Brooklyn Half Marathon Race Recap

The Race That Surprisingly Left Me Disappointed

Once again, I have failed to write a race recap shortly after completing an event, but it’s better late than never, right? On May 17, I ran the Airbnb Brooklyn Half, a race that many of my fellow runners had applauded. But, I have to say, I walked away feeling a little disappointed. Although I wasn’t expecting the race organizers – NYRR – to put on the same fanfare as they do with the New York Marathon, I was expecting a bit more in terms of organization and logistics. But then again, maybe my disappointment only stems from the fact that after hearing so many positive things about the event, my expectations were too high? Nonetheless, it was a race I don’t regret running, but not one that I would sign up for again.

If you are interested in running though, you do have to sign up the day registration opens, which this year, was on January 21. Being the largest half marathon in the country, the race sold out within a few hours and it is a first-come, first-serve event – no lottery. If you are not able to nab one of these spots, there are charity spots available, and I think NYRR held a lottery earlier in the spring where if you volunteered for another race, you would be entered to receive a spot in the Brooklyn Half.

During the months leading up to the race, I was feeling well prepared, but after PR’ing at the Providence Half two weeks earlier, I decided to take a week off which I think did more harm than good.

Earlier in the week, I traveled out to pick up my race packet in Brooklyn. Runners had the opportunity to do so on three separate occasions – the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the race, and I have to say that the “expo”, or what they called a pre-race party, was in a great location – on Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is fitting considering the race is meant to showcase the best of Brooklyn. I know a lot of runners were upset about having to travel so far to pick up their packets, and while I admit it wasn’t the most convenient, I think NYRR made the right decision having packet pick-up in the borough we’re celebrating.

NYRR provided participants with info on how to get to the expo, and if you followed their recommended subway route, they even had volunteers lining the streets with arrows pointing to the expo so there really was no way to get lost. As always, the volunteers were very friendly and helpful, and this continued on throughout the event experience.

The pre-race expo, which was open to the public, was very lively with food trucks, live music, enthusiastic staff/volunteers, and a few vendors. It was a beautiful day when I went out there, and was happy to take a few pictures.

The night before the race, I went to bed really early since I knew I planned to leave my apartment at 5AM. Although the race was scheduled to start at 7AM, I knew it would take me 45 to get there via the subway (no parking at start line if you have a car) and my corral was scheduled to open at 6AM. For this race, there were two waves to accommodate all the runners – wave 1 and wave 2. I was happy to be placed in wave 1, although I’m not sure how this is determined – just because I wanted to start the race early before it got too hot. Wave 2 started at 8AM.

The subway ended up skipping the recommended stop due to congestion, but once we got off, we walked a short distance to the security checkpoint. This was the first race I’ve experienced a security checkpoint, and while I’m happy with the additional safety measures, I didn’t like being separated from my family and friends so early before the event started. Usually they stand next to the starting corrals, but since these were enclosed and fenced in fort his event, once I went through the security checkpoint (which they encourage you to do as early as possible), there was no way to speak with them.

NYRR also decided to place all 100+ porta potties in the corrals, which again makes sense since once you go through the security checkpoint you cannot exit, but they surprisingly didn’t put any outside the security checkpoint for family members and friends who had traveled with you. As you would image, not a lot businesses are open at 5AM on a Saturday so be sure to keep this in mind if you’re participating – might be worth skipping that extra cup of coffee.

Once runners enter the corrals, they must then find the wave within their wave they’ve been assigned, which is indicated on your bib. I had predicted a 1:55 finish time, but didn’t have much confidence in achieving that. The race did start on time, and the announcers really did bring some energy to the early start, which everyone seemed to appreciate.

Due to the large participant field (26K+), I didn’t actually cross the start line until 20 minutes after the air horn, but the anticipation always gets me excited to run. For this race, I used my Garmin Forerunner 220, which I had just purchased a week earlier. After having a few half marathons under my belt, I’d now like to focus much more on my time rather than just crossing the finish line. Before the event started, I set up alerts on my watch to let me know when I was pacing behind, which unfortunately happened a lot. The watch will not only alert about your pace (too slow, too fast), but also your distance and when you’ve completed another mile.

I appreciated the fact that the forerunner 220’s alerts can be both vibrations and sounds. Personally, I find the sounds too distracting, but it’s still nice to have the option to choose both. During the first two miles, I noticed I was pacing a bit ahead at an 8-minute pace so I decided to slow down and enjoy the first two miles up Flatbush Avenue and around Grand Army Plaza.

A little after the 5K mark, runners were taken into Prospect Park, which although quite scenic, was much hillier than I anticipated. The heat and 75% humidity didn’t help, but after noticing the enthusiasm of the other runners and spectators, I tried to keep up.

NYRR did a fantastic job with having both water and Gatorade available on the course. There was a hydration stop at every mile marker with the exception of mile 4. On such a hot and humid day, this was really appreciated.

Despite always wanting to run through Prospect Park, I was very happy to leave at mile 7. On my way out of the park, I noticed some of the Wave 2 runners entering (had different color bibs) and I was very glad to be done with that portion of the course. The next 6 miles were a straight shot down Ocean Parkway. To get there, runners actually had to run down the exit ramp, which was a unique experience, and then runners had the entire highway to themselves. As you’d expect, the highway was flat, straight and wide, which was great considering the number of runners.

Around mile 9, it started to rain and I was so glad since it allowed me to cool down a bit. Along this portion of the course, there were a few spectators, which was nice. A little before mile 12, I realized I wasn’t going to make my 1:55 goal, but I could hear the finisher festival and was determined to push on.

I have to say that the turn on to the boardwalk at Coney Island was by far the best part of the course, and it was lined with hundreds of people cheering. I crossed at 1:56:17 (8:53/mile), which was 9.761 overall (out of 26,482 runners) and 3,312 in my gender (out of 14,216 females). Not my best, but not my worst.

I happily accepted my medal and proceeded to pour three cups of water over my head. Although I’ve never been one of those runners who wishes to eat right after a race, I have to say that the post-race food was pretty terrible – a bag of pretzels and a banana. The food at NYRR’s 5Ks are better, at least there they provide a bagel.

There also wasn’t anyone manning the heat wrap stations so runners just began pulling off their own which created a bottleneck for those trying to exit. They did have a banner where you could take a post-race photo, and the water and Gatorade was aplenty.

Following the race, runners were invited to the post-race party in the MCU Stadium where they were supposed to have other food for purchase, but since it was raining, I was feeling quite drained and decided to head back home.

Overall, I don’t know why I have such a neutral/negative opinion about the race. The course was great and really showcased the best of Brooklyn – Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park, Coney Island – and the communication to runners before and after the race was spectacular. Runners were even given a little booklet at the pre-race party that listed a number of different restaurants, galleries and events in the borough. Again, it could be that the weather wasn’t optimal, travel to and from was difficult or the fact that I didn’t meet my goal that is swaying my opinion.

The Brooklyn Half was a decent race, but if you’re looking to run Brooklyn, I would consider the Rock n’ Roll Series instead, which is known to be well-organized and is in the fall so the weather is much nicer.

Despite my love for New York and New York Road Runners, unlike NYRR’s other events, I walked away from this one feeling disappointed.

 

The Basics:

Event Name: Brooklyn Half Marathon

Location: New York, New York

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2015

Included Amenities: Gender-specific tech tees, finisher medals, post-race food

Additional Amenities (Extra Fee): Option to purchase race photos

Registration Fee: $65

Other Distances Available? Yes, Kid’s Run (1 mile)

Pros:

• Short-sleeve tech tees (women’s cut available)
• Finisher medals
• Low registration fees in comparison to other races
• Photographers at the finish line ready to take your picture in front of the Brooklyn Half banner
• Great pre-race expo with music, food trucks and vendors
• Runner tracking
• Pace teams
• Mostly flat course (except Prospect Park!) that takes runners through some of the best parts of Brooklyn
• Finish on Coney Island Boardwalk
• Hydration (water and Gatorade) available at almost every mile
• Lots of spectator support
• Free finisher certificates
• Excellent pre- and post-race communication from race organizers

Cons:

• Post-race food leaves a little to be desired
• A very large participant field (26K+) makes for a crowded (but lively!) run
• Weather can be a bit unpredictable in May

Course and Splits

Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon Race Recap

The Race that was a Pleasant Surprise

I was pleasantly surprised by the Zooma Half Marathon. Although I was initially concerned after hardly receiving any race communication from the event sponsors and reading the negative reviews about the race’s lack of organization, I walked away feeling very glad that I signed up on a whim.

I’ve always wanted to visit Annapolis, Maryland, and as I was researching upcoming races on the East Coast, I stumbled upon Zooma and was intrigued that it was a women’s-only event. When I checked out their Facebook page, they actually had a promo where if you took a screenshot of one of their posts, and snapchatted to them, they would give you a discount so that pretty much convinced me to sign up.

Zooma, as a women’s race series,  has events across the country, including, Texas, Napa Valley, Cape Cod, Florida, Nashville, Colorado, and of course, Annapolis.

I signed up just a few weeks before the event was scheduled to take place – May 30 – and as soon as my registration was confirmed, I began to look at nearby hotels. My mom was coming up from Virginia to watch the race and spend the weekend with me so I really wanted a hotel that was not only close to the starting line, but also near the downtown area with the shops and restaurants.

Zooma recommended the Loews Annapolis Hotel, where they had discount rooms for runners, but as you would imagine, all the rooms had already been booked months ago. I thankfully stumbled upon the State House Inn, which was a B&B right in the downtown area. The price was reasonable, the location was great, the owners were very friendly and helpful, and they allowed pets for only a small fee!

My mom and I arrived late Friday evening, and the B&B had left our keys out for us. Before going to bed, I went through my race packet, which had been mailed to me a few weeks before (additional fee). I can’t comment on the fitness expo since I wasn’t able to attend, but the race packet itself was pretty nice. Zooma claims it’s valued at $50, and it included my bib, a short-sleeve tech tee (made by Greenlayer Sports), a pair of Feetures! socks, a ZOOMA journal and a reusable tote – if you’re looking for a race with a lot of runners’ swag, this is it!

When I woke up on race day, I’m ashamed to admit that I considered not going. I was feeling tired from the train down from NY and I had two dogs snuggled up next to me – you probably would have had the same thought run through your head! But eventually, I rolled out of bed, made some coffee in my room, and was ready to go.

Since the hotel was close to the starting line, I decided to walk instead of driving, not wanting to deal with the hassle of parking. But when I got to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which is where the race was set to begin (picture below) 20 minutes later, I realized parking wouldn’t have been an issue at all. They had plenty of spaces available, and it was free.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

I had about 30 minutes until the 7AM start so I decided to make a quick stop at the porta potties. The line looked very, very long, but I figured I still had enough time to wait it out. Turns out, I was wrong. At 6:55, I realized I had to get to the start line and skip the pit stop – I could have started the race late, but I decided to skip it all together. My recommendation to the race organizers is to have more porta potties or open up the stadium so runners can access the bathrooms in there.

In comparison to other races, this one is relatively small, being capped at 4,000, but I always enjoy the smaller participant fields. After the singing of the national anthem, we were off! Both 10K and half marathoners started together and the corrals were self-seeded. They had pacers for the half marathon – 1:40, 1:50, 2:10, 2:20 and 2:30. I grouped myself between the 1:50 and 2:10 crowds, not wanting to push myself too hard since after the race, I wanted to spend some time walking around with my Mom and not feeling too exhausted.

We started out running through the parking lot of the Navy Stadium, which if I haven’t mentioned already, was beautiful, and then headed toward the downtown area. We did a loop around the Maryland State House (cobble-stone streets!), and ran downtown to the bay before running past the Naval Academy.

At mile 5, I was feeling pretty good, but then looked up and saw the Naval Academy Bridge, which I heard was everyone’s least favorite part of the race. It’s almost a mile long one-way, and the wind makes it all the more challenging. The 10Ks turned around half-way up the bridge, and I very much envied them at that point.

I got to the other side feeling pretty good though, but that feeling was short-lived. Since this was an out-and-back course, I knew I’d have to cross the bridge again, and it’d be much more challenging at that point in the race.

The Naval Academy Bridge – this picture doesn’t quite capture the agony

After crossing the bridge at mile 5, the scenery, spectators and water stops were pretty much non-existent between miles 6-11. For five miles, there were only two water stops, which was pretty terrible given the 80% humidity and the 80+ temps. Runners, including myself, were all pretty disgruntled, but luckily, at least when I got to the water stops, there was water. I heard from other runners that by the time they reached these water stops later in the race, there was nothing left. Given the heat and the hilly course, this is definitely something that needs to be remedied before next year’s event.

Reaching mile 12 was pretty satisfying since, at that point, I had crossed the Naval Academy Bridge again (and yes, it is in fact much, much harder the second time around), and only had a little over one mile to go. As I headed back toward the stadium, I began to see more and more spectators, which is always uplifting. I crossed the finish line at 2:08:44 (9:50/mile), which is actually the worst half marathon time I’ve ever had. I wasn’t too disappointed though – the weather, the traveling the day before, and my attitude/mentality had really slowed me down.

I ended up being the 220 finisher overall (out of 1,018 runners) and the 39^th in my division (169 in F25-29). Despite my frustration over my time, the weather and not having enough water, the medal and post-race party made up for it all.

The bottles of water and bananas in the finishers’ chute were great, and they had set up an after-party expo with live music, vendors, recovery yoga, wine and snack boxes! In my snack box was hummus, carrots and an apple, but I think they also had a chicken salad option if you’d prefer that.

They also had a photo booth where you could get your picture taken in front of the race banner. Although I was too tired to wait in line for this, I definitely recommend doing it! Zooma allows you to download your photos for free, and while they don’t have a lot of photographers on the course, this is still a nice perk if you do end up having a few snapshots taken along the way.

I also really liked the stations they had set up where you can enter in your bib # and see your real-time results/standings.

So, with an endless amount of food and drink after the race, I walked home feeling happy that I signed up on a whim. My mom and I spent the rest of the day exploring downtown Annapolis, and it was great to see all these women walking around with their medals or race t-shirts.

I absolutely recommend Chick & Ruths Delly as your post-race meal, and Cruises on the Bay by Watermark, who allow you to bring your dog along for a day-cruise!

Annapolis is a great city, and one that everyone should take the time to visit!

 

The Basics:

Event Name: Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon

Location: Annapolis, Maryland

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015

Included Amenities:  Tech tees, event-specific finisher medals, free race photos, reusable tote bag, Zooma journal, a pair of Feetures! socks, post-race food

Additional Amenities (Extra Fee): Option to have your bib and packet mailed to you, option to switch to another event distance

Registration Fee: $85-125 (half marathon), $65-90 (10K)

Other Distances Available? Yes – 10K

Pros:

• Short-sleeve tech tees (women’s and unisex cuts available)
• Finisher medals
• Lots of swag: Reusable tote, journal, Feetures! socks
• Photographers at the finish line ready to take your picture in front of the Annapolis Half banner
• Runner tracking
• Pace teams
• Very lively after-party expo with vendors and lots of food, including hummus, pretzels, carrots, chips and wine
• Scenic and beautiful (but hilly!) course through Annapolis
• Free race photos
• Stations at the finisher festival that allow you to see your results/standing in real-time

Cons:

• Communication leading up to the race is non-existent
• Lack of hydration along the course
• Not a lot of spectators or lively atmosphere
• Steep registration fee (unless you sign up 6+ months in advance)
• No race deferral option

Course and Splits

Marine Corps 17.75K Race Recap

The Race That’s Explicitly Organized to Offer Runners Guaranteed Access to the Marine Corps Marathon

After finishing the Richmond Marathon, I knew I wanted to keep a tradition, or at least try and keep the tradition, of running at least one marathon a year. There are a few marathons I know I want to run – Chicago, New York, Jackson Hole – but none of those were feasible this year. Despite living in New York City, I haven’t been selected for the NYC Marathon for three years now. The good news is, I’m finally taking advantage of my locality and participating in New York Road Runners’ (NYRR) 9+1 program. Runners who complete nine NYRR races, as well as volunteer for one in 2015, will be granted guaranteed access to the 2016 race.

With the New York Marathon not being available, and the Chicago Marathon happening on the same day I’m scheduled to run the Staten Island Half, I decided to look for another marathon and came across the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. I liked this race not only because it was close to my hometown in Virginia, but also because while they did have a lottery system, they also had an option where runners could sign up to run the Marine Corps 17.75K and upon completion, be granted guaranteed access to the marathon in the fall.

As someone who is not confident in their chances to be selected through a lottery, and someone who will never turn down an excuse to visit home, I decided to sign up for the 17.75K (a little over 11 miles). The event was scheduled to take place on March 28, 2015 in Prince William Forrest Park, which is in northern Virginia. Despite announcing the date and location of the event early in the year, the race organizers did not open registration for the 17.75 until two weeks before the event. I found that a little frustrating since I needed to make travel plans and didn’t want to do so until I had been accepted into the race. Normally I would have went ahead and bought my train tickets, but because this race is known to sell out in under 10 minutes, I wasn’t entirely confident that I would be accepted. I’m not sure why the race organizers don’t open registration earlier – it might be due to the fact that they want to keep most of the runners local, but the announcers did say at the race that there were people from 30 states in attendance.

Either way, I marked my calendar for March 11 when registration was set to open, and at 12PM EST, I attempted to sign up for the race. I had created an online account within the system before registration since I hoped this would speed up the process, but it did not. In fact, after getting through most of the registration steps, I then logged into my account and was booted back to the first page. Luckily, thanks to auto-fill, I was able to complete in the second round of registration pages very quickly and was given one of the 2,000 spots.

I know a lot of other runners experienced similar frustrations with registration. Some runners even entered in their credit card information, submitted their form and was only then notified that all the spots had been filled. The Marine Corps Marathon lottery, however, was taking place a few days later so those who didn’t get accepted into the 17.75K could still apply for the marathon. Like last year, the 17.75K sold out in under eight minutes. I should note that Active Duty and Reserve participants are allowed to register for this event before registration opens to the general public – these same individuals are also given a chance to register for the full marathon in advance (as they should).

Even though this race isn’t a half/full, I decided to review it because one, it is this race that will allow me to run a full marathon later in the year, and two, because information about the event is actually quite hard to find so I hope I’m able to provide at least some insight. On race day morning, temperatures hovered in the upper 20s, low 30s and the wind only made it feel that much colder. Thankfully, as I’ve mentioned before, I enjoy the cold so I didn’t mind waiting for the race to begin, but Derek was happy to head into the nearby church after the race started (apparently, a lot of other spectators had the same idea).

Considering the small participant field, there was no expo. Packet pickup was held at a local running store the Thursday and Friday before the race and since there was no option to have my packet mailed to me beforehand, I had to have a friend pick up my bib and t-shirt for me. Originally, the race organizers weren’t going to allow packet pick-up on race day, but after receiving so many complaints, they decided to accommodate this request. The packet consisted of your bib and tech t-shirt as well as a clear plastic bag for race day bag check. With the slogan “access granted” across the shirt, you know, as well as the race organizers know, the primary reason people participate in this event is to gain access into the marathon. Yes, it’s a nice course, but with this constant focus on “access granted,” the theme and objective were pretty clear.

I woke up bright and early and decided to dress for the occasion – blue running capris, red top and white hat. The race was scheduled to begin at 7AM and since the course is within a local park, parking is very minimal near the starting line. Anticipating this, the race organizers did suggest three free nearby parking lots and offered pre- and post-event shuttles to all runners from these locations. The shuttles were very frequent so as long as you arrived 30-45 minutes before the race, you didn’t have a problem arriving on time.

I didn’t really have any expectations for a finish time, and I went into it knowing there would be a lot of hills, which I wasn’t used to in NYC. I know New Yorkers will typically reference the “hills” in Central Park, but while they may be considered hills in NYC, if you ever mentioned that to out-of-towners, they would simply laugh. So, with hills and trails being very minimal in the city, my goal was to simply finish.

They did have an announcer at the starting line as well as a bag check, but as the start time approached, it really wasn’t clear where runners were supposed to go. There were no corrals or pace groups and while I could locate the starting line banner, there didn’t seem to be enough space for everyone to line up, nor anyone to ask for direction. About ten minutes before the race, people just started to gather in the same place, and eventually we were re-directed to where we were supposed to be standing.

There was the singing of the national anthem and then we were off. After running for less than a quarter of a mile on pavement, we quickly headed into the park where we spent the first four miles on gravel terrain. I didn’t mind the change in terrain, but I can see where people wouldn’t enjoy it as much considering the loose gravel and hilly course.

Needless to say, after four miles we were back on pavement and running through the woods and by campgrounds as well as local streams. It was a scenic and quiet race with very few spectators, which makes sense since you’re running through a park that in closed to traffic during the event. I randomly stumbled upon this woman’s blog and noticed myself in one of her pictures so since I have none from the race itself, I wanted to include it here and site her blog (Unapologetically You).

There’s me in the blue pants!

There were five water stops along the way, all of which were manned by enthusiastic marines. Hydration parks are allowed if you prefer to run with those, and while I believe there was supposed to be music and entertainment along the route, I can’t remember seeing anything off-hand. I think I was more concerned with the hilly course, but that’s not to say I didn’t appreciate the challenge! There was a short out-and-back portion of the course toward the end, and once we hit mile 9 we began to head back toward the finish.

The last quarter of a mile was on a long paved straightway, which I appreciated it since it allowed me to see the finish line from a distance, and also allowed room for spectators to cheer runners on. After crossing the finish line, I was handed my medal (new perk this year!) by a friendly marine and given my guaranteed access pass, which included a code for me to enter in when registering for the marathon. My official time was 1:44:56, and I finished 595^th out of 2,166 runners and 36^th out of the 151 runners in my division (F25-29).

After meeting up with Derek, we headed toward the finisher tent where runners were handed a plastic bag and encouraged to fill up on snacks. This was the first race where I was handed a bag to place all my water, Gatorade and snacks into so I thought that was a nice touch. I really wasn’t expecting much in terms of post-race food, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of options including apples, bagels, cheese-itz, water, fruit cups, and gummy snacks.

Once I had the finisher tent, I was then directed to bins of old event t-shirts that runners were also encouraged to take home. While they only had XL and L by the time I finished, I still thought it was pretty cool that they offered runners the chance to pick up additional t-shirts.

In terms of a finisher festival, they did have a DJ and a photo booth where you could have your picture taken. Other than that though, there were no race photographers so if photos are your thing, make sure you snap some before and after to commemorate the experience (like me below)!

Can you tell I have a favorite hat?

Since it was still a little chilly when I finished around 8:45AM, we quickly headed back to the free shuttle and I was very content eating my snacks on the way back to our car. I still made sure to save room for Cracker Barrel pancakes though.

When I got home later that afternoon, I quickly signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon with the code I was given at the finish line. I should note that runners are only given two days to register for the marathon following the event, and if you miss that window, you no longer have guaranteed entry to the marathon later in the year. Also, while I’m sure most of you know this, even with guaranteed entry, you still have to pay the registration fee when signing up for the full marathon.

Overall, I thought the race was well-organized, but would have preferred an earlier registration period. The only reason I would ever run this event again in the future is to be granted a guaranteed pass to the Marine Corps Marathon. It’s a great option for those looking to avoid the lottery, but I believe if you’re just looking for a race to run for fun, there are plenty of other options out there that will offer more bang for your buck in terms of atmosphere, amenities and spectator support.

The Basics:

Event Name: Marine Corps 17.75K

Location: Quantico, Virginia

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2015

Included Amenities: Tech tees, finisher medal, guaranteed access to Marine Corps Marathon (assuming you register for the race with your code a day or two after finishing the 17.75K)

Additional Amenities (Extra Fee): None

Registration Fee: $57 (17.75K)

Other Distances Available? No

Pros

• Guaranteed access to the Marine Corps Marathon in the fall
• Scenic trail run through Prince William Forrest Park
• Fantastic post-race food: apples, bagels, cheese-itz, fruit cups, gummies
• Allowance of bib transfers between runners
• Free pre- and post-event shuttles

Cons

• Registration window for the 17.75K doesn’t open until two weeks before the race, which can complicate things for out-of-towners
• Very small participant field with only 2,000 spots so you need to sign up as soon as registration opens since spots go within minutes
• No women’s cut available for t-shirts
• No official race photographers if you’re looking for professional photos

Course Map and Splits

 

Richmond Marathon Race Recap

America’s Friendliest Marathon

The Richmond Marathon was my first, I hope of many, marathons. You may be wondering why I chose to run this particular race when I had already fulfilled my Virginia race goal with the Charlottesville Half, but it actually wasn’t until my previous race in Hartford, CT that I even thought of the idea to run a half/full in every state. At that point, I had already signed up – and been training since May – for my first full in Richmond, and this race was so well organized that I feel I’d be doing it a disservice if I didn’t review it.

I originally chose this race for a number of different reasons. The first being that Richmond was my first half, and it was that race that really got me hooked on the sport. Having run my first half here in 2009, I wanted to come full circle and finish my first marathon in this city as well. I also chose this race because it’s only a half an hour from my hometown, which meant I knew my family and friends would come out to cheer me on. I anticipated needing all the well wishes before heading out for 26 miles.

The third reason this race made the most sense is because it’s been dubbed “America’s Friendliest Marathon” by Runner’s World, and after the event, I can absolutely see why. It’s not only a great marathon for first timers, but the race itself really caters to participants. The non-profit that organizes the race, Richmond Sports Backers, is fantastic and puts on a number of different biking and running events throughout the year, most notably the Monument Avenue 10K (which is another race worth doing), and thus they’re experts at event management. The junk food stops, lower registration fees, deferral policy, on-course support and runner perks were unbeatable.

After signing up for the event earlier in the spring, I quickly began to count down the days until the race, and I was thrilled when the expo finally arrived. The expo, which I really thought was an event in itself, had more than 50 vendors, some of which were offering product sample or games and prizes. It was located at Richmond’s Arthur Ashe Center and I spent most of my time looking at the event merchandise and spending far too much to commemorate the first marathon. I not only bought a Richmond Marathon pint glass, but also another long-sleeve t-shirt with the event name and date. Although you’d think that would be enough, I also purchased a finisher jacket. In my defense though, I did wait until Christmas to buy it as a celebratory gift to myself.

In addition to the marathon, this event also has a half marathon and an 8K so the participant field is quite large with over 16,000 runners. Considering this size, it makes sense that the expo was so large. The only downside here is that since the race is on a Saturday, out-of-towners can only visit the expo if they take the Thursday or Friday off before the race. You can opt to have your packet mailed to you for an additional $25 if you can’t attend, but for those who do find themselves in Richmond a day or two before the race, Richmond Sports Backers also offers runners a free downtown shuttle to the expo, which is a very nice perk for those traveling.

After picking up my packet and t-shirt (event-specific and women’s cut available!), I headed back home to relax for the rest of the afternoon. The race was scheduled to begin at 7:50AM after both the 8K and half marathoners had started. The starting line was in downtown Richmond on West Broad Street so there was plenty of street and garage parking available. Luckily, the weather was quite nice, or probably cold by most people’s standards, but having been training in New York, I thought the high 30-degree temperature was perfect. If you do prefer to start the race with additional layers though, Sports Backers does wash and donate all clothing they find along the course.

At the starting line, there were corrals based on your predicted finish time, and Sport Backers also offered the following pace groups: 3:05, 3:15, 3:30, 3:35, 3:45, 3:50, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5 and 5:30. While the goal was to hopefully cross within 4-5 hours, I really was just intending to finish uninjured and with a smile on my face. Up until race day, I had gotten up to 20 miles in my training runs so I was counting on the rush of enthusiasm from the crowd to get me through the last stretch of the race.

After the singing of the national anthem, the race began on schedule with live announcers rooting us on. Before starting out, I already knew what to expect in terms of the course since Richmond Sports Backers had posted a video of the entire route a few weeks before the race, which was unique and helpful to mentally prepare for what was ahead.

The course, which is a Boston Marathon qualifier, is absolutely fantastic, taking runners through historic downtown Richmond, the famous Monument Avenue, through Virginia Commonwealth University and along the James River waterfront. It’s not out-and-back so you’ll have an opportunity to see a lot of the city while running a flat 26.2 miles.

Around the 10K mile marker, I was still feeling confident with a time of 56:46, and it was around that time that we left the city center and headed toward the James River. The next few miles were very scenic, and as we headed toward the halfway point, I was able to spot Derek and my Mom along the course for the first time. At 13.1 miles, I had an official time of 2:00:10, which although behind my Hartford Half time by seven minutes, was assuring to me as I knew I was maintaining a steady and relatively consistent pace.

Despite this being my first marathon, I felt that I had so much to distract me during the race that I almost forgot I was running 26 miles. There were hundreds and hundreds of spectators along the course as well as more than a dozen live bands, DJs and spirit groups providing an unbeatable atmosphere and backdrop to the entire experience. Sports Backers also organized several Party Zones along the route where friends and family could gather to grab free snacks and noisemakers to cheer you on with.

In addition to your typical water and Powerade stops, the course also had Accel gels, wet washcloths and two junk food stations with gummy bears, cookies and soda to give you that extra boost along the way. If that’s not enough to draw you to this race, I’m not sure what is.

Up until mile 15, I was feeling strong and began to visualize the finish line, but that was soon shattered when I started the one-mile trek across Lee Bridge. At first you think, wow, look at this view, and then you start thinking, oh my gosh, this wind is actually going to blow me off the side. It was the only part of the course where I ever doubted my decision to do this race. But on the upside, at least you know that once you reach the end of the never-ending, unbearably windy bridge, you’ll be greeted with a junk food stop and you’ll only have six miles to go.

While I did grab some candy after this bridge the brought me to tears (it was the wind I tell you!), I primarily stuck with my Clif Shot Bloks throughout the duration of the race since I had been training with these along the way. If you haven’t tried them out yet, they’re a very delicious energy chew, and for me, they’re easier to digest on the fly than the liquid gels.

The last few miles honestly remain a blur, but the last 0.2 of the course will forever be ingrained in my mind. The finish line is so perfectly positioned at the bottom of a hill on a long straightway so you are not only able to see the goal you’re running toward for quite some time, but you also have a consistent line of spectators cheering you on.

I was easily able to spot Derek, my Mom and my sister with their massive sign right near the finish line, and as I approached, I heard the speaker announce my name and that’s when it all began to hit me. I was finishing my first marathon, a distance I had dreamed about since my first half five years ago. I crossed the finish line at a time of 4:26:21 (10:16/mile), finished 2,608th overall (out of 5,117 marathoners), 224th in my division (467 total F25-29) and 1063rd for my gender (2,641 total females). Overall, my time wasn’t anything amazing, but I honestly didn’t care, I finished and at least I now have a time to improve upon.

After crossing the finish line, I was enthusiastically handed my medal by a volunteer who I decided to hug, and then I was given my finisher fleece blanket and hat (seriously, these perks are awesome). Once I met up with Derek and my family, we headed over to the very lively finisher festival, which was located right on the waterfront at Browns Island. The scenery was stunning and I was excited for the post-race Papa John’s pizza. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, I headed over to the finisher photography station where they were taking pictures of all the runners in front of the Richmond Marathon backdrop. I was glad to be able to commemorate the moment with my family and friends, and while I’ll admit the walk back to the car was rather difficult, my excitement and happiness carried me through the pain.

The Richmond Marathon is an event I would recommend to every single runner. Even if the marathon is not your ideal distance, having done the half marathon here as well, I know that that event, as well as the 8K, would be just as enjoyable. Richmond Sports Backers knows how to execute a race and really does cater to their runners. The perks, the amenities and the support you receive both on and off the course are really one-of-a-kind, and they will keep me coming back for this event. I’m so glad to have run my first full marathon in Richmond, and I believe everyone would have just as memorable of an experience here as I did.

The Basics:

Event Name: Richmond Marathon

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2014

Included Amenities: Event-specific tech tees, event-specific finisher medals, finisher fleece blankets, finisher hat, on-course entertainment, junk food and wet washcloth stations along the course, complimentary post-race massage, lively finisher festival with great food, free finisher certificates

Additional Amenities (Extra Fee): Option to have your bib and packet mailed to you, option to purchase race photos, race deferral allowed, option to switch to another event distance for $10, premium event package that includes things like access to special parking on race day, access to a VIP area at the finisher festival, etc.

Registration Fee: $85-135 (full marathon), $75-115 (half marathon), $30-50 (8K)

Other Distances Available? Yes – Half Marathon, 8K, Kids Run

Pros:

• Very runner-friendly event – Organizers allow you to defer races and switch races if space is available for $10; can also have your race packet mailed to you if you cannot pick it up at the expo
• Long-sleeve tech tees (women’s cut available; event-specific)
• Finisher medals
• Lots of swag: Fleece blankets and hats to every full/half marathon finisher
• Great on-course support and stops, which included junk food, wet washcloths, water, Accel gels and Powerade
• On-course entertainment including live bands, DJ and spirit groups
• Low registration fees in comparison to other races
• Photographers at the finish line ready to take your picture in front of the Richmond Marathon banner
• Great expo with more than 50 vendors
• Runner tracking
• Pace teams
• Comprehensive race guide that provided runners with all the information they needed to have a successful race
• Regular, and humorous, communication from event organizers
• Very entertaining and scenic finisher festival located right on Richmond’s downtown waterfront
• Lots of post-race food including Papa John’s pizza
• Flat course that takes runners by some of the best parts of Richmond
• Downhill finish
• Strong community support
• Free finisher certificates
• Timing of race ensures cool, but not too cold, running weather

Cons:

• Course isn’t as spectator friendly in the sense that family members can’t easily jump from one section of the course to the other. Richmond does have “party zones” where spectators can gather, but since a lot of the course is closed off to traffic and much more spaced out around the city, it’s hard for spectators to easily get from point A to point B

Course and Splits

      

Hartford Half Marathon Race Recap

The Race That Taught Me Rain Can Be Quite a Motivating Factor

The Hartford Half was the first race I ever traveled for, and the race that prompted the idea of wanting to run a full or half marathon in every state. Originally, I signed up simply because I wanted a training run about a month out from my first full, which was only a few weeks away.

I had never been to Hartford, Connecticut before, but I chose the race because of it’s proximity to New York City. NYC did have their Staten Island Half around the same time (which I will be running and reviewing later this year), but you know I’m always looking for an excuse to travel, even if it’s just for the weekend.

I had already received my race packet two weeks before the race. Thankfully, for $15, the Hartford Foundation (race organizers) will mail you your packet, which was great for me because I knew I wouldn’t be able to pick up my bib at the expo on the Thursday or Friday before the race. Not only did the Hartford Foundation send me an email when my packet was mailed, but they also explained that if I had not received it before Oct. 1 (which I did), I should contact them immediately. I appreciated knowing when to expect my packet and the fact that even if I hadn’t received it before Oct. 1, that still gave me enough time to work something out with the race organizers.

In regards to the pre-race events, there was “One Mile Friday,” where runners could shake out their nerves, and muscles, with a one-mile run around Bushnell Park. For those with kids, the Hartford Foundation hosted a Kid’s Run with distances of 100 yards, ¼ miles, ½ mile and one-mile and parents were allowed to escort their children along the course for free. The Hartford Club also sponsored a pasta dinner for those interested the night before – tickets were $22 for adults and $10 per child so there was something for everyone.

In terms of the expo, I heard it was a great event, and it was held on the Thursday and Friday before the race. In addition to the typical vendors, participants could also listen in on three free seminars – Why We Run: The Psychology and Physiology of Endurance Athletes, An Ounce of Prevention: Updates on Preventing and Treating Running Injuries and The Role of Carbohydrates and Protein for Endurance Training & Competitor.

Even though I wasn’t able to attend any of the pre-race activities, I was excited enough to be heading out of the city on Friday night with my boyfriend and my , Bentley. The Hartford Foundation had shared a list of hotels near the start and finish lines (some with discounts), but by the time I had signed up for the race, most of the rooms had already been booked or were well above my price range.

So we stayed at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in New Britain, CT. which was about 15 minutes from the starting line and had a free continental breakfast! The race was scheduled to begin at 7AM, and the race organizers had kindly provided a list of free nearby parking areas for those traveling to the race. I’d recommend getting to these garages early – we were the last car to be let in, and that was with us arriving about 15 minutes before the recommended time.

When we began to walk to the starting line, it started to rain. At first, it was just a light drizzle, but then it started to really come down. Needless to say, I was eager to get started. When we arrived near the starting line, I have to admit, it was complete chaos. I attempted to find a bathroom before taking my place alongside the 10,000 other runners, but I unfortunately couldn’t find any near the starting line, nor did I see any volunteers to ask. As the announcers began to speak, I accepted my fate and told myself it would be a motivating factor to run faster. While they did have start seeding for elite runners (half-marathon in under 1:45), there were no corrals for the rest of us, but they did – or were supposed to – have signs indicating the self-seeded corrals/pace leaders. Like the bathrooms, I had no luck finding these so I simply jumped in where I saw an open space.

For those interested, the Hartford Foundation did offer runners a chance to participate in their PRE Perks program, which for $65, runners are given access to a pre-race heated, indoor lounge, breakfast, bathrooms, VIP parking and personal baggage check. While I could never justify spending this, the heated, indoor lounge sounded pretty nice as we stood out there in the rain.

Despite the weather, I still appreciated the start location of the race. It was very beautiful lining up in front of the State Capitol building and there was plenty of space for spectators to stand. As I looked around at a number of the runners wearing garbage bags – makeshift raincoats I suppose – the announcers began by congratulating the legacy runners who had participated in the event since it’s beginning in 1994. I thought that was a nice touch and it seemed that the majority of people running were locals and those who had a strong connection to the event. After the singing of the national anthem, both the marathons and half marathoners were off.

After the first mile, half marathoners split from the marathoners, heading toward West Hartford. The course, which is USATF certified, is not out-and-back, which I always appreciate since I have an opportunity to see more of the city. I thought this course was a great combination of residential neighborhoods and the city center, and we were also taken through Elizabeth Park, which was very nice. At the halfway mark, or the 6.6 mile marker, I was at an official time of 55:33, which equates to 8:25 min/mile. I was feeling content with that time and despite the rain, there were hundreds of spectators lining the course with signs and words of encouragement.

Happy despite the rain.

I’m always curious if these individuals really know how much of an impact they make. I remember closing in on mile 13 feeling cold, tired and hungry and I happened to make eye contact with an older man who simply said to me, “Erika, you’re doing great, and you’re almost there, just keep going”. Those short phrases gave me the extra boost I needed to finish the race at a personal best of 1:51:30. Thank goodness for personalized race bibs.

That last sprint was undoubtedly inspired by that encouraging spectator, but also by the beauty of the finish line, which sat right behind the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch. It was a great finish to a great race, and as soon as I entered the finisher chutes, I was greeted by enthusiastic volunteers who handed me my finisher medal, my reusable (pre-filled!) water bottle and my heat wrap.

Hartford Marathon Finish Line
Source: Essex Running

While you would expect the finisher festival to be a bit muted due to the weather, it was in full swing when I arrived, and the post-race food was fantastic – grilled cheese sandwiches, hot tomato soup, apple crisp, Dunkin’ Donuts bagels, bananas, fuel muscle recovery drinks and truebars. What else could you ask for? Runners could also get a free beer if they wanted, but at 9AM in the morning, I wasn’t ready for that.

I quickly met up with Derek, who I saw twice along the course cheering me on with his homemade sign, which he surprised me with right before the event. It was a massive picture of our dog, Bentley, and the words “Go Erika”. He had actually taped it up so well that even after all the rain, it was still in great condition when I finished. He always makes my events so much more enjoyable, and I’m so thankful to have him there.

After filling up on food, we headed back to our car, and on our way, passed the YMCA which was offering free showers to runners. Once we arrived at the garage, we quickly blasted the heat and started to make our way back to the hotel. Since our garage was so close to the highway, and a bit further from the finish/start lines, we had no issue getting out.

The rain didn’t let up all day and thus I had no guilt about sitting in our hotel room, eating pizza and watching four movies (yes, four movies) in one day.

Overall, I thought it was a great race that really catered to the runners. The amenities were unbeatable, the course was relatively flat, and the spectators were so enthusiastic that you couldn’t help but smile along the way. The Hartford Foundation puts on more than a dozen events throughout the year so they really do know what they’re doing and I’m so glad to have traveled for the event.

I finished 1,261^st overall (out of 5,915 finishers), 425^th out of the female runners (3,499 total) and 89^th for my age group (626 total for F25-29). I PR’ed and left the race feeling confident in my ability to finish the Richmond Marathon – my first marathon – in less than a month!

The Basics:

Event Name: Hartford Marathon

Location: Hartford, Connecticut

Date: Saturday, October 11, 2014

Registration Fee: $65-85 (half marathon), $90-125 (full marathon), $25-38 (5K)

Included Amenities: Tech tees, event-specific finisher medals, finisher water bottles, Gatorade and GU energy gels along the course, complimentary massage at the conclusion of the race, on-course entertainment

Additional Amenities (Extra Fee): PRE Perks Package, One Mile Run (Friday before), pasta dinner, mailed race packet, training shirts, option to join 10-week training program, option to purchase race photos, race deferral and option to switch to another event distance

Other Distances Available? Yes – Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K

Pros:

• Event tech tees (women’s cut available; not event-specific; long-sleeve). The 2014 tee was made by Leslie Jordan.
• Finisher medals
• Very scenic finish line under Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch
• Great, and unique, post-race food
• Lively finisher festival
• 40 musical entertainment acts along the course
• Option to have your race packet mailed to you if you can’t make it to the expo
• Strong spectator support
• Regular communication from event organizations and comprehensive event guide with travel, event and parking information

Cons:

• Starting line is very hectic with no clear indication of where the self-seeded corrals start
• Not enough porta-potties close to the starting line
• Parking areas are a bit far from the finish line – can be a challenge if you’re exhausted/cold
• Half marathon course isn’t as scenic as I’d hope and the course was too congested at times. I believe the marathon course runs along two riverfront parks though so that route may be much nicer.

Charlottesville Half Marathon Race Recap

The Race That Reminded Me Why I Love Running

Since this race took place in April 2014 and I’m writing this post retrospectively, I won’t be able to chronicle each mile of the course, but hopefully the race details will still be helpful.

The Charlottesville Half Marathon was an important race for me, not only because it runs through the same town I called home for five years while attending the University of Virginia, but also because it was my first event since tearing my quad muscle the previous year. It was an injury that left me on crutches for a few months, and ate away the strengthen I had worked so hard to achieve. The injury wasn’t due to overuse thankfully, but rather just an unfortunate fall while playing soccer.

Needless to say, as race day approached, I wasn’t feeling confident despite the weeks of physical therapy. After waking up four hours before the event, and spending the morning relaxing with a cup of coffee, I was able to shake some of the nerves.  While I kept telling myself that the goal was to just cross the finish line, I knew in the back of my mind, I would be disappointed if I didn’t finish under two hours.

It’s a pace I hadn’t achieved in my practice runs, but as I’m sure most of you experience, during the race itself, the enthusiasm around you from other runners and spectators can often drive you to push yourself even further. And that’s exactly what I was hoping for. My boyfriend and my dog, Bentley, were there to cheer me on, and I knew seeing them at several points during the course would only aid my determination to finish.

As I approached the starting line, my anxiety seemed to fade and before I knew it, we were off. While I was running the half marathon, this event, which is coordinated by Bad to the Bone, also included a full marathon, a marathon relay and an 8K. The events had separate start times – 7AM for the full and the half marathon and 7:15AM for the 8K.

All smiles after crossing the starting line.

While the race did have separate starting times, when I ran in 2014, there were no waves or seeded corrals, and this is most likely due to the fact that in terms of scale, the Charlottesville race is much smaller. They only have 3,500 entries available for all events. While I thought the lack of corrals would force me to weave between other runners, the smaller field actually evened out pretty quickly, and I was soon running with those who were at my pace. Runners could have also easily navigated close to the starting line if they wanted to be near the front of the pack.

The race began near the Downtown Mall (and finished here as well), which I thought was a great location considering it’s ample parking, and centrality to the university and surrounding community. The course itself, which is USATF certified, is a loop around Charlottesville and is absolutely beautiful. While my opinion may seem a bit biased considering my history with the town, the race was named one of the best spring marathons (Life by Daily Burn) and one of the most scenic (Running Times Magazine). These titles refer specifically to the marathon course, but I believe the half marathon was just as enjoyable.

Even though I am writing this race review in retrospect, I do remember there being a large hill within the first mile, and this is to be expected. Charlottesville is located near the Blue Ridge Mountains and hills aren’t anything new to the locals, but I will admit, it was a little discouraging at first. Once I completed the hill, however, I began to believe that if I could conquer that, I could finish the race – maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

The first few miles were along a major road and there was a median separating runners from the traffic heading the other way. From there, we eventually arrived at the University of Virginia and ran a beautiful few miles through Grounds (campus), passing the Corner and the Rotunda along the way.

The half marathoners split from the marathoners around the 5-mile marker, and half marathoners continued on back toward the Downtown Mall and then into Riverview Park, where we ran alongside the river. It was a beautiful, quiet and scenic portion of the course and a section that would keep me coming back for this race. I happened to see Bentley and Derek around this time, and Bentley was keeping warm.

Bentley keeping warm at the race.

After Riverview Park, we ran through a few residential neighborhoods before heading back toward the Downtown Mall where the finish line was waiting for us at the bottom of a hill. There were dozens of spectators lining the last half mile, and I know it was their cheers that allowed me to cross the finish line at 1:59:49, beating my goal of running sub-two hours by 11 seconds! I honestly couldn’t believe it. My first race back from an injury, and I reached a goal I thought I could not achieve. I finished 265^th out of the 740 half marathon finishers, and 26^th out of the 89 finishers in my age group (F21-24).

It was a great feeling, and one that lasted for many days to come. When people often ask, why do you like to run, and then proceed to list off all their awful experiences with the sport, it’s hard to make them understand that feeling of accomplishment and high you get from crossing the finish line. But it’s races like this that remind me why I choose to get up at 5AM every morning to exercise and spend my Saturdays logging my long weekly run. It really is a lifestyle, and one I’m glad to have chosen and stumbled upon so early in my life.

My sense of accomplishment prevented me from noticing that there was no finisher festival at the end, but again, that’s understandable since the race is much smaller. Since runners finish right on the Downtown Mall though, it’s very easy to walk (or have your family carry you) to the nearby coffee shops, restaurants and bakeries. Since the race is on a Saturday, runners can also quickly walk to the City Market (farmer’s market), which at this time of the year, will be open.

Overall, I thought this was a great race, and would please those who like the small town feel. There were some drawbacks with it being a smaller race, but depending on who you ask, a smaller participant field also has its benefits. Needless to say, I’ve listed a few pros and cons below that can hopefully help you decide if this race is one you’d like to participate in in the future.

The Basics:

Event Name: Charlottesville Half Marathon

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Date: Saturday, April 5, 2014

Registration Fee: $60-113 (half marathon), $70-123 (full marathon), $25-53 (8K)

Included Amenities: Event-specific tech tees, event-specific finisher medals, UCAN and water along the course

Additional Amenities (Extra Fee): None

Other Distances Available? Yes – Marathon, Marathon Relay, 8K

Pros:

• Very scenic and beautiful course that allows you to see all the great Charlottesville sites
• Great event tech tees (women’s cut available; event-specific; short-sleeve). The 2014 tee was made by Green Layer Sports
• Finisher medals
• Same day packet pick-up
• The early April timeframe means perfect running weather in Charlottesville (40-50 degrees in the morning)
• The start and finish lines are in convenient locations with parking/hotels close by
• The route allows your family and friends to easily walk to different places along the course to see you

Cons:

• No expo. There were a few vendors, however, in the square at packet pick-up, and I believe this has since improved from the 2014 event
• No finisher festival
• Not as many water stops on the course as I would have hoped
• While the course does allow spectators to easily get from one point to another, spectator support was low in comparison to other races I’ve attended

My Two Life Goals and My Journey to Achieve Them

I have wanted to start a blog for quite sometime now, but unlike the dozens of others that I read, my thoughts and ideas didn’t seem to have a focus. I kept asking myself, why would people want to come to my blog when nothing I’m sharing is insightful or helpful?

As I began to consider a framework for my blog, I thought about what I find most enjoyable about other people’s posts and realized I love reading about people’s travel experiences and also, somewhat randomly, running event reviews. Not only am I big runner, but I’m also a goal-setter and a planner. I always feel as if there’s something new to accomplish and as a result, I have set two major life goals that will form the backbone of my blog. By writing about these goals, I hope to nit only keep myself accountable to them, but to also share some insight along the way.

The first goal involves running a marathon or a half marathon in every U.S. state. After completing my first marathon in November 2014 – a feat I never thought possible and dreamed about for years – I was hooked. Attempting to run an event in every state not only feeds my love of running, but also my desire to travel. In my mind, there is no better way to experience a city and its energy than by running through its streets with thousands of spectators shouting from the sidelines. In this blog, I plan to review the marathons and half marathons I’ve participated in so readers, like you, can have a better understanding of the course, the event, the atmosphere, and hopefully have an easier time deciding which to participate in.

I, myself, relied on a number of blogs to help me decide which races to run and while sometimes choosing a race is easy – it’s in a location close to you or in a month you’re looking to run – occasionally it’s not that simple. I know I relied on people’s blogs to help me understand which events were most fitting for me, and I hope my event summaries fulfill that same goal for you, or at least provide some entertaining anecdotes.

In addition to race reviews, I may occasionally throw in reviews of products I’ve tried to help me reach this goal of running an event in every state. While training for my first marathon, I tried a number of new products, including a water belt and running skirt and some were more successful than others. While of course these reviews will only be my opinions, I hope sharing my personal experience gives you more insight into what may work for you.

The second major life goal that will shape the content of my blog is thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, a 2,180-mile trail that runs 14 states from Georgia to Maine. Unlike my first goal, which can span over a few years, if not a decade, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) requires about 4-6 months.

As I will detail in later posts, there are several ways to hike the AT, but for me, thru-hiking, in which the entire trail is completed in the span of less than a year, seems the most fitting for me. In the posts to follow, I’ll discuss my preparation and research, and once I’m on the trail, I hope to update my blog with my experiences and the people I meet along the way.

While my blog will most likely revolve around these two goals, I’m sure I’ll have miscellaneous posts in there as well. As someone who constantly feels the need to travel and try new things (and write about them!), I would imagine I’d post about my other trips as well and maybe even some creative projects I’m pursuing. Did I mention I’d like to see all the U.S. national parks?

From this first post, you’re probably thinking all I do is travel, but I promise I do have a full-time job and achieving these goals requires a lot of expert planning on my part. I have a strong desire to see as much as I can in the time that I have, and while I hope writing about my experiences further solidifies the memories of them, I hope my blog also provides some insight, and possibly some entertainment, for you as well.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to passing as many mile markers as possible with you along the way.