers) a lot of people who started with us went to the 5K turn. The course was on quiet roads. It was not closed to traffic but there weren’t many cars and there were volunteers at all intersections. It was very pretty and lots of trees and some flowers. It was pleasant scenery. There were accurate mile markers and 3 aid stations with water. However there were also a ton of hills. About 400 feet of elevation gain and it was humid. It was a tough race and my finishing time was not great but I survived. There were no medals or finisher swag so I got zero swag items and the bib was generic. There was a fun finisher area with fourth of July pastries and fruit and coffee. Even being near the back I was cheered on at the finish and there were lots of food. Overall this was an okay race. Depending on where I end up living I may do it again if it is the closest July 4th race but I wouldn’t go out of my way for this race.
Love A Nurse Run 5K
Another Alaska Run
Love A Nurse Run 5K
I was already in Anchorage as I did the Mayor's Half Marathon the week before. I was scrolling on my phone Friday evening looking for something to do Saturday morning … MORE
I was already in Anchorage as I did the Mayor’s Half Marathon the week before. I was scrolling on my phone Friday evening looking for something to do Saturday morning when I found this race and decided to sign up as I wanted to do another race and support my nurse colleagues. The website for the race was well updated. I’m not sure how much pre-race communication there was since I signed up about 12 hours before the race. The race takes place in a park in Anchorage. It was a pretty small, laid back race. There were about 100 participants. Half did the timed race and about half did the untimed walk option. Plenty of parking in the park. Bib pick up was at the start. The race had nice tech T-shirts. Unfortunately since I signed up so late they ran out for late registrants which is fair. They did collect our info and said they will mail them. I do hope I get the shirt. If I don’t, I will survive as I have plenty of race shirts but I think it’d be a fun conversation starter to have a shirt from a random 5K in Alaska. I marked the swag 2 sneakers since while the swag item was nice I didn’t get it. If the shirt does get mailed I’ll raise it to 3. It was the only swag item. There was pre-race Zumba and post-race yoga which was nice. The course is an out and back on a paved bike trail. It might have been one of the trails used for the half marathon. I don’t know but it was again just woods. Pretty woods but nothing too special. For the race there was the same start/finish arch. The timed participants were instructed to line up closer to the front than the back. The course was as I said an out and back. It was moderately hilly. Nothing steep just lots of small ups and downs. Turn around was well marked. There were small mile markers but the first and third were not very accurate. There was also a volunteer blasting music at the 1 mile mark so it was nice to have some entertainment. There was an aid station at the turn around point but they were handing out full sized water bottles so this was clearly not planned by a runner. I was carrying water and weather wasn’t too hot so I didn’t take one. My time was pretty average for what I’ve been doing 5Ks at recently. The course did seem just a bit short and I had 3.06 miles on my Garmin. At the finish there were nice snacks for a small 5K including fruit, granola bars and delicious cookies. This was a fine race. Not the greatest 5K ever but it went to a good cause. I was glad to be able to run another race in Alaska. I’d recommend this race if you are either a local or hanging around in Anchorage the week after the Mayor’s races.
**Just an update that I did get my shirt in the mail and it is a very nice quality shirt especially for a small 5K**
Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon & Half Marathon
Great Trip But Only a Good Race
Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon & Half Marathon
I chose to run this half marathon for Alaska mostly due to timing. My mom has always wanted to go to Alaska and mid to late June is the best … MORE
I chose to run this half marathon for Alaska mostly due to timing. My mom has always wanted to go to Alaska and mid to late June is the best time for her to travel. I also thought it would be cool to visit during the summer solstice. This is the farthest I have traveled for a race yet and I was very excited for this one. Overall the race was completely fine with no issues but it did not meet my expectations but I perhaps went into the race with too high of expectations. Logistically it is not easy to get to Alaska. Plan an entire day for travel if you are coming from the East Coast. I left the Thursday before and then stayed an entire week after. Alaska is a super cool place to visit so definitely try to come for more than just the race. I had a lot of issues getting a flight to Anchorage and my flight times kept changing. I did not let this affect my rating but just be aware. I was excited to find a flight that left Rochester even if it did have 2 layovers. However they canceled the first leg of my flight and no replacement flights worked so I ended up driving 4 hours and flying out of Cleveland and only had 1 layover. The entire travel was a 4+ hour drive and two 4+ hour flights so well over 12 hours total. I did get to Alaska Thursday without issue. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express by the airport since my flight got in really late. It was a 15 minute drive to the race start but you can stay in walking distance of the finish if you want the easiest logistics. Pre-race communication was pretty limited but the website was updated. I went to the expo on Friday. It was at the arena at the University of Alaska campus. It was small but had essentials and chips & salsa/queso which was great. Swag included bib and a short sleeved tech shirt. Like most of this race the shirt was fine but not exceptional. You also got a generic drawstring bag. The race is point to point. For the race you can either park at the start or finish and there are shuttles both ways. It seemed like parking would be easier at the start so I chose that. I was excited to see a moose and calf on my drive to the start. Also weather was absolutely perfect. The start is at a soccer field in a park. There was a ton of parking. The marathon starts 1 hour before the half. The half started at 8:30. There were enough porta potties and a nice starting arch but no pacers or even pace signs of where to line up. Overall production for the race was like this: Adequate but a bit underwhelming for a destination race that people travel from all over the country and world to. The start of the race is a 1.5 mile out and back through the park. The out is on a coned off street and the back is on a parallel bike trail. You then basically run on paved trail for the entirety of the race except the end which is on a street near downtown. I was a little disappointed it was 95% public trail. It was a well-groomed trail and I understand logistically why public trail is easier for hosting a race but I just want something a little more special and for part of the course to be somewhere I couldn’t just run on my own especially a race I go out of my way to run. The trail was quite pretty but especially the first half was a bit boring. It was just woods for the first half. It was pretty woods and there were nice wildflowers but there are woods in Rochester and New Hampshire that are equally pretty. The second half did have some beautiful views of the water and mountains surrounding Anchorage and the near the end was around a lovely pond. I didn’t think the course was too difficult. The first 3 miles rolling hills, then a steep downhill for about a mile then mostly flat with some rollers at the end. The hardest part is it ends on a hill. It is technically net downhill but there’s enough uphill I wouldn’t call it a downhill race. I thought it was pretty average difficulty. Much less hilly than Lake Placid and less hilly than most races in Rochester. Again production was fine along the course. It was well marked and there were accurate mile markers. There were 5 aid stations. The first 2 were a little far apart at mile 3 and 6. The rest were 2 miles apart. Most had water and gatorade the last one had Gu. The volunteers were helpful and the aid stations never ran out of anything but I generally would prefer more aid stations than 5 and would have liked more nutrition as with the time change I was starving by the end of the race. There was not much else in terms of on course support. There were no spectators for 95% of the race, no encouraging signs, no music acts, etc. My finishing time was okay but I was kind of slow as it was a low energy race and I was still sore from last weekend. One positive about the public trails though is it does allow for a very long time limit. You just need to be done by 3pm so there is essentially no time limit for the half. Which is great as I’d hate to travel to Alaska and DNF. There are however a lot of spectators at the end when you go back in town. There is an announcer and a finish line arch and you get your medal. The medal is like everything else very average. The finish festival however is great. There was a lot of food and great vegetarian options (though not the best vegan options). There was grilled cheese, chips & queso, this delicious cinnamon bread, cookies along with the typical stuff like fruit. There was also a beer tent which I didn’t go to and someone handing out red bull which I did take. The shuttle was very efficient back to the finish although there was only me and another runner so I’m not sure how environmentally friendly it is. Overall I did think this race was fine and there were no big issues. However I did not find it to be an exceptional race and it was pretty average to me. Some of this may have been unrealistic expectations on my part. The cost was only $75 and if I paid $75 and ran the same race on the canal path or another public trail by me I would have been satisfied. I was just expecting a bit more from such a destination race. I did however have a great trip to Alaska and while I can’t necessarily say the race is worth 12+ hours of travel to get to, Alaska itself definitely is. I wouldn’t strongly recommend or not recommend this race. If this is the time you want to visit Alaska then I would recommend this but if June is not a good travel month for you then I wouldn’t rearrange your schedule for this race.
Lake Placid Marathon & Half Marathon
Beautiful & Walker Friendly
Lake Placid Marathon & Half Marathon
I had never been to Lake Placid and I wanted to visit so I was excited I had the weekend off for this race. I did this the day after … MORE
I had never been to Lake Placid and I wanted to visit so I was excited I had the weekend off for this race. I did this the day after the 9 hours for 9 lives race. It worked out as that race was practically on the way to Lake Placid. However my body was completely thrashed from that race so I knew this was not going to be pretty for me. But luckily the race itself was very pretty and there is a 6 hour time limit for the half so I knew I could finish it. As I said in my last review I left for Lake Placid around 12:30. It was about a 4.5 hours drive so I arrived around 5pm. There was packet pick-up Saturday until 6pm. I believe there is race day packet pick-up as well. Packet pick-up is at the start/finish area which is the Olympic Skating Oval which is a really cool place to start/finish. Not a real expo but they did have a booth selling race merchandise and another selling the usual runner supplies like gels and body glide, etc you know the booth. Packet included a nice polyblend shirt, bib and a bag with some coupons. Lake Placid is a really cute, fun area to visit. There are hotels right by the start/finish. I’d recommend staying there if you can as there are also a lot of restaurants and shops in walking distance. However they were a bit pricey. Nothing crazy (I think they were around $300/night) but since I’m going to Alaska for 11 days and the moving 1 week later I wanted this to be a cheap weekend and opted for a cheaper option about 1 mile from the start line which was about $150/night so there are more affordable options. Of note (since I’ve seen people complain about this on reviews for other races) Lake Placid is not near a major airport and I doubt it is easy to get an uber/lyft/taxi. If you are not driving here, your best bet is to fly to either Albany, NY or Burlington, VT which are both about 2 hours away and rent a car. If you don’t want to rent a car, choose a race closer to a major airport for NY. For parking you need to do street parking. I decided after a long debate with myself to walk from my hotel which as I said was about 1 mile away. This was nice on the way to the race to get a warm-up walk in since my body was really stiff from yesterday. This was very painful on the way back but I did not want to stress about parking. There is a nice starting arch. One minor critique is I wish there was some indicator of the pace you should line up at. I knew I would be near the back but wasn’t sure if this was a race that attracts a lot of walkers given its long time limit. I was planning on mostly walking but wasn’t sure if I should be in the absolute back or near the back. The first 3 miles are on closed roads around mirror lake and very wide running space so it didn’t really matter as there was plenty of room to find your pace. I tried to do a little running on the downhills in the beginning but I was so sore from yesterday I walked 90% of the course. The course however was absolutely gorgeous and slower time meant more time to soak it in. Also the way it was set up was perfect for half marathon walkers. The course starts with a 3 mile loop around mirror lake and then for the half it’s about 5 miles out and 5 miles back. One lane of the street is closed for the out and back so traffic is never an issue. The marathon turn around is a bit past the half marathon turn around and they run the out and back twice so the aid stations are completely stocked even for the walkers since there are also marathoners using them. The first 3 miles through town and around the lake around beautiful. The out and back is also beautiful with mountain scenery and views of a river and you pass by the ski jump and a farm with adorable animals. This was definitely a top 5 race I’ve done for scenery and I would say it’s the most scenic I’ve done in NY. There are hills and some are quite steep both up and down. It’s kind of hard for me to compare difficulties to other races as I have never completed a half this sore and stiff and achy before and I’ve also never walked this much in a road half marathon but it seemed like a tough but doable course. I was much faster than yesterday despite running less. There were tons of aid stations. I think 10 for the half. I carried water but didn’t need it. The first 2 aid stations just had water. The rest had gatorade. Most had other treats like fruit, granola bars, chips. Some had coke. There were also gels. The gels were kind of odd and flavorless. There were some spectators but not a ton. As this is a pretty rural race that is expected. Since it’s an out and back with marathoners doing another out and back you are almost always around people. It is the perfect sized race. I think there were around 1000 participants total. Big enough field to always be around people with how it was set up but small enough field to not have it being annoying with people doing different paces. The worst part of the course is to get back to the Skating oval you need to go up a nasty, steep hill. Not as bad as “evil hill” from yesterday but not how you want to end the race. You then run a bit on the oval to the finish. There are announcers who announce the runners as they finish. Even though I was finishing with mostly marathoners they still announced by name, congratulated me and cheered me on. My finishing time was really slow. I set a personal worst for a road half. But I was actually quite proud of finishing after the race I did Saturday. As I said earlier I had never done a half marathon feeling this sore and achy before. At the finish line you get a medal and a pint glass. The medal was excellent this year and distance specific and had a map of the course incorporated in the design. They improved their medal designs from before from what I’ve heard. The pint glass is also nice. Overall very good swag. They also had a ton of finish line food. Someone said it was the best of any race, I’m not sure that’s true but it was definitely better than most. They also had vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. There was yogurt, subway subs including a vegan veggie one, cheese pizza, gluten free pizza, gluten free past bowls, typical post-race snacks and ice cream sandwiches. I got a whole lunch out of it. The walk back to the hotel was painful but it followed the course so I got to cheer some of the marathoners on as they were finishing. Overall this was one of my favorites half marathons I have done and I am glad it was my last NY half marathon as a New Yorker. This was one of the prettiest races I’ve done and a fun place to visit. It was also very back of the pack friendly for the half. At no point, did I feel unwelcomed or that I did not get the whole race experience even though I walked most of it. I would highly recommend this race to 50 staters for NY or for anyone looking for a fun race-cation. And I would also definitely recommend it to half marathon walkers and back of the packers. As Lake Placid is not too far from where I am moving I’m sure I will do this one again.
9 Hours for 9 Lives Ultra
There was a cat!
9 Hours for 9 Lives Ultra
This is a 9 hour race where you run as many 1.5 mile laps as you can/want from 8am to 5pm. You can start and stop any time in that … MORE
This is a 9 hour race where you run as many 1.5 mile laps as you can/want from 8am to 5pm. You can start and stop any time in that time frame. It is located at a farm in Shortsville, NY and is about 30 minutes east of Rochester and pretty much on the way to Lake Placid so worked out well with my plans. It was moved to a different location from the first year of the race in 2021. There was good pre-race communication. One thing I love about the race director is she is a local runner and is very supportive of people of all abilities so you get a finisher time and medal if you complete 1 lap or 30. The start at the farm was easy to get to and park at. One minor production complaint which seemed a bit planned was that it was raining at night but the rain was excepted to stop between 7 and 7:30 and the RD didn’t start setting up the aid stations, etc until it stopped raining. Completely understand why that was done and everything was set up by the time it was needed but it just made check in and the race start a bit more chaotic. Swag included a cute, cat themed running buff along with bib. The race started about 2 minutes late but not a big deal I understand not wanting to set up in the rain when it is going to be dry very soon. I didn’t take off production points because the course was impeccably marked. Tons of flags so you absolutely could not get lost. Since this was a new location I was hoping the course would be easier than the one described in the 2021 review but it was not. I agree that each loop felt about as tough as a 5K. The course started down a field which was not too tough then you were in the woods for about half a mile. There is a flat path but then an uphill which had 2 significant but not terrible hills. Easy to hike, tough to run hills. Then a steep down and then a more gradual downhill. Most on trail. One part on grass. All “obstacles” such as ditches, large roots, rocks were spray painted pink which was appreciated. You then went back in the field. It was up, down, up and all runnable. Then there is another portion in the woods with what I named “evil” hill that was a very steep, un-runnable, and tough to hike hill. Then flat for a bit and then a downhill in the woods followed by a downhill on the road then flat back to the start. This was a tough loop. Total elevation for the 1.5 miles was 160-170 feet so more than 100 feet of elevation gain per mile. There is a well stocked aid station and porta potties near the start. The aid station had water jug, gatorade, coke, lots of snacks like fruit and chips and including most importantly twizzlers. Later there was PBJ and grilled cheese and at noon there was pizza. I wanted to finish this race ideally by noon (4 hours) and definitely by 12:30 (4.5 hours) to get to Lake Placid by packet pick-up for my race the next day. I was hoping to do 9 laps or 13.68 miles since as long as I did between 13.1 and 26.2 miles it would count as a half marathon for the 100 half marathon club and I am getting close to 100. I thought this would be easy in 4 hours and I might even have time to walk an extra lap as I wanted to stay until noon for pizza so I wouldn’t have to stop for lunch on my drive. However it was really, really tough. I had to really, push myself to finish those 9 laps in the time frame I needed and it took me over 4 hours but under 4.5 hours to complete it and I didn’t take any breaks longer than 1 minute at the aid station. I was so sore at the end I felt like I ran a marathon. Despite it being tough I did have a blast. These fixed time, looped courses are so much fun for interacting with other runners and I did see a cute little barn cat on the course. This was a great race for one of my last Rochester running memories. As I said all finishers get a medal. The medal is wooden and absolutely adorable with a cat design. This race was tougher than I anticipated but I still enjoyed it. If I were staying in Rochester I would do it again but I would either only do 4 to 6 laps or if I decided to go for the “half marathon” again I would give myself more time to do it. I do want to say that walking 1 to 2 laps of this course would not be very hard so if you are a local runner/walker who wants to support cats and the Rochester running community but not looking to do an ultra or anything intense you can still participate and enjoy the race.
Charlie McMullen Mile
Memories of High School Track
Charlie McMullen Mile
This is a Friday evening 1 mile race held on the track at a local college in Rochester. How the race works is runners are assigned waves based on age … MORE
This is a Friday evening 1 mile race held on the track at a local college in Rochester. How the race works is runners are assigned waves based on age (kids, open, masters), gender and time. I put my predicted time as 9 minutes as I didn’t think I’d be doing a 5K right before the race. At first I was sad that the Big Run was moved to Friday but then they sent an email with the wave starts and the women’s 6 to 10 minutes started at 7:55 which would time out perfectly after the 5K. The only catch was I didn’t think I could finish a mile under 10 minutes if I also ran a 5K but the over 10 minutes category started at 7 and I wouldn’t make it by 7pm after the 5K. Oh well, I knew I wouldn’t be much over 10 minutes so I stuck with the 7:55 heat. One thing I wish is that there was better pre-race communication. They did email the heats but there was no email about packet pick-up. I assumed since it was a smaller, local type race it would be fine to pick up your bib a few minutes before your heat as I would have to arrive after the event already started. My assumption was correct but it would have been nice to have been in the instructions. I also wish there was more specific information about parking. There seemed to be an assumption you would just know where the track was on camp and I kind of drove around and saw a bunch of cars parked and found it. Everything about the race was very relaxed and friendly. I went with the 7:55 heat which was women between 6 and 10 minutes. The course is just 4 laps around a track. Kind of boring but did bring back memories of high school track. As I expected I did not run under 10 minutes since my legs were a bit tired after the 5K but still finished around 11. Everyone very nice and encouraging despite being last in my heat. No swag except a finisher certificate. I also didn’t see any post-race food and I was starving. I would have liked to stay longer and watch the other events but it was a long night with the 2 races so I left shortly after my heat
RUN585 The Big Run 5K
Make It a Double
RUN585 The Big Run 5K
The Big Run 5K is part of the 585 race series which is a set of 3 races held on Wednesday evenings during the summer in Rochester. 585 refers to … MORE
The Big Run 5K is part of the 585 race series which is a set of 3 races held on Wednesday evenings during the summer in Rochester. 585 refers to Rochester’s area code. I have done this race and the entire series before. This is the only race I will be able to do this year since I am moving out of Rochester at the end of June This race is normally held on Global Running Day which this year was Wednesday, June 7. However the air quality was very unhealthy on Wednesday and it was deemed unsafe to hold the race so it was moved to Friday. However I was signed up for a race already on Friday but I realized I had time to do them both. So Friday started with this race at 6pm. I got my packet Tuesday at the store. There is always a large swag item for those that do the series and previous years a small swag item for individual races but that was not the case this year and there was no swag for the individual races except the medal at the end. The course is in Genesee Valley Park along the canal path. It was a very similar course as the other year I did it. Just a slight change due to construction. It’s a very fast course but as I wanted to save some energy for the 1 miler so didn’t run my hardest. I was aiming for under 40 minutes but the course was a bit longer than 2 years ago as the one 2 years ago seemed a bit short like 3.08 and this year was 3.18 or it’s possible I was just terrible at the tangents this year. I did hit 3.1 under 40 but not the finish line. Oh well. You get a medal at the end. The medal is nice for a 5K but as I said it’s the only swag item. The finish area was fun with music and baked potato bar but I did not have time to enjoy it as I had another race to get to. I do wish there was a smaller finisher snack besides the potato bar. I could have used a granola bar or a piece of fruit to hold me over to the 1 miler but was not able to eat anything as filling as the potatoes. This was kind of a me problem as most people don’t run a 1 miler about an hour after they finish a 5K so I’m sure everyone else enjoyed the potatoes. Overall the 585 series races are fun weekday races in Rochester. I would continue to do the series if I weren’t moving out of Rochester.
Montezuma Festival of Races
Improved from 2 Years Ago
Montezuma Festival of Races
This is a 5K, 10K or half marathon race located in between Rochester and Syracuse by the Montezuma wildlife refuge. I also did the 5K two years ago. I was … MORE
This is a 5K, 10K or half marathon race located in between Rochester and Syracuse by the Montezuma wildlife refuge. I also did the 5K two years ago. I was on call again this year so again did the 5K. This year they fixed almost all the issues I had with the race 2 years ago. For starts they moved it up to early June when it would like be cooler and also moved the races up 15 minutes. This was a good move. While it was really hot Friday it cooled down the rest of the weekend. This year the race was able to be held at the Audubon Center which was a nice starting place with indoor bathrooms and you could learn about nature while waiting in line. They also had porta potties outside. I did race day packet pick up. This year the swag shirt was a nice quality long sleeved polyblend shirt. I liked it more than the tank top 2 years ago. The 5K was again an out and back. It was still kind of a boring course and I didn’t see any wildlife but there was one really pretty section lined with lilacs and other flowers. There was an aid station with water close to the turn around. It was an open roads but they were really quiet country roads. Not a single car except the main road you need to cross to get the the Audubon center which had someone directing traffic. There was a decent sized hill in the middle but it wasn’t too tough a course. My finish time is only so slow because I had to answer a page. Finish line had a nice arch and you get a really nice medal. Too nice for a 5K lol it’s nice than some half marathon medals I have. There were cookies and apples at the finish. There was also $2 off a chicken BBQ at the nearby firehouse or from the vendors at a nearby street fair. Both were starting later than I finished so I didn’t redeem them but it’s good for the half marathons. My one negative is it was annoying to drive out as the main driveway to leave is also where the runners run to end the race so I had to dodge runners and spectators to drive out. Overall I think this is a fine race. Not one I would strongly recommend but it’s fine for locals. I probably won’t do it again since I’m moving out of the area unless the half works out well as a double with another half the same weekend.
Rush-Henrietta Kicking Hunger 5K
You still won't go hungry
Rush-Henrietta Kicking Hunger 5K
This is my second time doing this race. I also did it in 2021 so that review has more details. It's a local race and a well done 5K for … MORE
This is my second time doing this race. I also did it in 2021 so that review has more details. It’s a local race and a well done 5K for a local race. This year I just got packet pick-up race day. The swag comes in a reusable grocery bag and also has shirt, finisher ribbon and some pamphlets, coupons and other stuff. It’s good swag for the 5K. I actually love when races give out ribbons for shorter races. I don’t think all 5Ks need to give out medals but a ribbon is perfect. I do wish they gave it at the end though and not with the packet. The course was the same as last year. It’s chip timed. It’s a very boring course but pretty flat. This year it was marked better. There was also great post race food again. Last time it was prepackaged and bagged due to covid. This year it wasn’t but there was still a ton of food. There were dunkin donuts, fruit, multiple choices for granola bars and other bars, fruit snacks and bagels with cream cheese (including rainbow bagels – Happy Pride!). There were also multiple drink options including my favorite La Criox. Overall I think this is a really good local race and I will miss this one.
Mendon Mauler Trail Run
Not as Well-Marked as It Should Be
Mendon Mauler Trail Run
This is my second year doing this race as I also did it in 2021 so that review has more details. This is one of the toughest 4 milers you … MORE
This is my second year doing this race as I also did it in 2021 so that review has more details. This is one of the toughest 4 milers you will find. It is a Friday evening trail race in Mendon Ponds Park. It is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. They produce good races but this is one of my least favorites given the technicality and June heat. This year it was super hot and close to 90 degrees. I got my packet right before the race at the race site but you can also get it earlier at the store. Packet includes a nice but very neon yellow shirt. The race logo is pretty cool. That’s the only swag item but it’s fair for the price. This year some production elements were better and some were worse. What was better is it was chip timed with a mass start. What was worse is the course was not very well marked. I was surprised by this. The dirt cheap race I did with the same company last week was super well marked but today there were long stretches without flags. I also saw a runner miss a turn luckily she wasn’t far ahead so I was able to let her know she went the wrong way. The course was the same (or very similar) crazy hard course as last time that is more like 4.5 miles than 4 miles. You have the option for a 4 miler or do 2 loops for 8 miles. I would only recommend the 8 mile if you are very experienced at trails. Knowing how hard the race is I did the 4 miler. Since it was 90 degrees I decided to just hike this race. My time was slow since I was just hiking and also spent some time chatting with another runner but I finished. There were hot dogs including veggie dogs at the end along with coke and some bags of veggie chips and popcorn. If you like really, tough trail I’d recommend this race but I do hope they mark it better in the future. Usually Yellow Jacket Racing does a great job marking their trails so I’m not sure what went wrong. Since I am moving out of Rochester I will definitely not be doing this race again. I will not miss it that much.
Fallen Soldiers Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
Bambi Made an Appearance
Fallen Soldiers Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
This is a race produced by Bishop's Events that I've done before 2 years ago. That review has more details. Bishop's Events puts on low key, low frills races pretty … MORE
This is a race produced by Bishop’s Events that I’ve done before 2 years ago. That review has more details. Bishop’s Events puts on low key, low frills races pretty much every weekend in the DC area so their races are a convenient way to get MD, VA or DC. This year they had a fun challenge of having a different race in each location each day this weekend with a special challenge medal for participants who ran all 3 races. I really wanted to do the Buffalo half one more time before I move out of Western NY so I only did this one. My initial weekend plan was to do a half near Buffalo on both Saturday & Sunday but my Saturday race got cancelled and I wanted to do another half instead. I chose this one since it is on Monday and meant I could also do the Buffalo 5K. I also love this course. It is on a gorgeous part of the C&O towpath. These are pretty cheap races so production is adequate but not at the level of a big, expensive race. One negative is there was no pre-race email. The website was very updated and answered everything I needed but I was worried I wasn’t registered as I hadn’t heard any updates on the race. Luckily I was. It has race day packet pick-up. This morning was a bit a rainy which I didn’t mind and preferred to hot & humid which is a potential for late May in Maryland. One change Bishop’s Events has made is they now have time limits for their long races. I have heard you can request an early start if you ask a few days in advance if you think you will be over the time limit. The time limit for the half was 3:15. I knew I could make it and did not want to get up early since my plans had me arrive in MD pretty late Sunday night. But as a result of the time limit I had to take Buffalo a little easy to make sure I wasn’t too exhausted the next day. The race is an out and back on the towpath. It is gorgeous. You’ll want to see this scenery twice. There are 4 aid stations with 3 you pass twice so 7 total. The first and third had water and gatorade the second and fourth just water. No nutrition but I brought some extra stuff I picked up at the Buffalo expo. Very easy to follow and very flat but not perfectly flat. It’s trail but not technical. Only difficult is a few rocks and today some puddles. I did the same run walk intervals as Buffalo and had the exact same pace. I always see wildlife here. Tons of great blue herons. I was very excited that neat the end of the race I saw a deer on the side of the course. As I had banked enough time to not worry about the time limits I decided to get some pics and I saw she was with the cutest, sweetest little baby deer. I was one of the last finishers as I expected since I knew I would just be a bit under the time limit. I was happy to be a minute faster than yesterday and keep a slow but steady pace for 2 back to back half marathons. There was one runner behind me. The RD and race staff were on top of the runner count and cheered him on and gave a medal. He was under 3:15 so I am not sure how strict they are on time limits since everyone made it. The medals are okay. Same with race shirts. They are adequate but this is not a race to do for swag. This is also a small race so you’ll be by yourself a lot and there aren’t a ton of spectators. I do think this is a beautiful course and if you like smaller races and don’t care too much about swag I’d recommend this race or another race put on by Bishop’s that uses this course in MD.
Buffalo Marathon
Much Better Swag This Year
Buffalo Marathon
This is my second time doing the Buffalo Half Marathon so my initial review is more detailed. Last year I enjoyed the race but I was disappointed that when I … MORE
This is my second time doing the Buffalo Half Marathon so my initial review is more detailed. Last year I enjoyed the race but I was disappointed that when I signed up the swag item was a tumbler and not a jacket even though when I registered it had me select a jacket size. Don’t worry that was not an issue this year. I appreciated they changed the sign up swag option when registering to pick a size if apparel is the giveaway so if it was not a shirt or jacket I would not be as disappointed. The swag this year was very nice, long sleeved hooded tech shirts. Not sure if it’s quite as nice as the jacket from 2 years ago but it is a very nice swag item and better than what you receive for most races so I was happy this year. There is a helpful athlete guide created before the event. Packet pick-up is at the expo at convention center. I got it after the 5K. Expo is mid sized. Street parking is super easy by the convention center. The race is really nice and organized. It is an early 6:30 start but that allowed for beautiful weather and it didn’t get very hot until the end. It is a nice scenic, urban course. It is pretty flat. Just small inclines. Maybe one minor hill. It’s a fast course. I had another half the next day so was doing run-walk intervals to conserve energy but it’s a good PR course. There are a good number of spectators and musicians throughout the course. Not quite as much as some of the party races like OKC and Little Rock but more than average. Also lots of aid stations. All with water. All or most with Gatorade. One had gels. The gels were salted peanut which I thought was kind of an odd flavor though. My time wasn’t super fast but I was aiming to complete both half marathons this weekend around 3:10 which was exactly what I did. There are lots of back of packers. It has a stated time limit of 3:30 but there were a bunch of people well over that. Some over 4 hours. Finish line is nice and I liked the medal a lot this year. I’s a cool Buffalo design. I do have one complaint about the race and that is the post race party. I didn’t get to go last year so I was excited for it. It is located in the convention center right near the finish line. But it was jam packed and this year they gave no food just water at the finish line. The line for food was crazy. I tried getting in line and was told it was actually further back and I couldn’t figure it out and the place was so crowded it looked uncomfortable and I just left and ate snacks I had in the car. Would recommend having recovery food at the finish line and just the party food (pizza) in the convention center like last year or having separate lines for recovery food and pizza so it isn’t one huge line. I don’t really care much about post-race parties so I didn’t take away a sneaker. Maybe people who care about them like them this crowded. Other than the post-race party this was a pretty perfect race this year. I would definitely recommend this race for NY state for 50 state half and full marathoners. Along with being a great race, Buffalo is also a very affordable, convenient city to visit and there are a bunch of hotels by the convention center so you don’t need a rental car.
Buffalo Marathon
Fast, Fun Way to Start the Weekend
Buffalo Marathon
This is m 3rd year participating in the Buffalo 5K which is the day before the half and full marathon. It has been the same course for all 3 years … MORE
This is m 3rd year participating in the Buffalo 5K which is the day before the half and full marathon. It has been the same course for all 3 years so read those reviews for more details. This year it started at 8am. There was packet pick-up race day for the 5K at the convention center right by start. Everything went smooth. Race was well produced. It is a fast 5K course. With a slight uphill in the middle and a fast finish. I had my fastest 5K of the year this year and always have a fast time. Swag this year included a very nice hooded tech shirt and a cute buffalo medal. There was water bottles, chips and granola bars at the finish. Would recommend doing the 5K along with the half/full. It is also a great 5K on its own if you aren’t up for the longer distances.
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Durand Eastman
No swag but veggie hot dogs
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Durand Eastman
I'm happy the dirt cheap trail races are back. These are low-key, cheap mid week trail races produced by Yellow Jacket Racing that occur in various parks in the Rochester … MORE
I’m happy the dirt cheap trail races are back. These are low-key, cheap mid week trail races produced by Yellow Jacket Racing that occur in various parks in the Rochester area. The series was put on hold last year but is back this year. Unfortunately it looks like this will be the only race I will be able to do as I am moving out of Rochester the first weekend of July and my travel plans to Alaska now interfere with the next race. I have done most of the dirt cheap races 2 years ago but there were some covid modifications. This year everything is back to normal. I believe you do get a shirt or other swag item if you sign up for the series but since I am moving I did not. For individual races there is no swag but these are dirt cheap so it is fine. I got my bib the day before at the store and just came to the race after work on Wednesday. The race was well organized. It is chipped time but only at the finish. The start and finish are right next to each other. The start had some flags and the finish a dirt cheap arch. The course seemed to be backwards from last year from what I can remember. It is pretty tough and there is a lot of elevation but there are some nice, runnable sections too. The park was very scenic. I like this run as there are lovely lake views. The course was extremely well marked. Tons of flags. I don’t think there was a time I could not see a flag which is how I like trail races. I was really slow as I have not been trail running as much this year since I am still working on building up speed on the road but I had a fun time. After you cross the finish line they had hot dogs, chips and soda and I was happy they had veggie dogs. Overall this is a fun, tough series but the races are not too long and there are some walkers so even if you are slow or intimidated by trail these are fun to do. If I were staying in Rochester I would definitely continue to do this series.
Mystic Half Marathon & 10K
Turtle Medal but not Turtle Friendly
Mystic Half Marathon & 10K
This is a half marathon produced by Hartford Marathon Foundation. They produce great races but have kind of tight time limits. I was planning to be in New England this … MORE
This is a half marathon produced by Hartford Marathon Foundation. They produce great races but have kind of tight time limits. I was planning to be in New England this weekend and decided to do this race as part of the Crabby Challenge which includes the Surftown Half in September and a 5K or 10K in July. For the race I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Mystic. It is very convenient and right at the start line but it is up a hill which is annoying post-race. I arrived in Mystic around 3pm Saturday and got packet Saturday. Packet is in Mystic Village. There is not really an expo. Just bib pick up and shirt pick up and a booth selling some merchandise. The shirt is tech. Simple design but nice color and one I will wear. It is fun to look at the shops in Mystic Village. Race morning is quite organized with the start on the street in front of my hotel. I really lucked out with weather as it rained between my races but was pretty perfect weather during both of them this weekend. I was a bit nervous for this race since there is a 3 hour time cutoff and you need to reach the 10K split at mile 5.9 in 1:20. I’ve been running right around 3 hours and prefer more wiggle room which is why I said this is not the most turtle friendly race. Luckily they had 3 hour pacers. I knew if I stuck with the pacers I should be fine. There was about 1500 runners between the 10K and half which is a nice number. No corrals but you lined up by pacers. I lined up with the 3 hour pacers. Race started at 7am which is perfect so it’s not super early but also avoids getting too hot later in the race and allows time to shower after the race. The course is on open roads but most had no cars and any that had a few cars had a running area coned off. But this is a real quiet area so the open roads did affect the race. I really love the first 5 to 6 miles of the course before the split. This part was lovely with views of the Mystic river and seaport and lots of historical houses and buildings. It was also relatively flat with no major hills. The pacers were doing run-walk which I appreciated but not really any hills that I would have needed to walk in this section. If you aren’t a crazy half fanatic who does a half almost every weekend I would recommend just doing the 10K for this race as it goes through all the best parts. The next 7 or so miles are fine but kind of monotonous. They are just through wooded streets. It is pretty for about a mile then kind of boring. This part is hilly. Luckily miles 6 through 9 are net uphill and 10 through 12 net downhill so the final miles are faster. A few hills are quite steep. My GPS had 500-600 feet elevation gain. Difficulty a little above average between 3 and 4 sneakers. I rounded up because of the time limit. Course is well marked though I did see someone almost miss the turn around at this out and back portion (most of the race is a loop with a small out and back around mile 7-8). Lots of aid stations. All had water and Nuun. A few had gels. There were also mile markers with clocks. However there are not many spectators but there were a few musical acts/DJs on course. The finish line was at the aquarium which is cool. I was very happy I managed to run a bit under 3 hours especially with the hills. They did have finishers over 3 hours so I’m not sure how strict they really are with the time limit but I don’t like taking chances so I really wish it were 3:30 or 4 hours. I absolutely loved the medal. It has a sea turtle design and it is actually after a specific sea turtle in the aquarium and the ribbon has her name and the back of the medal facts about her. There were basic post race snacks like granola and bananas and a breakfast buffet with eggs, potatoes and sausage. I didn’t eat the sausage. The potatoes were delicious. Overall I thought this was a very good race. Excellent production and I loved the first half of the race. Also Mystic is a very fun place for a weekend trip. For the location alone I would definitely recommend this race to 50 staters as long as you know you can finish in the time limit. I liked this race more than Savin’ Rock which I also did in CT but Savin’ Rock had a much longer time limit so it is a better choice if you are an over 3 hours half marathoner. As I am moving to New England and Mystic is one of my favorite weekend trip destinations I will likely do this race again. I hope I get back to my normal speed so 3 hours is a bit easier for me if I do it again.
Bourque 7.7K at Tuscan Village
Fun Race for Bruins Fans
Bourque 7.7K at Tuscan Village
This is a race in Southern New Hampshire that raises money for former Bruin Ray Bourque's Family Foundation. I was in New England this weekend and looking for a shorter … MORE
This is a race in Southern New Hampshire that raises money for former Bruin Ray Bourque’s Family Foundation. I was in New England this weekend and looking for a shorter race in NH to do with my dad. He is a Bruins fan so this was perfect. It is a 7.7K because Ray Bourque’s number was 77. Ray Bourque was actually at the race which was really cool. The race takes place in Tuscan Village in Salem, NH right at the NH/MA border. It is a place I am considering moving to so this also was useful as a property tour. There was tons of parking and the race area was set up great. My mom came with us as a spectator. Packet pick-up was easy. You had choice of short sleeve or long sleeve tech shirt. Shirt is nice but white which is not my favorite color for a shirt. One minor production complaint is the race started a little late. It was supposed to start at 10 which is a bit late for a race and ended up starting more like 10:10. Otherwise it was organized. The course was okay but not necessarily my favorite. There is a 7.7K (which is a bit under 5 miles if you don’t want to do the math) and a 5K. The 5K is a loop with the 7.7K an extra out and back that splits from the loop. The first part was coned off section of a kind of busy street. Then it was mostly through parking lots in the Tuscan Village though I did get to see what restaurants, etc are located in Tuscan Village. Then its a bit through neighborhoods then the out and back mostly on the rail trail and then you rejoin the 5Kers and again it’s a lot of parking lots. I liked the rail trail part the best and wish they utilized it more. Race pretty flat just some minor hills and inclines. There were a couple aid stations with water. One annoying thing about the course was the middle of the pack 7.7Kers met up with the back of the pack 5Kers and there was a whole pack of people with strollers I needed to maneuver around). My goal was to finish in under 1 hour and I was very happy I was a few minutes under. Even thought this is a pretty much guaranteed PR with such an odd distance it was actually my fastest pace in awhile. Though the course did seem to be maybe 0.1K short. At the finish line you get the medal which is a solid hockey/Bruins themed medal. Correct size for a shorter race. The finish area was really set up with lots of chairs, there was also food and beer. The food was breakfast pizza and some pastries but all the pizza appeared to have meat (I didn’t actually check as we were getting lunch right after the race and I didn’t want to wait in line). There was also a band. My mom had a ton of fun as a spectator and said it was set up great for spectators and she had so much fun she wants to come back next year. Overall this was a fun theme and set-up but the actual race was only okay. It’s a convenient location for me and was a fun family morning so I’d do it again if I were in town.
FLRC Women’s Distance Festival 5K
Beautiful Trail
FLRC Women’s Distance Festival 5K
This is an all women's 5K that takes place on mother's day that is located outside Ithaca. It is a bit of a drive for a 5K but I had … MORE
This is an all women’s 5K that takes place on mother’s day that is located outside Ithaca. It is a bit of a drive for a 5K but I had lunch plans in Ithaca and the 10am start worked perfectly. It is produced by Finger Lakes Running Club. There were no major production issues but there could have been better pre-race communication. No email or anything and pretty limited info on website. It starts at a park right by the rail trail. Parking was pretty easy. Bib pick up is just the day of the race. There is no swag except a generic FLRC cowbell at the end but there is only a $20 registration fee so not a big deal. Packet pick-up was easy. I was annoyed to see a big sign that said headphones were prohibited. I don’t function well without music and I spent about 5 to 10 minutes searching for my headphones before I left since I misplaced them after yesterday’s race and it would have been nice to know before. I checked and it was not on race website. Oh well. It was a short race I would survive without music. This was manually timed and had the same start/finish. It’s a small race with about 100 participants. One of the RD gave race announcements at the start but I couldn’t really hear it. A pre-race email or loudspeaker would have been helpful. The course was very easy though just an out and back on a beautiful rail trail. It was a well-groomed trail but there were a few rocks so you have to be a bit careful. I knew I was going to have a slow race since I did a half yesterday so I took it easy and soaked in the scenery and did more of a training pace than race pace. It was unclear what side runners were supposed to be on. I assumed right and the first runners to come back were on their right but then the next pack was on the left and we moved over but that appeared to be incorrect based on arrows of turn around and again on the way back one pack of walkers was on the left and one on the right. Not a huge deal but again pre-race communication could have cleared it up. The distance was accurate and timing accurate. And as I said the course was gorgeous with forest and lake scenery and it was a nice run. There were some snacks at the end such as granola bars, oranges and mini muffins. It was a pretty and pleasant 5K course and it was nice to participate in an all women event. I do think organization and communication could have been better though no major issues.
Happy Half at Holiday Valley
Very Happy with the Medal
Happy Half at Holiday Valley
This is a half marathon or 5K race in Ellicottville, NY. Ellicottville is a small ski town about an hour from Buffalo and 2 hours from Rochester so this is … MORE
This is a half marathon or 5K race in Ellicottville, NY. Ellicottville is a small ski town about an hour from Buffalo and 2 hours from Rochester so this is a relatively local race for me. This is produced by the same company that does the EVL Halloween race in October and I’ve done a couple races with them before but this is my first time doing this race. There was good pre-race communication with an athlete guide sent before the race. I did stay in a hotel since I didn’t feel like waking up early to drive 2 hours. You can either stay or at ski resort or I stayed at the Wingate right in downtown which is 1 mile from the resort. Parking at the resort is really easy. The ski resort was a great place to start as there was indoor bathrooms and indoor seating area if there was bad weather. Luckily weather was beautiful though a bit warm for a 9am race start. There is only race day packet pick-up. There is no expo but there were a few vendors outdoors by the start. Packet included bib and a nice polyblend shirt. I generally prefer tech shirts but this race company always has the softest most comfortable T-shirts and they are my favorite PJ tops. The shirt had a fun design and is very comfortable. It’s not a very large race. There are about 200 runners. They had pacers to help line up but no specific corrals. I just lined up near the back as there did not appear to be many back of packers. The course starts with a loop through the parking lot and then it is about 4 miles on the shoulder of a busy road. I did not love how busy the road was as I don’t like cars zooming by me but it was coned off and didn’t feel unsafe. I get there are limited options for courses in such a small town. Then next 2 to 3 miles are through a quieter road with very little traffic. The course is an out and back. This is not my favorite design but it is a scenic course with mountain and farm views. Course is a bit hilly but not too bad. Better than the EVL half though this is tough because it is net downhill the first half and net uphill the second half. Also as I assumed at the start there were not many back of packers. There is a 3:30 time limit (which they let people have a little leeway on) and I had no issues in terms of aid stations being near the back but I was running by myself most of the race and I tend to be less motivated without other runners around. There were sufficient aid stations with water and gatorade and 2 had gels which you passed twice so 4 aid stations with gels. While the aid stations were well stocked I didn’t think the aid stations were efficient and I didn’t like how they used tiny dixie cups and also just had the cups on a table as opposed to being handed the cups. This race switched to this during covid and did not seem to switch back like most races have. I just lost a few seconds each aid station. I am not blaming volunteers this was clearly what they were instructed. The volunteers were great. I was making good progress and was on pace to finish a bit under 3 hours at the half way mark but around mile 8 it got hot and that’s where the hills start. I do think 9am is a little late for a May race as weather would have been perfect the whole race if it started at 7 or 8am instead of 9am. I realized at mile 8 I likely wasn’t going to make my goal so had more fun the second half stopping for pics (I saw some cute chickens) and interacting more with the volunteers. I ended up finishing over 3 hours but under my secondary goal of 3:10. The listed time appears to be gun time as my Garmin had me closer to 3:08 finishing. Not sure if that will be fixed. Oh well, it was not a PR race and I’m not going to lose sleeping over my listed time being 1 minute slower. I loved that after the finish arch they had a bubble machine so there were bubbles all over the ground and made it really fun. Also the medal is really cute and huge. There was pretty good post-race food options. A huge muffin, bananas, granola bars, pretzels, etc. Also beer for those who drink it. Overall I thought this was a good race. I did not love the set up of an out and back on open roads but the scenery and swag was very nice. I’d recommend this to locals but wouldn’t call it a “must run.” Not my first choice for NY for 50 staters although if it works well with your schedule it’s not a bad choice.
Medved Madness Trail Race
Lots of Mud & Lots of Food
Medved Madness Trail Race
This is a trail race at Mendon Pond Park right outside Rochester. There is a short option which is 4 to 6 miles or a long option which is 13 … MORE
This is a trail race at Mendon Pond Park right outside Rochester. There is a short option which is 4 to 6 miles or a long option which is 13 to 15 miles. I opted for the short option since I’m on call this weekend. I do think pre-race communication could have been better. There were not many emails except the runsignup share it with your friends emails. For instance they never sent a packet pick-up email. The website was updated so I was able to find the information but I like an email. I got my packet at the Medved running store Saturday as it was on the way home from Naples. Packet included bib and tech shirt. it is a simple but nice design and nice quality shirt that I will wear. The race has 3 starts a 7:30 early start for slower folks doing the long course, an 8:30 start for most people doing the long course and a 9:30 start for the short course. The parking lot where the race starts is very small so cars lined the main street around Mendon to park. If you are doing the short course you will park quite a bit away from the start. I parked a little over 1/4 mile from the start so try to pick up your packet early to not have to go back and forth unless you want to run in the race shirt. There were flags where to start. They gave pre-race announcements. I wouldn’t call the start disorganized but I wish there was a loudspeaker as the RD just spoke the directions and it was sometimes hard to hear over chatter and the directions were really important given there are multiple loops and distances. It also may have been nice if the instructions were sent via email before the race. For the short course we followed blue flags. The course was marked pretty well there was a blue flag everywhere there needed to be and I never got lost though there were a few sections I went awhile without seeing one and it just reassures me to see them more frequently. The course is scenic as the leaves are very green and Mendon is really pretty. However it was really, really, really tough. I think they made the course as tough as possible. There was a ton of mud and a ton of hills. It was honestly not that much fun and I got sick of it after about 3 miles but I sucked it up and finished the course. My Garmin shutdown for some reason at mile 4.65 and I had to restart it and set it again so I didn’t record the whole distance but it was closer to 6 miles than 5 miles and there appeared to be 600-700 feet of elevation gain. My finishing time was super slow. I’m not sure how accurate the timing is. It is manually timed. I had about an hour and half recorded on my Garmin though did miss a tiny bit but I don’t think it was 6 minutes maybe it was. Doesn’t really matter as my time was super slow with or without the 6 minutes. I was happy for it to end. There is food at the end. I heard it was chicken BBQ and as a vegetarian was not too excited it but there was a whole feast with lots of veggie options. There was iced tea and lemonade, the BBQ chicken, marinara pasta, mac n cheese, potatoes, coleslaw, salad and dinner rolls. So even without meat I had a delicious and filling meal. There as also beer which I didn’t drink. This was a very tough course. It was a little too hilly and muddy for me but it was worth it for the food at the end. I was initially going to give this race 3 sneakers but the food made me increase to 4 sneakers. I would recommend this race to locals as long as you are prepared for the difficulty.
Naples Youth Corp 5K & 10K
Great Smaller Race
Naples Youth Corp 5K & 10K
This is a fairly small race with about 100 participants in a town called Naples in the Fingerlakes which is a little under an hour drive from Rochester. I am … MORE
This is a fairly small race with about 100 participants in a town called Naples in the Fingerlakes which is a little under an hour drive from Rochester. I am stuck in town this weekend and initially there were no races today but this race moved from May 13 to May 6 after realizing there were no races May 6 and a ton of races May 13. Since this raises money for the Youth Corp many of the participants were kids and families. There is a 5K and a 10K. I chose the 5K because the 10K goes over a hill called Mt Misery. I’m glad I picked the 5K as there were only about 10 participants doing the 10K while the 5K had close to 100 participants. There was adequate pre-race communication with a race email sent about 1 week in advance. There was an option for early packet pick-up but as it’s about a 55 minute drive I just got my packet the day of. Packet included bib and a polyblend shirt. The design is a little plain but it’s a nice quality shirt and a nice reddish color. Much better than the typical white cotton T-shirt you get at most of these smaller events. It started at a school with plenty of parking. The start and finish were the same and it was chip timed. You just started at the timing mat. There was no fancy start/finish arch or anything which is fine for a race like this. The course went through the town along main street then past a vineyard then through some quiet neighborhoods back to main street and the school. It was a pretty area and a pleasant place to run with lots of green trees and perfect running weather. The main street was coned off. The rest of the streets were opened by I think 2 to 3 cars totaled passed us so not a big deal. It was mostly a loop with a small out and back around mile 2. There were clear signs where to go and volunteers directing traffic. The only place I thought could have been better marked was the start of the out and back but there was a volunteer to direct everyone. Even without Mt. Misery the 5K course was quite hilly. This was a tough 5K. My Garmin said 135 feet elevation gain. I thought my finishing time was good with this hills. There aren’t medals which is fine for this type of race. There was water, gatorade, donuts and bananas at the finish. Overall this was a very good race for a low budget small race and I would recommend it to locals and am glad I took the trip down today.
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon & Half Marathon
Chickens, gorillas and spectators
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon & Half Marathon
This is a race in Oklahoma City that serves as a memorial to those affected by the bombing in 1995. It is held in late April and starts at the … MORE
This is a race in Oklahoma City that serves as a memorial to those affected by the bombing in 1995. It is held in late April and starts at the Oklahoma City Memorial. I chose this race because I have heard great things and it’s in a bigger city so easier to fly to. I only had the weekend so this was a very quick trip to OK so I didn’t have any time to spend in the city. I have been to Oklahoma City a couple of times in the past and it is a nice city so I wish I had more vacation days and could have spent more time there. For the race there is great pre-race communication with a pre-race guide and a nice app for the phone with information. I flew in Saturday morning. I was supposed to arrive at 1pm but my flight was delayed so I wasn’t getting in until 4 to 5pm. Packet pick-up is required before the race and the expo closes at 6pm. Since I would be cutting it close with the delayed flight I had a fellow runner from one of my running clubs pick up my packet for me (thank you if you are reading this review) so I didn’t get to go to the expo. Packet include bib, pancake mix, race guide and a nice short-sleeved tech shirt. Simple design but I liked the color and will use it. I stayed at the host hotel the Omni. I think it was a bit pricey but typical price for a host hotel in a downtown area and not too expensive for one night. The Omni is right at the finish and about 3/4 mile from the start which is perfect to get a warm-up to start and not have to walk far at the end. The race starts at 6:30am. It’s kind of early but there was time to shower before my flight so I liked the early start. There were corrals based off predicted times. Pretty much my only production complaint is there were not enough porta potties and I did not have time to use it before the race. The corrals went off efficiently I was in the last one and started around 6:45. There is the anthem and moment of silent before the race. This is a very large race with thousands of runners and the atmosphere was great! I think this race may have had the most spectators for any race I have done. Race weather was absolutely perfect this weekend as well. The race is all on closed streets or streets with multiple lanes blocked off. The half and full start together and diverge around mile 8. The first couple miles are in downtown Oklahoma City passed the memorial and basketball stadium. I was initially sticking between the 2:55 half marathon and 6:00 full marathon pace group but then around mile 3 you go into some neighborhoods and some of the residents had their pet chickens out and you could take chicken selfies and I couldn’t resist and decided to give up on my 3 hour finishing time goal and just have fun. The next few miles are mostly though neighborhoods. All of which had tons of spectators and many had themes. There was one street that was all orange with orange juice and mimosa and gorilla hill where people where dressed as gorillas and they handed out bananas. This part of the course is small hills. Nothing too bad. I walked them since I was more in party mode than speed mode. Then there is the split. The worst part of the course was a bit after the split and is a long incline. It is not steep but it’s a mile or 2 and a slog. Luckily there are still a lot of spectators and the final miles are downhill. Still some spectators but it did thin out a bit at the end until the finish line. Everything on the course was well marked. There were tons of aid stations. I carried water but didn’t really need it. All had water. Most had electrolyte drink. Many had snacks like pretzels and fruit and at least one had gels. This was a very back of the pack friendly race and everything was well stocked when I passed by. There were also a ton of back of packers. Almost too many. One thing I did not enjoy about the race which is somewhat outside the race company’s control is there was not great running etiquette on course. I was run-walking and with run-walkers but everyone kept walking in the middle of the course in lines of 3 to 4 people and not going to the right when slowing down. It was a bit frustrating as I had to weave around people and occasionally there was a whole blockade of walkers. I think it is great for people to be out there walking the course just please go to the right so faster people can pass you. Whenever I take a walking interval I always move over so people can pass me. This was most frustrating in the beginning when I was going for under 3 hours and less frustrating when I decided to just have fun. I was also worried when the marathoners converged it would make things worse but luckily they had half marathoners on the left and full on the right so the 3 hour marathoners were not mixing with us. The finish chute was very well done and emotional with pictures of all the victims of the bombing. A somber way to finish but it made you appreciate being able to run and get out there. You got your medal. It is okay. Kind of plain but a respectful medal for the event. There were typical finish line snacks like water, gatorade, chips and nutrigrain bars. They also had burgers but they were all beef and no veggie burgers. There was a nice finish area. I didn’t have a lot of time to hang out as I had to catch a 1:50pm flight and wanted to shower but it seemed like a fun area. Overall this was a fantastic race. Great production with an interesting urban course and possible the most fun race environment I have experience. Of the ~80 half marathons I have done, this is top 10 for sure and would probably be top 5 if they had veggie burgers. I would definitely recommend this race. I assumed it would be a one and done since Oklahoma is not very close to me but I would definitely consider coming back and 100% recommend it to 50 staters.
Flower City Challenge
Best Half Marathon in Rochester
Flower City Challenge
I have run this race last year so that review has more details. This is the Spring Half Marathon produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. It is my favorite of the … MORE
I have run this race last year so that review has more details. This is the Spring Half Marathon produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. It is my favorite of the half marathons they produce and has the best tour of Rochester (though the Fall Rochester Half is also very scenic and pretty). The race is Sunday and they had a shake-out run Saturday at 9am before the expo which I went to. It was a nice way to get a warm-up run and hang out with some runners and had free bagels and coffee so try to do it. Expo is small but fine for local race. Not the biggest fan of the shirt this year. It is neon yellow but it is a good color for evening runs so I will wear next winter when I need to run in the dark. There also wasn’t all the other swag there was last year. Race day is Sunday and everything went seamlessly. There are $5 lots right by the arena it starts at or if you are willing to look around and walk a little more you can find free street parking. Race was essentially the same as last year but there was a slight detour due to construction. The new courses were certified. The race really goes through all the best sights of Rochester including downtown, past historic mansions and I think the best part is through Mount Hope Cemetery. The first 6 miles are pretty flat with just minor hills then there is a huge hill at mile 6. Then it’s pretty hilly for a few miles through the cemetery with the last couple miles being flat on the canal path. Course well-marked with closed or partially closed lanes and accurate mile markers. Only production complaint is again there were only 5 aid stations and the last 2 are kind of far apart and the aid stations only had water. It was a beautiful day but got a little hot by the end and I could have used an extra aid station near the end. Otherwise production was perfect. At the finish you get your medal. It is an okay medal. My finishing time was what I expected for course difficulty. There is post race festivities inside the arena with a band, massages and snacks. Overall this is a great tour of Rochester and very well produced. The hills in the middle make it a bit difficult but worth it for the cool sights. I was a little disappointed in the swag this year but it wasn’t bad enough to not make me recommend this race. As I’m moving out of Rochester, this may be my last year doing it but I would definitely consider coming back to visit for this race. If you like urban races with lots of historical sights and would prefer a race in a cheaper and smaller city than NYC, this is a good half for 50 staters.
Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon
The best race for only $26.21
Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon
Even though this is a low budget race, it is still one of my favorites in NH and definitely the best race you can find for only $26.21 which is … MORE
Even though this is a low budget race, it is still one of my favorites in NH and definitely the best race you can find for only $26.21 which is the price if you register early. I did the race last year so that review has more details. This race has no frills but it’s production is as good as much more expensive races. They again did the time trial start where you are assigned a time based on predicted pace and it works great so runners are spread out. The course is an out and back on a rail trail. Not the most exciting but it is relatively flat and it’s actually a fairly scenic trail. I prefer this scenery to Elm street. Only production complaint is there are only 3 aid stations which you pass twice but two are placed a little over 3 miles apart. This is in the race instruction and I get it’s a cheap race so I won’t take away a sneaker but I’d recommend carrying water for this race. There is no medal but you get a funny ribbon. My time was slow but as expected with this being my second half this weekend. I would definitely recommend this race for locals and for 50 staters not concerned about bling. I plan to sign up for next year as soon as registration opens as long as I am free the weekend of the race.
Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon
Fast, Great Production & Vegan Food
Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon
This is a downhill point to point half marathon in Albany, NY. I chose to do this race because Albany is halfway between Rochester and NH and had a race … MORE
This is a downhill point to point half marathon in Albany, NY. I chose to do this race because Albany is halfway between Rochester and NH and had a race in NH on Sunday so it worked out perfectly. I actually had plans in Syracuse Friday night so I stayed in Utica before the race which is in-between Syracuse and Albany so can’t comment on lodging in Albany but I’m sure there are convenient hotels in downtown Albany. The race had excellent production with a participant guide that had all the details. Luckily there is race day packet pick as I would not be able to get my packet early. For the race it is recommended you park in downtown Albany and take a shuttle to the start which is in a park in a small town outside Albany. They have some recommend parking garages and it was easy. The shuttle went very smooth and all the issues from the earlier reviews about the race seemed to be fixed so this race company clearly listens to feedback and works on improvement. Everyone appeared to be at the start with plenty of time to spare. The start was also well organized. I liked that they had water jugs set up and there was a good amount of porta potties. The race day packet pick-up was at the start and you got the bib before the race and shirt after. The start had signs to line up by pace and started on time. There are a few thousand runners and people seemed to line up well. The first two miles are on road which is good since it allows everyone to space out. There is a small uphill near the start (the only hill for the course) and then a steeper downhill. After mile 2 you spend most of the rest of the race on a rail trail with a very gradual downhill. It is the perfect course for being fast but the rail trail portion is not too steep so it is not a quad killer which was good since I had another half tomorrow. You are on the trail for about 8 or 9 miles then a couple miles more through the city which were flat. Course was very well marked. The trail was wide enough for runners to pass and all paved and well groomed. Since it was point to point it never got too crowded. There were aid stations about every 2 miles. The first 2 were just water. The rest had water and Nuun and one in the middle had gu. I believe they all had porta potties. It was kind of a hot day and close to 80 by the end of the race. For normal April weather there was the perfect amount of aid stations. In the heat, I’d prefer a few more but the weather was unusual. There were lots of spectators at intersections on the trail though obviously not many on the trail. There were police at all road crossings. There were also lots of back of packers so I was running with people the whole race. The scenery was okay. It was pleasant but a bit monotonous. The end in the city was mostly under roads and bridges and not that scenic. The finish was in a park across the bridge from the parking lot and downtown Albany. Given the elevation profile I was hoping to have my fastest race of the year and thought this might be the race to beat my next goal of 2:50 but when I saw the weather report of temps in the high 70s I knew that was too ambitious as I haven’t done any heat training and was happy that with the heat I was still under 3 hours. At the finish you get your medal. The medal is nice but not outstanding. This race is part of a challenge with a 10 miler in May and the medals connect. I think the medal would be really cool if you do the challenge but it’s fine on it’s own (the 10 miler is the same day as the Buffalo half so I can’t do the challenge as I want to do Buffalo one more time before I leave western NY). You also pick up your shirt if you do race day packet pick-up and bought a shirt (there is tiered registration with option for shirt or no shirt which I think is great). I got a shirt. It is a fine cotton shirt. I’d prefer a tech shirt. One minor production critique is the line for the shirt took forever because they were also selling merch at the booth. I wish they had separate pre-bought line and purchasing line to make it quicker. They also had box lunches and I was very excited for a vegan option. It included a hummus sandwich, chips and a delicious vegan dessert. If you want a huge vegan meal though the finish line is also a couple blocks from the delicious vegan burger place Wizard Burger. Overall this was a very good race. It is inbetween 4 and 5 sneakers. Production and elevation profile are definitely 5 sneakers although scenery and swag were just average. Vegan options at the end though round up the score to 5. As this race is only a 3 hour drive from me I would definitely consider it again. I’d recommend it for 50 staters if you prefer a mid-size, quieter, convenient NY race.
Run the Land East vs. West
Glorified Training Run for Marathon
Run the Land East vs. West
I was already planning to go visit Cleveland this weekend and this was the only half marathon race option. It is basically a glorified training run for the Cleveland marathon. … MORE
I was already planning to go visit Cleveland this weekend and this was the only half marathon race option. It is basically a glorified training run for the Cleveland marathon. That sounds kind of negative but it’s exactly what it is and the race doesn’t claim to be anything else. It is a very cheap race with $25 registration and extra perks if you raise more money. It is designed as cheap option for runners looking for a supported course for their 20 mile run for the Cleveland marathon and also has 5K, 10K, half and full marathon option. The race is chipped timed and has a well marked course but it is all on trails and sidewalks and open to traffic and you have to obey traffic laws. The races start at a bar and that’s where packet pick-up is. The swag item is a pint glass. The pint glass is absolutely adorable and I do love it. It has these two ducks and one says “I ran today!” and the other says “cool.” The course is throughout Cleveland. There were plenty of arrows and markings and they also gave a piece of paper with directions as well. It had the same start and finish lines. They said they tried to make a course with minimal road crossings but that was a lie. The first half of the course was very reasonable for an open course in quiet neighborhoods and about 1.5 miles on the towpath then another mile on another paved trail and then again through a quiet neighborhood. There were aid stations every 3 miles or so. I did carry water since they weren’t as frequent as I’d like but frequent enough for the cost. What was at the aid stations was varied some just water, some gatorade, some snacks and gels. One issue is aid stations didn’t have bathrooms and I had to go really bad in the middle of the race and ended up wasting 3 minutes going at a convenience store on the route. These miles though really had minimal road crossings and I had a decent about 14 minute/mile pace. The next half was really cool for scenery but so annoying for a closed course as we went through downtown Cleveland. We passed the football stadium, the rock n roll hall of fame, the baseball stadium and run along busy streets. While it was a cool tour of the city, it was the stupidest course for an open course. I lost 2 to 3 minutes each mile waiting for crosswalks. After living in California for 6 years I am trained to not jay walk but you literally lost about 20 minutes unless you jay walked. There was also some construction is some areas making it hard to maneuver. I can’t figure out why they didn’t just do an out and back on the towpath. It would be kind of boring but so much better for running an open course. If I were to designed a similar race in Rochester I would put it just about all on the canal path. The constant stopping downtown also made it hard to get in a groove. My finishing time was super slow but if you account for the 20 minutes I spend stopping for traffic it wasn’t as bad as it looks. At the finish there was some food but they ran out of granola bars. There was some fruit and m&ms. There were a ton of granola bars on course. They should have had more granola bars at the finish and less on course. There is no medal but that is okay for a cheap race and they never said there was one. Overall I did think this was a cool tour of Cleveland and I applaud the RDs for making an affordable race but I did not enjoy stopping for traffic so much and as a result would not strongly recommend this race. I’d really only recommend this race for locals who are either looking for a training run for the Cleveland marathons or for local half fanatics and marathon maniacs looking to increase their numbers in a cheap way. It was either this race or no half marathon since it was the only one in Cleveland so I’m happy I did it but would only do it again if I happened to already have plans to be in Cleveland and I would recommend they change the course so less time is downtown and more is the towpath
Rochester River Run
Fine Race for a Great Cause
Rochester River Run
This race goes to a great cause raising money for the transplant team at my hospital so I would definitely recommend it to locals just for that reason. However it … MORE
This race goes to a great cause raising money for the transplant team at my hospital so I would definitely recommend it to locals just for that reason. However it was a pretty medium race. No major issues but also nothing special. Hence the three sneakers down the board. The race did make parking very clear which was easy race morning. Packet included bib and a long sleeved tech shirt. The shirt is very nice but the only swag. The weather was cold and sunny. I was having a bad morning for reasons not related to running but I was not in the mood and thought about skipping the race but since it’s located under 10 minutes from where I live I decided to come. The race is all around the canal path where I usually run and where most races in Rochester take place. The start and finish were separate and the finish line had a timing mat and arch. The start was just kind of there with some cones and had no timing mat. The course is fine. The canal path is pleasant enough. The canal path is flat but I did think this was probably 3 of the hardest miles as there were multiple bridges. Nothing crazy but did have about 80 feet elevation gain. I thought the course could have been a little better marked. I know the canal path well and studied the course map and didn’t get lost. There were some flags and signs but a few locations where not well marked. I did hear one runner say they missed a turn and ran extra miles. There was an aid station around mile 2 with water. No medal which is fine for a charity 5K. Had water bottles, granola bars and apples at the end. There was also a raffle and a few booths to look at. I had a very slow time because I was not in a running mood but at least I got out there and did it. Overall I thought this was a fine race. Nothing special but goes to a good cause and would recommend to locals.
International Taste Fest 5K & 10K
Great food and swag
International Taste Fest 5K & 10K
This is a race produced by Willow Running that takes place right before the International Taste Festival in Syracuse at the NY state fairgrounds. There is the option for 5K … MORE
This is a race produced by Willow Running that takes place right before the International Taste Festival in Syracuse at the NY state fairgrounds. There is the option for 5K or 10K. I was on call and just did the 5K. The 10K starts at 10am and the 5K at 10:15 so the late start allows time to drive to Syracuse after rounding but luckily I didn’t have to go in the hospital today so I could have an easy morning. Really my only production complaint which may be out of the race company’s control is parking was confusing. There were multiple events going on and not many signs specific to the events. I kind of expected this as every time I’ve come to the fairgrounds parking is kind of annoying so I left early so I’d have time to figure it out and I eventually found my way following cars with running bumper stickers. The race has race day pick-up though there is the option for picking it up a few days before. I got it the day of. It was inside in the same building the taste fest is. Packet included bib and a really colorful (almost too colorful), good quality long sleeved tech shirt The inside location had real bathrooms and would be good if there was bad weather. Luckily weather was on our side. It was stormy in central NY today but the sun came out just for the race. The temp was perfect. Only issues was some winds. The race had the 10K first at 10 and 5K 15 minutes later. There were 100-200 5K participants. Everyone start at one and there was a start/finish arch with a timing mat. The course started right outside the taste fest building. The scenery on the course was pretty awful but it was convenient and an easy course to follow. The first about 1/2 mile is on a bridge that goes over the highway and you basically look at cars. Then there is a 2 mile circle. The first mile is next to the lake which is somewhat scenic and I was going to raise the scenery a sneaker but the next mile is literally just running along a road next to a parking lot. The 10K did a 3.1 mile out and back that diverged around the halfway point. Then back across the bridge with the cars and finish at taste fest. Difficulty was medium for a 5K. About 80 feet of elevation gain. Most in the first half mile which means the last half mile is downhill. While the scenery is terrible, it’s not really the point of the race and I understand there really aren’t many course options next to the taste fest and the course was easy to follow, had wide areas to run in which was great with the 2 distances as there was some intermixing of paces and also didn’t involve many road closures. There was also an aid station with water in the middle. At the finish you get your medal. The medal is very nice for a 5K/10K though not distance specific. My finish time wasn’t great but I had to check my pager a few times and at least finished under 40 mins. There is no post-race food at the finish but you get free entry to the taste fest. Though you do have to pay for the food. The taste fest had many vendors including small $2 samplers. Lots of vegetarian and a good amount of vegan options and was a fun event. Overall I’d recommend this race if you are interested in also going to the taste fest. It is not the greatest course but production is good and swag is great.
Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle
Golden Shamrock
Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle
This is a 2 mile race that is the day after the Shamrock Half Marathon. If you do both races you get a golden shamrock which attaches to the half … MORE
This is a 2 mile race that is the day after the Shamrock Half Marathon. If you do both races you get a golden shamrock which attaches to the half medal. The medal is an above average medal without the golden shamrock but it is an excellent medal with it so I’d recommend doing this 2 miler if you can add it on. There is no swag for just doing the 2 miler however. There is also race day packet pick-up. The start and finish is the same as the half. I just walked this race with my parents. It is an out and back on Elm Street so I was so excited to see the same sights again. I will give this race credit though as it goes through the more exciting downtown part. Also this race avoids the hill. It is a slight incline out and a slight decline back so it is a fast race. There are a ton of participants including tons of walkers and kids participating which was fun for my mom who only likes to walk races with lots of walkers. With the out and back you get to see everyone and cheer them on. We walked it very fast and had a good walking time. There were similar post race food to yesterday though I don’t think there was soup. I would definitely try to add this on if you are doing the half and would recommend it to locals looking for shorter races. My mom really wants to do this again next year so as I said in my half review I am planning to do it next year as long as it is not the weekend I plan to be in New Mexico
Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle
Run-mare on Elm Street
Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle
This is a half marathon produced by Millennium Running in Manchester, NH. I am originally from NH and frequently visit and have now run several races in NH. Millennium Running … MORE
This is a half marathon produced by Millennium Running in Manchester, NH. I am originally from NH and frequently visit and have now run several races in NH. Millennium Running has the best production in NH and this race is no exception. However this is probably the weakest course in terms of scenery that I have run in NH. This is an extremely convenient race which is one reason along with production that I would recommend it despite the scenery. I drove and stayed at my parents’ house but if you are coming from out of town the race is located in downtown Manchester with plenty of hotels right by the start line and a quick cab ride from the Manchester airport so no rental car needed. The race also has race day packet pick-up though there is also the option of picking it up Friday at the Millennium Running Store. I arrived Friday evening and opted for race day packet pick up. The race website has all the necessary info and packet pick-up was very easy. I parked in a garage a couple blocks from the start but you can also find free street parking. Packet included bib which was cute in that they put O’ before your last name so everyone had an Irish-sounding name as part of the St Patrick’s day theme. You also got a long sleeved green polyblend shirt. It’s fine but I generally prefer tech shirts. Even though the race takes place over a week after St Patrick’s day it is very festive with most participants in green and Irish music at the start. It is a smaller race with a few hundred participants so it definitely felt a bit lonely compared to the huge races I did last weekend. There were a few other half marathons in New England this weekend which likely diluted the amount of runners. For the start they had you line up by pace. As it was a smaller race there was no need for waves. The start had an announcer and as I said before was very festive. I reviewed the course online and it looked kind of confusing with multiple runs up and down Elm street and I worried it would be confusing to follow or annoying with people of mixed paces but it was so well organized and designed that neither of these were a problem. Elm street is one of the main streets in Manchester and it was completely closed off for the approximately 2 mile stretch and had 3 lanes. You spend a lot of time on Elm Street. I feel like I now know every detail of that stretch. How it works is the first time up Elm street you are on the left lane. The first section also has a brief side trek over a bridge and then back to Elm street. You then run around a block and run down in the middle lane. Unfortunately with this system you end up passing the start/finish many time. You then do a small loop downtown and run up the right lane and then go one block and run down a parallel street. There is then another section downtown, passed the start/finish line again and you then go up the left lane again and finish down the middle lane. It was extremely easy to follow and I was never with people running different paces. I don’t think there was any mixing of paces with how well it was set up. The fact that we pretty much just ran up and down Elm street for most of the race made it quite boring for scenery. It’s not really unpleasant scenery but there is so much beauty and nature in NH and it is not on Elm Street. There is also a hill on Elm Street you go up 3 times which gets annoying. It’s not that terrible a hill. I did walk the hill as my lungs still aren’t 100% from my illness but it’s not too long or steep of a hill. The overall elevation gain was around 400 ft which is flat for Manchester and this is a much easier course than Manchester City. Some positives about the course set up is the streets are all closed off so you don’t need to worry about traffic and there is a water station you pass 5 times (there were also 2 or 3 other water stations on the non Elm Street sections so there were lots of aid stations) and as you know the course it is easy to strategize and also the last 2 miles are downhill and fast. I was still not feeling 100% but I was able to strategize the course and I was very happy to finish under 3 hours and over 20 minutes faster than last week. At the finish line you get your medal. The medal is very nice and big. If you do the 2 mile shuffle on Sunday you get a golden shamrock which is a magnet that connects to the medal. The medal without the golden shamrock is good. The medal with the golden shamrock is great. There is also a post-race party with typical post race snacks such as granola bar and banana and soup that was vegetarian (and I believe vegan though don’t quote me on that) along with beer if you drink alcohol. Also if you are a hockey fan, the NCAA hockey tournament frequently comes to the arena in Manchester right by the start line the same weekend as the race so if you are a 50 stater and a hockey fan try to plan them together. The hockey game was another reason I was in NH this weekend. Overall this is a very well produced race with a fun theme though not the best course. I would definitely recommend it to locals. For 50 staters there are definitely better courses to highlight the beauty of NH but if you want the most convenient location then I’d recommend this race. I am moving back to New England this summer and plan to do this race again next year as long as it is not the same weekend as Bataan in New Mexico.
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
Great Swag & Post-Race Party
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
I had done this race in 2021 but it was modified and an open course due to covid. I was impressed with what the race company J&A racing was able … MORE
I had done this race in 2021 but it was modified and an open course due to covid. I was impressed with what the race company J&A racing was able to do during covid so I wanted to come back during a normal year for the full experience. I drove down to Virginia Beach after RnR DC on Saturday. They do have the option to have your packet mailed early or race day packet pick-up but it is a hefty fee and I think was $40. I did opt to have my packet mailed as I wanted no stress getting to VB. Packet included bib and a nice long-sleeved, very green tech shirt. Packet pick-up goes until 5pm on Saturday. I arrived in VB right about 5pm but I stayed and enjoyed the after party in DC and stopped for gas and Dunkins on the drive down so you definitely could make it in time for packet pick-up if doing both if you are either a fast runner or leave right after you cross the finish line if you don’t want to pay to have bib mailed or picked up race day. I again stayed in the Ramada. It is right by the finish. One thing I did not account for is Atlantic Ave is closed until 3:30pm on race day so if you wanted to leave before 3:30pm you could not park in the Ramada’s parking structure. Luckily I found street parking 2 blocks away on Arctic Ave but if I were to do the race again and drive home right after I would stay at a hotel a few blocks inland not right at the beach as I’d prefer not to do street parking. If you are staying Sunday night or leaving after 3:30pm the Ramada is very convenient. The race starts about 3/4 mile from the finish. This race was basically the opposite of RnR DC in that everything at the start was super organized except there was not nearly enough porta potties. It was kind of a cold morning. Although there was a snow storm in Rochester last week so I thought the weather was pleasant but I didn’t want to hang at the start line too long so did not have time to wait in the porta potty lines. I was feeling pretty awful from being sick 1.5 weeks ago and my glutes were on fire from the DC race so I knew I wasn’t having a fast time and was not worried about losing a few minutes using the porta potty during the race. However the corral system was extremely organized, efficient and spaced everyone out perfectly. The race was also great. It is a party atmosphere type of race with a ton of participants and lots of slower runners as well. I was a little disappointed in course scenery as I was hoping for more beach scenes and I found the modified course from 2021 to be a bit more scenic with the boardwalk. However the course is very flat. The first part is a few miles through a nice neighborhood with a ton of spectators which is fun. The next few miles are probably the worst of the course. They are a very slight incline through some woods. Not many spectators and scenery a bit repetitive here. However it is the perfect place for an incline. After you have gotten into your groove but before you are too tired too notice and the second half is slightly downhill so it would be a fast course if you didn’t feel like crap. Around mile 6 you enter Fort Story a military base. This is pretty cool since normally it is off limit for the public but there are less spectators. The first part of this section is a bit boring but the second part has a cool lighthouse and some beach views. You then go back through the neighborhood and then turn onto the beach boardwalk for maybe half a mile and finish at the King Neptune statue. Course is well supported with plenty of aid stations. While there were lots of porta potties on the course the lines were very long since so many runners couldn’t go before the race. Otherwise production was pretty much perfect. At the finish line you get your medal which is nice and has a design of the King Neptune statue and then volunteers keep handing you stuff. It seemed like the swag and goodies never ended. You got a blanket, hat, water bottles, recovery drink, tons of snack items and luckily a drawstring bag. On the beach there is also a tent with a post race party with beef stew and beer or if you are meat and alcohol free like me veggie stew and pepsi. Overall this was a great race. I do wish the scenery was a little more beachy but it’s a flat course with great production and festive atmosphere. I enjoyed it so much I decide to sign up for another half with J&A racing this Fall. This is definitely a very good choice for Virginia and worked really well as a double with RnR DC.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC
Awesome Course but Mixed Production
Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC
I was planning to do Shamrock in Virginia Beach on Sunday and had to drive through DC to get there so decided to make it a double. Overall this race … MORE
I was planning to do Shamrock in Virginia Beach on Sunday and had to drive through DC to get there so decided to make it a double. Overall this race was fantastic once you crossed the start line but there were some issues leading up to it. One of my biggest critiques of the race is there is only Friday pack pick-up. I completely understand that races make money from expo and want to encourage as many people to go to the expo as possible. However I think all Saturday races should have the option to either have packet mailed or race day packet pick-up even if there is a fee to make up for lost expo cost. This race has no such option. The website was also very unclear if you could even have someone pick-up your packet. I am able to work remotely on Fridays so I ended up driving to DC Thursday and working from my hotel room Friday but it was annoying to pay for 2 nights in a hotel. In general I did not think the website was the most user friendly. Also apparently they did have a PDF with all the info but I didn’t see it as the email labeled final race instructions just went to the website and it wasn’t that clear you had click somewhere else for the PDF. I was able to find the main info I needed but I thought the website could be clearer. For the race I stayed at the Holiday Inn by the National Mall. It was not cheap but the price I would expect to pay for how good the location was and was walkable to the conference center, start line and finish line and had an easy parking garage to get in and out of. The expo was at the convention center and everything was pretty efficient. It was a medium sized expo. It was smaller than the RnR expo I went to in San Diego pre-pandemic but was larger than most expos I’ve been to post-pandemic. Packet included bib and technical shirt. I loved the design of the shirt and medals this year with cherry blossoms. However that is the only swag is shirt and medal. The expo had some booths and samples along with merch and the typical vendor to buy all your race gear. I think everyone’s biggest criticism of the race was the corral system. The corrals were a hot mess. However some things at the startline were done well. There was actually a good amount of porta potties and I was impressed with how short the lines were for how many runners. Also the loud speaker system was very clear and I could easily hear the announcer. The corral system was supposed to be that faster runners had blue bibs and slower runners red bibs. The blue bibs were supposed to line up first and then the red bibs were supposed to line up separately after. This was clearly announced. However no one was listening and a bunch of red bibs went with the blue bibs. I was a red bib and I kept waiting for them to announce for us to line up but they never did and eventually I noticed there were only like 100 runners left and only red bibs in the corral and just went. This needs to get fixed. I think the best solution would be to assign different start times for blue and red bib (i.e. blue bibs start at 8am and red bibs start at 8:30 am) or just have one long corral or have the red corral at an adjacent street. Unfortunately I actually got sick with some nasty bug that was not covid (I had to take a PCR for work) a few days after I returned from Canada and I was not able to run since my last half marathon and my lungs hadn’t completely recovered so I was expecting a slow race so I didn’t really care that I ended up starting near the back but I’m sure faster runners were affected by the corral mess. As I said once we crossed the start line the race was great. This had some of the best urban scenery I have seen and was a really cool course. Starting by the Washington Monument and going past museums and parks and city streets. The scenery was varied and there was almost always something to look at and it was a great tour of the city. It was also a great race environment with tons of runners including back of packers, lots of bands and other musical acts and a good amount of spectators. Aid stations were also all well stocked even towards the end and there were plenty of porta potties on course. The streets were closed off and the course was very easy to follow. Two negatives about the course are there is a killer hill in the middle (the rest is rolling hills and isn’t too bad) and there is one part on a slant which was very painful for my glutes. However I am fine with a tough course if the scenery is worth it and this course definitely had great scenery. The finish line is very cool by the White House. My finishing time was slow but what I was expecting given my recent illness. At the finish line you get your medal. I love the medal. It is not the biggest but is beautiful cherry blossom themed. There was also pretty good post race snacks with chips, granola bars, mini cupcakes, water and gatorade along with a band and some food trucks to purchase other food. Overall I thought this was a great course and fun event. However the corral system needs to be better organized. As much as I enjoyed the race I will likely not be doing it again if there is not an option for the bib to either be mailed or have same day packet pickup as I’m not sure I will be able to work remotely on Fridays forever. I would definitely recommend this for DC especially if you like big races and urban views and it worked great as a double with Shamrock. However if you prefer, smaller, more laid back, cheaper and logistically easier races with race day packet pick-up Bishop’s Events may have better DC options for you.
Chilly Half Marathon
Luckily Not so Chilly
Chilly Half Marathon
I am eventually hoping to complete a half marathon in all 10 Canadian Provinces after I finish the 50 states. However I am actually going to be moving out of … MORE
I am eventually hoping to complete a half marathon in all 10 Canadian Provinces after I finish the 50 states. However I am actually going to be moving out of Rochester and back to New England this summer so I wanted to do a half in Ontario before I left Western NY. I chose this race mostly because it worked the best with my schedule and was the closest half marathon to me this weekend. The race is located in Burlington which is a small city inbetween Niagara Falls and Toronto. It is a little over 2 hour drive from Rochester depending on border traffic. Packet pick-up is required before the race and can be picked up Saturday from 10 to 4pm. I do wish they had later packet pick-up Saturday. Normally it wouldn’t be a problem but there was a large snowstorm Friday night which cleared up by Saturday afternoon. I would have preferred to drive in Saturday afternoon but as the border can be unpredictable I had to leave in the morning to guarantee getting there by 4pm. I drove carefully Saturday morning and it ended up not being problem and the border was super easy as no one was traveling until the afternoon. Packet pick-up was in a church in Burlington. It was pretty easy. You are assigned a bib, you also get a bag of goodies and a nice long sleeve half zip shirt. The bag of goodies included a very cute stuffed chili pepper. It wasn’t really an expo just bib pick-up. After I picked up my bib I visited Toronto which is about 45 minutes past Burlington. If you decide to visit Toronto I highly recommend the restaurant PLANTA. It has the best vegan sushi. I did stay overnight as it would be a lot of driving and border crossing to keep going back and forth. I stayed at the Best Western in Burlington which was especially convenient because the race shuttle stopped there. The race starts at 10:05 which is nice so you don’t need to get up too early. As I said I took the shuttle from the hotel. The start had porta potties. The start and finish were the same location and had timing mats and a finishing arch. They had pace groups to help runners line up and everyone seemed to line up pretty correctly. There were pre-race warm ups, the Canadian anthem and some announcements before the start. This is called the Chilly half as it can be very Chilly in early March in Ontario. Luckily it heated up after the storm and weather was perfect around 40 degrees and sunny. I think it may have been warmer than South Carolina earlier this year. The course is pretty nice. It is about 3km (this is Canada so everything is in the metric system) through downtown Burlington and then an out and back along the road next to the lake. Scenery was pretty nice. Not amazing or super special but a pleasant run with some water views and some views of downtown. There was a good number of spectators for a winter race in a smaller city. There is also about 3000 runners which is a nice number to always be running with people but not be too crowded. The roads were closed and wide for passing people even with the out and back. Elevation profile is perfect for me. It’s not flat but it’s also not hilly. Just some small inclines and declines and the kind of course I am fastest at. Race was well marked and there were 4 aid stations you passed twice. One minor complaint is they only had water but this was advertised. I brought some Clif chews for electrolyte and nutrition. Given the perfect weather and the fast course I was having a good day running. I am slowly working towards my goal of getting back to under 2:45. I am setting goals of 5 minute increments and my goal was to do under 2:55 today. I was really close when I saw the finish line and I ran as fast as a could to make it. I was disappointed my Garmin said just over 2:55 but I usually start and stop it a little before and after the timing mats so I was happy when I looked at the results and saw my finishing time was 2:54:59. Literally 1 second under my goal. It’s my fastest race so far this year. At the finish line you get your medal. Which is nice with a sparkly chilly pepper. The post race was a little disappointing just water and bananas. I’m not sure if this is usual for Canada. Beer and junk feed at the end of race seems like it might be an American thing lol. But don’t worry there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the finish line. Some had deals with the race where you could get chili if you visited. I didn’t opt for those restaurants but instead went to the nearby Lettuce Love Cafe, a vegan and gluten free restaurant. There is also a vegan/gluten free bakery Kelly’s Bake Shop right by the finish. I did miss the last shuttle grabbing lunch so took an uber back to the hotel. Overall this was a very good race. It was well-produced, had great swag and was a fast course. I would definitely recommend it to locals and it’s definitely worth the drive from Western NY. If you are looking to do run a half in all 10 Provinces this is a nice one but as the weather can be dicey this time of year I’m not sure it’s the best choice.
Saguaro Half Marathon 🏆
Beautiful & Challenging
Saguaro Half Marathon 🏆
I love Vacation Races so I wanted to do one of their races for Arizona. I chose this specific race over the other vacation races in Arizona due to its … MORE
I love Vacation Races so I wanted to do one of their races for Arizona. I chose this specific race over the other vacation races in Arizona due to its convenient location. Most vacation races are in remote areas which can be expensive and time-consuming to travel to but this one is in Tucson and very easy to get to. Vacation Races emails a pre-race packet that has absolutely everything you need. There were some road closures for the race so definitely make sure you read the packet before driving there. I arrived in Tucson Thursday and picked up my packet Friday. I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express which was about 15 to 20 minutes from the race start. Packet pick-up and the race start/finish is in Old Tucson. There were volunteers directing packet pick-up parking and it went smoothly. You get a very nice tech shirt along with bib. You can also pick up your reusable hydroflask for aid stations and there are booths to buy other race merch along with a few vendors. Race day morning was easy. It sounds like they listened to feedback from last year and parking was very organized and easy. I had absolutely no issues getting into and out of the venue and there were volunteers directing you exactly where to park. The only minor issue which is not a complaint about the actual race production is that I was having one of those mornings where I kept forgetting things and arrived a little later than I was planning and did have to park a bit away from the start so if you want to park close to the start arrive early. Start was organized with pacers. There were a couple thousand runners and no specific waves. I just hung out near the back since I knew this would be a tough race and was planning to take it slow and enjoy the scenery and avoid injury. This is a very tough race. This year vacation races did a good job advertising how challenging it is. I don’t mind challenging races if I am warned ahead of time, the scenery is great and there is a long time limit so the difficulty did not bother me. I know in the first couple years they didn’t rate it as difficult as it was on the website and it surprised a few runners but I was prepared. The first about 7.5 miles are on road. This part isn’t super challenging but there are some steeper hills and it is not the easiest road course. Weather was beautiful and so was the scenery. The entire course was lined with cacti and southwestern scenery. They also had about half the road coned off for runners so there was plenty of space to find you pace and spread out which made the trail less congested. My plan (which is the best race strategy for this race) was to bank time by pushing myself harder on the road and taking the trail easier so I wore road shoes planning to run most of the road and walk most of the trail. This is a good back of the pack strategy. The final 5.5 miles are trail. The trail section is rather technical in places. We were spread out enough I didn’t have many issues with passing people. A few portions are very narrow with lots of rocks and cacti to avoid but there was always a wider section you could pass someone soon after. There were a few more runnable sections. There wasn’t any major hills on the trail. If you had good trail training and good trail shoes it would be pretty runnable. I have been overcoming injury and focusing more on getting my road speed back before working on trail running and the last thing I wanted was another injury so I did a lot of hiking this part. I had banked enough time that there was no way I would be over 4 hours even with just hiking. The trail section is also beautiful. I think this was the second most scenic half I’ve done after Grand Teton. There were also plenty of aid stations which was great since it got a little hot on the trail though never uncomfortably or dangerously hot. The aid stations are cupless with jugs of water and gnarly electrolyte also in jugs. For these races I always carry a handheld water bottle for water and use the hydroflask for electrolyte drink. There were Honey stingers gels at most if not all aid stations along with fruit at some. All aid stations also had porta potties. The finish line was at Old Tucson which is the old movie studio that is now a theme park. It was one of the best finishing venues I’ve seen. A really cool place to end and take post race photos. Plus you got to enjoy Old Tucson. The best part is they had a petting zoo so I got to pet some goats and a pig since I love farm animals. At the finish line you get your medal. Vacation races have some of the best medals along with a box of snacks. My finishing time was exactly what I expected. It was not great but given the difficulty of the course I felt it was pretty good and I wasn’t much slower than last week and this was a much harder race. Overall this was an excellent race. It was one of my favorite half marathons. As long as you don’t mind a challenge I would definitely recommend this race for Arizona or just in general if you are looking for a fun race-cation. I would actually love to come back after I finish my 50 states as I would love to do the race again and have more time to explore Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Much Better but Still Not Great Weather
Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
This is my second time doing this half marathon. I did it 2 years ago and I enjoyed it but it was a bit of a modified experience due to … MORE
This is my second time doing this half marathon. I did it 2 years ago and I enjoyed it but it was a bit of a modified experience due to covid and terrible thunderstorms. You can read my old review for details. I did want to come back to see what it was like a normal year and I was looking for an excuse to go to Orlando to go to EPCOT for the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride so when I found out I had this weekend off I decided to do this race again. Melbourne is about an hour east of Orlando so it is easy to get flights. I flew to Orlando Friday evening and stayed in Orlando then went to EPCOT Saturday and drove to Melbourne after and stayed in the Holiday Inn Express there Saturday night. I love that they have the options for race day packet pick-up as both times I went to Disney World and skipped the expo. I will say the race starts early and you can’t park right at the start so if you aren’t planning to go to Disney and are just spending the weekend in Melbourne it would be easier to go to the expo. They send email a race guide about a week before the race which has all the info you need including parking. I parked at the same garage as last time but this time it was free. It is a few blocks from the start but it does take a bit to park, walk to get packet and bring packet to car and then go back to race. The race stopped including a shirt to keep prices down but you can buy a shirt. Since I had a shirt from 2 years ago I did not buy one this year. Even without the shirt you still get a tote with a race hat, a vegan protein bar and some other coupons and goodies. I suspect this is an expensive place to hold a race. I would say the price of the race is very reasonable. It’s not super cheap not super expensive. It was much cheaper than the Miami half I did or a Disney World half. This year again there were huge porta potty lines. Pro tip – there is a WaWa about a block from the start and I used their bathroom to avoid missing the start due to porta potty lines like last year. The start was organized enough. They had pacers to help people line up but no waves or corrals. I appreciated they had multiple slower pacers such as 2:45, 2:50 and 2:55. My initial plan was to run with the 2:55 group but I thought that was a bit ambitious since my feet were sore from walking around Disney so much the day before so I lost them early in the race. The course is very nice with most of it waterfront views. It is a loop and it is flat except 2 bridges. It is mostly on a coned off street. The marathon is 2 loops. The space for runners is quite large and there were no issues with passing people. It is also a nice sized race with about 1000 runners total. The race starts really early at 6:30am so there were not a lot of spectators in the beginning. There were more in the second half but still not a ton. However there are a ton of aid stations and musical acts to make up for it. There was both an aid station and a musician or DJ almost every mile. Also lots of porta potties on course if you missed it at the start without lines. One minor complaint is I didn’t see any gels at the aid stations though some had fruit. The weather today was quite good until the second bridge around mile 11.5. It was a bit hotter than I was used to in the 70s which slowed me down a bit but then at mile 11.5 there was a really strong headwind which was brutal at the uphill on the bridge. I already knew I was not making under 3 hours so I just walked that mile until I reached the top of the bridge and I did not walk fast. It was so slow against the wind. It took me about 20 minutes to cover that mile which killed my time. Even the fast marathoners on their second lap were walking the hill. The finish is downhill but with the wind I couldn’t go too fast. My finish time was pretty slow. It’s probably not the best idea to go to Disney the day before if you want a fast time but the race is very back of the pack friendly with a 5 hour time limit for the half so go to Disney and enjoy the scenery. The finish line was okay. There was no arch or any sign that it was the finish line just timing mats. Same with the start. That is one thing I would change. even just some balloons or something to make it more festive. The medal is great. It is huge. This year the theme was honey which made a cute medal. My medal from 2 years ago was nice and this one was nicer. The finish line food was fine. There was fruit, cheese pizza and donuts. They had a nice selection of drinks such as gatorade, coke, and red bull along with beer. There didn’t appear to be as much food as described in prior years which I assume was also to keep prices down. Overall I think this is a very good race. It is close to 5 sneakers and I don’t have any major complaints but there are just a lot of minor things not done quite as well as a 5 sneaker race. While it is potentially a fast course with a very nice elevation profile, the weather is also unpredictable and as a result I would not recommend traveling to this race specifically for a PR or BQ. I’m guessing quite a few runners missed their goal because of the wind. There is also the possibility of thunderstorms or being very hot & humid. This is true of any Florida race so I wouldn’t hold the weather against the race for a 50 stater. Overall I like this race a lot. If I could only do one Florida race I did enjoy Miami a bit more and would probably choose that one but I did think this race along with travel and lodging was cheaper and logistically easier than Miami. It also works out well with visiting Disney. Depending on what you are looking for this is a solid option for 50 staters. As I love visiting Disney I may end up doing it again.
Teddy Bear Trot
Cute, Fun Run
Teddy Bear Trot
I am on call and stuck in Rochester this weekend and was initially planning to do a timed race yesterday. However yesterday morning was about -2 degrees when I woke … MORE
I am on call and stuck in Rochester this weekend and was initially planning to do a timed race yesterday. However yesterday morning was about -2 degrees when I woke up and the race was going to be in single digits and especially since I may have to stop and answer calls I decided to skip it and do this fun run instead. The weather warmed up and it was perfect winter running today. I did this fun run a couple year ago. This year there was a very small fee but there was more swag and post race stuff. You got a cute teddy bear headband and a sticker and there was an additional shirt to purchase. The run was an approximately 3 mile loop that started and ended at the store. It was on side walks and you had to follow traffic signals. This is untimed. It was quite snowy and not the easiest surface to run on so I took my time to make sure I didn’t fall. At the finish there was teddy grahams, gummy bears and hot cocoa. They also had all the collected teddy bears displayed which was cute. You also got a coupon for discounted footwear at the store. Overall this is a fun, cheap run that goes to charity and is good for locals.
Big Beach Marathon
More Like Big Swamp
Big Beach Marathon
I was initially planning to do this race last year but my flight got canceled and I couldn't make it. This race company is excellent and very runner friendly and … MORE
I was initially planning to do this race last year but my flight got canceled and I couldn’t make it. This race company is excellent and very runner friendly and I wrote to them about my flight getting canceled and they let me defer to this year even though it was way past the deferral deadline. The host hotel the Lodge also let me cancel my reservation the day of the reservation because of the canceled flight. Because of that alone I would highly recommend this race and the host hotel. It was also a very good race. Last year I attempted to fly into Pensacola Florida which is the closest airport but there are so few flights from Rochester to Pensacola that I wasn’t able to find a Saturday morning flight last year and had to cancel the trip all together. Therefore this year I decided to fly into New Orleans so there would more options if my flight got canceled. New Orleans is about a 3 hour drive to Gulf Shores but it’s always fun to stop in New Orleans and get some vegan food. I took Friday off and flew into New Orleans in the morning, ate lunch there and arrived at the Lodge around the time of hotel check in. The hotel is very nice and a good deal with the race discount. I was doing the Dolphin Challenge (7K + Half marathon) and picked up my packet Friday evening. You can also do Saturday packet pick-up if you arrive late Friday night. Packet pick-up was relatively quick with just a short line. You got a short sleeve tech shirt for the 7K and a long sleeve tech shirt for the half or full marathon. You also got a bag with some pamphlet, coupons and a few smaller swag items. There is also an expo Saturday. I didn’t have time to go to the expo as I had plans in the afternoon. I stopped by at the end but most of the booths were shut down. There was a section to buy race stuff but the lines were long and I had everything I needed. The half marathon is on Sunday and starts at 7:30. I paid extra to take a shuttle from the Lodge. The start is about 1 mile away. There are hotel options closer to the half than the Lodge but the shuttle worked well. The start is at a bar called the Hangout right by the beach. It is a great place to start. There is both an indoor area and an outdoor area right by the beach. I was worried as it looked like rain was predicted. Luckily the rain held off for the race but if it was raining you could hang out inside and you could also warm out outside by the beach. Weather was pretty great race day though a touch hotter and more humid than perfect for me. There were plenty of porta potties outside along with some bathrooms inside. The start was relatively well organized. There was about 1000 participants in both the half and full. There were pacers which helped people line up by pace. There was no marked corrals and it was a mass start. The beginning of the race is on a street and wide so it was not an issue. I lined up a bit before the 3 hour pacer. I knew this was the kind of course I am fastest at and I was determined to get back to an under 3 hour half marathon. The first about mile is on a half closed street and the next 10 miles or so is in Gulf State Park. While it starts on the beach, pretty much none of the race is on the beach and almost all of it is in the state park so I’m not sure Big Beach is the right name for the race. The state park though is quite scenic and swampy with lots of cool vegetation. The course was very well marked. Most of it was on pavement with some on boardwalk. There were a few occasionally crowded part but for the most part runners were much more spread out and even the sections that shared with the marathon I hardly had any issues passing people. There are a lot of back of packers so I was almost always running with people. As it is mostly on more remote areas of the park there aren’t a ton of spectators but there are pockets of spectators at a few sections. The elevation profile is perfect in my opinion. There are no hills but its mostly minor inclines and declines which is generally the fastest type of course for me. I did run-walk intervals and was able to keep the pace I needed for my goal the entire race. There were lots of aid stations with water and Gatorade. They used reusable cups which was a nice environmentally friendly idea. One had gels. I did notice they were low on gels so not sure if everyone got one. The last mile is on a coned off road along the street. I was very excited because I realized I would be making my goal of under 3 hours by a few minutes. I did not find the course to be short and my GPS said 13.2 miles so I assume the distance was correct although one reviewer said the course was short. The finish line was nice and you get a really nice beach medal. I was really happy I was back to under 3 hours. For doing the dolphin challenge you get an additional medal to clip on. It does not have a separate ribbon you clip it on the Big Beach medal. There was water bottle and fruit at the finish line. Inside at the Hangout they had boxed lunches with wraps, chips and a cookie. I was happy they had veggie wraps which I believe were vegan. One minor critique would be I would have liked a non-alcoholic drink option besides water. Overall this was a great race. It was between a 4 and 5 sneaker race but given how great the company was about my flight getting canceled, I was definitely rounding up. This is a race I would definitely recommend for Alabama and would consider doing again.
Big Beach Marathon
Short & Crowded
Big Beach Marathon
I did this 7K as part of the dolphin challenge with the half marathon on Sunday. My review for the half has more details. While I was very impressed with … MORE
I did this 7K as part of the dolphin challenge with the half marathon on Sunday. My review for the half has more details. While I was very impressed with the half marathon I was not that impressed with the 7K. You get a nice medal and a nice short sleeved tech shirt so if you are doing the half or full and going to be here Saturday morning you might as well do it. The race is right across from the Lodge and very convenient. It is just an out and back mostly on the boardwalk. It was a mass start and there was no suggested waves. The course was extremely congested and it was impossible to pass people for the first mile which was a bit frustrating. The turnaround had water and was at a natural turn around. However it was at about mile 2 and the course ended up being about 4 miles and not a 7K. This was more than 1/4 mile short. I doubt many people cared or noticed since I don’t think anyone even knows what a 7K is (it is ~4.35 miles). However I actually did another 7K this fall. I am currently overcoming injury and still running about 1 to 2 minute/mile slower than usual so haven’t gotten many PRs this year and this was an opportunity to get a PR by beating my 7K time in the fall. I obviously PR’ed by a lot given the short course but it felt cheap and I would have liked to beat my time on a real 7K. While the half marathon was great, this 7K race was just okay. If it is easy to fit in your schedule you might as well get the extra bling but I wouldn’t go out of your way for this race.
NYRR Fred Lebow Manhattan Half
Too Many People in Central Park Today
NYRR Fred Lebow Manhattan Half
This is a race produced by NYRR that takes place in Central Park in January. I decided to do this race because it was a cheap race on a cheap … MORE
This is a race produced by NYRR that takes place in Central Park in January. I decided to do this race because it was a cheap race on a cheap weekend to visit NYC and there are limited options in the Northeast for winter Half Marathons. This race is super cheap especially for NYC and NYRR. As a NYRR member I only paid $35. I think it is $45 for non-members. This also isn’t tourist season so my hotel was only around $150 per night. It is not the greatest race in the world but if you want to do a half in NYC on a budget this is the one to do. A caveat is the weather could potentially be awful. Luckily this weekend the weather was great maybe actually too great. This race offers packet pick-up either any day the week or so before at the NYRR store in Manhattan or race morning. I got it Saturday at the store and it was easy. Packet also included a nice winter hat. There is no shirt but given the price of the race, a hat is adequate swag for it. Race morning I took the subway and arrived about an hour early. I had to do bag check and it was easy that early but there were longer lines closer to the race. Like all NYRR race, production is really good. The only issue at the start line is there was not nearly enough porta potties for 5000 participants. I stood in line 25 minutes before the start and ended up lining up just as the race was starting. Since I was in the last corral it was not a big deal but especially if you are in an early corral account for the long lines. I noticed there did not appear to be as many back of the packers as the other NYRR races I have done. The race starts on the upper east side of central park and ends on the west side. The race starts at 8am and the corrals move quite fast. I was at the end of the corral and started around 8:15. The course is 2 six-mile loops through central park plus an extra mile. The course is quite cruel as the extra mile includes Harlem Hill the worst hill in Central Park so you do it 3 times. Course is well produced but again the cheap price tag means the course is not closed which with this perfect weather was very annoying. I was unfortunately having stomach issues and had to use the porta potty at mile 2. Since there weren’t enough porta potties at the start there were long lines and I lost about 10 to 15 minutes waiting for the bathroom. By the time I finished using it the fast half marathoners caught up and were on their second loop so most of the first loop was just fast runners running past me as there were much more fast runners than slow runners in this race. There were I think 3 aid stations with water and gatorade and the first had gels the second lap only. There were also mile markers. After the first couple miles the porta potties had less lines but ran out of toilet paper and some were very gross. Central Park is hilly but I know the layout and what is coming so it is never too bad. As I said the first lap was a little disheartening constantly being passed by fast runners so I was looking forward to a more relaxing, quieter second lap. But the second lap was awful because of of non-race participants. The race really thinned out and there were non race participants all over the course. NYRR did put up cones and signs that requested runners stay to one side and non race participants go to the other but the signs were not clear enough and no one was following them. The second lap I was constantly dodging non-race participants. Some of whom were quite rude and expected me to stop for them so they could cross the street or expected me move out of their way. I ended up with 13.5 miles on my GPS due to having to constantly weave around people. This is what I meant by the weather being too good. When I did a NYCRUNs race in Central Park there was worse weather and this was less of an issue. I also think this is probably why there aren’t as many back of the packers for this race as it wasn’t the best experience. None of this was really NYRRs fault and there were no issues from them being in the back. All aid stations were open and well stocked the whole race. There were lots of volunteers and course marshals the entire time. I wish they had more signs or could enforce the runners only section more but I’m not sure how the permits worked and it may not have been allowed to enforce. I was having a slow race mostly due to stomach issues and multiple bathroom breaks. When you subtract that time my finishing time would be about the same as Winter Warrior. I was very happy to get to the top of Harlem Hill the third time for a downhill finish. I did really like the finish line. Race volunteers cheered us on at the back and gave medals. The medal is shaped like a baseball hat and is only okay. One of my smaller half medals but fine for the price of the race. If you want a great medal you need to spend more than $35 on a half. There were also bagels, apples and pretzels. Bag check was very quick at getting my bag back this late in the race. Overall this was not my favorite race experience mostly due to things outside the race’s control. Loops in Central Park aren’t necessarily my favorite especially when it is really crowded but this is a very well produced race for the price. While it wasn’t my favorite race I will likely due it again due to limited race options in January and cheap price. Hopefully if I do it again my stomach will cooperate and I will be back to my normal speed as I think the race would be a better experience not being as far back in the pack.
Daufuskie Island Marathon & Half Marathon
Flat and scenic with dolphin sighting
Daufuskie Island Marathon & Half Marathon
I was planning to do a half in South Carolina this weekend. I was debating between this one and Charleston. I was initially leaning towards Charleston as the logistics seemed … MORE
I was planning to do a half in South Carolina this weekend. I was debating between this one and Charleston. I was initially leaning towards Charleston as the logistics seemed easier for Charleston but when Charleston canceled the race last minute last year and canceled the marathon this year, something just seemed off about it and I decided to do this race instead. This race was definitely the correct choice and I would highly recommend it. Logistics are a bit intimidating as the race is on an island only accessible by ferry. What makes it intimidating as there are very different logistics if you stay on the island vs stay in Hilton Head. I stayed in Hilton Head and once I read through the logistics carefully they weren’t bad at all. I will state exactly what I did and if you do it too you will have a successful race weekend. When you register for the race if you are staying in Hilton Head you also have to purchase a ferry ticket. I will say between the race registration, ferry ticket and cost of lodging in the area this is not a cheap race but worth it for a fun race-cation. This race is on Saturday and does not have packet pick-up unless you make special arrangements. I took off Friday and flew into the Savannah airport Friday morning and rented a car. I stayed in Hilton Head where the ferry to Daufuskie Island is located. It is about an hour drive from Savannah to Hilton Head. Packet pick-up is at the embarkation point in Hilton Head where you will also catch the ferry on race day. They also had a few other options for packet pick-up at different locations earlier in the week. You are assigned a bib and it was easy to get it. This year the swag item was a duffle bag. It is a nice bag and has the race logo but it’s not my favorite swag item as it will be annoying to bring back as I only packed a duffle bag for the weekend and now I need to stuff this additional duffle bag into my duffle bag when I fly home. There were also items to purchase. The shirts all had turtles on them and I couldn’t resist and bought a shirt. However they did run out of some sizes by Friday packet pick-up. For the hotel I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Hilton Head. This is an under 10 minutes from the ferry embarkation and within walking distance of the beach, shopping area and lots of restaurants. Race morning you drive back to the embarkation where there are volunteers directing parking. One critique I’m not sure they have control over is the timing of the ferries is kind of awkward. There are ferries that leave at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 and the races start at 8:30 for the marathon and 9:30 for the half. The ferry ride is about 20 to 30 mins so for the half you can take the 7:30 ferry and be there over an hour and half early or the 8:30 and be there 30 to 40 minutes early. An 8:00 ferry would have been perfect but was not an option. I get nervous with a race I haven’t done before so chose 7:30 but there was a lot of waiting before the race. The ferry left efficiently at 7:30. They tell you to be there a half hour before the ferry but you really only need to be there 5 minutes before. Someone checked you in before you boarded. It was sunrise during the 7:30 ferry which was beautiful. You then get off the ferry and onto the island. Weather was beautiful for running but cold for waiting. I did not bring a jacket or drop bag but if I were to do it again I would have brought either a blanket or jacket to keep me warm while I wait. They did have a tent with heating and warm coffee and cinnamon buns. They even had oat milk for the coffee which is great since my stomach can’t handle black coffee or dairy milk before a race. You definitely would be fine if you took the later ferry as it is a smaller race and the start line is right by the dock but it was nice to see the marathon start and get the logistics down and also allowed time to fully digest the cinnamon roll. About 10 to 15 minutes before the race they lead some dynamic stretching and the RD gave brief race announcements and then we went to the start line. It is a pretty small race with about 200 people in each distance so no corrals. We just went. It is chip timed with a timing mat at the start/finish. The race is on roads throughout the island. It is “open to traffic” but there are very few vehicles on the island mostly just golf carts so essentially the entire road is open for running and there was plenty of room to pass people and spread out. The course is very nice through the island. The first about 11 miles are inland on the island. This means no wind and there weather here couldn’t be better. This part is scenic with lots of trees and very different vegetation than we have in the northeast though does get a bit monotonous. You also pass by some horses and some nice houses and a golf course. Most of the race is paved but some is on packed dirt. Nothing technical at all but I find I tend to run slower on dirt than pavement. This is probably the flattest of the ~70 half marathons I have done with just 62 feet of elevation gain. It was a very easy race. Although I actually found it to not be a fast course. I tend to be fastest at races with some slight changes in elevation and all on pavement. While this course could be a PR or BQ course I thought Louisiana which is the same weekend was a faster course. This was however a great course for the middle of a back-to-back-to-back-to-back weekend half marathon stretch as the flat surface and occasional dirt road were easy on the joints. The course is very well marked. There are pink flags along the entire course. Obviously it is going to be hard to get a lot of volunteers for a race on an island only accessible by ferry so to make up for it, the course is extra well marked. There is also less aid stations than usual for a half though the aid stations were all well stocked and this was in the race instructions. So I’d recommend you carry water as you can go as long as 3 to 4 miles without an aid station. There are also not a ton of spectators but that is expected given the race location. However as there are also full marathoners doing two loops and there are lots of back of the packers I was never alone for the race. The final 2 miles are the best and you run by the beach. Part on a boardwalk and part on dirt path. This part is absolutely gorgeous. One of the prettiest stretches of any race I have done. To my surprise I even saw some dolphins swimming past us. The finish is the same as the start. They announce the finishers and your name is on a board and you get your medal. The medal is absolutely gorgeous, huge and sea turtle themed. Probably my favorite medal but the only negative is that it is not distance specific. My finishing time was fine. I was hoping to be under 3 hours but I got too distracted by dolphins. At least I was a few minutes faster than last week. There are also very long time limits with 7 hours for the half and 8 hours for the full and I was nowhere near last. At the finish area there is beer and food. The food included option of pulled pork, hot dog or veggie burgers. I was very happy they had veggie burgers. They also had potato salad, pasta salad and chips. Plenty for a meal which was great since there was still a ferry ride back. I didn’t get any beer but they also had iced tea and lemonade. I did notice my finishing time wasn’t listed in the results. I went back to the timing tent and it was promptly fixed and everyone was very nice and helpful about it. I then took the ferry back. It was a bit of a wait for the ferry. I arrived back at the mainland a little after 2pm so plan on this race taking most of the morning and a good portion of the afternoon. Overall this was great race experience and a fun run-cation. Unless you are looking for the cheapest, most convenient race in South Carolina or need a huge race with tons of spectators, I would definitely recommend this one. I will definitely consider coming back and doing it again.
Winter Warrior Half, Quarter & Half Marathon Relay
Don't Expect Good Weather
Winter Warrior Half, Quarter & Half Marathon Relay
This is a race located at Monroe Community College which is about a 5 minute drive from my house and is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. The course consists of … MORE
This is a race located at Monroe Community College which is about a 5 minute drive from my house and is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. The course consists of loops that are 1/8 marathon distance. There are 2 distance options. Either a quarter marathon which is 2 loops or half marathon which is 4 loops. There is also a 4 participant relay where each participant runs one loop. This race takes place in January so the weather could potentially be terrible. I know I am not at my usual speed and took most of December easy to recover from my marathon and did not want to spend 3+ hours in miserable weather so I initial signed up for the quarter marathon. However the weather actually looked decent this weekend so I decided to transfer up to the half about a week and a half ago. Packet pick-up is offered either at the store Friday or race morning. I got it at the store and it was easy. Packet included bib and a nice winter hat. While it is not a shirt the hat is a nice design and almost all the runners worse their hat which was fun. Race morning was very easy and it was clear where parking was. There were a couple porta potties and a nice start/finish arch. The course starts at 10am. The beginning of the race had very nice weather for January in the mid to high 30s but quite grey. It was a mass start but the course is mostly through half closed streets and parking lots on the community college campus so there is lots of room to spread out. Even though there were constant passing of people running different paces there was no issues with course crowding. Course was very well marked and easy to follow. There were a lot of very cheerful and encouraging volunteers everywhere that could be tricky though none of the course would be tricky to navigate. It was great to have them as cheerleaders since there are little spectators as I think the school is still on winter break. The course is kind of boring and repetitive with four loops but it wasn’t necessarily an unpleasant course. This is not the race you want to run if you want a running tour of Rochester. But I understand with potential of snow and ice doing a shorter course with loops to keep runners safe. There is one aid station you pass each loop. It just had water. That’s my only complaint about production is I would have liked electrolytes or gel but it was communicated in the race packet so I didn’t dock a production sneaker. The course is pretty flat. No hills but some inclines and declines. It is net uphill the first half of the loop and net downhill the second half so it is set up well. I was aiming for about a 3 hour finish time. I was on track the first 2 loops but the third loop started to have some weather. There was about 10 minutes of freezing rain which slowed my pace a bit and also caused the course to be wet. I unfortunately got a blister on the last lap since I was wearing wool socks and not my usual half socks. I still finish not too much over 3 hours and was nowhere near the time cutoff of 3:30 (the timecutoff is technically you need to start the third lap by 2:30). I was very surprised I was last since while I wasn’t fast I wasn’t that slow and the race other than the last loop being a bit lonely was very back of the pack friendly. All the volunteers were so cheerful and I didn’t see anything getting packed up that I assumed people were behind me. My guess is back of the packers all did the shorter quarter marathon given the potential of bad weather like I initially signed up for. But as long as you can finish in 3:30 there were no issues being in the back. At the finish line I got cheered on and received my medal. The medal is really nice. They also had pizza and coke inside the gym. There was plenty of cheese pizza even for me at the end. Obviously this is not the most exciting race in the world and would not be my first choice for 50 staters but it is as good a race as possible that is just 4 laps around a community college. I would recommend it for sure to local runners and any half fanatics in driving distance given there are limited races in the northeast in the winter. Just be forewarned the weather could be terrible. This was one of the best weather the race has had and it still wasn’t great weather.
Millennium Mile
Fast Start to 2023
Millennium Mile
This is my second year doing the Millennium Mile so my first review has more details. I had a three day weekend so decided to visit my parents in NH … MORE
This is my second year doing the Millennium Mile so my first review has more details. I had a three day weekend so decided to visit my parents in NH and do the race again. The first year I did it was 2021 so there were covid protocols but this year was a normal mass start. The race starts at an elementary school. It is very popular so while there is parking I would recommend arriving 45 mins to an hour early to make parking not stressful. There is bib pick-up and porta potties at the start. You are assigned a number and bib pickup is pretty efficient for the race you also get a winter hat which is adequate swag for a short, cheap race. Start is well organized and they have signs by pace and there is an announcer. I was worried it might be really congested but everyone did a good job lining up so everyone was running the same pace around me. There is an entire street closed off so there is also plenty of space. It is net downhill and really fast but there is a slight incline at the end. There are also 1/4 mile markers. I was hoping to do under 9 but I lost a little time on the incline but was still faster than the mile race I did in August and had run faster than any mile in 2022. While there are a lot of people chasing fast time there are also a lot of kids and walkers having fun so it is a good race for everyone. The finish line has an arch and you walk back which is nice for a cool down. There is water, powerade and snacks (granola, bananas, etc) at the school. One minor critique is I would have liked water at the finish line to drink on my cooldown walk. Overall this is a fun, fast way to start the New Year.
Santa Stampede Rochester
Santa themed fun run
Santa Stampede Rochester
This is a Santa themed fun run produced by Yellow Jacket Racing that raises money for a child advocacy center. It is not a timed race but a fun run … MORE
This is a Santa themed fun run produced by Yellow Jacket Racing that raises money for a child advocacy center. It is not a timed race but a fun run around the streets of Rochester. I was on call and there were no timed races in Rochester this weekend so this seemed like a fun way to get a few miles in. You can pick up the packet either the day of or at the Fleet Feet store early. I got it the day before since I also needed wool socks. Packet included a santa suit, race sticker and mystery bucks of $5 to $50 off at the store. I got $15 off my socks so the run practically paid for itself. The morning of the run you meet at the store. Almost everyone had santa suits on and it was very festive and fun. You are given a route which is basically a square that starts and ends at the store. It goes through some of the more popular neighborhoods so it is funny to see a bunch of santas running and lots of cars were enthusiastically honking and people going out for a stroll were cheering on the santas. The course was easy to follow and not a hard route but since this is a cheap fun run we had to stick to the side walks and follow traffic signs. There were some ice patches on the sidewalks so between that and stopping at traffic lights it’s not a fast run. The course was about exactly 3 miles and ended at the store. My time was fine for a more training run when you account for slowing down for ice and traffic. The finish at the store had cocoa and christmas cookies. This was a very fun event and a good way to get a 3 mile run in.
Reindeer Run 5K (NY)
Nice, Festive 5K
Reindeer Run 5K (NY)
This is a Holiday themed 5K in Rochester produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. I've done it virtually but this was my first year participating inperson. There is the option for … MORE
This is a Holiday themed 5K in Rochester produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. I’ve done it virtually but this was my first year participating inperson. There is the option for packet pick-up either the day before or race day morning. I got it the day before. If you are one of the first 200 to pick up your packet (which I was) you get reindeer antler headband too. Packet also included the shirt which is a nice long, sleeved cotton shirt. The course starts at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester. They email a race guide with info on parking, etc. I found parking in a garage right by the start that was about $4. I did see some open street parking if you were willing to walk a little further if you didn’t want to pay. The start/finish at the arena was great as it was warm inside. It was a crisp, cool morning around 32 degrees. Not super cold and comfortable for running if you dressed correctly but it would be cold to hang out outside so it was nice to wait indoors. The race has a common start/finish with a timing mat and big arch. The course is set up very smart where the first half of the course is on closed roads so there is tons of room to spread out and find your pace and the second half is on the canal path which is a bit tighter but by then the runners are already spaced out properly. They did have to modify the course this year due to construction so one part usually on the canal path had to be on side walks. This part was too tight and the only part I didn’t like but I don’t think it is supposed to be part of the course. The scenery is fine and it does go on the part of the canal path with a beautiful view of downtown Rochester. everything is very well marked and there are mile markers. Course is pretty flat. Just one bridge but its a gradual one. This was my first run since my marathon and I did run-walk intervals to play it safe but there was no uphills I would need to walk. I didn’t push myself too hard since I wanted to make sure I didn’t get injured and was aiming for a comfortable ~12 minute mile pace which is exactly what I did. The finish line was nice and you get a really nice medal for the 5K. Inside the arena there are post race snacks including mini muffins and fruit & grain bars. This was a very nice, festive 5K and I would recommend it for locals or if you happen to be in Rochester.
California International Marathon (CIM)
Great Production but Not Best if >6hr
California International Marathon (CIM)
I wanted to visit Northern California this year and had decided on CIM since it was held on my birthday this year. I signed up early last winter at the … MORE
I wanted to visit Northern California this year and had decided on CIM since it was held on my birthday this year. I signed up early last winter at the end of January after recovering from my stress fracture on my foot expecting to have about 10 months to train but then I ended up reinjuring it in May and had to take another 5 weeks off in June/July and I was not able to train as expected. This race has a 6 hour stated time limit. Normally I can run a marathon under 6 hours but knew that this year I probably couldn’t. However I looked at past results and saw there were plenty of finishing times over 6 hours so I decided to risk it. The good news is even though I did finish over 6 hours they kept the finish line open and I got an official time but it definitely affected my experience the last few miles as they shut some things down. Overall this is a great race and one of (if not the best) produced race I have run but I would only strongly recommend it if you can finish under 6 hours. For the race I flew into Seattle the week before and drove down. I also visited Portland and San Francisco on my trip. The race limits itself to about 10,000 participants which is perfect but it does sell out by early fall so if you really want to do it don’t wait until the last minute to register. For the race either the host hotels were sold out or really expensive so I stayed at the Holiday Inn Downtown. It was about 3/4 mile from the finish line. The expo is Friday and Saturday. I drove in Saturday and found parking in a garage that was only about $5. Expo was a little smaller than I was expecting but was pretty efficient for the number of runners and also had lots of running stuff to buy but not much free samples. Bib pick-up had a short line but it moved fast. The shirt is tech and I really like the design but it is white which isn’t my favorite color. I also bought some Gu gummies with electrolytes in case the race ran out since I knew I may be past the cutoff time. Since the course is point to point there are multiple options to get to the start. I just took the shuttle from the finish line. I walked there from my hotel. Since the race utilizes the main road from Folsom where it starts to Sacramento you drive up side streets and it took about an hour. They tell you to take the shuttle at 5am. I left a little earlier around 4:45 which I thought would mean I would have to wait a lot but it ended up timing perfectly. They brag about their porta potty to runner ratio and while there were lines they were must shorter than most races this size. The start corral has runners line up by pace and it moves pretty fast. It starts at 7 and I was near the end and started by around 7:15. I was worried the race would be crowded by it is all on very wide streets that are completely closed so there is a ton of space. I was happy they had 6 hour pacers since I knew that was the fastest minimum I could do and I decided to stick with the 6 hour pacers for as long as I could. Weather for the day predicted rain but it was perfect weather for most of the race until around noon so all the fast runners avoided it. The scenery is probably the weakest part of the course. I wouldn’t say it is terrible scenery but it’s mostly just suburbs outside Sacramento. There are pockets of spectators but also some longer stretches without spectators while in the suburbs. Aid stations were plentiful about every 1 to 2 miles and as efficient as possible for a race this size. They all had water and Nuun and every 6 miles had Gu gels in multiple flavors. There were also plenty of porta potties with little to no lines. The course is net downhill and is relatively fast but it is rolling hills and there are also a lot of uphills. The hills get a bit annoying but for every uphill there is a longer downhill. It is definitely a course you could PR or BQ on but if that is your primary goal you definitely need to hill train. If you are just running it for fun or as a 50 stater and not too worried about a specific time the hills are not difficult enough to need to do specific training for. I was happy I was able to keep up with the 6 hour pacers until about mile 18 and was really enjoying the race up until then. I hit a wall at mile 18 and slowed my pace but was still able to run-walk a bit and not slow down too much. Then I started to really have trouble at mile 20 and then it started raining and I got a large blister and had to walk most of the final 6 miles. At an aid station around mile 20 or 21 the “sweeper” team passed me. I asked them what this meant and they were very nice reassured me I could finish the race and would get a finishing time but there may not be course support and I may be moved to the side walk and said I should fill my water bottle. I made sure I filled my water bottle to the top at the aid stations. As soon as the sweepers passed a truck came and started packing up the aid station and also packed up the upcoming mile markers. Prior to the sweeper team every aid station I passed was completely well stocked even though I was running close to the sweepers so there would be absolutely no issues with support if you can make 6 hours. After the sweepers passed all the aid stations were gone or packing up and all the mile markers were gone as well. However they did leave the road closed and I was never forced to go to the sidewalk and they did keep the mile 26 marker up. One thing I really appreciated is even though some of the course support was removed even after I was passed by the “sweepers” there were still a lot of spectators cheering us on in the rain as we slowpokes trudged and mostly walked along. I am so thankful for those spectators and not sure I could have completed the race without them. As I said they did keep the finish line open and even though I was passed the time limit I got an official time and a medal. I love the medal. It is not a big, gawdy medal but has a bear and is inspired by the California state flag and is a great California medal. The finish area seemed pretty empty and packed up which was disappointing but I knew this would likely happen and I can’t fault the race since they did have a 6 hour limit and I’m glad they let me finish. I also didn’t have much time after since I was going to a Sacramento Kings Game at 3pm. My initial plan was to walk back (the Kings arena is next to the Holiday Inn) but I was in too much pain so took an uber. Of note it took forever to get an uber due to road closures. I am not complaining as I was very happy they kept the roads close for the longer finishers but if you do have plans in downtown Sacramento or need to catch a flight right after the race you should plan for some delays due to road closures. Overall this was one of the best produced races I have done and could be a fast course with the right training. I would highly recommend it if you know you can finish under 6 hours. If you regularly run marathons over 6 hours there are more turtle friendly ones in CA that I would recommend over this (LA, Long Beach and OC). However even with the last few miles of the race being less supported I still had a good time and enjoyed the race so if you do really want to do the race (or if you are in my position and signed up but couldn’t train as well due to injury) and you think there is a chance you may be over 6 hours you should still sign up for it just make sure you bring a water bottle and some extra nutrition and understand there may not be course support the last few miles.
UW Medicine Seattle Marathon & Half Marathon
Fun City to Visit But Only An Okay Race
UW Medicine Seattle Marathon & Half Marathon
I choose this race for Washington since I enjoy visiting the city of Seattle and was already planning to be on the west coast the weekend of the race. I … MORE
I choose this race for Washington since I enjoy visiting the city of Seattle and was already planning to be on the west coast the weekend of the race. I had long planned to do CIM in 2022 as it fell on my birthday. I knew I wanted to take a trip to the west coast starting on Thanksgiving and decided to start at Seattle and drive down to Sacramento during the week. This race is one of those that is hard to rate due to a lot of outside factors. I will start with the weather was perfect and I got a medal so it was a lot better than my last half marathon. There were a lot of issues with the course and logistics but a lot seemed to be due to restrictions from the city and getting permits and not necessarily the race company’s fault. For instance the race was originally scheduled on Sunday and had always started in downtown Seattle where the host hotel is. But the city made them move the race to Saturday due to a Seahawks game and it sounds like the city also wouldn’t let them use downtown so the start/finish was moved to Husky Stadium at UW. I was actually happy with the date change as I was planning to go to the Seahawks game so didn’t have to rush to the game after the race and it gave me an extra rest day before the marathon. They did offer refund or deferral if you couldn’t make the new date. For the race I flew into Seattle on Thanksgiving since it is much cheaper to fly on Thanksgiving and just celebrated Thanksgiving with my family the weekend before the trip. I stayed at the host hotel the Westin in downtown Seattle which is where packet pick-up is and the race used to start. The hotel was nice and it was very cheap for race discounts but as they also charged for parking and it is more difficult to drive downtown than the UW area I would suggest looking to change host hotels to one closer to the start if they are going to continue to start at Husky stadium. The expo was kind of a pain since the area seemed too small and since it was only 1 day instead of the usual 2 day expo and it was very crowded. There were long lines to get the packet which was annoying and the lines were also pretty inefficient. You got the bib first and then went to another room for the shirt and the expo. The shirt is tech and long sleeved and pretty nice. You also got a bag with goodies. I was very grossed out beef jerky was included. I think enough people don’t eat meat especially on the west coast to not give meat to everyone. Just have it as a sample or ask if they want it. The rest of the expo was okay. I was happy they had free cans of sparkling water and energy drinks. They did not have as much race gear to purchase as most expos. For race day morning they did have a shuttle from the Westin to Husky stadium but it was only one way. I didn’t feel like driving and you also had to pay for parking at UW so I took the shuttle. It went well. I did love the start at Husky stadium. It was a good place to hang out before the race and there were real, heated bathrooms and plenty of bathrooms so no lines. The start was relatively efficient and runners lined up by pace. There was an announcer who gave clear instructions and there were multiple pace groups the slowest being 2:50 which was a bit faster than I waned to push myself today but I stuck with them the first mile or so to stop from going way too fast. While I appreciated crossing the start line quickly I do think having more spread out waves and maybe waiting 5 minutes between waves may have been a simple solution to avoid some of the issues of the course. The course was new and obviously modified due to permit issues if you compare it to the original course. It was mostly through neighborhoods or public paved trails. It was for the most part quite scenic. There was one view around the end of mile 1 that was breathtaking. The first few miles are on streets and have a few hills. There is a killer, steep hill around mile 2 but all the other hills were pretty runnable. The race was actually easier than I was expecting with about 500 feet of elevation gain which is flat for Seattle. I was taking this race easy since I had a marathon next week so did walk a lot of the hills however. Then you go through the arboretum which is pretty and fast and mostly downhill. The big issues came at 2 out and backs. The first out and back was around mile 7 or so and it was on a relatively tight path next to a busy freeway. There was a concrete wall separating runners from cars so very safe but I did not find it pleasant to run by zooming cars although the one side of the path did have beautiful views. But the real issue was the mixing of the half and full marathon. The full marathon kept taking little side tracks away from the half to make up the miles so for the out and backs us slower half marathoners were interspersed with faster marathoners which was such a mess. I especially feel for the marathoners as some may have been trying to BQ having to constantly run around half marathoners but there was not enough space to spread out properly. Then there was a bit of the course around UW and then unfortunately another out and and back around mile 10 that was even tighter (although it was a really pretty running path). At one point I was trying to run past 2 people walking side by side when I got stampeded upon by the 4:05 marathon pace group and almost bumped into the walkers I was trying to pass. Yikes this was such a poorly set up course. I do think some of the issues were city permits but you can’t have tight out and backs with runners doing different paces. If they are limited to this course next year they really need to rethink the out and backs and maybe try to have the half marathoners not do these out and backs or have the half and full start at the same time and have the out and backs early in the course so everyone is doing the same pace. Or if neither of these is possible have a slower start line with waves so the course is less congested. I will give credit that this could have been a very hard course to follow with the marathoners constantly leaving then rejoining the half marathoners and it was very well marked and there were cleae mile markers for each race. Another issue is they seemed to only have water at aid stations even though Gu and gel was advertised. I don’t know if they ran out or if it just wasn’t there. Also the aid stations were very slow. I think there were issues getting volunteers. I am not blaming the volunteers but there were not enough. Again a slower, waved start could have fixed this. The finish line at Husky stadium though was great and I think it is always fun to finish on a football field. My finishing time was as expected. And they didn’t run out of medals. The medal is nice though not extraordinary. There was decent post race snacks but I just grabbed a mango oat bar and then went to the nearby Veggie Grill in University Village for post race lunch and then I took an uber back to the hotel. There is also public transportation. Overall I have mixed feelings about this race. The race was scenic but didn’t go through downtown Seattle at all this year. I do think a lot of the issues were outside the races control and I wish the city would embrace the race more. I do think this is probably the most convenient race for Washington as it is on a holiday weekend so you can take less or even no vacation days and it is near a major airport and does not require renting a car but I have a hard time strongly recommending this race with the current course.
Walk or Run with the Reindeer
Fun Family Event
Walk or Run with the Reindeer
This is a 1 mile run or a 2/3 mile walk located in Shortsville, NY about 20 to 30 mins from Rochester. My parents were visiting this weekend and I … MORE
This is a 1 mile run or a 2/3 mile walk located in Shortsville, NY about 20 to 30 mins from Rochester. My parents were visiting this weekend and I am starting to taper a bit so this was just what I was looking for. This is a hard event to rate. It was a really cute, fun family event that I would recommend as that but the actual race logistics weren’t great. It’s a pretty cheap event at $20. There is no swag but you get to pet reindeer, there are photos and a nice Christmas party at the finish. The race starts at a school with lots of parking. The start could have been better. There weren’t even tables for bib pick up. The volunteers just had bibs and safety pins on the ground and it was kind of slow because there wasn’t separate lines for pre-registered or race day registration so we had to wait while a few people registered. There were 3 very cute reindeer at the start you could pet and take pictures of. One of the reindeer ran and 2 walked. The runners started about 1/3 mile further from the school and left at 3pm. The course is straight down the main street in Shortsvilles. The walkers joined the race once all the runners passed so the walk is about 2/3 a mile so doable for smaller kids. The beginning of the run was on a street to spread everyone out but the end of the run and the entire walk always on the sidewalk. It was kind of slow since there were so many families but it was really cute with all the kids dressed up for Christmas and the reindeer following along too. The scenery is kind of meh but some of the houses were decorated. It is an easy net downhill course so could be a fast mile if you are running. There is a timing mat at the end. If you do the run it is accurate but as the walkers joined later it is not accurate so the time doesn’t mean much for walkers. Near the finish line is a Christmas festival at a firestation with Santa, frosty the snowman and the reindeers to take pics with and tons of treats in the firehouse. There were home made cookies, dunkin donuts, hot chocolate, hot cocoa, popcorn, hot dogs and some s’mores you could make outside at a fire pit. As a race it could be better but as a fun family event it was really cute and fun and I loved meeting the reindeer. I would definitely recommend this for a family event and would do again if my family was visiting but as a race alone it was not the best.
Outer Banks Marathon & Southern Fried Half Marathon
Awful - Do Tobacco Road Instead
Outer Banks Marathon & Southern Fried Half Marathon
I already had North Carolina but this race was the meet-up for the 50 states half marathon club and since it was a short flight I decided to go. I … MORE
I already had North Carolina but this race was the meet-up for the 50 states half marathon club and since it was a short flight I decided to go. I did have a blast at the 50 state meet up and am glad I went on the trip but this was probably my least favorite half marathon of the 60+ I have done that did not have an unacceptable mistake like cutting the course nearly 1 mile short or major safety issues. For starters I was not impressed with pre-race communication. They did send an email with the bib number but there were discrepancy about the starting time and the website said the half stated with the marathon at 7am but the email said the half marathon start 10 minutes later at 7:10. I honestly didn’t know when the race would start when I arrived. You might think 10 minutes doesn’t matter but it does make a difference when planning to check out your hotel and arranging things with others since my mom had veterans day off and went on the trip with me. For the race I flew into Norfolk, VA which is about a 1.5 hour drive to the Outer Banks. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn which was about a 10 minute drive from the race finish line and the host hotel for the 50 state club. It was nice and I would recommend the hotel. The packet pick-up is the day before at the Ramada. We got it Friday. The “expo” was tiny and not really an expo. Bibs were different colors for the different races. You also got shirts. They are nice quality long sleeve shirts but not tech. I generally like a cotton shirt for the shorter race and a tech shirt for the longer race when I do a double. They also were all unisex. I prefer unisex so this didn’t bother me but as the other reviewer said during registration you selected a style and I’m sure this upset some runners who selected women’s fit. I understand not having different styles but it should not be an option when you register if that’s the case. The rest of the expo was pretty tiny with some vendors to buy stuff and some little swag from sponsors but it was not much to get excited about. I did the 5K Saturday and the half Sunday. The half marathon is point to point and starts at an outlet mall and ends at the wright brothers memorial. There is a lots of parking at a school next to the memorial at the finish and buses that take you to the start line. The shuttle system worked well but also they did not state when the last shuttle was leaving on the race website schedule so I arrived pretty early to make sure I got a shuttle. The start was a mess. There did not appear to be an announcer. I heard they were running late from another runner or maybe there was an issue with the loud speakers. But there was no music, pre-race instructions, anthem, etc. At 7am they just asked the marathoners to line up. Then at 7:10 they just asked the corral A half marathoners to line up and just called out corrals. I was kind of confused where to be. The weather the day of the race was awful and affected the experience. There was rain and huge gusts of wind. While the race can’t help the weather the course was set up terrible for this kind of weather. Pretty much every race I have done by a beach has some kind of headwind and this weather is not that unexpected. They need a better course. Most of the race was a point to point along the major road heading straight into the wind. Most other races I have done by the beach have been a loop or had an out and back portion so while some parts have a miserable headwind others have you going really fast with the wind. For instance while not at the beach, Indianapolis had horrible winds but it only affected us about 2.5 to 3 miles the way the course was designed. There were a few places you ran into some neighborhoods which gave some respite from the wind but most was straight in the headwind. It was miserable and I ended up walking most of the race as it was too hard to run in the wind. Again the race can’t help the wind but they could have made a better course. At about mile 8 you are finally done with the main road but then there is a surprise 2.5 miles of trail. This was not mentioned anywhere that there was a significant trail portion. It was not super technical trail but it was rolling ups and downs and while it was all runnable it was technical enough to slow you done and obviously with the weather there was a lot of mud. I actually enjoy trail running and wouldn’t have minded this section if I knew it was coming but it needed to be mentioned in the course description. If I knew I was going to be running on muddy trail I would have packed an old pair of sneakers to wear and just thrown them out after the race. I also would have been really pissed if I were trying to BQ or PR and had unexpected trail to slow me down. The last few miles are in the area around the memorial and in neighborhoods and at least not on the main road. But one part was on a gravel path that was hard to run on. The final bit is around the memorial and it’s a nice finish. The course was at least well marked and easy to follow. The scenery was fine and it was nice to have a variety of views with the trail and the neighborhoods but most was just along a street and it was not nice enough to make up for the other issues of the race. There were adequate aid stations with water and gatorade. I think they may have ran out of Gu for the slow runners but maybe I just missed it. One issue were the mile markers. There were accurate mile markers until around mile 9 where the marathoners split from the half and do about an extra 1.5 miles before joining again and then all the mile markers after that point are for the full and there are no more half markers. It really confused one runner to see at mile 12 marker at mile 10.5. I reassured her it was for the marathon but maybe have separate half and full mile markers. My heart also sunk when at mile 12.6 I saw a 25 mile marker and I thought how can I have 1.2 miles to go in this miserable weather but there is this out and back section past the memorial where the half marathoners turn around sooner than the full so I really did only have about 1/2 mile left but it was not clear without the half marathon markers. I had a really slow race since as I said I essentially just walked it. To make matter worse they ran out of medals so I didn’t even get a medal for my misery. They did take our names down but I have not received any communication from the race about not having medals. I get it. Perhaps more runners registered than expected, a box got lost in the mail or there were supply chain issues but they should have sent an email saying they may run out of medals especially since this happened at the 5K/8K and even if they didn’t do that they definitely should have sent an apology email immediately after the race. When this happened with vacation races that was exactly what they did. You did get a bag with a water bottle, banana, granola bar, hat and chocolate milk. I would have preferred not to have received the chocolate milk so I threw it out. With the medal this would be good swag for a race. I will improve my swag score if I do receive the medal. They also had a food and beer coupon. But of course the food was just chicken sandwiches with no veggie options because this race sucks. Overall I strongly do not recommend this race. Maybe if the weather was better and you were a fast runner who ate meat this might be a fine race but it still would have had issues. I previously did Tobacco Road for North Carolina and it was a great race and I would definitely recommend that race instead. This race is also the same weekend as Richmond in VA which is a wonderful race so even if you are a local I would recommend driving a few hours to Richmond over this race.
***Update – About 1 month later I did receive the medals in the mail. I laughed because I received a package for me and my mom and both had a 5K medal, a challenge medal and a half medal even though my mom only completed the 5K. While I do appreciate them erring on the side of extra medals I do think this shows how unorganized a race company this is as it seems pretty easy to see what races people are registered for and send them the correct medals. The challenge medal and the 5K medal are nice for the distance. The half marathon medal is kind of small for a half medal but a cute sea turtle design. Communication regarding the medals was odd. Just a facebook post about 2 days after the race. I think an email would have been better since not everyone has facebook. When this happened with vacation races they sent an apology email immediately after the race and then send a link to a survey where you put your name, address and missing medals. It was a much smoother process***
Outer Banks Marathon & Southern Fried Half Marathon
Ran out of medals
Outer Banks Marathon & Southern Fried Half Marathon
I did the 5K as part of the 5K/half marathon challenge. My half marathon review has more details. My mom has veterans day off so she went to the outer … MORE
I did the 5K as part of the 5K/half marathon challenge. My half marathon review has more details. My mom has veterans day off so she went to the outer banks with me this weekend. We arrived Friday morning so we could do the 5K saturday. The 5K and 8K are at the wright brother memorial. Race morning was actually more organized than the half since they had an announcer. The 5K start 15 minute after the 8K. The course was fine and at least today the weather was beautiful. As flat as a pancake. It was not the best designed course as it involved 2 laps around the memorial so with the multiple distances there was a lot of passing people with different paces but I understand wanting to keep logistics easy for the 5K/8K and not closing roads. One issue was the 5K was long and I heard the 8K was short. I just walked this with my mom. She was having some issues (she is fine) but as a result we were really slow but not last. The big issue is they ran out of medals. You can see my half review for a strong opinion on this but the fact they ran out of medals for this race means they must have known they might run out of medals for the half so makes the lack of communication even worse.
Louisville Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
Nice Double with Indy
Louisville Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
I chose this race for Kentucky because it was the day after the Indianapolis Monumental Half. Louisville is about a 2 hour drive from Indianapolis so this is a perfect … MORE
I chose this race for Kentucky because it was the day after the Indianapolis Monumental Half. Louisville is about a 2 hour drive from Indianapolis so this is a perfect double. This is a smaller race with a few hundred runners. It is more of a local race on paved trails in a pretty park in Louisville. It doesn’t have the energy of Indianapolis but the smaller size does give it a more personal touch. There aren’t hotels within walking distance but I had to rent a car anyways. I stayed at the Holiday Inn that was about a 10 minute drive the start. There is the option for mailing packet, packet pick up the day before or race day if absolutely necessary but it was not recommended to wait until race day. I opted to have it mailed since I had plans in Indianapolis and wasn’t sure I’d get there on time and wanted an easy morning. One small criticism about the mailed packets is they arrived only the Thursday before the race. My mail usually comes around 5pm so I had to wait until the mail came before I could drive to the airport. I accounted for this in planning but would have preferred to have left a bit earlier and also the mailed packets wouldn’t work for anyone taking a longer trip. Packet included bib and also a nice zip jacket. They emailed race info before the race with very clear instructions on where to park in the park. Since it is a smaller race, porta potty lines and everything were much quicker and easier than yesterday. The race is an out and back with the same start/finish line. They had banners to line up by pace and everyone did a good job spreading out. The course is a scenic run through the park. It is very pretty although not too specific to Louisville. It could really be any pretty park in any part of this area of the country. It was also beautiful weather today though a but hot at the end of the race. It is all paved. Most of it is flat except one really big, steep hill around mile 2. It is 1/2 mile steep uphill and 1/2 mill steep downhill. Not so bad at mile 2 but it is killer when you return at mile 10. Course is well marked and there are not many road crossings but there were course marshals wherever there was one. The only other slight hill was right before the half turn around point but it was a gentler incline. There were 3 aid stations but 2 you passed twice. It was a bit hot today so I’m glad a carried water. The aid stations had water and gatorade. One minor criticism is only the first aid stations at mile 2.5 had gels. It was just a weird place for gels. It would have made more sense to have gels at either the middle aid stations around mile 5 or the one at the turnaround since I don’t usually need a gel super early or late in a race. There were not many spectators as expected for a small course but there were a few pockets of them at the more accessible areas. Since it is an out and back with multiple distances even with a smaller field there are a lot of runners that you pass who cheer you on. The wind from Indianapolis really tired me out so I was not having a great day energy wise so I just did a mix of walking and jogging at a relaxed pace and just made sure I finished under 3:30 which is the stated time limit though they do not appear strict about it as there were a number of participants over 3:30 who did get official times so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. The medal is pretty nice with some images of Louisville. It also has a red finisher ribbon and is complimentary to the Indianapolis medal again making this a nice double. They had the usual post race snacks along with derby pie which is a delicious chocolate nut pie. Overall this is a nice local race. I’m sure there are bigger and more exciting races that are more unique to Kentucky so it wouldn’t be my first choice for a stand alone Kentucky race but I would definitely recommend it to locals and recommend it for Kentucky if you want to double with Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
Nice Race. Nice City. Bad Weather
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
I chose this race for Indiana since it is one of the biggest races and I was able to make it a double with Louisville. I took Friday off and … MORE
I chose this race for Indiana since it is one of the biggest races and I was able to make it a double with Louisville. I took Friday off and flew in Thursday evening. I stayed at the Hilton in downtown Indianapolis right by the race start. The expo, race start, hotels plus lots of things to do are all downtown and within walking distance. If I were not also going to Louisville I would not have rented a car and this is definitely a race you don’t need one. This year they did offer the option to buy race day packet pick-up but I knew I would be there for the expo so I didn’t opt for that. The expo was at the convention center and was good size. I thought it was a bit small for how big the race is but it is bigger than the average expo. Packet pick-up included race shirt, bib and race guide. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the shirt. It is red and tech but I’m not a huge fan of the design. The expo had typical stuff and lots of booths for other races. It’s fun to see all the medals but most were too far for me to travel to. The race is Saturday morning at 8am. It did not look like great weather so I stayed in my hotel until close to the start. You are assigned a corral by expected pace. The waves went off fairly efficiently with everyone past the start line in 10 to 15 minutes. It was maybe too efficient as this is a huge race and the course was quite congested and the water stops had trouble keeping up and the porta-potty lines on the course were long. May have been better to have had the waves wait more inbetween and assigned starting time but I understand you would then have to either keep the roads closed longer or have stricter time cutoffs. The course is really nice with a lot of it quite scenic through downtown Indianapolis. You see most of the best sites and there are also sections through neighborhoods. Course support was medium. I’m assuming in better weather there are more spectators. It was fun that a lot of the spectators were in costumes. Course was well marked and easy to follow especially where half and full split. Roads were either fully closed or half closed. Another great thing this race did is have a separate coned off area for half and full marathoners when the races converged so the fast marathoners were not intermixing with the slow half marathoners. There were a sufficient number of aid stations and the volunteers were trying their hardest but a few were slow and they were trying to catch up so I did lost a little time at the aid stations. The course is super flat but I was having difficulty with the weather as it was both intermittently cold and rainy and hot and humid. I also find running in wet shoes makes me need to use the restroom and as I said the porta potty lines were quite long. I was on pace to finish a bit under 3 hours which was my goal but when I saw the long lines I made a joke that it looked like I would have to choose between my goal of 3 hours or not peeing my pants. Even with the long bathroom line I was on target for my goal until the last 3 miles were there was a very strong headwind. Given I had a half the next day it wasn’t worth the energy to fight the winds so I walked a lot of the final miles. I finally made it to the finish line and laughed when I saw I finished less than a minute over 3 hours (but I didn’t pee my pants). At the finish line you get the medal which is nice and has images of some of the more iconic buildings of Indianapolis. There was also beer which I didn’t drink, typical snacks and a slice of pizza including cheese. I didn’t stay long since I had to check out of my hotel at noon. Overall I thought this was a really good, almost a great race. It was a wonderful course and nice atmosphere but there were multiple minor things that could be done better. It was very close to a 5 sneaker race maybe in better weather it would be. I do think this is a good, convenient choice for Indiana especially if you like big races. Indianapolis is also a fun, nice sized city for a short race-cation.
Seacoast Half Marathon
Scenic Charity Half Marathon
Seacoast Half Marathon
This is a half marathon that is located in Portsmouth NH at the seacoast. It prides itself on raising money for local charities so it's a race you can feel … MORE
This is a half marathon that is located in Portsmouth NH at the seacoast. It prides itself on raising money for local charities so it’s a race you can feel good about running and supporting but that does come at the cost of some production elements and swag. The race has race day packet pick-up or the option at a local running store the day before. Since I drove Saturday from Rochester I opted for race day packet pick-up. I stayed at my parents house in Concord which is about an hour drive so cannot comment on lodging. The race starts at a high school and packet pick-up is inside. The shirt is a nice tech shirt. It is also warm inside and there are real bathrooms. There were also some porta potties outside with pretty much no lines. There is a walker start at 8am and a runner start at 8:30 am. The start is on a street and was a little congested because only the side street was closed so we had to stay on the side street until right before the race. It was chip timed at start and finish so the kind of awkward start area was fine and again since this is raising money for charity I understand not spending money closing down a lot of streets. They had pacers but one critique that can be fixed is I would love slower pacers. The slowest pacer was a 10:30 pace which is too fast for me even when I’m healthy. I would have liked a 2:45 pacer since I think I should be able to run 2:45 now if I am strategic. Unfortunately without a pacer I ended up going off too fast and lost momentum at the end. The course is really nice. It has both lovely fall foliage views through quiet streets and neighborhoods along with beautiful coastal views. I loved the varied scenery. The start was mostly through neighborhoods and had easy rolling hills. The next few miles along the seacoast were the most scenic and flat. The end was back more through roads and trees and was the hilliest part. Not super hilly but it was a bit rough that the end was hillier and more uphill than the first half. As I said I went out to fast and had to walk a lot of the last few miles. It’s a pretty quiet course but there are a few pockets with lots of spectators. There was around 700ish runners so a nice number for it to not be too crowded but also always with people. There were 5 aid stations. Volunteers were great. The first had just water the rest water and gatorade. I generally like more than 5 aid stations so I carried water. The course is well marked but open to traffic most of the roads are quiet and had large shoulders there were coned off areas on some of the narrower and busier roads though none of the roads were super busy or had really fast drivers. I prefer closed roads but again understand wanting to keep costs low. Also a lot of the drivers cheered the runners on which was great. The finish line is at the school and the runners are announced and get their medal. I didn’t meet my reach goal of 2:45 but was well under my secondary goal of 3 hours. There is a 3 hour time limit but it does not appear strict. I left while people were finishing after 3 hours and they were still getting cheered on, timed and a medal so as long as you finish close to 3 hours you will be fine and if you are much slower than 3 hours there is the walker option. The medal was kind of small. My medal yesterday at the 5K was nicer but again I understand wanting to cut down on costs. There was food in the high school. Very impressed with the selection of post race food lots of snacks and hot food including a ton of vegetarian and multiple vegan items that were all labeled. Overall this was a nice and very scenic charity race. It doesn’t have all the bells & whistles (or medals) of a larger race but you know a lot of the money goes to a good cause. If you prefer smaller races or actively seek out races that raise money for charity this is a good choice for NH but if you need the big race atmosphere and the huge medal it might not be the best choice for you. This is one I would consider doing again depending on my schedule and if I want to visit NH the weekend of the race.
Pumpkins in the Park 5K (NY)
Great theme & swag but lots of hills
Pumpkins in the Park 5K (NY)
This is a Halloween themed 5K in Rochester at Cobb Hill Park. The park has the word "hill" in it so expect a big hill in the middle of the … MORE
This is a Halloween themed 5K in Rochester at Cobb Hill Park. The park has the word “hill” in it so expect a big hill in the middle of the race. The race is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. Packet pick-up is either at the store Friday or race day. I wasn’t able to get it Friday so got it race morning. They had instructions for where to park and race packet pick-up was easy. It also includes a nice long sleeved shirt. I’ve done this race virtually and I preferred last year’s design with a black cat but this one was still cute and halloween themed with a big “Boo” on it. Unfortunately there was a warehouse fire that burned a lot of the company’s racing supplies. Luckily no one was hurt and they still had a few items but some of the start/finish arches and other stuff was a little makeshift but can’t fault them for that. The start was just a flag and a mass start. It is chipped time and there was a timing mat at the finish line only. I’m not sure if this is always the case or if they only had one mat. It’s a pretty popular race with a lot of walkers so it would be nice to have a timing mat at the start but not the end of the world. The race is nice mostly through the park and neighborhood. It is relatively scenic with fall foliage and nice neighborhoods with a handful of spectators. A lot of participants dress up in costume. The first mile is just small rolling hills and pretty runnable. The second mile is rough and you up this very steep hill towards the Cobb Hill reservoir. You then loop around the reservoir and it is downhill until the finish. There is a quite a bit of elevation gain with about 200 feet elevation gain total. It’s definitely one of the more difficult 5K course but it’s a road 5K so obviously it’s not too hard to finish just hard to get a fast time without hill training. There was an aid station at the beginning of the reservoir you pass twice. The finish line was set up nice. You get a nice medal and a water bottle. I believe there were some snacks but I had to leave right away to get to NH so I didn’t stay to look. It was a very fun themed race and very well produced. I’d recommend it to locals and do it again if it works out with my schedule. Just don’t expect to PR with the big hill in the middle.
E-Race Cancer Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
Flat and Fast plus a good cause
E-Race Cancer Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
This is a race located outside Syracuse. It was a bit of a drive but the closest 5K this Sunday. I wasn't sure the drive would be worth it but … MORE
This is a race located outside Syracuse. It was a bit of a drive but the closest 5K this Sunday. I wasn’t sure the drive would be worth it but I was very happy with the race experience and my finishing time. This race is in a town called Bridgeport outside Syracuse by the lake. I got the packet at the race and it included a nice hooded, light sweatshirt along with bib. The half start at 8:15 and was the same location as the finish. The 5K/10K started 15 minutes later a bit up the road. Start was delayed a couple minutes to make sure everyone was able to use the porta potty. While I like races to start on time it was clearly communicated that they would wait a few minutes for everyone to be ready so I wasn’t wondering what was happening. The course is as flat as a pancake but like most of these Willow Running courses in a quiet small town so a bit boring. There were a handful of spectators and a short section with a really nice view. The course was well marked especially where the different distances deviated. There were mile and km markers but they were a bit confusing with the different races so didn’t always line up. There was a water stop at the half way mark. As I said this is pancake flat. My Garmin recorded 7 ft of elevation gain total. As Syracuse is generally a hilly area if you want a flat race near Syracuse this is the one. Weather was also perfect. With the flat course and perfect weather I was able to run my fastest 5K of the year by over 1 minute. Obviously it’s been a slow year from me but now I am finally back to my average pre-injury finishing times. You get a very nice medal at the end. Really good swag for a 5K/10K and above average swag for a half marathon. One disappointment is they had wraps at the end but only turkey or ham and no veggies. There were at least cookies and chips. The race also goes to a good cause. I’m not sure the scenery and energy is quite enough for me to recommend in for 50 staters planning to only run one race in NY state but I would definitely recommend it to locals. If I have the weekend off I will definitely consider coming back and doing the half to get a really fast time given how flat it is. If you want a PR course and don’t need a ton of energy or huge race field this is definitely a good choice.
Zombie Run For Your Life 5K
Fun idea but did not like course
Zombie Run For Your Life 5K
This is a Halloween themed evening race in Hamlin which is about 30 minutes from Rochester. The race is in the evening and volunteers dress up like zombies and chase … MORE
This is a Halloween themed evening race in Hamlin which is about 30 minutes from Rochester. The race is in the evening and volunteers dress up like zombies and chase and spook the runners. It is a really cool concept and I do think the race was really well-decorated but I did not like the course. I got my packet the day of the race. Also includes green cotton T-shirt which is fine. I didn’t realize until I arrived that the majority of the race was on grass in the park. I am not a huge fan of running on grass especially in the evening when it is already harder to watch your footing. The course consists of two loops in the park. The first loop was marked with red flags and the second loop with blue flags. It was kind of a confusing course though for the most part well marked at least in day light. There is also a 1.5 mile walk that is just the red loop. I had no problem following the red loop at all but I was running very carefully since it was grass and now that my foot is finally healed and I am at close to usual speed the last thing I wanted to do was injure myself. The course while a boring course in the park was amazingly decorated. Almost the entire course had halloween decorations. And it was fun having the volunteers chasing us and spooking us. It was also cute to see kids in costume doing the walk. They had these funny lines of scary things but instead of actual horror items it was things like “student loans” and “laundry” and it made me laugh. It got a little dark the second loop and the blue flags were a bit difficult to see in the dark. I one timed veered off route but a zombie chased me the right direction. I also noticed with the not as straight forward course many people purposefully cutting the course or accidentally cutting the course. It was advertised as around a 5K. When I finished I ran 2.9 miles. I am not sure if the course was slightly short or I missed a few flags. Not a huge deal but it takes away some sneakers from production. My time was fine. I took it very easy and finished under 40 minutes and did not get injured. I was disappointed with post race snacks as I was starving since I had to eat a light lunch to do an evening race and there was only apples. Overall I thought this race was okay. I do commend them on the decorations and it’s a fun idea. I just really don’t like running on grass. This will probably be a one time race for me. If I do it again I will probably just do the 1.5 mile walk.
Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K
Good Local Race for a Good Cause
Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K
This is a local 5K located in East Rochester that raises money and awareness for brain cancer. I was on-call this weekend so had to do local 5Ks. The race … MORE
This is a local 5K located in East Rochester that raises money and awareness for brain cancer. I was on-call this weekend so had to do local 5Ks. The race starts at a local high school. There is packet pick-up either at a running store on Friday or race day. I got it the morning of the race. Parking and packet pick-up easy in the morning when I arrived. Though the lines looked long closer to the race. You got a nice polyblend shirt. It is good quality and nice aqua green color with a nice design. There were bathrooms inside the school. It is chip timed at the end not the start. The start is behind the flag. I thought the start could be a bit more organized. The RD was speaking using a speaker but I could not hear him at all despite being in the middle of the corral. The race also started about 5 minutes late probably because of the long line for packet pick-up which is understandable. But with no hearing the directions and it not starting on time I wasn’t sure when the race would start and it was kind of sudden and my Garmin reset so I had to take a few seconds to get it to work. I’d recommend a better speaker system. The course is a loop through neighborhoods around the school. It is fine. Not too special but there are nice changing leaves and it was a gorgeous and surprisingly sunny day. There were a few spectators from the neighborhood. Course well-marked and easy to follow with closed off streets. Course had some minor hills but nothing significant and most were in the middle so the end was mostly downhill. It was a relatively fast course. My foot is now healed and my speed is getting close to baseline and I was able to run my second fastest 5K of the year. Still a bit slower than usual for a fast course but at least within my normal 5K time range. There were no medals but you got an additional water bottle. There was a very good selection of post race foods along with water. The food included fruit, granola bar, mini muffin, bagels and breakfast pizza (some vegetarian and some with bacon). This isn’t a race I would go out of my way for or stay in town just to do it but I’d consider it again if I were on-call or in town for the weekend.
Des Moines Marathon
The Best Course Support of Any Race
Des Moines Marathon
I chose to do this race for Iowa as part of the I-35 challenge so I could get 2 states in one weekend. I drove to Des Moines Saturday after … MORE
I chose to do this race for Iowa as part of the I-35 challenge so I could get 2 states in one weekend. I drove to Des Moines Saturday after the Kansas City half. Des Moines seemed like a nice, smaller city but I did not have much time there. My favorite football team the Bills had a 3:25 game against the chiefs in Kansas City this weekend and is one of the biggest regular season games of the year. The race started at 8am and it is about a 3 hour drive back to Kansas City. I realized as long as I could finish the race in 3 hours I would be able to make it in time for the game so as a result I pushed myself much harder this race and also didn’t spend much time in Des Moines. I went to packet pick-up on Saturday afternoon. It is open until 6pm but they let I-35 challenge participants pick up until 8pm. It was at an expo center. Again it was midsized. The shirt is a long sleeved hooded tech shirt. It is interesting as I don’t have a hooded tech shirt. I think it will be good for windy, cold days. Packet also included lots of other goodies including a bumper sticker since I just got a new car and needed some racing bumper stickers for it. Expo had a few other booths and the typical vendors. I booked hotels a little too late to get one right at the start line. I stayed at the Holiday Inn which was about 1 mile away. It is walkable if you are just doing Des Moines and don’t want to rent a car. I probably would’ve walked if my schedule for the day wasn’t so tight. I did drive so I could be closer and found street parking a few blocks from the start/finish. The start was very well organized and much more spread out than Kansas City. I really needed to be under 3 hours so decided to stick with the 3 hour pacer who was doing 30-30 run walk intervals. The course is super flat and fast. I almost wish it wasn’t a double weekend as I would love to do it with fresh legs but am glad I checked off two states. There is just over 100 feet of elevation gain total for the half. Just a couple of bridges to use different muscles. The marathon however is hilly in the parts that don’t share the half. I thought the course was fine but it was a little boring. the first few miles were downtown with lots of spectators. One spectator brought his adorable pet donkey which I got to pet. Then most of the course is through parks and around a lake. It is a pleasant run but a little boring. There are fall colors but it is nothing like New England or Upstate New York in the fall. There were some quiet areas that were harder to access without spectators but everywhere they could be spectators there were. The most impressive part of the race and why I rounded up to 5 sneakers (it is between a 4 and 5 sneaker race) is the amount of aid stations. There was one at least every mile. I have now done around 70 races half marathon distance or longer and this had the most and best aid stations per mile. All the aid stations had water and gatorade. 2 or 3 had gels. Some had fruit. Others had candy. There were also volunteers on bikes handing out tissues and candy and one lady handed out some twizzlers which is an automatic 5 sneaker. I did carry water but I definitely didn’t have to. There were also lots of musicians and entertainment on the course. I stuck with the pacer for about 9 miles and was feeling great so took off and ran the majority of the last 4 miles and ended up being 30 minutes faster than yesterday and was a few minutes under my 3 hour goal. At the finish line you get the medals. The half medal was a bit small but it was a really cute corn design. The I-35 medal is double sided and really nice. I didn’t spend much time at the finish line as I had to get to the game. I did stop by and get athletic brewing company non-alcoholic beer but didn’t wait in the food lines. I made it the game with the perfect amount of time to park, go through the gates, get food and get settled before kick-off so if you are wondering as long as you can finish in 3 hours you can make it to a late afternoon Chiefs game. Overall this was a great race. The course was a bit boring but the course support more than made up for it. The best part was along with the race being great the Bills ended up winning an exciting game. I would definitely recommend this race for Iowa either with Kansas City as part of the I-35 challenge or as a stand alone race
Kansas City Marathon
Who Knew the Midwest had so many hills?!
Kansas City Marathon
I chose the Kansas City half marathon for Missouri so I could do the I-35 Challenge with Des Moines and get Iowa as well on the same trip. Of note … MORE
I chose the Kansas City half marathon for Missouri so I could do the I-35 Challenge with Des Moines and get Iowa as well on the same trip. Of note you do have to register for separately and pay extra for the I-35 challenge. I had planned to do this trip this year at least a couple years in advance and was really excited when they announced the NFL schedule and my football team the Bills were at the Chiefs this weekend so it ended up being a great trip. I took a couple days off and flew into Kansas City Thursday morning. Friday I went to packet pick-up which was at Union Station in Downtown Kansas City. They gave you a QR code for free parking. Expo was kind of small but had the essentials. Packet included a small tumbler and a long sleeve shirt for the Kansas City race and an I-35 challenge shirt if you signed up. The shirts are polyblend not tech. They are nice quality but I’m not sure how much I will wear them as they are very light material and I usually prefer thicker, warmer long sleeved shirts. I stayed at the Marriott which was less than half a mile from the start/finish. The race starts at 7am and the Marriott has noon checkout so plenty of time to shower for most half marathoners before driving to Iowa. It was well priced for a race day Marriott and I’d recommend it. I went to a concert Friday night so I rolled out of bed as late as I could and got to the race about 20 minutes before the start. There is a special VIP tent for half fanatics/marathon maniacs but I got there too late to really take advantage of it. Probably my biggest complaint about the race was the start corral. It was jammed pack and there was no way to access it except from the back. There were signs to line up by pace. I arrived at the corral really late but I was planning to take my sweet time on this race so the back of the pack was where I needed to be. However there were a bunch of faster running pushing to get ahead. I completely understand why they did that as they should line up where they belong but there should have been several entry points so they could enter at the correct spot. They also could have made it longer and not so tight. The rest of the race was really well produced. The course definitely has great urban views and gives you a really nice tour of the city. Most of it is on closed, downtown streets which is really cool and you can enjoy the architecture and the sights. However it is extremely hilly. I’ve heard it was hilly but having done some very flat races for most of my other midwest races I assumed everyone was exaggerating but it was one of the hilliest halfs I have done. And the uphills were for long stretches and some were steep. Of course there are also some nice downhills including the last mile. As I said I was taking my sweet time this race as I just needed to finish with time to shower and check out by noon and I needed to save my energy to be fast in Des Moines so I could drive back to Kansas City for the late afternoon football game. I walked pretty much all the uphill and ran the downhill at a leisurely pace. There were adequate aid stations about every 2 miles with water and powerade and one with gu. I was disappointed in the number of spectators. Spectator support was pretty sparse for the size of the city but I appreciated those out there and there were some musical entertainment on course. One thing I loved is on the worst hill around mile 9 which was also probably the only boring section of the course they had it lined with home made signs from friends and family members. Some were cute little kid drawings, others funny jokes and others motivational. I thought this was great and I would recommend more races do this. It help entertain me on this awful stretch of the race. As I said the last mile is nice and downhill back to the finish line. One other minor complaint is I noticed the last 2 aid stations were mostly cleaning up when I passed them. The volunteers left out cups of water and powerade but were cleaning and not interacting with us or handing us cups. Kind of disappointing and while I was slow I was still ahead of the minimum pace to complete the marathon which has a 7 hour limit. At the finish line they announce the finishers and get your medal. The medal is nice with shuttlecocks which I guess are a symbol of Kansas City and different colors/size for different race. They had beer and food. I didn’t drink the beer. The food was barbeque pork sandwiches which I don’t eat but they did have some vegetable sandwiches which were literally just grilled veggies on a hamburger bun. It was kind of gross but better than nothing and I took a few bites to hold me over until I could get real lunch. If you do want good vegan barbeque in Kansas City I had a great vegan BBQ sandwich at Tree Hugger Kitchen. Overall I thought it was a good race and a nice tour of the city. I wish there were less hills though and more spectators. It’s a solid choice for Missouri and a great choice if you are hoping to combine states to do with Des Moines.
Jell-O Half Marathon & 7K
Quirky Distance for a Quirky Race
Jell-O Half Marathon & 7K
Le Roy, NY which is inbetween Rochester and Buffalo is the birthplace of Jell-o and even has a Jell-o museum. This was the inaugural year for this event and there … MORE
Le Roy, NY which is inbetween Rochester and Buffalo is the birthplace of Jell-o and even has a Jell-o museum. This was the inaugural year for this event and there was the option for a 7K or half marathon. I was on-call this weekend so chose the 7K but I kind of needed a rest before my next set of back to back halfs next week so may have chosen the 7K anyways. This was a pretty small race with about 100 people doing each distance. I got my packet the day of the race but there was also early packet pick-up options. Parking was easy on a field and there were attendants and they gave good directions. It started at the “Jell-o Barn” with packet pick-up in the barn. Packet pick-up included bib and one of the craziest, most colorful long sleeved tech shirts I’ve seen. My only crazier one is from the Earth day race by the same running company. Start was kind of laid back. The half started at 8:30 and the 7K at 8:45. The half started about 1/4 mile before the 7K. Each had a different color start flag. There was no timing mat at the start just the end. One minor production complaint is they literally just told us to go. No countdown or anything. Especially for a race without a timing mat at the start it’d be nice to get a countdown or something so we can be in running mode. It took a few extra seconds since people were just standing since they weren’t quite ready to start. Race was well marked and was basically just a square course back to the barn. It was open to traffic but on very quiet country roads. There were maybe 3 or 4 cars so not a big deal. The scenery was okay. There was some nice fall foliage but a lot of it was farmland and it was kind of boring. A few houses but it was too rural for many spectators. The best part was going past some very judgmental looking cows judging us for eating their hooves in the jell-o. One other relatively minor production complaint is there were some km and mile markers but not for every km and mile and also the 1st km and 1st mile marker came early since they were in the location for the half which as I said started a bit behind the 7K. There was an aid station a little past half way with water, gatorade and jell-o (but beware of judgy cows coming up if you take it). There were 2 big hills but the rest was relatively easy. Pretty average difficulty course. Finish line was behind the barn. My finishing time was pretty good and I was easily under my goal of 1 hour. You get your medal which is very fun but rubber but it kind of works for Jell-o. There were cookies and jell-o or pudding cups at the end. You also got a $3 coupon for a local BBQ but there was nothing vegetarian let alone vegan on the menu and I had to leave for work so I didn’t take it. Overall I thought this was a fun race with great swag. It wasn’t the best course and I’d imagine the half marathon would get a little lonely with so few spectators and small field. This is one I would recommend for locals or big Jell-o fans. If it grows bigger it will likely be even better. I’d consider this one again but there are other even closer races this weekend as well. Unfortunately on my way home my car broke down (don’t worry it was right by my house, I am fine and I was already planning on getting a new car that will be ready in a few weeks) but I am going to have to skip my race planned for tomorrow and may need to change some travel plans if I don’t get my new car soon. Luckily I am flying out of Rochester to my races next weekend.
Maine Marathon & Half Marathon
Totally Awesome
Maine Marathon & Half Marathon
I chose this race for Maine mostly because it was in Portland on a Sunday so I could drive there without taking any vacation days. I drove to NH Friday … MORE
I chose this race for Maine mostly because it was in Portland on a Sunday so I could drive there without taking any vacation days. I drove to NH Friday night and did the NH half on Saturday and then this race on Sunday. I went to concert in Boston Saturday night so I stayed in a hotel on the NH coast halfway between Boston and Portland instead of staying in Portland. It is a just under 2 hour drive from Boston to Portland so if you are flying and want to fly into a bigger airport it is not a terrible drive. Since I was in NH and Boston Saturday I just got my packet the morning of the race. However race morning was a bit hectic so I’d recommend going to the expo Saturday if you can. There is a parking garage with free parking for runners. I definitely appreciated free parking and a pre-race email telling us exactly where to park. However I don’t think the garage was set up for as large a crowd at one time. I planned to arrive around 6:45 thinking that would give me an hour before the race and would have a relatively relaxing race morning but it took about 10 to 15 minutes from the time I got to the parking garage to the time I parked. Packet pick-up was at the race start about 1/3 mile from the parking garage. Packet pick-up was easy and included tote bag and a nice long sleeved tech shirt with the race logo. It was a nice teal color. However it took awhile to go to packet pick-up and then back to my car and then back to the race start so I ended up lining up with only 10 minutes to spare. Start was well-organized and there were pacers. I was planning to start with the 3 hour pace group to not go off too fast but they did appear to go too fast since I lost them early on and my first mile was exactly 3 hour pace so that would be one of my only complaints. Maybe they were planning to bank time for the hills. The first couple miles are flat with coastal views. Then it is rolling hills in a pretty suburban neighborhood. It is mostly an out and back. While I would call it a scenic course I was a little disappointed in the scenery only because I was so spoiled my last 3 races. I was hoping for more coastal views and running through the city but after the first couple miles it was mostly neighborhood views. It was a very pretty neighborhood and there was nice fall foliage but not as nice as NH and was similar to running in my neighborhood at home. I just wish the scenery was more unique to Maine. The race was great though. Very well marked with closed or coned off streets though a few random cars made it on course probably from the neighborhood. There were plenty of aid stations and tons of on course entertainment. I think there were as many musicians providing entertainment as I have seen in any race. There were a lot of spectators especially for a mid sized race in a smaller city. A lot more than I was expecting making this a great race atmosphere. As it is an out and back with a half and full marathon there were a ton of spectators and entertainment for back of the pack half marathoners finishing with the fast marathoners and also long time limit for the half so very walker friendly. I would definitely recommend this for back of the packers. The course is somewhat hilly though the least hilly of the 4 half marathons I did in the past 2 weekends. Like NH the elevation profile is in the runner’s favor with it being net uphill the first half and net downhill the second half. I knew this would be a slow race given I am not yet back to my normal speed and this was my 4th half marathon in 9 days. I was expecting to finish around 3:30 and was about 10 minutes faster than that. Finish line has a bunch of spectators and you get your medal which is very nice with the race logo. There are the typical postrace food like bagels and granola bars. There are also food trucks and runners get $3 off. I was so excited there was a food truck called the Totally Awesome Vegan Food truck so got a very delicious and filling meal before my long drive home. Overall this was a really great race. While the scenery is nice, I’m guessing there are more scenic Maine races closer to Acadia or more along the coast but there probably aren’t any with better race atmosphere and this is definitely the most convenient race for travel. Also makes a great double with NH. If I lived closer I would do this race again but it was too long a drive for me to do unless I had another reason to be in Maine the weekend of the race.
New Hampshire Marathon & Half Marathon
Hilly & Scenic Course
New Hampshire Marathon & Half Marathon
I was doing the Maine Half Marathon on Sunday and was already planning to stay at my parent's house in NH Friday night so decided to make it a double … MORE
I was doing the Maine Half Marathon on Sunday and was already planning to stay at my parent’s house in NH Friday night so decided to make it a double and do this half marathon Saturday morning. This is located in Bristol which is about a 40 minute drive north of Concord. This is a small but not tiny no frills race with about 150 marathoners and 250 half marathons. The finish line is at a school in Bristol. Easy and scenic drive up there. The marathon is a loop. For the half you are shuttled to the half way point of the marathon and it is a point to point. I got packet pick-up the morning of the race. It is in the basement of the school. It was easy and included a nice long sleeved tech shirt and some coupons and information pamphlets about NH. I then went on the school bus that took us to the start. Shuttles seemed well organized. It was a cool morning. Perfect running temp but cold for standing around waiting to race so they kept one bus for runners to stay warm in. There were porta potties at the half start but the line was very long. As I said this is a no frills race. There is not timing mat at the start. Just a banner that says start. Still everything was organized and started on time. As this has a small field and the half and full had different start line it took everyone very quick to go past the start so you’d only lose a few seconds at most not having the timing mat. The course is rolling hills back to the school. It is a beautiful course with fall foliage and lovely lake views. One of the prettiest courses I’ve done in the northeast. It was very well marked and easy to follow. One negative is the roads were open. It was at first on quiet country roads which was fine but the last couple miles were along a main highway and there were cars zooming past. There were signs to watch for runners and a large shoulder to run on so it’s didn’t feel unsafe but it also could have been safer. The course is very hilly. It is about the same as the Rochester half marathon in terms of total elevation but at least the half is net downhill. The first few miles were relatively flat and more downhill. The middle was very hilly and rough and the end was mostly downhill. If you did hill training you could get a decent time though it’s not a PR course. There were plenty of aid stations about every 2 miles. A little closer together closer to the end when you need more. Finish line again just a banner but there is a timing mat and a clock with your time. My finishing time was fine for the amount of hills. I was aiming for about 3 hours. The medal is tiny. Just a little medal of NH. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have been giving the same medal for 20+ years. There was good post race food and festivities for the size of the race with the typical fruit, granola bars, bagels along with pizza including cheese. They also had students hold a bake sale. Overall this was a good race. It was not my favorite half marathon for NH and wouldn’t be my first choice as I’d prefer a bigger race with bigger medals and closed (or at least coned off) streets, but if you prefer low frills, smaller races or want to combine NH with Maine this is a good choice.
Rochester Half Marathon & 5K
I didn't realize how pretty Rochester is
Rochester Half Marathon & 5K
Even though I have now lived in Rochester for a couple years, this was my first time getting to do this race. In the past there was a marathon, half … MORE
Even though I have now lived in Rochester for a couple years, this was my first time getting to do this race. In the past there was a marathon, half marathon and a 5K. The marathon appears to be a causality of the pandemic and wasn’t held the past 2 years. I don’t know if they plan to bring it back in the future or not. This is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing who also produce the Flower City half marathon which is the big half marathon in the Spring in Rochester. A useful race guide is emailed before the race. I got my packet on Friday before the race at the Fleet Feet store. There was also a mini-expo. Packet pick-up was easy and you could buy anything you needed at the store and they had race discounts. Packet had a ton of swag: tech shirt, running buff, running gel, 13.1 bumper sticker, and a drawstring bag that could also be used as a drop bag. The race ends at the minor league baseball stadium in downtown Rochester and starts about 2 miles north in a park. There is plenty of easy, free parking at the baseball stadium and then shuttles to the start. Start organized and the porta potty lines weren’t too bad. For the start they had you line up by pace and it was chipped time at start and finish. The course is a very different course than Flower City but both are great. Flower City is more of an urban course while this is more of a suburban course with most in parks and neighborhoods north of the city. This race while it didn’t pass by the most historic parts of Rochester, it passed by the prettiest. It also went through places I have never been. The first couple miles are through neighborhoods then it is a really pretty run through the park by the Genesee River. There was one really pretty part where you are running along the boardwalk next to the river. Today was unfortunately a gloomy and drizzly day but it was still gorgeous and would be particularly beautiful on a rare sunny day. The next section is through neighborhoods and then you loop around and run back to the stadium. You again pass through some pretty parks and at one point over a bridge with beautiful views and another passed waterfalls. The last mile is through the downtown area and ends at the baseball stadium. Course was extremely well marked and easy to follow with roads coned off, volunteers at all intersections and mile markers every mile. There were 5 aid stations with gatorade and water. It was enough for the colder weather this weekend but if it were a warmer day I would have liked more aid stations. There was on okay amount of spectators. I was expecting more for a bigger city race but I think the rain deterred some of the spectators. There was still a good number of spectators and the people who did come were great. The course is known to be hilly. However it was flat compared to yesterday. It was actually easier than I expected but still slightly above average difficulty for a road half. There were only 2 or 3 steep hills that I had to walk. I didn’t like the elevation profile though as the first half is net downhill and the second half net uphill. There is a slog where for 2 to 3 miles around the halfway point it is just a gradual uphill. I was a little nervous about the 3:30 time limit but I banked enough time in the beginning and was able to run-walk the inclines and just walk the steep hills and finish well under it. I didn’t think it was too hard a course to get an average finish time but the second half being uphill makes it a tough PR course and one reason why the marathon wasn’t that popular as it is the loop twice and it would be a difficult BQ course. The final mile is mostly flat and I was happy I was able to run the entire last mile after all the miles this weekend and it was my fastest mile of the weekend. At the end you are cheered on and get your medal which is nice and has Rochester written on in very large. My finishing time was pretty solid for where I am. I would have loved to have finish under 3 hours which I wasn’t able to do but I was well under the time limit. If you are worried about the time limit it didn’t appear strict as people 10 to 15 minutes slower than 3:30 got finishing times but if you are going to be much slower than 3:30 I wouldn’t recommend this race. The finish area was nice at the baseball stadium and worked well with a band, hop water (non-alcoholic drink) and plenty of snacks like granola bars, bananas, mini muffins, etc. I’m not sure if there was actual beer or not. The finish area was a bit empty due to the rain but I’m sure on a sunny day it is really great. Overall this was a really nice race. It is somewhat hilly and not a great PR course but the hills are very manageable. I would recommend either this race or the Flower City half if you want to come to Rochester for your 50 state journey. Both are nice, well produced, mid-sized race. This one is better if you are looking for fall foliage while Flower City is better if you are looking for urban views. I will definitely do this race again.
Amish Country Running Festival
Another year of adorable farm animals!
Amish Country Running Festival
This is my third year doing this race so my other reviews have more info. It is located in southwestern NY about 1 hour away from Buffalo and 2 hours … MORE
This is my third year doing this race so my other reviews have more info. It is located in southwestern NY about 1 hour away from Buffalo and 2 hours from Rochester. It is a small race and very hilly but probably my favorite scenery of any race I have done in NY state. For the race I stayed in the holiday inn express in Jamestown again so I wouldn’t have to wake up too early. There is race day packet pick-up. Since it is a small race, parking, packet pick-up and everything is very easy. Packet had nice long sleeve (but not tech) shirt and a bag with some coupons, gels and samples. It was quite cold in the morning around 40 degrees though warmed to perfect running temps in the mid 50s. For some reason the cold weather seemed to turn off runners as there was a record number of sign-ups but not a lot showed up so it was quite a small race this year with between 30 to 40 half marathoners. Start is sent in waves by distance. It is manually timed. But it’s a small field and a hilly course you won’t PR on so it’s fine. The course is super hilly with around 1000 feet of elevation gain and the hills are rather unrelenting. However the scenery makes it worth it and there is no time limit so you can enjoy it. I was doing two hilly half marathons this weekend and the one on Sunday had a 3:30 time limit so I decided to take this race extra easy to make sure I saved my energy for the race with the time limit. I sped walked most of the course and just ran a few downhill sections. The first 3 miles of the course are pretty farmland but all the best scenes are past the 10K turnaround so I’d recommend the half even if you have to walk a lot. After the half you go by all these farms with adorable animals. I saw cows, horses, sheep, cats, dogs and even had a few puppies run with me part of the course. There are also adorable Amish children who cheer you on. Race well marked and easy to follow. It’s an out and back but I don’t mind seeing the scenery twice. Also the second half is more downhill at least. There are very frequent aid stations about every 1 mile that are very well stocked. Almost ultra aid stations. Some of the aid stations didn’t have volunteers so the food and drinks were just laid out. But I was last for the half and there was always plenty of supplies and based on the small number of marathoners I doubt any stations ran out of food or drink. At the finish you get your medal. It is fine though not distance specific. My finishing time was obviously slow but I was aiming to finish around 3:30 which I did. This year they had a foodtruck at the end where runners got a free entree plus bag of chips. Not any vegan options but there was mac n cheese. I ate the mac n cheese since I had a long drive home and there isn’t much vegan food in the area. There were also donuts and beer and other drinks. Overall this is a tough course but definitely worth it. As long as I am not on call I will continue to do this race. I would recommend it for NY state if you are the type of person who prefers a small race or if you are worried about time limits. Even the marathon has no time limit but I don’t think I’d want to do 26 miles of those hills.
Bronx 10 Mile 🏆
Fun Race through my Favorite Borough
Bronx 10 Mile 🏆
I lived in the Bronx for 8 years so I really wanted to do this race and was excited it fit in my schedule this year. It also worked great … MORE
I lived in the Bronx for 8 years so I really wanted to do this race and was excited it fit in my schedule this year. It also worked great with the Hamptons half marathon the day before for a double race weekend. As I said it that review I stayed in a hotel in Queens which was the most convenient location for both races. I had plans in Manhattan after the race in the Hamptons so I got my packet at the NYRR center on Saturday but you could also get packet the day of the race. Packet pick-up was easy at the center and also included a nice red tech T-shirt with the race logo. On Sunday morning I took a cab to the race since I wasn’t sure how parking was going to be and public transportation would take over an hour and I was going to a Mets game in the afternoon so it was easier to keep my car in Queens. Since I already picked up my packet it was very stress free just being dropped off. This is a huge race with over 10,000 runners. There are long porta potty lines which I expected so I went early. You are assigned corral based on pace. I was in the last corral since I expected to be slow. It took about 20 to 30 minutes for everyone to go through the corral but everything seemed organized. I knew this was going to be a very slow race for me. I definitely pushed myself as hard as possible yesterday and had very little gas left in the tank. I planned to walk most of this race but as with other NYRR there are a ton of back of the packers so even at a 15 min/mile mostly walking pace there is high energy and tons of people around. The course is mostly an out and back down grand concourse with a loop through a park at the turnaround point. Grand Concourse is very representative of the vibe of the Bronx and it was fun to run through where I lived for so long. I would have liked to have passed by a few of my favorite spots in the Bronx like my college and the Bronx zoo as opposed to just an out and back on the same street but I understand logistically why this race had to be this way. There were a medium amount of spectators and the ones there were very enthusiastic. The course is rolling hills. Nothing too steep but some of the inclines are rather long. There were mile markers and plenty of aid stations with water and gatorade. The finish goes a bit past the start and ends at Yankee stadium. My finishing time was really slow as expected but I had no issues finishing the race and was expecting to be slow after how hard I pushed myself the day before. There is a long finish shoot where you get your medal and a bag of recovery food. I like that the medal has Bronx very large on it and the ribbon has the names of multiple important Bronx landmarks. It is convenient that you end near the subway station. I then took the train to Manhattan for lunch and then to Queens to see the Mets. This was a great race and a really fun weekend. I hope it works out that I can do this race again.
Hamptons Marathon & Half Marathon
Flat, Scenic & Fast
Hamptons Marathon & Half Marathon
I was interested in this race since I like flat, beachside courses and wanted to check out the Hamptons but it is a bit of a trek from Rochester being … MORE
I was interested in this race since I like flat, beachside courses and wanted to check out the Hamptons but it is a bit of a trek from Rochester being at the tip of Long Island. This year this race was the Saturday before the Bronx 10 Mile so it seemed like a perfect double. This also seemed like the perfect come back half marathon since it is flat and also has a 6 hour time limit so no stress about finishing. For the race you could have the bib mailed early. They only charged about the cost of postage which I appreciated. This made race morning easier since it was going to be a long trip for me. For the race I stayed in a hotel in Queens since that was the most convenient location for both races. It was about a 1.5 hour drive from Queens to the Hamptons. They had good pre-race communication and said where to park or you could purchase a parking pass for closer parking. It was very easy to park in the suggested public parking and was about 1/2 mile walk to the start. The start is at a school. They had samples from dunkins of their refresher drinks and a good amount of porta potties. Some lines but less than most races. There was a start/finish arch and announcer asked people to line up by pace. Calling the under 8 min/mile pace first then 10 min/mile pace etc so people were spaced out. This is a very nice sized half with about 700 participants and about 100-200 in the marathon. Start was organized and everyone seemed to line up pretty correctly. The course is really nice. It is first an about 3 mile loop then the rest is a lollipop loop. There are some parts you do see twice. The scenery is nice and is mostly extremely fancy houses. Though some are behind hedges. There are also some areas closer to the beach. The areas by the houses are shaded but the area by the beach is not shaded. It was around 70 degrees and perfect temp in the shaded area and a bit hot in the unshaded area. There were plenty of aid stations about every 1.5 to 2 miles. There were some spectators though not a ton. The elevation profile is exactly what I like. Flat with no true hills but lots of slight inclines and declines. This is the kind of course I am usually the fastest and I was super impressed with my time today. I was hoping I was going to finish around 3 hours but just wanted to finish but I felt great and ended up finishing in 2:48 which isn’t much slower than my normal half marathon time. I was so happy to have an almost normal finish time after dealing with injury and my last few halfs being quite a struggle. At the finish line you are cheered on and get your medal. The medal is a cute design with a sneaker but I wish it were more specific to the hamptons or the race. You can also pick up your shirt at the end which is great so you don’t have to carry it or bring it back to your car. My only minor complaint about the race is there is not much post race festivities. There are just basic snacks like bagel, granola bar and fruit. I’m not really a big post-race party person and I needed to leave right away as I had plans in the city but if you love a post race party this may not be the race for you. Overall though I thought this was a great race and I would definitely recommend it for a New York half especially if you are worried about the time limit or prefer mid sized race. It was also very fast so would be a good PR or BQ race. Even though it is a long drive away I would definitely consider this one again.
Tejas Trails Mellow Trail Run
Lovely, mellow trail race
Tejas Trails Mellow Trail Run
I was in Austin for a conference the weekend of this race. I initially signed up for the half marathon but I wasn't sure I was up for a trail … MORE
I was in Austin for a conference the weekend of this race. I initially signed up for the half marathon but I wasn’t sure I was up for a trail half marathon given my training hadn’t quite been what I wanted this summer after returning from injury so I requested to change to the 10K about 2 weeks before the race. The race staff were very responsive and quickly changed my distance. The race had 2 options: Either a Friday open start or a Saturday mass start (you could also do open start Saturday if you didn’t want to do the mass start). I loved this. While I think most people by now including myself are fine with mass starts, I do have a few friends who are either immunocompromised or who have loved ones who are immunocompromised who would prefer a safer option so having both options was great. I chose the Friday option not so much because I wanted an open start but because I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it Saturday morning with my conference schedule (that ended up being the case as I signed up for a different cheap race Saturday but couldn’t make it). The race is located at a park about 45 minutes out of Austin. There were good directions on how to get there sent to us but I did think there could be a few more markings in the park about where the park. The start was obviously very laid back or “mellow” for the open start. I picked up my bib and also got a nice race shirt. There is an ankle timer for timing. There were also some porta potties by the start. For the open start you just go whenever you want. There is a 5K course which the 10K does twice and a half course which the marathon does twice. The course was extremely well marked. One thing I liked is along with markers telling you which way to go. They had red signs telling you where not to go and had other areas taped off. It would be nearly impossible to get loss. The course was very pretty with some cactus and a mix of other natural scenery. Prettier than I expected for Texas. It’s a tough but not crazy tough course. There are some technical sections and I did see a runner fall but it wasn’t crazy. It was one of those courses that is a relatively easy hike but a tough run. I would have loved to have been able to do to half if I was fully trained but I was glad I only did the 10K as it did get a bit hot and I haven’t really done any trail training this summer. I was very slow but I was mostly just enjoying the scenery and making sure I didn’t get a new injury. There was an aid station around the halfway mark which was well stocked along with one at the finish line. For the 10K you did 2 laps. One warning is this appeared to be much longer than a 10K. My GPS had this more of a quarter marathon distance. I know most trail races aren’t exact and I’d prefer longer than shorter but just set expectations. At the finish the race staff cheer you on and you get your medal. The medal is very nice for a 5K/10K. It is not distance specific and I would say it is an average half marathon medal and probably slightly disappointing for a marathon medal since it doesn’t have the distance. However a lot of trail races I’ve done don’t have any medals. Overall this was a nice, challenging but not too challenging trail race. If you are a fan of trail running I would definitely recommend this race. If you don’t have much trail race experience this would be a good race to try it out. This is probably a one time race for me but if I end up in Austin again the weekend of this race I would do it again
Potato Run 10K
Small but well produced race
Potato Run 10K
This is a new race series one of the local runners from my track club has started in Rochester called west of the rivers series on the western half of … MORE
This is a new race series one of the local runners from my track club has started in Rochester called west of the rivers series on the western half of Rochester. I was on call the weekend of the race and a 10K sounded perfect so I decided to try this race. It was a very small race with only about 20 participants but it had excellent production for a new, small race. It started at a park in Greece which is a suburb of Rochester. There was packet pick-up at one of the park shelter. Along with bib packet included short sleeved tech shirt and potato themed goodies (potato chips, mashed potato mix, etc). The race was professional timed with chip timing at the end only. The RD gave announcements at the start line and we were off. The course started in the park for about 1 mile. Then there was about 2.5 miles through the roads of Greece and the final 2.5 or so miles was along the canal path and back in the park. The course was very well marked and for a small race had a ton of volunteers. One minor issues which the RD apologized for before the race is she was not able to secure police. There were a couple places you had to cross there were no police but there were volunteers but they couldn’t force the cars to stop. I had no issues with road crossing and the streets weren’t super busy. but some participants may have lost 20 to 30 seconds from it. The scenery was fine. A mix of suburbs and pretty canal path and park views. The park had some minor hills. The road had 2 big hills and the canal path was flat so good mix of terrains. Not an easy but also not a hard 10K. There was an aid station at the half way point. There were mile markers on the road but not the canal path where it would have been harder to place them. Finish line had a clock and you got a small medal. My finish time was as I expected. I was aiming around 1:20 and finished slightly over since I did have to answer a page in the middle. There was great post race food with a baked potato bar. It is also very back of the pack friendly with long time limits. However given it is a small race you will likely be running by yourself a lot. Overall I was very impressed with this race. For a new race it was very well-organized and had nice swag. I hope this race series grows in size since if it were bigger so there was a more exciting atmosphere with more participants and enough to have police at the crossings this would be a 5 sneaker race. I am going to be out of town for the November race but I will definitely do the races in this series if I am in town next year. I would definitely recommend these races to locals. However given how small the race is, I would caution about the half and full marathon in November if you are a 50 stater or half fanatic/marathon maniac and need it to count as there may not be enough participants. But hopefully that will change in future years.
Crosswinds 5K
Not a PR Course
Crosswinds 5K
This is a 5K located in Canandaigua which is about a 30 minute drive from Rochester. I did this race last year so that review has more details. It starts … MORE
This is a 5K located in Canandaigua which is about a 30 minute drive from Rochester. I did this race last year so that review has more details. It starts at Crosswinds church and packet pick-up is inside. It was smooth and packet included a nice polyblend shirt. They are nice quality shirts. Race went smoothly. It is chipped timed at the finish only but it’s a pretty small race and not a PR course. The course is net downhill the first half and a steep net uphill the second half. About as hard as a loop, road 5K can be. Of course I also got paged right as the race started again today so had to walk some of the easy part so my time was extra slow. I honestly walked most of the race since I wanted to save energy for tomorrow. Course was well marked and it is a fine course through some neighborhoods and buildings and some prettier shaded areas. There was great post-race food options. Everyone gets a Boston cream donut because this is a Boston cream qualifier…cute! This year they had breakfast inside including fruit, pastries, potatoes, sausages and pancakes so a few vegan and lots of vegetarian options and iced or hot coffee. This is also a good sized race for getting an age group awards as it is big enough to do 5 year awards but small enough that you only need to be average to place in the top 3 for age. Last year I was third in my age group. This year not unexpectedly I did not place. Overall this is a good race as long as you are not expecting a PR and I will do it again if it works out with my schedule.
First Responders 5K
5 Sneakers for Vegetarian Hot Dogs!
First Responders 5K
This is a 5K located in Webster which is a suburb of Rochester held annually on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend. I also did it last year so that … MORE
This is a 5K located in Webster which is a suburb of Rochester held annually on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend. I also did it last year so that review has more details. This year I got the packet the day before at the store. Along with bib, included a white cotton T-shirt. I preferred the shirt color last year but it’s a nice enough shirt for a local 5K. Parking for the race was easy. It starts at 6:30pm which is perfect so there is not too much stress making it to the race after work. There is a nice start/finish arch. It is a loop with the same start/finish and is chipped time. Unfortunately I was on-call this weekend and received a complex call right as the race was starting so I walked most of the first mile. Obviously work comes first but this is a fast course so it was kind of annoying but it was interesting to see the race from the back of the pack perspective. One of the race staff drove behind the last walker as a sweeper. He stayed an appropriate distance back and allowed participants to got their speed with no pressure but was there for runner/road safety. It was also fun to see all the first responders in their uniforms. Lots of participants in fire fighter gear in the mid back of the pack. There are also a lot of walkers so this was a very good back of the pack race. There were plenty of aid stations though quite a few unofficial from the locals in the neighborhood. Scenery is fine. Mostly just suburbs but there are a good amount of spectators. Course is pretty easy. There is a bit of a hill in the middle but it isn’t very steep and the second half is more downhill than up. Since I walked most of the first mile and knew I wouldn’t have a good finishing time it kind of dropped my motivation so I did walk the hill this year. At finish line the RD cheers on the runners and there are hot dogs, chips, soda and beer. There were veggie hot dogs again. The race is inbetween 4 and 5 sneakers but having vegetarian options at the end rounds up the score to 5. This is one I will definitely continue to do if I am in town Labor Day weekend.
NH 10 Miler
Outstanding Production
NH 10 Miler
I ran the full 10 mile race 2 years ago during the pandemic. It was a well produced race but very rainy that day which affected the race experience. I … MORE
I ran the full 10 mile race 2 years ago during the pandemic. It was a well produced race but very rainy that day which affected the race experience. I decided to do this race again since there was an event in Boston this weekend I wanted to go to. I was initially going to sign up for the full 10 mile race but my dad has been having some health issues and wanted to do the race but he wasn’t sure he would be able to do the 10 miler so we decided to do the relay together. The production on the relay particularly the shuttle buses was outstanding. For the race there is race day packet pick-up or you can go to the store the day before. This is a very popular race as it is part of a big New England race series so there are a ton of participants. Makes it a fun environment but parking was a pain. We arrived about an hour early and we still had to park over half a mile away so arrive early if you want to park close. We picked up our packet the day of the race. For the relay you each get a bib and ankle timer and each participant gets a shirt. The shirt is nice quality but I personally didn’t like the design and color scheme (black shirt with red writing) that much this year. My dad did the first leg since he likes the start of the races the best and I did the second leg. For the relay the second leg participants take a shuttle to the half way point. The race starts at 8am and the shuttle leaves around 8:05 just after the last participants cross the start area and the shuttle starts in an area with a great view of the start line where you can see all the participants start and cheer on your relay partner. It then takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get the relay exchange which allowed about 5 minutes and then you got to see the fastest runners go past you which made waiting entertaining by being able see everyone run by. There was also an announcer right before the relay exchange who called out the runners passing and also called out the bib numbers of relay participants who had a different color bibs than the full 10 milers so you could be ready in the exchange area. This was extremely impressive how organized the relay way. The race course is more described in my last review and it is a pretty NH course though not as pretty as a fall race. It is very hilly but the second leg is net downhill so not as bad but there are 2 large hills in the second half. Weather was perfect today which allowed for a better running experience than 2 years ago. I exceeded my expectations and was able to run everything except two big hills that I walked and finished my leg just over an hour and had one of my best race paces since coming back from injury. You get a really nice medal at the finish line and there were plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic drink choices. There is also a post race party with free beer at a local restaurant if interested. Overall this is a very good race. It is between 4 and 5 sneakers this year with the perfect weather and outstanding relay production I bumped up the score to 5 sneakers. It’s again not a race I would go to NH for alone but if it is the same weekend as an event I want to do in NH or Boston I would definitely do it again.
Pound the Ground 5K
Hilly Evening Race
Pound the Ground 5K
This is a race on the roads at Mendon Pond Park on an Wednesday evening in August that benefits an organization that provides mental health services to veterans. I also … MORE
This is a race on the roads at Mendon Pond Park on an Wednesday evening in August that benefits an organization that provides mental health services to veterans. I also did this race last year. It starts at 6:30pm. I got my packet at the race but you could get it earlier. I did think packet pick-up could have been more organized. There was a separate table for bibs and swag bags and it wasn’t clear which one to go to first and I went to the wrong one and then had to wait in another line and then in the same line again. The lines were short so it wasn’t a huge deal it just could have been better marked where to go. Swag included shirt and a nice swag bag with lots of goodies like a hat, a small flag and a bunch of small stuff. It is nice swag for a small 5K. The race is an out and back and it chipped time at start and finish. The course is all on roads but it is really hilly with nearly 200 feet of elevation gain. It is also net downhill out and net uphill back. It is pretty through the park and well marked with closed roads. I think I used all my energy running an under 10 minute mile yesterday and was super slow but I finished fine. There were chips and water at the end. There are also booths you can look it. This is a hilly but nice evening 5K I’m sure I will do again as it is on a weekday evening
Graveyard Downhill Mile
One Fast Mile
Graveyard Downhill Mile
This is a mile race located at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester. It is all downhill and very fast. This is my second year doing the race so my prior … MORE
This is a mile race located at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester. It is all downhill and very fast. This is my second year doing the race so my prior review has more info. There isn’t any swag for the race but it is very cheap. You start at the Rochester Running Company Store and walk together to the top of the hill. This year production and timing was precise. It is chipped timed at the start and finish and runners left in small waves so no congestion. I was a little nervous about a downhill race since I reinjured my foot on the downhill section at Yosemite. I knew this was not going to be my fastest mile ever and to be careful on the really steep downhill in the beginning but really wanted to finish under 10 minutes. I ran the steep first section carefully. There were markers every 10th a mile which is helpful for pacing. I ran the first half mile in about exactly 5 minutes. The last half mile is a more gradual downhill which I actually ran quicker and managed to finish quite a bit under 10 minutes though still about a minute slower than last year. I was still happy with my time. The scenery is really cool in the cemetery but hard to enjoy it when you are focused on going fast. At the end there was Italian ice and water. Then back at the running store there was pizza including vegetarian option. There were also granola bars if you want a smaller food item. Overall this is a nice, fast low key race. Since it is a weekday I will likely continue to do it as long as I am in town
Miles for Migraine Illinois
Nice swag but some production issues
Miles for Migraine Illinois
I was visiting Chicago with my dad last weekend and we decided to find a 5K to run. This was at Montrose Harbor the same place we did the Stan's … MORE
I was visiting Chicago with my dad last weekend and we decided to find a 5K to run. This was at Montrose Harbor the same place we did the Stan’s donut 5K last year so we were familiar with the area. There was good pre-race communication but we were not emailed a course map and I didn’t see it online. The race offered pack pick-up either the day before or the morning of the race. We got it race day morning. It was a really nice swag bag with a nice cotton T-shirt. I liked how the swag bag had sunglasses and ear plugs since light and sound tend to trigger migraines. There were also vendors and migraine support groups and drug companies at a few booths. The race was relatively small with about 100 participants in the 5K and there was also the option for a 2 mile walk. During the race announcement they said the 2 miler was an out and back and the 5K would be a loop. The start was fine since it is a small race. However the generator allowing the arch to be blown up stopped working so there wasn’t a start/finish arch. The race seemed to have bad luck and a lot of these minor issues kept happening. They also had a hard time getting volunteers so there were no volunteers on the course. The course was a flat course through the park around the harbor. Some nice views of the city. Some just park views. Everything was well marked and I had no trouble following the course. However a little past mile 2 it seemed we should go straight since that is where the main path was but there was a smaller path to the left. I went straight but soon after I saw a group of participants telling us we need to turn around which I thought was weird since it was a loop. I was only a bit past the part where we could have turned left and was on a walking interval so I turned around and walked to where the path diverged and didn’t see a marking and saw the people keep going back where we came. I asked if they were sure we were supposed to turn around and they said yes. However I didn’t think it made sense since I saw markings after 1.55 miles. Anyways luckily I didn’t follow them and went back on the path where I initially thought I should go. I had been making very fast time but I lost motivation here since I wasn’t 100% sure I was going the right way. There were no markings for about 1/4 of a mile but then I saw one and was glad I stayed on the right path. The rest of the course was easy to follow. I was hoping to be under 40 minutes but lost at least 1 minute with the confusion and was slower the last mile since I lost motivation so finished in 40:30 which was frustrating since it was from some participants who were confused and led us astray and as a result a bunch of runners got lost or ran the course wrong. I assume the confused participants heard the 2 miler was an out and back and thought the 5K was too and realized they went too far and turned around. I actually thought the course was well marked. It would have been better to have volunteers but you can’t force people to volunteer. 2 things the race could have done better is sent out a map of the course with the instruction email and even though it was pretty obvious to go straight that was a long section without markings and could have used a few arrows. There was also no finish arch which confused my dad and he didn’t realize he went passed the finish line until someone handed him a medal. The medals are really nice and cute with the race logo which is a cartoon brain with sunglasses. Solid post race food with lots of fruit options including plums which was nice and refreshing, fruit snacks and granola bars, water bottles and La Croix sparkling water. I thought the race had great swag and went to a good cause. There were a number of hiccups some of which were a bit outside the race’s control but they did affect my experience. I still would consider this race or another Miles for Migraine and I gave feedback and hope they fix some of the issues.
RUN585 Hot Summer Night 5K
Not so Hot Summer Night
RUN585 Hot Summer Night 5K
This is the last event in the Run585 series. I also did this race last year and that review has more info. Packet pick-up was at the store the day … MORE
This is the last event in the Run585 series. I also did this race last year and that review has more info. Packet pick-up was at the store the day before or the day of the race. You get a beer coozie and bib for each individual race. If you do all 3 in the series you get a bigger swag item (I was out of town for the first race so just did the last 2 this year and didn’t get the bigger swag item). Last year this race lived up to it’s name but this year it was not hot and was perfect running weather. The race starts at 6pm on Wednesday at Genesee Valley Park which is conveniently right behind my work so I just went straight after work. It was a relatively well produced race but I did think the start was too tight and should have had a timing mat. This race was more popular with the perfect weather and the start was really tight. A few waves would have broken things up better. Other than that it was a smooth, well-marked course on the canal path. It was the same as the modified 5K they used last month so I knew it well. Very easy except one bridge at the end. It is a pretty course but I usually run here so not that exciting. I was much faster today and cut 1.5 minutes off my time from last Saturday so I am happy to continue to be making progress. Finish area set up nice and you get a medal. There were again baked potatoes along with some cold water bottles. Overall this is a nice midweek series I would recommend for locals
Bergen 5K (Jenny Kuzma Memorial Race)
Finally a cooler weekend
Bergen 5K (Jenny Kuzma Memorial Race)
This is a local 5K located in a small town about 20-25 minutes outside Rochester. I was on call this weekend so I was just looking to do a local … MORE
This is a local 5K located in a small town about 20-25 minutes outside Rochester. I was on call this weekend so I was just looking to do a local 5K. Luckily this weekend the weather was much cooler and I was hoping to break 40 minutes. The race starts in a park and there is race day packet pick-up. There was about 100 participants so it was very easy. Packet also included a fine cotton T-shirt exactly what you’d expect for a race like this. The course is a lollipop loop starting at the park and going through the main part of the town. There is a separate start and finish. Only the finish has a timing mat but it’s such a small field everyone crossed the start line within a few seconds. The course is fine. Nothing too exciting. pretty typical of a small town 5K with some farmland and a neighborhood and a bit downtown. There were a few spectators from the town which was appreciated. It was well marked and there were 2 water stops. One you passed twice so lots of water for a 5K. Course pretty flat with just some minor hills and inclines. The only slight difficulty is it is net downhill the first half and net uphill the second half. Even with more of an incline the second half I was feeling better this race and kept a consistent pace with run-walk intervals and while still much slower than usual had my fastest 5K this summer. At the finish line there is a clock and an arch. There is no medal which is fine for a small race like this. There was also water bottles and a good snack selection including granola bars. Overall no the most exciting race ever but no complaints. As it is close by I would do it again if I were in town for race weekend.
RUN716
Great Urban Race
RUN716
This is a 15K that takes place in Buffalo and starts and finishes at the Flying Bison Brewing Co. This was a very convenient race for me as I had … MORE
This is a 15K that takes place in Buffalo and starts and finishes at the Flying Bison Brewing Co. This was a very convenient race for me as I had plans in Toronto Saturday evening and was planning to spend the afternoon in Buffalo for WNY VegFest which was the same day as this race. Usually I wouldn’t need a hotel but since I didn’t want to drive from Toronto to Rochester and back to Buffalo (Buffalo is between Rochester and Toronto) I did stay in a hotel for this race. I stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Buffalo which was about a 5 to 10 min drive to the race. Packet pick-up is required before the race. I got it Saturday afternoon on my way to Toronto and it was easy at the brewery and included bib and a nice long sleeve (though not tech) shirt. Race day morning was easy. The race starts at 7:16 (716 is Buffalo’s area code). There is plenty of street parking by the brewery. One complaint is there did not seem to be enough porta potties but I didn’t have to go. The start and finish are the same location and it is chipped time at start and finish. The course is sort of a loop. It is a really nice course. The first mile isn’t too scenic but then you get to downtown Buffalo and it is really nice. The next about 4 miles are downtown and you see most of the best sights of Buffalo. Then there are about 2 miles of an out and back along the lake and then back to the brewery. It is a similar course to the Buffalo half marathon/marathon. Basically most of the best sites of the half are seen on this course so if you aren’t up for a half or full marathon but want a running tour of Buffalo this is great. Streets were also closed and it was well marked. There were mile markers and a clock at the 5K and 10K mark. The course is a bit hilly for Buffalo though. I wouldn’t call it a hilly course but it is also not flat. There were frequent aid stations but one minor complaint is most just had water. Only the last had electrolyte drinks and there was no nutrition on course. If I was running this more competitively I would bring gels or chews with electrolytes. My other negative about the race is there were not many spectators but it’s not really the races fault and the race doesn’t really go through many residential neighborhoods. There were plenty of runners around (even near the back of the pack) and volunteers so even without spectators it was a fun atmosphere. Even though I was still slower than usual and doing run-walk intervals I was very happy with time and I am finally starting to see progress. I managed to finish 10 minutes faster than the boilermaker. We were lucky this morning wasn’t as hot as yesterday which helped my time but it was still very humid. I also didn’t fall apart as much at the end and had more consistent splits than I’ve been having. At the finish you get your medal which is a nice medal of the Buffalo skyline. There is a finish fest with beer if you drink and lots of food. There were hot dogs, bagels with PB&J, fruit, granola bars, yogurt, etc. I was planning on eating a ton of food at Vegfest so I just ate half a bagel with PB&J to hold me over. Overall this was a great race. I will definitely do it again if I can especially if it is again the same day as Vegfest which was about a 5 minute drive away from the race. This is one I would highly recommend for locals. I would also recommend this to out of towners if you are hoping to visit Buffalo/Niagara Falls in the summer and want to add a race to your trip.
Phelps Sauerkraut 20K & 5K
The smell of cabbages
Phelps Sauerkraut 20K & 5K
This is a 5K or 20K located in Phelps, NY a town about 40 minutes outside of Rochester. It coincides with the town's sauerkraut festival. I was initially signed up … MORE
This is a 5K or 20K located in Phelps, NY a town about 40 minutes outside of Rochester. It coincides with the town’s sauerkraut festival. I was initially signed up for the 20K. There is an early start if you are under 12 min/mil for the 20K which is great for the slower runners and walkers to not be in the heat as much. However as I had another longer race the next day and my training hasn’t been what I have wanted with the extreme heat and humidity I decided to drop down to the 5K. It was extremely hot and humid again today so I am very glad I dropped down. The 5K starts at 8:30am which is a little late for the heat but I get wanting to space it from the 20K so runners don’t overlap and it is definitely better to have the 5K last. The start is a few blocks away from the finish. There is packet pick-up the day of the race or you can get it at the running store in Rochester Friday. I got it Friday. It included a pretty nice tech shirt along with bib. There is no timing mat at the start but it is otherwise well organized. It was a hot day and it is a hilly course so it’s unlikely to be a PR (while it could be a 20K PR since there aren’t many races that distance) so didn’t really bother me to lose a few seconds. The course is quite nice though nothing special through neighborhoods and farmlands. It was kind of fun to see the different crops but less fun to smell them at least less fun to smell the cabbage farm. The course is quite hilly with over 100 feet elevation gain. With the heat and the hills it was a rough day. I ended up walking most of it to make sure I saved energy for tomorrow and as a result was super slow. The finish line is well done and participants get a ribbon with the race name. There were also hot dogs with sauerkraut (which I couldn’t eat) along with granola bars and other more vegetarian friendly snacks. Overall this was a solid race. No big complaints besides the weather. I would do it again if in town but would not go out of my way for this race
Young and Wyld 5K
Still No Cheese Pizza
Young and Wyld 5K
I also ran this race last year. The race was pretty identical in terms of production, swag and course this year so that review has more details. It is a … MORE
I also ran this race last year. The race was pretty identical in terms of production, swag and course this year so that review has more details. It is a nice, scenic course in a small town outside Rochester. It’s pretty low-key and roads are not closed but no major issues. It was really hot and humid again so I was again super slow but I finished. I was again disappointed they only had pepperoni pizza at the end and no cheese or vegetarian option. The woman serving the pizza was also quite rude when I asked what kinds and she said just pepperoni and I said no thanks and I couldn’t eat a slice she made a rude remark. If I am free I may do this race again but that interaction did not make me want to return.
Summer Georgetown 5K, 10K & Half
Nice, low-key race
Summer Georgetown 5K, 10K & Half
I had plans to visit DC with my parents this weekend and decided to do this race while I was there. Last year I did the half and that review … MORE
I had plans to visit DC with my parents this weekend and decided to do this race while I was there. Last year I did the half and that review has more details. This year I was initially signed up for the half but given what a disaster last weekend was I asked to drop down last Sunday and the RD quickly replied and let me drop down in distance. This is produced by Bishop’s Events who produce a lot of smaller events in the DC area. They changed their timing system for the better and this year it was chipped time at the start and finish. They had runners go off in waves by start time and it worked well. The course is a flat, non technical trail out and back along the canal path. It is quite pretty. There was an aid station at the turn around point for the 5K. On the way back a deer joined the race and ran with us for about 1/2 mile which was funny. At the end you get a medal and there are some chips and other snacks and coolers with water and gatorade. It wasn’t as hot as last week but it was still quite hot at around 80 to 85 degrees and very humid so I was slow but managed to run most of it. I was happy I dropped down as the half would have been rough but they do have no time limits. Swag for Bishop’s Events is always okay. I preferred this year’s medal but preferred last year’s shirt. I’d recommend this race if you are in the area or hoping to do a race in DC and prefer a smaller, more low-key race.
Keuka Outlet Trail Half Marathon & 10K
Beautiful Race but Not Safe in the Heat
Keuka Outlet Trail Half Marathon & 10K
This is a non-technical trail race in Penn Yan in the Fingerlakes region of NY about an hour from Rochester. I was signed up for the half marathon but haven't … MORE
This is a non-technical trail race in Penn Yan in the Fingerlakes region of NY about an hour from Rochester. I was signed up for the half marathon but haven’t been training well enough due to injury. When I saw the weather was projected to be really hot I looked into transferring down to the 10K but it was full and thought they would likely have an early start or extra water or let you drop down race day if it was too hot and I knew I could finish the half in 4 hours even undertrained. For packet pick-up there were multiple locations the day before but I got my packet the morning of the race at the start area. Packet included a nice tank top and a glass with the race name. I parked in downtown Penn Yan which was close to the start. It was an extremely hot morning with temps up to 95 degrees and high humidity and the race started at 8am. This was bad. The race was previously in the Fall but moved to the summer for less competition with other races. In defense of this move this is a very shaded race and a good summer course. However it should have started at 7am. They did say we could start early but we would have to switch to virtual and time ourselves so it wouldn’t count for any clubs. I was not doing that. There were not nearly enough porta potties at the start but the RD said there were plenty on the course. Since I wasn’t planning on PRing I decided to just wait and go on course. The course was manually timed which is likely why they couldn’t have an early start. It also resulted in a very congested start though it thinned out soon enough. I think being chipped time would have allowed a slower, more spaced out start and an early start option. I understand if the early start couldn’t count for awards since it wouldn’t be fair but it also shouldn’t only count as virtual. Anyways I decided to do a run walk strategy which worked well until about mile 6. Most of the first 6 miles were shaded. This is a gorgeous trail. It is pretty flat. There was nothing technical but there were a few rocks and roots. It would be fine in either trail or road shoes whatever you prefer and run in most. There was even a lovely waterfall. Like I said I was feeling good for 6 miles and on pace to finish a little over 3 hours. One issue is the race didn’t have enough volunteers. There were 4 aid stations you passed twice but not all had volunteers. I also didn’t see race officials patrolling the course and there were no volunteers at the few intersections just signs. There was very little traffic and I didn’t see any cars ever so from a speed perspective didn’t matter but it made me nervous since I didn’t know what I would do if I got sick or injured my foot again and couldn’t finish. The aid stations had plenty of water and gatorade luckily but the ones in the middle were quite far apart for the heat with about 2.5 miles between aid stations. At mile 6 you leave the trail for a road about 1/2 mile to a turnaround. This is where I started to have trouble. This section had little shade and was very hot and I had to walk a lot by the time I finished I wasn’t feeling great so lengthened my walk intervals. At mile 9 I got to the aid station with volunteers I knew I was walking the rest of the race but had plenty of time banked to finish in the time limit. I knew I wasn’t feeling great and there were very few volunteers so thought about dropping out here but after some sips of water and gatorade felt better and decided to walk the rest. At mile 10, I started to feel sick and had symptoms of heat exhaustion. I was really nervous because I knew there were no volunteers until mile 12. I was hoping someone would be patrolling the race but saw no one. I couldn’t do anything except continue to walk forward. I knew to walk extremely slow and continuously take small sips of water. It was really not safe for me to continue in this condition. I don’t know what would have happened if I fainted as I was alone for most of the second half of the race. Luckily I slowly kept going at slower than my usual casual walking pace. I didn’t pass any volunteers until the first aid station which had a little less than a mile left. At that point I knew I would finish. Also the volunteers walked to the aid station and didn’t have a car so couldn’t bring me back. Finally with about 1/4 mile left one of the race staff was on a bike making sure everyone made it back. By that time I was too close not to finish. My finishing time was obviously really slow but it was under 4 hours. In defense of the race directors they were extremely nice, made sure the kept the finish line open for me and personally congratulated me and gave me my medal. While the course was gorgeous I have a hard time recommending it due to lack of safety protocols. For a race in the heat one of three things needs to happen, 1) early start option, 2) option for shorter race or even making everyone do a shorter race, or 3) more water and medical staff on course. It was a very pretty race, the swag was great and the location isn’t too far. However if I do it again I will definitely only be doing the 10K if it is in the summer. And I learned my lesson and will just skip half marathons in 95 degree weather unless I know they will be well supported and have lots of back of packers such as Miami. I had to skip the race the following day for recovery and pre-emptively dropped down in distance next week in case it is hot.
RUN585 Summer in the City 8K
Run 555 This Year
RUN585 Summer in the City 8K
This is a summertime race series in Rochester with a race on a Wednesday night in June, July and August. The first race is a 5K, second an 8K and … MORE
This is a summertime race series in Rochester with a race on a Wednesday night in June, July and August. The first race is a 5K, second an 8K and third a 5K so it’s 585 which is the Rochester area code. I did the whole series last year. This year the first race was when I was out of town so I was only going to do “85” this year but it ended up being “55”. For the race the swag this year is a beer coozie and bottle opener plus a medal for the individual race with a bag if you do the series. I picked the packet up Tuesday. I was not looking forward to an 8K when I saw the weather predicted it to be in the 90s and really humid. Much to my relief, the day of the race for safety reasons it was switched to a 5K. They also added a water stop in the middle and requested we all carry water as well. The race is on the canal path where I frequently run so not that exciting but it’s pretty with a lot of it shaded, flat and right by my work so I can just walk to the race after work. The race was well organized. My only complaint is it is only chipped timed at the finish not the start. Everyone went through the start line quickly but I wish the runners were more spaced out. I knew the only way I was going to be able to get a reasonable finish time at all was to do 30 second run/walk intervals which is annoying when a course is congested but it thinned out soon enough. The weather was absolutely miserable but the run/walk intervals worked well and I kept it up for about 2.5 miles and then walked most of the rest just running the end. My time was slow at 41:49 but was about the same as Saturday and the running conditions much worse so I was fine with it (I didn’t list my time because I didn’t want it to show as an 8K PR since this was a 5K). At the end you got a medal with an 8 on it. They also had cold water bottles and baked potato bar. I was not in the mood for hot food right after but saved it for dinner. One complaint is they gave a bag with all the toppings which included bacon. I asked them to take my bacon out and let someone have double bacon since I don’t eat meat but it would be better to have some just vegetarian topping bags. Overall this is a fun race series. The RDs can’t help the heat and they definitely made the right call shortening the race this year.
Jungle Jog 5K
Lions & Tigers and & Bears, oh my!
Jungle Jog 5K
This is a local 5K that benefits the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester. This is the first of a 3 year race series to celebrate the new tropical building opening … MORE
This is a local 5K that benefits the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester. This is the first of a 3 year race series to celebrate the new tropical building opening in the zoo and for these years they are offering a medal along with their great and always zany, bright and animal themed tech shirts (last year I did it virtually). You could sign up for the race alone or race with shirt or shirt and medal. I think this is great to allow people to pay less if they don’t want swag and it is less wasteful so people who would just toss the medal don’t get one. I obviously signed up for the medal. They had packet picket up offered at the zoo Friday or a running store Saturday. I picked it up at the running store. One small criticism is the medal was in the race packet. It is fun to get the medals at the end and I wish they gave them out after the race but since you could sign up for a medal or for no medal I understand why they did this so no one would accidentally get a medal who didn’t pay for one. Parking is at the zoo in Seneca Park. The start line is about 1/2 mile away from the parking. They did offer a ride on the zoo tram but I used it as a warm up walk. Another minor critique is it would have been helpful to have directions where to go to the start. The park is a lollipop loop and you wanted to turn left at the intersection and I asked a volunteer in the parking area who told me to go left and I went the right way but I saw a lot of people go right and end up walking a longer loop to the start. Race was chipped timed at the start and finish. One thing I loved is they had signs for runners up front, then runners with strollers, then walkers and then walkers with children. This was perfect. It wasn’t too overly strict with corrals to make the start stressful but allowed things to be spaced. I wish all races like this that tend to attract people who don’t race often would do this as a lot of walkers simply don’t know they are supposed to be at the back for safety. I lined up near the end of the runners. I realized yesterday that after taking a month off from running I am not conditioned enough to run a 5K without stopping so I set run walk intervals for this race. This worked great. The course is medium difficulty with most of the uphill in the first half and more downhill the second half. There is one hill near the beginning. You first do an out and back in the park but around mile 2 instead of heading back you go through the zoo. The park scenery is nice enough but the zoo is so much fun. I had a really good view of the polar bears, sea lions and wolves. We also passed the tiger exhibit but the tiger was hidden. I didn’t see any lions as we didn’t pass their exhibit but I heard them roar. I did stop for a couple pics but I really wanted to be faster than yesterday so I didn’t stop too much. I felt really good the last mile and was glad I did the intervals and was able to run the last half mile of the race without a walking break. I was happy with my time. It was not fast but I was 2 minutes faster than Saturday even though the course was harder, I stopped to take a pic of the polar bear and my legs were more tired. At the finish there were ice pops and in a lodge there were more substantial snacks like fruit and granola bar. Overall this was a really fun race and a great way to support they zoo. I would definitely recommend it.
Candlelight 12 & 24 Hour
New Location, New Farm Animals
Candlelight 12 & 24 Hour
This is my second year participating in this race. However this year it had to be moved from the equicenter to a camp located about 20 minutes outside Rochester. I … MORE
This is my second year participating in this race. However this year it had to be moved from the equicenter to a camp located about 20 minutes outside Rochester. I actually helped out at the diabetes camp held there a couple weeks ago so I was very familiar with the new location. The actual logistics and production were about the same as last year so my previous review is still useful. There was a trucker hat for swag item along with bib. For this race you can run as many or as few laps as you would like in 12 hours to be considered a finisher. This year when I was initially signed up I was hoping to push myself but then I got reinjured. I still decided to use this as an opportunity to work on increasing endurance and decided to walk until 10 miles or if I felt any pain in my foot to stop. The course this year at the camp was much easier than the one at the equicenter with about half the elevation gain. It was again a 1 mile lap. The first half is a gradual downhill and second half a gradual uphill. All runnable though for strategy it would make sense to run the downhill and walk the uphill if you are hoping to go all night. There is a timing mat and a screen with the number of laps to help you keep track. Scenery at the camp was very nice with most of it paved and a small portion on non-technical trail in the woods. The woods were gorgeous at night with lots of fireflies. I was sad the race moved since there wouldn’t be the horses but this camp also had farm animals. There were pigs, alpaca and chickens. The pigs were really friendly and each lap I would stop by and they would come over to me. At one point they were following me around. There was a very well stocked aid station near the start. This year they had both swedish fish and twizzlers and added electrolyte drink along with soda, chips, PBJ, pickles and other stuff. I believe they had real food throughout the night too. Halfway through mile 6 I felt a bit of pain in my foot and decided to stop after 7 miles. I would have liked to continue but I needed to look at the big picture and my foot felt fine the next day so it was the right call. Even though the rule is technical only people who run the first and last hour get a medal, the RD gave me a medal knowing I was recovering from injury and still making it out there. Again this is a very fun race I plan to do again and hopefully healthy enough to continue for longer in the night.
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
Scenic & Flat
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
This is my third year doing this race but first time doing the 5K. This race is located in Hamlin Beach State Park near Lake Ontario about 30 minutes from … MORE
This is my third year doing this race but first time doing the 5K. This race is located in Hamlin Beach State Park near Lake Ontario about 30 minutes from Rochester. I got my packet the day before at Fleet Feet but they do offer same day packet pick-up. This year the tank top is a navy blue. I like the color and will use it. Race is well organized and they give clear directions about where the park. The entire 5K is in the park and is very scenic with some views of the woods and a lot of it along the lake. It is usually hot but most of the 5K is shaded. The 5K though does not go through the farmland like the half. The farmland is not shaded so the half is hot but the race has an early start time of 7am. The course is pretty flat. The 5K had about 40 ft elevation gains. No hills just some inclines and declines. It is normally a fast course but I am super out of shape from not running for a month to recovery from injury. There were mile markers on the course and a water stop in the middle. Finish line is set up well. There is an arch and you are cheered on by the race team. It is chip timed but only at the finish. I wasn’t setting any speed records today so that didn’t bother me. At the end you get a medal. One disappointment is it is the same medal as last year. It’s a nice enough medal but giving the same medal gives less incentive to do the race every year. I do really enjoy this race so I probably will continue to run it. This year they were able to have normal post race food and had breakfast burritos including a vegetarian (though not vegan) option. There were also chips and bananas. Overall this is a very nice, scenic and flat local 5K or half marathon.
Boilermaker Road Race 🏆
Big City Marathon Feel in Small Town 15K
Boilermaker Road Race 🏆
I have been signed up to run this race since 2020 but had to defer it last year since the date conflicted with other plans and now that I finally … MORE
I have been signed up to run this race since 2020 but had to defer it last year since the date conflicted with other plans and now that I finally had the chance to run it was dealing with an injury. There was no way I was missing this race so I took off a month of running before and planned to walk a lot of it knowing I would be undertrained. My dad was initially going to run the 15K with me but due to health issues had to drop to the 5K. The race director was very helpful and let him transfer distance even though it was past the transfer deadline when we found out he couldn’t do the 15K so I appreciated that. Utica is about a 2 hour drive from Rochester. As there is morning packet pick-up technically I didn’t need a hotel but I didn’t want to wake up that early. Plus my parents were driving about 4 hours from NH as my mom decided to walk the 5K as well. I stayed at the Days Inn in Utica it was fine but the price of hotels is really jacked up so it was more expensive than it should have been but still in my price range. There is an expo at the local community college but again there is also race day packet pick-up. We went to the expo. It was a good sized expo. Similar to some of the medium size marathon races I have done such as Buffalo or Little Rock and probably the biggest expo I’ve been to for a race shorter than a half marathon. There were lots of booth and one had the cutest little therapy puppy to pet. Bib pickup was relatively. Bibs were assigned before hand and you lined up by alphabet but the person with the bibs had trouble finding the bib for the person ahead of me. Along with bib, the swag item was a glass with the race name. Generally I’d prefer a shirt, but they did not advertise shirt and just said there would be swag item so it is fine. There were additional shirts you can purchase. I also forgot to bring my handheld water bottle so bought one at the expo. Race morning is a bit confusing as it is a point to point race. I parked near the finish and took a shuttle to the start. This was smooth. My biggest issue with the start line is how the porta potties were lined up. They were kind of a square with an opening and not a line and the line was just chaotic with people going everywhere and stopped moving. There were lots of people using the woods as result. This should be fixed. Otherwise startline well organized with corrals by pace and went off relatively fast but spaced enough so it wasn’t too crowded. It is still quite crowded so don’t expect a PR and it is very hilly. The first half of the course is almost all uphill. It goes through a park some neighborhoods and then a golf course. Finally you reach the zoo and go downhill. The second half is mostly downhill with some rollers. My initial plan was to walk the uphill and run the downhill but being very undertrained walking all the uphill took a lot out of me so I ended up run-walking the downhill which was probably better for my foot anyways. It was also hot. Not oppressively hot but in the high 70s/low 80s and hotter than ideal running condition. The course is moderately scenic with pretty park and neighborhood views but what really makes it special is the spectators. This race had as many spectators as any half or full marathon I’ve done. It probably actually has the most spectators per mile as there were really no long stretches without them. If you like an exciting, high energy race, this is great. There were very frequent aid stations but one minor complaint is they just had water and ice and no electrolyte drink or gels. The only nutrition I got on the course was from spectators giving out ice pops. Since I was mostly speed walking it was fine but if I were really pushing myself I know I would have felt it. If I do this race again healthy I will definitely bring chews or gels with electrolytes. The finish line was nice but I did notice they were just starting to tear things down. There is a 2:30 time limit and while I was very slow today as expected I was over 10 minutes under the time limit. There were a lot of people walking with me so it was fine being slower during the race. The finish chute is super long maybe it needed to be that long for the middle of the pack but seemed excessive. You also get your medal. The medal is nice. It is a little smaller than the typical half medal which seems appropriate and had a nice design celebrating the 45th anniversary of the race. My parents got a pin for their 5K. They had water and chocolate milk in the chute. One other minor critique is all the food was at the finish party. I was starving as I didn’t eat breakfast since I didn’t want stomach issues and there was no nutrition on course. The post race party was jam packed and it took forever to find and get food which was mostly chips and cookies. There were a few other things but I didn’t want to wait in too many lines. I personally though the post race party was too crowded. I never have been a huge fan of crowds and having not been in crowds for over 2 years I like them even less but if you like crowded parties this race it for you. After grabbing the food I met my parents and we left for lunch. After the race we visited the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown about 55 minutes from Utica if you are looking for things to do if you are traveling to the race. While I didn’t love the hills, this had one of the best race atmospheres of any event I’ve done and I will definitely do it again if it works with my schedule.
Irondequoit 4th of July 10K & 2 Mile Fun Run
Festive Fourth of July Race
Irondequoit 4th of July 10K & 2 Mile Fun Run
This is a race on the fourth of July in Irondequoit (a suburb of Rochester) that has a 10K and a 2 mile option. Last year I ran the 10K. … MORE
This is a race on the fourth of July in Irondequoit (a suburb of Rochester) that has a 10K and a 2 mile option. Last year I ran the 10K. This year due to my injury I walked the 2 miler with my parents. More details are in my review from last year. This year they did not have enough shirts and they were first come, first serve. We were kind of late to packet pick-up so didn’t get shirts. They are just cotton T-shirts which I really don’t need more of but I instead think they should have shirts based on when you register not based on when you pick up packet. Course is chipped time at finish only with a different start and finish line. The 2 mile course is a lollipop loop. It is pretty hilly though not as bad as the 10K. The scenery is just neighborhoods but there are so many spectators and neighbors with unofficial aid stations and sprinklers cheering runners on that I added an extra sneaker to the scenery. I was disappointed there were no medals this year. Last year there were teeny generic medals but they were kind of cute. There also wasn’t any post race food. They did give a coupon for free chicken at chik-fil-a but I don’t eat chicken so I can’t use it. There were a few things that could make this better but it is still a fun, festive 5K. It is now becoming a family tradition so we will probably do it again next year.
Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum 5K
Pretty Lakeside 5K
Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum 5K
This is a 5K that returned for the first time since the pandemic. It is located in Sodus Bay at the lighthouse museum which is about a 45 minute drive … MORE
This is a 5K that returned for the first time since the pandemic. It is located in Sodus Bay at the lighthouse museum which is about a 45 minute drive northeast of Rochester on Lake Ontario. There was about 200 participants in the race. I am still not back to running so I walked this one with my parents who were visiting. Yellow Jacket Racing provides the timing and helps with the race so it was well organized. You can get your packet at the store the day before or race day morning. We got it raceday morning. Parking was easy and so was packet pick-up. Packet included bib and shirt. The shirt is a cotton white T but it has a nice red and blue design so it is pretty and a good fourth of July shirt. The course goes through the neighborhoods by the lake. It is pretty with some lakeside views. We also saw some wildlife including a fox and a few rabbits. Course isn’t too hard though it is hard to judge walking. There are some minor hills, inclines/declines but nothing tough. The only tough thing is one of the minor hills is near the end and being by the lake there is a headwind in one direction. There were mile markers and 2 or 3 water stations. Course was also well marked and chipped time at start and finish. At the end you got a medal. It’s one of those generic medals with a race sticker on it but it’s better than no medal for a small local 5K. Our time was quite slow even for walking but we were under an hour. I am trying to make sure I can run the boilermaker this weekend so was not pushing myself at all this race. This is one I would definitely do again if in town and worth the 45 minute drive.
Sunset House 5K
Good local 5K
Sunset House 5K
This is a local 5K for me in Irondequoit a suburb of Rochester about 15 to 20 minutes from where I live. Unfortunately due to injury I have to take … MORE
This is a local 5K for me in Irondequoit a suburb of Rochester about 15 to 20 minutes from where I live. Unfortunately due to injury I have to take a month off running and skiped my planned races last weekend (fingers crossed I will be good for the boilermaker!). I am on call this weekend and I had already signed up for this 5K and decided to just walk it since I shouldn’t be running. It starts at a church and there is parking and indoor bathrooms and packet pick-up. It’s a smallish race with about 200 participants. Packet included bib and a nice, long sleeved cotton shirt. It’s a nice red color. Good shirt for a small race like this. Race was well organized and chipped timed at the end only. I wasn’t going for a PR or anything and just stayed in the back. Course is a nice and very easy course through local neighborhoods. It’s a pleasant suburban view but nothing too exciting. There were a few spectators. It was very well marked and there were lots of volunteers directing things. Finish was at the church and the had food set up outside. I had to answer a couple calls so my time wasn’t even very fast for walking and it was hot but it’s fine. The food at the end was good. They had a large variety of soup which seemed a little weird for the heat but they had a vegan, cold gazpacho. There was also bagels, fruit and pizza. I was happy they had multiple vegetarian pizza options. No medals but that’s fine for a 5K like this. Overall it was a nice race. Not one I would go out of my way for but would definitely do if again if I am in town for the weekend.
Yellowstone Half Marathon
Trails & Trees
Yellowstone Half Marathon
I ran this as part of the Grand Quad with vacation races. It is 1 week after Grand Teton. I did a whole bunch of hiking and nature viewing in … MORE
I ran this as part of the Grand Quad with vacation races. It is 1 week after Grand Teton. I did a whole bunch of hiking and nature viewing in between and even saw several bears. For this race I stayed in West Yellowstone. I drove up after the Bear Lake Idaho half on Thursday and stayed for 2 nights. I also did the 5K Friday. Since I picked up my packet at Teton I didn’t go to this expo. I splurged on lodging in West Yellowstone since I was only staying for 2 nights. I stayed at the Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone and for not much more a night got a room with a hot tub. It was more than I usually pay for a hotel but really, really nice. If you can afford it I would recommend it. The race starts and ends a few blocks from the Holiday Inn and most of the hotels in West Yellowstone so it is very convenient. I knew this was a trail race and my foot was starting to hurt from the other 4 races and the hiking this week and I wanted to make sure I can complete my half next weekend in Indiana so I was planning on walking most of this race and before the race said this was going to be my second slowest half marathon (my slowest being a crazy hard trail race in NJ). It is a loop and I walked to the race but there was plenty of parking. Logistically this was a very easy race with no shuttles. It is a trail race. If you have only run road races this will be the hardest race you have done. However if you have done trail running, this was an average difficulty/pretty fun trail course. I marked it 4 for difficulty but compared to road races it is a 5. The first ~1 mile is on the road to the trail and the first maybe 3 to 4 mile was pretty non-technical and quite runnable. I did run the road portion to bank some time to make sure I finished in 4 hours (though vacation races is generally not strict with the time cut off) and walked most of the rest just running a bit of the flatter and downhill sections. At mile 6 there is a very long, steep hill. Afterwards the next couple miles are a bit more technical with some rocks and mud. I thought it was less technical than the slick rock in Zion. It was very similar technicality to the trails I usually train on in Mendon Park near Rochester. I was walking today so it wasn’t hard to walk but some sections would be tough to run. If you are the type who never walks in a race you should know most trail races require a bit of walking in the technical sections even for the fast runners as I’ve seen them walk after passing me in some multiple loop trail courses. If you never ran a trail race just set expectations that you will probably be about 20 minutes slower and need to walk a couple short sections. If you have run a trail race this a nice, not super technical but technical enough to keep it interesting type of trail race. The scenery is very pretty but like Yosemite it is mostly forest. There are a few pretty mountain views and a view of a creek but you are mostly looking at trees. I do really enjoy running around trees just don’t sign up the race expecting to run past geysers. Aid stations were frequent though given how isolated areas of the trail were some just had water and some interesting pop up toilets. At the finish line you get your medal. Vacation Races medals are always nice but I think this was the nicest with the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone NP. You also get the snack box. Again they did not have enough challenge medals but took our bib numbers and emailed a form so we would get them. They did send out an email before the race so it wasn’t as disappointing in the moment. They still had the Grand Quad medal which is really cool so I did go home with one extra medal. For the swag for the races I took away a sneaker because of the missing medals but if they were there it would be 5 sneakers. As I expected and planned this was my second slowest half marathon but it was on purpose. I also did this in road shoes even though I had trail shoes because my road shoes were old and I just bought new ones for after the trip and my trail shoes were newish and the course was muddy and I just threw out my muddy road shoes after. It was fine (especially mostly walking) in road shoes but if you want a competitive time or to run most of the course trail shoes would be better. Overall I really enjoyed this race. It was not as scenic as Grand Teton but still a very pretty race. Personally I like the challenge of trail but if you don’t this wouldn’t be my first choice for Montana unless you are planning to combine with other races. If you do like trail races, then definitely run this race. Much like Teton I’m not sure I will do it again given the remote location and expense of the trip but I may come back another year once I finish my race travel goals. I was also lucky I left West Yellowstone a few hours after the race just when it started drizzling and missed the terrible weather that closed the park down. I hope everyone involved with the race and all the other people visiting and living in the Yellowstone area are safe.
Yellowstone Half Marathon
Pretty warm-up 5K
Yellowstone Half Marathon
I did this as part of the Quad and you can read my review of the Yellowstone half for more details. The 5K is 6pm on Friday. I just walked … MORE
I did this as part of the Quad and you can read my review of the Yellowstone half for more details. The 5K is 6pm on Friday. I just walked over from my hotel around 5pm and it was easy. As I said in the half review, my foot was hurting a bit so I made the decision to just speed walk this 5K. It is similar to the first couple miles of the half with the beginning on road and the rest on non-technical trail. This had the same issue of the Teton 5K with not having a wave start with too much of a mix of pacing but the sectioned coned off on the road and the trail were both really wide so it didn’t affect this race much. There was almost nothing technical in the 5K and it was flat. I wanted to walk it in under 50 minutes and I did that. At the end you get your medal and box of snacks. Again the medal is a baby version of the half medal and is cute to have them side by side.
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Idaho
Convenient Race for Idaho
Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Idaho
The Bear Lake Trifecta includes a half marathon or marathon in Idaho on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. I only did the race in Idaho. I had … MORE
The Bear Lake Trifecta includes a half marathon or marathon in Idaho on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. I only did the race in Idaho. I had already had planned to do the Grand Teton Half and Yellowstone Half with vacation races on back to back weekends and when I realized the Idaho portion of the trifecta was the Thursday in-between I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get 3 states in one trip. Packet pick-up and the suggested lodging is at Garden City, Utah on Bear Lake. It is about 2 hours from SLC which is the closest airport. It is also about 3 from Jackson, Wyoming and 4 from West Yellowstone if you are thinking of adding it to the Grand Quad. It is a bit out of the way but much less out of the way than traveling back to Idaho from the East Coast. Packet pick-up is at Water’s Edge Resort and Spa on Wednesday or the morning of the race. Packet pick-up went pretty late on Wednesday and I was able to pick up my packet then after driving from Jackson Hole in the afternoon. Packet pick-up was a little slow. The RD was extremely nice and apologized for it being slow but they were individually making the bags and didn’t have a great system in place since it was a little confusing with so many people doing different distances. Maybe separate lines for bibs, shirt and general swag bag may be quicker. It wasn’t super long or anything but it seemed like it could be more efficient. Packet included tech shirt and some goodies. If you did multiple races you got multiple shirts. Shirt is really fun and kind of 80s rock band themed with the bear logo. I stayed at the Water’s Edge Motor Lodge next to the resort. It was cheap and adequate for a night and price but wasn’t the nicest accommodation in the world. If I was doing the trifecta and didn’t spend so much on lodging in Jackson and West Yellowstone I’d probably rather stay somewhere nicer but if you are looking to save money it’s a fine option. The Idaho race is about 20 minutes from Garden City, UT and was an easy drive with easy parking. Lots of 50 states and half fanatics/marathon maniacs do this race so it is a fun one if you are a part of these running clubs. Production of the race was good but it was not the top notch production of vacation races. Although that is to be expected for a smaller race and production was better than most smaller races this size. There was a rolling start although it was an official start at 7 for the full and 7:15 for the half you could start whenever you wanted. The course is an out and back. This race is really pretty with lots of views of bear lake. It gets a bit repetitive being an out and back but it is an enjoyable course. There are also some cows. It is pretty hilly and the altitude makes it difficult but given you are probably running this along with other races the next couple days you probably aren’t going to try to PR anyways. There were a good number of aid stations. Had water and lots of snack options. More than just gels. Almost like an ultra race. I noticed there was no electrolyte drink the first half but it did appear in the second half. Not sure if it came late or if to make it last they were instructed to not serve it until later. The course was easy to follow and turn around well marked. At the finish line you get your medal. The medal is cool with the bear logo and has the specific state. It says “Idaho” really big so it is a good 50 state medal. My finishing time was about the same as Grand Teton. Again not going for a PR just trying to survive with 4 half marathons in 16 days and an injured foot. Post race snacks were pretty generic just granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. Fine for a half but I’d want something more substantial after a full. Overall I though this was a very good race and a very convenient way to get Idaho. If you are looking to get multiple states at once I would definitely recommend this race. You can do the traditional trifecta or add Idaho to the Grand Quad like I did. There were also members of the 50 states half marathon group who ran Bear Lake Idaho Thursday, Bear Lake Wyoming Friday and Yellowstone with vacation races on Saturday since they already had Utah and didn’t want as long of a trip as the Quad. One negative not related to the race so I did not let it affect my score but I think is important for people who may be planning this race is that there are very few restaurant options nearby since it is such as small town and it could be difficult to find food if you have dietary restrictions. I really couldn’t find anything vegan and had to cheat. If you do have strict dietary restrictions such as strict vegan or celiac I’d recommend getting lodging that has a kitchen and buying groceries in Salt Lake City and planning to prepare a lot of your meals on the trip.
Grand Teton Half Marathon & 5K 🏆
The most beautiful half marathon of all
Grand Teton Half Marathon & 5K 🏆
I ran the Grand Quad which is the Grand Teton 5K + half with the Yellowstone 5K + half as part of my goal to run a half marathon or … MORE
I ran the Grand Quad which is the Grand Teton 5K + half with the Yellowstone 5K + half as part of my goal to run a half marathon or longer in all 50 states. Let me say that out of the 50+ half marathons I have done this was the absolute most beautiful course and one of my favorites. The race starts in Wilson, Wyoming which is about a 5 to 10 minute drive from Jackson Hole and close to the entrance of Grand Teton National Park. For the trip I flew into Salt Lake City on Thursday and stayed there Thursday night and drove 4-5 hours to Jackson Hole Friday morning. There are closer airports but they have much more limited and expensive flights plus SLC is one of my favorite cities to visit. I would definitely book lodging early for this race. While this vacation was absolutely amazing it was not cheap. Jackson Hole where most of the hotels are is expensive. I as staying in Jackson for 5 nights and chose the super 8 because it was relatively cheap but it was still over $200 per night. It was fine but not as nice of a hotel as I usually stay at. It is a good option but if I did it again I might try to stay at a hotel in downtown Jackson where there is more restaurants and things to walk to (the super 8 was like a 5 min drive to downtown Jackson so not a huge deal). After I checked in my hotel I went to the expo. This time the parking lot was very spacious and it was easy to park. The expo wasn’t huge but had a few booths. For the Grand Quad you can get all your packets at the Teton expo. One minor complaint is they use the same bib for all 4 races. I understand being environmentally friendly and reducing waste but with a week between races it would be easy to lose the bib. Also I know a few 50 staters who collect bibs for each state (I personally don’t). I was also extremely close to throwing it out and forgetting to pack it when I left my hotel in Jackson. I’m sure this has happened and vacation races has a solution for it though. You also get a shirt for both Teton and Yellowstone and an additional swag item. I got a nice sweat shirt. Vacation Races are cupless and you can get a collapsible cup to take with you for the race. I did the 5K (which I will review separately) after packet pick-up. For race day morning there are a few options. Probably the easiest is to park at the race start as you can wait in your warm car. It was one of those days that was cold in the morning but got warm by the end of the race. If you are staying in Teton Village or downtown Jackson there is also shuttles that take you to the start. The start had water, coffee and cocoa available with a good amount of porta potties. There was maybe a 5ish minute wait. The start is very organized and in waves. Unlike Yosemite where there was a lot of time between waves, there was maybe 1 or 2 minutes so all runners were through the staring line by around 15 minutes. As I said before the course is absolutely gorgeous with stunning snow-capped mountain views pretty much the entire race. The only part of the race I didn’t love is the beginning is on the shoulder of the road. It is coned off but quite tight and hard to pass people. It was less of an issue during the half since everyone was running a similar pace. The next section is on a bike path. The rest is on more remote roads so traffic isn’t an issue. Pretty much the entire race has gorgeous scenery. You also pass by quite a few cows and horses. The course isn’t too difficult itself. It is mostly flat but is a point to point that is a gradual uphill so it’s not a super fast course but you could have a fast time as long as you prepare for the toughest part which is the altitude. Obviously with running Yellowstone next week I did not have the time to come early to acclimate. If you are just doing Teton I would try to arrive a week early to acclimate if you want a good race time. But don’t worry if you are not acclimated just plan to be about 20 minutes slower than usual which means 20 more minutes to soak in the scenery. There were pretty frequent aid stations about every 2 miles and closer together towards the end. They are cupless and have jugs with water and electrolyte drink. For vacation races my strategy is to bring a handheld water bottle for water and use the collapsible cup they give for electrolyte drink. I believe every aid station had gels and a few had fruits. They also had porta potties. I wasn’t having stomach issues so didn’t need to use them but the lines seemed shorter than Yosemite. The finish area is beautiful. You get your medal which is always really nice and a box full of snacks. I was pretty slow since my plan was to take it very easy this week as my foot has still been funky since Yosemite and I wanted to make sure I can get through all my half marathons this week and the one in Indiana the following week (after which I plan to rest my foot and let it heal). One major disappointment is they did not have enough Moose double medals due to supply chain issues. I wish they would have emailed us before the race. They did take our bib down and also sent an email with a link to submit your info if you didn’t get the medal so the medals can be mailed. They also sent a very nice apology and apologized for not letting us know sooner but they didn’t find out until it was too late. I do believe this is true since for Yosemite they did email before the race. It was kind of a bitter ending to what I would have otherwise consider a just about perfect race. Also there was a bit of a wait for the shuttle. It wasn’t terrible but about 20 minutes so account for that in planning. After the race I spent a few days in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park which were amazing and I saw so many animals. I saw a ton of bison, elk and antelope and even saw a good number of bears. With the exception of the issues with the challenge medals I have nothing but good things to say about this race and would highly recommend it. I doubt you will find many more scenic races. It was also an amazing vacation doing the Grand Quad. Even if you are not a 50 stater, if you are looking for the best race-cation definitely do this one. It is an expensive trip and not the easiest place to get to but I am so glad I did it once and I am considering coming back to do it again when I finish all my other running travel goals.
Grand Teton Half Marathon & 5K 🏆
Beautiful but needed wave starts
Grand Teton Half Marathon & 5K 🏆
I did the Grand Teton 5K as part of the Grand Quad. You can read by Grand Teton half marathon review for more details. The 5K is Friday evening and … MORE
I did the Grand Teton 5K as part of the Grand Quad. You can read by Grand Teton half marathon review for more details. The 5K is Friday evening and I ran it after packet pick-up. It is a loop and is similar to the half marathon. They did tell the fastest runners to line up front but the big issue with this race and why I took a sneaker away from an otherwise beautiful 5K is not having wave starts by pace for all the participants. There is a portion of the race along the side of a busy road with small coned off area. I started in the mid back since that seemed right as I planned to run-walk it in about 40 minutes. However there were a ton of slow walkers, people like myself run-walking with some fast walking breaks and even some faster runners. It was really hard to pass people and somewhat dangerous. There were times when I was trying to speed walk past some very casual walkers walking side by side while someone was trying to run past me. This was much less an issue with the half where we started in corrals by pace. I know it is annoying to do this for the 5K but it didn’t seem safe with mixed pacing in such a small area. At the very least, the walkers doing the untimed race should start 15 minutes after participants in the timed race to help space things out and have less slow walkers up front. I don’t have any issues with people slowly walking the race it is just not safe if they are up front in a narrow area with traffic. Otherwise the race is great, very scenic and flat with a water stop in the middle. At the end you get a mini version of the half medal which is so cute. I was aiming to be just under 40 minutes and missed it by a second oh well. I wasn’t setting any time records in that altitude
Buffalo Marathon
Great Race But Disappointing Swag
Buffalo Marathon
Last year I did the Buffalo 5K and this year I did the 5K and half marathon. I was also on call this weekend but the race starts super early … MORE
Last year I did the Buffalo 5K and this year I did the 5K and half marathon. I was also on call this weekend but the race starts super early at 6:30am so I was able to squeeze it in before having to go to the hospital. I went to the expo the day before right after the 5K. The expo was decent for a race this size. I would say it was pretty average. There were some vendors and samples. I have definitely been to better and worse expos. It is at the convention center in downtown Buffalo which is right by the start of the races. It is really easy to find free street parking in downtown Buffalo. There are also plenty of hotels within walking distance of the convention center and race start/finish so you don’t need a car. At the expo you get your bib and swag. As most of the other runner’s pointed out the biggest disappointment and why I took a sneaker away is no race shirts this year. Last year I got an amazing quality race jacket for just the 5K and was expecting 2 jackets this year since I was doing 2 races. I did just check my registration and it did say jacket and requested a size so I was really disappointed when we got tumblers instead. Granted they are nice cups with designs of Buffalo, I really wanted the jackets since I used mine from last year quite frequently. Also I know a lot of 50 staters who like to collect race shirts so bigger races that lots of 50 staters do should have shirts. Since I had a jacket from last year, I didn’t buy a shirt at the expo but that was an option. I had some issues with traveling to the race in the morning which were not the race’s fault so I got there only about 15 minutes before the start. I had absolutely no problem finding parking even so close to the start time. The start seemed organized and there were plenty of porta potties. They had signs to line up by pace. I ended up in the back but I was planning to take this race very slow since I have 3 half marathons and 2 5Ks in 9 days coming up next week. The course is really nice and definitely has the best sights of Buffalo. There are views of the park, the lake, and downtown with some cool architecture. There were a good amount of spectators along with musicians and race signs. Course was easy to follow and even though I was very slow due to purposefully taking a lot of walking breaks and having to answer a few pages there was always plenty of water and gatorade at all the aid stations and gels at one of them. There were also not long lines at the porta-potties. The elevation profile is nice. It is pretty flat. Not quite pancake flat but it’s mostly just inclines and no major hills. Could be a fast course if you pushed yourself which I didn’t. Although it can be hot on memorial day weekend so it may not be the best PR weather. Today was beautiful and not uncomfortably hot but a bit hotter than ideal running weather. They also posted on the website there is a 3:30 time limit which I did make but was pushing it but from what I saw aid stations appeared open later and people got finishing times who finished after that so this seems walker friendly and definitely got the full race experience even finishing close to the time limit. At the finish line they announce your name and you get a medal. The medal is a cute design with a buffalo but I agree with the other reviewers it is a bit cheaper looking than some of my other medals and the one from last year. This was one of my worst finishing times but the last thing I wanted to do was reinjure my foot with my plans for next week and I had to answer a couple pages so I just aimed to finish under 3:30 and I did that. You also got a huge box of snacks. There is an after party at the convention center that I didn’t have time to go to that had pizza and beer and probably other stuff. Overall this is a great course and probably the best urban NY course outside of NYC. If you are a 50 stater looking for an urban NY race and not wanting to deal with the logistics of NYC I would definitely recommend this race. However I really hope they go back to the jackets and think they need better swag if they want to keep attracting 50 staters. Since this is local for me it is one I am sure I will do again but even if the course is great they need better swag for a 5 star rating (or a cheaper entry fee).
Buffalo Marathon
Really nice 5K
Buffalo Marathon
This is my second year doing this 5K. It is the day before the half/full marathon so a great add-on. You can see my review from last year and my … MORE
This is my second year doing this 5K. It is the day before the half/full marathon so a great add-on. You can see my review from last year and my review of the half this year for more details. I picked up my bib morning of the race at the convention center which was easy. This year it was also a Tumbler instead of a jacket. This didn’t bother me as much for the 5K so I did give the 5K five sneakers. I think a tumbler is a fine swag item for the 5K and I would actually kind of like it if the 5K had a non-clothing item and the half/full had a jacket so you get two different swag items. This is a 5K that is great as an addition to the longer races but is also a great stand along 5K. It was the same course as last year which is a very nice course. I had to answer a page just before the race so started in the back but it is on wide roads closed to traffic so I had no problem passing people and finding a rhythm. Nice scenery. Just one minor hill around the end of the first mile. Not as much spectators as for the longer races but that’s fine. At the end you get a medal. It is a smaller version of the half/full medals. I was quite happy with my finishing time. It was a bit slower than usual for how fast the course is but it was my best since my foot injury and close to my usual 5K time. I did have time to go to the after party at the convention center. It had pizza, coffee and bagels along with granola bars and other stuff. I loved that they had almond and cashew butter along with cream cheese for the bagels. I would definitely recommend trying to do the 5K if you are doing a longer race or looking for a 5K in Buffalo
Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K
Nice, Convenient Urban Race
Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K
I love visiting Chicago and I do eventually want to run the Chicago marathon but I didn't want the Chicago marathon lottery to be the rate limiting step in my … MORE
I love visiting Chicago and I do eventually want to run the Chicago marathon but I didn’t want the Chicago marathon lottery to be the rate limiting step in my 50 state journey so decided to do this half in Chicago as an excuse to visit and get a new state. Chicago is a very easy state for me to fly to so I just flew in on Saturday morning and flew out Sunday evening. If you are looking for a race that is very easy to travel to I would definitely recommend this one. It is in downtown Chicago so you can just take the subway from the airport to downtown. Pre-race communication was fine but the athlete guide was a little sparse. It had the most important information but not all the information I would like. Packet pick-up is the day before at the Chicago Athletic Association which is by the race start. There is no race day packet pick-up but packet pick-up was open until 6pm. I was excited there were samples of a new vegan food brand Nature’s Fynd which had delicious samples of vegan sausage and cream cheese. Bib pick-up was easy and included bib, a bag with some goodies and short sleeved tech shirt. Shirt is nice. I was very grossed out to open the bag of goodies to see a big box full of turkey bites since I don’t eat meat. Really wish they would have the bags as optional samples and not give them to everyone. In terms of lodging there are a lot of hotels right by the start but they are expensive. I splurged for this trip on the hotel since I was just staying one night and not renting a car. If you are looking for cheaper options outside the downtown area it is really easy to get downtown from any part of Chicago and the start is right by most subway lines. The start was a short walk from my hotel. You are assigned a corral and given a wrist band you need to wear to enter the corral. I think it would be better if they just put a sticker on your bib which I have seen some races do. The wristband was fine but I left my hotel and realized I forgot to put it on and had to go back to my room. Really my only production complaint about the race is there is not enough porta potties. There were huge lines at the start and also on the course. The start was well organized with corrals and had pacers. My initial plan was to stick with the 2:45 pacers knowing this was a flat course. The weather was also perfect. Glad I didn’t decide to stay in NY and run Brooklyn this weekend. The beginning of the course is on road so you can spread out. The majority is on a public, paved trail through a park. This is a bit boring but understandable. For a race to be reasonably priced in a major city and have great swag, great production and great post-race festivities and not cost an arm and a leg it pretty much needs to be on a public park. This was similar to a Central Park race in NYC but an out and back and not a loop. The course does have some nice views of the museums and lake and the way back offers beautiful views of the Chicago skyline. Some views just look like a park that could be in any city but it’s a pleasant park. The elevation profile is perfect with about 100 feet of ascent with just some small inclines and declines. It should have been a fast course but unfortunately I was again having some stomach issues and needed to use the porta potties a few times and the lines were ridiculous and I lost about 15 minutes total. Other than the porta potties production was great. There were 10 aid stations so I didn’t need to bring my handheld water bottle. All had water and electrolyte drink. 2 had gels. There were accurate mile markers and clocks every mile. Course was well marked and easy to follow. Some parts were a bit congested though which is the only thing that may make it a bit tough to PR. The end of the race also had a lot of pedestrians and you had to weave around a few people. I didn’t like the last quarter mile. It was under a bridge and dark and a slight incline. It’s kind of hard to judge my time. It was not very good but if you take away the 15 mins I spent waiting for porta-potties it wasn’t bad. At the finish line they announce your name. There are water bottles and bottles of gatorade. You also get your medal. The medal is really big and nice. There is a really good post race celebration with a brunch buffet. There is also a place you can get a potted plant. I didn’t take one since I didn’t have any way to bring it back home since I was traveling very light but it was great for locals. The buffet had fruit, pastries, breakfast tacos with the tortilla served separately from eggs, hash browns and bacon. It had good vegetarians and gluten free options. Not the best vegan options though you could have fruit and potatoes. I was going to a Cubs game and didn’t have time for lunch in between so just ate vegetarian but generally prefer to eat vegan. A tofu scramble option would have made the buffet perfect. Overall I thought this was a good race. Not the most exciting course but well produced with good swag. Would just recommend more porta potties and vegan food. If you are looking for a half in Chicago this is a good one but I wouldn’t call it a must run if you’d prefer a race in a smaller or cheaper city for Illinois.
Williamson Apple Blossom 5K
Cute, small-town 5K
Williamson Apple Blossom 5K
This race takes place in Williamson which is a small town about 30 mins northeast of Rochester. It coincides with the Apple Blossom festival there. I was happy to find … MORE
This race takes place in Williamson which is a small town about 30 mins northeast of Rochester. It coincides with the Apple Blossom festival there. I was happy to find a Friday evening race since I was flying to Chicago Saturday morning and this gave me the opportunity for a 2 race weekend. The race starts at 6:45pm so no stress getting there after work. The race was quite small with just under 100 participants. There wasn’t any pre race emails but the website was updated and had all the info you need to know. The start is at a middle school and had plenty of parking. Packet pick-up was easy and included bib and a white cotton shirt. Not the biggest fan of white cotton shirts for swag but it had a fun design and it was a cheap race. The race started in front of the school. There was just a line drawn in chalk that said start. It was chipped time at the finish only not the start. The RD gave a few announcements and blew an airhorn and we went. The first part of the course was an approximately 3/4 mile loop which went through the downtown and past the festival and back to the Middle school. There were a ton of spectators for such a small race. The whole town was out. There were probably close to as many spectators as runners which made it really fun. The next portion was an out and back for about 1.5 miles. This part was more in the countryside and quieter neighborhoods and quite pretty. There were some spectators even here. Then you do another loop through the main part of town. It was kind of a confusing course but very easy to follow as there were volunteers at every corner and markings as well. Each mile was marked in chalk and there was an aid station around the halfway point. I took my time and just enjoyed the race and interacted with the spectators since it was a hot evening and I didn’t want to reinjure my foot. There were the most adorable kids with a lemonade stand on one of the corners and I stopped and bought some. They cheered me on at the end and one little kid from the lemonade stand told me “don’t worry you’re not last” as I was close to the finish line. My time was obvious pretty slow but I had fun. Results were posted right away and there was a good snack selection with granola bars, bananas, goldfish crackers and mini muffins along with water bottles and gatorades. This was a very nice small 5K. It obviously didn’t have the bells and whistles of a larger race but I was impressed with the effort put into a small race. I hope they can get more participants and grow this race more. I would definitely do it again especially since it’s a Friday as long as I am not traveling.
Middle Finger 5K
Give Cancer the Finger!
Middle Finger 5K
This is a 5K that takes place in Geneva which is about a 45 minute drive from Rochester and is located at lake Seneca one of the middle finger lakes. … MORE
This is a 5K that takes place in Geneva which is about a 45 minute drive from Rochester and is located at lake Seneca one of the middle finger lakes. The race raises money for a charity that helps support people fighting cancer in the Finger Lakes community. This was an excellent charity 5K. There was the exact right amount of pre-race communication and everything such as pack pick-up, parking, location was very clear. There is packet pick-up either Friday before the race or race morning. Since Geneva is a bit of a drive I just did it race day morning. For race day morning they gave info with all the areas for parking. This race starts very, very early at 6am. Even though I didn’t love getting up early. I actually liked the early start for 2 reasons. The first being that I was on-call and usually when I run races on call I have to leave as soon as I finish but the early start let me have time to hang out after the race and enjoy the finish. The second reason is that it has been really, hot this week and it would have been in the 80s around 8 or 9am but it was perfect weather at 6am. I had no trouble finding parking but I did arrive a little bit early around 5:15. You may have to park a little further away if you arrive closer to race start. Packet pick-up is in a community center and there are also indoor, real bathrooms (along with a few port-a-potties outside). Packet included bib and a nice, cotton shirt in a nice teal color. The race has about 500 participants and is very walker friendly. There were lots of groups walking. It is chipped timed. There is a finish arch and it is basically a loop on a paved trail through a park by Lake Seneca. It is very easy to follow. The trail is quite pretty with lovely lake views but a bit monotonous as there is one view for most of the race. At least it is a very pretty one. It is also flat as a pancake. My GPS said there was 7 ft of elevation gain total. There was an aid station in the middle with water. Not a lot of spectators on course but a lot at the finish line. No medal but that is okay for a charity 5K. The race was chipped time and times posted right away. My finishing time wasn’t my fastest but was exactly what I was going for. I reinjured my foot at Yosemite and I had to rest all week. Luckily my foot felt fine during the race but I didn’t want to aggravate it so I just ran comfortable 11:30 to 12 min/mil. While I though production was excellent for a charity 5K and I wouldn’t old this too much against the race, 2 things that could have improved the race would be a more spread out start since some parts of the trail were a little tight and mile markers. At the end there was a great spread of food. They had breakfast burritos including vegetarian (though not vegan), cake, bagel, water, coffee and juice. Better post-race food that some bigger races I’ve done. As I said before this was an excellent charity 5K. I will definitely do this one again if I am in town for it and would recommend it to locals.
Yosemite Half Marathon
Beautiful Course but Rough day for me
Yosemite Half Marathon
I had a trip planned to visit Yosemite before I moved out of California in 2020 which I also had to cancel, so when I realized the Yosemite half was … MORE
I had a trip planned to visit Yosemite before I moved out of California in 2020 which I also had to cancel, so when I realized the Yosemite half was the week after the OC half and I was already planning to spend a week in CA I decided to drive up for this race. This is produced by Vacation Races so you can expect a beautiful course and great production. The race takes place in Oakhurst which is a bit south of Yosemite and a 45 to 50 minute drive from Fresno. Fresno is the closest airport but you could also drive ~3 to 4 hours from LA, SF, Oakland or Sacramento if you wanted to fly into a bigger airport. Since I started in OC, I drove up from Southern California on Thursday. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Oakhurst. I booked the hotel room as soon as possible and got a pretty good rate. I would highly recommend staying at either the Holiday Inn, Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn or one of the other hotels in the row there as this year they offered shuttle service from the hotel to the race which was very convenient. Packet pick-up is at Bass Lake and was about a 10 minute drive from the hotel. I was annoyed there was absolutely no parking at the expo. They did have drive through bib pick-up which was efficient and you didn’t need to park but I did not end up going to the expo because I would either have had to drive around looking for a parking spot or park about 1/2 mile away and walk and it didn’t seem worth it. Parking seems to be an issue in Oakhurst so I don’t know how to fix this but maybe having participants sign up for suggested time slots for the expo so not everyone comes at once. If you do really want to go the expo I would suggest going earlier in the day when less people are likely there. Packet included bib, a nice tech short sleeved shirt in a nice maroon color and the reusable hydroflask if you signed up for it. The start of the race is in a very remote area and you have to take a shuttle. There are suggested places to park to catch the shuttle. This year they also offered shuttles from the main hotels and said they plan to do it in the future. It was really easy. I just rolled out of bed, put on my running clothes and there was a shuttle. I did hear there was a delay in some of the later shuttles. It seems quite complicated to shuttle so many runners in such a small remote area so I’m not sure how much could be done to fix it. The shuttle was a nice bus not just a school bus. It was a long bus ride since the start is quite remote and took about 45 minutes. You start at higher altitude and quite early so it is cold at the start line but they have coffee and hot cocoa. Also lots of porta potties and water coolers and any pre-race needs. You are assigned a suggested wave but it is a rolling start. I’m the type of person who always worries about being late to a race so I got there quite a bit earlier than my expected start and decided to start earlier. The course was wide and since the start was rolling even though there were a mix of runners and walkers of different paces, it didn’t seem to be a problem. The first 5 miles are on a wide trail. It is not super technical but there are some rocks and bumps. You don’t need trail shoes or trail training but you do need to be careful with your footing. This part had some rolling hills. Nothing terrible though I did walk a bit hoping to save energy for the downhill. I think this was the prettiest part of the course and through beautiful forest. In terms of scenery it is important to set expectations. This is definitely more scenic than 90-95% of half marathons but not the most scenic vacation race. The race is quite a bit outside Yosemite and while there is beautiful forest views you don’t see the iconic water falls and granite cliffs of Yosemite. I thought the scenery was lovely but there wasn’t anything that took my breath away and made me stop and take pics like the Zion race I did last year. After the trail section there is about 5 miles and pretty steep downhill. I was hoping this would be really fast but I had a ton of issues on this section. I’ve been dealing with a foot injury so haven’t been able to do as much training and haven’t done hill training. Pounding the pavement hard on the downhill was causing pain in my foot. This is the first time I had pain in a race this month. Therefore I was not able to run at a very fast pace and had to take some walking intervals. This section is also quite pretty and had views of forests more in the distant. The final 3 miles are around Bass Lake. The scenery here is a bit mixed. The views of the lake are really nice. Some are just views of local businesses but this is the only place there are spectators so it makes it more fun. This section is tough. It is rolling hills. If you didn’t just do 5 miles of trail running followed by 5 miles of downhill it probably wouldn’t be as hard. Due to the pain in my foot I ended up walking most of this section which was a good call as my foot is feeling much better today. There were 6 aid stations on course. This is a cupless event. There are large self fill coolers with water and electrolyte drink. You can sign up to get a hydroflask collapsible cup. I used a handheld water bottle for water and the hydroflask for the electrolyte drink. There were also Honey stinger gels at every aid station and some fruit at a couple of them. There were also porta-potties. Along with foot issues I was also having GI issues. One minor complaint is the porta-potty lines were really long and I had to stop a couple times and lost about 5 minutes each time. There are no spectators for the first 10 miles which is completely understandable given how remote it is. But if you thrive on spectators or are hoping for a race a family member can see you multiple times this is not the race for you. The finish line though has lots of spectators, and an announcer calling your name. You get a beautiful medal. I think Vacation Races might have the best medals. They did run out of medals for the last finishers due to a shipment issue. They sent out an apology for this and gave Yosemite shot glasses and will mail them. I am glad I did receive my medal though. After the race you can also cool down in Bass Lake if you would like and you get a snack box and chocolate milk (I didn’t take the chocolate milk since I am lactose intolerant and already had an upset stomach). My finishing time was super slow. Like I said I was having multiple issues this race both with my foot and stomach. Even so vacation races are great races for a slow finisher time as they are very back of the pack friendly, there are a ton of other racers and I met members of some of my half marathon clubs and a slower race time means more time to take in the scenery. I did think this course was tougher than expected. It is advertised as a fast PR course. If you want to PR you definitely need to train specifically for this race with some trail training and lots of downhill training. It is definitely not so hard that you need to do specific training if you just want to enjoy the course only if you are looking for a fast time. After the race there are shuttles to take you back to the parking lot or hotel. The shuttle went to the parking lots first and the hotels last. It was easy to catch but did take about 30 to 45 minutes to get to the hotels so make sure you account for that if you are planning to leave Saturday. Overall this was a beautiful and well-organized race with a really nice shirt and beautiful medal. I will admit I personally didn’t love the course elevation profile. While the downhill could be fast having it in the middle of the course was a bit tricky as my usual race strategy is to take the middle easy to save energy for the last miles and the steep downhill hurt my foot. This is a race I am very glad I did once and got a chance to see Yosemite but it will probably be a one time race for me although if I lived closer I would come back. In terms of recommending it to 50 staters it would depend on your interests. If you are an outdoorsy person I would definitely recommend this one but if you are more of an urban person or want a race that is more convenient to travel to and near a bigger airport I would consider other options such as the beach city races or Pasadena all of which I also enjoyed and are easier to travel to.
OC Marathon Running Festival
Back to California!
OC Marathon Running Festival
I was living in LA in the spring of 2020 and was initially planning to do this race May 2020. I was really excited for this one as I used … MORE
I was living in LA in the spring of 2020 and was initially planning to do this race May 2020. I was really excited for this one as I used to live in OC. So when the pandemic canceled all my spring race plans in 2020, this was the one I was most disappointed to not get to run before I moved out of California. I did run it virtually in 2020 to get my Beach City medal but I decided to come back and run it in-person this year. Packet pick-up is either Friday or Saturday at the OC Fair grounds in Costa Mesa. Very large, convenient area for packet pick-up. However you do have to pay $10 for parking both for the expo and on race day. It was a very nice expo especially for a not huge race. My only complaint about packet pick-up is you had to sign a paper waiver and 2 if you were also doing a 5K. Seemed like a waste of paper, it would be better to do it electronically although I don’t know all the rules so maybe it is unavoidable. There were plenty of copies at the expo if you didn’t print it before hand. You then got bib and T-shirt. Bibs were assigned before hand and were nice and personalized. The T-shirt is tech. I really like the design but I am disappointed it is white as I usually don’t run in white but may make an exception for this shirt. The expo also had vendors where you could buy race gear or supplies, other race companies, some samples of things like energy drinks, etc. Race morning was extremely early but extremely well-organized for a point to point race. The race starts in Fashion Island in Newport Beach and ends at the Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Newport Beach which is kind of inbetween the start and finish. For the race I parked at the finish which is recommended and took the shuttle. The only downside is you have to get up really early as the race starts a 6:15. You get a recommend shuttle start time which is generally around 5am. Other than having to pay $10 again, parking was extremely easy at the Fairgrounds. There were plenty of shuttles with very little waiting and also some porta-potties at the Fairgrounds. The shuttle dropped you off at Fashion Island. There were also porta potties and a bag check there. For the start of the race you are assigned a corral based on pace. There were 6 corrals. There was a few minute pause between each corral which spread runners out nicely. The race course is beautiful. You run mostly in Newport Beach past beautiful beach views and beautiful mansions. The first 6 miles are net downhill and quite fast and just lovely running. The race advertises itself as net downhill and fast and while it is true it is net downhill. The downhill is all in the first half and the second half is rolling hills so I didn’t think it was quite as fast as advertised but it’d definitely not a hard course. At around mile 6.5 there is the only significant hill of the race. The rest is rolling hills and they are all pretty minor. There is a pretty section through a nature preserve but the course is a little tighter there so it was hard to pass people. The end in Costa Mesa isn’t quite as scenic as Newport but the Fairgrounds are a great place for a finish festival. The course was very easy to follow. There were mile markers and plenty of aid stations. There were aid stations every mile for the last 4 miles or so. All aid stations had water. Every other aid station had gatorade and one of the aid stations had gels. There were porta potties by most of them. One minor critique is the aid stations were a little slow. Not sure what could be done to fix that and it wasn’t terrible. I just occasionally lost a couple seconds waiting for someone to fill a cup. This also isn’t a super spectator filled course. There were definitely some spectators and the ones out were great. I kind of knew it would be like this just how Newport is set up which a lot of the houses on cliffs and further from the streets. There is a nice finish arch with a finisher chute after where you get your medal and snacks. My finishing time was fine. I was hoping to be a little faster but as I said the course wasn’t quite as fast as advertised with the rolling hills at the end and it was also a bit humid which slowed me down a little. Snacks included bananas, clif bars, fruit cups and a few other treats. The medal is really nice. It was also very well labeled where to get your challenge medals. I got a second medal for also doing the 5K. There is a nice outdoor area for the finish festival with an 80s cover band and I even got to meet Mike and Katie in person!. Overall this was a great event with just a few minor hiccups. Of all the halfs I’ve done in Southern California this is probably my favorite course though I do think Surf City is a bit faster if you really want to PR or BQ. This is definitely one I would recommend to 50 staters. Plus it is a very fun area to visit and an excuse to go to Disneyland. Even though it is across the country I may come back and do it again.
OC Marathon Running Festival
Clearly an Afterthought
OC Marathon Running Festival
I usually try to run the 5K before a race if it fits in my travel plans and it is always interesting to see how they vary, Some (such as … MORE
I usually try to run the 5K before a race if it fits in my travel plans and it is always interesting to see how they vary, Some (such as the Miami 5K) are great races on their own with as much care as the longer races while others are clearly an afterthought with the focus more on the long races. I feel kind of bad saying this given how great the Sunday half marathon was but this 5K was clearly an afterthought. One thing I love is the 5K is at 5pm on Saturday so you can travel Saturday morning and still do the race. It also starts and ends at the Fairgrounds so you might as well do it since you have to pick up your swag there anyways. One negative about the 5pm start is it makes eating difficult. I flew into LAX Saturday morning and went to my favorite vegan burger place Monty’s Good burger (which I would highly recommend under any other condition) and ate a huge, greasy meal which did not sit well with me during the 5K…oh well. For the 5K you get your packet at the expo and then line up and run it. The start was extremely congested. We were packed like sardines. I get the pandemic is winding down but I have liked not being packed like sardines and this race really needed wave starts. The course was incredibly mediocre and incredibly crowded. It was mostly just through the fairgrounds, a bit on a college campus next to the fairgrounds and there was a section that was literally just through a parking lot. This was the least scenic course I have done in OC. To be fair I completely understand why you would have a course like this to avoid street closures but again it really needed a wave start. The course was super tight and there was the worst mixing of people of different paces I have every seen. I started in the mid-back as I knew I’d be a little slow and mostly ran ~12 min/mile pace and there were both super fast runners and slow walkers lined up next to me. I am not judging others by their pace it’s just there were literal log jams at tight sections where we all had to walk and you had to be careful not to hit anyone. I would definitely recommend splitting this race into 3 waves or something to help spread us out. We did pass by some cute farm animals at the end which I liked and the medal was very nice for a 5K. My time was really slow because I had to walk 1/4 mile in the middle due to stomach cramps lol. Even though it was a mediocre race the most important parts of the race such as the course being accurately measured and marked were there. As you have to pick up your packet anyways, if you are doing the half or full you might as well do this race but if you are looking for a stand-alone 5K there are definitely better ones.
Flower City Challenge
Hilly but scenic views of Rochester
Flower City Challenge
This is my second time doing the race but last year I did a modified course due to covid that was just on the canal trail and moved to June … MORE
This is my second time doing the race but last year I did a modified course due to covid that was just on the canal trail and moved to June so this is my first time doing the real course on it’s usual date in April. This is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. For packet pick-up there is an expo at the local Fleet Feet on Friday and Saturday but there is also the option for race day packet pick-up. The expo is small but decent sized for a race with about 1000 runners. There were several vendors and Saturday morning they had samples of coffee from a local coffee shop including oat milk lattes my favorite. Along with bib half marathon participants also got a nice short sleeved tech shirt, race buff, race sticker and a packet of powerade gummies. The shirt is fine. It has the race design. This year it is a charcoal grey. I preferred last year’s color but it is a nice quality shirt so I will wear it. The race starts a the hockey arena in downtown Rochester. While you could probably find free parking if you really wanted to there was an easy $5 parking lot right by the finish line. Starting at the arena meant indoor bathrooms and a place to hang indoors if there was bad weather but luckily today’s weather was perfect. Race starts at 7:30. The early start was good for me since I was on-call this weekend so it gave me to time to round in the morning after the race. The start and finish line are separate and about a block from each other. It is chipped time. There were 800ish runners for the half. It was just one big corral. I stayed near the back since I wasn’t planning to push myself too hard this race since I was on call and I have some much flatter and faster halfs coming up and used this more as a training run. Start went smooth. It starts on a wide street so easy to spread out. The entire course is on closed or half closed roads and easy to follow and safe with lots of road marshals. It is a really nice and interesting course. Much more interesting than the course last year behind my house. It starts in downtown Rochester and the first 6 miles are through Downtown Rochester, some of the more hip neighborhoods and some of the nicer neighborhoods. Lots to look at including going past Susan B. Anthony’s house. There was a decent amount of spectators. The first 6 miles were not too hilly. Just some gentle hills and inclines. Nothing that required walking but I did walk a bit since as I said I was taking this race more easy. Then at about the halfway mark there is a giant hill which is probably about 3/4 miles and quite steep. If you want to run this hill you will need to do hill training which I have not been doing so I walked. There were actually a bunch of spectators on the hill and it leads up the Highland Park which is lovely so it was a pleasant walk. Then it is about a mile through Highland Park which is quite pretty. Around mile 8 you get the Mount Hope Cemetery. This is a famous cemetery in Rochester where many influential people are buried. I was really cool but really hilly. Definitely recommend taking your time on the uphill and soaking in the history of the place. There are some downhill sections as well. At mile 10 you leave the cemetery and run by University of Rochester. Then the final 2.5 miles are on the canal path. The canal path is a bit more boring than the rest of the course but it is a flat and fast finish to make up some time lost on the hills. There were 5 water stops. One minor complaint is they just had water no gatorade or gels. This was communicated though so can’t complain too much and I brought a gel and the gummies we got in our race packet for nutrition. I also thought the last 2 aid stations were spaced a little far away with one aid station just past 7.5 miles and there wasn’t another one until nearly mile 11.5. It would have nice to have an extra one mile 10 a the end of the cemetery. As I said course was easy to follow but there were a few sections with uneven roads due to construction. This was obviously out of the race’s control and they warned us. The finish area was nice with an arch and the RD cheering the runners on. I finished just under 3 hours which was what I was aiming for. The medal is okay. It has a design of the city of Rochester but is a little small and not distance specific. Not a terrible medal but I wouldn’t run this race just for the medal. You were also given a bag of snacks from Wegman’s which I was happy were all vegan. There was also fruit along with post race massages and a band. I didn’t stay long because I had to go to the hospital to round. Overall this was a challenging but doable race with really cool scenery. As long as you aren’t too intimidated by hills I would recommend this race and plan to run it every year I don’t have travel plan. While I personally wouldn’t recommend this over the NYC half for 50 staters, if you are someone who would prefer a smaller city race with easier logistics than NYC this is a great option for New York.
Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon
Best bang for your buck
Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon
This is a low-cost, no frills half marathon or marathon produced by Millennium Running. It used to take place in Massachusetts but was moved to New Hampshire last year due … MORE
This is a low-cost, no frills half marathon or marathon produced by Millennium Running. It used to take place in Massachusetts but was moved to New Hampshire last year due to covid and kept in NH this year. The cost is only $26.2 which is the least I paid for a half marathon. I signed up for this race because I was going to be in NH anyways. I wasn’t expecting too much given how cheap it was just the usual excellent production from Millennium Running but the race exceeded my expectations. The race takes place on a paved rail trail in Derry, NH which is about 10 minutes south of Manchester and also not too far a drive from Boston. The marathon started earlier and there was parking at the start for the marathoners only. For the later half you were instructed to park at a park & ride and take a shuttle. Shuttles were very smooth and I did not have to wait at all. Packet included bib and you could pay extra for a shirt. It is a fine polyblend shirt. Even though it is not longer necessary for covid, Millennium kept the time trial format they did during covid to prevent the trail from being too crowded. Runners were given an assigned time and went 2 at a time every 10 seconds. Very organized and smooth start. The course is really nice. It is on a paved rail trail that is mostly flat. Not as pancake flat as Atlantic City but just some inclines and declines no true hill. The course was simple but was actually quite scenic with lots of trees and lakes and nature. I preferred this scenery to downtown Manchester. The half is an out and back that you do twice for the marathon. There are 3 aid stations that you pass twice, one at mile 1 and 12, mile 3 and 10 and mile 6 and 7. The aid stations had water and gatorade and the middle one had maple syrup. I can’t complain about the aid stations for the price but you do go as far as 3 miles without water so you may want to bring some. This is not the most spectator friendly race on the trail but I was surprised and happy with how many spectators were at the intersections of the trail. There were also plenty of course marshals for any road crossings. The course also had mile markers. For the finish you turn right off the trail and run a block through town which is coned off and then turn back on the rail trail and go left if you are a marathoner doing the second loop or right for the finish. This was smart for making the start and finish line separate but annoying as the only hill on the entire course was at the end. I was feeling pretty good and it was perfect weather and a fast course and knew I could break 2:45 as long as I had a decent finish but I wasn’t sure I was going to make it with the surprise hill. I still managed to just get my goal time. There is a nice finish arch. At the end you don’t get a medal because it is so cheap but you get a very funny and cute ribbon that says “I ran a half marathon and all I got was this lousy ribbon!” There was also decent post-race snacks for a cheap race with fruit, chips, granola bars and yogurt. Nothing special but enough. I was very surprised by how great this race was for the price. It’s production was as good as any race I have done and the course was really nice though obviously not as exciting as some of the more premier, expensive half marathons. Other than the lack of swag, this was as good as all but the top half marathons I have done. I would definitely recommend this race especially if you are looking for cheaper options. If I have the weekend off I would definitely do this one again.
Easing Heartbreak Hill 5K
Nice local charity 5K
Easing Heartbreak Hill 5K
This is a fundraiser 5K one of the local NH runners holds to help raise money for a cancer research. It is a nicely done local 5K. For swag you … MORE
This is a fundraiser 5K one of the local NH runners holds to help raise money for a cancer research. It is a nicely done local 5K. For swag you got a nice tech shirt. One of the nicer shirts I have received from a small 5K like this. Most of the course is through the local community college so there are no closed streets. For the race I walked this with my parents so I wasn’t trying to go to fast. The course is boring but a smart course to not close down streets. It was well marked and there were volunteers at intersections. There was also a water station at the halfway mark. There was an announcer and there was someone manually timing the race. I have not seen the results yet which is my biggest complaint. There was a nice post-race spread of food with lots of pastries and other breakfast dishes. It was one of the better smaller races I have done
Amerihealth NJ April Fools Half Marathon & 8K
Flat as a Pancake
Amerihealth NJ April Fools Half Marathon & 8K
I have done a half marathon in NJ already but it was a trail race without a medal so since NJ is a close state I wanted to come back … MORE
I have done a half marathon in NJ already but it was a trail race without a medal so since NJ is a close state I wanted to come back for a medal. I saw this half marathon as an option for NJ and was considering it but wasn’t sure about visiting Atlantic City since I don’t gamble nor really like casinos but when Hot Chocolate Philadelphia announced their race date I checked a map and saw Atlantic City was only an hour away from Philly and thought this would work great as a double and it definitely did. For the weekend I stayed in a hotel by Philadelphia since I went to a Flyers game Saturday evening and woke up early on Sunday to drive an hour to Atlantic City. For the race there is an option of race day packet pick-up but you have to sign up early for this. I didn’t realize this until it was too late as I never saw the email. When I looked through my old emails I realized it was in one with a subject of “It’s Party Time” which I didn’t read closely since it seemed like it was just about the post-race party and I didn’t realize would contain important race information. I was initially freaking out since I didn’t have time to drive back and forth to Atlantic City on Saturday. I did email the race and they did let me sign up for race day packet pick-up even though it was past the deadline which I appreciated. However I wanted to mention this so if you are participating in this race and need to do race day packet pick-up you look out for the sign up and for feedback to the race that if you are going to send an email with important race information to make the subject something like “important packet pick-up info” not “it’s party time.” Anyways it all worked out and I drove to Atlantic City Sunday morning and got my packet at the pick-up as Resorts Casino. Packet included a nice long sleeved green tech shirt and a drawstring bag with coupons along with bib. There is parking there which was $20. There were also deals you could sign up for at the casino for discounts if you want to pay less. If you are staying in Atlantic City it would be very convenient to stay at this casino since packet pick-up is there and the race starts out in front of it. One nice thing about starting at the casino is indoor, very nice bathrooms. One downside is smoky atmosphere of the casino. The race starts outside along the boardwalk in front of the casino. The start had a start corral with pacers. I was hoping to get back to a 2:45 finish time knowing this was a flat course so was happy there was a 2:45 pacer. It was a mass start but the boardwalk is wide and this isn’t a huge race with somewhere between 1000 and 2000 runners so it wasn’t too congested. Weather was drizzly and a bit rainy but luckily it wasn’t windy. From talking to other runners I know some years when it was really windy it made the race harder. It is an out and back. The first 3ish miles are on the boardwalk. This is a cool area to run out with lots to look at. Cheesy tourist attractions on one side and ocean views on the other. You do need to be a little careful on the boardwalk and I did see a runner fall. I actually really liked running on it as it was softer than pavement. After 3 miles you then run about 3 and half miles out and back on a road. It is just coned off and the rest of the road is open but there is very little traffic. There was not much scenery here and it was kind of boring. It is the street adjacent to the ocean so it was the nice houses and business at least and not the seedy part of town. Normally you pass the tourist attraction Lucy the elephant but she was under construction so we didn’t even see that. The turnaround was well marked and it is again 3 and half miles of pavement followed by 3 miles of boardwalk. It was an okay course but got boring after the first 3 miles. It was also the flattest course I have done and great for a PR. There were 4 aid stations which you passed twice so they were 1 to 1.5 miles apart. All had water, electrolyte drink and gels. There was definitely enough aid stations with great volunteers and no need to carry water if you don’t want to. The boardwalk is open but since it was rainy it wasn’t very busy. There were not many spectators. But there were some musicians and DJs for entertainment. I was feeling surprisingly good and managed to stay with the 2:45 pacer until mile 10 when I had to slow down a bit. I have been having trouble with mile 10 since my injury. I was happy I was still able to keep a running pace and was only about 30 seconds slower the last few miles and finished just over 2:45 which I was still very happy with especially since I did a 15K yesterday. Normally that would be an average to slightly below average finishing time for me I was very happy to be back to almost my normal pace and it was over 10 minutes faster than NYC. At the finish line you got your medal. The medal is really nice which is good since I mostly ran this race for the medal. It is jester themed for April Fools and big and sparkly. There was also water, lots of options for recovery drinks, bananas, granola bars, bags of kettle corn made locally and some delicious bagels with either peanut butter or cream cheese. It was a good post race food selection. You could also get a free beer from the bar at the finish line if you’d like. Overall I thought this was a very nice race and it is definitely a high four sneaker race. The scenery particularly the road portion was a little too boring for me to give it a five. This is one I am not sure I would travel all the way to do again but I’m glad I did it to get my NJ medal and I would definitely recommend if you live closer and it is a good choice for 50 staters.
Hot Chocolate Run Philadelphia
Delicious Chocolate and Great Swag
Hot Chocolate Run Philadelphia
I love chocolate and wanted to do one of these hot chocolate races. When they announced they were back I saw the closest one was in Philly. It also coincided … MORE
I love chocolate and wanted to do one of these hot chocolate races. When they announced they were back I saw the closest one was in Philly. It also coincided with a half marathon I was thinking about doing an hour away in NJ so the date was perfect. For packet pick-up there is an expo on Friday or you can pay $25 to get packet mailed. It’s a little annoying for a Saturday race to not have packet pick-up and I had to pay the $25 to get it mailed since I wasn’t arriving in Philly until late Friday night. Packet came about 2 weeks before. It included bib, a really nice well fitted jacket, and a cooler with the race logo. It was very nice swag. I stayed in a hotel outside Philly so I wouldn’t have to deal with city parking and took an uber to the race. There are hotels close to the start and they gave instructions on parking if you do drive to the race. I starts at Eakins Oval by the Rocky Steps. It was a really cool area to start and the start/finish area was set up well with a DJ, a few booths with merchandise and products, blow-up decorations for pictures and plenty of porta-potties. There were absolutely no lines and this is a pretty big race with about 4000 participants total in each distance. The 5K starts 45 mins before 15 K which works out well so there is no overlap of runners from different distances. You were assigned corrals based on pace. Corrals left every 2 minutes or so. It was organized and allowed the runners to be pretty well spaced. I was worried I was in too fast a corral since I put my pace down pre-injury but I was able to keep up with the runners in my corral and actually felt great today. The course itself was kind of blah. The most exciting part is the start. Then there is a lollipop loop and then an out and back along the river. Other than the start there is really no other iconic scenery from Philly so I wouldn’t recommend this race as a tour of Philly. The course though was pleasant and flat. The best parts were shared with the 5K so you aren’t missing much if you do the shorter distance. There was just one hill that wasn’t very big that you go up twice. Course well marked and easy to follow. There were only 2 aid stations. One at around mile 2 and one at the halfway mark. An extra aid station or 2 would be an area for improvement. There was water and electrolyte drink. The first aid station also had marshmallows and the second had M&Ms and gummy bears. I was very happy with my pace and I was worried I started out too fast but managed to have a pretty consistent pace between 11 and 12 min/mil and actually had slightly negative splits. I only walked up the hill and through the aid stations. The finish line had a nice arch and you get your medal along with a water bottle. The medal is very nice and large. The medal itself is not specific to the location but the ribbon does say Philadelphia. I was extremely happy with my time. This was my best run since November and I would be pleased with my finishing time even before my injury. After getting medal and water I then went to get the chocolate. You got a cup of hot chocolate and then chocolate fondue with banana, graham cracker, marshmallow, and oreos to dip in it. It was delicious. If you want healthier post-race snacks this is not the event for you. Overall I thought this was a very fun event. I would recommend it for the chocolate and the swag. While the course was fine it was not the most exciting course in the world. I don’t know if I would regularly drive this far for this race but if I lived closer I would definitely do it again. And I may come back if it is a weekend where there is something else I want to do in Philadelphia.
NYC Half 🏆
Run through Times Square!
NYC Half 🏆
I love NYC so this race was near the top of my bucket list. This is a race that does not have guaranteed entry unless you are super fast which … MORE
I love NYC so this race was near the top of my bucket list. This is a race that does not have guaranteed entry unless you are super fast which I am not. The main other ways to enter are lottery, 4 out 6 (run 4 out of 6 options for NYRR races) and charity. However I got guaranteed entry for 2022 by running the virtual 2021 NYC half for guaranteed entry. It costs around $80 to do this (on top of the expensive race fee), but it is cheaper than charity or running 4 out of 6 races so definitely look into this option if you want guaranteed entry. The race cost $130 if you are a NYRR member so it was over $200 when you add the virtual but worth it for the experience of running in Times Square. I did think pre-race communication could have been better. The website is very useful and had all the information but I wish they sent an email or ideally a PDF with the information. The NYC marathon lottery entry started a few weeks before the race and it took like 10 minutes to log in to review race details due to internet traffic. For packet pick-up you pre-selected time slots on Thursday, Friday or Saturday before the race. I selected the 9am to 10am on Saturday since I was driving in Friday night. For the race I stayed in Times Square which isn’t my favorite place to stay but was convenient as you could walk to packet-pick up, it was close to the subway to Prospect Park and could walk from finish to hotel. Packet pick-up was relatively smooth and not too crowded given the staggered starts. You had to show ID and proof of vaccination. This appears to be the case for all NYRR events. Bib pick up was easy and you also got a shirt. The shirt is okay. It is a long sleeve tech shirt. It is not the best quality and it is kind of a simple design. I do like the color. It was a nice periwinkle blue so I will use it. The expo was mid sized but mostly just selling NYRR gear and their sponsors’ products. There weren’t local vendors like you see at some expos. I didn’t spend that much time there so I would have more time to spend exploring NYC. Race morning is a bit complex so definitely read the website and definitely get to the park by the recommended time if you want a smooth experience. This year there were 4 waves and multiple corrals in each wave. Each wave is given a time they should arrive at prospect park along with the time the corral opens, closes and the race starts. I was in wave 4. It said to arrive at the Park at 7:30, corral open at 8:30, corral close at 8:40 and race start at 8:45. The race is point to point and starts at Prospect Park. I took the train to Prospect Park. I gave myself an extra 20 minute wiggle room to arrive at 7:30 and thought for sure I would be waiting around forever in the beginning but I am glad I left so early. The train was kind of slow and I arrived at Prospect Park just before 7:30 (glad I had that wiggle room). You then walk about 15 minutes to the start in the middle of the park. By this time there were so many runners I just followed the crowd and it was easy to find. Then you spend about 15 minutes to get through security. Then the lines to the bathroom were about 15 minutes long. Then I had about 15 minutes to stretch and do my pre-race routine before the corral opened. So the time it said to enter was 100% correct. I saw many runners from earlier waves not think they had to be to the park as early as the website said who were stressed and scrambling to get into the correct corrals or stuck going in the wrong corral. Long story short – get to the park at the suggested time or earlier. Once in the corral it was very smooth and the race timing was precise. Each wave had 6 corrals and the corrals went off one by one. I was in corral C. Corral A left at exactly 8:45. My corral left a couple minutes later. It was really exciting to be in a race again with 20,000+ participants. This was the first race I have done this big since the LA marathon. The actual course and race was by far the best 13.1 miles I have run. It starts in Prospect Park which is nice. The start is quite crowded and almost impossible to pass people but everyone was running the same pace except a few people who arrived to late and started in the wrong corral who were struggling to pass people (again show up on time if you want the best experience). The race then goes through Brooklyn. It goes along Flatbush avenue and passes by the Barclay Center. There are a lot of spectators in this section which is fun. You then cross the Manhattan Bridge. It is really cool running across the bridge into Manhattan and there is awesome scenery. However the uphill on the bridge is quite steep and the toughest part. Almost everyone around me was walking this part. You then enter Manhattan and there is a big crowd of spectators. The next section is on FDR drive and probably the weakest part of the course but it is pretty flat. There are still some city views. There are less spectators here but anywhere there can be a spectator there is one. Mile 10 through 11 are probably the best mile of any race I have run. You then go onto 42nd street and run past Grand Central Station and Bryant Park and then turn up 7th Avenue onto Times Square. This part is amazing. It is full of spectators and so cool to run on one of the busiest streets in the world completely closed off to traffic. You then run up to central park and run about a mile in the Park to the finish. The course is extremely easy to follow as it is basically fenced off so outsiders can’t get in. There is no way you can get lost. There are mile markers with clocks each mile. There were aid stations about every 2 miles with gels around the halfway mark. Today was absolutely gorgeous and warmer than usual in the 60s. It was perfect running weather but I would have preferred a few more aid stations at this temp. Aid stations had water and Gatorade. The first one was a little slow putting out enough cups (though not slower than other large races) and the rest there was no delay. There were porta potties at the aid stations but they had line longs (I lost about 5 minutes waiting for one). The course has some hills in the parks and the big one up the bridge. My Garmin had a little under 500 ft elevation gain total. Seemed about average to slightly harder than average for a road race but the high energy and amazing sights make it an easy race to stay motivated. There is a nice big finish arch and there is an app that will give you your time as soon as you crossed. My time was decent. Under 3 hours and about 2 minutes faster than Little Rock. When you account for the 5 minute bathroom break and the fact I stopped for a few pics it was pretty good and I’m continuing to slowly get back. After the finish line is where most of my complaints are. The finish area is well organized but very impersonal. There is a long finish chute and no family members at the finish line. The medal was also disappointing. It is one of my worst half marathon medal and definitely worst medal for a race than is over $100. They used recycled materials and I do appreciate that but it is small and just has the race name. Would have preferred images of NY or something more special. It’s not so bad that I would not recommend the race because of it but this is not a race to run for the bling. There also is no finish party and you get a bag of recovery items with a water, gatorade, gatorade recovery drink, apple and pretzel which was not the best. Despite the kind of lame end and medal, this was an awesome race experience. If you love big city races I would add this to your must do list. However I could see how someone would prefer a smaller, more personal race with a less stressful start (in which case come to Upstate or Western NY for your NY race). I probably won’t do guaranteed entry or plan around this race now that I have done it once, but I do plan to enter the lottery every year I have the weekend off as I would love to experience it again.
Mega Cupcake Marathon @ Hawthorne Trail
At least the cupcakes were good
Mega Cupcake Marathon @ Hawthorne Trail
I was originally planning to do a half marathon in NY this weekend but a the last minute had to change plans to go to Tampa so I decided to … MORE
I was originally planning to do a half marathon in NY this weekend but a the last minute had to change plans to go to Tampa so I decided to look for a replacement race. This was the only race I could find but I was happy to find something. I didn’t have high expectations as the race website was really terrible but somehow it didn’t even meet my low expectations. To be fair, while some bad races seem to be “money grabs” where race organizations care more about making money than putting on a good race, this race organizer seem extremely nice but extremely incompetent. I don’t think any issues were the RD trying to cut corners as much as the RD not knowing how to run a race. There were frequent emails though not particularly organized. Just random updates. The race takes place in Starkey Wilderness Park outside of Tampa. This was a very nice location for a race and the one major positive I have. Packet pick-up was at a Pavilion in the park. It was a “cold” day for Florida so they had a fireplace to warm up at. The packets were pre put together. You got a page with bib, shirt, and some packets of Gu. The shirt is a tank. It is pretty mediocre but what I was expecting. When registering they didn’t ask about cut (men’s/women’s) and I assumed this meant the shirt was unisex so ordered a medium but it was women’s cut and is a little small since I would have ordered a large if I knew it would be women’s. I also prefer men’s cut so would have liked the option. The course had a timing mat at the start and they had half marathoners go first, then 10Kers, then 5Kers. The course is on a paved bike path. It is a really nice for a public path course. It had nice scenery that had different vegetation in different areas along the park and was very flat (only about 50 feet elevation gain the whole race). It was very cold for Florida but absolutely perfect running weather coming from Western NY so I enjoyed the run. However the race aspects were pretty terrible. There were aid stations at the turn around for each distance. However the 5K aid station appeared to be missing the sign to turn around as I saw a bunch of 5Kers go too far and turn around after it. They were not able to get many volunteers so the aid stations were just mini water bottles laid out on a table with no garbage can next to it. I had a handheld water bottle and refilled it at a few stations and just left the empty water bottle on the table. The course was pretty easy to follow but there was one part with a split and there was only one sign for the turn on the way to the turn around point and there was no sign on the way back. It was pretty obvious but you could get lost if bad at directions. The worst part is they placed the half turn around point too early. Some people ran past it to make it a true half and others didn’t so not all participants went the same distance. I would have been really annoyed if I actually traveled for this race or if I chose it over a different race. As it was this race or nothing since there wasn’t another half near Tampa today I just let it go and at least I had a nice long run in perfect weather. Also the RD did send an email apologizing for the mistake which is better than the last race I did where this happened where the race company tried to hide the mistake. The finish line was terrible. There was no one at the timing station and no one cheering you on. There were also timing issues so they weren’t able to give age group awards. This was a pretty small race with maybe 300 total participants. Most other races I’ve seen even the chipped timed ones have staff members at the end double checking results and manually recording things. For a race this small, it does not seem that hard to do. This clearly was not a very good timing company (though again the person was very nice just very incompetent). I also have yet to see results. I found the website for the timing company (my race results) and there are like only 7 times recorded. I hope this gets fixed. My time was pretty good given I am still building back my endurance. There were medals at the table by the finish. They are pretty mediocre but about what I expected for this race. At the pavilion there were the cupcakes made by Sugardarlings. There were multiple flavors and they were delicious. This race itself was a hot mess and I would not recommend this race nor recommend this timing company. The course is nice and the cupcakes are delicious but you are better off just buying the cupcakes and running in the park on your own. I would however definitely recommend visiting Starkey Wilderness Park and getting Sugardarlings cupcakes if you are in Tampa.
Update – they did fix the results and I got an official time
Little Rock Marathon
Big Medal for Little Rock
Little Rock Marathon
I chose this race for Little Rock because of good word of mouth and of course the medals. I would've loved to do the full marathon for the biggest medal … MORE
I chose this race for Little Rock because of good word of mouth and of course the medals. I would’ve loved to do the full marathon for the biggest medal ever but I had to leave Sunday afternoon and wasn’t sure I would be done on time to fit with my travel plans so I did the half marathon. For the race I stayed at the Marriot which is the host hotel. This is super convenient as the convention center, which is where the race expo is and where the race ends, is connected to the hotel. It was on the pricier side but not too bad for a race weekend host hotel. There are other cheaper hotels in walking distance as well. The expo was pretty good. It was much better than Atlanta though not as big as Miami. Packet pickup was easy. I did the 5K and half combo. Packet included a short sleeve tech shirt for both, the two bibs and a race poster. The bibs were a very sturdy material and had your name. The expo had a good number of booths and the best was a pet therapy booth with rotating dogs. I stopped by the expo a few extra times to pet the dogs. Little Rock isn’t the most exciting town but there are a few museums such as the Bill Clinton Presidential Library within walking distance of the hotel. This is another race you don’t need a rental car though we did have one. There is also the River Market nearby which has lots of food vendors including a vegan restaurant. I was nervous for race day since the forecast predicted thunderstorms and I would’ve hated to travel to Little Rock for the race to get canceled and even if there wasn’t thunder I was not looking forward to another rainy race. Luckily the weather held off and it was in the 60s. It was a bit humid but pretty nice running weather. There was just an occasional drizzle during the race which felt good. The start is right behind the hotel so I just rolled out of bed and left about 15 minutes before the race starts. You are assigned a corral and everyone seemed to be in the right corral from what I saw but there was a mass start and no stopping between corrals to let runners space out. This did cause the course to be more congested than Miami and Atlanta and one recommendation I would have is to wait 2 minutes or so between corrals to help space it better. I will admit I did not love the course scenery and I almost rated the race 4 sneakers because of this but the rest of the race was so well done I kept it at 5 sneakers. The start in downtown Little Rock is relatively interesting. I mean as interesting as Little Rock can be. Then you go across the big bridge that crosses the Arkansas River and the next section is really, unscenic and not very nice few miles. You then crossed back on the bridge back to downtown then there are a few more miles that go through a park and neighborhood and are just okay. Near the end is the best part going past the governor’s mansion. This part is very nice and the governor is even out waving to the runners. This was an interesting race to contrast to Atlanta. While this race did not have the best scenery, there was a ton of spectator support and on course entertainment so the miles flew by. Even with the threat of bad weather and occasional drizzle the whole town was out. There were also lots of “unofficial” aid stations with goodies and alcohol if you drink. One other minor complaint I have is I don’t think there was quite enough official aid stations. I think there were 5. The volunteers were great and very high energy but I needed a lot of water due to the humidity luckily I was carrying water. Also the gatorade was watermelon flavored and very watered down. The course was very well marked and easy to follow and had mile markers. I didn’t think the course was too difficult or too hilly. I’ve heard it’s a hilly course but it had about half the elevation gain of Atlanta. My Garmin had 350 ft elevation gain. The only hard part was most of the hills were at the end with the beginning and middle more flat. At the finish line there are a ton of spectators and a large finish arch. Due to the high energy, good weather and not too difficult course I was able to finish my goal of under 3 hours which I was very happy with. I’m getting faster each race since my injury so I am hoping to be back to my usual half marathon time of 2:30 to 2:45 by next month. After the finish line you go back to the convention center for the post race celebration. There you get your medal. The half medal is huge and the marathon medal is literally the size of your head. You also get a combo medal if you did a 5K or 10K on Saturday. The design this year was for the 20h anniversary and included images from all the past races. To be honest I thought the design was a little busy but loved the size and quality of the medal. There was a good post race food selection that all appeared to be vegetarian with pasta with marinara sauce, bananas, chips, trail mix, soda, beer, milk, and yogurt. There were tables set up in the convention center. I had to get the airport around 12:30 so I didn’t stay but it looked fun. Another perk of the hotel is there is noon check out so I was able to shower after the race before I left. Overall while this was not my favorite course I loved the energy of the race and the huge medals. I would definitely recommend this race for Arkansas. If I lived closer or if Little Rock was easier to fly to I would definitely do this again and even so am considering coming back someday for the marathon for the huge medal.
Little Rock Marathon
Even the 5K Medal is big
Little Rock Marathon
My mom visited Little Rock with me since she wants to visit every presidential library so wanted to visit Little Rock to go to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library. We … MORE
My mom visited Little Rock with me since she wants to visit every presidential library so wanted to visit Little Rock to go to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library. We arrived Friday morning and walked the 5K together on Saturday. I also did the half on Sunday and you can read that review for more details. We got our packets at the expo Friday afternoon and included a short sleeved tech shirt. This was also an easy race morning since the start was behind the hotel. Weather was beautiful Saturday. The course was a nice 5K through downtown Little Rock. This 5K shows some of the more scenic areas though I wouldn’t call Little Rock particularly scenic. It was a really nice race with a ton of participants in costumes and quite a few spectators for the shorter distances. It was well marked. It was pretty flat just a few gentle rollers. If I were running it and at my usual fitness level even with my really low threshold to walk hills I would have been able to run it all. Since I was with my mom we just walked but we were a few minutes faster than last week. Finish was also at convention center and even the 5K medal is huge. It is much smaller than the Little Rock half marathon medal but about the same size as most of my other half marathon medals. You also get a challenge medal if you do the Saturday 5K or 10K with the Sunday half or full. There was not great post-race food for the 5K just water and bananas. If you are able to I would recommend trying to add on the 5K or 10K to your race weekend
Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon
Rainy, Hilly, Tour of Atlanta
Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon
I chose this race for Georgia mostly because I enjoy visiting Atlanta and this is a nice time to travel there. I signed up very early and registration was super … MORE
I chose this race for Georgia mostly because I enjoy visiting Atlanta and this is a nice time to travel there. I signed up very early and registration was super cheap at $50 for the half. It progressively gets more expensive but it is on the cheaper side for a big city marathon. This does come at a price though while I would still say this was a good to very good race, it was missing some of the perks of other big city races I have done. There is good pre-race communication and they email an athlete guide with all the info about 2 weeks before the race. I stayed at the Omni hotel at the CNN center at Centennial Olympic Park. It was a little more than I usually pay for hotel rooms but super convenient as it was right at the start/finish line. There are also plenty of cheaper hotel options within a mile of the start. This is a great race for a trip if you don’t want to rent a car as there are a ton of museums and sports arenas and other things to do by the race start. We were able to walk to the Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Civil Rights Center and an NBA and MLS game on our 3 days trip. You could easily spend 4 or 5 days just doing things within a mile or so of the race start. I did not rent a car for this trip because of this. I also did the 5K on Saturday. While I paid for Will Call race day pick-up just for the 5K Saturday morning, I did decide to go to the expo and pick up my bib on Saturday for the half since I wanted to just roll out of bed Sunday morning. The expo was at the aquarium ballroom which is right by the hotel and race start. It was kind of a lame expo with very few booths but the location was excellent and you could see whale sharks and belugas (the two highlights of the aquarium) from the ballroom. Packet pick-up was efficient and included bib and a nice, long sleeved green tech shirt. There were not a ton of free samples or vendors at the expo. Race day morning was a breeze. It was raining so I didn’t want to wait outside and I just left my hotel about 15 minutes before the start to avoid waiting outside too much. Race was divided into 5 corrals which left about every 3 minutes. It was well organized and allowed the race to not be too crowded. It was a medium sized race with a few thousand runners. The half and full share the same first 13 miles. I really enjoyed the course and thought they designed it to be as nice a tour of Atlanta as possible. It starts by going through Downtown Atlanta and also goes by the Jimmy Carter Library, by the Botanical Gardens and through some of the cool, pretty neighborhoods and then through Georgia Tech and then back downtown to the finish in the park. There was almost always something interesting to look at and really no boring stretches on the course. As a downside the course, as you have probably heard, is very hilly. I didn’t think it was terrible. It was about 750 ft of elevation gain in the half but it was just constant, rolling hills. There were no particularly tough stretches but also no particularly easy stretches. It is not a PR course but if you did hill training you could get a good finishing time. The course was a little tougher today with the rain though the temperature was absolutely perfect running temperature. The course was very well marked and the streets were either closed or half closed to traffic. There were plenty of course marshals and aid stations with water and powerade (this is coca cola country you are only getting coke products here) and plenty of porta potties on course. I can’t comment on porta potties at the start since I just rolled out of bed and didn’t use any. I have two negatives about the race. One is there were almost no spectators. I know it was a rainy day so I would expect less than usual but this was incredibly sparse especially for a big city race. I have done other races in the rain in smaller cities with more spectators than this. Based on other reviews this seems to be a race with little spectators even in nicer weather. At least for the half there are plenty of people running with you so it’s not like you are alone but if you love spectator support this is not the race for you. I understand a race can’t control spectator support that much but they could have had more on course entertainment such as Miami had (and while Miami had less spectators than other big city races I’ve done it had a lot more than Atlanta) or even simpler the race could place signs with jokes and encouraging messages along the course. The other issue which seemed to be a one-off is the bibs were made with less durable material than usual due to manufacturing issues and would not stay on. I was more worried about my bib falling off and not getting an official time than my actual finishing time since I knew I wasn’t going to be anywhere near a PR nor anywhere near not making the time limit so I spent a lot of time re-pinning my bib to keep it on. But I saw other runners lose their bibs and also stop to re-pin their bib. I managed to keep my bib on but almost came off in the final 0.1 mile of the race and I am holding my bib up in my finishing photos to make sure it registers. To give the race credit, they did within a couple hours of the race finishing email an apology and a link to upload results if you lost your bib. So this seemed to be a one off thing and I always appreciate it when a race acknowledges instead of ignores a mistake. The finish line itself was nice with an announcer and arch but the finish festival was pretty anti-climatic. My finishing time would normally be slow but it was exactly as I expected give I am recovery from injury and still building back endurance and did not push myself too hard to ensure I didn’t reinjure myself and I ended up a couple minutes faster than Miami. The medal is a nice flower design. While it is bigger than he 5K medal I actually preferred the 5K medal design but both were nice. They also gave a disposable jacket which was appreciated with the rain. What was not appreciated was the terrible post race food. This was the worst post race food of any medium to large race I have done (with some rare pandemic exceptions where races weren’t doing any food). There was just gogurt, fruit cups and bananas. None of which are very substantial. They also had a publix truck serving pork sandwiches but nothing vegetarian. I understand not catering to all dietary restrictions (though the last two larger races I did Louisiana and Miami were amazing about catering to just about everyone) but I thought pork sandwiches were a particularly poor choice. Atlanta is a very diverse city with tons of vegan options (I would recommend Herban Fix for a vegan restaurant) so it was surprising to have such poor vegan options at the finish line. Luckily I had bought breakfast to eat after the race just in case. Overall I thought this was a good race and I enjoyed the course but it was definitely lacking the elements of some other big city races I have done. It was kind of frustrating because this was so close to a great race. If they could figure out how to get more spectators or add more on course entertainment and have a better finish festival with better food options it would be a great race. I would still recommend this race if you prefer bigger city races and/or are looking for a very convenient race to travel to. I may end up doing it again since it is a Sunday race and Atlanta is one of the most convenient cities to fly to in the South.
Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon
Beautiful Medal
Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon
My mom visited Atlanta with me so we decided to walk the 5K on Saturday morning. I also did the half marathon on Sunday so more details are in that … MORE
My mom visited Atlanta with me so we decided to walk the 5K on Saturday morning. I also did the half marathon on Sunday so more details are in that review. We flew into Atlanta Friday evening. We paid extra for Will Call packet pick-up so we could get our bibs Saturday morning. It was very easy but it was $25 to add it. Packet also included a nicely designed polyblend T-shirt. Normally I prefer tech shirts but it was nice to get a non-tech T-shirt for the 5K and a long sleeve tech shirt for the half. The race also started in Centennial Olympic Park. It was not the most scenic 5K. It seems to take place on the least busy and also least scenic streets around the park. Not an awful view. Still had some sights of the city and some was in a park but they definitely chose the easiest streets to close not the most scenic route (which is completely understandable). Since I was walking it, it is hard to gauge the difficulty. There were some minor hills but nothing too hard. At the finish line there was a nice arch. There was the same not very good food although it was fine food for a 5K. The medal for the 5K was beautiful with a nice flower design. While it is smaller than the half medal (though still nice size for a 5K), it is actually a nicer medal design though both medals were really nice. I enjoyed this 5K and it was a nice additional to the weekend but it wasn’t a must run if you are not able to fit it in your travel plans.
Cabin Fever Trail Races
Lovely Winter Hike
Cabin Fever Trail Races
This is a winter trail race that takes place in the trails of Webster Park. I did this last year as well. It is a pretty tough course and the … MORE
This is a winter trail race that takes place in the trails of Webster Park. I did this last year as well. It is a pretty tough course and the weather is generally a challenge. Last year it was snowing during the race. This year luckily while the trail was full of snow and ice, it was a lovely day for running (or in my case mostly hiking) in the high 20s. This is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing and I got my packet at the store before the race. Packet also included a long sleeve yellow cotton shirt and some powerade gummies along with bib. There is race day parking as well. The start area is set up nicely with a big start arch and music. It was manually timed but this is not a PR course. If weather was good this would be a typical above average difficulty trail race but with the usual winter weather it is very difficult. This year without the active snow it wasn’t as bad but it was still tough with lots of snow and ice. Given that I am recovery from an injury and have very little experience with running in the snow since last winter wasn’t too snowy and I was injured most of this winter I mostly hiked this race. I was impressed because at one point I was the last racer and they had one of the YJR owners hike in the back with us to make sure everyone was safe and no one got lost. I ended up passing a few people at the end but still got cheered on even as one of the last racers. At the end you also get a water bottle and bag of snacks. There is an option for a 2 loop 10 miler as well but I do not enjoy the snow enough for that. Overall this is a good challenge. It is not my favorite race since I don’t like running/hiking through snow but it was more enjoyable without active snow. I added an extra sneaker from my last year review given the attention to detail for the back of the packers. Again this isn’t one I would go out of my way for but will do if I am in town.
White House Challenge (GRTC Freezeroo Series)
Low Key Winter Run
White House Challenge (GRTC Freezeroo Series)
The freezeroo series is a series of 6 races of varying distances held throughout the Rochester area during the winter months. They are sponsored by the Greater Rochester Track Club … MORE
The freezeroo series is a series of 6 races of varying distances held throughout the Rochester area during the winter months. They are sponsored by the Greater Rochester Track Club and are low key events to help keep local runners motivated during the cold months. The series was not held last year during the pandemic and this year I only did this race due to travel conflicts, injury, bad weather, etc. The winter has been especially rough this year and the series definitely earned the name Freezeroo. This race takes place in Webster, a suburb of Rochester, by Webster Park. Packet pick-up is in the White House Lodge and there are bathrooms indoors and you can hang out indoors to avoid the cold. The morning looked pretty miserable and was snowing on my drive but it cleared up for the 10am race start. The race is manually timed which is fine for a small, local, cheap race. It starts in the park about a block from the lodge and is two 2.2 mile loops around a long block. It is a very easy, straight forward course. There were marks on the corners to turn but it was easy to figure out. It is just through suburbs and past the park but it’s a pretty area so not an unpleasant course. The 2 loops is a little boring but understandable for not wanting to have deal with traffic and course marshalls. There were mile markers on the course as well. The course was medium difficulty. Some hills but nothing crazy. The hardest part was since it just snowed and the temps were in the high 20s there was some snow/ice on the ground. There would have been no way to clean the street before the race since it literally snowed like 20 mins before the race. I wore trail shoes even though it was road for more traction and it was fine. My time was kind of slow but okay for me still being in recovery mode and building up endurance again. The finish line itself was anti-climatic with someone just recording times. But there was a nice post race celebration in the lodge with pizza, cider and donuts. Very happy with the post-race food. It was better than some larger, more expensive races. Overall this was not the most exciting race but did what it was supposed to do in terms of providing a cheap, low key, winter race for local runners. I wouldn’t plan my schedule around these races but I would do them again.
Lake Effect Half Marathon
Only a Little Lake Effect This Year
Lake Effect Half Marathon
This is a half or quarter marathon that takes place in Minoa, NY, a suburb of Syracuse. I did the quarter marathon this year since I was on call but … MORE
This is a half or quarter marathon that takes place in Minoa, NY, a suburb of Syracuse. I did the quarter marathon this year since I was on call but would have dropped down anyways with my injury. The race is located at a park and they send out an athlete guide with where to park. I arrived about an hour early and got one of the last parking spots near the start/finish line. Packet pick-up was indoors. Packet included bib and a really nice, colorful long sleeve tech shirt with a tote bag. There was also coffee and donuts inside. One critique of the start area is there was not enough porta potties. This is a mid size race with a few hundred runners so there was just a mass start with no corrals. It was fine for the size. As this race is in February in Syracuse you can expect bad weather. We lucked out this year and it was one of the warmer days with temps in the 30s. There was a bit of hail/show for about 10 to 20 minutes during the beginning of the race and some strong winds but the end was clear and I even saw a bit of sun. Overall pleasant weather for Syracuse in winter. The course is pretty boring just through neighborhoods. The half marathon is two loops of the quarter marathons. You just pass by houses but there are no unpleasant scenery and there is decent spectator support especially for a smaller race in the winter. Course really well marked and had mile markers. Mostly on coned off roads with plenty of marshalls so felt safe. There were 3 water stops (so 6 for the half). They called your name out at the finish line and you got a nice distance specific medal. In the indoor area there were lots of post race food – donuts, coffee, granola bars, monster energy drink, wraps – including vegan and gluten free, chips, etc. Overall it was not the most exciting course and the weather could potentially be terrible but it was well-organized with nice swag for a smaller, local race. I would do it again and recommend it to locals but it wouldn’t be my first choice for 50 staters unless it fit perfectly in your schedule or you really want to experience winter here
Miami Marathon & Half Marathon
Beat the Heat
Miami Marathon & Half Marathon
Miami is one of my favorite cities so this race was high on my bucket list. I decided to sign up last year after they had an offer to do … MORE
Miami is one of my favorite cities so this race was high on my bucket list. I decided to sign up last year after they had an offer to do the 2021 virtual race free if you signed up for the 2022 race. So last year I also did the 2021 virtual half marathon. While I will focus my review on the live race, I do want to say that this was the best virtual race I participated in. There was a very active facebook group where members shared their race experience and a virtual expo along with great swag. I was initially signed up for the marathon but dropped to the half due to my foot injury. Although this race does let you drop to the half during the race if you are registered for the marathon and decide at the split at mile 12.5 you don’t want to run another 13+ miles. For the race I stayed at the Comfort Inn downtown. It is a little under a mile from the start/finish so walkable at least for the half. It was relatively affordable and about $100 less than the host hotels although this is Miami and it will be not be the cheapest race-cation. The expo is at Miami Beach and not within walking distance of the start though they do have shuttle buses to the start from Miami Beach if you don’t want to rent a car. I was happy to see most people and vendors at the expo were wearing masks. It was a nice expo with easy bib pick-up. You also got the shirt which is tech and nice quality but white which isn’t my favorite color to run in. They had a whole section of food and drink items and there was a ton of free samples. They also had the typical expo booth to buy any race items you forgot. It was a good expo. I spent close to an hour there. Race morning was pretty smooth. You are assigned a corral and the athlete guide says the approximate time your corral will go off. This was great as I was in the last corral since I predicted to be slow with my injury so I knew when to arrive and do my pre-race routine and wasn’t waiting around for hours to start. I did find it a little confusing finding my corral as they are utilizing different side streets and not just one big line. I didn’t study the guide close enough and if I did the race again I would check closer where my corral is. I did eventually find it. We started a few minutes later than the guide said but generally around the right time. The start line was exciting and had an announcer and fun music. The corrals were spaced out pretty nicely. This is a race with 15,000 people so obviously it will be a little crowded but it felt much less crowded than other races I have done this size and felt more like the crowd of a mid-sized race which also made it seem safer. I was very happy they had pacers for the slow runners and even happier they had a run walk pacer for a 3:00 hour time goal. I was hoping to beat 3 hours but knew with my deconditioning and the heat I would need to run-walk. The pacer was great. Very enthusiastic and with even splits. The course is wonderful with most of it on Miami Beach. Miami is one of my favorite cities in terms of scenery and I love the beach views and Art deco architecture. It was so nice to be in a tropical area. Although it was again 80 degrees and humid which is not great especially when you are already deconditioned and haven’t ran in weather like this in 6 months. I was doing good keeping up with the pacer until mile 10 when I had to stop and walk most of the rest of the race. Although this is a back of the pack friendly race and there were plenty of people walking with me in the end and still people cheering for us. This is also a fun race to walk given the beautiful scenery and allowed me to stop and take some pics. There were frequent aid stations with water and gatorade about every mile with gels at mile 7. If you are not used to the weather though I would recommend using a handheld water bottle since you will want more hydration. Even though I was slow they did not run out of water or gatorade at any aid station. There were not as many spectators as I would expect for a big city race. There were a lot at the finish line but there were sections with almost no spectators. However the race had great energy from all the participants and there were frequent musicians and other entertainers which made up for it. The finish line was very exciting with a ton of spectators. I didn’t meet my goal of 3 hours but I realized I wouldn’t make it once I had to walk at mile 10 and met my secondary goal of under 3:10. I was happy that my foot felt fine afterwards and I was not limping at all. The difficult of the race was really hard to rate. The course itself was as easy as possible with just a few very gradual bridges as the only elevation change but the heat made it really tough. The medal is beautiful and one of my top 5 medals. The finish line festival was great and there were food options including kosher, vegan quinoa wraps and vegetarian pasta. I wish I could have stayed longer but I had to check out of my hotel and wanted to be able to shower before I flew home. Even if this was one of my worst half marathon performances, I had a great time and really enjoyed the race. As I love visiting Miami I’m sure I will do this one again. I would definitely recommend this for Florida especially if you like large, big city races. However if you prefer smaller races, would like a cheaper trip or hate heat and humidity this may not be the best choice for you.
Miami Marathon & Half Marathon
Escape from the Snow
Miami Marathon & Half Marathon
This is the 5K that takes place on the Saturday of Miami marathon weekend. It is a point to point that starts at the Miami Children's Museum and goes along … MORE
This is the 5K that takes place on the Saturday of Miami marathon weekend. It is a point to point that starts at the Miami Children’s Museum and goes along a Causeway into Miami Beach. I was very impressed by the 5K. I feel like a lot of times these 5Ks tacked on to marathon weekends seem like an afterthought compared to the longer races but this would be a great stand alone 5K. There is a very helpful athlete guide which made race day go smoothly. Luckily you can pick up your packets for the 5K either at the expo Friday or the day of the race. I took Friday off and was initially planning to take the earliest flight and get to Miami around noon on Friday and get my packet at the expo. However there was a large snowstorm from Wednesday evening to Friday morning so I changed to a later flight and crossed my fingers this wouldn’t be the second weekend in a row where I wasn’t able to do a race due to canceled flights (last weekend I was supposed to do Big Beach but my flight was cancelled and I couldn’t make it – it ended up being fortuitous as an extra week rest allowed my foot to completely heal and Big Beach let me defer to next year). Luckily while my initial morning flight was canceled, my afternoon flight made it to Miami in the evening but too late to go to the expo on Friday. On Saturday morning, they had suggested parking structures near the finish line and you then took shuttles to the start. Shuttle was very smooth except no one except the bus driver and like one runner other than me was wearing a mask. I wish they had a mask requirement on the shuttle but it was a quick drive. At the start line you can pick up your bib. I was relieved they had you just get the bib at the start and the shirt and rest of swag was at the finish line. The start had an announcer, plenty of porta potties and was relatively smooth except I wish they had corrals or suggested paces as there were a lot of people walking in groups to weave around. The course was really nice over the causeway and pancake flat. My GPS said 7 feet of elevation. There were mile markers and a water stop just before mile 2. It was lovely to run by palm trees and cruise ships. However it was 80 degrees and humid which was great for my short vacation to escape from the snow but not the best running condition. Especially given I was deconditioned and hadn’t run in 3 weeks and in the past 5 weeks my only run was the Louisiana marathon, this was a tough 5K for me and I actually had to stop and walk a bit. It was fine though I wasn’t expecting to PR and I just enjoyed the scenery and the heat. At the finish line you are given water and gatorade and a medal. The medal is very nice and the right size for a 5K. I then went to pick up my shirt and you also get a bag with a few samples included the important granola bar. The shirt is very neon. It’s nice and tech quality but a little too bright. I will definitely wear it on night runs though. There are places for brunch near the finish line and it is close to the beach. Overall this was a nice 5K and a good start to the weekend. The half marathon/marathon goes by the same portion of the course so I wouldn’t say it is a must run 5K if you are doing a longer race as you will see it again but it was a nice add on to the weekend.
Louisiana Marathon
Run it for the Vegan Gumbo!
Louisiana Marathon
I was initially signed up for the full marathon in 2021 but I had to defer as I couldn't do the rescheduled date in March in 2021, then about 2 … MORE
I was initially signed up for the full marathon in 2021 but I had to defer as I couldn’t do the rescheduled date in March in 2021, then about 2 weeks before the race had to drop down to the half due to my foot injury. I had an issue dropping down to the half using Run Sign up since the deferral confused the website so I emailed the race and was very impressed that they replied and changed my registration within an hour of my request. Other pre-race communication was excellent with the right amount of emails and a nice race guide. This race is on the Sunday of MLK weekend so it is a great race to do if you don’t want to use vacation days. I flew into New Orleans on Saturday morning and it was a little bit over an hour to drive to Baton Rouge. There is also a small airport in Baton Rouge if you don’t want to drive. There is an expo Friday and Saturday. You can also pay to get your bib mailed if you can’t make the expo. The expo is at a convention center. I would have preferred an outdoor expo given the current state of the pandemic but I understand when planning the race they probably weren’t expecting things to get worse by now. The expo was the only issue I have with the race and I almost took a sneaker off due to the expo. The first section with packet pick-up was fine and all the race volunteers had masks on. Packet included bib, shirt and a drawstring bag with the race logo. Shirt is short-sleeved and polyblend. It is a light green color. It is fine but not exceptional. The next section with the vendors is where I had an issue. 90-95% of the vendors were not wearing masks and many participants were not as well. Right now hospitals are overwhelmed, I understand we need to figure out how to live with covid and we need to find balance but requesting vendors and participants to wear a mask at an indoor expo doesn’t seem too much to ask. I am someone who usually likes to buy local and support local companies at expo but I immediately left once I saw how few masks were being worn. For the race I stayed at the Hilton which is a few blocks from the start though a little further than I was hoping due to my foot injury. It was a cold day for Louisiana being about 30 to 40 degrees and quite windy. Though it was much warmer than Western NY (Go Bills!). Start of the race was organized in a corral and started on time. There was probably 2000 participants total between full and half which is a little less than usual. The course is really nice. Roads were blocked off and it was well marked and easy to follow. The race elevation profile is really nice. There is just one bridge which is the only “hill” and it’s not too bad. I did walk it only due to my injury. The rest of the race is flat but most of it is minor inclines and declines which is generally the fastest type of course for me. There was only about 160 feet of elevation gain for the whole race. The course scenery is quite nice. It starts by the capital building in downtown Baton Rouge. Then it is through some neighborhoods, then LSU campus and then around a Lake and then back to downtown. Running through LSU campus was my favorite part. It was cool to run by the football stadium. But I was sad the tiger wasn’t out though I probably would not have met my running goal if it was since I’m sure I would have stopped for 5 minutes. There were also some cool birds by the lake but it was really windy so I didn’t stop for pics. There were aid stations about every 1 to 1.5 miles. I did bring a handheld water bottle but you don’t need one. Almost all the aid stations had porta-potties. There were mile markers but some blew down so they weren’t all visible which is not the race’s fault. There was good but not great spectator support. I am guessing there were a few less spectators than usual given the cold weather and the omicron variant but I appreciated those that were there. The finish line area was nice with an announcer calling out the finisher’s names. My time was slower than usual since I am still recovery from an injury but I managed to be a few minutes under my injury goal of 3 hours. You are then given your medal. The medal is a nice size and quality. It’s an above average medal. The finish area was great and, unlike the expo, was set up very well for the pandemic. It was all outdoors and the separate booths for food, drinks and additional race gear were all spread out to keep participants spread out. I loved that they had vegan options. They had vegan gumbo and pasta salad. The vegan gumbo was absolutely delicious. Worth running 13.1 miles for. This was an excellent race. I really wish the expo was done differently because then I would have nothing negative to say. I also wish I was not injured because this would have been a great marathon given the elevation profile but it was a nice race to do when coming back from injury. This is one I would definitely recommend for Louisiana and given it is a Sunday on a 3 day weekend I would consider doing it again.
New Years Double – Allen, TX
First 5K of 2022
New Years Double – Allen, TX
This was the second day of the New Years Double. More info is in my half marathon review. I was initially signed up for the 5K and the half both … MORE
This was the second day of the New Years Double. More info is in my half marathon review. I was initially signed up for the 5K and the half both days. This was the second day 5K. My foot felt terrible but I decided to see how the 5K went. I knew I couldn’t run but I thought I may be able to speed walk both races. The first two miles of the 5K went fine. I was walking a 16 to 17 min/mil pace but the third mile was a disaster and I basically had to limp. I knew that if I were to do the half marathon it would be a miserable 4+ hour hobble to the finish line. I didn’t think it was worth it given the likelihood of exacerbating my injury and not being able to complete Louisiana in 2 weeks which I already had to defer from full to half. I was disappointed I couldn’t complete the 4 races and get the challenge plate but I still got 3 nice medals and at least got 1 half done in Texas to check off a new state
New Years Double – Allen, TX
Last 5K of 2021
New Years Double – Allen, TX
This was a part of the New Years Double Race. More details are in my half marathon review. The 5K starts at 7am. It was kind of dark when it … MORE
This was a part of the New Years Double Race. More details are in my half marathon review. The 5K starts at 7am. It was kind of dark when it started. It was very foggy which was kind of cool since the course was otherwise not very exciting. It is just a smaller version of the loop used for the half/full marathon. It was a flat and well produced 5K. Given my foot injury I planned to walk most of this 5K. I ran a bit in the beginning and end of the race and while it would normally be a slow 5K for me I was aiming for under 45 minutes and that’s what I ran. There was a nice 5K medal at the end.
New Years Double – Allen, TX
Boring Course but Fun Atmosphere
New Years Double – Allen, TX
This is a New Years Eve/New Years Day challenge that is located in Allen, Texas which is about 30 minutes outside of Dallas. Since New Year's was on a Saturday … MORE
This is a New Years Eve/New Years Day challenge that is located in Allen, Texas which is about 30 minutes outside of Dallas. Since New Year’s was on a Saturday this year I had New Years Eve off and a 3 day weekend so this was a convenient way to get Texas without taking a vacation day. I was hoping to do the 5K/half marathon double for which participants get a challenge plate along with excellent medals since I love my bling. However I was having major issues with my foot and had to skip the New Years Day half marathon. Pre-race communication was just the perfect amount of information and emails. For the race I flew into Dallas Thursday evening. One warning just for planning is that since Allen is about a 30 minute drive from Dallas by the time I got the airport and got my rental car and drove to my hotel it ended up being close to 2am so if you can it would be good to take an earlier flight but as I said I didn’t want to use vacation days. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Allen. It was reasonable price and about a 8-10 minute, easy drive to the race. The race has race day packet pick-up. It was super easy. Participants picked up their packets that had bibs and shirts. The shirts were fine but not special. They are polyblend tech shirts. You get one for each day. One is long-sleeved and one is short-sleeved. One thing I really like is instead of picking “men’s” or “women’s” shirts you picked “relaxed fit” or “fitted”. I loved this and wish more races would do this since I prefer the “relaxed fit” or “men’s” style and get sick of being told I am in the wrong line when picking up my shirt. This was also a very nice size race for the pandemic with a few hundred participants. The 5Ks are first at 7:00 and the half/full at 8:30. There is plenty of time to walk the 5K and do the half or full. The start was in 3 corrals. I kind of felt bad since I was in “B” corral even though with my injury I knew I was going to do more of a “C” pace but if I was healthy I would have been in right corral. This is a race with a lot of back of the packers since there are long time limits especially for the half. Corrals worked well to spread it out. The course is very boring. It is just a double loop on paved trails through a park. But I understand why for a race like this it needs to be that way. Also the loop did add some comradery. It is fun running with the same people so many time. The course is super flat. There is barely any elevation gain. While it was a boring course it was well marked and had accurate mile markers. There were aid stations about every 2 miles. I would have liked more since it was humid out but the volunteers were great. I had a really rough race. I was hoping my foot would heal but the humidity seemed to make it worse. I had a walk-run strategy that should have took me about 3 hours to finish but ended up being closes to 3:15. The finish line has an announcer and you get your medals and some food. Food kind of disappointing just bananas and bags of chips. The medals are very nice and this year the theme was “time” so they look like clocks. I wish I could have gotten the challenge plate but it wasn’t in the cards and I had to prioritize my health and skip the New Years Day half marathon since I didn’t want to aggravate my injury more as I want to make sure I can complete some of my upcoming new states. Overall while it was a boring course. It was a fun event and well-produced and I would recommend it to locals and those looking for a fun challenge.
Montclair 5K Doughnut Run
Good Race but Donuts a Bit Stale
Montclair 5K Doughnut Run
When I was planning my race schedule I was trying to do doubles most weekends to make sure I got to 100 races this year since I wasn't sure if … MORE
When I was planning my race schedule I was trying to do doubles most weekends to make sure I got to 100 races this year since I wasn’t sure if there would be cancellations. I was looking for a 5K near NYC the day after the Big Apple Half and was excited to find this one as I love donuts. I stayed in NJ near this race. Pre-race communication was good. The only thing a little confusing was the parking instructions just because I wasn’t familiar with the area but I had no issues finding street parking by the race. The plan was to mail the bibs and beanies beforehand but due to shipping issues only the bibs were mailed and the beanies were given after the race. There is a separate start and finish line with a timing mat at both. It is a pretty big 5K with close to 1000 runners. They had us split in 3 corrals. I stayed in the back of the middle one as I knew this would be a rough race. My left foot is injured and my right foot got a nasty blister on it yesterday not from the race but from stepping in a puddle and walking around NYC with wet socks and shoes. Anyways my game plan was to just run about an 11 to 12 min/mil pace and not hurt myself further. The race starts on top of a hill which is smart so it is technically net downhill. The course has some mild hills but nothing bad. I walked a bit because both my feet hurt but normally I wouldn’t have to. Roads were closed to traffic except one where half the road was closed off. Very easy to follow and there were balloons each mile as mile markers. It was a nice pleasant race through some pretty neighborhoods. There was a water stop in the middle with little water bottles so I didn’t use it. My finishing time was exactly as I expected. My biggest complaint of the race is the end was extremely crowded. It was clear the organizers were concerned about covid with their emails and modifications and they requested runners leave but no one seemed to listen and it was packed. There were also long lines for the medals, donuts and beanies which would have been somewhat alleviated if the beanies had been mailed as planned though not their fault. The donuts included 3 different donut holes in a mason jar. They were big donut holes. I’m not badmouthing the bakery I’m sure when fresh they are delicious donuts but it was clear the donuts had been baked and jarred a few days ago as they were a bit stale which was disappointing. The medal is cute but it is rubber. The beanie is really cute. I wish I had it before so I could have wore it during the race. There was also water, sparkling water and some fruits if you wanted a healthier post-race snack. This was a nice little 5K. I enjoyed it. I just wish the donuts were fresher. I’m going to rest for the next 2 1/2 weeks to let my foot recover before the New Years Double in Texas.
NYCRUNS Big Apple Half Marathon
The most RUNderful time of the year
NYCRUNS Big Apple Half Marathon
This is possibly my favorite weekend to visit NYC since the city is all decorated for christmas but it's not too crowded yet so I decided to use this half … MORE
This is possibly my favorite weekend to visit NYC since the city is all decorated for christmas but it’s not too crowded yet so I decided to use this half marathon as an excuse to visit. Last year I did the 4 miler that NYCRUNS held to replace this race so I’m kind of in between a repeat runner and a first timer. Pre-race communication was pretty good. Things like bag check and porta-potty location were clearer this year. However there were a few details lacking. For instance they referred you to the race page for additional questions but I could not find my question of the race time limit on the race page and had to search around the general NYCRUNS FAQs (BTW – the time limit is 3:30 given my foot injury I was concerned about my finishing time and I wanted to make sure it didn’t have a 3 hour only time limit). This weekend I actually stayed in NJ since I had a race there Sunday and there was a concert I wanted to see in NJ Saturday night. This made parking Friday night easier. I took a cab from NJ to the race and then spent the day in the city and took a cab back. It was nice to not deal with parking in the city. Bibs were mailed which also made race morning pretty stress free. The race started on the upper west side. The finish line and bag check were in the middle of the park a few blocks up. I brought everything with me and didn’t check a bag. Luckily weather wasn’t too bad today. It was in the 40s and drizzly. Even though the weather wasn’t perfect. It was kind of perfect for this race. Last year when I did the 4 miler there was perfect 60 degree weather and all of NYC was in central park so it was a bit chaotic. The weather was just bad enough to deter non-runners from coming to the park but not bad enough to affect the race experience. There was a mass start and self-seeded corrals by pace. It was chipped time with a timing mat at the start and finish. The course is nothing special just 2 1/2 laps around Central Park. If you’ve never run in Central Park it is probably cool the first time. If you live in NYC, you probably get really bored of races here. As a former NYC resident who visits a few times a year I am somewhat in the middle. I don’t mind running in Central Park. It is hilly but I know what to expect. The course utilizes the northern part of the course which is hiller. It only does Harlem Hill twice. I know some runners complained about the hills. I honestly don’t find the hills in Central Park too bad. It’s not a fast course but to me it never seems as difficult as the elevation gain suggest. This felt much easier than the Jingle Bell half last week but my Garmin said they had the same elevation gain. Maybe it’s just I know what’s coming so no hills surprise me. Central Park is pretty. Today was kind of gloomy so it is less pretty than usual. If it snows it is gorgeous. There were plenty of water stops on the course. There were 3, two you passed 3 times and one you passed twice so 8 total and about 1.5 miles apart. I actually wish I didn’t bring a handheld water bottle as I didn’t need it and then was stuck carrying it around the city all day. All aid stations had water and gatorade. There was no on course nutrition so that is one area of improvement. There were also lots of porta potties on the course. Mile markers were accurate and there was a clock at each mile which was great. The race is open so there are occasional tourists and horse-drawn carriages to look out for. The loops are a little annoying since it results in a mix of people running different paces. There were a little over 1000 participants. Overall it wasn’t too bad. I’m guessing it is more annoying for the fast runners weaving around us slow-pokes on their later laps but not much can be done. I was actually feeling good and 5 days of rest allowed my foot to heal somewhat and was making a good pace. I started to feel my foot a bit around mile 8 which is when there were runners around me going to the finish line while I still had a lap to complete which is a bit disheartening. I had to walk a bit more the last lap because of my foot but overall I was very happy with my time for the circumstances and was under 2:45 and over 10 minutes faster than last week. At the finish line you get your medal. It is a nice, big apple themed medal. There were bagels and fruit for snacks along with gatorade. I heard there is normally hot cocoa but I think it was too hot. You can also pick up your shirt at the end. It is a nice long sleeve tech shirt but an ugly mustard yellow this year. Afterwards I walked to Ayurveda Cafe my favorite vegetarian restaurant on the UWS for my post race meal. Overall this is a fine race. It is just laps around central park so don’t expect anything too exciting but production was good and swag was decent. If you are a local or looking for an excuse to visit NYC, it’s a good race to do. However there are more exciting courses in New York state if you are a 50 stater. As I said, I really like visiting NYC this time of year so I will more likely than not do this race again.
Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K
Surprise Buffalo Sighting
Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K
I did this race for Massachusetts due to its convenient location. It is located right across the NH border so it was a very easy way to get a new … MORE
I did this race for Massachusetts due to its convenient location. It is located right across the NH border so it was a very easy way to get a new state since I was visiting my family in NH this weekend. My dad also did this race with me. It is produced by Loco Running/Ventures Endurance the same group that produced Smuttynose Rockfest. Race day was super easy. It is located at a community college with plenty of parking. Packet pick-up was efficient and in the gym of the college with masks required indoors. Packet included bib and a really, wacky and fun ugly christmas long-sleeve tech shirt. It is my second craziest race shirt after the Earth Day tie-dye one. Participants also got a sweatshirt. They appeared to be leftovers from the virtual race and said “virtual jingle bell” but free swag is free swag. There was a long porta-potty line but otherwise the start was easy. It is a small to medium size race with about 800 total participants with about half doing the 5K and half doing the half marathon. It was a nice size so you were generally not running alone but also there is not much congestion. Just a mass start but the beginning is wider roads in the community college. The rest of the course is on open roads through the neighborhoods of Haverhill. There is a 5K loop which is shared between both distances that goes back to the community college and then 5Kers split to go to the finish line while half marathoners do a 10 mile loop. While the road was open, it was coned off during the more crowded part shared with the 5K and the busiest streets. The quieter half marathon sections weren’t all coned off but there was tons of signage about the race and there were police offers patrolling to make sure everyone was safe so it was as safe as possible for an open course. Course was well marked and easy to follow. The signs also helped you know you weren’t lost. Race was very hilly. It was those “rolling” hills. None of the hills were terrible but they were somewhat unrelenting and the longest one was near the end but it at least had a more gradual slope. Due to my foot injury I purposely walked a lot of the hills. The course was pleasant through countryside and neighborhoods. We lucked out with the weather and it was the high 30s. However the scenery would have been prettier on a colder, snowy day but the race would have been even more difficult. The best part of the scenery was passing by some farms. I saw a number of horses and was extra excited to pass by some buffalo. There were even baby buffalo. That was a surprise for Massachusetts. Aid stations were good but there were only 4 of them. Technically you passed the first one twice but the first pass was after about 1/3 of a mile when you didn’t need water due to how the 5K loop worked. Aid stations were approximately every 2.5 miles. I’m glad I brought a water bottle as I like more aid stations than that. The first aid station was just water, the second and fourth water and gatorade and the third water and a gel. Even though I was one of the last runners given my injury, aid station volunteers were still enthusiastic and encouraging and all were still well stocked. My biggest production complaint is the same as Smuttynose is the mile markers were again off by quite a bit. The first mile marker was at about mile 1.15. The second one was correct. The rest of the mile markers were off by about 0.2 miles pretty consistently hitting the 3 mile marker at 2.8 miles, 4 at 3.8 miles, etc. I came to the 13 mile marker at 12.85 and my worried the course was a bit short but the finish line was about exactly 13.1 miles. It’s not the end of the world but if I were trying to pace myself for a goal the inaccurate mile markers would be quite annoying. The finish line had a finish arch and the announcer called your name. They were very enthusiastic even for the later runners like myself. My finish time would normally be disappointing but with my injury I was just going for under 3 hours and I did that. The medal is cute and christmas themed but a little small. There were granola bars, cookies and coffee. I think there may have been hot food but they ran out by the time I finished but other than that the race was back of the pack friendly. My mom was meeting us down in Haverhill for lunch and to pick up my dad so I could drive back to Rochester from Massachusetts so I didn’t need hot food anyways and just had some delicious sugar cookies. Overall I was satisfied with the race. It was a little hilly and wasn’t a super special course but it had a fun Christmas theme. I’m sure there are better races for MA for 50 staters that are a little more specific to MA in terms of scenery and theme but this isn’t a bad choice and it was very convenient for me and I was glad I was able to get a new state that worked great with my travel plans.
BASC Santa Claus Shuffle
Smart Course & Festive Atmosphere
BASC Santa Claus Shuffle
I was visiting NH this weekend for my birthday so I signed up for this run on Saturday. It is produced by Millennium Running and has the same start location … MORE
I was visiting NH this weekend for my birthday so I signed up for this run on Saturday. It is produced by Millennium Running and has the same start location as the Manchester City Half. This is a fun Christmas themed race. You can get a Santa Hat and Costume and most participants were dressed up. Packet pick-up was at the start of the race. The race started at 3pm which is a little annoying for eating but worked very conveniently as I had plans for a concert in Boston after the race and Manchester is on the way to Boston from my parents house. This is a pretty popular race with over 1000 runners and it is an out and back so I was worried this was going to be a very congested course but the set up was really smart. The course is essentially an out and back along Elm street in Manchester. They had participants line up by predicted pace but it was a mass start though chipped time at start and end since it too maybe 20 to 30 seconds to get to the start. The first half mile had the whole road open so there was plenty of space to spread out so the start wasn’t toocongested. Then after 1/2 mile the street was coned off so the runners coming back had their own lane. By then runners had found their pace so the tightening of the course wasn’t a big deal. Another smart thing about the course is instead of a straight out and back which often results in a log-jam at the turn around. Runners went off Elm street for one block so there was never any sharp turns. The final half mile also wasn’t coned off so if you had energy to speed up at the end you could generally find a straight path. It was also a smart course as the street is pretty much flat but it is a barely perceptive uphill the way out and a slight downhill the way back making it a fast course. Adding to the festiveness there were 4 fun aid stations: a candy station with candy canes, a maple syrup station with maple syrup packets, a candy station with Hershey’s chocolates and a cookies and milk station. The start and finish line was festive with a Santa. I was aiming for an 11 min/mil pace since my foot is still bothering me and was slightly faster but normally this would be a good course to really push the pace. I’d like to run it uninjured to try to break 30 minutes. Along with the treats from the course there were some yogurt, fruit, etc. along with non-alcoholic beer and the bib had a coupon for a free alcoholic beer. This was a really fun race with a well-designed course so that it was fast and to prevent congestion as much as possible for a large, out and back course. The only reasons I took a sneaker away though it was between a 4 and a 5 sneaker race was it’s not a particularly scenic course and I would have liked a more practical swag item like a shirt or winter hat as opposed to a Santa Suit. However you could buy a shirt if you really want one. Again I don’t plan around shorter races but I will probably visit NH on my birthday again and if I do would definitely run this race again.
Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K
Great Coastal 5K
Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K
This is a 5K that always starts the first day of Chanukah and is located in Swampscott, MA which is on the coast north of Boston. I also did this … MORE
This is a 5K that always starts the first day of Chanukah and is located in Swampscott, MA which is on the coast north of Boston. I also did this race in 2019 as well. The race starts at the Jewish Center in Swampscott. There is a race day packet pick-up which always includes a very cute baseball style long sleeve shirt. There were also mugs with chocolate coins. This is a smaller race with about 100 participants. This year I decided to walk the race with my mom to play it safe because of my foot injury (which is feeling better so I should be fine for my upcoming half marathons). The race starts with a really nice prayer from the rabbi. Then the racers go. It is a really nice course. There are beautiful ocean views and it is a very scenic neighborhood. It is a lollipop loop. It is on the flatter side but there are some inclines and one hill in the middle but it is a fast course. When I ran it in 2019 I ran it in 30:24. Since I walked with my mom I was obviously slow this year but we were well under 1 hour. It is chipped time. After the race there is a band and food. In 2019 it was very festive with tons of community members, a huge spread of food including latkes and other traditional Jewish foods and a band with dancing. This year due to covid it was appropriately a little more subdued. There were less community members but there was the band outside and there were still some delicious latkes. This is one of the best smaller, community races I have done. I don’t plan around 5K races but I usually visit NH a lot between Thanksgiving and New Years so if I am visiting again during this race I will likely do it again.
Bishop Brady Galloping Gobbler
My 100th Race of 2021!
Bishop Brady Galloping Gobbler
This is a Thanksgiving race that is a fundraiser for my former high school that my mom currently teaches at. Since it is a hometown race for me and my … MORE
This is a Thanksgiving race that is a fundraiser for my former high school that my mom currently teaches at. Since it is a hometown race for me and my parents were going to be there, I worked it out for this to be my 100th race. My parents got the swag early. The shirt is very nice this year. My dad actually designed the course. He loves hills and the course is ridiculous. There is ~350 feet of elevation gain in 4 miles. I am still dealing with the foot injury so I walked a lot of the uphill and had to be careful on the downhill. It was also a little icy so I wanted to be careful to make sure I finished. But I did finish though a little slower than I would have liked. There were lots of snacks but my parents got me a cake for my 100th race so it was a very fun morning. I did my goal of 100 races in 2021 and I still have a month to go
AJWS Trot Off Your Turkey 5K
Good way to get in another race
AJWS Trot Off Your Turkey 5K
This is a 5K that takes place in Southern, NH the day after Thanksgiving. It worked out very well with my 100 race plan. Unfortunately I had a minor foot … MORE
This is a 5K that takes place in Southern, NH the day after Thanksgiving. It worked out very well with my 100 race plan. Unfortunately I had a minor foot injury from the race on Thanksgiving but I still powered through this one but a little slower than usual. The race was located by City Hall and took place outside. It was a small race with about 100 participants. Packet included bib and a pretty average cotton shirt. Everything about this race was pretty average. It was timed by Millenium Running so it was chipped time and accurate. The course was a moderately hilly loop through the suburbs. Scenery was pretty enough and I passed some horses. Course was pretty well marked with arrows at every turn. There is no medal or other swag. There was decent post race snacks with water bottles, granola bars, fruit and donut holes. You could also redeem your bib for soup. Overall this was not the most exciting but a completely fine race. I would do it again if I were in NH since there aren’t many other races this day.
Webster Turkey Trot
Cool Tradition but Logistical Issues
Webster Turkey Trot
This race was started 50 years ago by a local cross country coach as a work-out for the team on thanksgiving and the course has stayed the same for 50 … MORE
This race was started 50 years ago by a local cross country coach as a work-out for the team on thanksgiving and the course has stayed the same for 50 years. It is pretty cool that people have run this same race for 50 years but this race was designed for a cross country team not 3000 runners so there was some issues. This race was taken over a number of years ago by Yellow Jacket Racing. I do think production was good given they kept the tradition but there were too many runners for the course. Packet pick-up is recommended at the store Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday but there is race day pick-up if needed. Packet included bib, sticker, and your choice of sweatshirt or T-shirt. I got the sweatshirt. It is very comfy and good quality. I do wish it had more of a thanksgiving design but I will definitely wear it. The race takes place mostly on the roads around Webster Park. There is not enough parking at the park so you either need to arrive super early or take a shuttle. I was leaving for NH right after the race so opted to park there. I arrived over 2 hours early and the closest lot was already full. I still parked pretty close. I had to kill an hour and a half on my phone. There was plenty of porta potties nearby. There are 2 race distances with about 1500 runners each. I did the 4.4 miler which started at 10am. The shorter 2.5 miler started 10 minutes later. The race is through the neighborhoods around the park. It is pretty and there were some spectators. Difficulty is pretty average. A few hills but nothing too tough. The race was pretty crowded. I started in the middle and it wasn’t too bad. However there are a lot of participants who don’t run races regularly so not the best race etiquette. But it wasn’t too bad until a little after 2 miles when we merged with the 2.5 milers. This section was about 1/3 mile but it was a disaster. I have never been in a race with this much congestion. I was keeping a good 10 min/mil pace and so were the others around me but the 2.5. milers were around a 14 to 15 min/mile pace. I am not complaining about the participants. I think everyone should be able to participate at any pace but I am complaining about the course set up. It was impossible to keep a consistent pace with this many people as many 14 to 15 milers are run-walking and those 14 to 15 milers who were speed walking or slow running consistent paces were running to the sides so I couldn’t keep my pace there either. I had to walk the hills on this section since it was too tricky to weave around people. Luckily this was short and I picked up my pace again but then the entire last mile we then merged again with the 14 to 15 min/mile 2.5 miler. The end was a mess. I am usually fastest at the end but I was slowed down by having to weave around so many people. The absolute worst part was the last 1/4 mile or so was on trail leading to the finish. At one point it was absolutely impossible to run. This was an extremely frustrating end. I was on pace to potentially finish at an under 10 min/mil pace but I couldn’t do it due to the congestion. I’m sure it was also very frustrating for the fast runners to join with 2.5 milers running my pace at the last 1/4 mile too. I’ve done 150+ total races and this had the absolute worst congestion and worst merging of race distances of any I’ve done. It was so bad I am not sure I would do this race again when there are so many other thanksgiving races to choose from. I don’t know all the logistics with road closures, city permits but a simple solution would be to start the 2.5 milers 20 minutes after the 4.5 milers in at 10:20 instead of only 10 minutes later. Then the fast 4.5 milers would finish before most of the 2.5 milers and the middle 4.5 milers like me who took 45 minutes would finish with 2.5 milers running the same pace and the congestion would be less of an issue. Other solutions would be changing the 2.5 mile course or possible putting cones in the middle and doing separate lanes for 4.5 and 2.5 milers. The finish area was exciting but a bit crowded. There is a nice arch and you are handed a bag with the medal and some snacks. The medal was very nice. The snacks kind of meh but it’s okay. I was happy it was easy to leave after the race. I did like the swag and the course but the course congestion and having to park so early may make me decide to try out some other Thanksgiving races for future years
GBTC Cross Country Race 5K
Loops on a Golf Course
GBTC Cross Country Race 5K
I was hoping to run a race today so the Galloping Gobbler next week would be my 100th race this year but for the longest time there were no races … MORE
I was hoping to run a race today so the Galloping Gobbler next week would be my 100th race this year but for the longest time there were no races within driving distance today. Then then this race was announced about 1 month ago so I signed up. It is produced by the Greater Buffalo Track Club and is located in Delaware Park by the Buffalo Zoo. There wasn’t much pre-race communication and the website was pretty bare bones but I figured out how to get there this morning. The course is all of the golf course and consists of 3 loops. You do the left loop first, then the right loop, then the left loop again but go through the finish shoot instead of back to the start. Bib pick up was easy. I guess I was supposed to get a shirt but no one handed me one and I am registered for so many races I can’t keep track of which ones give shirts. However the RD just emailed me to arrange picking up the shirt so I guess I will get it (also thanks for the email very appreciated). Everyone involved with the race was very nice. It was a small race but there was a decent amount of runners for the short notice with maybe 50ish people. The start was by a flag. The RD explained the course. The entire course was on the grass in the golf course. The course was very well marked with tons of flags so as long as you did the loops right you couldn’t get lost and there were volunteers at key locations. The loops were easy to figure out. There were mile markers that were very precise. I was impressed with how precise the distance was for a race like this. Since it was a cross-country course it is obviously more difficult terrain than a road race but this was easy for a cross country course. There were a few gradual hills but I never had to stop to walk. I don’t really like running on grass and the scenery while not unpleasant was just a park so this wasn’t my favorite race but I had no issues with the actual race. It was manually timed and I haven’t seen the posted times but there was a clock at the end with your time and I saw people recording times and tearing off the corner of our bib so it seemed to be timed accurately. I wasn’t going to have a fast race running on grass the day after going 16 miles but I was happy with my time. There is no medal. I’m glad there is a shirt since at first I thought there was no swag but this was a cheap $20 race so swag isn’t that big a deal. There was a lot of food at the end for a race like this with bananas, granola bars, and donuts along with water bottles, coffee and apple cider. It wasn’t my favorite course since I don’t like grass and I prefer cross-country courses that consist of more mixed terrain with some trail mixed in but it was well done for a smaller race and allowed me to get race #97 of the year done!
Bound for the Hounds 6 Hour Ultra
Lucky Dog!
Bound for the Hounds 6 Hour Ultra
This is a 6 hour race located in Shortsville, NY that raises money for a dog park. Shortsville is about 30 min East of Rochester. The race takes place on … MORE
This is a 6 hour race located in Shortsville, NY that raises money for a dog park. Shortsville is about 30 min East of Rochester. The race takes place on a rail trail that is next to the dog park. The race consists of a 2.3 mile out and back on the trail that you can run as little or as many loops of during the 6 hour time period to be counted as an official finisher. I was on call this weekend and this kind of race works great for me as a fun way to get my long run in on call. The races is from 9am to 3pm. Luckily I didn’t have to go in the hospital today but I confirmed with the RD you can start after 9am but it would obviously mean you have less total time to run. The start is at the sort of trailhead. There was a tent with bibs and raffle items. I was very excited to see a Noxgear light up running vest as a raffle item as I was planning to buy one tomorrow now that it is getting dark so early so I bought some tickets. I wasn’t planning to push myself today so my goal was just to run at least a half marathon so it would count for the 100 half marathon club. My initial plan was just to do 6 loops (13.8 miles) and leave but I had a feeling I was going to win that Noxgear vest so I wanted to stay until 2pm when the raffle was and changed my game plan to running about 10ish miles and then walking a couple laps to kill more time until 2pm. The course is pretty nice. It is either gravel or paved rail trail. It is just gradual inclines and declines. There are no hills. The only difficult thing is in is net downhill to the turn around point then net uphill back to the start. I didn’t notice it the first couple laps but noticed it the later laps. At the start/finish there is a timing mat and the race was professional timed with a board that had your miles so you could make sure you went your goal. The trail was mostly pretty a lot of it next to the canal. A few areas not as pretty. It was a little past peak fall foliage but still nice. There is one road crossing. There was no police or course marshal which is understandable for a low budget race like this. But there were cones and a large sign that said “Race in Progress” and I had no issues with cars not stopping. The trail easy to follow and turn around was obvious. At the start there was also a bonfire and a table with snacks. For drinks there was water, sodas and an electrolyte drink. There were a bunch of snacks. They were mostly all junk food (candy, chips, donuts, cookies) except some fruit. I didn’t mind this but if I were taking the race more competitively I would have liked more healthy options. Around noon they had pizza which was amazing as I don’t think I could make it to 2pm without real food. At a little before 1:30 I finished 7 laps or 16.1 miles and decided to call it a day. At the end you get your medal. It is a little wooden medal but it is cute and pawprint shaped. I like that every participant gets a medal whether you walked 2.3 miles or ran 30+ miles. It was definitely a race for athletes of all abilities and there were people of all abilities pushing themselves which was awesome. At 2pm there was the raffle. And guess what? I won the Noxgear vest so now I don’t have to buy one tomorrow
Turkey Tumble for Autism
Low-key race in DC
Turkey Tumble for Autism
This is another race I did with Bishop's events. Even though this was my first time doing this specific race it was essentially the exact same race as the Summer … MORE
This is another race I did with Bishop’s events. Even though this was my first time doing this specific race it was essentially the exact same race as the Summer Georgetown Race I did so I said repeat runner. Bishop’s events are low key, relatively cheap races throughout the DC region that raise money for charity. This one raised money for autism research which is great. I parked the same place I did last time near Georgetown cupcake and it was smoother since I knew where to go. However race day did not go as smooth as usual. For some reason I never got the pre-race email with wave info maybe that was why. Packet pick-up and the porta potties had very long lines. I got there early and it was not a big deal but as a result the races started a few minutes late and there was some confusion by some participants with the wave starts and some people stuck in line started late. Not a huge deal but it could have been improved. The course is fine. It is on non-technical trail along the C&O canal path. Scenery is fine but a little boring. The course is easy but there is a few rocks and puddles to maneuver around. Swag was okay. There was a short sleeve tech shirt and a small medal. Production and swag were fine for a $25 5K. Again these are not the most exciting races but good if you are looking for a low key race experience and convenient for double race weekends.
Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon 🏆
Great Organization & Friendly Spectators
Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon 🏆
I have the week off and am taking a road trip down from NH to the mid-Atlantic region and then back to Rochester and this race worked out great. It … MORE
I have the week off and am taking a road trip down from NH to the mid-Atlantic region and then back to Rochester and this race worked out great. It is on a Saturday and Richmond is a little too far for me to drive to on Friday night so I could only do this race since I had the week off. Pre-race communication included the right amount of emails and a detailed athlete’s guide emailed the week before. Race has packet pick-up at an expo on Thursday or Friday. The expo is open late until 8pm which is great. There is not morning packet pick-up unless you pay $40 for it but that is an option if you absolutely can’t make the expo. The expo was at the speedway which was very smart this year so it could be outdoors. It was medium sized and had the typical expo stuff and a few booths. Packet pick-up was easy at the expo and included bib and race shirt. Shirt is a really nice long sleeved tech shirt. The half marathon one was a nice red color with a very nice design. For the race I stayed at the Richmond Marriot which is the host hotel. I thought it was a little pricey but the staff were very friendly, there were special perks for runners such as water, gu, gummies, etc set out the morning of the race and burgers (unfortunately beef only) for runners after the race. The race started about a block from the hotel so I could roll out of bed. Weather today was absolutely perfect but I’d imagine some years it could be cold. You were assigned corrals based on predicted finishing time. Each corral went off every 2 minutes. It was a very organized start and the announcer was very clear so everyone knew what was going on and when to run. This was the largest race I have done since the LA marathon with about 6000 half marathoners. Even though the race was crowded the corral start worked well and I never felt like I had to weave around a bunch of people. The course is very nice. It starts in Downtown Richmond for the first couple miles which is cool. The next mile is not as scenic but then you go through a scenic neighborhood and then a few miles in a park and then back to another scenic neighborhood. The scenery while not super exciting was lovely and the fall foliage was perfect. I saw a deer in the park. In the downtown area and the neighborhood there were tons of spectators. The most I’ve seen since the LA marathon and the most I’ve seen in a race this size. I really appreciated all the spectators except the man with an offensive politic sign. He sucks and was not appreciated (please keep politics to yourself and if you can’t help it at least keep it positive and don’t have signs with f-bombs on them). The production of the race was top-notch. Roads were all closed and easy to follow. There was aid stations every 2 miles for the first half and every mile for the second half with porta-potties at the aid stations. There was also a junk food aid station with candy and soda which is my kind of aid station. There were also very accurate mile markers. The course was pretty easy but not as flat and easy as I thought. I had a busy week and never looked at the elevation profile so this is my bad but I thought it was going to be an extremely flat course. It was definitely not a hilly course but there were a few gentle hills. Still a pretty easy course but if you are looking to PR or BQ look at the elevation profile and account for the hills. I went off a little too fast not expecting them. The final 1/2 mile is a steep downhill which is fast. The finish line was nice and very exciting with tons of spectators. I still had a pretty fast time and finished a few minute under 2:40. Unfortunately due to shipping issue the medals weren’t ready but will be shipped. You did get a finisher’s blanket and hat. The blanket is excellent and very soft and adorable. The hat is kind of meh but overall it’s a lot of swag for a race. I put the swag at 5 sneakers assuming the medal is at least average but I will lower it if the medal is terrible or doesn’t come but based on the other swag and race organization I would be very surprised if either of those are true. There is a large, outdoor post race party in a park. There were typical race snacks such as banana, chips, trail mix and granola bar and runners can also get pizza and beer. I had a cheese pizza but no beer. Another issue which was again my fault for not looking at the course map is the hotel is about 3/4 mile away from the finish line and it is an uphill walk. It was fine after the half marathon but you may want to find transportation to the hotel if you do the marathon and if you are driving I would recommend parking at the finish not the start. Overall this was a great race. Extremely well organized, nice course and tons of race support. Unfortunately with it being a Saturday race I wouldn’t normally be able to run it without taking Friday off so it may be a one time race for me but I would definitely recommend it.
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
Better in Small Doses but Still Hilly
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
Last year I did the full marathon so you can read my prior review for full details. This is an extremely well produced race by Millennium Running but extremely hilly … MORE
Last year I did the full marathon so you can read my prior review for full details. This is an extremely well produced race by Millennium Running but extremely hilly and probably my least favorite marathon course I’ve done. This year I happened to be in NH this weekend but wasn’t looking for a long race so I did the half marathon relay with my dad. One of the fun things about a relay is coming up with a name. Our team name was “A Flock of Seagroves.” Packet pick-up is either the morning of the race or the day before at the Millennium Running store. I got it at the store right after the 5K since I also forgot to bring my handheld water bottle to NH and needed to buy one. Again it was set up as a mini kind of expo in the back. Packet included an ankle timer for the relay, the 2 bibs and 2 shirts. I wasn’t a huge fan of the shirts this year. They are long sleeved tech shirts but they were dark grey and the design was kind of simple. The shirts were much better last year. This year weather was perfect. Cool but not too cold and sunny. My dad’s favorite part of a race is the start and mine is the finish so he did the first leg and I did the second. It was a little cold when not running in the morning so I stayed in the car until closer to my leg so didn’t see the start but it had a mass start this year. The relay was well organized and very clear where to go and what to do. My leg was the worst part of the race with all the hills in the suburbs. It is rough. It was not as rough not doing a full marathon but there was still about 500 feet of elevation change in my section. Scenery a mixed bag. Most of this section is in the suburbs and kind of blah but there was pretty fall foliage. There is a pretty but short section on trail. I don’t think downtown Manchester is scenic at all. This is the only marathon I have done where the second half of the marathon that doesn’t share the race with the half is more scenic since the second half is along the rail trail. However I was very happy to just run straight to the finish line and not have to pass it four times like in the marathon. The finish line is set up really well. The medals were great again this year and different from last year. I’m not sure which one is a nicer design though the marathon one is appropriately bigger than the relay one. There was basic food like granola bar, chips, bananas, yogurt, etc and non-alcoholic beer at the finish. There was also soup and alcoholic beer somewhere but I didn’t get those. I still feel the same way about this race. Not my favorite course but top-notch organization and super convenient location if you are traveling to NH.
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
Nice Warm-up Run on Rail Trail
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
They listened to me and decided to keep the Manchester City 5K on Saturday before the longer races on Sunday which was great so I could do a double this … MORE
They listened to me and decided to keep the Manchester City 5K on Saturday before the longer races on Sunday which was great so I could do a double this weekend. They used the same course they did last year which is an out and back along the rail trail behind the baseball stadium in Manchester. Packet pick-up was the morning of the race. This year it was a gradual mass start where we lined up by pace and went off a few at a time to avoid the trail being too crowded. It was chipped time at start and finish. I lined up at 10 to 11 minute/mile pace which is what I ran. Runners did a pretty good job lining up and were most running my pace. There was a bit of a back-up on the uphill at the bridge as a few people walked this section. Other than the bridge the rest is flat or just an incline/decline along the rail trail. It is paved but soft pavement so a nice surface for a warm-up. They call you name at the finish and there were a few snacks, water, chocolate milk and non-alcoholic beer. There is no extra swag if you do the 5K and a longer race but if you just do the 5K you get the race shirt. It is a long sleeved tech shirt. It’s nice quality but I didn’t like the color this year (dark grey) and the design was kind of plain. I still wish they would have some kind of challenge medal or other extra swag item for people who do the Saturday 5K and a longer Sunday race. Overall nice warm-up. Not the most exciting 5K course since it would probably be too much to close the streets of Manchester both Saturday and Sunday. I’d recommend this race if you are doing a longer distance on Sunday
Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon & Squirrelly Six Mile
Muddy Gorillas & Squirrels
Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon & Squirrelly Six Mile
This is a Halloween themed trail race in Thatcher State Park outside Albany, NY. This race worked great for me this weekend as Albany is on the way home from … MORE
This is a Halloween themed trail race in Thatcher State Park outside Albany, NY. This race worked great for me this weekend as Albany is on the way home from Connecticut. I was initially signed up for the half marathon but when I saw the weather reports with how much it was going to rain on Saturday I switched to the 6 miler the week before since 13 miles of mud sounded terrible. That was one of the best decisions of my life. This event is produced by AREEP the main race company in Albany. I drove to Albany Saturday and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in Albany. I discovered a new vegan burger place in Albany called Wizard Burger which was absolutely amazing and the best burger I’ve had outside of LA if you are looking for vegan food recommendations. Thatcher State Park is about a 30 minute drive from Albany but there isn’t much lodging by the park and the race starts at 9:30am so you don’t have to get up early if you are driving from Albany. Packet pick-up was easy and included bib and either a race specific hat or what appeared to be a generic AREEP blanket. I got the hat. It is a cute winter hat with gorillas and squirrels. The start of the race is super fun. There are tons of Halloween decorations, gravestones with runners names and a gorilla or two running around. There is a short kids race at 9, then a costume and gorilla imitation contest which were all just goofy and fun. Then the race starts. The half marathoners and 6 miles run together. This is a popular race for a trail race and I thought waves or at least a separate start for the 6 miler and half marathoners may have helped with congestion. The start and finish are the same place but we just lined up by the start line and did not pass the timing chip so it was gun time. The first mile is not bad. Most of it is through a field. It was very well marked. There was one section with gorgeous views. Then you go in the woods and it gets muddy. The positive is the trail was absolutely beautiful with the fall foliage. The negative is it was crazy muddy. Sections were ankle deep with mud. Without the mud this would be a pretty average trail race in terms of difficulty. The mud really slowed me down and made it hard to fully enjoy the scenery but I trudged along. Course was extremely well marked and I was very impressed there were volunteers at just about every intersection. You couldn’t get lost. The volunteers also all had costumes on. There were a few aid stations. It was a cupless event and you were told to run with a water bottle. The aid stations had jugs to refill your bottle but there were also volunteers to cheer you on. One aid stations had candy which was fun. I was extremely relieved to be out of the woods at mile five as the rest was back through the fields and to the finish line. The half marathoners do a different 7 mile loop which I heard was also very muddy. Yikes. I did want to run any more in this mud. At the finish line they call your name and you get a medal. My finishing time was incredibly slow and I finished covered in mud but uninjured (the real goal today). The medal is just a wooden cutout of a squirrel (or gorilla for the half) with the race name written on it. Kind of simple but better than no medals. At the finish there is food catered by a bread company and there is sandwiches, soup, salads, muffins and bread with lots of vegan options (yay!). Other than the mud which was out of the race company’s control this was a well done event. The swag wasn’t the best but it was a cheap race especially the half marathon so can’t complain and some trail half’s I’ve done have had no swag. I’m not sure I’d do this one again. On the one hand the trail was beautiful, the production was great, the theme was fun and it’s an excuse to go to Wizard burger but on the other hand that mud is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. I would however definitely consider another event produced by AREEP.
Savin Rock Marathon & Half Marathon
Coastal Views and Changing Leaves
Savin Rock Marathon & Half Marathon
This race is normally in March but this year was changed to October due to Covid. I chose to run this race because it was a new state within driving … MORE
This race is normally in March but this year was changed to October due to Covid. I chose to run this race because it was a new state within driving distance that was happening this weekend. There is a race day packet pick-up which is great since it is a Saturday race and Connecticut is about a 5 hour drive for me so I didn’t have to leave work early or pay extra to get my packet shipped (another reason I picked this race for Connecticut). I would have liked a little more pre-race communication such as when the race was officially approved, etc. but they did send an email the week before with all the important race info. I drove Friday night and stayed at the Hampton Inn in West Haven. It was nice and about a 5 or so minute drive to the start and a reasonable price. Packet pick-up was at the convention center. Due to covid we weren’t able to wait inside. It was a rainy day and the forecast looked terrible so most people waited in their cars. Packet pick-up was easy and included bibs and shirt. The shirt is a short sleeve tech shirt. It is nice quality and I like the design but it is white which is not my favorite color to run in. There were also plenty of porta potties with almost no lines out front. The race starts by the beach behind the convention center so close to the cars. Luckily the weather seemed to clear up just for the race. It was very rainy in the early morning but just drizzling at the start. The race has the same start and finish line and is a loop. Runners just lined up and went. I think some sort of signs to indicate pace or something could have helped spread us out more as this is a decent sized race with about 500 people but it spread out quick enough. The first 2 miles are lovely and along the beach and you are treated to very pretty views and very flat, fast running. Then you go through town. Town was much more mixed in terms of difficulty and scenery. The first two miles in town were flat. I was making good pace and thought I could potentially break 2:30 but this is a trick. The next 6 miles are super hilly. There was about 500-600 feet of elevation gain in this race which overall isn’t terrible but almost all of it was in this 6 mile stretch. Scenery here had some beautiful sections of fall foliage with changing leaves, some boring neighborhood sections and one very un-scenic short, industrial section around the mid point of the race. At mile 10 the race flattens out again and goes on the road next to the beach. I was able to have a fast last 3 miles. I didn’t even come close to 2:30 with the hills but the fast ending let me finish a few minutes under 2:45. I would say the overall difficulty is average but it is a strange course with half the race super easy and half the race super difficult. The course had aid stations about every 2 to 2.5 miles. Aid stations had water, gatorade, Gu (at just about all of them!) and lots of friendly volunteers. I’m glad I carried water since I personally like aid stations more frequent that this but it seemed enough in the cool weather. There were also accurate mile markers for both the half and the marathon. Course was mostly well marked and safe. It was on open roads. All intersections had arrows and most had police. Much of the road was coned off but a few sections were narrow and made it harder to pass people and some runners retreated to the sidewalk a bit. As long as you paid reasonable attention you should be safe and not get lost but I could see how a runner could miss a turn if they weren’t paying attention. For the half there was always runners running around me and there were some spectators. However as the marathon is 2 loops, I’m guessing the second loop of the marathon is more lonely and easier to miss a turn. At the finish line the announcer calls your name and you get your medal. It is a cute medal with a shark on it but the ribbon is plain. There was no food this year due to covid though that was mentioned in the email and I kept a granola bar in my car to eat when I finished. I also really lucked out with the weather as the rain picked up again after I finished but it was just a pleasant drizzle most of the race for me. Overall this was a solid race for Connecticut. It also has a 5 hour time limit for the half which makes it great for walkers. I wouldn’t go out of your way to do this race but if it works with your schedule it is not a bad choice for Connecticut.
Ann Arbor Marathon
Trees, Wolverines, Vegan Mac n Cheese
Ann Arbor Marathon
This race normally takes place in the Spring but this year was moved to October due to Covid. I was excited the Ann Arbor half marathon fit into my schedule, … MORE
This race normally takes place in the Spring but this year was moved to October due to Covid. I was excited the Ann Arbor half marathon fit into my schedule, since I have a friend in Ann Arbor who works at an amazing place called the Barn Sanctuary and I’ve been wanting to visit since I moved closer to Michigan. The October date meant colorful leaves and cool weather but also meant a football game on Saturday which made some of the logistics a bit trickier. I had trouble finding a hotel since they were all booked because of the football game and also traffic getting into Ann Arbor was a mess. I don’t think this would be the case in the spring. There was an excessive amount of emails. I appreciate a lot of communication but I felt like I received an email about this race practically every day. I did really appreciate a few emails such as the one when they officially got their permit and the one with the athlete guide. The rest weren’t as necessary and could have just been added to the website or combined into one longer email. For the race there is an expo the day before from noon to 4pm and also race day packet pick-up. You only get the goodie bag if you go to the expo. I actually liked this as it was a smart way to incentivize going to the expo without punishing those who can’t make it with extra fees for race day packet pick-up. I made it to the expo Saturday but due to traffic and plans with my friend I could only go for a few minutes. The expo is not huge like you see with the LA marathon or an RnR event but it was a nice size expo for a race this size. They had an incentive where if you got a hole punch from visiting all the booths you got a free old race T-shirt. That seemed fun but I didn’t have time to do it. Packet included the shirt, bib and a goodie bag. The shirt is a nice, long sleeved tech shirt. The goodie bag is okay. It had a buff, an energy bar and a few other things. It was nice to get more swag than a shirt and medal but not worth going out of your way to go to the expo for. Race morning went pretty well. Parking is at the football stadium and is free. However it is about 1/2 mile from the start which would be very annoying for the marathon. There were lots of porta potties at the start. There was a big corral with pacers. However the slowest pacers were 5:00/2:30. I was aiming for 2:45 knowing this was a hilly course and I did a marathon 2 weeks ago and have a double next weekend. I would have liked a 2:45 pacer. I did stick with the 2:30 pacers in the beginning to make sure I didn’t go too fast and lost them on some of the hills as expected. The first quarter of the race is pretty cool and goes through University of Michigan campus. There are a few big hills this section. Then next half of the race is kind of boring through parks and a golf course. It is pretty but just not exciting. This part is a little flatter though I wouldn’t call it flat. The last quarter of the race gets interesting again going back to University of Michigan and at around mile 10.5 you go through the Arboretum which is really pretty. However it is on non-technical trail and there is a killer hill at mile 11. I was on pace to finish 2:45 but I lost too much time in this section. I still really enjoyed it since it was so pretty. The last mile is mostly downhill through campus and fast but I didn’t make up enough time to make up for the hill at mile 11. The marathon does the course twice. Yikes the hill would be killer at mile 24. The course was very well marked and easy to follow with lots of volunteers. It could easily be confusing since there were four distances and a lot of intersections on campus but it was not. There was a ton of water stations. About every 1 to 1.5 miles. I did carry water but I definitely didn’t need to. All had water and gatorade and one had Gu. Volunteers very helpful and friendly. My only complaint about the course is the mile markers. They didn’t have markers for every mile. They had marathon markers from mile 16 to 24 and half marathon markers from mile 7 to 11 but didn’t have markers for the first and last miles. I just thought it was odd for a race that paid such close attention to detail to not have these details. It wasn’t really a big deal especially for the half but I love seeing the 26 mile marker when I do a full. Spectators were mixed. I think 8am is a little early for college students so there were actually more spectators at the end of the race and for the slower half marathoners. They call out your name at the finish line and you get your medal. My finishing time was fine. I was a little slower than my goal due to the hill at mile 11 but I thought it was fine for the course difficulty. The medal is really nice and sparkly. The half marathon medal is nice sized. The marathon medal is ginormous. Maybe it is worth the hill at mile 24. There was a ton of finish line food. They had granola bars, bananas, pretzels and also some hot food. I was very excited they had vegan mac n cheese and vegan pancakes (along with non-vegan versions). This race was somewhere between a four and five sneaker race but the vegan options made me decide to round up. After the race I got a vegan burger at Detroit Street Filling Station. Overall I thought this was a very good half marathon. If you have a connection to University of Michigan this is a must run, if not this is still a good race and seems to be a good choice for Michigan.
Gourdy’s Pumpkin Run Akron
Not so Tough Pumpkin
Gourdy’s Pumpkin Run Akron
I was looking for a Saturday race in-between Rochester and Ann Arbor and was excited to find this one since it sounded really fun. There are several of these Gourdy's … MORE
I was looking for a Saturday race in-between Rochester and Ann Arbor and was excited to find this one since it sounded really fun. There are several of these Gourdy’s pumpkin runs throughout the midwest. Since I love medals, I also signed up for the Tough Pumpkin where you get an extra medal for running with a pumpkin (you do have to pay extra for this). The race started in Downtown Akron and they had packet pick-up either the day before or the morning of the race. Akron is about a 4 drive for me so I obviously picked it up the morning of. I arrived early so I could have first pickings of the pumpkins. Packet pick-up was easy. You got your bib, a tote bag and a very nice, tech material hoodie. I then went to pick out my pumpkin. Some people choose the biggest pumpkins they can to see how tough they are, not me. I carefully looked and found the smallest pumpkin I ever saw. It weighed 1.2 lbs. The race had a starting arch and for the start you were supposed to select a corral based on predicted speed. I choose “corral” C which was 10 to 12 min/mile. They had an announcer who instructed each corral when to line up. However the corrals were a mess. I don’t really think it was the races fault other than they could have had labeled bibs and been strict about assigning corrals (not sure it is worth the effort for a fun run). It was very clear to me exactly when to go and what corral was right. The race was chipped time at the start and finish so no advantage to running early. Each corral left about every 2 minutes but some participants just randomly went between the corral. I expected the run a little over 10 min/mil and figured I should be the fastest in my corral so lined up near the front but no one was running the same speed as me. Oddly it wasn’t just walkers and slow runners who moved up but people much faster than me running 8 minute miles. It was just weird and I don’t know how to fix it without again being super strict which would take the fun away from the race but if you are participating in a race like this please try to choose to right corral it is about safety so we don’t run over each other. The course isn’t super scenic but nicer than I expected. The first mile was through downtown Akron and the last 2 miles along a canal path. The canal path was a little tight and there were a lot of cracks and potholes this is where the crowding became a bit of an issue. The course was well marked. There was no water stops but it was a cold day and it was fine without water. I actually didn’t carry water since I carried my baby pumpkin. It was pretty flat just some inclines. I was pretty fast today and ran a little over 10 min/mile just as I expected. At the finish line there is water and bananas. I would prefer a food item other than bananas but I had snacks in my car. You then get your medals. The medal is ridiculous. It is bigger than most of my marathon medals. The tough pumpkin one is nice since it was really hard to carry a 1 lb pumpkin. There is also an area where you can get a delicious cup of apple cider and all participants get a pumpkin so I got two pumpkins. This was a very fun, fall 5K with great swag. I wouldn’t really drive 4 hours for this race alone but if this race or another Gourdy’s pumpkin run fits in with another race I am running, I would definitely do it again.
Monster Scramble Buffalo
Spooky Loops Through a Cemetery
Monster Scramble Buffalo
I was initially going to do a different 5K that was closer to me this weekend but it went virtual so I had to Scramble and luckily found this Monster … MORE
I was initially going to do a different 5K that was closer to me this weekend but it went virtual so I had to Scramble and luckily found this Monster Scramble. This is a Halloween themed 5K or 10K race that raises money for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. They have races in multiple locations including one in Rochester earlier this month when I was out of town. This one took place in a cemetery right outside of Buffalo and was about an hour drive. The cemetery was a great location for a Halloween race and had a lot of roads to run out so no road closures required. As I said in my last review for a $30 charity 10K I don’t necessarily expect road closures or a really exciting course. Parking was across the street from the cemetery. Packet pick-up was easy. There were a number of covid protocols in place. More than most races which I feel is very appropriate for a race that raises money for a condition where the treatment is often immunosuppression. Even though packet pick-up was outdoors you had to wear a mask at all times except when participating in the actual race. Packet included bib and T-shirt. It is a black cotton T-shirt with the Monster logo which is quite cute. The start area was set up nice for a small race. There was a little over 100 participants. The emcee was much more encouraging and not obnoxious. They also had a Zumba session before the race. A lot of participants were in costume and there was also a 1 mile walk so there were some cute kids in costume. The 5K and 10K started at the same time but were about 0.1 km apart. The larger 5K had a corral and a start flag. The 10K just a flag but the start was well coordinated and someone was there to start both groups. It was chipped time at the end but not the start but it was a pretty small race so not a big deal. The course is cool through the cemetery but since there is not 6 miles of road in the cemetery it is multiple loops. The 5K is one long loop and 1 short loop and 10Kers do it twice for 4 loops. It was great scenery for a Halloween race but I took a sneaker away since it was a little redundant with all the loops. The course was pretty well marked. There was definitely a marker at every intersection but some intersections just had arrows taped on the ground and if you weren’t paying attention they could be missed. There was a water station and volunteers at the most confusing point where the long and short loop deviates. They were friendly but it was just little water bottles (as I said there was appropriately a lot of covid protocols). The course is pretty flat. No true hills. Just some inclines. There is one incline that is a little longer on the long loop. Other than when I stopped and walked to answer a page, I ran the entire race. The finish area had an arch and you got your medal. The medal is on the smaller side but is again very cute with the monster logo. It is fine swag for a race like this. There was a good snack selection at the end with mini muffins, granola bars, cheez-its and a few other things with water, coffee and gatorade. It was actually a better snack selection than yesterday. My only complaint is they started putting everything away around the time I finished. I was one of the last runners but there were a few others running at about exactly my pace so it wasn’t like it was just me. They did give us food though. Overall this was a well done charity race. It was a much better race than yesterday and it was $20 less. If I am in town I would do this one again or the one in Rochester.
Great New York State Marathon Weekend
Not so Great
Great New York State Marathon Weekend
This is a replacement for the Empire State Marathon and it was the inaugural year for this race. It is located in Syracuse and there is a 5K and 10K … MORE
This is a replacement for the Empire State Marathon and it was the inaugural year for this race. It is located in Syracuse and there is a 5K and 10K on Saturday and a half and full marathon on Sunday. You can do a combo of Saturday and Sunday races for the “Excelsior” Challenge and get extra bling. Since I am on call and recovering from a marathon I just stuck with the shorter 10K on Saturday. I was excited for this race and it seems like they are trying to revamp what was the Empire State Marathon and make it a premier NY state running event but it was a disappointment and a lot of it was a mess. Weather did not look great and there were severe thunderstorm warnings this morning but the weather magically cleared up for the race. The race starts at the NY state fairgrounds. Parking was easy and free but is about 1/4 mile from the start. Not a big deal for the shorter races but it would be annoying for the marathon. Packet pick-up is at a mini expo. It is indoors but it was spread out and everyone had masks. It’s not a great expo but about what you would expect for a smaller race with an area to buy race merchandise, a few vendors, indoor bathrooms, an area for pictures and packet pick-up. Packet pick-up was smooth and along with bib you got a nice blue long sleeved tech shirt with a fine design. The start was set up pretty well with a nice arch and a corral area. The emcee though was extremely obnoxious, loud, not funny and not encouraging. They should hire someone else next year. One critique of the start is there was no signs to line up by pace. The course is kind of tight and it wasn’t the easiest run around people. The course was pretty mediocre. It was mostly on a paved public trail around the lake. The 5K is an out and back. The 10K is supposed to be about 2.5 miles out then you run back and then at about the 4.5 mile mark you do another mile out and back. The course was very congested until the 5K turn around. The scenery was mixed. The views of the lake were nice but the other side was just along the highway and there were some super, super ugly industrial views and a view of an abandoned parking lot. This had some of the worst views I’ve seen and the nice lake views didn’t cancel it out. The course difficulty isn’t too bad. There are a few bridges with some inclines but nothing crazy. About 200 feet of elevation gain. There were mile markers and aid stations with friendly volunteers with cups of water and gatorade. Other than not being the most scenic course and some congestion, things were going pretty smooth until we passed volunteers at mile 2.5. I don’t believe it was the fault of the volunteers and there was no markings on the course but I believe they were supposed to tell us to turn around but instead they told us to keep going. I thought it 2 things were odd. 1. I hadn’t seen any fast runners run past me by now and 2. We were now running on a sidewalk next to a gas station and a mall which was somehow even less scenic than before and there were no course marshals at the crosswalks. I thought maybe due to weather there was flooding and they made a last minute course change or something. Anyways I get to mile 3 and think it is odd I don’t see a turn around then I see a whole group of runners who tell me they never marked a turn around and to turn around after mile 3.1. I ran a hair past 3.1 to make sure I would go a full 6.2 miles and turned around. On the way back the mile markers were obviously not correct. Then we go to the 4.5 area where the 10Kers were supposed to do the extra mile and the 5Kers were supposed to run back to the start. Even though we all went extra miles they still told us to turn to do the extra mile of the course. I was like heck no I just ran a marathon last weekend and two 10Ks this weekend was ambitious without adding an extra mile so I just turned the way the 5Kers were supposed to go and ran a 10K. About half the 10Kers seemed to do what I did and about half did the extra mile. Since some people turned around even further back than I did I heard some people did about 8 miles…Yikes….big mistake. The runners were not happy. At the finish line the obnoxious emcee was giving high fives and when I didn’t give one he made a snarky comment and I yelled at him for trying force people to high five him during a pandemic (At this point I realize we need to start getting back to normal and I don’t have a problem with offering high fives but the pandemic is still happening and if someone doesn’t want to high five you they should not get a snarky comment about it. In fact that should be the case even if there isn’t a pandemic). Please fire this guy. At the finish line you are handed your medal. It is a fine medal. Not exceptional to make up for this mess of a race but adequate. Finish line food was okay – granola bars, bananas and little water bottles. My finishing time was mediocre but I wasn’t running too hard since I’m still recovering from the marathon last week. I went to look up the times a few hours later and laughed that it is reported as 10K-13K times since everyone just ran a different distance. It was a choose your own adventure type of race. Honestly even if this course was marked correctly it still would have only been a mediocre race. It was priced way too high for a race on public trails. I completely understand using public trails to cut costs and make logistics easier but if I spend $50 on a 10K I expect some of the course to be somewhere I couldn’t just run uninterrupted anytime I want. If this was a $30 10K I would be fine with the course (if it were marked correctly). If this race wants to be a premier NY state race that 50 staters come to run they really need to make some big improvements. This race costs about the same as the Buffalo marathon which is a much, much, much better event if you are a 50 stater looking for recommendations. This race is close by so I’m open minded to give it another chance and there were some things done well and the swag was decent but I definitely wouldn’t recommend going out of your way for this race. I hope things go better for the half and full marathoners tomorrow. If you are doing this race tomorrow, study the race map and if the course seems to deviate definitely question it unless you are looking to potentially run an ultra.
Prairie Fire Marathon
I'm not in Boston anymore!
Prairie Fire Marathon
How did I end up going to Kansas for 31 hours to run a marathon this weekend? It's a bit of a long story but I was planning to do … MORE
How did I end up going to Kansas for 31 hours to run a marathon this weekend? It’s a bit of a long story but I was planning to do my fall marathon this weekend so I could also do virtual Boston at the same time since I want a unicorn medal but am never going to be fast enough to BQ and don’t want to raise thousands of dollars. I was originally planning to do the much closer Steamtown marathon but that got canceled and I needed a backup. I wanted to find a backup I knew would happened. I asked the Marathon Maniacs Facebook group for recs for this weekend and someone suggested this one. I was intrigued as it was a new state and happened last fall so was definitely happening this year. Since it was on a Sunday I could potentially go for just the weekend but I would need to find perfect flights. I looked for flights and found perfectly timed flights and decided to go to Kansas for 31 hours to run the “Boston” marathon. Logistics, this is a very convenient race as the packet pickup, race start and finish and race hotels are all within about a block of each other. If you want a race you don’t need a rental car this is a good one. I flew in to Wichita early Saturday and took a cab to the hotel. I stayed at the Courtyard Marriot. It was really cheap at $100/night and very nice for the price although a fire alarm falsely went off at 10:30pm when I was asleep so that was annoying. Packet pick up is the day before right by the start line. There was no expo but it was outside and efficient. There is no race day packet pickup but it is a Sunday race so that’s not as big a deal for me. However I do think they should have kept packet pickup open a little longer. It stopped at 4pm. That may be tight for some people. Packet included a personalized bib, the race shirt, athlete guide and a magazine with things to do in Wichita. The shirt is a nice blue polyblend shirt. I’d prefer a tech shirt but it is very comfortable and the design is nice. The race is in Old Town Wichita and there are enough interesting things nearby within walking distance to keep you entertained for a day or two. I also found great vegan/vegetarian food at Lotus Leaf Cafe and Sabor Latin Grill. Race day starts at 7:30am. The half and full start together. There were about 1600 runners all together but much more were doing the half than the full. The start was set up well. There were lots of porta potties and a place were you could get coffee and small snacks. There were pacers which helped runners line up by pace. I liked that they had pacers but I wish they had them for slower runners as they stopped at 2:30/5:00. The start went well and was on time. There is a different start and finish chute both with timing mats. The first part of the course is a 3.5 mile out and back along one of the main streets of Wichita that is about for a total of 7 miles. Then there is about a 6 mile loop along the river. Marathoners do this twice. Scenery for the race was okay. This was probably my least favorite scenery of any marathon I’ve done but I’ve generally chosen very scenic marathons. It’s probably the best scenery they could find in Wichita as Wichita is not exactly Los Angeles or Red Rock Canyon. The main street has some interesting buildings and lots of spectators. The loop had a cool view of the science museum, some nice views of the river and a very well done blue mile at mile 8. The second loop was the same with less spectators and they took down the blue mile. Course was easy to follow and the streets were closed or a large area was coned off so very safe. There were accurate and very big mile markers and lots of aid stations. The aid stations were approximately every 1.5 to 2 miles. All had water and gatorade. 2 had gu the first loop but there was none the second loop at least for slower marathoners. Also the volunteers just left some cups and left at one of the aid stations on the second loop but that seemed to be a one off as all the other aid stations had volunteers on the second loop and this may have been the volunteers and not the race’s fault. The course is very flat but not quite pancake flat. There are a few minor hills/inclines on the out and back. It would normally be a very easy and fast course but today was very hot. It was in the high 70s for most of the race and there was no shade. This made the race quite difficult and slow. As a result I walked the inclines and just a lot of the race but if I were doing the half and it were 10 degrees cooler there was no place on course I would have to walk. The finish line was great. An announcer called out all the runners names and there were quite a few people cheering even though I was slow. This is one of my slowest marathons but with the heat I just wanted to finish under 6 hours and I did that. At the end you are given your medal. It is a really cool medal. The more I looked at it the more I appreciate it. It is shaped like Kansas, has the distance, date, the cute running bunny logo and lots of little details specific to Wichita/Kansas. Great medal for a 50 stater. Only complaint is it is one sided. There was also water, gatorade, bananas and granola bars at the finish line. There was a nice area for post race celebration. There were multiple beers to choose from if you drink along with pizza and some samples of some meat. I passed on the meat and beer but did take some pizza. They had extras and actually offered me a full pie but I wasn’t that hungry but got several slices of cheese pizza. They also had massages and there were chairs and picnic tables set up. Overall I thought they did a really good job with this race. Production was really good for a mid size race. The worst part was the weather which was out of the race director’s control. I did think the scenery got a little boring especially since it’s a double loop race and the energy in the first loop was definitely better than the second but that’s true of most marathons. This definitely seems to be a good option for Kansas especially with the medal. However if it wasn’t for the fact I needed a full marathon this weekend for virtual Boston this would be a race where I would say to just do the half if you are like me and doing a mix of halfs and fulls to get your 50 states. I’m still very glad I did the marathon this weekend to get a new state and my unicorn medal along with my cool Kansas medal.
Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon 🏆
Fast, Flat, Scenic & Vegan Options!
Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon 🏆
I will start off by saying this is an awesome race and probably my second favorite half marathon of the year after Surftown. This race is produced by Loco Running … MORE
I will start off by saying this is an awesome race and probably my second favorite half marathon of the year after Surftown. This race is produced by Loco Running who is the other big race company in NH besides Millennium. However earlier this year Loco was bought by a larger national race company Ventures Endurance so this was the first time Ventures Endurance produced the race. The people from Loco are still involved. I did think the event was overall well organized but there were a few minor issues I’m guessing that were likely a result of the change in management which is to be expected. My dad also ran the half marathon and my mom and her high school students volunteered at some of the water stops so it was a family event for us. Pre-race communication was pretty sparse. There was an email sent Friday. It had the basic information but there could have been more specific details. The race starts at 8am but my mom had to get there at 6:30am to set up the water stop so we woke up super early since it is about an hour drive from my parents house. Parking was very easy and free that early. I thought packet pick-up could have been more organized. I was originally registered for Half at the Hamptons which is another Loco race back when it was owned by Loco earlier this year but that got moved to a date I couldn’t do so I opted to defer to this race. However unbeknownst to me, there was a waiver for this race I never filled. After I waited a few minutes in line for my bib they told me I couldn’t pick up my bib because I hadn’t signed the waiver and that I had to speak to the woman at the end of the registration table. However after waiting in line to talk to the woman at the end she had no idea what I was talking about because the actual woman I was supposed to talk to stepped away for a few minutes. She eventually came back and I figured it out and electronically signed the waiver with her and then had to wait in line again to get my bib. Not a huge deal but kind of annoying waiting in so many lines and there would have been a few much simpler solutions. The simplest being having paper copies of the waivers at the bib pick-up stations. I understand wanting to go paperless so 2 other solutions would be to have emailed people without a waiver beforehand and/or having it so the bib pick-up people could also do the electronic waiver. After the bib pick-up drama the rest was pretty smooth. It was easy to get the fleece pull-overs. They are extremely nice. One of the nicest clothing articles I’ve received from a race. The start of the race was relatively smooth. My only critique of the start is there were no porta-potties by the start line only at the finish line which was a couple blocks away. They had runners line up in self seeded waves. I went to the last one which was 11 min/mile or more and waited near the front figuring I would be one of the faster of this group and everyone around me was running a similar pace. The race is chipped time with a timing mat at start and finish since this is a large race and it took a couple minutes for the end of the line to get to the start. This was one of the biggest races I participated in since the pandemic though not as big as usual years which made the race extra fun. However there were pretty much no covid protocols. Whether this is a good or bad thing I will leave up to you. The course is super nice and super flat. The first section is a short loop down the main area of Hampton Beach then through some beach neighborhoods and then an out and back along the ocean back to the main Hampton Beach street followed by a lollipop loop the other direction along the ocean and through a neighborhood then back along the ocean to the finish along the main street. You do pass the finish line a few times. This can be frustrating for some people but it also great for spectators. Unlike Surftown and Surfcity where you couldn’t really see the ocean for most of the race, there were absolutely gorgeous ocean views this race. The neighborhood though was much nicer in Westerly, RI. There were some friendly spectators here but no celebrity mansions. The course is pretty much pancake flat until the neighborhood where there are some minor hills. Total elevation under 200 feet. Weather was gorgeous today. This is often a cold and windy race according to my dad whose run it a few times before but today it was in the low 60s and there wasn’t much wind. Compared to Surftown there was no wind. It was barely a factor today. However I didn’t think there were quite enough aid stations for a day this warm. The volunteers were great and I’m not just saying that because my mom was running 2 of the aid stations. They genuinely were but I think there was only 5 aid stations and they were about 2.5 miles apart. This would be enough for a cold day but today was a little humid and I sweated a lot. Luckily I was carrying water. Half the aid stations were just water and half had water and gatorade. There were also volunteers handing out gels. I appreciated the gels but I thought it was odd the gels were given out about 1/2 mile from a water station as I like to wash down my gel with water again luckily I brought my own water. There was plenty of porta potties on course which was good since I needed one since I couldn’t go right before the race. Also the roads were either completely closed off or half the road closed off so you never had to worry about dealing with traffic. Course was really easy to follow too. My biggest critique of the course is the mile markers were crazy off. The mile 1 marker was correct but the mile 2 marker came up at 1.67 miles. The 3rd and 4th also came about a quarter mile short. I was nervous the race was measured wrong but luckily the mile 5 marker was in the right place and they were mostly right after that though seemed to be off by like 0.1miles here and there. Anyways between the beautiful weather, fast course and exciting atmosphere I was super fast today and realized if I pushed myself the last 3 miles I could actually break 2:30 something I hadn’t done since January and I did it! This was actually my fastest half marathon this year and my fastest since the New England half nearly 1 year ago and second fastest since the pandemic. At the finish line you get your medal. It is a nice medal. I would say compared to other half marathon medals it is above average though not a top 25% medal. The medals always have the cute harbor seal that is part of the Smuttynose label which I like. At the finish line there are bananas and water. Then you can go to a food tent where there are lobster rolls and clam chowder and even better they had vegan minestrone soup and hummus wraps. The hummus wraps were freshly made and delicious. The soup was pretty good too. There was also a booth with hint flavored water. Overall this was a really fun race and a great and fast course. The swag was very nice along with the post race food. There were a few minor details that could be fixed but I think they will once the new management company is more familiar with things. Would definitely recommend this race for NH or just in general. There are a few other races I want to run that occur on this weekend but I will definitely consider this one again!
New England Dog Jog 5K
The World's Most Pawsome 5K!
New England Dog Jog 5K
I don't really know if this is the world's most awesome dog themed 5K as their slogan suggests but compared to 2 prior dog themed 5Ks I've done in CA … MORE
I don’t really know if this is the world’s most awesome dog themed 5K as their slogan suggests but compared to 2 prior dog themed 5Ks I’ve done in CA before I was a Racerave regular, this race was exceptionally better. I was planning to be in NH this weekend for Smuttynose Rockfest and wanted to run a warm-up 5K on Saturday and was excited to find this one since I love animals. I know I have cats but I love dogs too, cats are just easier when you travel to races almost every weekend. This is located in Nashua, NH about 45 minutes from my parents house. It started at a Stadium in Nashua. Packet pick-up was the morning of the race. It included a really nice, quality and beautiful pinkish orange colored tech shirt. Great shirt for a 5K! You are also supposed to get a medal at the end but unfortunately they were stuck in the mail again but it should be mailed. I will update the swag after I receive the medal but put it at 3 sneakers for now. There is a spring and a fall race and you get extra swag if you do both. They also give a medal to the dogs that run this but the dog medals were also stuck in the mail. There was about 150 runners. For the start there was an arch and a timing mat and runners lined up 2 by 2 and went to space things out. It worked pretty well. The course was fun but nothing special. The first about 1 mile is on a road that is coned off. One side of the road is scenic with views of a pond and park and the other side is extremely unscenic with views of businesses. You then go through a school parking lot and into a park. This part is more scenic but nothing spectacular. The first half through the park is on a paved path and the second part is on non-technical trail. It is a pretty easy course. There were no true hills just some rollers and about 60 feet of elevation gain. It wasn’t a particularly fast course though as the trail slowed me a bit and it was a bit long. My Garmin said 3.25 miles though longer is better than shorter. It was cute to run with the dogs. All the dogs were well behaved and the start kept everyone spread out. My time was fine but this was a warm-up run so I wasn’t going for a PR or anything. I was embarrassed to be beat by a dachshund. As I said the medals didn’t come in but they did send an email with your finishing time. There was a solid post race snack selection with granola bars, rice krispy treats, fruit roll-ups and dog biscuits. Other than the medals getting stuck in the mail, everything went extremely smooth. It was a nice but somewhat generic course. This isn’t something I would go out of the way for but I would definitely do it again if I happened to be in NH. The organization was 5 sneakers though I’m not sure the course was special enough for an overall 5 sneakers but if the medal is spectacular I may change my overall rating.
Serpent’s Shadow Multisport Festival
Give it a TRI!
Serpent’s Shadow Multisport Festival
I had completing a triathalon on my running bucket list but I am not much of a swimmer and I am terrified of open water so I wasn't really sure … MORE
I had completing a triathalon on my running bucket list but I am not much of a swimmer and I am terrified of open water so I wasn’t really sure how I would accomplish it but then I found this race which is a paddle-bike-run triathalon so no swimming required! This race is located in Silver Lake, NY not to be confused with my old LA neighborhood. Silver Lake is just under an hour from Rochester. This race starts at 10am so I had plenty of time to get there and no hotel is needed. Packet pick-up can either be the day before or on race day. Packet pick-up was practically on my way home from Randolph so I got my packet Saturday at a local brewery. Packet included bib and a nice technical long sleeved shirt. I also stayed and went for a hike at Letchworth which is right nearby on Saturday since I didn’t think a half marathon and a triathalon were enough for a weekend. Letchworth is amazing, definitely visit if you are in the area. I was very anxious about this race Sunday morning and I realized triathalons are not great for anxious people as there is so much that can go wrong. Luckily Wolfpack Multisport knows how to run a triathalon so nothing went wrong except for the medals getting stuck in the mail but they told us about that. They did email an athlete’s guide the week before. I think it had enough info for an experienced trialthlete but personally I would have liked a bit more about how the transitions etc work but race day was pretty flawless. Kayakers dropped their kayaks off first and then parked and brought their bikes to the transition area. The kayak start was interesting. Everyone got in their boats starting at about 9:45. Then we had a mass start. The kayak was about 1.2 miles. It was a square and you went around very easy to spot buoys. Luckily weather was great today as I heard the kayak section was rough last year when it was stormy. There was a bit of a current but it wasn’t too bad. The only difficulty is the final leg of the race was the most against the current. The kayaking was a fun, easy way to start. Much better than swimming in scary open water. The kayaking took me around 20 minutes to my relief so I had plenty of time for the bike. There is a 2 and 1/2 hour time limit to finish the kayak and bike portion and then an additional hour to finish the run. I am a terrible biker so I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time. After the kayak we pulled our boats to shore and there was about 0.4 miles to the transition area. This was a little annoying but we were told about it. Then we went to the bike transition area. I was nervous about this part since I am not much of a biker. I just do easy bike rides along the canal path as cross training or to ride to work and don’t really ride on hills or streets. The bike ride is 16ish miles. The first half is wonderful through very rural scenic area around the lake and through farmlands. I also saw some adorable cows but didn’t get off my bike to take a picture. The bike course was well marked and most but not all intersections had volunteers. I did hear of one person missing a turn. I was very paranoid about getting lost so I was paying super good attention but it seemed easy to follow to me. Around mile 8 you go more through town. I didn’t like this as much. Along with being terrified of open water, I am also terrified of dying in a bike accident (again why a triathalon was on my bucket list who knows?). I do think the race did everything they could to make this safe and there were course marshals at every busy intersection and I was absolutely never in danger but they can’t patrol every drive way and small street so this part made me nervous. The roads are also kind of gravely not the most well maintained in the town area. There are some potholes. I have a hybrid bike and am used to terrain like this so it was not particularly a problem for me but definitely slows you down. There were two really steep hills near the end one at mile 11 and one at mile 13. I had to walk my bike up these hills. The rest of the hills were rolling and easy and I am even worse at biking up hills than I am at running hills. I actually thought the bike part was great just my own not really enjoying bike riding got in the way which was not the races fault. I was relieved to get back to the transition and then it was the 5K. The 5K was both extremely easy and tough. It was nice to end on what I am familiar with and nice to know I would definitely finish but also after stepping out of my comfort zone so much for this race, it was kind of anti-climactic and I really didn’t feel like a 5K after that bike ride. The 5K course was fine but more of an afterthought and the star was really the bike course. It was an out and back through some neighborhoods by the lake. More scenic than average but no spectacular views. Rolling hills. Not too bad but more uphill the second half. Also well marked with a water stop at the 1 mile mark you pass twice. My time was really slow for a 5K but not bad for all I had done this weekend (half marathon & 5 mile hike Saturday, 1.2 mile kayak and 16 mile bike ride right before the 5K). I was so relieved and happy to get to the finish line. I finished around 2:38. I haven’t seen the official results. My time was about exactly what I thought I would do but my main goal was to finish and not die. The RD was very friendly and cheerful at the end. As I said before the medals got stuck in the mail and didn’t arrive on time. It was disappointing to not get a medal at the end as this is one of the races I am proudest to finish. I really stepped out of my comfort zone for this race in some ways more than I did for the 50K I did earlier this year. But they did say they would mail the medals and to make up for them not being there on time would engrave our names and finishing times. I will update the review when I get the medal and if they are really nice add an extra star to the swag. The end had some basic food and also pizza including cheese. Overall I am very happy I completed a triathalon. I’m not sure I will do another one. While I thought this race was great and have nothing negative to say except don’t save the worst hills for the end, I really don’t like racing with my bike very much. Plus I have much more of a one sport athlete mind set. I would rather use all my training and dedication to running so I can be mediocre at one sport instead of terrible at 3. It was still a great experience and one of my proudest accomplishments and I would recommend this race to you crazy triathletes!
*** Update on the medals – There was a lot of communication about the medals and they were sent a few weeks later. The medals are nice. I don’t have a triathlon medal to compare them to but they are the size and quality of a nice but not spectacular half marathon medal which seems right since this was about the difficulty of a half marathon. I am happy with the medal though it is not spectacular enough to raise the swag rating. I was also surprised I got third place in my age group so got another medal. I looked and there were only 4 participants in my age group but hey I had to beat somebody ***
Amish Country Running Festival
Sooooo Many Farm Animals!!!
Amish Country Running Festival
This is my second year running this race. It is probably the most difficult but also most scenic of all the road half marathons I have done. This is located … MORE
This is my second year running this race. It is probably the most difficult but also most scenic of all the road half marathons I have done. This is located in Amish Country in Southwestern NY. About an hour drive from Buffalo and 2 hours from Rochester. While I could have gotten up really early and drove I decided to stay at a Holiday Inn Express in nearby Jamestown so I wouldn’t have to get up really early. This race offers either Friday or day of packet pick-up. I got it the morning of the race since I arrived a little late on Friday. Packet pick-up was easy and I was happy the swag was better this year. This year you got a long sleeved, cotton T-shirt with the race logo and got either a winter head band or beenie with the race company logo and a swag bag full of samples, coupons, a race sticker and some race logo bib buttons. Last year I was bothered by the lack of covid protocols but that wasn’t as big of an issue this year since I’m vaccinated and really no races I’ve done recently have had any covid protocols. Since this is a smallish race it actually seemed to be one of the safest I’ve done lately. Production of this race is good for a small race. It does not have the flawless production of some of the larger races by bigger race companies but no real issues with production. The race starts with the marathon at 8 then the half marathon at 8:05 and then the shorter races. There is a nice corral area. It is manually timed but it is a small race so you cross the start line right away and the only way you are PRing is if this is your first time running your distance. This course is crazy hilly but crazy wonderful. I took it extremely easy today since I had my first triathalon the next day and didn’t want to push myself too much. There is no time limit so this is a good race to take easy. The scenery is breathtaking farmland. Again once you get past the 10K turn around it’s the best so I’d recommend doing the half. Once you pass the 10K turn around there are a bunch of Amish families with adorable children who cheer you on. And even better there are so many farm animals. If you read my reviews you know I love farm animals especially cows. I took about 50 pictures today of all the amazing animals. Along with a ton of cows and horses, I also saw some chickens, turkeys and sheep. I was happy to see the two adorable calves from last year were back and much bigger. I included a pic of one who stood right by the road and another adorable little cow. It is an out and back but the scenery is so good you don’t mind it twice. The hills though are unrelenting and there is well over 1000 feet of elevation gain. There are very frequent aid stations and porta potties on course. The aid stations are close to every mile. This year there was some issues with getting volunteers so some were unmanned but there appeared to be plenty of food, water and electrolyte drink though the water was in bottles. The electrolyte drink was self serve cooler with little cups. The aid stations have gels, candy, chips and pickles. There is usually a bacon one but this year to the delight of me and the animals and the disappointment of the other runners they couldn’t get a volunteer to make the bacon. There were volunteers at a few aid stations and the most important intersections. All intersections were well marked and there were also mile markers. The roads are open but they are very quiet with the occasional car or horse and buggy. The only good thing about the elevation profile is the last mile is downhill. At the finish line they cheer on the runners and you get your medal. It was a nicer medal than last year though still not distance specific. My time was incredibly slow since I took so many pictures lol. I set a road half marathon personal worse but I had a blast. At the end there is a tent with food. It was again beef sandwiches and this year there was beef chili and also mac n cheese and donuts. How can anyone eat beef after running this? The mac n cheese and donuts were good though. Overall this is a great hidden gem of a race. I’d highly recommend it. I’m tentatively planning to run the Clarence DeMar marathon next year which I believe is the same weekend so I will have to skip this one next year but definitely plan on doing it again.
RuariSparkle Tutu Run, Walk & Trot
Adorable Tu.Tu Mile Race
RuariSparkle Tutu Run, Walk & Trot
I was very surprised and impressed by this race. As you may know I am trying to run 100 races this year and this was the only race I could … MORE
I was very surprised and impressed by this race. As you may know I am trying to run 100 races this year and this was the only race I could find within driving distance today. This race is named after a little girl with cancer who loves Tutus and raises money for families of children with cancer. There is an option for a 1 mile untimed fun run or a timed 2.2 mile run. I thought 2.2 miles was an odd distance and then I realized “two-point-two” “two two” “tutu” and I felt stupid that it took me like a week to get that. This race is in Auburn about an hour East of Rochester closer to Syracuse. This was the inaugural year and they did a great job. It is located on a campground. There was a large sign where to enter and park. The start was set up really nice and had music, an ice cream truck, a raffle with cute prizes, and someone selling popcorn. The packet included a bag with the T-shirt which is again just an okay cotton shirt but there were lots of other goodies including a frosted cookie, a sticker, a rubber bracelet, a beer kozie and some coupons. Lots of swag for a short race. Race day started with a kids dash on a field at 9am. It was adorable especially the little girl in a purple tutu who refused to go with the other kids. There were also some volunteers dressed in shark costumes with tutus on running with the kids and cheering them on. Then at 9:20 there was a 1 mile walk. The 2.2 mile run started at 9:45 once just about all the walkers finished. This was also manually timed but they did have Willow Running do the timing so it was professionally timed and my time was accurate. If you ran the race in 22 minutes you got a pint glass. I got ambitious. The course is an out and back on a quiet country road through the campground. It is a smart course as it is such a remote road they could keep it closed without much support. However it was kind of hilly. Nothing hard just rollers but it was too hilly for me to maintain an under 10 minute mile for 2.2 miles and it was harder than I expected. I did run the first mile under 10 minutes, then I crashed at about a mile and a half and had to walk a hill. Oh well. If I just did a steady 10:30 minute/mile pace I wouldn’t have had to walk and would have been faster. There were also water stops with cups of water and gatorade at the 1 mile and 2.2 mile turn around. My time was okay I went too hard in the beginning and will learn for next time if I do another 2ish mile race. I actually hated the distance. I’d much prefer a shorter or longer race. It was not short enough to just go all out and run as fast as you can like with a mile race and it was not long enough to get in a zen, peaceful running zone. At the finish they did give a small, little sparkly tutu medal and there was a good selection of post race food with donuts, granola bars, fruit, and milk along with the ice cream and popcorn you could buy. Overall I was very impressed with the organization and fun atmosphere for this race especially for an inaugural race. The swag was also quite good for a short race. This was a $30 race where I definitely got my money’s worth. I’m not 100% sure I would do the race again since I didn’t like the distance but I’d do it for sure if it were the only race in town again and I would highly recommend it for families and casual runners looking for a short race.
Helping Horses & Hounds 5K
Great Cause but Not a Great Race
Helping Horses & Hounds 5K
I will start off by saying I kind of feel bad writing this review. This race was for a great cause helping animals and the race organizer was extremely nice … MORE
I will start off by saying I kind of feel bad writing this review. This race was for a great cause helping animals and the race organizer was extremely nice and enthusiastic but this was definitely one of the weakest races I have participated in. The race is located by Watkins Glen. It’s over an hour drive but worked out conveniently since this was an evening race at 4:30pm and Canandaigua where my first race was is on the way to Watkins Glen. I didn’t receive any pre-race emails and the race page was pretty limited. The link the facebook page didn’t work. I eventually searched facebook and found the race page since I wanted to make sure the race was on and found there were a lot of updates on facebook. There was also apparently an email that went out the week before the race that myself and a number of other participants didn’t get. Although the race organizer was extremely nice and sent us the email from her personal email when she found out we didn’t get it. The race takes place along Catherine Valley Trail which is a pretty and non-technical trail. Packet pick-up was outside at a nearby elementary school parking lot. It was outdoors. Packet included a T-shirt. It is okay. It is cotton, the design is cute and it’s a nice color. You also got a beer cozie with the cute design. The swag was fine but it wasn’t the greatest swag ever especially since this was a $30 race. This year there were not many people who signed up for the race. I think there was maybe 30ish. I guess they had bad luck as a few races near Watkins Glen moved to this date and most people don’t run two races in a day like myself. I also think an improved race page and better advertisement would make more people sign up. The start was about a quarter mile away from the school at the start of the trail. There was a sign with the race name and balloons. The race organizer described the course and apologized it wasn’t on run sign up and said she had issues with run sign up this year. That might explain the email. Still other races haven’t seemed to have problems with run sign up. There was a 3K and a 5K option. You didn’t choose when register you could just decide the day of. I guess that is nice but everyone did the 5K so they wasted time measuring and marking the 3K. The trail is actually quite nice. It is non-technical and very pretty. There was a slight incline and two minor “hills” on the way out and the way back was mostly downhill or a slight decline. Better elevation profile than this morning. It was easy to follow but there was one intersection that maybe could have been confusing that didn’t have signs but it was easy enough to figure out. The course was also not measured right either. I got to the turnaround at about 1.45 miles and the course was just under 3 miles. Oh well. It was manually timed and not by a professional timing company. I saw someone record the times but then they emailed me to confirm my time so who knows if they did. I haven’t seen the race results yet. I had to answer a page so I wasn’t very fast so if I never see published times my life will go on. At the end there was just lukewarm water bottle with no food and I was hungry since I didn’t eat much lunch. The race was also too expensive for the swag and production at $30. If it were a $15 to $20 race I’d probably add a sneaker. The good news is that even though there were so few participants, the race was so low budget that they did actually raise quite a bit of money. If you are looking for a great race where you will get your money’s worth, this is not the race for you. But if you are looking for a pretty run in the woods and to give money to charity then go for it. While I wasn’t particularly impressed with the race I’m not opposed to doing it again if I’m in town more as a way to give a donation to help animals. I just won’t set high expectations.
Crosswinds 5K
No negative splits in this race
Crosswinds 5K
This is a 5K that takes place in Canandaigua which is about 30 minutes East of Rochester. I am on call again this weekend so staying local. The race has … MORE
This is a 5K that takes place in Canandaigua which is about 30 minutes East of Rochester. I am on call again this weekend so staying local. The race has race day packet pick-up at the church that sponsors the race. Packet pick-up was easy but I would have preferred it to be outside on the lawn rather than inside for safety reasons. Packet included a fine royal blue, comfortable polyblend shirt and bib. The races starts at 10am which I think is a little late as the weather would have been perfect at 8am. It still wasn’t bad but a little hotter than ideal. Although the 10am start was convenient as I was able to see patients before the race and then stick around in Canandaigua after since it’s on the way to my next destination. The church it starts at is on top of a hill which makes this a pretty brutal race and not the fastest 5K. There was no timing mat at the start but there were race flags and it started on a wide street and isn’t a huge race with about 150 participants so not a huge deal. The first mile is great. Almost all downhill and quite easy. But what goes down must come up and starting about the halfway mark of the second mile it is all uphill. The third mile is pretty much all uphill and quite steep. While I have been overall slower with racing so frequently I have improved my race strategy and have negative splits most races but not this one. I don’t think anyone could. If you are aiming for a specific time make sure you bank time or energy for the end. Besides the awful hills on the third mile the course is quite nice. It’s not a super special course but it goes through some nice neighborhoods and Canandaigua is very pretty and green. There were also mile markers with timing clocks. But the clocks were off by two minutes so it made you seem faster which is the main reason I dropped a sneaker for production. There were also a couple water stops but they were giving out water bottles and I was carrying a handheld water bottle so didn’t use them. You finally get to the top of the hill at mile 3 and then it is a fast finish where there is a finisher arch and lots of post race food. There are Boston cream donuts from Dunkins with the adorable race slogan that this race is “A Boston Cream Qualifier.” There were also granola bars, cheese sticks, yogurt and fruit. There were also some food trucks where you could purchase food. Most of the food trucks were pretty meat heavy but there was a delicious boba truck for a post race treat. There are no medals unless you place which surprise even though I was pretty slow I was third in my age group so I did get a medal (and there were more than 3 people in my age group. Okay to be honest there were only 7 but I did have to be in the top half to place). The medal is really nice and since this is a small race you apparently don’t need to be fast to place in your age group. This was a good local 5K. As long as you are prepared for the hills on mile 3 and don’t plan on PR’ing or getting negative splits, you will enjoy it. This is one I wouldn’t plan around but would do again for sure if I am in town.
Surftown Half Marathon
Surf City East Coast Edition
Surftown Half Marathon
This race takes place in a coastal town in RI right by the Connecticut border. It is produced by the Hartford Marathon Foundation who did an excellent job. This wins … MORE
This race takes place in a coastal town in RI right by the Connecticut border. It is produced by the Hartford Marathon Foundation who did an excellent job. This wins as my favorite half marathon of the year so far and I’ve done close to 20 so far this year. This race is quite similar to the similarly named Surf City half marathon in CA which just happened to be on the same weekend this year but I actually thought this course was more scenic! For the race I stayed in Mystic CT which is about 20 minutes away at the Holiday Inn Express. My mom met me in Mystic Saturday evening and she walked the 5K while I ran the half. I got there a little earlier and did Saturday packet pick-up at the beach. However I was only able to pick up my packet and not my mom’s as you need a signed and printed waiver to pick up other people’s waiver. That was my bad as I didn’t read the rules and I wouldn’t hold it against the race but mentioned it just so others are aware. Packet included bib and a nice, pretty colored blue tech shirt. Race morning went pretty smooth. There is free beach parking but it does get a bit congested. My mom got her packet in the morning. There were plenty of porta potties at the start. The race is set up very smart where half marathoners start at 7:30 and 5Kers start the opposite direction at 7:40 so there is very little if any mixing of the races. The start had signs to line up by pace. I was aiming for an under 2:45 finish knowing this was an easier race than yesterday but that my legs were still a little tired so I stuck with the 2:45 pacers. It was nice to have pacers for a race. Everyone seemed to line up well and this is a nice sized race with about 1000ish participants so lots of runners but not too congested. The first about 2 miles were on the main beach street. This part is very similar to Surf City and you can’t really see the beach but you can smell the ocean air, see some wetlands and kind of the cheesy touristy beach stuff. This part is pancake flat and the start was fast as we were going with the wind. Then there is about a mile through a nice neighborhood. There are a few rollers but nothing hard at all and the slight elevation change is nice to work out different muscles. Then it’s another about 3 miles on the main beach road. While this is pancake flat, it was tough this direction due a strong headwind. Then it is about 5 miles through some really, really nice neighborhoods. I mean like ginormous, beautiful mansions including Taylor Swift’s. This part is again not flat but mostly just little rollers. There is one hill called “Watch Hill.” Everyone acted like it was this big monster. It was an absolute joke compared to yesterday. To be fair while it wasn’t very long it was on the steeper side and it occurs at mile 9.5 which I think is the absolute mentally toughest part of a half. I did walk it since my legs were tired but I’m not sure I would have if I didn’t run a half yesterday and I wouldn’t have walked it in a shorter race. The views were amazing at the top. The rest is mostly downhill and then the last mile and half is flat, fast and with the wind down the main street. The course was very well marked and also the areas that were open to traffic had areas coned off for the runners and course marshals on bikes helping to make sure everyone was safe. There were also frequent water stops with cups of water and Nuun and one in the middle with Gu. It was nice to have nutrition on course. Today there were like a million porta potties on the course when I didn’t have to go. Weather was pretty nice. It was a bit hot but not too bad and the biggest issue was the headwind. I actually felt great for this being my second half marathon this weekend and knew I had enough energy to run the last few miles faster than the pace of the 12:45 pacers so I went ahead and killed the last couple miles and actually finished under 2:40 and had negative splits. I would have been happy with my finishing time if I didn’t run a half marathon yesterday and was especially impressed with it given I did. You get the medal at the end which is very nice, big and surf themed. My mom’s 5K medal is a cute little surfboard. For food they had bananas, granola bars, granola and clam chowder. Unfortunately they were out of granola bars and granola when I finished which is my only complaint about the race. Luckily my mom grabbed some for me since I don’t eat clams and bananas don’t sit well with me for some reason. My mom enjoyed the 5K a lot but was disappointed it was broth clam chowder not traditional, cream based New England clam chowder. It is a little congested driving out of the race. Not big deal since there is free beach parking so can’t really complain but plan accordingly. After the race we went back to Mystic and had lunch at Pizzetta which has the absolute best vegan pizza and there are non-vegan options there too and then went to the Mystic Aquarium before heading home. Overall this was an awesome race! I would highly recommend it for Rhode Island and honestly just in general if you are looking for a great race. It is also a fun place for a weekend trip and this is one I would love to do again and was worth the trek!
Maple Leaf Half Marathon & Kotler 5K
Hills, Views & Even a Petting Zoo
Maple Leaf Half Marathon & Kotler 5K
This race is located in Southern Vermont right across the NY state border so it's a pretty convenient race for me. I was looking to run 2 half marathons this … MORE
This race is located in Southern Vermont right across the NY state border so it’s a pretty convenient race for me. I was looking to run 2 half marathons this weekend in lieu of the traditional 20 mile training run in preparation for my upcoming marathon since I don’t really do long runs any more just races. This seemed to be the most convenient race to do before the one I had planned in RI on Sunday. Manchester Vermont is about a 4 hour drive straight East of Rochester. If you run this race, I recommend booking lodging early. I have been waiting about 1 to 2 months before races to book hotels given the uncertainty of things and had very limited options. Pretty much either a cheap motel or a very expensive bed and breakfast. Went the cheaper route which was fine since this was an in and out trip but would have liked a nicer room. There is race day packet pick-up which is great since it’s a Saturday race. The race starts in a park. There is easy parking and packet pick-up was also easy. Packet included bib and technical shirt. The shirt was a nice, red short sleeved shirt. The race started in the park and had a different start and finish and had timing mats at both the start and finish. There is a 5K and a half marathon that start at the same time. This is a mid sized race. This year it was capped at 400 but I don’t think there is usually a lot more than that. This is a nice number to make the race not stressful but also generally be running with people. It was a mass start. The course is mostly a loop through some of the streets around Manchester. Like pretty much all Vermont races, it is very scenic and very hilly. It was nice to do a half that wasn’t just an out and back. The course goes through the charming little downtown, then some mountain and farm views. There were also some cool sites along the course including going past a sculpture garden and my favorite part when we ran right past a petting zoo. I did not actually stop to pet the animals as tempting as it was but they were right by the course and I walked over and said hi and took pictures of the animals lol. I should mention I wasn’t taking this race too seriously since this was the hillier of the doubles so I took it pretty casually. The hills were pretty tough. There was over 800 ft of elevation gain. Not quite the hilliest half I’ve done but it was up there. It was mostly ups and downs but mile 8 to 9 is pretty much all up one giant hill and it’s a slog. The last 4 miles are great though and mostly downhill which is why I rated difficulty 4 not 5 sneakers since the end was nice. Also the weather was absolutely perfect. The course was pretty well marked. There were course marshalls at all the most important intersections but there were a few spots I thought could have used a volunteer and there was one spot I thought could have used a sign. The course was open to traffic. Some of the streets were on the busier side. I was never in danger but I did think there could be cones or signs or something to make it safer and/or give us more space to run. There were mile markers and frequent aid stations. There was no on-course nutrition but this was communicated. I also didn’t see any bathrooms on the course. They said there would be some around the half way point. Maybe I missed them but I had to go and had to wait until I got to the finish line. Finish line is nice with announcer and arch and clock. At the end you get your medal. The medal is okay. It is a wedge and the medals for 2020 (which was virtual), 2021 and 2022 connect. On it’s own it’s not that special and on the smaller side but it does have a nice covered wagon design that is very “Vermonty”. This is a pretty cheap half marathon though so the medal and shirt are fine for the price. My finishing time was okay. I took this race easy and just wanted to run under 3 hours and I did that. I probably could have broke 2:45 if I spent less time looking at the animals at the petting zoo but what’s the fun in that. At the end they had typical race food including bagels, fruit and chips. They also had an ice cream truck where you could buy treats and they were giving samples of a drink called “Tost” which is non-alcoholic champagne alternative. The Tost was good I am going to buy some for New Years. After the race I got a delicious vegan tofu banh mi and an oatmilk latte from Bonnet and Main in the downtown area. The downtown is cute but I had to head to my next destination. Overall this was a very good race. I wouldn’t call it a “must run” but it’s a good choice for Vermont. I wouldn’t go out of my way for this race but it’s on my way to NH and other New England destinations so I’ll likely end up running it again.
Groton Labor Day 5K
Labor Day Family Fun
Groton Labor Day 5K
This is an annual 5K that takes place on Labor Day and is sponsored by and raises money for the Groton High School Cross Country Team. Groton is a small … MORE
This is an annual 5K that takes place on Labor Day and is sponsored by and raises money for the Groton High School Cross Country Team. Groton is a small town outside Ithaca. It is about an hour and 45 minutes from Rochester which is a little far for a 5K but I am on a mission to run 100 races this year and with the delta variant already starting to wreak havoc on my falling racing schedule, I need to do every race I logistically can even if it means driving 3.5 hours total for a low budget 5K. There wasn’t really any pre-race communication but the website was updated with information. Packet pick-up was the morning of the race at the high school. Packet included bib and a grey cotton shirt with the race logo. It’s a very okay shirt but fine for a cheap $18 fundraiser race. I will use it as a pajama top. The start was about 1/4 mile from the school. There was a 1 mile race first at 9am followed by the 5K at 9:30. The 1 miler started by the school and it was mostly adorable little kids. It was a ton of fun to watch them and cheer them on. I think that was the best part of the event. The 5K start was a little past the school. It was just a line in chalk with 5K start written in chalk. Not the best but oh well. This was a very similar course to yesterdays course. A very hilly race through neighborhoods and countryside ending on a high school track. I had bad timing this morning and got paged just as the race started. I spent the first half a mile on the phone and my first mile ended up being about 15 minutes. I spent the rest of the race playing catch-up. The first mile was through neighborhoods. It was fine and there were some spectators. There is a killer hill at the end of the first mile. It was shorter than the one yesterday but much steeper. I doubt many people tried to run it. The second mile had one absolutely beautiful view of the countryside. Then there was a short about 1/2 mile section of rail trail. This was quite pretty and normally would be nice but it was a little annoying as I was behind a bunch of slower runners and kids and it was not the best place to pass people. This would not be an issue if I didn’t lose time from the phone call. The last mile was again through neighborhoods and had some minor hills. You then ran through the school parking lot and onto the track for a fast finish. The course was pretty well marked. There were arrows drawn on the ground at all intersections with chalk and volunteers at most but not all intersections. It was pretty easy to follow but it could have been marked a little better and some signs would have been helpful. There were also a couple water stops with friendly volunteers. Course was open to traffic but there were course marshals and traffic wasn’t an issue except in the parking lot. I was super slow due mostly to spending half of the first mile on the phone so runners were leaving and there was a lot of traffic running though the parking lot. The finish on the track was nice and there was a timing mat at the end. My time was quite awful but if you take away about 4 minutes and use my average pace the last two miles (~ 10 to 11 minute/miles) it wasn’t too bad for the difficulty of the course. This one was actually hillier than yesterday. Again its just a road 5K but definitely a tougher than average road 5K. At the end you are given a finisher ribbon. I like this for a 5K. I don’t necessarily need a medal for every 5K I do and especially a fundraiser 5K but it’s nice to get a little memento and a finisher ribbon seems right for a 5K. There were also water bottles, chocolate milk (yuck!), apples and some delicious homemade baked goods at the finish line. Overall this race was fine and it was a fun morning and it was cute seeing all the families there. It’s not the best produced nor most exciting race but for a fundraiser race sponsored by a school cross country team I thought they did a good job. I can’t say I would definitely drive 3 1/2 hours for this race in a year when I am not trying to run 100 races during a pandemic when I have no idea how many of my Fall races will actually happen and I really hope we are never in this situation again. Still this is one I would recommend to locals and may do again since it’s hard for me to resist a four race weekend and this seems to be the closest race to Rochester on Labor Day Monday.
Oak Tree Half Marathon and 5K
Nut Butter and Rain and Hills
Oak Tree Half Marathon and 5K
This is a race located in Geneseo that takes place the Sunday of Labor Day weekend with a 5K or half marathon option. Geneseo is a cute, little college town … MORE
This is a race located in Geneseo that takes place the Sunday of Labor Day weekend with a 5K or half marathon option. Geneseo is a cute, little college town about 30 minutes south of Rochester. As I am on call this weekend, I chose the shorter 5K distance. There wasn’t a ton of pre-race communication but they did send an email with packet pick-up and race info the week of the race. There was early packet pick-up closer to Rochester on Friday and packet pick-up in Geneseo on Saturday along with race day packet pick-up. I did it race day since I didn’t have time Friday between work and my evening race. Race day packet pick-up is at Geneseo Central School. It is set up so the race festivities are in the middle of the track area and the races ends at he track. Packet pick-up was easy and included bib, shirt and the first 100 people to pick up their packets got some delicious cocoa almond nut butter. Glad I woke up early for that. The shirt is a short-sleeved tech. It is a mustard yellow color with the race logo. It’s not my favorite color but I’ll wear it. One issue with the shirts is they had gender specific shirts but when you registered they just assumed women would want “women-cut” shirts and men would want “men-cut” shirt and didn’t have registrants pick a style. I was handed a women’s medium but asked for a men’s medium instead since I don’t like women’s cut and a women’s medium would be too small and they did give me the shirt I wanted since they were letting people exchange sizes but this could have been avoided by having registrants specify preferred shirt style. There were bathrooms by the track and the line wasn’t bad. The start is about 1/4 mile down the road. The half marathon starts at 8am and the 5K at 8:15 am. The start “line” could have been better. There was no timing mats at the start just a sign that said half marathon start and one that said 5K start. However the lack of a true start corral did allow more room for runners to space out so there was very little time from when the first runner crossed the “start” than the last runner so the lack of timing mats didn’t matter much. The start of the 5K is kind of fun because you got to see the half marathoners running by and can cheer them on before you start. The first mile of the course is mostly flat and relatively fast. It was pouring rain on us while we waited for the 5K to start but it cleared up during the race. I got paged about 1/2 mile in which made my first mile a little slow. The first mile is along the main road. This is a pretty area so it’s quite scenic and then you head downtown. The downtown area is cute. Despite the weather there were some spectators and volunteers cheering us on downtown. Then right after mile 1 there is an absolutely brutal, killer hill. There was no way I was running this entire thing. It was steep and long. My Garmin showed a total elevation of 141 feet and most of it was this hill. But what goes up must come down so the last mile and a half is downhill or flat with just the occasional roller. The half marathon does not go up this hill but I’ve heard there is a different brutal hill for the half. The race also had separate 5K and half marathon mile markers and for the 5K there was a water stop at the halfway mark. At the end of the race you turn back into the school and finish along the track. The end is really nice. It is a fast and fun way to finish. There was a finish arch, timing mats and an announcer who cheered each runner on. My time looks bad but I actually got paged twice on this race and when I wasn’t answering phone calls my pace was good for the difficulty of the race. There are no medals for the 5Kers only for the half marathoners. But that is okay I registered early and registration was only $10. Nut butter and a tech shirt is plenty of swag for $10. The medals for the half seem nice. For post-race food there was fruit, bagels and granola bars. The nut butter on a plain bagel was a delicious breakfast. Overall this was a good race. It is definitely hilly. I mean this is a road 5K so it’s an easy race relative to a marathon or a trail race but this was definitely one of the harder road 5K’s I’ve done. The scenery is quite nice if you like pleasant, country scenery and production was pretty well done with just a few minor things that could be improved. This is one I would do again and if I wasn’t on call would do the half marathon. The half marathon would be a good option for 50 staters who prefer smaller, country races. This is also a convenient race to travel to since it is on a 3 day weekend and has race day packet pick-up. If you do travel to the race definitely go visit the nearby Letchworth State Park. It is amazing!
Webster Trail Classic
Laid Back Race. Nice People. Nice Trail
Webster Trail Classic
This is a trail race produced by Trails ROC and proceeds go to help improve the trails around Rochester. The start in Webster Park where I have done a couple … MORE
This is a trail race produced by Trails ROC and proceeds go to help improve the trails around Rochester. The start in Webster Park where I have done a couple other trail races. There is a 3.5 mile option and a 10 mile option. The 3.5 mile option is just in Webster Park whereas the 10 miler option goes through 3 different parks. While the 10 miler sounds really cool, I was on call this weekend so stuck with the shorter race. There was not much pre-race communication just an email sent pretty late Friday night. Packet pickup was the morning of the race and just included the bib. There was no swag but that’s fine for a race like this. It is a smaller race with about 100 total participants with about 70 doing the 10 miler and 30 doing the 3.5 miler. The whole race was extremely laid back and the people from Trails ROC were very nice and encouraging of athletes of all abilities. This is manually timed and the 10 miler starts at 8am and the 3.5 miler at 9am. We started by some Trials ROC flags and they made a few race announcements and we went. Course was pretty nice. It was a typical relatively tough trail race through the woods. Course was marked very well and it would be hard to get lost unless you weren’t paying attention at all. There was a lot of hills and roots to maneuver around but no killer hills or crazy technical areas. Definitely a tough race but very doable. You definitely want trail shoes if you have them. If you don’t be careful. The trail is pretty like all the trails in Rochester though I don’t think this is the prettiest park. I think I used all my speed yesterday. I mean this was obviously going to be a slower race but I was slower than I expected. I at least finished under an hour. There is no time limit though so this is very walker/hiker friendly. Some folks took over 3 hours for the 10 milers so no pressure to be fast. At the finish line the Trails ROC people cheered everyone on and gave high fives. There was some store bought mini muffins, donut holes and cookies and a cooler with water. Enough to hold me over until after rounds. Overall this was a solid race. If you like laid back trail races this is a good choice for you. It was a nice and tough but doable course. Everyone involved was very nice. This isn’t one I would plan around but I’d do it again if I were in town and if I didn’t have to be on call I would probably do the 10 miler. I’m sure it’s tough but it’d be fun to run through the different parks and as I said before there’s no time limit.
First Responders 5K
Help! I'm on Fire!
First Responders 5K
This is a 5K produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) that takes place annually on the Friday evening of Labor Day weekend. The race is in honor of first responders … MORE
This is a 5K produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) that takes place annually on the Friday evening of Labor Day weekend. The race is in honor of first responders and I really like that the charity helps with PTSD in first responders since mental health is so important. Like most of the YJR events, I got my packet the day before at the store. The packet included the bib and the T-shirt. It is just a cotton shirt but I love the color this year. It is a really pretty teal. The race is located in Webster which is a 20 to 25 minute drive from work. The race starts at 6:30pm so there was plenty of time to get there after work. The race set up was real nice. Along with the starting arch and corral there were a few booths by the local fire companies and an area for selfies and some plastic fire hats with the race logo. Although they are way to small for my big head. I was actually feeling a little off before the race and I had a few pages right before the race since I’m on call this weekend and I thought I was going to have a bad night. But running is weird and as soon as I crossed the timing mat I was on fire and super fast as least super fast for a turtle like me. The course is pretty nice. Not spectacular but through some nice neighborhoods. Nothing super exciting but nothing unpleasant. There were a number of people in their yards cheering on the runners which was nice. Course was very well marked and there were volunteers at pretty much every intersection directing the tiny bit of traffic there was. Apparently one volunteer didn’t show up so one intersection didn’t have a volunteer but the course was so well marked I didn’t notice. There were also mile markers. While it wasn’t a hard course this wasn’t a particularly easy course and it was if anything slightly over 5K making my finishing time more impressive. The second mile was mostly a gradual uphill with one steeper hill. The first and third mile though were flat or mostly downhill. Anyways somehow I was super fast today and averaged an under 10 minute/mile pace. I even ran up the steep hill at a good pace and this was the kind of hill I would walk 90% of the time. I crossed the finish line very impressed with my performance and luckily no pages during the race. In the past there had been medals and I actually have a medal from last year when I did this virtually but this year there was not. It was not advertised that there would be this year. As much as I love medals, I get it. Race companies are all short on money and not giving out medals at the shorter races makes sense. I do hope the medals come back in the future. I was also super excited about the post race food. The had hot dogs and chips and soda and the best part there were veggie dogs!!! I hope this means it is goodbye the the Famous Amos mini chocolate chip cookies I am so sick of I will never be able to eat again. Overall this was a really fun evening race. Production was great, it was a nice course and a fun atmosphere. It also helped that I was super speedy tonight. The only thing that would make this better is bringing back the medals but the shirt was a very nice T-shirt. This is definitely one I will do every year as long as I am not out of town or traveling Friday evening.
Black Diamond Express Half Marathon & 5K
Flat and Very Back of the Pack Friendly
Black Diamond Express Half Marathon & 5K
This is a small half marathon with about 200 participants located in Mendon about 20 minutes from Rochester. There is also a 5K option. Registration was only $50 and this … MORE
This is a small half marathon with about 200 participants located in Mendon about 20 minutes from Rochester. There is also a 5K option. Registration was only $50 and this is definitely about the best half marathon you can get for that price. The race takes place on the Lehigh Valley Trail. The start is at a park by some baseball stadiums. It was easy to get to and they said what to put into your GPS to get there. There were plenty of volunteers to help with parking. Packet pick-up was either Saturday at the Rochester Running Company store or the morning of the race. I was busy Saturday so got it race day morning. Packet pick-up was easy. The bib is personalized and has the race logo. Participants either get a long sleeve cotton shirt or a mug. I got the shirt. It’s not my favorite. it is black with an orange train I just don’t love the color scheme. I’d also prefer a tech shirt but this is a low budget race so it is fine. They did delay the start by 5 minutes to make sure there was enough water set up for the runners since it was a hot morning. This was clearly communicated and I appreciated the effort to keep the runners safe so won’t knock off a sneaker for the late start. About 15 minutes before the race there were pre-race announcements including discussing the course, the trail and honoring a local runner who passed away. That is one of the nice things about a smaller race, this kind of personal touch. The race started exactly at 8:05 (it was supposed to start at 8). One improvement would be an earlier start time as it is not unexpected to be hot at the end of August. Although I didn’t mind not getting up super early. The course is pretty nice. It is again an out and back on a rail trail. Of the rail trail courses I’ve done recently I liked this one the best. The trail is non-technical and well maintained. The scenery is a little monotonous but quite pretty with very little signs of civilization which is how I like a trail course. You do pass by a barn with some horses. There are a number of road crossing but there was plenty of volunteers directing traffic. Aid stations were also quite frequent. There were four of them, 3 you passed twice and one at the half turn around. There was never more than 2 miles between the aid stations. The aid stations had volunteers with cups of water and gatorade. There was plenty of water which was great since the start was about 85 degrees and humid for the first 5 miles. There was additional ice and paper towels at the street crossings if runners needed it. There were not many spectators but at one point the trail goes through a park and a parking lot. While this was the only not scenic part of the trail, there were spectators there along with a few musicians and a sign pointing to the park restroom. This was the only restroom on the course which you passed twice. A few more porta potties and some nutrition at the aid stations could have made this even better but again with the low price of the race I can’t complain about what was offered. As I said initially the race was really hot and humid for about 5 miles. Then it started to downpour for the next mile. Finally at the half turnaround point the rain stopped. There is also a timing mat at the half turn around point so no cheating. The temperature was pretty perfect on the way back but the trail was quite muddy and there were a lot of puddles to maneuver around. The weather woes were why I gave an otherwise easy as possible half marathon two sneakers for difficulty. At the finish line you go through the start/finish arch and over the timing mats and are given your medal. The medal is really nice. It is a ceramic medal with a train on it and the race distance, location and year. My time was quite fast today especially for the weather. I had very even, steady splits and actually ran the entire race with no walking breaks except at the aid stations which is a first for me. However if you are having a bad race day don’t worry there is absolutely no time limit. They also have an optional early start if you are concerned you may be over four and a half hours but will keep the finish line open for everyone regardless of start time. There were plenty of walkers and slower runners behind me and from what I could tell there was still plenty of water and gatorade at the aid station and finish line food left for them. Food was at a picnic area shelter in the park and included granola bars (yay), bananas and a delicious bag of donut holes from Donuts Delite. Not bad for a cheaper, smaller race. The drink selection though was chocolate milk and pickle juice. Yuck. Those would both make me sick so I just had water. Overall I was very impressed with this race. It wasn’t the most exciting or best produced half marathon I have ever done but it was a very well done half marathon for the price. It was definitely in the top half, maybe even top third of half marathon’s I’ve done and is about 1/2 the price of most of them. This is definitely one I will do again and would highly recommend it to locals. It’s not really a destination race and it wouldn’t be my first choice for NY for 50 staters but if it works perfectly with your schedule or especially if you are concerned about time limits definitely consider it.
Run to Remember 5K (NY)
Nice Swag. Not a Memorable Course
Run to Remember 5K (NY)
This was the inaugural year for this 5K produced by Willow Running. It is located in Weedsport NY which is about an hour east of Rochester and benefits the Weedsport … MORE
This was the inaugural year for this 5K produced by Willow Running. It is located in Weedsport NY which is about an hour east of Rochester and benefits the Weedsport fire department. They choose a convenient day for the race since I was planning to actually stay home this weekend and was looking for a short race within driving distance on Saturday. There was Friday packet pick-up but it’s kind of a far drive so I got my packet the morning of the race. Like most Willow Running events, the shirt is nice. There was a choice of a tech tank top or tech tee. I got the tee. This shirt was nice quality and a nice royal blue with the race logo. For better or worse it was not as gaudy as the Earth Day or Montezuma shirt and is definitely one I will wear. This race was manually timed. While it was not a huge race and had about 100-200 runners, I do think the start was too congested for this. I ended up not crossing the start line for about 10 to 15 seconds after they said go. I understand wanting to keep costs low by manually timing especially for a charity race but I think a wider corral area would have been better. The course was very blah but also very flat. It was essentially a lollipop loop where you run the first half on the road and then turn into the canal path for a little under a mile and then converge back on the road. It was an extremely boring course but it was fine. There were trees. It was a hot day though luckily not as hot as Wednesday and the fire department was out spraying participants with water which felt nice. The course was pancake flat. The only slight difficult and what made it not a super fast course though still a fast course was the canal trail section was single track. It was very non-technical but kind of tough to pass people. If the race gets larger it may be best to just do an out and back on the road so there is less congestion on the trail. At the end there is a finish arch and you get a medal. The medal is a nice 5K medal. My time was fine. Not fast but not slow. There was a monster energy water at the end which is my second favorite recovery drink after maple water. There were no snacks directly after the race which was annoying because I was hungry. There was beer and they were working on a BBQ which would have at least had vegetarian sides but it wasn’t ready when I was finished and I had hiking plans that afternoon so I had to leave around 10am and just got food at the Dunkins nearby. I do think since the BBQ wasn’t ready they should have had some kind of snacks. Also more of a schedule would be nice to say when the BBQ would be ready so I could have planned my day better. Still this was a fine race and the swag was pretty nice. Wouldn’t go out of my way for this one but would considering doing again if I am in town during the race.
Graveyard Downhill Mile
All Downhill from here
Graveyard Downhill Mile
This is a downhill one mile race produced by Rochester Running company that takes place in Mount Hope Cemetery on a Thursday night. Usually it takes place in June but … MORE
This is a downhill one mile race produced by Rochester Running company that takes place in Mount Hope Cemetery on a Thursday night. Usually it takes place in June but this year it was held in August. Packet pick-up along with some pre-race running tips and a warm-up was outside the Rochester Running Company store. Packet pick-up was easy and I like that it was outdoors. There is no swag but this only cost $12. I’m not sure if that is the case every year or just this year since this was only announced about a month and a half ago so may not have had time to get the swag. The running store is about 1/2 mile away from the start and we walked up together as a group. A few of the crazy people left early and did some warm up running first. The walk is obviously just about all uphill and you walk to the top of the hill in the cemetery. The Mount Hope cemetery is pretty cool and some pretty awesome people like Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony are buried there but it’s kind of a creepy place for a race. There was a timing mat at the start and finish and we went in waves. There was about 100 participants and we went in self seeded waves of about 25 people. The RD had a megaphone and it was small enough that it worked well. The course is very simple with a steep about 1/4 mile straight down then you continue straight for a gradual downhill then a right turn that is about 1/2 mile gradual downhill. I put a pic of the elevation profile from my Garmin. The start is crazy fast. I went out a little too hard but the whole race is fast. The only downside is you go so fast you can’t really appreciate the surroundings and it’s kind of cool to run through so much history. There were cones marking each 10th of a mile. There was also a nice finish arch. It was not as hot as yesterday though still quite hot. I did not reach my primary goal of under 8 minutes but was happy to have reached my secondary and more reasonable goal in this weather of under 8:30. At the end there was Rita’s frozen ice which was a nice treat. There were also water bottles but they were lukewarm and not refreshing. Afterwards there was a post-race party at a nearby Italian restaurant right by the store. Again about 1/2 mile walk. You had to pay for drinks. The beer was cheap at $3 but the soda was kind of expensive at $2.50 but I wanted something cold so I got a diet coke. They also served some pizza and 3 out of 5 pizzas were vegetarian including a margherita pizza, a white pizza and a veggie pizza. There was also some delicious bruschetta. I liked they we had a reserved outside seating area. I guess there were some timing issues with the wave start and a few peoples chips were read earlier than when the runner started. Mistakes happen and the RD did stop by and ask everyone at the after party what times their watches had to see if the result matched. Mine was correct. He also sent a email promptly thanking us for running and letting us know he was fixing the results. While I’d prefer accurate timing I appreciate the email and personally trying to fix it. This is what an RD should do if there is a mistake. Overall I had a good time with this race and the timing issues didn’t affect me. To make the race a 5 start event along with fixing the timing issues I do think it would be nice if there was a swag item since it is a cool concept with the graveyard. I understand wanting to keep the costs low so maybe a shirt or swag item you can purchase additionally. I also wish it were cooler weather since this would be a very fast course if it were. It be nice to run a fall maybe Halloween addition of this though I do like the late 7pm start time so there is no stress coming from work and it may get dark too early in the fall. I will do this one again.
RUN585 Hot Summer Night 5K
Hot is the correct adjective
RUN585 Hot Summer Night 5K
This was the third and final race in the RUN585 series produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. These are 3 Wednesday evening summer races. The 585 refers to the Rochester area … MORE
This was the third and final race in the RUN585 series produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. These are 3 Wednesday evening summer races. The 585 refers to the Rochester area code. Packet pick-up was either the day before at the store or you could get it race day. I got it the day before and along with bib you got the race beer coozie and a sticker. If you participate in the series you also get a bigger swag item. This year it was a cooler which was picked up at the second race. They continued to do the rolling start format which is a little anti-climatic but very unstressful. This race was also at Genesee Valley Park. It is a different course than the first 5K. Tonight was extremely hot. It was over 90 degrees and very humid. The RD sent an email with heat safety tips. Reminder not to try to PR and reminder to carry water. They also did add a water stop at the halfway mark to help with the heat which was appreciated. I just walked to the race after work and went. The course is pretty nice. Luckily most of it is shaded. It is pretty flat except for some bridges. This one is a little tougher than the first 5K because it goes over the evil bridge. I walked anything that had any incline given the heat tonight but when I ran the course “virtu-really” last year in cooler weather I ran all but the evil bridge. Course was really well marked. Also the water which was in a cooler with cups placed by it was super cold and refreshing and very appreciated. While the start and the race itself are a little anti-climactic with the rolling start the finish line is set up really nice. I was expectedly slow given the extreme heat but did reach my goal of under 36 minutes which I thought was a decent time for me given the weather. There is your bag of the same snacks along with my final “5” medal to complete the 585 set. There was also coke and non-alcoholic beer. The coke was ice cold and so nice. You were able to stay and hang around but I had plans after so I left. Overall this is a fun series. I’m glad they held it this year. I will definitely participate next year as long as I am in town. I hope that things are back to normal so it can have a mass start and a BBQ at the end but I enjoyed the series even with the modified format.
Roots ‘N Road
Roots 'N Road 'N Mud
Roots ‘N Road
This is a half trail half road race in Mendon Ponds Park produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. This is my second year doing this race. Last year I did the … MORE
This is a half trail half road race in Mendon Ponds Park produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. This is my second year doing this race. Last year I did the 3 miler. This year I was also on call but as I am more used to running on call now I chose the longer 5 miler. Packet pick-up was offered the day before or the morning of the race. I got it before. It had the bib which is a different color for each distance and there is a cotton shirt. It is the same design as last year but a different color. This year is denim blue. It’s a fine shirt but nothing special. This year there was a mass start at 9am which made it a little more exciting. However it was pouring rain during the race. As the name suggests this is a mix of road and trail. It starts on about 1/2 mile of road, then a little under a mile of pretty flat not too technical trail then another bit on road then at the half way point it gets kind of crazy with a big hill. For the 3 miler once you are up this hill you are done with hills but for the 5 miler after the hill there is a downhill section then the 3 and 5 mile courses diverge and you go up another hill for the 5 miler. After this there is a bit of downhill trail. Then more road then the same annoying last mile mostly on grass. Course is extremely well marked with signs, pink flags and volunteers at most intersections. This year with the rain it was super muddy so there was a lot of puddles to avoid. Otherwise most of the trail is pretty well maintained. Trail shoes were very helpful today with the mud but not completely necessary. You are cheered on by the RD at the finish line and given a water bottle and the same old snacks I am sick of. I now have the world’s largest supply of Famous Amos bags of mini chocolate chip cookies to hold me over if I ever have to self quarantine. My time was slow because I had to take a few phone calls so hard to judge. Overall I liked the 5 miler more than the 3 miler. It is definitely tougher as the extra trail portions they added was tough but the additional 2 miles were either trail or road so the grass portion is a much lower percent of the race compared to the 3 miler. This is a fun course if you are a hybrid road/trail runner like me or if you are curious about trail running. I’m sure I will do it again.
Pound the Ground 5K
Good Race But Not My Night
Pound the Ground 5K
This is a 5K that takes place on the roads of Mendon Pond Parks on a Wednesday evening that raises money to help veterans. My only complaint is when I … MORE
This is a 5K that takes place on the roads of Mendon Pond Parks on a Wednesday evening that raises money to help veterans. My only complaint is when I signed up for the race it said the time was 6:30PM. However when I checked the race page yesterday to make sure I had all the details it said race time was at 6pm. I have no idea when it changed. It is about a 25 minute drive to Mendon Pond from work and I am on call this week so the 6pm start was super tight and I’m not 100% sure I would have signed up. I mean I probably would have but I would have been more mentally prepared for the tight schedule. Luckily packet pick-up was offered the day before and included a fine navy blue cotton T-shirt along with the bib. Work was a mess today and I ended up leaving around 5:20 and got to the race about 10 minutes before the start. I had no time to do any of my pre-race routine which just threw me off. The start area was nice with a start/finish arch and lots of booths to look around at if you had time which I didn’t. I pretty much immediately went to the start line. Then I got paged literally just as the race started so all my pre-race adrenaline got wasted since I almost immediately needed to walk and take a phone call. This start completely threw off my race and I could not get in a rhythm so my time was terrible but I won’t let that affect my race rating. The actual race was quite scenic as Mendon Ponds Park is very pretty especially with a nice view of the lake. The course was an out and back. It was super hilly with a mostly downhill first half and a mostly uphill second half which was not very nice. It was one of the toughest road 5Ks I’ve done. It was chipped time and you crossed the timing mat at the start and finish. Timing was done by Yellow Jacket Racing so it was precise and results posted right away. For post race snacks they had some chips, bananas, regular bottled water and interesting Karma Wellness Water (good but not as good as the Maple water they had at some Millennium events). I couldn’t stay too long after the race but I did look around a bit after and got my additional swag bag. Swag was very nice with small things like chapstick and beer coozies but also a hat and a dog tag with the race name instead of a medal which was a nice and appropriate sized memento. I thought this was a well done race. I didn’t love the course elevation profile and I personally had a rough start though mostly not the races fault except the confusion over the time. I’d do this one again but maybe only if I’m not on call to avoid the stress of getting there at 6pm.
Stan’s Donut Race
Donut Stop!
Stan’s Donut Race
My dad and I are visiting Chicago for non-running reasons this weekend but of course we were going to find a race while we are here. By luck the Stan's … MORE
My dad and I are visiting Chicago for non-running reasons this weekend but of course we were going to find a race while we are here. By luck the Stan’s Donut 5K took place while we were visiting since my dad love Stan’s Donuts which is a Chicago donut chain. The race had excellent and frequent but not excessive pre-race communication. Packet pick-up was either Thursday or Friday before the race at a local running store or you could do it race morning. We arrived in Chicago Friday morning and got our packets Friday evening. It was easy and packet included a nice, very pink donut themed tech shirt along with bib and some coupons. The race takes place at Montrose Harbor by Lake Michigan. Just a warning there is a not an easy way to get there by public transportation. The closest bus stop was about 1 mile away so we took an uber since we didn’t have a car. There seemed to be plenty of parking if you do drive to the race. The race area was set up nice with separate start and finish lines and a few booths, some games and bouncy houses for kids, and blow-up donuts for selfies and pictures. The race had waves every 3 minutes. They assigned you a wave based on predicted finishing time. The race was chipped time with mat at start and finish so it didn’t matter when you started for your time. The RD was very funny and interactive at the start line. The first few waves did seem to just be the fast runners but no one seemed to be following the assigned waves after that. That’s my only production critique is they could have done a better job separating the waves by pace but at the same time it was kind of nice to have it more laid back. I started somewhere in the middle around when I was assigned and I passed a lot of slower runners and walkers. However the waves did space everyone out perfectly and the course was wide so it was not hard to pass people. The course was nice around the harbor. The weather was absolutely perfect. There was some pretty lake views and some nice city views. Some views were just plain park views but nothing was unpleasant. Course was well marked and super fast. It was flat but not quite pancake flat with some very minor inclines and declines which is generally the best elevation profile for me. There were 2 water/donut stations at miles 1 and 2 where they had mini donuts and cups of water. I decided to go for the mini donuts. The first one was glazed and it was delicious and the second was cinnamon sugar and it was somehow even better. Was it a good idea to eat the donuts? That depends…if you want to have as much fun and fully experience the race as possible go for it but if you want the fastest time possible and to avoid stomach cramps it’s not the best idea. I was super fast today except for stopping to eat the donuts and did develop stomach cramps around mile 2.25 but it was worth it. I powered through to have a fast finish even with eating the donuts. At the finish line you get your donut themed medal which is very nice for a 5K. Participants also get a free delicious donut. There is also cold brew coffee and Reign energy drink so plenty of caffeine. Overall this was a well organized, really fun 5K with great swag and delicious donuts. Definitely a race I would recommend and I would do again if I happened to be in Chicago.
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Black Creek Park
Heat & Hills & Bugs
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Black Creek Park
This was the third and what appears to be the final dirt cheap trail race this year. This are laid back Wednesday evening trail races produced by Yellow Jacket Racing … MORE
This was the third and what appears to be the final dirt cheap trail race this year. This are laid back Wednesday evening trail races produced by Yellow Jacket Racing that take place in various parks in the Rochester region. This one took place at Black Creek Park. This was my firs time at this park. These are dirt cheap so there is no swag but registration is under $20. They continued to use the rolling start format for this race which is convenient and easy but not that exciting. There was a rolling start from 5 to 6. There was only race day packet pickup until 5:45. Luckily I got out of work on the earlier side so it was very stress free. The rolling start not that exciting but the RD is there to cheer you on and give some course info. It was very hot today at around 90 degrees and I was surprised that even though I took Tuesday off I felt much more sore and stiff today than Monday. As a result I mostly hiked this race and took it very easy. I did run the first quarter mile or so and then you get to this sledding hill which is pretty steep and brutal. Afterwards the next mile and a half or so were really nice on some very wide, well groomed trails. This was quite runnable though I walked anything with any bit of an incline tonight. The next 2 miles or so are more technical single track trail although nothing in this race was that technical. It was definitely the least technical dirt cheap course I’ve done. I actually enjoyed this section the best and ran some it. Ugh then around mile 4 it is really cruel, you can hear the finish line music but you have to go up the hill again and then about another half mile or so through the woods. It was also really buggy. Between tonight and Monday I am basically one giant bug bite. The finish area has music and you are handed some much needed water and the same old snacks we always get. This was actually a really fun course and it was mostly runnable except the hill you do twice. I would like to do this course in cooler weather when I am feeling better as I think I could have a much faster time.
Bond Lake AC Rut Race
RFT - Really Fun Terrain
Bond Lake AC Rut Race
I will admit I wasn't really looking forward to a RUT (Really Unpleasant Terrain) Race a day after the Rut Challenge but if you haven't been reading my reviews I … MORE
I will admit I wasn’t really looking forward to a RUT (Really Unpleasant Terrain) Race a day after the Rut Challenge but if you haven’t been reading my reviews I am trying to run 100 races this year and with the uncertainty of the Delta variant I am trying to squeeze in as many races this summer as possible in case any fall races get canceled or postponed. Luckily this was not Really Unpleasant Terrain but Really Fun Terrain. This race was held on a Monday evening in Lewiston, NY which is past Buffalo and nearly an hour and a half drive from Rochester. Luckily the race started at 7pm so I could get there after work. The race was super cheap. Under $20. There was no swag though but can’t complain when a race costs this little. There was absolutely no pre-race communication. There may have been one of those kind of generic RunSignUp emails about a price increase but that was it. The website had limited information. Basically just the address and a brief description of the race. I had no idea what to expect. I was driving so far I was really hoping there was going to be a race. Luckily as soon as I got to the address I saw runners. Bib pick-up was under a shelter in the Bond Lake Park. It was easy as this was a small race with about 50 participants. This was described as a European Cross Country course. I had no clue what that meant and just really hoped it didn’t mean a ton of hills. The start was at a field. There was no real start line. We just lined up and went but maybe that is European Cross Country style? Anyways I was pleasantly surprised by how not unpleasant the course was especially since it was 90 degrees and I ran a half marathon yesterday and a 5K and a 10K the day before that. The course was a really fun mix of terrain, a small bit gravel road, some well trimmed grass in a meadow, and some more typical dirt trail. There was the occasional muddy section but it really wasn’t much. There was the occasional root or rock but again nothing too bad. It was the perfect terrain for a bit of a challenge but not too much of a challenge. And as trail is easier on the joint the perfect terrain for my sore joints. There were two hills in this meadowy area with 125 feet of elevation gain total. It was not bad at all. I did walk the hills because it was 90 degrees and I ran a ton this weekend but if it were cooler out and I hadn’t just run a half marathon yesterday I think I could have run the entire course without a walking break. If you are used to road races this would be hard but if you are used to trail races this would be easy so I just marked it’s difficulty in the middle. I had trail shoes but it’d be fine with road shoes. The course was very scenic with some nice views of the lake and extremely well marked. The worst part of the course was the bugs. I was eaten alive. The end had a timing mat and it was chipped timed. I thought my time was good given the terrain, the 90 degree weather and the number of miles I’ve done the 2 days before. You were given a water bottle at the finish. Back at the shelter area there was pizza and soda. And yay this time they had cheese pizza! Overall I surprisingly really, really enjoyed this race despite my sore legs. I thought the course was so much fun and definitely not unpleasant. I am 100% sure my race on Wednesday will be much harder than this. This race was a bit of a drive but it was worth it. I would do this race again as long as it works with my schedule and would recommend it.
Run for the Elk Race Festival
No Elks but there were Slushies!
Run for the Elk Race Festival
This is a race in "Elk Country" PA which is a 2.5 to 3 hours straight shot south of Rochester, NY. It is produced by Schuykill River Runners. I chose … MORE
This is a race in “Elk Country” PA which is a 2.5 to 3 hours straight shot south of Rochester, NY. It is produced by Schuykill River Runners. I chose this race since it was the closest half to Rochester this weekend, I love animals and was hoping to see some elk and they offered the Rut Challenge which consists of the 5K and 10K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday. The Rut challenge allowed me to compete my “triple triple” or 3 races in a weekend 3 weekends in a row. There was very good pre-race communication included updates on course changes and shirt deadlines along with the regular race info. Logistics, this race is kind of in the middle of nowhere. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in St. Mary, PA. St. Mary appeared to be the closest lodging but it was about 30 minutes from the race. The only elk I saw during my trip was on my drive to the half marathon in the morning even though I spent a good couple hours Saturday looking for them. Packet pick-up was easy. I got my packet Saturday morning before the 5K. It is one bib for the entire weekend. Packet also included a race shirt. The shirt is a really nice short-sleeve tech shirt. I absolutely love the color. It is a teal green. I will definitely wear it. You also got drink tickets for both days and a meal ticket for after the half. This year all 3 races were an out and back on a rail trail in Emporium. The plan was originally for the half to be an out and back on this trail. In the past based on the description on Race Raves I think the half used to be point to point. I don’t know what the plan is for future races. I really liked how they did the start of the race. It started at 7am which I think was the perfect time to start as weather wasn’t too hot yet but allowed time for travel since most of the hotels were further away. They did a mass start but this was chipped timed and kept the start line open for 5 minutes for people who weren’t yet comfortable with a mass start. To me this is the perfect way to start a race right now. The start line had a timing tent and music but there wasn’t a start/finish arch. The race was the same out and back as before. Of the 3 out and back races I did recently, this was the least scenic but had the best maintained and easiest to run trail. The first mile is extremely unscenic passed some industrial metal company. The rest of the trail is more scenic but one side there is a road visible most of the trail. When I run on a trail whether a flat rail trail or a technical trail, I want to see as little signs of civilization as possible so I didn’t love the views of the road. The other side of the trail was decently scenic after your passed the metal company with views of the woods and creek. After the 10K turnaround point, the road disappeared for most the trail and it was more scenic hence I gave the half marathon the highest marks for scenery. I did not see any elk on the course although the elk I spotted on my drive there was near the course so it would be possible. I did see some cute ducks and chickens. The course was as easy as possible and great for a multi race weekend. As I said the gravel was well maintained, easy on the joints and there were no rocks to trip on. The first half is a gradual, barely perceptible incline and the second half a gradual, barely perceptible downhill just how you want a course. There is also a 5 hour time limit so in that aspect it is very walker friendly. However there were some productions flaws. Some were a little out of the race company’s control. Apparently someone stole the mile markers at a previous race (what is wrong with humanity?) so they had to do some makeshift mile markers and some were just spray painted on the ground. They did apologize for this. But my biggest complaint of the race and it is a big one is in their control. It is the aid stations. They said there would be aid stations every 2 miles with gatorade at one of them. They did encourage you to bring your own hydration but did not say it was necessary. Luckily I started to always bring my handheld water bottle even when it doesn’t seem necessary because their descriptions of the aid stations were not correct. There was an aid station at mile 0.5/12.6 (which is about the most useless spot for an aid station), another at mile ~3/10 and then there wasn’t one for 3.5 miles until the half turn around. Another issue is the aid stations were completely unmanned. I think there may have been issues getting volunteers since they posted multiple times about needing them but still. It was just cups of water left out. When I passed the 3 mile aid station the first time I saw there were not many cups left and was concerned they might run out. At the half turnaround there did seem to be enough water cups and there was some extremely watered down gatorade. Given my suspicion the aid station in the middle would be out of water, I filled my water bottle to the brim at the half turnaround point. Luckily I did since the aid station was indeed out of water. I am on the slower side but as this is a walker friendly race about 25% of the race field finished behind me so at least 25% and I’m guessing more like half the racers had no water for 6 miles. A lot of people didn’t have water bottles. This does not seem safe for a summer race. The lack of volunteers and support staff on the course also didn’t seem very safe. It got very hot at the end and I had to conserve my water to make it last 6 miles. I had cramping at mile 11 and had to walk quite a bit then and was very happy to finish under 2:45 which was a pretty good finishing time for the conditions and how many racing miles I have under my legs from the past 5 weeks. The RD at the end was extremely nice though and commented on my half fanatics shirt and chatted a bit. The medals are excellent and Elk theme and I got my half medal and a separate rut challenge medal. Right at the finish line there were some water bottles, fruits and chips. They were out of granola bars when I finished. Then a block away you could redeem your food and beverage tickets. There were breakfast sandwiches and I was very happy they had a clearly labeled meat free egg and cheese option. There were also vegan options which were just plain bagels but at least they offered something for vegans. I did see a spectator in a PETA (People Eating Tasty Animal) shirt so this isn’t exactly vegan country. I’m going to say I chose an egg and cheese over the plain bagel in case there were any strict vegans who hadn’t finished to make sure they got something as there were only 2 vegan options on the table and a ton of egg and cheese options and not because egg and cheese sounded tastier than a plain bagel. I also loved the drink options. They had wine slushies for the alcoholic option and they also had a choice of gatorade or coffee slushies for non-alcoholic options. Loved that they had fun non-alcoholic drinks! I tried one each day and both were delicious and refreshing though the coffee one was a little sweet for my taste. Overall there were some things I really enjoyed about this race mainly the challenge option, the swag and the non-alcohol and vegetarian food and drink options but the production issues were pretty big in my opinion and I have a hard time highly recommending this race as a result.
Run for the Elk Race Festival
Second Part of Rut Challenge
Run for the Elk Race Festival
I ran the 10K as part of the Rut challenge (5K + 10K + half marathon). The 10K started at 8am on Saturday one hour after the 5K. This was … MORE
I ran the 10K as part of the Rut challenge (5K + 10K + half marathon). The 10K started at 8am on Saturday one hour after the 5K. This was the perfect amount of time between races for me so I could have time to use the restroom, fill up my water bottle and stretch a little bit but not so much time that my body got stiff from waiting. It also allowed walkers to be able to finish. The RD seemed very relaxed and easy going which is I think part of the reason why production was so-so. I’d imagine if the 5K took you a little longer than an hour, they would let you start late so I wouldn’t let concern about finishing in an hour deter you from the challenge. This was the same rail trail as the other 2 races but again initially was supposed to be at Parker Dam. It was more scenic than the 5K and less scenic than the half marathon. They said there would be 2 aid stations but there was just the useless one at the 0.5 mile mark. My water bottle is generally big enough to last a 10K exactly so I was fine but if I didn’t have it it would have been tough. My goal was for this to not be my slowest road 10K and I succeeded at that. The medal is the same Smokey the bear medal but it has a different ribbon and the ribbon does say the distance. At the end there was water, fruit, granola bars and chips and you could redeem your drink ticket for a slushie.
Run for the Elk Race Festival
First Part of Rut Challenge
Run for the Elk Race Festival
I did the 5K as part of the Rut Challenge (5K+10K+half marathon). More race specifics are in my half marathon review. The 5K and the 10K were initially supposed to … MORE
I did the 5K as part of the Rut Challenge (5K+10K+half marathon). More race specifics are in my half marathon review. The 5K and the 10K were initially supposed to take place at Parker Dam but due to overcrowding at the Dam, it was switched to the rail trail in Emporium where the half was. The 5K started at 7am which was perfect as it was not hot yet. The 5K was extremely not scenic mostly going passed a metal company but it was easy-peasy. I purposefully took it easy. I was aiming for under 35 minutes but ran 35 exactly. The medal was a cute Smokey the Bear medal. I’m not completely sure how it relates to the elk theme but it was cute and nice sized. I do think the initial location would have been better as I got really sick of seeing that metal company building 6 times. The production issues of the half really didn’t affect the shorter races. There was one pretty pointless water stop at the 0.5 mile mark but on Saturday it was manned by an extremely friendly volunteer.
GLOW Corporate Cup
Great Local 5K!
GLOW Corporate Cup
This is a 5K located in Batavia, NY between Rochester and Buffalo. It is mostly local business joined as teams but there is also individual registration. The teams set up … MORE
This is a 5K located in Batavia, NY between Rochester and Buffalo. It is mostly local business joined as teams but there is also individual registration. The teams set up their own tents and have barbeques, etc. This race was on Thursday evening at 6pm. It was a bit of a tight drive getting there since Batavia is about 40 minutes from Rochester but luckily at least right now I am mostly working from home on Thursdays so could leave at exactly 5pm. Yellow Jacket Racing helped with the production of this event so production was of course excellent. Packet included a nice navy blue tech shirt and a cup and a really cute, pig ice pack sponsored by some local businesses. The course is point to point but kind of a loop. It is a really smart course where the start is at the top of a hill and the finish line is about 1/4 mile away from the start before the start of the hill. This race had a mass start and there was no starting mat but there was some start flags and music and it was an exciting start. It is a popular race with about 500 participants. The course is designed very smart as I said. The first 1/4 miles or so is fast and downhill and the rest pancake flat. There were maybe 2 little bumps with a total of 22 feet elevation gain. Course scenery was as good as expected for a small town race. The roads were closed through this race and it went through some of the neighborhoods, a few nice buildings and past a baseball stadium in Batavia. Nothing spectacular but not boring. There were mile markers including a clock at each mile which was a nice touch along with 2 water stops. Lots of extras for a little, local 5K. Finish arch is nice and big and there is a timing mat at the end. The RD from YJR cheered me on and joked about how long it had been since she’s seen me since I did a fun run with them 2 days ago. I was really fast tonight and much faster than yesterday even though it was hotter. The flat course and exciting energy really helped. The end is a big party atmosphere. I did have to leave pretty early as it’s a bit of a drive so couldn’t fully enjoy the party but it seemed fun. This was an excellent local 5K. It probably had about the best production I’ve seen in a 5K. I just wish it was closer or they started it a little later like 6:30 as I am not sure I would make it on time if I was not working from home the day of the race. If the logistics works with my schedule I would definitely do this one again.
Young and Wyld 5K
Only Pepperoni Pizza made me Hangry!
Young and Wyld 5K
This is a Wednesday evening 5K that is located in Honeoye Falls which is about a 20 minute drive from Rochester. It benefits Young Life which is a organization that … MORE
This is a Wednesday evening 5K that is located in Honeoye Falls which is about a 20 minute drive from Rochester. It benefits Young Life which is a organization that provides activities, etc for teens. The race starts at 7pm which is nice so there was no stress getting there out of work. It starts in downtown Honeoye Falls and there was lots of parking. There was very limited bathrooms in the next door city hall. They should have had a few porta potties too. Packet pick-up was easy and included bib and shirt. The shirt is a fun tie-dyed T-shirt though not as fun as the tie-dyed shirt from the Earth Day Race I did. The race start was kind of a mess. The start was just drawn in chalk and at first everyone was at the finish line. It was chipped timed at the end but not the start. The course was quite nice. It went through downtown, passed by some water falls, went through some suburbs and farmland. Quite a diverse course for just 3.1 miles. It was moderately hilly but nothing crazy. There was a water stop in the middle. The course was easy to follow with volunteers and signs at all the turns. However it was open to traffic and while there wasn’t a ton of traffic there was some and there were no cones or signs announcing the race. I thought it could have been safer in that aspect. I ran this at a training pace since I am doing more races than training runs this month in my quest for 100 so my time was a little slow. The finish line had an arch and timing mat. At the end there was pizza, fruit and root beer floats. Since this race had a late start I was starving and couldn’t wait for pizza but when I got to the pizza there was only pepperoni and it was not because I was a slow turtle they only ordered pepperoni. I was so annoyed. I mean I understand you can’t cater to everyone and like gluten-free vegan pizza may be too much (although if you want to impress me with your post race food definitely serve gluten-free vegan pizza) but like I just wanted regular cheese. I was very surprised there was no cheese pizza. I can’t imagine anyone who would prefer pepperoni pizza would be particularly disappointed by cheese while there are people like me who don’t eat meat who are very, very disappointed by not serving cheese pizza and will take a sneaker off your race review. Also cheese pizza is cheaper. I did have some watermelon and a root beer float but I was still starving and had to run errands after this race. Ugh. Anyways it was a nice course and production was adequate. I am just still annoyed about the only pepperoni pizza. I’ll probably do this race again since its a weeknight and close by but I’ll remember to take snacks in case they don’t have vegetarian food again.
Summer Georgetown 5K, 10K & Half
Convenient way to check off DC
Summer Georgetown 5K, 10K & Half
This is another event I did with Bishop's Event. They produce low key races throughout the DC region and usually produce multiple races every weekend. This is the 5th race … MORE
This is another event I did with Bishop’s Event. They produce low key races throughout the DC region and usually produce multiple races every weekend. This is the 5th race I’ve done with them. They aren’t the most exciting races but are super convenient and production is always adequate. For the 50 state half marathon club, it is not required but you can as a bonus do 50 states + DC. Since DC is pretty close to me and I enjoy visiting there and the only local races I could find were all short, I thought this would be a good weekend to check off DC. I stayed in Arlington, VA which was about a 10 minute drive to the race and convenient. My probably biggest complaint is I had trouble finding the race in the morning. It is on the C&O towpath and is kind of “below” the city. I put in the address the suggested but my car got me above the race and I couldn’t figure out how to get down. I drove around a bit and did find free street parking right across from Georgetown cupcake. I then wondered around and eventually found my way down to the race. There seemed to be parking below in the canal area but I have no idea how to get there so I may just drive to Georgetown Cupcake next time. Packet pick-up was easy and included a nice royal blue tech shirt. The race went off in small waves of about 20 to 30 participants which spread things out well. There were about 100 half marathoners total. I was very worried about running a race in DC in the summer. I thought it would probably be 90+ degrees and super humid. Luckily these Bishop Event’s have no time limit so if that did happen, it wouldn’t be a big deal I would just walk a lot. However we really lucked out today. It was very rainy on my drive and at packet pick up but during the race itself it was just drizzly and in the 70s. Other than a little bit humid, it was as good of weather as you could ask for in DC in early August. The race is an out and pack on the towpath. This course was fine but not nearly as scenic as the course in Potomac, MD on the towpath they use which is why I rated it one less sneaker. Production was fine and similar to the Fallen Soldier Race. All the important production things such as accurate distance and timing, water stops, clearly marked turn arounds were there. But some of the other stuff you expect from a bigger race such as mile markers, nutrition on course, porta potties, medical were missing. There were 5 water stops and you passed by 4 twice so nine total. Half had gatorade, half just water. No gels or food. The scenery along the towpath was peaceful but a little boring and kind of swampy at the end. I saw a few turtles and some ducks but not as many animals as Maryland. The course is very flat. It is dirt trail and it was not particularly rocky. Luckily I managed to avoid injury. It’s a fast course. I was a little slow, since I am still taking it easy for my ankle and I felt my ankle a little at the end of the race but finished under 2:45 which is what I was aiming for. The medal is not the best but Bishop’s medals never are. It is on the better side for their medals. For post race snacks there were bags of chips and other snacks. I made the mistake of not taking anything since I was obviously going to Georgetown Cupcakes. And while the cupcakes were delicious (and they have a vegan option!), there was a large line so I was starving. I wish I ate a few chips before waiting in line. Overall this is a fine race. It’s not the most exciting race in the world, but if you are looking for a convenient way to check off DC I would look into these Bishop’s Events. They use this course quite frequently and I’m sure you can easily find a double weekend with a Virginia or Maryland race if you are a 50 state + DCer.
Run the Vineyards Crow Vineyard 5K
Nothing to "Wine" About Here
Run the Vineyards Crow Vineyard 5K
I have plans for a half marathon in DC on Sunday so I was looking for other races to do on my trip and saw this was an evening race … MORE
I have plans for a half marathon in DC on Sunday so I was looking for other races to do on my trip and saw this was an evening race on Saturday in Maryland which meant I could do another 3 race weekend! This race is located at Crow’s Vineyard in Maryland and part of the Run the Vineyard series by the race company Good Day for a Run. There was adequate pre race communication. Packet pick up was the day of. I was very excited that when turning into the Vineyard you are greeted by some adorable cows. I ignored the sign that read “grass fed Angus beef” next to them and am going to pretend no one would hurt those beautiful creatures. Packet pick up included bib, shirt and any add ons. If you wanted a medal you had to purchase it. I obviously did this. The medal was big and very nice but just said “Run the Vineyards” and not specifically Crow Vineyard but did have the year. My only complaint about the race is a pretty minor one about the race shirts. The shirts are very nice quality tech shirts with the specific Crow Vineyard name and the year on the shirt. My complaint is that like usual I ordered a men’s medium since I prefer men’s cut shirts but the “women’s” shirts were a really pretty purple and the “men’s” shirts were a very boring gray. Ugh so gender-normative! Everyone should get pretty purple or maybe a choice of cut and color. Anyways my boring, gray shirt does fit exactly how I like so I will wear it but I’d prefer purple. While waiting for the race to start I explored the Vineyards and by explore I mean looked for farm animals. There was a cute barn cat along with some miniature horses along with the lovely cows. The race had a mass start but was chipped time with the same timing mat for the start and finish. There was a short pre race announcement and we went. The course was described very well as a flat, “cross-country” style course that was well maintained. We ran between the vines in the Vineyard and also through fields of corn. It was quite scenic though not as scenic as the Vineyard race I did in the Fingerlakes but this course had many farm animal sightings so I gave them both 5 sneakers for scenery. This was also much more scenic that that terrible Virginia Wine Country Race. Unlike the race in the Fingerlakes, this was impeccably well marked. There were signs, cones, tape, volunteers and pretty much everything possible to ensure no one got lost. It was kind of a confusing course so this was great. It was kind of a figure 8 and there was a water stop with cups of water you passed twice. Terrain was well maintained. A few parts were a little lumpy, bumpy but nothing very technical. There was also a small section on the road. Also the course was about exactly 3.1 miles! This is the first alcohol themed race I’ve done that was actually measured properly. I was impressed I finished in under 36 minutes since it was my second race of the day and I was running pretty carefully to avoid twisting my ankle and stopped several times to take animal pics. At the end you got a nice wine glass. Participants got a free pour of wine in their glass to try. I didn’t try any since I don’t drink alcohol. They also had either a beef sandwich or cheese platter you could purchase. The beef sandwiches made me very sad. The cheese platter also contained meat but they were very nice and made me a special meat-free, vegetarian cheese platter. Overall this was a great race. This may have been my favorite 5K I’ve done and I’ve done a lot of them. This race company does a bunch of these Run the Vineyard races in the Mid-Atlantic region and I definitely plan to do more. If you are looking for a wine themed race near DC definitely choose this one or another of this series over the absolutely terrible Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon I did in May.
Christmas in July 5K & Reindeer Relay
Fine little race
Christmas in July 5K & Reindeer Relay
I had plans to go to Maryland and DC this weekend and wanted to drive halfway on Friday. I looked for Saturday morning 5Ks in between Rochester and Maryland and … MORE
I had plans to go to Maryland and DC this weekend and wanted to drive halfway on Friday. I looked for Saturday morning 5Ks in between Rochester and Maryland and found this one. This is a small race with just over 100 participants that benefits a local cross country team. The entire race is located in Kirby Park. There was good pre race communication with an email 10 days before the race and an email with final details right before. This was professionally timed by Second Wind Timing. Race morning very easy with plenty of parking and porta potties in the park. Bib pickup easy and also included the race shirt and some coupons to local places. The shirt is a navy T-shirt. It has a nice design. The swag isn’t super exciting but more than adequate for a $15 race. The race started at 8am but it was an open course and you had to finish by 10am. I would say at least half the participants started at 8am so it was a somewhat exciting start. The course was very blah just through the park. It was a pretty nothing park although not unpleasant. It was not a hard course. Almost all was paved. There were no true hills but 4 kind of inclines. Course was marked pretty well with arrows and it was pretty obvious where to go but it definitely could have been marked better. This was my first run since the Kinzua Half marathon so I could heal my ankle so I was a little rusty and also looking to avoid aggravating my ankle again so I took the race easy and walked the inclines but I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t recently injured and I wasn’t running 2 more races this weekend. There was a water stop halfway but it was just someone handing out little water bottles so I didn’t take one. I was aiming to finish around 34 minutes and that’s what I did. They had an area at the finish line where you could punch in your bib number and it printed results. There was a very nice selection of post race snacks including 2 or 3 different types of granola bars along with chips, cookies and fruit snacks. I also liked that the timing company emailed your finisher certificate and your finishing time very promptly only about an hour after the race was done. Overall this was a fine race. There was nothing particularly special about it but it did what it needed to in my quest for 100 races. I doubt I will do this race again but it’s a fine race for locals or if you happening to be traveling through PA like I was.
Kinzua Half Marathon & 5K
Trailier than Advertised
Kinzua Half Marathon & 5K
This is a half marathon produced by Wolf Creek Track Club located in Kinzua Bridge State Park in Northwest PA. It is directly south of Buffalo, just passed the NY … MORE
This is a half marathon produced by Wolf Creek Track Club located in Kinzua Bridge State Park in Northwest PA. It is directly south of Buffalo, just passed the NY state border. I chose this race since it was one of the closer half marathons this weekend to me and I liked that the 5K was the evening before so I could do the challenge and not need a hotel Friday since it is over a 2 hour drive from Rochester so would be a little far to drive for a morning race without getting a hotel. My biggest complaint about the race is the lack of pre-race communication. The website though is quite detailed. However they only sent one email out the day before the race. It would have been nice to have gotten the “our race is approved” email and maybe an update 1 to 2 weeks before and an update when the packets were sent. Also as you will see later in my review there was not enough details about what the course was like. For better or worse there were a lot of covid protocols in place. Now that I am vaccinated, I am pretty comfortable without all the protocols but I understand why a race would keep them since some people may not be comfortable without the protocols yet. The race packet was mailed. It included the shirt, a drawstring bag and the medal was also mailed. The shirt is a forest green short sleeved tech shirt with the race logo. It is a little plain but nice enough. The drawstring bag is just a generic one from the race company but its good to get extra swag. The medal is beautiful, nice quality and really big. However as I stated before in my 5K review they never sent me the Tornado challenge medal I was supposed to receive. If I was just doing the half marathon I would have given the swag 4 or 5 sneakers but I only gave it 3 due to the missing medal. I will change my review if they mail it as promise…hint, hint Wolf Creek Track Club if you are reading this. I drove down Saturday after my race in NY and did the 5K in the evening. Most of the closest lodging is in Bradford, PA. Just a warning it is about a 30 minute drive from Bradford to the park. Not a big deal but plan your time accordingly. Parking is very easy and there were porta potties by the parking lot and the start line. This had a rolling start from 8:00 to 8:30. Again a little anti-climactic as most races I have done recently have had mass starts but as I said I can understand why they kept it. It is chipped time so there is no penalty to starting late. The Kinzua Bridge is not part of the course. But the start is right by it and you can easily explore it before or after the race. This is also an out and back on the rail trail. The first 3.5 miles of the course are on gravel and quite easy. Then the next 3.5 miles were on trail and while I wouldn’t call it difficult or technical there were a lot of loose rocks. I wish I was warned about this earlier as I would have worn trail shoes. Unfortunately around mile 5 I twisted my ankle on one of the rocks. It was a pretty minor injury and I was able to complete the race but had to do so at a slower pace and walked a lot of the more trail area to prevent further injury. My initial pace the first 5 miles was solid at about 12 min/mile but I had to slow down quite a bit after. I was very happy to get back on the gravel trail as that felt better on my ankle and was able to run the last 3 or so miles pretty well. The course is pretty but nothing special on the rail trail. Other than the loose rocks, it is not difficult. There are no true hills just some gradual inclines and declines. There were mile markers and signs throughout to make up for there being minimal spectator support. Although there were a handful of people at the intersections. There were 3 aid stations. Another complaint I have is the aid stations. They were back to those annoying little water bottles and gatorade. Again I realize they kept the covid precautions so that is not my biggest complaint. My biggest complaint is the trash cans were right next to the aid stations not a few yards ahead. This was a real pain. Normally with the little bottles I grab the bottle, walk and drink it until the garbage can and use that as a walking break but I had to full on stop and drink the gatorade and then put it in the trashcan. Someone said they would pick up any bottles thrown in the woods but I absolutely cannot litter and throw bottles in a forest. Therefore I stopped at each aid station for at least 1 to 2 minutes which did not help my time. Also I cringed as I saw so many plastic bottles littering the trail. Adding extra garbage cans or moving them so there were a few yards away would be such an easy fix. Other than this, I thought the race was very well produced. My time was pretty bad since I was injured but I managed to finish under 3 hours. It was kind of anti-climactic to already have received the medal and not get one at the finish line. But there were bottles of gatorade and water along with chocolate chip cookies, granola bars, fruit snacks and bananas at the end. There was also a food truck in the park where you could get lunch. There was nothing vegan but there is nothing vegan in the area outside of taco bell so I had a cheese quesadilla and fries and an amazing blueberry milkshake from the food truck. I had a fun time this weekend exploring Kinzua State Park and I thought this was a fine race. There was nothing too exciting about the race itself but it was fine and only a couple hours from Rochester and it is a cool area to explore with lots of hiking. This isn’t a race I would highly recommend or go out of my way for but it’s relatively close to me and there aren’t a ton of summer half marathon options so I’d consider doing it again. It wouldn’t be my first choice for a half marathon for PA, but it’s not a bad race just remember trail shoes. Although they did say the park plans to make the rest of the trail gravel so it may not be as technical in future years. Now it’s time to rest my ankle so I can be healed for next week.
***Update – the race company mailed me the challenge medal as promised. They told me they would do it first thing Monday and I honestly believe they did as it arrived in just a few days. Medal is nice although the half medal is nicer. This improves the swag to 4 sneakers. I was also very impressed by how fast they mailed it. This company clearly cares about individual runners and owns up to their mistakes. After this I am definitely more likely to run another one of their races***
Kinzua Half Marathon & 5K
They Forgot to Mail Challenge Medal
Kinzua Half Marathon & 5K
I did this 5K as part of the Tornado Challenge with the Kinzua Half Marathon. More details will be in that review. I loved that the 5K is the evening … MORE
I did this 5K as part of the Tornado Challenge with the Kinzua Half Marathon. More details will be in that review. I loved that the 5K is the evening before and one reason I chose this specific half marathon for this weekend since it meant I could do 2 5Ks on Saturday and I didn’t need a hotel Friday evening to do the challenge. The 5K starts at 7pm. I arrived early and spent a couple hours explore Kinzua Bridge State Park which is pretty cool. The race had a rolling start from 7pm to 7:10pm. Starting area seemed well organized. I went near 7pm. Course is just an out and back on a nice but not super exciting gravel rail trail. Just some gradual inclines and pretty easy. It was kind of drizzly this evening. I purposely went at a slow training, pace. My finishing time was slow for a 5K but I was aiming to run a 36 minute 5K and ran a 36 minute 5K. The packet with all the swag was mailed before hand. For the 5K you got the race shirt and drawstring bag and you are supposed to get a challenge medal if you do both the half and 5K. However I was very disappointed my packet didn’t include the challenge medal. I did speak the the race staff members at the registration table who were extremely nice and wrote my name down and said they would mail it to me. We will see. If it does get mailed and depending on how nice it is, I will update and change my review accordingly. Overall this was a fine 5K but nothing special and kind of disappointing not to get the challenge medal.
***Update they mailed my challenge medal very promptly and I got it in the mail a few days after the race. I updated the swag rating***
Chocolate Challenge 5K & 10K
I run fast for chocolate
Chocolate Challenge 5K & 10K
This is a 5K/10K race in Liverpool, NY right outside of Syracuse so about an hour from Rochester. This was the closest race I could find this morning and I … MORE
This is a 5K/10K race in Liverpool, NY right outside of Syracuse so about an hour from Rochester. This was the closest race I could find this morning and I love chocolate so decided to do it even though it was a little out of my way to my next destination. I chose the shorter 5K since I was doing 2 more races this weekend. The race takes place at Long Branch Park by Lake Onandaga. There was adequate pre-race communication including a funny email about how there would be a strange sun sighting (if you live in Western NY and haven’t seen the sun in about 100 days you would get it). There was packet pick-up either the evening before or morning of the race. I got it the morning of the race since its about an hour drive. Packet included the bib and the shirt. The shirt is tech with the chocolate logo and is neon pink. I like the bold neon pink color. Not sure if everyone did though. There were also a few additional booths at the packet pick-up area. The race had a mass start with the 10Kers going 5 minutes before 5Kers. Corral was set up well with music, announcer, finishing arch and the Syracuse Orange mascot was there. This was a relatively big race, a few hundred in each distance so some sort of recommended wave start would have been better but otherwise it was well organized. The course was very nice. Not overly exciting but a pretty course along the park and the water. It was very fast and flat. Just two minor uphills at bridges. I didn’t even think of walking them so you know they are not bad. Course was well marked and there were if anything excessive aid stations for a 5K which is nice compared to the minimum there usually have been during covid. My only warning about this race is that it is a theme (chocolate) that appeals to more casual runners and walkers so there was not the best runner etiquette on course. There were a lot of people who don’t run races regularly and lots of kids. I think it is great for an event to be inclusive so it didn’t really bother me but if you are a competitive runner be warned there will be people walking side by side or taking a walking break in the middle of the course and not going to the side, etc. The 10Kers merge with the 5Kers at the end so I saw the top 10Kers weaving quite a bit. Between the excitement of a large race, the flat course, perfect partly sunny weather and the promise of chocolate at the end, I ran this race faster than I intended to since I had 2 more races this weekend. Oh well. Finish area is the same as the start. You are handed your medal which is a very nice chocolate themed medal for a short race. At the finish line I saw chocolate milk and fruit but no actual chocolate, oh no! They did have Monster energy water which was amazing! I then walked to the packet pick up area because there had to be chocolate somewhere and was handed a huge bag of chocolate. It had a full chocolate bar, importantly a chocolate chip granola bar, a hot chocolate packet, and multiple smaller bite size candy bars. The finish area also had a food truck. But it was a BBQ truck that was just selling meat and beer so I passed. Overall this was a very fun, well produced race. Nice course, great swag and great chocolate! This is one I will do again and definitely worth an hour drive.
RUN585 Summer in the City 8K
5-(not quite)8-5
RUN585 Summer in the City 8K
This is the second Wednesday evening race produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) for the Run585 series. 585 is Rochester's area code. This one is an 8K and the longest … MORE
This is the second Wednesday evening race produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) for the Run585 series. 585 is Rochester’s area code. This one is an 8K and the longest of the 3. Race logistics were pretty much the same as the first with packet pick-up recommended at the store the day before. Today series participants got their large cooler along with beer Kozie, race sticker and bib. The swag is pretty good for the cost of the series. They kept the rolling start. I understand why they did this since it would kind of stink as a participant to plan your evening around the rolling start and have the race company change their plans but it was a little lame after doing so many races with mass starts. Something came up at work so I started this one on the later side of the rolling start window which made it extra anti-climatic as most participants already started. I again walked to the start from work since this was also at Genesee Valley Park. This also follows the canal path. It was beautiful weather tonight which was a relief after last weekend’s terrible weather. YJR can’t get a break and there was also construction affecting this course so they had to alter the course at one point a little bit. I don’t think the part of the canal path used for this race is as pretty as some of the sections we ran through during the first race of the series but this race does include the bridge with really pretty city views and I saw a cute rabbit and some cool birds. It also includes the evil, steep bridge I always walk which added a sneaker to the difficulty but is otherwise pretty flat. The course was well marked but it was kind of lonely. The rolling start and longer race meant I was running alone a lot but I did see some race participants here and there. There were no aid stations but this was told to us. I thought it would have been nice to have a water station halfway through as I just about finished the water I was carrying and had to conserve it by the end of the race. The finish line was set up really nice with loud music and a finish arch and people were hanging around and it felt like a real finish line and made up for the anti-climatic start. However I noticed the course was about 1/4 mile short. As a result I got an 8K PR! But it’s kind of a cheap PR but I was still running at a solid pace and with the right distance would have been well under my goal of 1 hour. I compared the map online to my Garmin and it seems the reroute due to the construction is what caused the shorter course so it appears to be a one off. At the finish line you get your goody bag. It is the same fruit snacks, chocolate chip cookies and chips that have been in every bag this year. I can now no longer eat Famous Amos bite size chocolate chip cookies since I’m so sick of them lol. There is also the medal which is a nice big 8 to go with the series. There was also cans of coke and non-alcoholic beer. The cold can of coke tasted so delicious after. Overall I have enjoyed this series so far but look forward to when it will have a mass start and a party at the end instead of the grab n go bags.
Candlelight 12 & 24 Hour
Up All Night...or Not
Candlelight 12 & 24 Hour
I will preface this by saying I was not planning to and I did not run ultradistance. I was on call this weekend so had to do local races and … MORE
I will preface this by saying I was not planning to and I did not run ultradistance. I was on call this weekend so had to do local races and saw this one and thought it would be an interesting way to get a long run in. This was my first time doing a fixed time race and it was a blast. This is a race at the local Equicenter and the course consists of 1.07 mile laps around the center that you run all night from 7pm to 7am. You don’t have to run the whole time to be an official finisher, you just have to finish 1 lap. The weather continued to be pretty terrible and rainy all day and night. Packet pick-up was at the center starting at 5:30 PM. Runners were also able to set up their own personal aid station. I didn’t opt for this as there was a well-stocked aid station and I wasn’t planning to run 12 hours but good idea if you are. Parking was a little muddy. As I got out of my car I realized I wished I brought a hat since it was raining. Packet pickup was in a barn and included with the bib was indeed a hat! That was a convenient surprise. Before the race while the ultra runners were prepping their stations, I was wondering around the equicenter admiring the beautiful horses and also meeting the 2 very friendly barn cats. One of which who is appropriately named Bandit I caught banditing the course (see pic!). The race started at 7pm. The course was moderately difficult with about 100 feet of elevation gain per lap. It was figure 8 shaped. This was very convenient for being on call as I was never more than 1/2 mile away from my car so I didn’t have to worry about taking a pen and paper and taking calls on the course. The first part was on grass around the equicenter and past the horses. It started with a slight downhill then a slight uphill where a lot of the aid stations were set up. Then it was a bit on a gravel road followed by a bit on concrete and then a stepper downhill on grass through a meadow followed by a flat area, then a steeper uphill on grass, then a short downhill and short up. Then on a gravel road again where you pass the barn which is the aid station. The aid station was very well stocked with PBJ sandwiches, chips, candy, pickles, oreos, and some sodas. They didn’t have twizzlers but they had swedish fish my second favorite racing candy. At around 9:30pm they also had pizza delivered. I stopped at the aid station every 3 laps for some swedish fish and mountain dew to keep me going. After the aid station you pass the start/finish line. This was chipped timed. I like how just past the finish line they had a screen with how many miles you went. This was great so if you were looking to go a specific distance you could be sure you went far enough and not have to rely on your Garmin or mental math. Then you did it over again. It was fun chatting with runners and seeing the horses but the course got super muddy and it was really cold in the rain. I had one page during the race and I went to my car to answer it and it was hard to leave my warm car to go back out there. In order to get the medal you had to start your first lap at 7:30pm and finish your last lap at 6:30am. As I said I was not looking to run all night. I’ve stayed up all night enough in my life during medical training to never want to do it again. But I really love medals. I would never break the rules but I will bend them and there is no rules about what you have to do inbetween your first and last lap so my game plan was to run about 3 hours in the evening, go home and get some sleep and then come back and do another hour in the morning to get my medal. I ended up doing 16 laps or 17.12 miles total which met my goal of going at least half marathon distance. The medal is a typical wooden ultra medal. I then said bye to my new horse friends and left with some very muddy sneakers. This was a great weekend of muddy running in Rochester. As I said I have no desire to run all night ever and do this for 12 hours straight, but I would do this race every year that I am in town even if just for a few laps. I would definitely recommend this race if you are a fan of fixed time races, looking for a unstressful way to complete a marathon or 50K distance, or just looking for a fun way to get a longer run in or even if you’re not looking for a long run come and do a few laps!
Shark in the Park 5K & 10K
As Wet as a Shark!
Shark in the Park 5K & 10K
This is a 5K or 10K in Mendon Ponds Park during Shark week that raises money for Sharkbytes a nonprofit aimed at protecting sharks. I feel like this is a … MORE
This is a 5K or 10K in Mendon Ponds Park during Shark week that raises money for Sharkbytes a nonprofit aimed at protecting sharks. I feel like this is a kind of random charity for Rochester since it’s not like there are any sharks in Lake Ontario but I like helping out wild animals of all kinds so I’m in! Packet pick-up was either the day before at Medved Running store or you could get it the morning of. Packet included bib, T-shirt, a goody bag and the best part is they asked if you would like an adorable plush shark. Obviously I wanted that. You got a choice of a whale shark or great white shark. I chose the whale shark since that’s my favorite type of shark. The T-shirt is a little neon but it’s not bad. The goody bag also had some pamphlets on sharks, a rubber shark bracelet, a shark sticker and some shark fruit snacks. Between the plush shark, the T-shirt and the goody bag this was great swag for a race I only paid about $20 for. The day of the race was not the best weather. The forecast had rain all day. I woke up and it was pouring. Yikes not the best for a trail run. Luckily the rain cleared and it was a pleasant drizzle when the race started. This race is in Mendon Pond Parks and utilizes the South Meadow Trail which is probably the easiest and least technical trail in the park and is conveniently about exactly 5K. 10Kers did it twice. The start was a mass start but this was relatively small with about 100 participants. It was chipped time. They used scanners not a timing mat. It seemed to work. The beginning didn’t seem that organized. The race started 5 to 10 minutes late. There were some cones that said start and finish at the trail head. Eventually they made some pre-race announcements and told us to go and we went. The first mile of the course was very nice. As I said this is a pretty non-technical trail. Mostly well trimmed grass and mulch. Occasional roots but nothing crazy. I wore trail shoes because of the rain but you wouldn’t need them in good conditions. There are some small rolling hills but nothing too steep and about 150 feet of elevation gain total. My first mile was the pace I was aiming for. Then the sky opened up and it was a downpour. My race plan switched to just finish without injury so my last two miles were very slow but I remained uninjured. I felt like I was tromping through a swamp most of the last mile. There were two aid stations with very friendly volunteers. The finish line was the same as the start. I was glad to be finished with this race after 5K. Although in good weather, I would not be against running this twice for a 10K. At the finish are there was granola bars (yay!), banana’s and Shark’s ice cream which is a local ice cream shop. You had 4 flavors to choose from. I got peanut butter cup it was delicious. There is also normally a bounce house for the kids but that didn’t happen this year. There were a lot of cute kids at the race many dressed in shark costumes which was adorable. I wish the weather was good as it seems it would be a fun finish line for a small race but I just took my ice cream and left. Overall this is a fun and (under better weather conditions) relatively easy trail race though it was quite difficult today in the pouring rain and definitely more difficult than your average fun run 5K. I thought the swag was excellent even with no medal. This is a race I would consider doing again but I wouldn’t make plans around it.
We Run 4 Recovery 5K
Better than I expected
We Run 4 Recovery 5K
I didn't really have much expectations for this event. Just that it was a 5K on a weeknight that supported a good cause and started late enough and was close … MORE
I didn’t really have much expectations for this event. Just that it was a 5K on a weeknight that supported a good cause and started late enough and was close enough to Rochester that I could get there after work. I am trying to run at least 100 races this year so I can’t say no to any weeknight races that work with my schedule. I really didn’t know much about this event or the city it is in. It is located in Auburn which is East of Syracuse and about an hour from Rochester. I loved that the race started at 7pm so there was plenty of time to get there after work. This 5K raises money for a local organization called Nick’s Ride 4 Friends which is a local non-profit dedicated to helping the opioid addiction and helping people struggling with addiction. I arrived at the race at about 6:15. There was parking by city hall. I was pleasantly surprised that along with packet pick-up there was sort of a mini-expo. There was a table to pick up packets, a table for day of registration and a few booths. There were 2 booths with organizations helping with addiction, a booth from a wellness center offering 5 minute reiki sessions, and a booth from the local chiropractor school that was offering free sessions. Packet included bib, race shirt and a small goody bag. Shirt is just a grey, cotton T-shirt with the race name and charity organization. It’s nothing special but as it’s a cause I’d like to to support I will wear it. The goody bag had a couple pens, a magnet calendar, a sample of biofreeze and most importantly a granola bar to eat after the race. While this wasn’t an official Willow Running event, Willow Running was there to help with race production. This was a small event with about 100 participants. The start area was not the best. It was just a really old cone but I did like that the race announcer joked about how old and terrible the cone was. This was manually timed. Someone gave a quick introduction and we went. The course was super nice. You could not ask for a more scenic race in a small town. The race start at the Equal Rights Heritage Center and the looped downtown and then went through this really cool street did another little loop through a neighborhood, back to the cool street and ended at city hall. The cool street was cool because it had historic mansions and many historic sites. I honestly had no idea there were so many interesting things in Auburn. I may have to come back and visit. The road was closed to traffic and there were police and volunteers who made the course easy to follow. The course while full of really interesting sights was also full of hills. This was a pretty hilly 5K. No hills were too bad but there was like 100% humidity and humidity is the thing that affects my running the most so I walked some of them. They said the course would only be open for 30 minutes and walkers would have to use sidewalks. Since I didn’t think I would finish in under 30 I was worried they may divert me to the side walk but they did keep the roads closed for the slow runners who finished a little over 30 minutes like me. I haven’t seen the official results yet but I did see the timer record my time at the end so I assume they got an accurate time. We will see. But my time was pretty meh. It was my usual, humid 5K time which is 1 to 2 minutes slower than my usual 5K time. The finish line also could be improved. There was like just a line on the ground. At the finish we were handed water bottles and there was a nice after party area where registration was. There was no beer or alcohol for obvious reasons but there was a live band and there was an ice cream truck and the people from Nick’s ride were selling hot dogs. I obviously passed on the hot dogs and found a local pub that served vegan burgers. I did get some ice cream from the ice cream truck on the way back to my car even though it’s not vegan since ice cream is delicious. Overall this race exceeded my expectations. The course was much better than I expected and it was nice having the small expo and after party. I did think some race production things like the start and finish line could be better but it was a well done local race and worth a bit of a drive. This was the inaugural year for the race. I would do it again next year as long as it didn’t conflict with the Run585 or Dirt Cheap series that are also on Wednesday evenings. Also if you were wondering this is race #50 for me in 2021 so I am halfway to my goal of 100 races this year!
Spartan Blue Mountain Trail Run
Crazy climb but no burpees!
Spartan Blue Mountain Trail Run
I was looking for a second race this weekend and there were no local ones so when I expanded my search to a little further out, this one piqued my … MORE
I was looking for a second race this weekend and there were no local ones so when I expanded my search to a little further out, this one piqued my interest. I know some people who love Spartan races and I was curious about them but I don’t do obstacles and I definitely don’t do burpees but thought I can do a trail 10K. This is located a few hours away in PA. I stayed at a nearby Holiday Inn. This is an all weekend event and there were some obstacle races on both Saturday and Sunday along with the trail 10K Sunday. Some crazy people did multiple Spartan races here this weekend. There was initially a plan for a trail 10K Friday evening but that got canceled. I was not very impressed with the pre-race communication. The emails were kind of confusing and the race guide only showed the map for the obstacle races. The trail map was just posted to facebook and not on the website so like their facebook page and specifically the Spartan trail facebook page. The instructions also said to find your QR code in your Spartan account but I didn’t have one when I signed up and when I made one the race registration didn’t appear even though I used the same email I did to register for the race on Active.com. I had the QR code from my registration email from Active.com and I assumed that would work (and it did) but I sent an email to be sure and never received a reply. I was just expecting a better website and communication from such a large company. Race morning though was extremely smooth and efficient. It felt much more like a large rock n roll race event and not like local trail race which has its pros and cons. While it was missing the small community feel, it was nice to be somewhere so crowded and normal. You start with registration which was easy. You get a headband instead of a bib and a wrist timer along with some wrist bands for a free drink, etc. Then you go through a merchandise tent and then to the festival area. It was so nice to be in a large festival area. There were lots of porta potties and the start was well organized. The obstacle races and the trail race share a start and finish. The more popular obstacle course race went in separate waves throughout the day while the trail race started at 8am. The trail race had about 200 participants and was a mass start. The RD introduced himself at the start and talked about how this was a large Spartan trail community trying to tie in the community aspect of trail running. He also clearly explained what the course was like and how it was marked. He also said he would hang around after to chat. He did seem to genuinely care about the course and the runners. The first part of the course is brutal. I was expecting this to be as bad as the Battle at Bristol Mountain but as that got canceled this year (maybe forever…RIP), I needed a different ski mountain to torture me this summer and this was only 10K. The first mile is straight up. While the start area didn’t feel like a trail race, the actual race certainly did. Just about everyone is walking the first mile and chatting/commiserating and telling “war stories” from the brutal trail runs they have done. The first about 1/2 mile was on the ski hill area then it is another 1/2 mile up a steep trail. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get to the top then it is (almost) all downhill. The next 2 to 2.5 miles were amazing mostly downhill not very technical trail in the woods. The last 2.5 to 3 miles were more technical but much less technical than the first mile and had some ups and downs. This technicality of the last section was similar to the trail race I did at Campgaw in NJ. I thought it was a very smart and well thought out course. It was actually much easier than Bristol except the first mile but it was still probably the next hardest terrain I’ve run on. Although 10K is the perfect distance for me for this kind of race with just the right amount of masochism. The course was very well marked and easy to follow. There were 3, 6 and 9km signs along with motivation signs on the trail. My biggest complaint is the volunteers at the 2 aid stations were on their phones and did not seem to care at all. It has been so much fun interacting with volunteers now that things are opening up so this was disappointing. The photographers though were very friendly and encouraging. The views were quite pretty though not spectacular especially as there was construction at the top of the mountain. The finish is downhill and you pass some people doing the obstacles. I would much rather climb a mountain than that. The finish area is exciting with the fire pit and you are handed your medal. Obviously my finishing time was slow but it’s hard to compare this to other races since it’s so much more difficult. The medal is nice and good sized but while it is specific for a trail 10K race and has the year, it is not specific to the race location. It does not say Palmerton anywhere on it. I assume you get the same one at all their trail 10Ks this year. I get why they would do this to save money especially as it was probably unclear which races would happen this year, but it does give the runners less incentive to do another Spartan trail 10K in 2021 if they will get the same medal. There are drinks and bananas at the next table. I liked that they had liquid death water but the recovery drink was something called “Fit Aid” and was disgusting. Then there are the shirts. The shirts are nice, technical quality and specific for the trail race but again not the location. The shirts run teeny, tiny. I am usually a woman’s large and between a men’s small and medium. I like baggy shirts and usually get men’s mediums. I had to get a men’s large to fit me the way I like. After the race there is the festival area to hang out in. It was very nice to get to hang out with other runners. There was non-alcoholic beer from Athletic brewing company and alcoholic options. I wish there was more free food other than the banana but there was a tent you could purchase hot food and I got a black bean burger and fries. Overall there were many things I liked about this race. The race day was extremely well-organized and it was a festive event and the course was the perfect amount of challenge. I get why people love these races. It definitely had a more “corporate” feel than a local trail race but I think they tried their best to give the race a community feel. This wouldn’t be my first choice for a race as I’d prefer a race a little less difficult than this and if I had the option of a local race would choose that instead but I’d be open to doing another trail 10K with Spartan. Given the difficulty of the course, I would not do a longer race with them but the real masochists out there would enjoy it. I also refuse to do burpees so I will leave the obstacle courses to others.
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
Peaceful, Pretty Race
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
This is my second year running this race. Last year it was my first road half marathon since the pandemic so it has a special place in my heart but … MORE
This is my second year running this race. Last year it was my first road half marathon since the pandemic so it has a special place in my heart but now that I am running road half marathons pretty regularly I would say this is a very good but not quite great half marathon. This year it was held on its usual date the second weekend in July. This race is located in Hamlin State Park along Lake Ontario and is produced by Yellow Jacket Racing. There was packet pickup the day before. Packet included bib, a packet of powerade gel, chapstick and the race tank. It is a nice technical tank and perfect to wear to the race. This year it was grey which is not my favorite color but better than last year’s white. The race started at 7am. Luckily it was cooler today than it had been with highs in low 70s but the race still felt very hot as there is very little shade. There was a mass start. Again there was no timing mat at the start but this wasn’t a huge race with a little under 200 participants so it’s not that big of a deal since everyone passed the starting line quickly. The first 2 miles are in the park which is the only shaded part. After the park is about 9 miles of farmland. This year they had to alter the course pretty last minute due to construction on the original course so it was different farmland than last time. It is nice and pleasant farmland but as I’m now almost always running by farms in races it was not as exciting as the first time I did this race. I saw some nice horses at one of the farms. I also saw a deer in the park. After the farms it is two miles back in the park. The last mile is along the beach and is gorgeous and cooler with shade and a breeze. There were 4 water stops with just water. This was communicated so I was prepared with my extra salty clif blocks but gatorade would have been nice. The volunteers at the aid stations and street corners were very nice and encouraging. This was of course very well marked with signs and volunteers at every turn so you could not get lost. The course elevation profile is so nice. It is flat but not quite pancake flat so you get to use some different muscles. About 200 feet of elevation gain total. My 2 complaints about the course and why I took a sneaker away from production and overall score were the lack of mile markers and lack of porta potties on course. Last year there were big mile markers. I’m not sure if there were porta potties last year. I didn’t need it but I saw a poor runner emerge from the bushes due to the lack of them. I know YJR is super busy with races right now and curveballs like construction on courses keep being thrown at them along with all the changing covid guideline curveballs so I’d imagine that’s why some details were missing. The finish area was really nice and exciting along the beach. The RD cheered us on. My time was quite fast today especially since it felt very hot in the unshaded farmland. I didn’t get under 2:30 but it was my fastest half in a while since I’ve been slower when I realized it was more fun to just run races every weekend then spend weekends training for races. At the finish line you got the same snacks I am now sick of and the medal. The medal was really nice and shiny and was different than last year even though it doesn’t have the date. While this wasn’t quite as exciting a race as last year when I hadn’t done a road half in like 6 months, it was still a very nice local race that I will continue to do. It was nice to have a mass start and more water stops than last year but hopefully next year things can be completely normal with water and gatorade, mile markers, porta potties and a barbecue at the end with vegetarian options!
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Webster Park
Wrong Shoes are Better than no Race
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Webster Park
This is another one of the dirt cheap trail races put on by Yellow Jacket Racing. These are again low key, midweek 4 to 6 miles races held on trails … MORE
This is another one of the dirt cheap trail races put on by Yellow Jacket Racing. These are again low key, midweek 4 to 6 miles races held on trails throughout the Rochester area. This one was in Webster Park which is the same park where they held the Cabin Fever trail race last February. This race had a rolling start from 5pm to 6pm. Since they original planned it that way they kept it rolling but you were allowed to stay and hang out after you finished unlike the first one. This time they didn’t have packet pick up at the store and you had to arrive by 5:45 to get your packet first. I was nervous about making it on time since Webster Park is the furthest of the races from my work and I usually get out around 5. As I went to my car after work to head to the race I realized I forgot my trail shoes (luckily I was wearing sneakers). I thought about stopping home to get them but wasn’t sure I would have time and didn’t want to miss this race since I am trying to do 100 races this year so decided to just run the race carefully. Packet pick-up was easy at the park and the rolling start low stress although anti-climatic. This race was chipped time unlike their last 2 trail races which I like better. There is no swag because these races are dirt cheap. The weather tonight was back to being cool and grey which is so much better for running than hot and sunny. The first mile or so of this race was relatively easy trail. Not a big deal I didn’t bring my trail shoes. Then it got very technical oops I should have remembered them. The next about 4 miles were full of mud and roots and logs to climb over. There was even a creek crossing which made my poor road shoes so dirty. Had to walk a lot of this to avoid slipping. This actually wasn’t that hilly for a dirt cheap race. It had about half the elevation gain of Mendon Mauler. The mud and logs were the bigger obstacle which I actually think is more fun than ridiculous hills. Although I was super slow both races. The park was pretty and I enjoyed running and hiking there though I think Mendon and Durand Eastman are prettier. The race was a little long at closer to 5.5 miles. The end was just cruel. It was a really steep climb to the finish line. At the finish line you are cheered on by the RD and get your bag of goodies and water and non-alcoholic beer. The goodies were the same fruit snacks, chocolate chip cookies and Lays potato chips I’ve gotten at the last few races. I’m kind of sick of these snacks but understand it is cheaper to buy in bulk. I hope they mix it up at Shoreline this Saturday and give us something different lol. My time for this race was slow since I “ran” it very carefully but eh I was over 20 minutes faster than the Cabin Fever race so that’s a win. Overall a fun, low key but tough trail race. Looking forward to the next one!
Irondequoit 4th of July 10K & 2 Mile Fun Run
Red, White & Hills
Irondequoit 4th of July 10K & 2 Mile Fun Run
This is a 10K race in Irondequoit, another suburb of Rochester. This was the 49th year of this race. My parents decided to join me for this one and my … MORE
This is a 10K race in Irondequoit, another suburb of Rochester. This was the 49th year of this race. My parents decided to join me for this one and my dad also did the 10K and my mom did the 2 miler. For packet pick-up you could either go the day before and get it the morning of. We went to see a baseball game Saturday evening so got the packet the morning of the race. The packet pick-up and start of the race were at a Catholic school in Irondequoit. The packet included the bib and a very cheesy T-shirt. It is grey with this Eagle/American flag design that looks like a cheaply done tattoo. It was kind of a funny shirt. The 2 miler starts 30 minutes before the 10K. The start of both races was pretty simple. There was no start line or timing mat. We just lined up and the RD said go and we went. There was a mass start and about 300 participants spilt between the 10K and the 2 Miler. The first part of the course was along a highway. I liked the first 2ish miles. They were rolling hills but net downhill and it was a pretty shaded area up to Durand Eastman park. This road was closed for the first 2 miles. I did not like the next mile. It was an unshaded slog along a busier part of the highway that was coned off and was more uphill. I was making good time the first two miles and lost so much time on the third. I had a goal to run under 1:10 but after the third I realized that it was going to be tough to reach my goal especially because the last 3 miles are mostly uphill. The next 3 miles while slow were so much fun. It was through neighborhoods and there were so many spectators which was wonderful given how few spectators there were at races last year. The race had 3 official water stops but the neighborhood had many unofficial water stops and friendly neighbors were spraying runners with their hoses and sprinklers. Since I wasn’t going to reach my goal anyways I had fun interacting with the spectators and took water from most of the stops which mostly had cute kids who were so happy to help out. Near the end there is a brutal hill. Then it is the finish line which did have an arch and timing mat. My time was terrible. It was my slowest road 10K but I still had a lot of fun. My dad loved the course (except that 3rd mile on the highway) since he loves hills and liked that it was a “old timey” race. My mom also enjoyed her 2 miler. At the finish line you get your medal. It is the teeniest, generic medal but eh it’s better than nothing. There was also water bottles, bananas, and bagels for the runner and some carnival food you could purchase. This was definitely not my favorite 10K race in terms of elevation profile as the uphill second half is not a great way to have a fast time and it felt more uphill than downhill but it was really fun with all the spectator involvement and a festive way to start July 4.
Fleet Feet Firecracker 4 Miler
Let Freedom Run
Fleet Feet Firecracker 4 Miler
This is usually a 4 miler in Fairport, a suburb of Rochester, produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR). This year due to bridge construction it was switched to a 5K … MORE
This is usually a 4 miler in Fairport, a suburb of Rochester, produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR). This year due to bridge construction it was switched to a 5K and the course was modified. They also received the permit only a few weeks before the race so some of the logistics may have been rushed but it was of course a very well done race. Packet pick-up was the day before at Fleet Feet. Along with the bib, packet included the race shirt and a sample of some power bar gummies. The race shirt is a white cotton shirt with a red and blue fourth of July design. It’s nothing special but the design is well done. The start of the race is about 1/2 mile from the finish. Parking and same day packet pickup were at the finish line but my parents were visiting and chose to be spectators for this race so they dropped me off at the start. Start was pretty exciting as this was YJR first mass start since March 2020. Although I didn’t love the start location. It was just on a street that was closed only about 5 minutes before the race so there wasn’t a great place to hang out before the race. There was also no timing mat at the start given the mass start which was fine but this was a big enough race that I probably lost a few seconds. There were about 300ish participants so it was a very nice size race. The start of the race was a nice about 1.25 mile tour through Fairport which was pretty nice. Again it was exciting to race on closed streets with a lot of people. Then you turn on the canal path for the rest of the race and finish in a park. The finish area in the park was nice and my parents and the RD cheered me on. There was a nice finish arch and a timing mat at the end. You are given your bag of snacks (fruit snacks, cookies and chips). There is no medal. My time was pretty average but that’s what I was going for. The course was fairly easy. The only slight difficulty was as it was point to point it was technical net uphill. There really was only one or maybe two very small hills and it was hardly noticeable but it made it so it wasn’t a super fast course. I did think this was a very nice, little local race and it was fun to have the mass start.
Montezuma Festival of Races
Too Hot - Needed an Earlier Start
Montezuma Festival of Races
This race was a bit of a let down after the amazing 5K yesterday. This is a race produced by Willow Running who produce several races in Central NY and … MORE
This race was a bit of a let down after the amazing 5K yesterday. This is a race produced by Willow Running who produce several races in Central NY and this was probably my 5th race I’ve done with them. This race is located in Savannah which is a small town between Rochester and Syracuse near the Montezuma Wildlife Management Area. There is a half marathon, 10K and 5K distance. I was on call this weekend so chose the 5K. They offered packet pick-up both in Syracuse and Rochester so I picked up my packet Friday evening in Rochester. Packet included bib and a tank top. Not sure what I think of the tank top. It is neon yellow. Like the color of a highlighter. Bold choice. But did appreciate getting a swag item I can wear this time of year since all my recent races have given either long sleeve shirts or jackets which are too hot for the summer. There is also day of packet pickup if you couldn’t go early. It was very easy to get to the race and park at the Fire department in Savannah by the finish line. The start was about 1/4 mile away and easy to walk to. The biggest issue with the race which is mostly out of the race company’s control is that it was really, really hot today. The high for today is in the 90s and it was in the upper 80s during the race. The races started way too late for these temps. The half marathon started at 8:15, 10K at 8:30 and 5K at 8:45. While the race company can’t control the weather they can control the start times. This race is held in late June, while it’s a little hotter than usual, 90 degree weather can’t be a shock. The start times definitely should have been planned to be an hour earlier from the beginning. It sounds like the race company was considering moving the races to an earlier time when they saw how hot it would be but ultimately decided against it to avoid confusion which I would agree with that decision. They also did allow an early start for the half marathon but you wouldn’t be eligible for age group awards if you chose that. I would definitely suggest next year they choose an earlier start time. The start of the race was kind of lame. There was no starting arch or anything exciting just some cones. It was also only chipped timed at the finish with no timing mat at the start. The 5K was kind of small with under 100 participants (the half was a little bigger). The RD just said go and we went. My first mile was actually not too bad as there was a light breeze and it didn’t warm up too much yet. Then I had to answer a page and after that it really heated up and I couldn’t get back into the zone and had trouble with pace and motivation. This course was an out and back. Mostly flat with one small hill in the beginning. You start at the top of the hill so you only go up it on the way back. It’d be an easy course if it were 20 degrees cooler. Course was okay. I was hoping it would be really pretty and scenic with lots of wildlife but it was mostly just corn and farms and I didn’t see any animals. There were a few nice views of the wildlife area. I think the 10K and half marathon have better views. There was an aid station you passed twice with water, gatorade and ice pops. The ice pops were perfection. You then turn around and go back to the hill. At this point I was definitely walking the hill with the heat. The finish line is about 1/4 mile past the start at the firehouse. There was a nice finish arch and a nice lady cheering us on and telling us how well we did even though my time was awful. This is my record for worst road 5K I (mostly) ran. I have a few trail 5Ks and a few 5Ks I walked with my mom that are slower but I also have some faster trail 5Ks. You get a medal at the finish line. The medal is really pretty. The 5K one is on the smaller side which is fine as it is a 5K but it is glittery with the eagle race logo and very nice. I was expecting post race food since there usually is good food at Willow events. However this year they got approval for a BBQ a few months after registration was open and registration didn’t account for the BBQ so you had to pay $10 extra for the BBQ. The BBQ had BBQ chicken and also had veggie wraps for a vegetarian option. I couldn’t stay and hang around since I had to round at the hospital and $10 seemed a lot for a veggie wrap so I had to pass on the food. Outside the BBQ, there was just bananas and for some reason bananas don’t sit well with me after racing. There was also someone selling fresh squeezed lemonade for $3. That was also perfection. Overall this race was fine but I was a little disappointed in it. I thought the Earth Day Half Marathon Willow did was better produced and more festive even though it was when things were less open. This race was also way too hot and needed to start earlier. I’m definitely not jealous of the half marathoners even if they get a bigger medal. I’ll probably do this race again since it is close by but I wouldn’t go out of my way for this race and would be very cautious about signing up for the half if they don’t move it earlier.
Buffalo Marathon
New York is Back!
Buffalo Marathon
It was so nice to run a big city race with a mass start now that the pandemic is winding down and enough people are vaccinated that it is safe … MORE
It was so nice to run a big city race with a mass start now that the pandemic is winding down and enough people are vaccinated that it is safe to race normally. This was one of the first large races to take place in New York state without much in the way of restrictions and I thoroughly enjoyed it. First off I want to say I really appreciated how well the race organization communicated the potential plans for the race. Buffalo Marathon weekend is usually Memorial day weekend in May. This year in early winter they announced their race plan which included the original date, a second back-up date (this weekend) and a third back-up date in late August and also gave deadlines when they would make the decision. They clearly know how much goes into marathon training and understand that a lot of runners like myself are type A and like plans. This was much better than the “we didn’t get the permit and will move to race to a date to be announced later” that other races have done. This year to make it more likely to happen the race was only opened to people who deferred from 2020 with a few additional open charity spots that you had to raise $500 to run the half or full marathon. I was hoping to run the half on memorial day originally but since I knew I was on call this weekend which was the second back up date that seemed more likely, it didn’t seem worth it to spend the energy fundraising when there was a chance I may not be able to do the race due to call. Once the new race date in late June was confirmed I was hoping for a 5K bib since I didn’t have a race on Saturday and Buffalo is close enough to run a race before rounds. Luckily they opened limited 5K slots. The registration fee for these limited spots was expensive for a 5K at $75 but also raised money for the Children’s Hospital in Buffalo and since I’m a pediatrician I couldn’t say no. Lots of communication leading up to the race including a detailed athlete’s guide. Bibs were mailed to participants. One very minor complaint is the bibs were sent folded in half in a regular envelope without safety pins so the bibs were creased. Most other races sent the bibs in large envelopes with safety pins in a little zip lock bag. Again this is a very minor complaint and my car probably has at least 100 safety pins in it from other races so I didn’t really need them but this was a lot of people’s first race since the pandemic so they may not have had any. The race used the usual course in downtown Buffalo and there was plenty of street parking nearby. However I’m not sure if this is the case regular years with the usual number of runners. The start was pretty exciting as it was a mass start and the announcer was very cheerful and it felt like this was (hopefully) the beginning of some normalcy. The course was a loop through downtown Buffalo. Downtown Buffalo isn’t the most scenic or exciting city but the course showed off the best of Buffalo and it was so nice to run on closed city streets with a large group of people again. Even though the weather was cloudy and drizzly, everyone was very happy and cheerful. Course was pretty easy. Although there were some little rollers. Buffalo is a super flat city but this is probably the “hilliest” part. There was just under 100 feet of elevation gain total in the 5K. There were not a lot of spectators for a city race but this may have been just because it was the 5K not the marathon. I was pretty fast but with the excitement of the mass start my first mile was a little too fast so my second mile was kind of slow. The finish area was nice and my overall finishing time was quite good. At the finish line you get your medal, jacket, water bottle and box of food. I love the medal. It is nice size but not huge and has a cool looking Buffalo with sunglasses. The jacket is super nice swag item for a 5K and good quality. Also the food box was amazing! It was jam packed with everything and anything you could have wanted. There was at least 10 different snacks including an almond bar, popcorn, fruit snacks, pretzels and trail mix and they even included a Twizzler! (I think they read my reviews and know that is the key to getting 5 sneakers) The medal, jacket and snack box definitely gave me my $75 worth. Overall this was a great 5K! Definitely looking forward to doing either the half or full marathon sometime in the near future!
Will Run for Beer 5K
Will Run For Grilled Cheese
Will Run for Beer 5K
I definitely do not run for beer but I was looking for a short race in NH to run with my dad for Father's Day. We were initially going to … MORE
I definitely do not run for beer but I was looking for a short race in NH to run with my dad for Father’s Day. We were initially going to do the equally unappealing RibFest 5 Miler by Millennium but when that ended up being one of the only races Millennium canceled this year, we decided to do this race instead. This race is produced by Loco the other big running company in NH. However Loco just announced last week they were bought by some new, big nation-wide running company called Ventures Endurance so I wasn’t sure how that might affect this race but it seemed to be a non-issue. It will be interesting to see how it changes things in the future though for Loco races since I am doing Rockfest this Fall. This race is in Portsmouth at the Smuttynose brewery. You signed up for waves. My dad and I signed up for the earliest 8am wave since we were going to a baseball game this afternoon. Parking and packet pick-up were easy the day of the race. The packet included a really, nice technical 3/4 length baseball style shirt that says “Will Run for Beer” very large. I will wear it ironically. You also get a beer Koozie. Start was organized well and waves left every 15 minutes. Course was sort of a lollipop with a few short out and backs around the brewery. It was an okay course. It was mostly wooded and shaded which was nice since it was hot. There was nothing too exciting to look at but it was pleasant. There was a busy street right along a lot of the course so lots of car noises so I’d recommend listening to music. I should have looked at course elevation more. I presumed it would be pancake flat as it was near the seacoast but it had some little rollers. About 100 feet of elevation gain. Flatter than most NH races and normally I’d hardly notice them but it was hillier than I was hoping for since I was so sore today from the 3 half marathons I did in 8 days. My biggest issue with the course is it was again slightly short at 3 miles (although I didn’t care so much today as I again was so sore). I’m pretty sure everyone is too drunk at these alcohol themed races to measure properly lol. I was actually shocked by how well I finished. I felt terribly sore coming into this race and I was actually able to run the entire race at a slow but reasonable pace. At the finish line there was water bottles and bananas. There was also a beer garden where you could redeem your 2 beer tickets and meal ticket on your bib. There was a barbeque with hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers and a gourmet grilled cheese truck! I did not redeem the beer tickets but I couldn’t say no to gourmet grilled cheese and it did not disappoint.
Flower City Challenge
Deja Vu! This looks familar!
Flower City Challenge
This is normally a half marathon produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) that takes place at the end of April and the usual course is a super cool course through … MORE
This is normally a half marathon produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) that takes place at the end of April and the usual course is a super cool course through downtown Rochester. Rochester has been strict about allowing events due to covid, so this year the race was pre-emptively moved to June and the location switched to Genesee Valley Park and the canal trail where pretty much every approved race in Rochester has taken place this year. While I definitely would have loved to run the original course, I doubt that would have been able to happen and think it was smart to instead focus on making the best race as possible that was 99.9% likely to happen. This course was particularly exciting for me (not) as it included a long section behind my house where I run 2-3 times per week. I should have called myself a repeat runner as it was almost the exact same course as I ran the virtual OC half marathon last summer. This year the race was split into waves from 7:30 to 9am and held on both Saturday and Sunday. You chose date and time at registration. I chose the earliest 7:30 AM Saturday slot since I was driving to NH after for Father’s days. Packet pick-up was either Thursday or Friday at the store and also available morning of the race. I went to store Thursday. Packet includes bib, chapstick, and a nice peri-winkle blue long sleeve tech shirts. Race day was very easy with lots of parking near the start. Set up was really nice with big starting arch and finishing arch. You lined up with your group of 50 and went during your wave. The morning was quite hot and humid in the high 70s and low 80s but not unbearably hot. The first half of the course you go over a bridge and then do an out and back behind the most important place in Rochester, my house! I knew this section of the course very well so it was a little boring but it is nice and flat. After this out and back you turn in the park and run for about 3.5 miles along the canal. This section is a little prettier and more shaded and goes past the second most important place in Rochester, my work! Then this is where the course diverges from my virtual OC half. Whereas I did an out and back for my virtual half for this half you go over a bridge to the other side of the park. This bridge had a beautiful view of downtown Rochester! Then there is another about 3ish miles along the canal back to the park. Again this is pleasant but slightly boring. The most exciting part was this super cool snapping turtle just chilling on the course. There were 5 aid stations on the course with water and gatorade. Again it was nice to have normal aid stations with cups handed to you. There weren’t quite enough aid stations for the heat but this was communicated and you were told to carry water which I did. The initial plan was for no aid stations and aid stations were only recently approved so I appreciated the 5 there were. Course was also extremely well marked and easy to follow. The only thing I thought could have improved the production of the course was to have mile markers. However since I knew the course so well I didn’t really need them personally. The end is rough and why I added an extra sneaker to the difficulty of an otherwise very easy course. There are the two steepest bridges right at the end and the finish was about a 0.1 mile slight incline on grass in the heat. Finish area was really nice and exciting. At the finish line you got a bag with your medal and goodies. The medal is nice. It isn’t the biggest half marathon medal I have but it features the skyline of Rochester which I like. The goody bag had chips, fruit snacks, cookies and a fruit cup. As YJR never misses a detail they even remembered a utensil for the fruit cup. This wasn’t my fastest half marathon but I thought I had a really fast time given the heat and humidity and the fact that I was still very sore from last week’s double. Obviously this wasn’t the most exciting race in the world being that it was practically in my backyard. However I decided to give it 5 sneakers as production was top-notch and the usual course is a 5 sneaker course and it seemed unfair to lower the rating of the race based on a smart move by the race company to change the location this year and ensure the race happens. Fingers crossed this is back to the original course next year!
RUN585 The Big Run 5K
Lovely mid-week evening 5K
RUN585 The Big Run 5K
The Run585 series is a series of 3 races in Genesee Valley Park in Rochester by Yellow Jacket Racing. The 585 refers to Rochester's area code and the series includes … MORE
The Run585 series is a series of 3 races in Genesee Valley Park in Rochester by Yellow Jacket Racing. The 585 refers to Rochester’s area code and the series includes a June 5K, a July 8K and an August 5K so 585. This is the first race in the series. Last year I participated in the series in a “virtu-real” format where the courses were marked for a week period and you could track yourself on racejoy but this was my first time doing the live series. Packet pick-up is recommended the day before at the store but is also available race day. Every year there is a different swag item for each race and a big swag item if you do the whole series and an additional shirt you can purchase to show your 585 pride. Last year the small item for each race was cups and this year a beer coozie. The big swag item for the series was a tote bag last year and this year a cooler. Packet also included bib and a race sticker. This year there is a rolling start from 4:30 to 6pm. This is super, easy and stress-free as the park is about a 1/2 mile from work so I can just walk over and start. The rolling start isn’t super exciting but this is a popular race series with over 300 runners so there were enough people to add some excitement and I was hardly ever alone on the course. This race was chipped time. The weather tonight was perfect and this is a really nice and fast course along the Erie canal in Genesee Valley Park. The only hills are two bridges but I think these are the easiest bridges to run up in the park. This course goes through some of the prettiest areas of the park. The finish line was set up very nice and really exciting. This is a fast course and I had a very fast 5K for having run two half marathons in a row a few days ago. Last year when I did the course “virtu-really” and my legs were a little fresher from the lack of racing I had a sub-30 finishing time to give you an idea of how fast it is. The RD cheered on the runners personally at the finish line and you are handed a bag with medal and goodies. There was also water bottles and non-alcoholic beer from athletic brewing company. The medal is nice and is a big 5 with the race name. The snacks include chips, mini chocolate chip cookies, peanuts and fruit snacks but sadly no granola bar this time. The end of the race was in a field and there were space for runners to hang out afterwards. Normally there is a barbeque but not this year due to covid. I am curious now that NY has lifted covid restrictions if the format will change for the next 2 races in the series. While the rolling start was nice and stress-free, an exciting mass start would be great. I also wouldn’t mind some savory food since they always have vegetarian options at their races. This is a very nice, well done 5K and is super convenient for me. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Delaware Marathon Running Festival
Loved the Race! Not the Drama!
Delaware Marathon Running Festival
This is a really hard race for me to rate. This was an excellent half marathon, easily in the top 25% of races I have done but there was so … MORE
This is a really hard race for me to rate. This was an excellent half marathon, easily in the top 25% of races I have done but there was so much drama between Corrigan Sports (the race company) and the city of Wilimington preceding the race that is really left a sour taste in my mouth and made it hard to fully recommend this race. This race was initially scheduled for the end of April. Early to mid-March we received an email that the race didn’t have the permits. They said they were still working with the city and would have a decision by April 1 but would likely delay the race to late May/early June. They are a reasonable race company and offered everyone the option to defer or go virtual at this point given the uncertainty. One thing I didn’t like is they still kept registration open and the website said the race date was in April. This information about not receiving the permits was on the race page but if you quickly signed up for the race you may not have seen it. They should have paused registration at this point. I assumed the race would be postponed and my schedule was full except the weekend of June 12 to 13 so my fingers were crossed that that would be the date they would choose. On March 31, we received notification the race was indeed going to be postponed to the date I wanted June 13! Along with being my only open weekend, one of the races I was considering that weekend 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut was the day before and only 45 mins away so it would be a perfect double and my favorite baseball team the Yankees happened to be in Philadelphia this weekend. The universe was really on my side here. At some point in April or May they announced a few changes including switching the 5K to a twilight 5K saturday evening and an earlier race start at the request of the city of Wilmington. Awesome! Since I am a crazy human being I realized I could do 3 races in a weekend 3 weekends in a row if I did the Saturday 5K. The earlier start would also give me more time to get to the Phillies game after the race. A little under a month before the new date, they announced they got the permits. Yes! At that point I pulled the trigger and signed up for the twilight 5K on Saturday. However about 2 weeks before the race they tell us the city of Wilmington decided the 5K should actually be on Sunday and that they should go back to the later 7am start. Ugh so I wasted money on a expensive 5K I then had to run virtually (the swag is excellent for the 5K though would be worth the expensive price tag for a live race). This already seemed a mess with Wilmington flip flopping their decisions about the 5K and start time and should have been a sign things would get worse. Then 4 days before the race, they announced that they had to cancel the marathon because they city of Wilmington couldn’t provide enough police support and the half course was changing from the usual course throughout Wilmington to an out and back on the Markel trail. What?! 4 days notice. Not cool! Especially since this is a race 50 staters travel all over the country for. They also forgot to close registration for the marathon for 24 hours. Thankfully I was signed up for the half marathon. I absolutely cannot see this kind of drama happening with some of the more organized race companies I have run with such as Millennium and Yellow Jacket Racing. To be fair to this race company, they realized what a terrible thing this was and did offer full refunds to marathoners even though their initial policy was no refunds. There were also a ton of very negative comments on facebook and the race company didn’t delete them and instead gave very professional responses. Still I was very not impressed. I can’t imagine this actually came out of nowhere. They had to have some clue the city might do this. Even if you want to give the race organizers the benefit of the doubt (which as I said before I usually do), this race company clearly doesn’t have the most foresight and is definitely not as organized as others. For instance, the city of Rochester is absolutely capable of pulling this kind of thing, so Yellow Jacket Racing pre-emptively moved their April race to June in a park to a course that didn’t require police or street closures and canceled their full marathon in the fall to ensure the half can happen. This race should have just canceled the marathon in April and switched the half to the Markel trail then. It would have been disappointing but better than announcing it 4 days before. Anyways I did not have high expectations leading into this race but was just keeping my fingers crossed the race would actually happen so I could get a new state and finish the mid-Atlantic region. I stayed at the host hotel the Double Tree in Downtown Wilmington the entire weekend. Good choice especially for half marathoners as it is about 1/2 mile away so you can walk and has noon checkout so plenty of time to shower after the race. Packet pick-up is the day before or you can have it mailed. I thought about having it mailed so I could spend the day in Philadelphia Saturday but after having to switch the 5K virtual I did not want to give this company more money. Packet pick-up was easy. It was not really an expo but the bib pickup was efficient and you could buy race gear. The people at packet pickup were very friendly and helpful which put me in a better mood for the race. The shirt is also a nice quality long sleeved under armour shirt in a nice dark red color. The design is a little simple but it says Delaware pretty big so good for a 50 stater. Since this is one of the biggest races in Delaware there was a lot of members from my 50 state half marathon club which made it extra fun. I walked to the race start with some of them who were also staying in my hotel. Race start was excellent and smooth and made me completely change my negative attitude. The race area had plenty of porta potties and was easy to navigate. The start had runners assigned a different color corral by pace and then had a pretty normal start. Start was smooth, quick and also well spaced. The course along the Markel trail was actually quite nice especially the first 2 to 3 miles along the riverfront and through some wetlands. It is all paved or a boardwalk. It is quite flat and easy except a bridge. The original half marathon course seems a little more interesting but hillier. I believe the second half of the marathon goes along this trail. This would be a nice way to end a marathon. There were self-fill aid stations throughout with jugs of water as you had to carry water but there were volunteers at the stations if anyone needed help. It was a simple course but there were mile markers and the relay portion which was the most complicated part seemed well organized. It was a little tight on portions of the trail which is why they said they couldn’t just have marathoners do it twice and I can see why that would be the case after running the course. It wasn’t the most exciting course but I really did enjoy it. Finish line was quite exciting and they call out your name as you pass the finish arch. I had a very good finishing time for this being my second half marathon in 2 days and reached my goal of beating yesterday and having a “negative split” for the weekend. Although this was a much easier race than yesterday, the only difficulty was it was very humid although temps again not bad for June. You are handed your medal and there is also water bottles and gatorade. The medal is very large and the ribbon is distance specific. I like that they have a magnetic challenge coin you can give to someone who helped you train as part of the medal. There was a large selection of post-race snacks including chips, bananas, cow tail candy, crackers, applesauce and multiple choices of different types of snack bars – fruit and grain, granola or protein (I chose the traditional granola bar)! I had to eat lunch at the baseball game since there wasn’t enough time in between and there was plenty of food to hold me over until then. There were also a choice of a local beer or a non-local hard seltzer if you drink alcohol. The start and finish in a park is nice to hang out at before or after race. This was an excellent race and I don’t think a race that is an out and back along a public trail could be done much better than this. After all the drama, I thought I would not want to do another race with Corrigan Sports but I have decided I am willing to give them another chance given how well this race was done. After I participated in the race, I genuinely think the Race Company was pretty blind sided by the city. This was clearly a very runner friendly race and the race company clearly cared about the runners from what I saw race day. I still have a hard time strongly recommending this race as the city of Wilmington does not seem to support the race very much and I would still be cautious about signing up for races by Corrigan Sports (they do several mostly in Maryland including Baltimore Running Festival) especially this year and especially a full marathon but I will give them a chance and do another one of their races in the future. Overall this was an excellent weekend in the Philadelphia area. I just wish the Yankees played better.
1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Marathon & Half Marathon
1/2 Diet Coke 1/2 Impossible Burger
1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Marathon & Half Marathon
This is a German themed half or full marathon produced by Uberendurance Sports in Pennypack park in Philadelphia. This is always held in June and is known to often be … MORE
This is a German themed half or full marathon produced by Uberendurance Sports in Pennypack park in Philadelphia. This is always held in June and is known to often be a very hot race. I had my eye on this race when looking for half marathons in driving distance this weekend and on almost the same day that Philadelphia announced allowing outdoor events making this race likely to happen, the nearby Delaware Running Festival that I was already registered for moved to the day after this race and I couldn’t resist the opportunity for two halves less than an hour apart in one weekend. This is a very cheap race ($60-$70) for a race in a bigger city. However it does not have a big city feel so if you wanted a high energy, big city race where you see all the sights of Philadelphia, this is not the race for you. If you want a more laid back, smaller race with easy logistics and a cheap price tag then sign up for this one. There wasn’t as much pre-race communication as some races but the week before you are sent a helpful (and very funny) race guide. Logistics were very easy and smooth. Packet pick-up is either the day before or the morning of which is great since its a Saturday race so I don’t need to take off Friday or find someone to pick up my packet. If you are doing race day packet pickup you have to park at the German club and then take a shuttle to the park. If you picked it up early you can park at the park. It is stressed a lot that for same day packet pick up you must go to German club first. This is a smaller race with about 500 participants so packet pickup was smooth and it was the perfect sized race for right now as it was small enough to pretty much be a normal race. I don’t think there were any special protocols except wear a mask on the shuttle. Packet included a long sleeved zipped jacket with a patch of the race logo. It’s pretty nice but kind of weird for summer swag as I doubt I will use it for several months. The shuttle was super smooth and easy. The start of the race was festive with an accordion player and there were enough porta potties that the lines weren’t too long. Weather was actually pretty good today in the mid 70s. We were lucky we didn’t have last week’s weather. The start of the race was just a normal mass start. It was a big enough race I think some self seeded corrals or at least signs to line up for pace may have helped but the race thinned out pretty quickly. As I said the course is through a park. The park is quite pretty but nothing special. It is as pretty but not prettier than parks we have here in Rochester. The course is a lollipop with 5.5 miles of paved road through the park followed by a loop that is mostly trail then you repeat the same 5.5 miles. The first 3 miles are pretty easy just some minor hills. None of them had to be walked though I did walk a few of them to save energy since I was doing two halves this weekend. The next 3 miles are paved and hilly. I definitely walked these hills and would have walked them even if I didn’t have a half the next day but if you actually hill train and don’t just walk hills like me you could run them. The next mile is bonkers. There is a short portion on grass. Gross I walked this since I didn’t want to get injured and don’t like grass and then a quite technical hill section up to “Mount Cuckoo”. I’ve done worse trails but this was harder than I expected. Not so hard that you need to do trail training or wear trail shoes for just this mile but hard enough to prevent you from reaching your time goals. Mount cuckoo was both my favorite and least favorite part of the course and definitely added to the quirkiness and charm of the race. You then finish the loop and do the steep hills and then the flatter section. The race was pretty well stocked with aid stations but given the potential heat and humidity I would recommend carrying water. It was nice to have normal aid stations with cups of water and gatorade handed to you. One aid station in the middle that you pass twice also had snacks and gels. Half marathoners go through the finish line while marathoners do it again. If you are on the fence about the marathon you are able to chicken out and get an official time and potential age group award for the half marathon (the age group awards are really cool but I’m way too slow a turtle to have a chance). At the finish line you get your medal and there is a nice selection of snacks before you take the bus back to the German club to celebrate. I was aiming for a 2:45 finishing time since I wanted to save energy for my half the next day. I was about a minute and a half slower than my goal. Mount Cuckoo….man. Despite just missing my goal I was super excited to see at the post-race refreshment table there were both twizzlers and granola bars, my two favorite post race snacks. There was also some delicious and refreshing watermelon slices. I think there was other stuff but I got too excited by the twizzlers to remember the rest. The medal is fine. It is on the smaller side for a half marathon medal but not tiny. It has a plain ribbon. It is not distance specific but does have the date. After I ate my granola bar and twizzlers, I took the shuttle back to the German club. There runners can go to the beer garden to redeem their two tickets they got at packet pick up for a beer and a brat (or a diet coke and an impossible burger in my case). Overall I thought this was a fun, solid race and a good price. It wasn’t the most exciting scenery or swag but especially if you are used to big city races this would be a nice break. I’m not sure I would drive down to Philadelphia for this race alone but I’m very happy I did it this weekend when I was practically in town anyways and would do it again if I were in Philadelphia for another reason and would definitely recommend it to locals.
The Heritage – Will Run for Wine 5K
A lot less to "wine" about
The Heritage – Will Run for Wine 5K
This is a 5K at Fulkerson winery in the Fingerlakes region. It is produced by Confluence Running who have a few stores in Southern NY (Corning, Binghamton, etc.). This was … MORE
This is a 5K at Fulkerson winery in the Fingerlakes region. It is produced by Confluence Running who have a few stores in Southern NY (Corning, Binghamton, etc.). This was an inaugural race. Overall it was a much, much better experience than my last wine themed race (Virginia Wine County “Half Marathon” – the worst race ever!), but this race had a few things to work on. This year you signed up for waves of 50 every half hour from 10am to 11:30 am. This race is located about an hour and fifteen minutes from Rochester. I signed up for the last time slot so I could round first before the race since I was working this weekend. Rounding first was nice but the late start meant the race was very hot. It was 90 degrees and sunny today and the start time (even 10am) was way too late. I’m not sure much could be done about this since the winery opens at 10am. The RD though was very nice and let people from later waves start early given the heat which was great since I arrived about 45 minutes early. Packet pickup was right before the race. Swag included a nice tech material tank top and a wine tumbler. The tank top is bright pink and nice quality. It seems to be a nice material for running in but it seems a little weird for me to wear a shirt that says “Will Run for Wine” when I don’t drink alcohol. Oh well I do enjoy irony. The Tumbler is nice and has the correct race name. The area was absolutely beautiful. This is the scenery I was hoping to see in Virginia last week. The race was chipped timed and they let runners just go as a rolling start if they wanted to start before their waves. This made the start a little anti-climatic but I’m glad I wasn’t running during the heat of the day at 11:30. The course was gorgeous but harder than I expected. It is trail but not particularly technical but very hilly. You don’t need trail shoes. A lot of it is on grass weaving around the vineyard. Grass isn’t my favorite surface but this wasn’t bad grass to run on and it was neat to run through the vineyard. However there was no shade so I definitely walked most of the hills. There was also a smaller section in the forest which was more shaded. At some parts there were absolutely gorgeous views of Seneca Lake. My biggest complaint of the course and the race was I didn’t think it was very well marked. The markings were mostly just drawn on the ground and there were occasional flags. It would have been easy to get lost if you weren’t paying attention. There definitely should have been signs and volunteers. I’m also pretty sure one intersection wasn’t marked originally since I saw some of the early wave runners go off course running on the main road while driving into the winery which wasn’t part of the course and heard the RD mention it. To be fair, they did fix the mistake and by the time I got to the intersection you could not go the wrong way as there was a car and cones blocking it off. The RD cheered on all the runners at the finish. I did laugh that my Garmin showed the course to be just a tad short (3.0 miles vs 3.1 miles) but it is within normal error and not off by a mile and I’m not as concerned about the distance of 5Ks. There was only water at the finish line. I think it should be mandatory for every race to have some kind of granola bar at the end. I was super, super slow but is was super, super hot and there was about 300 feet of elevation gain. When I looked at the final results though I was in the middle of my age group and the overall winner was over 20 minutes so I think everyone was really slow today. There was also free wine tasting which is another perk over the Virginia Wine Country disaster but I obviously didn’t do the wine tasting. I thought this was a good race with a lot of potential. If they decide to hold this race again they need to do a better job with marking the course. I would also look into an earlier start but that may be out of the race company’s control. While there were some flaws, this was a much better wine race with beautiful scenery and nice swag. This is also a nice area for a day trip. If you are a wine drinker, there are lots of wineries to explore. If you are more of a hiker/outdoorsy person like me, Watkins Glen State Park is very close by along with other hikes in the Finger Lakes. I had to go home to catch up on some work right after the race but really enjoyed the views on the ride down and stopped in downtown Geneva on the way home for lunch. If this race is held again I’d be open to giving it another try if I’m in town.
Rush-Henrietta Kicking Hunger 5K
You won't go hungry after this race
Rush-Henrietta Kicking Hunger 5K
Very happy to find a local 5K to run this weekend while I am on call. This is a 5K that helps with the problem of hunger in the community. … MORE
Very happy to find a local 5K to run this weekend while I am on call. This is a 5K that helps with the problem of hunger in the community. It is located in Henrietta which is a suburb of Rochester about 10 minutes away from where I live so very convenient. Packet pickup was Thursday and Friday at the Henrietta Rec Center. The swag was excellent for a $20 local 5K. It included a fine cotton shirt, a water bottle, lip balm, and a finisher ribbon and came in a reusable grocery bag. I liked the finisher ribbon idea. While obviously not as nice as a medal, it is a good cheaper alternative as it is nice to have some kind of finisher item to place in my medal collection. The race started in a park in Henrietta. I wouldn’t call the start unorganized but you could tell the race organizers were just as confused as we all are about how much social distancing is supposed to happen now. It sounds like they originally had plans for waved starts and more social distancing but now that things are opening up they loosened the plan to make it more fun and it was sort of a rolling mass start. The course is pretty easy but nothing special. The only challenge was it was hot outside. The first 2 miles are through local neighborhoods. Kind of boring but safe and the streets were closed to traffic. The last mile is in a park on paved and gravel trail. Also kind of a boring park. I did see two direction signs that were placed incorrectly in the park (why I took away a sneaker from production) but it was easy to follow the main path through the park. I crossed the finish line at 3.1 miles exactly. My time wasn’t bad for the heat but not my fastest nor my slowest 5K. At the end there is a table with some water, a table with results, and then you walk to an amphitheater in the park where they give out food bags. The food bag is incredible. This race isn’t just about making sure community members don’t go hungry but also making sure the runners don’t go hungry. The bag had a water bottle, Wegman’s brand electrolyte drink, a granola bar, a fruit and oat bars (yes two bars!), a bag of trail mix, a banana and a clementine. There was definitely more calories in this bag than you burn in a 5K. Overall I thought this was a pretty well done local race. The course was nothing special but it went to a good cause. And the swag bag and food bag were very good for the price. This is one I would definitely do again if I were in town for the weekend.
Mendon Mauler Trail Run
Slow Start to the Weekend
Mendon Mauler Trail Run
This is a Friday evening trail race produced by Yellow Jacket Racing that takes place at Mendon Ponds Park which has some nice and tough trails. You have the option … MORE
This is a Friday evening trail race produced by Yellow Jacket Racing that takes place at Mendon Ponds Park which has some nice and tough trails. You have the option of a 4 mile or 8 mile race. The 8 miler is 2 loops of the 4 mile and they allow you to drop down if you didn’t realize how hard they would make this course. I was on call this week so chose the shorter 4 miler. That was the correct choice as this course was brutal. I will write a caveat to this review that it has been an exceptionally busy week at work and I am very sleep deprived right now and it was also really hot out so I wasn’t really in the mood for a tough race but I’m trying to run 100 races this year so couldn’t say no to a local Friday race. Packet pick-up was the day before at the store. Packet included a T-shirt. it is just a cotton T-shirt but the design is cool with neon skeleton logo and its a nice forest green. This race also had a rolling start from 5pm to 6pm. Not the most exciting but convenient for being on call. I was driving in near the beginning of the race and it seemed at the start it was probably more exciting with lot of runners but by the time I parked and got ready it was the middle so a little anti-climatic. Mendon is a fun but tough place to run but this course was a little much especially for my current mood. The first 0.5 mile was mostly on grass which isn’t my favorite but it was at least relatively flat. The rest is through trails and is more fun but the hills are insane. I run at Mendon just about every week and I didn’t even know these hills existed. One of the downhills was even harder than the uphill. My Garmin had about 600 feet of elevation gain total. There were a lot of rocks, roots and horse poop to maneuver around as an added challenge. The trail is quite pretty. I was sad I didn’t see any of my deer friends on the trail like I usually do but I saw them on my drive out. Just a heads up the course is long and was about 4.5 miles but I have no right to complain about a long course after my rant about the short course at Virginia Wine Country half marathon. I really didn’t care that it was long, it’s just a heads up and they describe this as 4ish miles not exactly 4 miles. Ugh the end is again on grass to the finish line. Again the RDs know me so I got a personal cheer and a bag of goodies including a nutrigrain bar, crackers and chips so I can replenish my snack supply. In the past I think there had been medals but there weren’t this year which is fine since since they did not say there would be a medal this year and I don’t need a medal for every cheap, short race. It was also manually timed. But timing seemed precise. The times aren’t listed yet so I don’t know how accurate they were but I assume they are accurate based on YJR’s usual attention to detail. But I was super, slow since I was tired and hot and I wouldn’t mind if my official terrible time doesn’t get published. I think if it were 10 degrees cooler and I got 5 more hours of sleep this week and my deer friends showed up on the course, this might have been a 4 sneaker race. It was well produced and very well marked. It wasn’t my favorite race but I would do this again if I were in town since it’s a Friday night so not competing with other races. But I also wouldn’t stay in town for this race Friday night if there was a race I wanted to travel to that was several hours away on Saturday.
Fallen Soldiers Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
So Much Wildlife!!
Fallen Soldiers Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
I initially signed up for this race as more of a checkbox race to get a half done in Maryland on a date when it was really the only half … MORE
I initially signed up for this race as more of a checkbox race to get a half done in Maryland on a date when it was really the only half marathon in driving distance. I didn’t have huge expectations. Basically just that it would be a 13.1 mile race (which apparently is too much to ask for sometimes) but this race surprised me and I actually really enjoyed it. This is also put on by Bishop’s Events. Bishop’s Events puts on cheap, low key, no frills races throughout the DC area. This race takes place on the C&O trail in Great Falls Park on the border between Maryland and Virginia on the Maryland side. Just an FYI they say the park requires for you to pay for parking but if you arrive early no one is there and you don’t have to pay. Bib pickup is morning of and is easy. The shirt was a nice purple color and had the logo of the charity which for this race was the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation which was appropriate for Veterans day. I feel like Bishop’s upped their shirt game this weekend. Both shirts were nicer than the ones I got in March. Not amazing shirts but solid tech shirts that fit that I will wear. They also gave participants the name of a soldier who died in combat to honor their race with which was a nice memorial day touch. This was one of the larger Bishop’s Events with about 100 participants in the half. There were a good number of people from my half marathon clubs since it was one of the only halfs today which made it more fun than some smaller races. Half marathoners went off in 4 waves based on bib number with waves going off every couple minutes. I was in the last wave. The start went pretty smooth. I was expecting the course to be a boring but pleasant canal trail path but it was absolutely beautiful and amazing. It is on non-technical trail. No trail experience necessary but watch out for rocks. I was in such awe of the surroundings by the falls I may have tripped over a rock and bloodied my lower right leg. Very shallow cuts but scratched up a large area of my leg. Looked worse than it was. Along with beautiful views of the falls there were so many wild animals. Animal sightings is probably my #1 criteria for how much I like a course. I saw several deer, great blue herons, turtles, some ducklings, and lots of butterflies and song birds on the course. And of course I stopped to take pictures. When I put my headphones down I could hearing chirping birds and croaking frogs. It was so nice and pleasant. And also the weather was perfect! Also the half marathon turnaround point was where it was supposed to be to my relief. The course is quite easy with just gradual inclines and declines and only about 300 feet of elevation gain. I marked it 2 sneaker difficulty just to remind you to look out for the rocks! While the course was unexpectedly amazing, the rest of the aspects of the race were just okay. Again this is a cheap, local race that raises money for charity so okay is fine for a race like this. While there were no major production issues, this race is definitely lacking some production elements seen in larger races and this was more evident for a longer race like a half marathon than for the 5K and 10Ks I’ve done with Bishop’s. There were 3 aid stations you passed twice. The first and third had water and gatorade and second had just water. They had cups placed that were filled and also jugs you could get water from which works well. This race though was missing medical which I could have used to help cover my bloody leg. The volunteer at the first aid station was really nice and gave me some napkins to help clean it up but could have used bandages. I had to wait until I finished the race to clean up my leg properly but I did find a use for my Wine Country Shirt as I need a cloth item from my car to clean the dirt and dried blood from my leg. I also would have liked to see porta-potties and some kind of gel or chew on course. But again the basic production aspects were all there and the race was the correct distance and the timing was accurate. Another issue which isn’t really the race’s fault is since this was an open course and a beautiful day the last mile and a half were full of non-race participants and some had very poor trail etiquette so there was a lot of weaving around people but I did make up a fraction of the missing mile from Saturday with the extra weaving. At the finish line you get your medal. These races do not have the best medals. This one was at least a little larger and nicer than some of the other Bishop’s medals I have but one of my worst half marathon medals. It does have the date and race name/distance on the back. There is also some jugs of water and gatorade and usually a box of snacks but the snacks were very picked over today. There was just goldfish crackers which are okay. I thought my finishing time was very good for someone who ran 2 other races this weekend including an almost half marathon 2 days ago, injured themselves in the first half a mile of the race and took like a million pictures of wildlife. I actually ran about the entire course. I think I only walked for about 1 minute which is the least I’ve walked in a half marathon. Overall this isn’t the best produced or most exciting race but the course was gorgeous and the registration very cheap and you got exactly what you paid for. This was about half the price of the disastrous Virginia Wine Country half I did on Saturday and overall a much more positive experience and much more bang for your buck. I think even if the Virginia Wine Country Race was the correct distance, this still would have been a better race and was definitely more scenic. This isn’t the race to do for Maryland if you want a large, high energy race with great swag but if you want a convenient, cheap, no frills race that showcases a beautiful part of the state this turned out to actually be a pretty solid option and not just a checkbox race. I would definitely consider doing this race again or another Bishop’s event on this course.
Laurel Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
Same Fun Course as "Rolling Hills"
Laurel Memorial 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
This was an event by Bishop's Events who produce small, low key events thoughout the DC area most weekends. This was the exact same course and pretty much the same … MORE
This was an event by Bishop’s Events who produce small, low key events thoughout the DC area most weekends. This was the exact same course and pretty much the same race as the “Rolling Hills” race I did there in March so I called myself a “repeat runner.” It even went to the same charity and it is an awesome charity helping out dogs and cats! You can read that review for more details. Today I just did the 5K as a “break” between half marathons. I really liked the shirt for this race. It is grey and has the dog and cat logo for the charity really big. I will wear it all the time to promote pet adoption. The course is super fun, single track trail. I wore trail shoes today and it was better with trail shoes especially as it was a little muddy but better condition that I was expecting. It is a super fun course. It is an easy trail race but a tough race if you are more used to road. I was also really impressed that they improved the course markings and had a volunteer at the one offshoot where there wasn’t someone last time based off (I assume) feedback from the runner who went the wrong way in March. It’s nice to see a race company respond to constructive feedback in a professional way after yesterday. I wish I just slept in Saturday and did this half marathon instead of that Wine Country joke of a race. Production for this race was solid though not amazing but these are low cost races and the distance was correct! The medal was the same as the Rolling Hills with the little paw print. As I’ve said before these are solid, low key races and great for combining for multi race weekends in DC.
Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon
A lot to "wine" about
Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon
What an epic disaster! I will start by saying do NOT sign up for this race or anything produced by Bad to the Bone Sports. This was the rudest, most … MORE
What an epic disaster! I will start by saying do NOT sign up for this race or anything produced by Bad to the Bone Sports. This was the rudest, most unprofessional race company I have ever dealt with and I race a lot. Also $100 for this “half marathon” was a joke. I will cut to the chase and say the reason I put “half marathon” in quotes is the course was about 1 mile short which is an egregious and unacceptable mistake and the response by the race company was even worse. Now for the full review. I was looking for somewhere to go for my three day weekend and the DC area seemed like a nice and appropriate place to spend memorial day and I found a race on all 3 days there. This sounded like the most interesting of the races offered this weekend so even though I am not a wine drinker, I enjoy pretty, farmland and thought this sounded nice and it had mostly good or at least decent reviews. Just some background info on the race. This race changed production companies a couple years ago. It used to be by “Destination Races” and the reviews from prior years are based on their production. This year it was done by Bad to the Bone Sports who also do the Charlottesville Marathon and a few other races if you want to know what races to avoid. This year the location also changed to Tarara winery in Leesburg. Okay, fine covid I get it. This race is located outside of DC. I stayed in a hotel by Dulles airport even though I drove since it was equidistant from all my races. One positive about this race is they offer morning of packet pick-up which I did since I drove in Friday. Friday night was very rainy, luckily the rain mostly cleared by Saturday morning but it made parking a muddy disaster. Should have been a bad sign. Packet pick-up was easy. I was actually pretty excited for the race as the bib was really pretty and personalized and this was a medium sized race (capped at 500) so was able to be pretty normal and still fit within size limits now that things are opening up. The start was just a normal start. I did think there should have been some kind of sign or something recommending to line up by pace but it was just a mass start. The field was small enough and it was chipped time so it was fine. The race is all on the winery property and it is multiple out and backs. It is described as “rolling hills” and we know what that means. As I’ve said before I don’t really mind a scenic, hilly course. However I wasn’t that impressed with the scenery. It was nice enough but I’ve seen much nicer farms in New York and Vermont. The course was kind of annoying where there was this one and back you did twice with another out and back inbetween. What made it annoying was the front of the pack caught up to the large back of the pack group I was in on their second out and back while we were on our first. The lead runner was escorted by police on motorcycles who yelled through a megaphone for us to get out of the way. I understand why this was done but it was obviously going to happen with how the course was set up and they should have figured out a better course. The course is a mix of paved and gravel roads. With the rain it was kind of muddy but not terrible. There were not mile markers every mile which I feel like for a $100 road race there should be huge mile markers. I did notice a 5 mile marker at the wrong place and thought it was just accidentally there but that should have been a bad sign. There were also pretty much no spectators which is not surprising since it is all in the winery and is in a rural area. However other races I’ve done in rural areas such as the EVL Halloween half marathon and Amish Country Running Festival placed signs throughout the course for encouragement in some of the more rural sections. I feel like if I pay $100 you can put a few signs up. The aid stations were really good and frequent though. One of my few positives. I liked how they did it. They had cups placed filled with water and gatorade and then also water jugs with foot pedals if you wanted it contactless. However the gatorade was very watered down. I swear they tried to cut costs every way they could. Anyways I get to the end of the out and back at the halfway mark and I noticed my Garmin only says 6.12 miles. At that point I realized the reason the 5 mile marker was off is the course was off by almost 1 mile! I immediately lost any motivation since I realized this was not going to count for any half marathon clubs and I wanted to save energy for my half on Monday. I walked all the uphill in the second half. I was pretty annoyed and it was hard to enjoy the rest of the race. I mostly just started looking for farm animals and saw a few cows in the distance, some ducks, a cat and a really cute alpaca. I made it to the finish line and my Garmin said 12.2 miles. Yes the course was short about a mile. And I confirmed this with several runners so it was not a Garmin error. Completely unacceptable. Especially for an expensive race that is billed as a “destination lifestyle experience” trying to attract runners from all over. I understand human error and if this was a cheap, local, mom and pop type race company that I paid $30 for a half marathon I could forgive them but not a $100 race. Absolutely ridiculous. If I spend $100 on a race I expect flawless production and at the very least an accurate course. At the finish line you got your medal and your shirt. The medal is really cute with grapes and a baby duck but is not distant specific and not year specific and it turns out was just the medal for 2020 that they reused. I mean I get why they would use the 2020 medals but what was my $100 entry fee used for. Also the shirts are literally the cheapest worst shirts I have every seen. They are black, just have the name and a picture of grapes in one color (so cheap) and made of scratchy polyester so not comfortable to run in or sleep in. And they are tiny. I get men’s mediums since I like baggy shirts and this one is tight on me which means it is smaller than a men’s small should be and it is definitely the men’s shirt because they initially handed me a women’s medium which looked like it might fit a toddler. Really what did they do with my money if the medals were reused, the shirt was cheap and production was terrible. There is also a wine festival but you have to pay an additional $25 to enter on top of the ridiculous entry fee. I don’t drink alcohol so didn’t participate but this race was so bad I was tempted to buy a glass and start drinking again. Also the free post-race snacks were super lame just a bag of chips and a small thing of M&Ms plus a banana and water bottle. There was a food truck you could buy food from but they advertised two food trucks so they didn’t even get that right lol. To add insult to injury, the race company was completely rude afterwards. I was waiting for an apology email or something but crickets. They seemed to want to ignore the measurement issue and pretend it never happened. Anyways someone commented on one of their posts on their facebook page that the race was short. Instead of apologizing, the race company just deleted the comment. People then commented again. Instead of apologizing the company again deleted the comments and made it so no one could comment on any posts. Super professional! They then offered an explanation saying the wind knocked down the turn around sign for the first out and back and it was placed in the wrong location. They did not apologize at all in the explanation. The tone actually sounded annoyed that runners would complain about their mistake. Also this message is in a comment on a facebook post and not an email sent to all participants so you have to look for it. I still have not seen an apology email or any apology for their mistake. I get it we all make mistakes. I expect less mistakes if I pay this much for a race but what I definitely expect is an apology when a race company screws up this bad. I have seen same day apologies for much, much, much more minor things by good race companies. The only good thing I can say about this race company is they have chosen the perfect company name because they truly are bad to the bone. Not in a cool, tough way but in that they are literally bad at their jobs to the bone. Avoid this race and avoid this race company at all costs. And the costs are high!
(also I am not usually this negative a person and I try to give race companies the benefit of the doubt – please read my positive reviews there are a lot of great races out there. If you are looking for Virginia, I highly recommend Shamrock in Virginia Beach)
***Just an update 1 week later and still no apology! But I did get an email to spend $49.99 on personalized race photos in case I wanted to waste more money on a race I am trying to forget***
Lilac Run 5K, 10K & Dunkin’ Dash
Largest Race in ROC since pandemic
Lilac Run 5K, 10K & Dunkin’ Dash
The Lilac Festival held annually in May is one of the biggest events in Rochester and the accompanying Lilac Run 5K/10K is a very popular event with a few thousand … MORE
The Lilac Festival held annually in May is one of the biggest events in Rochester and the accompanying Lilac Run 5K/10K is a very popular event with a few thousand runners every year. The Lilac Festival and Run were canceled last year but this year they figured out how to hold them with social distancing protocols. I was on call this weekend so very excited to have a local race to do. This was by far the largest running event I have participated in Rochester, NY since I moved here and I assume the biggest running event here since the pandemic since I’ve done most of the races here. There were about 1500 runners with a little under 1000 doing the 5K and a little over 500 doing the 10K. Production of this race was absolutely amazing and they found that perfect balance between safety and normalcy which is impressive given the number of runners. This year the race was moved to Genessee Valley Park. Normally it is in Highland Park where the Lilac Festival is but by moving the race to Genessee Valley Park they were able to keep the course open for several hours and also help mitigate the crowd. This did make the race less festive since it was separate from the festival but was really the only option and Highland Park is only about 2 miles away so would be easy to go to festival after. Genessee Valley Park was also very convenient for me (especially on call) since it is about 1/2 mile from work so I could park at work and do my warm-up/cool down walk to/from the race. Packet pick-up was held at Medved Running store the week before and you choose the date of packet pickup when you registered. Packet pickup was outside the store which I think is best for safety. Packet included bib, shirt and a tote bag with some coupons for some local stores and the best part a $5 Dunkin gift card. Shirt is polyblend and its pretty nice but I don’t love the color. It is this greyish teal kind of color. It’s not actually a terrible color but it clashes with the race logo which is pink and purple. A light pink shirt would have looked so much better but I guess they didn’t want the shirts too “feminine” or something. Still a nice, comfortable shirt I will wear. For the race morning as I said I parked at work and walked to the park. The start was very well organized. Runners chose a time slot at registration and went off every 5 minutes. The 5K time slots were earlier in the morning and the 10K started at 9:30. Runners who deferred from last year got to pick first so the earliest slots were filled but I chose the next earlier at 9:40 which was the third 10K slot. At the start runners went through 3 corrals with their time slot of about 50 other runners: The staging corral, on deck corral and starting corral. Runners had to wear masks in starting area and everyone was complying. In the starting corral runners lined up in three rows at cones spaced 6 feet apart and 3 runners went off every 5 seconds. Worked very well, added some excitement and also felt very safe. Also this was many people’s first live running event since the pandemic started which added to the excitement even if it was about my 60th event since the pandemic. The course itself was fine. I normally do my runs on the canal path and frequently in Genessee Valley Park so it wasn’t too exciting of a place for me to run but it is a nice area and it is quite fast. It is pretty flat just a few inclines and declines and the only things resembling a hill are a few bridges you have to cross. The reason I added a sneaker to the difficulty is the end was the toughest part as there were two back to back bridges near the end and it ended on an incline. I had to take two calls during the run and it was a little hot and humid so my finishing time was mediocre but it was not due to course difficulty. This year there was only one water stop around the 4.5 mile mark for the 10K and about halfway through the 5K. They set it up with jugs of water to self serve and also left some cups for people who weren’t carrying water. I really liked this. Much preferred to the wasteful little water bottles. I was carrying water but as it was hot it was just in the right place for a refill but I do think given how hot it was it would have been better if they added an additional water station sooner for those not carrying water. But then again this was clearly stated in the pre-race instructions and they specifically recommended carrying a bottle so can’t really complain. The finish line are was in a separate park of the park to keep things spread out. There was a nice finish arch and the announcer called out each runners name as they went through which was a nice touch. At the end you were given your medal. It is a nice medal with the race logo and pretty pink/purple colors and good size for a 5K/10K medal but not bigger than my marathon medals which is the right size. They also had bags of food which included Biosteel Sports Drink, a banana and some candies. And the best part there was a Dunkin truck that had cups of coffees and bags of bagels and cream cheese to grab. The coffee and bagels were better post race food than the longer races I have been doing. It was probably a little hot for coffee for most people but I’m not most people and will always take coffee. Overall I thought this was a really well-done race and they did a great job hosting an event with over 1000 runners that felt completely safe and this would have felt safe even in the late fall before vaccination. This year I think the event felt a little less connected to the lilac festival being in a separate park which was a little disappointing but hopefully next year it will be back to Highland Park and the move was definitely better than not holding the race. I also did visit the Lilac Festival Saturday and it was fun and there are some beautiful lilacs (there were also few in Genessee Valley Park along the course but not as pretty as the ones at the festival). The lilac festival and this race are fun events in Rochester. I wouldn’t necessarily say they are worth flying across the country to attend but definitely a must do for locals and worth a couple hour drive for day trip. I don’t generally plan my schedule around shorter races but I will do this one again if I am in town.
Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
I Must be a Maniac...A Marathon Maniac!
Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon
I initially had a couple days off around this weekend for a trip to California but my plans got canceled and I needed a new plan for my short vacation. … MORE
I initially had a couple days off around this weekend for a trip to California but my plans got canceled and I needed a new plan for my short vacation. I realized if I ran a marathon this weekend it would be 3 marathons in under 90 days and would qualify me for marathon maniacs so I decided to run one. I was looking for a race ideally in a new state in a location I wanted to spend 4 days. When Tobacco Road announced moving the race from March to this weekend, it sounded perfect. This was a really hard race to produce with local guidelines and the RD and those involved with the race production clearly went above and beyond to make this race happen. The marathon was changed to Saturday and the half kept on Sunday to allow more spacing. I actually ran the race on May 15 not 16. I flew into Raleigh on Friday. Luckily I had Friday off so I could arrive early. Out-of-staters had to go to packet pick-up the day before and show proof of being fully vaccinated or having a negative covid test. Packet pickup worked well. It was outside a running store and went smoothly. I liked that it was outside. Packet included shirt which is a nice, tech shirt. They were pretty spring colors, a light yellow for the full and a light blue for the half. They have the race logo and are a little simple in design but nice. You also got a thing of Gu and a race buff. If you needed anything else you could buy it in the store. I stayed at the host hotel the Embassy suite in the research triangle. It is nice but just a warning it is about a 15 minute drive from the race start. Race start was pretty smooth. This year you signed up for waves from 6am to 8am. The first waves were for people expecting to finish in under 3:30 or over 6:30. I expected to be pretty slow for this race since I somehow have neither fully recovered and tapered nor built up the necessary mileage for a marathon (all my long runs between the 50K and this race were half marathons which you can read the reviews about), but did expect to finish under 6:30 so I choose the next earliest 6:30AM time slot to allow for the course to be open longer and I realized it could potentially be really hot in North Carolina in May so wanted to run when it was cooler. I arrived about 45 minutes early. Parking was easy this year for the marathon but sounds a real pain during regular years. Plenty of porta potties at the start. They ended up letting people from later waves start early and it was more of a rolling start. Not super exciting but there was an announcer and music and it was very safe. Luckily the weather was actually pretty good today. It only got to the mid 70s by the end of the race and the first few hours were perfect running weather. The course is shaped kind of like a T with about 2 miles on roads before taking a right onto the American Tobacco Rail Trail where you then run an out and back and then keep going and run another out and back and then go back on the road for the final 2 miles. They used the regular marathon course this year but the half marathon is a modified course. The miles on the road are a little hilly. Nothing terrible just rollers. The trail is relatively flat but there are some inclines and declines. It is advertised as flat and fast. I wouldn’t quite call it flat but also wouldn’t call it hilly. It is a relatively fast course. If you actually trained and tapered properly you could have a fast time. It’s a pretty area so the road isn’t too bad to look at but the trail is really pretty and the star of the marathon. I really enjoyed running the trail. Mix of crushed limestone and a few paved sections so nice on the joints. It is a very pleasant, peaceful run although a bit monotonous running it for over 20 miles. The trail isn’t the best place for spectators but at all the intersections with roads along the trail there were lots of cheerful spectators. Just know there are some longer stretches without spectators. There were well spaced aid stations but ugh only little water bottles which are a pain and no gels or electrolytes but this was communicated and I was prepared. There was a nice amount of runners running the race so it wasn’t lonely but also well spaced. I actually think out and backs work well during the pandemic so you end up seeing more runners. It heated up a little in the second half but the trail was shaded so stayed pretty cool. The last 2 miles on the road were quite hot especially the uphills. I had a fast first half but kind of bonked out in the second half due to not really training or tapering. I didn’t really set a specific goal just to get an official finishing time so I would qualify for marathon maniacs and ideally finish under 6 hours and I did that. At the finish line you are given your medal. The medal is great. It is huge, specific to the distance and always train themed given the rail trail. This year along with a big train in the middle there is a little train on top that moves along the track. I don’t know if its quite as cool as the super bowl ring but its one of my best medals. Snack selection not the best since you know covid. You get a bag with a kind bar and pretzels and there were also bananas and chocolate milk (blech!) on a table you could grab. Overall I thought this was a really good race: nice and not too difficult course, great production, nice race shirt and nicer medal. Other than being a bit monotonous I have no other complaints. Also seemed to be the safest of all the larger races I have done during covid. I would definitely recommend this for North Carolina. It is a short enough flight I could visit in just a weekend so would actually consider coming back to run it again but probably just the half.
Shelburne 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
Killer Hills! Killer Views!
Shelburne 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
I was heading over to NH for mother's days and thought I'd stop by Vermont on the way to run this inaugural race and check off a new state. This … MORE
I was heading over to NH for mother’s days and thought I’d stop by Vermont on the way to run this inaugural race and check off a new state. This is produced by Race Vermont and is located in Shelburne which is just south of Burlington. I drove up Friday night and stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in South Burlington which was very convenient. Race morning was smooth with parking and packet pick-up at Shelburne Field House. Due to Vermont travel rules, out of staters had to show proof of covid vaccine or negative covid test at check in and there was also a temperature screen. This made the race very safe. Packet included bib and you could pay for shirt. Shirt is nice poly blend shirt and has year on it but not distance specific. Race registration was very cheap even adding on the price of shirt it was less than most halfs. It was a pretty small race with about 100 participants in the half. For the start of the race participants stood in the field house in sections by pace. My only safety complaint is I thought it was odd for an otherwise extremely safe race to start indoors but absolutely everyone had a mask on properly (no noses to be seen) and everyone was 6 feet apart. The RD gave an intro to the course and race rules. He did say he thought this was a fast course and I have absolutely no idea on what planet this would ever be considered a fast course. Maybe on the hilly, hippie planet of Vermont. Anyways the racers were called out by pace and one by one went through the start line which was chipped timed. Very smooth, safe start. Both organized but also flexible. Wouldn’t work for a huge race but worked well for a race this size. The start of the course is on the sidewalk of a busy road this was the only part of the course I didn’t love. The rest of the course is through beautiful countryside and is wonderful. There are scenes of mountains and lovely farms. I saw some cows and horses but they were too far to get a good pic. Most of the race was on paved road, part was on a dirt road and a few miles were on non-technical trail which was a nice break on the joints. This was one of the most scenic road halfs I’ve done. It was also one of the hilliest. This was the second toughest road half I’ve done after Amish Country Running Festival. These hills were more than rolling and somewhat unrelenting. I don’t really run to PR so I don’t mind a hilly and scenic race but I wouldn’t plan on PRing this one. There was nothing crazy so I guess if you did a lot of hill training and really pushed yourself you could get a good finishing time. There was only one water stop around the half way point with small bottles of water. It was perfect running weather (cool and cloudy) so I carried water and refilled it there and was fine with only one stop. I do wish there were more water stops though just in case and also gels and electrolytes but this was told to us before. Course was well marked and there were plenty of volunteers and police to direct us and direct traffic since it was an open course. I enjoyed the course but it was a little lonely as it was a small race and I was running by myself a lot. I have a marathon next week so didn’t push myself too hard and walked a lot of hills. I was planning to finish around 2:45 and paced myself perfectly. At the finish line there was a table with medals and a table with snacks and water. The medal is pretty nice for a cheap race. Good size and sparkly though not distance specific. I also wish it had something to indicate the date or say something about it being an inaugural race. Food included fruit, granola bars and pop chips along with water. I did notice they started to close things down as I finished and there were a handful of runners behind me so this may not have been the most turtle friendly for them. After the race I went to Burlington for vegan food at Pingala Cafe and then drove to NH. I thought this was a good inaugural race. It was a little small and hilly but absolutely gorgeous. I’d consider doing this race again or another one of Race Vermont’s races since Vermont is one of my favorite places for a weekend trip. I’d recommend this race for someone who prefers small, beautiful races in the countryside but not for someone who needs high energy, crowded races or someone looking to PR.
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Durand Eastman
Beautiful Evening Trail Run
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Durand Eastman
Now that things are starting to get back to normal, Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) is holding their Wednesday evening Dirt Cheap Trail Races. This year they have three scheduled and … MORE
Now that things are starting to get back to normal, Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) is holding their Wednesday evening Dirt Cheap Trail Races. This year they have three scheduled and possible will add more. These are low key 5ish mile evening trail races held on Wednesday evenings. They are dirt cheap with registration under $20 but as a result no swag. In the past if you signed up for the series you got a shirt but that wasn’t the case this year probably because they haven’t confirmed the exact number of races this year. This course was the exact same as the Dirt Cheap Halloween Edition Race in Durand Eastman Park last October so I called myself a repeat runner even though the race technically had a different name. This year the races have a rolling start from 5pm to 6pm. Packet pickup is recommended the day before but also available evening of race. I got my bib at the store yesterday. A minor complaint is the website advertised a chip timed race but this ended up being manually timed. The manual timing was extremely precise and results posted very promptly so not a big deal but they should update the website. YJR has been extremely busy planning a whole bunch of races now that NY is opening up so it’s okay that they missed a detail. At this point in the pandemic, I thought the rolling start was a little lame given this was a small race with only about 100 participants. I usually critique that things aren’t safe enough but I do think now things can be a little more normal but I understand erring on safety. I did find the rolling start to be very stress free as I just left after work, did my pre race routine and went. It just was not too exciting. I did start more in the middle of the time frame so it may have been more exciting in the beginning. The race course was really nice. It was absolutely beautiful in the springtime and now things are starting to be green. The best views were by the lake where some lovely swans were swimming. I have gotten much better at trail running training for my ultra. I remember thinking this course was really tough last fall. I wouldn’t call it an easy course but it seemed much easier. I ran almost all of it except the steepest uphills and downhills. As a result I shaved 5 minutes off my time. The race seemed completely safe as I was running alone a lot. I think I saw more people on my non-race trail run yesterday. I still really enjoyed the trail and the course was very well marked. The RDs know me by now so that made the finish line a little more exciting since they cheered me on. As I said, my time was very fast for a hilly trail race. You then got your bag of snacks so I will no longer have to go hungry now that YJR is supplying my snacks again. This was an enjoyable run, I look forward to the next one.
Canton Hall of Fame Marathon (fka Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon)
Boring Course But Best Bling!
Canton Hall of Fame Marathon (fka Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon)
I'm a huge football fan and Canton, Ohio is a nice distance away from Rochester for a weekend trip (about 4.5 hours), so this race was on my radar even … MORE
I’m a huge football fan and Canton, Ohio is a nice distance away from Rochester for a weekend trip (about 4.5 hours), so this race was on my radar even before Covid and I was excited they were planning a live race when the other large races nearby this weekend on my bucket list (Pittsburgh, Flying Pig) were canceled or postponed. This race was very large for a race during the pandemic and a ton went into the planning and production. There was if anything too frequent communication. There were emails with updates at first monthly, then weekly, and then daily. I appreciated the check in but it was a little confusing since there wasn’t one email with all the info but more is better than less. Bib was mailed this year but normally there is an expo on Friday and Saturday. I drove in Friday night and did the 5K Saturday (try to do it if you can the medal is great – see my previous review and pic). Marathoners parked at the stadium and half marathoners parked at the Beldon Village Mall and took a shuttle. Parking was very easy and shuttle was very smooth. There is a lot of lodging by the mall. I stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in Beldon Village which was very convenient. The course was changed this year and started and ended at the stadium at the Pro Football HOF. This year the race was sent off in waves and you were assigned by predicted finishing time. The marathon went first and started between 7 and 7:15. The half marathon waves started between about 8:00 and 10:00am and were set up so that you would join marathoners of a similar pace at around the halfway point of the marathon. This was a pretty smart way to space out the runners and not keep the course open for 10+ hours and I hadn’t seen it done before. However there were two downsides 1. As a slower runner I started close to 10am and it was hot as heck today and 2. the half marathon course basically felt like the second half of a marathon course i.e. super boring just miles to make the measurement work. The start at the stadium was super cool. Also there were hardly any lines for the porta potties. The waved starts worked well and allowed enough space for social distancing. At first it felt a little sparse but as soon as the marathoners joined there were the perfect amount of runners around. Although I’m guessing they were quite jealous of our fresh legs. The course as I said was super boring. Just an out and back zig zagging through the suburbs. Literally that was all it was house after house after house. The good thing about the suburbs though is there was a lot of spectator support. The most I’ve seen during covid. The course had rolling hills. They weren’t too bad. Slightly less elevation gain than Gettysburg. However it was like 80 degrees out and the slower runners were out in the middle of the day so it was oppressively hot and even short inclines were killer. Shout out to the woman spraying us with her hose even if it is wasteful of water it was just what I needed. I carried water but there seemed to be plenty of aid stations. However again it was annoying little water bottles. Also no gatorade or gels but this was communicated. I do wish they figured out how to change this. It was not really safe to run without electrolytes today. I was prepared since I knew this in advance and had a pack of extra salty margarita flavored clif blocks that I ate throughout and bought this pouch of gatorade from target that I drank half way through. While the course was boring it was in a safe neighborhood and was not unpleasant and the finish line was awesome in the stadium! The energy from the stadium gave me a last minute push to finish under 2:45. This was one of my slowest road halfs but with the heat I completed my main goal of finishing and not getting heat stroke. Outside the stadium they had tables set up with finisher awards and food. The medal is absolutely amazing. It is designed like a super bowl ring and is big and sparkly and super cool. I think it might be my favorite medal. This is the last year they are doing the ring designs. I kind of wish they would do them every year since I would then have to do this race at least 8 times so I could say I have more rings than Tom Brady but looking at past pics it seems the medals that aren’t rings are usually equally cool. The shirt is meh. It is black poly-blend with the race logo. There is also a finisher blanket that is really nice. Food was kind of lame this year with granola bar, chips and Ho-Hos. I hadn’t eaten a Ho-Ho in like 10 years so that was kind of fun. I heard there is normally better food. The shuttle back to the mall was super easy. There are lots of places for post-race food and beverages at the mall. I went to the Melt Bar and Grilled which makes these giant, very extra grilled cheese sandwiches and the best part most of their food can be modified to be made vegan! While the course was boring, this was a very fun weekend. I also explored both the Pro Football HOF (normally you get free entry with the race but not this year) and the Rock & Roll HOF in nearby Cleveland. As a sports and music nerd I loved both museums. I thought production and swag for this race were top-notch and made up for the mediocre course. If you are a football fan you should do this for the swag and to check out the museum. If you are a local it is a well-produced race. If you are not a football fan and not a local and looking for an Ohio race, there are probably better ones.
Canton Hall of Fame Marathon (fka Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon)
Nice warm-up run with huge medal
Canton Hall of Fame Marathon (fka Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon)
I did the 5K as a warm-up run for the half marathon tomorrow. More specifics regarding the race and the weekend will be in that review to follow. The 5K … MORE
I did the 5K as a warm-up run for the half marathon tomorrow. More specifics regarding the race and the weekend will be in that review to follow. The 5K is not at the football stadium but in downtown Canton. For the 5K this year there was in-person packet pick-up the morning of the race as opposed to the larger half and full marathons which had the bibs mailed to participants this year. One great thing about this race is that there is always race day packet pick up for the 5K so you can arrive at 10pm Friday and do both races without having to pay extra for mailing the bib or finding someone else to pick it up. I arrived just when bib pick up opened up at 6:30 and had prime parking. Bib pick up easy and plenty of porta potties at start. Weather today was nice. A little cool at the start but warmed up quickly. My biggest complain is the corrals and why I took a sneaker off production. For the start of the 5K you lined up based on based and were sent off in groups every couple of minutes. The race was chipped timed and this should of worked well but about 5 to 10 minutes before the start they had us move forward and packed all together way closer than 6 feet apart which was completely unnecessary and I would have felt very uncomfortable with this if I were not vaccinated especially as while almost every runner had a mask only about 75 to 80% of runners were wearing them correctly. There is no point to a mask if your nose is showing please wear it properly. Once we left though the race was perfectly spaced out. The course was actually nicer than I expected. It isn’t the most scenic 5K you’ll ever run but downtown Canton was nicer than expected. The course elevation profile is real nice and exactly how I like it. No hills but some gradual inclines and declines so also not pancake flat. About 50 feet of elevation gain total. It could be a fast course but the reason I added a sneaker to difficulty is as many of the other posts have said there are a lot of potholes and uneven footing so you have to be careful. Since I’m doing the half tomorrow I ran this at a comfortable pace but I’d worry if I were trying to PR I would trip and face plant on a pothole. The finish area was nice in a park. There was a finish arch and water and snacks which included chips and my go to post race snack granola bars. My finishing time was exactly what I aiming for which was a comfortable 10:30 min/mile pace since I didn’t want to over do it since the half is tomorrow. The medal for this race is ridiculously big. Almost offensively big like I’m pretty sure my marathon and 50K medals are going to be offended that this medal is just about as big as them. It is fun with a draft scene on it. The actual medal part doesn’t have the year on it but the ribbon does. They also give a race T-shirt at the end. It is a fine but not particularly exciting just a grey polyblend T-shirt with race distance and year. This year they gave extra finishing blankets from 2020 since they had leftovers but normally you don’t get a blanket for the 5K. Overall this was a nice warm-up run with a ridiculously big medal for a 5K. I just wish the corrals were better done in terms of social distancing. Again hopefully that won’t be an issue next year. If you are planning to do the half or the marathon, definitely try to fit in this 5K just for the medal!
Gettysburg Festival of Races (North-South Marathon & Blue-Gray Half)
Race Through History
Gettysburg Festival of Races (North-South Marathon & Blue-Gray Half)
I was initially signed up for two other half marathons this day which both changed dates but was determined to run a half that was within driving distance of both … MORE
I was initially signed up for two other half marathons this day which both changed dates but was determined to run a half that was within driving distance of both Rochester and NYC and ended up running this one. And I am so happy I did! This ended up being one of my favorite half marathon courses. This year due to covid there was not race day packet pick-up. I paid extra to have it mailed before since I didn’t want to be stressed about making packet pick-up coming from the Bronx. It was only $10 extra to mail the packet which is not bad compared to other races. Packet included bib which is one of those obnoxiously big ones with lots of race details and the shirt. Unlike my last two races which had amazing shirts, this one had a very ordinary shirt. Not a bad shirt just a very safe design. It was also a nice, comfy polyblend shirt. It is a really nice brick red color. It just has the race logo in the front corner and a Abraham Lincoln quote on that back. It’s a fine shirt that I will wear but they definitely played it safe this year. I stayed at the Wyndham which is the host hotel in the Gettysburg Gateway Complex right by the start line. Very convenient and with the race discount was about $150 and was a very nice room for that price. This year due to covid, each event had a 10 minute rolling start and there were two waves for the half marathon. The marathon started at 8:00, half wave one at 8:10, half wave two at 8:20 and the 5K at 8:30. There were a large number of participants for a race during covid with just over 1000 all together with all the distances. The wave starts seemed to keep things pretty spread out. This is a really nice sized race where you are always running with people but you also aren’t constantly weaving around people. I was in the second wave and let the masses go first and started around 8:22. The course is fantastic. It is a lollipop loop with a short out and back at the end. The best part is definitely going through Gettysburg National Military Park and running past the battlefields. Fun fact, I was actually a double major in college and also studied history so this was a perfect race weekend for my college degrees. Any history buff will love this section. The next section isn’t quite as amazing but is still great through some very pretty farmland and farmland means farm animals. The race passed by some really nice cows and I stopped and took some pics. You then do the loop through farmland with the small out and back and then go back through the National Military Park to the finish line. The race is very hilly, I don’t think there was a single flat section. There are no crazy long or steep hills but it is constant up and downs. Not crazy difficult but a harder than average road race. The aid stations were frequent about every 1.5 miles. But it was little water bottles and gatorades so there was so much waste. Also its kind of a pain. I feel like a lose so much time opening bottles that it probably adds a couple minutes to my time compared to grabbing a cup but safety first. At the finish line there are water bottles and gatorade and then you go to the finishing tent to grab prepackaged food and your finisher awards. This is my only production complaint. This line was long, too long to social distance and while I think the runners were doing their best with masks today, most of us were recovering and drinking water and gatorade. It would have been better, especially because there was enough space, to set it up like they did at the Run for the Wild yesterday where there were two separate tables with food and two separate tables with prizes to space us out. There were food and prize tickets on our bibs so it would have worked. I like that the pre-made snack bag was put in a drawstring bag with the race logo instead of just a paper bag. There was a nice selection of snacks including a bagel with peanut butter, banana and some snack mix and chocolate milk (blech! I gave that back as nothing upsets my stomach more than chocolate milk). For the prizes you get the medal and a pint glass. I like that there is more than just a medal and shirt for swag but the medal was kind of disappointing this year. I did appreciate that it had the year and was distance specific. But is quite small and looks cheaper than the medals pictured from previous years. It’s not terrible I was just expecting something better and my 5K fun run medal from yesterday was bigger. Both the shirt and medal seem less exciting than what is pictured from prior years. I suspect this had to do with the financial difficulties for racing companies during the pandemic and I would rather have a great racing event and medium swag than great swag at the expensive of production so I will forgive them. My time for this race was okay. It was not my fastest but not my slowest. It was a somewhat tough course and this was my first long run since the Zion 50K. Also I probably shouldn’t stop and take pictures of cows if I want a good finishing time but I can’t help myself. We got an email saying there was some issues with timing but my result perfectly matched my Garmin and I had no issues with timing. Overall I thought this was a great race. It is definitely worth the 4 to 5 hour drive from Rochester and I will definitely consider this one again. It also seemed like a fun area to explore and I wish I had more time but had to drive back right after the race. This is a great choice for Pennsylvania especially if you are a history buff and/or prefer small town races.
WCS Run for the Wild
I love the Bronx Zoo!
WCS Run for the Wild
I actually lived in the Bronx for 8 years and I love the Bronx Zoo. Back in college when I was studying to become an ecologist and not an endocrinologist, … MORE
I actually lived in the Bronx for 8 years and I love the Bronx Zoo. Back in college when I was studying to become an ecologist and not an endocrinologist, I actually volunteered at the Bronx Zoo. So I was very excited when the Bronx Zoo announced plans for a live Run for the Wild this year. My parents were excited too and are recently fully vaccinated so they decided to join me and we walked it together. I will warn you this is an expensive 5K. It is $50 and you have to raise $35 on top of that but it does include free entry to the zoo and the zoo does some great behind the scenes conservation work which I can tell you about from first hand experience. It is also an untimed fun run so it is not an event for competitive runners hoping for an award but it is still a super fun and well done event. There were a lot of covid protocols in place and they really found that perfect balance between safety and normalcy. You had to sign up for half hour blocks that went most of the morning. We picked 9am. There is also a family 3K that is later in the morning. This year packets were mailed. Packets included bib. The bib was more of a ticket than a functioning bib since it was untimed. Bibs were color coded by time slot so it was easy for race staff to see what time the participants were signed up for. The packet also included race day instructions and the absolute cutest race shirt. This year the theme was lemurs and the shirt has this adorable ring-tailed lemur. It is a very comfy, nice quality polyblend shirt. It is a very nice purple color. I am not a huge purple person but I even liked the color. Almost every participant was wearing the shirt during the race because it was so cute. The start of the race went off without a hitch. Parking was super easy and luckily the race started at the parking lot near my old neighborhood so we could visit after. I stayed in a hotel outside the city and getting there in the morning was easy-peasy. After parking you went to bag check, then temp check, then the starting area. The starting area was set up so you lined up 5 runners (or walkers) at a time and went off every 20 seconds. There was loud music and an announcer making it a little more exciting. The race was perfectly spaced. There were generally other participants around but hardly ever was there anyone within 6 feet of you. It couldn’t have been spread out better. The race itself is really nice all through the zoo property. I didn’t see quite as many animals as I would have liked to on course. I did see nice views of the hyenas and the flamingos. Even without the animals the zoo is quite nice looking with lots of vegetation. The course was extremely well marked and easy to follow. You could not get lost. The finish area was set up great for social distancing but still being fun. After going through the finish arch you are handed a water and there are multiple tables spread out. There were two tables with snacks, two with medals, and two with additional prizes such as a cute lemur stuffed animal you could get if you fundraised enough. The medal is super cute with the lemur design. It is one-sided and the ribbon is boring but it’s a very good medal for a 5K fun run. There was solid snack selection with pumpkin seed bars (which are vegan and gluten free and quite tasty), fruits and fruit snack. Obviously this was not a fast time for me since we walked but my mom has some health conditions so completing a 5K was a big deal for her and I helped pace her well below her goal of 1 hour. She was very happy and proud. I marked our performance 5 sneakers for her. Afterwards you could enjoy the zoo. This year the zoo was only open to participants on race day and we could see all the exhibits. We then had lunch at the diner in my old neighborhood and then I left for Gettysburg. While, this is not the event for a competitive runner, it is a super fun event and organization was top-notch this year. I actually think it being untimed allowed everyone to have more fun and enjoy themselves. It is a great event to enjoy with your family or use as an easy warmup run before a longer race on Sunday. I will definitely do this again every time it works well with my schedule though I wouldn’t necessarily plan around the event and I would highly recommend it as long as it being untimed wouldn’t bother you.
Earth Day Half Marathon & 5K
Run it for the shirt!
Earth Day Half Marathon & 5K
This is an annual Earth Day themed half marathon and 5K produced by Willow Running in Baldwinsville, NY. Baldwinsville is about 20 minutes west of Syracuse and a little over … MORE
This is an annual Earth Day themed half marathon and 5K produced by Willow Running in Baldwinsville, NY. Baldwinsville is about 20 minutes west of Syracuse and a little over an hour from Rochester. I did the 5K because I was on-call this weekend and ran a 50K last weekend so wanted to take it easy. I really appreciated that they offered packet pick-up not just in Syracuse but also in Rochester and Utica. I was able to pick up my packet at a local Rochester running store Thursday evening. The packet included a bib which has a timing chip since this is chip timed which I liked since I’ve had issues with the manual timing at Willow Running’s event. The packet also includes the most amazing race shirt I have ever seen. I am not sure if it is amazingly good or amazingly bad but it is amazing. It is a long sleeved tie-dyed tech shirt. Its not just tie dyed it also has runners, trees, fish, birds, frogs and other nature images interspersed with the tie-dye design along with the race name and location. It didn’t have date so it may be the same shirt every year but who couldn’t use more obnoxious tie dyed tech shirts. It is a very nice quality, detailed shirt down to having thumb holes. It is by far the wackiest and most creative race shirt I have and I must have gotten close to 100 race shirts by now so that’s saying something. I both love it and hate it at the same time. It is nice quality so I will definitely wear it running and will also wear it to the next Phish concert I go to if concerts ever happen again. The race started at Emmi’s Farm Market and there was a large parking area. There was also day of packet pick-up if you couldn’t get it before the race. The half marathon had a wave start from 7:45 to 8:15. Then the half marathon relay went at 8:20 and the 5K had a slow mass start at 8:30. I did not think the 5K was social distanced enough. There was almost 350 5Kers. I feel like they should have split us into waves or something. It was supposed to be a gradual mass start and the starting corral was small so not everyone left at once but it was much more crowded than other races. This is why I took a sneaker away from production. Kudos to the runners though as I didn’t see a single runner not wearing a mask at the start line and I only saw a handful out of hundreds not wearing it properly. The course was pretty nice. it was an out and back through some farmland. It wasn’t spectacular (although maybe I am spoiled by the views last weekend) but it was a pretty and pleasant place for a run. The course was as flat as possible for the area. There was one small hill at the turnaround and two kind of bumps. Total elevation was 76 ft about half that of the Pi day race I did here last month. I didn’t even think about walking and I have a very low threshold to power walk hills so that tells you how easy the “hills” were. It’s a somewhat hilly area so I’m assuming the half has some rolling hills but they appeared to make the courses as flat as possible for the area. I did think the course was a little congested with the mass start. It was actually kind of nice as it felt normal but we aren’t there yet with the pandemic and it should have been more spaced out. Also I forgot how annoying it is to weave around people walking in groups of two to three. I still enjoyed the race and I don’t think passing people while running outside is very high risk but it could have been safer. There is a nice finish arch and a festive finish area. My time was pretty good considering I ran a 50K last weekend. You got your medal which is nice and spins but my first medal broke so I had to get a replacement. I’d rather have a non-spinning medal that doesn’t break. The broken medal is why I took a sneaker away from swag but the shirt is so epic I almost gave the swag 5 stars even with the broken medal. There was lots of finish line food: cookies, bananas, chocolate milk, wraps, and chips. Along with a booth with monster energy drinks and a booth with beer (but no beer for me since I don’t drink and even if I did it would be a bad idea to have a beer before rounding in the hospital). There was also a vendor selling plant based power bars. I bought some since I like to support local, plant-based environmentally conscious businesses. There were also a few foods trucks. I wish I could have hung around more but I had to leave to round. Overall I thought this was a nice race. I would recommend it just for the race shirt. I do wish they had better social distancing for the 5K but hopefully that won’t be a problem next year.
Zion Ultras & Trail Half
Ultra Brutal Ultra Beautiful
Zion Ultras & Trail Half
I enjoyed the Zion at Night half marathon so much I decided I wanted to run it longer and in daylight and therefore signed up for the Zion 50K for … MORE
I enjoyed the Zion at Night half marathon so much I decided I wanted to run it longer and in daylight and therefore signed up for the Zion 50K for my first ultramarathon. Pre-race communication was excellent with frequent emails and a very detailed race guide. They had to change the starting area due to issues with parking and make some course changes. I’m not sure if these are permanent changes or not since they didn’t specifically seem to be related to covid. Bib pick up was the day before. Vacation races has the drive through bib pickup down. This was the best bib pickup I had seen during covid. Very organized with the volunteers giving out the bib and shirt to you in your car. The bib is small (which personally I don’t mind as I can’t stand huge bibs you can’t find space to put on you) but I like they added a first time 50K design for first timers. The shirt is tech and nice quality. The design has some nice personal touches but I don’t like the color (dark grey). There was also a mini outdoor expo with a few vendors that if you were comfortable you could go to but if you’d prefer not to you could skip along with an area to drop off drop bags. I didn’t use a drop bag but it was an option for 50K runners. It didn’t seem worth it as the aid stations were very well stocked and I didn’t want to wait for my drop bag or get it paid to be shipped to me. There was a rolling start with each distance having a half hour time window. The 50K started between 7 and 7:30. I started close to 7 to run as much as I could while it was cool out and I had a lot of pre-race jitters. Just a warning the new start area is a little out there and kind of far from hotels (I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Washington as it was so much cheaper than Springdale and it was about 35 minutes from start). The start was exciting at 7am as a lot of runners were waiting in the starting area. I was prepared for this race with trail shoes and a hydration pack unlike Zion at Night. The start of the race is mostly downhill on a dirt road. Then you enter a loop through Grafton Mesa. This was my favorite running portion. This was mostly a single track dirt trail. It was technical but not crazy technical at least for most of the loop. It was beautiful during sunrise. The last mile or so was a little more technical but not too crazy. Then you go back on the dirt road to the first aid station around mile 8. This aid station had honey stinger, Gnarly electrolyte, water and a few other things but wasn’t as fully stocked as the later ones. The next portion is about 7 miles on the dirt road and mostly uphill to gooseberry Mesa. This part was kind of tedious and I power walked a lot of the uphill to save energy but since it was not technical even walking it was quite fast and there were a few very runnable downhill sections. There were some nice views here too. Then you get to the really big aid station which had everything (except twizzlers) including water, gnarly, chips, fruit, pickles, PBJ sandwiches, tortilla with Nutella, trail mix, etc. However there was no social distancing at the aid stations just a warning. Then you do a long about a 12 mile loop through Gooseberry Mesa. This loop is beautiful but brutal. There was some absolutely jaw droppingly beautiful scenery. But the terrain was tough. A lot of it was on slickrock and included some scrambling on the rocks. This was killer on my feet as it was very hard. It was also hard to get a good running pace this section due to technical rock scrambles so I spent a lot of this section hiking and just enjoying the scenery. Most runners with me were hiking this part too. Course was pretty well marked with pink ribbons but there were a few areas I thought could use a few more. There is an aid station in the middle of this section. One complaint I have is the guide said it was mile 22 but it was actuly mile 24. Then at around mile 28 you exit Gooseberry Mesa and go back to the big aid station. Then it is back on the dirt road for the finish. This is a nice finish and if the slickrock didn’t kill my feet it would be quite runnable since it was more downhill. It is brutal though the last mile is uphill. Also the course was 33 miles not 50K so that didn’t make it any easier. There were lots of people cheering runners on at the finish line. Even for the slow turtles like me who were mostly walking at the end of the race. My time was really slow but this course was really tough with 33 miles some of them very technical and just about 4000 feet of elevation gain so I actually think I did okay given all that and was well under the 11 hour time limit and there were over 100 runners behind me. You also got a box of snacks which are great. There is also chocolate milk but I hate milk so I didn’t take it. There is then a tent with awards. You got a choice of medal or homemade mug. The mugs were nice but I obviously chose the medal since I love my medals. It is a really nice medal. I especially like the ribbon which is very thick, has nice designs and the distance and date. This was definitely the toughest race I have ever done but it was beautiful and very rewarding and I am so proud to have finished it. I’m not sure it is the best choice for a first 50K since it is so tough but I did it and I am not particularly fast and there is a long 11 hour time limit. If you do choose this for a first 50K make sure you’ve run a good number of marathons first and get a lot of trail training in. I would also recommend training on slick rock or other more rocky trails. This is something I didn’t do and as a result was much less comfortable on the slickrock than the dirt trail. If you are an experienced ultra marathoner, this is a fun one just don’t expect to PR.
Run Emigration Half Marathon & 10 Miler
Great Course, OK Production, Bad Swag
Run Emigration Half Marathon & 10 Miler
I decided to fly into Salt Lake City for my Zion 50K because I have never been and flights were much cheaper to SLC than Las Vegas. I was planning … MORE
I decided to fly into Salt Lake City for my Zion 50K because I have never been and flights were much cheaper to SLC than Las Vegas. I was planning to spend a week exploring Utah before the 50K and thought I’d look for a 10K to 10 miler this weekend as a warmup run in even higher altitude than Zion to hopefully help me acclimate and I found this one. This race is a point to point race that mostly goes down emigration canyon road. There is a half marathon and a 10 miler option. The half marathon starts 3.1 miles away from the 10 miler and eventually converges. In terms of pre-race info I feel like the important things were covered but some minor details were missing. We also never got the “we are officially approved” email but that’s okay the race did happen. You have the option to either park at the finish line and get dropped off at the start or park at the start and be brought back at the end of the race. They do not provide shuttles. I parked at the start so I could wait in my car and also because day of packet pick up was at the start (they also had packet pick up Thursday and Friday). The volunteers seemed kind of confused at packet pickup but maybe it’s just because I was one of the first people to come pick it up that morning. Packet was just bib and T-shirt. The shirt is pretty terrible. Just a cheap grey shirt with the race logo but it does have the year. You could opt out of getting a shirt and save $5. That’s probably a good idea unless you need another pajama top or dish rag. It’s a cheap race though so wasn’t expecting a high quality tech shirt. The race was on the smaller side with maybe about a hundred or so runners in each distance so there weren’t any specific covid protocols since the size of the groups fit Utah gathering limits. The start wasn’t the greatest set up. There was just some cones indicating the corral. We were instructed to wear masks at start and finish. Not everyone was following the rules but there was enough area so everyone was at least 6 feet apart. This was again chipped time with a timing mat at the finish but not at start. The start was a little awkward because the announcer was on the phone with the person who was leading the half group to make sure we started the same time. It wasn’t the best start. I suspect more attention was spent on the start of the half marathon which is fair as they are running more. The first two miles of the course are rough and a steep uphill. I power walked the majority of this. I also just flew in last night and got in around midnight so was sleep deprived, not well hydrated and not acclimated to the altitude at all. So this was rough but the scenery was beautiful and a nice distraction. Also I appreciated they closed half the road so you didn’t have to worry about watching out for traffic. Once you get to the top the rest is almost all downhill and much nicer. I had a pretty fast 5 miles from mile 2 to 7 and then just bonked out at mile 7 due to the altitude. The entire course was quite lovely with mountain views. The foliage was a little brown due to the time of year but otherwise it was beautiful. Weather was also gorgeous. I didn’t like how they used shared mile markers for the 10 miler and half which meant the 10 miler markers were off by 0.1 miles i.e. you came to the 1 mile marker at 0.9 miles. A minor detail but annoying. I was also disappointed the aid stations had no electrolytes or gels/chews. I don’t think this was communicated with us and if it was it wasn’t clearly stated. There were 4 aid stations and they just had little Dixie cups of water. Maybe it was enough for acclimated runners who weren’t dehydrated from flying but I needed a ton more water and needed electrolytes than the race offered. Luckily I had my handheld water bottle but I would have brought chews with electolytes if I knew there wouldn’t be any on course and had some hand cramping. The volunteers at the aid stations though were excellent and wearing masks and gloves properly. As I said I bonked out at mile 7 and did run walk intervals the rest of the race. The finish line was nice with a big finish arch. There were lots of family members cheering runners on and it was on the more exciting side for a pandemic race. My time was terrible but I was expecting that going into the race. Also just a warning there is a tight 3 hour cutoff as they reopen the road and take down the timing mat at 11am (3 hours after the race). So not very turtle friendly for the half especially as it’s a tough race. I’m not 100% sure I could have finished the half today in 3 hours since the 3.1 miles added are mostly uphill. Also not so exciting is the lack of medals and food. This was not a surprise but I’d like at least a cheapo medal and a granola bar. The worst part was it took about 45 minutes to get an uber to get me back to my car at the start so I was starving (my first uber in nearly 13 months since the LA marathon crazy!). But my hunger did allow me to really enjoy my vegan breakfast burrito from Vertical Diner. Overall I did think this was a beautiful and challenging course. There were many things that could have improved the production but there were no terrible production mistakes. I would recommend this race to locals or if you happen to be in town like me but I would not recommend the half marathon for a 50 stater who is traveling just for this race and plans to only run one race ever in Utah given lack of swag unless you don’t care about those things at all. Just splurge and do one of the Zion races with Vacation Races for Utah instead even if they are like 3x the price of this one
Wayne A Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K
A little morbid but good local race
Wayne A Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K
I was on call this weekend so I was looking for a short, live, local race within an hour drive of Rochester and this one fit the bill. I wasn't … MORE
I was on call this weekend so I was looking for a short, live, local race within an hour drive of Rochester and this one fit the bill. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this race. This race is produced by Wolfpack multisport which is a smaller racing company that I don’t know that much about that produces mostly triathlons in western NY. Overall I was pretty impressed with the race and the production was better than I expected. The race is located in a very small town inbetween Rochester and Buffalo in honor of a local man named Wayne Burlison. This year, the race had waves every 10 minutes from 1pm to 1:30pm. This was kind of weird timing for me with rounding and eating but did mean I could also do a 3 mile run this morning with my local running group, then round at the hospital and then run this race. It was a little difficult to time eating so I had a medium sized breakfast just before rounds and ate lunch after the race. The race started at a school and had raceday packet pick-up. Packet included the bib and the swag item this year was a pair of gloves with the race name. It was okay swag but this is a cheap, short race that raises money for charity so I don’t need much swag. The start of the race was well organized with small waves. It was chipped timed with timing mat the finish but no timing mat at the start but the waves were small so you pretty much passed the start at the same time. The course was a lollipop loop along a pleasant enough rural street and then went through a loop in the cemetery. This seemed kind of morbid for a memorial race especially as you apparently pass by Wayne’s gravesite but I wasn’t really reading the tombstones as I was running through to confirm this. My dark sense of humor got a kick out of running through the cemetery for a memorial race. I hope Wayne’s would too. The course was actually on the tougher side for a 5K with lots of rolling hills especially in the cemetery but I was really fast today. I was close to a sub-30 finish which surprised me since I already ran 3 miles earlier today. The course was also marked extremely well with cones, direction signs and arrows and lots of volunteers. The finish line looked nice with a big arch but there was no medals and only water with no other snacks. Oh well again it’s a 5K that goes to charity. I had a good time at this race and it was better than I expected. A few improvements that would bring it to 5 sneakers would be earlier start time, timing mat at start, and some post-race snacks. I would definitely consider doing this one again if I was in town and I actually decided to sign-up for one of Wolfpack’s events in the fall for my first triathalon since I enjoyed this event and it is a “paddle-bike-run” triathalon and I don’t swim.
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
j&a racing making lemonade
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
I am trying to run a half marathon every month and this was the only weekend in March I could squeeze in a half marathon between my work schedule and … MORE
I am trying to run a half marathon every month and this was the only weekend in March I could squeeze in a half marathon between my work schedule and marathon/ultra schedule. When I was looking for races this one caught my eye but I wasn’t sure how it would be possible to hold this race this year. Well you know what they say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Race directors definitely got a bunch of lemons this year (so please be kind to them!) but j&a racing did the best they could to make lemonade and hold a safe and fun event with what they were given. Logistics: this was held from 7am to 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on an open, official course with chip timing and limited to about half the normal participants but still a whole lot more participants than most races this year. I arrived in Virginia Beach mid-morning on Saturday. A plus of this modified race was I was able to do the dolphin challenge (8K + half marathon) which I normally wouldn’t be able to do without taking Friday off. As soon as I arrived in Virginia Beach I picked up my packet at the host hotel which is the Hilton right by the start. FYI if you want to stay at the host hotel book your room asap it was sold out when I booked hotels but I stayed at the Ramada which was right nearby and very convenient. Packet pick up was spread over 4 days and opened for several hours each day so I understand why it had to be inside and the conference room was very large, easy to space out in and well ventilated. Not as safe as outdoor packet pickup but as safe as indoor could be. This was set up as kind of a mini expo where they were selling some other Shamrock gear and some gels and chews for the race. At packet pickup you get your swag and the swag was amazing. It came in a tote bag and for the half you got a long sleeved tech shirt, blanket, hat and a cup plus with the dolphin challenge I got all the 8K swag too. You also got your medals at packet pickup which I get that it is safer to hand out everything at once but it was a little anticlimactic and this is the one thing I wish they figured out how to change. The medals are beautiful and sparkly and are all bottle openers since it is St. Paddy’s day themed and appropriate size for the distance. For the dolphin challenge you get 3 medals and the dolphin one is amazing and my favorite medal besides my Beach city sea turtle medal. I did the half on Sunday morning. The open course made race morning very unstressful. I wanted to start around 7am so I would have time to shower and relax after the race before 11am hotel check out time so I just rolled out of bed put on my running gear and walked to the startline and went. The start is not too exciting but the RD is there to cheer on runners which was appreciated (and allowed it to meet criteria for half fanatics/marathon maniacs during the pandemic – I confirmed with them it will count if anyone wants to know). The course is quite nice. The first 5 miles are an out and back along the boardwalk. It was lovely to be near the ocean. Also the boardwalk is cement not wooden boards so don’t worry it is fast. Weather was absolutely perfect on Sunday and there was not much wind. Course was well marked but one place I was slightly confused and had to stop and look around but quickly saw a course sign. After the boardwalk it is about a mile on the main street of Virginia Beach then an out and back that consists of few miles of pretty neighborhoods and a few miles through a nice and shaded state park where there is a turn around. It was pancake flat until the state park where there were some easy rollers which were actually a nice break to use some different muscles. The out and back nature of this course actual worked great for this race format and you were always with other runners. There were limited aid stations this year but they had 2 set up that you passed twice (four times for marathon) with self served water and Nuun. There were also mile markers on the course. There were a couple road crossings which maybe made me lose 30 to 60 seconds but they did a good job making a course with minimal road crossings. The marathon ended up being 2 loops of the half due to flooding on the initial course. The course this year was similar to the usual course from what I saw online but this year did not go through the military base. After the out and back you turn back on the boardwalk and run to the finish line. It’s a little anticlimatic with no medals at the end but the RD and lucky the leprechaun and a lot of runners are there to cheer you. No issues with the timing mat for my half marathon. My time was actually faster than I meant it to be due to the easy course and encouragement from other runners. I meant to do this at more of a training pace and finish around 2:45 since I’m tapering for my 50K but was closer to my usual goal race time of 2:30. Oh well I had fun and didn’t get injured which was my main goal. There was no post race party this year but several local restaurants and bars had deals for the runners but I chose instead to get some delicious vegan junk food for a post race meal from the Bumbling Bee which is about 5 miles away from the race but worth the drive if you love vegan junk food as much as I do. Overall I thought this was a very fun event and they definitely made the best of a bad situation. It wasn’t perfect and I definitely miss large races but this was definitely better than going fully virtual, deferring to next year, rescheduling to the fall on a date when I’m probably already registered for another race or even worse holding an unsafe event. I am planning to do the NYC Half Marathon next March (I did the virtual half for guaranteed entry in 2022 this year) which usually falls on the same weekend as this race but I absolutely want to come back and do this race again one year to see what it is like without the modifications. If it is this good with all these modifications I’m sure it is amazing without them.
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
The Silver Dolphin Medal Lining
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
I did the 8K this year as part of the dolphin challenge. You can read my review for the half for more details but the silver lining of the modified … MORE
I did the 8K this year as part of the dolphin challenge. You can read my review for the half for more details but the silver lining of the modified Shamrock experience this year was I got to do the 8K and the dolphin challenge. The 8K swag was great for a short race and included a short-sleeved tech shirt, a drink cozie, and a really nice medal although appropriately smaller than the half and full medals. Since I did both the 8K and the half I got the dolphin challenge medal which was amazing! I did this race right after packet pickup. It started with an out and back on the boardwalk and then about a mile or so on a main street in Virginia Beach before turning back on the boardwalk. It was a nice, pancake flat 5 miles. The only difficulty is there was a strong headwind on Saturday when I ran it. There was issues with my chip timing for the 8K and they seemed to miss my finish line time but it sort of got fixed but now my listed time is 2 mins slower than my Garmin. Oh well I still had fun and the swag is great and had no issues with the timing chip for the half marathon
Pi Day Run (NY)
Sweet Cherry Pi
Pi Day Run (NY)
This is a 3.14159265... mile race celebrating pi day. It worked out great that Pi day was on a Sunday this year. This race is located about 15 to 20 … MORE
This is a 3.14159265… mile race celebrating pi day. It worked out great that Pi day was on a Sunday this year. This race is located about 15 to 20 minutes outside Syracuse and is a little over an hour from Rochester. I was on call this weekend so happy to find a short live race to run. This was produced by Willow Running who produced a couple other races I’ve done last year (Turkey Chase and Ugly Sweater). I think their races are pretty good and they always have nice swag but I’ve seen a few hiccups in production and timing. This race was similar. This race started at a bar called Average Joe’s Beernasium which is definitely not a place I would normally go to. They had packet pick-up offered before the race or morning of race. Since it’s a bit of a drive, I got it the morning of the race in the bar. A complaint I’ve had before regarding their races is I wish packet pick-up was outdoors as it’s just safer but everyone was wearing masks and it was efficient. Swag included a nice mug, a collapsible water bottle and the best part your choice of a small apple, blueberry or cherry pie. You had to pay for a shirt but I thought the mug and the pie were more than enough for swag for a 5K. The race had waves every 15 minutes. I chose the earliest 9am wave in case I had to round in the hospital afterwards. This was not chipped time. The RD just used an airhorn to signal the start and we went. Course was pretty blah through a very generic suburb but it was a smart choice for an open course as it was safe and there was not a lot of traffic. Also I was surprised to see a number of people out in their lawns to cheer on the runners which was nice. The course was very well marked and there was a volunteer at any confusing turn. There was also a water stop you passed by twice. Course wasn’t too difficult. There was one kind of tough hill just after the first mile. Not tough compared to red rock but a little harder than expected for more of a fun run. The rest was mostly small inclines and declines. The end was at an incline which was a little annoying. At the finish line someone records your time and I had no issues with getting my time recorded this race but I prefer chipped timed races. I had a solid time. I ran 11 miles yesterday so wasn’t expecting a PR. Another complaint is the medals and post race refreshments aren’t at the finish line but you pass them walking back to the bar. Not a big deal but it made the finish line less a little less fun. Along with the medals which were very, very nice for a 5Kish race (although they didn’t have date and neither did mug) there were Monster energy drinks, water and some fruits. Pizza and chili was also available at the bar for runners. However the food wasn’t being served until 10am and as I finished at around 9:30 it wasn’t ready when I finished. I really don’t like being inside bars during the pandemic and didn’t stay for the food so I can’t comment but the pie I got at packet pick-up was absolutely delicious. This was a nice, fun race with good swag and delicious pie. I would do this one again if it fit in my schedule.
Winter Connect Our Kids 5K & 10K
Flatter than a pancake
Winter Connect Our Kids 5K & 10K
This is another event put on by Bishop's Events. You can read my review from yesterday for more details about their events. This was in East Potomac Park in DC. … MORE
This is another event put on by Bishop’s Events. You can read my review from yesterday for more details about their events. This was in East Potomac Park in DC. The 10K was a double out and back. This race was on paved roads and as flat as possible. My Garmin recorded 8 feet of elevation gain total. Park was nice with waterfront views and views of Washington monument. I thought it got a little boring doing a super flat double out and back but not a bad course. Would be good for a PR if your legs weren’t as tired as mine. I had a mediocre time since my legs are still tired from my Vegas trip and the race yesterday but I was happy I didn’t have to take any walking breaks. Swag for this race included a tech shirt which was periwinkle blue which I prefer over yesterday’s and a small, generic medal but does have the race name, distance and date on the back. Again these Bishop races are good, convenient, low key events if you’re in the area but aren’t the most exciting races around.
Rolling Hills 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
Luckily I love Single Track Trails
Rolling Hills 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
This is a race put on by Bishop's Events. Bishop's Events puts on races most weekends throughout the DC area in various parks in DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland. Their … MORE
This is a race put on by Bishop’s Events. Bishop’s Events puts on races most weekends throughout the DC area in various parks in DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland. Their races are cheap, low key, on the smaller side and in parks so no traffic control or strict course time limits necessary so they are the perfect events to hold safely during the pandemic. I knew Bishop’s Events were holding just about all their races and I was curious how they are done and had no options closer to home so thought I would check out a couple of their races this weekend. This race is in Northern Virginia about 20 to 30 minutes outside DC. I chose the 10K because I didn’t want to push myself too hard with a half marathon after the marathon last week. I like 10Ks so much more than 5Ks for a shorter race distance so was happy this distance was offered as I feel most races just offer half marathon and 5K options. I stayed at the Holiday Express in Lorton which is about 1.5 miles from the race so very convenient. For the race you just pick up your packet the morning of the race. Along with the bib you also get a tech T-shirt. It is fine with the race name but not distance specific and I would prefer a color other than white but a decent shirt for the cost of the race. This race also raised money for a pet adoption group (yay!) and they had a booth next to packet pickup and were selling a few things. I wasn’t really sure what to expect for this race since there wasn’t a very good description of the course. I knew it would be rolling hills but I thought it would either be on paved trail or gravel trail since it was not advertised as a trail race. The race had wave starts with about 10ish people per wave with the half waves first, followed by 10K and last 5K with faster runners first. I was in the second 10K group. One of the staff members gave a quick introduction and explained the course before we went off. The course was 2 loops of the 5K course. It started with a quick out and back and then was a lollipop loop. He said to watch out because the half marathon loops had a slightly different course than the 5/10K loops but that there would be signs where the course diverged. The beginning of the race was as I expected with about 1/4 mile on paved road including the very short out and back with the turn around clearly marked though two runners in front of me missed it and we had to scream to let them know to turn around. Then there is about 1/4 mile that is dirt road then surprise! The rest of the course is single track trail. This was a very pleasant surprise for me since I love running on single track trail but wish I knew since I would have worn trail shoes and I also ran the first 1/2 mile a little too fast thinking the rest would be similar difficulty. The single track trail was really fun with lots of ups and downs but nothing too technical. I loved running on it but its a little slower and more challenging than pavement. There was nothing too technical about this trail. I was wearing road shoes and had no issues but I did see one runner fall. As someone who does quite a bit of trail running, I thought this was an easy, fun trail run but some of the road runners were not quite as excited about the surprise. You definitely don’t need trail experience or shoes for this race but it would be good to know ahead of time to temper expectations. I thought the trail was well marked and easy to follow but at one of the sections where the half and 5/10K diverged there was no volunteer. We were told this ahead of time and I easily saw the sign and went the right way but the runner ahead of me asked which way to go and as she said one of the other runners (one of the same ones who missed the turn around) went the other way so I guess it could have been marked better but at some point you have to blame the runner not the RD for getting lost. There were plenty of water stations with cups of water and a cooler to refill your own hydration if you were carrying a handheld water bottle or hydration pack. You then do the loop again. It was fun so I didn’t mind doing it twice. The hills were a lot of fun. A little over 300 feet of elevation gain total so about 150 feet per loop. All were gradual and runnable. I ran the entire first loop. I walked a few of the hillier sections the second half as I ran out of gas from starting a little too fast. At the finish line you get a medal. Medal is small with a plain ribbon and not the best but it does have a pawprint which is a cute reference to the charity and the back says the race name, distance and date. There was a table with water and bags of chips for post race refreshment. I thought this was a really fun course but I do think they should have described it better. I still would have definitely ran it and actually would have been more excited about it if I knew it was more trail, but I think I could have been a few minutes quicker if I paced myself appropriately and wore trail shoes. My finishing time was slow for a 10K but not bad for a trail run. My overall impression of these events is they are solid running events. I wouldn’t travel for one of these Bishop’s Events’ races alone during a year when I have more options but I will definitely look into them if I am ever in the DC area for a conference (if those ever happen again) or another race as they offer a race just about every Saturday and Sunday so are great for combining for two race weekends (or three race weekends as I have planned for Memorial day). If you are a 50 stater and care more about convenience than great swag and super exciting race experience (again you will get okay swag and a solid race experience), I would definitely recommend looking into these as you could easily add one of their races to another event to make a combined Maryland and Virginia double race weekend and some weekends they even offer both a Virginia and Maryland half. These events are also very back of the pack and walker friendly with no time limits and they even have a back of the pack series for locals who run them often.
Red Rock Canyon Marathon
Will Take Your Breath Away
Red Rock Canyon Marathon
So I am not a huge fan of the Vegas strip but I love the natural beauty of the southwest so this was already at the top of my list … MORE
So I am not a huge fan of the Vegas strip but I love the natural beauty of the southwest so this was already at the top of my list for a Nevada race even before covid. I needed a marathon to run this weekend as part of my training for the Zion 50K and when looking at my options this seemed like the marathon most likely to happen that I wanted to run. This was the most beautiful but also the most difficult marathon I have done but I was actually hoping for a more difficult marathon as part of my training. The amazing scenery and the over 2500 feet of elevation gain will take your breath away both literally and figuratively. Now for the details. Logistically this race was very complicated to hold with Nevada group size limits and multiple distances. It ended up being an all day event with 1 marathon group, 4 half marathon groups and 2 5K groups each capped at 50 people. I arrived a week before the race to do some hiking, trail running and sight seeing. I am not a gambler and am not really into the whole casino thing so I stayed at the Hampton Inn near Red Rock. Very convenient for the race and for visiting red rock but if you would prefer a more traditional Las Vegas vacation the race does offer a bus from the strip to the race for an additional fee. Prior to the race a detailed final instruction packet was sent. There were a number of modifications due to covid. One of the main ones is there was no pre-race packet pick-up and you just got it the morning of the race. Since the groups were small, parking was very convenient as we could park at the start line. Normally there is the option of the strip bus for a fee or a free bus from a closer location and no start line parking. I did think the start line was a bit chaotic as there was a half marathon group that started at 6:15 but a lot of them were out and using the port-a-potties and getting their packets when it was just supposed to be the marathoners outside their cars. Luckily the race staff realized this and had marathoners come to the front of the line for packet pick-up. Packet included bib and shirt. Shirt is nice and tech but not year or distance specific. The chaotic start seemed to be related to the multiple groups and not something that would occur in a normal year and I only took away one sneaker from production since it was a lot of work to arrange so many races in 1 day so a few blips is understandable. The marathon started at 6am so it was slightly dark and very cool. In case you have been following my recent weather woes with races, today the weather was absolutely beautiful but as it is the desert the early start is slightly cold but it warms up quickly. Either bring throw away clothes or do as I did and just suck it up and be cold the first 2 miles. Otherwise you might be too hot. Normally the marathon is an out and back along the entire 13 mile scenic drive. This year to accommodate multiple races it was a double out and back from the end of the scenic drive to the halfway point. The half marathon is normally a point to point course along the scenic drive but today there were two out and back courses with one at the start and one at the end of the scenic drive. At 6am the marathoners lined up about 6 feet apart and started. The marathon was manually timed not chipped time. But this isn’t a PR course so it’s not the end of the world if you lose a few seconds starting at the back. The course is absolutely gorgeous with the sandstone formations and desert scenery. There is one short out and back on dirt road in the beginning but the rest is road. The first half of the out and back is net uphill and is tough. It was especially tough since I did about 40 miles of additional hiking and trail running this week before the marathon. There are a few downhills but it is a slow start. The you go to the turnaround point and it is mostly downhill so can make up for some time. You then go to the start line and turn around and do it again. Normally I wouldn’t want to do a 2 loop marathon course but this was so spectacular I didn’t mind doing it again although could have done with a few less hills. There were aid stations about every 2 miles with water, Heed (electrolyte drink) and all but the first one had gels. Very friendly staff and everyone involved with the race was very friendly and encouraging. I was the last runner for some of the race but all the runners who passed me and everyone at the aid stations cheered me on. Even though this was a road race, it had kind of a trail race vibe where it was more laid back and about enjoying nature and each other’s company and not as much about trying to PR or BQ which I really enjoyed. While I was obviously quite slow given the elevation and my tired legs from all the hiking I did earlier this week, I actually felt great at the turnaround point around mile 20 and really killed the last 10K of the race and ended up passing a few people and my fastest miles were the final ones. I greatly enjoyed running (and I’ll admit it some power walking) among such beautiful scenery and I was actually sad it was over. I would have loved another 5 miles so I guess I am ready for my upcoming 50K. At the end they record your time and you get your medal. This was my slowest marathon but I knew that it would be coming into the race given the difficulty and all the hiking and trail running I did this week so I was happy to finish under 6 hours. The medal is big but again not distance or year specific. Also while I like that they use southwestern designs and patterns, I feel like there is too much negative space on the medal and the logo is too small but it’s not a bad medal. There were some cups of water and some grab and go snacks such as smartpop and Kind bars at the finish line but no festivities due to covid. Afterwards I left and went to my favorite vegan spot in Vegas (Violette’s vegan cafe) for my traditional post-marathon veggie burger. Overall I thought this was a gorgeous and wonderful race albeit very difficult. If you want to do well on this race, you will need to do hill training and should not hike 40 miles the week before. But if you want to just enjoy the race and have a great adventurous vacation do the hiking as there is a 7 hour time limit so you can walk a lot of it. Unless you are desperate for a PR or BQ, choose this for your Nevada race!
Cabin Fever Trail Races
Dashing through the Snow
Cabin Fever Trail Races
This is a winter trail raced produced by Yellow Jacket Racing in Webster Park just outside of Rochester. There is an option for a 5ish mile short course or a … MORE
This is a winter trail raced produced by Yellow Jacket Racing in Webster Park just outside of Rochester. There is an option for a 5ish mile short course or a 10ish mile long course which is running the short course twice. I chose the short course since I wasn’t sure how the weather would be and have a whole bunch of hiking, trail running and a marathon coming up next week so didn’t want to overextend myself. While this race has been happening before covid, this year “cabin fever” seemed like a very appropriate race name as this was one of the first races held in Rochester in 2021 and I think most of us have a little cabin fever right now. Packet pick-up was recommend at the store the day before but could also be done morning of race. Packet included bib and a decent long-sleeved, grey non-technical shirt with the race name. This year the race had a 1 hour rolling start with the long course starting a half hour earlier than the short course. Weather race day was terrible. It snowed overnight and was snowing quite hard during the race. I think the rolling start was the only start really possible as it would have been hard to put markers in the snow where to stand for a group start like YJR has done for other races. I started at the beginning of my time window which made the unexciting start slightly more exciting. This race was rough. I definitely regret writing I would rather run in snow that the thunderstorm I had in Florida. While the snow definitely was safer, it was tough. I had only done winter trail running on hard, packed snow so running through soft, powdery snow is a new experience. I think running or dashing as my title states is a little bit strong of a word to describe the forward movement I was doing which was more like trudging through the snow. Also it takes a lot of energy to keep any sort of running form so I did some hiking in the snow. I am normally a fast walker and hiker but I have very little experience hiking in fresh snow so I was super, super slow. This race took nearly twice as long as my trail 5 miler PR and was over twice as long as all my road 5 milers and was even longer than one of my road 10 milers. The trail itself actually wasn’t too tough. The total elevation was around 350 feet which isn’t bad for trails and there weren’t many steep hills. The slow race was all due to the snow which is like running in sand, but colder and more painful. On the positive side, the course was extremely well marked and when I took a second to forget how miserable I was trudging and looked up the trail was absolutely beautiful with the snow falling. The worst part of the race was the end. The entire course would be pretty runnable without snow until this steep area at the end where you have to grab roots to get up. That was tricky especially since I had a handheld water bottle that I had to toss up to the top to use my hands to climb. I then trudged to the finish line where the RD greeted the finishers and gave a bag of snacks which also had a bottle of water and a non-alcoholic beer from athletic brewing company. I’ve missed the YJR snacks and my house is getting low on snacks since they supplied most of my snacks for the fall. Also I am so happy I chose the short course as I did not want to do that a second time. I don’t have any complaints about production of the race but this was a miserable experience with the weather. I do think it would be a nice race if the weather was good but this is winter in western NY. Would I run this race again? Probably only if the weather was better but honestly once travel is back to normal I think I’d rather fly to a race in Florida and risk running in a thunderstorm.
Teddy Bear Trot
Warm, Fuzzy & Free
Teddy Bear Trot
This is a free fun run put on by my local fleet feet. The run is completely free but you are asked to bring an unwrapped teddy bear to give … MORE
This is a free fun run put on by my local fleet feet. The run is completely free but you are asked to bring an unwrapped teddy bear to give to be donated to a child advocacy center. I was on call this weekend so it was the perfect low key, local running activity to do this weekend. Due to covid, runners or walkers chose waves every 15 minutes. I actually choose the first wave as I had to round afterwards. At check in you dropped off your bear and it was so cute to see all the teddy bears (see pic and that was just the first wave). You could get a race T-shirt for $10 and it was nice and a light beige color with the race logo. This is an untimed fun run and the course is open. You are given directions to run and it is a 3ish mile loop through the neighborhoods around the store. Since it was untimed there weren’t many competitive runners and I was at the front of the pack in my wave! Luckily there was another runner running at a similar pace who knew the area better than I did so I didn’t get lost. There weren’t course markings but each participant got a sheet of with very clear directions and it was an easy to follow course. Nice course through some nice neighborhoods. Most roads were easy to run on and well paved but one was a little icy. The course was actually long and closer to 4 miles. My time (from my Garmin) looks like I had a slow run but I had a pretty good pace for 3.77 miles which is what it recorded especially given I lost 1-2 minutes stopping at traffic and was the first female to finish in my wave. Finish was at the store where you got a bag of teddy treats (water, teddy grahams, and gummy bears – super cute) along with a sticker decal and a coupon for the store. Not bad for a free race. Also convenient to shop at the store after to pick up some items for my upcoming marathon. Obviously this was not the best or most exciting running event but great deal since it is free. Wouldn’t plan around this race but would run it again if I were on call and it would be a nice fun run to do as a double with a longer race on Saturday.
Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Worse weather than Rochester!
Publix Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
This is an annual race off the space coast in Florida sponsored by Publix. Every year they have a different kind of produce for a theme which I love since … MORE
This is an annual race off the space coast in Florida sponsored by Publix. Every year they have a different kind of produce for a theme which I love since I love my fruits & veggies. This year it was the year of the Tangerine. My beloved orange cat is named Tangerine so I knew I had to run it! It also worked out perfectly that my trip coincided 2 weeks after my second covid vaccine making me finally feel ready to fly to a race (I was actually relieved Louisiana got postponed even if I can’t make the new date and have to wait until 2022). Logistics, Melbourne is about an hour east of Orlando so this race is very convenient to get to. I flew into Orlando Friday and was happy the race had race day pick up so I could spend Saturday at Disney World. Since I was at Disney I didn’t go to the expo Saturday so can’t comment. After Disney I drove to my hotel in Melbourne. I stayed at the Holiday Inn express in Melbourne. Nice staff who allowed late check out for runners and had an early breakfast of granola bars and bananas out starting at 4am for runners. The RD emailed a nice pre race packet with all the race information about 2 weeks before the race. The weather forecast didn’t look good the morning of the race with scattered thunderstorms predicted all morning. Luckily at least initially the weather seemed good. It is an early 6am start for the marathon and 6:30 start for the half so I got up about 5 and it was about a 10 minute drive to the race. There weren’t really hotels at the start line. I parked in the public structure recommended in the packet. Just a warning the packet said it was $5 but they jacked up the price to a whole $7 (lol still so much less than I paid for parking at California races) and it was cash only. It was about a 5 minute walk to packet pick up and the start. Packet pick up was smooth. You got a tote bag and people like myself who registered early got a shirt but due to financial issues from lack of sponsors during the pandemic they stopped offering shirts to participants who registered later but this was clearly communicated and I appreciated the honest communication from the RD. Shirt is long sleeve and tech so useful for me but fabric feels a little cheaper than some of my other tech shirts but the design is nice. Covid protocols were definitely not as strict as other races I’ve done because well it is Florida but everything was outdoors and the majority of people were wearing masks and trying to space out. The announcer was encouraging everyone to mask and social distance at least but there were a handful of runners not listening. My biggest non-covid related complaint of the start is there was nowhere near enough porta potties. After I brought my packet back to my car and returned to the start I literally waited in line for the bathroom until 6:29 when I quickly did my business and then just went to the back of the corral area as the half marathon was starting. They said there would be self seeded waves or something but it seemed to just start and everyone went but the corral was big and people were mostly spaced out. There was a nice number of participants (around 500 or 600 half marathoners) for a normal year where you were always running with people but it wasn’t hard to pass since I did end up in the back of the corral with the walkers so had to pass a lot of people. The starting temp was perfect but man the humidity. It was around 95% humidity and I did feel it but it was nice to run in a tank and shorts. The course is really nice. It is a loop around the water and there are water views most of the race. Other than a tiny out and back around mile 4 there is no repeating any part of the course for the half (the whole is 2 loops so that is all repeated). The course was pancake flat except 2 bridges with only 99 ft of elevation gain the entire race. That was less than my 3 miler 3 weeks ago. The uphill on the bridge was a little tough and I power walked it due to my issues with humidity but I did see some really cool birds fly by on the bridge. After you cross the bridge there are some really fancy waterfront houses across it. There were aid stations about every 1.5 to 2 miles. Unfortunately there were small water bottles and 3 had gatorade bottles and endurance gels too. Seemed very wasteful with some many thrown out half empty bottles (but I understand how it is more hygienic) but I needed a ton of water and electrolytes with the humidity and needed more than I was carrying. There were also plenty of porta potties on the course with never more than 1 person in line. The race was going pretty well, a little slow due to humidity but I was on pace to potentially make 2:30 if I had a good push at the end. However at mile 11 it started to rain. At first it was nice. Then at mile 11.5 the sky opened up, there was thunder and lightening, it was downpouring and there was even some hail. Yikes this was the worst weather I have ever run in. I was also a little scared to be on the bridge at the end of the race in the storm but also wanted to finish since I was so close. I was absolutely drenched and could not enjoy the downhill finish. I did not get the under 2:30 finishing time I wanted but I don’t think my finish time was too bad all things considered. At the finish line you got your medal which is big, beautiful and tangerine themed. My cat will love it. There was some dole pineapple juice which was a nice refreshing treat, water, gatorade, red bull and beer for those who drink it. There was not much food just fruit but I had some snacks in my car. With the horrible weather there was absolutely no gathering after the race. In normal years it sounds like the post race party is fun. They ended up pulling marathoners off the course right about the time I finished due to the dangerous weather so only the super fast marathoners finished. I thought about switching this to the marathon when Louisiana postponed since I am trying to do 2 marathons and a 50K in 90 days to qualify for marathon maniacs and am so happy I didn’t. Although in good weather this wouldn’t be a bad course to run twice for the marathon. I did think this was a good race and my main complaints (the weather and a few Floridians who refuse to wear masks) were not the RD’s fault. I plan to run a race in Florida most years since it is easy to fly to from Rochester or Buffalo. Next year I am planning to do Miami but I’d consider this one again in the future and hope for better weather but based on other reviews from previous years bad weather seems the norm but usually not this bad. Aww the irony of taking a trip to run a half marathon in nice weather and instead would have preferred to run in 20 degree weather with snow over the weather I got. Even with the weather I still had a great trip to Florida! Crossing my fingers Vegas has better weather for Red Rock!
Snowflake Shuffle
More like the Windy Shuffle
Snowflake Shuffle
My racing plans for this weekend got canceled so I decided to go visit my parents in New Hampshire and run another Millenium Running event instead. Like all Millenium Running … MORE
My racing plans for this weekend got canceled so I decided to go visit my parents in New Hampshire and run another Millenium Running event instead. Like all Millenium Running events this was a very well produced covid race with the same protocols as the previous ones with the time trial start. My dad also ran this race. Parking super easy in a big lot. We picked up our packets the morning of the race. For your swag item you get a nicely designed sweatshirt and could choose between 2 designs. Very nice swag item for a short race. The start was the same as their other events. This race was very popular this year with over 1000 runners and my start time was slightly delayed and I started about 10 minutes later than my assigned time. With all the protocols still felt safe despite the large number of runners. The weather this morning was not too cold and there was not much snow on the ground but there was a strong wind which made running a little difficult. The course was changed this year. The first part was okay along the side of a main road. The next part was nicer and was a loop through a very nice, pretty neighborhood with some fancy houses. Then you go back on the sidewalks of the main road to the finish line near the parking lot. The course was moderately difficult for a 3 miler with lots of rolling hills but nothing too difficult and most of the uphill in the first mile so I had negative splits. My biggest complaint about the course was the end was very congested on the sidewalk and it was very narrow and tricky to pass people. I saved energy for a last minute push to try to run this under 30 minutes but there was too much weaving around people to pick up as much speed as I needed to. I didn’t get a sub-30 time but still had a very good time given the hills and wind. The course was changed this year due to covid. I don’t know what the usual course is like but pretty much any course in Bedford will consist of rolling hills and fancy houses so I imagine the usual course isn’t much different but assume the end is less congested. At the end you got a millenium running mask and there were some refreshments. I was disappointed in the snack selection just some fruit cups with nothing to eat them with and all the bananas left were green but they had a great selection of post race drinks including my new favorite Maple Water. Overall this is a nice, well produced 3 mile race. I plan to take a trip somewhere warm for a race most MLK weekends that I am not working so doubt I will do this again as long as travel returns to normal but would recommend for locals and would do again if I found myself in NH on MLK weekend.
Hindsight is 2020 5K
The Most 2020 Race You'll Run in 2021
Hindsight is 2020 5K
I found out about this race a couple days ago and decided to make it a double race weekend! This race really embodied 2020 and racing during the pandemic. The … MORE
I found out about this race a couple days ago and decided to make it a double race weekend! This race really embodied 2020 and racing during the pandemic. The race was produced by Confluence Running in Binghamton, NY about a 2 hour drive from me. For the race you signed up for time slots of 50 people at 8, 9 or 10am. I obviously picked 10 since it was a bit of a drive. Packet pick-up was recommended at the running store Thursday, Friday or Saturday before the race but I couldn’t make it so had to do it the morning of the race. The entire race was on the property of a mall in Binghamton and started in front of a brewery at the that sponsored the race. I signed up too late for a shirt but based on the website the shirt design looked nice with the race logo as an eye exam chart but it appeared to be a cotton, white tee and I have enough of those. All participants even those like myself who signed up too late for the shirt also got a buff which I was happy to see had the actual race logo since I loved the name of the race and wasn’t just a generic buff with the race company logo. The course was so stupid it was funny. It was literally just 3 laps around the mall parking lot. The RD had a great attitude and made a lot of jokes about the course and the “beautiful scenery” as we lined up at the start. I did think this was actually a pretty smart idea as it allowed a large area to run on and could be open for many hours to accommodate the waves as the mall doesn’t open until noon on Sunday. This race definitely showed the creativity RDs are using to produce races during covid and the fact that runners will literally run anywhere if it means swag and an official finishing time as this either sold out or almost sold out as there was only a handful of spots left when I signed up. Despite it being the dumbest course ever, the whole race was just so silly it was a lot of fun and all the participants and volunteers had a smile on their face. Course was pretty easy although the parking lot was on a small incline so there were some downhill and uphill sections but all low grade. The only real difficulty was a few patches of ice. Scenery was pretty terrible. It wasn’t even a particularly pretty mall…lol. My pace was pretty slow as I was sore from yesterday. At the finish line there was only water. I would have liked a granola bar but you did get a free beer coupon and there was food at the brewery (I think you had to pay for the food but I’m not sure as I didn’t go in as I don’t drink and am avoiding bars even more than usual during the pandemic). There was a Dunkins across the street where I got a post race bagel and coffee. Overall this was the dumbest race ever and I can’t in good conscience give a race in a mall parking lot more than 3 sneakers but it was actually a lot of fun and very well produced. I really hope this pandemic ends soon and I don’t have to drive 2 hours to run around a mall parking lot because it is the only race I can find in a 200 mile radius of Rochester ever again but I would definitely consider other events put on by Confluence Running given how well it was produced.
Run to Read Half Marathon
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Run to Read Half Marathon
This is an annual race in Northern West Virginia just outside Morgantown that raises money for literacy. This was a very convenient way for me to check off West Virginia … MORE
This is an annual race in Northern West Virginia just outside Morgantown that raises money for literacy. This was a very convenient way for me to check off West Virginia as it is only about a 5 and half hour drive from Rochester and was the only half marathon I could find in driving distance this weekend. This year due to covid the race was strictly capped at 250 runners but generally there are not more runners than that so it is on the smaller side but not too small. There was lots of pre-race communication both on email and facebook. Would recommend joining the facebook group if you are interested in the race. There was actually a lot of hotel options nearby in Fairmont and driving there was easy. You could also stay in Morgantown as well. This race is about a 1.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh if you are a 50 stater who is looking to fly to the race. The race starts at 1pm when it is warmest as it had been very cold some years. Also just as a warning to those potentially planning to run this race in past years it had to be postponed twice due to the bad weather. This year though the weather was perfect. It was sunny and just above freezing. With the sun I was very comfortable in a long sleeve running shirt, hat and leggings and never cold. The 1pm start made pre-race fueling a little difficult and even worse it was the same time as the Bills game which I had to listen to during my run. This race is on two non-technical trails at Prickett Fort State Park. Parking was very easy in a large parking lot. This year absolutely everything was outside due to covid which made the race feel quite safe and I’m sure the RD and volunteers appreciated the nice weather. Packet included bib and shirt as long as you signed up by the shirt deadline which I did. Shirt is long-sleeved and technical. It is a little plain but it is a nice navy color. I will definitely use it. The start of the race had looser covid protocols than the races I’ve done in NY and NH but overall it was better than I expected for West Virginia. Participants were asked to start in groups of 50 based on self-seeded predicted finish times and groups were set off every couple minutes with faster runners first to avoid as much passing. Participants seemed to be following this pretty well and race was chipped timed so there was no advantage to starting up front. The first 4.5 miles are an out and back on a paved trail. This trail was very easy to run on. In terms of scenery it was pretty enough but definitely would have been more scenic if there was snow (although I’m glad there wasn’t) or in the fall when leaves are changing color. During this portion you go through a tunnel. I thought it might be cool to run through the tunnel but it was dimly lit (but bright enough that you don’t need additional lights), damp, creepy and kind of smelly. But after a pretty dark week, running towards the light at the end of the tunnel seemed kind of symbolic. You then leave the tunnel and go to the turnaround point which is the 1st aid station. Aid stations included little water bottles (I carried by own so didn’t use) and cups of Endure Fuel electrolyte drink. The electrolyte drink was watermelon flavored and maybe it’s just me but I thought it was absolutely disgusting. There were aid stations every approximately 2.5 miles. Personally I would prefer more aid stations so I would recommend carrying water if you need it more frequently than that. You then run back on the paved trail to another out and back on a non-technical gravel trail. Definitely don’t need trail shoes but may want ankle gaiters as I got a lot of rocks and grit in my shoes. This trail follows the river and was prettier but again not spectacular. It was a peaceful run though. I also did love the mile markers they were these adorable book worm mile markers. Both trails had very low grade elevation change but I wouldn’t call it pancake flat as I felt like most of the race there was either a slight incline or decline but definitely about the flattest race you can find in West Virginia. You then turn around and run back to the finish line where you get your medal. Medal is wooden and a little simple with just a plain string for ribbon but I do like that they are two sided one side with the race logo and the other with an image of West Virginia making it a nice medal for 50 staters. There is chili, water, powerade and a grab bag of snacks at the end. Love that they had a vegan chili option. Grab bag included a banana, cookies, saltines for the chili and a sample of the watermelon endurance fuel which I am never going to use. My time was fine. I just met my goal of under 2:30 but feel like I should have been faster on such an easy course but I had trouble getting a good pace on the trail and the late start made me feel a little sluggish. I also could see this being a potentially difficult race if the weather didn’t cooperate which is why I marked 2 star difficulty. Overall I thought this was a fine race. I don’t have any major complaints (other than gross electrolyte drink which is a very minor issue) but there also wasn’t anything that made this particularly special compared to other halves I’ve done other than it being in West Virginia. It was a nice, smaller, well-produced race that raises money for a good cause so I would definitely recommend it to locals and think it is a solid and pretty convenient option for 50 staters. I’m not sure I would drive 5.5 hours to this race again in a normal year with more races to choose from but I am very happy to have done it this year and get another half in and a new state.
Millennium Mile
Fast Start to 2021
Millennium Mile
This is an annual downhill one mile race produced by Millenium Running on New Years Day. My dad runs this race every year but this was the first year since … MORE
This is an annual downhill one mile race produced by Millenium Running on New Years Day. My dad runs this race every year but this was the first year since I started running that I spent New Years in NH so it was my first opportunity to run it. Packet pick up is either at the store or the morning of the race. We got it morning of race. Parking was very easy at the school where the race starts. Packet included bib and a winter hat as the swag item this year. Would have preferred a medal or a shirt but it was the nicest winter hat I’ve gotten as race swag and solid swag for a short, cheap race. Start line procedure was same as other Millenium Running events during covid with groups of 99 based on expected time with 2 runners sent off every 10 seconds. Timing was very precise today and I started the exact time I was supposed to. While I miss the excitement of a mass start I actually thought this sort of “time trial” start worked better for a mile race as the course was not crowded and you didnt have to weave around anyone and could just concentrate on pace. We also lucked out with weather and it was perfect (well as perfect as NH in January which is above freezing and sunny). The course starts at the top of a hill and is (almost) all downhill. The course was changed a little this year. Normally there is one turn so the entire course is downhill or flat. This year to accommodate the longer time the course had to be open and allow only half the road to be closed, it was straight down one street but there was a teeny, tiny uphill near the end but overall over 100 feet of elevation drop in 1 mile. It was a very fast race. I really wanted to finish under 8 minutes and I did it! I ran so fast I honestly can’t remember what the course looked like since I was just concentrating on pace. No medal at finish line but its such a short race it’s not really necessary. You then have to walk back which is a nice cool down. There was water, powerade and some interesting maple water (would recommend) for post race refreshments along with some chips, bananas and other grab and go snacks. Overall this is fun, fast and well-produced race to start the New Year. As it is only 1 mile and is an easy mile it is family friendly and friendly for people of all abilities. There were plenty of walkers in the last group. Will definitely do this every year I am in NH for New Years.
Race Again Prospect Park
If 2020 were a race it would be this one
Race Again Prospect Park
I was planning to be in NYC this weekend and needed a long run to train for the Louisiana marathon so when this race magically appeared last week it seemed … MORE
I was planning to be in NYC this weekend and needed a long run to train for the Louisiana marathon so when this race magically appeared last week it seemed perfect. However it was far from it. This was an epic fail. Definitely the worse race I have done. This is part of City Tri’s return to racing series. I was very excited for this series since they were producing half marathons not just shorter distances like NYRR and NYCRuns but wow it was bad. For starters I arrived at the race almost an hour early because I always worry about getting lost and not finding the start. They gave very specific directions about where to meet in Prospect Park but no one was there. I am usually early to races but have never beat the RD before. Another runner showed up a few minutes later and we anxiously awaited the RD and were thinking this race might have been canceled and we missed the email as there was no one there 45 minutes later. Then about 10 minutes before the race someone comes by with the bibs. She gives the bib without safety pins and asks if we have a bib belt which I don’t. She then went on a lecture about how bad safety pins were while luckily I always carry some spare safety pins in my pouch. There are still no other runners but then a few more approached. Two of them saw how lame the race was and just left. If I didn’t need to get a long run in and it wasn’t so hard to motivate myself to do long runs in bad weather I probably would have too. In the end there were not even enough runners for it to count for any half marathon clubs. The other runner who was there early with me was very angry about this especially since the race advertised multiple waves and said “tech shirt for first 50 registrants” implying there would be a decent amount of runners. Personally I wasn’t happy this race wouldn’t count but if 2020 has taught me anything it is to just roll with the punches. The start was super weird. There was some weird chip timing with a scanner clipped to a pole. No start line or finish line. The race was just the main 3.3 mile Prospect Park Loop X 4 with the “finish line” about 0.1 miles before the “start line” to make it 13.1 miles. There were absolutely no course markings, mile signs or anything to indicate you were doing a race. One of the runners was confused where to go at one point and I only knew where to go because I just ran an organized race here. I actually didn’t mind the course. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about all the loops but it was kind of nice knowing what was coming up and Prospect Park is a pleasant place for a run. I didn’t love doing the long hill in the beginning 4 times but at least I knew it was coming. Prospect Park was pretty in the snow but not as enchanting as Central Park. There were two water stops one at the “finish line” and one halfway on the course with little water bottles and Huma Chia Gel. I hadn’t tried the gel before but I forgot to bring my own and tried it. It sat well during the race but not so much a few hours later while driving home. The “finish line” was super weird and I’m not even exactly sure where it was. I just kind of ran to the race staff member who then handed out the swag. The swag was surprisingly good. It was not specific to the race but Brooklyn themed and I assumed used for their other Brooklyn races but I mean they announced this a week ago so not really time for race specific swag. The color scheme and design isn’t my personal style but the medal is big and the shirt is tech. Although they gave me the wrong size I requested a men’s medium but got a women’s medium. Luckily the shirts run big and the women’s medium actually fits well. You also got a City Tri mask which is nice quality but I don’t really know if I want to give them advertisement. Also I am very confused by my listed race time on the website. The website initially listed the time I put above above which is consistent with my Garmin data and then when I looked later to write this review it had my “gun time” listed as the main time and it was 3 minutes slower. No idea where those 3 minutes came from since the race started like 20 minutes late so it clearly wasn’t subtracted from the start time and I passed the timing system right away since there were so few runners. Oh well this race doesn’t count for any clubs so I don’t really care too much about my official time which was pretty mediocre since I just ran it at a training pace since I couldn’t pump myself up enough to run my race pace as this didn’t feel like a race. This was definitely the worst produced race I have done. I also thought the website was somewhat deceptive to make this seem like something more exciting than a glorified training run. I definitely would not recommend these return to racing series by City Tri. I was planning to do a couple more but I have decided not to waste my time with them. I can’t figure out how this race benefits them. They couldn’t have made money and they definitely turned me off from doing any of their other races. At least it forced me to get in a 13.1 mile training run. If you are looking for a race in NYC definitely stick with NYRR or NYCRuns. However this disappointment of a race did seem like the perfect note to end the 2020 race season on. Here’s to a better 2021!
NYC Central Park Holiday Classic
Running in a Winter Wonderland
NYC Central Park Holiday Classic
This is a pretty low key race held annually in Central Park. I believe usually there are two distance options to choose from either a 10K or 4 mile option … MORE
This is a pretty low key race held annually in Central Park. I believe usually there are two distance options to choose from either a 10K or 4 mile option but this year it was offered only as a 5 mile race. This year there were 2 time slots capped at 50 runners each. Bib was also mailed. There was some USPS drama but everything worked out. The start of this race was on the 102nd street transverse and was a short walk from my hotel. The pre-race emails clearly said where everything was. The porta potties though were on the East side entrance which was annoying since I came from the west side but I knew this in advance and planned accordingly. Masks were required at start and finish and it was honor system during the race. For the start you lined up in rows of 2 at cones 6 feet apart. This was manually timed and they had this system where they wrote the bibs and had everyone go off every 5 seconds. The race was the entire Central Park loop minus the hilliest part in Harlem. It is crazy to think that 6 days ago I was running here in 60 degree weather and today Central Park was covered in snow. There was a large snowstorm Wednesday evening and Central Park was absolutely gorgeous today. It was chilly but not uncomfortably cold. The cold weather also meant the park wasn’t as jam packed. With all the snow and kids sledding in the background it felt like you were running through a Christmas card. I don’t think Central Park could be prettier than it was today. The actual path we were running on was well plowed and with occasional exceptions free of ice and snow. This race I really got in my zone and enjoyed it. Had a very good time. Only about 30 seconds off from a PR and Central Park is much hillier than my PR race. At the finish line they record your time and there are tables with water, a bag of food and a shirt. The food was a granola bar and some candies. Simple but exactly what I want after I run a short race. T-shirt is non-tech and white but it is cute with a cartoon crossing the finish line wearing a mask. Very 2020! Results were posted later today and even with the complicated manual system seemed correct. Overall solid low key race. This is normally a fairly small event with 100 or so runners. Good event if you want a less stressful NYC race. I wouldn’t make plans around this race in a year when it is not the only race I can find in NY state, but I would run it again if I happened to be in NYC the weekend of the race.
NYCRUNS Big Apple 4 Miler
Beautiful Day to Run in Central Park
NYCRUNS Big Apple 4 Miler
This was initially the date for the NYCRuns Big Apple half marathon which is a multiple loop half marathon in Central Park. However given the multiple loop nature of the … MORE
This was initially the date for the NYCRuns Big Apple half marathon which is a multiple loop half marathon in Central Park. However given the multiple loop nature of the course and need for runners to pass each other multiple times that went virtual and NYCRuns had this 4 mile option instead with covid protocols. While I’d prefer a half marathon that was a smart idea and allowed a larger number of participants and less passing. This had very similar protocols to the NYRR race yesterday. And I did receive my bib in the mail for this race! For this race you signed up for waves of 50 people from 7 to 11am. I choose 11am because as I’ve said before I like sleep. I did think pre-race communication could have been a little better. The covid protocols were very well outlined but some of the logistics were not as clear. The race started on the east side of central park and finished on the west side. The separate start and finish was good for avoiding congregation but it was about a 10ish minute walk from start to finish. I had a hotel on the UWS and walked to central park so passed the finish area first where the bag check was. I didn’t plan to check bag so it didn’t really matter. Then I walked to the east side to the start corral. Could have been some better signage but I made it no problem. I noticed there were porta potties by the east side entrance to central park about 1/4 mile from the corrals but didn’t use them as they were slightly out of the way and I assumed there would be some closer to the start line but there weren’t. If I knew this I would have used the porta potties when I was closer to them. The start corral was well organized. There was temp check and medical screening before you entered. Then you lined up in rows of two 6 feet apart. However multiple people brought their bags to the corral area and were told they had to go back to the west side to bag check. That would have been really stressful if that happened to me. I do wish the maps, emails and/or race page had more instructions about the lay-out of the start such as where bag check and porta-potties were. It would have led to less confusion. The race was otherwise very well organized. Luckily for this race while you had to wear a mask at the start and finish line and the first and last 500 feet of the race you could pull in down the rest of the race as long as you could maintain social distancing. The course itself was a nice, again moderately challenging 4 miles through central park. Central park is hilly but this course did avoid Harlem Hill. I was surprised this race actually had less elevation gain than yesterday since it seemed hillier but the hills in Central Park were steeper and shorter than the more gradual longer inclines in Prospect Park. The last mile was mostly downhill which was really nice and allowed for a fast last mile although the finish line was on a small uphill. I used to live in NYC so have been to central park plenty of times but this was my first race there. If you’ve never run in Central Park it is pretty cool and along with the pretty park views can also see some great NYC architecture but I’m sure it gets old once you’ve run a bunch of races there. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. 60 degrees and sunny. It has been so cold, cloudy, rainy and occasionally snowy the past few weeks in Rochester I forgot about warm weather and only packed leggings and long sleeved running shirts so was a little hot. Will remember to also bring a shorts and short sleeve shirt option for future winter NYC races just in case. The beautiful weather also meant just about all of NYC was in Central Park today which made the race a little chaotic as it was open. There were kids on scooters, families walking in rows of four, fast cyclists, the occasional tourist stopping in the middle of the road to take a selfie and even a horse-drawn carriage that crossed the course causing me to have to stop. This meant fun people watching but you also had to keep your eye on the road which meant slower time and it was hard to get in my running zone. Had a decent pace and finishing time. At the finish line you got your post-race goodies. The swag item was a winter hat. It is solid blue with the Big Apple logo. It is fine but kind of basic. Still better than a generic mask for the swag item. The food was disappointing though just a squeezable applesauce and a fruit cup with no utensils to eat the fruit cup along with water and gatorade. Would have preferred something more substantial. Overall this was again a nice, very safe race. Compared to yesterday I thought the logistics were a little better ironed out in the NYRR race, but preferred to not always wear the mask and there was a better (but still not super exciting) swag item for this race (but worse post-race food). I’d recommend a race with either race company if you are looking for a safe race in NYC right now
NYRR Season of Light 3.3M
Mask on!
NYRR Season of Light 3.3M
I was very curious to see what the NYRR return to racing events were like. This was race #7 in a series of NYRR races produced this Fall with social … MORE
I was very curious to see what the NYRR return to racing events were like. This was race #7 in a series of NYRR races produced this Fall with social distancing protocols. These sell out very fast as spots are limited and the races aren’t very well advertised so you have to kind of stalk the website and sign up within one of the first days a new race is announced. I do think the race was kind of pricey at $50 for a short distance but I had credit with NYRR for a race that was canceled and a lot went into production of the race and NYC isn’t cheap so its understandable. Also if you are wondering these are NOT part of 9+1 entry to NYC marathon. NYRR has a super detailed covid plan. Bibs are supposed to be mailed to you but they clearly stated on the race page that if your bib didn’t come there would be a representative on site to assign you a bib. I appreciated this as my bib never arrived in the mail. Only production issue was not getting my bib but can’t really blame NYRR for issues with USPS this year. Anyways getting bib assigned on site was very easy. Each runner is placed in a wave of 50 every half hour. I believe start time is based on pace. You have to fill out a covid questionnaire before hand and also have medical and temperature screening before you enter corrals. In the corrals there are two lines with markers spaced every 6 feet. 2 runners are sent off every 10 seconds to help with social distancing. Very organized and safe start. Not the most exciting but also not the least exciting start I did during the pandemic. This race was the main 3.3 mile loop around Prospect Park. It is a nice, pretty, moderately challenging 3.3 mile loop. There is about 250 feet of elevation gain but it is quite gradual and most in the first half. There is also a good amount of downhill. Not an easy course but not a hard course. Prospect Park is quite pretty especially running by the lake. The hardest part of the race though is you have to run with your mask on. Personally I think this is a little overly cautious but better overly cautious than not cautious enough. I haven’t run in a mask since I moved out of LA and I wish I practiced a little. It was a little hard to catch my breath but I got through it and a race with a mask is better than no race. If you absolutely refuse to run in a mask this is not the race for you. I had a solid pace but the mask did slow me down a bit. At the finish line you get a bag of goodies. The only non-food swag is a NYRR mask. It is a good quality mask but not really exciting swag for the cost and not specific to the race. The food in the bag is quite good with a water bottle, gatorade bottle, honey stinger waffle, mini pretzels and a bag of Christmas treats along with a sample of pain relief gel. This was definitely the absolutely safest race in terms of covid protocols. Also the cleanest, even the porta potties were super clean. If you are in the NYC area and a little nervous to race one of these races would be a good race to start with. Overall it was a nice race, very, very safe but a little on the pricier side.
Utica Ugly Sweater 5K
Fun, Festive 5K
Utica Ugly Sweater 5K
Willow Running produces a few of these ugly sweater races in late November/early December throughout Upstate New York. Usually there is one in Rochester but that was cancelled this year … MORE
Willow Running produces a few of these ugly sweater races in late November/early December throughout Upstate New York. Usually there is one in Rochester but that was cancelled this year due to Covid-19. However Utica happened to be on the way home from New Jersey so this worked out perfectly. For the race you signed up for time slots so participants went off in small waves. Since it was about a 3 hour drive from where I was staying to Utica I choose the latest noon time slot. Packet pick-up was either on Thursday at a shoe store in Utica or race-day. I did race day since Utica is about a 2 hour drive from Rochester. The race starts at a pizza shop called Pizza Boys. It had a very large parking lot with plenty of parking. Packet pick-up was inside the pizza shop. My only complaint of the race is I do think outdoor packet pick-up would be safer. I understand it was quite cold this morning and everyone wore masks and social distanced inside and with the waves pick-up was quick so it wasn’t unsafe but outside still would have been safer. Packet included nice swag for a 5K and included a winter hat with the ugly sweater logo, gloves with Willow Running logo and a wristband with jingle bells which was fun for the race. The atmosphere of this race was so much fun. I have never seen a race where so many participants (myself included) dressed up for the race. I was wearing this wacky, fun but a little bulky Christmas sweater my mom made me. I think about 90% of participants had some sort of sweater or Christmas outfit. You started with your group and the RD just said ready, set, go and we went. The course though was very meh in terms of scenery. The first mile was through some very average looking suburbs. Other than a few houses decorated for christmas there was not much to look at. But it also wasn’t an eyesore. The second mile was on this paved trail which was behind the highway and was more of an eyesore. Then back to the suburbs for finish by the pizza shop. What the course lacked in scenery, it made up for it in ease. This course was so nice especially after yesterday. It was almost flat as a pancake. There was one little incline on the trail and a teeny, tiny baby hill and that’s it. Less than 50 ft of elevation gain total. Especially flat given Utica’s most famous race (the Boilermaker) is known for its hills. At the finish line you get your medal. It spins and is a nice size for a 5K. This was manually timed and the same company that did the Turkey Chase so I confirmed they had my time recorded at the finish. The pizza shop also had some soup and pizza rolls out for the runners and you could get a free beer there after the race. The soup didn’t look vegetarian but I lucked out as the majority of pizza rolls left were spinach and were delicious. Again I wish the “after party” was outdoors. The tables were all spaced 6 ft apart and everything seemed to be following all social distancing rules but it was little cramped and crowded for my taste so I took my rolls to go. Overall this was a really fun race. One of the most fun and festive races I did since the pandemic. The fun atmosphere and easy course made this a great race for casual runners and walkers. If you are a more competitive runner it would also make for a great PR course. I definitely didn’t PR but I had a good time considering I was still sore from yesterday and was wearing a bulky sweater. I’m not sure I will do this specific ugly sweater race again since it is a 2 hour drive but will definitely do the one in Rochester and would do this one again if I happened to be driving back from either the NYC area or New England the day of the race
Campgaw Fall Series Race #3
At least there were Twizzlers
Campgaw Fall Series Race #3
So this is my birthday weekend and I initially took Friday off to take a trip for a half marathon hoping things would be better and travel restrictions lessened but … MORE
So this is my birthday weekend and I initially took Friday off to take a trip for a half marathon hoping things would be better and travel restrictions lessened but we all know how 2020 went so I had to settle for a trip to New Jersey. This race was produced by the NJ Trail Series who hosts a bunch of low key trail races throughout the year in NJ. This year they changed the location of their usual fall race series to this location at the Campgaw ski resort. I was told this race was all on trails and not on the ski area so I was hoping it wouldn’t be as brutal as Battle at Bristol Mountain. Luckily it wasn’t quite that brutal but this was definitely the next hardest race I’ve done and the hardest race I’ve completed (yes it was harder than a road marathon). Pre-race communication was fine but there was not a super detailed plan. For the half marathon they said to arrive between 8 and 8:30 for packet pickup and the race would start at 9am with small groups sent off “based on quorum.” Packet pickup included your timing chip. It was not a bib but an old school ankle bracelet timer. Never seen that before but it seemed to work well as results were posted right after the race. You also got a piece of swag. There were a few things to choose from that weren’t race specific but had the NJ Trail Series logo on it. I chose some socks because it was rainy and I knew my feet would be cold and wet after the race which was a good call. The start of the race was very laid back and you just kind of went when you felt like it generally but not always in groups every 10 to 15 minutes. At about 8:25 the RD said if you want to start at 8:30 line up. I wish I knew I could start at 8:30 earlier as I wasn’t quite ready then but left with the next group around 8:45. I get why some people would like this laid back approach and it definitely seemed to work but the type A in me preferred the detailed startline protocols of Yellow Jacket Racing and Millenium Running. The race was set up so 5Kers did one 3.1 mile loop, 10Kers did two 3.1 loops and half marathoners did 3 of the 3.1 mile loops + a 1.2 mile off shoot. The course was much more brutal than advertised. The 3.1 loop wasn’t too bad and the first mile was pretty flat and then there was some gradual but mostly runnable uphill to the top of the mountain. It was advertised at 350 ft elevation per loop which didn’t sound too awful for a trail race. The misleading part was the 1.2 mile off shoot had the same elevation gain in half the distance and was really tough and technical. I was not the only one surprised by the difficulty. At the part where the half marathoners split two other runners running my pace stopped and spent some time deciding whether to go through with the half or switch to a shorter distance (they weren’t as stubborn as me and did not complete the half). Also the rain last night made this a very tough race and added some mud and a few unintentional stream crossings. Very glad I chose the socks! At the end of the loop you go through the parking lot and there is an aid station. Great aid station for a non-ultra race with granola bars and muffins and candy including my two favorite race candies twizzlers and Swedish fish. After fueling up, I was not really looking forward to doing the loop two more times but I decided to power through and finish it. While it was tough, the trail was very beautiful. One of the prettiest trail races I’ve done and if its this pretty in December I’m sure it is absolutely gorgeous in October. The highlight of the race was definitely having a family of deer run past me. The trail was very well marked and easy to follow. However I was annoyed that on my last lap they had taken some of the trail markers down already. Luckily I already “ran” the course twice so knew where to go (I put “ran” in quotes since I probably hiked more than ran in this race). However I was happy they kept the finish line open for me and the RD did apologize about the trail markers as soon as I came back to the finish area. At the finish area there were still some treats remaining at the aid station and there was non- alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Co. This is one of those low key trail races with no medal. Which is disappointing since I am hoping to run a half or full marathon in every state so would like a medal from New Jersey. However I will probably run another half in NJ before I finish all 50 states and if not I guess I can display the socks. My time was terribly slow and nearly twice my half marathon PR time. I almost didn’t want to post it but I do think it is helpful to show how brutal this was. My Garmin actually showed 2500 feet of elevation gain total. I wish the race better advertised how hard it was. I wasn’t expecting an easy race but I though it would be a similar difficulty to Zion at Night or Unlimited Breadsticks but this was much harder. If I knew how hard it was I would have chosen the 10K but I guess I’m glad I can check off NJ. I didn’t really think this was the event for me and I’m not sure I’d do another one of these races but everyone involved was very nice and I could understand how someone looking for a challenge who doesn’t care about PR or swag would really enjoy this.
Rochester Cross Country Classic
Relive those awkward high school years
Rochester Cross Country Classic
The silver lining to deciding to stay in Rochester this Thanksgiving instead of traveling was I got to do Yellow Jacket Racing's final race of the year. This race was … MORE
The silver lining to deciding to stay in Rochester this Thanksgiving instead of traveling was I got to do Yellow Jacket Racing’s final race of the year. This race was designed to be a cross-country course for older runners to relive their high school glory days or for younger runners whose cross country season may have gotten cut short due to covid to run another race. It was on what was described as a “classic” cross country course so I assume it was a course used for cross country meets in Rochester. Race was organized so runners started based on gender and graduating high school year which was a really fun way to do the small groups. Each group was 20 runners or less to fit social distancing guidelines. My dad was in town and did this race too. His group of the oldest men went first at 10 and my group of the 90s and 00s graduating females went at 11:30. You picked up packet and had health screening morning of race. I thought it might be boring with a long time between my dad and my waves but the course was designed so the runners were visible for most of the race and it was fun to watch the different races in between. A little before 11:30 I lined up with my group. There were X’s 6 feet apart at the start. The first short section maybe 1/4 mile or so was on grass but I was happy that only a short section was on the grass. There was then a small road section and then trail for about 1.5 to 2 miles. The trail was not too technical. A few roots and rocks and some mud as it has been rainy but nothing crazy. I had trail shoes which were helpful with the mud but my dad didn’t and he was fine. The hard part of the trail is there are two killer hills, one just before 1 mile and 1 kind of in the middle. Other than these 2 hills the rest of the course is relatively easy. After the trail there is a longer stretch on road followed by a bit on grass and then a painful uphill finish on grass. After crossing the line you get a bag of food and a water bottle. There isn’t a medal but participants get a finisher ribbon with the race name. There is also a shirt you can pay for. This race was only $15 so not much swag was not a big deal. I thought the course was a lot of fun with the mixed terrain and was nicely challenging. It reminded me of a shorter version of the Regal Beagle last week. I also liked this course more than the somewhat similar Roots n Road course I did at Mendon earlier and I was a couple minutes faster. I had a solid time for the course. Again my pace was inbetween a road and a trail pace. I thought the groups by age and gender were fun and there were lots of people wearing their old cross country uniforms. This was a lot of fun. I hope they bring it back as I would definitely do it again.
Regal Beagle Ultra
Fast is in the Eye of the Beholder
Regal Beagle Ultra
My initial race plan this weekend for a race just outside Rochester went virtual 1.5 weeks ago so I had to scramble to find a race and I am so … MORE
My initial race plan this weekend for a race just outside Rochester went virtual 1.5 weeks ago so I had to scramble to find a race and I am so happy I found this one before registration closed. This is a sort of hybrid road/trail race in the Bath Nature Preserve by Akron Ohio. It was the perfect course for a hybrid road/trail runner like me. Pre-race communication was good and it was very clear the covid protocol, packet pick-up and directions for how to get to and park at race but I do wish there was one email with all the info as it was all sent it separate emails so I had to figure out what email had what info. Packet pick-up was spread throughout the week. Given the current covid rates in this country, this was a pretty in and out trip for me and I picked up up the packet around 5pm the evening before at the Regal Beagle cabin which was cute and cozy and is probably really nice during normal years when you can hang around and chat with the RD more. Packet included a nice, warm sweatshirt with the beagle logo which I appreciated after the race and a bag with your bib and some Hammer nutrition samples and a collapsible cup. I’d say it was very solid swag and more than just a shirt like most races but wouldn’t call it the best swag I ever received. Race day you parked right by the start. You were assigned a wave beforehand and then lined up on X’s 6 feet apart and 2 runners went every 30 seconds or so. Very safe and organized start. I was worried based on the weather forecast it would be really rainy but at least the 25Kers lucked out and there was at most a light drizzle and it was cool and cloudy exactly the weather I like to run in. It did rain when I was driving home so the 50Kers may not have been so lucky. The course initially goes through the parking lot. Mixed feelings about this. It seemed potentially dangerous with the many different distances and finishing times but was very convenient because runners could use car as a sort of “drop bag” and get anything they forgot or put something away in it. The rest of the course was a mix of road and trail through the Bath Nature Preserve. The course is approximately 5 miles and 5-milers do 1 lap, 25Kers do 3 laps and 50Kers do 6 laps. It is advertised as a “fast” course because some of the fastest 50K times in Ohio were on the course. But as my title says “fast” is in the eye of the beholder. If you compared the 5 mile course to the dirt cheap courses yes it was very flat and fast but if you compare it to the 5 miler I did yesterday on the canal path it was very slow and hilly. Personally I really liked the course. I didn’t think it was particularly challenging but also didn’t think it was easy and I had a pace somewhere in between my usual road half marathon and trail half marathon pace. I liked the mix of road, non-technical single track trail, well-trimmed grass trail and a bit of more technical trail. The changing surfaces made the course more interesting and allowed for some fast road running mixed with some easy on the joint trail running. I would say it was moderately hilly. About 1000 feet of elevation gain for the 3 loops of the 25 K so about 300ish per loop. There was only one steep, long hill but it was pavement so you could power-walk it pretty fast. The rest were runnable but two of the uphills were a little technical so I walked them. The only thing I didn’t like about the course was the hardest part was the last mile. This was the most technical and mostly uphill and part was on a football field which wasn’t as trimmed as the grass trail and was a little muddy. This then led to the more technical wooded area. I enjoyed the technical wooded part but would have preferred it earlier in the loop and the less technical stuff later. The course was also very well-marked and easy to follow. I thought the course scenery was pleasant enough and it was an enjoyable place to run but the trees lost all their leaves and I actually think the Rochester trails are prettier but my Rochester trail race was canceled so I didn’t have a choice this week. I also liked how the nature preserve had signs with info about some of the plants and animals in case you want to learn some ecology during a running break. There were two aid stations per loop. One at the Regal Beagle cabin the other by the start line. As it was cupless I used a handheld water bottle and at the aid stations used the collapsible cups they gave for the Heed electrolyte drink. There were also gels and candies and chips and granola bars and lots of snacks (but sadly no twizzlers my favorite running treat). All were packaged individually due to covid. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about doing a race with loops but I actually liked how many runners you saw since we were all doing loops as some of these covid races have felt lonely. Also most of the trails on the course were pretty wide so passing wasn’t hard. But I do think I would feel a little loopy doing 6 loops for the 50K. After the third loop I was finished. My only real complaint of the race is after you cross the finish line you then have to go back a few yards to the aid station you just passed where you are given your medal and can also take some of the snacks for post-race food. A little anti-climactic to go back and while it wasn’t much of a walk I think it would have been annoying if I ran 31 miles. The medal is really cute with the beagle logo but also very small for the distance. My 5-miler medal from yesterday is much bigger…oh well trail races aren’t as much about the bling and at least this had a medal. Since this was my first 25K, this meant that not only did I complete a double race weekend, I had a double PR weekend. Guaranteed PR aside, I thought my pace was pretty good and I actually had a faster overall time than one of my trail half marathons. Afterwards I just drove back home careful to not hit any runners in the parking lot. In a normal year if you wanted to make this a weekend trip, there are actually some cool hikes to do in this area and it is close to Cleveland. There are other races I want to do that are normally held this weekend during non-pandemic years, but I would definitely consider doing this one again and am very happy I found this race.
Turkey Chase 5K Cooperstown
Easy, Flat Low-Kee Kee Race
Turkey Chase 5K Cooperstown
This was nice easy, flat 2.5 mile out and back on the Erie Canal path in a small town in NY state. Race had adequate pre-race communication and solid covid … MORE
This was nice easy, flat 2.5 mile out and back on the Erie Canal path in a small town in NY state. Race had adequate pre-race communication and solid covid protocols with small waves staggered 15 mins apart. At registration you choose your time. I chose the latest time slot because I like sleep. Race was easy to get to and a little under an hour drive from Rochester. I was worried about finding the race since the instructions said it was in a park not on Google map but they gave very good directions and it was no problem. Only issue is it was about 1 hour in the opposite direction of tomorrow’s race but beggars can’t be choosers when trying to do double race weekends in 2020. Packet pick up was easy. You got the bib and a nice, non-tech but good quality t-shirt. I did think the brown shirt color clashed a little with the brown of the racing turkey logo but overall a solid t-shirt. Start was simple you lined up with your group about 1/8 mile away from the finish line and packet pick up area. This was not chipped time and they were doing some manual timing system with an iPad which I didn’t trust. They then blew a horn at your wave time and you went. Course was as simple and pretty much as flat as possible on a crushed gravel portion of the erie canal trail. Perfect course for a double race weekend as the gravel was softer than pavement so easy on the joints. The only challenge on the course was a tree had fallen over on the trail and you had to maneuver around it. At the turnaround point there was a water stop. You then just turned around and came back but veered to the left to go through the finish line. The course was nice and peaceful and pleasant enough but not very exciting especially since I usually run along a different section of the canal path behind my house in Rochester. At the finish line you get your medal which is very nice for such a small, low-key race with lots of sparkles and the running turkey and is a decent size. There was also food which included wraps with your choice of turkey or veggie (yay!), a bag of smartfood popcorn and a homemade cookie. Being a slower runner in the last wave they were out of the more popular cookie flavors but luckily I love oatmeal raisin! They also had chicken broth and a hard cider if you consume those things. This was a very fast course with the exception of the fallen tree and I was excited I had PR’ed. However when I looked to see the posted results I saw a DNF next to my name. I knew I didn’t trust the timing system! To give the racing company credit, I did message them a screenshot of my Garmin and they quickly replied and fixed my time so I decided not to take an extra sneaker away from the overall review but did take an an extra sneaker away from production. Overall this was a nice, enjoyable, low key race that wasn’t too far to travel to. I wouldn’t necessarily make plans around this race but I’d consider it if it happens again next year and fit in my schedule.
Dirt Cheap Stage Race
Am I in a Horror Movie?
Dirt Cheap Stage Race
That title makes this race sound worse than it was but it was the best way to describe what running in the woods at night in late fall felt like … MORE
That title makes this race sound worse than it was but it was the best way to describe what running in the woods at night in late fall felt like in a nutshell. This is the first of a series of 3 trail races staged throughout the weekend at Mendon Ponds Park. This Friday night 3 miler is followed by a Saturday 5.5 miler and a Sunday 11 miler. Due to initially planning to be out of town and then having to be on call this weekend to cover a colleague I was only able to do Friday as the Saturday and Sunday races didn’t work with my rounding schedule. Logistics this race also had a rolling start and the same crazy, strict (but understandable) protocols as Wednesday’s VeteRun. Packet pick-up was recommended at Fleet Feet the day before but Thursdays are the one day I can’t pick up the packet during my lunch breaks so I had to get it race day. I can’t believe it but I actually have a minor production complaint about a race produced by Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) but I thought parking and where to go was kind of confusing. The start of the trail has no parking space so you are supposed to park about 1/2 mile away and walk there. I left right after work and arrived around 5pm which is the middle of the rolling start from 4 to 6 pm. Luckily there were a lot of runners both entering and leaving the race so I just followed them and figured it out but I would have been confused if I was the first person there as there was not signs to indicate where to go. After parking you walk 1/2 mile to the trail head. Packet pick up day of was easy as there was definitely less than 25 people in the start area. I was happy that the packet actually included a bit of swag as all participants even those doing just one race got a buff. It is a nice fall themed buff with the racing company logo. There is no other swag unless you do the full series in which you get a sweatshirt but as the name implies these are dirt cheap races and it’s fine to have minimal swag and no medals. The race is on a very hilly trail and has about 500 feet of elevation gain in 3 miles…yikes. Also as I started at 5pm it got dark real fast. Unlike the Ready, Set Glow race these trail markers were very easy to follow. They stapled on some reflective tape on the flags so they were very visible and you could not get lost. Which was appreciated because it was very dark and creepy. During one stretch I was running alone in the dark with only the light of my headlamp with the eerie leafless trees and I thought this feels like I am in a horror movie running for my life. Then I realized it was Friday the 13th and thought yup…this is definitely a horror movie. I also realized I do not love trail running at night in the forest. Unlike the desert at Zion where there is still some natural light and the trails are open to the sky the trails here in Rochester are pretty much pitch black. It is very hard to get a good pace and you have to really watch your footing especially as this was very technical and hilly. There were some really steep uphills and downhills. Luckily I was careful and while there were some close calls I managed not to fall. I did think the finish line looked really cool lined with flashing glow sticks. At the end you got your goody bag with food and got to walk 1/2 mile back to your car. My time was incredibly slow. I’d like to say I had to answer a lot of pages but luckily I didn’t get any pages as I realized this was a terrible race to run on call as I don’t even know how I could have answered a page while participating. I didn’t love this race mostly due to not liking trail running in the forest at night not due to production issues or anything and it was definitely much better than the last nighttime trail race I did here. I definitely at some point want to do the whole series so will have to do this again but I don’t think I would go out of my way to do this race alone. And if you are keeping track, yes this was my 4th race in one week in 2020
Stars & Stripes VeteRun 5K
Lucky or Good?
Stars & Stripes VeteRun 5K
This is an annual Veterans day 5K in Mendon Ponds. However it is on the roads not the trails. I was excited that Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) was able to … MORE
This is an annual Veterans day 5K in Mendon Ponds. However it is on the roads not the trails. I was excited that Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) was able to hold another live event. However when I went to register and check out the details I was initially disappointed they were reverting back to old rolling start of the earlier pandemic days rather than the more exciting small waves of 40 starts they had been doing. However this ended up being very fortunate. On Monday it was announced that Monroe County (where Rochester is) is in the “yellow zone” so gathering sizes are now limited to 25 people. I thought for sure this race was going to be canceled but YJR made it happen! The rolling start was much easier to adjust to “yellow zone” rules than the waves of 40 which would have broken the size gathering limit. I have no idea if YJR was lucky they changed to a rolling start or are that good at organizing races they knew this was coming (I’m thinking a little of both). There were a ton of race updates since Monday which was very appreciated with the uncertainty and a super, super, super detailed covid plan. It was highly recommended to get your packet outside the store the day before which I did. Packet also included a T-shirt. Just a normal navy blue T-shirt with the race name and an American flag. There was a rolling start from 10 to 1pm (initially 10 to noon but extended for more social distancing). For the race only 20 participants were allowed in the start or finish area at the time (so total of 25 with participants + volunteers and RD). The RD was constantly counting the number of people and if there were too many you would be asked to wait. You were instructed to have your headphones and watch all set up as you had to just go as soon as you got your temp taken. There was some music but this was definitely the least exciting start for any pandemic race I did. The race is usually an out and back entirely on the roads of Mendon Pond Park but this year to keep it open to traffic they adjusted the course so it was a loop and to make the distance work there was a little more than half a mile on non-technical trail. The weather was back to being gray and drizzly and was perfect running temp. I felt worse than I thought I would since I was more sore from my marathon than I thought I would be but I was actually able to run okay. While obviously this was an easy race compared to a marathon or one of the dirt trail cheap races I thought it was moderately challenging for a fun, family friendly 5K. The road portions have a lot of inclines and declines but nothing too steep. The trail portion used for this race would normally be easy to run on but there was a light rain so it was a little muddy. The roads of Mendon Park are quite pretty but the trees were definitely past peak foliage and most had no leaves. It was kind of eerie looking with the gloomy weather. There were participants of all abilities and a lot of people dressed in stars and stripes or carrying flags and it seemed like it would normally be a really fun event. At the finish line you got your bag of food and just left. There was no medal this year. Previous years had medals. I’m not sure if it was due to covid and not wanting to spend money when a race might not happen or a permanent thing. I love medals but don’t need them for every cheap 5K I do so this wouldn’t stop me from doing the race again. You then had to just leave other than the RD congratulating me when I walked past her to my car and me thanking her for holding the race there was not a lot of interaction with other people and this felt kind of like a training run but was extremely safe and better than virtual. Definitely not the RD or YJR fault but the fault of rising covid rates. As this race was (appropriately) going backwards in terms of being more socially distant I am concerned the next step is no races so I enjoyed this one as much as I could while still feeling sore from my marathon. I was very impressed with my time given the circumstances and how I was feeling. It was definitely not my fastest 5K and was nowhere near my usual goal of sub-30 but it was also nowhere near my slowest. This was a nice local 5K and good way to support my local race company and local veterans. The only reason I may not do it again is it is normally at 11am on Veterans Day which is not a holiday I normally get off but just happened to be on vacation today but may see if I can squeeze it in during a lunch break. Would recommend it to locals if you have Veterans day off.
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
Hilliest and Hottest Marathon Yet
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
I have very mixed feelings about this race. It was amazingly well-produced, had great swag and I am very grateful to be able to run another safe marathon this year … MORE
I have very mixed feelings about this race. It was amazingly well-produced, had great swag and I am very grateful to be able to run another safe marathon this year especially given this is a pretty large event. This was one of the largest running events in the US since the LA marathon with well over 1000 participants. However I was not a huge fan of the course at all. Packet pick-up was either at the Millenium Running store or race day morning. I got my packet on Friday with my dad who was doing the half marathon. Packet pick-up was kind of cool as they set it up as sort of a mini expo in the back of the store. There was music and places for pics and some other marathon items for sale and the RD was there to greet runners. Not a true expo with other vendors but you could then buy anything in the store you forgot. Packet pick up included the bibs and a long sleeved tech shirt. Really liked the shirt. Nice blue color with race logo and I am in need of some more long sleeved shirts to run in so will definitely use it. The race started in downtown Manchester. Had the same start protocols as the NH 10 miler and New England half. It was by Veterans Park which was appropriate since this race is always the weekend before Veterans days and raises money for Veteren charities and convenient since there was lots of outdoor area for racers to social distance. The weather this year was unusually hot. My last 3 marathons I was worried it would be really hot and did specific heat training for them. This marathon I was worried would be bitterly cold and windy so bought and tried out all these winter running gear and did a miserable training run in the rain in preparation for this race and ironically this was my hottest marathon. Not dangerously hot but it was slightly uncomfortably hot since as a slower runner I started around 9am and ran in the heat of the day. It was probably nice weather for the faster runners with earlier starts. This race started just about on time and I started really close to my assigned time. The course was modified this year so there was more on the rail trails however I heard they added extra hills. The first five miles of the race were a loop through some suburbs and the paved part of the rail trail. This part was pretty nice. 2 steep but not too long hills in the burbs and lovely running on trail and then looping back to downtown Manchester. The next 8 miles were horrible. A super hilly 8 mile loop through the suburbs of Manchester. These hills were as bad or maybe worse than Amish Country Running Festival and while the suburbs were pretty enough the scenery was not nice enough to make up for the hills like Amish Country. Plus the heat did not help on some of the unshaded hills. There was this awful hill around mile 11 that almost killed me. The end of this section is through some not very nice areas of Manchester. Didn’t feel unsafe as there was police presence but didn’t help the experience. Then you go back to downtown Manchester and I was jealous to see the half marathoners run through the finish line while I had to keep going. Usually it isn’t until mile 16 to 20 that I get sick of running but I was over it after those hills. Luckily the second half of the course is much better with most of it on the rail trail. The rail trail is lovely and the first part on soft pavement and the second part on non-technical trail. It was very pretty and peaceful. Although past peak fall foliage season the trees were still quite beautiful. There were a few off shoots in the suburbs off the trail which were annoying and hilly but in general the second half was much, much better than the first. Unfortunately I was so tired out from the first half I couldn’t take complete advantage of the nice second half of the course. You exit the rail trail and go back to the city and see the finish line at about mile 25.5. You are so tired of running you hope they accidentally measured the course short or you killed the tangents but then your heart sinks and you realize you have to go past the finish line and run around a block and then come back through. My dad who finished his half a few hours ago met me at this section and we walked together a bit and then I ran the last quarter mile or so towards the finish line to get an under 5:50 finish. The medal is amazing. Absolutely huge and it spins. Has the logo with the image of downtown Manchester and is just beautiful. One of my favorites and most deserved medals. I was very happy that even though I was an extra slow turtle this race, aid stations were well stocked throughout race with water and Powerade and 2 with maple syrup instead of gel (yummy and so New England) and there was plenty of food left at the finish area. This year just grab n go stuff like granola bars, fruits and chips along with water and powerade bottles. I grabbed a granola bar and headed to a meal with my parents (not sure what meal is at 3:30 sort of a combined lunch and dinner). My dad (who is a better runner than me) said it was the hardest half he ever did and was 15 minutes slower than his previously slowest half and even he had to walk some of the hills which made me feel better about this being 15 minutes slower than my slowest marathon. As I said I have mixed feelings about this race. If you are looking for a NH race I’m sure you can find an easier course but this one is really well-produced, has amazing swag and is very back of the pack friendly but not the course if you want to PR or BQ. Manchester is also a very easy location to get to. There is a small regional airport in Manchester which is super easy to get in and out of and Manchester is not far from Boston if you can only fly to a bigger airport. I’m actually planning to be in NH again this weekend next year. I am definitely never doing this full marathon again but I think me and my dad may do the half relay or if he isn’t available I might do the half.
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
Warm-up Race on the Rail Trail
Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5K
Normally this 5K is on Sunday the same day as the full and half marathon. However due to covid this year they moved the 5K to Saturday which meant double … MORE
Normally this 5K is on Sunday the same day as the full and half marathon. However due to covid this year they moved the 5K to Saturday which meant double race weekend! This was well organized with the same format as other Millenium Running Races. It was a modified course this year so no roads had to be closed and was a lovely out and back on the rail trail. Mostly flat just a bridge to go over twice. I thought it was a great 5K course as the rail trail was beautiful but would have been congested with a mass start. I ran this very easy at training pace so obviously was a slow 5K for me. One improvement would be to have an aid station at the halfway point since it was unseasonably warm this weekend. Also there was no additional swag for doing the 5K. 5Kers got the race weekend shirt which is really nice but since I was doing the marathon the next day I already got the shirt and no medal for 5K. I would have loved if they added a challenge medal but they switched the date for the 5K only a few weeks in advance so understandable why they didn’t have one. Would be great if they kept the 5K Saturday for future races and made it a challenge.
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Halloween Edition
Trick or Treat: Trail Edition
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Halloween Edition
Normally Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) has a 5K road race in Rochester on Halloween weekend. However that had to go virtual due to covid so they held this live race … MORE
Normally Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) has a 5K road race in Rochester on Halloween weekend. However that had to go virtual due to covid so they held this live race instead. Normally the Dirt Cheap races are 4-5 mile trail races held on Wednesday evenings during the summer but YJR added a couple fall weekend ones this year as they are some of the easier races to hold during covid. This race was held at Durand Eastman park in north Rochester right by Lake Ontario. This was my first time exploring this park. Logistics were the same as the last Dirt Cheap race with packet pickup recommended at store the day before and waves of 40ish runners every 15 minutes. Production was of course excellent and safe. There were some Halloween decorations and music blaring at the start line to make it as exciting as possible for a covid race. The weather was cold but beautiful and sunny which was wonderful after nearly 2 weeks of gloom and rain. The first mile of the course was an absolute treat. Just perfect trail running. The leaves were beautiful there were views of the lake and the trail was not too technical and I was thinking I may PR. This was very surprising given how difficult the other 2 Dirt Cheap Races I have done were. But alas, this was a trick and the rest of the race was full of difficulties. The trail at the second mile was at an angle and was very muddy with the previous rain making this tricky to run. Also the leaves while pretty made footing a little difficult since you didn’t know what was under it. Also this is where the hills came. Not quite as hilly as the last one but there were some good hills. There were also some very nice stretches for running mixed in. I don’t think it was intentional but it was a mix of tricks and treats on the trail. The trail was open and since it was cold there was not much use but there was congestion at one point due to a group of birdwatchers which was a first for me. At the finish line you put your masks back on and get your bag of treats. No swag as the Dirt Cheap refers to the fact that these are really cheap, under $20 races all about the trail and not about the swag. I did not PR with all the tricks thrown in the course but did manage to run it in under an hour. I actually would prefer this race over the 5K road race but I get a 5K road race is a little more family friendly. I think it would be awesome if they started to hold this race annually on the Saturday of Halloween weekend and the 5K on Sunday or vice versa but may be a lot of planning. This park is in the normal rotation of Dirt Cheap races so even if the Halloween Edition is a one year event I look forward to running here again.
EVL Halloween Half Marathon & 5K
The hills are just EVL
EVL Halloween Half Marathon & 5K
This is an annual Halloween themed Half Marathon in Ellicottville (EVL) in Southwestern NY produced by Endurance Factor who also produced the Dirty Dozen race I did there this summer. … MORE
This is an annual Halloween themed Half Marathon in Ellicottville (EVL) in Southwestern NY produced by Endurance Factor who also produced the Dirty Dozen race I did there this summer. This is one of their bigger and more popular races. After trialing a few smaller races they were able to hold this race safely during covid with close to 500 runners. There was tons of pre-race communication via email including a very detailed athlete guide. Would have been excessive most years but this was appreciated during 2020. Packet pickup was easy as the bib was mailed to you along with some coupons for shops in town. I had no issues with the mail and got the bib the Monday before the race but again could see there being some issues relying on the mail this year. For the race you signed up for waves. The 5K was earlier in the morning and the half marathon in the late morning/early afternoon. I choose the 12:25 to 12:35 window. This was a later start than I am used to and made pre-race fueling a little harder since I had to eat more than usual but the late start was appreciated with it being a 2 hour drive from Rochester so no hotel or early wake up necessary. There was a parking lot that was large with porta potties and also a table with pins and hand sanitizer. Parking was very easy but it was about a 5 min walk to the start. The start was very anti-climactic. They basically just let you go. I arrived a few minutes before my start time and thought there would be a bit of a build up until 12:25 but they just let me go a few mins early. This did feel very safe as there was no congregating at all near the start but I thought some of the more creative starts other race companies have done are more exciting while still quite safe. Of course safety is definitely more important than excitement so I appreciated they erred more on the side of safety. It was still a fun environment with a lot of the runners in Halloween costumes. The course starts in downtown Ellicottville but is mostly through rural, farmland. I have finally gotten to the point where farms have stopped being super exciting for me. I thought the scenery was pretty but I was spoiled by the farmland at the Amish Country Running Festival and the perfect peak fall foliage of the New England Half and this wasn’t as scenic as those two races. Also not too many farm animals to see but I did see some nice horses and maybe stopped for a picture. While this was one of the safest races for covid protocols this was not one of the safest races for traffic. Most of the roads were open. The roads were large and there was little traffic so it wasn’t unsafe but the caution runner signs were small and there were no cones or anything blocking an area for runners for a lot of the race. Also at one intersection where there was a volunteer a driver stopped and asked the volunteer for directions and then proceeded to drive straight as I was crossing the street. I stayed alert, got out of the way and nothing happened but could have been dangerous if I wasn’t paying attention. The course was very hilly with about 700 ft of elevation gain. The evil part of the course was the first half was net downhill and second half net uphill so don’t expect negative splits. There were no crazy steep hills but starting at the halfway point there was about 3 miles of gradual uphill which was mentally tough and seemed never ending. Luckily the final mile is all downhill as I realized at mile 12 I had to maintain about a 10 min/mile pace to make my goal of 2:30 and I killed that last 1.1 miles to do it! There were plenty of water stops on the course with small cups of water, powerade and 3 had Gu gels. One complaint I have is the second to last water stop was abandoned when I got there. I was carrying water so not a big deal but it is a pet peeve of mine at races especially when it was supposed to stay open another hour. This seemed to just be this water stop since the final water stop was open. Another improvement for production is to have a timing mat at the out and back around mile 9. I definitely saw a runner who I previously passed a few miles back magically appear in front of me when I came to the end of the out and back. After the downhill finish you pass the finish line, put your mask back on and get your goodies. You get your medal, shirt, bag of food and there were also monster energy drinks. Each year is a different monster theme. This year was vampire which is the theme for shirt and medal. The medal is big and glittery and is something. It is a little gaudy and not really my aesthetic but is a lot of fun and appropriate for a Halloween race. The shirt was black and also had the vampire. It is not my favorite shirt in terms of design but is a very comfy T-shirt and will be great for sleeping in which is my main use for my non-tech race shirts. The bag of food had a ton of goodies and anything you could want a muffin, granola bar, apple, banana, pretzels and a few lollipops. Overall this was a solid race with very safe covid protocols. While it was scenic it wasn’t quite as special as the other fall roads halfs I have done this year. I was very happy with my time given the hills. It was definitely on the hillier side but not crazy and was a good warm-up race for my upcoming Manchester City Marathon which is also quite hilly. I think this race would be a lot more fun and special during a normal year where I imagine the finish festival is fun and Halloween themed. While the medal was a little gaudy, it was a lot of fun and I wouldn’t mind adding another monster to my medal collection. I would definitely consider this race again as it is worth the 2 hour drive especially since I don’t need a hotel with the later start (normally it starts around 11) but am not sure it is worth a longer drive if you are an out-of-stater. There other October races I would like to try during a normal year so I don’t think I would make this an annual race but I’d definitely run it again.
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Mendon
Holy Hills!
Dirt Cheap Trail Race Mendon
The Dirt Cheap Race series is a series of challenging 4 to 5 mile trail races held in different parks in the Rochester Area. Usually the series is held from … MORE
The Dirt Cheap Race series is a series of challenging 4 to 5 mile trail races held in different parks in the Rochester Area. Usually the series is held from late spring to late summer/early fall on Wednesday evenings. However this year Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) decided to add some Fall weekend dirt cheap races since a few spring/summer ones didn’t get made up and these are some of the easier races to hold during covid. I was very happy to get the chance to run 2 more of these races. As the name implies these are dirt cheap. They are under $20 and as a result no swag (there is a T-shirt for the series) but you get a well-produced, fun and challenging trail race. The logistics of this race were similar to ROCtoberfest with groups of about 40 runners based on sign up time starting every 15 minutes. This course was also held at Mendon which is a great place for trail running. However Yellow Jacket Racing switched it up and did a very different course than the last dirt cheap I did. This course didn’t have the obstacles of the other one. There was no mud, stairs to climb or logs to go over or under but man there were a lot of hills. While Mendon is hilly I have no idea how they found this many hills. Most of it was on the East Esker trail which is my usual trail for hill training however there were quite a few parts that took small side trails I didn’t know existed to lead to more hills. Very impressed with how they made this course and found these hills. Although it was quite cruel. The hills were so steep that even the really fast trail runners who passed me from later waves were walking them. The trail was extremely well marked as expected from a YJR event which was appreciated since this race took us on some off the beaten path trails. Mendon was beautiful right now with the leaves changing color. I think this is a better time of year for this race than the spring/summer. At the finish line you get a bag of food but no other swag which is fine since the race is dirt cheap. These races are a lot of fun but very challenging. YJR goes out of their way to make the courses as hard as possible and I was definitely right about this being more technical than yesterday. You definitely want trail shoes for this one. You are only going to do well if you are an experienced trail runner but the course is short enough you would enjoy if you weren’t as long as you don’t set expectations for time. They also don’t give a map or elevation profile but that is intentional to surprise you with all the challenges on the course. I was happy I was a little faster than the first dirt cheap although much slower than yesterday. Although I actually thought the first dirt cheap course was a little more fun and this one was a little excessive with the hills. Looking forward to another one in 2 weeks!
Into the Woods 5 Miler
Perfect Beginner Trail Race
Into the Woods 5 Miler
This is a lovely, not terribly technical trail race in Ashbury Woods in Erie PA which is about a 2.5 hour drive for me. I didn't want to wake up … MORE
This is a lovely, not terribly technical trail race in Ashbury Woods in Erie PA which is about a 2.5 hour drive for me. I didn’t want to wake up super early so stayed in a hotel Friday night. Logistics were very easy. Packet pick-up, start and finish were at the Nature Center at Ashbury Woods. I thought production for this race was very good especially for a race not put on by a professional race company. It didn’t have all the super detailed, creative protocols of Yellow Jacket Racing and Millenium Running but had solid covid plan and felt safe. They started packet pick up 45 mins before the race. Along with bib, you got your swag. Swag was decent for a cheap low key trail race and swag bag included a set of runphones which look interesting, a small jar of maple syrup produced in Ashbury woods (yum), a granola bar (thank you), and also a can of beer which I have no idea what to do with since I don’t drink. I do wish though there was some swag specific to the race but not sure if there wasn’t just because this is 2020 and who knows if a race will really happen. Swag bag also included a disposable mask to wear at the start and there was a garbage can placed a little past the start line so it could be thrown out during the race. This is a smart idea that I hadn’t seen at other races. This year they switched to chip timing to allow for a more spaced out start which was also smart. Runners were instructed to run in waves of 50 that started every 2 mins. They capped registration at 150 runners so there were 3 waves. They were pretty loose with the waves. You were placed in a wave based on bib number but they let the faster runners go in the first wave to avoid as much passing and you could do a different wave to run with a friend, etc but for the most part everyone followed the waves. Start was in the parking lot of the nature center which was spacious and allowed everyone to spread out. You start out running out of the parking lot and then on a tiny downhill stretch of road to the trail. The trail was quite pretty and the perfect amount of technical for a beginner trail runner. The trail was wide and easy to follow but there were enough rocks and roots and leaves to add a bit of a challenge. At least the first 2.25 miles were pretty flat for a woody trail race with the occasional short hill and incline. There were also a few sections on boardwalk where you could pick up the pace. Trail was well-groomed with very little mud and was well marked with lots of volunteer helping to direct. Although there were a few parts that I thought could have been marked better. It would have been hard but not impossible to get lost. I was running a very good pace and thought I had a chance to even get a 5 mile PR but then there is this bridge which then leads to a large hill which I definitely didn’t bank enough energy for having assumed the rest of the race would continue to be as “flat” (again flat for a trail race). One production complaint I have is I do wish they had a map with elevation profile on the website so I could have strategized this hill better as while it was large it was runnable if you saved your energy. There was one other steep hill after that and the rest of the race was downhill or back to the not very hilly trail. The trail was quite pretty especially with the leaves changing color but didn’t seem any prettier than the other trails I have been running on this fall. There was also a water stop at the halfway point. Even if I did have to slow down and walk for the hill and didn’t get a 5 mile PR I was very, very happy with my time and had my fastest trail pace by a lot finishing a few minutes under an hour. I will call this a trail PR. And I was about 30 minutes faster than my last 5 mile trail race lol. At the finish line there were water bottles and they asked that you left right after to avoid congregating. Overall I thought this was a really nice race. It was the perfect race for a beginner trail runner. Techinical enough to be a true trail run but very runnable and nothing crazy technical (no climbing rocks, jumping over logs, mountains to climb or creek crossing). If you are an experienced trail runner it may not be as fun as the more technical stuff but would still be a nice, peaceful race. Trail shoes helped but road shoes would have been okay if you don’t have trail shoes. This race was originally planned for June but was moved to October for covid. I actually think the October date is better given the cool weather and leaves changing colors. It seems Ashbury Woods realized this and next year this race will be in June and there will also be a 6 miler in October along with a fun run in February that they have held before. I definitely enjoyed this race but Erie is a bit far but not crazy far for me to travel for a short race. However I will definitely consider doing this again or one of the other races in the trail series next year especially if there are still limited races and would definitely recommend for locals. Time to rest up and get ready for another trail race tomorrow which I have a feeling will be a bit more technical.
New England Half Marathon
My Hometown Half!!
New England Half Marathon
This is a quintessential fall New England half marathon that happens to end in my hometown of Concord, NH. This year they changed the course. It was still point to … MORE
This is a quintessential fall New England half marathon that happens to end in my hometown of Concord, NH. This year they changed the course. It was still point to point ending at the state house in Concord but prior years it had started at the speedway but this year it started at an apple orchard. I’m not sure if the change was just for this year due to covid or permanent. Personally I liked the change as I was looking for a nostalgic, fall run and am not a Nascar fan so don’t really care about the speedway but that may have disappointed some people. This was by far the biggest race I have done since the LA marathon and production was impressive given covid restrictions. Packet pickup was either at the millenium running store the day before or you could get your bib at the start of the race and the race shirt at the end. My dad also did this race with me and my parents picked up our packets the day before. I like the shirt a lot. It is a very comfy, long sleeved shirt with a nice and simple pattern with a leaf changing colors. It is hooded which is interesting. It fits nice and since we picked it up early they weren’t out of sizes this time. For the start of the race you could either take a shuttle or be dropped off. Luckily my mom could drop us off as I’d prefer not to take a shuttle this year but I saw the shuttles as we were driving and they seemed as safe as possible with runners spaced out wearing masks. The start was the same as the NH 10 miler so I won’t go in as much detail in this review. But basically runners are placed in groups of 99 runners based on finishing time and stand at numbered cones spaced 6 ft apart. Unlike the 10 miler this race they were a little behind on calling out the runners which is my only, real production complaint. I ended up starting about 20 to 30 mins later than my assigned time. Not a huge deal but it made timing pre-race fueling and bathroom a little difficult and also meant a larger amount of people congregating near the start. But the start was outdoors and a large area and everyone spread out in masks so again not a huge deal. Again they called your name out as you crossed the start line adding a personal touch. This race is net downhill which is nice. But don’t let that fool you there is still a lot of uphill and about 500 ft of elevation gain. The first 7 miles or so are through beautiful, rural New Hampshire countryside. The weather was absolutely perfect and the leaves were at their peak color changes. It was lovely and peaceful and mostly downhill and fast. The only uphills in this section were pretty small. The water stations now had cups that volunteers filled while wearing gloves and placed on the table instead of handing to you. This definitely seemed less wasteful than all the half full mini water and powerade bottles in the trash at the 10 miler. The water stops were about every 2 miles. I thought it was really cute and fun that instead of a giving a gel at mile 8 they gave little packets of maple syrup. It was a little risky since I never fueled with it but it was yummy, did not upset my stomach and worked as well as a gel and added to the New England experience. After the maple syrup I was not as excited about the giant, seemingly never ending hill at mile 8. I was on track to PR but did not bank enough energy or time for this hill which went past Concord hospital and up to a small area of trail and lasted over a mile. There is a then a small section on non-technical trail which is a nice break on the joints from asphalt but was mostly uphill still so not as great for the pace. After the trail it is about 4 miles through Concord that is mostly downhill and quite fast if you didn’t waste all your energy tackling the hill. I walked some of the hill to save energy for this part. Personally I really enjoyed this part as it went past my high school and my childhood neighborhood which brought out lots of nostalgic feelings and obscure memories from a simpler time. But may have just been a boring suburb to other runners. The course then ended at the state house which is definitely the most iconic building in Concord although I will admit my hometown doesn’t really have as many iconic buildings to show off as LA. The course was open to traffic this year (I don’t believe this is normally the case) which I wasn’t sure how it would work since while Concord also doesn’t have the traffic of LA it is a much busier city than the other races open to traffic I have run. But there were plenty of cops and volunteers directing traffic that it was very safe and traffic did not interfere with runners. The only minor issue was the shoulder to run on was a little narrow. There was plenty of room for yourself but it was sometimes tricky to pass other runners. At the finish line you got your medal and there were also snacks and drinks and a results area. The medal was very nice and big with changing color leaves. There were less post race snacks than usual but some fruit and other stuff. I didn’t take any since I was going to lunch with my parents right after but did grab an organic energy drink for my drive home after lunch. The finish line at the state house was great for a post race selfies as well. Overall this was a really great, New England half marathon. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a New Hampshire half. It is the perfect time to visit New Hampshire. The weather should usually be great and the net downhill makes it a fast course. Even though I didn’t bank enough energy for the hill I still easily ran my second fastest half. Again the hill around mile 8 makes it a little hard to PR but if you did some hill training and banked your energy right you definitely could. While I didn’t think production was quite as smooth as the NH 10 miler I could not dock a sneaker given the impressive feat of holding a safe half marathon with nearly 1000 runners on open roads through the downtown of a small city with covid restrictions. There are a lot of other races on my bucket list that are held this weekend normally but I would definitely consider running this race again and would definitely recommend it for a NH half!
ROCtoberfest 5K
Oktoberfest in the ROC
ROCtoberfest 5K
This is an annual 5K in Rochester that raises money for local charities and is usually a sort of Oktoberfest celebration. This year was a little different with covid restrictions … MORE
This is an annual 5K in Rochester that raises money for local charities and is usually a sort of Oktoberfest celebration. This year was a little different with covid restrictions but I’m happy Yellow Jacket Racing was able to do this race as a live event this year. Packet pick-up easy the day before at the store or morning of the race. Packet included bib and you could pay an extra $10 for a shirt which was a cotton T-shirt with the race logo. Race had very detailed covid protocols and was flawlessly executed. There were waves of 40 runners every hour and you were assigned a wave based on when you registered i.e. the earlier you registered the earlier your wave. I was in wave 2 which started at 10am. Before the race you had your temp checked and each runner stood on a blue circle that was 6 feet apart in front of the start line. The course was very modified this year. Normally it is an all asphalt course along the Genesee River but this year it was a 2.5K loop course with half on grass half on asphalt that you ran twice so the race didn’t take up as much of the park since it was going on for many hours. The course was kind of mediocre and I don’t love running on grass but it was still a fun time. Also luckily the grass was very well-trimmed and there were no holes or anything in the dirt. There were some pretty parts of the park and some less pretty views as well. It was mostly flat but there were a couple bridges which had a short but kind of steep uphill and one again short and steep uphill from grass to asphalt but was generally a pretty easy course. It was beautiful weather but got a little hot on the unshaded grass. At the finish line you got your race goodies and medal. The medal wasn’t huge but had the race logo and doubled as a bottle opener which fit with the Oktoberfest theme. Nice medal for a small 5K. You also got a non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Co in the bag along with lots of snacks. I was happy about the non-alcoholic beer but not sure those who “run for beer” were. There were obviously no post race celebration this year and runners just left after. My time was solid especially since I’m not that fast on grass. While I thought it was a mediocre course, I’d definitely prefer a live race with a mediocre course than a virtual one and they did a good job making this as fun and safe as possible with all the restrictions. I think the real course would be a very nice 5K course based on the map I saw. Overall this is a nice, local 5K that I will continue to do as long as I am in town and it doesn’t conflict with another race.
Unlimited Breadsticks Half Marathon
Warning the Breadsticks were Limited
Unlimited Breadsticks Half Marathon
Due to Covid they couldn't give an unlimited buffet of breadsticks but even though they were limited don't worry you get a lot! This was a redemption race for Rochester … MORE
Due to Covid they couldn’t give an unlimited buffet of breadsticks but even though they were limited don’t worry you get a lot! This was a redemption race for Rochester Running Company’s trail race series this weekend after the somewhat disastrous Friday night race. This one was definitely much better and all the production issues were things we were warned about. This is a point to point trail race starting at a golf course and ending near an Olive Garden. I got my bib Thursday at the store but you could also get it the morning of the race. Normally there is a shuttle that takes you to the start (I think but I haven’t done the race before so it may be the other direction with the shuttle) but this year you had to find your own ride or I guess could make it a marathon and run back. They said they weren’t able to provide a shuttle this year due to covid. That kind of surprised me as I know other races have used shuttles but I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a NY state rule and not that they didn’t feel like dealing with arranging a shuttle. Start was smooth. This time there was a timing mat at the start which just works better for spreading out runners since there isn’t an advantage to crossing the start line quickly. Again there wasn’t as strict of covid protocols as other races but everyone had a mask and spaced out and felt safe. The first mile is a mostly downhill road mile so you will have one fast mile but don’t expect anymore fast ones as the rest is mostly technical and quite hilly trails. There is a nice mix of different terrain and trails. Some more technical in the woods with roots and rocks other on smoother single track trail through some meadows and a small bit on a rail trail. More in the woods than the meadow which was appreciated as it got hot. There was some very pretty areas especially with the trees starting to change color but nothing that stood as as remarkably more scenic than any other pretty trail run in NY. This trail was very, very, very well marked as the email said. Unlike Friday, it would be very hard to have gotten lost. There were a few road crossings. This is one of the weaker parts of the production. They didn’t close roads and you potentially had to stop for traffic. The vast majority of the crossings were not busy and I didn’t have to stop but the last one is on a major road and you do need to wait for the walk signal. Not a huge deal for me as I was exhausted by then and could use the 20 seconds of rest but just an FYI if you plan to run this for a trail PR (you aren’t running this course faster than a road half marathon). The race was pretty much constant ups and downs. It was technically net downhill but a lot of up hills in-between. All of the steeper uphills weren’t too tall and there were a few taller but more gradual hills at the end right where you want them…not. I definitely hiked those ones. Overall there was just under 1000 feet of elevation gain. Most of it was runnable but I obviously hiked quite a bit given my tired legs. There were 2 aid stations with water bottles on the course but it was mostly self-supported. I’m assuming there are more aid stations normally. At the finish line you get your delicious food from Olive Garden. They had to do it prepackaged this year so each runner was given a bag of 5 breadsticks and a take-out box with pasta and salad. There was a choice of marinara or meat sauce (obviously I chose marinara). Fun fact the olive garden breadsticks along with being delicious are also accidentally vegan! Almost the entire meal was vegan except the salad dressing and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on the salad which made me very happy. What didn’t make me as happy was the lack of other swag. There is no medal or other finisher award (well there would be the pint glass if you signed up for the series but I will avoid that rant in this review). I feel like it should be a rule any race a half marathon distance or longer should come with an award but I get some of these more laid back, cheaper trail races don’t. There was a shirt you could pay for. I did since I wanted something to remember the races by but they weren’t ready so are being shipped. I obviously had a slow race since it was my third race and second half marathon this weekend and I am still pretty new at trails. My only expectation was to finish and I did that! I was surprised me and my running buddy from Friday who I also ran this race with (and who provided me a ride back so thank you!) were the last 2 runners. I know I am not fast but I ran quite a bit and there are always a few walkers and back of the packers behind me in the races I have done. I don’t really mind being last but I worry if I am last that there is something that makes a race not back of the pack friendly. After chatting with runners, I heard last year they pulled some of the trail markers before the back of the packers got there and they ended up getting lost and that probably discouraged them from running this race again. I didn’t have this issue this year but just a warning for any back of the packers interested in the race. While the race was tough it would have been a nice, moderately hard hike if you wanted to walk it all. I would consider doing this race again. The main reason I may not is it is usually the same weekend as Amish Country Running Festival like it was this year and while I enjoyed my 50K worth of running this weekend I don’t think I would want to run both these halfs in one weekend again and would choose Amish Country over this one. But if I didn’t want to deal with a hotel or needed to stay in Rochester for the weekend or it was a different weekend I would do this race again or maybe mix it up and do each race every other year. I’m open to another double half weekend but would choose easier halfs (not that I had a choice this year). I have now successfully completed 50K worth of races this weekend now I just have to do it continuously with no rest inbetween in April!
Amish Country Running Festival
Adorable Farm Animals to Cheer You on
Amish Country Running Festival
About a month ago this appeared to be the only race in Western NY so I signed up for the half, then 2 weeks ago they announced some trail races … MORE
About a month ago this appeared to be the only race in Western NY so I signed up for the half, then 2 weeks ago they announced some trail races near Rochester this weekend so I may have overextended myself a little this weekend but I am glad I did this race. If you sign up, definitely like the Facebook page as they write a personal post welcoming each runner who signs up for the half or the full. Logistics, this is in Amish country in SW NY about 2 hours from Rochester which means either a hotel or getting up crazy early. I opted for the hotel. Luckily they had day of packet pick-up because I got in pretty late Friday night after running a night race. Packet pick-up included a nice pint glass with the race logo, a race sticker, some samples of things like HEED and pain relief gel, coupons and a wrist band for food. There was no shirt. This disappointed me a little but led to this joke I thought of “I’d rather have a race with no shirt than a shirt with no race which is what I got with most of the races I signed up for this year.” After packet pick-up I waited around in my car waiting to go to the corral. The corral was my biggest complaint of the race and the main reason I docked a sneaker and 2 sneakers from production. This was the only race where they were not enforcing or even recommending social distancing in the corral. Participants weren’t required to wear face masks and some were standing very close. I didn’t feel unsafe personally since I had a mask and tried to space out but this seemed irresponsible to me. Along with the public health consequences, if there was to be a large covid outbreak linked to a road race we would be back to all virtual for the foreseeable future. Anyways besides that the race was well produced for a small local race. It was manually timed not chipped time but you aren’t PR’ing on this race so it doesn’t matter. The course goes through beautiful countrysides in Amish country. The leaves were just starting to change colors and the starting temperature was perfect for running although it got a little warm but not uncomfortably so by the end. I was considering switching down to the 10K after I signed up for other races this weekend but decided to stick with the half and just take it easy. I am so happy I stuck with the half as all the best parts of the course were past the 10K turnaround. Prior to the 10K turnaround it was very pretty farmland but afterwards is when you are really in Amish country. All these adorable Amish children ring cowbells and cheer you on. There are also tons of amazing and adorable farm animals. I love farm animals (one of the many reasons I am vegetarian and mostly vegan). There were so many cute cows and horses including the most adorable pair of calves I’ve ever seen. My plan of attack for this race was to walk the uphill and run the downhill and just enjoy it knowing I have another half tomorrow. Oh did I tell you it was hilly. There was over 1000 feet of elevation gain for the half. Since I knew I wasn’t PR’ing with this strategy (and if I tried my hardest wasn’t PR’ing) I stopped and took tons of pictures of the adorable animals. The course is an out and back. Normally I’m not the biggest fans of out and back but I saw different animals on the way back that I missed the first time around. The first half is more uphill and second half is more downhill which led to some negative splits and this is the first half marathon where my second half was quite a bit faster than my first. There was aid stations about every mile. They were well stocked but had water bottles so I used a handheld and refilled it a couple times on the course. Along with the usual gels and bananas there was also chips and candy and one stop at mile 5 had bacon but I don’t know how anyone could eat meat while running with these amazing animals. At the finish line you got your medal. Not the biggest fan. It was just the race logo, not distance specific and had this red, white and blue flag ribbon that totally clashed with the color scheme of the race logo. Plus I believe 1 milers got the same medals as marathoners. There was food at the end. Normally it is served inside at the church but due to covid it was served under a tent and there were spaced out chairs. The food included these gross looking beef sandwiches which I obviously wasn’t eating and again can’t believe anyone would eat after seeing those calves. There didn’t appear to be any vegan options but I was starving and no one wants me driving 2 hours home hungry so I did eat some potatoes (that were prepared with butter) and mac n cheese along with a donut and some delicious apple cider and apologized to the cows for eating dairy. I thought it was odd they also had massage tables. I get why you would want a massage after a half or full marathon but seemed like an obvious thing to drop due to covid but as I said some of the participants and the RD didn’t seem as concerned as me about covid. My time was okay. I was not going to do well in race with over 1000 feet of elevation change that I purposely walked half of and stopped to take a bunch of pics but I was quite a few minutes under 3 hours. It was kind of fun to not take a race seriously. I wouldn’t do this for every half as I like trying to PR and pushing my body and willpower to their limits but I may treat a few half marathons a year like this. While I had some concerns about covid protocols (again didn’t affect me as I socially distanced and wore a mask) and didn’t love the swag, I absolutely loved the course. I would definitely run this one again. This is a real hidden gem of a race. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a smaller, low-key half or full marathon in NY as long as you don’t care about PR’ing. There are also lots of distance options and no time limits so people of all abilities can participate. Looking forward to coming back and seeing my cow and horse friends again!
Ready Set Glow Trail Run
Great if you enjoy getting lost&injured
Ready Set Glow Trail Run
The concept of this race sounds fun. A 5 mile trail race lit up by glow sticks. However the execution left a lot to be desired. I was really excited … MORE
The concept of this race sounds fun. A 5 mile trail race lit up by glow sticks. However the execution left a lot to be desired. I was really excited for this as my first night run since Zion at Night but was very disappointed in this race. This was a race that was retired 4 to 5 years ago and then revived this year during 2020 of all years as part of a trail race weekend here in Rochester. This was the first race produced by Rochester Running Company this year and honestly they just didn’t seem prepared. For starters this was initially going to be a 3 day trail race series where you could sign up for the series and get a pint glass or sign up for the individual races with no swag. Since I already had a race Saturday I just signed up for the Friday and Sunday races. However they ended up canceling the Saturday race and changing the series to just Friday and Sunday and adding extra waves to each race as those races were more popular after I already registered. So if I was disorganized and registered later I would have signed up for the series and got the pint glass but since I registered early before the change I didn’t. All these changes also happened over a period of like 10 days since the race was announced about 10 days before this weekend. I feel like they should have done a survey or something for interest instead of just changing their plans on the fly. Packet pickup was easy at their store the day before. Only issue was if you did the series you got one bib but since I registered for the 2 races individually I got two bibs. The bibs were generic and identical other than number so they had to write which bib was for each race. I feel like even if they couldn’t give me the pint glass since I wasn’t a “series runner” (which I guess I understand the reasoning because they may have had limited numbers of them – to be honest I don’t even know why I want the pint glass so much when I won’t use it but it’s the principle), they could have still given me just one bib but anyways. At the race they had glow-stick necklaces and bracelets to give to the runners and that was literally the only swag (except that dang pint glass if you signed up for the series). The start on the course was kind of strange. It was unclear where the start was and most people were lined up by the finish line initially. The start just had a race company banner and we lined up spaced out on a soccer field. There wasn’t as strict of protocols as other races I’ve done during covid but all the runners wore masks and were voluntarily spread out. They said go and we left. This was again a race with no start timing mat but an end timing mat. The race went through trail on the park. The course had a lot of twist and turns they said that this was so you would see many runners around you lit up with their head lamps and glow sticks but in the end it just meant everyone got lost. This race course was so hard to follow. There were little yellow flags that did not reflect well and the occasional glow stick or other sparkly thing. I spent most of the race concentrating on finding the yellow flags which meant a very slow pace and didn’t really get to enjoy it and get in my usual running zone. Almost everyone got lost. Some people got really lost and ended up running a couple extra miles. I ran with another slower runner I met since we didn’t want to run this alone and then the people who got really lost followed us even though they were faster because they really didn’t want to get lost again. The course was also a little technical for night time. I’m pretty sure everyone tripped at some point too. I had two minor falls on some light sandy areas and then tried to pick up my pace at the end and had a big fall. Luckily no major injuries but I have some nice scrapes and bruises on my knees. I was very happy for this race to be over and go through the finish line. My pace was awful. This was my slowest pace on a race I completed since I walked a 5K in high school. The course was definitely tough but not any tougher than the dirt cheap race or the dirty dozen race I ran earlier this year and I actually walked less in this race than those and my pace was still like 3 min/mil slower. The slow pace was mostly due to difficulty following the course not the course itself. At the finish line there was no food. I understand not serving a ton of food or having the usual post-race festivities but a granola bar would have been nice as I was getting hangry and it was past my usual dinner time when this was over. I do feel like this race had potential but I think they need to change the course to something easier to follow and/or have a lot more glowsticks and make the course much clearer. Even though this was cheap, local and on a weekday night so not competing with other races I don’t think I would do it again unless they really modified the race. But honestly I think this race should just go back to retirement. I am now worried about the race tomorrow but at least it is in the daylight so I won’t have to worry as much about getting lost and I know there will be food. I laughed today when I got the email with the instructions for tomorrow’s race that now included a comment about it being “very, very well marked” and included a cell phone number for who to call if you got lost since so many people must have complained about getting lost during this race. Again as my title says I would only recommend this race if you like getting lost and injured.
Island Vines 5K & 10K
Lovely, well-produced, safe race
Island Vines 5K & 10K
I was looking for a short race this weekend and an excuse to visit Vermont for some hiking now that I am back on the East Coast so was excited … MORE
I was looking for a short race this weekend and an excuse to visit Vermont for some hiking now that I am back on the East Coast so was excited to see RunVermont is starting to hold their fall events with safety precautions. This was the first race they’ve produced since the pandemic and they did a great job. The race is on a farm & vineyard on an island in Lake Champlain. I stayed in Burlington for the weekend which is about half an hour away. For the race you signed up for one of 5 waves each 20 minutes apart. I signed up for the latest wave knowing I was staying 30 mins away. Packet pick up was extremely safe as packets were mailed to you. Definitely the safest and easiest thing for the participants but kind of ballsy with everything going on with the USPS but anyways I got my packet (it sounds like from an email there may have been a few issues using mail). They also mailed very detailed race instructions including recommended arrival time and when to start. After parking they send you for medical screening and temp check. You can also pick up you shirts. Unfortunately the shirts weren’t included and you had to pay extra for them but they were really nice, tech shirts. I love the logo with the farm animals but the color is a little neon for me but I’m glad I paid for the shirt and it will be perfect for my night race on Friday. You then line up in the “corral” which is actually between the vines and then 5 minutes before the race you go to the start line. Lots of very helpful volunteers to help with the process. At the start line you are instructed to stand 6 feet apart. One improvement in an otherwise extremely well produced and safe race would be to put Xs or cones where to stand but all the runners were great about standing apart so it was fine. They modified the race this year. It is normally a 10K. This year it was a 5 mile out and back. This allowed for a shorter section of road to be closed since the road would have to be closed for a number of hours with the multi-wave starts. It was a chilly morning but nice for running. The course was very scenic and one of the prettiest road races I’ve done. You pass by lovely farmland including this farm that looks like it came from a picture along with some beautiful lake views. The course is definitely not flat but it is mostly gradual ups and downs with 2 not very difficult hills. It was nice having the road closed and not having to worry about traffic since most races I’ve done during the pandemic haven’t closed the road. There was one water stop at the turnaround point with water bottles. I didn’t use it since I carried water with me but thanked the very cheerful volunteers. I actually have never run a 5 miler so it was an automatic PR but I still ran very well and was well under my goal of 55 minutes. I was especially happy with my time given I ran a marathon last week and did a strenuous almost 5 hour hike yesterday. At the finish line you there were water bottles, bananas and granola bars. Instead of a medal you get a wine glass with the race date and logo. It is very nice but I’m not sure what I will use it for since I don’t drink wine. Will probably just display it. You also get 2 for 1 wine tasting at the vineyard and they encourage you to visit the vineyard and farm. Since it didn’t open until 11 I didn’t get a chance to visit since I have a long drive home but it looked lovely. This is a little far for me to travel for a 5 miler (or 10K which it usually is) but this race was lovely and I would absolutely recommend it for locals and would definitely run it again if I had another reason to be in town. Vermont is a fun place to visit with great hiking and great vegan and vegetarian food including non-dairy Ben & Jerry’s so even If I don’t run this race again I will definitely do another event with RunVermont. They are putting on a few more races this Fall if anyone is looking for a well-produced, safe race.
Pine Creek Challenge
Beautiful & Pancake Flat
Pine Creek Challenge
This is an absolutely gorgeous, pancake flat non-technical trail marathon or ultramarathon in Northern Pennsylvania. I stayed in Corning in Southern NY which is about 45 minutes away as I … MORE
This is an absolutely gorgeous, pancake flat non-technical trail marathon or ultramarathon in Northern Pennsylvania. I stayed in Corning in Southern NY which is about 45 minutes away as I had originally planned a small vacation to Corning for Wineglass weekend but when that went virtual I switched my vacation weekend to coincide with this race but there is also closer lodging in Wellsboro PA or you can even camp on site if that is your style. Since the marathon had a late start at 9am I still didn’t have to get up early with the 45 minute drive and Corning is lovely. I was not very impressed with pre-race communication at least via email. However there were many updates on Facebook so make sure you like their page if you are going to run this race. All the other races I did during covid had very detailed procedures but this was mostly vague like don’t congregate too much and we are serving mostly prepackaged food. The marathon is very small (about 30 participants) so even though there weren’t as specific of covid procedures it felt safe enough but I’m not sure how it felt for the more popular ultra distances. The marathon is very simple a 13 mile out and back on a trail then a 0.2 mile run through the parking area to the finish line. The start was kind of odd there was no timing mat at the start at 9am someone just said go and you went. I was a little worried about a 9am start and running in the middle of the day in September but the weather was cool and absolutely perfect. I was also worried an out and back on a trail may be boring but the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. You could easily get lost in thought and it was very peaceful and zen and luckily as it was on one large trail it was very easy to follow and would be hard to actually get lost. For the marathon there were 2 aid stations you pass twice. They were well stocked since it is an ultra race with the usual gels but also candy, chips and sandwiches. I would recommend bringing either a hydration pack or a handheld water bottle as the aid stations are as far as 8 miles apart but they gave you a collapsible cup with your swag and if you don’t need much water you may be okay without one. At 13 miles there is just a sign that says turn around. It wasn’t super big and there was no volunteer there so it could easily be missed. It also didn’t say the distance the turnaround was for. Obviously if you were running the marathon you knew to turn around there and the longer distances to keep going but as the 100 mile runs the course twice I believe I could see getting confused in the middle of the night. You turn around and run 13 miles back where you came from and then do a 0.2 miles loop through the parking lot to complete the marathon distance and there is a timing mat at the end which I’m guessing gives you a time based on how long you are after 9am. The race is pancake flat the change in grade is barely perceptible and the terrain was technically very easy. A marathon is never easy but this course is as easy as possible. Mentally its a little tough without as much crowd and aid support but you pass by some of the ultra runners who all cheer you on. Also it is so pretty it helps. My finishing time was okay but I would have liked to have run under 5:30 but I was happy enough with it especially since I didn’t do any specific training for this race and had no runs more than 16 miles before the race as opposed to the LA marathon where I religiously followed a marathon training guide. If you did train properly this would be a great PR course as it was much easier than the LA marathon. But if you didn’t another great thing about the race is it has practically no time limit. Basically the 100 mile race has a 30 hour time limit and the other races need to finish by then so the marathon pretty much has no time limit (technically it is 27 hours) and the 50 miler and 100K have very generous time limits of 28 and 29 hours respectively. So great course for walkers or beginners. At the finish line you get your medal which is wooden with the race logo and distance. It is a fine medal. Not particularly big or special but also not gaudy. Normally I would want a fancier medal but the simplicity of the medal worked for the simplicity of the race. There was also food. They were making hot food for the ultra runners which wasn’t ready but they had other cold items including chips and hummus my favorite snack which was enough to hold me over until I could get into town for my traditional post-marathon veggie burger. Other swag could be picked up either the day before at a local store or the morning of the race. I got it the day before. It came in a nice simple tote bag that I will definitely use filled with lots of useful goodies including a buff, small flashlight, poncho, the collapsible cup, this cute lady bug cold pack and the best part some maple candies. It also had the shirt which is super ugly. It is a hideous lime green with these weird black stripes over the sleeve. It is also not distance specific and just says pine creek challenge 100 which is kind of cool because if I am brave enough to wear the shirt in public people will think I ran 100 miles. Its actually a decent shirt other than the color and is tech material so I’m sure I will use it. Overall I really enjoyed this race and am so happy to have done a marathon during the pandemic. I did think there were some production issues which is why I took away a star but nothing that got in the way of the overall experience. I’m not sure I will do the marathon again given there are so many other fall marathons I want to do but I could be convinced and would absolutely do it again if we are stuck with limited options again next year. I wish there was a shorter either half marathon or 30K distance so I could run this race regularly. If I ever decide I want to try a 50 mile race I am definitely picking this one given the easy terrain and generous time limit but right now the idea of running nearly twice the distance I ran today sounds pretty awful.
Dirt Cheap Trail Series Race #1
What Trail Racing is All About
Dirt Cheap Trail Series Race #1
This is usually the first race in a series of 5 midweek, low-key trail race put on by Yellow Jacket Racing that highlight different trails around Rochester. However this year … MORE
This is usually the first race in a series of 5 midweek, low-key trail race put on by Yellow Jacket Racing that highlight different trails around Rochester. However this year due to Covid it ended up being the third race. It was the only one I had the opportunity to do and it was a ton of fun. As the name says these are dirt cheap. They cost less than 20 bucks and are all about the trail. There is no swag unless you sign up for the series in which you get a shirt. This one is at Mendon Pond Park which is my favorite place for trail running. It is not my favorite place because it is easy. It is about as technical as possible to still be mostly runnable. This race was 4.5 miles through the trails and they definitely chose all the most challenging parts. The race had a rolling start from 4pm to 6pm and you came, picked up your bib, they checked your temp and you went. A little anti-climatic but the RD is there with music making it a bit more fun. The course starts easy enough with some relatively flat, not too technical trails and I had a really fast first mile. Then you get deeper in the woods and it gets technical. Some big hills. One was really steep up and even steeper down. Along with lots of rocks and roots there are also some fallen trees to climb over or under. To top it off a nice stair climb. Miles 3 to 4 were through this muddy, marshy area. Yep there was mud. Pretty much this was nature’s obstacle course race (well other than the stairs which were man made). The mud was kind of fun at first but as I was running very carefully because I didn’t want to get injured before my upcoming marathon I ended up walking through the muddy area after I almost tripped. After the mud it is a small stretch through grass. There wasn’t as much grass in this race and it was mostly connecting trails. Then you head back to the more runnable trails to the finish. At the finish you get some prepackaged food (chips, protein bar, water). No medal but swag isn’t the point of this race. I ran it very carefully so purposely had a pretty slow time. Race was the perfect difficulty to feel really hard-core for finishing but not a complete masochist. The course also had some pretty areas and I even ran past a deer which is not an uncommon finding at Mendon. I look forward to doing the race series next year and hope they can produce their winter trail race series this winter. Highly recommend this race. Even if you aren’t up for a difficult trail race it is short enough you can walk it.
NH 10 Miler
To Hill & Back
NH 10 Miler
I am originally from NH and now that I am back on the East Coast I am planning to visit quite a bit as long as covid rates stay low … MORE
I am originally from NH and now that I am back on the East Coast I am planning to visit quite a bit as long as covid rates stay low in both NH and NY therefore I was very happy to hear the Millenium Running in NH is planning to hold all their fall events with social distancing protocols. I was very impressed by the organization of this race and the ability to host a race with over 500 runners safely. Each runner was placed in a wave based on predicted finishing time with faster runners in earlier waves so there is less passing. Each wave is limited to 99 participants and each gets a number 1 to 99 and stands at a cone 6 ft apart based on their number then every few seconds a new runner goes. Each wave is given a time for parking, packet pick up and entering corral to avoid large congregations. Parking was easy but since I was in a later wave I had to park kind of far. Packet pick-up was that morning (or the option of early pick up at the store but I arrived too late the evening before). You got bib and T-shirt. Only issue with shirts and really only production issue is they were out of men’s mediums (I switched to choosing men’s sizes since women’s sizes are too unpredictable) but they had women’s larges left which ended up being a perfect fit for me. I have mixed feelings about the shirt. It is tech and fits nice. I like how the race logo has the elevation profile incorporated in the image but the color is kind of an ugly charcoal grey. The start went quite smooth and I like how they personally introduce each runner before they start adding more excitement to the start line. The weather at the start was gloomy, cool and slightly drizzly which I actually like running in weather like that. The course itself is quite tough and very tough for a road race. They aren’t lying about the hills. It was pretty nonstop up and down for the whole race. This year the race was run the reverse direction as usual so the runners ran against traffic and roads didn’t need to be closed. With the wave starts, spaced out runners, and lots of signage it felt safe running on the open roads. This changed course meant the steepest hills were up front which is better but the finish was not downhill which is worse. There were 3 water stops with small water bottles and the last 2 had small powerade bottles. This seemed very hygienic but not very good for the environment. So many half full water and powerade bottles in the garbage. I hope they get recycled and even though I prefer to run lighter I plan to use my hydration pack next race to reduce the waste. The course went around a pretty lake and the views of the lake were nice. The rest of the race was pretty (it’s hard to find a not pretty 10 mile in NH) but not as pretty as a New England race in the Fall. The hills were tough and this had probably the second toughest hills I dealt with on a road race after the Chinatown Firecracker 10K but after those mountain trail races I can’t give it a 5 star in difficulty (but it may be that difficult for exclusive road runners). About halfway through it started to rain hard and I no longer liked the weather (I can’t always expect perfect weather now that I am out of LA). Most of the race was road but the last mile was on the rail trail. Normally I’d like some easy, non techinical trail at the end of the race but not in the rain as it was muddy and hard to avoid puddles. Also the last mile was a slight incline so it was a tough end. At the finish line they called out all the runners as they crossed another nice personal touch. Given the hills and weather I was happy to finish under 2 hours. At the finish line there was water, powerade, fruit cups, coconut bars, bananas and apples. You were also given your medal. The medal was amazing. It was huge and by far my largest medal from a non half or full marathon. However it didn’t have the year but from what I saw online was a different medal than last year. I will forgive RDs this year for not putting the date on the medal since they may not have been 100% sure the race would happen when they ordered them. This was not the most pleasant race with the rain which was not the race’s fault but was very organized and felt very safe. I’m not sure in a year with multiple races to choose from that I would choose to visit NH for this race alone but if I had another reason to be in town the week of the race I would absolutely run it again. I hope Millenium Running can keep holding their events like this as I am hoping to run the New England Half and Manchester City Full. But their cancellation policy is more than fair offering credit to any future Millenium Running event so low risk to sign up for their races if you are local or visit NH a lot.
Roots ‘N Road
Roots 'N Road 'N Grass????
Roots ‘N Road
I like the concept of this race, part trail and part road, and was very happy Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) was able to produce this race this year and especially … MORE
I like the concept of this race, part trail and part road, and was very happy Yellow Jacket Racing (YJR) was able to produce this race this year and especially happy they added an extra day and extra spots since I hadn’t originally signed up for the race since the original date was last March. I chose the 3 miler because I was on call this weekend and had to round in the hospital after the race (and after a shower of course). Like all YJR events I have done this race was impeccably, carefully, and safely produced. The corral system was the exact same as for the Shoreline Half marathon. Only production issue is the direction link on the race website didn’t take me to the right place but when I googled Stewart Lodge I got right there. This is at Mendon Ponds Park which is my favorite place in Rochester for trail running and hiking. The first mile was pretty nice. It was about half a mile of mostly gradual downhill, fast road racing. Then there is about a half mile of non techinical, pretty flat trail. The second mile is where the fun begins and by fun I mean about half a mile of more technical stuff starting off with what pre-covid would have been a very intimidating hill for me but after these trail races I’ve done on ski mountains was nothing to me…okay it wasn’t nothing I did hike instead of run a bit of it but I wasn’t intimidated by it. Then there is some more technical downhill sections which are quite fast. It is helpful to have trail shoes for this section as there are some rocks and roots but if you don’t have trail shoes just be careful on this section. The technical section is quite short so not worth getting trail shoes for this race alone. After the technical trail you are back on the road for about another half a mile. This part is mostly slight inclines and declines. It felt like there was more up than down but nothing to bad. It got kind of hot by now and the road wasn’t very shaded so that was the most difficult thing about this section (although heat shouldn’t be a problem in March when the race usually takes place). The final mile is where the fun ends and my least favorite part of the course. It was mostly all on grass and most of it slight uphill. I have learned that I do not really like running on grass. I got paged and took a call on an uphill section that seemed particularly annoying to run on and just walked it. I do have to say though the grass and the course were very well marked. I feel like the last mile was kind of a cop out mile to make the mileage fit exactly. I would have preferred a more interesting 3ish mile race on more real trail instead even if the distance wasn’t exact. You are then back on the road for a very short section for a downhill finish. I am enjoying the smaller city running culture and the RD now knows who I am and cheered me on as I crossed the finish line and gave a personal cheer to most of the other runners as they crossed as well. My time wasn’t great mostly because I answered a page during race but even though it was slower than all but one of my 5Ks, this was technically another PR for me as it was my first 3 mile race. For swag, you get a nice, cotton T-shirt and a bag of prepackaged food at the end. There is no medal. I love medals and keep all my medals even for 5Ks but to be fair I don’t really need a medal every time I run a 3 to 5 mile race. The race was also pretty cheap so while there wasn’t a ton of swag, the swag seemed fair for the price. Overall I loved the trail, liked the road, and disliked the grass. This is a good race for those curious about trail running but not yet ready to make the commitment. Difficulty would depend on your experience. I would have found this race quite difficult 6 months ago before covid forced me to learn the joys of trail running but it is probably quite an easy race for an experienced trail runner. As I am somewhere in the middle I rated its difficulty in the middle. Personally I’d kind of prefer a fast road race or a technical trail race but the mix was fun (without the grass). It wasn’t my favorite course but I did like the first 2 miles and I’d do it again if I didn’t have other plans and would choose the 5 miler if I weren’t on call.
Dirty Dozen Off Road Run at Holiday Valley Resort
Did I just run up a mountain again?
Dirty Dozen Off Road Run at Holiday Valley Resort
After the Battle at Bristol Mountain I was a little hesitant to sign up for another race at a ski resort but as this was the only real race I … MORE
After the Battle at Bristol Mountain I was a little hesitant to sign up for another race at a ski resort but as this was the only real race I could find in a 100 mile radius of Rochester this weekend I decided to check out the website and while it was up a mountain it had a much more forgiving elevation profile so decided to sign up and I am glad I did. For the race you signed up for a certain time frame. There were 2 time options for the 4 miler and 2 for the 8 miler. I decided to sign up for the later 8 miler slot as I hadn’t decided whether I wanted to drive to the race in the morning or get a hotel (it is about a 2 hour drive to Ellicottville from Rochester). In the end I decided on a hotel which was great as I was able to spend Saturday hiking in nearby Allegany State Park and Ellicottville was a cute little town and I found a place with vegan buffalo wings. Packet pick up was on race day and you were assigned a time slot to pick up your packet based on your race time. Packet included a really nice and soft (but not tech) shirt, a neck gaiter featuring the race company’s logo and some tickets to some activities at the resort. The start was a rolling start where you could start anytime in a 15 minute time slot but most people started at the beginning and you stood on X’s 6 ft apart and a new racer started every 5 seconds. Course was tough but doable. Terrain was mostly non technical trail. There were a few loose rocks so I’m glad I had trail shoes but they weren’t completely necessary. The first 3 miles were mostly uphill with a few downhill sections. There were some steep sections but at most there was a 20% grade and most of the uphill was more gradual than that. If you had more experience with trail and mountain running you could probably run it all or at least most. I do not have much experience so I power hiked a lot of the uphill. It was a tough run but not a terribly tough hike. The good thing about a mountain race is what comes up must come down so the last mile is downhill. It’s a little steep to take complete advantage of the downhill as you have watch your footing but is completely runnable. For the 8 miler you do this twice. It was a little demoralizing as the fast 8 milers in the wave ahead of me caught up with me just before my second lap and headed to the finish when I had to do it again. However I have to say trail runners are the nicest people in the universe and all of them told me good job in a genuinely nice way as they passed me. The 4 mile loop wasn’t too awful so I didn’t mind repeating it again. There were aid stations at the 2 mile mark which you passed twice and the 4 mile mark with cups of water and Gatorade. At the end you get a bag of food and a wooden medal. There were lots of treats in the bag (clif bar, apple, banana and muffin). It was a tough race but not “you have to be crazy to run this” tough. I rated it as 5 stars in difficulty as it was definitely the second toughest terrain I have raced on but it was a cake walk compared to Bristol. I wasn’t very fast but reached my goal time of under 2 hours and technically it was a PR since this is my first 8 mile race. I really enjoyed this race and loved the challenge. I am now open to more mountainous and challenging trail races as long as there aren’t 30 to 40 degree grades like at Bristol. I’m not sure if this race will happen again or was just a covid pop up but I would do it again and will definitely run other events with this company even if it is a 2 hour drive.
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
I'm not in Los Angeles anymore!
Shoreline Half Marathon & 5K (NY)
I have no idea if this race was really this great or only seemed this great because it was my first long-distance road race in exactly 5 months (if there … MORE
I have no idea if this race was really this great or only seemed this great because it was my first long-distance road race in exactly 5 months (if there is a silver lining to this pandemic it is that ordinary things that we used to take for granted become extraordinary), but I was so happy to be running this race. I was also so lucky to be running this race. I signed up for this race last winter (pre-covid) once I took a job in Rochester as it was initially scheduled my first weekend in Rochester and thought it would be fun to do. Then covid happened, registration for the race was paused and only those who were signed up already were allowed to do it due to NY state group size regulations. Also luckily the race was pushed back 1 month as I would have had to self-quarantine during the initial date. If I could give an extra star for production with all the planning and hoops that had to be jumped through with NY state park restrictions I would. The RD had to call me to confirm I was not living in CA (when I registered I didn’t have a place in NY yet so used my CA address) and I had to send my lease as proof. I have absolutely no issues with this and understand why NY state has these restrictions but this is just an example of everything that went into this race to produce it safely and in accordance with local guidelines. Packet pick up was outside fleet feet the day before and very easy. Although they also had day of drive through packet pick up if you couldn’t make it though it was discouraged to do it. Packet included a tech tank top. I liked that they gave a tank top you can actually use while running in the summer. The design was nice and simple but I wish it wasn’t white since it’s a little see through. The start of the race was like a well oiled machine. Runners were assigned to waves in groups of 15. Waves were assigned based on when you registered and they tried to put people who appeared to be running together i.e. same last name in same wave. This seemed like a very fair way to do it. There were 3 corrals set up. 1 with temp check, one to wait and one at start and every 3 minutes a new wave went through each corral. The corrals had markings where to stand 6 ft apart. I really liked this start while it was a little complicated and you had to time things perfectly, it was exciting to start with a group even if it was a small one and I liked it more than the rolling one hour time window approach most of the other races I’ve done during covid have used. The course starts in Hamlin state park and the first 3 miles are through a pretty wooded street. I will warn you there is very little shade and it can be hot. It has been an extremely hot and humid summer here. We were lucky today wasn’t as hot and humid as it had been but it was still hotter and more humid than I’d prefer. Then you leave the park and run the next 7 to 8 miles through farmland. As I was running past fields of corn and farmhouses this is where I realized I am not in Los Angeles anymore. I actually really enjoyed the lovely farmland and while it definitely didn’t have the energy of a big city race, it was very picturesque and serene. For this part of the race you ran on the shoulder of the road and it was open to traffic but it seemed very safe as there was barely any traffic (again did I tell you I am not in LA anymore). There was only one water stop at about mile 6 so you had to carry water (this is not normally the case and just due to covid and they warned us about this ahead of time). I had my handheld water bottle. I appreciated the volunteer at the water station filled my bottle up as they could only give out water bottles and I thought I was going to have to grab a water bottle and fumble around with it to fill my handheld. While there were limited other volunteers I appreciated the ones there and they were at all the right places to prevent you from getting lost especially since some of the race I was running by myself. Also one of the volunteers recognized me from Bristol mountain. Another perk of being in a smaller city, people are already starting to know me 2 weeks into the Rochester running scene. At around mile 11 you go back into the park and this is the prettiest part of the course where you run along a paved trail right next to the beach. Then you run to the finish line where you are given a bag with some packaged goodies (bars, chips, banana) and your medal and a water bottle. It felt good to actually get a medal at the end of the race. Medal is cute with a seagull and the race logo but not year or distance specific (to be fair after all these race cancellations I know now why a race may not want to put the year on their medals). I hope this doesn’t mean there are the same medals every year but that wouldn’t stop me from running this again. I also really liked the course elevation profile. It was relatively flat (especially for the Rochester area) but not pancake flat. There was no true hills but some little rollers and some inclines and declines which is how I like a race. I was overall happy with my time. I didn’t have high expectations given the heat and knowing I was a little rusty from not running as many road races as usual but I achieved my goal of under 2:30 and was nowhere near a DNF with the 4 hour time limit. If the weather somehow was cool during a normal year with regular racing and more aid stations this could be a PR course but it is often hot so I wouldn’t plan on it for a PR course. Normally there is a barbecue at the end (with vegetarian options !) but that obviously couldn’t happen this year. I have no idea if this is actually as amazing of a race as it seemed today but that being said it is definitely a well-produced, nice local race with a great elevation profile. I will definitely run this again.
Battle at Bristol Mountain
I Fought the Mountain & the Mountain Won
Battle at Bristol Mountain
So I knew this race was going to be brutal but not DNF because I couldn't finish 10 miles in 4 hours brutal. This is one of the toughest trail … MORE
So I knew this race was going to be brutal but not DNF because I couldn’t finish 10 miles in 4 hours brutal. This is one of the toughest trail races you will find and you basically go up and down a mountain at a ski resort and it is a battle. I had just moved to Rochester about 3 weeks ago (so I am post the 14 day quarantine period) and was very excited that Yellow Jacket Racing just announced they were having their first live event since the covid pandemic started which was this. When initially looking at races in Rochester this was not on my “to run” list as I really didn’t want to tackle going up and down a mountain but with so many events canceled and nothing else to choose from I thought why not. I knew the half was ambitious but I am hoping to level up in half fanatics so thought I’d try it. The half is the 10 mile course + the 5K course and you have to finish the 10 mile course in 4 hours to continue (24 min/mile) which sounds easy enough as I normally run 10 to 12 min/miles and even in trail races have always maintained under 15 min miles but man was I was wrong. I’ll start with production and logistics. This course was amazingly well produced especially given how strict NY state is with covid. It was done very similarly to Zion at Night. There was an outdoor packet pick up at Fleet Feet Thursday which was very smooth and you signed a covid waiver. They also had race day pick up if you couldn’t make it. You have to bring you own water and I used a hydration pack (a must as you want your hands free so I do not recommend a handheld water bottle). The race had a rolling start from 7:30 to 8:30am. They checked your temp before you start. Again a little bit of an anti-climatic start but I came at 7:30 and everyone was lined up 6 ft apart and excited for real racing. The first part of the course is uphill on gravel. This was too steep to run on but I power hiked at an under 20 min/mil pace and was feeling good. Once you get to the top after about 1.5 miles it is downhill. However these are skiing trails and are pretty much untrimmed grass which is not something I practiced running on. I was very impressed with how well the course was marked and how easy it was to follow given we weren’t running on actual trails. I actually thought it was quite fun to run downhill through the grass but not the fastest surface but maintaining an under 15 min/mil pace on the downhill so not too bad. Then you get to this killer hill that had grades of 30 to 40% and I pretty much died. Took about 30 mins to get up the hill but eventually you get to the top and there is an aid station. The aid station is well stocked with gels, bananas, bars, chips, and candy. My only complaint about the aid stations is they had water bottles. I understand how this is better for hygiene purposes but it would have been hard to fill up your hydration pack and I wish they had a system like Zion at Night did. I just grabbed a water bottle and stored it in a pouch and drank from the water bottle when I was hiking and didn’t need my hands and used the hydration pack while I was running or the steep parts where I used my hands. The next part is really nice and is about a mile or so of more typical trail in the woods and is shaded. FYI most of the hills are not shaded and it was hot. Then there is a downhill which was very steep too steep to really run on. Then you get to this absolutely killer hill that never seemed to end around mile 7. Yikes. I made it to the aid station at mile 8 (it is the same one) and had 41 minutes left before I would be DNF and thought I can do this. The next mile was downhill. Again really steep but I did it in about 20 mins. Then there was a giant, steep hill again and I realized I wasn’t going to make it. At that point since I knew I wouldn’t make the time limit I just enjoyed myself (as best you could hiking up a hill with 35% grade) and chatted/commiserated with the other runners. Finally I made it to the top and the rest was downhill. I knew I was too slow and even if I had been fast enough I don’t think I would have wanted to do those extra 3.1 miles. I still made it to the finish line and was proud of the 10 miles I did. I was hoping they would give me a 10 mile time instead of a DNF but sadly they did not (it’s okay it’s my fault I thought I could do this). But to be fair I don’t really think I want anyone to see my pace. At the end you get a goody bag with food and if you finish on time a medal which sadly I didn’t get and man it would have felt good to get a medal at a finish line (again my fault not the RDs). Even though I got a DNF I had a great time meeting local runners and participating in a real event. I wasn’t planning to do this race pre-covid and I don’t think I would do again unless there are still limited races next summer but I’m glad I tried today and did it once. If I did it again I definitely would do the 10 miler or less. I’m not sure going up and down practically vertical hills is for me but if it is for you, you will love this race. There is normally a 50K as well (it was cancelled this year) and I can’t imagine the kinds of masochists who would want to run that loop 3 times but to each their own. Overall not my most successful race but a very memorable one.
Zion at Night Half Marathon 🏆
So Happy to be Racing Again!
Zion at Night Half Marathon 🏆
I am so happy Vacation Races is being creative to work with local guidelines to produce safe races at this time. This was a small group trail half marathon. How … MORE
I am so happy Vacation Races is being creative to work with local guidelines to produce safe races at this time. This was a small group trail half marathon. How it worked is runners ran in waves of up to 50 and signed up for specific times over the course of 2 nights. The times were from 7pm to 7am. So if you are a morning person you can choose the early morning or night person the evening or if you want to save money there was a discount for the middle of the night. I choose 8pm on night 2 (Saturday night). This was a good time as it was light for the beginning and most of the race but was dark at the end so got to experience running at night. There was no expo. You just parked within a half hour of your start time and go to a booth to pick up your bib and shirt. The shirt was really nice, technical and perfect size. They also had another booth selling some VR items and porta potties near the start line. With wave starts bib pick up was smooth and there was no lines for the porta potties. It was also so exciting to see an actual start and finish line. The start was a little anti-climactic a staff member just scans your bib and you go with no official start (you can pretty much start anytime within a half hour before or after your selected start time). The race itself was beautiful but quite tough. I’m glad I ran some of it before dark because unfortunately there were clouds so there was not as many stars as I’d hope (not VR’s fault). Running in the scenery around Zion was absolutely amazing. I was not very prepared for this race as it was announced only 2 weeks ago and had mostly done road races and had pretty much only been training on the road since trails had been closed in LA for most of the past few months. The altitude change was also difficult. I had only arrived the day before so wasn’t really acclimated. I did a run/walk strategy and absolutely loved the race even though it was my slowest half marathon by 30 minutes. It was very peaceful and serene and the exact opposite of my last race the LA marathon (but I still loved both of them). There were limited aid stations. I used a handheld water bottle and the aid stations were spread out perfectly just when I needed water. It was definitely a trail race and had some technical elements but nothing crazy. I didn’t have trail shoes since again it was announced 2 weeks in advance and I had been a mostly road runner and I was fine but it probably would be better with trail shoes if you had them. The elevation gain was very gradual. If you were an experienced trail runner and acclimated to the altitude you could run the whole race. The course was a loop and the finish line was where you started. The medals weren’t ready yet but I appreciated they gave a Zion Half Keychain at the end. You also got a box of snacks I was happy to see all the snacks were vegan (they were also all gluten-free). And then you just drove out. One issue is there are no restaurants open late in the area (not sure if this is normally true or just due to reduced hours from covid). I thought about getting take out and heating it up but ended up getting food from the Taco Bell in Hurricane which was pretty much the only option but I do love Taco Bell. Overall I absolutely loved this race and decided I want to get better at trail racing and would love to do more of vacation races trail races in the future. In terms of social distancing, I felt as safe if not safer during this race than I do running in my neighborhoods or the local trails by me that recently opened. There were aspects of this format I liked better (no wait time for bibs and porta potties) and aspects I liked worse (no expo, less aid stations, no spectators) but it was definitely much better than a virtual race and I hope Vacation Races produces more of these (maybe on the East Coast since I am moving back East in 2 weeks…hint, hint) and other race companies consider similar formats. I am also very excited to run a Vacation Race in the future and get the full experience when things are normal and excited to get my medal in the mail!
FYI as a post-race update I did receive the medal in the mail and it is absolutely beautiful and as big as my marathon medals!
Los Angeles Marathon (LA Marathon)
Absolutely Amazing! A must run!
Los Angeles Marathon (LA Marathon)
This was the best (and hardest) 26.2 miles of my life. What an amazing race seeing all the sights in LA! It is basically a running tour of the best … MORE
This was the best (and hardest) 26.2 miles of my life. What an amazing race seeing all the sights in LA! It is basically a running tour of the best of LA. There was tons of pre-race communication. Almost too much, although the frequent updates were much appreciated this year with the uncertainty of the coronavirus. They email a nice final instructions packet that has all the info you need. The expo is at the convention center in DTLA on Friday and Saturday. Unless you pay for the VIP hospitality you need to pick up bib before race day. Take the metro to the convention center if you can as parking is very expensive (the expo line goes from santa monica right to the convention center). The expo was big and crowded as expected. There was a line to get in but once in bib and packet pick up was smooth. Bib numbers are assigned beforehand and you just line up by number. My Conqur LA challenge sticker was right on my bib making that part easy. Then you pick up shirt and gear check bag. Shirt is nice and tech quality but it’s sized a little small. The expo had all the typical booths and you could get any race day needs you forgot. There were lots of things to try at the expo but very little samples to go home with. The only thing I came away with that I didn’t pay for besides the shirt was a small clif bar. For race day parking you can park at santa monica and take a shuttle to dodger stadium or you can park at dodger stadium but there is no shuttle back. This is really my one major complaint about the race. I live really close to Dodger stadium (and therefore very far from santa monica) so I parked at Dodger stadium but getting back there to get my car was a mess after the race. If you are coming from out of town I’d recommend staying in Santa Monica. After reading other reviews I thought I would add that I woke up at 3am and arrived at the stadium around 4am. While I had to wait at dodger stadium for many hours it seems worth it to be up so early as there was no traffic getting in and parking there was super easy for me. Lining up for the race was not the most organized but seemed about as organized as possible for a race with >20,000 people. Try to get a seeded corral if you can. The open corral was sort of a free for all but it moved surprisingly fast and I was happy to be at the start line only 20 minutes after the first runner started. The course is difficult and crowded but absolutely amazing. Luckily it is net downhill but most of the downhill is in the first 2 miles and last 3 so there is a lot of uphill in the middle. There are only 2 bigger hills in the first few miles downtown but lots of slight inclines throughout the race. The course is designed to go through as many landmarks as possible. It starts at Dodger stadium, then Chinatown, then DTLA, then Echo Park and then goes through my usual hangout spots Silver Lake and Los Feliz so it was fun to run past all my favorite cafes and coffee shops (I didn’t realize how many coffee shops I love in Silverlake until I literally ran past all of them). The next part was the most fun for me. I generally avoid places like Hollywood, the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills so this was actually my first time after nearly 6 years of living in the LA area that I saw Grauman’s Chinese Theater and Chateau Marmont and my first time going down Rodeo drive. It was fun to pretend to be a cheesy tourist. After Rodeo drive the course is a little more boring but that is where the spectators come out. The last 3 miles of the course through santa monica are downhill and super fast so save your energy. I was able to run pretty much the entire last 3 miles. Unless you are a really fast runner just walk the inclines in mile 22 and save your energy. I saw so many people struggling to keep running form that mile only for me to fly past them on the downhill. The course ends along Ocean Ave in Santa Monica. There was plenty of course support with aid stations almost every mile and plenty of spectators giving out goodies. However the aid stations were kind of slow handing out drinks but I think it may have been due to the last minute changes due to coronavirus. At the finish line you get your medal which is really nice. It isn’t the biggest or flashiest medal but it is beautiful and classic. If you do the Conqur LA challenge (Santa Monica Classic, Pasadena Half and LA marathon) you get an additional medal which is huge. Finish line had typical food and water. I skipped the finish festival since it was packed and I don’t drink alcohol so can’t comment. Getting back to Dodger stadium was a pain. I took the train to my favorite vegan burger joint on the East side of town for a post race meal and then took an uber back but apparently the uber was supposed to enter at a different gate than the one we entered in the morning so it was an adventure figuring out where to drop me off. We eventually figured it out and my uber driver ended up getting a huge tip from me (it may have been nice if how to drop someone back to their car at dodger stadium was mentioned in the instructions or even nicer if they provided shuttles back). Aside from the mess getting back to dodger stadium, overall this was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it. While I did manage to PR (it was really only because this was my second marathon and I avoided the mistakes of my first) this is not a great PR course. There is a ton of weaving around crowds and it’s almost impossible to get the tangents right so my GPS said I ran 27 miles. Also the course is pretty difficult. So don’t run this race to PR instead run the race to enjoy all that LA has to offer. If you were only to run one marathon in your life this would be a great choice given how awesome it is. Plus is it one of the biggest, if not the biggest, marathon in the US without qualification or lottery to enter. I am moving out of LA this summer which means I won’t be able to make this a yearly race but I am hoping to come back and run it again in 5 years for the 40th anniversary.
Women Run LA
Two more times across the dam
Women Run LA
Overall I really enjoyed this race but I'm not sure it was worth the price. I decided to run the race because it was focused on women and benefited a … MORE
Overall I really enjoyed this race but I’m not sure it was worth the price. I decided to run the race because it was focused on women and benefited a great charity. I chose the 10K because it was 2 weeks before the LA marathon and I didn’t want to risk getting injured in a half. I thought the price was kind of high for a 10K. For instance it was $10 to $20 more than the Santa Monica Classic and the LA Chinatown Firecracker 10Ks I had done previously this year and they were bigger and a little better produced. Since some of the money went to charity it made me feel a little better about the price tag. Parking was very easy and free and they gave clear instructions. Bib pick up also easy. This was a pretty small event compared to other runs I have done which made things smoother. I really liked the design of the shirt. It was tech quality and had a simple design with the name and date of the race on the front and an inspirational quote on the back. However the shirts ran about a size too large. They did offer to swap sizes but I don’t really mind my shirts being big. The race was nice through the park and across the dam and then you turn back and go over the dam again and a shorter run through the park to the finish line. But after having just ran across that dam twice for the SRLA 30K mentally it was tough to do it two more times. Something about that dam it just seems endless and has a slight incline so it is deceptively harder than it looks and there is no shade but luckily the temps were perfect today. One side of the dam has really pretty views of the mountains and the other side has ugly industrial views. I was happy with my finish time while I didn’t PR, I did run my second fastest 10K time. I actually finished third in my age group. I was disappointed because the website says there were age group prizes but the final instructions were that only top 3 overall got prizes. I understand it’s a little excessive for such a small race to give so many age group prizes but please change the website. Since the field is small this is a good race for moderately fast runners to place in the top 3. The finisher medal was fine with the WRLA logo, year and location. But they were not distance specific and the ribbon was plain. It was a good medal for a shorter distance race but I would have been disappointed with it if I ran the half. I enjoyed that they had free topo chico and cold brew oat milk lattes at the end (literally my 2 favorite drinks). They also had a food truck and a Papusa stand to purchase food from along with the usual free bananas, oranges and bagels. There were some other interesting booths to stop at. I’m happy I did the 10K over the half marathon since the half marathon didn’t really add anything except 6.9 miles since it was essentially running the 10K twice with a slightly further turn around spot and the shirts and medals were the same. Overall this was a good race and I probably would have given it 5 stars if it were $20 cheaper. I liked it enough to sign up for the 5K in Oxnard in May since I was planning to do a 5K that weekend anyway. I am moving out of California this summer but if I were staying I would do the 5K or 10K again but I don’t think I would do the half unless it fit perfectly into my marathon training.
L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run & Bike Ride
Challenging but fun 10K
L.A. Chinatown Firecracker Run & Bike Ride
This race is a challenge but it is worth it. Unfortunately I had to work the day before so I couldn't pick up my packet saturday and get the noodles. … MORE
This race is a challenge but it is worth it. Unfortunately I had to work the day before so I couldn’t pick up my packet saturday and get the noodles. However sunday went very smooth. I arrived early and found a $5 parking lot right nearby. Bib pick up was easy but it likely took longer if you showed up later. The T-shirt is my absolute favorite race shirt with year of the rat theme. Somehow they made the rat cute. You also got a drawstring bag with rice and crackers. There were a ton of vendors and I got so much free stuff (clif bar, cold brew, energy drink, green juice, etc) that the race practically paid for itself. The start is super fun with the dragon dancers. I do wish they at least had suggested waves or something telling walkers to go to the back because there were people walking in rows of three or four that I had to run around in the beginning. The first 2.5 miles of this race are pretty much straight uphill in Elysian park. I did not do enough hill training for this race and had to walk a small portion of the uphill. You are rewarded with some beautiful views of LA and also pass by Dodger stadium. The next mile is amazing and you fly downhill. The rest of the race is mostly downhill but there are 2 smaller hills in last 3 miles. In some ways these were mentally worse than the beginning because you thought you were done with hills. This was definitely the most challenging road 10K course I have done. But it was very rewarding. I would not recommend it to those looking to PR or for someone’s first 10K. I was happy with my finishing time. I didn’t come close to a PR but I ran it in my average, usual 10K time and this is not an average race in terms of difficulty. The medal is nice and double sided with the cute little rat. Highly recomend for those who are looking for a challenge and love hills. Overall very fun event and even if you don’t love hills as long as you don’t mind walking some of the uphill you will enjoy it.
SRLA Friendship Run
Training Run for the LA marathon
SRLA Friendship Run
This is the perfect training run for the LA marathon. This is a students run LA event (which is a great program) and most of the runners are students but … MORE
This is the perfect training run for the LA marathon. This is a students run LA event (which is a great program) and most of the runners are students but it also open to the public. I was planning to do an 18ish mile training run this weekend as part of my LA marathon training and saw this race advertised on the LA marathon facebook page and thought it would be a fun way to do it. It was a pretty no frills race but it was well organized and a good price for the distance. It doesn’t cost much more than some 10Ks in the LA area. As a result it isn’t the most scenic or have the best swag (you do get a cotton t-shirt and a small finisher medal). Parking was a mess, arrive earlier than 6:30 because you don’t want to be like me and have to walk a mile to your car after the race. The course was a 9 mile loop that you run twice and it was pretty challenging with some hills and inclines especially the dam at the end of the loop. I overheard someone say this race is harder than the marathon which I hope is true because while I had no problems finishing the race, my pace was a little slower than my goal. This was also a great event for all the students involved. While it wasn’t the most exciting or scenic race I’ve done, if you are training for the LA marathon this is a good race to keep you on track. I would recommend signing up for the Pasadena Half and then this 30K to keep you on top of your training.
Surf City Marathon & Half Marathon
Great medal, okay race
Surf City Marathon & Half Marathon
I ran this race as part of the beach cities challenge. Overall it was a fine race and I had a good time but the race didn't seem prepared for … MORE
I ran this race as part of the beach cities challenge. Overall it was a fine race and I had a good time but the race didn’t seem prepared for the number of runners. Pre-race communication was well-organized and getting to the expo/race was easy. I went to the expo and ran the 1-miler on Saturday as part of the Cowabunga challenge. Expo was well-organized and had a decent amount of stuff to look through. Getting my bibs was easy except the person handing them out didn’t know how to give my Cowabunga challenge stamp so I had to go to solutions. The 1-miler was a silly but fun run on the beach. It turns out I have no idea how to run on sand so it was slower than all 13 of my miles on Sunday but fun way to get 2 extra medals. On Sunday, I parked in a public parking lot off Main St. since I planned to stay in HB during the day for the game. Parking was easy and cost $15 for the whole day probably less if you only stayed for the race. There were also free parking lots with shuttles off site. The start of the race was kind of a mess. There were self-seeded waves instead of assigned corrals and participants just seemed to be randomly choosing waves. I chose the 2:16 to 2:45 wave and finished in that time frame. However I spent the first 5 miles weaving around walkers. I have no issues with people walking a half marathon just please go to the correct wave. You are not finishing in under 2:15 if you are walking the entire race and shouldn’t start in a wave ahead of me. The course was fine there were pretty views of the beach and bolsa chica reserve but I thought it got a little monotonous mainly just running along the PCH. The course should have had plenty of water/aid stations. However even though I was right in the middle of the pack, they ran out of Nuun (electrolyte drink) at most of the aid stations which means half the half-marathoners didn’t get it. I felt it and had some hand cramping/numbness that occurs when I need electrolytes. When I finished the race they were almost out of food so I’m guessing about 1/3 the half marathoners and a good amount of marathoners didn’t get food at the finish area. If the aid stations were properly stocked this would have been a good PR race since it is flat. The medal at the end was fantastic with the wooden surfboard and doing the Cowabunga challenge I ended up with 3 medals from the weekend. The shirt was also a very nice long sleeve tech shirt with a cute design. The only issue with the shirt was it did not differentiate half from full marathoners so I could see marathoners being disappointed with it. You also got a cute tote bag. It was fun staying in HB to watch the Superbowl and hang out at the beach afterwards. This had potential to be a good/great race if there were seeded corrals and a more organized start and if the aid station/finish line had enough food/Nuun. The races sold out and there were more runners than prior years so I just think they weren’t prepared for the number of runners. Hopefully they will fix this next year. I can’t wait to get my sea turtle beach city medal in OC in May
Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K
Well-organized fun but hilly half
Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K
I participated in this race as part of the Conqur LA series and it turned out to be one of my favorite halfs! The race was extremely well-organized starting with … MORE
I participated in this race as part of the Conqur LA series and it turned out to be one of my favorite halfs! The race was extremely well-organized starting with pre-race instructions and emails. I liked that there was remote packet pick-up at several locations instead of an expo. I had to go to the mall anyways so it was very convenient to get my bib along with some shopping. If you spend less than an hour at the Westfield Century City parking is free so I shopped quickly. I got to the Rosebowl very early about 5:15 and parking was pretty smooth but there were already a lot of cars there so I wasn’t as close to the start as I thought I would be. I was very impressed by the organization of the corrals and the start of the race. I am a middle of the pack runner and was put in corral 4 out of 8 which seemed right. Other than a few people who snuck in the wrong corral everyone was running a similar pace to me and the corrals were sent off in waves so I didn’t feel like I was constantly having to run around walkers like I have in all the other large halfs I’ve done. I really enjoyed the race course. Pasadena isn’t super exciting but it is super pretty. The course had the right amount of water stops and all but the first had Nuun (electrolyte drink) and there was also honeystinger on the course. The views of the mountains from the hill were amazing. The worst part was definitely the uphill around the Rosebowl but it was worth it for the downhill finish. My last mile was one of my fastest. As a sports fan I loved ending at the 50 yard line in the Rosebowl such a cool experience. Overall the course was nicely challenging with the hills but manageable. I would recommend studying the course elevation and making a game plan about when to conserve and when to expend energy running if you want to PR which I did. The race is very expensive for a half but it was so well-organized so the price is understandable. However the Swag wasn’t the best. The medal is really nice but the T-shirt was just fine and not a tech shirt. There really wasn’t any other swag. The post-race festivities also didn’t seem as exciting as some races but I usually just leave and get brunch afterwards anyways. There are also free photos and free parking which is a plus. I would definitely recommend this race and if I wasn’t moving out of California this summer would definitely run it again. I may come back to visit LA on an MLK weekend to run it again
New Year’s Race Los Angeles
Fun way to start the New Year
New Year’s Race Los Angeles
I believe this is sadly the last year for the New Year's Race so this review probably won't help anyone but in case it comes back. Overall this is a … MORE
I believe this is sadly the last year for the New Year’s Race so this review probably won’t help anyone but in case it comes back. Overall this is a very fun way to start the New Years. I actually love night races since I am not a morning person so I am always happy to find evening races. I did the 9.3 challenge. I wish there was an option for just the 10K but the 9.3 challenge was fun. The race is in DTLA by city hall which is always a fun and convenient place since there is a metro stop. The 5K was first and I had a goal to run under 30 mins while saving as much energy for the 10K as possible. Somehow I timed myself perfectly and ran 29:59 exactly. It was annoying to wait another hour for the 10K but I understand they want to make this event walker friendly so it is nice that people of all levels of experience can complete this challenge. I was a little tired from the 5K so I ran the 10K at a comfortable pace and had a mediocre finish time but I would be happy with my overall time for a 15K. I think due to previous complaints of hills, they made the course as flat as possible in DTLA. I’m not saying it is completely flat but much flatter than the turkey trot although also not as scenic either but running through the tunnel is fun. You get a total of 3 medals and the 9.3 challenge one is very big along with a sweatshirt if you do the challenge. There is a fun finish area with food trucks at the end. If this race comes back, I would recommend it.
5K Run & Walk for Kids’ Growth
Fun Race for a Great Cause
5K Run & Walk for Kids’ Growth
So I'm a little biased as a pediatric endocrinologist but I did really enjoy the event. It is at Griffith Park and follows the typical 5K loop. The course is … MORE
So I’m a little biased as a pediatric endocrinologist but I did really enjoy the event. It is at Griffith Park and follows the typical 5K loop. The course is on dirt but really flat and easy. Before the race parents of kids with growth disorders told their stories which was great and there were quite a few booths to look at. While I enjoy races at Griffith Park usually they aren’t my fastest but I was on fire the day of the race and had my second fastest 5K and easily broke 30 mins. At the end you get a small pretty basic medal. Not the greatest medal ever but a lot of 5Ks don’t give them out so I appreciated it. Instead of given at the finish line each runner went on stage to get the medal which was a nice personal touch. You also get a cotton T-shirt with packet pick-up. I know the doctor who leads the event and he did a great job. There was also pizza afterwards which you could eat with the families but this was when I was still a crazy strict vegan so I opted out of the pizza. Along with a fun morning of running the race raises money for children’s growth disorders something near and dear to my heart.
Turkey Trot Los Angeles
Rainy and Hilly but somehow I PR'ed
Turkey Trot Los Angeles
Great way to spend Thanksgiving morning so you can eat your meal guilt free. I picked up my packet the weekend before and it was very easy. Along with the … MORE
Great way to spend Thanksgiving morning so you can eat your meal guilt free. I picked up my packet the weekend before and it was very easy. Along with the bib you got a T-shirt, sunglasses, a drawstring bag and a clif bar. I took the metro to the race. I enjoy races that are at metro stops so I don’t have to worry about parking but parking in a nearby lot didn’t seem too bad. It was a chilly and rainy morning. It really rained during the 5K but luckily the rain slowed down for the 10K. It was probably too cold for most Los Angelenos but I actually loved the weather. The course went through downtown LA and there were a lot of hills and a lot of great architecture. I took advantage of the downhills and the chilly weather and PR’ed by nearly 6 minutes despite this not being an easy course. Although it is well designed so the hills are mostly in the beginning and it starts uphill and the last segment along spring street is pretty flat. You got a small finisher medal with a cartoon of a turkey and LA. There were some vendors and booths in front of city hall to look at before and after the race. Afterwards you can go enjoy your turkey (or tofurky in my case)
Long Beach Marathon & Half Marathon
Successful first marathon
Long Beach Marathon & Half Marathon
I ran the Long Beach marathon as my first ever marathon. I chose Long Beach because I had started running again the Fall prior and wanted to go from couch … MORE
I ran the Long Beach marathon as my first ever marathon. I chose Long Beach because I had started running again the Fall prior and wanted to go from couch potato to marathoner in a year. Overall I enjoyed the race and the accomplishment. The day prior to the race is an expo at the Long Beach convention center. Bib pick up was easy and the expo had a nice amount of things to look at but felt a little cramped. Also I didn’t like paying for parking twice. Race day I arrived early and parked at convention center. Great idea for marathoners since it generally isn’t full by the time the marathoners would arrive and is right by finish line. The beginning of the marathon was smooth and there was a nice amount of runners in the full. Enough to always be running with people but not so many that it felt like I was constantly weaving around people. I’m guessing the half feels kind of crowded since there are a lot more runners doing the half. The parts of the marathon course that shared the half were great. Downtown long beach all lit up in the dark was beautiful and I loved that sunrise was occurring while running on the beach. The second part of the full that diverges from the half was much more boring. It was just through residential neighborhoods and cal state long beach. There weren’t a ton of spectators and nothing super special to look at. The course is relatively flat with a few easy hills except a lot of the hills are closer to the end. There is also a really long 7.5 hour time limit making this a great race for first timers or walkers. I got a little injured during training and knew I was going to have to walk some of the second half. I ended up finishing well before 6 hours but knowing there was no way I would miss the time cutoff made the race much more enjoyable. There was a nice long sleeve tech shirt and a nice big finisher medal. I’m moving out of California but if I were staying I’m not sure I would do the full again but I would definitely do the half.
Surf City 10
Beautiful sunset, lots of darkness
Surf City 10
I normally train at night because I am not a morning person so I actually love nighttime races. I signed up for this as a training run for the Long … MORE
I normally train at night because I am not a morning person so I actually love nighttime races. I signed up for this as a training run for the Long Beach marathon and choose the 10 miler. I arrived early afternoon and checked out the expo and hung at the beach. The expo was small but had a few booths and vendors to check out. The race is just 5 miles out and 5 miles back on the PCH so it is very easy and flat. All 3 distances (5K, 10K, and 10 miler) start at the same time. I wish they would have staggered the races so the 10 milers had a head start. It is designed so all the runners run through sunset. As a result the first 3 miles of the sun setting on the beach were absolutely gorgeous. The last seven were very dark. It would be nice to have an earlier start so less of the race was dark. There was plenty of nutrition and water stations. The smoke from the bonfires was a little annoying but it didn’t bother me too much. I took the race pretty easy and enjoyed it. Finisher medal was a nice glow in the dark surfboard but it was a little small and not specific to the race distance. I thought it was a great training race for the Long Beach marathon but it looks like next year the Long Beach marathon is scheduled before this race so that is too bad.
Santa Monica Classic
First part of Conqur LA
Santa Monica Classic
I ran this as part of the Conqur LA challenge. Like all the Conqur events I have done it is very well-organized. I parked at one of the public parking … MORE
I ran this as part of the Conqur LA challenge. Like all the Conqur events I have done it is very well-organized. I parked at one of the public parking lots close to the finish line. The start line was about a mile away. This is best so you can get a warm-up walk in before the race and not have to walk far after. Parking was just a few bucks. Bib pick-up in the morning was super easy and fast. Pretty much my only complaint about the production is there was not enough porta potties at the start line and I waited in line so long I ended up in wave 3 even though I am more of a wave 2 runner. As a result I had to weave around some walkers and slower runners in the beginning of the race. The course is fine but it is on the road and there isn’t as nice of ocean views as I expected. There are no hills per se but the first four miles are a gradual incline. The final 2 miles are a slight decline and are super fast. I feel like they could have designed a better course so there is more downhill and less uphill but I understand it may be logistically tricky since they can only do the race on the main roads as opposed to beach paths since it is such a large race. The finisher medal is really nice especially for a shorter distance. It’s probably my nicest 10K medal. I liked the shirt design but I wish it was tech. The finish area on the pier was okay it was kind of crowded and there were very large lines. I just got my shirt and left for brunch. Overall it was a well-organized and good 10K but I’m not sure I would do it outside of the Conqur LA challenge.
Griffith Luau 5K
Fun race in Griffith Park
Griffith Luau 5K
This race had the typical Griffith Park route. I thought it was well organized for a smaller race and very fun. I enjoy running in Griffith Park although it is … MORE
This race had the typical Griffith Park route. I thought it was well organized for a smaller race and very fun. I enjoy running in Griffith Park although it is not a great place to PR since I find I can’t run as fast on dirt as road. Race is relatively flat. There was congestion at the water stop and at one point, the slow 5Kers, medium 10Kers and fast 10kers all crossed paths at the same time. Finish area nice with Hawaiian themed entertainment. Nice medal and non-tech shirt especially for a short race.
Hot N Hilly Summer 6K & 10K at Riley Wilderness Park
As hot and hilly as advertised
Hot N Hilly Summer 6K & 10K at Riley Wilderness Park
This was a very tough race. I was planning to go to OC this day and saw there was an evening race so decided to sign up. I was not … MORE
This was a very tough race. I was planning to go to OC this day and saw there was an evening race so decided to sign up. I was not prepared for this at all. I had run half marathons and thought I can run a 10K under any condition but I was wrong. Despite having to walk a lot of the hills and finishing about 20 minutes slower than my usual 10K time I still had fun and it was a very rewarding race. It was well organized and the organizers were really nice. Beautiful views.
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego
Super Fun Race in a Great City
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego
This was one of the most fun racing experiences I've had. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire event from the expo to the finish line party. I went to the expo … MORE
This was one of the most fun racing experiences I’ve had. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire event from the expo to the finish line party. I went to the expo on Saturday at the San Diego convention center and it was huge and well-organized. They had it clearly labeled where to go for everything. There were so many vendors and products I think I spent a good 2 hours there looking at everything. I did not like paying for convention center parking though. I stayed at a hotel about 5 miles away from the race and shared a Lyft with another runner so I wouldn’t have to deal with parking. There were so many street closing the Lyft dropped us off about a mile away but it was a nice warm-up walk and got to meet other runners. My biggest complaint about the race was that they seemed to assign me to the wrong corral. There are a ton of runners and the corrals were clearly marked and it was well organized I was just in too slow of one I put my predicted finishing time as 2:20 and ended up in one of the later corrals and both the 2:30 and 2:45 pacers were in corrals ahead of me. I didn’t quite make my goal of 2:20 but finished a few minutes under 2:30 but never caught up to the 2:30 pacer because they started about 10 minutes before me. Other than the corral mess and having to weave my way around walkers the first 2 miles, the rest of the race was a blast. It isn’t the most scenic route through San Diego but it is designed to not be too hilly. That being said, there are hills but none are very large. Personally I like a race with some rolling hills. The crowd support for the race was absolutely amazing running through the local neighborhoods. People were giving away everything from fruit to donuts to tequila shots. I don’t drink alcohol but if you do and don’t take this race seriously you could have a lot of fun. There were also numerous bands and musical acts and the finish line in downtown San Diego was great. The finisher medal was nice and San Diego themed but it was smaller than most of my other half marathon medals. The T-shirt was tech quality. I’m glad I got the men’s/unisex because the women’s shirt was an ugly color. They weren’t ready at the expo so we had to pick them up after the race. The finish line festivities were great. There is a post-race concert and food trucks and then you can enjoy San Diego. This was the most fun I have had in a race. I am moving out of California this summer and am going to be out of town during the race this year, but I am hoping to come back sometime in the future to do the full
PCRF Reaching for the Cure Run
My First Half Marathon for a Great Cause
PCRF Reaching for the Cure Run
This was my first half marathon. I chose this race due to timing and because it raised money for a great cause. It was a very fun local race. I … MORE
This was my first half marathon. I chose this race due to timing and because it raised money for a great cause. It was a very fun local race. I picked up my race packet the day before and it was very easy. Parking was free for packet pick up and the race. There were around 500 or so half marathon runners and you lined up based on predicted finish time. This was a nice number of participants. There were generally always other runners around you but there was also plenty of space. The course was nice through some of the neighborhoods and parks in Irvine. It didn’t have the energy or the iconic scenery of a big city race, but Irvine is very pretty. The volunteers at the aid stations were great. The course had a few rolling hills but nothing too challenging. The medal was huge and really nice although it didn’t say the year so I am not sure if they give the same medal every year. After the race there was some food trucks and booths and other entertainment. For participating you also got a shirt, half marathoners got a hat and you were given a bag with some coupons and goodies. I was very happy with this for my first half marathon. Great race if you are looking for a mid-sized race and/or a race for a good cause.