M E Hall's Staging Area

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.

I had run the half my first year and enjoyed it. I had even gotten a PR on the flat half course. The Marathon expo is huge and the race flat and well organized. Why then was it such a killer? We had just started when it started the rain. The temperature dropped from 40 to 33 for the finish. There were only 26 miles of pouring freezing rain. I feel sorry for the RD, he can’t control the weather. No one dared to stay for the after party this year. When getting my medal they asked me if I wanted to step into the medical tent to warm up. I was shaking and my teeth were clattering. So happy the hotel was just steps away. Since I had done it once and enjoyed I may go back. I would tell you it was my second worst experience in running.

This is a rail to trails race. There is very to no technical skill necessary. The expo was tiny and the medal was made out of wood. I really like the layout of the route but as usual I was too hot to produce a great run.

Great expo, maniacs area, free beer, college town, great scenery, pacers and did I say best race ever. This is a destination and bucket list race. I will be back.

Okay since running this race they stopped doing it. Was bill as a scenic route however it was a run down and old two lane highway. Some of the race was a straightaway of 9 miles. I could see from one aid station to the next. Sorry it disappointed me as I thought I would see some great scenery.

Expo was a packet pickup. The race is a small time race. We gathered together shivering in the cold for the start. No corals everyone picked their place to start both Half and Full. We saw nice neighborhoods and city streets and for a change up lots of hills. So very cold (wind chill 26) and hills… did I say it was a hard race for me. Well we got it done and there was food left to eat… and surprise I was second in my age group. I shouldn’t complain so much. This year I understand it was just as cold. Good luck on this one.

I was hurt and walked 16 miles. Expo and race management are exceptional. Live in Tulsa so this was a must do race. Only wish I hadn’t hurt my ankle two weeks before.