M E Hall's Staging Area

I came to Nebraska having run this marathon in 2018. I knew it would be hot however this time I planned better for it. I had run some very hot days in Oklahoma training. 1. The expo was just a bib pickup, you had the option of same day pickup. 2. The scenery was great in the neighborhoods however we had long straight aways 4 times of which 3 were done twice with little shade. My friend told me, it would have been better and easier to do two Half loops. 3.We ran on a lot of concrete- not my favorite surface however the concrete was in better shape than the asphalt street. 4. The stops had water, gatorade, and gels. Some had 12oz bottles which I picked up every time. 5. My plan was to pour water on me every mile and take salt every hour. Doing this did keep me much cooler than my first race here. 6. The finisher and AG awards are pretty nice and you get a long sleeve cotton shirt. 7. The marathon course has many turns in one neighborhood and I was looking for signs they were few and not well placed, fortunately I was able to ask a volunteer. This seems to have been a problem with the faster runners as some were a little lost. Overall, this is a close race for me to do but it isn’t my favorite because the weather this time of year can be challenging.

Beautiful scenery, race day packet pickup, lots of communication from the Race Director who seems to be a runner. Laid back no pressure attitude become great race overall. Love it…. new state what else is there to say.

Prerace communications were great. There was a bib pickup but not really an expo as this is a small race. We had a 7:00 start which went off on time and smoothly. For a small race there was an abundance of pacers. The race course was easy after the first lap. I would of liked more course markings if I was running alone. The RD does not like mile markers so we were watching our watches more than normal. The shirt and medal were themed to the race and I doubled this race with Lincoln Marathon. Race day was okay early but the heat and wind came in at the finish- Please note I took my time.

As I was running this Marathon one of the other runners asked me how many marathons I had run on this trail? The answer was 12. Cowtown, the Texas Double and Texas Quad were some of them. So this is Fort Worth’s contribution to the Covid era. Almost every weekend there are marathons here. And one of the best groups to race with is Cox Running. They are professionals in their work. Great timing, medals, shirts, water stop are key marks to their race production. Great value in price and runners putting on races for runners.

I picked-up my bib at the fitness gym at about 2:00. Would have liked a later pickup time as I drove 7 hours to get there. I was in the early start so another night of less sleep before the marathon 4:00 sign in. We left at 4:30 most of us were walkers or run/walkers. The name USA Fit means that all levels of racers are supported but walkers are encouraged to do the early start. Once again I was with my Maniac Texas friends so time went very fast. When the sun came up I realized we were in a very nice neighborhood with Tropical Trees and flowers. The race director and workers were very attentive to our needs. The Swag Wagon even asked if we need drinks or food. I received a finishers shirt made out of very soft stay dry. Also, a nice finishers medal. I didn’t pick up my third place AG award as I was unaware I placed. Again a very nice day with friends on a flat course. I did save enough energy to run the last three miles at a moderate pace. I will probably be back. Cheers youall.

This race had a pickup at the local runners world. The course is along side of a river where you can do float trips. As I am not a trail runner this had some easy roads to run down. However, you must be ready to climb hill after hill. Then you have cattle guards and one place with a weird rock formation. However the usually roots and large rocks weren’t present. I am glad it was dry that day but it was hot… so I survived and now I am Ultra Man… no I have completed one 50k. I will leave the rest to others. Cheers

Day before pick up at race hotel.. The bib worked for all three days which is great. The RD, I know personally and she puts on a great race. So about being the new kid… with only 30 some marathons I was the least experienced runner. These guys are mostly over 300 marathons. The whole idea is to get together as a group and run, run/walk marathons. They are all out there just to finish…. spending lots of time talking on what is going on in their families. I would say this is more of a meeting of runners with running on the side. Very enjoyable and low stress.

Day before pick up at race hotel.. The bib worked for all three days which is great. The RD, I know personally and she puts on a great race. So about being the new kid… with only 30 some marathons I was the least experienced runner. These guys are mostly over 300 marathons. The whole idea is to get together as a group and run, run/walk marathons. They are all out there just to finish…. spending lots of time talking on what is going on in their families. I would say this is more of a meeting of runners with running on the side. Very enjoyable and low stress.

This race is a Covid race and we know much has changed. But I really love this race. I was allowed an early start so my first two hours were great for running. With the altitude drop I was running right behind the leader. It was a dream, I am never that far out front. But this is a cool race, with lots of spectators. And I really appreciated the small town atmosphere. So put this race on your bucket list…. you will enjoy it.

We did this race because I couldn’t really find any others to do. Was I ever surprised. Races don’t have to be big to be fun. The race had 17 marathoners. But I knew a lot of them and met the ones I didn’t know. While exciting scenery can be fun sometimes it is just wonderful to run and circle and talk to so many people. I have really forgotten how much I love the banter out on the race course. It was an easy run except for the summer heat but I am here to tell you I would do it again.

Well organized small race. I did not go to the Expo b/c I picked up the packet the day of the race. Things I liked, Fireballs at 11.5 and free beer after the course. The race was in two states Texas and Arkansas. This allowed me an Arkansas half this year b/c I already had Texas. I thought the course was really flat. I would have gone faster if my legs hadn’t been so tired after a week of racing. Cheers and happy running.

The people that go to these races are very friendly. This is an out and back with repeats in a state park. Little or no elevation. One pit stop for each lap, so you never lack anything.

The people that go to these races are very friendly. This is an out and back with repeats in a state park. Little or no elevation. One pit stop for each lap, so you never lack anything.

The people that go to these races are very friendly. This is an out and back with repeats in a city park. Little or no elevation. Three pit stops for each lap, so you never lack anything.

1 year half 3 years full. Destiny is a great RD. This is fast becoming one of the best marathons in the USA. Maniacs, Fanatics, and 50 States have their own VIP tent. Official stops and drink stops on the course, let the Jello shots begin. So there are other races the Sunday before Thanksgiving but I have never done them. I am very happy to stay home and run my home town race. Oh by the way some say it is hilly. I just call it home. Cheers

Let’s see there is a nice RD named Lisa. The expo was great for a race this size. I used the hotel across the street which was great. Shirt okay…. medal is great looking. There were lots of volunteers. Very few spectators… there were 154 runners I came in 152. Again I am recovering from an injury. However the course was hilly, the Air Force base was rather desertic. It seemed to me that the water stops were far apart. No matter how much I drank I was thirsty. We started at 6:30 and it was cool but I finished at 1:00 and it was hot. So I got all of the heat I wanted. The best thing about the race was the number of Maniacs and Staters that were there. I would say largely half of the runners were from out of state. I hope this helps… I am not in too positive mood about this one.

Positives- organization, expo, scenery, swag- excellent zip jacket and long sleeve shirt
Negatives- hills, hills, hills, running on the sidewalk of the Golden Gate bridge and crossing under the bridge to the other side was at least dangerous if not hopelessly crowded. Not a PR race unless it is your first marathon.

This is a beautiful tough race. Enjoyed the communications and expo. The race director seems very nice. I entered the race knowing it had a strict 5 1/2 hour limit. So race day as we rode the bus to the started I was disappointed to see so many hills. We started out in the cool temperature very fast. About mile 4 I ran a 8 minute mile and realized I was running at altitude. For those that say altitude doesn’t really matter… well it does to me. I couldn’t hardly catch my breath and the day continued that way. The best news I have for you is…. even though they say there is a 5:30 cutoff there isn’t. So all my worrying was for nothing… even those finishing after six hours received their times. So I successfully completed my Colorado race even though I thought I would be punished to come back again to this beautiful state. Scenery, lodging, food, and friends this is a great race… just so hard with altitude, hills, and lots of exposure to sun.

Was surprised the race gave a 2-4-1 and club discounts. So I was running on my Maniacs discount and my wife got a free race. There was a post party at a bar in town excellent. First rate swag with a nice 1/4 zip jacket(lightweight) and my wife’s age group prize was wool cap. As for the race course plus and minus. Plus nice college town with good neighborhoods. Minus why so many sidewalks and did we really have to run down the gravel beside the railroad tracks. Plus great bike paths thru parks. So for my wife it was great for me I just didn’t like that many sidewalks and turns. Again I was slow but it was my third marathon in a short period of time.

Fleet Feet puts on a great race. Runners expo is at the three local stores where one can buy just about any supply. The run is easy except for one hill. Many racers come from out town because of extended time limits. While I run these paths often I enjoy the competition with no traffic what so ever. Since it is relatively flat one can also get a PR on this course. Great race for a cheap price. Be careful it can be hot the end of April in Oklahoma.

The day was clear and cool. Some said it was cold. But it just seemed to be a great day to run as I watched the coral fill. As watched the corals go one by one the excitement built up in me. Soon my son and I were running through Fort Worth as we came around a corner we saw the monster they had been talking about… a bridge about one mile long continuously uphill. Instead of regret I decided that I would beat the hill… shortening my stride with a rapid cadence I attacked and was soon almost to the top. There we rounded a corner and what did I see but another small hill. I don’t know what got into me that day but I just wouldn’t be denied. I ran till I saw the Ultra runners coming back into to town. I decided that as a marathon runner they should be more tired than me… I pushed up the hill to the stockyards and dug real deep to run fast across the finish. So happy I was to receive ice cream, and beer. They also gave me a finishers shirt which was more like a warmer to start the race… but so elated with my time I don’t think anything could keep me from being thrilled with this race… I have to come back again.

Best part of the race was the after party with Cajun Food. We enjoyed running and partying with our Louisiana friends. The reputation of this race does not disappoint. From registration, mailings, expo, and organization it was top rate. Even though raceday was cold… we stood for hours eating great food and drinking free beer. We also liked the great swag. Please note the course goes through LSU campus and many great neighborhoods. There was one particular out and back where every block was another party. Loved all the music. We intend to go back again.

The communication on the race was almost excessive with emails once or twice a week. The expo was very large and had lots of goodies. What I remember of the weather was the humidity and at the end great gusts of wind as we finished. It is always great to run a race for a cause and we were very touched by the children that great us on the course. The Marathon starts downtown and runs by the river then up to the hospital and back into neighborhoods. I was told in advance that this was a flat course. However there never seemed to be a full mile that was flat. I was thankful for the cover of the trees in parks and neighborhoods because the downtown was so hot and windy. Interesting enough it was really warm for a December day. I will remember those kids forever.