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@semodlin

Morgantown, WV Raving since 2023 50 States hopeful/finisher, Marathon Maniacs #16050, Half Fanatics #18797 Sarah's Marathon Adventure Active 17 hours, 35 minutes ago

About Me

  • Running club(s):
  • Rave race:
  • Race that's calling my name:

    Wineglass Marathon

  • I run because:

My Races

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

50 States Map
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Half Marathon

Marathon

Ultramarathon

(Marathon or Ultra) + Half

Marathon + Ultra

Other

Future Races

Personal Bests (4)

Race Distance Location Date Result
Marathon Snoqualmie Pass, WA Sep 8, 2024 4:15:29
Get Nauti Challenge (16.2 Miles) Norfolk, VA Nov 20, 2022 2:14:20
Half Marathon Snoqualmie Pass, WA Sep 7, 2024 2:03:11
10 Miler Philadelphia, PA May 1, 2022 1:28:08

Future Races (62)

Race Distance Location Date Paid
Marathon Huntsville, AL Dec 15, 2024
Half Marathon Chattanooga, TN Jan 1, 2025
Half Marathon Milwaukee, WI Jan 5, 2025
Marathon Hamilton, Bermuda Jan 19, 2025
17.75K Dumfries, VA Mar 22, 2025
10K Baltimore, MD Apr 5, 2025
Marathon Oklahoma City, OK Apr 26, 2025
Half Marathon Fredericksburg, VA May 18, 2025
5K Baltimore, MD Jun 22, 2025
12K Stafford, VA Aug 23, 2025
Marathon Pocatello, ID Aug 30, 2025
Marathon Arlington, VA Oct 26, 2025
Marathon DE Amsterdam, Netherlands 2025
Half Marathon Pass Christian, MS 2025
Marathon Jackson Hole, WY 2025
Marathon St. George, UT 2026
Marathon Louisville, KY 2026
Marathon Des Moines, IA 2026
Half Marathon Buffalo, NY 2026
Half Marathon Indianapolis, IN 2026
Marathon Newport, RI 2026
Half Marathon Denver, CO 2026
Marathon Memphis, TN 2026
Marathon Paris, France 2026
Marathon Tulsa, OK 2026
Half Marathon Atlanta, GA 2026
Marathon Eugene, OR 2026
Marathon Duluth, MN 2026
Marathon Baton Rouge, LA 2026
Marathon Huntsville, UT 2026
Marathon Little Rock, AR 2027
Marathon Barcelona, Spain 2027
Marathon Indianapolis, IN 2027
Marathon Inverness, United Kingdom 2027
Marathon Volcano, HI 2027
Marathon Lincoln, NE 2027
Half Marathon Falmouth, MA 2027
Marathon Baltimore, MD 2027
Marathon Jersey City, NJ 2027
Marathon St. Louis, MO 2027
Marathon Cass, WV 2027
Marathon Bar Harbor, ME 2028
Marathon Eau Claire, WI 2028
Marathon Las Cruces, NM 2028
Marathon Gilsum, NH 2028
Marathon Kiawah Island, SC 2028
Marathon Lahaina, HI 2028
Marathon White Sands, NM TBD
Half Marathon St Charles, ID TBD
Half Marathon Laketown, UT TBD
Half Marathon Cokeville, WY TBD
Marathon London, United Kingdom TBD
Marathon Milwaukee, WI TBD
Marathon Calistoga, CA TBD
Marathon Marlboro, VT TBD
Marathon Schlieren, Switzerland TBD
Marathon Old Forge, NY TBD
Marathon Portland, OR TBD
Marathon Wichita, KS TBD
Marathon Las Vegas, NV TBD
Marathon Venice, Italy TBD
Marathon Bath, NY TBD

Past Races (51)

Race Distance Location Date Result My Raves My Performance
Marathon Cocoa, FL Dec 1, 2024 4:53:45
Marathon Savannah, GA Nov 16, 2024 4:52:54
Marathon Salina, KS Nov 2, 2024 4:56:19
Marathon Lowell, MA Oct 20, 2024 4:31:54
Marathon Hartford, CT Oct 19, 2024 4:36:15
Half Marathon Louisville, KY Oct 12, 2024 2:04:16
Marathon Berlin, Germany Sep 29, 2024 4:27:00
Marathon Snoqualmie Pass, WA Sep 8, 2024 4:15:29
Half Marathon Snoqualmie Pass, WA Sep 7, 2024 2:03:11
Half Marathon Parkersburg, WV Aug 17, 2024 2:06:42
Marathon Anchorage, AK Jun 22, 2024 4:40:16
Marathon Helena, MT Jun 8, 2024 4:26:37
Marathon Fargo, ND Jun 1, 2024 4:27:13
Half Marathon Wheeling, WV May 25, 2024 2:20:11
Half Marathon Fredericksburg, VA May 19, 2024 2:11:03
Marathon Conway, NH May 5, 2024 4:16:55
Half Marathon Brooklyn, NY Apr 28, 2024 2:09:59
Marathon Rehoboth Beach, DE Apr 14, 2024 4:53:28
Half Marathon Cleveland, OH Apr 6, 2024 2:09:58
Marathon Jackson, MS Mar 16, 2024 4:54:59
Half Marathon South Park Township, PA Mar 2, 2024 2:30:08
Marathon Houston, TX Jan 14, 2024 5:28:16
Half Marathon Allison Park, PA Jan 6, 2024 2:37:38
Marathon Folsom, CA Dec 3, 2023 4:56:16
Half Marathon Commerce Charter Township, MI Nov 24, 2023 2:15:54
Marathon Charlotte, NC Nov 4, 2023 4:39:45
Half Marathon Morgantown, WV Oct 29, 2023 2:12:43
Marathon Grand Rapids, MI Oct 15, 2023 4:53:14
Marathon Colorado Springs, CO Sep 30, 2023 4:55:28
Half Marathon Clay, WV Sep 17, 2023 2:14:08
Half Marathon Berea, OH Sep 10, 2023 2:08:00
Half Marathon Parsons, WV Sep 9, 2023 2:08:09
Marathon Spearfish, SD Aug 20, 2023 4:57:58
Half Marathon Washington, DC Jun 17, 2023 2:49:06
Half Marathon Pittsburgh, PA May 7, 2023 2:16:49
Half Marathon Bruceton Mills, WV Apr 29, 2023 3:02:42
Marathon Mesa, AZ Feb 4, 2023 4:38:46
Half Marathon Fairmont, WV Jan 14, 2023 2:11:51
Marathon Honolulu, HI Dec 11, 2022 5:43:26
Half Marathon Washington, DC Dec 4, 2022 2:13:37
Get Nauti Challenge (16.2 Miles) Norfolk, VA Nov 20, 2022 2:14:20
Half Marathon Richmond, VA Nov 12, 2022 2:18:40
Marathon Chicago, IL Oct 9, 2022 4:58:58
Marathon Cleveland, OH May 22, 2022 4:44:30
10 Miler Philadelphia, PA May 1, 2022 1:28:08
Half Marathon Atlantic City, NJ Apr 2, 2022 2:03:26
Half Marathon Philadelphia, PA Mar 27, 2022 2:08:41
Marathon Virginia Beach, VA Mar 20, 2022 4:30:40
Marathon Philadelphia, PA Nov 21, 2021 4:23:18
Half Marathon Philadelphia, PA Nov 20, 2021 2:03:36
Half Marathon Philadelphia, PA Sep 19, 2021 2:05:30

My Raves

This was the inaugural marathon, and I'm fortunate enough to participate in it! Usually, inaugural events are rocky and there are tons of ways for the organizers to improve, but … MORE

This was the inaugural marathon, and I’m fortunate enough to participate in it! Usually, inaugural events are rocky and there are tons of ways for the organizers to improve, but I don’t have any major notes for this one.

The organizers were proactive with their news and information (ex. bib pickup, race day training tips). The expo was at the Trustees Garden and had tons of personal touches that made it seem like the organizers have been doing this for years! For example, runners could pick up their name tags on a wall that was alco color coded with the number of marathons someone ran (ex. first time, 11-30, 60+). The race swag was ok for me since the shirt and wind breaker jacket were bland. Additionally, Rabbit (the clothing partner) didn’t make nearly enough merch for people since they sold out early on in the day.

As for race day, the weather was perfect in the beginning since it was in the 50s. As the day went on, it warmed up and there was next-to-no shade, so the sun was blasting me in the eyes (I know the organizers can’t control that). It was mostly flat since there were a few elevation changes, but it is possible to PR (my performance was meh since I had hip pain sadly).

*EDIT: My major complaint about this race is that tons of runners were routed to the front for being slow (swag wagon) and their “results” were still on the page. Therefore, the rankings aren’t accurate*

The city really came out to support us! I felt like there weren’t many dead spots, so I didn’t feel alone or bored. This is great for first-timers and 6+ hour runners.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
2

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

This is a relatively small race in a small town! So, there weren't many spectators. But the ones that came out to see us were great! My biggest complaint with … MORE

This is a relatively small race in a small town! So, there weren’t many spectators. But the ones that came out to see us were great!
My biggest complaint with this course is the fact that we ran along the road with active traffic for approximately 10 miles (5 miles per loop). Because we had to run in the road with traffic, it was hard to pass runners since we had to make sure we wouldn’t get hit since the cars were behind us. We got to finally spread out once we cross the bridge around miles 8 + 18 and continued along Pawtucket Blvd.
The finish line had lots of food options: chips, protein bars, 4 varieties of soup, PB+J sandwiches, bananas, and oranges. I stayed after longer since traffic was backed up, so I was able to get much more food!
I personally wouldn’t use this as a BQ/PR opportunity since there were some rolling hills and it was hard to spread out for a good chunk of the course.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
4
SWAG
2

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Connecticut is a small state and there aren't many options for marathons, so everyone does Hartford. Lots of spectators came out to see us and it made me feel welcomed! … MORE

Connecticut is a small state and there aren’t many options for marathons, so everyone does Hartford. Lots of spectators came out to see us and it made me feel welcomed! I stopped a lot to take photos of the scenery, the signs, and decorations.

I started to feel a bit more alone when the half marathoners separated from the marathoners, but at least we still had a nice course to run on. The course is rolling hills, but they didn’t feel terrible! The weather was perfect since it was cold in the beginning, and gradually warmed up!

We finished the run by running through the arch! Afterwards there were tons of vendors that sold food if runners wanted to buy some. The free food we received were soup, bread, bananas, popcorn, and monster cookie granola. Additionally, we received beer in the beer garden!

I will definitely run this again if I do another round of the USA.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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Since this is a world major, I fully expected the whole package. I wasn't disappointed since the volunteers, the crowds, the weather, and the scenery were phenomenal. I only have … MORE

Since this is a world major, I fully expected the whole package. I wasn’t disappointed since the volunteers, the crowds, the weather, and the scenery were phenomenal.

I only have 2 complaints:
1. Since this is a world major, there were over 50,000 runners… so it was packed and crowded. It was very hard to keep a steady pace since I was constantly surrounded by other runners, and I constantly had to zig-zag between the other runners.

2. There were times when parts of the road were blocked off, so we sometimes had bottleneck situations. With this, we were sometimes in tighter situations, so it was hard to run and navigate the road.

Overall, this is a wonderful race and I’m extremely fortunate to participant in its 50th anniversary! I wish I could run here again, but I’ll focus on other races.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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I can see why tons of people run here in order to PR, BQ, and/or have their Washington marathon! The course is beautiful since I stopped over a dozen times … MORE

I can see why tons of people run here in order to PR, BQ, and/or have their Washington marathon! The course is beautiful since I stopped over a dozen times to take pictures! There were plenty of water and fluids at the aid stations, and the volunteers were great!

There were a couple of difficult parts to this race. The course starts in the tunnel for about 2 miles, so it’s hard to watch where you are stepping. Afterwards the rest of the course is on gravel, so it was sometimes hard to have steady footing. The next difficult part was that the trail is used by the public, so we had to dodge bikers, other runners, and dog walkers.

The expo was nonexistent since it was just the bib pickup. I was there for about 3 minutes since there weren’t vendors or anything to look at. The end of the race was great since there was a water tank, LOTS of food (ex. chips, cookies, chili), and the opportunity for a massage. Lastly, there were shuttle busses to take runners back to the start where cars are parked.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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This is the same course as the Tunnel Marathons, so the views are the same and we run through the tunnel for about 2 miles! Running on gravel was the … MORE

This is the same course as the Tunnel Marathons, so the views are the same and we run through the tunnel for about 2 miles!

Running on gravel was the hardest part since I’m used to road running. The second hardest part was running in the tunnel since it was dark, and my footing wasn’t the best. Since the course is used by the public, we had to dodge bikers, other runners, and dog walkers.

The production of the race wasn’t that great since I felt like we didn’t get much swag or food, so I felt underwhelmed. Additionally, we ended right in the middle of the marathon course, so several marathoners had to awkwardly run past us while we are standing around.

Overall, this is a good race since it’s realistic for people to PR, it’s not overwhelming with thousands of runners, and the views were amazing.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
5
SWAG
2

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I signed up for this race kinda last minute, and I have zero regrets! Parkersburg isn't that pretty of a town/city, so I was underwhelmed when I drove and ran … MORE

I signed up for this race kinda last minute, and I have zero regrets! Parkersburg isn’t that pretty of a town/city, so I was underwhelmed when I drove and ran through it.

The reason why I give this race a higher rating is because the volunteers really loved us! They really showed their love for us at the expo, the pasta dinner, along the course, and the post race lunch! I have run a million other races, and the volunteers here were top-notch! I definitely want to come back to run again (despite the annoying hills).

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
2
SWAG
3

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I'm surprised that this race isn't very popular since Anchorage is a large city in Alaska and it's easy to get to. Additionally, it was the 50th anniversary of the … MORE

I’m surprised that this race isn’t very popular since Anchorage is a large city in Alaska and it’s easy to get to. Additionally, it was the 50th anniversary of the race, so I thought more people would come out for it! The expo was at the Alaska Airlines Center (sports complex). There weren’t many vendors sadly, so most people were in-and-out in less than 10 minutes.

The race started in Kincaid Park and was easy to get to! The race was on various trails and parks (ex. Coastal Trail, Chester Creek Trail, Far North Bicentennial Park). I stopped to take tons of nature pictures and to take pictures of 3 moose!

Since the course is mainly on trails, it was a mix of pavement, rocks, and gravel. It was hard to keep a steady pace while on the rocks/gravel sadly, but I still had fun! The weather got hot, so I wish it would’ve been 10-15 degrees colder.

The finish line was great! There was a band, a place to take a picture on top of a stuffed moose, grilled cheese, Qdoba, beer garden, and a sports massage! This is a great destination race!

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
5
SWAG
2

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I thought that the 50th anniversary of this race would be huge and spectacular, but I was kinda let down. Despite Helena being the state capital of MT, I was … MORE

I thought that the 50th anniversary of this race would be huge and spectacular, but I was kinda let down. Despite Helena being the state capital of MT, I was surprised that there weren’t many runners.

We started at 6:00 am in Jefferson City (middle of nowhere), and that’s main the downhill portion of the race. At mile 3, we ran out-and-back until mile 7. There is elevation gain going out (about 2 miles). Around mile 15.5, the rolling hills really kick in. So we would go uphill for a bit, then back downhill. This continued until around mile 20.

We ran into the city, where we finally had a decent number of spectators. We ran into the runners doing the 5K/10K course, so we clashed a bit. The last portion of the race was through the walking mall then we finished at the library. I wished we had real food that was free (not snacks). There were food trucks, but you had to pay to eat. At least there was a free concert in the park for us!

I thought the course was beautiful since we ran by the woods along the highway. I did see a black bear around mile 10, so that was unique! At least the weather was perfect! Not humid and not freezing! I just wish the production of the race was better.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
2
SCENERY
4
SWAG
3

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Fargo is definitely a must-do race! Unfortunately, Mark Knutson (the founder) died last year, so this was the first year without him. Additionally, there were flooding issues in the days … MORE

Fargo is definitely a must-do race! Unfortunately, Mark Knutson (the founder) died last year, so this was the first year without him. Additionally, there were flooding issues in the days prior to the marathon, so the course had to be altered a bit at the last minute. Despite these issues, I felt like the RD, volunteers, and management did a great job to set up the races.

It was on the warm side, but we mainly ran in the shade in the suburbs. Since we mainly ran in the suburbs, I felt like the scenery was gorgeous and beautiful. Lots of people came out to support us and I felt welcomed in this town. There were a decent number of alcohol stops starting at the later half of the race (I stopped 5 times)!

As for the course, there were LOTS of twists and turns, so it can be challenging to some people. On the plus side, it was like 99% flat with minor hills (less than 200 ft elevation gain). I did much better than I thought! This is my 3rd fastest marathon!

My biggest complaint was that there were times when the full, half, and 10K runners clashed with each other, so that was hard to navigate a bit. On a related note, the half marathoners started at 7, full marathoners started at 7:15, then 10K runners at 7:30. I didn’t like this breakdown since I feel like there should’ve been more of a break.

I know tons of people complained about the management, changes, and the setup, but I definitely would love to run Fargo again!

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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I have run marathons easier than this half-marathons! There is a long 2-mile elevation gain (over 500 ft) from miles 3-5, so I was tired at the beginning of the … MORE

I have run marathons easier than this half-marathons! There is a long 2-mile elevation gain (over 500 ft) from miles 3-5, so I was tired at the beginning of the race! It was also HOT, so I went slower and stayed hydrated as much as possible! Wheeling isn’t that pretty of a city since it was filled with roads and buildings (not like we ran in the suburbs or parks).

Surprisingly lots of the townspeople came out to see and support us, so I felt welcomed! And some of them at alcohol!

You will not PR for this race! I did it just as a challenge!

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
3
SWAG
2

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This was my first race through the Marine Corps Marathon organization! I was blown away by the number of people that came out to see us in Fredericksburg since we … MORE

This was my first race through the Marine Corps Marathon organization! I was blown away by the number of people that came out to see us in Fredericksburg since we started at 6. I felt like there were no dead spots, so I felt the strength and love from spectators. I had alcohol, cupcakes, donuts, and some coffee along the course, so I had fun!

The course itself is rolling hills, but the last 2 miles do have 2 major hills. The first one is by the hospital and the second one is along Cowan Blvd. I walked up both since the heat got to me, but I finished!
I definitely want to come back and run another Marine Corp Marathon event!

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
5

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This was my first Revel race, and I was not disappointed! I truly didn't think it was possible for me to PR since I run marathons back-to-back, so I can't … MORE

This was my first Revel race, and I was not disappointed! I truly didn’t think it was possible for me to PR since I run marathons back-to-back, so I can’t properly train.

Since the course is very downhill, we need to take the shuttle to the start between 3:15-4:15 (EARLY) to begin at 6:00. It is FREEZING! I wasn’t prepared for the cold since I thought I could handle the weather. I didn’t bring an emergency heat blanket. Fortunately, there was a good Samaritan who brought an extra blanket and offered it to me. Additionally, someone had an extra-long sleeve jacket to donate, and he gave it to me so I can be extra warm (thank you kind strangers)!

The Revel races are known for being very downhill. It sounds easy, but your quads still get very sore! The first 5 miles were the steep miles, and it kinda evens out the rest of the way (still downhill). The only part that was uphill was between miles 10-12, but it was minimal. The course scenery is absolutely gorgeous, I wish I stopped more often to take pictures.

Since this is along the highway, there are no spectators. The only time we had spectators were starting at mile 25. As for aid stations, there were GU gels, water, Nuun, oranges (a couple of stations), and muscle rub cream (3 stations).

We had a donut from Dunkin Donuts (they had extra so I also took a dozen), Siggis milk yogurt, and beer! People could also buy kettle corn as an extra treat!

Overall, my experience was wonderful and expectations were more than met! Definitely want to do another Revel race!

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

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I really thought that *NYCRUNS would put on an awesome race, but this was a huge letdown (*NYCRUNS isn’t NYRR*). The expo was held at the ZeroSpace in Brooklyn and … MORE

I really thought that *NYCRUNS would put on an awesome race, but this was a huge letdown (*NYCRUNS isn’t NYRR*). The expo was held at the ZeroSpace in Brooklyn and it was meh. The only cool thing was the was writing where runners got to write why they run. The only “free” swag we received was our t-shirts. We also got to sample some protein drinks, which was nice. There was a beer garden, but it cost $7.00 (UGH).

Getting to the start of the race was easy enough. They offer suggestions to take the subway, which were very helpful! The spectators were amazing! There were zero dead spots, so I felt welcomed throughout the race!

As for the fluid stations, the only options they offered were water and nuun. I wish they offered things like pickle juice, gels, bananas, etc. The finish line was in Prospect Park and it was very underwhelming. The runners received smartwater, bagels + cream cheese, and apples. I really could’ve gone for a banana at least! At least there was live music, so you could relax a bit. It was also hard to figure out how to leave the park.

As for my performance, the course wasn’t hard, it was just HOT. Additionally, I had stomach bug issues, so I wouldn’t have performed that well in the first place. I really wish I participated in a different NY half marathon. I have paid far less for other half and full marathons, and I feel like I get my moneys worth from those races.

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
2
SCENERY
4
SWAG
1

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This was a good race, considering the location and the size of DE. I thought that this would be a really popular marathon, but there weren't many spectators out to … MORE

This was a good race, considering the location and the size of DE. I thought that this would be a really popular marathon, but there weren’t many spectators out to cheer us on, so I felt kinda lonely for most of the race.

I was also hoping that it would be cool (since it’s advertised as the “coolest race in DE”). But the weather started to get really hot (high 60s-70s). To make things worse, there’s next to no shade along the course, minus the few parts when we are on the trails. I know the race directors can’t control the weather, so I can’t hold it against them. The course was run through some suburbs/roads, boardwalks, wooden bridges, and lots of dirt trails. I thought the scenery was pretty at least!

As for production, I felt like the expo was small, but it was very organized. Again, I was hoping for a larger venue and more swag, but we only received our race shirts and a glass (which was nice).

Grotto pizza is the big sponsor of this race, and they definitely nailed it! I LOVE their pizza and I wish I lived in the area! After the 5K on Saturday, runners got 2 beers and pizza. After the races on Sunday, we had a buffet at Grottos (ex. chicken, salad, pizza) and 3 beers!

Overall, this was a good race! It’s not difficult, but can be boring and HOT. At least we had a solid after party!

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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This was the first time that the marathon was held! Marathoners started at 6:30, while the half-marathoners started at 7:30 (plus the shorter distances). This is a very hilly course! … MORE

This was the first time that the marathon was held! Marathoners started at 6:30, while the half-marathoners started at 7:30 (plus the shorter distances). This is a very hilly course!
The biggest compliant I have is that the streets, especially the highway entrances/exits, were not fully blocked off. The police were there for the intersections, but we had to run next to and with traffic, so someone could have gotten hit easily. Most of the route is through the suburbs/side-streets of Jackson, so it was mostly quiet. There are also no timing mats or photographers along the route unfortunately.
The expo was at the fitness center, and they had a lot to offer! They offered wine, beer, and margaritas to us! As for swag, we received a shirt, lotion, sunglasses, and a stress ball (so not much to offer). Additionally, since I traveled from West Virginia, I was somewhat treated as a celebrity! The volunteers were happy that they got someone who was out-of-state to come!
There was free parking at the fairgrounds (like a 2–3-minute walk to the starting line) and there was no gear check. I didn’t need gear check since I parked. There were a few pacers, but the ones I saw ran a 3:30 marathon, 5:00 marathon, and 5:30 marathon.
I wish there were more spectators and crowd support. At least there were tons of volunteers to make the course doable! I do hope to see this marathon grow since it has tons of potential.
The medal is HUGE! It is almost the size of my face!

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
3
SWAG
2
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I really wish I didn't get injured during this race (around mile 10, I experienced a sharp pain at my groin/adductor muscles). This was the smoothest and well-planned expo and … MORE

I really wish I didn’t get injured during this race (around mile 10, I experienced a sharp pain at my groin/adductor muscles). This was the smoothest and well-planned expo and race I have ever been to!
Expo: You check in with your ID and code, then head to the table(s) for your bag. When you go to the table, they already have your stuff made and confirm it’s you by greeting you with your name. There were tons of vendors to buy from and I felt so welcomed here!
Race: Weather was a tad cold in the morning, but it warms up. There is TONS of corral control (security to check corral assignment). The course is flat! There were tons of alcohol stops (I think I stopped 6 times). The weather was 10/10!
Post Race: You get your medal, food, and t-shirt when you finish!
I would love to do Houston again as a redo!

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
5

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This race is extensively advertised as downhill and acts like this is the perfect course for a BQ and/or PR. The first half of the race was definitely rolling hills, … MORE

This race is extensively advertised as downhill and acts like this is the perfect course for a BQ and/or PR. The first half of the race was definitely rolling hills, especially since there was a gradual uphill climb around mile 10. The second half of the course is relatively flat.

The weather was 100% perfect! It wasn’t humid, hot, rainy, cloudy, etc. I wish there were more crowd support in the beginning, but tons of more people come out in the second half of the race. Additionally, there are tons of alcohol stops! I believe I stopped 6-7 times for various shots, so I had fun! If alcohol isn’t your thing, then tons of spectators had food such as beignets, doughnuts, and candy.

Finishers received a backpack, a jacket, oatmeal, a burrito, yogurt, and beer! Definitely one of the biggest post-race hauls offered!

I recommend this course if you want a solid December or California marathon.

DIFFICULTY
3
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5
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3
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I'm surprised the Charlotte Marathon isn't as popular as the other North Carolina marathons. I felt like tons of people came out to support us, the course scenery was nice, … MORE

I’m surprised the Charlotte Marathon isn’t as popular as the other North Carolina marathons. I felt like tons of people came out to support us, the course scenery was nice, and I had a great time at the expo.

The first half we run through the suburbs, which were also the hilliest part of the course. The second half has us run through a park for a brief period of time, to get to another section of the city + suburbs. I felt like this part was flatter. The most memorable thing for me was around mile 18 when someone in a Batman costume gave out beer!

The finishers received BBQ sandwiches, bananas, snacks, and beer! I would honestly say my least favorite part was that it was in the 30s when the race started, so it was cold.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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This is a simple out-and-back half marathon held around Halloween. It is along the rail trail (a walking/running/biking path) that is next to the Monongahela River. Since it's completely flat, … MORE

This is a simple out-and-back half marathon held around Halloween. It is along the rail trail (a walking/running/biking path) that is next to the Monongahela River. Since it’s completely flat, you could PR. This is a small race since less than 150 people sign up, so there won’t be corrals or pacers. The mile markers are Halloween-themed yard signs, which are cute.

The production of the race is basic and there isn’t anything special. Even though the rail trail is beautiful, I find it boring since I prefer my long runs in the city with more spectators. Speaking of spectators, there are always a few, which is nice.

The weather can be a hit or miss since it can range from raining/cold and moderately warm.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
4
SWAG
3

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Don Kern really knows how to put on a race! The expo was at the YMCA, and it was smaller than I hoped. BUT.... you get a huge bag of … MORE

Don Kern really knows how to put on a race! The expo was at the YMCA, and it was smaller than I hoped. BUT…. you get a huge bag of swag such as protein mix, biofreeze, and coffee! I was worried the weather wouldn’t hold up since it rained the day before, but it did, and I wasn’t cold or hot (just a bit gloomy). The course is mostly flat, as there are small patches of hills/higher elevation. I don’t think this would be a course that someone would get a PR, but it’s definitely well supported with aid stations and spectators (one spot had pickle juice). Runners received Gogurt, ice cream, water, beer, and other goodies at the finish line.

If I do another round of the US, I’ll definitely run this again!

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
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5

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This was an in-and-out course (so 13.1 miles one way and then turn around to run the remaining 13.1 miles). The course was a mix of asphalt, gravel, and dirt. … MORE

This was an in-and-out course (so 13.1 miles one way and then turn around to run the remaining 13.1 miles). The course was a mix of asphalt, gravel, and dirt. There were next-to-no flat areas because the course was hilly. I did much better than I thought I would because the weather got hot and I’m not used to running in the CO elevation. I’m glad there were aid stations every 2-ish miles!

The expo was small and I wish there were vendors. I really loved the shirt and medal! I’m also glad my friend in CO was able to come out to see me!

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
3
SWAG
4

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I did this half marathon following another half marathon the day before. The course is mostly downhill (very few uphill portions), so it felt easy for me. We run through … MORE

I did this half marathon following another half marathon the day before. The course is mostly downhill (very few uphill portions), so it felt easy for me. We run through the Metroparks of Cleveland, so the scenery was pretty. There weren’t many goodies to take home, but the medal and shirt were nice. The weather was on the colder side in the beginning, but I got warmed up when I started running.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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This is a very beautiful and downhill course! I've run plenty of races in WV, and this is my favorite half marathon of the state. Even though it is downhill, … MORE

This is a very beautiful and downhill course! I’ve run plenty of races in WV, and this is my favorite half marathon of the state. Even though it is downhill, it is still a trail race, so you can easily trip and fall (almost happened to me). Around mile 10, you get off the trail and run on pavement to the finish line. This is a good opportunity to PR!

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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This was a very beautiful and scenic race! The weather was absolutely PERFECT! I wish I had a better performance because everything was there for me to PR (I had … MORE

This was a very beautiful and scenic race! The weather was absolutely PERFECT! I wish I had a better performance because everything was there for me to PR (I had bad stomach issues in the beginning sadly). This is a small town race, so there are zero spectators and the expo was tiny (it was just 2 tables in a hotel conference room). At least there was a free drink token for a nearby bar.

I would recommend this course if you want to PR and have a relaxing race!

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
3
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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Pittsburgh was a fun place to run! This is a hilly course since we run over the bridges, but the people came out to give us all the love and … MORE

Pittsburgh was a fun place to run! This is a hilly course since we run over the bridges, but the people came out to give us all the love and support we needed! I really felt energized throughout the race! This was the first time I received jello-shots, so I kept them in my pocket and drink them until I finished!

The expo was large and fun since there was a lot to look at. There were other races that were advertised, so it was nice to get to learn about them. There is also a challenge option for people who want to run on both Saturday and Sunday. You can run a 5K on Saturday and the half or full on Sunday. You get an additional challenge medal! My only complaint was that there was no FREE alcohol at the finish line for the runners. You had to go to a special tent area, but you also had to pay for it, so it was very disappointing. I would run it again since I had a lot of fun!

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
2
SWAG
5

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Since this was my first trail race, it was much more difficult for me! I'm used to road races, so I had to get used to watching my step and … MORE

Since this was my first trail race, it was much more difficult for me! I’m used to road races, so I had to get used to watching my step and my slower pace. There were plenty of times when I almost fell, so I’m glad I didn’t! This is a very steep race, and it’s filled with rocks, mud, and branches/logs. We got donuts, pepperoni rolls, coffee, and a bunch of other foods afterwards.

As for the scenery, it is beautiful! Coopers Rock is very popular for hikers, and I can see why. I recommend this course if you want a major workout!

DIFFICULTY
5
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
3

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This race starts in the desert and it is dark, so it was unique and cool! The expo was at the Cub's training stadium and there were tons of vendors … MORE

This race starts in the desert and it is dark, so it was unique and cool! The expo was at the Cub’s training stadium and there were tons of vendors and volunteers! There was one vendor that sold oranges, which was unique. I took back way too many freebies! The course was downhill in the beginning, but it flattens out kinda quickly. There were a decent amount of spectators since it’s not a huge marathon. The finish line area was in a huge park and it got sunny/hot by the time I finished. I would definitely run this course again!

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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The race was definitely more geared towards tourists because most people were not runners (or experienced marathon runners). Most people that did this were walkers because this course has no … MORE

The race was definitely more geared towards tourists because most people were not runners (or experienced marathon runners). Most people that did this were walkers because this course has no time limit. The expo was huge and very nice to walk through! I wish I could’ve used the opportunities by the vendors, but I’m not from Hawaii, so I wouldn’t have been able to return.

The course itself wasn’t bad, but it was mostly flat. It was extremely hot (even at 5 am), so I didn’t enjoy that at all. There really weren’t many spectators, even though Honolulu is a big city. The finish line party was at a big park, so it was nice to relax there and drink coconut milk!

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
2
SCENERY
3
SWAG
2

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Chicago was a blast! The course was basically a non-stop party! There were very minimal parts where there were no people, so I felt like I had crowd support the … MORE

Chicago was a blast! The course was basically a non-stop party! There were very minimal parts where there were no people, so I felt like I had crowd support the entire time! Most of the course is flat since very few parts where there was an elevation change. The elevation change was very minimal, so it wasn’t tiring, and my knees/legs didn’t get hurt. Weather was absolutely perfect! I’ve heard from friends that this race always has perfect weather, so I’m glad I was able to confirm the rumors are true.

Now the negatives regarding my performance: I had knee pain from my summer training, and it came back sadly. I had a hornet sting me around mile 18, ouch! I fell down around mile 20, which definitely didn’t make my knees happy. I had two large blisters on my big toes because I wore shoes that didn’t work with me.

This is definitely a race I want to redo!

DIFFICULTY
2
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

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Great expo! There are tons of gear at the convention center for the expo! Additionally, there were several alcohol samples at the expo! I heard this race weekend is a … MORE

Great expo! There are tons of gear at the convention center for the expo! Additionally, there were several alcohol samples at the expo! I heard this race weekend is a hit or miss with weather. I ran in 2022, and the weather was gorgeous. It can be windy, rainy, cloudy, or extremely hot! I’m so fortunate that I had the perfect weather conditions!

J & A Racing knows how to throw an after party! Had 4 drink tickets and 1 food ticket, so I was very lit! I have run multiple races with this organization, and they never fail to make them blowouts. Additionally, since I ran it for its 50th anniversary, I feel like they went all out for the afterparty!

The course was extremely flat! There was one small bridge approx. 15-16 miles and coming back 22-23 miles. So, I had no complaints about the course.

The only negative about this race is that the course was dead for the full marathoners unfortunately, especially between miles 15-20. Most people were cheering during for the half-marathoners, so I didn’t get all the crowd support I wanted.

DIFFICULTY
1
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
5

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Philly was my first marathon, and I killed it! This race got me hooked on marathons, and it's because the production, the crowd support, and the course were amazing. I … MORE

Philly was my first marathon, and I killed it! This race got me hooked on marathons, and it’s because the production, the crowd support, and the course were amazing. I thought that I wouldn’t be as strong since I ran the half-marathon the day before, but I felt invincible!

Getting to the start was easy enough because there were shuttle buses for the runners, I just had to walk about 3 blocks to a pickup spot, which was kinda scary since it was still dark. Fortunately, there were tons of other runners going to a bus shuttle spot, so I wasn’t alone. Once we got to the art museum, we had to go through security (which was slow). I’m glad I got there early, so I didn’t have to wait in line forever!

It was FREEZING while I waited for the run to start since it’s the Sunday before Thanksgiving!

If you want a city to cheer you on, then Philly is for you! Additionally, there are multiple running challenges that give people the opportunity to push themselves beyond normal means and you get bragging rights!

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
4

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I ran this half marathon the day before the marathon, and I did much better than I thought! It was FREEZING in the beginning since it's right before Thanksgiving! Additionally, … MORE

I ran this half marathon the day before the marathon, and I did much better than I thought! It was FREEZING in the beginning since it’s right before Thanksgiving! Additionally, we were delayed by 30 minutes because there were still tons of runners trying to get through security.

Philly is a city where the spectators really come out and support the runners! I’m glad this is where my long distance running started because I felt strong! The course isn’t flat, it is more rolling, so you’ll have to work a bit!

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

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