Martin Smith's Staging Area

The Great Pumpkin Run is a fun local race. It’s not a destination race, but it’s a race in a fun destination. Course is a flat track mostly along the Williamette River. Running this Half Marathon was a last minute decision. We happened to be in Portland. Glad we ran it and would run it again if I happened to be in town at the time.

The “Champion Flipper” serving up the best pancakes made the post race activities! Those were the absolute best pancakes ever made.

For the race director, more porta-potties are needed. Even though we finished less than 3 hours, much of the post-race exhibits were packed up or packing up. There were 25-30 runners still on the course behind us.

Smoky Mountain Half fits in the upper tier of Vacation Races Half Marathon series. This was my 8th VR event. Smooth transportation from parking out to the start line. This is a point to point race with a gradual climb of 700 feet. Even for a flat-lander the uphill didn’t hurt.

Very well organized event. Course is American Pastoral. Beautiful winding roads through Pennsylvania farmland. Organizers did an excellent job with the expo and post race festivities. Loved seeing the people in antebellum regalia.

Setting was really good. Course could be improved, smoothed out for first two miles. Enjoyed running the Seaside Streets and Jersey Shore boardwalk. Originally I had written that the swag was low budget. I’m revising to note the organizers offered free pics for download. This is the best swag – free pics! Every race should do this- it’s free advertising. I’d also recommend adding a chocolate milk sponsor for post race refreshers.

Would suggest a name change to Asbury Park Running Festival or Jersey Shore Running Festival. Clown logo doesn’t do the event justice.

The Run For Home Half is a well-run local race. The course was well staffed with enthusiastic volunteers throughout the route. Local law-enforcement took great care to keep runners safe. The course winds through a quaint American Pastoral setting, past lovely homes and through a nice community park. Finish line is set on the track in the Woody Hayes stadium.

The Mount Rainier Half Marathon seems undersold in terms of course difficulty. There are a couple of tough climbs. But that’s not what makes the course difficult.

Essentially miles 2-7 represent a difficult trail run with large rocks dispersed along the route. These are toe-biting, ankle turning rocks the width and height of medium-sized gnomes waiting to knock you off course. Saw a couple of experienced runners take a fall as the rock-lined trail narrowed in spots.

Following Mile 7, a hard-packed, tree-lined dirt logging road carries you downhill and through beautiful countryside. Miles 9-13 are on paved roads, with miles 10-12 through a beautiful tree-lined country road.

Kudos to Vacation Races as they consistently offer a well-organized event. This was my fifth VR event. Love the finisher medals!

It bears repeating that they undersold the difficulty of this course given the granite land mines along the route. My only other constructive criticism would be to offer more Race merchandise shirts in 100% cotton.

After five VR events, the quality of finisher shirts still seems cheap. They run a good show and it’s worth checking a VR race out, but order your shirt one or two sizes larger.

Amazing race. How sweet the sound of the runners hooting and hollering, the cool weather then the cold weather. The snow flurries then the sleet. The rain. And thankfully the enthusiasm at the finish line.

Zion Half Marathon is one of the best Vacation Races has to offer in its menu of running adventures. It’s as perfect a setting as it gets.

Event was well organized. Best race medals! VR could really step up their game in terms of the materials used in finisher shirts. Snack box at the end of the race is decent with opportunities for improvement. Test out powdered donuts and see how that goes over with hungry runners. It’ll pair well with the chocolate milk at the finish line!

Good job, Vacation Races. Excelsior!

Don’t be afraid of the hills. Steady pace early on. You’ll need the energy coming home. Do a Run-Walk or Walk-Run or whatever it takes to run this race. Well worth the challenge.

N/A this race is no longer- it was fun but for some reason Savannah didn’t want it anymore gggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhddddddfffffcccccffffrtggbhjjjhfffhhuuhjjhfsrhb